SD&G Scoop – Your Local Lowdown for March 5-12, 2026!

Hey there, Cornwall & SD&G crew! 👋

Well… we finally did it. We introduced our brand new Neighbourhoods Beyond section last week and it looks like many of you are already dreaming about warmer weather and weekend escapes.

Now we want to hear from you.

What are some of your favourite travel or vacation destinations outside of SD&G? It could be a cozy small town, a hidden beach, a hiking spot, a food destination, or somewhere you escape to every summer. Bonus points if it’s within driving distance!

We’re always looking for great places to feature in Neighbourhoods Beyond, so your suggestions might just end up in a future issue of The Scoop.

Now grab a coffee, settle in, and let’s see what’s happening around SD&G this week. 👇

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK
🎉 What’s Happening This Week (March 5-12, 2026)

📅 Here are a few events you won’t want to miss:

🔶 Spring Fling Market – A Weekend of Local Shopping!
📅 Saturday & Sunday, March 7–8 | 🕒 11 AM – 4 PM | 📍 Cornwall Square (1 Water St.)
Spring is (almost) in the air and we’re celebrating the best way we know how - by supporting local! The Spring Fling Market, hosted by SoapLadz Cornwall Marketplace, is bringing together talented local vendors for a full weekend of handmade goods, small businesses, and unique finds. Whether you’re hunting for the perfect gift, refreshing your home for the new season, or just looking for something fun to do indoors, this is your excuse to wander, browse, and treat yourself.
Bonus? It’s free to attend and everyone’s welcome! So grab a friend, swing by Cornwall Square, and help us manifest spring one local purchase at a time. 🌷

🔶 NVATVC 4th Annual Food Drive Ride
📅 Saturday, March 7 | 🕗 Check-in: 8:30 AM | 🏁 Ride departs approx. 10 AM
📍 North Dundas District High School – 12835 County Rd 43, Chesterville
The Nation Valley ATV Club is hosting their 4th Annual Food Drive Ride in support of Community Food Share, and it’s shaping up to be a full day of fun, food, and giving back. All proceeds go directly to Community Food Share - helping support neighbours and families right here in our region.
Registration closes Thursday, March 5 at midnight, so don’t wait!
More info & registration: nvatvc.org

🔶 SDSG Greens Presents: A Space for Nature – Rewilding a Farm in Eastern Ontario
📅 Monday, March 9 | 🕕 6–8 PM
📍 Cornwall Public Library (Upstairs Meeting Room), 45 Second St. E.
Curious about rewilding, wetland restoration, and what it really takes to bring nature back to farmland? 🌿 SDSG Greens is hosting an inspiring evening with regional landowner Jeanie Warnock, who will share insights from her two-year journey restoring wetlands and meadows on her 150-acre farm in Eastern Ontario. Expect real-world experience, lessons learned, and practical pointers for anyone interested in conservation, sustainability, or simply appreciating the land a little more deeply. And because great conversations deserve a cozy ending - tea and discussion will follow. All are welcome!

🔶 Home for Christmas – A WWII Storytelling Session
📅 Monday, March 9 | 🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |📍 Glengarry Encore Building
💲 $15
Christmas 2025 may be a recent memory… but Christmas 1945 tells a very different story. Join historian Malcolm Robertson for a powerful morning exploring the homecoming stories of four Bainsville–Lancaster World War II veterans. Through research and personal accounts, he’ll recount what it meant for these men - and their families - to return home after enduring the horrors of war in Europe. It’s a chance to step back in time, reflect on local history, and honour the resilience of a generation that shaped our community. If you appreciate meaningful storytelling and the human side of history, this one promises to be both thoughtful and moving.

🔶 Museum Speaker Series – A Journey Along the St. Lawrence River
📅 Tuesday, March 10 | 🕖 7 PM | 📍 Schnitzels Restaurant – Back Room
The SD&G Historical Society’s Winter Speaker Series is wrapping up, and they’re going out with a story that flows right through the heart of Cornwall. Join local historian and Cornwall Community Museum curator Don Smith as he takes us on a journey along our stretch of the mighty St. Lawrence River - the waterway that has shaped so much of our community’s past and present. From early Indigenous settlers and the voyageurs, to the Loyalist arrival, the Cornwall Canal, major industries, the Seaway, and even Lamoureux Park - this river has seen it all. 🌊 If you love local history, hidden stories, and understanding how Cornwall became what it is today, this one’s for you. Grab a seat, settle in at Schnitzels’ back room, and take a trip through time… no life jacket required.
🎟 Register at: cornwallcommunitymuseum.ca 

🎵 Where’s That Music Coming From (March 5-12, 2026)

🔶 Live Country Night at Cornwall Golf & Country Club – The Whiskey Brooks
📅 Friday, March 6 | 🕘 9 PM – Midnight |📍 Cornwall Golf & Country Club
📞 Reservations: 613-931-1122 ext. 229
Dust off those boots - it’s country night in Cornwall. The Whiskey Brooks, a high-energy new country band, are hitting the stage at the Cornwall Golf & Country Club for a night of live music, good food, and great company. Grab your crew, come early for pizza, wings & late-night bites (kitchen open until 11 PM), and stay for the music from 9 PM to midnight. Doors open at 8 PM, so you’ve got plenty of time to settle in before the first chord hits.
Let’s make it a good one.

