Y E A R I N R E V I E W
2 0 1 2
Council Members
The creative rural economy is flourishing in Elgin County.
Several new businesses have opened in Elgin over the
past few months including bed and breakfasts, art
galleries, bakeries, restaurants, clothing stores, and
farmers’ markets.
Idyllic rural landscapes, charming towns and villages
and waterfront living make life in Elgin County the ideal
alternative to the hustle and bustle of city life. Elgin is a
county that truly is “Progressive by Nature.” Proximity to
major highways and a skilled work force give Elgin County
all the advantages of the “big city” without all the hassle.
Elgin County looks forward to the strengthening of
existing partnerships and the forging of new ones in
order to ensure that all businesses and residents of Elgin
County have greater access to support services and
educational opportunities to help them prosper.
To explore opportunities in Elgin’s vibrant communities,
please contact us at 519-631-1460 x 168 or visit
www.progressivebynature.com.
Warden Cameron McWilliam
On behalf of Elgin County Council, please accept
our best wishes for a prosperous and healthy 2013.
As you will see from this Year in Review Report,
entrepreneurial spirit is thriving in Elgin County.
In 2012, Elgin County Economic Development
initiatives focused on economic gardening, the
process of growing the existing local business
community in order to generate economic gains.
In the spring we completed a Business Retention
and Expansion program for Elgin County’s Energy
and Environment sector designed to improve
communications and foster better and deeper
relationships with the local business community.
Three instalments of the Elgin County Conference
series gave small business owners the tools and
knowledge to expand their businesses, enter into
new ventures and increase their profits. The County
also funded a successful one-year pilot project
to open a satellite office of the Elgin Business
Resource Centre in the Town of Aylmer which saw
the creation of jobs and new businesses.
(Back Row)
Councillor Paul Ens (Municipality of Bayham)
Councillor Jack Couckuyt (Town of Aylmer)
Councillor Jim Jenkins (Township of Malahide)
Councillor Bernie Wiehle (Municipality of West Elgin)
(Front Row)
Councillor David Marr (Municipality of Central Elgin)
Councillor Cameron McWilliam
(Municipality of Dutton-Dunwich)
2012 Warden Bill Walters (Municipality of Central Elgin)
Councillor David Mennill (Township of Malahide)
Councillor Jim McIntyre (Township of Southwold)
Message from the Warden
W a r d e n ’ s M e s s a g e
Elgin’s Economic Development Department was
established to promote economic growth in the region
through the attraction, retention, and support of new
business investment.
The mandate of the department is to work in
partnership with the partner municipalities as well as
business, industry and other levels of government to
advance the County’s economic interests and to seek
out strategic opportunities to enhance economic
development within the County of Elgin.
The County of Elgin’s Economic Development
Department is underpinned by four high level goals,
intended to anchor and qualify all strategic initiatives
or ensuing actions on the part of the County and its
partner municipalities.
These goals also support the overall vision and desired
outcomes of the economic development planning
process. They encourage prosperity and opportunity
for the County and its residents.
Investment ReadinessEnhance opportunities for the expansion of local business
and the attraction of new business investment and
entrepreneurs to the County.
Pursue Partnerships and Outreach in the CommunityTake a leadership role in advocating and supporting
strategic and collaborative economic development
partnerships.
Effective Marketing and Promotion of Elgin CountyEnsure that the County is effectively promoting the
assets, talents and opportunities available and enhancing
the profile of the County to a targeted audience of visitors
and business interests.
Growth in Key IndustriesEncourage and support the growth and expansion of
the County’s existing industry base and create focused
opportunities for future investment attraction efforts.
