October 2025

Have Your Say: Draft Corporate Strategic Plan Nears Completion

Work is underway to finalize the Town’s new Corporate Strategic Plan, and there are several upcoming opportunities for the community to get involved.

Council Workshop #3

A Special Meeting of Council will take place on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at Town Hall. This third and final workshop, led by StrategyCorp, will feature a presentation of the Draft Corporate Strategic Plan, followed by Council discussion and feedback before the plan is finalized. Residents are encouraged to attend in person to stay informed and engaged. For those unable to attend, a recording of the meeting will be posted on the project webpage following the workshop.

Public Information Sessions

To gather broader community feedback, the Town has scheduled two public information sessions to share the draft plan with members of the public. Each session will begin with a formal presentation which will include an open question-and-answer period, followed by an informal opportunity for residents to share feedback with project team members.

• Session #1: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall.
• Session #2: Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Town Hall.

Both sessions are open to the public and no pre-registration is required. For those unable to attend, the presentation and question-and-answer portions will be recorded and posted on the project webpage following each session.

Share Your Feedback:

Can’t make it in person? Share your feedback on the draft Corporate Strategic Plan anytime by emailing SI@thebluemountains.ca.

Stay tuned for the release of the Draft Corporate Strategic Plan on the project webpage in the coming days and join the conversation to help shape Our Path Forward.

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Thanksgiving Closure & Yard Waste Collection

The Town of The Blue Mountains would like to advise the public that Town Hall will be closed on Monday, October 13, for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Town Hall will reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, October 14.

Curbside waste collection will occur as usual on Monday, October 13, and for the remainder of the week. Curbside Yard Waste Collection begins on Monday, October 13 and runs until November 20, 2025. The Town's Operations department has some additional information regarding collection:

• Yard Waste is collected on your regular curbside collection day and must be curbside by 7:00 a.m.
• Yard Waste collected curbside is limited to 10 compostable bags or containers weekly.
• Oversized yard waste is not collected curbside but can be delivered to the Landfill and Recycling Depot free-of-charge.
• Oversized yard waste refers to any plant material that is too large to fit into a container or yard waste bag that is 89cm high x 41cm wide, or bags over the 10 bag limit.

All essential services will continue to operate throughout the holiday weekend. Online services are available 24/7 on the Town website.

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Growing Connections: Thousands Attend Open Fields 2025

The third annual Open Fields Farm Tour welcomed thousands of visitors exploring six locations across the region, offering a unique opportunity to connect directly with local producers and learn more about modern farming practices.

The sun was shining in The Blue Mountains on Saturday, creating a perfect backdrop for families, friends and visitors to enjoy tours, demonstrations and activities at the different stops.

We would like to thank all of the participating farms, volunteers and community partners who made the day possible, including the Municipality of Meaford. Planning is already underway for Open Fields 2026 and we are excited to begin looking for new host locations that will showcase the vibrant agricultural heritage of The Blue Mountains. Interested in hosting next year? Please contact the Town's Economic Development division.

Fall 2025 Intake Now Open for Community Improvement Plans

The Town is excited to announce that the Fall 2025 intake period for the Town’s Community Improvement Plans (CIPs) is now open! Applications are being accepted until Friday, October 17, 2025.

The Town offers two CIPs designed to support projects that strengthen our community:

• Town-Wide Revitalization CIP – encouraging private property improvement and revitalization.
• Housing Within Reach CIP – supporting the development of attainable housing.

Through grants and loans, these programs aim to enhance quality of life, make better use of under-utilized properties and promote private investment across the community.

Have a project in mind? Visit the Community Improvement Plan webpage to explore available programs, check eligibility requirements and learn how to apply.

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Get Involved in the 2026 Town Budget

The Draft 2026 Town Budget will be released to the public on Monday, October 6. The draft budget is a starting point for discussions with Council, which will happen during a series of Special Committee of the Whole meetings beginning on Tuesday, October 14 and continuing through the week until Friday, October 17. Following the special budget meetings, Town staff will present a report with budget-related recommendations and request direction to proceed to the Public Meeting.

The Public Meeting is scheduled for November 10, 2025, to receive comments on the updated draft budget. Residents are encouraged to participate and share feedback with Council throughout the budget process.

More information about the budget and how to participate is available on the Town's website.

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Save the Date: Fire Department Open House

Join the Town of the Blue Mountains Fire Department for their Annual Open House celebrating the 103rd anniversary of Fire Prevention Week!

The Open House will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Thornbury Fire Hall (496916 Grey Road 2).

• FREE BBQ
• Enter a draw to be "Fire Chief for a day"
• Bouncy castle
• "Push-In" Ceremony for new ladder truck at 2:00 p.m.
• Have birthday cake with Sparky & decorate your own “Smoke Alarm Cookie” 
• Fire truck display with Firefighters on site to answer all of your fire safety questions 

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Final Tax Due Date and Postal Strike Impacts

The Final Tax Bill for 2025 is due Tuesday, October 21, 2025.

Please be aware that due to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers strike, which began on Thursday, September 25, 2025, mail delivery to and from the Town may be significantly delayed or temporarily stopped.

Important: Residents are still responsible for paying property tax bills on time, even if the bill has not been received in the mail. If you are unsure of your balance, please contact the Town’s Finance Department.

The Town strongly recommends avoiding payment by mail during this time. Convenient alternatives to pay your property taxes include:

• In-person at Town Hall
• Town Hall Drop Box (located at the east entrance doors)
• Through your bank or financial institution
• Through a mortgage company
• Pre-Authorized Payment Plans

Learn More

Fire Prevention Week 2025 is October 5-11

This year's theme is, “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home." The focus is on educating people about safely using lithium-ion batteries, and emphasizes the importance of buying, charging and recycling these batteries safely.

Learn More

Celebrate and Support the Meaford Hospital Foundation Gala

The Meaford Hospital Foundation is hosting ER: An Evening of Revelry at the Georgian Peaks Club on Thursday, October 9. This year's event is dedicated to supporting vital upgrades and renovations for the Brightshores Meaford Hospital Emergency Department.

Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Location: The Georgian Peaks Club
Time: 7 p.m. to Midnight

Free shuttle service is available. Tickets are $325 with a $125 charitable tax receipt. 

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit mhfoundation.ca.