Grand Opening of Nellis Towers affordable housing project in Woodstock

Representatives from Oxford County, Woodstock Non-Profit Housing Corporation, and the City of Woodstock were on hand for the grand opening of Nellis Towers on May 23, 2023, Oxford County’s largest affordable housing project to date. A total of 62 of the building’s 98 units for seniors are allocated to affordable rents (rent set at or below market rate for households with moderate income). More

Woodingford Lodge expands Family Transition Program and launches new Adult Day Program

Woodingford Lodge received funding support from Ontario’s Local Priorities Fund to expand the Family Transition Program in 2023. First launched in 2018, the program helps prospective residents and their families adjust to life in long-term care before the day of admission. Local Priorities Funding was used to launch a new Adult Day Program offering full-day programming, companionship, and supervised care. More

Oxford County Library unveils new library branch on wheels

The Ox on the Run “bookmobile” connects residents to library resources and programming across Oxford County. Oxford County Library expanded the Ox on the Run program thanks to a new mobile library unit and two outreach staff as a pilot project in 2023-2024. The bookmobile is a decomissioned Oxford County Paramedic Services ambulance retrofitted to serve as a library branch on wheels. Ox on the Run serves residents of all ages, offering access to library books, storytime programming, and other resources, like internet and computer access, printing services and technology support during visits to parks, splash pads, community centres, and special events. More

Oxford County municipalities endorse Safe and Well Oxford plan

Oxford’s Safe and Well Oxford Plan, the County’s roadmap for building safe and inclusive communities, was endorsed by all nine municipal councils in 2023. The in augural Safe and Well Oxford Steering Committee was also appointed, made up of individuals who played a role in developing the plan, drawing from local police services, healthcare organizations and providers, school boards, businesses, social service providers, agencies and more. Safe and Well Oxford aims to create communities where individuals and families feel safe, supported and included, where they can access what they need when they need it to live fully. More

Grand opening of new Oxford EarlyON centre

The official grand opening of the Oxford EarlyON and Family Centre in Woodstock at 75 Graham Street took place in spring 2024. The new Oxford EarlyON Woodstock location is housed in the former Oxford County Land Registry Office, which was revitalized in 2022 with $745,000 in funding assistance from FedDev Ontario’s Canada Community Revitalization Fund. The 75 Graham Street building was a County-owned asset that had been sitting vacant for seven years until its renovation as a safe space for children and families. More

2023 Tourism Innovation Grant

Tourism Oxford, Community Futures Oxford, and Rural Oxford Development Corporation awarded four local businesses the 2023 Tourism Innovation Grant. Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese, Terra Nova Nordic Spa, Berrylicious Fruit Farm and SixThirtyNine each received a $3,000 grant to help develop a new tourism product in 2023. Winners were selected following a thorough review and scoring process. More 

Transportation Master Plan 

Oxford County completed the 2024 Transportation Master Plan (TMP) Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study in 2023. The plan identifies the policies, programs and infrastructure improvements needed to manage both existing and future transportation demands, defining the County’s vision and goals for its transportation system over the next 20 years, from 2024 through to 2046. More

Improving road safety in Oxford County  

With strong population growth and increased traffic across our communities, Oxford County has been undertaking speed management, traffic calming, and road safety investigations over the past four years to improve safety on County roads. The road safety reviews led to new traffic calming measures in Tillsonburg and Woodstock, including new electronic feedback signs, controlled pedestrian crossings and adjusted speed limits, and the installation of 20 new Community Safety Zones across the County in the fall of 2023. More

Supporting healthcare initiatives

Oxford County Paramedic Services participated in a video project in 2023 for training dementia-friendly first responders. A partnership between the University of Waterloo and the Alzheimer’s Society, the video was developed to help emergency responders recognize, communicate with and respond to persons living with dementia.

Pilot program to divert agricultural wrap from the landfill

Oxford County launched a new pilot program for agricultural plastics in 2023 at the Oxford County Waste Management Facility. The program allows farmers to dispose of agricultural plastics, including silage bags, bunker covers, bale wraps, fertilizer bags and salt bags. More

Expanding green fleet with battery electric trucks

The Ford F-150 Lightning trucks unveiled in 2023 are the first of seven new battery electric vehicles at Oxford County, replacing fossil fuel vehicles scheduled for regular replacement in 2023 and 2024. The transition to green vehicles will save an estimated 24,500 litres of gasoline each year for the first seven trucks. Oxford County’s Strategic Plan commits to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through the Green Fleet Plan, the County is transitioning to lower carbon alternative fuels and energy sources that help reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. More

Water and Wastewater Master Plan

Oxford County completed the 2024 Water and Wastewater Master Plan Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study in 2023. The plan identifies the preferred water and wastewater servicing solutions to meet Oxford's growth needs to 2046 as well as provide effective ongoing continuity to existing serviced settlements. More

2022 Oxford Stewardship Award winner 

The 2022 Oxford Stewardship Award was presented to Mary Ann Doré in recognition of her efforts, and those of her family, toward land improvement and sustainability. Mary Ann was among three short-listed candidates chosen from a pool of projects supported by the Clean Water Program. The program is funded by Oxford County and administered by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority and the Grand River Conservation Authority. It promotes water quality improvement, as well as woodland and wetland conservation and enhancement. More

