The first Report from the Office of the CAO in 2025 is the last under the leadership of CAO Marcia Wallace. 

“I’m proud of this particular bit of work because it really is a reflection of everything going on in the municipality,” she noted. 

Ms. Wallace introduced the reports when she became CAO in 2020. They track council-directed initiatives and budget items. Several councillors noted that they are an indispensable tool to track municipal activities. 

Municipal Grants 

The County launched several grants this quarter in partnership with the County Foundation. The Municipal Community Grant Fund, PEC Arts Funds, and Municipal Agriculture Grants all opened for applications, and the Agriculture Grants have already been awarded.  The Community Services department set up the grants after Council approved a new Community Grant Policy in November 2024. 

The municipality also partnered with the County Foundation to host a workshop for non-profits and volunteers on grant writing to help facilitate strong applications and advance worthy projects.

Economic Development

Economic Development staff hosted a coaching session for businesses looking to expand operations or set up shop in the County. 25 business leaders looking to grow their operations attended. 

Diversifying and strengthening the local economy is a clear Council priority. Earlier this year, Council approved an Economic Development Action Plan, with a strategy for the next five years. 

The plan braces for a doubling in population over the next two decades, and works toward a four-season economy to support it. It both bolsters the largest industries — agriculture, hospitality, and health care — and eliminates barriers to growth in other sectors while encouraging new business ventures. 

The County’s new film policy is one such step, part of a coordinated effort among jurisdictions in the Bay of Quinte to attract production to the region. Economic Development Officer Karen Palmer organized an information session on preparing your business or home for the film locations database.

The Environment 

Growth needs to coincide with attention to sustainability. The County has received a $99,000 grant to install EV charging in the public parking lot on King Street in Picton.

The County Foundation’s Vital Impact Fund also gave a grant to increase the number of trees available at the County’s annual tree giveaway. New tree planting and combating invasive species are priorities.

Long Term Care

  The new H.J. McFarland Memorial home broke ground earlier this quarter. The County has also expanded the HealthPULSE partnership with Loyalist College. It shuttles placement students from campus in Belleville to work at H.J. McFarland and the Picton Memorial Hospital. 

On top of that, H.J. McFarland kicked off its “living classroom” program for Loyalist and Loyola College students. It enables weeks of hands-on experience. It operates on $110,000 in provincial grant money.

The report also notes that H.J. McFarland was subject to an investigation from the Ministry of Long-term Care for the unexpected death of a resident. The Ministry issued a compliance order aimed at minimizing risk. The home was also subject to an Administrative Monetary Penalty for not complying with a separate compliance order from the Ministry. Three staff people resigned in the first quarter. 

Housing

The Economic Development Action Plan notes the lack of affordable housing is a barrier to growth. Several steps were taken this quarter to increase the housing stock. 

Leeward House, a transitional housing facility with nine units, won additional funding from the province’s Homelessness Prevention fund. Three residents moved on from the home and new vacancies were filled. 

Council approved Municipal Capital Facility by-law agreements so developers can receive tax breaks on affordable units. This is the model used in the agreement between the municipality and New View for the re-development of the former Queen Elizabeth school.     

County staff also assisted the Prince Edward County Affordable Housing Corporation (PECAHC), which has struggled to secure federal Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation funding, in moving to a public-private partnership model for future affordable development. 

Transit and Roads

A Transit Strategy Refresh has been initiated with Left Right Turn Ltd., which will analyse the data and hold public consultations to develop new transit recommendations. The Greater Than Youth Collective held a transit hackathon to gather youth perspectives for the Refresh. The municipality also issued eight tenders on road work approved in the 2025 budget, to be awarded early in the second quarter.