Interview with the Warden - Sept 12th 2024

Thursday, 12 September 2024 11:21

The RFSOC will host a Regional Training Centre for firefighters, a funding proposal for a new school in Thamesford is before the Ministry of Education, and Oxford County now has a policy for community grants.

OXFORD COUNTY - We've had lots of good news in Oxford County over the past couple of days.

The Norwich Fire Service announced on Facebook yesterday, that the Rural Fire Services of Oxford County (RFSOC) will host a Regional Training Centre for the Ontario Fire College.

RFSOC consists of five local fire departments: Norwich, Zorra, East Zorra-Tavistock, South-West Oxford, and Blandford-Blenheim.

Warden Marcus Ryan says RFSOC has been training local firefighters for a while now, and saw an opportunity to expand.

"The Fire Chiefs all came to their councils and said we think we should offer to do this. The councils all said yes go and do that, and the province said yes that seems like a great place to do it, so we will give you the funding to do it. So what was the Rural Fire Services of Oxford County in Norwich, will now become a Regional Training Centre for firefighters across Southwestern Ontario."

Courses at the local training centre should start in January 2025.

The proposal for a new school in Zorra Township was also sent to the Ministry of Education recently. The Thames Valley District School Board submitted a funding request for five projects yesterday, with one of them being a new elementary school and child care centre in Thamesford.

This would be a co-build project with the the Township. Warden Ryan, who also serves as the Mayor of Zorra Township, says this means the Thames Valley would share some of the school's facilities with the community.

"We would have shared gym space and shared soccer fields. The idea would be more facilities for the kids to use from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and more facilities that would be totally accessible to residents on school property outside of school hours."

The Ministry of Education will award funding through the Capital Priorities Program in the Spring of 2025

Oxford County Council has also approved a new policy for community grants. This means local non-profit groups will be able to look over the criteria, and determine if they should apply for financial assistance from the County.

Warden Ryan says the County would like to support projects that align with its strategic goals and the Safe and Well Oxford Plan.

"If somebody said we want to reach out to homeless encampments and help people upgrade their qualifications to help them on a journey for a more independent life, that is precisely the kind of thing we would be looking for."

Oxford County Council signed off on the policy yesterday, making it the first of its kind in our community.

You can listen to our full interview with Warden Marcus Ryan below: