As COVID-19 pandemic is evolving quickly and updates are emerging daily, we want to assure our residents that the Township is monitoring new information as it becomes available in order to be able to ensure the health and safety of our residents and staff.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Township of Montague will continue to provide essential services, including fire and emergency services, essential road maintenance, regular curbside pickup throughout the Township, bylaw enforcement, building/planning inquiries and certain building permit applications. Residents are encouraged to call in if they require any additional information. We will also be posting and sharing information regarding municipal operations on the Township Facebook page, along with posting news releases regarding any changes in operations on the website.

Our Fire Chief/CEMC Miles Greer is leading regular meetings of the Emergency Operations Centre to discuss matters related to the outbreak, particularly as they relate to day-to-day municipal operations. This is outlined in our Township Emergency Management Plan. We have had three EOC meetings so far, on Monday mornings. Moving forward, the Township will develop a webpage on our site for posting the minutes and updates from the EOC, along with links to local or provincial resources.

We thank all residents who are following the directives from the Medical Officer of Health, and Federal and Provincial Governments to self-isolate when returning from out-of-country travel and monitoring themselves for symptoms for up to 14 days. We thank all residents who continue to self-isolate and practise and promote social distancing measures. We encourage members of the public to continue to follow the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit for up-to-date information regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in our community.

I want to thank frontline health workers, emergency responders and all essential business staff that continue to support our community. I also want to thank all staff of the Township of Montague for their efforts to keep our Township running. These are challenging times for all communities, and I want to encourage all residents to support each other and spread positivity. It is only by working together that we can get through dark times such as this.

Thank you,

Reeve Dobson

As COVID-19 pandemic is evolving quickly and updates are emerging daily, we want to assure our residents that the Township is monitoring new information as it becomes available in order to be able to ensure the health and safety of our residents.

The Township staff prioritize providing up-to-date information on municipal operations on a regular basis. Recognizing some of our organizational limitations related to providing continuous updates of health or provincial updates, we have compiled a list of information and organizations to assist you in finding the latest and most up-to-date information regionally and provincially.

Emergency Operations Centre

Our Fire Chief/CEMC Miles Greer is leading regular meetings of the Emergency Operations Centre to discuss matters related to the outbreak, particularly as they relate to day-to-day municipal operations. This is outlined in our Township Emergency Management Plan. The EOC will now be meeting only at the call of the Chair.

The minutes for the past meetings can be found here:

   Read the latest Media Releases   

COVID-19 Media Releases

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Township of Montague will continue to provide essential services for the time being, including fire and emergency services, essential road maintenance, regular curbside pickup throughout the Township, bylaw enforcement, building/planning inquiries and certain building permit applications.

The Township of Montague is closed to visitors.

Please contact us by phone or email.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

The Township of Montague and the Emergency Management Team continues to work closely with the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit and community partners to monitor the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus) and respond appropriately.

Residents are encouraged to follow the guidance and protocols of our local experts in Public Health. While the virus is not currently circulating locally, we are prepared to respond accordingly to help protect the health of our community. Please continue to monitor our website for updates.

How to protect yourself

Residents are reminded to continue to follow basic but important preventative steps to avoid the spread of illness, including COVID-19:

• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• sneeze and cough into your sleeve
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• avoid contact with people who are sick
• stay home if you are sick

Symptoms and treatment

Symptoms range from mild (like the flu and other common respiratory infections), to severe and can include:

• fever
• cough
• difficulty breathing

Complications from the 2019 novel coronavirus can include serious conditions, like pneumonia or kidney failure, and in some cases, death.

There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses, and there is no vaccine that protects against coronaviruses. Most people with common human coronavirus illnesses will recover on their own.

You should:

• drink plenty of fluids
• get rest and sleep as much as possible
• try a humidifier or a hot shower to help with a sore throat or cough

For more information on COVID-19, contact Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit at 1-800-660-5853

For the latest information about the virus please visit:
Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Heath Unit website

Ministry of Health website

In light of recent announcements and events, the Township would like to note that we are happy to assist you with online payments or payments by cheques for municipal services. Give us a call and reduce your risk of exposure. There is a mailbox outside the front door for drop offs after business hours.

