Mayor Schaefer welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Mayor Schaefer provided a reminder that the Purple Bench Campaign's bench unveiling is scheduled today at Stonegate Park in Innerkip at 1:30pm.
Deputy Mayor Smith shared that the Hickson Lions Club had distributed poinsettias as part of their annual fundraiser. He noted that the Lions Club has also donated plants to the nursing homes in Tavistock, the Post Office and Township Administration Building. Deputy Mayor Smith also thanked Mayor Schaefer for his presence and continued attendance of community events.
Councillor Smith acknowledged that we are currently in the midst of the 16 days of activism against gender based violence in Canada. Councillor Smith shared the actions being taken in Oxford County, including Oxford County's declaration of intimate partner violence and gender based violence as an epidemic, and the statistics of reported intimate partner violence. Councillor Smith noted Bill S249, An Act respecting national action for the prevention of intimate partner violence is currently in the House of Commons.