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Smiths Falls council received an update last week on the 2025-2029 Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan, which is a combined effort across several local organizations and police services.
Councillor Peter McKenna said it’s easy to be bogged down in the negative, it’s easy to miss the positives.
The plan follows four major pillars, including boosting and adding health resources, which Coordinator Stephanie Gray said is a work in progress.
Gray said a new ambulance dispatch system is helping improve emergency response efficiency, while the Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) continues to divert appropriate mental health calls away from hospital emergency departments.
Council also heard updates on efforts to improve transportation access, expand childcare spaces, and increase broadband connectivity through the Eastern Ontario Regional Network
The report also highlighted violence prevention efforts, including victim support programs, intimate partner violence training, youth education initiatives, and anti-hate programming delivered through local schools and community organizations.
Climate action work also continues, with progress reported on municipal climate planning, green infrastructure projects, and environmental stewardship initiatives that include Indigenous perspectives.
