Smiths Falls council has provided over $200,000 to local organizations since 2019 to improve food security The recent budget seen $25,000 earmarked for The Falls Food Hub Smiths Falls plans to join the list of municipalities in Ontario declaring food insecurity an emergency as prices remain high at grocery stores Visits to the food bank have tripled in five years and Smiths Falls is ready to sound an alarm Members around the horseshoe unanimously approved a motion to declare food insecurity an emergency at its committee of the whole meeting on April 28 The matter is to appear at an upcoming council meeting “There’s no doubt that food insecurity is unfortunately on the rise,” Mayor Shawn Pankow said “Ottawa has seen food bank usage increased by 90 per cent since 2019 food bank usage is up over 200 per cent over the last five years.” Passing the motion would make Smiths Falls the fifth Ontario municipality to declare the emergency The town planned to mimic Kingston’s motion with its own local spin but faced difficulties in tracking down the local data “We know that the prevalence of our citizen suffering from food insecurity is likely greater than the one in seven estimated by our local health unit possibly even higher than the one in four experienced by Ottawa,” said Pankow Studies have shown residents in rural communities have a lower health status compared to their urban counterparts Food security plays a vital role as a social determinant of health It has long impacted the overall health and wellness of residents in Smiths Falls “(It) manifests itself in many negative ways including higher rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease higher rates of infectious disease … increased stress … increased risk of injury and chronic illness increased health care utilization and cost … increased social problems including substance use and crime,” Pankow said council has provided over $200,000 to numerous local organizations committed to enhancing food security but recognized its ability to make change on a municipal level was limited “It’s up to us as a voice for our citizens to speak up and do what we can to push for critical supports that are needed to make a meaningful difference.” Suggested recommendations for the motion included requesting the governments to commit to addressing food insecurity and building a stronger workforce by improving working conditions Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account OttawaNewsSmiths Falls council set to consider motion to allow backyard chickensBy Shaun VardonPublished: May 05, 2025 at 3:23PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Provincial police were urging a man wanted in connection with incidents in Lanark County and Smiths Falls to turn himself in Arrest warrants have been issued for 24-year-old Dylan Greene the Ontario Provincial Police said Thursday and several probation-related and Highway Traffic Act charges Members of the public are urged to report any sightings of Greene The police advisory follows a disturbance reported to Lanark County OPP just before 1 a.m at a residence in Mississippi Mills Township “An individual broke in and proceeded to destroy property The person then fled the scene in a black Nissan Versa with either stolen or no plates attached,” said police a Leeds County OPP officer located the vehicle at a gas station in Smiths Falls “When the officer attempted to block the vehicle in the driver deliberately crashed into the cruiser and then fled the scene,” police added Police say the suspect also went to the same Mississippi Mills residence on Tuesday “The OPP believes these were targeted incidents and there was no risk to public safety.” Anyone with information on Greene’s whereabouts is urged to call Lanark County OPP at 1-888-310-1122 transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. First responders in Smiths Falls rescued a youth who fell through the ice on the Rideau River on Friday afternoon Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience a 911 caller reported the youth in danger in the water across from the Econo Lodge hotel on Centre Street Two members of the Smiths Falls fire department crawled over the ice to reach the youth with one firefighter going into the water to hook up the youth to a rescue line while the second crawled out to assist in pulling the youth to shore “This could have been tragic had this youth been alone,” the Smiths Falls Police Service said on its Facebook page The youth’s parents gave permission to police to post a short video on the rescue on the webpage as “an educational piece.” By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of The Evening Citizen will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? “Our waters around the town are often fast-moving and don’t always freeze.” Police also congratulated the youth and his friends for doing all the right things after he fell through the ice “The youth did exactly what he was supposed to (He) remained calm and listened to the rescuers His friends did the right thing and called 911 The unidentified victim was taken to hospital for treatment for possible hypothermia This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Smiths Falls resident Patricia Ann Glaser snaps a photo of the pending water tank on April 6 The hoisting of the new water tank atop the tower is expected to take “most of the day,” the town's director of public works and utilities says The hoisting of the new water tank atop the tower is expected to take “most of the day,” the town’s director of public works and utilities says Have you passed by the newly fabricated water tank and wondered how Smiths Falls plans to hoist it in position for the next 80 to 100 years You can watch it all happen step by step on May 1 After a fresh coat of paint with the town’s logo director of public works and utilities Paul McMunn informed council on April 28 that the tank was ready to be lifted “For those at home that wish to come out and witness the hoisting it’s going to take probably most of the day,” said McMunn It would be contingent on the weather conditions and hopes it will be completed by the afternoon albeit it’ll be a very slow process,” he added In McMunn’s previous update to the committee of the whole on March 24 the director said the $9.6 million project was on track to be completed by late 2025 OttawaNewsTwo police officers injured after assault in Smiths FallsBy William EltheringtonPublished: April 27, 2025 at 6:09PM EDT Smiths Falls unveiled the parkette and mural at the corner of Beckwith Street North and Russell Street West as part of the Back on Beckwith celebration in October 2022 The parkette at Beckwith Street North and Russell Street West is set to have a new look “The goal is to make it a more usable space,” Sherrie Axford told the committee of the whole on behalf of the Downtown Smiths Falls Business Association on April 28 The reconfiguration plans included a new public art installation a concrete chess table and two ground-level game installations for smaller children A public art piece in the form of a painted piano would take shelter under the gazebo Smiths Falls Parkette Design The two large planters would be removed to make room for the new installations The bike repair stations and rack would remain The Downtown Smiths Falls Business Association would be leading the project and estimated the updates to cost $6,500 The rest area was unveiled back in 2022 as part of the redevelopment of Beckwith Street OttawaNewsChickens may be allowed to live in backyards in Smiths Falls, Ont. By Josh PringleUpdated: April 21, 2025 at 5:17PM EDT A public alert has been issued for high-risk sex offender Garry Devitt in Smiths Falls Reports are to be directed to the Smiths Falls Police Service immediately The Smiths Falls Police Service suspects a high-risk sex offender may reoffend now that he is no longer on parole the police issued a public alert for high-risk sex offender Garry Devitt he is still monitored by police and a recent trespassing investigation led them to believe there is an elevated risk of him reoffending Devitt was convicted of what police describe as “a violent and horrific sexual assault” in 1997 He was handed down a seven-year sentence for aggravated sexual assault He was later convicted in 2015 for failing to comply with an order and sexual assault causing bodily harm to another victim outside the Smiths Falls jurisdiction Devitt was sentenced to custody and placed on parole While Devitt does present a safety risk to the public the release underlines the fact that his rights are guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Under Ontario Regulation 412/23 of the Community Safety and Policing Act the chief of police may disclose personal information if they have reason to believe the individual poses a significant risk to others or property Those with reports of Devitt are asked to contact the Smiths Falls Police Service immediately OttawaNewsOPP arrest Lanark man wanted following incidents in Mississippi Mills and Smiths FallsBy Ted RaymondUpdated: April 28, 2025 at 1:09PM EDT The rapids (or small waterfall) under the bridge on Old Slys Road in Smiths Falls Parks Canada prepares the local swing bridges for the 2025 season Motorists and pedestrians will have to look for alternate routes as Parks Canada conducts annual spring maintenance at several swing bridges along the Rideau Canal The Abbott Street Swing Bridge will be closed from 9 a.m The Old Sly’s Swing Bridge will be inactive from 9 a.m The planned work includes preventive measures like washing greasing and conducting visual inspections to guarantee the safe and reliable operation of the bridges for the upcoming season Detour routes are marked and managed by Beacon Lite Bridge users are asked to plan their trips accordingly to avoid delays Dawn Quinn does not believe she was the source of the leaked confidential information from in-camera proceedings in July 2024 Integrity commissioner found two breaches of the code of conduct Dawn Quinn could be barred from attending several of council’s next closed sessions after being identified as “more likely” the leak of confidential information A portion of Rideau Avenue South is closed as work to