Please be advised that the canoe launch at Ferguson’s Falls Community Hall is closed now closed to accommodate the construction of a new Community Hall. The canoe launch will reopen when the new facility is completed in late spring.

For further information, please contact
Cindy Halcrow,
Chief Administrative Officer
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
613-267-6500

Effective October 1, 2022, the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley will take over the responsibility for septic inspections from the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. Township residents will be able to apply for the septic permits at the Township Office.

Septic Permit Fees:

For further information, please contact:

Cindy Halcrow, Chief Administrative Officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 613-267-6500

Ferguson’s Falls, ON - On September 16, 2022, Members of Council joined community residents and representatives from RK Porter General Contracting Inc. to break the ground for the new Ferguson’s Falls Community Centre. The new hall will be completed in 2023.

From left to right: Ron Dickinson, Marg Dickinson, Steve Churchill (RK Porter), Nancy Command, Reeve Steve Fournier, Brandi Schooley, (RK Porter), Councillor Paul Kehoe, Councillor Paul Coutts, CAO Cindy Halcrow, Architect Amy Rancier and Trish Marianovits (RK Porter).

MEDIA RELEASE:
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
September 14, 2022 

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit would like to remind everyone that ticks are still active well into the fall.  Hunters are at a higher risk of exposure to ticks that can cause Lyme disease while out in the forest and in contact with leaf litter where ticks are located.

Enjoy the benefits of being outdoors; but remember to be tick smart. While not all Black legged ticks in our area carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease, a significant number do, and you cannot tell if a tick is positive by looking at it. Taking the following precautions will help to reduce your risk:

• Use an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin. You can apply this to clothing or your skin.
• Do a tick check when you return inside. If possible have someone check you from behind. Check pets for ticks as well.
• Put your outdoor clothes in a hot dryer for several minutes to kill ticks.
• Take a shower to help remove any unattached ticks.
• Speak to your vet about ways to protect your pets.

Lyme disease transmission depends on the length of time the infected tick is attached. Ticks that are removed quickly and have been attached for less than 24 hours are not likely to transfer the bacteria. However, if the tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours you may be at an increased risk and it is recommended that you consult your health care provider.

Check any ticks you remove from your body to determine if they are fat or flat. A fat tick is an indication that it has been feeding for a longer period of time. Tick specimens are not used for diagnosis of disease so they are no longer accepted at the Health Unit. Individuals can submit a photo to the website, eTick

 for tick identification.

Lyme disease symptoms can range from a bull’s eye rash around the bite area, to headache, fever and muscle/joint pain. Symptoms can appear from 3 days to several weeks following a tick bite. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

For more information about ticks and Lyme disease: visit our Insect Bites and Diseases section of our website or call 1-800-660-5853. You can also e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or connect with @LGLHealthUnit on Facebook and Twitter or @lglhealthunit.z on Instagram.

-30-

For media interviews, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Council of the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley is looking for volunteers to sit on the following committees / board for the term of Council 2022-2026.  You must be an eligible elector in the Township in order to apply for one of these positions

Perth & District Public Union Library (2 positions)
Board members are responsible for policy and funding decisions related to the library, and hiring the CEO as required. The role of the Board is governed by the Public Libraries Act.  The Board meets about 10 times a year and may include other sub-committees meeting.

Committee of Adjustment (2 positions)
The committee meets about 12-15 times a year to review and approve minor changes to the Zoning By-law.

Economic Development Committee (5 positions)
Interested applicants should have experience in business community, agricultural community, construction industry, tourism or Real Estate/Developer Community.  The Committee meets up to 6 times a year in the evening.

Trail Committee (2 positions)
The Committee is responsible for planning the development of a new trail on Code Road.  The Committee meets several times a year depending on planned activities.

If you are interested, please send in a letter of interest outlining your experience by October  29, 2022 to:

Cindy Halcrow, Chief Administrative Officer
310 Port Elmsley Road
Perth ON  K7H 3C7
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Township of Drummond/North Elmsley is committed to inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and environments. We will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the selection process. Please advise Cindy Halcrow to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated throughout this process.

