Community Grant applications for 2027 are now open!

Grants are awarded to local projects or programs that support or improve well-being and quality of life in the community.

Program details, including the application form, can be found online at www.lanarkcounty.ca under ..."Government" and "Grants and Programs."

Deadline to apply is Sept. 18, 2026.

The Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Advisory Committee for Lanark County and Smiths Falls has set priorities for 2026 and continues to implement actions identified in the CSWB Plan for 2025-2029.

The plan was approved by all nine local municipalities in early 2025 and has 17 pillars... within the theme areas of Affordability and Quality of Life, Health, Violence Against Persons, and Priority Populations and Diversity.

Some of the priorities in 2026 include:
✅Addressing issues of poverty and food insecurity
✅Continuing efforts to incorporate Housing First strategies and affordable housing options
✅Increasing local transportation options
✅Encouraging climate action, emergency responses to climate disasters, and community involvement
✅Increasing understanding of our relationship with the land through Indigenous teachings and incorporating Calls to Action into activities
✅Increasing awareness and connections to local services to reduce isolation and increase social inclusion
✅Working with municipalities to increase connections to CSWB activities
✅Increasing volunteerism
✅Increasing appropriate diversion from emergency medical responses while advocating for consistent, stable funding
✅Increasing education and programming about youth substance abuse and opioid management/harm reduction
✅Working with partners on several strategies to improve mental health in children
✅Increasing prevention efforts related to intimate partner violence and gender-based violence while supporting victims and exploring restorative justice options
✅Increasing cultural competency in communities in order to reduce incidents of hate-motivated crime
✅Continuing efforts with community partners to increase a range of supports for children and youth, and seniors and elderly
✅Increasing support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community through education, engagement and addressing gaps
✅Increasing community involvement for newcomers to Canada and helping with system navigation

To learn about what was accomplished last year, see the 2025 Progress Update here: https://lanarkcounty.civicweb.net/document/183932/

To view the whole plan, see https://lanarkcounty.civicweb.net/document/182921/

Lanark County is hiring a Full Time Housing Operations Supervisor. Please apply before September 7, 2026 via the link on our website: www.lanarkcounty.ca/careers