Town of St. Marys

St. Marys is moving to the Orange (Restrict) level of the Province’s Keeping Ontario Safe & Open Framework as of 12:01 am on Monday, November 23, 2020. Our Christmas events planned for this weekend will continue, but starting next week, you will have to complete a COVID-19 screening form before entering any Town facility. We are also encouraging advance appointments at the Municipal Operations Centre. A full explanation of the Orange (Restrict) level is available on the Pro...vince’s website. We encourage all residents to respect these guidelines as we work through this pandemic together. https://www.ontario.ca//covid-19-response-framework-keepin

A Bluewater Recycling Association (BRA) truck has leaked hydraulic oil in the Huron Street area of St. Marys. The leak has been spread over several blocks, creating trails and puddles of hydraulic oil. At this time, it does not appear that the oil has reached the municipal storm system. BRA and Town staff are working to clean up the area. The Province’s Spills Action Centre has been notified as a precaution. ... We will share more information as it becomes available. If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Public Works Department at 519-284-2340, ext. 221.

Keep your furry friends healthy and safe by registering for one of the Stratford Perth Humane Society's low-cost rabies vaccination and microchip clinics!

We're excited to welcome Christmas to St. Marys this weekend! In addition to the ongoing Downtown St. Marys open house, please safely join us for: the lighting of the WinterLights tonight LIVE on Facebook with Mayor Al and Santa at 7:00 p.m. the Kinsmen Club of St. Marys Ontario "Shunpiker Santa Parade" Saturday night from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Download your map at www.townofstmarys.com/parade or pick up a copy after 4 p.m. TODAY at St Marys Public Library, The Flower Shop and More, Jackson's Pharmacy, Zenfire Pottery, Little Falls Crafters Market, Tropical Flavour, Canadian Tire and Towne and Country Cheese Shoppe -- we're so excited, we couldn't wait until tomorrow morning to share the map!

A reminder that we are now in the Orange (Restrict) Level of the Province's Keeping Ontario Safe & Open Framework. This means you will have to complete a screening form before entering any municipal facility. We are also asking that you make an appointment before visiting the Municipal Operations Centre. We all need to do our part to control the spread of COVID-19. Remember to practice physical distancing with those outside your household, avoid non-essential travel, wash your hands frequently, wear a face covering and stay home if you're feeling ill.

Let it be known that we are a Giving community! The Giving Tuesday Canada was recently raised at Town Hall to showcase the community's recognition of and participation in this worldwide initiative. Giving Tuesday officially takes place on December 1 but you can begin participating this weekend, as the sole initiative is a sale of made-in-St. Marys Christmas cards, created by a local artist. Proceeds from the sale will benefit United Way Perth-Huron's #UNIGNORABLE issues of hunger, poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, social isolation and mental health concerns. Look for the cards in local stores this weekend and beyond!

Our friends at the Stratford Perth Humane Society are seeking foster parents in our area. Visit the link for details.

Friday fun for everyone!

We’ve received some comments about brown water in the Maxwell/James Street area. This was likely caused by recent hydrant flushing that was done in the vicinity. If you are currently experiencing this issue, please run your cold water tap until it becomes clear. Thank you!

There’s one week left to apply to our Community Grant Program! Find out how we can help your community project grow: https://www.townofstmarys.com/Modules/News/index.aspx

Curious as to what we have in store for you on Halloween night? Check out this short video by Majinx and don't forget to tune at 7 p.m. for this fantastic treat, followed by a special local ghost story told by Chet Greason! All our Halloween weekend fun can be found here: www.townofstmarys.com/halloween

The municipal #budget meeting planned for tomorrow (November 24) has been cancelled. Council will discuss the budget next on December 1, from 9 AM 2:30 PM. You can tune into the meeting on our YouTube channel. Learn more about the budget proceedings and review a draft version on our website: townofstmarys.com/budget

Golden Drums live at Town Hall during the Kinsmen Club of St. Marys Ontario Shunpiker Santa Parade! Town Hall has never sounded so good!

Questions about COVID-19? Our website has information about municipal facility closures and contacts for operational services. There are helpful resources for business owners and daily updates about local shops, restaurants and service providers. You can also learn about our new Community Wellness Program. Find it all here: www.townofstmarys.com/covid19

The United Way Perth-Huron is hosting a virtual DEBX Talk that will examine the devastating effects that #COVID19 has had on women in the workforce. The event is happening on Friday, November 6 from 8 - PM and will feature St. Marys' own Emm Gryner! Get your tickets by October 31 to receive a #locallove swag bag with products from The Chocolate Factory, Troyer's Spices, Village Craft and Candle and Junction 56 Distillery: https://app.gigitmarketplace.com/event/uwphdebx

For the rest of the school year, well be closing a section of Lindsay Atkinson Drive in the afternoons to help students at Little Falls Public School board the bus safely. The closure will take place daily between 3:15 and 3:45 pm and will ensure physical distancing requirements are met. Please use the James Street entrance to access the Pyramid Recreation Centre parking lot during the closure. Thank you for your cooperation!

