Lanark County Council Highlights – December 3, 2025

Press Release – Lanark County 

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held December 3, 2025.

Small Business Advisory Centre Update Received

Lanark County Council received an update about Small Business Advisory Centre activities from Manager Cindy James at the economic development committee meeting last month.

The centre is a free, confidential resource to help local small businesses start and grow their businesses and is one of 54 office locations across Ontario. 

James explained the centre offers one-on-one advisory meetings, direction with business plans, referrals, webinars/events and training programs. It is the local service provider for programs such as Summer Company and Starter Company Plus. Summer Company helps students to start a full-time summer business with a $1,500 grant. More than 105 students have gone through the program since 2000. Starter Company Plus has had 111 successful grant recipients to date, with more than $550,000 in grant funding. The next application intake starts January 12.

Another program is the Foodpreneur Advantage, which is a collaboration of Small Business Enterprise Centres that helps people start or expand and scale food operations with a free webinar series that runs four times per year.

Between April 2024 and November 2025, the centre has had more than 1,775 inquiries, conducted more than 475 consultations and attended several networking events, as well as conducting 31 webinars and eight workshops with more than 1,300 attendees. To learn more, visit www.smallbizcentre.ca.

Cornerstone Landing Youth Services Update Received

Lanark County Council received an update about Cornerstone Landing Youth Services (CLYS) from Manager Elle Halladay, who outlined activities for the community-based non-profit charitable organization dedicated to preventing, reducing and ending youth homelessness.

Halladay explained CLYS offers two key programs: Housing First for Youth and transitional housing. The work consists of intensive case management, rent supplements, basic needs support, education and employment, community referrals, wrap-around advocacy and transitional housing.

“We prioritize immediate, safe and stable housing as the cornerstone for youth success,” Halladay said.

The Housing First for Youth program works from the philosophy that youth have a right to housing with no preconditions, Halladay explained, adding it gives youth a choice, a voice and self-determination. CLYS supports with positive youth development and wellness orientation, individualized client-driven supports with no time limits and social inclusion and community integration. 

CLYS’s service framework consists of Home Starts Here (financial supports, rent supplements, trusteeship and budgeting), Youth Wellness on Wheels (subsidies that support mental health, food security and job readiness), free art workshops to support youth creative expression, the Good Food Box (fresh produce provided monthly to youth and available to the community as a preventive measure), and education for job-skill development for long-term independence.

Halladay says the team’s favourite tools include relationship building, street/mobile outreach and progressive engagement.

As of the end of October, CLYS had served more than 90 youth this year ranging in age from 16 to 24. Currently more than 50 youth are being actively supported.

“Every funding dollar we use to support our youth and children usually comes back four or five downstream,” said Bill Janes, who is the incoming chair for CLYS as long-time chair Terrilee Kelford steps down to set up a pro bono mental health service for youth connected to CLYS.

Council thanked Kelford for her hard work to help youth in Lanark County. Learn more at https://www.cornerstonelanding.com/.

Upcoming Meetings

• County Council, Wednesday, December 10, 5 p.m.
• Public Works, December 10 (following County Council)
• Economic Development, December 10 (following Public Works)
• County Council, Wednesday, January 14, 5 p.m.
• Community Services, January 14 (following County Council)
• Corporate Services, January 14 (following Community Services)

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.