MALLORYTOWN – Sally Mellon dreamed of owning a clean, safe, and respected facility for cats ever since starting her first pet care business at 22.

Sally saw potential early on and started building MeowTown from the ground up. Resourceful from the start, she continued working full-time that first year. “It was my whole life—finish the day at my job, head to the kennel to work, sleep and repeat,” she recalled. “I believed in it. It was a great business to foster.” As the business grew to take her on full time, so did her family.

“We started with canine clients,” she said, “but I shifted to cats in 2014." As a mom, she found cats to be a safer, calmer fit. “It just felt better for my young kids and parenting lifestyle. As I grew, the business grew with me.” Her original location, near Steward Boulevard and Centennial Road, became a beloved local pet boarding facility. “Most of my clients are travellers, in transition, or renovating,” she said. MeowTown Luxury Resort for Cats fills the need for upscale yet affordable care for these clients, whether it's for a day, a week or longer.

After years living on the original site, she relocated to another home away from the business, a decision that helped her balance work and family life while staying close to MeowTown.

In May 2023, construction began on her dream facility: a clean, calm, and modern space for cats. The new boarding facility now offers a peaceful setting and unique services, including administering pet medications—something not all facilities offer. “It’s part of complete care,” Sally said, adding “it’s a

logical step in our full-service, personal approach.”

She decided to stay within Leeds Grenville and continue to serve her loyal clients. “We’re just down the road from the old spot, in a much more peaceful location for the cats,” she explained. While her Stewart Boulevard location benefited from high-traffic exposure, her new facility offers natural

tranquility and space. She trusts the business’s solid reputation will carry forward and fill the condos but also sees value in social media marketing.

MeowTown’s standards are high. Each cat or cat family stays in a private condo, with options ranging from standard to extra-large garden or forest-view suites. Natural light floods the play area. Condos offer a variety of configurations some with patios and windows, others with cat trees. All offer secure outdoor access to the 'catio'.

Cleanliness is a priority. During cleaning time, cats enjoy individual playtime in a supervised area. The facility offers part-time and volunteer opportunities. Sally also partners with the OPP to provide emergency pet housing. Looking ahead, Sally plans to expand her client base to offer shuttle service to Kingston and Ottawa areas this summer.

Attention! Input to the 2025 Regional Business Survey Needed

The region is once again collaborating to assess the state of our local economy. Designed to easily capture feedback, the survey gives respondents the opportunity to request specific assistance. As a business leader or owner, the feedback you supply is vital to better understand how local businesses are performing, implications of the U.S. trade war, and to identify the types of support needed for future planning. Please take a few minutes to complete the Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands -Rideau Lakes Business Survey.

Survey remains open until May 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m.

Businesses Recognized at Annual Rideau Lakes Breakfast

Business of the Year Award

McMullan Appliance & Mattress located at 327 County Road 29 has been serving the region since 1990, McMullan Appliance and Mattress is family owned and operated. The showroom has more than 100 display appliances and mattresses. McMullan offers delivery, installation, and disposal as part of their service to communities across Southeastern Ontario.

Photo:Mayor Arie Hoogenboom, Michael Barrett, Corey McMullan and Kyle McMullan

Small Business of the Year Award

Stoodley’s Kitchen and Beverage in Elgin has quickly become a community mainstay, specializing in delicious pizza with house-made dough and sauce, and handmade burgers with fresh-cut fries to salads. At Stoodley’s, fresh local ingredients are always on the menu, prepared in house, daily. This friendly and cozy eatery offers friendly service and cozy spaces inside, fireside or on the summer patio.

Photo:Mayor Arie Hoogenboom, Jessie-Leigh White and Kody White 

New Business of the Year Award

Clearly Auto Glass offers a convenient mobile service for auto glass needs such as windshield repair and replacement, rear glass replacement, auto door glass and much more. Clearly Auto Glass is known for great customer service, coming to the customer at their convenience and working on any size vehicle - even transports, tractors and heavy equipment.

Photo: Mayor Arie Hoogenboom, Joe Chase and Victoria Van Dam

The Economic Development Team is pleased to welcome Brennan Eland as the new Small Business Program Assistant. Working with the the Small Business Officer Carol Hardy, Brennan will support the delivery of Summer Company and Starter Company Plus.

