Meaford Council Chambers. Photo by Claire McCormack
The mayor of Meaford says 2025 was an exciting year for the municipality.
Looking back on 2025, Ross Kentner says it was a year of ribbon cuttings for Meaford.
“After nine long years, traffic reopened on the twin bridges, numbers 21 and 22 on the Sydenham Holland Townline, $16 million worth of agricultural produce depends on that infrastructure. Through careful research, council was able to shave more than a million dollars off the 2016 price tag. During 2025, ribbon cuttings were held for more than 20 new business ventures in the Municipality of Meaford,” says Kentner.
One particular highlight for Kentner over the past year was when about 300 military personnel from the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre visited downtown Meaford in July in their Freedom of the City event.
“Marching, flags flying, drums beating, and bayonet fixed. The next day the base staged a hugely successful open house. Looking ahead to 2026, the Canadian Army will make a significant investment in our municipality as it prepares the training centre for a larger Canadian role in NATO,” says Kentner.
Additionally, Kentner says the Ontario Government funded the feasibility and cost studies for the proposed pumped storage project.
“A project that could bring TC Energy and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation together to strengthen the performance of Ontario’s fleet of nuclear reactors. Looking ahead to 2026, our council plans to negotiate a community benefits agreement with TC Energy so that in the event this multi-billion dollar project does proceed, the Municipality of Meaford will benefit accordingly,” says Kentner.
This past year was also signified by the numerous housing projects in the work in Meaford.
“We had shovels in the ground and houses going up on both sides of Highway 26 at our western gateway. Looncall and Baybounds are distinctly different concepts that will meet the needs of a growing community and also free up existing housing stock. Looking ahead to 2026, Skydev is converting nearly 200 planned waterfront condos to rental apartments, a move that will boost our rental stock by 75 per cent,” says Kentner.
While it was a busy year for the municipality, Kentner says one particular challenge is as council heads into the final year of the current term, they have gone through three different CAOs.
“That is nothing that was planned or what we really wanted, but at the end of the day, we have accomplished more I would say in this last year than we have in the previous two,” says Kentner.
The mayor says he is excited the municipality was able to cap off 2025 by investing in nearly 30 acres of commercial and industrial zoned land by Highway 26.
“Looking ahead to 2026, we want to design our new business park and make plans to service and promote it. We plan to move forward with the Beautiful Joe Pedestrian Bridge, linking it with Legion Park, a project estimated at a million dollars, but largely funded by development charges and donations,” says Kentner.