repair a sinkhole is underway 2025: A CCTV inspection performed on March 19 brought no new leads into the cause of the sinkhole on Rideau Avenue South “What we do know at this point is that the sinkhole was not a result of a water main break nor an issue with the sanitary collection system at or downstream of the subject sinkhole,” said McMunn and staff will continue to monitor the roadway surface 2025: The sinkhole has temporarily been filled and the roadway is once again open to traffic McMunn said the cause is still under investigation “We are going to perform some CCTV investigation of the sanitary and storm sewers in the vicinity to determine if there is any compromised pipe causing the sinkhole,” said McMunn 2025: A sinkhole between Fourth and Fifth streets has closed Rideau Avenue South until further notice Smiths Falls advised residents about the road closure via a post to Facebook on March 17 said staff is excavating the site to determine the cause of the sinkhole The roadway is anticipated to reopen at some point this afternoon The Smiths Falls Youth Arena could see a whole new look as council discusses the possibility of redeveloping the aging facility Possibilities varied from a minor retrofit to completely redeveloping the facility Smiths Falls will look to its neighbours to discuss potentially sharing costs in order to elevate recreation in the region to a new level Talks for what Mayor Shawn Pankow said could be the biggest capital investment ever faced by the town remerged at council when the findings of the Youth Arena feasibility study were presented on March 10 The study summarized options to reimagine the Youth Arena as the Smiths Falls Regional Sport and Recreation Complex ranging from a minor retrofit to a full redevelopment of the facility most of council leaned towards the most expensive option: constructing a new arena with a separate multi-sport field house This was also the recommendation of the Nustadia Recreation which had been tasked with undertaking the study Smiths Falls’ director of community services said she recognized the Youth Arena was in dire need back when she first joined the town nearly two years ago faced significant structural and operational deficiencies proper accessibility features and enough spectator seating “This feasibility study wasn’t just about sorting out how to go about repairing and replacing worn and end-of-life infrastructure — it was about making sure that any investment we do make is the right one not only for today but also for the next 30 years,” said Clark The study recognized Smiths Falls as a central recreational hub for not just its own citizens but for those from neighbouring municipalities as well With its own growing population of approximately 10,500 and a regional catchment area of more than 48,600 residents the Youth Arena was identified as key in serving the region’s recreational needs “It was very clear people care about recreation in this community and it brings a huge quality of life improvements to our residents and to those around us,” Clark said The arena offers an additional ice rink next door to the Memorial Community Centre which consists of an NHL-sized rink and a second-floor hall While other local facilities included baseball fields some councillors expressed a lack of opportunities for residents without skates Feedback emphasized the importance of maintaining two ice surfaces in the community creating more space for multi-use recreation and stressed the need for improved amenities On the lowest end of costs was the option for a minor retrofit of the existing arena and planning for a future multi-sport field house at $5 million to $6 million This would extend the life of the facility through necessary upgrades but would only address immediate concerns and not meet long-term needs Smiths Falls Youth Arena Design Concept Retrofit + New Field House The next most affordable alternative would see the existing facility undergo extensive renovations a second-level connection to the next-door arena and plans for a future field house While this approach was not as costly as building a new arena from scratch at $12.5 million on the high end renovations could impact continuous programming Smiths Falls Youth Arena Design Concept Extensive Renovation + New Field House Another design suggested constructing a new arena and repurposing the current facility as a field house with costs up to $39.2 million allowing for uninterrupted ice programming while expanding the opportunities for multi-use sports The existing ceiling would however present limitations for sports like basketball and volleyball Smiths Falls Youth Arena Design Concept New Arena + Renovated Field House The preferred option was a completely new arena with a multi-sport field house ranging in price from $41.4 million to as much as $49.6 million The design consisted of an NHL-standard ice surface and improved dressing rooms allowing for an enhanced setting for tournaments The field house would accommodate a variety of recreational activities and include a second-level connection to the Memorial Community Centre for improved accessibility Smiths Falls Youth Arena Design Concept New Arena + New Field House To cover the more than $40-million project several funding opportunities along with private sector sponsorships and community-driven fund-raising were identified to bring costs down The study also supported entering into cost-sharing agreements with nearby municipalities to help offset costs “Recreation is not just an expense,” said Clark “It’s actually an investment in our community’s wellbeing all of those things can be supported by adequate recreational facilities.” No commitment was set in stone at the meeting Staff were directed to undergo initial costing involve regional partners in discussions and develop a financial strategy to support the capital and operating costs of the preferred choice the next course of action would be establishing the project steering committee conducting preliminary design work and developing a request for proposal to select a contractor The town would not be fully committed to the project until the third phase of the five-phased approach when contracts with the builder would be signed The full Youth Arena feasibility study can be viewed in the March 10 agenda for Smiths Falls council The Town of Smiths Falls water tower overlooking the Victoria Park basin The four options presented to Smiths Falls committee of the whole on March 24 The new tower is expected to last for 80 to 100 years Work to replace Smiths Falls’ more than a century-old water tower is continuing as planned The town’s director of public works and utilities Paul McMunn told the committee of the whole on March 24 the project was on track to be completed by late 2025 Smiths Falls manager of economic development and tourism Julia Crowder said little industrial land was left to develop but the town works to free up more property The industry remains among the top employers in the town United States President Donald Trump’s tariff spree has shaken Canada’s economy but Smiths Falls manufacturers aren’t worried “Our local businesses will see some challenges but are in a strong position and not expecting layoffs or closures,” said Smiths Falls manager of economic development and tourism Julia Crowder The town’s latest Business Retention and Expansion and Investment Attraction Strategy identified manufacturing among the top industries we started to see a positive upward shift in manufacturing coming back with Tweed setting up shop and other small manufacturers started to open up,” said Crowder Smiths Falls has continued to be a base for companies like Tamco Crowder said she continues to monitor the tariff tit for tat and touch base with the local manufacturing community but is not hearing troubling concerns The manager of economic development and tourism pointed to companies like Tamco specifically hiring over a hundred new staff and additional production lines “We continue to engage with Hershey regarding their plans for the Smiths Falls location and once that happens we will see additional positive economic benefits and interest.” has been in operation in Smiths Falls for almost 40 years mainly producing coiled-coated aluminum that serves its other facilities and key players in the exterior building materials industry our business model is focused on sourcing material and resources and selling our products and solutions locally within the countries where we operate,” said Alexandre Lainesse To keep companies like these and other businesses thriving actions have been set out in Smiths Falls’ business strategy This included increasing the available industrial lands and developing more attraction campaigns and materials we have very little industrial land left to develop in Smiths Falls,” said Crowder A few privately owned parcels were available in the industrial park along with property between Soper Drive and Queen Street and on Walker Road were owned by the town With an update to the town’s official plan Crowder said the hope was additional lands would be freed up to open further investment Staff are investigating the possibility of developing a new serviced industrial park off Walker Road “These types of projects take time to plan Infrastructure investments are not inexpensive and require funding to execute,” said Crowder But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the national manufacturing industry. Data from the Angus Reid Institute found many Canadians didn’t expect the trade back and forth to end any time soon with two in five anticipating it to continue until Trump’s term is completed While Canadians prepare to cast their ballots in the upcoming federal election April 28 A $50,000 reward is now being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the disappearance of Smiths Falls resident Lawrence Bertrim leaving a Church Street West residence on foot in downtown Smiths Falls around 11 p.m Smiths Falls resident Lawrence Bertrim was last seen Sept Ontario Provincial Police officers search near the train tracks at the south end of Smiths Falls An Ontario Provincial Police drone is used to search for evidence in Smiths Falls in 2024 Smiths Falls resident