News

Good afternoon. From the heart of Prince Edward County, I'm Will Pearson with your County FM News.
To start, we have a yellow snow squall watch from Environment Canada. Snow squalls off Lake Ontario are expected again today, primarily along and south of the Highway 401 corridor.
Heavy snow and local blowing snow are likely to result in significantly reduced visibility and snowfall amounts of up to 10 cm. The squalls should move south of the area this evening. We’ll
have more details on our extended weather forecast following sports.
Members of County Council will be unexpectedly busy tonight and tomorrow. A Planning and Development Committee meeting had been scheduled for last Wednesday. Because of the weather, the meeting was re-scheduled for tonight at 6:00 in Shire Hall. The COMMITTEE of the WHOLE will be meeting tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 at Shire Hall. Members will review the long-awaited report analysing population growth projections and the implications for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. And the Council meeting scheduled for last night was postponed due to the weather conditions. The meeting will be held at Shire Hall tomorrow night, starting with a closed session at 6:00, then the open meeting at 7:00.
In weather and traffic, the OPP reported around 9 last night that the 401 had reopened in both directions right through the Quinte Region.
Earthquakes Canada recorded a magnitude 3.7 quake centred 23 kilometres southeast of Orillia just before 11:00 last night. People reported feeling the rumble as far west as Kitchener, through Toronto, east to Kingston, and as far south as Niagara Falls. There have been no reports of damage or injuries. The cause of earthquakes in this region isn’t as well understood as for those in plate boundary regions. The same area has experienced two earthquakes of similar size in the last 25 years.
In financial news, the Bank of Canada is holding its key interest rate at 2.25 per cent for a second consecutive meeting, a move that was widely expected by analysts. The Bank governor
says the economic forecast has not changed significantly since its projection in October. As it continues to adjust to the U.S. trade conflict, Canada’s economy is expected to grow modestly and inflation is expected to stay close to the central bank's two per cent target, although uncertainty around the forecast is heightened, and the range of possible outcomes is wider than
usual.
In travel news, some Ontario residents who typically spend their winters in the U.S. say they’ve recently opted to buy property in Mexico instead. The shift comes as some snowbirds grow uneasy about the political climate under U.S. President Donald Trump.

Finally, in other senior news, recent survey results from the National Institute on Ageing revealed a growing disconnect between how older Canadians want to age and the supports available to them. This year’s results show that positive feelings toward ageing fell from 62% in 2024 to 57% in 2025 — the steepest decline since the survey began. Social isolation and loneliness rates remain high and have shown no improvement since 2022, further underscoring the emotional and social strain many older adults continue to face. At the same time, though, fewer older adults report being unable to afford dental care, suggesting that the Canadian Dental Care Program might already be easing financial pressure for some.
That’s your County FM News. Your Sports report is next.

Sports

This afternoon, the Wellington Dukes host the Milton Menace. The Dukes are in sixth place in the East Conference, while the Menace are in third place in the West.
All eight PWHL teams are in action tonight before they take a four-week break. The Toronto Sceptres visit the Montreal Victoire. The New York Sirens are in Boston to face the Fleet. The Ottawa Charge host the Seattle Torrent. And the Vancouver Goldeneyes visit the Minnesota Frost.
Four Canadian teams were in action last night in the NHL, three of them at home. The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 7 – 4 to the Buffalo Sabres, to go 0 and 5 in their homestand. The Montreal Canadiens beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3 – 2 in overtime. The San Jose Sharks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5 – 2. And in New Jersey, the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Devils 4 – 3.
The Ottawa Senators are the only Canadian team in action tonight, as they host the Colorado Avalanche. The Habs and the Oilers are the only Canadian teams in a playoff position.
The Toronto Raptors are back at home after a five-game road trip against Western Conference teams. The Raptors won four, including a two-point victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champions. Tonight, the Raptors take on the New York Knicks, who are right behind Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings.
That’s your County FM sports.