July 2026

YOUR MONTHLY NEWS & UPDATES

Early Bird Pricing Ends in One Month

Join municipal leaders, staff, and partners from across the region on October 16 in Guelph for a full day of insightful discussions, practical learning, and valuable networking focused on the issues that matter most to Western Ontario—housing, infrastructure, workforce development, economic growth, and mental health supports.

With a strong lineup of speakers, engaging breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with colleagues and sector experts, WOMC 2026 is shaping up to be a must-attend event.

Secure your spot today!

Your Community, Your Data: HEAR Initiative Launches

WOWC is proud to support the HEAR Initiative, a landmark research study led by the University of Guelph focused on the health, economy, and climate adaptation of rural communities across Ontario.

Rural data is underrepresented at the provincial and national level. This survey is a direct opportunity to change that. The results will be published in a free, open dashboard that communities, organizations, and advocates can use to push for the services and supports rural Ontario deserves.

We encourage everyone in our network who lives or works in rural Ontario to take a few minutes to participate.

The HEAR Initiative at the University of Guelph is one of the most ambitious rural research efforts in Ontario's history. Over three survey waves in 2026, 2028, and 2030, researchers will collect data from 200,000 rural households, tracking health, economic well-being, and climate adaptation over time

When rural voices are counted, rural communities get better policy, better funding, and better services. If you live, work, or operate in rural Ontario, your experience matters. Every response strengthens the case for communities like ours.

Learn more and sign up: https://hearinitiative.ca/ Take The Survey – HEAR Initiaive

A Call to Collaborate - Newcomer Readiness

Discover how our partners are utilizing the tools developed as part of the Western Ontario Workforce Strategy in their communities and learn more here.

Watch the latest Youtube Podcast where we discuss the importance of the readiness assessment checklist with April Marshall, Economic Development Manager for the Town of Hanover.

Chatham-Kent Opening New Affordable Childcare Centre

at Riverview Gardens

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is taking another important step toward expanding access to affordable childcare after Council approved the contract award for renovations that will transform space at Riverview Gardens into a new licensed childcare centre.

The project will create 49 new affordable childcare spaces in central Chatham, helping address a significant shortage of licensed childcare for children from birth to four years of age.

The new centre will be owned by the Municipality and operated by a non-profit childcare provider selected through a separate competitive process. Once complete, the centre will offer high-quality, affordable childcare through the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program

“This project is another example of how Chatham-Kent continues to invest in the services that families need,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff. “Adding 49 new affordable childcare spaces to our community will help parents access quality care close to home while supporting our continued growth. I want to thank the provincial and federal governments for investing in this important project and helping make affordable childcare more accessible for Chatham-Kent families.”

The renovations will transform existing space within Riverview Gardens into a purpose-built childcare centre featuring classrooms for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children, accessible washrooms, a kitchen, staff support areas, modern technology and new outdoor play spaces.

Read the full press release

Take the next step in your leadership journey—join AALP

If you’re ready to grow beyond your current role and play a meaningful part in shaping the future of Ontario’s agriculture and food sector, the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) is for you. AALP challenges you to think bigger, lead with confidence, and connect with people who are driving change across the agri‑food sector. There’s no other program that will impact your life, your career and your community more.

Sign-up to be notified when recruitment opens in the fall 2026 or nominate the leader you know to be a part of AALP by filling out the Expression of Interest form.

Please fill out this form

The Rural Ontario Institute’s Community Well-being Dashboard is available in Ontario’s two official languages

The Rural Ontario Institute is pleased to announce the Rural Community Well-Being Dashboard and supporting factsheets are now available in Canada’s two official languages. The Community Well-being Dashboard is a FREE user-friendly platform featuring over 60 indicators from 10 data sources, tailored to Ontario’s rural context.

This tool helps communities establish baselines, identify priorities, track progress and celebrate success. It’s a vital tool for strengthening local decision-making with relevant, rural-focused data.

Dashboard link:

Rural Ontario Institute | Dashboard

Ontario Opens Nominations for 2026 Excellence in Agriculture Awards

The The Ontario government is opening nominations for the 2026 Excellence in Agriculture Awards, to recognize the outstanding efforts of the province’s agri-food leaders. These awards recognize the achievements of Ontario’s world-class farmers, processors, industry organizations and businesses that protect the province’s food independence and make Ontario’s nearly $53 billion agri-food industry a global leader in food production.

“The success of Ontario’s agri-food sector is driven by the passion, innovation and hard work of farmers, processors, organizations and businesses across the province,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Their leadership helps keep our province competitive, drive economic growth and reinforce Ontario’s position as a global leader in agriculture. We look forward to celebrating this year’s outstanding recipients.”

This year, the province will recognize agricultural excellence in 10 categories:

Research and Innovation Excellence
Agribusiness Excellence
Education Excellence
Promotional Excellence
Urban Agriculture Excellence
Northern Business Excellence
Indigenous, Métis or Inuit-Owned Business or Indigenous, Métis or Inuit Community Group Excellence
Women’s Farming Excellence
Youth Excellence
Farm Family Excellence

Nominations are being accepted until September 4, 2026. You can submit a self-nomination or nominate another person or a business.

Unveils Vision for Sarnia Refinery Expansion

As part of its plan to protect Ontario and build a stronger, more self-reliant economy, the Ontario government recently announced the Northern Shield Energy Corridor, a proposed 3,300-kilometre pipeline that would connect Alberta’s oil sands to Sarnia’s world-class refining and petrochemical complex, one of the country’s most important industrial hubs. Built with Ontario steel and by Ontario workers, this nation-building project would create good-paying jobs in Ontario while reinforcing Sarnia’s role as the eastern gateway of a modern, coast-to-coast Canadian energy network.

For more than a century, Sarnia has been the heart of Canada’s energy economy. The region’s legacy began in nearby Oil Springs and Petrolia, where North America’s first commercial oil fields launched a new industry that transformed the continent.

Today, the region is home to one of North America’s largest refining and petrochemical clusters that transforms Canadian energy into the fuels that power homes, businesses, and industry across the country. The proposed Northern Shield Energy Corridor will protect thousands of existing manufacturing, refining and energy jobs across the Sarnia region, while creating thousands of new good-paying opportunities for Ontario workers during construction and long-term operations. As part of this effort, Ontario is also undertaking a feasibility study to establish a Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) using existing refining, storage and distribution infrastructure. An SPR would provide a secure domestic stockpile of critical fuels to help protect Canadian families, businesses and essential services during emergencies while strengthening Canada's long-term energy security.

Save the Date: CFWO's 15th Annual General Meeting

& Vendor Showcase

Community Futures Western Ontario is pleased to announce its 15th Annual General Meeting & Vendor Showcase, taking place on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at The Collider at Western Advanced Manufacturing Research Park in London, Ontario.

Join us for a morning of connection, celebration, and inspiration as we reflect on the past year's impact, conduct our annual business meeting, and hear from local entrepreneurs during a special Entrepreneur Fireside Chat.

The event will also feature a Vendor Showcase and networking lunch, providing an opportunity to connect with Community Futures representatives, community partners, and entrepreneurs from across Western Ontario.

Event Highlights

Community Futures Western Ontario Impact Snapshot
15th Annual General Meeting Business Session
Entrepreneur Fireside Chat
Vendor Showcase
Networking Lunch

Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026

Time: Arrival and networking between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM

Location: The Collider at Western Advanced Manufacturing Research Park, London, ON

Formal invitations and registration details will be shared soon. In the meantime, be sure to save the date. We look forward to bringing together Community Futures organizations, partners, and entrepreneurs from across the region for this special milestone event.