Committee of the Whole Highlights – November 2, 2026
The Township of Huron-Kinloss Committee of the Whole meeting was held on Monday, November 2, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at 21 Queen Street in Ripley.
Highlights from the meeting include:
- Economic Development and Tourism Update
- Parks and Community Spaces Update
- Drinking Water and Wastewater Update
- Salt Management Plan
- Minimum Maintenance Standards Policy Amendment
The full agenda and supporting documents can be viewed on eSCRIBE, the Township of Huron-Kinloss's platform for Council agendas and minutes.
Economic Development & Tourism:
Q2-Q3 Status Update (April to September 2026)
Committee of the Whole received an update on economic development and tourism activities between April and September 2026. The update highlighted efforts to support local businesses, attract visitors, and promote Huron-Kinloss.
Supporting Local Businesses
The Township continued to support local businesses through networking events, business outreach, recognition initiatives, and participation in Bruce County's Business Retention and Expansion Survey.
Results from the Business Retention and Expansion Survey are expected later this year and will help guide future economic development priorities.
Business attraction efforts also continued through realtor engagement, newcomer outreach, and advertising available opportunities.
Five applications were received through the Downtown Improvement Program. One project has been funded, while four approved projects are expected to be completed by year-end.
Connecting Visitors with Local Businesses
Music in the Fields attracted more than 7,500 attendees during the festival weekend.
To help local businesses benefit from this visitor traffic, the Township launched the Fields Family initiative. Visitors attending Music in the Fields and the Dungannon Super Pull were encouraged to visit participating businesses in downtown Lucknow through promotions and a QR code scavenger hunt.
Twenty-nine businesses participated and 133 scavenger hunt entries were received.
Tourism Attractions and Events
The Ripley Food Art and Craft Festival welcomed more than 800 attendees and 54 vendors. The event showcased local food, art, crafts, and small businesses while drawing visitors to downtown Ripley.
The Point Clark Lighthouse Museum welcomed 1,846 paying visitors during the 2026 season. The museum continues to be one of Huron-Kinloss's most visited tourism attractions.
Promoting Huron-Kinloss
Huron-Kinloss was promoted at the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, which attracted more than 71,000 attendees.
Staff also presented Ripley's downtown revitalization experience at the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs' Teeny Tiny Summit and participated in regional discussions about economic development and future growth opportunities.
Tourism promotion continued through the Secrets of the Back Forty and Back Forty Bites campaigns. Traffic to the Secrets of the Back Forty website increased by 397% compared with the same period in 2025.
Learn More/View Full Report
Community Services:
Parks and Community Spaces Update
Committee of the Whole received an update on Community Services projects underway across Huron-Kinloss.
The update highlighted tree planting projects, facility maintenance, park improvements, and partnerships with local volunteers and community organizations.
Community Partnerships Enhance Local Parks
The Ripley Horticultural Society, with support from Township staff, is reconstructing the entrance flower bed at Lewis Park. New trees have also been planted at Lewis Park, the Ripley soccer fields, and Langdon Park.
At Kin Bruce Park, 30 additional trees are being planted through a partnership involving local volunteers, community organizations, and Township staff. The project supports recommendations in the Township's Parks and Trails Master Plan.
Investing in Recreation Facilities
Crack sealing work at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre parking lot was completed in October. The work will help extend the life of the 20-year-old asphalt surface and reduce the need for more costly repairs in the future.
Updating Park Signage
New park signs are being installed throughout the Township. The signs include updated location, emergency, and park information. They are being installed near playgrounds and activity areas where residents and visitors can easily access them when needed.
Learn More/View Full Report
Additional information:
Public Works:
Drinking Water and Wastewater Update
Committee of the Whole received an update on the Township's drinking water and wastewater systems, including infrastructure projects, regulatory inspections, and ongoing water quality monitoring.
The report included an update on routine arsenic testing in the Lucknow Drinking Water System.
