Township of Blandford-Blenheim Council approved a request of support from the Drumbo Beautification Committee’s Park Bench Project during its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
Established in 2023 by Ken Whytock and Katharina Webb, the Drumbo Beautification Committee is made up of a group of residents who are striving to make their community a more beautiful and pedestrian friendly town.
Since its inception, the committee has installed five benches and four planters throughout the town of Drumbo, further planting another 11 trees by the community mailboxes and within Drumbo Park – all with the help and sponsorship of community members and local businesses.
During the meeting, Whytock and Dillon Occleston explained that the group is now looking to install six benches along Centre Street in Drumbo Park.
“We thought we would like to put benches along the street, installing them in pairs, with enough space in between that someone who’s in a wheelchair could sit between and take part in a conversation,” said Whytock. “Two pairs of these benches would be to the south of the driveway, and two would be to the North. They’d all be facing the street, right at the edge of the sidewalk, so the plow can still go up and down there, but accessible to the sidewalk.”
Occleston went on to say that the benches would benefit and be used by the community during various sports tournaments and the fall fair, as well by people simply walking through the area.
“Ultimately, benches are great in memoriam, but they’re also a good place to celebrate community,” he said.
As far as what the group needed from council, Whytock explained that while the cost of the bench and the plaques would be paid for by whomever the sponsor was, the committee was hoping the Township could help with issuing tax receipts for the donation and the pouring of three concrete pads.
“The project depends on sponsors,” he said. “We’re aiming for six. If we don’t get six and we [just] sell two, then we’ll just do one pad for two. If we get four, we’ll do a pad for four but six is our max.”
Mayor Mark Peterson said that as a longtime Drumbo resident, he was in favour of beautification and suggested that four of the potential benches located on the south side of the driveway could face towards the park’s soccer field.
“It’s nice to see that we have groups all over the Township who want to do that, and they [the benches] look fantastic,” he said. “…I think if those four are facing the soccer field, they’ll get used all the time, probably everyday. Then maybe the other two [on the north side of the driveway] could face the road so you get a little bit of both.”
Denise Krug, Blandford-Blenheim’s Treasurer, was then brought up to discuss whether or not the Township could issue tax receipts.
“If council wishes to have benches and a group is wanting to help facilitate that, then we certainly can issue tax receipts for donations that are given to the Township, for items that are being purchased,” she said. “We can’t issue tax receipts for plaques because they’re like an advertisement; it’s not a donation because they’re getting something in return. But for the value of the bench, we can certainly issue tax receipts.”
As far as whether or not there was room in the budget to pay for the concrete pads, Krug said it was likely something the Township could absorb through existing operating budgets.
Councillor Nancy Demarest later thanked the committee for coming to council well-prepared and wondered about the life span of the benches and Trevor Baer, manager of community services said that the benches were powder-coated and should last for a long time.
Council then received the Drumbo Beautification Committee’s presentation as information and approved the request, noting that the concrete pads will be funded through existing operating budgets.
On Monday, February 22, the committee made a social media post announcing the re-opening of application for its Bench Dedication Program, and encouraged those interested in sponsoring a bench, to reach out.
“The Drumbo Beautification Committee is excited to re-open applications for the Bench Dedication Program, aimed at enhancing the beauty and accessibility of our town.
Dedicate a bench:
- in memory of a loved one
- in recognition of a business or organization
- as a tribute to your family”
For more information or to submit an application for a bench, visit https://forms.gle/kadZkRYjSBEQLraF9 or email the committee at drumbobeautificationcommittee@gmail.com.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
