Lanark County Council Highlights – April 22, 2026

Press Release – Lanark County 

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held April 22, 2026.  

Year-end paramedic service report received

Lanark County Council received the 2025 year-end activities report from the Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS). 

At the corporate services committee meeting earlier this month, LCPS Chief Travis Mellema showed differences in call types following the transition by the Kingston call centre to the new Medical Priority Dispatch System, which has reclassified calls to assist dispatch with prioritizing based on severity. Mellema said there was a 7 per cent increase in calls within Lanark County from 2024 to 2025. Calls where LCPS was dispatched to another jurisdiction dropped by 30 per cent, and calls within Lanark County dispatched to another service also decreased by 24 per cent. Within the county, 36 per cent of calls are transfers between hospitals.

Mellema said the LCPS met response time standards in all but one area, which was affected by one call that was over by 31 seconds. The standard was exceeded in all other areas.

Mellema also provided an overview of the community paramedicine program, which had a total of 5,932 interactions in 2025 and 684 new enrolments. This translates into an estimated 1,815 diversions from hospital.

“Had we been unable to assess, identify and treat these individuals in their homes, it may have resulted in an emergency department visit,” he said.

In 2025 the program expanded clinical skillsets, partnerships and system integration, with a strong focus on prevention, chronic disease management, palliative support and outreach. Community paramedics participated in presentations, wellness clinics, community fairs, seniors’ expos and outreach events. 

Mellema also acknowledged Superintendent Michael White for receiving the Ontario Medal of Paramedic Bravery last year. In a separate report, he outlined LCPS’s successful Ambulance Service Review, which is a process led by the Ministry of Health to maintain certification to operate a paramedic service. A 90 per cent score is required to achieve the three-year certification, and LCPS scored 97 per cent. LCPS was commended for its preparation for the inspection, quality assurance and continuous quality improvement, training, vehicles and professionalism.

For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Public Access Defibrillator Program revitalized

Lanark County Council has received an update on the Public Access Defibrillator Program, which is now being overseen by the Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS). 

At the corporate services committee meeting earlier this month, Chief Travis Mellema said LCPS rosters publicly accessible defibrillators – or AEDs – across the county and helps their owners with awareness about maintenance needs so they are rescue ready. He added having oversight of the program is helping to revitalize it, and registering the rescue-ready units helps dispatch know where the public can find a nearby AED.

Mellema said LCPS has partnered with Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada to help with education and bystander confidence. In 2025 LCPS delivered education to 247 individuals across 11 community events, including high schools, community associations, senior hubs and wellness fairs, and public safety events.

Mellema said LCPS is partnering with Lanark-Frontenac MP Scott Reid to assess coverage gaps and align on future expansion priorities, including outdoor SaveStations to increase AED access when buildings are closed and advancing a “Neighbours Saving Neighbours” response model. Other next steps include integrating the provincial registry with 911 dispatch, pursuing funding opportunities for expansion and growth, and increasing the number of rescue-ready AEDs across Lanark County.

Council has asked Mellema to provide further information on the Neighbours Saving Neighbours program at an upcoming corporate services committee meeting.

For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

County to administer court security and prisoner transport costs

Following cost information from the Town of Perth, Lanark County Council has directed staff to draft an agreement with the town to assume administration and funding of court security and prisoner transport costs, and with the Town of Smiths Falls to fund a portion of the cost.

At the corporate services committee meeting earlier this month, CAO Kurt Greaves explained this recognizes court security and prisoner transfer as a cost to be shared by all municipalities in the county. The Perth Courthouse is the local Ontario Superior Court of Justice for civil, criminal, criminal youth, small claims and family court for all Lanark County municipalities and the Town of Smiths Falls. Smiths Falls’ court closed in 2024. Because of its location, Perth is responsible for court security and prisoner transport costs, but a provincial grant to partially cover the expense has not kept up with increasing requirements and costs. In 2025, the cost was $269,084, with the grant covering only $26,384.

Greaves said other counties have made agreements with their host municipality to provide funding. A Perth delegation to the Ministry of the Solicitor General at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference in January resulted in the ministry’s suggestion to approach the county to fund the service. Court security operations are a statutory responsibility of the OPP, and this is overseen in Perth by the Lanark OPP Detachment. 

The agreements would see the county take over all aspects of administration and accounting for the program. This would be an addition to the county levy and represents a cost shift from Perth paying 100 per cent to sharing it proportionately across nine municipalities.

For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Upcoming meetings

• County Council, Wednesday, May 13, 5 p.m.
• Community Services, May 13 (following County Council)
• Corporate Services, May 13 (following Community Services)
• County Council, Wednesday, May 27, 5 p.m.
• Public Works, May 27 (following County Council)
• Economic Development, May 27 (following Public Works)

Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like "LanarkCounty1" on Facebook and follow "@LanarkCounty1" on Instagram.