Lawrence Bertrim disappeared without a trace on Sept Bertrim was last seen leaving a Church Street West residence on foot in downtown Smiths Falls in 2022 He was last seen leaving a Church Street West residence on foot in downtown Smiths Falls around 11 p.m The Smiths Falls man is described as five feet six inches tall A $50,000 reward is now being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in his disappearance Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced in a March 19 news release “It is another tool in the tool box for an investigation,” Bill Dickson, media relations co-ordinator for OPP East Region, told Inside Ottawa Valley “Sometimes people are hesitant to come forward initially The funds come from the province of Ontario through the OPP The Smiths Falls Police Service (SFPS) initially began a missing person investigation but requested assistance from the OPP in December 2022 “We can bring a lot of resources to the table — the Canine Unit Aviation Services and the Underwater Search and Recovery Unit,” Dickson said we will help out any small or municipal service when they request assistance.” “There is a high interest in our community to resolve this case,” SFPS Deputy Chief Chris Kettyle stated in the news release “Investigators from the SFPS and OPP still believe someone has key first-hand information that will help determine what happened to Lawrence Bertrim.” Dickson would not get into where information comes from at this point in time have followed up on numerous tips from the public and conducted multiple searches “Our investigation led us to believe there was reason to conduct searches in these various areas,” Dickson said “And whether they are looking for the reward going through Crime Stoppers or calling the detectives we want to hear from anybody who has information — people who have never come forward before “Even if they think it is insignificant or it is some tiny piece of information when we add it to a few other tiny pieces of information helping us find out what happened to Lawrence Bertrim.” Both the SFPS and OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) remain committed to determining what happened to Bertrim “This investigation remains active and ongoing,” OPP CIB Det Jennifer Patton stated in the news release “We are hopeful that the announcement of this substantial reward may motivate someone with key information “We still consider this to be a missing person case,” Dickson stressed “It will remain that way until we … if the worst happens and we discover his body it will change the tone of it.” Bertrim’s family was notified about the reward offer “Our investigators and victim liaison representatives met with Lawrence’s mother to update her,” Dickson said “We wanted to make sure she knew this reward was being offered and we would be going out to the media and to the public again with an appeal for information “And we try to stay in touch with families in cases like this Sometimes we hear ‘they are not telling me anything,’ but there are a lot of pieces to an investigation that we cannot share We do not want to hinder the ongoing investigation … let anything out that we do not want the rest of the world to know.” Anyone with any information in relation to this investigation is urged to call the dedicated tip line at 1-844-677-9404 to reach detectives directly. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca Smiths Falls man Robbie Thomson is still missing The now 35-year-old disappeared between Oct The case is being managed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Criminal Investigation Branch “The Robbie Thomson investigation is active and ongoing,” Bill Dickson media relations co-ordinator for OPP East Region “He is considered a missing person until we find reason to not consider that any longer,” he added Around the same time, Steven Tate, 34, also from Smiths Falls, was reported missing Nov. 4, 2023. He was found dead four days later Police believe his death to be the result of a hit and run collision we have not been able to apprehend the person responsible,” Dickson stated Tate’s case is also being managed by the OPP CIB OttawaNewsSerious injuries in Hwy. 15 crash near Smiths FallsBy William EltheringtonPublished: April 27, 2025 at 1:53PM EDT A fire on March 9 tore through 19 and 21 Lanark St The fire had consumed the back of the duplex by the time fire crews arrived to the scene on Lanark Street the Smiths Falls Fire Department was dispatched to a residence on Lanark Street Two homes were impacted following a late-night fire on Lanark Street Smiths Falls Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough said the fire consumed the back of the two-storey building and was travelling up to the roofline when crews arrived at 11:58 a.m All of the occupants of the duplex made it out safely with no injuries and are being assisted by the Canadian Red Cross The Montague Township Fire Department and the Drummond/North Elmsley Tay Valley Fire Rescue were called in to assist with the fire Crews cleared the scene the following day shortly after 6 a.m The cause of the fire is still under investigation but Chesebrough said there didn’t appear to be anything suspicious Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. Two games into their round one of their Central Canada Hockey League playoff series against the Smiths Falls Bears, the Pembroke Lumber Kings find themselves with one win, one loss. Article contentThe loss came in game two, Sunday night on home ice at the Pembroke Memorial Centre when Chris Cardillo of the Bears scored unassisted, just over one minute into the first overtime period earning Smiths Falls a 3-2 victory to even the series. The Kings’ Liam Cardiff had a two-point night, tallying Pembroke’s first goal early in the first period when he picked up his own rebound in front of Bears’ goaltender Ethan Morrow and backhanded it into the net. Cardiff also assisted on Jayson Alegria’s first goal of the playoffs, a power-play marker in the second period. In the Pembroke net, Michael Modelski made 31 saves on 34 Smiths Falls shots. The Bears outshot the Kings 34-29. With the man advantage, the Kings went 1-for-5 on the night while the Bears went 1-for-4. Pembroke’s Liam Cardiff earned second star honours while the game’s first and third stars went to Travis Ouellette and Chris Cardillo of the Bears respectively. The Pembroke Lumber Kings dominated game one of the series, played in Smiths Falls on March 21, winning in convincing fashion by a 6-2 score. Eric Barnard had a three-assist night, both Nikita Ushakov and Aidan Dres each scored a pair for the Kings, and Alyandro De Leon a goal and two assists enroute to victory. Also scoring for the Kings was Liam Cardiff. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Mocha the chicken enjoys a sunny day at Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary in Rideau Lakes Council will hear a presentation from a resident in opposition to the backyard hen proposal at a later meeting Chickens seemed ready to roost in the backyards of Smiths Falls residents council moved to have the bylaw adopting its one-year pilot deferred Before council had a chance to ramp up on April 22 council members moved 4-3 to pause the approval of the backyard hen pilot program after receiving a 17-page report in opposition The report’s author, Liz Wheeler, runs Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary alongside her partner in Rideau Lakes. With how the bylaw stands the pilot puts both animal welfare and public health at risk Mayor Shawn Pankow was ready to proceed with the program stating that the approach was fair and entrusted the owners with responsibility we know that in other places that the programs have been run with for the most part success and very few complaints,” he said Wheeler said she was scheduled to present before council on May 5. Her detailed report can be read here Lawrence Real Estate Board lists the average sale price across the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Lanark and part of Dundas County as $533,400 in January The region’s real estate association said the average sale price in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Lanark and part of Dundas County dropped since last year A Smiths Falls family with an average household income of $72,100 may be able to swing a $400,000 home, according to the Bank of Montreal’s mortgage affordability calculator Based on a five-year fixed mortgage with 25-year amortization and 5.25 per cent interest rate, the average family may be able to secure up to a $380,000 mortgage amount with a $20,000 down payment. At a 2.75 per cent interest rate the monthly payment would amount to $1,811 According to the Rideau-St. Lawrence Real Estate Board the average sale price across the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Lanark and part of Dundas County in January was $533,400 This represented a two per cent drop from the previous year Here’s a list of homes for sale found at realtor.ca MLS listing: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28121578/111-brockville-street-smiths-falls-901-smiths-falls MLS listing: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28139373/16-churchill-crescent-smiths-falls-901-smiths-falls MLS listing: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28032791/123-beckwith-street-n-smiths-falls-901-smiths-falls MLS listing: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/27844185/84-william-street-e-smiths-falls-901-smiths-falls MLS listing: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28111836/21-elm-street-e-smith-falls-901-smiths-falls OttawaNewsSmiths Falls, Ont. firefighter recounts dramatic ice rescueBy Dylan DysonPublished: January 11, 2025 at 6:20PM EST Twice is Nice Thrift Store owners Rhona Taylor and Laura Jones-Compton hope to provide a unique thrifting experience to downtown Smiths Falls Twice is Nice Thrift Store's grand opening is set for Feb Twice is Nice Thrift Store’s grand opening is set for Feb Sisters-in-law Rhona Taylor and Laura Jones-Compton have teamed up to provide an elevated thrifting experience to Smiths Falls Twice is Nice Thrift Store opened its doors on Feb 1 and features an array of second-hand