From the Council Chambers – October 28, 2025
Elgin County Council met earlier this week for both their Council Meeting and Committee of the Whole Meeting. Here are some key takeaways:
Council Meeting – Council meetings focus on urgent matters, final approvals, and updates for public information.
Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners: Reimagining Dementia Care
Council received a presentation from Steph Ouellet, Chief Executive Officer, Paul Cavanagh, Board Vice-Chair, and Murray Mackey, Board Treasurer/Secretary of the Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners (ALZSWP), highlighting the growing need for dementia support and education across Elgin, Middlesex, and Oxford counties.
The presentation noted that one in five Canadians has experience caring for someone living with dementia, and most individuals diagnosed still reside at home. Locally, more than 14,500 people are living with dementia, supported by over 8,500 unpaid care partners.
Through programs such as First Link Care Navigation, Minds in Motion, and public education sessions, ALZSWP serves thousands of clients annually and provides in-hospital navigation at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital and other local sites.
Council was encouraged to champion dementia awareness, promote volunteer opportunities on the organization’s Board of Directors, and support initiatives that make Elgin a more dementia-friendly community.
Southwestern Public Health Highlights iHEAL Program Supporting Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence
Council received a presentation from Mary Van Den Neucker, MN, RN, Program Manager, and Emily Robertson, MN, RN, Public Health Nurse with Southwestern Public Health (SWPH), about the iHEAL program, an evidence-based initiative that supports women who have experienced or continue to experience abuse from a current or former partner.
Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services as part of the National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence, the program is being implemented locally through SWPH with a focus on rural communities. The iHEAL program offers no-cost, trauma-informed support to help women improve their safety, mental health, and overall well-being.
Early results show improved quality of life, reduced PTSD and depression symptoms, and increased confidence among participants. The program runs until December 2026, with hopes for continued funding.
Referrals can be made directly by women seeking support or by community organizations with consent, and an iHEAL app is available for anyone seeking information or resources related to intimate partner violence.
For the full Council Agenda, click here.
Committee of the Whole Meeting (COTW) – COTW meetings are held directly following Council and focus on detailed discussions and reviewing reports. Decisions on the following matters will be finalized at the November 12th Council Meeting:
Phone System Replacement and Nurse Call System to be Upgraded at Bobier Villa and Elgin Manor
The Committee of the Whole received a report recommending a single source contract award to upgrade the phone and nurse call systems at Bobier Villa and Elgin Manor.
The upgrades will replace aging Panasonic systems with Mitel hardware integrated into the County’s existing phone network, improving reliability and allowing centralized management across County facilities. The project also includes an upgrade to the nurse call server and software to support new cordless staff handsets and replace a failed console at Elgin Manor.
The total project cost is estimated at $136,632, well within the combined $160,000 capital budget allocation for both Homes. The upgrade will also lead to monthly operating savings by consolidating phone lines and streamlining maintenance.
Impact on the Taxpayer:
The project will be completed within existing capital budgets, with no additional cost to taxpayers.
2026 Council and Committee of the Whole Meeting Schedule Presented
The Committee of the Whole reviewed the proposed 2026 meeting schedule for County Council and Committee of the Whole meetings, designed to ensure the effective administration of municipal business while aligning with the County’s Procedural By-law.
The schedule maintains the regular format of meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, with adjustments to accommodate summer schedules, conferences, and the municipal election cycle. Only one meeting will be held in July and August, and the second November meeting has been removed as it falls after the end of the current Council term.
The annual Warden’s Election and Inaugural Meeting are scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, December 8, 2026, followed by a regular Council and Committee of the Whole meeting on Thursday, December 10.
Impact on the Taxpayer:
There is no financial impact associated with this report.
Committee Reviews 2026 ROMA Delegation Requests
The Committee of the Whole reviewed potential delegation topics for the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference, taking place January 18–20 in Toronto. Delegations allow Council to meet directly with provincial ministries to advocate for local and regional priorities.
Staff provided an overview of Elgin County’s 2025 delegations with the Ministries of Health, Long-Term Care, and Transportation, which addressed health unit budget governance, staffing delays in long-term care as a result of delayed Vulnerable Sector Checks at the provincial level, and the financial impact of the DriveON vehicle inspection program.
For 2026, staff are proposing a delegation with the Ministry of Transportation to request the upload of Highbury Avenue (County Road 30) to the province, citing its importance as a key regional connector between St. Thomas and London and a critical growth corridor supporting the PowerCo. and Yarmouth Yards developments.
Impact on the Taxpayer:
There is no financial impact associated with this report.
For the full Committee of the Whole Agenda, click here.