🔶 The Caffeinated Collective – Coffee House Rave
📅 Saturday, March 7 | 🕛 12 PM – 3 PM |📍 Craftman’s Café, 35 Second St E, Cornwall | $15 (includes a specialty drink or black coffee + a fresh croissant!)
Introducing Cornwall’s first-ever Coffee House Rave - where espresso meets EDM and croissants come with a side of bass drops. Hosted at Craftman’s Café, this daytime dance party promises an electrifying afternoon of beats, brews, and buttery goodness in a cozy café setting. Whether you’re a caffeine connoisseur, a dancefloor regular, or just curious what happens when a coffee shop turns into a mini rave - this is your chance to find out. Sip. Snack. Sway. Repeat.
🎟 Tickets available via Eventbrite (search The Caffeinated Collective).

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOUR
👋 Charlie the Trailblazer

This week’s shoutout goes to Charlie, and if you’ve enjoyed a winter walk out by the Iroquois Lock lately, you probably have him to thank.

Charlie generously volunteered his time and equipment to create an awesome walking trail stretching from the Iroquois Lock parking lot all the way out to the West Point. And yes - he did it the old-fashioned way: bundled up, hopping on his ATV, and carving out a path through the snow so the rest of us could stretch our legs and soak in those river views.

It’s the kind of quiet community effort that doesn’t always make headlines, but makes a big difference. Families, walkers, and winter explorers now have a safe, scenic trail to enjoy thanks to one neighbour deciding to step up (or rather, rev up).

Charlie, we see you and we appreciate you.

If you spot him out there grooming the trail, be sure to give him a wave. It’s neighbours like this that make SD&G feel like home.

WHERE TO GRAB A BITE
🍁 Sand Road Maple Farm

Maple season has officially arrived and that can only mean one thing: Cabane à Sucre is back at Sand Road Maple Farm.

Just outside Moose Creek, this family-run maple farm is welcoming visitors once again to celebrate the sweetest time of year. Their cozy pine lodge and 75-acre sugar bush set the perfect scene for a classic maple-covered meal - the kind where pancakes, bacon, and eggs all come with a generous drizzle of liquid gold.

The 2026 syrup season kicked off with their annual first tapping ceremony, and the farm is now serving guests during maple weekends throughout the season. After your meal, you can wander the property’s interpretive trail, explore the forest, and see how maple syrup has been made the traditional way for generations.

📍 Sand Road Maple Farm — Moose Creek
🍁 Upcoming dates: March 8, 14 & 15 from 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
🍁 After March 15: open Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays until April 19

If winter has you craving something warm and sweet, this is about as Canadian as it gets. Pancakes, maple syrup, a crackling fire, and a walk through the sugar bush - not a bad way to spend a late winter morning.

SUPPORT THE SCOOP
☕ Keep the Good News Brewing

The SDG Scoop is a free, independent local newsletter built right here in SD&G - by locals, for locals. Each issue takes time, coffee, and a whole lot of love to put together.

If you enjoy reading the Scoop and want to help keep it going strong, you can buy us a coffee (or two!). Every little bit helps us share more good news, highlight local stories, and celebrate the best of our community.

Thanks for the support, friends!

THROWBACK CORNER
📸 Old Bank of Montreal – Cornwall, 1884

This week’s step back in time takes us all the way to 1884, with a stunning photograph of the original Bank of Montreal in Cornwall, captured by famed photographer William Notman.

Just look at that architecture. The solid brick exterior. The tall arched windows. The detailed cornices and rooftop vents. It’s the kind of building that quietly says, “Your money is safe here.” 💰

Surrounded by a neat white fence and what appears to be unpaved streets, this image gives us a glimpse of Cornwall in its earlier days - before the Seaway, before modern storefronts, before traffic lights and parking meters. Imagine walking up those steps in the late 1800s, hat tipped, boots dusty, to conduct your banking.

Notman’s glass plate negatives were known for their incredible detail, and you can see it here - from the brickwork to the tree branches framing the shot. It’s more than just a bank; it’s a snapshot of a growing town finding its footing.

If you know where this building stood, or what eventually replaced it then we’d love to hear from you. Cornwall’s layers of history are what make wandering downtown feel a little like time travel.

