Tag Archives: Leeds and Grenville

Kemptville District Hospital celebrates grand opening of Tallman Family CT Scanner Suite

Photo credit: Submitted.
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Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) celebrated the grand opening of the Tallman Family CT Scanner Suite on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. 

The event marked the culmination of extraordinary efforts – spanning several years – by KDH, the KDH Foundation and the hospital’s incredibly supportive community to improve access to quality care in North Grenville. 

The ceremony featured an official ribbon cutting, tours of the new CT suite and unveiling of the Crossroads Campaign donor wall.  

“I was honoured to cut the ribbon for our state-of-the-art CT suite alongside Louise Tallman, Honorary Chair of the Foundation’s Crossroads Campaign,” said the hospital’s CEO, Frank J. Vassallo. “She was a tremendous champion for the Crossroads Campaign, which exceeded its goal of raising $2.2 million to bring a CT Scanner to KDH. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Tallman family for its longstanding support of our hospital.”

The CT Scanner – a GE Revolution Ascend – has been operating since April 14, 2025. It uses computed tomography to examine structures in 3 dimensions inside the body using the latest AI computing power, enabling care teams to diagnose patients more quickly, thereby managing and treating their conditions faster. Having a CT Scanner at KDH helps to reduce CT wait times regionally and enhance quality of care for patients. To date, almost 1,000 CT Scans have been performed at KDH. 

“We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for our wonderful community, which stood behind us every step of the way, pushing KDH towards a brighter future,” said Vassallo. “I truly believe this hospital is the heart of our community; a place where we find ourselves facing different stages and phases of life. KDH understands the importance of person-centered care, along with service excellence and innovation, and we’re so lucky to have a forward-thinking community that shares our vision and values. I am so grateful to everyone who supported the campaign to bring a CT Scanner to KDH!” 

The funds for a CT Scanner were provided by the KDH Foundation ($2.3 million raised through the Crossroads Campaign), the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville ($900,000) and Municipality of North Grenville ($900,000).   

“The Foundation has been looking forward to this moment for years,” said Margret Norenberg, Chair of the KDH Foundation Board. “We knew when the Crossroads Campaign started that its success would be up to our community, and it’s no surprise that our donors and sponsors rose to the occasion once again for our hospital!

The Foundation is so grateful to all the individuals, service groups, and local businesses throughout North Grenville and beyond who contributed to the campaign. Thank you all so much!”

The CT has transformed patient care locally, enhancing emergency and inpatient services, and significantly reducing the need for patient transfers, ensuring timely and efficient health care right here at KDH.

‘I will not be bullied into quitting’: Rideau Lakes Mayor Arie Hoogenboom reacts to second non-confidence vote and resignation request

Mayor Arie Hoogenboom speaks with Hometown News about the second non-confidence vote and the request for his resignation in Rideau Lakes. Photo credit: Submitted [Rideau Lakes Township].
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 anyway, as it concerned him directly.

Deputy Mayor Deborah Anne Hutchings chaired the discussion following a lengthy in-camera session, introducing a motion from Coun. Paula Banks: a second non-confidence vote against Mayor Arie Hoogenboom, along with a formal call for his resignation.

The first non-confidence vote took place on March 3, citing a lack of leadership after what was deemed the mayor’s “disregard of the township integrity commissioner’s findings of innocence and imposition of penalties contrary to the report.” That resolution also called for public release of the motion and that it be forwarded to MPP Steve Clark and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

“On March 3 of this year, the mayor, along with other councillors, supported a motion that brought liability to this township by taking the IC investigation’s findings of innocent and changing them to guilty,” Banks said. “Then his two strong mayor vetoes — one blocking the Chantry office retrofit, and another requesting staff research on recorded votes — were done in bad faith. If it was done in good faith, the mayor wouldn’t have felt the need to go on CBC and falsely claim that MPP Steve Clark and the province had okayed his specific use of the veto in that case.”

Banks also criticized the mayor for directing staff to compile information on 17 past IC complaints, which she said was later released without context and used inappropriately during a by-election.

