Warden's Message

Welcome entrepreneurs, developers, investors and business leaders to the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, a place "Where lifestyle grows good business."

As Warden, I am excited to say we are open and ready for business. We have a multitude of communities to choose from and our Mayors and elected officials are fully invested in working with you to bring new business and jobs to our region.

We are prepared to meet with you in the early stages of your planning, offer political support and guidance for your initiatives, as well as provide you with the unique features and opportunities in our individual municipalities.

All of our communities have direct or quick access to Highway 401 via major provincial highways and county thoroughfares. Our region offers rail service and the convenience of the Port of Johnstown, a recently expanded deep-water port and storage facility on the St. Lawrence River. We enjoy access to the United States with two international bridges.

In just the past few years, our ideal location has led to the construction of the state-of-the-art Giant Tiger Distribution Centre at Johnstown and the expansion of Canadian Rail Equipment Works and Services, which offers intermodal transportation options.

Leeds Grenville is home to many national and international companies, including in transportation, logistics and warehousing, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and food processing, manufacturing, construction, hospitality and food services, to name just a few. Shell Canada Products, doing business here for almost 30 years, is injecting $16-million into its Brockville Lubricants facility in 2019.

Some of our businesses are among Canada's Best Managed Companies. Wills Transfer Ltd. joined the Gold Standard List. Burnbrae Farms Ltd., Canarm Ltd., Greenfield Global, Kriska Transportation Group and Newterra Ltd. are on the Platinum list.

Our region is becoming known for its craft breweries, distilleries and wineries, including Scheuermann Vineyard and Winery, Green Cables Vines, King's Lock Craft Distillery, Windmill Brewery, BUSL Cider Co. and Westport Brewing Company.

Some of our farmers have earned agricultural innovation awards. Bluegrass Farm near Jasper received the Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence for it solar greenhouses. V6 Agronomy Inc. of North Augusta, a fertilizer company, earned regional recognition for innovation from the province.

Leeds Grenville is a vacation destination happily located between the famous 1000 Islands region and the historic Rideau Canal Waterway, Ontario's only UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Le Boat launched its first North American base on the historic Rideau Canal in 2018 and moved its headquarters from Clearwater, Florida. This $16-million investment has since attracted thousands of visitors to the region. The Opinicon Dining and Resort at Chaffey's Lock on the Rideau Canal has undergone a multi-million dollar rejuvenation. Skywood Eco Adventure Park and the Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing are both new attractions to the 1000 Islands Region.

The Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office supports our municipalities in working with investors and developers to bring projects to fruition. The Counties' Economic Development Office is advancing many programs and funding envelopes that support business retention, building leadership and capacity in the region, as well as investment attraction, tourism, external marketing and communications.

We are ready for your call and fully committed to working with you.

Warden Pat Sayeau