Please note that due to technical difficulties, the livestream and recording for the August 5th Regular Meeting of Council was unavailable. 

In place of the livestream and recording, catch up with what happened at this weeks East Zorra-Tavistock Council Meeting with a quick read of the meeting highlights below. 

During the Meeting

• The meeting began at 9:30am, following the attempt to resolve the technical difficulties that resulted in the meeting livestream and recording not being available. Deputy Mayor Smith and Councillor Van Wyk who were both present online were unable to participate in the meeting due to the technical difficulties at the Township Administration Building. 
• A Public Meeting was held in accordance with the Drainage Act for the Tavistock Drain 1979 (The Glasgow Warehouse Inc. Minor Improvement). Curtis MacIntyre from K. Smart Associates Limited presented the drainage engineering report. Following the closure of the Public Meeting, Council considered and adopted the engineer's report and gave the Provisional By-law the first and second reading in accordance with the Drainage Act.  
• April Nix, Manager of Policy and Planning and Justin Waud, Policy Planner from Oxford County Planning presented an update to Council regarding the New Official Plan that Oxford County is working on. The presentation provided background information on the County's current Official Plan, as well as visioning opportunities for the public and a project timeline. 
• Ronda Stewart, Economic Development Director from the Rural Oxford Economic Development Corporation (ROEDC) provided a presentation to Council surrounding the work completed in 2026 by ROEDC, as well as a look ahead. Highlights included the Rural Down Town Project, Rural Mayor's Breakfast, Oxford County Career Expo, Discover Rural Oxford, the Tourism Innovation Grant, and marketing and communications work. 
• Council received a number of Correspondence for Information Items. Included was a letter from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding Parkland development planning use regulation amendments. Director of Building and Development Services, Chief Building Official John Scherer provided a brief summary to Council.
• Council approved the request from the Tavistock Agricultural Society to deem the 2026 Tavistock Fall Fair as an event of municipal significance, and approved their request for an exception to the Municipal Alcohol Policy.   
• Staff Report OT-2026-04 Petition for Extension of the Raymer-Zinn Drain was reviewed with Council by Engineering Technologist, Drainage Superintendent Claire Ohrling. Council accepted the signed drainage petition and appointed an engineer to prepare a report in accordance with the Drainage Act. 
• Staff Report PR-2026-01 Recreation Update was reviewed with Council by Parks and Recreation Supervisor Matt Lamers. 
• Staff Report CAO-2026-14 August Monthly CAO-Treasury Report was reviewed with Council by Chief Administrative Officer, Treasurer Karen DePrest. 
• The Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Van Wyk regarding Stormwater Managment Pond Walking Trails was deferred to the September 2nd Regular Meeting of Council in accordance with the Procedure By-law as Councillor Van Wyk was unable to participate in the meeting due to technical difficulties at the Township Administration Building.  
• Council adjourned to the Closed to the Public Session as authorized under Section 239 of the Municipal Act for the Closed Session Agenda Items. 
• Council reconvened to the Open to the Public Session, and adopted a resolution directing staff to amend and increase the reserve bid price for the 90 Loveys Street property to $550,000 following the completion of the Record of Site Condition - Phase 2 assessment. Staff were also directed to provide a copy of the Record of Site Condition Phase 2 once approved by the Ministry in the public tender package.   

By-laws 

• Council considered and approved the following By-laws:
  • By-law 2026-11 Timms Creek Drain (third and final reading)
  • By-law 2026-28 Oxford County Library Board Innerkip Library Lease
  • By-law 2026-29 ZN2-25-09 (McKay)
  • By-law 2026-30 Tavistock Drain 1979 (The Glasgow Warehouse Inc. Minor Improvement) - First and Second Reading Only 

Next Council Meeting

The next regularly scheduled East Zorra-Tavistock Council Meeting is set for Wednesday September 2, 2023 at 9:00am.  

Southwestern Public Health has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for our area. 

Environment Canada is forecasting a multi-day heat event starting Monday, July 13th and continuing into Wednesday, July 15th or Thursday, July 16th. Daytime highs will be as high as 35 degrees Celsius, with humidex values near 42. 

Remember to stay hydrated, limit time outdoors during the hottest parts of the day, and check in on friends, family, and neighbours who may be more vulnerable to the heat.

