Cow Island Day Camp – Register Today!

 If you have children or grandchildren spending time at the Big Rideau Lake and you are looking for an amazing enriching experience, register today for Cow Island Day Camp. Kids will:

• Participate in carefully crafted activities intended to foster learning and curiosity
• Enjoy outdoor adventures, games, crafts, and waterfront activities instead of screen time!
• Create life-long friendships and special memories while having fun!!

The program runs June 30 to Aug 8^th, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 12:30 pm on Cow Island, and is available to campers ages 4 to 13 whose parents or grandparents are members of the Big Rideau Lake Association. Register soon as some weeks are nearly sold out. Register for camp and join or renew your membership at BigRideauLakeAssociation.com.

South East Health Unit

For immediate release
April 17, 2025

Safety During Spring Clean-Up

With the spring thaw and Earth Day happening April 22, many residents are participating in spring clean-ups in the community. Spring clean-ups are a good opportunity to get outdoors, connect with neighbours and show care for our community and for each other. The health unit would like to advise the public that it is important to watch out for discarded needles when doing spring cleaning.

Needles sometimes can be found in places like garbage cans or on the ground within our community. Although the risk of infection of a blood-borne virus is very low from a needle stick injury, it is best to be safe.

If you come across a needle while you clean up, follow these precautions:

• Do not pick up with your hands.
• Do not put the cap back on a needle.
• Do not force used needles into a container.
• Do not fill a sharps container past the fill line (3/4 full).
• Do not put used needles in the garbage or recycling.

Teach children not to touch needles and to tell an adult right away. Adults can safely pick up a used needle. Here’s how:

• If available, wear puncture proof gloves, if not, use thick work gloves.
• Place a sharps container on a flat surface close to you.
• If you do not have sharps container, you should use a hard plastic or glass container with a lid that you can tightly close.
• Using tongs or pliers, pick up the needle with the sharp end away from you.
• Place the needle into the container with the tip going in first.
• Close the lid to the container tightly.
• Wash your hands.

If you do not want to pick up a needle, you can call 1-800-660-5853 for more information. Residents can also report found needles to the health unit, so we are aware of needles in the community: Report Needles Found in the Community - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. All used needles and syringes should be placed into a sharps container or drop box. Used needles can be dropped off at the following:

• your local pharmacy
• Any health unit site or community needle drop box

Follow these steps if you are injured by a needle:

• Allow the wound to bleed freely
• Clean the wound well with soap and water
• Disinfect the wound (e.g., with an alcohol swab)
• Cover with a clean bandage
• Seek medical care as soon as possible

The health unit has more information on our website at Needle Disposal and Safety - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, you can call 1-800-660-5853, and follow LGLHealthunit on social media.

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South East Health Unit

For immediate release
April 17, 2025

Safety During Spring Clean-Up

With the spring thaw and Earth Day happening April 22, many residents are participating in spring clean-ups in the community. Spring clean-ups are a good opportunity to get outdoors, connect with neighbours and show care for our community and for each other. The health unit would like to advise the public that it is important to watch out for discarded needles when doing spring cleaning.

Needles sometimes can be found in places like garbage cans or on the ground within our community. Although the risk of infection of a blood-borne virus is very low from a needle stick injury, it is best to be safe.

If you come across a needle while you clean up, follow these precautions:

• Do not pick up with your hands.
• Do not put the cap back on a needle.
• Do not force used needles into a container.
• Do not fill a sharps container past the fill line (3/4 full).
• Do not put used needles in the garbage or recycling.

Teach children not to touch needles and to tell an adult right away. Adults can safely pick up a used needle. Here’s how:

• If available, wear puncture proof gloves, if not, use thick work gloves.
• Place a sharps container on a flat surface close to you.
• If you do not have sharps container, you should use a hard plastic or glass container with a lid that you can tightly close.
• Using tongs or pliers, pick up the needle with the sharp end away from you.
• Place the needle into the container with the tip going in first.
• Close the lid to the container tightly.
• Wash your hands.

If you do not want to pick up a needle, you can call 1-800-660-5853 for more information. Residents can also report found needles to the health unit, so we are aware of needles in the community: Report Needles Found in the Community - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. All used needles and syringes should be placed into a sharps container or drop box. Used needles can be dropped off at the following:

• your local pharmacy
• Any health unit site or community needle drop box

Follow these steps if you are injured by a needle:

• Allow the wound to bleed freely
• Clean the wound well with soap and water
• Disinfect the wound (e.g., with an alcohol swab)
• Cover with a clean bandage
• Seek medical care as soon as possible

The health unit has more information on our website at Needle Disposal and Safety - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, you can call 1-800-660-5853, and follow LGLHealthunit on social media.