Environmental policies

Oxford County regularly review its environmental policies to ensure that environmental resources are protected and sustainably managed for the long term and prepared to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of a changing climate. In phase two of the Official Plan update, Oxford County is proposing updates to the environmental resource policies to ensure environmental resources are sustainably managed and protected for the long term. More

New backflow prevention by-law

Oxford County’s new Backflow Prevention Program adds another tier to the multi-barrier approach, which safeguards the municipal drinking water supply by preventing contamination from non-drinking water sources. Backflow events can significantly impact residents, businesses, and the environment by impacting water quality, posing a health risk to consumers and causing service interruptions. More

Oxford County Council approves 2023-2026 Strategic Plan

Oxford County’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan lays out the priorities of the 2023-2026 County Council. The plan sets out a strong mandate, including Housing for All, support for Safe and Well Oxford, the delivery of a Climate Action Plan, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, greater intergovernmental advocacy, and more. Goals and objectives in the plan are aligned along three pillars:  Promoting community vitality, Enhancing environmental Sustainability, and Fostering progressive government. More

Community consultation on “Housing for all”

Community feedback was sought for Oxford County’s 10-Year Shelter Plan (“Housing for all”) in 2023. The Housing for All Plan, supported by the Master Housing Strategy, seeks to increase the affordable rental housing supply, preserve and optimize existing housing stock, reduce chronic homelessness, increase housing with related supports, and increase rent supplement units in the community. More

Oxford County selected as host of the 2025 Annual Municipal Public Works Trade Show

Oxford County was selected to host the 2025 Annual Municipal Public Works Trade Show in 2023. The June 2025 event will bring more than 2,000 municipal attendees from across Ontario to learn the latest in roads technology and services. More

Employee engagement survey results

Oxford County Council received the results of its 2022 Employee Engagement Survey in 2023. The survey results highlighted the County's greatest strengths and opportunities for improvement, while also comparing statistics from the 2017 employee engagement survey. More

Engineering construction agreement between Town of Ingersoll and Oxford County

The Town of Ingersoll and Oxford County formalized a partnership agreement for engineering services to ensure coordinated, cost-effective, and reliable construction projects in Ingersoll. The agreement between the Town and the County focuses on progressive management of construction-related costs across the two municipal tiers, recognizing that there is “one taxpayer” that ultimately bears the operation costs of both. More

Text

Housing for All Plan

Oxford County released Housing for All, 2024-2033 in 2024, a plan to guide decision-making on housing and homelessness over the next decade. The plan covers the entire housing continuum—from emergency shelters to affordable homeownership—working in alignment with the County's Official Plan, the Master Housing Strategy, and Homelessness Response Strategy. More

Homelessness response

Oxford County funded 25 new emergency shelter beds in March 2024, doubling the number of people who can be sheltered at The Inn in Woodstock. In June, the County partnered with the Oxford County Community Health Centre to open a new youth transitional home to help move youth from homelessness to stable housing through “wrap-around” services that address the root causes of homelessness. More

Grand opening of Ingrid’s Place in Plattsville

The official grand opening of Ingrid’s Place affordable housing project took place in April. The 30-unit housing complex in Plattsville provides housing for seniors on surplus land donated by the Township of Blandford-Blenheim, and was supported through $1.5 million in capital funding from Oxford County and $750,000 from federal and provincial sources. More

Oxford’s Remote Patient Monitoring Program exceeds targets

Oxford County’s Community Paramedicine Remote Patient Monitoring program exceeded the target for number of patients helped and achieved a 97% satisfaction rate from patients in 2024. Launched in August 2022 by Oxford County Paramedic Services in partnership with the Oxford Ontario Health Team (OHT), the program allows paramedics to provide in-home health checks and remotely monitor the health condition of community members who frequently call on emergency services. More

Consultation for Five Year Child Care and Early Years Plan

Feedback from parents and caregivers was sought through the consultation process for the Five Year Child Care and Early Years Plan. As the designated child care and early years service provider, Oxford County is responsible for planning and managing licensed child care services and EarlyON Child and Family Centres. Oxford’s plan must align to Ontario’s Child Care Action Plan, which includes commitments to affordability (lowering fees), increasing access (expanding child care spaces), enhancing high-quality child care, supporting inclusion, and enhancing data and reporting. More

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency visits Oxford County

Oxford County welcomed visitors from Atlantic Canada in June to showcase Oxford’s excellence in tourism. The Culinary Tourism Alliance organized the trip to bring representatives of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to Oxford for a best practices mission. More

Extended hours coming to Oxford County Library rural village branches

Oxford County Library extended hours at eight rural village branches in the fall of 2024 following feedback from the community. The new extended hours offer more convenient access to collections and programming based on the needs of individual rural village branches. More

Oxford County Library adds stops for “Ox on the Run” mobile service in rural communities