County of Elgin Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee:Councillor Jack Couckuyt – County Council
Councillor David Marr – County Council
Chair Grace McGartland – Creative Rural Economy
Donna Lunn – Agri-business
Jack Vanderkooy – Agri-business
Roberto Quai – Tourism
Bryan White – Advanced Manufacturing
Deb Mountenay – Labour/Workforce Development
Neil Bossuyt – Energy & Environment
Brett Hueston – Creative Rural Economy
Rhonda Stewart – Community Futures Development
Corporation
o u r M i s s i o n
In February of 2012 Elgin County Economic
Development completed a Business Retention
and Expansion (BR+E) program for Elgin County’s
Energy and Environment sector. A BR+E program
is designed to improve communications and
foster better and deeper relationships with the
local business community. Improvements in the
local business environment can lead to increased
local employment, a more satisfied business
community, better government-business relations
and a more diversified economy.
The Business Retention and Expansion Project
involved surveying businesses from all areas of
the County in the Energy and Environment sector
with the following goals:
1. To learn the future plans of the area’s local businesses
with respect to expansion, relocation and/or retention
and determine where assistance can be provided;
2. To determine the issues concerning the local
businesses and develop strategies to address these
concerns and assist in new growth and expansion of
Elgin’s businesses;
3. To involve the community in economic development
by becoming part of the process to improve business
growth in the area and in individual sectors.
A total of 11 businesses involved in the Energy and
Environment sector were surveyed for this program. The
key themes that came from this program included:
• Elgin has a positive local business environment.
• Many businesses are locally owned and operated.
Additional succession planning support could be
provided to ensure the continued operation of these
businesses in Elgin County.
• Businesses surveyed are very positive about their
future with eight businesses (73%) planning expansion
or renovation.
• Further workforce planning and skills development
needs to take place.
• The County may be well served to seek alternative
solutions to extending water/sewer services throughout
the County.
Please visit www.progressivebynature.com or contact
the Elgin County Economic Development Department for
a copy of the full report.
Energy and Environment Sector BR&E
s t r a t e g i c s t u d i e s
Number of Businesses Surveyed: Number of Years in Business
Less than 1 year 1-2 years 3-10 years 11-25 years 26-35 years 35+ years
0 2 4 0 3 2
The Elgin Workforce Development CommitteeElgin County Economic Development is a member
of the Elgin Workforce Development Committee.
This committee is comprised of the Elgin Middlesex
Oxford Workforce Planning and Development
Board, representatives from several Ontario
Ministries and local organizations concerned with
economic and labour force development in Elgin
and St. Thomas. The committee was formed to
address two workforce strategy goals:
1. To collectively create a policy framework and
a community infrastructure that supports
improvements in both quality and quantity of the
labour supply pool.
2. To ensure that Elgin-St. Thomas has the
workforce it needs to achieve its economic
development goals.
The Committee has achieved its key priorities as
laid out in the initial Elgin & St. Thomas Labour Force
Development Strategy (2011) and has outlined new
priorities in an updated 2012 document including;
1. Create opportunities to retain our youth, attract
skilled workers, and increase the participation
of underrepresented groups.
2. Increase educational attainment through
lifelong learning.
3. Provide support to entrepreneurs and small
business operations.
4. Maximize labour market by creating a
collaborative environment between business,
government, health and education.
The document can be found online at:
http://www.stthomaschamber.on.ca/doc/
Elgin2012LabourForceStrategy.pdf
Ambassador of the YearElgin County is pleased to announce that Adrian Peters
owner of A&M Sounds is Elgin County’s Ambassador of
the Year for 2012.
This award is based on points that are given to Elgin County
Ambassadors for a variety of items including attendance
at quarterly meetings, recruiting new members, promoting
Elgin County at external events, and providing Elgin County
Economic Development with business leads.
Peters has been a regular attendee and active participant
at Ambassador Meetings in 2012. He promoted Elgin as
an exhibitor at the London Wine & Food Show last year as
part of the Elgin County Display. He is a great supporter
of Economic Development & Tourism in the area and has
helped Elgin recruit new businesses to join the display for
the upcoming 2013 London Wine & Food Show.
Elgin County would like to congratulate Peters for
receiving this award and thank him for his commitment.