Cooling Centres 

Members of the public are welcome to stop in and cool off in an air conditioned space at the following cooling centres:

Tavistock Memorial Hall

Monday July 13, Tuesday July 14, Wednesday July 15, Thursday July 16, open from 7:30am to 4:30pm

Township Administration Building

Monday July 13, Tuesday July 14, Wednesday July 15, Thursday July 16, open from 8:30am to 4:30pm

Innerkip Community Centre

Tuesday July 14, open from 3:00pm to 7:00pm 
Wednesday July 15, open from 10:00am to 2:00pm
Thursday July 16, open from 3:00pm to 7:00pm

Spray Pad

Looking for other ways to beat the heat? The Spray pad at the Tavistock Queen’s Park is open daily from 9:00am to 9:00pm.

Additional Resources

Visit Environment Canada's website for the most up-to-date weather information. 

Visit Southwestern Public Health's Extreme Heat resources page for a list of additional cooling centers and more information about how to protect yourself in extreme heat.

Due to today's continuing Extreme Heat Warning issued by Southwestern Public Health and localized power outages, the Township has opened additional cooling centres.

Members of the public are welcome to stop in and cool off in an air conditioned space, and charge phones and electronic devices.

Tavistock Memorial Hall

Thursday July 2 and Friday July 3, open from 7:30am to 4:30pm

Township Administration Building

Thursday July 2 and Friday July 3, open from 8:30am to 4:30pm

Innerkip Community Centre

Thursday July 2, open from 3:00pm to 7:00pm 

Looking for other ways to beat the heat? The Spray pad at the Tavistock Queen’s Park is open daily from 9:00am to 9:00pm 

Remember to stay hydrated, limit time outdoors during the hottest parts of the day, and check in on friends, family, and neighbours who may be more vulnerable to the heat.

Learn more about Extreme Heat at: https://www.swpublichealth.ca/extreme-heat

Oxford County is initiating background work and community visioning for a new Official Plan.

Why is a new Official Plan being created?

The Official Plan is a document that guides all development across all lands in Oxford County. A community’s vision helps identify local interests that an Official Plan needs to balance such as social and economic needs and the preservation and protection of natural assets, agricultural lands and natural spaces. The County’s vision and strategy help inform the detailed policies which guides local requirements for development (e.g. zoning by-laws).  The current Official Plan is over 30 years old and since then there’s been a lot of change. This is the opportunity to take a fresh look at what Oxford County’s local priorities should be.

What’s happening?

The first phase of engagement will focus on visioning – we would like to understand what is your vision for a new Official Plan? The next opportunity to participate is through one of the upcoming in-person workshops:

1. Tuesday, June 16 - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Innerkip Community Centre, East Zorra-Tavistock
2. Wednesday, June 17 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm – Mt. Elgin Community Centre, South-West Oxford
3. Tuesday, June 23 - 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm – Altadore Hall, South Gate Centre, Woodstock
4. Thursday, June 25 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm - Embro Community Centre, Zorra

Interested in coming to a workshop? Please RSVP to help us make these workshops a success!

What other ways can I participate?

• Visit the new Speak Up Oxford Page with project information
• Complete the Community Visioning Survey

Stay Informed

If you would like to be notified about future engagement opportunities, have questions, or would like to submit your thoughts about the New Official Plan, please contact Community Planning staff at: OPupdate@oxfordcounty.ca or (519) 539-9800 ext. 3207

How will my feedback be used?           

The goal for collecting community feedback is to help identify broad goals that will inform policy directions, which affect detailed draft Official Plan policies for Council’s consideration.

Community visioning feedback will be reviewed and shared through a “Setting Directions” document that shows Council key themes from what we heard during visioning and learned during the broader study process.

No matter where you live in Oxford County, the 2027 Budget survey is your chance to have a say on which services should be a priority next year.

Answers and comments from the survey let us know how well municipal services are understood, how they are valued, and which ones are a priority for residents. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It closes on August 31, 2026.

Depending where you live, you'll be asked about local area municipal services in your community (Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Ingersoll, Norwich, South-West Oxford, Tillsonburg, Woodstock and Zorra), such as fire services, building and drainage services, parks and recreation, by-law enforcement and more.

East Zorra-Tavistock's 2027 Budget Survey

TAVISTOCK – Boil water advisory ENDED for William Street south of Wettlaufer Street 

Southwestern Public Health has rescinded (ended) the boil water advisory for William Street south of Wettlaufer Street in Tavistock.

Residents in the area can resume regular water use. After a boil water advisory has ended, Public Health advises residents to run water taps for five (5) minutes before using the water.

To sign up to receive future for boil water advisories from Oxford County by email, visit www.oxfordcounty.ca/ealerts 

More information about boil water advisories can be found on the Southwestern Public Health website.