Warden's Message

As Warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, I welcome entrepreneurs, developers, investors, and business leaders to join us in a place "Where lifestyle grows good business."

We have multiple communities from which to choose and all within close proximity to Highway 401 and major provincial highways. We are the gateway to our Nation's Capital of Ottawa at the 401-416 interchange. To the south, we enjoy access to the United States via two international bridges.

We have front-row seats to the beauty of the famous 1000 Islands region and St. Lawrence River, as well as the area's only deep-water port in Johnstown, a facility that recently underwent a more than $35-million expansion. On our northern border, we are proud to have the Rideau Canal, Ontario's only UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We are growing our established, diversified regional economy in Leeds Grenville by improving our infrastructure and connectivity. Counties Council continues to advocate further expansion of Natural Gas and increasing hydro distribution to more rural businesses, farms and communities to reduce the cost of doing business in the region. Some of this work is achieved in the areas of transportation, technology and workforce development.

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. Some of our businesses are among Canada's Best Managed Companies. Wills Transfer Ltd. joined the Gold Standard List in 2017. On the Platinum List are Burnbrae Farms, Canarm Ltd. Kriska Transportation Group and Newterra.

One of our more recent success stories is Europe's largest operator of self-drive boating vacations, le Boat, launching its first North American base on the historic Rideau Canal and moving its headquarters from Clearwater, Florida. This $16-million investment is expected to attract thousands of visitors to a region already considered a multi-faceted vacation destination. The Opinicon Dining and Resort at Chaffey's Lock on the Rideau Canal has undergone a multi-million dollar rejuvenation. Canada's largest aerial adventure and zip-line park, Skywood Eco Adventure Park, is a new attraction along the St. Lawrence River corridor. Another large-scale addition to the 1000 Islands region is the Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing interpretive centre on Brockville's waterfront.

Small, niche businesses abound in our region. In the past year alone, King's Lock Craft Distillery with "Organic Spirits of the St. Lawrence" and Windmill Brewery, near the Battle of the Windmill heritage site in Johnstown, opened their doors. Canadian Rail Equipment Works and Services (CREWS) has expanded into our area.

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

The Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office supports our municipalities in working with investors and developers, to bring projects to fruition. Counties supported the municipality of Edwardsburgh Cardinal to bring Giant Tiger Stores Limited to Johnstown. The 600,000-square-foot distribution centre set to open in 2018 will have state-of-the-art technology.

Counties' Economic Development staff 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 look forward to working with you.

Warden Robin Jones