North Elmsley Ward Councillor George Sachs announced his resignation from Council effective June 25, 2021. Councillor Sachs and his family have moved out of the area. “It has been my absolute honour and pleasure to serve the residents of DNE Township over these past many years. I am proud of the work we have accomplished thus far,” Sachs said in a statement.

Sach’s seat will officially be declared vacant at the next Council meeting on August 10. A staff report will be presented at the Committee of the Whole meeting outlining the options Council has to fill his seat.

For more information, please contact:

Cindy Halcrow, MA, CMO
Clerk Administrator
613-267-6500 ext 220
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On behalf of Council, staff and the residents of Drummond/North Elmsley, we extend our congratulations to the Class of 2021 Graduates. We share your pride in your accomplishments during these unprecedented times. Graduation is a time of celebration and anticipation for the future. Look forward to your future with determination, confidence, and optimism.

Congratulations Graduates!

Reeve Steve Fournier & Council

Please be advised that the Property Standards Committee will hold a meeting to hear an appeal of a Property Standards Order 08-21:255 Isabella Street.

Download the Agenda:  2021-06-29 Notice of Hearing Property Standards

Effective June 11th, 2021 at 12:01 am, the Government of Ontario is moving the province into Step One of its Roadmap to Reopen. This decision is based on the current province-wide vaccination rate, ongoing improvements in various public health regions, and other key health system indicators.

As a result of this announcement, the Township will reopen its office doors to the public subject to the following:

• Patrons will be required to wear a mask when entering the building.
• The Township encourages inquiries through its website, by telephone or email in order to minimize risk to customers and employees.
• Offices are open to the public for typical transactions such as submitting applications, processing payments, and answering standard questions; however, patrons are asked to make an appointment for inquiries or transactions that will require a greater amount of staff time or attention. This ensures staff availability and preparedness and prevents longer lineups.
• When accessing Township offices, customers will be expected to adhere to the following guidelines:
  • Ensure you do not feel ill or exhibit any symptoms related to COVID-19.
  • Wear a face mask.
  • Stay 2m away from other people.
  • Provide contact tracing information.
  • Only one (1) customer can enter at a time, to a maximum of two (2) people per household.
  • Debit or cheques are the preferred form of payment during this time.
  • The drop-box at the front door remains available to drop off applications and payments.

Drummond Hall, Ferguson’s Falls Community Hall, and the Code Road ReUse Centre remain closed at this time. The Rideau Ferry Docks are open to the public provided social distancing guidelines are adhered to.

The Township thanks all residents in advance for following these important guidelines when visiting our offices.

The Township is committed to balancing community needs with the safety of its residents and employees in its approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Visit the Township’s response to COVID-19 page for more information.

The vaccine status report will be updated every Tuesday.

Statistics

• A new vaccine statistics dashboard is available this week.

Booking an Appointment

• Visit our COVID-19 Protection and Vaccines page for details of how to book your vaccine appointment.
• *NEW* Use Pomelo – our local online booking system: Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Local Online Booking Portal – to book first doses or rebook second doses. Be sure to choose the COVID-19 Vaccination option and not the COVID-19 test or assessment.
• Booking lines are busy so please be patient or try calling back later in the day or week.
• If you don’t immediately see appointments available, please keep trying as more availability will be added to the system when more vaccine is received or appointments have been cancelled.
• Second dose appointments are available for those that reach their 16 week interval or that qualify for an earlier dose (individuals 80 plus/born in 1941 or earlier are now eligible for an earlier second dose)
• Self-booking can now be done online as well as through our call centre.
  • This is a booking system, it does not assess eligibility. If there is availability you will be able to book an appointment. If you are not eligible, you will be turned away at the clinic.
• The new weekly contingency list program offers up last minute doses to those in the priority groups. Signs up each week between Tuesday at 8:00am and Wednesday at 4:30pm to be called.
• Be sure to cancel any not needed appointments – information about how to cancel is on this page

Vaccines for Youth 12–17

• It is recommended to book at one of the specific Youth Clinics held in June in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark. These clinics are reserved specifically for youth ages 12–21 to ensure they can get their first dose and will have some special supports and a youth-friendly environment. Information about these clinics can be found here. Youth can book outside of these clinics – but will likely get in sooner through them due to the scarcity of other appointment times.
• Information on how to book into these clinics, will be sent home through the school and community partners that work with and support youth. Please watch for details, coming this week.