Local Immigration PartnershipThe St. Thomas-Elgin Local Immigration Partnership (ST-
ELIP) is a collaborative community initiative funded by
Citizenship and Immigration Canada to strengthen the
role of local agencies, stakeholders, and service provider
organizations in serving and integrating immigrants in
Elgin County. It is composed of representatives from
community organizations who participate in planning
and coordination to enhance the delivery of integration
services to all immigrants. Elgin County Economic
Development is a member of the ST-ELIP Council.
In 2012 ST-ELIP completed the St. Thomas - Elgin Local
Immigration Partnership Settlement Strategy. A copy of
this strategy can be found online at:
http://www.ywcastthomaselgin.org/wp-content/
uploads/2012/05/STEILPreport.pdf
“Ambassadors
promote
Elgin County in their
day-to-day business dealings”
s t r a t e g i c P a r t n e r s h i P s
FreshFest 2012In August of 2012 Elgin County presented FreshFest a
local food celebration that paired local farmers and the
food they grow with local chefs to create unique local
dishes. The goal of the event was to create awareness
about Elgin County food.
Attendees were able to sample these dishes with
a glass of wine or a pint of local beer while enjoying
live music from the talented local band Sonic Buddha.
Pairing workshops with local food experts were offered
on topics including: beer & cheese pairings, grilled
cheese gone gourmet and wine & cheese pairings
using Lunnvale Farm’s sheep cheese.
A total of 17 vendors exhibited a vast array of delicious
local products to the 295 guests that took part in
the event.
Elgin County Conference Series The Elgin County Conference Series presented three
seminars in 2012: The Power of Solar, E-marketing
and Growing Your Agribusiness. These one-day seminars
provided information on topics that are of interest to
local businesses.
The Power of Solar was held in March and gave home,
business, and farm owners the opportunity to learn more
about harnessing the power of the sun through solar
panels. E-marketing was held in June and gave businesses
an opportunity to increase web recognition and to
develop professional e-marketing skills. In November Elgin
County hosted Growing Your Agribusiness, a seminar to
help businesses gain the skills and tools they need to
successfully operate and grow an agribusiness.
Elgin County has hosted six seminars since 2010 with
over 400 attendees in total participating in these events.
ElginLiciousSavour Elgin hosted the first annual ElginLicious event
Oct. 12 -21, 2012. The objective of the ElginLicious
event was to generate interest and business among
visitors and local residents at a time when Elgin’s
culinary attractions usually see reduced customer
traffic as the busy summer season ends.
ElginLicious was an opportunity to take advantage of
the area’s restaurants, wineries, specialty food shops
and agri-tourism destinations at three great price
points. Special promotions ran at $10, $15 and $25 at
participating Savour Elgin businesses.
ElginLicious was unique to all other “licious” events in
that it was not exclusive to just restaurants offering
three course menus, but included culinary experiences
of all types.
s u c c e s s f u l e v e n t s
Project OjibwaOn November 20, 2012 after three years of careful
planning, the HMCS Ojibwa arrived in the Port Burwell
harbour. She began her journey in the spring of 2012
making the long trip from Halifax, Nova Scotia to
Hamilton, Ontario. Work on the Ojibwa was completed
at the Heddle Marine shipyard in Hamilton before she
traveled by barge through the Welland Canal, into Lake
Erie and on to her final destination in Port Burwell.
The Ojibwa is set to be the centrepiece of a new branch
of the Elgin Military Museum dedicated to preserving
Canada’s Naval History. The Ojibwa will open to the
public in 2013 for guided tours. Special programs will
be developed that will give the public the opportunity
to learn about the unique role that cold war subs
played in Canada and NATO’s history. The Museum of
Naval History will be built adjacent to the Ojibwa and
will open in 2014. The museum will include exhibit
space, classroom and meeting facilities, a gift shop, a
restaurant and a lounge.
The project is estimated to cost over $6 million and
expects to attract approximately 80,000 to 100,000
visitors each year.
St. Joseph Health Care London’s Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health CareIn 2012, much of the construction on the new Southwest
Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care, part of the St.
Joseph’s Health Care London family, was completed. The
facility is scheduled to open in the summer of 2013 and will
be 233,640 sq. ft.