With a background in International Business, Brennan is committed to being a reliable, supportive resource for entrepreneurs, helping them access the tools, guidance, and encouragement needed to bring their ideas to life.

In his role, Brennan will support tasks from website content and community engagement on social media to analyzing data and supporting project coordination. He will also assist with events, workshops, and client consultations, helping to ensure smooth communication and service. Reach Brennan at

613-342-3840 ext. 5363, or email brennan.eland@uclg.on.ca.

Brockville Welcomes Spark

Skyview 2 Project Open House

Last Call for RTO 9 Board of Director Applications

The RTO 9 Board includes people from parts of Southeastern Ontario with a good mix of experience and skills. While anyone with relevant experience can apply, people with backgrounds in Legal, Accounting, Transportation, Digitization, Automation, Connectivity, and Human Resources are preferred. There are two positions in the East region this year, plus one At Large position for all of RTO 9. Term lengths vary from two to three years.

If you're interested, download and fill out the Board Application Form, return it with resume to bruddock@region9tourism.ca.

Chosen applicants will be announced at the AGM on June 13, 2025.  Registration for the AGM is now open.

Ontario Together Trade Fund

The Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF) provides financial support to help businesses near-term investments so they can serve more interprovincial customers, develop new markets and re-shore critical supply chains in the face of U.S. tariffs.

Projects must address the impacts of U.S. trade disruptions and align with Ontario’s key economic priorities, including:

· Trade diversity - diversifying sales portfolios

· Trade security - enhancing competitiveness, creating and retaining jobs, contributing to regional and sectoral clusters

Funding and complementary supports and services are available.

Funding may be available to businesses operating within Ontario that meet the following requirements:

· make an investment to:

•  enhance domestic competitiveness
• build capacity and local supply chain in Ontario, or reshoring
• pivot operations to manufacture less trade exposed goods
• create and/or secure jobs in Ontario
• other activities required to diversify revenue streams

· invest at least $200,000 in eligible project costs

· locate in a community in Ontario during the project period

· complete the project within 2 years

· demonstrate all financing will be in place by the project start date

A project is a distinct undertaking, separate from ongoing operations and that will result in benefits to the organization such as access to new markets. Priority will be given to projects that aim to capitalize on domestic market opportunities and address gaps in Ontario’s supply chain caused by potential trade barriers and supply disruptions and if your business operates in a sector extensively targeted by U.S. tariffs or that you are pivoting operation to supply a customer looking to replace a current supplier due to tariffs.

This commercial building is ready for new ownership. A well known landmark that forms part of the core in the village. The former restaurant, (now take out pizza) could be redeveloped with many other uses, thanks to C2 zoning.

The building also has a small office and an apartment for supplemental revenue. Currently the building is completely leased out.



Restaurant, and seating area is approximately 3500 Sq Ft. Office Space 700 sq ft. Apartment 700 sq ft.

View Map for 39 Bedford Street South, Westport.

Tourism Travel Trade with Jonview 

Learn how to attract international visitors through wholesale itinerary tour development and packaging with Jonview, a receptive tour operator. Understand pricing and commission structures along with tips to become market ready. Hosted by Brockville Tourism.

Search Engine Optimization: Understanding the Basics

In this webinar, you will learn about search engine optimization and best tactics you as a business can use towards increasing your ranking in the search engine result pages. Learn what SEO is, keyword importance, copywriting for SEO, on- and off-page tactics, technical SEO, auditing sites for search engines.

Developing Successful Email Marketing Strategy

Learn email marketing basics that help you create high quality and targeted emails to send to your subscribers. Learn how to create segmented audiences, write compelling subject lines, create a strong email body, utilize automations, and about various platforms that can assist in email marketing.

Web Presence 101: Ensuring Your Foundation is Set

Discuss the importance of getting your business online and where to start with developing your online presence. Learn about web presence, platforms, creating a professional responsive website, optimizing SEO, Google My Business, social media, growth and email marketing, brand voice, customer relationships and engagement.