LAURIE WEIR Smiths Falls council has approved the settlement area boundary expansion framework and the preliminary land use planning strategy for four key opportunity areas, marking a significant step in […]
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LAURIE WEIR Smiths Falls councillors voiced concerns over the 2025-2030 Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) and Investment Attraction Strategic Plan, calling for revisions during a special committee of the whole […]
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HEDDY SOROUR The Town of Carleton Place has passed a new development charges bylaw that appears to be raising concerns among some members of the development community. “All the Lanark […]
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HEDDY SOROUR At the March 11 committee of the whole meeting, Carleton Place council received important updates on the town’s drinking water, stormwater management, and recreation plans. Key reports were […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Rideau Lakes Municipal Services Committee has opted for a by-election to fill the vacant seat left by Joan Delaney following her resignation on March 4. During the […]
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LAURIE WEIR Mayor Arie Hoogenboom has announced he is stepping back from some of his mayoral duties at the Township of Rideau Lakes, citing ongoing conflicts with members of council […]
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Rideau Lakes ex-councillor and husband challenge township’s rezoning delays LAURIE WEIR Joan Delaney and Bob Butcher have been battling with the Township of Rideau Lakes over a zoning amendment to […]
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SUBMITTED Where appropriate, buy local. That was the message from Smiths Falls council on Monday, March 3 when they passed a resolution endorsing the federal and provincial call to buy […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Town of Smiths Falls approved the 2025 Community Grant allocations during a special committee-of-the-whole meeting on March 3. The revised recommendations, totalling $208,378.50, reflect changes to the […]
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LAURIE WEIR Will Rideau Lakes Township staff face more work, or will ratepayers simply receive more information? Deputy Mayor Paula Banks believes residents aren’t getting enough updates about township affairs […]
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Chair debate gets $10,000 pre-budget approval LAURIE WEIR The Township of Rideau Lakes will celebrate the opening of the new Portland Hall and Library in May, with a pre-approved budget […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Township of Rideau Lakes will continue to allow third-party flags after a proposed bylaw change was defeated during its third reading at a regular council meeting on […]
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Coun. Joan Delaney resigns; Paula and Jeff Banks face monetary penalties LAURIE WEIR Tensions ran high at Rideau Lakes Township council on Monday, March 3, as a non-confidence motion against […]
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SUBMITTED To open last night’s meeting, Council heard a delegation from Sherryl Smith with Bridging Generations – Age Friendly Pakenham. She provided information on their efforts to improve opportunities, resources and […]
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Smiths Falls director responds to public input with plans for a more accessible beach, pickleball courts, and other recreational upgrades LAURIE WEIR The Town of Smiths Falls has two big […]
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SUBMITTED Rideau Lakes Economic Development Committee undertook a Digital Content Strategy, and two campaigns were launched, reaching 1,273,891 people in the first two years. The two campaigns included the Experience Rideau […]
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LAURIE WEIR A fire that broke out at the Smiths Falls public works garage on Friday was quickly contained, thanks to the swift response of fire crews and public works […]
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LAURIE WEIR Carleton Place council denied a request to amend the town’s planning policies to allow stacked townhouses in a new development during a committee of the whole meeting on […]
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LAURIE WEIR The town is increasing its Heritage Grant program’s per-project funding while keeping its overall budget the same. Since launching in 2022, the program has awarded four grants of […]
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LAURIE WEIR Carleton Place parents with school-age children in municipal child care will see a 2.5 per cent fee increase starting June 1, 2025, as the town moves to offset […]
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LAURIE WEIR Coun. Dawn Quinn will not face penalties after a tied vote on Feb. 18 defeated a proposed 10-meeting ban from in-camera sessions. Quinn was under investigation by Integrity […]
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SUBMITTED Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held Feb. 12, 2025. Rural Economic Development through Immigration Pilot Project to Begin: Lanark County Council received a report […]
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LAURIE WEIR Here are the hot topics from the Perth committee of the whole meeting on Feb. 11, 2025. Buy Canadian & fly the flag Coun. Barry Smith is encouraging […]
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LAURIE WEIR Ramsey Hart and Bonita Ford brought their concerns about the Perth Golf Course development by CAIVAN to town council during a regular committee of the whole meeting on […]
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SUBMITTED With the Ontario Provincial Elections set for later this month, residents in the riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston will have the opportunity to hear from local candidates at a special All-Candidates […]
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Average household to see a $155 increase LAURIE WEIR Smiths Falls council reviewed a revised 2025 budget on Feb. 18, with treasurer and director of corporate services Paul Dowber presenting […]
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Council recommends 10-meeting ban from in-camera sessions LAURIE WEIR A report from Smiths Falls Integrity Commissioner Tony Fleming has found that Coun. Dawn Quinn “likely” leaked confidential information from a […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes Mayor Arie Hoogenboom is taking a stance against the tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, urging municipalities, businesses, and residents to support Canadian-made goods. During […]