The Central Elgin site will provide specialized inpatient
and outpatient services, including assessment, treatment,
outreach and support services to individuals with a mental
illness who have come into contact with the criminal justice
system.
In addition to the health care benefits, the building project
is also providing a boost to the regional economy with an
estimated 300 workers on site daily during the facility’s
construction. The building will also carry with it the Gold
Standard LEED designation for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design.
d e v e l o P M e n t s
h e r i t a g e g u i d eIn November 2012, Elgin County Economic
Development released the Elgin County
Heritage Guide to promote heritage tourism
and attract visitors and residents to
experience historic places in Elgin County and
St. Thomas.
With the current trend towards more experiential
holidays the guide showcases the area’s rich
history and encourage travelers to visit historic
places and events. The guide was launched in
2012 to take advantage of the popularity of the
War of 1812 activities that will be taking place
across the province for the next several years.
Interest in Canada’s heritage places is growing.
As a result, tourists are becoming increasingly
drawn to these heritage places and therefore
communities that promote heritage can
create tourist destinations. Heritage Tourism
enthusiasts tend to stay longer, spend more
money and participate in multiple heritage-
related activities while on trips.
The guide includes museum listings, heritage
walking tours, events, heritage buildings and
attractions, historical plaques and information
on barn quilt tours in the area. The guide is
available at the Elgin – St. Thomas tourism
office (450 Sunset Dr., St. Thomas) and
a digital copy of the guide is available at
elgintourist.com/heritage.
“Interest in Canada’s
heritage places is growing and
communities that promote heritage
can create tourist destinations”
s u c c e s s s t o r i e sConcreations Concrete StatuaryConcreations Concrete Statuary offers unique, hand
cast and hand finished outdoor ornaments, with
statues varying from functional to fun. These delightful
garden ornaments include animals, stepping stones,
and masks that are sure to make any garden or patio
come alive.
Andy DeVries, a self-taught craftsperson, is the
creative mind behind each piece at Concreations.
His work is a labour of love and he spends a great
deal of time making sure each piece is one-of-a-kind.
Visitors to his working studio can see for themselves
how DeVries casts garden ornaments in concrete and
finishes each statue with stains and varnish to achieve
an antique, weathered look.
DeVries’ career as a concrete artist began when his
son purchased him a mold for a concrete alligator
statue as a retirement project. What started as a
hobby making gifts for friends and family quickly
became a successful business as demand for the
statues increased. The business further took off when
he began to sell his creations at the Western Fair
Farmers’ Market over five years ago.
Recently DeVries brought Concreations home to
central Elgin County, opening a new rustic barn store
on his own property. DeVries relishes the opportunity
to work from the comfort of his own home and his
customers have enthusiastically accepted the new
location as well. Concreations has become quite
the tourist destination for art lovers who enjoy a day
out in the country, away from the hustle and bustle of
city life.
s u c c e s s s t o r i e sAlternative renewable energy sources such as
wind, sunlight, biomass and geothermal heat, have
gained provincial, national and global support
in recent years. In September 2012 Fanshawe
College launched the Renewable Energies
Technician Program in response to the increasing
need for quality trained personnel in the Renewable
Energy sector. This program is unique to the Elgin
– St. Thomas Campus and will teach students the
skills they need to enter the renewable energies
field as employees or entrepreneurs.
The program is focused primarily on the practical
application of renewable energy. It provides
students with knowledge in the relevant electrical,
electronic and mechanical disciplines and gives
them a solid foundation in the science, design and
installation techniques required to work with a
number of emerging renewable energy solutions.
Students will learn about solar energy, wind
turbines, biomass energy and geothermal energy
systems. They will also learn about best industry practices
of health, safety and environmental conservation.
Students will leave the program with the ability to perform
site assessments for wind and photovoltaic energy
projects and to integrate new technologies with current
existing energy sources. They will also possess in-depth
working knowledge of current practices in the installation,
commissioning and routine maintenance and repair of
photovoltaic and wind turbine generating systems.