Community and Mobile Clinics

• An Outreach Team continues to provide immunizations in homes for those that are bedbound or have severe mobility issues (must also be in an eligible category)
• Primary care are offering Moderna to 18+ in their offices
• A Community clinic is planned for Lanark June 11.
• We continue to offer first doses and second doses to those newly admitted to Long-Term Care Homes and Retirement Homes and first doses to residents and staff in other congregate living facilities.

Update on Pharmacy Program

• Ontario Pharmacies have Pfizer and Moderna vaccine for first and second doses. Check here to find one close to you.
• Second dose administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine is available for those who received a first dose of AZ from March 10 to 19 in Ontario pharmacies.
• More details to come on those that received AstraZeneca after March 20.

SMITHS FALLS, ONTARIO, MAY 26, 2021 – Parks Canada advises that the Rideau Canal is scheduled to re-open for navigation on Friday, May 28, 2021 at 9 a.m.

As part of Parks Canada’s ongoing effort to combat COVID-19 and in the interests of the health and safety of all Canadians, visitors, and Parks Canada team members, all visitors (boaters and land-based) are required to adhere to the following  while visiting our sites:

• Lockage: Boaters are expected to be in full care and control of their vessels and to maintain 2 meters distance from staff and other boaters at all times during lockage. Mask use is mandatory within 2 metres of staff or visitors. Boaters requiring assistance with lockage must identify their concerns to lockstaff prior to entering the chamber. Boaters must at all times follow instructions from lockstaff who are always readily available to ensure a safe and efficient experience for all visitors. 
• Mask Mandatory for Service: Mask use is mandatory for visitors in situations where they will be within 2 meters of Parks Canada team members or other visitors, including if they require assistance when locking through.  Masks are also required for the use of washrooms at lock stations and during sales transactions.
• Maintain Social Distancing: Visitors must respect the safety of others at all times by maintaining their distance from other visitors and Parks Canada team members.  Please respect the roped-off areas on the lock walls that provide a safe working space for our staff.
• No Large Gatherings: Gatherings that are not consistent with provincial COVID-19 restrictions are prohibited on Parks Canada lands along the Rideau Canal.
• Use Cashless Payment: For the purchase of permits, please use cashless payment whenever possible.

Also, note that many new boaters are expected on the waterway this season. Enjoy your experience on the Rideau Canal but please also always be cautious, courteous and safe. Please share the waterway.

For the most up-to-date information regarding our facilities and services, please visit us online at www.pc.gc.ca/rideau or follow us on social media @RideauCanalNHS

Name: McConnell

Property: Part of Lot 12, Concession 2 Drummond

File No. ZA-21-05

TAKE NOTICE that the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley has received a zoning by-law amendment application, which was deemed to be a complete application on May 20, 2021.

TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley will hold a public meeting at 5:00 pm on June 22, 2021, to consider a proposed site-specific amendment to Comprehensive Zoning By-law No. 2012-060, as amended, under Section 34 of The Planning Act, RSO 1990. The effect of the proposed amendment is to:

• Change the zoning of the property that is currently zoned Rural to Rural Exception, to prohibit the construction of a residential dwelling.

Lanark County is launching a new roadside restoration pilot project in partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) to create critical pollinator habitat for species at risk including Monarch butterflies.

“The long-term goal of Lanark County’s Vegetation Management Plan is to restore pollinator habitat on roadsides which reduces maintenance costs, improves pollinator habitat, and stores more carbon in the soil with native plants,” said Michelle Vala, Climate Environmental Coordinator for Lanark County.

Proper site preparation is critical to ensure the long-term success of the project, which will establish native meadow habitat over the next three years, Vala said.

