Hope Lompe Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder An early morning power outage affecting 1,117 customers on the south end of Gabriola Island and Mudge Island didn’t stop the organizers of the Ask Anything event on Sept. 27.  False candles adorned the stage of the dark Gabriola Theatre Centre as people took their seats to […]

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The U.S. Treasury is seeking to recoup COVID-19 pandemic relief funds from hundreds of local governments that received millions of dollars but never complied with requirements to report how they used the money. The federal government distributed $350 billion to state, local, territorial and tribal governments as part of the […]

The Town of Essex’s “Report a Problem” online platform – that allows residents to relay issues related to Town-owned infrastructure, parks, facilities, and concerns with Short Term Rental Units and town by-laws – has been updated. Essex Council learned of the revamp, and received a presentation on the changes, at the July 7 meeting. The […]

The cost of democracy, both figurative and literal, was discussed at local council meetings recently as municipalities look towards the October 2026 elections. Staff reports on voting methods made their way to respective councils in Tay Township and Penetanguishene with councillors weighing the merits and flaws for voting through paper ballots, internet/telephone voting and a […]