- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

The old professional building between 3rd and 4th Avenues East is a busy place these days.
It houses the temporary Owen Sound City Hall, the LifeLabs, legal and medical offices and newly renovated condominiums – Centre Suites.
If you have business there, parking is free in any non-reserved spot, but a significant ticket may be on your windshield when you return if you leave the car there while you attend to other errands downtown.
The City of Owen Sound, under the authority of the Ontario Municipal Act, has an Unauthorized Parking By-Law to regulate unauthorized parking, fire route parking and accessible parking spaces on public and private property in the City.

On June 12, 2017 Owen Sound City Council passed an amendment to its Unauthorized Parking By-Law to appoint three Special Parking Enforcement Officers for the 945 3rd Avenue East property.

There are similar officers appointed for the Heritage Mall and the hospital.
According to a staff report to the Corporate Services Committee preceding this decision, "Once the Specially Appointed Officers are appointed and trained, the tickets that are written are official City of Owen Sound tickets. Violations of the Unauthorized Parking By-law can be issued under the authority of the Provincial Offences Act and follow the same process as any other parking ticket issued by the City.
Parking tickets that remain unpaid after 15 weeks are subject to additional fines and the provincial licence plate denial system.

Tickets can be issued for the following offences at the following amounts as approved on June 26, 2014 by Regional Senior Justice Fuerth: