"Sustainable Community Development" a planned evolution of all aspects of
community well-being (economic, social, environmental
and cultural). At Sandra S. Lawn & Associates we work with community
members to take collective action and
generate solutions to common problems.
Community Planning & Development
Town of Prescott & Area
 The Town of Prescott is seeking to revitalize, reinforce and reshape itself as it faces new global
challenges and the need to ensure the ongoing development of a sustainable community with a high
quality of life. This Community Improvement Plan is designed to help
address some of these challenges as it provides a means of planning and financing development
activities that effectively use, reuse and restore lands, buildings and infrastructure. Town of Prescott
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St. Lawrence Seaway
 The St. Lawrence River, a binational trade corridor complements the region's rail and highway network and offers customers a cost-effective, safe, reliable and environmentally smart means of moving raw materials, agricultural commodities and manufactured products to and from domestic and global markets. Cargoes include iron ore, coal, steel, aluminum, machinery, stone, cement, grain, sugar, fertilizers, road salt, petroleum products and containerized goods. These cargoes become the staples of everyday life — food and other household items; buildings, factories, roads and bridges; vehicles and planes; and the energy that powers cities and towns. The Seaway
- Upper St. Lawrence River Ecosystem health report - input from 50 scientists ... Report | Great River Rapport
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Canada C3 Expedition: A Canada 150 Signature project, Canada C3 was a 150-day expedition from Toronto to Victoria via the Northwest Passage that took place from June 1 to Oct. 28, 2017. It inspired a deeper understanding of our land, our peoples and our country ...
- An Epic Journey to Celebrate Canada and Connect Canadians ... Expedition 2017
- River of Nations Song (Alex Cuba, Andrea Menard, Heather Rankin and Canada C3 team)
River of Nations 2 (Re-released with new footage from the Canada C3 expedition.)
- Experience the historic Canada C3 Expedition through this inspiring film that retraces the historic 150-day icebreaker journey from Toronto to Victoria through the Northwest Passage in 2017.
- Waterfront re-development in small town Ontario ... Report 2016
- Below the Water Line by River Institute ... Presentation 2019
- International Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Study: Ripple Effects ... Volume 8 - 2004
- Communities as Environmental Stewards ... Report 2004
- International Joint Commission ... Annual Report
Resource:
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Upper St. Lawrence River - Heritage Designation
 June 2017 ... The St. Lawrence River is officially considered an historic site. The special designation for the St. Lawrence River is a first under the province's Cultural Heritage Act, which was adopted in 2012.
The Upper St. Lawrence River has a long and storied role in the pre-history and development of Canada.
Activity on the river can be traced back to prehistoric times. From the fur trade to the lumber trade, the St. Lawrence River served as the shipping link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Canadian interior, and was used by Aboriginal and European communities alike. By enabling the trading of Canada's natural resources, it was a key facilitator of Canada's development as a country.
Today, the Upper St. Lawrence boasts abundant historic sites and museums along its length, offers a
stunning and internationally-recognized riparian environment in the Thousand Islands, and remains a vital transportation route linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes.
Designating the Ontario portion of the St. Lawrence River would address recognized gaps in the Canadian Heritage River network. This section of the river crosses both international and provincial boundaries; has been the backdrop for Aboriginal and European cross-cultural contact; boasts distinctive architecture inspired by the river; and is home to well-developed and nationally recognized land-based tourism attractions.
Resource:
- A visual history of how the St. Lawrence River was transformed and the regulation of Lake Ontario began
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Covid-19: Rebuilding your business
Few businesses were prepared for what 2020 would bring. A global pandemic? It certainly wasn't what anyone expected as we approached the turn of the new decade. But the COVID-19 crisis has wreaked financial havoc, leaving many small business owners struggling to stay afloat.
To survive, businesses have had to pivot on the spot. Bricks and mortar shops quickly set up an online presence and restaurants transformed into take-out or pick up services. Companies laid off staff, and remaining employees quickly adapted to working from home.
Now in 2023, how can small businesses continue to rebuild?
Here are a few ways:
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The damage
Aside from the financial repercussions, there are other ways your business might have been affected. If you've had to lay off your staff, if you've cut your marketing budget down, or you've lost customers, you'll need to take all these things into account when you think about rebuilding your business.
- Pivoting your business to a new normal
Your business may have worked just fine before, but the post-COVID-19 world looks quite different; businesses need to pivot in order to adjust to this new normal. For example, if you previously relied on footfall to get people into your cafe or shop, you may consider investing in a social media strategy to encourage people to get out and pay you a visit. Or, you may need to expand your digital offering to accommodate the higher numbers of people shopping from home.
The key thing to consider is how life has changed for your ideal customers. So go back to basics. What problem do you solve for your customers? How has that changed? And how can you adapt to stay relevant?
If you're not sure, ask them. Reach out to your customers and talk to them about their challenges and their life in the 'new normal'. And do your research. Look around at what other companies are doing, both inside and outside of your industry, for ideas.
- Professional advice
Expert advice can pinpoint any areas of particular concern in your business – maybe costs are too high or you would benefit from improving your IT systems to provide timely management information?
Contact Sandra at sandra.lawn@gmail.com; our team of professional associates can provide valuable assistance in pinpointing areas of concern.
Professional insight from a qualified accountant or a licensed insolvency practitioner (IP) is invaluable when your business has experienced drastic decline as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, you may benefit from help with creditor negotiations either on a formal basis or informally - a professional presence in these negotiations provides greater confidence to your creditors that you intend to repay your business' debts.
- Funding options
If government assistance is available, it's worthwhile researching areas where it could help you rebuild.
Resource:
- Canadian Government Economic Response Plan - Business
- Ontario Government Support and Resources - Business
- Leeds Grenville Economic Development - Resource
- Financial Institutions
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