UPDATE: The phone lines are working again. Thank you for your patience! The phone lines at all Town facilities are currently out of service. We are addressing the issue and hope to have it fixed shortly. If you need to reach us, please send us a direct message or email us at [email protected]. Thank you for your patience!

Halloween weekend is almost upon us! Save this handy image and read more about all the free safe and scary activities we have planned: www.townofstmarys.com/halloween

Whats up downtown this morning? Allan Lichty and Joey Siddall of Forman Electric are installing banners that promote our "Strong as Stone" philosophy to everyone who visits! Our Business Economic Support and Recovery Task Force is leading this project; installation will continue tomorrow.

Hazardous waste, like paint, fuel, chemicals and cleaners, should never been poured down the drain. Discard it safely at our Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste Disposal Event, happening this Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 8 AM 12 PM in the parking lot of the Pyramid Recreation Centre. Visit our website for a full list of eligible items: https://www.townofstmarys.com/Modules/News/index.aspx

Our friends at the Stratford Perth Centre For Business are hosting a two-day anti-racism and inclusion event on November 9 and 10. The event will explore important topics like systemic oppression, race, inclusion and equity and provide tips for how business owners can address these issues in their workplaces. You can attend via Zoom or in-person; visit www.stratfordperthbusiness.ca to register.

This summer, the St. Marys Fire Department welcomed four new recruits, including its first-ever female firefighter! Congratulations to Ian Edwards, Sarah Black, Ryan Hartsell and Matt Smale (pictured, from left) on joining the team! More details: https://www.townofstmarys.com/Modules/News/index.aspx

REMINDER! Registration is now open for aquatics programs at the Pyramid Recreation Centre: townofstmarys.com/registeronline

Please note that the Dog Park will be closed beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 15 to approximately Friday, Sept. 18 as new fencing is installed. The remainder of the parks original fencing is being replaced with galvanized chain link to match the rest of the parks exterior fencing.

Fall water flushing begins tomorrow for the area south of Trout Creek and east of James St. Flushing will be done between 7 AM and 5 PM until October 30. If you live in this area, you may experience some discolouration while flushing is being done. If you do, run cold water and avoid doing laundry until it runs clear. Thank you for your cooperation!

Just in time for back to school and ahead of schedule, its todays happy moment! Click the blue circle on our profile picture to learn more!

The Friendship Centre, St. Marys Museum, Early On Centre, and St. Marys Public Library all offer a wide range of virtual programming. We will be airing fitness videos from our archives this week as our Friendship Centre programs move away from the Facebook video platform. Museum content and Early On videos will still continue to be posted this page. You can also visit the St Marys Public Library Facebook page to access their virtual programming. ... Call us at 519-284-3272 or visit our website to register online: www.townofstmarys.com/registeronline.

Thank you to everyone who participated in #WasteReductionWeek! Our green cone winner will be announced soon. Another great way to protect our environment is to properly dispose of hazardous waste. To help, we’re hosting a Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste disposal event next Saturday, October 31 from 8 AM 12 PM in the parking lot of the Pyramid Recreation Centre. Details: https://www.townofstmarys.com/Modules/News/index.aspx

Do you know someone that could benefit from some social time/interaction, but they arent online? We offer many programs over the telephone, and outdoors at a distance. Our goal is to keep our community connected, healthy, and involved. Check in on those who are isolated, and let them know we have fun, social and stimulating programs for the mind and body. Phone the Friendship Centre for more information at: 519-284-3272.... Reference our legend to see what type of programs are currently offered. O - Outdoor Program L - Live (facebook) Z - ZOOM V - Video (facebook) T - Telephone

The St. Marys Volunteer Firefighters Association, Inc. scrap metal and Kinsmen Club of St. Marys Ontario e-waste pick-ups are happening on Saturday, October 3! Details on the pick-ups and the firefighters drive-through pork chop dinner on October 17 here: https://www.townofstmarys.com/Modules/News/index.aspx

It's our final video in our Small Business Week series! The St. Marys Golf and Country Club has dealt with pandemic challenges on multiple front, from dining to events to golf itself. Thank you to all our video participants for sharing your stories, and to all our small businesses for building our community!