treasures from vintage clothing to home decor “We wanted something to set us apart,” said Taylor with hopes to expand into other skin care products “We want it to be affordable for everyone,” said Jones-Compton “There’s enough different price ranges that there is something for everyone.” Bonding over thrifting and finding a good deal the duo hope their love for giving items a new life rubs off on the community “It’d be nice to be a store that’s in the greater area that people might take a road to Smiths Falls (for),” said Taylor If you’re not up for thrifting but maybe spring cleaning hit early Twice is Nice Thrift does accept donations home decor and entertainment items like books and puzzles Address: 11 Main St. W. Email: twiceisnicethriftsf@gmail.com A portion of the store’s proceeds will be going to the Alzheimer’s Society of Lanark a charity close to the hearts of both owners With her grandparents also having the same diagnosis Jones-Compton said countless people are impacted by the disease Stop by for Twice is Nice Thrift’s grand opening on Feb A rendering of Lower Reach Park offers Smiths Falls residents an idea of what will be proposed to council in the final version of the concept plan An article by Jeff Jaques in the Smiths Falls Record News details an ambitious development plan for Lower Reach Park A rendering highlights all the new and improved features proposed for Lower Reach Park The final plan along with budgetary estimates will be presented to council in March and safety are at the forefront of the concept plan proposed for Lower Reach Park principal of landscape architecture with Fotenn Planning and Design said the process reorganized beloved activities and also included new features like pickleball courts and a swimming area Shaped by public engagement and discussions with stakeholders the plan proposed an improved pathway network and playgrounds for both junior and senior ages and bocce courts would find new homes to better accommodate users and activities “A lot of big parks in municipalities like this develop over time and without some sort of guiding vision or principle,” said Fountain “And then you end up with a park that’s not efficient in its land use.” Lower Reach Park last saw an exercise like this in 1977 when an Ottawa firm was contracted to create a development plan An article from the Smiths Falls Record News indicated the proposed development would total more than $350,000 and span more than six years The new concept plan aims to correct some of the problems that have arisen over the years like grassy areas turning into makeshift parking lots Fountain said parking was quickly identified as an issue Three dedicated parking areas would make up around 245 parking spaces “Just because it’s rendered and drawn like this doesn’t mean that it’s the be-all and end-all,” said Fountain The concept plan is in the midst of being finalized with feedback from the town’s survey and input from a recent open house on Feb before being presented to council in March with budgetary estimates With the success of laser tag at last year’s Winter Carnival Smiths Falls is bringing the event back for free at the Town Square Enjoy a wide range of activities and events from quick bites to horse-drawn wagon rides Smiths Falls Winter Carnival is set to return on Feb 8 with a day full of activities and events across town Any businesses or vendors looking to join the festivities are asked to contact tourism, arts and culture co-ordinator Jeff Murphy at jmurphy@smithsfalls.ca Taylor Clark is a reporter for InsideOttawaValley.com. She can be reached at tclark@metroland.com Silk chickens like Chickpea are one of many chicken breeds that find a home at Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary in Rideau Lakes The town has been working toward its backyard hens bylaw since April of last year A bylaw listed in Smiths Falls’ upcoming agenda to adopt its one-year backyard hen pilot program has sparked a mixed reaction in surrounding communities While some are excited by the prospect of Smiths Falls joining the flock of municipalities which allow the fowl others worry about how the current bylaw stands residents within the town will be able to keep up to six hens — no roosters — in their backyard or side yard Whoever owns the hens must reside on the property where they are kept Tenants must have written permission from the property owner to raise hens Hen owners will be banned from selling eggs and performing home slaughters deceased hens will be handled at a livestock disposal facility or through the services of a veterinarian Hens will be forbidden to roam on a public road or place Coops are to be designed to provide a draft-proof dry and insulated environment for the hens Protective structures must be a minimum of three metres (10 feet) away from the windows and doors of abutting dwellings and follow the setback of any school Residents taking part in the pilot program will need to provide a signed declaration stating they’ve reviewed the required educational material provided by the town Previous renditions of the bylaw included licensing registration fees and enforcement measures granted to the bylaw department rather than relying on complaints The first version to council saw time restrictions on when hens were to be out of their coops and set distances of hen structures from schools The nearby township permits hens within any zone that allows a dwelling as a principal permitted use The short list of provisions includes a keeping maximum of six hens and directions to keep feed in metal containers Resident Sara Jean and her family left the big city life to seek rural “It’s changed our whole perspective of the food chain and where we get our food I’m not perfect and I don’t know what I ever will be The chicken owner said there was minimal upkeep during the warm months as the hens forge for food Things picked up slightly in the winter when they provide feed and water to the hens The unfortunate side was hatching and the odds you wind up with a rooster While the family finds homes for as many as they can which is not prohibited under Montague’s bylaw Jean was optimistic the pilot in Smiths Falls would get the green light and allow residents to achieve a level of independence from commercial food sources “Because I really do believe that food security is a big issue and this is one way that we can combat it.” “I think what’s important is that people know that if they join this pilot and it’s not a good fit There are people who are always happy to take healthy chickens off your hands.” On the other side of Smiths Falls, Liz Wheeler has been running Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary with her partner in Rideau Lakes for almost three years Many of the chickens that entered their sanctuary had former homes in backyard coops — and Wheeler only expects the number of surrenders to go up if Smiths Falls passes the bylaw “I think that the biggest problem is by taking away all of the restrictions in place they may think that it’s going to cause less of a headache for them but … they are going to be forced into a position of having to figure out how to handle this on the fly,” said Wheeler Without mandatory site inspections and enforcement Wheeler said Smiths Falls was leaving the chickens vulnerable to neglect and cruelty The lack of licensing also opened the door to public health risks like avian flu as it limits the ability to track diseases Caring for chickens is different from domesticated animals like cats or dogs Chickens come with certain complexities that Wheeler said are not addressed in the current bylaw what is the contingency plan for these animals The report presented to Smiths Falls on March 24 noted the limited veterinary access in the region as a concern As the first Google suggestion when searching “chicken surrender Ottawa,” Wheeler said she was fearful of what could come The Rideau Lakes resident said Smiths Falls should look to invest its time and money elsewhere “as a much more sustainable and long-term solution that doesn’t put any of the population at risk.” Smiths Falls will give the final say on the pilot program at its council meeting on April 22 Smiths Falls awaits a formal redevelopment proposal for the former water treatment plant Council to hear more about options for the next steps with the property in a few months A piece of history is coming down in Smiths Falls The demolition of the former water treatment plant is underway Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow hopes to see more declarations of emergency regarding food insecurity as the town’s for all committee works on its own motion Grenville and Lanark District are food insecure but Smiths Falls mayor believes the town could be an outlier The ball has begun rolling for Smiths Falls to declare its own food insecurity emergency Mayor Shawn Pankow said he would take a closer look at the matter after Kingston followed Toronto and Mississauga to became the third city in Ontario to make the declaration stating one in three households have inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints The conversation has now made its way to the town’s for all committee on Feb with talks of tailoring a motion to Smiths Falls’ needs Data from the South East Health Unit, formerly the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit found one in seven households in the district falls within the threshold of being food insecure But Pankow believed the numbers were different for Smiths Falls “We have 20 per cent of our citizens who are relying on (the Ontario Disability Support Program) or (Ontario Works) for their income,” said Pankow The mayor also pointed to the working population and how they struggle to maintain a healthy diet “I think we’re certainly probably even more food insecure here than what we’re seeing in Kingston,” said Pankow one in 11 households were food insecure in Kingston This escalated to one in nine in 2022 and then in 2024 To combat these rising numbers, Tozzo said Kingston has developed a Food System Plan supporting the Kingston Fresh Food Market Pop-Ups and continuing its Fine for Food initiative where a portion of parking revue goes to local food banks “If one in three