Depleted
County adopts 2026 budget after last-minute OPP cost hike Prince Edward County Council formally adopted its 2026 operating and capital budgets last week following a late change to provincial policing costs that added unexpected pressure to the municipality’s finances. Mayor Steve Ferguson officially signed the 2026 budget last Tuesday night, marking the end of a […]
Mayor’s Levee
Mayor Ferguson outlines Council priorities in final year of term Mayor Steve Ferguson welcomed members of the public and officials from neighbouring communities to the New Year’s Levee held at the Prince Edward Community Centre on Sunday, January 4, where he reflected on the accomplishments of the past three years and outlined the priorities for […]
Shovels down
County building in three charts In 2025, new homebuilding in Prince Edward County extended a downward trend that has persisted for several years. Sadly, the data provide no signal that this trend will end in 2026. NEW HOMEBUILDING Since 2022, new home starts have pulled back each year in Prince Edward County. Last year, just […]
‘I don’t like it.’
Council rejects Picton housing subdivision Fifteen years ago, then-mayor Robert Quaiff stood before a room full of local builders in Wellington, including Eric Denouden, to proclaim that the County was “open for business”. New homebuilders were skeptical. Their experience since has only amplified the mistrust between builders and County council. After decades of neglect by […]
Busy weekend at Busy Hands
Large crowds attend annual craft sale in Wellington Thousands of people descended upon the Wellington and District Community Centre over the weekend for the 26th annual Busy Hands craft sale. Seventy- four vendors offered a variety of crafts and products from leather goods and ceramics to fibre products and jewellery. There were even mushroom growing […]
’Tis but a scratch
Shire Hall to “investigate” Picton Terminals, again Midway through his quest for the Holy Grail, in Monty Python’s telling of the saga, Arthur, king of the Britons, encounters the Black Knight, who forbids the Grail seekers’ passage across a bridge. In the fight that ensues, Arthur proceeds to dismember the Black Night until his limbs […]
Off the auction block
Council changes course, relying on the track record of the town hall champions In a year’s time, the Wellington Town Hall will be cut loose from the municipality. Either it will be a thriving community and cultural hub once again—or it will be put on the market and sold. There is, at last, a timeline—a […]
Consecon Christmas parade
A snowy day for a Santa Claus parade The snowy weather did not deter hundreds of people from attending the annual Consecon Christmas parade on Sunday. Events in the village started earlier in the day with a bake sale at the United Church in support of local foodbanks. The Women’s Institute had their delicious almond […]
Christmas in the Village
Ameliasburgh celebrates and old-time Christmas The Ameliasburgh old-time “Uber” was in full operation on Saturday, ferrying passengers through the village during its annual Christmas celebration. Passengers could hop on the horse-drawn wagon for a ride with stops at the Town Hall, Masonic Hall and Heritage Village. There was live music at the Town Hall, and […]
Done
Tax levy comes in at half the increase proposed A week ago, the proposed budget recommended spending $91 million to run the County’s business in 2026, up from $81 million budgeted for this year—a 12 per cent increase. It raised the proposed 2026 tax levy by 11 per cent, from $54 million this year to […]