MEET YOUR CANDIDATES PAGE
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PAGE LINCS HIT 15 STRAIGHT Thursday, February 13, 2025
St. Marys Independent
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St. Marys Independent 36 Water St. S., St. Marys ON | 519.284.0041 | info@stmarysindependent.com | www.stmarysindy.com
Issue #1249
Thursday, February 13, 2025
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Perth-Wellington heads to the ballot Feb. 27 Tube Park Hours
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(SPENCER SEYMOUR PHOTO)
Members of the St. Marys Lincolns celebrate Chase MacQueen-Spence’s goal during the Lincs’ 6-0 victory on Feb. 8 over the Komoka Kings. MacQueen-Spence is currently on a four-game goal streak and a five-game point streak. See the full story on page 14
St. Marys racket-sport groups discuss short-term compromise in longstanding courts dispute GALEN SIMMONS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A longstanding dispute between St. Marys’ pickleball and tennis groups over use of the town’s existing courts appears to be closer to resolution after representatives of both groups worked with councillors and town staff towards at least a short-term solution as part of an ad-hoc committee Feb. 5. As part of St. Marys’ new recreation and leisure master plan drafted by Monteith Brown Planning Consultants and adopted by council on Jan. 28, the consultants examined the existing tennis and pickleball courts and
activities in St. Marys and recommended an immediate and long-term strategy for equitable court use between the St. Marys Pickleball Association and St. Marys Tennis Club. Currently, St. Marys has four courts for racket sports at 550 Water St. S. The town’s two north courts have lines for pickleball and tennis, while the two south courts are painted for tennis only. “(Painting) pickleball lines on courts; that came out of our first, original rec and leisure masterplan in 2017,” said town director of community services Stephanie Ische at the ad-hoc committee meeting. “At that time, CONTINUED TO PAGE 6
Ontario will be heading to a cold ballot box this month after Premier Doug Ford announced a snap election for Feb. 27. In an op-ed written to the National Post on Jan. 28, the day his government announced the election, Ford said the threat of American President Donald Trump’s blanket trade tariffs would put 450,000 Ontario jobs on the line. Though the 25 per-cent tariff on all Canadian goods and a 10 per-cent tariff on Canadian energy was paused for 30 days the Monday after they were to be enacted, Ford warned the threat is not going away and the province needs a stronger mandate to properly fight this trade war, a justification that has been criticized by Ford’s critics. There are three other party leaders to watch for this election: Bonnie Crombie, leader of the Ontario Liberals, Marit Stiles of the NDP and Mike Schreiner of the Green Party. Locally, the major four parties are represented by Matthew Rae for the PCs (incumbent), Ashley Fox for the Liberals, Jason Davis for the NDP and Ian Morton for the Greens. Voting locations have not been released yet. Information will be available after Feb. 14. The local election office is located at the rear of 107 Erie St. Ontario residents can also vote by mail. Residents may apply on the Elections Ontario website (votebymail.elections.on.ca) and apply by 6 p.m. on Feb. 21. Elections Ontario must receive a completed voting kit by 6 p.m. on Feb. 27 to be counted. As of publication, only those four candidates have declared for Perth-Wellington, though candidate nominations close on Feb. 13 and a full list will be available on the Elections Ontario website. To meet your candidates, see our stories on pages 8-11.
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