households cannot meet basic needs for healthy food I don’t know what else to call that but an emergency.” The councillor said the city has declared an emergency only on three occasions: climate Kingston has committed $200,000 to address food insecurity — but Tozzo said this was still not enough “This is not solvable at a municipal level but it’s something I think we as municipal councillors can put pressure on at the provincial and federal level to address this issue.” The motion would not only make a declaration of an emergency but the committee also discussed including a call to action for change and measurable items to ensure a difference is made But before anything makes its way to council a motion will have to be drafted then approved at the committee of the whole “Hopefully this creates a tsunami of declarations across the province and across the country And I’m very confident we will see one emerge from this committee to go to our council in the very near future,” said Pankow Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital’s Smiths Falls site 138 of which receive paycheques from the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital Close to 140 people employed by the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital made more than $100,000 in 2024 The Province of Ontario annually releases the public salary disclosure list listing the people working in the public sector who earn at least six figures Smiths Falls Open Air Market manager Opal Dunbar-Adams says she is excited to showcase the best of what the town has to offer in the market’s debut The Smiths Falls Open Air Market promises to be a must-see summer destination along Rideau River in Centennial Park Say goodbye to the Farmers Market at the Falls and hello to Smiths Falls Open Air Market come the end of spring The one-year pilot project will debut May 23 and be open every Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. until Oct. 10 at Centennial Park who also led the Farmers Market at the Falls said the move to an open-air market will allow a different variety of vendors and artisans to come together on top of offering fresh produce “I really want to make sure that the community is first and foremost at the forefront,” said Dunbar-Adams “It’s your neighbour or it’s your small business down the road.” The open-air market promises to be a must-see summer destination where visitors can discover the treasures hidden in their own backyard Youths wanting to dip their toes into entrepreneurship will also have a chance to be showcased Five booths will be reserved at no charge for those under 16 to sell their products The market is seeking volunteers. Those interested can contact Dunbar-Adams by email at info@smithsfallsopenairmarket.ca Anyone wanting to take advantage of the bustling market traffic and host an activity can also pitch ideas “I would love to have a drumming circle or yoga in the park anybody that wants to do stuff with (the market).” Dunbar-Adams said patrons will also be able to enjoy hot chocolate and mulled wine at a pre-Christmas night market in November “I think it’s going to be a great hub to the downtown in the summer.” faces a number of charges of animal cruelty and drug trafficking following an investigation that began in January this year Police said in a release that an investigation was launched following veterinarian clinic’s report to the province’s Animal Welfare Services The investigation revealed other veterinary clinics concerned with the well-being of other animals Animal Welfare Services had also previously seized an animal from the suspect in October 2024 provincial animal welfare service officers led a raid on a residence in Jasper The animal welfare officers were backed up by officers from Ottawa police tactical unit Four deceased dogs and one dog showing signs of neglect and abuse were located at the home drug paraphernalia and Canadian currency were also found in the home The man appeared in court on Monday and remains in custody until his next court date Anyone with information is asked to call the Ottawa police west criminal investigations section at 613-236-1222 Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca Incumbent Scott Reid speaks with supporters following the announcement of his re-election Monday night Lanark-Frontenac and Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes incumbents all returning to Ottawa The Ottawa Valley area remains blue after Monday’s election that saw the Liberal Party form a minority government Incumbent Scott Reid was re-elected as the member of Parliament for Lanark-Frontenac with 54.5 per cent of the preliminary vote on April 28 Reid first won the seat in 2000 as a member of the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance Party He held his seat when the party joined with the Progressive Conservative Party to become the Conservative Party of Canada in 2003 “The dynamics are very different than I’ve ever experienced before,” Reid said calling the election “effectively a two-party race” from his office in Smiths Falls where he was with his campaign team on election night He said affordability issues were a key concern he heard during the election and he will work to address rising costs Liberal party candidate Michelle Foxton had 40.1 per cent of the vote We do not know the results yet,” said Foxton Monday night and we know we did great in the advance polls We will have speeches as soon as we know what is happening.” NDP candidate Danielle Rae had 3.5 per cent and Green Party candidate Jesse Pauley had 1.8 per cent of the vote Cheryl Gallant was re-elected as the member of Parliament for Algonquin-Renfrew-Pembroke with 56.1 per cent of the preliminary vote and 253 of 262 polls reporting Gallant first won the seat in 2000 as a member of the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance Party She held her seat when the party joined with the Progressive Conservative Party to become the Conservative Party of Canada in 2003 Liberal party candidate Cyndi Mills had 37.3 per cent of the vote NDP candidate Eileen Jones Whyte had 3.8 per cent United Party of Canada candidate Randy Briand had 1.4 per cent and Green Party candidate Danilo Velasquez had 0.9 per cent actually,” Gallant said from Fresco’s Tap and Grill in Pembroke where she was with her campaign team on election night and I will tell you that every election is like the first for me.” Gallant said the cost of living was “invariably” the main concern she heard on the campaign trail Gallant said keeping taxes down would be one of her main focuses She described the room as having “mixed feelings” as election results continued to come in “We’re happy locally but concerns that the gap between the Liberals and our party isn’t closing a little bit more,” she said Incumbent Michael Barrett was re-elected as the member of Parliament for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes with 50.4 per cent of the preliminary vote Liberal party candidate Lorna Jean Edmonds had 43.9 per cent of the vote through 225 of 240 polls NDP candidate Paul Lancione had 3.5 per cent Green Party candidate Randi Ramdeen had 1.2 per cent of the vote and People’s Party of Canada candidate Hailey Simpson had 0.9 per cent “It’s an incredible honour to be re-elected to serve the people of our community I’m determined to take the messages I have heard from knocking on over 14,000 doors across our region to make life more affordable and to bring change and hope for Canadians,” Barrett said “I will continue to fight for accountability and to bring home the promise of Canada for everyone in our community.” Ramdeen had 693 votes and Simpson had 536 votes You can also follow our coverage of the 2025 federal election and click through our interactive map for real-time results after the polls close The former water treatment plant in Smiths Falls stands gutted after a fire ripped through the historic building during the early morning hours of Monday A recap of local issues the Record News covered in 2024 and coverage priorities for 2025 we’re looking back at 2024 and ahead to the new year Here are three areas the Smiths Falls Record News will continue to focus on and the stories we’ve done — so far Smiths Falls was able to play a pivotal role in bringing supportive transitional housing to Lanark County serving as the home base for Bridge House at the former Willowdale Retirement Residence the program uses a housing first approach to support those experiencing homelessness in the county The program would support approximately 11 clients Chambers Street saw the grand opening of 34 new affordable housing units The four-storey building houses those who are experiencing homelessness seniors along with women and their children The Record News will keep an eye on how governments advance tackling the housing crisis in 2025 A variety of issues captured readers’ attention over the past year Here are a few topics our newsroom plans to pay close attention to The sweet return of the Herhsey Company has been highly anticipated since the announcement with Canopy Growth Corp. in August 2023 Hershey confirmed its return to Smiths Falls in August 2023 We plan to keep readers updated on the happenings of the facilities Feral cats have been running wild throughout the town Dawn Quinn worried the situation would worsen if action was not taken At the heart of the issue were residents feeding furry visitors and owners not getting their pets spayed or neutered Smiths Falls town councillor Dawn Quinn says “feral cats have been created by humans and humans The Rideau Roundtable recently made allegations concerning significant contamination of construction and demolition waste at the Smiths Falls Compost Site The land in question is 1.5 kilometres from the town’s water supply and lies within a municipal intake protection zone Smiths Falls insisted these claims were unfounded and ensured the quality of the town’s drinking water Documents show the mark was missed when building the Smiths Falls Compost Site Our newsroom will continue to follow the issue as events unfold Many important decisions have been made at the council table this year This included what would come with the site of the former water treatment plant