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“Calling all contractors who offer HVAC, insulation, windows and doors, solar, roofing, electrical, or other renovation services.

Lanark County is offering two free training sessions for local contractors on high performance homes and our upcoming home energy retrofit program, Better Homes Lanark. 

Better Homes Lanark is expected to generate hundreds of local projects. Contractors who attend the training will be listed on the Better Homes Lanark website, making it easier for residents to plan their retrofit projects.

Who: Delivered by Building Knowledge Canada and Lanark County for local contractors

Where: Public Works Training Room, 99 Christie Lake Road, Perth ON, K7H 3C6

When: Friday May 2nd, 8:00am – 12:00pm or Wednesday May 28th, 8:00am – 12:00pm

Learn more and register here: https://betterhomeslanark.eventbrite.com/

For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613-267-4200 ext. 3105.”

Spike in pike confirms wetland success on Jebbs Creek - Rideau Valley Conservation Authority

Media Release

PERTH, APRIL 8, 2025 – Northern pike are successfully spawning at a constructed wetland embayment along Jebbs Creek, precisely the outcome Rideau Valley Conservation Authority staff were hoping for when they designed the project in 2018.

Located within the RVCA-owned Perth Wildlife Reserve, the riverine wetland project created 1,600m2 of new spawning and nursery habitat for the creek’s 20 fish species. But northern pike was the primary focus, as they are particularly sensitive during spawning, with high egg mortality rates.

In a recently published six-year monitoring report, RVCA staff confirmed successful pike spawning and nursery activities, observing juvenile northern pike surviving and thriving in the new wetland.

“That was the goal,” said RVCA’s Aquatic Habitat Monitoring Coordinator, Amanda Lange. “It was for enhancement overall, but northern pike was our target species.”

Before construction, Lange said the area had become a monoculture with intermittent water flows.

“This reed canary grass monoculture would flood in the spring but then dry up in the summer,” Lange said. “So pike would spawn there, and then the fry would get trapped.”

Today’s water levels are more reliable – and the ripple effects have boosted the entire ecosystem.

“We’ve observed many other fish species as well as turtles, frogs and breeding birds. So biodiversity has improved dramatically, too,” Lange said. “That’s the highlight. We turned this monoculture area into a functional, diverse habitat.”

The project was a collaborative effort, with key partners including the Friends of the Tay River (FOTR), the Otty Lake Association (OLA) and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Get Involved

New grant opportunities through the RVCA’s Rural Clean Water Program mean private landowners can now apply for technical and financial assistance to restore or construct wetlands on their rural and agricultural properties. Wetlands can act as effective stormwater storage and treatment plants, allowing harmful nutrients, chemicals and sediments to be filtered out before reaching the broader water system. Learn more at https://www.rvca.ca/stewardship-grants/rural-clean-water-grants.

To learn more about past wetland restoration projects in the Rideau Valley, visit www.rvca.ca/watershed-management/aquatic-conditions-ecology/wetland-restoration.

Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, 3889 Rideau Valley Drive, Manotick, Ontario, K4M 1A5, Canada, https://www.rvca.ca

South East Health Unit
For immediate release

April 4, 2024

Let’s Talk Ticks

The ticks are out! When temperatures rise above 4^oC, ticks become active. Enjoy the benefits of being outdoors by going for a hike, working in the garden or cleaning up leaf litter in the yard; but remember to be tick smart. Black legged ticks in our area may carry bacteria and other microscopic organisms which may cause several illnesses, the most notable of which being Lyme Disease. Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis are diseases which can also be passed on via the bite of an infected tick. These diseases are not new to the area, but they did become reportable to the Health Unit in July 2023. It should be noted that one cannot tell if a tick is positive by looking at it.

Taking the following precautions will help to reduce your risk of infection:

• Dress in light coloured clothing so you can see that a tick is on you (they are dark in colour).
• Use an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin. You can apply this to clothing or your skin.
• Put your outdoor clothes in a hot dryer for several minutes to kill ticks.
• Wear clothing that contains a tick repellent
• Do a tick check when you return inside. If possible, have someone check you from behind. Check your pets for ticks as well.
• Thoroughly check your body for ticks and nymphs and promptly remove them using tweezers or a tick twister. 
• After outdoor activities in tick habitats, use a stiff-bristled brush on your pant legs, sleeves, footwear and anywhere else you can reach to knock any lose ticks off before going indoors.
• You can take a quick shower and scrub well to help remove any unattached ticks.
• Speak to your vet about ways to protect your pet.