September 1–Vital Signs Survey Info

Dear Friends and Supporters

PDCF will be publishing a Lanark County Vital Signs Report in early 2023. We have been gathering data through Stats Can and Vital Conversations which will be analysed and compiled. Please complete this short survey. Your experiences and opinions will help us, together, build a welcoming, safe, inclusive and vibrant community for all.

With thanks and best wishes, 

Victoria Gibb-Carsley, Executive Director.

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
MEDIA RELEASE:
August 23, 2022

The Health Unit is pleased to announce the return of low cost rabies vaccination clinics on September 14, 2022. Our partner veterinarians and municipalities are supporting 16 low-cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics throughout Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Counties. As in many other sectors, staff shortages have affected many of our vet clinics and therefore not all area vets have the capacity to participate.  Some areas where clinics operated previously may not have a clinic this year. To find the locations where clinics will be held, call 1-800-660-5853 or visit the Health Unit’s Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic page. Vaccinations are $20 cash only. Pets must be on a leash or in a carrier. Proof of Vaccination certificates are provided and these should be kept in a safe place as replacements will not be provided.

The goal of hosting these clinics is to help provide rabies vaccinations to as many cats and dogs as possible. Keeping your pets’ rabies immunization current protects your pet and your family from this disease.  In Ontario all owners of cats and dogs are required by law to have their pets immunized against rabies.

We encourage hunters to take advantage of these low cost clinics to get their dogs vaccinated against rabies prior to hunting season.  Hunting dogs are at a greater risk of encountering wild life that may have rabies, so vaccinate them to keep them protected

You can protect yourself and your family from animal bites by staying away from unknown or wild animals. If you or any member of your family has been bitten, scratched or in contact with a potentially rabid animal, seek medical attention from your health care provider, or go to your local hospital emergency department immediately. The Health Unit follows up on all reports of bites.   If you are the owner of a pet involved in a biting incident, regain control over your pet, provide assistance to the person bitten and provide your contact information to the person so the health unit can reach out to you to conduct a risk assessment.

For more information about preventing animal bites and the spread of rabies, visit our Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic page or connect with us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @LGLHealthUnit or @lglhealthunit.z on Instagram for important public health updates.

-30-

For media interviews, contact Susan Healey, Communications Co-ordinator at media@healthuni>

Lanark County 
Media Release; August 10, 2022

Want to get fresh with a local farmer? The annual Lanark County Harvest Festival will give everyone a chance to do just that!

This outdoor event, slated for Sunday, September 11 at Beckwith Park (1319, 9th Line, Beckwith), will celebrate the county’s bounty of the harvest featuring local producers, food seminars, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, local musicians, historical displays and more. This year, wefeature our partnering Township of Lanark Highlands by showcasing its people, products and projects.

"Throughout the pandemic our local farmers never stopped working. The Lanark County Harvest Festival is a great way to experience the amazing agricultural products our farmers produce. It is also a great opportunity to celebrate the success of our farmers and thank them for their continuing hard work,” notes Warden John Fenik.

The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is a collaboration of the Township of Beckwith, the Township of Lanark Highlands and Lanark County.

The program includes cooking demonstrations featuring local chefs who will provide visitors with the experience of learning how local foods can be transformed into masterful meals.

Renowned for their country harmony, the “Bowes Brothers” are returning as the musical entertainment; and children’s activities (weather permitting) such as a petting zoo, climbing wall and a giant air bounce can be expected.

The event provides a perfect opportunity for local producers to connect with visitors and residents. The benefits of local food have brought attention to Lanark County as a food destination. This festival is a good time for visitors to celebrate the harvest by sharing food, stories and laughter.

This annual event supports local businesses, farmers’ markets, and the development of new business networks for the county’s agricultural producers.  “We hope to continue to create employment, build on the customer base for our farmers and encourage lots of visitors to come to Lanark County,” states festival founder Bill Dobson, Montague Reeve.

There are still spaces for vendors. To register, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For farmer profiles, follow our Facebook page @ Lanark County Harvest Festival. For general information, visit www.harvestfestival.ca , or call 1-888-4-LANARK.

– 30 –

For more information, contact:

Joanne Plontz, Tourism & Corporate Relations Coordinator
Lanark County
613-267-4200

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
MEDIA RELEASE:
August 2, 2022

As the summer moves along and our local water bodies are now warmer there is a chance that we may start to see some potentially harmful algal blooms starting to develop.  

