HALDIMAND—Haldimand County CAO Cathy Case spoke at the most recent Council-in-Committee meeting to review Haldimand’s new strategic plan, meant to guide the County until 2045.
The plan defines a vision for the County and how to get there over the next several years. Instead of hiring a consultant, Haldimand engaged in a “homegrown process” to complete the plan, said Case.
“We did a series of sessions with the County’s leadership team, various staff, community consultation, and then Council consultation … over the last several months,” she explained, along with gathering information from community project consultations and surveys.
Haldimand’s new vision statement is as follows: Distinct yet connected communities where growth and innovation harmonize with rural life, creating a vibrant and sustainable future for all.
Case touched on how that statement has changed since the last strategic plan implemented in 2001, when Haldimand was split from Norfolk and amalgamated with the towns of Nanticoke and Dunnville.
“(One goal then) was to try and harmonize all of our communities into one. One of the things I’ve noticed most over the years is it doesn’t necessarily work,” said Case. “We’ve done a good job at certain things, like the overarching plans … but as far as the grassroots communities, every one of them is unique, and I think that if we’re going to succeed, we need to recognize that.”
She shared two views that come up regularly with the public.
“One is the need for growth and development in our community, encompassing all areas: growth in our local economy, growth in recreational amenities, and of course residential growth in appropriate areas, increasing overall revenue sources to cover costs,” explained Case. “The other one we hear is an appreciation for our rural way of life, our natural assets and environment, and the solitude of a country life, yet not so remote that we’re not connected through technology, culture, and recreation.”
The proposed vision focuses on balancing those two ideas.
“It is designed to envision a future where the inevitable growth and innovation that is necessary today will harmonize with our rural roots to create an overall vibrant and sustainable community for future generations,” said Case.
To ensure consistency, foster trust, and create alignment between staff, elected officials, and the community, the six key values County staff will focus on are: respect, accountability, transparency, collaboration/teamwork, integrity, and professionalism.
“The leadership team will be responsible to ensure staff uphold its values by integrating them into hiring, training, performance discussions, and daily operations while acknowledging behaviours that align with these principles,” said Case.
The heart of the strategy is five key strategic themes and priorities:
Future ready
“The pace of change today is extraordinary, something that we as an organization must adapt to,” said Case. To prepare, Haldimand will focus on:
- Infrastructure Reliability – Investing in sustainable and resilient municipal infrastructure.
- Innovation – Leveraging technology and modern practices to enhance service delivery.
- Financial Sustainability – Responsible fiscal planning to support long-term viability.
- Environmental Stewardship – A commitment to sustainability and climate resilience.
- Growth Management – Coordinated strategic planning to accommodate future population and economic growth.
Exceptional service
“This theme is a cornerstone of local government. It’s very important to me. It ensures resident satisfaction through quality service delivery,” said Case. This theme focuses on citizen-centered service, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and communication.
Healthy communities
Investment in quality service, amenities, and programs which are critical to our communities would include:
- Community Safety – Investing in emergency services and proactive safety measures.
- Healthy Lifestyle Opportunities – Providing cultural, recreational, and wellness programs and amenities.
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Ensuring municipal policies and services are inclusive and foster a welcoming community.
Economic vitality
This theme focuses on “small business retention, our agricultural community, and industry attraction,” said Case.
She continued, “This theme is critical in diversifying the County’s tax base to take some of the burden off the residential class and ensure our community is attractive and sufficient for residents.”
Good governance
This theme focuses on fostering an efficient, effective, and accountable municipal government through:
- Effective Government – Strengthening policies and decision-making processes, guiding the organization with long term goals and objectives.
- Citizen Engagement – Encouraging and offering active public participation opportunities in municipal affairs.
- Staff Investment – Providing training and competitive resources to support, attract, and retain municipal employees.
- Partnerships & Collaboration – Building and nurturing partnerships across Haldimand, provincially and regionally to leverage diverse resources, foster innovation, and create stronger, more resilient communities.
Council praised Case and the whole team at Haldimand County for their effort in not only putting the plan into place, but for all the other projects they work tirelessly on in the name of improving Haldimand as well.
The full plan can be viewed online by searching for ‘Strategic Plan’ on the County’s website at haldimandcounty.ca.