Project details

• The site is on CR21 Elm Grove Road between Sunset Drive and Hughes Road in Lanark County, Eastern Ontario.
• An area about 350m long will be seeded with a custom native seed mix with native pollinator plant species and grasses.
• The seed mix will include a cover crop to give the native seed time to establish in the first year.
• Site preparation begins in May with a combination of herbicide, tilling, and rolling to compact soil based on advice from restoration experts.
• Once the native meadow community establishes, it will be able to help fight invasion of invasive species like wild parsnip.

This project is part of an ongoing partnership between Lanark County and the Canadian Wildlife Federation to restore and improve pollinator habitat on roadways in Lanark County.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation is building a national network of Rights-of-Way managers interested in creating pollinator habitat on roadsides. This includes municipalities, utility companies, solar farm operators, and pipeline companies.

“Canadians want to be part of pollinator recovery efforts, and rights-of-way present fabulous opportunities to restore meadow habitat,” said Carolyn Callaghan, CWF senior conservation biologist, terrestrial wildlife.

Lanark County is in the breeding range and along the migratory route of the iconic Monarch butterfly.

For more information, to join the network or to download a best practices guide for Ontario, visit HelpThePollinators.ca.

About the Canadian Wildlife Federation
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of our natural world. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, carrying out research, developing and delivering education programs, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, recommending changes to policy and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. For more information visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca.

Contacts:

Michelle Vala, Climate Environmental Coordinator, Public Works, Lanark County
1.888.952.6275 /613-267-4200 x3114
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Heather Robison, Media and Community Relations Officer, Canadian Wildlife Federation
1.877.599.5777 x212
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The Connect Lanark program offers financial assistance to Lanark County low-income individuals and families for initial connection to internet service. The program assists low- income households to access high-speed internet.

Who Can Apply?

• Residents with household incomes below $70,000
• Maximum Value of Assets $200,000
• House must be primary residence, valued at less than $305,372 (Amount under review by Province)

Eligible Project

Broadband Installation, examples include, but are not limited to:

• installation of towers,
• satellite dish,
• wiring, etc.

Financial Assistance

• Maximum payment is $2,000 (one time only).
• If the cost of the project exceeds the maximum $2,000, any additional amount must be paid to the service provider by the Applicant.
• Funding is limited and any applicants who have previously received Connect Lanark funding are prohibited from applying for the program again.
• Funding is not intended to be for ongoing internet costs or repairs to any installed infrastructure

Documents to Include with Application

The following documents are mandatory and must be included with the application:

• Photo ID for all adults in the home (Driver’s License, Health Card, Photo ID)
• Verification of place of residence (Rental/Lease Agreement, Mortgage Document, Utility Statement)
• Verification of Income (Notice of Assessment, Paystubs, Statement of Income)
• Verification of Asset Value – 3 months (90 days) of bank statements plus any asset statements (Proof from Financial Institution or Investment Company)
• Quote from Internet Service Provider

For More Information, Contact:

Lanark County Social Services
Phone: (613) 267-4200, Ext 2140
Toll free: 1-888-952-6275, Ext 2140
Website: www.lanarkcounty.ca
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Download the Information Sheet

MEDIA RELEASE: Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

The ticks are out!  When temperatures rise above 4^oC ticks will be 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. While not all Black legged ticks in our area carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease, a significant number do, and you cannot tell if a tick is positive by looking at it. Taking the following precautions will help to reduce your risk:

• 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.
• Do a tick check when you return inside.  If possible have someone check you from behind.
• Thoroughly check your body for ticks and nymphs and promptly remove and dispose of them.
• You can take a quick shower to help remove any unattached ticks.

Lyme disease transmission depends on the length of time the infected tick is attached. Ticks that are removed quickly and have been attached for less than 24 hours are not likely to transfer the bacteria. However, if the tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours you maybe at an increased risk and it is recommended that you consult your health care provider. 

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. Tick specimens are not used for diagnosis of disease so they are no longer accepted at the Health Unit.

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. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

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 Twitter.