Transmission of these diseases from a tick to a human depends on the length of time the infected tick is attached. Ticks that are removed quickly are less likely to spread disease.  For Lyme Disease and Babesiosis, a tick needs to be attached for 24 hours or longer to pass on the illness, while 12 hours is required for Anaplasmosis.  If the tick has been attached for longer than 12 hours you may be at an increased risk and it is recommended that you consult your health care provider, or for Lyme Disease, you can also consult with a pharmacist who maybe able to provide preventative medication in some circumstances.

Check any ticks you remove from your body to determine if they are fat or flat. A fat tick is an indication that it has been feeding for a longer period of time and therefore at higher risk of causing illness if it is infected.  However, any attached tick poses some risk of infection. Tick specimens are not used for diagnosis of disease so they are no longer accepted at the Health Unit.  Individuals can submit a photo to eTick for tick identification.

Lyme disease symptoms can range from a bull’s eye rash around the bite area, to headache, fever and muscle/joint pain. Symptoms can appear from 3 days to several weeks following a tick bite. Even if you have had Lyme disease before, you can be re-infected. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

Symptoms for all 3 diseases may include fever, headache, chills, sweats (Babesiosis), fatigue and muscle and joint pain.  A bull’s eye rash around the area of a tick bite may occur for Lyme Disease.  Symptoms may appear from 3 days to 30 days  after the bite of an infected tick.  It is recommended that you consult with a health care provider if you experience any of these symptoms, especially if you have a history of a recent tick bite or have spent time in a setting where you may have been exposed to ticks.

Lyme Disease in particular, but also Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis, can lead to serious, long-lasting health effects, and it remains important for residents to continue to take precautions to prevent tick bites.

For more information about ticks and Lyme disease: visit our Insect Bites and Diseases section of our website or call 1-800-660-5853. You can also e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or connect with @LGLHealthUnit on Facebook and X or @lglhealthunit.z on Instagram.

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South East Health Unit 

Media Release

April 1, 2025

It’s Oral Health Month. Get With the Programs!

April is Oral Health month. To celebrate, the Health Unit is increasing awareness about government-funded programs available to help families and individuals of low-to-moderate incomes access essential dental care. Good oral health is vital for overall health across the lifespan. This month, we urge residents to learn more about the following programs, and to take advantage of them if they meet the criteria. If you need help determining which program you may qualify for, we recommend speaking to a member of our oral health team at 1-800-660-5853.

Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP):

• The OSDCP is a provincially-funded dental care program that provides free, routine dental services for low-income seniors who are 65 years of age or older, are a resident of Ontario, meet the income requirements, and have no other form of dental benefits apart from the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) (e.g. private insurance, Ontario Works dental benefits, OSDCP dental benefits, or non-insured health benefits).
• The current income eligibility is an annual net income of $25,000 or less for a single senior, or a combined annual net income of $41,500 or less for a couple
• If seniors have successfully enrolled in both the OSDCP and CDCP, they can only use one program at a time. Benefits cannot be coordinated. We recommend speaking to a member of our Oral Health Team to discuss details of both programs to help them choose which program is best for them based on their individual needs.
• OSDCP clients may access treatment in locations across Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Counties. Access to these services will be provided by Rideau Community Health Services (RCHS). To book appointments, residents may call 1-844-973-1400.

Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO):

• The HSO program is a provincially-funded dental care program that provides free preventive, routine, and emergency dental services for children and youth 17 and under from eligible low-income households
• HSO core program income eligibility starts at a family net income of $27, 746 or lower for one dependent child in the household. As the number of dependent children in the household increases, so does the family net income to qualify. The income eligibility chart can be accessed at https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-dental-care If enrolled in the core program, coverage is for a one year period
• The Oral Health Team at South East Health Unit (formerly Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit) can assist families to access and enroll their children in the Emergency and Essential Stream of the program (HSO-EESS) if their child has urgent needs and it is a financial hardship to cover the cost of treatment. If enrolled in the emergency stream, coverage is for a six month period, to a maximum of three enrollments per lifetime
• HSO clients may access dental treatment at any local dental office that accepts the HSO program
• For more information on how to apply, residents may contact the oral health program at 1-800-660-5853, ext. 2456 or visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-dental-care

Canadian Dental Care Program (CDCP):

