The Town of Hanover is inviting residents, business owners, and community groups to provide their feedback on the draft Downtown Hanover Plan during a public open house on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Saugeen Room at the Town of Hanover Civic Centre, located at 341 10th Street.
This upcoming open house serves as a final opportunity for community members to review the proposed long-term vision for the downtown core before the plan is finalized. The draft document evaluates current conditions, identifies what is currently working well, and outlines three specific work plans designed to guide future implementation. The strategy is built around four main areas: design, promotion, economic vitality, and organization.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Town of Hanover and the Downtown Improvement Area, with J.L. Richards & Associates Limited providing consulting services for the project. The planning process has relied heavily on public input gathered earlier this year, including a series of outreach sessions, an online questionnaire, and an Idea Jam event.
At the open house, attendees will be able to view display boards that summarize the project’s key directions and hear a brief presentation regarding the future of the downtown area. The final plan will be submitted to the Town of Hanover Council, led by Mayor Sue Paterson and the current council members, for final approval.
This downtown development initiative builds on the town’s existing Community Improvement Program. Since 2014, that program has invested approximately $235,000 in facade grants, which has helped generate over $800,000 in total improvements, leveraging a roughly 3:1 ratio of private to public investment for property upgrades throughout the downtown core.
