The Town of Minto is proud to announce that it has been jointly awarded the inaugural Rural Ontario Inspiration Award - Rural Partnership, alongside the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, at the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) Conference. The award was presented by Minister Lisa Thompson, Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs, in recognition of the Municipal Shared Equipment Model.

"This recognition reinforces what rural municipalities have always known - collaboration works," said Mayor Dave Turton. "On behalf of Council and the Town of Minto, I want to sincerely thank Minister Thompson and the Ministry of Rural Affairs for this honour. The Municipal Shared Equipment Model is a simple, common-sense idea that demonstrates how innovation and cooperation between municipalities can stretch limited resources, improve resilience, and deliver real value for rural communities. We are proud to share this award with the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and are grateful for the Province's support of forward-thinking rural solutions."

The Municipal Shared Equipment Model was developed to address common challenges faced by municipalities, particularly in rural Ontario, where access to capital funds to purchase or replace municipal equipment can be limited or not feasible. Through formal agreements, participating municipalities can temporarily lease underutilized or specialized equipment from one another, ensuring continuity of service while reducing capital cost outlays, and improving overall efficiency.

The Town of Minto extends its appreciation to Minister Lisa Thompson and the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs for recognizing the importance of municipal collaboration and for championing innovative approaches that strengthen rural Ontario.