As the municipal campaign trail is now in full swing, we are starting to see the “podcast” emerge as a new venue for local Mayoral candidates to promote themselves and their platform. For Grimsby residents, this is happening through the NewsNow and Chamber of Commerce podcasts.
NewsNow has released its “Your Choice, Your Mayor” podcast interviews with three of the four candidates running for Mayor of Grimsby in the upcoming 2026 municipal election.
Hosted by Mike Williscraft, the conversations cover a broad range of issues that will shape Grimsby over the next four years, including growth and development, infrastructure, municipal finances, transportation, recreation, downtown Grimsby, governance, community priorities and the challenges facing the next term of Council.
These are longer-form talks that give residents an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates, in their own words, and get a better sense of their priorities, their campaign and approach to the job, if elected/re-elected.
We encourage Grimsby residents to take the time to watch all three interviews and make their own comparisons.
Photo Credit: Town of Grimsby / Fair Dealing with Modifications
Today, August 21, is officially “Nomination Day” for the 2026 Municipal Election. In our last post, we ran down the candidate roster that was still taking shape. But with two days remaining before the nomination deadline at the time of that post, there was still plenty of opportunity for some last-minute movement.
With only two days until Nomination Day, the list of candidates Grimsby voters will get to choose from in October is starting to take its final shape. The seemingly long nomination period has seen candidates trickle into Town Hall to file their paperwork, but over the past week or two, the pace has certainly picked up.
Grimsby had a rather cute and unusual visitor earlier this month.
A River Otter was spotted and photographed at Watcher’s Pond in the Grimsby Wetlands on August 2, believed to be the first known sighting of one in the Fifty Point-Grimsby area.
The otter also seemed quite comfortable with the attention, with photographer Terry Chettle capturing it lounging on the logs, showing off its paws and generally hamming it up for the camera.
Photo Credit: Terry Chettle
Bruce Mackenzie, who along with Laurie Mackenzie coordinates the Grimsby Wetlands Project for the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, said River Otters are seldom seen in Southern Ontario, although they are known to travel along Lake Ontario and inhabit larger river systems such as the Credit, Bronte and Niagara rivers.
Recent heavy rain may have allowed this one to follow a drainage ditch from the lake into the wetlands and discover one of its larger ponds. Mackenzie believes the otter has likely since returned to Lake Ontario, as the wetlands are not large enough to support the territory and fish supply an otter requires.
Photo Credit: Terry Chettle
The Grimsby Wetlands have attracted other rare visitors in recent years, including Niagara’s first recorded Cinnamon Teal in 2024 and a pair of Least Bitterns that successfully raised five young in 2025.
The wetlands, located along the Lake Ontario shoreline at Grimsby’s west end, have been a Hamilton Naturalists’ Club project since 2001.
The sighting is another reminder of why protecting Grimsby’s remaining wetlands and natural shoreline areas near the radio towers is of paramount importance. There has been development pressure for years on these lands in this part of Grimsby, including areas within and adjacent to the Greenbelt.
Wildlife does not recognize property lines, and wetlands, drainage corridors and undeveloped lands all form part of the habitat that allows species such as this otter to move through the area.
Sometimes it takes a rather photogenic visitor to remind us what could be lost if precious shoreline property is opened up to urban sprawl.
Care to visit? The Grimsby Wetlands are located at 624 Winston Rd, open every day and admission is free.
Corporate branding for the Town was up before Council at Monday night’s meeting, the last for this term of Council. In contrast to the branding’s first kick-at-the-can in June, this time there was little discussion or comment from Council, and the hired branding consultants were nowhere to be seen.
Image Credit: Town of Grimsby/AI Enhanced/Fair Dealing
On the agenda for Monday night’s August 10th Council meeting is the revised Town of Grimsby corporate branding project, including a new logo, the familiar and long-used “Friendly by Nature” tagline, and a supporting visual system.
Grimsby Council considered the final draft of the Envision Grimsby Official Plan (OP) on Monday night (July 13th), following public delegations, a presentation from Planning Staff and an extensive debate over future growth, building heights, infrastructure and environmental protection.
Image Credit: STC / Town of Grimsby, used under fair dealing with modifications.
Council was back in session on Monday night and changed the order of the agenda to move directly into the proposed new Town Branding Platform. Council first heard from the consultants, Scott Thornley + Company (STC), who were selected by the Town to help develop the new Town identity.
Image Credit: STC / Town of Grimsby, used under fair dealing.
On the agenda for Monday night’s (June 15th) Council meeting is the “Town of Grimsby New Brand Platform” that involves the presentation to Council and decision on a new logo, tagline/slogan, and supporting visual system for the Town.