Lennox and Addington County

A bus stop is shown on a city street. Tree and bushes in background beside an office style building.

Martin’s Bus Service ends negotiations with township

August 16, 2024 by Ted Evans

Negotiations between Martin’s Bus Service and Loyalist Township on a rural transit service pilot project came to an end this week.

The company informed township staff they will not be moving forward with the proposed agreement. Staff are now looking for another bus service.

The project looks to create an expansion to the current system including rural routes to Bath, Odessa, and the Taylor-Kidd Industrial Park. The report noted that the $192,000 provided by Lennox and Addington County in the form of a community transportation grant must be spent by March 31, 2025.

Staff recommended funding either an extension of the pilot project from April 1, 2025 to the end of 2025, or a full year in 2025. Council approved up to $400,000 to go towards the project from the township’s provincial gas tax reserve. Staff will be asking the county for an extension to allow more time for negotiations.

A graphic illustrates rising housing costs with stacks of coins growing in size leading up to illustration of a house

Township backs addition of new multi-residential tax subclass, may help with affordable housing

August 14, 2024 by Ted Evans

Loyalist Township council decided on Tuesday to request that Lennox and Addington county implement a new multi-residential tax subclass. The move could help create more affordable housing in the area.

The report from the finance department outlined two possible requests to be made, or the option of requesting both. The option council didn’t choose, due to costs, was to request was the implementation of a vacant home tax program that would see a tax rate given to owners of vacant units such as summer homes or cottages.

The province recently added a property tax option to reduce tax ratios for multi-residential rental properties to it’s 2024 budget, as well as an updated municipal vacant home tax policy framework.

Lennox and Addington County is the governing authority to implement the changes on a municipal level, but has requested the input from lower-tier municipalities before finalizing a decision on potential implementation.

Municipal building in background with flags and flower bed in foreground.

Loyalist Township prepares pitch for Housing Accelerator Fund after unsuccessful first round

August 14, 2024 by Ted Evans

The latest draft of the township’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) action plan was approved by council at their meeting on Tuesday. The action plan supports the township’s application to round two of the HAF, (referred to as HAF2.0.)

The corporate services, strategy and innovation department prepared the draft after their application to round one was unsuccessful.

The new action plan includes a proposed partnership with Lennox and Addington County for the donation of land and granting of HAF funding toward an affordable housing project. If funded, the township will be able to look at developing an affordable housing and purpose built rental community improvement plan.

Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Social Services completed a community housing report in early 2024 which is also set to strengthen the township’s application this time around.

Wooden patio with shade coverage is shown overlooking a lake with trees far in the background. Sky is shown with small amount of cloud coverage. Diners are eating on the patio.

New regional food blog launches to highlight areas including Loyalist

August 8, 2024 by Ted Evans

Best Eats Ontario East, a new food blog about local eateries in Eastern Ontario, will feature restaurants, food trucks, patios, stores, farms, and community champions in the region. The blog launched July 31.

Loyalist Township, and all of Lennox and Addington County, are filled with a wide range of farms, stores, and eateries that the blog’s creator, Les Cseh, may explore and highlight in a future post.

According to the website, the blog covers a range of locations including Kingston, Gananoque, Brockville, Cornwall, Napanee, Belleville, Trenton, Cobourg, Westport, Perth, Smiths Falls, Carleton Place, Renfrew, Picton, Prince Edward County, and all the villages and places in between.

Best Eats Ontario East is also set to provide tips for local food businesses to be able to promote themselves online, as well as gather and encourage reviews.

Close-up of arm removing stretcher from back of ambulance

County council authorizes new paramedic equipment and early replacement of two ambulances

July 18, 2024 by Ted Evans

The emergency services division of Lennox and Addington County received authorization this week to replace a large portion of their transport equipment, and purchase two new ambulances early than previously anticipated.

As costs rise, and deadlines approach, Lennox and Addington County council agreed replace the 8 stretchers and 7 power-load systems as requested. The purchase of 2 new ambulances also needed to be moved forward, as the county alternatively could have been bumped to the back of a very long line. Staff noted these issues are apparent because of supply chain issues across Ontario.

The 2024 capital replacement plan intended to replace all ten stretchers and loading systems, but at that time, the cost of the stretcher and the loading system was $27,000. This cost has increased to almost $65,000. With another expected price increase in October, council agreed now was the right time to move forward with the replacement.

The outside of a heritage building on a sunny day.

County looking to grow child care industry, moves ahead with national, provincial updates

April 18, 2024 by Ted Evans

Staff at Lennox and Addington County welcomed the new wage improvements in the child care industry and hope it will attract more staff.

There are increases to workforce compensation, as well as investment for professional learning, emerging needs, and startup grants.

Updates to Ontario’s Child Care Workforce Strategy and the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system were released at the end of last month. The changes to workforce compensation are effective as of January 1.

Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Social Services (PELASS) received guidelines and an updated transfer payment agreement from the Ministry of Education. The report noted PELASS staff are working to ensure CWELCC enrolled licensees are able to apply these wage improvements retroactively as soon as possible.