after being devastated by a fire in May 2023 In an “exercise of good faith,” the town moved to extend the agreement with Guy Saumure & Sons Construction Ltd for the exclusive right to submit a proposal to develop the lands A decision has been finalized to demolish the former water treatment plant in Smiths Falls Smiths Falls also planned to “create new heritage” by replacing the Confederation Bridge with a timber crossing Mayor Shawn Pankow was optimistic pedestrians would be able to enjoy the crossing by the summer of 2025 It’s expected construction won’t begin until 2025 The new year is also expected to bring a new water tower to the community Work is already underway to swap out the over 100-year-old tower with a $9.6-million replacement to service Smiths Falls for the next century The tower will be six times the size of the current one To sign up for the Record News’ daily newsletters, visit our website 2025: This article was updated to correct the spelling of a name The concept plan for Lower Reach Park includes existing recreational facilities like the fitness area and volleyball court but also contains new facilities like pickleball courts Smiths Falls wants to hear back from its residents on a concept plan for the future of Lower Reach Park A short survey has been posted to the town’s website seeking feedback on a “long-range vision” for the park The concept plan aims to capsulate residents’ current and long-term needs following public consultation last fall attend the open house at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre on Feb Hard copies of the survey can also be dropped off to the town or mailed to: Smiths Falls’ final budget is scheduled to be approved on Feb The average household would see an annual increase of around $155 A budget with a tax hike closer to 5.11 to 5.12 per cent will be brought back to council for approval on Feb Filming activity is expected throughout Russell Street East on Mar If you’re headed downtown this morning or afternoon Previous interest in the property lost momentum due to the pandemic Knowing that any future development on the Gallipeau Centre land would require Smiths Falls and Montague to revisit their revenue-sharing agreement the two governments have renewed talks first started five years ago Smiths Falls has already asked the province to remove the Gallipeau Centre’s heritage status In 2020, Smiths Falls and Montague were in discussions to amend their 2010 boundary and revenue-sharing agreement, but faltered when the development of a mixed-used community on the property “(evaporated) with the pandemic,” said chief administrative officer Malcolm Morris The boundary agreement was originally put in place when the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) East Region Headquarters was built the land chosen was located in Montague and the boundary was moved to add it to Smiths Falls to allow for municipal services to the property The annexed land is now home to the OPP headquarters and what is now the Gallipeau Centre The revenue-sharing agreement currently in place states Smiths Falls will pay Montague 50 per cent of the annual property taxes from the annexed land or no less than $50,000 annually when the proposal for as many as 1,800 residential units came forward the town was concerned the current agreement wouldn’t allow it to recover the costs of servicing the land While the development didn’t proceed and the agreements weren’t changed Smiths Falls staff told councillors on Jan 13 that it was time to update the agreements now in preparation for any future development proposal “And there is evidence that there’s renewed interest in developing the property,” added Morris a key piece is understanding the financial impact on Smiths Falls from first developing and then servicing the property Municipalities usually fully control property tax revenues and use it to fund ongoing municipal services Smiths Falls only has 50 per cent of the revenue The current revenue-sharing agreement was described as an anomaly preventing a self-sustaining relationship that doesn’t rely on the tax base for support the town is acquiring the assistance of Hemson Consulting Ltd to undertake a financial impact study to take a closer look at the financial implications of any development at the Gallipeau Centre While the 2025 budget is still in talks $50,000 was set aside to proceed with the study to inform discussions with Montague Before becoming the mixed-used facility known as the Gallipeau Centre the property served as the Rideau Regional Centre since its construction in 1951 it was the largest centre for the treatment and care of individuals with developmental disabilities in Ontario The property was later purchased by the TAG Gallipeau Corporation but a heritage easement was put in place by Ontario Heritage Trust to preserve its heritage values and features the owner faces restrictions on new development and renovations to existing buildings This became an issue when the Gallipeau Centre was up for sale in 2022 The owner believed the easement’s restrictions hindered the site’s potential for future redevelopment This led to a request to town council in October 2024 to approach the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism to remove the heritage easement The recommendation was moved forward by Smiths Falls council with a majority vote The town’s municipal heritage committee wanted council to take a second look but the recommendation reaffirmed at the January committee of the whole meeting A snow plow banks up snow on Abel Street in Smiths Falls during the big snowstorm in 2022 Several pieces of snow removal equipment were destroyed in a recent fire Chief administrative officer says the building is unoccupiable and will be for several months Smiths Falls does not expect its winter control activities to be impacted following a fire at its public works garage on Air Care Drive last week “If Mother Nature co-operates and we don’t get walloped with a storm, I think I’m confident that we’ll be in good shape,” chief administrative officer Malcolm Morris told the committee of the whole on Feb “If we do see a large storm coming our way we will make alternative arrangements to accommodate for that.” Morris said the town did have a “skeleton of a plan in place” to continue to deliver services. The sidewalk plows remained intact as they were stored off-site and work was underway to procure another snow removal vehicle to bring the fleet back to three. Other alternatives included securing a private contractor or deploying the light-duty snow clearing equipment from the community services department. Work to clear the snow from last week’s dump may slow down but Morris said much had already been completed. “I think we’re in good shape right now but certainly we’re going to have to change our operation and roll with the punches,” he said. When the Smiths Falls Fire Department arrived on the scene of the blaze, Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough said “extremely heavy smoke” and flames were coming through the front bay doors. Chesebrough said crews with public works lent a hand, using one of the backhoes to remove the doors and allowing the fire department quick access. “Had it happened after hours, the fire would have extended from one end to the other,” said the chief. The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes before the scene was cleared another 20 minutes later. The investigation into the fire continues and no cause is currently known. The garage was expected to be out of commission for several months. In the meantime, vehicles will be parked at the Smiths Falls Police Service station and a temporary office will be set up for staff. The Pembroke Lumber Kings’ playoff run came to an abrupt end Sunday afternoon at the PMC in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Smiths Falls Bears. Article contentKings’ goaltender Michael Modelski was besieged in goal facing 51 shots in the game but it was the one 8:14 into the first overtime period by Quinn Booth that ended Pembroke’s season. The Kings managed only 24 shots on Bears netminder Ethan Morrow. The Central Canada Hockey League’s regular season goal-scoring leader Jayson Alegria of the Kings had a three-point game for Pembroke, two goals and assist, that saw the Lumber Kings enter the third period up 3-1. But the team couldn’t defend the lead. The Bears found another gear in the third period, peppering Modelski with 18 shots. The Bears added another seven shots in overtime while the Kings managed only a single shot on goal in the extra frame. Also scoring for Pembroke in the game was Easton Penna. On the power play Smiths Falls went 1-for-3 while Pembroke failed to score on its one man-advantage opportunity. Quinn Booth and Xavier Tessier of Smiths Falls were the game’s first and third stars respectively while Modelski of the Kings was awarded the second star. In game five, played Friday night, March 28 in Smiths Falls, the Bears managed a 4-3 win, putting the Lumber Kings in an elimination position coming back home. Booth scored twice to lead Smiths Falls while Maverick Hayes stepped up for Pembroke with a three-point effort, two goals and an assist. Rowan Casey also scored for the Kings. Shots in the game were nearly even, but tipped slightly in favour of Smiths Falls at 36-35. Eric Barnard scored twice to lead the Pembroke Lumber Kings to a home ice win over Smiths Falls on March 25 to square their playoff series 2-2. Also scoring for Pembroke was Penna and Aidan Dres. Modelski had a strong night in goal, making 32 saves on 34 Bears’ shots. On the road on March 24, penalty trouble left Pembroke on the back foot for much of the game. The Bears won 4-0, scoring two of those goals on the power play. The Lumber Kings gave the Bears nine opportunities with the man-advantage during the game. The two teams combined for 28 minutes in penalties in the third period alone, all two-minute minors, many for roughing interspersed with a few for cross-checks and unsportsmanlike conducts. In other CCHL quarter-final action, the Rockland Nationals eliminated the Cornwall Colts in four-straight games. Likewise, the Carleton Place Canadians swept the Kemptville 73’s from the