We're as excited as you are about the re-opening of the Pyramid Recreation Centre's second ice pad on Thursday, October 29! For more details about what to expect when you visit and how ice is being allocated, check out our most recent media release: https://www.townofstmarys.com/Modules/News/index.aspx

The Community Safety & Well-being Survey closes this Friday, September 11. Your input could help improve the quality of life in our community. Dont miss out on this opportunity to share your thoughts: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSWBPsurvey

Tomorrow we are pleased to assist the Perth Regiment Veterans St.Marys Br.236 Royal Canadian Legion in a fundraising march to support Operation Leave The Streets Behind, which helps homeless veterans obtain permanent housing. Due to the pandemic, the march, known as "Ruck 2 Remember" has been scaled back to a single participant, Lino Di Julio, with an assisting member. This years march commemorates the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II; Lino will march from Lond...on to Paris over four days. Lino will leave London the morning of Thursday, Sept. 10 and march to St. Marys. He will arrive at the tennis court parking lot at approximately 5:30 p.m. then process to the Legion via Water Street with Coun. Rob Edney and Fire Chief Andy Anderson and Legion personnel, and led by piper Les Brunton. Along the march, Legion members will accept donations in support of homeless veterans. After dinner, Lino and his partner will be presented with a cheque in support of their efforts, plus receive the money collected on the way to the Legion. The next day sees Lino marching to Stratford, then Tavistock. More information about Ruck to Remember can be found at the page below, and all are invited to safely spectate and support this important cause! See more

We are actively seeking a qualified candidate to fill the part-time Early Childhood Educator Before and After School position at Little Falls Public School in St. Marys. Visit our website to learn more: townofstmarys.com/careers #nowhiring

Sounds like we can add "Home of Ontarios Oldest Fish Ladder" to our many claims to fame! Check out this video from The London Free Press to learn more about this historic discovery: https://www.youtube.com/watch

A reminder to community residents for the opportunity to provide input into the Community Safety and Well-being plan through the community survey. The survey is open until September 11, 2020. Click the link for more information and to access the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSWBPsurvey

Wishing you all a safe, relaxing and happy holiday this Labour Day Monday! We are kick-starting September with an assortment of excellent outdoor, ZOOM and telephone programs. Reference our legend to see the types of programs we offer:... O - Outdoor Program L - Live (facebook) Z - ZOOM V - Video (facebook) T - Telephone Call today to register: 519-284-3272

The Friendship Centre Without Walls Newsletter and Calendar is now available for you to peruse: https://www.townofstmarys.com//recr/Friendship-Centre.aspx

We are pleased to announce that the Stratford Perth Humane Society is now providing animal control services in St. Marys! Call the Humane Society at 519-273-6600 to report lost or found pets, sick or injured dogs, cats or small wild animals and other concerns about animals in town. Learn more: https://www.townofstmarys.com/Modules/News/index.aspx

Some handy new sanitizing stations have arrived in our downtown, courtesy of our Business Economic Support and Recovery Task Force. Learn more about the task force and find other business-related news in our Its Your Business e-newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/d7a/its-your-business-newsletter-9377544

The public washrooms at Town Hall and the Kin Pavilion are currently closed due to vandalism. We are working to repair and re-open the Town Hall washrooms as soon as possible, but the Kin Pavilion washrooms will remain closed as part of their regular seasonal shutdown. The washrooms at Cadzow Park and Milt Dunnell Field (lawn bowling building) remain open for use.

Join our team! Were seeking a part-time Library Page and a casual as need basis Library Clerk to provide assistance and organization at St. Marys Public Library. We are also seeking a full-time Custodian to clean and sanitize our municipal facilities. Visit our website to learn more about this and other exciting job opportunities: townofstmarys.com/careers

The University of Guelph and United Way Perth-Huron want to know how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you. Share your experiences in the Rural Responses to COVID-19 survey to help inform their research: https://linktr.ee/RURAL_RESPONSE

We are thrilled to see so many of our local businesses on this list! Congratulations to all the nominees!

Thank you to the St. Marys Pickleball Association! The Association recently donated $2,750 to the Town of St. Marys for the painting of brighter, more visible lines for the game on two of the Water Street courts. The painting will be completed in the coming weeks. From left are Pickleball Association president Doug Diplock, treasurer Angela Leis, Supervisor of Recreation & Youth Services Ciaran Brennan and Mayor Al Strathdee.

Time flies when you are having fun! Can you believe we are entering September?! With the new month watch out for new sets of programming, lots of Friendship Centre favourites... and stay tuned for some exciting Zumba news! Please note that the rain date for Knit & Chat has been rescheduled for Thursday September 3rd at Cadzow Pavillion. ... Reference our legend to see what type of program it is: O - Outdoor Program L - Live (facebook) Z - ZOOM V - Video (facebook) T - Telephone To sign up and register, call the Friendship Centre at: 519-284-3272.

Please note that due to vandalism, the washrooms at Town Hall are out of service until further notice.

Its the final Friday for our Piper at the Falls! The current forecast looks a bit wet, but we will keep our eyes to the skies and let you know by 6:30 p.m. tomorrow night if well have one last night together with our piper Les Brunton! Thank you to Your Independent Grocer for your support.

