The final Community Vision for Elgin was adopted on Tuesday, April 2 at the regular meeting of Council.

Rideau Lakes continues to foster efforts towards village vitality and engaged the community of Elgin to develop a Village Vision that will inform municipal plans and strategies for future development. This includes the Community Improvement Plan for Villages, that allows the municipality to establish grant programs to fund private property improvements and initiatives through the Planning Act.

In summer 2023, local consultant Jordan Hawn of Hawn Consulting was the successful candidate selected by the Township to work with the Rideau Lakes Visioning Steering Committee to conduct the community engagement process, to analyse the input received and propose an actionable vision for the village of Elgin.

The Rideau Lakes Visioning Steering Committee that guided the project included representatives from Rideau Lakes Council, Village Residents, the Business and Tourism community in Elgin, representatives from the Elgin and Area Heritage Society, all through the active Community Enhancement Committee. This group helped to get the word out about the project through community meetings and Facebook groups, while Township staff provided support in contacting residents within the settlement area by mail. In addition to in-person and virtual workshops, a survey was conducted to gather feedback from both seasonal and permanent residents, businesses people and visitors.

Mayor Arie Hoogenboom remarked, “Congratulations and thank you to all those who provided their input during the visioning process. Elgin is a central community that provides services for the entire Township, and we were very pleased to see such a high level of participation.”

Over the past several years, the Township has engaged with a series of villages in Rideau Lakes to learn what residents value in their own community, and how they would like to see their village in 2030. This important work will continue this year, as the Rideau Lakes Economic Development Committee endeavours to embark on another Village Visioning Process for Lombardy, in an effort to complete a total of 6 reports representing each village and their vision for the future.

The village of Elgin has successfully communicated their vision as a community. “The Township is now equipped with the information to address a number of important priorities in Elgin such as pedestrian safety,” continued Mayor Hoogenboom. “It is essential that we consider these items as we look to the future.”

The Village Vision for Elgin, Chaffeys Lock, Delta, Newboro and Portland – as well as the upcoming Lombardy Vision - will actively inform other municipal planning initiatives including, but not limited to, the Community Improvement Plan for Villages, the Economic Development Action Plan, the Recreation Master Plan, and the Rideau Lakes Strategic Plan.

For more information, all Village Vision documents are available on the Township website:

https://www.rideaulakes.ca/town-hall/resources/strategic-plans-reports-statistics