Wellington community association promotes its vision of strong community

By Sharon Harrison
Sharing details of what’s to come in 2026 for the Wellington Community Association (WCA), the non-profit community organization also spoke to 2025 accomplishments at its annual general meeting Wednesday night.

“There’s a lot of work done, there’s a lot of work about to be done,” said Tim Good, WCA chair. “We want your feedback, we want to know what you guys think, what’s going on in the community, what you think should be done, anything you want to get involved in.”

Open to all, it was a small attendance at the Wellington and District Community Centre, with around another dozen people tuned-in virtually to hear several brief presentations about on-going WCA projects.

The 12-member steering committee includes Good (chair), Joanna Green, Lisa Reddick, Jennifer Armstrong, Diane Riley, John Caliendo, Lis Tavers, Jane Marshall, Doug Henderson, Peta Hall, Evan Nash and John Whyte.

Wellington councillor Corey Engelsdorfer thanked the community association and its members stating “Organizations like this are the backbone of this community.”

“Strong communities don’t just happen, they are built and they are sustained by folks just like yourself, the people who live here, the people who care about the village,” said Engelsdorfer. “It’s exactly what this association has done, whether it’s thinking about thoughtful development, affordability, infrastructure concerns, and most importantly, water, or just protecting the character of this village we all live in, you have shown a clear commitment to that.”

At the end of December 2025, the association had 272 members, a number Good said they want to grow this year, and one they plan to double to get to 500. All monies received come from either membership fees or donations, with no separate source of income or government funding, Whyte confirmed.

“I can’t emphasize enough that membership fees and donations are so, so important if we are to continue doing good work we think we are doing representing our community.”

Dedicated to representing local residents, advocating for affordability and sustainability, and enhancing the overall livability of the community is the group’s mission, where its focus is on local livability, liaison and stewardship, and advocacy and influence.

Good spoke to how many community associations are now getting involved in advocacy, getting their voices heard at the local level of government, something he said they are spending a lot more time on.

Local livability
Initiatives that directly enhance the day-to-day experience of residents is the focus of local livability, and includes things such as beautification projects, heritage and culture initiatives, public space improvements, programs that foster connection and well-being, and community events.

Reddick said the success is due in large part to the support and generosity of local businesses, developers, service clubs, individuals, churches and County staff and council.

“We are really fortunate to live in such a caring community, and we are excited for phase two of our Wellington park project and a plant pollinator theme, and our plans include new gardens and a path, and a picnic and gathering area,” explained Reddick.

She said more blue planters and even more summer banners will once again add charm and character to the main street, and their seventh bench will be welcomed this spring. They are also working with the County on the Wellington welcome signs at the three access points to the village.

“Lastly, we will be extending our distinctive doorways project from two summers ago; you will notice the beautiful entranceways and colourful schemes on local businesses doors. This spring, we will invite residents to brighten their doors with cheerful bright colours.”

Good said beautification like this is where community associations are well known.

“This is a lot of hard work, this is where a lot of the funds will go. It’s very expensive to buy plants, and to put up signs and get the benches made, the banners and everything else.”

Heritage committee chair, Green, said there were 24 banners up on Main Street commemorating and honouring residents of Wellington who participated in the first and second world wars.

Advocacy and influence
WCA engages with municipal and regional partners to advocate for policies and decisions that support affordability, sustainability and long-term community resilience. Those areas of focus include planning and development, water infrastructure, public workshops, and civic engagement and policy liaison.

“This is where we get behind the scenes, we do a lot of writing, op-eds for the local newspaper, a lot of one-on-one meetings with councillors and with the mayor and with staff to get our views out on behalf of the community,” explained Good.

He said there is a lot that the public doesn’t see, but Good stated they feel they have made a lot of progress, especially as it relates to stopping the waterworks project until a management plan, a communications plan and a finance plan are put in place.

“That work is still promised to us, but we stopped the project to get that point in time, so we won on that point, and I think it’s a good win, but it took a lot of work to get to that point.”

