SUBMITTED Chantry, Ontario, July 15, 2025 – Discover hidden histories and untold stories during Doors Open Rideau Lakes! Rideau Lakes is bringing back its Doors Open event for the first […]
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LAURIE WEIR CHANTRY — A high-stakes motion to prepare and tender designs for a new township office and a retrofit of the existing Chantry building was defeated Monday, July 7 […]
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LAURIE WEIR RIDEAU LAKES — A gap in insurance coverage for seniors’ groups in the township took centre stage during the regular council meeting on Monday, July 7. Council directed […]
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LAURIE WEIR RIDEAU LAKES — Memorial banners honouring veterans could soon be flying in Rideau Lakes, but not without some conditions. Council voiced support during the regular meeting of council […]
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LAURIE WEIR CHANTRY — The Township of Rideau Lakes will issue a formal apology to its residents, especially those of Indigenous heritage, and begin reviewing communications practices, after council acknowledged […]
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LAURIE WEIR RIDEAU LAKES — Council has voted to proceed with a detailed report on the long-running Chantry office project, a file that has spanned several terms of council and […]
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Weekend family fun kicks of Thursday and wraps up Sunday LAURIE WEIR ELGIN — The fun and excitement of Elgin Days returns from July 10 to 13 with four days […]
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SUBMITTED The Ontario Senior Achievement Awards recognize people who have made outstanding contributions to their communities. For 2024, Rideau Lakes resident and author Diane Haskins of Freeland was one of […]
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LAURIE WEIR Swimmers are being urged to stay on dry land at several public beaches across the region, as the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit has issued caution […]
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SUBMITTED Thanks to the generous support of private landowners who value conservation, as well as contributions from the community, corporate donations, and provincial and federal grant programs, the Rideau Waterway […]
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Focus on school safety, community engagement and policy over politics LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes Township officially welcomed Dustin Bulloch to council following his decisive win in the Ward 3 byelection […]
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LAURIE WEIR Dustin Bulloch is the new councillor for South Crosby Ward following a municipal by-election held Wednesday, June 26. Bulloch received 283 votes, securing the win over three other […]
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SUBMITTED The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Rideau Artist of the Year Competition. Over 20 regional artists were challenged to complete […]
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SUBMITTED Rideau Lakes resident Connie Cochran was presented with the Ontario Senior of the Year Award, a program that gives each municipality in Ontario the opportunity to recognize an outstanding […]
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LAURIE WEIR It was a marathon 5.5-hour municipal services committee meeting on Monday, June 22, and the mayor left before the final vote — one he couldn’t have participated in […]
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SUBMITTED An individual is facing multiple charges after a heated dispute involving threats and an assault, as well as further incidents at a local hospital. On Saturday, May 31, 2025, […]
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LAURIE WEIR Residents in South Crosby Ward of Rideau Lakes Township will head to the polls June 26 to choose a new representative. The seat was left vacant on March […]
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SUBMITTED Employees and community leaders in Rideau Lakes took part in the revision of the Township’s road map, featuring the addition of new roads, renamed roads, and updated village maps. […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes council has voted to reimburse Coun. Linda Carr $2,062.25 in legal fees, despite a formal finding of workplace sexual harassment and the previous rejection of the […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes council failed to override Mayor Arie Hoogenboom’s veto on the Chantry office retrofit project during a special meeting on Wednesday, May 28. This caused an eruption […]
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Township has spent $500,000 on paperwork for two projects that have gone nowhere fast LAURIE WEIR Raise your hand if you saw this one coming. Raises hand. Yes, I sure […]
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LAURIE WEIR It wasn’t just a veto. When Rideau Lakes Mayor Arie Hoogenboom blocked a long-planned office retrofit using Ontario’s new strong mayor powers, it sent shockwaves through township politics. […]
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LAURIE WEIR Mayor Arie Hoogenboom has released his formal rationale for vetoing the bylaw that would have sent the Chantry municipal office retrofit to tender, citing provincial housing priorities and […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Rideau Lakes Public Library (RLPL) is turning the page on a new chapter, with the recent grand opening of its newly-minted Portland Community Hall and Library, marking […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes Mayor Arie Hoogenboom dropped a last-minute bombshell during his update at Monday’s Municipal Services Committee meeting, announcing that he had formally vetoed a bylaw that would […]
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Council adopts amended motion, commits to leading coordinated legal and advocacy effort LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes Township has deepened its opposition to Ontario’s strong mayor legislation, passing a revised motion […]
