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Tillsonburg POST
APRIL 23, 2026
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VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 29
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Council approves clock tower repairs
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JEFF HELSDON Editor
Tillsonburg’s Rotary Clock Tower will get a much-needed facelift this year. At the April 13 council meeting, council learned that the clock tower was in worse shape than originally thought, based on a study approved in November. Completed by Pow Peterman Consulting Engineers and Hazen Masonry and Restoration, the study found the exterior brick on the south and west sides to be in poor shape. It also noted “saturation of both the exterior brick and interior concrete block, with signs of deterioration showing on the interior block as well. The lack of moisture barrier and internal climate control results in water intrusion and the inability to evaporate that water, causing deterioration of the masonry due to expansion from freezing.” Replacement of the roof, as well as windows and doors, was also recommended within the next one to two years. The total estimated cost of all the work was $394,000. Although metal cladding and stucco were also looked into as alternate finishes, it was recommended to stick with brick. Reconstruction would be with an air space and vapour barrier between the new brick and concrete blocks. An application was made to the Rural Ontario Development Program for the entire project, which, if successful, will cover up to 35 per cent of the costs. The recommendation in the report, which council endorsed, was to proceed with the entire project if the grant was successful, and if not, to proceed with brick replacement, which is budgeted in the 2026 budget at $200,000. If the grant application isn’t successful, then the roof, windows and doors would be referred to the 2027 budget. Mayor Deb Gilvesy asked with the freeze-thaw cycles and whether there would continue to be a problem. CONTINUED TO PAGE 2
DANCING WITH THE STARS ON ICE
(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)
Tillsonburg Skating Club dazzled the crowd with the skating, lights and sets at its Ice Show 2026 with the theme of Dancing with the Stars on Ice on Friday and Saturday. Amongst the local stars were guest skaters Tillsonburg native Summer Homick and her partner Nicholas Buelow, who were silver medalists at the nationals in junior ice dance. See Page 18-19 for more photos.
Organizers planning for bigger, better TurtleFest JEFF HELSDON Editor
Organizers are planning for a bigger and better TurtleFest on Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20. The largest festival in town, which sees Broadway shut down, the event attracted an estimated 30,000 people last year.
“Coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2023, we wanted to make sure that TurtleFest was able to resume its position as Tillsonburg’s signature event, but we realized that sponsorship support would be difficult as many local businesses struggled during the shutdown,” said TurtleFest chair Mark Renaud. “Consequently, we had to be conservative in our planning . However, we have been able to be able to add more to the event every year. CONTINUED TO PAGE 2
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