“That’s why I brought this motion forward, and I hope council supports it,” she said.

Coun. Jeff Banks supported the motion. “The wrath of what was done to us continues every single day.”

Hutchings said she was troubled by how the integrity commissioner’s findings were handled.

“I think down deep Arie is an alright guy, but I don’t know what he’s doing. I like him. I just don’t like sometimes what he does,” she said. “I just wish he would listen … and that everybody would listen.”

In a recorded vote, councillors Jeff and Paula Banks, Sue Dunfield and Hutchings voted in favour. Councillors Marcia Maxwell and Ron Pollard voted against it.

Hoogenboom and Coun. Linda Carr had left the meeting before the resolution was read aloud and voted on. The mayor later told Hometown News he had “heard enough” and chose to leave, as the discussion was about him and he would have had to recuse himself from the vote regardless.

According to the Municipal Act, non-confidence votes are symbolic and do not carry the legal authority to remove a sitting mayor.

A mayor in Ontario can only be replaced if they resign, pass away, or are otherwise unable to fulfill their duties. When a vacancy occurs mid-term, the municipality usually holds a by-election to elect a new mayor, unless the vacancy happens close to the next scheduled election, in which case council may appoint a replacement.

HOOGENBOOM REACTS

When reached by phone on Wednesday afternoon, June 25, Hoogenboom was forthcoming, disheartened and frustrated. He spoke candidly with Hometown News.

“This is part of the ongoing campaign to discredit me as mayor,” he said. “They are clearly upset that I legitimately used my strong mayor powers to cancel their retrofit of the Chantry office renovation. This ongoing harassment of myself and my supporters brings more embarrassment to our township and to themselves.”

Hoogenboom also addressed a recent CBC report suggesting he had received specific advice from MPP Steve Clark’s office regarding his use of strong mayor powers. He said the reporter oversimplified the situation and clarified that the MPP’s office directed him to consult the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Kingston office for guidance.

Hoogenboom said he has significant community support, along with backing from fellow mayors in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.

“Staff fully support my role as mayor, and they’re caught in the middle with 55 per cent of council regularly voting down my initiatives and ignoring staff and outside professional advice,” he said.

“We’ve had multiple integrity commissioner investigations against them, and I know they’re continuing to file complaints against me and other members of council. The taxpayer is left to foot that extremely high and growing bill.”

The mayor reiterated a position he’s previously expressed — that the province should declare all council seats vacant and call a new election.

“They’ve driven staff to resign, they’ve cost taxpayers dearly, and they are the ones who should reconsider their roles. They cannot and will not force me to bend to their will.”

Hoogenboom said he used strong mayor powers to request data on council voting patterns.

“We’ve had 150 recorded votes this term. I thought it was 70 or 80, but staff said it’s 150. What does that tell you? There are so many issues this council disagrees on. We’ve also had 17 or 18 IC investigations. I was told today there are seven more coming.”

Many of the complaints, he said, are anonymous and internal. “They’re digging up dirt and hoping something sticks.”

Regarding the latest non-confidence vote by the “block of five” — as Hoogenboom refers to Jeff and Paula Banks, Dunfield, Hutchings, and Linda Carr — he said: “I’m incredibly disappointed. It gained us absolutely nothing. The only people who can force me out of office are the taxpayers — through a vote. Or the province, and I don’t expect they would do that.”

He accused the group of driving up legal fees at taxpayers’ expense while not being willing to fund his own representation.

“I’m not necessarily concerned about my pay or costs. I signed up for this, and I’m trying to do the best I can. I will not be bullied into resigning.”

The next municipal election is in fall 2026.

“We’ve got another year and a half with the same group of people who are not going to get along,” Hoogenboom said. “We’ve already had one councillor resign because of their antics. We’ve had multiple legal situations move forward.”

He added: “I’m sure they intend to try to take me to court using taxpayers’ money to argue my strong mayor powers should not have been exercised. This is just ridiculous.”

Still, the mayor said he’s buoyed by public support.