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LAURIE WEIR Residents in South Crosby Ward will head to the polls June 26 to choose a new representative on Rideau Lakes Township council. Four candidates have filed their nomination […]
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LAURIE WEIR Residents in South Crosby Ward will head to the polls June 26 to choose a new representative on Rideau Lakes Township council. Four candidates have filed their nomination […]
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LAURIE WEIR It’s not what you think — this GST stands for Goods, Services and Talents, and it’s about to bring the Delta community together for a lively fundraising night. […]
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Rideau Lakes-based manufacturer seeks investor amid explosive growth, cash flow crisis LAURIE WEIR The president of P3 Panel Company and United Edge Structural Components says his businesses are not going […]
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LAURIE WEIR Residents in South Crosby Ward of Rideau Lakes Township will head to the polls June 26 to choose a new representative. The seat was left vacant on March […]
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SUBMITTED Students and families across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) can expect to see significantly expanded classroom libraries and school book collections for the fall, as the UCDSB […]
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SUBMITTED Students from across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) participated in the annual Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto on May 5-6, 2025. Fifty-seven students competed either as individuals, […]
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SUBMITTED Doors Open Rideau Lakes is back for the first time in eight years. Taking place on August 16 and 17, 2025, enthusiasts are invited to visit otherwise unseen historical […]
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SUBMITTED The Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a Federal Offender wanted on a Canada Wide Warrant as a result, of a breach […]
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LAURIE WEIR The long-debated future of Rideau Lakes’ municipal offices took a major step forward Monday, as council voted to approve construction drawings and issue tenders for a $4.5-million retrofit […]
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SUBMITTED The Township of Rideau Lakes is pleased to announce the official name and grand opening event for the new community hall and library building in the village of Portland. […]
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LAURIE WEIR As Rideau Lakes Township begins implementing Ontario’s strong mayor legislation, questions continue to surface at the council table — and not everyone is on board with the province’s […]
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LAURIE WEIR A Rideau Lakes resident served an ace of a critique at township council Monday night, alleging taxpayers are footing the bill for an exclusive arrangement with the North […]
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Investment will celebrate Canadian and local culture, boost tourism and strengthen economy SUBMITTED Ontario is investing over $346,000 through the 2025 Experience Ontario program to support 11 festivals and events in […]
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SUBMITTED The Leeds County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has laid fraud charges against the operator of a former cat rescue in the Elgin area of Rideau Lakes […]
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LAURIE WEIR Township council will proceed with a leaner 2025 budget that avoids new borrowing for general capital and holds the municipal tax rate increase to 5.78 per cent — […]
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STAFF WRITER Conservative candidate Michael Barrett has been re-elected in Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes following a closely contested federal election. Preliminary results show Barrett securing 50.2 per cent of the vote, […]
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SUBMITTED May is when many Ontarians get a jump on summer by opening their cottages and other seasonal homes. Rideau Lakes Fire Rescue is urging residents to add safety and […]
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New report reveals major gaps in public health, animal welfare and oversight SUBMITTED Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary has released a detailed report urging Smiths Falls Town Council to reject the […]
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LAURIE WEIR With all available slips leased for the 2025 season, Rideau Lakes Township has brought in more than $66,000 in harbour revenue — a modest but welcome increase over […]
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LAURIE WEIR A tie vote at Rideau Lakes council has defeated a motion to review the township’s current lot coverage limit of 10 per cent. The proposal, brought forward by […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes council has rescinded three financial penalties previously imposed on Deputy Mayor Paula Banks and Coun. Jeff Banks, following legal advice that the sanctions exceeded council’s authority […]
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LAURIE WEIR A native plant garden will be installed in front of the new Portland Community Hall this spring, pending final council approval. At the April 14 Municipal Services Committee […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes Township has approved the next step in developing the former Gallagher property in Portland, despite the project having been cut from the draft budget and no […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Township of Rideau Lakes is formally asking the Ontario government to remove the municipality from its expanded strong mayor powers’ list. During a special committee meeting held […]