The report noted that the ministry is working on finalizing a new child care funding approach that aims to
integrate current child care funds into the new CWELCC funding formula.

Lennox and Addington County prepares for solar eclipse

March 22, 2024 by Ted Evans

A large portion of Lennox and Addington is set to fall within the path of totality during the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8. Totality is when the moon fully covers the sun.

The path of totality runs through parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada. Loyalist Township and Greater Napanee are within the path, as well as much of Stone Mills Township. While the entire eclipse expected to begin at 2:09 p.m. and end at 4:33 p.m., totality will last approximately three minutes at around 3:22 p.m.

Staff at Lennox and Addington’s emergency service department noted the importance of the population using safe eyewear. They also noted the expected increase in visitor traffic in the area due to the event.

The county will see such events as laser guided stargazing tours at Lennox and Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area, and a concert in Greater Napanee on the soccer field at Strathcona Paper Centre.

Paramedic administers medical test. Close-up of forearms only.

Lennox and Addington Paramedic Services wraps up 2023 with expansion in mind

March 22, 2024 by Ted Evans

Lennox and Addington Paramedic Services (LAPS) presented council with their community paramedic activity report for 2023 this week, and showed growth in their numbers. Staff also noted expansion plans for the future.

According to the report, LAPS provided over 3,200 home visits, and 15 clinics throughout the year. LAPS sees patients either in-person in their homes, in clinics, or on-line.

Staff are in the process of integrating with the Lendaco complex, and collaborating with local family health teams, home and community care support services, and various allied partners to enhance their impact.

Staff are also looking ahead to a partnership with Kingston Health Sciences Center, and their cardiology and respirology departments. This collaboration aims to provide specialized care for outpatient congestive heart failure and COPD patients.

LAPS is offering information sessions to the lower-tier municipalities upon request. The report notes that a request has already been received from Loyalist Township.

Front desk reception area indoors. The desk is brown and beige and there are brown walls behind it.

John M. Parrott Centre receives grant for living classroom

March 21, 2024 by Ted Evans

The long term care services department at Lennox and Addington County announced their grant application for the living classroom fund was a success. The John M. Parrot Centre (JMPC) will receive $99,997.

According to staff’s report, the money will be used to purchase classroom equipment, and technology, as well as going towards staffing costs, marketing, recruitment and other operating costs. Students will learn on-site in a classroom setting, and then be able to apply their skills in a real-life setting alongside staff. Promotion of the program is set to begin in April.

The JMPC partnered with the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) to apply to the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging and the Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education School Board Administrators’ living classroom fund before its March 4 deadline.

LDSB will begin conducting interviews with prospective students, and acceptances will take place in June.

Red brick school shown. Sign reads: Odessa Public School. Blue sky in background. Grass in foreground. Flag waving in wind at front doors of school.

Township responds to traffic concerns at Odessa Public School

March 15, 2024 by Ted Evans

Loyalist Township staff will be working on updated policies and bylaws for community safety zones near Odessa Public School. According to the report from the engineering and environment division, staff and council heard from the public regarding safety concerns on North and Durham Streets in Odessa.

To address the concerns in the short term, staff are working towards the implementation of community safety zones, no-parking zones around the school drop-off area, and improved pedestrian crossing on Main Street. Staff will also be doing a road safety audit and traffic study.

In the long term, staff are looking at working with the school board to commence site plan amendments to improve traffic flow for drop-off and pick-up times.

Based on the speed assessments completed by the OPP, and a review of the accident reports, staff noted that speed does not appear to be a primary concern in the area.

Lennox and Addington to be featured on Toronto billboards as part of county’s tourism plan

March 13, 2024 by Ted Evans

Naturally L&A is running an ad campaign in Toronto over the March break. They’ve rented billboards that will advertise tourism and economic development in the area.

Residents and visitors to Toronto will be able to spot scenes from Lennox and Addington County on digital billboards located along the 400 series highways; information and messages from Naturally L&A will displayed on the billboards as well throughout the GTA.

The initiative is based mainly on tourism, but also focuses on economic development in the area. Staff notes that the county has been expanding the areas in which it promotes itself over the last few years, and it has proven to be a worthwhile effort as interest in the area has picked up over this time. Staff have attended a number of conferences and trade-show style events to promote tourism and economic development in the area.

County seeks funding for in-house PSW education at John M. Parrott Centre

February 22, 2024 by Ted Evans

Lennox and Addington County is looking for a post-secondary school to partner with for a project called The Living Classroom. This is a partnership model that has been designed to integrate Personal Support Worker (PSW) Education into long-term care homes to support workforce development.

According to staff, the classes would take place entirely at the John M. Parrott Centre, and depending on their size, may be inside the building, or on-site in something like a portable

The county will be submitting an application for funding support to the Government of Ontario, led by the Schlegel-VW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) in partnership with the Ontario Association of Continuing Education School Board Administrators (CESBA.)

The application deadline is March 4. According to staff, the county will know if their application is successful or not by March 8. If the grant application is successful, a detailed report will come back to council for their approval.