“People stop me at the grocery store or on the golf course and say, ‘Mr. Mayor, hang in there. We know it’s tough, but you need to stay.’ And I’m trying. I take it personally because I care so much.”

Regarding the June 26 by-election for South Crosby, Hoogenboom said he hadn’t endorsed a candidate and was disappointed in low, early turnout.

“Even if the new councillor supports some of my initiatives, it’s still a five-four vote. The makeup isn’t going to change.”

Lynn Laming-Kerr to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Lynn Laming-Kerr will be recognized on International Women’s Day with the Lifetime Achievement Award for women in business for more than 20 years. The owner/operator of Kitley Grocery & Service Centre in Toledo says being part of the community is what success is all about. Photo credit: Submitted [Leeds Grenville Economic Development photo].
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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 Thursday, March 6 at the Brockville Memorial Centre.

For over 36 years, Laming-Kerr’s service centre has been a staple in Elizabethtown-Kitley. Known as a welcoming hub in the village, Lynn and her husband, Peter, continue to provide essentials such as fuel, propane, frozen foods, hand-made breakfasts, lunches, and snacks to go, beverages, lottery tickets, and more. The store became an LCBO Liquor Convenience Outlet Operator years before the recent expansion of retail liquor sales.

“I was 19 when I started with the store. I came to help provide for my family, but then it changed as the community became my family,” she said.

Laming-Kerr has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for 25 years. “We are a very close community; we support schools and churches, and the community supports our business. We stay connected by being there and staying present for our customers,” she says.

Photo credit: Submitted [Leeds Grenville Economic Development photo].

Laming-Kerr leads a team of employees that have consistently served with a commitment to customer engagement and breaking down barriers. “Everyone is welcome here,” she says. Her efforts have created meaningful connections and fostered economic opportunities in the region. In 2021, the store was the top entry in the “Grow Your Business, Love Your Lifestyle” video promotion.

“Lynn’s success and dedication is to be commended as she has demonstrated the importance of female leadership in small business while balancing the needs of her family and supporting her community,” says Corinna Smith Gatcke, warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and mayor of the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands. “Lynn’s commitment and longevity has attributed to her accomplishments and gained her the admiration and respect from many in the region.”

“I am absolutely thrilled for Lynn. I can’t think of a more deserving recipient for an award such as this one. Kitley Grocery & Service Centre has become a well-known and long-standing fixture in the township thanks to her tenacity and leadership, along with her unrelenting dedication to customer service and a friendly atmosphere. In a time when so many village stores have become relics of the past, Lynn’s establishment not only lives on, it thrives!” said Elizabethtown-Kitley Township Mayor Brant Burrow. “She genuinely loves her community, and the community loves her.”

Laming-Kerr is the 12th business leader selected for this coveted award, that recognizes women who have been in business for over 20 years and has demonstrated hard work, community contribution and resilience.

Submitted by the Leeds-Grenville Economic Development office.

RNJ Youth Services touting its programs, services across Lanark, Leeds Grenville

RNJ Youth Services
RNJ Youth Services executive director spoke to Perth council’s committee of the whole on June 4 regarding the programs and services offered at the organization that has been helping youth in the tri-counties overcome challenges such as addictions, mental health and involvement in the justice system. Photo credit: Laurie Weir.
LAURIE WEIR

RNJ Youth Services has been around for more than 30 years, but many don’t know about the organization that helps young people and their families across the counties of Lanark and Leeds and Grenville, that started in Smiths Falls in 1987.

Representatives from the organization have been making their rounds to local municipalities hoping to increase awareness of the programs and services offered, and to gain support in their advocacy. 

“Our numbers across the board are dramatically increasing,” said Rachel Burns, executive director, to Perth council’s committee of the whole on June 4. “The last fiscal year along, we serviced 1,700 youth across three counties, (in 2021-23).”

Of those numbers, there were 48 youth served in Perth, compared to Smiths Falls with 238 youth served. Comparatively, Brockville youth represented 298 people on the high end, while Merrickville-Wolford had 24. 

