The report, Social Infrastructure: Access, Connection, and Gaps, considers how social spaces underpin health, equity, safety, and education—every element of life in a community. 

“The 2025 focus report builds on the theme of Inclusion and Belonging, first introduced in 2021 during the pandemic, when residents were experiencing both heightened isolation and accelerated community change,” said Gillian Armstrong, the Foundation’s Interim Executive Director.

Social infrastructure includes the spaces of public life, from grocery stores and food banks to daycare centres, libraries, and retail outlets. 

“We drew on several sources of community input. In April, we talked with 58 participants in community conversations in Picton, Wellington, Sophiasburgh, and Ameliasburgh, along with a County-wide survey,” Ms. Armstrong noted. “We also engaged with the Accessibility Advisory Committee, municipal staff, councillors, and a range of community organizations.”

Vital Signs, led by Coordinator Anne VanVlack, distills a hefty amount of qualitative and quantitative data into a comprehensive report with lots of visuals. The focus on social infrastructure will help inform the municipality’s jurisdiction; it oversees planning and public spaces and funds local institutions. 

Of the County’s 26,868 residents, 77 percent live in rural areas. Rural residents have to travel long distances to access amenities or gathering places, and rely on cars for transportation. County Transit offers bus service from Picton to Belleville, and some on-demand pickup, but availability is limited. 

Residents suggest that this gap could be filled by offering more fixed routes in rural areas and extending evening service.

On top of a largely rural population, more than a third of County residents are over the age of 65. A map rendering population distribution by age shows that seniors primarily reside outside town centres, underscoring the importance of accessible transportation and outreach services. 

The report shows the distances between daycare and schools are a challenge for parents. Four primary schools have closed in recent years. PECI is the only public secondary school in the County, and it serves students from kindergarten onward. 

The waitlist for daycare has more than doubled since 2021, growing from 155 to 350 for 176 total spaces. 

An overwhelming majority of County residents live more than 15 kilometres from healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, long-term care, and primary care. 

Connectivity means fostering a sense of belonging through cultural activities, informal public spaces, and greenspace. 

A success story is Macaulay Village Park on London Avenue. Residents, volunteers, and organizations like Prince Edward Learning Centre and United Way worked to revitalize it. Victoria Taylor Landscape Architect created a Master Plan that included tree planting, a community garden, a shade structure, and a new playground. 

Community feedback suggests following the lead of Macaulay Park and investing in green space. Residents call for more pathways, bike lanes, and more playgrounds in the north end of the County. Elevating outdoor connections highlights the County’s rural character as an asset, not a gap.