The County was able to rapidly pivot to continue providing fulsome services to residents. Close collaboration between the County, the City of St. Thomas and Elgin’s Municipal Partners ensured a consistent approach to emergency response. Elgin County staff redeployed to LTCHs for screening and administration support. 

In 2020 Elgin County Council completed the strategic planning process which began in 2019. The Elgin County Strategic Plan for 2020-2022 will provide a shared purpose and common direction for County Councillors and Staff. This plan will be revised and reassessed over the course of the next two years to ensure it is in alignment with changing priorities and legislative requirements. The plan is divided into three goals Serving Elgin, Growing Elgin and Investing in Elgin and is further broken down into tangible strategic priorities which will guide staff and Council actions for the remainder of this term of Elgin County Council.

In 2020 the County of Elgin received a grant through the Province’s Municipal Modernization Program to undertake a Service Delivery Review in order to find key efficiencies that will streamline the way services are delivered to the community. This process included a review of the County’s shared municipal services with its local municipal partners, the County’s internal operations, and social and community services.

After a comprehensive stakeholder consultation process, over 110 different improvement initiatives were identified for the County of Elgin. Council will consider and evaluate the merits of these recommendations in 2021 and beyond. 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the County of Elgin began to livestream Council and Committee meetings through Facebook.  This process of livestreaming has increased Council’s visibility with the public, allowing for greater participation by residents. 

King George VI Lift Bridge

Rehabilitation on the historic King George VI Lift bridge in Port Stanley began in the Spring of 2020. Keeping this important and historically significant piece of infrastructure in peak condition is a priority of County Council. Construction is ongoing and is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2021. More information and regular project updates can be accessed at https://portstanleyliftbridge.ca/.

Imperial Road Bridge

On February 23, 2018 the Imperial Road Bridge collapsed leaving only one access point in and out of the village of Port Bruce. In addition to the inconvenience that this caused the residents of Port Bruce, the loss of this critical piece of infrastructure created several logistical and safety concerns, particularly related to emergency service access to the village. The safety of Port Bruce residents was of the utmost importance and the Council of the day mobilized to arrange for the installation of a temporary bridge while the planning of a replacement bridge was underway.

In February of 2020 County Council awarded the construction tender to Hayman Construction Inc. to build the replacement structure at the site of the collapsed bridge. On December 18th, 2020 the Imperial Road Bridge reopened to the public.

The County of Elgin in conjunction with the Municipality of Central Elgin completed a reconstruction in the Village of Sparta. This reconstruction included road reconstruction including curb, gutter, sidewalk and asphalt; storm sewer replacement and private drain installations; and, new storm sewer outlets. 

The Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell has committed $425,000 to the Elgin County Museum to support the introduction of a new augmented reality app for St. Thomas and Port Stanley, add murals and historical signs along cycling trails across Elgin County, establish two new positions to boost the capacity of the Museum to both digitize archival collections and generate content for the new app, acquire more artefacts for the collection at the Museum and conserve existing pieces, and purchase tables, chairs and other amenities to build a welcoming outdoor learning environment for visiting students and community groups.

Elgin County Council and the Terrace Lodge Redevelopment Steering Committee celebrated the official ground breaking of the Terrace Lodge Redevelopment Project on December 1, 2020. The Terrace Lodge Long-Term Care Home has operated in the community since 1977. Elgin County Council has committed to the redevelopment of the facility in a phased approach that will result in minimal disruption for the 100 residents that call Terrace Lodge their home. The redeveloped home will better meet the growing and complex needs of residents while ensuring their comfort and safety. Bids on the project were completed in early December with construction to begin in February of 2021. 

The Terrace Lodge Redevelopment Fundraising Committee launched a fundraising campaign entitled “The Comforts of Home”  on December 1, 1010. This campaign will raise money to purchase the value-added items that will make the facility feel like home for the residents that live there. A virtual catalogue has been developed to allow for online donations (www.donatetoterracelodge.ca) and donations by cash or cheque can be made through any Member of the Fundraising Committee.

The need to increase high-speed internet connectivity throughout Elgin County was identified as a key priority in Elgin County Council’s Strategic Plan 2020-2022. In September 2020 County Council established a Connectivity Committee with the goal of identifying high-speed internet solutions for Elgin County’s rural residents and organizations and championing high-speed internet across the County. The Committee has been working to collect feedback from residents, businesses and Internet Service Providers; gather information from neighbouring municipalities; and, develop a Made in Elgin solution for increased connectivity in rural areas. 

The Elgin County Budget Committee continues to implement a budget process that is transparent, accessible and incorporates feedback from residents regarding their priorities for the budget. The 2021 budget process included a resident survey and the Budget Committee website was revamped to include a glossary of budget terms, an educational budget video, a budget fact sheet and copies of all relevant documents. 

Elgin County Council established an Environmental Advisory Committee in accordance with its Strategic Plan Priority to grow quality of place in Elgin. The Committee began meeting in December and is tasked with considering Elgin County’s environmental footprint. 

The County of Elgin is currently developing a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan with the Town of Aylmer and the City of St. Thomas. This plan will be an integrated approach to service delivery by working across a wide range of sectors, agencies and organizations to proactively develop and implement evidence-based strategies and programs to address local priorities related to crime and complex social issues on a sustainable basis. This plan is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2021. 

On July 2, 2020, Minister McLeod, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport was joined by Minister Yurek, Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks to announce funding in the amount of $15,000 for the Elgin County Museum. The Minister also announced funding for other cultural organizations who were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.