Council supports staff recommendations for the 2026 Community Grants Program totalling over $219,000
SMITHS FALLS — Smiths Falls council supported staff recommendations for the town’s 2026 Community Grants Program following a discussion focused largely on mental health funding and the limits of municipal involvement.
The debate centred on a report presented by Director of Community Services Stephanie Clark, who outlined the work of the staff evaluation committee and the recommended allocation of $219,190, just under the $220,000 budget envelope set at approximately one per cent of anticipated property tax revenue.
Clark thanked staff for compiling the grant package and highlighted that 26 applications were received this year, with 23 deemed eligible. Under the program policy, applicants requesting $10,000 or more are required to present to council before final approval.
Council supported the overall program and the staff-led review process.
Coun. Peter McKenna said council had committed years ago to setting aside one per cent of tax revenue for community grants and described the applications as delivering “a lot of bang for our buck” in supporting local organizations.
Couns. Dawn Quinn and Steve Robinson echoed that view, saying they had confidence in staff and supported the recommendations as presented.
The most substantive discussion focused on an application from Pivotal Help Community Association, a mental health organization that was deemed ineligible under the program policy, which excludes funding for services already provided by other government agencies or not-for-profit organizations.
Mayor Shawn Pankow argued that Pivotal Help emerged to fill gaps in the mental health system, particularly long wait times and cost barriers, and said it would be unfortunate if the organization were unable to support Smiths Falls residents because of policy interpretation. He urged colleagues to consider adjusting allocations to recognize the role the organization plays during what they described as an ongoing mental health crisis.
CAO Malcolm Morris clarifyed that applications below a dashed line in the report were not included in the recommended funding total, noting that three applications were deemed ineligible and one additional application was excluded to remain within the $220,000 budget. Morris also explained that one element of the scoring matrix considers the number of people impacted by a program, which can disadvantage organizations serving smaller populations despite the depth of support provided.
Concerns were also raised more broadly by Coun. Chris McGuire about the community grants policy itself, including the wide range of scoring outcomes among eligible applicants and whether certain programs aligned with the original intent of the funding.
In the end, council expressed consensus in supporting staff’s recommended grant allocations and declined to make changes or invite additional delegations at this time.
The recommended funding allocations will move forward as presented, with applicants requesting $10,000 or more scheduled to present at an upcoming committee of the whole meeting.
Applicants and amounts requested
- Rural FASD requested $25,000
- The Table Community Food Centre requested $25,000
- Cornerstone Landing Youth Services requested $15,211
- REAL requested $7,500
- Big Brothers Big Sisters requested $25,000
- Rideau Roundtable requested $3,995.50
- Smiths Falls Chamber of Commerce Ribfest requested $15,000
- The Hospice Hub requested $25,000
- Smiths Falls Legion requested $2,975
- Smiths Falls Cruisers Car Club requested $1,750
- Smiths Falls Community Band requested $9,077
- Gordon Pipe Band requested $8,315
- Downtown Smiths Falls Business Association requested $25,000
- Smiths Falls Pickleball requested $2,000
- Parkinson’s Community Network requested $2,815
- Eastern Ontario Clogging Association requested $6,850
- Furry Tails Cat Rescue requested $9,998
- The Craft Witch requested $2,500
- Mel’s Farm All Animal Rescue and Sanctuary requested $5,000
- Alzheimer Society Lanark Leeds Grenville requested $25,000
- Falls Ball Hockey requested $2,500
- Healthy Lifestyle Choices requested $2,500
- Smiths Falls Chamber of Commerce Staffing requested $10,000
- Smiths Falls Kinsmen Club requested $25,000
- Pivotal Help Community Association requested $9,040
- Smiths Falls Squash and Curling Club requested $12,300
Council is expected to make final funding decisions following the presentations by those requesting more than $10,000.
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