Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is pleased to invite you to their 2026 Community Day in celebration of RVCA’s 60th Anniversary.

The event will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the RVCA Main Office, 3889 Rideau Valley Drive, Manotick.

The day will begin with a brief opening program at 9:30 a.m., featuring welcome remarks and acknowledgements from local dignitaries, followed by a group photo opportunity and a brief commemorative moment before family friendly activities begin.

Community Day will feature a range of interactive and educational activities highlighting RVCA’s watershed programs, services, and partnerships with municipalities across the watershed.

Please note that this Community Day is being held in lieu of the Annual Board Watershed Tour.

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

May 21, 2026

Get ready to move: The Silver Chain Challenge returns this June

Lace up your sneakers and pump up your bike tires: the annual Silver Chain Challenge is back this June 2026! This exciting month-long event invites participants from Renfrew County and Lanark County to demonstrate their commitment to healthy living and active transportation, all while enjoying the scenic beauty of eastern Ontario.

The Silver Chain Challenge is not just a competition; it’s a celebration of health, community, and the great outdoors. Participants are encouraged to walk, run or cycle as often as they can throughout the month of June. The Silver Chain Challenge will once again return to its roots and ask participants to log their kilometres travelled and see them tracked in real time to show who is leading this friendly competition. The County with the most kilometres by the end of the month will be declared the winner, earning the bragging rights of being the most active and engaged community.

Renfrew County Warden Jennifer Murphy is hoping residents will take advantage of this challenge by exploring new areas of the County and increasing activity levels.

“The Silver Chain Challenge is a wonderful way for residents to stay active while discovering more of what makes Renfrew County such a great place to live,” said Warden Jennifer Murphy. “Whether you’re walking a local trail, cycling with family, or logging kilometres with friends, every step contributes to healthier lifestyles and a stronger sense of community. I encourage everyone to take part and show their County spirit this June.”

Lanark County Warden Richard Kidd is also looking forward to the friendly competition as his residents embrace the Challenge.

“The Silver Chain Challenge is a powerful reminder that when we move together, we grow stronger together. Every step, stride, and ride helps build healthier people, a cleaner environment, and a more connected community across our counties,” he said.

Participants are also encouraged to share their adventure snapshots on social media using the hashtags #RenfrewCounty or #LanarkCounty (depending on your location), and #SilverChainChallenge. The challenge is open to everyone – families, friends, solo adventurers,

and visitors. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just enjoy leisurely strolls, every step, pedal, and photo counts.

Mark your calendars, grab your gear, and get ready to explore the trails, communities, and roadways of Renfrew and Lanark Counties this June. Let’s see which County can claim the title of being the most active in 2026!

For more information on how to participate in the Silver Chain Challenge, please visit:

www.lanarkcounty.ca/silverchain

Your school support designation determines the school board you vote for in the upcoming 2026 Municipal and School Board Election – Make sure it’s right before the June 1 deadline.

To ensure your correct school support designation is provided to Elections Ontario in time for the next municipal and school board elections on October 26, 2026, it should be reviewed and, if needed, updated by June 1, 2026. 

While Elections Ontario maintains the Permanent Register of Electors in Ontario for provincial, municipal, and school board elections, MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) is legislatively responsible for collecting school support designation information.  

What is school support? 
Whether you own or rent your home, your property is linked to a school board – even if you don’t have children or your children aren’t currently attending school. While you’re not required to make a designation, you do have the option to choose which school board you support. If you don’t make a choice, your support will default to the English-Public school board.    

How to update school support designations
Property owners can change their school support designation online using To learn more about school support and update your designation, visit mpac.ca/schoolsupport. 

Public Notices:
Council/Committee of the Whole               May 26^th     3:00pm
Council/Committee of the Whole              June 9^th      3:00pm
Council/Committee of the Whole              June 23^rd    3:00pm

Closures: The Municipal Office and Code Road Landfill will be closed on Monday, May 18^th for Victoria Day.