“We are already sitting at 350 youths this year and our fiscal year just started,” Burns said. 

Lanark County Community Justice is the organization that deals with restorative justice, and RNJ Youth Services “handle all the rest,” Burns said. “We do a lot of the early intervention, working with youth before they are criminally charged.”

They work with youth aged eight to 17 “to try and push them down a different path,” so they don’t have to access the resources of restorative justice, she said. 

RNJ Youth Services also work with youth who have a conviction but there is no victim, like drug charges.

Burns said they are seeing increased caseloads with more complexity. From petty thefts to kids threating to harm others in the family, calls for service are escalating. 

“It’s not something we have a lot of experience with but it seems to be on the rise,” she said. 

Other trends are internet related crimes, like hate crimes or pornography, and “that’s alarming.”

Burns said they work with their police partners to create educational presentations for schools, as these threats are up over 42 per cent.

Burns said they haven’t seen a funding increase from the province for 18 years. 

For 2023/24, their annual expenses were $795,700, with an income of $585,049, giving them a $210,651 deficit.

Coun. Jim Boldt trying to address the need an earlier age would be key.

“We all know that a lot of the preventative maintenance should be started at home,” he said. “But parents are also caught in a world where we’re all so stressed.”

Boldt asked what they could do as collaborative communities to help the organization achieve their goals. 

Burns said a task force created in the Greater Toronto Area doesn’t tackle the issues of rural Ontario. 

She said letters of support when they attend the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conferences would be helpful to possibly gain some funding opportunities.

RNJ Youth Services is financed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Ministry of the Attorney General, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addiction Mental Health, United Way of Leeds and Grenville, community grants and the Sifton Family Foundation. Burns said their expenses are however, increasing, while funding is not. 

Deputy Mayor Ed McPherson asked if they’d approached county councils. If they did that, then they would capture a lot more municipalities in one shot, he said. 

“I’m just trying to save you some time and running around,” he said. “I’d welcome you as come to county council.”

Committee passed a recommendation to draft a support letter and circulate it to the tri-county municipalities and the ministries involved.

Lanark County continues to increase community housing

Community Housing
Photo credit: lanarkcounty.ca

In consultation with partners, clients and the community, and by using a multi-pronged approach, Lanark County continues to take steps to address the complex issue of housing.

At the community services committee meeting this week, Director of Social Services Emily Hollington provided an overview of activities related to the county’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan. The plan, which was approved in 2019 and is reviewed every five years, includes mandated targets set by the province.

“Over the past year, Lanark County has made strides in achieving objectives in the plan,” Hollington said. In 2021-2022, this has included 10 additional portable housing benefit (PHB) spaces, 10 additional rent supplement spaces and the replacement of lost rent supplement spaces with PHB spaces.

Partnerships with community agencies have played a key role in meeting objectives. “We released an expression of interest to non-profit housing providers this year, which resulted in a partnership with Carebridge for 28 new rent supplements in a new building,” Hollington said.

New supports for clients were also created, including an agreement with Lanark County Mental Health to support housing services clients in 2021 and the addition of new housing services caseworker and clerk positions.

“This year we established a Housing Working Group to examine best practices, and a Homeless Services Coordinator position has been created until December 2022. We conducted the homelessness enumeration and launched and administered the consent-based By-Name List, which help us to get a more accurate idea of the number of people who are struggling and what supports they need. We have a small team dedicated to addressing homelessness specifically and working with clients to get them housed, and our by-name list committee of community agencies works together by pooling resources and finding ways to improve service allocation.”

Hollington noted best practices learned from the Housing Working Group have included the importance of seeking out partnerships with the non-profit and private sector, as well as leveraging county funding with other portfolios, such as federal capital dollars, in order to create multiple units through innovation.

The working group found having rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing administered by the non-profit sector is ideal. “For RGI units, the landlord must take someone from our waitlist. A key step for private landlords is often to screen tenants, which means they are not necessarily willing to take part in this program, whereas a non-profit partner may have a greater capacity to take part.”

