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Our Natural Playground
Community Highlights
We have so many great places to come and see and so many things to do. Take a look around, enjoy the beautiful scenery and many historical sites around the Township such as the Tay Canal, or perhaps look up your own history at Archives Lanark. Not your cup of tea? Try out the Port Elmsley Drive-In, one of only a few in Ontario.
Looking for a day outside? Why not enjoy a gorgeous float down one of our many waterways, walk along the trails in Rideau Ferry or have a picnic along one of the waterways.
Take a look around and find what sparks your interest, there’s a lot to do and a lot to see...
Public Water Access

Access for both motorized and non-motorized boats

Access for non-motorized boats ONLY
For other area tourism destinations, please visit Lanark County’s Tourism site
Conservation Areas
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority and the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority are two agencies which play a role in managing and maintaining the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley’s water and natural resource systems.
Facilities
The Township of Drummond/North Elmsley has two fully serviced facilities that are available for rent for your next special event.
Library
The Township has its own library, the Perth & District Union Library in partnership with the Town of Perth and Township of Tay Valley. This is our community’s central resource for information and recreational reading. Residents of Drummond/North Elmsley may use the Perth & District Union Public Library free of charge.
Pop Up Library
Working with the Perth Library the Municipal office at 310 Port Elmsley Road is also home to a new Pop Up Library. We are making reading materials more available to residents. If you are in the area have a peek. You can leave a book or take a book.
Archives and Genealogy
Reading provides knowledge and can bring opportunity to learn about our history. Drummond/North Elmsley is well known for archives of information provided by Archives Lanark and the Lanark County Genealogy Society.
Both these organizations work from our former Drummond municipal office located at 1920 Drummond Concession 7. Due to Covid-19 appointments are required before visting the Lanark Archives. Feel free to contact them at,
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.archiveslanark.ca
Taxes
Property taxes are the major source of revenue. The base for property taxation is the assessment roll. It defines classes and types of properties which are subject to taxation. The assessment roll comes from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation [MPAC]. The information included in this roll is then used to determine tax rates and to levy taxes. Tax rates are determined and taxes levied after Council adopts the annual budget of estimated revenues and expenditures.
Tax Contact Details:
For Property Tax inquires This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For Tax Certificates This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone 613-267-6500 Ext. 242
Health Services
For other important health links, please visit:
The Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital
Lanark County Social Services
Rideau Community Health Services
Lanark, Leeds, and Greenville Addictions and Mental Health
Links from this site to other sites are presented as a convenience to the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley website users. The Township does not endorse nor accept any responsibility for the content found at these sites.
Schools
When it comes to education the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley offers many options for students.
We are home to two elementary schools; Drummond Centre Public School and North Elmsley Public School, both providing education for learners from JK to Grade 6 and offer a large green space for recreational opportunities for their students and community. Due to our central location, Drummond North/Elmsley offers easy access to secondary and post-secondary institutions.
The Archives, located in the former Drummond Township office in the hamlet of Drummond Centre, is an independent non-profit organization which provides a wealth of vital information dating from the 1850’s including land deeds, cemetery listings, census records, records of baptisms and marriages and newspaper collections. Archives Lanark has proved an invaluable resource for patrons across North America researching family roots as well as local families, church groups, school children and genealogists.
Visit the home of Balderson Cheese. Established in 1881, Balderson Cheese has become world famous. Discover this quaint country hamlet with fantastic shops and don’t forget to treat yourself to an ice cream!
Forming part of the Rideau Canal National Historic Site, these locks serve to connect the Town of Perth, through the Tay River, to the Rideau System. The original Tay Canal was built along the length of the Tay ending with a series of locks near Port Elmsley. It fell in disrepair and was dismantled in 1865, although traces remain. The new canal was finally completed in 1891 connecting Perth to the Rideau System through a new canal ending at Beveridge Bay. The facility contains two locks as well as an on-site exhibit, boat launch and short trail. The scenic trip along the Tay is a popular day trip for Rideau Canal travelers.
A national network of trails connecting every province and most major cities, the multi-purpose trails provide opportunities for hiking bicycling and snowmobiling and when complete, the network will become part of the longest trail in the world. This trail passes through Drummond Ward along Concession 8A, Prestonvale Road, Dunlop Side Road and up to Ferguson’s Falls.
The Township’s Public Works Department recently announced the installation of a public dock to allow canoe access to the Mississippi River at Ferguson's Falls Hall. This launch allows paddlers to travel upstream along the river with an opportunity to observe fish, herons, turtles, ducks and otters along undisturbed shoreline.
Foley Mountain Conservation Area, the highest conservation area in the Rideau Valley, overlooks Upper Rideau Lake and Westport. The scenic view is second-to-none in Ontario. It features nature trails, beaver pond, wildlife and plants galore. Picnic tables, parking and restrooms are available. Admission is $5.00 per vehicle; donation box at site.
Situated along the shores of the Tay River in Perth the Last Duel Park & Campground offers 46 serviced campsites, public boat docks and launch, public walking trails (The Wendy Laut Ribbon of Life) and picnic area with shelter. A rustic log cabin was added in 2016 and is now available for rent.
Located southwest of Innisville off Drummond Concession 10B, this National Wildlife Area is a haven for migrating waterfowl in the fall. Representing one of the largest natural areas left on Mississippi Lake, the Sanctuary centres around the wetlands of McEwan Bay where stands of wild rice, cattail and other plants provide habitat for spawning fish in the spring, some of the best habitat for bullfrogs in the summer and many different species of birds, mammals and invertebrates. Before September (when boating is prohibited so as not to disturb the migratory birds), a public boat launch is available as well as opportunities to hike.
Located at the confluence of the Tay and Rideau River systems was the site of the original Tay Canal, a system of five locks located between the Tay’s mouth and Jebb’s Creek which provided the first reliable water access between the military settlement of Perth and the Rideau Canal network.
Located just south of the Town of Perth in the Tay Marsh, this 635-acre site is a naturalist’s haven with habitat for deer, wild turkeys, turtles, ducks, geese, bluebirds and many others. The site is owned and maintained as a wildlife management area by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and contains a variety of habitats including mature woodlands, plantations, natural meadows and the ecologically significant Tay Marsh wetland. Two nature trails (including interpretive signage) and a viewing tower provide a great opportunity for hiking and wildlife observation.
Bring the family out for an evening of good old fashion fun! Established in 1953, the Port Elmsley Drive-In is open May to October.
Located on Lower Rideau Lake near the resort community of Rideau Ferry this conservation area consists of ten acres of woodland, meadows and beach. Owned and maintained by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, this site provides public day use access to the historic Rideau Canal system, and contains a public boat launch, trail and beach.
The Rideau Ferry Yacht Club welcomes boating enthusiasts of all ages to attend this award-winning regatta. There will be dozens of vintage race boats gathered on the Big Rideau Lake from both Canada and the United States. This biennial event runs in August and is sure to delight boating enthusiasts
Finding local food just got easier. Lanark Local Flavour’s website is a comprehensive, one-stop shopping guide complete with farmer profiles, locations of farmers’ markets and, a calendar of food-related events. Eating locally is one way anyone can do their part to help lessen the impact of climate change, while at the same time supporting our local food economy.