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SUBMITTED The Township of Rideau Lakes Economic Development Committee is pleased to announce this year’s winners of the Business Recognition Awards. Thirty-one local businesses were nominated in recognition of their […]
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SUBMITTED On April 11, the Newboro and Area Historical Society (NAHS) and Parks Canada hosted a first look inside the Newboro blockhouse—an experience that will be part of Doors Open […]
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LAURIE WEIR From renaming rural roads to repairing spring washouts, Rideau Lakes councillors reviewed several operational updates during the April 14 meeting of the Municipal Services Committee. Three private roads […]
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While some leaders welcome the tools, others warn of democratic erosion and local fallout LAURIE WEIR Strong mayor powers are heading to many local municipalities, and reaction from area leaders […]
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SUBMITTED From blueprint to build and concept to code, approximately 115 Grade 7 and 8 students from across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) put their creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration […]
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LAURIE WEIR The New Democratic Party candidate Paul Lancione says he believes it’s time for Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes to think differently about economic recovery, job protection and public […]
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LAURIE WEIR As the incumbent MP for Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, Michael Barrett has weathered political storms, economic downturns and shifting party dynamics since first being elected in a […]
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LAURIE WEIR With a federal election on April 28 and national concerns around affordability, housing and cross-border trade growing more urgent, candidates across the country are beginning to define their […]
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SUBMITTED Lorna Jean (LJ) Edmonds has been chosen by local Liberals to represent the party in the Federal election on April 28th. Dr. Edmonds is an accomplished community leader and […]
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STAFF WRITER Canadians will go to the polls on April 28 for the snap federal election, called by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Voters in the Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, […]
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SUBMITTED The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) continues to enhance early childhood learning opportunities through its growing Early Years Learning Program. Now in its third year, the program has expanded from […]
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LAURIE WEIR Can a new fire service agreement for automatic aid be reignited between neighbours? Smiths Falls Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough is hoping to negotiate a new fire services agreement […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes Township is set to demolish a home it purchased for nearly $1 million last year after discovering contamination linked to the nearby Portland Landfill Site on […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes municipal services committee has approved traffic calming measures for Chaffey’s Lock, opting to request Parks Canada to purchase a digital speed sign while township staff complete […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes Township is updating its emergency response plan to strengthen preparedness and response measures in case of a crisis. At the Monday, March 24 municipal services committee […]
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More than $200,000 paid to 8 councillors, mayor LAURIE WEIR The remuneration numbers for 2024 are in, revealing that the Township of Rideau Lakes paid its councillors honorariums ranging from […]
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SUBMITTED Lanark County has set its plan for the 2025 construction season, with the public works department aiming to complete pavement preservation on 16.2 kilometers of roads this year and rehabilitation and […]
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LAURIE WEIR A late-night fire Sunday destroyed a four-plex in Elgin, displacing five people and causing an estimated $750,000 in damage. Rideau Lakes Fire & Rescue Chief Gene Richardson said […]
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To the Editor, Rideau Lakers want to know why recommended 2025 tax increases are so high — there’s an easy answer: Because the tax increases in the past few years […]
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LAURIE WEIR In a move reflecting the growing instability within Rideau Lakes council, Mayor Arie Hoogenboom speaks out after announcing he will step back from mayoral duties within the township. […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Rideau Lakes Municipal Services Committee has opted for a by-election to fill the vacant seat left by Joan Delaney following her resignation on March 4. During the […]
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LAURIE WEIR Mayor Arie Hoogenboom has announced he is stepping back from some of his mayoral duties at the Township of Rideau Lakes, citing ongoing conflicts with members of council […]
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Rideau Lakes ex-councillor and husband challenge township’s rezoning delays LAURIE WEIR Joan Delaney and Bob Butcher have been battling with the Township of Rideau Lakes over a zoning amendment to […]
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LAURIE WEIR Will Rideau Lakes Township staff face more work, or will ratepayers simply receive more information? Deputy Mayor Paula Banks believes residents aren’t getting enough updates about township affairs […]