Oxford County Library added more regular stops to its Ox on the Run program in 2024, improving access to library services in several of Oxford’s rural communities. Bi-weekly stops were added in Beachville, Drumbo, Springford, Kintore, and Hickson. More

Restoration work on Oxford Road 59 (Vansittart Avenue) bridge in Woodstock

Originally built in 1967, the Oxford Road 59 (Vansittart Ave.) bridge in Woodstock underwent major reconstruction in 2024, including complete removal and replacement of the existing bridge deck, repairs to the structure, and a new wider deck to accommodate bike lanes and sidewalks. The Oxford Road 59 bridge is a primary transportation route in the City of Woodstock with an annual average daily traffic volume of more than 13,000 vehicles per day. More

Community feedback on a new organics program

Oxford County reached out for public feedback in 2024 on changes to the curbside garbage collection program, including the potential launch of a “green bin” program to collect organic waste like food scraps and paper towels. An audit of curbside garbage in Oxford County in 2021 found that more than half of residential waste by weight was made up of organic material that could be diverted from landfill and used for other purposes, such as renewable natural gas or compost. More

Oxford County and area municipalities raising awareness of abandoned oil and gas wells

Oxford County launched a public awareness campaign about the risks of abandoned oil and gas wells in 2024, helping to draw attention to the provincial program available to help landowners identify and plug old wells to help keep communities safe. According to data from the Ontario Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Library, there are an estimated 500 abandoned oil and gas wells on rural properties in Oxford County. More

Steps to building a Climate Action Plan

Steps towards developing a Climate Action Plan for Oxford County were before County Council in the fall of 2024. The plan will address risks identified in the Ontario Provincial Climate Change Impact Assessment (August 2023), which details the wide-reaching impacts that climate change will have on communities, critical infrastructure, economy and natural environment. The County’s Climate Action Plan will identify local risks and propose projects to help mitigate those risks. More

Woodstock Wastewater Treatment Plant Biogas Utilization Project

Oxford County initiated a biogas utilization upgrade at the Woodstock Wastewater Treatment Plant in Woodstock as part of the County’s 100% Renewable Energy Plan. The project involves the installation of a Combined Heat and Power system to generate heat and electricity from biogas produced at the wastewater treatment plan, decreasing the facility's dependence on the energy grid. More

2023 Oxford Stewardship Award

The 2023 Oxford Stewardship Award was presented to Cobi and Steve Sauder in 2024 to recognize their efforts toward land improvement and sustainability. The Sauders have dedicated their lives to outdoor education and conservation and were acknowledged for a long list of stewardship projects at their 100-acre farm in Zorra Township, including planting an estimated 6,500 trees.

Oxford County Library Strategic Plan

Oxford County Library released its 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, offering a vision for the future of library services to meet the evolving needs of Oxford County's diverse communities. The plan, developed in consultation with community members, library partners, staff, and board members, reflects the Library’s commitment to embracing change, fostering engagement, and providing universal access to information, ideas, and engaging experiences. More

Updated water and wastewater service agreements for Oxford, Tillsonburg, Woodstock

The Councils of Oxford County, Town of Tillsonburg and City of Woodstock approved updated service contract agreements in 2024 that will ensure the continued long-term safety, reliability, and sustainability of water and wastewater services. The new separate agreements include a plan for enhanced service delivery and reliability of water and wastewater services and commitments to updated best practices and key performance tracking. More

Tourism Oxford seeks feedback on 5-Year Plan

Significant growth in tourism development in Oxford County led to the development of the Tourism 5-Year Plan. The plan is a guideline for supporting the County’s economy, environmental sustainability, and well-being through support for the tourism industry, effective marketing and promotion, and collaboration with partners.  The plan is aligned to the 2023-2026 Oxford County Strategic Plan as well as regional, provincial and national tourism strategies. More

2024 Development Charges Background Study

Oxford County's updated development charges, policy and by-laws were passed by County Council on June 12, 2024. An Addendum to the Background Study on June 10 addressed changes following the passing of Bill 185 - Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024. Development charges help finance the municipal infrastructure and services, including roads, water, wastewater, fire and ambulance, parks and more. More

Updates to County-wide growth forecasts and land needs

County Council received draft population, household and employment forecasts and municipal growth allocations in November 2024. The forecasts are part of a study to update the growth forecasts and land needs for the County and its eight area municipalities for the next 30 years, informing a range of County projects and initiatives, such as Official Plan amendments and infrastructure master planning. More

Woodingford Lodge Master Plan

Oxford County Council approved the Woodingford Lodge Master Plan in 2024. The plan, developed by Colliers Project Leaders beginning in 2023, is an operational guide to how Woodingford Lodge can better organize to meet the demands of organizational growth, population growth, and post-pandemic regulatory standards.

Leadership Development Program

Oxford Leads was launched in 2024, a new leadership development pathway consisting of two programs: the Leadership Development Program to develop leadership skills and promote readiness for potential future leadership roles at the County; and, Emerging Leaders, which provides growth opportunities to strengthen the County’s talent pool and build a team of capable leaders ready to tackle future challenges. More

Text

Text

Text

Text

Text

Text

Text

Text

Text