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TEESWATER – South Bruce council received an update on emergency management compliance and approved a fence bylaw exemption during the May 26 meeting.
The Municipality has reportedly achieved full compliance with provincial emergency management requirements while continuing public outreach and preparedness efforts. A report to council from Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Krista Tiernan says the municipality met all 13 requirements under Ontario’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act for 2025. It also outlines activities during Emergency Preparedness Week and planning for 2026.
There have been no emergency declarations, activations or weather-related notifications so far this year.
South Bruce submitted its compliance documentation in November and has since received confirmation it met all provincial standards. These include maintaining an emergency plan, conducting hazard and risk assessments, supporting a municipal emergency control group, and completing annual training, exercises and public education. The program also includes a critical infrastructure list, emergency operations centre and designated information officer.
Emergency Preparedness Week, held May 3 to 9, focused on the theme “Prepared Together,” encouraging residents to be ready to care for themselves for at least 72 hours. The municipality supported the campaign through social media, school visits and community events.
“This year’s campaign in Ontario was being prepared together, so we took part in a social media campaign,” said Tiernan. “We also had a booth at the Mildmay Firefighters breakfast, where we had outreach of 450 people. We also had the fire prevention officer attend two schools in the area and attended five classrooms and worked on teaching kids what types of emergencies, as well as how to build our preparedness kits for training.”
Students learned about different types of emergencies, how to build preparedness kits and the importance of home escape plans and family meeting places. Activities included a hands-on game identifying essential kit items such as water, food, flashlights, batteries and first aid supplies.
Public outreach also included a booth at the Teeswater Fishing Derby on May 3.
The municipality’s emergency control group is continuing to review the five pillars of emergency management – prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery – while updating roles, responsibilities and training. South Bruce plans to conduct its own annual exercise this year. Ontario’s emergency management system relies on coordination between individuals, municipalities, the province and the federal government.
Residents are expected to be prepared for short-term disruptions, while municipalities maintain programs to protect people and property, with provincial and federal support available when needed.
No emergency declarations or activations have occurred so far in 2026.
Fence exemption approved
South Bruce council has approved a request to increase the height and reduce the setback of a fence at 2 Melba Court.
A report from Manager of Building, Planning and By-law Enforcement Phil VanHardeveld outlines a request submitted May 5 to construct a fence in a residential exterior side yard that does not meet current setback and height limits under the municipality’s 2013-31 Fence By-law. Council received the report for information and approved the exemption. Under the bylaw, fences in an exterior side yard on a corner lot cannot exceed one metre in height unless set back 4.5 metres from the property line. Fences must also be at least 0.6 metres from any lot line abutting a road.
The proposal calls for a 1.53-metre (five-foot) fence with no setback from the property line. The change in height is intended to provide privacy from neighbouring properties and meet requirements under the municipality’s pool enclosure bylaw.
“We are asking for an exemption from the Fence By-Law as the owners wish to construct an outdoor swimming pool and related amenities in the rear yard,” wrote applicant Gerhard Weiland in a letter to the municipality.
“There will only be a few small sections where the fence would be close to the property line, if not on it. Staff have reviewed it and have no further comments,” said VanHardeveld. “The idea with a lower fence is that it’s a property line that abuts a road, which is the issue, and they want to create a lower fence so that there isn’t a restriction for visibility for traffic.” Staff recommended approval, noting council has the authority to grant exemptions under the bylaw. The motion was carried.
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