Thank you from Your 2023-2024 Warden
“The annual Middlesex County Warden’s report provides highlights of some of the work accomplished over the past year. It includes information about the launch of a new Middlesex County Connect route, new provincially funded paramedic service programs, and several large economic development investments. In the municipal world, everything we undertake and all we accomplish involves partners! Our mutual focus is the healthy growth of our communities and settlement areas and the well-being of our residents. The support of our local and neighbouring municipalities has been key to launching new services and programs, and, on behalf of Middlesex County, I extend my gratitude and thanks to our partners across the County as well as the cities of London and St. Thomas.
I also extend heartfelt thanks to my fellow Council members for this opportunity to serve and to experience our Middlesex community in so many different ways. It has been a privilege to represent Middlesex County and I am deeply grateful for having had this wonderful opportunity.
Congratulations to Brian Ropp as he begins his newest role as the 2025 Middlesex County Warden! I hope you will enjoy every moment of your journey and wish you an exciting, fulfilling and successful year ahead.”
- Aina DeViet
Warden's 2024 Honour Roll
Healthy, thriving and engaged communities value everyone’s gifts and provide residents with opportunities to share their skills, knowledge and experience. An abundance of energetic, hard-working and creative people live in Middlesex County and work on a wide range of projects that can be best described as “community-building”. Congratulations to the 2024 Honour Roll Honourees: The Delaware Lions and Lioness Club, the organizers of the Poplar Hill Picnic and the Ilderton Agricultural Society, host of the annual Ilderton Fair.
Warden's Charity Golf Tournament Raises $33,300
The 2024 Middlesex County Warden’s Charity Golf Tournament held at FireRock Golf Club in June of last year raised a record-breaking total of $33,300 in support of three organizations: The Ailsa Craig & Area Food Bank and Thrift Store, Ska-Nah-Doht Village & Museum and the Middlesex Centre Archives. Each of these organizations play a vital role in our community – preserving our heritage, supporting those in need, and enriching our collective experience.
Bridging Communities with New Transit Route Launch
On April 8, 2024, Middlesex County launched a new inter-community transit route, offering connectivity between Dorchester, London, and St. Thomas to address the growing need for affordable, accessible, and convenient transportation options for residents and visitors alike. Operated by Voyago, the route runs Monday through Saturday, offering commuters four round trips per day beginning at the FlightExec Centre in Dorchester, passing through London with stops at Wilton Grove Industrial Park and White Oaks Mall and continuing on to St. Thomas, with stops at Valleyview Home, the industrial area and the Railway City Transit Hub.
Economic Development team welcomes major investments in Middlesex County
In 2024, the County’s Economic Development team welcomed two major investments from industry leaders Norbec and Ontario Plants Propagation, respectively. In September, Norbec, a leading North American manufacturer of insulated metal panels, walk-in coolers and freezers, announced the grand opening of a new $45 million state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Strathroy-Caradoc. When fully operational, the plant will create 70 new, meaningful jobs for local workers. In Southwest Middlesex, Ontario Plants Propagation, a leading producer of young plants for greenhouse growers, unveiled plans to invest an estimated $75 million starting with a remarkable 13-acre greenhouse. This greenhouse is the first step of an ambitious four-phase project, with each phase expected to create between 40 and 50 jobs in Middlesex County.
Continued Commitment to Global Female Empowerment
In April and October 2024, Middlesex County leaders travelled to Cambodia as part of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) Partnerships for Municipal Innovation - Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL) project. The project, fully funded by the Canadian federal government through Global Affairs Canada, advances gender equality and social inclusion by empowering women in local governance in five partner countries: Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Zambia and Benin. Middlesex County leaders remain committed to upholding the project’s objectives to support and empower women around the world.
Middlesex County Announces Plans for New Building
On April 9, 2024, Middlesex County Council directed staff to proceed with plans for a new Middlesex County Governance and Administration Centre at 1035 Adelaide Street, South, London. With this direction, the County begins the final stage of its decentralization project. Throughout this project, Council has made significant investments in new capital development within Middlesex County; capitalized on peak market conditions through the sale of its current administration building; and successfully implemented a hybrid work model enabling many County employees to work remotely. With the majority of County services now being provided at locations throughout the County, including transportation, economic development and tourism, social services, planning, libraries, long term care and paramedic services, the new building will offer a permanent home to the County’s governance and corporate services teams.
Middlesex-London Paramedic Service Deploys Advanced Care Rapid Response Unit
In November 2024, Middlesex-London Paramedic Service (MLPS) launched a new Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) Rapid Response Unit (RRU), aimed at getting Advanced Care Paramedics to the patients who need them most, when they need them most. The ACP Rapid Response Unit, deployed strategically to high-demand areas, uses real-time data to ensure faster response times resulting in improved patient outcomes. Staffed by a highly trained Advanced Care Paramedic, the unit will provide critical care interventions, such as advanced airway management, intravenous therapy, and life-saving medications, directly on scene, representing a significant advancement in healthcare access and emergency response.
Middlesex-London Paramedic Service Launches Community Paramedicine Long Term Care + Program
On September 9, 2024, MLPS announced its participation in the new Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care Plus (CPLTC+) program. A pilot initiative funded by the Ministry of Health, the CPLTC+ program allows community paramedics to deliver essential diagnostic services directly in long-term care homes. These services include point-of-care testing such as urinalysis, Chem-8 and ultrasound, all of which help diagnose and treat conditions ranging from chronic kidney disease to diabetes. By minimizing the need to transport residents for routine testing, the program will reduce the physical and emotional stress placed on vulnerable patients, while also alleviating the demand on emergency room services.
Brian Ropp Elected 2025 County Warden
On December 10, 2024, Councillor Brian Ropp was elected the Warden of Middlesex County for the 2024/2025 term. Warden Ropp is currently serving his second term as Mayor of North Middlesex.
“As the County continues to evolve, adapt and modernize, steady leadership is incredibly important. New ideas, new projects and new technologies, must be balanced with strong, stable stewardship and I look forward to working alongside my fellow Councillors to ensure this stability. I would like to thank my fellow Councillors for their confidence in me as we move into the
second half of our term.” – 2024-2025 Warden Brian Ropp
Contact:
Telephone: 519-434-7321
Middlesex County Website: middlesex.ca