Why is arsenic monitored in municipal drinking water?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that can be found in groundwater throughout Grey and Bruce Counties. Ontario's drinking water regulations require municipal water systems to regularly test for arsenic and many other water quality parameters to help protect public health and identify potential concerns early. The province's reporting requirements are designed to ensure test results are reviewed and communicated when standards are exceeded.
During routine quarterly testing, a sample from Well 5 measured arsenic at 11.8 micrograms per litre (µg/L), slightly above Ontario's drinking water standard of 10 µg/L.
As required by provincial regulations, the result was reported to health and environmental authorities. Follow-up testing measured arsenic at 5.5 µg/L, below the provincial standard.
No drinking water advisory was issued, and provincial authorities have not required any additional public health measures or operational changes.
Will monitoring continue?
Yes. Quarterly arsenic monitoring will continue in accordance with Ontario's drinking water regulations. Regular testing helps track naturally occurring groundwater conditions, identify changes over time, and ensure any changes are reviewed and reported as required.
What This Means for Residents
- Follow-up testing showed arsenic levels below Ontario's drinking water standard.
- No drinking water advisory was issued as a result of the test.
- Provincial authorities have not required any additional public health measures or operational changes.
- Regular monitoring will continue as part of Ontario's drinking water regulations
Learn More / View Full Report
Additional information:
Public Works:
Salt Management Plan
Committee of the Whole reviewed a proposed Salt Management Plan and supported bringing the plan forward for adoption.
Why does the Township need a Salt Management Plan?
The Township is required to have a Salt Management Plan because updated drinking water source protection requirements identified salt-vulnerable areas around municipal wells in Lucknow, Ripley, and Whitechurch.
The Township also needs a plan because its average annual road salt use over the past five years now exceeds the federal reporting threshold of 500 tonnes.
Staff noted there is currently no evidence that road salt is affecting municipal drinking water or the natural environment.
How will salt be managed going forward?
The proposed plan is largely based on the Township's existing winter maintenance practices. Most of the new requirements relate to inspections, record keeping, equipment calibration, and staff training.
The plan also identifies salt-vulnerable areas where measures such as reduced salt application rates and prioritized snow removal may be used to help protect drinking water sources while maintaining safe winter roads and sidewalks.
What This Means for Residents
- The Township will continue to maintain roads and sidewalks in accordance with established service standards.
- Additional measures will guide salt application and winter maintenance practices in areas identified as salt-vulnerable.
- The plan supports responsible salt use while helping protect municipal drinking water sources and meet provincial and federal requirements.
- There is currently no evidence that road salt is affecting municipal drinking water or the natural environment in Huron-Kinloss.
Learn More/View Full Report
Additional information:
Public Works:
Minimum Maintenance Standards Policy Amendment
Committee of the Whole reviewed a proposed update to the Township's Minimum Maintenance Standards Policy and supported bringing the amendment forward for approval.
The change would allow the Township's policy to automatically reflect future updates to Ontario's Minimum Maintenance Standards without requiring a by-law amendment each time the Province updates the rules.
Why is the Township updating its Minimum Maintenance Standards Policy?
Ontario's Minimum Maintenance Standards are provincial rules that set minimum requirements for how municipalities inspect and maintain roads.
Since 2003, the Province has updated the standards several times based on court decisions and feedback from municipalities. The Province reviews the standards every five years to keep them current, with further updates expected in 2027.
The proposed amendment would help ensure the Township's policy remains aligned with future provincial updates.
Will road maintenance change?
The proposed policy amendment will not change current road maintenance practices or service levels. It is intended to ensure the Township's policy remains aligned with future updates to Ontario's Minimum Maintenance Standards.
Learn More/View Full Report
Additional information:
Upcoming Meetings
The next Township of Huron-Kinloss Council Meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Monday November 9, 2026. This meeting will be held in Council Chambers at the Municipal Office, 21 Queen Street in Ripley.
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