As previously reported by NorfolkToday.ca, Norfolk County OPP responded to a two-vehicle collision at Thompson Road East and Duncombe Road on Monday, October 5, where one of the vehicles caught fire. The driver of the SUV was pulled from the burning vehicle by a bystander, while the driver of the other vehicle was transported by air ambulance to a trauma centre.

Police have now identified the accused as 33-year-old Robert Weerdenburg of Norfolk County.

According to the OPP, both vehicles were travelling along Thompson Road East when the SUV struck the rear of the passenger vehicle. Officers conducted a roadside sobriety test while speaking with the SUV driver, leading to an arrest.

Weerdenburg has been charged with operation while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 milligrams or more, operation causing bodily harm, and dangerous operation causing bodily harm.

He is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Simcoe on Tuesday, November 17, 2026.

The charges have not been proven in court.

The collision prompted a road closure lasting several hours as emergency crews responded and police investigated. The OPP continue to remind motorists to plan ahead, arrange for a designated driver or find another safe way home rather than risk driving while impaired.

The debate takes place at the Simcoe Legion, with proceedings scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Residents unable to attend in person can watch the event through a livestream.

The candidates running for Ward 5 are Kevin Allen, Peter Black, Ryan Boyko, Quentin Dixon, Alan Duthie, Princess Peace, Mike Storoschuk, Bob Townsend, Dennis Travale and Krissi Wiseman.

The event follows Tuesday night’s mayoral debate in Port Dover, which brought Norfolk County’s seven mayoral candidates together to discuss issues facing the municipality ahead of the October 26 election.

The Ward 5 debate marks the final scheduled candidate debate of Norfolk County’s election season.

Further coverage of the mayoral debate and the candidates’ positions on key issues is also expected.

Election Day is Monday, October 26.

Online voting is available until October 23.

A new Nanos Research poll commissioned by the Woodstock Ingersoll Tillsonburg Area Association of REALTORS® found homelessness was the most commonly identified issue when residents were asked what would make their community a better place to live.

Fourteen per cent pointed to addressing homelessness, followed by creating more inclusive communities, lowering taxes and government costs, improving roads and infrastructure, and better access to healthcare.

Housing costs were also a major concern. The survey found 86 per cent are worried about the affordability of homeownership, while 82 per cent expressed concern about rental costs.

WITAAR President Derrek de Jonge said the results show residents value their communities but want meaningful action on housing and homelessness.

The poll found 76 per cent support reducing municipal red tape for new homes and renovations, while 75 per cent support lowering development charges for homebuyers.

Despite concerns about housing, residents remain positive about where they live. About eight in ten gave their communities high marks for safety, quality of life and being a good place to raise a family.

The full Nanos Research polling report and findings can be viewed here. (Hotlink this sentence to this website https://nanos.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2026-3057-Woodstock-Realtors-Populated-Report.pdf )

WITAAR says the findings give municipal candidates a clearer picture of the priorities voters want addressed over the next term.

Written by Jeremy Hall

The Ontario Provincial Police say the investigation targeted a property on Highway 54 after information surfaced during an earlier investigation.

Police executed a search warrant on September 22 with help from several OPP units and the Haldimand County Fire Department.

Investigators seized approximately 9,110 cannabis plants valued at $4.5 million, along with cannabis shake, resin and dried cannabis. The additional products were valued at roughly $96,000.

Two people were arrested at the property, while police say a third person fled and remains outstanding.

Sy Hung Phan, 45, of North York, and Xianli Lin, 44, of Maple, have each been charged with cultivating cannabis at a location that is not their home and possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling.

“Profits from illegal cannabis production are often used to fund other criminal activity and can pose significant risks to public safety, including fire and electrical hazards,” OPP Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart said.

Those concerns were found at the Highway 54 property, where police reported significant fire, electrical and property safety issues.

The residence was ordered closed to occupancy and its hydro service was disconnected.

Both accused are scheduled to appear in a Cayuga courtroom in December. The investigation remains ongoing.

Today: SCS Football Dough Raiser at Domino’s Pizza, Simcoe and Port Dover
Support the Simcoe Sabres football program and enjoy some pizza at the same time.
Order a large three-topping pizza for $13, and $5 from every pizza ordered will be donated to help support student registration for the Simcoe Sabres football program.
Use code DGH1 for one pizza, DGH2 for two pizzas, or DGH3 for three pizzas when ordering online or through the Domino’s Canada app.
The fundraiser is valid at the Domino’s locations on Queensway East in Simcoe and Walker Street in Port Dover.

Today: Wing Night at Army Navy Air Force Club from 4:00 – 7:00 pm
1 lb. of wings with French Fries or Onion Rings and those French Fries and Onion Rings portions are generous!
DINE-IN SPECIALS ALSO AVAILABLE THAT INCLUDE A PITCHER OF BEER. Wing Flavors: Mild, Medium, Hot, Honey Garlic, Sweet & Sour & Sweet Chili Thai **TAKE-OUT or DINE-IN** You’ll enjoy Wing Night on the 3rd Thursday of every month.