And honestly? They just don’t build banks like they used to.

PET OF THE WEEK
🐶 Sweet Potato & Yam

We’re doubling the sweetness this week.

Meet Sweet Potato & Yam… two 8-month-old mixed-breed besties who are ready to add a whole lot of love (and a little puppy chaos) to their forever home.

These adorable duo might be a tiny bit shy when you first meet them, but give them a moment and you’ll quickly see their gentle, loving personalities shine. Once they warm up? It’s game over. Silly zoomies, snuggles on the couch, and treat-loving grins are all part of the package. 🦴

They’re playful, affectionate, and still full of that classic puppy energy, which means lots of laughs, learning, and growing alongside their future family. And honestly… those faces? The snow-dusted noses? We’re smitten.

If you’re ready to welcome a little extra sweetness into your life, you can meet Sweet Potato & Yam at the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society - Cornwall & Region Animal Centre (550 Boundary Rd, Cornwall).

Let’s help these two find the loving home they deserve.

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
🛒 Small Businesses - We See You!

Want to get your local business in front of thousands of engaged Cornwall & SD&G readers who love supporting local?

We feature standout businesses, shops, and services that help make our community shine - and we’d love to spotlight you next!

👉 Interested? Reach out to us at https://www.sdgscoop.ca/contact or [email protected] and let’s chat!

JUST FOR FUN
🎯 Games Corner – Just for Fun!

Ever wondered how much road our local crews are responsible for keeping clear in the winter? It’s a lot more than you might think.

The SD&G Counties manage winter maintenance on roughly 1,950 km of roads, which works out to about 3,900 km of total lanes once you count both directions. That’s roughly the distance from Cornwall to Vancouver… and halfway back again. 🚜

Plowing operations typically kick in once snow accumulation hits around 5 cm, which means the moment those flakes start piling up, crews are already gearing up to keep our roads safe and moving.

So the next time you see a snowplow rolling by at 5 AM, give them a little wave (or at least a grateful nod). They’ve got a lot of kilometres to cover.

ESTATE & NEIGHBOURHOOD BUZZ
🏡 Historic Downtown 5-Plex Hits the Market

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a piece of Cornwall history and collecting rent while you do it… this one’s for you.

A beautifully renovated historic brick building on Sydney Street has hit the market, and it’s a rare find. This 100+ year-old downtown gem has been thoughtfully converted into a fully occupied 5-plex (5,272 sq. ft.) - blending character charm with modern updates. Think hardwood floors, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, in-suite laundry, central AC, private decks, and paved parking.

Here’s where it gets interesting 👇

• Estimated annual net cash flow: ~$80,000 (before expenses)

• Calculated cap rate: 7.1% at list price

• 4 two-bedroom units + 1 one-bedroom with den

• Separate meters (tenants pay their own utilities)

• 6 parking spaces

• Located between First & Second Street East

In other words - historic façade, modern finishes, downtown location, and strong investment fundamentals. Not something you see every day in Cornwall’s core.

For the investors reading The Scoop (we know you’re out there 👀), this is the kind of property that doesn’t sit long when the numbers make sense.

Downtown Cornwall continues to quietly evolve, and this building is a prime example of old bones, new life.

📌 View the listing: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/29403395/120-122-sydney-street-cornwall-717-cornwall

👉 Got a property for sale or rent in SD&G? Let us feature it in next week’s Scoop - the most-clicked section of the newsletter!

JOBS AND CLASSIFIEDS
📢 Who is Hiring?

BOOK KEEPER/ ADMIN COORDINATOR - Emard Lumber
📍 Cornwall
Emard Lumber is looking for a detailed book keeper/ admin coordinator to join their team!
📧 Apply online: [email protected]

LEGAL ASSISTANT - Dube Law
📍 Cornwall
The successful candidate will assist the lawyer and staff with client intake, file management, document preparation, searches, closing procedures, and post-closing reporting.
📧 Apply online: [email protected]

👉 Have a business and looking to hire help? Let us feature your job/ business in next week’s Scoop!

CLOSING CALL
That’s a wrap for this week, friends! 👋

Alright friends, that’s a wrap for this week’s Scoop.

Before you go, we’re still curious… where’s your favourite place to escape outside of SD&G? A cozy small town, a hidden beach, a great food destination, or a go-to summer getaway? Send us your suggestions - we’d love to feature some of your picks in upcoming editions of Neighbourhoods Beyond.

As always, if you’ve got an event, story, business, or community win worth sharing, our inbox is always open. The best parts of this newsletter come straight from you.

Until next week - stay warm, support local, and if the snow keeps falling… at least we know the plows are working overtime.

See you next Thursday. 👋

📬 Not subscribed yet? Join the Scoop fam here: www.sdgscoop.ca

With gratitude,
The SD&G Scoop Team