What is a Social Development Council?

SDCs exist to build and strengthen communities. Our mission focuses on the social and economic impact on individuals, families and communities at large.

What does a SDC do?

Social Planning Councils (SPCs) are Not-for-Profit Organizations that focus on addressing community-level problems and challenges spanning a wide variety of issues and social policy.  SPCs, like the Social Development Council of Cornwall and Area often take the role of advocacy, social policy analysis, public awareness, applied research, community organization, community problem solving and information sharing. Generally, SPCs are not service providers, rather they work with the existing non-profit, charitable and social service providers to focus on addressing gaps, strategic planning, research and project coordination on relevant issues that a community is faced with. The SDC does this work through strong community partnerships.

What is Social Development?

A desired state of community wellness reflected in the following existing conditions:

  • Personal and public health
  • Satisfaction of basic material needs
  • Economic security and opportunity
  • Protection from violence, abuse, threat, and discrimination
  • Sense of identification and belonging with others (social inclusion)
  • Availability of choices and self-determination throughout one’s life path
  • Active participation and decision-making in the larger societal processes
  • Access to knowledge and personal skill development
  • Sustainable natural and physical environments

The SDC’s History

The need to have a social planning body came into being subsequent to repeated economic transitions in our community, the most crucial one being the massive job losses and closure of the Domtar Paper Mill in March of 2006 and many other vital manufacturing companies in the SD&G area.

The province of Ontario provided 2 year funding to the City of Cornwall to hire a project manager in 2007 to work with the community to establish a SDC in order to improve our community capacity to respond to current and future socioeconomic transitions. The organization was to be temporarily housed under the Social and Housing Services department. Today, the SDC is permanently housed with the Counseling and Support Services of S.D.& G.

A Board of Directors was formed in early 2006 and is currently standing strong with 13 members that represent several sectors in the community.

Our Board

Patti Carson, Chairperson
Farhana Meghji, Vice-Chair
Laura Legue, Treasurer
Sonia Behilil, Director
Councillor Todd Bennett, Director
Natalie Charette, Director
Afia Chaudhry, Director
Charlene Davidson, Director
Kaitlyn Legue, Director
Neil MacLean, Director
Deputy Mayor Carma Williams, Director
Elizabeth Quenville, Director
Chief Vanessa Adams, Director

Executive Director

Carilyne Hébert
[email protected]
613-930-0211

Admin & Project Assistant

Melanie Boileau
[email protected]

Our Reports

Click here to view the Community Garden Network Evaluation:  Community Garden Network Evaluation

Click here to view the Caring Dads Program Evaluation: Caring Dads Project Evaluation Report

Click here to view the Poverty Reduction Strategy:  Poverty-Reduction-Strategy-October-7th-2015

Click here to view Vibrant Community Roundtable Survey Results: https://sdccornwall.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/VCR-Survey-Results-.pdf

Click here to view the Paths to Change Program Evaluation:  PTC Program Evaluation

Click here to view the Code Heroes Program Evaluation:  Code Heroes Program Evaluation

Click here to view the 2018-2019 Executive Directors Report

Our Financial Statements

Click here to view our 2022-2023 financial statements: 2022-2023 – Review Engagement Report

Click here to view our 2021-2022 financial statements: 2021-2022- Review Engagement Report

Click here to view our 2020-2021 financial statements: 2020-2021 – Review Engagement Report

Click here to view our 2019-2020 financial statements: 2019-2020 – Review Engagement Report

Click here to view our 2018-2019 financial statements: 2018-2019 – Review Engagement Report

Click here to view our 2017-2018 financial statements: 2017-2018 – Review Engagement Report

Click here to view our 2016-2017 financial statements: 2016-2017 – Review Engagement Report

AGM Minutes

Click here to view the DRAFT June 15, 2023 AGM Minutes: 2023 – DRAFT Annual General Meeting
Click here to view the September 20, 2022 AGM Minutes: 2022 – Annual General Meeting
Click here to view the November 16, 2021 AGM Minutes: 2021 – Annual General Meeting
Click here to view the September 22, 2020 AGM Minutes: 2020 – Annual General Meeting
Click here to view the June 5, 2019 AGM Minutes: 2019 – Annual General Meeting
Click here to view the May 29, 2018 AGM Minutes: 2018 – Annual General Meeting
Click here to view the June 20, 2017 AGM Minutes: 2017 – Annual General Meeting

By-Laws

Click here to view our newly adopted by-laws: Updated – SDC By-Laws