Council Highlights from the July 9 Council Meeting

Woodstock, ON – Thursday’s Council meeting began with at 7 p.m. with two presentations, followed by three community delegations.

2026 Woodstock Student Civic Awards of Excellence Presentation

Five Woodstock students were presented with the 2026 Woodstock Student Civic Awards of Excellence.

The awards are presented annually to students graduating from each high school in Woodstock. Students are nominated by their schools based on excellence in academics, volunteerism, leadership, and for overcoming adversity or serving as a role mode to others.

 Award recipients included Evan Crouse, Marie Edikeu, Gurleen Saini, Jamina Tieu and Cohen White who were each presented with a certificate and $1,000 award. 

Certificate of Distinction Presentation

Woodstock native, Brad Kovachik was presented with a Certificate of Distinction for his 30-year exemplary career as a linesman with the NHL.

Brad went on to officiate nearly 2,000 games, 200 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and five Stanley Cup Finals.  He also officiated the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, worked the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, the 2008, Winter Classic and the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.

His accomplishments both on and off the ice have brought pride to our community and inspired those who have had the privilege of working alongside him.

Brad also gifted the city with one of his game worn and signed NHL Linesman jersey’s which will be installed at the Reeve’s Community Complex.

OP 26-03-8 and ZN 8-26-02 - Application for Official Plan Amendment and Zone Change - 1001295663 Ontario Inc - 850 Juliana Drive

Council agreed to advise Oxford County Council that the city supports the application to amend the Official Plan for lands legally described as Part Lots 14, 17 and 18, Concession 2, Parts 1-4, 41R-6490, to redesignate the lands from Regional Commercial Node to Traditional Industrial to facilitate an industrial development that is proposed to contain five buildings with 16 individual units on the subject lands. Council also approved in principle a zone change application for lands legally described as Part Lots 14, 17 and 18, Concession 2, Parts 1-4, 41R-6490, to be rezoned to ‘Special Traditional Industrial Zone’ to allow an industrial development that is proposed to contain five buildings with 16 individual units.

Consideration of Correspondence – Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario – Request for Mobile Sign

Council approved a request from the Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario to put up a temporary mobile sign outside of Reeves Community Complex from Aug. 22 to Sept. 8 to promote its annual Walk for Parkinson’s event that will be held in Roth Park on Sept. 13, 2026.

Special Committee and Advisory Task Force Reports - 2026 Funding Requests

Council approved the following allocation of funds from the Community and Social Well-Being Reserve Fund

• Children’s Aid Society - You Belong in Woodstock: Family Connection Package Start-up - $7,500
• Woodstock and District Development Services - Full Circle Community Breakfast Hub Equipment - $34,000
• United Way Oxford - Oxford Supplies4Students 2026 - $25,000
• Wellkin Child & Youth Mental Wellness - Youth Creative Arts & Wellness Studio Proposal - $3,900 

Notice of Motion - Non-Resident Fees for Recreation Facilities and Programs 

Council directed staff to prepare a report outlining options to introduce higher fees for non-residents accessing City recreation facilities and programs, along with associated  financial administrative and service impact considerations and to investigate potential  financial partnership arrangements with surrounding municipalities including the feasibility of  annual contributions from those municipalities to support the costs of recreation facilities and programs used by their residents for consideration.

For more information about the items above, or any of the other topics discussed during the council meeting, visit www.cityofwoodstock.ca/agendasandminutes. Council meetings are live streamed on the City’s YouTube channel and recordings of the meetings are also posted online following the meetings. 

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