The Town of Hanover has released official briefs summarizing the decisions made during the council meeting held on Monday, April 20, 2026. These updates, published on April 23, provide residents with a look at local government actions as the current council term moves toward the municipal elections in October.
During the session, council members heard from ERTH Corporation President and CEO Chris White regarding the proposed acquisition of Westario Power. This transaction, which is currently under review, requires approval from nine shareholders and the Ontario Energy Board, with a final decision expected later in 2026. Westario Power currently serves as the electricity provider for Hanover and 14 other municipalities.
The Hanover Public Library also brought a long-standing issue back to the table. CEO Carolyn Caskanette presented a report indicating that the library is significantly undersized and needs to grow from its current 5,000 square feet to 11,000 square feet to properly support community programming and accessibility standards. The library board is now asking council to direct staff to prepare a report on establishing a committee to investigate these space needs, a topic first raised by the library in 2015.
In municipal operations, council approved updates to the bylaw governing the Hanover Fire Department and reviewed the ongoing rescue pumper replacement project. The project is facing up to $60,000 in additional costs due to industry pressures, with the new vehicle expected to arrive in late 2026. Additionally, council finalized a new agreement with the Owen Sound Police Service to provide fire dispatch services for the town, effective from 2027 through 2035.
The current Hanover Town Council includes Mayor Sue Paterson, Deputy Mayor Warren Dickert, and Councillors Susan Sakal, Brandon Koebel, Carol Hudson, Dave Hocking, and Harold Fleet. Residents interested in participating in the next public session can attend the next regular council meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 4 p.m. in person or virtually via the town’s Facebook page.
