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Planning Services (8)
Quick Links
The Township of Rideau Lakes provides planning services for both the review of development applications and the long-term planning of the community. The Township employs two planners to facilitate the review of applications, plan for the long-term growth of the Township, and help ratepayers and the development community with general zoning and development related inquiries.
Investment Ready Properties (5)
The Township maintains a database and information sheets on private and public lands available for strategic investment. Please see some examples below. Please contact the Township’s CAO, listed below, for personal and direct service, and owner introductions.
For current commercial listings, please visit: Investment Ready Properties in Rideau Lakes
If you are a property owner in Rideau Lakes and would like to see your commercial or development lands featured here, please contact the Township’s CAO, to discuss further.
Quick Links
The Economic Development Committee is pleased to celebrate the success of local businesses and recognize their contributions to the community. Members of the public are invited to nominate businesses each year. The nomination period takes place from the first Friday in February until the first Friday in March each year. During the nomination period, nomination forms are available online or at the Township office.
Thank You to our Sponsors:
Business of the Year
Recognizes a business operating within the Township of Rideau Lakes that has demonstrated a commitment to the community and its residents, while displaying strong ethics within the business and society.
Winners
2024: McMullan Appliance & Mattress
2023: Rideau Carpentry and Construction
2022: Wills Transfer Limited
2021: Sunnyside Family Retreat
2020: Wendy's Country Market
2019: Gordanier Freshmart
2018: Hinton Auto Group
2017: The Opinicon
2016: Country Roads Community Health Centre
Small Business Award
This award acknowledges businesses with 5 or fewer employees including the owner(s) and home-based businesses that have demonstrated qualities such as professional integrity, excellence in customer service, success through innovation and a commitment to the community. From 2016 to 2022, this category was called the "Business Innovation Award."
Winners
2024: Stoodley's Kitchen and Beverage
2023: Recess Cafe
2022: Elgin Bowling Lanes
2021: Gordanier Freshmart
2020: No.9 Gardens
2019: Miller’s Bay Farm
2018: Elgin & District Co-operative Nursery School
2017: Smiths Falls Veterinary Services
2016: 2Low Inc
New Business Award
This award category was developed to celebrate new businesses between 1 and 3 years old, and includes entrepreneurs of all ages. From 2016 to 2023, this category was called the "Young Entrepreneur Award" in honour of the hard work demonstrated by a young entrepreneur (under 35) who either resides, operates an active business, or grew up primarily in the Township.
Winners
2024: Clearly Auto Glass (Joe Chase)
2023: Stoodley's Kitchen and Beverage (Kody and Jessie-Leigh White)
2022: Bastard Coffee House (Tao Hipwell)
2021: Arctic Acres (Ben Canning)
2019: Rideau Roots (Corey Evans)
2018: Hales Excavation and Trucking (Mark Hales)
2017: Bastard Baking Company (Stefanie Dobson)
2016: Scott Blair Construction (Scott Blair)
The Rideau Lakes Business Recognition Awards Breakfast
Held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at the Elgin Lions Community Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Published in
Grow
Are you planning to start, expand or move your business?
Whether you are a current business owner or are looking to establish a business or invest in our community, we look forward to helping you.
- Book a meeting with the Manager of Development Services about your property, zoning and building needs. We will help you work through the planning steps toward a successful project.
- To discuss your plans for establishing a business or investing in our community, contact the CAO, Shellee Fournier. We will help connect you with local businesses and economic development agencies to help make your ideas a reality.
Are you purchasing real estate in Rideau Lakes?
- Have your lawyer request a Work Order History and Zoning Certificate Request for your property.
Published in
Grow
Township Council through consultation with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and the Planning Advisory Committee had previously adopted an annual lake-by-lake schedule to guide the Septic Reinspection Program in the years 2007-2015 through a voluntary approach. This schedule was developed to ensure that all lakes were inspected in the Township while ensuring that the inspections were accomplished in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Lakes inspected include: Bass, Bellamy, Lower Beverley, Upper Beverley, Clear/ Indian/ Benson/ Mosquito, Crosby, Little Crosby, Mill, Newboro/ Loon, Opinicon, Otter, Pike, Big Rideau, Sand, Troy, Whitefish and Wolfe.
In 2015, Township Council implemented a hybrid approach to the septic program including 100 mandatory and 50 voluntary inspections. In 2019, Council doubled the number of inspections to 300 mandatory inspections annually completed by the Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office. In 2023, Council added an additional 100 annual inspections, totaling 400 annual mandatory inspections. The lakes and other areas chosen to participate through this program are selected by Council Resolution annually.
| Year | Inspection Area | Report |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Big Rideau, Indian, Mill Pond and Opinicon Lakes | 2024 Septic System Inspection Report |
| 2023 | Benson, Big Rideau, Clear, Indian, Lower Beverly, Mosquito, Newboro, Opinicon, Sand and Whitefish Lakes | 2023 Septic System Inspection Report |
| 2022 | Troy Lake, Lower Beverley Lake, Village of Delta | 2022 Septic System Inspection Report |
| 2021 | Otter Lake and the Village of Portland | 2021 Septic System Inspection Report |
| 2020 | Bass Lake and Village of Portland | 2020 Septic System Inspection Report |
| 2019 | Big Rideau Lake and Lower Rideau Lake | 2019 Septic System Inspection Report |
| 2018 | Upper Rideau Lake and Lower Rideau Lake | 2018 Septic System Inspection Report |
| 2017 | Westport Sand Lake, Upper Rideau Lake and Lower Rideau Lake | 2017 Septic System Inspection Report |
| 2016 | Westport Sand Lake and Upper Rideau Lake | 2016 Septic System Inspection Report |
Reports from previous years are available by request through the Manager of Development Services.
Financial assistance for homeowners may be available through the Ontario Renovates Program and the Rideau Valley Clean Water Program.
Published in
Grow
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After-Hours Road Emergency
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