Today: Board Game Nite at the Simcoe Library from 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Join us for a fun, free evening of board gaming!
Bring your own or jump in and play from a wide selection of games like Catan, Scythe, Dominion, Lords of Waterdeep, Jenga, Word Slam, and more.
Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or brand new to board games, there’s something for everyone. It’s a great way to make memories, meet new people, and have a blast.
No experience necessary—just bring your game face! (Minors must be accompanied by an adult.)

Today: Teeterville Legion Craft Night at Teeterville Royal Canadian Legion from 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Craft Night – Dryer Vent Pumpkins Join us at Teeterville Legion Branch 526 for a fun fall craft night! Create your own decorative dryer vent pumpkin. Thursday, October 15 at 7:00 PM $10 per person Pre-registration required to ensure enough supplies are available. Contact Jan at 519-718-2091 or janmlp29@hotmail.com to register.

Tomorrow: Waterford Lions 44th Annual Pumpkinfest, things get underway.
WEBSITE: http://www.pumpkinfest.com
Free admission to festival. Features pumpkin pyramids, children’s midway, fireworks, entertainment for all, spookhouse, parade, soapbox derby, indoor craft market, outdoor vendors, craft beer/wine/spirits area, car show.

LOCAL SPORTS:

Varsity Football Friday, Oct 16th

• Holy Trinity Catholic High School at Simcoe Composite School – 11:30 am
• McKinnon Park Secondary School at Waterford High School – 2:00 pm (Pumpkin Bowl)
• Valley Heights Secondary School at Pauline Johnson Collegiate & Vocational School – 2:45 pm
• Cayuga Secondary School at Delhi District Secondary School – 2:45 pm

Port Dover Sailors

• Thurs, Oct 15 – Port Dover Sailors at Dundas Blues – 7:30 pm
• Sat, Oct 17 – Port Dover Sailors at Streetsville Derbys – 7:30 pm
• Sun, Oct 18 – Hagersville Hawks at Port Dover Sailors – 2:00 pm

Delhi Flames (OEHL)

• Sat, Oct 17 – Delhi Flames at Tavistock Royals – 7:30 pm

Click here for more community events.

Have something for the 48? Adding it is easy to do. Click here to get started.

Austin’s Pumpkin Patch is raising money for the Juravinski Cancer Centre, with this year’s proceeds going toward a da Vinci robotic surgical system.

The technology allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with greater precision while using less invasive techniques. The system costs about $3 million.

We caught up with cancer survivor and volunteer Olivia Hazen at the pumpkin patch, where she shared that she has now passed the five-year milestone following her own cancer treatment. Hazen said the fundraiser chooses a specific need at Juravinski to support each year.

Everything sold through the Juravinski Pumpkin Patch goes directly toward the fundraiser, including pumpkins, T-shirts, fall décor and other seasonal items.

Organizer Kim Smith said the campaign has already reached its original $25,000 goal, helped by roughly $20,000 in corporate sponsorships. Now, volunteers are aiming even higher, hoping to double that total and raise $50,000.

Smith said the robotic system can give surgeons an extra level of control during delicate procedures.

Smith said many people may not realize how much hospitals rely on community fundraising and donations to help purchase equipment, rather than those costs being fully covered by government funding. She said that was something she didn’t understand herself when she first became involved.

The fundraiser has also received support from local farms and businesses donating pumpkins, flowers, signage and other supplies

Residents can continue supporting the campaign by stopping by the pumpkin patch, located at 2587 Cockshutt Road, Waterford and picking up some fall décor or purchasing raffle tickets for the annual quilt draw.

Written by Jeremy Hall

That was Sgt. Ed Sanchuk reporting that a 25-year-old Cambridge resident died following a collision involving a tractor-trailer and a sedan near in Windham Centre.

Norfolk OPP say emergency crews were called to Brantford Road shortly before 6:45 a.m. yesterday following reports of a collision.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.

While at the scene, Sanchuk informed the public that they were looking for another driver involved in a separate collision.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed either crash, or who may have dashcam footage or other information, to contact Norfolk OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and reference incident E261486869.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at helpsolvecrime.com.

Tips may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

The event drew a standing-room-only crowd as Doug Brunton, David Finch, Noel Haydt, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner and Adam Veri took questions.

The rapid-fire section called for one-word or very short answers, giving voters a quick look at the candidates’ positions and priorities.

Thinker or doer?

Thinker: None
Doer: Noel Haydt, Adam Veri
Both: David Finch, Doug Brunton, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

Cautious or bold?

Cautious: Doug Brunton
Bold: David Finch, Noel Haydt, Adam Veri, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

What do you brag about most when talking about Norfolk?

David Finch: Beaches
Noel Haydt: Food grown in Norfolk
Adam Veri: Festivals and events
Doug Brunton: Farming
Ken Hewitt: Agriculture
Keith Milner: Community

Have you attended a Pride event?

Yes: David Finch, Adam Veri, Doug Brunton, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner
No: Noel Haydt

Should user fees fully cover the cost of operating recreation facilities?