There are no changes to the schedule for curbside collection due to the holiday.

Pitch-In: A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers who participated in Pitch-In this year! Thank you for keeping Drummond/North Elmsley beautiful and clean! Pitch-In bags are still available at the Municipal Office.

Open for the Season:

Rideau Ferry Docks will be open on Friday May 15^th for the summer.

Smiths Falls Compost Site located at 3514 Hwy. 43; Smiths Falls will be open:

Saturdays 9am – 1pm (NEW HOURS) from May 9^th – November 28^th

Wednesdays 9am – 3pm from May 13^th – June 24^th.
Bring Identification.

Carleton Place Hazardous Waste Depot located at 128 Patterson Crescent,
Carleton Place.

Saturdays 8am – 12pm from May 16^th – September 5^th.

Bring Identification.

Reminder: A friendly reminder that both the Municipal Office & Code Road Landfill only accept payments of Cash, Cheque, and Debit Card.

Tax Department Reminder: Please do not pay other invoices you may receive from the Township through your online banking property tax account. Contact the Township for alternative payment methods.

Please note when setting up your online banking enter the Township as the payee and use your tax roll as your account number – no spaces or hyphens (only Toronto Dominion customers must put 0919 in front of their full roll number).

Stay Informed: The best way to be notified of road closures, planning notices, public meetings, service interruptions, etc., is to follow our Facebook page and subscribe to the Township’s News and Public Notices at www.dnetownship.ca

For immediate release

May 11, 2026

Take precautions to avoid tick-borne diseases when spending time outdoors

The warm weather is here, and Southeast Public Health (SEPH) is reminding residents that the region is an established high-risk area for the blacklegged ticks.

Blacklegged ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis, as well as other disease-causing agents, that can be transmitted to humans through their bite.

Preventing tick bites, doing a full-body check for ticks after being outdoors or at least once a day, and prompt removal of attached ticks are essential steps in preventing tick-borne diseases.

“The risk of encountering blacklegged ticks when enjoying outdoor activities is very high in our region,” says Kim McCann, Manager of Environmental Health, “so taking simple precautions to repel ticks, and making sure you check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks after spending time outdoors will help keep you and your loved ones healthy.”

These additional precautions will also help to reduce your risk of tick-borne infection:

• Using Health Canada approved insect repellent containing DEET or Icariden. Be sure to check the repellent is safe for younger children before applying.
• Wearing permethrin treated clothing, as well as light colours, long sleeves and pants, socks, closed footwear, and tuck your pants into your socks.
• Showering within two hours of returning indoors to remove loosely attached ticks.
• Being mindful that pets may also bring ticks into the home. Talk to your vet about protecting your pets from ticks.
• Creating a tick free zone around your property.
• Putting clothes worn outdoors in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes to kill any ticks.

If you are bitten by an infected tick, the risk of Lyme disease and most other tick-borne illnesses begins 24 hours after attachment and feeding and increases significantly after 48 hours.

Common early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease include rash (may not be circular or “bull’s eye”), fatigue, muscle pain, headache, fever/chills, stiff neck, and decreased appetite. More serious symptoms can include facial palsy, heart block, meningitis, and arthritis.

If you experience symptoms of Lyme disease after spending time outdoors, visit a health-care provider or a pharmacist for assessment and possibly treatment.

It is important to know that you do not gain natural immunity to Lyme disease and may have it more than once.

For more information on ticks, identifying symptoms of vector-borne diseases, and how to protect yourself and your family, visit SoutheastPH.ca/Ticks.

Please note that ticks are no longer accepted by Public Health but can be identified at etick.ca.

The Township is pleased to announce that members of the Public Works Department participated in the 2026 Lanark County Truck Roadeo, an event hosted by the Lanark County Roads Supervisors that was held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Civitan Club of Perth.