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Chair debate gets $10,000 pre-budget approval LAURIE WEIR The Township of Rideau Lakes will celebrate the opening of the new Portland Hall and Library in May, with a pre-approved budget […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Township of Rideau Lakes will continue to allow third-party flags after a proposed bylaw change was defeated during its third reading at a regular council meeting on […]
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Coun. Joan Delaney resigns; Paula and Jeff Banks face monetary penalties LAURIE WEIR Tensions ran high at Rideau Lakes Township council on Monday, March 3, as a non-confidence motion against […]
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STAFF WRITER Incumbent Steve Clark will return as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Leeds-Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes after a decisive victory on Feb. 27 in the provincial election. […]
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SUBMITTED Rideau Lakes Economic Development Committee undertook a Digital Content Strategy, and two campaigns were launched, reaching 1,273,891 people in the first two years. The two campaigns included the Experience Rideau […]
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SUBMITTED The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) Student Senate held its annual Student Trustee Election on Monday, Feb. 24 and elected Alexander Moussa from Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School and Allison Gibson from Rideau District High […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Township of Rideau Lakes is moving forward on the proposed drawings to retrofit the Chantry municipal offices. The committee discussed the plans during a regular meeting of […]
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STAFF WRITER The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) says the main services affected by a cyber incident in early January have been fully restored, as of Feb. 20. Wi-Fi […]
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SUBMITTED Lynn Laming-Kerr, long-time owner of Kitley Grocery & Service Centre in Toledo, will be receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s annual International Women’s Day celebration on […]
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LAURIE WEIR The RCL Automotive Build a Mountain of Food campaign has once again shown the resilience and generosity of local communities, collecting an impressive 180,763 pounds of food and […]
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LAURIE WEIR We asked the candidates running in the Leeds-Grenville, Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes riding in the Feb. 27 provincial election, the same five questions. We will add to […]
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Proposal bans Pride, religious, and other third-party flags LAURIE WEIR The Township of Rideau Lakes is adopting an all-or-nothing stance when it comes to flying flags. At a regular council […]
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LAURIE WEIR Rideau Lakes Mayor Arie Hoogenboom is taking a stance against the tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, urging municipalities, businesses, and residents to support Canadian-made goods. During […]
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SUBMITTED The Township of Rideau Lakes is pleased to announce that nominations open on Friday, February 7, 2025 for the Business Recognition Awards. Each year, the Township calls for nominations […]
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Province invests $40,000 to launch Golden Years Program SUBMITTED Seniors in the Township of Rideau Lakes will soon have access to a new program aimed at improving their quality of […]
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LAURIE WEIR The Township of Rideau Lakes addressed several community issues during its community services committee meeting on Jan. 13. These items will return to a future council meeting for […]
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LAURIE WEIR There must be a better solution than roadside spraying to control invasive phragmites. That was the sentiment expressed by Coun. Deborah Anne Hutchings during a presentation by Holly […]
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SUBMITTED Charge laid after hospital staff assaulted On July 7th, 2025 Smiths Falls Police were called to attend the hospital due to a report of an aggressive patient. Upon arrival, […]
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SUBMITTED House fire deemed accidental On July 1st 2025, the Smiths Falls Police were called to assist Smiths Falls Fire with traffic control at the scene of a residential fire. […]
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LAURIE WEIR Looking for something to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Hometown Happenings is your go-to list of markets, music, festivals, fundraisers, and good old-fashioned community fun happening […]
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SUBMITTED On July 13th 2025, the Smiths Falls Police Service received a report of a Home Invasion that just occurred at approximately 7:25 a.m. Smiths Falls Police members responded to […]
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July 27, 1945 – June 27, 2025 David Edward McGee passed away with his family by his side in Revelstoke, BC. He was raised in Carleton Place, ON until he […]
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Day uses her platform to raise awareness for mental health and support military families HEDDY SOROUR We met at a café, neither of us knowing what the other looked like. […]
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HEDDY SOROUR With Algonquin College set to shutter its Perth campus, a prominent local resident is stepping up with an ambitious plan to turn the site into a world-class private […]
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