Graduates can seek employment from owners of
renewable energy projects such as wind and solar farms
as well as by third party contractors/manufacturers/
providers and installers and maintainers of these projects.
Other employment opportunities may exist in sales and
marketing, project site assessment, energy consulting
and regulatory functions.
For more information about the Renewable Energies
Technician Program please visit www.fanshawec.ca/
ret1s/1213.
Dutton Farm & AutoIn 2012, Dutton Farm & Auto opened a new larger location
at 271 Currie Road in Dutton. The business has been open
since 1990 as an auto parts supplier through Dutton
Building products but has now segregated and moved into
a new 6,500 sq. ft. facility.
Dutton Farm & Auto will continue to supply parts but will
also be an auto repair shop for cars, trucks and agricultural
vehicles doing everything from glass work, to upholstery
and auto detailing. They also maintain their own fleet of
tow trucks that service the Dutton, West Lorne, Rodney,
Strathroy, Glencoe and Komoka areas as well as snow plows
for the winter season in Dutton, West Lorne and Iona areas.
The expansion was a considerable undertaking but owner
Robin Willson was eager to get back to his roots in auto
repair. A consultant was hired to develop the business plan
and financial forecasts and lenders were sought. At the
project’s inception, lending partners included Libro Credit
Union and the Elgin Business Resource Centre. Dutton
Farm and Auto now partners with United Communities
Credit Union.
Fanshawe College’s Renewable Energies Technician Program
Ferguson Bros. of St. Thomas Ltd.Ferguson Bros. of St. Thomas Ltd. has been in business
in Central Elgin (Yarmouth Township) since 1964. They
specialize in growing (with contracted growers) and
processing coloured beans such as Dark and Light Red
Kidneys, White Kidneys and Cranberry Beans.
The coloured bean seeds that Ferguson Bros. plant
are from the United States. The beans are planted
from late May to mid June and normal harvest will run
from early September to the end of October. Growing
coloured beans is a specialized crop and growers
spend a lot time and effort during growing season to
monitor progress, but of course, Mother Nature is the
ultimate controller.
At harvest beans are delivered to Ferguson’s to be
cleaned, dried and processed. Beans will be packed in
55 lb, 100 lb or 2000 lb bags for customers.
Ferguson’s customers are located worldwide –
Canada, US, Japan, Croatia, South Africa, Spain to
mention a few. Janet Bolin Author of The Threadville MysteriesElgin County author Janet Bolin spent most of her life
in Toronto but has also lived in Pennsylvania, Michigan,
New York, and France. She now spends most of her
time at her home near Port Burwell.
Bolin has published short stories and humourous
essays in literary journals and her work has been read
aloud on nationally broadcast radio programs; however,
she is best known as an author of mystery novels.
Bolin writes the Threadville Mystery series for Penguin
Group (USA) Inc. The Threadville Mysteries focus on the
small lakeside village of Threadville and resident Willow
Vanderling, the owner of the village machine embroidery
shop, and her penchant for solving murder cases.
Bolin’s first novel, Dire Threads, was on the Barnes
and Noble Paperback Mystery bestselling list in its
first week, and was nominated for an Agatha Award
for best first novel and also for the Bony Blithe, The
Bloody Words Light Mystery Award. Her second book,
Threaded for Trouble, also made the Barnes and Noble
Paperback Mystery bestselling list in its first week.
Bolin’s third book, Thread and Buried, will come out in
June 2013, and Penguin has asked her to write books
four and five in the Threadville Mystery series. These
novels are expected to be released in 2014 and 2015.
Additionally Bolin will be one of four featured authors
at the August 2013 Scene of the Crime mystery
convention on Wolfe Island, near Kingston in the
Thousand Islands.
e B r cIn 2012, the County of Elgin fully funded a one-year
pilot project to operate a satellite office of the
Elgin Business Resource Centre (EBRC). The office
is located at the Elgin Innovation Centre in Aylmer,
and services Elgin County residents.
The EBRC is a community based- not-for-profit
organization that supports local business
communities and encourages entrepreneurship
and economic growth through access to capital,
business services and project support.