Yes: Noel Haydt
No: David Finch, Adam Veri, Doug Brunton, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

Should out-of-town users pay higher recreation fees than Norfolk residents?

Yes: David Finch, Adam Veri, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner
No: Noel Haydt, Doug Brunton

Ride Norfolk: support or discontinue?

Support: David Finch, Noel Haydt, Adam Veri, Keith Milner
Unsure: Doug Brunton, Ken Hewitt
Discontinue: None

Would you use strong mayor powers if elected?

Yes/Maybe: Noel Haydt, Doug Brunton, Ken Hewitt
No: David Finch, Adam Veri, Keith Milner

Should developers pay more toward expanding urban water and wastewater capacity?

Yes: David Finch, Noel Haydt, Adam Veri, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner
No: Doug Brunton

Should Norfolk continue summer paid parking in lakeside communities?

Yes: David Finch, Noel Haydt, Doug Brunton
No: Adam Veri, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

Do you support higher-density or multi-family housing in established low-density neighbourhoods?

Yes: Noel Haydt, Adam Veri, Doug Brunton
No: David Finch, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

Should Norfolk continue the Municipal Accommodation Tax?

Yes: David Finch, Adam Veri
No: Noel Haydt, Doug Brunton, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

Should Norfolk establish a Municipal Development Corporation to manage MAT revenue?

Yes: David Finch, Adam Veri
No: Noel Haydt, Doug Brunton, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

Do you support higher taxes on vacant properties and storefronts?

Yes: Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner
No: David Finch, Noel Haydt, Adam Veri, Doug Brunton

Should Norfolk have term limits for municipal elected officials?

Yes: Noel Haydt, Doug Brunton
No: David Finch, Adam Veri, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

What is your number-one priority in your first year?

David Finch: Doing things differently.
Noel Haydt: Get a handle on capital projects.
Adam Veri: Realign social services.
Doug Brunton: Taxes, water bills and red tape.
Ken Hewitt: Bring the budget back to predictability and under control.
Keith Milner: Return respect to Norfolk County.

Would you support a moratorium on data centres in Norfolk?

Yes: David Finch
No: Noel Haydt, Adam Veri, Doug Brunton, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

Do you support removing heritage designations from existing properties?

Yes: Adam Veri, Doug Brunton, Ken Hewitt
No: David Finch, Noel Haydt, Keith Milner

Would you put security in the Simcoe library?

Yes: David Finch, Doug Brunton, Keith Milner
No: Noel Haydt, Adam Veri
Unsure: Ken Hewitt, who said he did not know security was needed.

Would you support developing a new recreational hub?

Yes: David Finch, Noel Haydt, Adam Veri
No: Doug Brunton, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

Does Norfolk County communicate effectively with residents?

Yes: Doug Brunton
No: David Finch, Noel Haydt, Adam Veri, Ken Hewitt, Keith Milner

What groups or organizations have you volunteered with in the last five years?

David Finch: Pride Haldimand Norfolk
Noel Haydt: None
Adam Veri: Minor baseball, minor hockey, Board of Trade, Senior Centre and Simcoe BIA
Doug Brunton: Girls’ minor hockey, Simcoe BIA and Canadian Cancer Society
Ken Hewitt: Chamber of Commerce and Turkey Point Owners Association
Keith Milner: Port Dover Waterfront Preservation Association

If elected, would being mayor be your only job?

Yes: David Finch, Noel Haydt, Adam Veri, Doug Brunton, Keith Milner
No: Ken Hewitt

The rapid-fire round was designed to give voters a quick snapshot of where the six candidates stand without lengthy explanations.

With questions touching on housing, taxes, tourism, recreation, development and municipal leadership, the answers also highlighted several clear divisions between the candidates ahead of Norfolk County’s October 26 municipal election.

Written by Jeremy Hall

The club took to social media to share its frustration after someone drove across the field, leaving tire marks throughout the playing surface.

The field is maintained by a small group of volunteers and is used by more than 350 children during the summer soccer season. It is currently being used for youth flag football.

Norfolk Soccer Club told Norfolk Today there is no repair estimate yet, but the damage is extensive and impacts the entire field. There was also concern the vehicle could have damaged the underground sprinkler system.

The organization says this type of vandalism has become a yearly occurrence, costing the club significant time and money to repair.

Police have not been contacted. The club says it does not believe there is much law enforcement can do without information about who was responsible.

The potential cost is not insignificant. Following a similar incident in November 2020, repairs to the field climbed to more than $4,000.

Written by Jeremy Hall

The was Artistic Producer Clair Senko.

The show is tonight (October 14) with Senko describing it as a rare and powerful performance featuring a full band.

Organizers say it will be the musician’s first performance with a band in eight years.

The event is being kept under wraps, with Senko saying there will be no official announcement and that details are being shared through word of mouth and personal invitations.

Those interested in attending have been asked to send the Old Town Hall a private message to confirm the artist’s identity and obtain concert details.

Organizers say only a limited number of tickets remain, describing the upcoming show as a special night for the venue and its music-loving community.