Township of Zorra

On Wednesday, March 3, 2021 the Council of the Township of Zorra will hold a public meeting, pursuant to section 12 of the Development Charges Act, 1997, as amended, to present and obtain public input on the municipality’s proposed development charges (D.C.) by-law and underlying background study. Details on our website http://www.zorra.ca/Home/Our-Township/Tenders-Public-Notices

Read Mayor Ryan's latest blog update to see what's been going on in Zorra. http://www.zorra.ca//Blog/2021/21-01-21%20Mayors%20Blog.pdf

Oxford OPP are reminding residents that stealing road signs can have deadly consequences after a number of stop signs and detour signs have been stolen recently. http://www.heartfm.ca//road-signs-stolen-in-norwich-and-z/

Within the Township of Zorra there have been NO CHANGES regarding the operating of ORV’s or ATV’s on municipal roadways. By-Law 72-20 PROHIBITS the operation of any off-road vehicles (ORV), all-terrain vehicles (ATV), multi-purpose off-highway utility vehicles and recreational off-highway vehicles including a motorized snow vehicle on municipal highways except for the purpose of crossovers at a 90 degree angle. A set fine of $200.00 applies to all infractions of the by-law (Section 61 of the Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.33.)

The 2021 Budget virtual Council meeting is underway. Watch online at https://www.youtube.com/watch

Ingersoll & Thamesford residents: Garbage and recycling collection is delayed in some areas due to heavy material volumes. Crews will continue working until 7 p....m. tonight, and will resume collection at 7 a.m. tomorrow. We appreciate your patience. If you think your collection has been missed at the end of the day tomorrow, please call us at 1-800-755-0394, ext. 3159. See more

Council meeting starts NOW! View online at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCceQkQTakEgGU4PYRUT_C7g

We are back to work remotely and available for assistance via phone/email. Staff are available by appointment if required. Please contact the office for details 519-485-2490.

As we wind down for the year, Mayor Ryan sends his holiday greetings. #CovidChristmas #staysafestayhome

The Zorra Community Policing Committee will meet virtually tonight at 6pm for the first meeting of the year. The meeting will be posted on our YouTube channel later, but if you would like to attend the meeting live, please contact the office for login details.

You are responsible for your family’s safety. Develop a home fire escape plan https://goo.gl/TZXiV8 #firesafe4theholidays

Tonight is the night! Grab your donations and head over to the Thamesford Fire Station for the drive-through contactless food drive! That's right - you get to drive right on through the Fire Station! Check it out tonight from 7-9p.m.

National testing of the Alert Ready emergency alerting system taking place TODAY. Ontario’s test will begin at 12:55 p.m. EST and will be most apparent through the message and tone on your smart phone.

Make sure you know the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of your holiday waste! When in doubt, check out www.wasteline.ca

The municipal office will close at 5:00 p.m. today for the holidays. While the office will remain closed to the public as per the Ontario-wide shutdown, staff will return to work remotely on January 4, 2021 and will be available by appointment only. All facilities will close as of 3:00 p.m. on December 24th and will remain closed until the lockdown is lifted.

The new playground equipment is being installed at Wallace Park in Embro! Taking advantage of this weather, work should be completed tomorrow!

Zorra Township and SWPH have entered Orange level #COVID19 measures. Recreation facilities remain open with increased screening in place. Before entry, all visitors to the Thamesford and Embro Arenas are now required to complete a set of screening questions at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/zorrascreening. Full details of revised facility protocols can be found at www.zorra.ca.

Get fuel-burning appliances inspected annually by a registered fuel contractor. Go to COSafety.ca to find a contractor.

Work on the new walking trail behind the Thamesford District Recreation Centre is coming along nicely. This new trail will be a great benefit to the community!

Public Works is reporting that Road 64 is CLOSED from 15th Line to Road 73 (Elgin Road) until sometime tomorrow. Also, Hunt Road will be closed from Road 64 to Road 66 until tomorrow. If you have to go out, please drive safe!

Beginning Mon, Nov 16 at 12:01 a.m. the Province is moving Zorra Township along with the SWPH region into Protect - strengthened measures of their COVID-19 plan. A list of affected municipal services along with revised precautions will be released by 5pm Nov 13. Below is a link to today’s announcement and the provinces COVID-19 Framework https://news.ontario.ca//ontario-updating-covid-19-respons... https://files.ontario.ca/moh-covid-19-response-framework-ke

Garbage & Recycling collections will be running a bit late today in Thamesford, along 13th and 15th Lines, and along North Town Line on the east side of Ingersoll. The routes should be all finished by 5:30 p.m. Truck issues caused delays today. Thanks for your patience!

