as well as a tax increment grant to lessen the impact of rising property assessments due to improvements. “We’re just getting started here in the township of Laurentian Valley, and we hope that more businesses come, and if they do, we’re ready,” Neff asserts. COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE Laurentian Valley supports a balanced lifestyle that values community well-being.The township is home to six public recreation facilities, varying in size and equipped with a variety of amenities, including recreation halls, playgrounds, green spaces, trails, rinks, and splash pads. Community spaces and events are supported not only by township resources but by an exceptional volunteer base. Mayor Steve Bennett emphasizes, “We’re very fortunate that we’re able to have over 100 volunteers who run all these rec centers, which allows us to keep our costs down and be able to offer more to our residents.”The township offers a number of unique events, including a popular Halloween Walk and winter skating opportunities at the LV Four Seasons Trail, which attracts thousands of visitors annually. When it comes to connecting the community, new residential developments are being designed with walkability in mind, adding active transportation routes as well as sidewalks. In addition, Laurentian Valley is working in collaboration with the County of Renfrew on the Algonquin Trail, which stretches from the community of Deep River all the way to Arnprior. “The township has also been working on acquiring and developing another trail system, connecting through several other municipalities,” Neff recounts. “We are actively trying to improve our recreation constantly. So if you’re a resident of Laurentian Valley or a neighboring community, or a tourist, you can rest assured that there’s always something going on here.” 47 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 LAURENTIAN VALLEY, ON
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