South Stormont’s Mayor’s Breakfast Highlights Growth, Partnerships—and a Brand New Chamber Website
The smell of fresh egg, ham, and cheese croissants from Ingleside Bakery set the tone for a warm and hopeful Mayor’s Breakfast in South Stormont this morning, where local leaders, business owners, and community members gathered to talk growth, development, and digital innovation.
Chris Hemond, from the Economic Development and Communications department of the Township of South Stormont, acted as MC, and introduced Mayor Bryan McGillis who addressed the crowd with optimism, pointing to several major projects that are already helping shape the future of the township. Chief among them is the much-anticipated expansion of the water system infrastructure, made possible through $224,000 in provincial funding from the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund.
“This opens the door not just for residential development,” the mayor explained, “but also commercial and industrial opportunities. If we want long-term economic growth, this is where it starts.”
He also introduced the area’s development vision, dubbed Plan 279—a strategy that includes the thoughtful transformation of township-owned land in Ingleside between Farran Road and Farran’s Point Road. Developed through community consultation, historical research, and housing needs analysis, the plan proposes a blend of townhouses, low-rise apartments, and senior-friendly housing to meet rising demand.
“It’s about inclusive, forward-thinking development,” said the mayor. “But it only works with strong partnerships—between government, developers, and you, the community.”
In addition to housing, economic growth was another key theme. A new Economic Development Strategy is in the works, built collaboratively with input from the business community. As part of this strategy, the township plans to revamp funding tools like the Community Improvement Plan (CIP), which helps businesses improve storefronts, expand operations, or launch new ventures. “If you’re successful in CIP funding,” the mayor said with a grin, “it’s because you applied—don’t forget, we can help.”
As the presentation concluded, Mayor McGillis thanked local business owners for their ongoing investment and resilience. “We’re growing with purpose,” he said. “And we know we can’t do it alone.”
That spirit of partnership carried into the second half of the event, when South Stormont Chamber of Commerce President Lynn White took the stage to celebrate a major milestone: the launch of the Chamber’s brand-new website.
“Up until now, we’ve mostly relied on Facebook,” she said. “But a proper website gives us credibility—and a platform to grow.”
The site, developed by Julia Lucio of Versacore Tech Designs, serves as a dynamic tool for both existing and prospective Chamber members. Each business gets a customizable profile, with space to showcase photos, links, and member-only offers. An event calendar, contact forms, and easy onboarding tools make the site a powerful asset for community building.
Lucio gave a live demonstration, walking members through how to log in, reset passwords, and update their listings. “If your email isn’t in the system, just come see me,” she said. “I’ll get you set up today.”
The breakfast wrapped up with door prizes, member appreciation gifts, and a call to action: new members who signed up would receive a branded Chamber mug, courtesy of Melissa St. Louis of Seaway Charters.
With croissants eaten, ideas shared, and new tools in hand, attendees left the Mayor’s Breakfast feeling hopeful about what’s next. As White put it, “We didn’t have a blueprint—but now we’ve got momentum. And we’re just getting started.”
the new website is located at https://sschambercommerce.ca