playoffs in four straight. As of 9 a.m. on March 31, the Brockville Braves and the Navan Grads are knotted at three games each with game seven still to be scheduled. CHESTERVILLE — The North Dundas Rockets split the opening weekend of the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League championship over the weekend against the Smiths Falls Rideaus but a little more physical than (semifinal foe Manotick) … it’s going be a good series,” said Rockets’ defenceman Shawn Moors whose Game 1 heroics include the game-tying goal and the assist on the winner There seems little to no let-off in hustle between Rideaus’ top and secondary lines and they got it seems like three/four lines that can really go,” Moors said “They got a couple of guys that are really so you really got to watch out for those guys.” Game 1 opened with both squads trading punishing bodychecks – the biggest levelled by Rockets defenceman Adam Beveridge the hemmed-in Rideaus coughed up the puck in the slot where Rockets Jack Nevins pounced to beat Slack Moor didn’t waste time – only 22 seconds later – preventing his teammates from falling into another goalless spell “I had couple of chances at the blue line where it got blocked in the middle,” Moor said and I was almost on the left side (of the rink) “I don’t score from there without a screen – I don’t have a hard enough shot,” Moors revealed The Rockets’ second period fuel didn’t abate Moors started a two-on-two that led to Eric Locke’s feed that Andrew Radjenovic redirected for a 3-1 lead North Dundas outshot Smiths Falls 22-6 in the middle frame on Saturday “That’s the game plan for us – get a lot of pucks on net The Rockets were primed to increase the lead early in the third period during a power play but Rideaus Spenser Cobbold dug out a puck from behind the Rockets’ net to feather a pass to Devin Cobbold for a shorthanded marker and try to cheat a little bit,” Moors said The shorthanded goal didn’t faze the Rockets allowing Michael Mcnamee to deliver a cross-slot pass for Radjenovic’s one-timer that restored the two-goal margin Radjenovic’s timely goals earned him first-star status Even-strength play ruled Sunday’s matchup in front of 1,000 fans until the last two goals with Jack Nevins converting Mcnamee’s pass less than five minutes in Rideaus Devin Cobbold and Tate Leeson responded scoring two in a row for a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes The Rockets retook a one-goal with 4:50 left in the second Other helpers were awarded to Doug Harvey and Fabian Walsh Devin Cobbold capitalized on Spenser’s setup Jenkins and Slack put on a goalie clinic for the first 15 minutes of the final period Witzel made good on assists from the Cobbold brothers for the 4-3 lead with 4:16 remaining Mcnamee sent the game into overtime by scoring on the power play with Jenkins pulled for a 6-4 man advantage Rockets’ captain Derek Froats got the assist the Rideaus were out-shooting the Rockets 6-4 when a delay of game penalty gave Smiths Falls the advantage This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy The Smiths Falls Police Service thanks the community for their patience while a police operation was conducted in the early hours of Mar The operation was carried out by local police the Brockville Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police Regional Intelligence Unit Two Smiths Falls residents are facing multiple charges following an early morning police search of a home on Main Street East the search — done alongside the Brockville Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police Regional Intelligence Unit — resulted in the seizure of 50 grams of powder cocaine $420 in American currency and $900 in Canadian currency are each facing three charges of possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of property obtained by crime The man was also charged with failure to comply with a probation order Both were held in custody pending a bail hearing The Lanark County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police seeks assistance following a break-in-enter at a Smiths Falls manufacturer on April 8 Three or more suspects gained entry to the manufacturer on the evening of April 8 The Lanark County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is asking for the public’s help to locate individuals connected to an alleged break-and-enter at Glenview Iron and Metal in Smiths Falls OPP community engagement officer Corey Noonan says three or more suspects gained entry to the manufacturer on the evening of April 8 one of which was used to break through the exit gates with one located nearby and the other two in North Grenville Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Lanark County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) While other food banks in the province are reining in what they can provide Smiths Falls Community Food Bank executive director Natalia Soteroff says its managed to stay afloat thanks to the community’s generous donations More than a third of the food banks in Feed Ontario’s network have reported having to reduce the amount of food they can provide The Smiths Falls Community Food Bank is preparing for the best but expecting the worst to come in the new year not just for our food bank but for many food banks,” said executive director Natalia Soteroff Feed Ontario’s latest Hunger Report found food banks were “unravelling at the seams,” with more than one million individuals accessing services in Ontario from 2023 to 2024 This represented a 25 per cent increase from the previous year and a steady rise for eight consecutive years But this was the second year food banks experienced a record-high in demand and the trend wasn’t expected to slow down Early data projected food bank use to climb an additional 24 per cent in the coming year The Smiths Falls Community Food Bank would average about 350 clients a month 650 in extreme cases but the executive director said it has quickly almost tripled to an average of 950 clients a month “It’s almost daily that we’re getting new clients coming to the food bank,” said Soteroff Grenville and Lanark reported experiencing food insecurity which the local public health unit describes as inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints This can range from worrying about running out of food to eating less or missing meals “It’s a problem of not having enough money and not a food-related problem,” said Dana Douglas Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit dietitian According to this year’s Nutritious Food costing the price to feed a family of four in Leeds would have $952 after paying rent ,to cover food and all other necessary expenses “This really shows where food budgets are often cut in order to pay for other expenses,” said Douglas The Ontario Living Wage Network set the 2024 living wage for Leeds While the provincial minimum wage was bumped to $17.20 A full-time worker would still not be able to cover all of their expenses many Ontarians have turned to food banks and not for one or two items “The needs of our clients have increased so much that we increased it to two full hampers (in a calendar month) instead of one hamper and a top-up,” Soteroff more than a third of the food banks in Feed Ontario’s network reported having to reduce the amount of food they can provide It hasn’t reached that point in Smiths Falls yet “And that’s honestly because of our donors.” While Soteroff did not want to say the food bank was sitting comfortably “(The) government needs to step in and realize that food banks are no longer a temporary measure like they were meant to be in the ’80s We are people’s monthly groceries because they can’t afford to live.” Along with addressing wages and social assistance rates health units across Ontario are calling on the government to expand tax-filing programs for low-income households to maximize government subsidies and implement basic minimum employment standards to reduce precarious employment I wouldn’t have a job because food banks weren’t needed but unfortunately I don’t think food banks are going anywhere.” The Nutritious Food Basket from the local health unit puts the monthly costs of feeding a family of four in the Leeds Food insecurity has crept its way into the households of many Ontarians making it a hot topic for the upcoming provincial election The latest data puts the monthly cost of feeding a family of four in the Leeds Grenville and Lanark District at close to $1,200 Our newsroom wanted to put these numbers to the test and see what we could run up under this benchmark at the Giant Tiger in Smiths Falls The 2024 report from the South East Health Unit found the cost to feed two adults and two children within the three counties was $1,196 a month A family of four would make more than one trip for groceries within a month. The average Canadian alone reportedly visits a grocery store weekly this leaves $299 to cover all the household staples Checking off the needs for a nutritious diet based on Canada’s Food Guide we were able to come under budget at $261.21 But one must note that specialty items did not make it into the cart Additional savings were also found by steering away from big brands and shopping the flyers While our newsroom was able to select budget-friendly items the trick is now stretching these ingredients out to make lasting “A simple bag of barley could be considered a bag of gold if you know how to use it,” said Ashley Saunders, program assistant with The Falls Food Hub that bag is invaluable because I know many ways to prepare barely-based meals whereas others might see it as something unfamiliar or unusable.” Along with serving up a healthy meal to the residents of Smiths Falls once a week The Falls Food Hub mirrors its brother program and also provides food education programs and resources the hub offers a lunch and social hour at Hanley Hall from 11 a.m Saunders said the hub will serve from around 90 to 100 plates but is starting to see new faces every week but our volunteers and community services have been strong and present,” said Saunders “We’ve also received many generous donations — not just food The support from individuals and businesses in the community has been incredible.” With $25,000 earmarked in Smiths Falls 2025 budget the hub plans to extend its support programs to cooking classes and meal preparation for single or dual households Along with adding another community meal in the spring “We’re headed into 2025 with some good announcements and good things happening for the hub,” said Saunders and food banks have been the saving grace of Canadian communities since the 1980s they cannot address the root of food insecurity: poverty The local health unit and other health units across Ontario have put forward income-based strategies to tackle poverty. This included increasing the minimum wage which currently stands at $17.20 in Ontario Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a snap election on Jan Voters will have poverty along with other issues at the top of their minds when heading to the polls on Feb Our newsroom reached out to the candidates for the Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston riding to see what were their plans to address food insecurity. Incumbent and Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario candidate John Jordan said every Ontarian deserves to have access to “high-quality, safe and nutritious food.” He pledged that the party would continue to work with all levels of government to close the gap for food-insecure households “with custom-made solutions and integrated food initiatives.” Rob Rainer with the Ontario Liberal Party said food insecurity could see major relief by ensuring everyone has access to basic income. Rainer said he has advocated for basic income since 2013 and plans to continue to be a strong voice for the matter. The party has also committed to measures to combat affordability like reducing the provincial income tax rate and eliminating the provincial portion of the HST on residential home heating and hydro bills. Ontario New Democratic Party candidate John MacRae said the party plans to improve the financial situation of low-income earners to get at the root of the issue. This includes doubling the Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works, along with introducing a provincewide school lunch program. “We need a provincial poverty elimination strategy with clear targets and supports for implementation at the local level,” said MacRae. For Independent Shane O’Neil, the best way to improve food security would be to address the affordability crisis across the province. O’Neil promised to propose legislation to see the province automatically match federal funding for the National School Food Program, push to see the provincial sales tax reduced on manufactured food, and harmonize provincial regulations to remove the trade barriers for food products. Marlene Spruyt with the Green Party of Ontario and Wendy Dillistone-Whitaker with the Ontario Party did not respond in time for publishing. The Green Party of Ontario’s platform does not specifically name food insecurity but discusses household saving under its pledge for economic fairness. This includes making the rich pay their fair share, improving workers’ rights and wages, strengthening rights and protections for temporary workers, and ending legislated poverty. While food insecurity is also not found in the Ontario Party’s platform, affordability is among the top priorities. In promises to cut taxes, lower costs and strengthen the province’s economy, the party pledged to reduce the provincial sales tax by three per cent and eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. Two police officers suffered minor injuries Saturday while arresting a young Quebec resident in connection with driving offences a citizen reported “suspicious activity between three occupants of a parked vehicle adding the vehicle “was said to have taken off on Highway 15 at a high rate of speed.” Members of the Leeds Country Ontario Provincial Police and the Smiths Falls Police Service found the suspect vehicle at a gas station in Smiths Falls A 19-year-old Gatineau resident was charged with driving while impaired by alcohol and drugs; driving with a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit; two counts of assault with intent to resist arrest; and two counts of resisting a peace officer Your weekday digest of the top stories from our newsrooms in Cornwall The next issue of Eastern Ontario Midday Roundup will soon be in your inbox The accused was released pending a court appearance in Brockville on May 23 Lanark County Ontario Provincial Police officers last week arrested a North Grenville man who had been listed as wanted along with the OPP’s Tactical Response Team Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement Squad (ROPE) and Lanark County Crime Unit located and arrested the man at a residence in Lanark Highlands Township The accused had been the subject of a warrant relating to an incident on Friday where a firearm was discharged at a residence The 51-year-old man from North Grenville has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon; assault causing bodily harm; assault; two counts of uttering threats; two counts of mischief under $5,000; two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; two counts of pointing a firearm; discharging a prohibited firearm; possession of a loaded prohibited firearm; unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm; failing to comply with prohibition order; and driving under suspension The accused was initially held in custody for a bail hearing on Friday Provincial police on Monday arrested a man wanted in connection with incidents in the Smiths Falls area and Carleton Place Police earlier this month published Greene’s name and image in an attempt to get the public’s help in locating him OPP say the charges relate to incidents on Tuesday in Drummond-North Elmsley Township and in Carleton Place This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy An online public consultation is set to be conducted this month The first draft of Smiths Falls’ 2025 budget was on the table for the Dec residents are looking at a 9.6 per cent tax increase Smiths Falls’ director of corporate services and treasurer called it a historical hike and said it was mostly driven by increases to human resource costs The jump appeared drastic compared to the 3.5 per cent increase last year 3.38 per cent in 2023 and zero per cent in 2022 taxes collected was estimated by staff to come in at about $19.5 million In 2023, the town collected just under $19 million in property taxes, up from $17.9 million in 2022, according to the report of audited finances While Smiths Falls topped the list for the highest tax rate across Lanark County in 2024 Dowber was quick to point out the town is fourth for the highest tax bill in the county The average residential tax bill was just above $3,000 with Smiths Falls coming in above the average at $3,371.92 Mississippi Mills ranked first at $3,825.80 followed by Carleton Place and Perth at $3,816.64 and $3,416.62 respectively Much of the town’s net expenses were allocated to protective services at 32 per cent community programs and shared services at 20 per cent and public works at 19 per cent library (two per cent) and development services (two per cent) made up the remainder Dowber said the first draft of the budget summarized the town’s needs staff planned to balance these pressures and growth with what was affordable to residents fire services and bylaw made up the $3.3 million protective services budget fire 16 per cent and four per cent for bylaw One of the most discussed increases was the 21 per cent jump in the police budget rising to about $6.67 million in 2025 from just under $5.5 million in 2024 “We see this across the province,” said Smiths Falls Police Service chief Jodi Empey other services have had slight growth in the percentage of increase to their budget for staffing and we have not but now we’re seeing that that’s becoming an issue.” The lack of relief was up for discussion among board chairs in the area Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP John Jordan was made aware of the matter and was to speak with the Solicitor General “We have to hope that there is parity in fairness and that we will get something back from the province that will help to offset this big jump in one year,” said Pankow Water and wastewater are set to increase 5.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively which Dowber noted was in line with previous increases water treatment and distribution experienced a 10 per cent decrease dropping to $417,050 from $461,576 in 2024 The allocation toward wastewater treatment went up $76,557 “We know we’ve got an infrastructure deficit in the Town of Smiths Falls,” Paul McMunn “We have a lot of aging infrastructure which is quite easily seen within our asset management plan.” made up most of the public works department budget at 71 per cent followed by environmental services at 19 per cent engineering at nine per cent and the airport at one per cent Dowber said the increases are largely due to growing staff costs and the rising consumer price index Community services administration (60 per cent) and parks (34 per cent) experienced increases that were offset by decreases in community facilities (16 per cent) and the Hillcrest Cemetery (45 per cent) The community services budget comes to about $2.66 million for the upcoming year with much of the increase stemming from staffing costs “We have an expectation from the community that we want to meet We’ve leveled up our service and our guys too are facing burnout,” said Stephanie Clark Staff are expected to review and refine the budget based on council’s feedback before returning with a second draft to the committee of the whole on Jan one councillor was ready to pass the budget as it stood Peter McKenna said he did not see a way to reduce it without harming staffing and the town’s service levels “This is not an exorbitant ask,” said McKenna the rate of increase is very reasonable for the kind of growth.” Residents will be able to add their say during an online public consultation set to be conducted this month Following the review of the second draft early next year comments will be compiled for a third draft in early February The final budget is slated for approval on Feb