Major projects, staff development and performance measurement top priorities for Carleton Place community services
Just two months into her new role, Carleton Place’s director of community services has outlined priorities aimed at strengthening the department while advancing projects already underway.
Diana Knight presented her priorities to committee of the whole on June 23, identifying five key areas of focus for the remainder of the current council term: strengthening legislative and documentation frameworks, defining programs and services, investing in staff development, completing major projects already in progress, and improving data collection and performance measurement.
Knight, who joined the town on April 27, said she has spent her first weeks meeting staff, reviewing projects and identifying opportunities for improvement.
“What stands out immediately is the strength of this department,” Knight told committee members. “This is a high-performing team made of dedicated individuals who genuinely care about the community that they serve. There’s a strong culture of pride and accountability that I am looking to build on as we come together as a department.”
The Community Services Department includes parks and recreation, property and projects, childcare, the library, and special events and community development.
Among Knight’s priorities are creating more consistent policies, procedures and project management tools, identifying staff training opportunities, and establishing performance measures to help guide decision-making. She said the department also plans to become more data-driven by collecting baseline information to evaluate services and track trends over time.
Knight highlighted several major projects, including implementation of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan, completion of the Mississippi River Gathering Place/Misi Zibi Mamidosewin project, the Centennial Park study, the Carambeck Childcare Expansion, accessibility improvements at the arena, and replacement of rooftop units at both the arena and Carambeck Community Centre.
Councillors responded positively to the presentation.
Coun. Dena Comley said the report reflected many of the priorities council has already been discussing.
“You’ve only been here a couple of months and you found many of the same items. So it’s nice to see this rolling out,” Comley said. “I, too, am excited to see where it leads and what can happen within that department.”
Coun. Mark Hinton praised Knight for quickly developing a clear direction for the department.
“I’m extremely impressed you’ve been with us for nine weeks to come back this quickly outlining your priorities, which again, completely at this point are aligning with what council is looking for,” he said.
Knight said the priorities are intended to create a strong foundation for the future and will evolve as council establishes its next set of strategic priorities following the municipal election.
Committee members approved the report and directed Knight to return in the first quarter of 2027 with a more detailed strategic plan and work program for the next council term.
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