How do we do it? By managing growth so that our people and businesses prosper while we retain the historical, cohesive, community life that makes Griffith & Matawatchan great! 

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We have amazing communities in Greater Madawaska and we want to keep it that way. One of the things we hear from you is the importance of keeping our small town vibe and our sense of community alive and I agree. We are doing this in a number of ways that not only prepare for growth, but strengthen our existing communities and businesses, and we are doing it through extensive public consultation.

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Business Support

You might have met Jenna, our Community Development Coordinator who is dedicated to supporting local businesses, encouraging tourism investment, and finding creative ways to promote everything our communities have to offer. She works with all businesses operating in Greater Madawaska to help them expand their market, gain new customers, and let everyone know what our communities have to offer. 

 

The Community Development Coordinator has advanced the Township's marketing, communications, community engagement and economic/community development objectives through enhanced resident communications, direct engagement with local businesses and community organizations, promotion of local businesses and tourism opportunities, and implementation of new communication and engagement initiatives. The position has also successfully obtained external funding through the Rural Ontario Development Program. Successful applications have supported community signage and development of the Township's marketing strategy, with business mapping work currently underway in 2026.

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We now have a Community Improvement Plan. The Plan designates the entire Township as a Community Improvement Project Area and creates a framework for financial incentive programs that support housing, business revitalization, tourism, accessibility, sustainability, and community investment. 

      I was on the Township's Cell and Internet Committee that was formed in 2019. This was before I was elected to serve Griffith & Matawatchan. Our work resulted in increased connectivity that benefits residents, tourists, and businesses. 

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Housing and Accommodations

We have modernized and streamlined the development process with a system that tracks development applications and all related communication to ensure efficient and effective processing.

      Staff has been working with developers to encourage mixed development, focusing on affordable, attainable, and purpose-built housing. 

      After extensive community engagement, we created a revenue-neutral system to regulate short term accommodations so we avoid issues that have arisen in other jurisdictions.  

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Secondary Plans for Villages

Greater Madawaska adopted the Renfrew County Official Plan, but requires more detailed planning for its villages. We are starting with the Village of Calabogie because it is where growth is expected to happen first. The Calabogie Secondary Plan will help guide responsible growth, development, and community investment over the coming decades. The plan will serve as a roadmap for policy decisions which will inform future land use and infrastructure improvements. It will also reflect the aspirations and values of those who live, work, and spend time in Calabogie. 

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Health and Wellness

In 2025, the Township received a provincial grant that covers 80% of the salary of our new Seniors Active Living Centre (SALC) Program Coordinator . The SALC position provides opportunities focused on physical wellness, social connection, lifelong learning, health education and recreation, including yoga and chair yoga, falls-prevention programming, health-system education, dementia education, workshops, social programming and excursions. Outside SALC, the Program Coordinator develops and coordinates programming and events for children, youth, families and adults. Programming has included summer camps, skating and recreation partnerships, and in 2026 expanded further with initiatives such as the first GM Summer Bash. The Township currently offers or facilitates a range of recreation opportunities including summer day camp, baseball, soccer, pickle ball, skating, swimming and health and wellness programming. In addition, the Township recently secured an additional $25,000 grant to expand community programming.

 

As part of the Township of Greater Madawaska's Grow Greater Together initiative, enhancing access to community, wellness, recreation, library, and service-oriented infrastructure remains a key priority. Building on extensive community engagement and strategic planning, the Township is exploring the development of the Calabogie Junction Hub Campus — a community-focused campus consisting of a proposed Community Hub and Health & Wellness Hub. 

      As part of the consultation process, we held a workshop in Griffith this year where people described concerns and ideas for the west end of the Township, which it was discovered, are quite different than in the east end and we discovered some synergies between what Seniors Housing is doing that will work to our advantage. Stay tuned on that one.          

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Growth Management to Preserve Community allows Griffith & Matawatchan to improve while keeping our small town culture alive.

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Make sure you are on the voters list 

SECOND RESIDENCES ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY ON THE VOTERS LIST

They can be added at the Township Office in Calabogie, or contacting the Clerk by email, phone, or at the polling station in Griffith between 10 am and noon on October 26 with proper ID and proof of residency. Look for your Voter Information Letter in the mail between October 6 and 13.

​Vote for Lois Thomson and let's keep the momentum going!