The EBRC satellite office is dedicated to helping
business owners and entrepreneurs succeed in
the ever-changing business market. The office offers
assistance to those looking to open a business, formulate
a business plan, or make changes to an existing business.
There is a strong demand for the services that the EBRC
provides for Elgin County residents. By supporting the
development of an EBRC satellite office in Aylmer, the
County ensures that new and existing business in Elgin
will have greater access to support services to help them
thrive and grow.
“It is of particular importance in these challenging
economic times that the County continues to undertake
programs and initiatives to support and cultivate local
business development and entrepreneurship,” said 2012
Elgin County Warden Bill Walters. “This is another example
of the County’s Economic Development department
forming partnerships that will enhance economic growth.”
The County of Elgin has partnered successfully with the
EBRC in the past on several initiatives including the Elgin St.
Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre, the Innovation
Centre for Entrepreneurs, the Youth Entrepreneurship
Program and the Elgin Arts Trail.
Since it opened in March of 2012, the Aylmer office of the
Elgin Business Resource Centre hhas helped to start 13
businesses, expanded four existing ones and has helped to
create 38 new jobs in Elgin County.
“This is another
example of
the County forming
partnerships
that will enhance
economic
development”
Businesses Started
13Businesses Expanded
4Jobs Created
38Loan Inquiries
12
EBRC Aylmer 2012 Statistics
The Municipality of BayhamThe Municipality of Bayham undertook several
infrastructure and facility improvement projects
in 2012. In order to meet the current and future
needs of the community a new fire hall opened
at the south end of the Municipality in early
2012. Renovations are also underway at both the
Straffordville Library and at the Community Centre
in Vienna.
Many roads in the Municipality have had work done
including re-surfacing and culvert replacements.
Additionally, a new water source and system
improvements are underway for the residents
in Richmond.
The Municipality has made changes to its zoning
by-law to provide greater flexibility for “value-
added” in the agriculture sector in order to reflect
current trends in production. Bayham’s council has
committed to support a new pilot Alternative Land
Use Services (ALUS) program for three years. This
program will benefit local farmers and all those
affected by the area’s waterways.
The Municipality entered into a partnership with
the Township of Malahide and the Municipality of
Central Elgin to implement improvements to its
waste management program. The Municipality
will also share the cost of its Fire Chief with
Southwest Oxford.
Discussions are on-going regarding the potential for the
divestiture of the Port Burwell harbour and enhancements
have been made to signage on the beach and benches
installed on the pier.
The Town of AylmerAylmer has seen some strong economic growth in all
sectors (industrial, commercial and residential) in 2012.
East Elgin Medical Facility is expanding and the family
health team continues to recruit exceptional health
providers so that the Town may increase its services to
new and existing patients. As a result, it is in the process
of increasing its facility space and will be making some
changes in 2012.
New phases of Bradley Park are being developed by Doug
Tarry Limited and the Jane Street Subdivision is being
developed by Ora et Labora Enterprises Incorporated.
Additionally a new adult-lifestyle community complex for
adults (ideally 55 Plus) and independent retirees at the
corner of John Street South and Sydenham Street West
is under construction.
John Street North has seen some significant commercial
and industrial growth with the recent development and
opening of the Mennonite Savings and Credit Union and
continued interest and activity at the Elgin Innovation
Centre. New industrial interests continue in this building
which has a million square feet of available leased
space. Supporting these entrepreneurs at this location
is the Elgin Business Resource Centre which assists new
interests as they walk through the doors. Continue to
keep an eye on the most northerly point of John Street
North industrial park for new developments in the works
and expanded facilities of existing and thriving business
already located in that area.
The Township of MalahideThe Township of Malahide has undertaken several exciting
initiatives in 2012. The Township introduced a new recycling
program that came into effect on June 1, 2012. Residents
were provided with a larger Blue Box and recycling is
now collected on a weekly basis. Additionally the list of
acceptable recyclable materials has been expanded to
provide improved diversion from landfills and to help reduce
waste disposal costs.
