FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Here are the highlights from the South Dundas Council meeting held May 13, 2026.
For more information, contact Tia Orendi, Community Development and Communications Coordinator at torendi@southdundas.com
South Dundas Moves Forward on Licensed Daycare in Iroquois
Council approved, in principle, a partnership with the Glengarry Inter-Agency Group (GIAG) to develop a new licensed daycare facility at 5 College Street in Iroquois, known as The Hub.
Council authorized up to $50,000 from the Recreation Programming Reserve Fund to support the design phase of the project, shared equally with GIAG on a 50/50 cost-sharing basis. Staff were also directed to prepare a formal lease agreement between the Municipality and GIAG for Council's future consideration.
The proposed facility would accommodate up to 49 children, including spaces for infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers, responding to growing demand for licensed, full-time child care in the community. GIAG, a registered not-for-profit with 50 years of experience delivering community services, will lead the design process through its child care program, The Learning Centre, which already operates a Before and After School program at Iroquois Public School.
The partnership is structured to position South Dundas favourably for provincial licensing and grant allocations when the next round of childcare allocations opens. Staff will continue to monitor provincial timelines and engage with relevant ministries throughout the design phase.
Recognizing the South Dundas Youth Working Group
South Dundas recognized the members of the South Dundas Youth Working Group for their contributions to the community.
The group planned and delivered the second annual Youth Wellness Fair at Seaway District High School, connecting local organizations and services with students. This year's event featured greater variety and expanded opportunities for students to access supports. From concept to execution, the fair was entirely student-led — developed through meetings, collaboration, and a shared commitment to their peers.
The group's work extends beyond the fair. As the school year winds down, members will be distributing personal health and hygiene kits to participating schools, accompanied by an educational component they designed as trivia-style games to make learning more engaging.
The Youth Working Group will take a break over the summer before welcoming new members in September.
The 2025–2026 members of the South Dundas Youth Working Group are Jordan Thompson, Manraj Cheema, Mehtab Cheema, Harneet Cheema, Sage Burgess, and Eshal Ali.
South Dundas Expands ATV Access on Municipal Roads
Council passed By-Law No. 2026-42, repealing the existing off-road vehicle by-law (By-Law No. 2020-82) that had restricted ATV use on municipal roads.
The previous by-law limited off-road vehicle operation to roads north of Highway 401 and a small number of designated roads south of the highway, with permitted hours between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. With the repeal now in effect, those restrictions are lifted, allowing ATV riders broader legal access to municipal roads throughout South Dundas.
The change is expected to benefit ATV users by improving their access to fuel, food, and accommodations, and to support the continued growth of the local ATV trail network. Council's decision follows an earlier delegation by the Nation Valley ATV Club and aligns with the Municipality's strategic goal of encouraging tourism and economic opportunity within South Dundas.
Provincial rules governing the operation of off-road vehicles on highways, as set out in Ontario Regulation 316/03, continue to apply.
South Dundas Reviews Updated Investment Policy
Council received a draft updated Investment Policy (Policy 2-4), prepared by the Treasury Department for consideration. The existing policy has been in place since August 2008 and has not been substantively reviewed since its adoption.
The review was undertaken to address changes to the Ontario Municipal Act, 2001, Ontario Regulation 438/97, and evolving municipal best practices that have rendered several provisions of the current policy outdated. The draft was developed in accordance with the recommendations of the Municipal Finance Officers' Association of Ontario (MFOA).
Key updates in the proposed policy include the formalization of four governing principles — statutory adherence, preservation of capital, maintenance of liquidity, and competitive rate of return — along with a new Standard of Care section covering prudence, ethics and conflicts of interest, delegation of authority, and records management. The updated policy also explicitly authorizes investment through the ONE Investment Program, a pooled investment vehicle for Ontario municipalities that did not exist when the current policy was written. Rather than listing specific approved instruments, the draft defers to Ontario Regulation 438/97, ensuring the policy remains current as provincial regulations are amended.
The draft policy also introduces a formal review cycle, requiring Council to revisit the policy every two years and in the first year of each new Council term.
A formal recommendation to adopt the updated policy will be brought forward at a future meeting.
Upcoming Regular Council Meetings
- May 27, 2026
- June 10, 2026
- July 8, 2026
- August 5, 2026