• CDCP is a federally funded dental care program that helps cover the cost of preventive, routine and emergency dental services for eligible seniors aged 65 and older, children under the age of 18, and adults 18 + with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate
• Recently, the federal government announced that all remaining eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64 years-old will be able to apply for the CDCP in May 2025; with coverage possibly starting as early as June 1, 2025.
• To qualify, be a Canadian resident for tax purposes, filed their tax return for the previous year, have no access to dental insurance, and have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000. From March 2025 onward, current CDCP members must take action to renew their coverage. CDCP members must have filed their 2024 tax return and received their 2024 Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency before applying for renewal at canada.ca/dental, in My Service Canada Account (MSCA) or by telephone.
• CDCP clients may access dental treatment at any local dental office that accepts the CDCP. A list of participating dental offices can be found at https://www.sunlife.ca/sl/cdcp/en/member/provider-search/
• CDCP clients may be responsible for a co-payment based on their adjusted family net income. It is important to note that that CDCP fees do not fully reimburse what a dental office typically charges. Regardless of income level, dentists will have the choice to charge their patients additional fees to cover the dentist’s standard fees not covered by CDCP
• For more information on how to apply, residents may contact Canada.ca directly at 1-833-537-4342, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.html, or visit any Service Canada Centre

For more information on oral health for your family and for additional oral health resources, visit: Oral Health - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit or contact 1-800-660-5853 or 613-345-5685 extension 2456.

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For interviews, contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

South East Health Unit 

Media Release

April 1, 2025

It’s Oral Health Month. Get With the Programs!

April is Oral Health month. To celebrate, the Health Unit is increasing awareness about government-funded programs available to help families and individuals of low-to-moderate incomes access essential dental care. Good oral health is vital for overall health across the lifespan. This month, we urge residents to learn more about the following programs, and to take advantage of them if they meet the criteria. If you need help determining which program you may qualify for, we recommend speaking to a member of our oral health team at 1-800-660-5853.

Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP):

• The OSDCP is a provincially-funded dental care program that provides free, routine dental services for low-income seniors who are 65 years of age or older, are a resident of Ontario, meet the income requirements, and have no other form of dental benefits apart from the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) (e.g. private insurance, Ontario Works dental benefits, OSDCP dental benefits, or non-insured health benefits).
• The current income eligibility is an annual net income of $25,000 or less for a single senior, or a combined annual net income of $41,500 or less for a couple
• If seniors have successfully enrolled in both the OSDCP and CDCP, they can only use one program at a time. Benefits cannot be coordinated. We recommend speaking to a member of our Oral Health Team to discuss details of both programs to help them choose which program is best for them based on their individual needs.
• OSDCP clients may access treatment in locations across Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Counties. Access to these services will be provided by Rideau Community Health Services (RCHS). To book appointments, residents may call 1-844-973-1400.

Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO):

• The HSO program is a provincially-funded dental care program that provides free preventive, routine, and emergency dental services for children and youth 17 and under from eligible low-income households
• HSO core program income eligibility starts at a family net income of $27, 746 or lower for one dependent child in the household. As the number of dependent children in the household increases, so does the family net income to qualify. The income eligibility chart can be accessed at https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-dental-care If enrolled in the core program, coverage is for a one year period
• The Oral Health Team at South East Health Unit (formerly Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit) can assist families to access and enroll their children in the Emergency and Essential Stream of the program (HSO-EESS) if their child has urgent needs and it is a financial hardship to cover the cost of treatment. If enrolled in the emergency stream, coverage is for a six month period, to a maximum of three enrollments per lifetime
• HSO clients may access dental treatment at any local dental office that accepts the HSO program
• For more information on how to apply, residents may contact the oral health program at 1-800-660-5853, ext. 2456 or visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-dental-care

Canadian Dental Care Program (CDCP):

• CDCP is a federally funded dental care program that helps cover the cost of preventive, routine and emergency dental services for eligible seniors aged 65 and older, children under the age of 18, and adults 18 + with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate
• Recently, the federal government announced that all remaining eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64 years-old will be able to apply for the CDCP in May 2025; with coverage possibly starting as early as June 1, 2025.
• To qualify, be a Canadian resident for tax purposes, filed their tax return for the previous year, have no access to dental insurance, and have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000. From March 2025 onward, current CDCP members must take action to renew their coverage. CDCP members must have filed their 2024 tax return and received their 2024 Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency before applying for renewal at canada.ca/dental, in My Service Canada Account (MSCA) or by telephone.
• CDCP clients may access dental treatment at any local dental office that accepts the CDCP. A list of participating dental offices can be found at https://www.sunlife.ca/sl/cdcp/en/member/provider-search/
• CDCP clients may be responsible for a co-payment based on their adjusted family net income. It is important to note that that CDCP fees do not fully reimburse what a dental office typically charges. Regardless of income level, dentists will have the choice to charge their patients additional fees to cover the dentist’s standard fees not covered by CDCP
• For more information on how to apply, residents may contact Canada.ca directly at 1-833-537-4342, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.html, or visit any Service Canada Centre

For more information on oral health for your family and for additional oral health resources, visit: Oral Health - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit or contact 1-800-660-5853 or 613-345-5685 extension 2456.

