🌅 Downtown Parking and Crime Bust in Southampton

A proposal to ban downtown parking for employees in Southampton and Port Elgin's downtowns

Author

Brett Chang
May 09, 2024

Good morning, Saugeen Shores!

We've hit an amazing milestone this week - 1,000 residents are now subscribed to The Shoreline Scoop! Thank you so much for making this apart of your weekly routine. Your support and engagement is what makes our community so vibrant.

But why stop at 1,000? There are so many more friends and neighbours in the community who could benefit from staying in-the-know about everything happening around town. So I'm calling on all of you to please spread the word and share The Shoreline Scoop with your Southampton / Port Elgin friends and family. Forward them this email, share it on social media, or just tell them about it next time you're chatting.

My goal is to reach 2,000 local readers by the end of the summer - an engaged audience that's helping to create an even more connected, informed community. Thanks for reading and all of your support!

Consider forwarding this to a friend in Saugeen Shores! New here? Sign up for free.

Weekend Weather

🌡️ Today: High of 13C, Low 6C. Friday: High of 16, Low of 4C. Saturday: High of 14C, Low of 5C. Sunday: High of 17C, Low of 5C. See the 7-day forecast.

NEWS

Around the shore

⛴️ The Peerless II tour boat received upgrades including new 400 horsepower motors and an advanced control system improving speed and maneuverability. The upgrades, funded by the Marine Heritage Society and Saugeen Shores Fire Department, enhance safety, reliability and the boat's capability to assist with lake emergencies while transporting visitors to Chantry Island.

🏡 New residential listings in the Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound area in April were up 24.8% from April 2023 and well above 5-year and 10-year averages at 549 new listings. Active listings hit a 5-year high of 1,318. Home sales of 239 units increased 2.1% from last April but lagged 6.3% and 18.3% behind 5-year and 10-year averages respectively. The benchmark price for a single-family home in the region rose 2.4% year-over-year to $572,200. The average sale price was $658,132, down 0.1% from April 2023. The total dollar value of sales in Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound increased 2% to $157.3 million.

👮‍♀️ Three Saugeen Shores men are among five people charged with drug and weapons offences after a multi-jurisdictional police investigation. Police seized $126,000 worth of illicit drugs, two handguns, a rifle and prohibited devices. The accused, ranging from 19 to 49 years old, face charges including trafficking cocaine, fentanyl and psilocybin, possession of proceeds of crime, and unauthorized possession of firearms. The investigation involved multiple police agencies across southwestern Ontario.

🚗 A proposal to ban downtown Southampton and Port Elgin employees from using prime on-street parking spots was deemed "restrictive" by Deputy Mayor Diane Huber. She said more work is needed on the recently approved downtown parking study, including surveying business owners to determine if employee parking is actually problematic. No parking changes would occur without further council input.

🏡 In The Community

👩‍⚕️ A community task force aiming to boost physician recruitment and retention across Grey-Bruce received a $100,000 funding commitment from Bruce Power. The funding will help launch the regional initiative, which plans to consolidate efforts through a common approach and messaging. The task force estimates over 30,000 residents lack a primary care provider.

🥋 Two Southampton brothers, Auron and Hunter Ward, were among eight Kilian Academy athletes from Grey and Bruce counties who earned medals at the Canadian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Circuit open event in Oshawa. Auron won bronze while Hunter placed 9th in their respective divisions. Other local medal winners from Owen Sound, Hepworth, and Chatsworth are highlighted.

🏥 Huron Shores Hospice is hosting three free end-of-life planning workshops in May, including one in Southampton on May 23. The workshops outline how to create a personalized plan covering quality of life preferences, care location, and naming a substitute decision maker. End-of-life planning helps remove difficult decisions from loved ones.

🐥 A male piping plover, an endangered shorebird, was sighted at Sauble Beach on Sunday, raising hopes it may nest there after a long absence. However, the bird had moved on by Monday. Piping plovers previously nested at Sauble until the town was convicted of damaging their habitat through excessive beach raking in 2017.

🗓️ Things to do + Volunteer Opportunities

Birthday coming up? Fill out this form to get a shout-out for you or a friend / family member / neighbour’s birthday in an upcoming edition of the Scoop.

Email [email protected] to let us know about upcoming community events.

🍪 Scoop Bites

Fun things we’ve found around the internet

🏠 Listing of the week

This executive custom 3300sqft bungalow offers luxurious living just steps from Lake Huron in Port Elgin. Highlights include a grand foyer, vaulted ceilings, gourmet kitchen, primary suite, fully finished basement with wet bar, double heated garage, backup generator, sprinkler system, and beautifully landscaped grounds. With 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and premium craftsmanship throughout, it's an ideal haven for retirement or a growing family.

That’s it! Thanks for reading the Scoop today!

— Brett