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SUBMITTED There has been a lot of uncertainty these days. We heard that heavy American tariffs would be in place, due to come into effect yesterday – the start of […]
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SUBMITTED While Mayor Judy Brown focuses on her health, Deputy Mayor Ed McPherson will temporarily assume all mayoral communication responsibilities, including public statements, interviews, correspondence, and external meetings. Further updates […]
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LAURIE WEIR The state of homelessness in Lanark County is on the rise. Emily Hollington, director of social services for Lanark County, shared with Town of Carleton Place during its […]
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LAURIE WEIR Smiths Falls council is weighing its response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports, a measure currently delayed until March 1. During […]
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SUBMITTED In an ongoing effort to renew relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the community, Mississippi Mills Council held their annual Land Acknowledgement Ceremony during the January 28, 2025 […]
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LAURIE WEIR Smiths Falls council was unwilling to accept a seven per cent tax increase, even after efforts to bring it down from an initial 9.6 per cent. Treasurer and […]
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SUBMITTED Jan. 29th, council meeting began with the Annual Land Acknowledgement and Smudging Ceremony. Since 2020, Mississippi Mills Council has held this ceremony at the start of each year to reestablish […]
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LAURIE WEIR Perth town council met on Jan. 29 to discuss a variety of topics, including an upcoming multicultural food fair, new leadership for the Business Improvement Area (BIA) and […]
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LAURIE WEIR Perth Mayor Judy Brown has addressed what she called “misinformation circulating” about a proposed housing development at the Perth Golf Course by CAIVAN, which plans to build over […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Town of Smiths Falls is taking another shot at securing funding for its $18-million trunk water main upgrade after its initial $13-million pitch at the ROMA conference […]
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LAURIE WEIR A $150,000 fix to temporarily move the power line at Confederation Bridge could set construction back, but a successful $495,000 funding application is softening the setback. Paul McMunn, […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Township of Rideau Lakes addressed several community issues during its community services committee meeting on Jan. 13. These items will return to a future council meeting for […]
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LAURIE WEIR There must be a better solution than roadside spraying to control invasive phragmites. That was the sentiment expressed by Coun. Deborah Anne Hutchings during a presentation by Holly […]
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LAURIE WEIR Smiths Falls council will establish a working group to collaborate with Montague Township over the future of the Gallipeau Centre property, a former institutional site with significant redevelopment […]
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HEDDY SOROUR On Jan. 14, the town of Carleton Place convened a public meeting to present the background study for revised development charges. The town has been developing the background study […]
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Smiths Falls heritage committee to explore options for underground foot tunnel LAURIE WEIR The old foot tunnel in Smiths Falls is undergoing some scrutiny. The Municipal Heritage Committee (MHC) is […]
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LAURIE WEIR Perth town council tackled a range of issues during its Jan. 14 committee of the whole meeting, including the approval of a new fire truck and several grant […]
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LAURIE WEIR Perth’s Algonquin College campus has been a cornerstone of the small rural town since 1970, but the looming closure of the 50-year-old institution has prompted town council to […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Town of Perth heard a proposal during its committee of the whole meeting on Jan. 14 to develop six net-zero townhomes at the intersection of Arthur and […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Town of Perth is setting the stage for a cultural renaissance as the Perth Theatre Project unveils an ambitious strategic plan to re-establish the community as a […]
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SUBMITTED The first Council meeting of 2025 opened last night with a delegation from Gabriella Salera and Kate Monahan with Local Immigration Partnership – Lanark & Renfrew on the creation […]
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To the Editor, Rideau Lakers want to know why recommended 2025 tax increases are so high — there’s an easy answer: Because the tax increases in the past few years […]
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LAURIE WEIR International Women’s Day (IWD), observed annually on March 8, is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. But beyond recognition, it’s a […]
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SUBMITTED As a rural agency located in eastern Ontario, our work to support women and their children fleeing violence is central in our community. We are a 45-year-old agency active […]
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LAURIE WEIR We asked the candidates running in the Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston riding in the Feb. 27 provincial election, the same five questions. Candidates are: Wendy Dilliston-Whitaker, Ontario Party; John Jordan (incumbent) […]
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LAURIE WEIR We asked the candidates running in the Leeds-Grenville, Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes riding in the Feb. 27 provincial election, the same five questions. We will add to […]
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SUBMITTED With the Ontario Provincial Elections set for later this month, residents in the riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston will have the opportunity to hear from local candidates at a special All-Candidates […]
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SUBMITTED Lynn Laming-Kerr, long-time owner of Kitley Grocery & Service Centre in Toledo, will be receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s annual International Women’s Day celebration on […]
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