This morning, a meeting of the Emergency Operations Centre was held to assess the evolving COVID-19 situation. The Provincial and Local Health Authorities are taking significant steps to limit the transmission of the COVID-19 virus including recommendations to limit the spread through communities.

The EOC made the proactive decision to protect its staff and the public by approving the following measures which may impact you: 

• Closure of all Township-owned facilities to the public effective immediately, including
  • Township Hall – staff can be reached by email or phone
  • Rosedale Hall – all rentals and events are currently suspended
• The Public Works Department workers will continue to provide services on the roads – however we encourage all members of the public to call in their concerns and not approach workers on the road
• The EOC will be reassessing the closure on April 5th, 2020
• All regularly scheduled Advisory Committee meetings will be cancelled until April 5th, 2020 and will be re-assessed at that time
• The Regularly scheduled Committee of the Whole of March 17th, 2020 will be cancelled. As of now, the Council meeting will continue and be open to the public. The Township is reviewing options to provide livestreaming of this meeting to reduce the need for the public to attend

The Township will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves and take direction from the Federal government, Provincial government and Health Unit. As always, we encourage all residents to be prudent and follow the directive from the Health Unit on how to protect themselves and their family. The Township Emergency Operations Centre will be meeting again on Monday March 23rd to reassess the evolving situation.

Essential services such as OPP, Fire, Public Works, By-law Enforcement, Building Inspection, garbage and recycling will continue to be provided for the safety and wellbeing of our residents. 

For any payments owing to the Township, options include online or telephone banking, mailing a cheque to the Township Hall or dropping a payment off in the mail slot at the office. Township staff will be happy to assist you with alternative options for services such as garbage tags, dog tags and other municipal services. 

Please continue to monitor the Township's website and Facebook for further announcements.

The following is a list of meeting cancellations and information about COVID-19.

• Recreation Meeting on March 31 is cancelled
• Council and Committee of the Whole on April 7 is cancelled
• Dog Tags will remain $15 for the rest of the year.
• Ontario 211 Services 1-877-330-3213
• For more information about COVID-19 please visit the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Health Unit

Valley Heartland

The Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporation offers a variety of services for entrepreneurs starting or expanding their business. They have business loans available up to $250,000 as well as business counselling and workshops to help develop or expand a successful business.

For Inquiries
Website: valleycfdc.com
Phone: 613-283-7002 ext.103.

Small Business Advisory Center

Are you thinking about starting a small business, need help with questions on your existing business? Are you starting a business in the Lanark, Smiths Falls, Perth, Carleton Place, Mississippi Mills area? If so, the Small Business Advisory Centre is here to support you, the entrepreneur!

The Small Business Advisory Centre is an initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, in partnership with the Town of Smiths Falls and funding support from the County of Lanark and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. A business advisor is available (by appointment) to meet with you whether you have questions about starting or growing a small business. The advisory services are free of charge and provide you with the information required to get your business going and keep it running smoothly and profitably. The Centre in the local service provider for programs such as Summer Company and Starter Company Plus and they offer many informative webinars and events throughout the year for businesses. The centre and personnel are very resourceful and can steer you to various other sources for more specialized information, if need.

The Small Business Advisory office provides confidential business advisory services to small business start-ups, as well as on-going support for existing small businesses. They are also a business information source designed to point entrepreneurs in the right direction whether they are just starting out or growing their business.

• Free business consultations (thinking, starting, growing) (Consultations via phone, virtual or in person by prebooked appointment)
• Seminars, Webinars and Events
• Outreach to Communities for consultations
• Business Programs (youth and adults)

Contact for more information:

Cindy James Manager, Small Business Advisory Centre

Smiths Falls/Lanark County/Leeds-Grenville

77 Beckwith Street N. Smiths Falls

Phone: 613-283-0062

Email: 

Website: www.smallbizcentre.ca