Lanark County and Smiths Falls release new Community Safety and Well-Being plan

HEDDY SOROUR

A new Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) plan for Lanark County and Smiths Falls has been released, replacing the 2019 version. The plan is mandated under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, which requires every municipality to complete one.

In the fall of 2023, the CSWB Advisory Committee for Lanark County and the Town of Smiths Falls provided an update on the 12 identified risk areas and the actions taken under the 2019 plan.

“Over the last four years, we have made progress in all of the identified risk areas, but there is more work to be done,” said then-Smiths Falls Deputy Police Service Chief Jodi Empey, who co-chaired the advisory committee at the time. Empey is now the police chief in Smiths Falls.

“A number of programs and services have been created or expanded to meet needs and fill gaps, and our community agencies continue to show remarkable collaboration in order to get important work done.”

Among the highlights of the first plan were the creation of programs such as the Mobile Crisis Response Team, the Lanark County Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, Lanark County’s Homelessness Response Team, a victim advocate position, the Inclusive Voices video series, and the See It, Name It, Change It campaign.

Like its predecessor, the new plan engaged community partners from various sectors, including local government, climate and environmental organizations, justice, community groups, youth, health care, education, social services, and victim services.

“Building off the previous plan was a key first step toward creating the updated plan. The new version works from the base provided by the previous plan and adds current data and information while reflecting how the world has changed since 2019,” said Stephanie Gray, coordinator of the Lanark County Situation Table and CSWB plan. “The updated plan identifies new issues and some new pillars, but the main risk categories highlighted in the previous plan provide a baseline for the themes, pillars, goals, and strategies in the new plan.”

Two new issues were identified based on feedback from numerous surveys and focus groups: climate change and inclusivity and diversity.

According to Gray, the advisory committee reviewed the 12 previously identified risk areas and established four new theme areas for the updated plan: health; affordability and quality of life; violence against persons; and priority populations. These themes are supported by several pillars.

“The pandemic has helped shape many of the themes and pillars in the new plan. The affordability and quality of life theme in particular reflects some of the impacts from the pandemic, including issues related to housing, income, and food security. The belonging and civic engagement pillar addresses issues around social isolation and encourages more engagement in the community. Evidence shows families have been struggling since the pandemic, and the plan aims to increase connections between families and the supports they may need,” Gray explained.

Regarding climate change, the committee identified its negative effects on those exposed to the elements, as well as its serious impact on mental health. Surveys and focus groups revealed heightened concerns about natural disasters, extreme weather events, power outages, loss of shelter, and air and water quality. Recommended solutions are advocacy and education. 

The CSWB plan applies to the entire county and Smiths Falls; however, individual municipalities have the option to develop their own plans. Regardless, each municipality must approve a plan before next steps can be taken.

Currently, Gray is presenting the 2025-2029 plan to area municipalities for approval. Once approved, the advisory committee will begin working on an action plan.

“[This] will include a work plan and identifying teams most suited to working on specific goals. We hope to begin this work in late spring,” Gray said.

While the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, does not require municipalities to track progress or provide updates, the local CSWB advisory committee chooses to do so and releases annual reports to the public.

A copy of the progress report from the previous plan is available at https://lanarkkids.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CSWB-Plan-for-LC-and-SF-Progress-Report-2020-condensed-final.pdf.

Like its predecessor, the new plan is a living document that will guide the advisory committee over the next four years.

“A lot of the plan is based on the idea of making progress. We’re not going to solve poverty, but it’s about making a difference,” Gray concluded.

A copy of the 2025 CSWB plan can be viewed on municipal websites as Gray presents it to local councils.