The Truck Roadeo provides an opportunity for Public Works staff to demonstrate their skills, showcase equipment, and engage in friendly competition. It also serves as a networking event, allowing staff to connect with colleagues from neighbouring municipalities. The event highlights safety, professional driving skills and excellence for municipal equipment operators.

“This annual event brings friendly competition, valuable networking and safety training for our skilled public works employees” said Reeve Steve Fournier.

The top two winners of this competition move on to the Provincial Roadeo in Owen Sound this September.

Free Contractor Training
High Performance Homes & Better Homes Lanark

Lanark County, in partnership with Building Knowledge Canada Inc., is offering free training for local contractors focused on high-performance homes and the Better Homes Lanark energy retrofit program.

Thursday May 28^th, 2026
8:00am-12:00pm
Public Works Training Room
Lanark County Public Works
99 Christie Lake Road
Perth, ON
K7H 3C6

Register at:

https://betterhomeslanarkcontractortrainingMay2026.eventbrite.com

A major contributor to the initiative’s success was the outstanding support of local Scout troops. The Scouts played an important role in the sapling giveaway, demonstrating their commitment to community service and environmental stewardship.

The Township also extends sincere appreciation to the Scouts for planting an additional 750 saplings at the Code Road Landfill site. Their efforts will support ecological restoration and strengthen the environmental buffers located on‑site.

 “We are grateful for the community’s excitement and for the tremendous support from our Scouts,” said Reeve Steve Fournier.

To celebrate our 25th Anniversary, Friends of the Tay Watershed invite you bring your family and friends for a FREE Guided Tay Walk & Voyageur Canoe Paddle at the Perth Wildlife Reserve, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 11am – 4pm.

Reserve your spot on the tour early! Even if you have lived here all your life and are well-versed in local ecology and history, Friends of the Tay guarantee you are going to learn something new!

Take a 10-minute shuttle bus from Last Duel Park to the Perth Wildlife Reserve (no parking at the Reserve) where science experts will be on hand to lead you on a walking tour of the Reserve, talk to you and answer your questions about local flora and fauna, and point out the natural and invasive species that exist within the Tay Watershed. Arriving at the Tay Marsh Lookout and Old Lock 5, a local historian will tell you the history of the Tay Canal and the lock system. Also at the Lookout, a retired MNRF wildlife expert will share his knowledge of the wildlife of the Tay Marsh. Board a Voyageur canoe at the dock and go for a guided paddle of the nearby river, canal and marsh where you’ll learn about voyageur canoes and some of the waterway’s Indigenous lore. Follow your guided walk back to the trailhead and visit exhibitors who will talk to you about the butterfly garden and demonstrate the iNaturalist and Merlin Apps for tracking of invasive species and birds. Refreshments and snacks will be available and guests are welcome to bring their lunch to the picnic area. Outdoor privies available.

Register early!—Space is limited to 100 guests. The walking trail is 2.5 km and the voyageur canoe paddle is approximately 20-30 minutes.

To register online: https://taywalkandpaddle.eventbrite.ca
With the support of Perth & District Community Foundation and Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

Are you prepared?

Emergency Preparedness Week is May 3rd to 9th, 2026.

Safety starts with being prepared and having a plan. All Ontarians have a part to play in preparing for emergencies.

• Thunderstorms, hail, blizzards, ice storms, hurricanes, storm surges, tornadoes, and heavy rain can develop quickly and threaten life and property
• Is your emergency kit fully stocked?
• Would you be able to find your flashlight in the dark?
• You may need to get by without power or tap water
• Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours
• Make sure your family emergency plan includes all your family members, including pets. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another and reconnect if separated
• Food safety after a power outage should be considered. When the power goes off for a long period of time, harmful bacteria can grow. The food in your refrigerator and freezer may become unsafe to eat

Emergencies can happen at any time and without warning. Be ready.

With a little preparation, you can respond quickly to help yourself and others.