Have you been voting for the Prion Digital Donation Contest? With TWO Zorra organizations in the running, and ONE chance to vote EVERY DAY, you can't go wrong! Vote for the Zorra Splash Commitee AND/OR Oxford 4-H Club! Voting closes at 12:00 p.m. EST on Friday, December 4, 2020. https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSf5BiFVPx5y13BFo7/viewform

Employers & Job Seekers in Oxford County- you can now post and find opportunities on Facebook! The Oxford County Job Board is a free resource. Anyone can share job postings with the group. Join today.... Invite your network. Post jobs. Search jobs. We’re here to help. https://www.facebook.com/groups/oxfordcountyjobs/?ref=share

Mayor Marcus Ryan will be opening the (virtual) doors for the Zorra Zoom Chat sessions again! These sessions will give residents the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback on various topics that affect the Zorra community. The topics will range from fire safety to construction projects to recreation programming during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every session a Zorra staff member will accompany Mayor Ryan to help field questions and provide comprehensive answers. Plea...se follow the Township social media pages or check the Township website for further details on the topics. Residents will be asked to join the Zoom chat at 6:30 p.m. with the first 10 minutes of the chat being prioritized for kids to ask questions. The first meeting is October 14, 2020. A link to Zoom meeting will be posted in the social media posts and on the Township website the week prior to the meeting. If you have any suggestions for topics, please email [email protected] or call 519-485-7250 ext. 7250

Safe, healthy and caring Oxford communities start with you. From September to December 2020, contribute to the new Community Safety & Well-being Plan by sharing your hopes, concerns and insights on safety, health and well-being in your municipality. Take the Safe & Well Oxford survey or learn how you can get involved at: www.safewelloxford.ca. #safewelloxford

Reminder that winter parking restrictions take effect on November 15th through March 31st. No parking on any street 1:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Please keep your vehicles off the streets to allow our crews to clear snow in a timely manner. Thank you for your cooperation.

Keep your eye on the pot. Don't let TV distract you. Use a timer to remind you when cooking http://ontario.ca/bh2c #serveupfiresafety2020 #FirePreventionWeek

Take a moment to watch this important video from the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs! #FirePreventionWeek #serveupfiresafety2020

Time is running out to apply for jobs in our Recreation Department! Currently hiring Facility Operators. Visit our website for full details. http://www.zorra.ca/Home/Our-Township/Employment

Public skating & shinny events start this week at both arenas. Event times are posted on our Community Calendar http://www.zorra.ca/Home/Info/Community-Calendar. Please review all COVID-19 protocols BEFORE you come to the arena. http://www.zorra.ca/Home/Our-Services/Recreation

If you have a small grease fire on the stove, slide a lid over the pot and turn off the stove http://goo.gl/22Qhc8 #serveupfiresafety2020 #FirePreventionWeek

This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen! is aimed at educating everyone about the simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them, safe in the kitchen. #serveupfiresafety2020 #FirePreventionWeek

The Council of the Township of Zorra is pleased to announce it has finalized an agreement of purchase and sale with Kingwood Homes Inc. for a portion of the former Maple Leaf Foods Inc. site in Thamesford. The parcel of land includes two existing industrial processing plants, and a 2-acre parcel of land along Middleton Street. Sale price for the property is $2,000,000. Read the full news release on our website http://www.zorra.ca//Me/20-10-01%20Zorra%20land%20sale.pdf

To assist local volunteer organizations in completing their activities, we offer financial assistance through the annual Community Grants Program. Applications are due by October 31 each year and approved through the annual budget process. http://www.zorra.ca//Community%20Grant%20Application%20For

We're hiring Facility Operators for our arenas! Job description and posting details on our website. Apply by October 8th. http://www.zorra.ca/Home/Our-Township/Employment

Like many municipalities, Oxford County no longer accepts plastic film as part of its curbside recycling program. However, a new pilot program allows residents ...to recycle plastic bags, bubble wrap and other plastic film products for free in three convenient drop-off locations: the Waste Management Facility in Salford, the Tillsonburg Transfer Station and the Woodstock EnviroDepot. Oxford County also encourages residents to reduce plastic film use by choosing reusable shopping bags when going to the store and encouraging food producers, manufacturers, and retailers to switch to reusable and recyclable plastic alternatives. For more information, visit www.wasteline.ca.

Here is your opportunity to join Gabrielle Mueller, Tourism Oxford's social media expert as she gives hints and tips to on how to manage your Instagram and Facebook accounts. Instagram 1:00 Tuesday, October 20. Instagram is a tool to inspire your audience and tell a story. If you’re new to the Instagram game, this is the workshop for you! From hashtags and stories to posts on timelines, we’ll cover the basics of starting up your Instagram account. Learn a few insider tips... and tricks, what works well and what can be left for other social channels. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82943103768 Facebook 1:00 Wednesday, October 21 Get the inside scoop and helpful hints for running and maintaining your Facebook page. Making it as easy and pain-free as possible, this workshop will give you the tools to see growth on your Facebook page and engage with your audience. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86296805801