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STRATEGIC
PLAN
1
About Elgin County
3
Strategy 1: Collaborative
Engagement and
Communication
6
Strategy 2: Organizational
Culture and Workforce
Development
8
Strategy 3: Service
Excellence and Efficiency
10
Strategic Plan at a Glance
4
Values & Associated
Behaviours
5
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Table of Contents
2
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Strategy 5: Community
Well-being and Inclusivity
Stay Connected With Us
Strategy 4: Sustainable
Community Growth
12
14
16
Drainage
Community & Cultural
Services (Archives,
Library, Museum)
Planning &
Land Division
Provincial
Offences
Administration
Economic
Development &
Tourism Services
Long-Term Care
Homes & Seniors
Services
Land Ambulance
Services - Provided
by Medavie
Social Services -
Administered by the
City of St. Thomas &
funded by the County
Emergency
Management/Fire
Training Services
Public Health Unit -
Administered by SWPH
& funded by the County
Maintenance of
Elgin County Roads
and Facilities
COUNTY OF ELGIN SERVICES
Elgin County Council
Garbage and
Recycling
Animal
Control
Building
Services
By-Law
Enforcement
Maintenance of
Municipal Roads
Parks and
Recreation
Water and
Wastewater
Planning
Services
LOCAL MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Fire/Police/
Rescue
Services
Local Municipal
Council
Elgin County is an Upper-Tier Municipality serving approximately 52,000 residents across seven
(7) unique Municipalities:
Municipality of West Elgin
Municipality of Dutton Dunwich
Township of Southwold
Municipality of Central Elgin
Town of Aylmer
Township of Malahide
Municipality of Bayham
Together, these Municipalities collaborate with Elgin County to offer the following services that
support our vibrant communities, businesses, and visitors.
* Please note that while the City of St. Thomas is
geographically located within Elgin County, St.
Thomas is a separate city from Elgin.
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
About Elgin County
3
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Mission:
Vision:
Values:
Elgin County delivers efficient,
accessible, necessary
services and fosters
collaborative relationships
to benefit residents,
businesses and visitors.
Elgin is a welcoming, innovative,
and sustainable community. We
will advance the prosperity of our
County ensuring responsible
development, while respecting our
rural heritage.
1. Respect
2. Integrity
3. Collaboration
4. Service Focus
Collaborative
Engagement and
Communication
Organizational Culture
and Workforce
Development
Service
Excellence and
Efficiency
Community
Well-being and
Inclusivity
Sustainable
Community
Growth
Strategy 1:
Strategy 2:
Strategy 3:
Strategy 4:
Strategy 5:
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategic Plan at a Glance
In 2024, Elgin County Council endorsed the 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, which outlines Elgin's
Mission, Vision, Values, and five (5) Strategic Priorities. This plan serves as a framework for
decision-making and resource distribution, enabling Elgin County to effectively serve you, our
taxpayers, while also tackling future opportunities and challenges.
Elgin County Strategic Plan | 4
2. Integrity:
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Values & Associated Behaviours
1. Respect:
Listen actively and attentively to others without interrupting.
Treat all individuals with dignity and courtesy.
Acknowledge and appreciate diverse perspectives.
Maintain confidentiality and privacy where appropriate.
Foster an inclusive environment where people feel valued.
Address inequalities where they exist to ensure fairness and
mutual respect.
Act honestly and ethically in all situations.
Take responsibility for actions, owning mistakes and learning from
them.
Be transparent in decision-making and communication.
Follow through on commitments and promises.
Avoid conflicts of interest, disclosing them where necessary.
Ensure fiscal responsibility.
3. Collaboration:
Work cooperatively across departments and with partners to
achieve common goals.
Foster positive relationships within and outside the organization.
Share knowledge, resources, and information openly.
Be receptive to new ideas and ways of working.
Encourage participation from diverse perspectives.
Value the contributions of team members.
4. Service Focus:
Be courteous and responsive to the publics'/ community members'
needs, delivering timely and efficient services.
Continuously seek feedback to improve service quality.
Convey information clearly and in an accessible way.
Provide accessible services that meet the needs of diverse
community members.
5
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategy 1:Collaborative
Engagement and Communication
Goal 1: Strengthen Relationships with Local Municipal
Partners (LMPs) and with Regional Partners, MPs, MPPs
Establish regular communication meetings with LMPs and regional
partners, MPs, and MPPs.
Goal 2: Expand Public Engagement
6
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Create a formal framework for collaborative projects across departments.
Use joint task forces to address shared challenges (e.g., transportation,
infrastructure).
1.1
1.2
1.3
Launch a public engagement survey to understand preferred
communication methods.
Fully utilize the existing online platform for public feedback and real-time
engagement with the County.
Host town hall information sessions in both digital and traditional formats.
2.1
2.2
2.3
Organize community workshops to discuss service delivery and how it
benefits residents.
2.4
TACTICS:
TACTICS:
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategy 1:Collaborative
Engagement and Communication
Goal 3: Continue Conversations with
Businesses to Drive Understanding
(Continued)
7
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Expand the business retention and expansion survey, meet with
businesses individually to understand their needs and offer support for
their immediate challenges or opportunities.
Set a goal for the number of businesses to engage and decide on
annual themes (e.g., largest employers, downtown businesses,
manufacturers, agri-businesses, etc.). real-time engagement with the
County.