Speaking to planning and development, Armstrong said the group remain engaged with the County planning department on official plan amendments, the new secondary plan, and the new parks and recreation plan.

Mentioned was the proposed expansion of the Drake Devonshire and the associated heritage, parking and traffic issues, as well as affordable housing and climate change, with Armstrong stating that the affordability and sustainability committee’s biggest focus currently is the water infrastructure.

“In 2025, we have continued to engage with our lawyer, and both growth rates have been revised, and they are being re-looked at by council, and the regional facilities are currently on hold until a financial plan is done,” she confirmed.

“We have good and positive news that councillors are coming around to the waterworks project at $300 million is not financially viable for this community, which is good that they are realizing that: it took them four years, but they are realizing that,” Good added.

Armstrong also noted that once the waterworks construction is fully completed, they will be looking at the rehabilitation of the Millennium Trail. Good addressed what the community went through during the construction of the Wellington waterworks and what needs to be done to get the village back to what it was.

“It still isn’t over yet,” voiced Good, “the condition of the trail, there is a lot of work that needs to be done, and we cannot let up on the contractors. We need to get it back to the way we want it; its going to be a lot of advocacy to push, push, push, and make sure they will do what they promised they would do, and it’s going to take a long time, and is going to go well into this year.”

Speaking to the approaching election, Armstrong said there is a lot of advocacy around the water infrastructure for the campaigns in the election “to see if there are candidates that align with the views that we have”.

Good said, as a community association, they are going to reach out to candidates that they think will fit the community and will do well for the community, and just not Wellington, but all of Prince Edward County.

“We think its time there is a change to council; we want Corey to run again, and the mayor position is definitely something that we need to look at very closely,” Good shared. “We need to find more councillors who will take the mayor chair and take council chairs that are more aligned with the community,” he stated.

“We have to get away from what’s happening at Shire Hall, and it seems like there is a brick wall between the community and Shire Hall right now, where we don’t know what is going on.”

Good also spoke to how the County’s finances need to be looked at very closely.

“Instead of taxes going up every year, how about we review what happened in Shire Hall behind the scenes; I think there is money that could be saved there, and that is something we are going to follow along and get involved with as well,” suggested Good

“Our chief administrative officer is pushing for a full review, staff and finances, something we are want to be a part, and are hoping to get involved on your behalf.”

Liaison and stewardship
Building collaborative relationships with local organizations, elected officials and residents, and ensuring the WCA remains responsive, transparent and accountable forms part of liaison and stewardship. It focuses on communications, finances, annual general meeting, bylaws, the steering committee, among them.

Good said they want to do better this year on communication with the community on what they are doing, what they are working on, and what the challenges and successes are.

Immediate priorities include ensuring development is of high quality and meets the real needs of Wellington residents, controlling water rates, and affordable housing. Also, providing outside perspectives and independent expertise to help identify and mitigate environmental and social risks.

Open forum
Comments from audience members were heard throughout the meeting (although barely audible to virtual viewers) and ranged from what’s happening with the vacated Scotiabank building, to development (Kaitlin in particular), the town hall, affordable housing (particularly the old arena site), and the Drake Devonshire expansion.

One resident asked what the role of the community association is, and the upcoming municipal election garnered some long and rambling, and at times, disparaging thoughts.

“When Kaitlin does develop, we want to make sure they develop the way the community can accept it; we want to make sure that water will be delivered to them only when it needs and when development will pay for development,” said Good.

One question posed about progress on the old Wellington arena site for affordable housing was answered by the councillor.

“I can’t speak too much as the affordable housing corporation is its own corporation… but the foodbank went to their meetings and had some discussions there,” said Engelsdorfer.

“The affordable housing corporation and the housing department are struggling I think, they are working on the Disraeli project in Picton and there’s no funding there, so they’re struggling their way through that,” he shared. “And to be honest, this project [arena] has taken a bit of a back burner right now – it’s in limbo, to be honest.”