The Township is also in the process of completing an
Integrated Community Sustainability Plan which has been
branded “Cultivating Malahide: Planting the Seeds Together
for Our Future.” Resident input was gathered using surveys
and the final plan is scheduled to be presented in the
summer of 2013.
The Township has completed a five-year review of its
Official Plan and has submitted to the Province for approval.
it is also continuing a major re-construction project on
Vienna Line.
M u n i c i P a l u P d a t e s
The Municipality of Central ElginCentral Elgin continues to pursue its vision of
transforming Port Stanley Harbour into a vibrant
waterfront that will attract residents and visitors. The
Municipality initiated a Harbour Economic Development
Strategy with the objective of identifying economic
development opportunities to make the harbour
self-sustaining for the long term. After the recent
acquisition of the Lakes Terminals property, the
Municipality is now the owner of all the lands along
the Harbour West Pier. These lands could in the short
term, generate revenue from paid parking. In the long
term they could be redeveloped in conjunction with
the overall harbour redevelopment plans. Additionally
the Municipality made improvements to the façade of
the Dominion of Canada Warehouse building to allow
its use for special events during the summer and
extended the walkway link between Main Beach and
the West Pier, adding benches and planting trees.
In 2012 Central Elgin replaced all existing streetlights
in the Municipality with new energy efficient LED
fixtures. The Municipality will see a cost savings
from reduced energy and maintenance costs of over
$1 million over the next 20 years.
A Waste Management Master Plan was completed
in partnership with the Municipality of Bayham and
the Township of Aylmer. This resulted in an enhanced
recycling program and seasonal roadside yard
waste collection at a reduced cost to the taxpayers of
Central Elgin.
The Township of SouthwoldThe Township of Southwold has committed to replacing all
existing streetlights with energy efficient LED lights. This
project began in Fingal and following positive feedback
from residents, council has decided to move forward
with the project in all residential areas of the Township.
The project is scheduled to be completed in the spring
of 2013.
It was evident that the retaining wall in the Kettle Creek
along Robert’s Line was in significant need of repair and
stabilization. The Township of Southwold, in cooperation
with the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority, undertook
to stabilize the wall to prevent a potential collapse into
the creek. The wall itself was repaired along with the road
behind the wall and Robert’s Line is once again open to
public traffic.
The Township of Southwold provides line painting services
to several of the lower tier municipalities across the
County. In early 2012, Southwold upgraded the line painting
truck and paint equipment to meet the new standards
for the use of water-borne paint as stipulated by the
Ministry of the Environment. The Township is conscious of
the environmental effects of its activities and strives to
mitigate its environmental footprint where possible.
The Municipality of Dutton-DunwichThe Municipality of Dutton-Dunwich has had consistent
housing starts in 2012 and a new housing development
will begin construction in the spring of 2013.
The Municipality is currently undergoing a re-branding
process that will include the use of social media to
communicate with the public.
In 2012, after 33 years of municipal service Dutton-
Dunwich Chief Administrative Officer Ken Loveland
retired. The position has been filled by Laurie
Spence-Bannerman who has been involved in several
Economic Development initiatives including looking at
opportunities for main street Dutton.
The Municipality of West ElginIn 2012 the Municipality of West Elgin began the
process of creating a secondary plan regarding the
development of lands around Port Glasgow.
It includes a detailed look at the potential development
area around Port Glasgow and covers issues such as
vehicular circulation, lands for public use, demographic
characteristics, and future development around
Haven’s Lake Road.
The plan will go to the West Elgin Council for approval
in early 2013. If approved, all future changes in use,
developments and redevelopments of individual
parcels of land will be done in accordance with the
stated vision, goals, objectives and policies of the
secondary Plan.
The Municipality also completed a $1.8 million project
to refurbish the waterlines on Graham Road.
The County of Elgin’s
Economic Development goals
encourage prosperity
and opportunity
for its businesses
and residents.
Elgin County Economic Development | 450 Sunset Dr., St. Thomas, ON N5R 5V1 | 519-631- 1460 ext. 168
[email protected] | www.progressivebynature.com