Analyze trends and integrate solutions into economic development
initiatives.
3.1
3.2
3.3
Regularly use different communication methods to share business
support, resources, opportunities, programs, and local successes.
3.4
TACTICS:
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategy 2:Organizational Culture
and Workforce Development
Goal 1: Foster a Values-Driven Organizational Culture
Define key behaviors that align with the County's values and
incorporate them into performance reviews and other HR policies and
processes.
Goal 2: Drive Staff Retention through Progressive
and Competitive Employment Practices
8
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Offer training workshops on inclusivity, customer service, and positive
collaboration for all employees.
Conduct leadership and staff development programs that reflect the
County's mission and values.
Develop competitive employment packages that reflect the current
labour market.
Implement flexible working arrangements where possible.
Develop a comprehensive employee wellness and benefits program.
2.1
2.2
2.3
Regularly update job descriptions to reflect current and future needs.
2.4
TACTICS:
TACTICS:
2.1
2.2
2.3
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategy 2:Organizational Culture
and Workforce Development
Goal 3: Provide Opportunities for
Career Growth and Development
(Continued)
9
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Develop a comprehensive management training and leadership
development program aligned with a succession management plan.
Create mentorship programs that pair senior employees with junior
staff.
Develop a repository of key roles and responsibilities for easy
knowledge transfer.
TACTICS:
2.1
2.2
2.3
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategy 3: Service Excellence
and Efficiency
Goal 1: Leverage Technology to Enhance Service Delivery
Upgrade outdated infrastructure and improve cybersecurity measures.
Goal 2: Optimize the Business Planning Process
10
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Use automation tools to streamline public service delivery processes
(e.g., permit applications).
Implement virtual service desks for residents to access services
online.
Introduce performance metrics and benchmarks.
Implement a continuous management cycle to allow for real-time
adjustments as required.
Foster collaboration across departments to improve transparency,
reduce silos, and drive outcomes.
TACTICS:
TACTICS:
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategy 3: Service Excellence and
Efficiency
Goal 3: Instilling a Customer-Service Ethos
(Continued)
11
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Empower and train employees to take ownership of customer issues and
act decisively.
Encourage a sense of responsibility to see issues through to resolution.
Adapt and evolve processes based on both positive and negative
customer interactions.
3.1
3.2
3.3
TACTICS:
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategy 4: Sustainable Community
Growth
Goal 1: Promote Economic Development
while Respecting Rural Heritage
Goal 2: Promote Environmental Sustainability
in County Operations
12
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Develop and implement a corporate sustainability plan to reduce the
County's carbon footprint.
Align County projects with low impact development.
Implement / expand County waste reduction recycling programs (e.g.,
recycling road building material).
4.1
4.2
4.3
TACTICS:
Foster public-private partnerships to develop infrastructure that supports
sustainable growth.
Enhance regional marketing efforts to attract investment in agri-
business, and industry.
Develop and implement employment lands and investment attraction
strategy to guide proactive and targeted lead generation activities.
4.1
4.2
4.3
Promote tourism-related activities and festivals.
4.4
TACTICS:
Champion commercial and industrial / corporate community waste
reduction programs.
4.4
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategy 4: Sustainable Community
Growth
Goal 3: Develop Strategic Land Use
and Growth Management Plans
(Continued)
13
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Collaborate with provincial and local governments to update municipal
Zoning By-Law provisions and Official Plan policies.
Identify and protect prime agricultural land and natural resources.
Encourage smart growth, mixed-use developments, and attainable
housing options through additional residential dwelling units in urban and
rural areas.
4.1
4.2
4.3
TACTICS:
Aid municipalities with the development of local servicing allocation
policies / strategies.
4.4
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategy 5: Community Well-being
and Inclusivity
Goal 1: Supporting Housing Needs
for Diverse Populations
Goal 2: Provide Specialized Services for
Youth, Seniors, and Diverse Populations
14
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Enhance access to health and social service information for seniors and
diverse populations, using existing physical and online infrastructure.
Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in all County
programs.
Facilitate the delivery of youth mental health and addiction programs.
5.1
5.2
5.3
TACTICS:
Play an active role on the social housing committee, in step with Local
Municipal Partners (LMPs).
Collaborate with LMPs to promote mixed-use and affordable housing
developments.
Leverage provincial and federal funding programs to support housing
initiatives.
5.1
5.2
5.3
Implement policies that encourage the development of secondary units,
granny suites, etc.
5.4
TACTICS:
Strategic Plan 2024 - 2026
Strategy 5: Community Well-being
and Inclusivity
Goal 3: Improve Public Health and
Social Services across the County
(Continued)
15
Elgin County Strategic Plan |
Strengthen County oversight of its public health investments.
Use outsourcing to provide mental health and wellness services.
Increase access to all health and wellness services, through increased
utilization of our library system.
5.1
5.2
5.3
TACTICS:
Establish initiatives to promote fitness and health engagement.
5.4
Create a centralized resource center for public health and social services
information.
5.5
Stay Connected
With Us
[email protected]
@ElginCounty
ElginCounty.ca
(519) 631-1460
@ElginCounty
EngageElgin.ca
Elgin County Strategic Plan | 16