The county also partnered with the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health on a homelessness study, with follow-up on recommendations now underway.

“We also have a study in progress to develop a toolkit for municipalities that highlights opportunities and planning tools that would encourage more affordable housing development,” Hollington said. This is expected to be shared with council in the spring.

Council recently authorized an application to apply for a Federation of Canadian Municipalities grant for a pilot project to develop two carbon sink tiny homes for affordable housing in Perth.

“A major project to complete a development at 7 Arthur St. in Carleton Place came to fruition early this year with 20 households moving in,” Hollington added.

Over the course of the pandemic, more than $6.5 million in provincial Social Services Relief Funding was issued to the county, which supported multiple initiatives and allowed for five additional capital projects:

  • Lanark County Interval House purchased six housing spaces in Perth
  • Shardon Manor will add nine new beds
  • Victoria House completed renovations
  • Rideau Ferry Country Home completed renovations
  • 2B Developments are undertaking a capital project

The county recently reviewed investment plans for 2022-23 for provincial and federal funds for housing and homelessness supports:

  • The Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) is distributing $430,845 among eligible housing providers on a per-unit basis. COCHI will maintain Ontario’s social housing supply. The initiative will protect tenants living in projects with expiring operating agreements/mortgages and promote the long-term sustainability of non-profit housing providers.
  • Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) funding of $395,000 will be distributed among four programs: Homeownership, Ontario Renovates, Support Services and Administration. OPHI will provide flexible funding to address local housing priorities and improve access to affordable housing options. The initiative will help to increase affordable housing supply.
  • The Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) allocates $1.3 million in five programs: Emergency Shelter, Housing with Related Supports, Services and Supports, Homelessness Prevention and Administration. Municipalities can use the CHPI funding to address local priorities and better meet the needs of individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. CHPI has two key program outcomes: That people experiencing homelessness obtain and retain housing, and that people at risk of homelessness remain housed.

Hollington said the 10-Year Plan proposes 10 new housing units be built in 2022, with five to be affordable and five RGI. The county will soon be sending out a request for proposals related to capital funding for this RGI and affordable housing development. “We would be taking into account the best practices determined by the housing working group, with a view to fulfilling and possibly surpassing
our goal for 2022,” she said.

“Lanark County has been working with all stakeholders and engaging with provincial and federal governments to advocate on this complex issue and to leverage opportunities to continue to move our housing and homelessness plan forward,” said Warden John Fenik (Perth Mayor). “This is a major issue in communities across the country, and many of our residents are struggling. Increased community housing remains a key priority for Lanark County Council.”

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School immunization clinics for grade 7 and 8 students in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark

Immunization
Photo credit: Stock image.

Immunizations remain an important part of a healthy lifestyle, even during COVID-19.

For the 2020/21 school year, the Health Unit will be offering the Meningitis, Hepatitis B and HPV9 vaccines for Grade 7 students, and those Grade 8 students that did not complete their series last year at school based clinics. The school based clinics will be held at host schools throughout Leeds, Grenville and Lanark on weekends beginning Saturday, October 24.

These weekend clinics will be by appointment only. This new model of service will help to minimize traffic in the schools during regular school hours, which is one of the COVID-19 prevention methods that schools currently have in place.

Schools will provide parents/caregivers of Grade 7 and 8 students with clinic dates and information on completing consent forms and booking appointments.

Parents or caregivers are asked to:

The Health Unit is planning additional immunization clinics for Grade 7 and 8 students who may need extra support or who are unable to attend their scheduled school clinics. Information about these additional clinics will be posted on our website at a later date.

Parents and caregivers are reminded about the following day of clinic COVID-19 precautions:

  • Complete the school screening online https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/ and follow the instructions given. DO NOT ATTEND if student screens positive.
  • Please notify screeners when you arrive and follow the directions given.
  • Parents/caregivers are not allowed to accompany the student into the school.
  • Students must wear a face covering.
  • Please be prepared to wait 30 minutes from the time the student is allowed into school.

More information can be found at https://healthunit.org/health-information/immunization/grade-7-immunizations/.

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