Town Council has officially proclaimed August 28-30 (thats this weekend!) Canada United Weekend in St. Marys to support our small, local businesses during these trying times! Heres how you can participate: Shop and dine local and save your receipt for a chance to win $10,000 (details in the link); Share your local shopping or dining experience on social media and tag #Canadaunited -- for each tag, RBC will donate 5 cents to a Gocanadaunited Small Business Relief Fund. Yo...u can also like videos and posts from Gocanadaunited on all social media channels; If youre a local business and would like support in covering pandemic-related costs, contact Stratford & District Chamber of Commerce for details!

At last nights meeting, Town Council approved a plan to gradually reopen the Pyramid Recreation Centre as of October 1. Learn more at the link: https://www.townofstmarys.com/Modules/News/index.aspx

Good news! At last nights regular meeting, Town Council reversed the yard sale ban, so they are permissible again. Whether youre hosting or attending an upcoming yard sale, please remember to keep hands clean and socially distance. If social distancing is not possible, consider wearing a mask even in outdoor settings.

This Friday, Aug. 28 is your last night to enjoy Les Brunton, the Piper of Kintore, at the Little Falls here in St. Marys. See what youve been missing this Friday night at 7 p.m.! Thank you to Les for providing us with a summer full of song and stories, and to all our sponsors: Your Independent Grocer, Bickell Built Homes Ltd., Reid Dundas, Veterinary Purchasing - VP, and Trouw Nutrition Canada!

On behalf of the Town of St. Marys, I extend our deepest condolences to the family at this sad time, Mayor Al Strathdee says. As a tight-knit community that welcomes visitors, we are heartbroken by this tragedy.

We are asking residents to participate in an online survey to share their perceptions of community safety and well-being. Your input is invaluable to the development of the CSWB Plan currently under development. Click here to access the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSWBPsurvey

It is with heavy hearts that we post regarding a tragic incident at the Quarry. At approximately 5 p.m. on Sunday police, fire and EMS responded to a call at the swimming Quarry. A 63-year-old man from the Kitchener-Waterloo area was snorkeling in the water and his family reported him missing. 911 was called, lifeguards immediately began a search, and firefighters assisted when they arrived on the scene. The search was called off at approximately 6:30 p.m. The OPP dive team ...will be on scene Monday mid-morning to begin recovery efforts. Stratford Police Services will attend the Quarry through the night to secure the scene. The Quarry will be closed indefinitely, and we will work with the police and the coroners office to determine our next steps. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family. Flags will be flown at half-mast at municipal facilities on Monday out of respect to the family. We sincerely thank our lifeguards, aquatic staff, St. Marys Volunteer Firefighters, Stratford Police Services and Perth County EMS for their utmost professionalism at this sad time.

Stratford Police Services are currently on scene at the St. Marys Quarry, attending to an emergency situation. The Quarry will be closed until further notice, and we will update with details once they are released. We ask that the public avoid the quarry area at this time out of consideration.

A busy week ahead of fun and interactive programming! Whether outdoors, or online our classes have so much to offer for your well being. Feeling like tapping into your creativity? New this week is an afternoon of outdoor painting! Please reference our legend to see what type of program it is: O - Outdoor Program... L - Live (facebook) Z - ZOOM V - Video (facebook) T - Telephone To sign up and register, call the Friendship Centre at: 519-284-3272.

Were hiring for a variety of positions, including deputy treasurer, legislative services assistant, public works and planning services assistant, crossing guards AND part-time early childhood educators! Learn more about all these positions at: https://www.townofstmarys.com///Current-Opportunities.aspx

St. Marys had a special visitor today! The Honourable Robert Black, Member of the Canadian Senate, stopped by for a tour of our historic Town Hall and a discussion with Mayor Al Strathdee on rural issues and agriculture. Mr. Black has ties to St. Marys, and as part of his visit he presented the Mayor with a Canadian flag.

Have you noticed the sidewalk stickers dotting our downtown? We hope they put a smile on your face while providing helpful information and reminders! The stickers are an initiative of our Business Economic Support and Recovery Task Force, which was created in response to the COVID-19 in May. We couldnt resist how nicely Dzsemy (pronounced "Jammy), owned by Linda Howard and Dan Welcher, complements these new additions to our streets!

Heres some #flashbackfriday fun! Staff recently found a stash of these postcards at town hall. While the postcards design certainly suggests a certain time period, theres a few clues in the photos themselves... can any of our eagle-eyed followers spot some of the elements that have since changed in our scenic downtown?

Only two more Friday nights to enjoy the Piper at the Falls! See you at 7 p.m. around the Little Falls, and dont forget to socially distance while youre out and about. Thank you to this weeks sponsor Trouw Nutrition Canada!