DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: More than $18 million in road construction and rehabilitation, $4 million in gravel road maintenance and more than $19 million in outside funding are among the highlights from Scugog’s Strategic Plan. The Township presented its Strategic Plan Progress Report to council in September, outlining work undertaken across the five directions adopted in 2023: Infrastructure, Sustainability, Economic Developme

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles are already part of the City of Kawartha Lakes fleet, but electric vehicles remain on the table as the municipality looks ahead to future vehicle replacements. Council received an update, on the city’s Municipal Fleet Greening Program, during its Tuesday, September 22nd meeting, following a report from, Public Works Director, Zayden Alganabi. The report out

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: If Scugog Council was looking for a clear message from residents, heading into the 2027 budget process, roads and infrastructure came through loud and clear. Ninety-four percent of respondents, to the Township’s budget survey, identified roads, sidewalks, and infrastructure maintenance as a priority for 2027, making it by far the most frequently selected service area. Winter maintenance was next, with

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: With the current term of Council nearing its end, the City of Kawartha Lakes is reporting significant progress on the priorities it set out, nearly three years ago, with 98 percent of its tracked strategic initiatives now either completed or moving forward as planned. Council received its 2026 mid-year update, on the 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, during its August 25th meeting. According to the re

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Getting around Kawartha Lakes without a car could look very different over the next decade, if the City’s draft Regional Ten-Year Transit Master Plan becomes reality. Council received the draft plan during its Tuesday, August 25th regular meeting, opening the door to a potential expansion of public transit, beyond the existing Lindsay Transit system. The proposed 10-year roadmap calls for a mo

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: A major investment in Brock Township’s rural road network continued recently, as crews carried out road maintenance work on four local routes. Lane restrictions began Thursday, August 27th, for the application of Flexible Asphalt Cold Technology (FACT), a self-healing road treatment, designed to help extend the life of existing road surfaces while reducing future maintenance and upkeep costs. The work

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: The vision for Lodwick Park, in Beaverton, took another step forward recently, as Brock’s councillors directed staff to seek updated pricing, to complete key improvements, including: enlarging the park's pickleball courts, adding a soccer pitch, and installing permanent park signage. At a recent meeting, council instructed staff to prepare a Request for Quotation (RFQ), to determine the additional fund

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Travellers, on Brock Township's rural roads, should continue to see improvements throughout the summer and autumn, as municipal crews press ahead with an expanded maintenance program, funded through council's emergency rural roads initiative. At a meeting, on Monday, June 29th, Brock Township Council received an update on the municipality's previously approved Rural Roads Emergency Funding program, in

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Residents will have a chance to help decide where municipal dollars should be spent next year, as public consultation gets underway, for the Township of Scugog's 2027 budget. Municipal officials are encouraging residents and property owners to share their priorities, through a new online engagement platform, complete a community survey, and participate in one of three public town hall meetings, next w

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: The future of one of Scugog's most recognizable community gathering places will take centre stage, later this month, as local councillors convene for a special meeting, to consider the final recommendations from the Port Perry Fairgrounds Visioning Exercise. Council will meet, on Monday, July 13th, at 5:30 p.m., to receive the Port Perry Fairgrounds Visioning Exercise Final Report, along with a staff

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Residents are being asked to help determine the future of recreation facilities across the City of Kawartha Lakes, as the municipality begins work on a long-term plan to guide investments in community centres, arenas, swimming pools, and other recreational spaces. The City has launched its Recreation Facility Master Plan, a project which builds on the 2025 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan a

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: A renewed partnership between the City of Kawartha Lakes and BGC Kawarthas will help ensure youth, families, and children continue to have access to important programs and services across the municipality, for years to come. At a recent meeting, on Tuesday, June 23rd, councillors approved a refreshed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BGC Kawarthas, replacing the original agreement signed

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Dog owners in Beaverton are one step closer to having a dedicated place for their pets to run and play, after Brock Council voted to move forward with the long-awaited Beaverton Dog Park project, this year. The decision was made during the, Monday, June 15th, council meeting, when members considered a staff report, from, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities, Wayne Ward, outlining updated costs

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Years of wear and tear, beneath one of Port Perry's key roadways, have prompted additional engineering work, as plans move forward for a major rehabilitation of Old Simcoe Road. The preliminary design phase for the Old Simcoe Road Rehabilitation project is underway and remains on schedule; however, new investigations have revealed underground deficiencies which will require further study before constr

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard DURHAM: The Ontario government is investing more than $9.6 million in Durham Region Transit through its 2025-26 Gas Tax Program, providing funding aimed at improving public transportation services across the region. The province announced that Durham Region will receive $9,633,396 to support local transit initiatives, including expanded service hours, additional routes, new vehicle purchases, and accessibility improvements designed to increase rider

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Residents across Brock Township are beginning to see improvements to local roads, following an emergency special council meeting, held on April 17th, to address concerns over deteriorating road conditions after a difficult winter and spring. Mayor Mike Jubb recently provided an update on the municipality’s response, stating, “Immediately after that meeting, and within four working days, all 150 km of o

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Growing healthcare demands, across Durham Region; emergency department pressures; and major investments in mental health and hospital redevelopment were front and centre during a presentation to council members in Scugog, earlier this week. During the Township of Scugog’s General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting, on Monday, May 4th, Cynthia Davis, president and CEO of Lakeridge Health, and

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard/BRANDON CLARK The Standard BROCK: A long-running community tradition continues to support local groups across Brock Township, as more than $18,000 raised through the Annual Township of Brock Charity Golf Tournament has been distributed to community organizations. At a late-April council meeting, township officials celebrated the funding, which was awarded to 14 organizations spanning youth sports, arts, cultu

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: A deteriorating rural crossing, west of Old Simcoe Road, is set for a major upgrade, after council endorsed a modular bridge solution, aimed at improving safety while saving both time and money. At its meeting, on April 27th, council approved a plan to replace a failing concrete box culvert, on Scugog Line 2, with a prefabricated modular bridge system, awarding a single-source contract, valued at roug

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: A proposal to expand the stage, at Sunderland Town Hall, is moving ahead for further study, after receiving endorsement in principle at Brock Township’s Monday, April 27th council meeting. The plan, brought forward by the Sunderland Youth Theatre Group, calls for a permanent extension to the historic auditorium stage, an upgrade supporters say would improve safety, enhance performances, and better supp