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Township of Drummond North/Elmsley

Agricultural Forum and Lunch

On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Drummond/North Elmsley Township hosted an Agricultural Forum and Lunch at Ferguson’s Falls Community Hall. The event was attended by Council members, staff, and approximately 45 farmers and other agricultural professionals.

The forum provided a valuable learning opportunity for everyone present. The topics covered included farm succession planning by Andrew Leach from Farm Life, municipal drainage by the Township’s drainage superintendent Monica Shade from Shade Group.

Staff shared updates on changes to the 2025 Building Code, agricultural burn permits, and the Township’s new official plan. The forum was a crucial occasion for Council and staff to connect with the agricultural community, understand their challenges, and address their concerns.

For further information contact:

Kyra Dobbie, Development Services Clerk

Township of Drummond/North Elmsley

310 Port Elmsley Road, Perth, ON, K7H 3C7
613-267-6500 x 232

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Media Release - Small Business Advisory Centre - Starter Company Plus Funding Recipients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Boosting Local Business: 8 Entrepreneurs Receive Training and Over $38,000 in Starter Company Plus Funding

Smiths Falls, Ontario – March 25, 2025 – The Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls, Lanark County, Northern Leeds Grenville) is proud to announce that eight local businesses from Lanark Highlands, Beckwith, Tay Valley, Smiths Falls, and Mississippi Mills have been awarded a total of $38,250 in funding through the Starter Company Plus Program. This initiative, funded by the Government of Ontario, provides selected entrepreneurs with essential training, coaching, and the opportunity to pitch for microgrants of up to $5,000 to support their business growth.

“We are excited to see entrepreneurs from Lanark Highlands, Beckwith, Tay Valley, Smiths Falls, and Mississippi Mills take part in this program. Their commitment to launching and growing their businesses is truly inspiring,” said Cindy James, Manager of the Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls/Lanark County/Northern Leeds Grenville).

One of the recipients, Cole Gordon of Quick Coat, expressed appreciation for the program, stating, “The Starter Company Plus program has given me the opportunity to work on my business instead of in it. With the professional coaches, it has ensured this time was productive and focused on the exact areas of my business that need attention.”

The successful participants of the Starter Company Plus Winter/Spring 2025 cohort include:

Front row (left to right):

• To The Moon and Back Almonte – Katrina Morrison, Almonte, ON (www.tothemoonandbackalmonte.com)
• Cedar and Light Yoga – Lindsey Lambden, Mississippi Mills, ON (www.lindseylambden.com)
• The Natural Tannery – Danielle Prophet, Maberly, ON (www.thenaturaltannery.com)

Back row (left to right):

• Schofield Solutions Inc. - Amanda Schofield, Beckwith, ON (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
• Jabreezy’s Doughnuts – Jessica Bree, Smiths Falls, ON (www.jabreezysdoughnuts.ca)
• Elizabeth Confections– Dale Robertson, Lanark Highlands, ON (www.elizabethconfections.ca)
• Quick Coat – Cole Gordon, Smiths Falls, ON (www.quickcoat.ca)
• Trellis Mental Health Support Strategies – Beth O’Halloran, Almonte, ON (www.trellishealth.ca/)

About the Small Business Advisory Centre Smiths Falls/Lanark County/north Leeds Grenville:

The SBAC offers free information and advisory services for anyone interested in starting their own small business and for existing small business operators. The Centre is an initiative of the Ontario Government and partners with the Town of Smiths Falls, the County of Lanark and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.  A business advisor is available by appointment for one-on-one sessions. The SBAC provides a number of business webinars/workshops/programs throughout the year which you can find on our website www.smallbizcentre.ca,  you can reach us at  613-283-0062 or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information contact:

Cindy James

Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls/Lanark County/north Leeds Grenville)
Phone: 613-283-0062
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                                     
Website: www.smallbizcentre.ca 
Facebook: @smallbizcentre