Potentially harmful algal blooms including blue-green algae are a natural seasonal phenomenon that may appear in our lakes, rivers and ponds. Many of these blooms are relatively harmless; however, some species have the potential to produce toxins which may be harmful to people and animals. The presence of a harmful algal bloom and its toxins can only be confirmed through a laboratory test, so we recommend taking a cautious approach when you suspect a potentially harmful algal bloom. Toxins are released when algal cells break down. These toxins when released can cause skin irritation, nausea and vomiting, and in higher concentrations, liver problems.

The Health Unit advises people using surface water for recreation and drinking, to become familiar with potentially harmful algae so they can make informed decisions on when to avoid contact with the water. Algal blooms do degrade with time; however, it is not possible to say whether the toxins have completely left the area. Once the toxin is released from the cell, where it goes depends on the local characteristics of water movement in the area. The toxin will eventually be diluted into the body of water as any other soluble compound.

Drinking Water

Surface water is never a safe source of drinking water without effective treatment. The toxins released by harmful algae are not removed by commonly used treatment methods such as boiling, chlorination or ultraviolet light treatment. Surface water requires specialized treatment. Consult a water treatment specialist if your drinking water comes from a surface body of water such as a lake or river. You may want to choose another source of water for drinking.

Recreational Water Use

Avoid activities that increase your exposure to toxins in the water during an active algae bloom. When deciding whether to resume recreational use of the water after a harmful algae bloom (swimming and water sports) consider the following factors:

Faster moving water will dilute and move the toxins out of an area more quickly, further decreasing the risk to health. Each property will have a different water flow pattern, so a local assessment is useful to further assess risk.

Skin irritation is the first sign that the level of toxin is significant in the water, so if this occurs, it is important not to go in the water. A few more days will help to clear the water if it is moving well, unless another bloom has occurred.

Bacteria, viruses and other microbes that can affect health are commonly found in surface water such as lakes and rivers, so it is important not to swallow the water. Young children are more likely to swallow water so they should be watched carefully when playing or swimming in the water.

Be cautious about eating fish caught in water where a harmful algae bloom has occurred. Toxins are concentrated in the liver. So avoid consuming the liver, kidneys and other organs of fish caught in an area affected by potentially harmful algae.

Algae exist in nature; however, nutrient levels can contribute to an increase in blooms of algae. You can help reduce nutrient levels entering water bodies by reducing the use of household fertilizers, agricultural runoff, and ensuring your septic system is in good working order.

Residents are encouraged to contact the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks Spills Action Center at 1-800-268-6060 to report any new potentially harmful algae blooms. If possible take pictures of an active bloom as this may help identify the type of algae.

For more information about harmful algal blooms including blue-green algae, visit our Recreational Water page or call 1-800-660-5853. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter @LGLHealthUnit or on Instagram @lglhealthunit.z for important public health updates.

-30-

For media interviews, contact: Susan Healey, Communications Co-ordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lanark Leeds & Grenville Health Unit
August 3, 2022

Re: Power Outages and Loss of Pressure

This year we have experienced some severe weather events that may have resulted in power outages that affect the operation of your drinking water system. As our climate continues to change we may experience an increase in severe
weather events at any time of year. We encourage you to be proactive and if possible to have a back-up generator to ensure you can continue to provide safe water for your users.

We would like to remind you that power outages and loss of pressure may compromise the safety of the drinking water in your system and are considered adverse events that must be reported to the health unit. The health unit provides24/7 coverage with a manager on call to receive these reports and provide direction on corrective actions.

If you experience a loss of power or pressure it is important to do the following, to ensure potentially unsafe water is not provided to the users of your system:

 Report the incident to the health unit and discuss corrective actions.
 Once power is restored check that all water treatment equipment is working properly.
 If the system is treated using chorine – take free available chlorine readings.
 Flush all the lines for 5 minutes to clear the lines.
 Take water samples and submit them for bacteriological testing to confirm it is safe.
 Record your actions in your log book.

We are here to help so please don’t hesitate to call.

Community Health Protection Department
Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
458 Laurier Blvd., Brockville, ON K6V 7A3
Phone: 613-345-5685, 1-800-660-5853
Fax: 613-345-7148