Northern Bruce Peninsula Council — Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Election voting opens Oct. 19 — Council confirmed the municipal voting period runs from October 19 at 10:00 a.m. to October 26 at 8:00 p.m. The municipal office will be open throughout, including Saturday, for working residents. iPad and telephone kiosks will be available on-site for residents without devices or internet access; privacy screens and a provider how-to video will be set up at each station. Clerk staff Kara and Alex will make in-person visits with portable kiosks to the Golden Dawn seniors building (Tuesday, Oct. 20) and the Brad apartments (Wednesday, Oct. 21). Voter information letters have already been mailed.
Seniors and digital exclusion — Councillors raised repeated concerns about elderly residents feeling cut off from municipal government. One councillor cited an 83-year-old constituent who called to ask about winter garbage pickup times, illustrating the barriers facing residents without digital access. Staff acknowledged the issue and noted that targeted physical mailings to seniors without internet have been discussed. A councillor observed that Bruce County has one of the oldest average-age populations in Ontario, underscoring the urgency.
IT road map received — Council received the IT department strategy and road map for information; the plan was approved as part of the 2026 budget. Pages 25–26 identify “critical initiatives,” several of which are already underway. Remaining items will be considered in the upcoming budget process. Priorities flagged include modernizing road patrol and compliance recording (current systems make extracting proof of legislative compliance difficult) and an agenda management system upgrade for accessibility and legislative compliance.
Cyber security and server modernization — Staff reported monthly phishing simulation tests are conducted on all municipal employees; those who fail must complete additional training. All new hires receive onboarding cyber security training. The municipality’s server, purchased in 2022, is being assessed for possible migration to cloud infrastructure, with a requirement that all data remain stored in Canada.
Bylaws passed — Council passed a bylaw accepting operating policies for the St. Edmunds Bruce Peninsula Museum (moved by Rod, seconded by Smoky). A motion carried on the building department intent and trailer bylaw for 753 Stokes Bay Road, where a building permit has been issued. The Fern Creek Drain public works item was also carried. Confirmatory By-law 2026-76 passed to confirm the day’s proceedings (moved by Todd, seconded by Smoky).
Councillor Todd signals possible retirement — Councillor Todd delivered closing remarks suggesting he may not seek re-election, thanking the Mayor, staff, and fellow councillors for their collaboration over the four-year term. The Mayor offered similar sentiments and indicated he does not assume re-election.