Morrisburg’s Top News Stories of 2025 Highlight Education Focus

MORRISBURG – The most popular online news stories of 2025 on morrisburgleader.ca reveal a significant interest in education among readers. Three of the top five stories center around educational developments, reflecting a community deeply engaged in its local schools and initiatives.

Political Landscape and Educational Developments

The fifth most viewed story on the website focused on the re-election of Nolan Quinn, the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. The snap provincial election, called by Premier Doug Ford on February 27, resulted in Quinn securing a second term. His re-election was part of a larger victory for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, which maintained a majority in the legislature. Ford initiated the election to seek a “Strong Mandate” to address tariff challenges linked to policies from U.S. President Donald Trump, yet the distribution of MPPs remained unchanged from the previous assembly.

The fourth most viewed story reported on a proposed French-Catholic elementary school in Winchester. The Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien has applied to the Ministry of Education for funding to construct this new facility, which would serve students in North and South Dundas. According to Statistics Canada, around 523 students in North Dundas and 250 in South Dundas are eligible for French-language Catholic education, highlighting a growing demand for such resources in the community.

Another key educational story involved the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) and a controversial proposal to change school bell times. The UCDSB sought to flip the start times for secondary and elementary schools, citing research on sleep and learning. However, the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, which shares transportation services with the UCDSB, ultimately rejected the proposal. This decision came after two years of discussions, as implementing the change would have required an additional $2 million investment in transportation, a significant hurdle given the current challenges in securing enough bus drivers.

Significant Community Developments and Tributes

In the realm of community development, the groundbreaking of the $170 million Merkley Oaks subdivision in Iroquois emerged as the second most viewed story. Builder Valecraft Homes is constructing 313 mixed housing units, including detached homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses, and rental apartments. Work on the project commenced in winter and continued through summer, with at least 10 buildings under construction as of December 28. This subdivision marks the largest housing initiative in Iroquois since the St. Lawrence Seaway’s construction in the 1950s.

The most significant story of the year involved a data breach at the UCDSB that was discovered shortly after Christmas. This incident, linked to a broader wave of cyberattacks affecting many Canadian and U.S. schools, compromised the personal data of students, employees, and bursary award winners dating back to 1999. The breach affected all individuals who had attended UCDSB schools since 2010, prompting the board to offer credit monitoring for those impacted. Data exposed in the breach included addresses and financial information, raising serious concerns about data security in educational institutions.

In a lighter vein, the ongoing popularity of Brian McCourt‘s HGTV show, “Backyard Builds,” continued, with a feature about the show ranking among the top ten stories for the year. McCourt, a Williamsburg native, co-stars with designer Sarah Keenleyside. The show concluded its latest season on Home Network in summer 2025, maintaining a steady interest since its debut in 2017.

The highest viewed editorial of the year paid tribute to arts and entertainment journalist Wendy Gibb, who passed away on October 15. Gibb was deeply respected in the community, having taught at Seaway District High School and reported for The Leader for two decades. The editorial reflected on her contributions to the cultural landscape of South Dundas, highlighting her impact both as an educator and a journalist.

In sports, the notable donation of $8,500 from the Port of Johnstown to the local soccer club, South Dundas United, received considerable attention. This donation completed a $33,000 fundraising campaign aimed at replacing aging soccer goals at the South Dundas Soccer fields in Iroquois.

Entertainment news saw the review of a concert by Steven Page, former lead singer of Barenaked Ladies, become the highest viewed entertainment piece on the website. Page performed at the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, marking the conclusion of the 2024-25 season for the organization.

As 2025 draws to a close, the viewer statistics from The Leader’s web host confirm the ongoing engagement of the Morrisburg community with local news, particularly in areas that touch upon education, development, and community figures.