Jeff Helsdon, Ontario OUT OF DOORS Magazine Journalist Profile

Articles

Wind turbine project planned for area

1 week ago | thespec.com | Jeff Helsdon

A proposed wind project could see up to 22 Megawatts of power produced in an installation in the early planning stages to the west and south of Tillsonburg. Developer wpd Canada held two open houses this week—on Tuesday and Wednesday—to inform the public about its 200-megawatt proposal, the Cedar Flats Wind Project. The proposed area for the turbines would stretch from Verschoyle south to almost Corinth and then west past Highway 73.
Local singer nominated for Ontario county music award

1 week ago | thespec.com | Jeff Helsdon

Local singer Olivia Mae Graham has been nominated for a Country Music Association of Ontario award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of for years,” she said. “I’ve been going to the CMAO awards for years.”Graham explained that CMAO members choose the award nominees through three rounds of voting. She was one of six chosen as a nominee. Further voting will decide who wins the award. “It’s going to be fun to walk the red carpet, to celebrate with my friends,” she said.
Local singer nominated for Ontario county music award

1 week ago | pentictonherald.ca | Jeff Helsdon

Local singer Olivia Mae Graham has been nominated for a Country Music Association of Ontario award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of for years,” she said. “I’ve been going to the CMAO awards for years.” Graham explained that CMAO members choose the award nominees through three rounds of voting. She was one of six chosen as a nominee. Further voting will decide who wins the award. “It’s going to be fun to walk the red carpet, to celebrate with my friends,” she said.
Wind turbine project planned for area

1 week ago | pentictonherald.ca | Jeff Helsdon

A proposed wind project could see up to 22 Megawatts of power produced in an installation in the early planning stages to the west and south of Tillsonburg. Developer wpd Canada held two open houses this week—on Tuesday and Wednesday—to inform the public about its 200-megawatt proposal, the Cedar Flats Wind Project. The proposed area for the turbines would stretch from Verschoyle south to almost Corinth and then west past Highway 73.
Arpan Khanna re-elected in Oxford

2 weeks ago | granthaven.com | Jeff Helsdon

By Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative reporterIncumbent Arpan Khanna handily recaptured Oxford in the federal election on Monday. With 242 of 243 polls reporting on Tuesday morning, Khanna had 37,995 votes, Liberal David Hilderley captured 27,018 and the NDP’s Matthew Chambers received 3,107.
Learning about sea lamprey

2 weeks ago | oodmag.com | Jeff Helsdon

Sea lamprey are despised by many anglers. These invaders from the ocean have wreaked havoc with Great Lakes fisheries, where species did not evolve alongside them. In the Atlantic Ocean, where sea lamprey are native, fish preyed on by a lamprey are able to recover. In the Great Lakes, lake trout, lake whitefish, and cisco are the primary prey. During the 1960s, the commercial fisheries for these species dropped to 2% of its normal total due to lamprey predation.
Food bank accepting monetary donations

2 weeks ago | granthaven.com | Jeff Helsdon

By Jeff HelsdonEditorThe Tillsonburg Helping Hand Food Bank is accepting financial donations as a way to meet increasing demand. In a typical year, the food bank would do a spring food drive, but instead this year is doing what coordinator Samantha Hamilton calls the Spring Forward Give Back Financial Drive. “People can donate any amount they want and it would go towards us purchasing groceries,” she explained.
Wind turbine project planned for area

2 weeks ago | granthaven.com | Jeff Helsdon

This map from a council presentation on the proposed Cedar Flats Wind Project shows the possible area where turbines may be located. (Image: wpd Canada)By Jeff HelsdonLJI ReporterA proposed wind project could see up to 22 Megawatts of power produced in an installation in the early planning stages to the west and south of Tillsonburg. Developer wpd Canada held two open houses this week—on Tuesday and Wednesday—to inform the public about its 200-megawatt proposal, the Cedar Flats Wind Project.
Measles cases continue in the area

3 weeks ago | thespec.com | Jeff Helsdon

By Jeff HelsdonLJI ReporterMeasles cases are continuing to pop up in the area. The first case of measles in the Southwestern Public Health area – covering Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas – was in October 2024. Since then, 325 cases have been confirmed. “We had a case that travelled and came into the province and that’s how the measles outbreak started, said Dr. Ninh Tran, Medical Officer of Health. The size of the outbreak is at a level that hasn’t been seen since the mid-1990s.
Oxford County’s new strategy to address homelessness

3 weeks ago | thespec.com | Jeff Helsdon

Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy believes Oxford County’s new homelessness strategy is a step in the right direction. Oxford County Council recently passed a Homelessness Response Strategy called Housing for All. It is described as a multifaceted approach containing several steps, provisions and partnerships with community groups in an effort to greatly reduce homelessness in Oxford by 2033.