Council postpones recommended Jackson Street one-way to explore options
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Essex requesting Province resolve the gaps in healthcare
PAGE 7
Flyers celebrate historic Sutherland Cup in grand and historic fashion
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Pedestrian safety options to be investigated for Gosfield/Arthur/ Maidstone intersection
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Renaissance Festival in Leamington
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Looking For A Good Home
For the first time in the franchise’s 70-years, the Leamington Flyers won the GOJHL championship and earned the Sutherland Cup.
After dropping two consecutive games in the finals, the Leamington Flyers and the Stratford Warriors faced off last Tuesday in a winner-take-all game seven match-up. The task at hand was not going to be an easy one for the Flyers, having to travel to Stratford to play in-front of a sold-out crowd of over 2200 fans.
Throughout the early minutes of game seven, the tension was felt among the teams, with neither wanting to mess up first and swing the momentum away from themselves. Murmurs could be heard throughout the crowd as both teams exchanged
chances.
Through the opening 20-minutes, both teams remained tied, looking for a goal to break the deadlock.
Just one-minute into the second, the Flyers’ foot speed caused the Warriors havoc, drawing a penalty Connor MacPherson made the Warriors pay, notching a powerplay goal and silencing the Warriors’ crowd.
MacPherson wouldn’t stop there. Eight-minutes later, he doubled the lead after a Warriors’ turnover. The Flyers continued to circle like vultures in the second period, still grasping the 2-0 lead headed into the intermission.
Just one-minute into the third period, the goals continued. This time it was Ryan MacPherson
making it a 3-0 lead, much to the dismay of the Warriors’ crowd and to the delight of nearly 200 Flyers fans.
The Flyers continued to stymie the Warriors, adding an empty-netter before the buzzer sounded.
The Flyers prevailed 4-0, earning the Sutherland Cup, with Connor MacPherson earning the MVP honours with Bryce Walcarius picking up the shutout in his last junior hockey game.
For the Flyers, they had never lost three games in a row all regular
In celebration of his 20th annual “liver-versary,” twenty-one-year-old Essex native, Kaidyn Blair – along with friends, family members, and supporters from throughout the community –participated in the 2023 installment of “Kaidyn’s Dream… A Walk for Life” last month.
The event not only celebrated the 20th anniversary of Blair receiving a lifesaving organ shortly after his first birthday, it acted as a fundraiser.
Thanks to the support of those who attended the event on Saturday, April 22, Kaidyn’s Dream raised $12,727.27 for Ronald McDonald House.
Around 200 individuals took part
in the walk, most of which walked the “Green Mile” that stretched from the Essex Centre Sports Complex to Essex District High School. Around 60 attempted to walk a half-marathon to Windsor Regional Hospital.
Blair was born with Biliary Atresia, a congenital liver disease. Thanks to that lifesaving liver transplant that took place just days after his first birthday, he has lived every day to fullest, and has made it his mission to bring awareness to organ donation and support organizations that have provided him and his family with various means of support.
The local family was proud to raise the funds and promote organ donation.
A recommendation to change Jackson Street, southbound from County Road 50 to Sullivan Street, to a one-way road, with the intention of using the second lane for onstreet parking for up to 23 spaces, was postponed during the regular Council meeting on Monday evening.
Council directed Town staff to bring back further information on the matter.
Other recommendations included making this area a Community Safety Zone and setting the speed limit on the proposed one-way road to 40km/hr.
That information will be based on feedback heard at the meeting, which included traffic calming measures from Councillor Jason Matyi, considering reversing the one-way direction so those coming out of the boat ramp would not have to make a wide righthand turn from Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley, investigating angle parking from Councillor Rodney Hammond, adding a sidewalk down Jackson Street, and looking at the possibility of alternating one-ways on Sydenham Street and Bagot Street instead of using Jackson Street from Councillor Katie McGuire Blais.
In addition, Council members will bring recommendations to Administration before it returns to the table for discussion.
David McBeth, Manager of Capital Works and Asset Management, explained $20,000 was set aside in the 2022 Budget to have a traffic study completed to address the parking capacity issue around Colchester Beach and Harbour and Jackson Park.
RC Spencer Associates Inc. was obtained to undertake the study, which came in under budget at $12,368. The report
studied the potential traffic implications of existing traffic volumes on the area; redistribution of existing traffic volumes at affected area intersections; operational changes to the northbound/ southbound stopcontrolled intersection of Jackson Street at County Road 50 and southbound/ westbound stopcontrolled intersection of Jackson Street at Sullivan Street; and pedestrian movements within the study area, the Report to Council notes.
The traffic data, McBeth explained, was collected on the Saturday following Canada Day last year.
The Report to Council highlights that RC Spencer’s findings indicated the conversion of Jackson Street to a oneway southbound operation will not adversely impact area traffic operations and that the northbound lane could be repurposed for additional on-street parking.
It adds that RC Spencer’s report also noted that a parking shortfall may still exist
once the extra onstreet parking in the repurposed northbound lane of Jackson Street is completed.
As a result of RC Spencer’s report, administration recommended two options, the first being to change Jackson Street, southbound from County Road 50 to Sullivan Street, to a one-way road. The second was to extend the one-way to go down Sullivan Street, from Jackson Street to Sydenham Street, for an additional 14 parking spaces, and make this 40km/hr as well.
McBeth shared the expanded second option could create one potential issue with access to the ramp for boaters who regularly use the ramp for
daily loading/unloading.
McBeth explained the cost for the recommended option was minimal at around $5,000, with the Town having to implement new signage and paint lines on the road. He suggested funding come from what remained in the Budget that was unused in the cost of the study.
Considering Council, also at that meeting, approved the closure of Sydenham Street for five events this summer, Councillor Kim Verbeek suggested taking the time to gather more information. Shepley made the motion to postpone making a decision for a chance to look at different options.
“Whenever I am in a difficult situation where there seems to be no way out, I think about all the times I have been in such situations and say to myself, “I did it before, so I can do it again.”
~ Idowu KoyenikanFirefighters
1 and 2
Essex Fire & Rescue responded to a call to attend a structure fire on Dana Drive at 2:13am on Sunday morning.
due to extensive damage. The estimated dollar loss is $350,000, with other exposures with damage of $60,000. One Firefighter was taken to hospital for observation, and everything was fine, Essex Fire Chief Rick Arnel confirmed.
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••• Comment by Sylene Argent •••
I have often heard the biggest critic in which someone could contend is simply oneself.
It can be difficult to try and measure our own accomplishments and successes with that of others, especially when it seems some may feel as if they have to work twice as hard to prove their value as others.
Bosses, parents, peers, and colleagues may all judge the importance of what it is we do in our work life and everyday life, based on their own values and perception of standards. So, it can become difficult to feel like your accomplishments mean anything.
The bad news is that sometimes we just will never get that pat on the back from the person, or people, we yearn to get it from. The good news is that the ultimate judge and how it is we rule our lives everyday is ourselves.
We all have a set standard of how it is we prioritize what is important in life, based on how we
were brought up, what it is we have learned in our lives to date, and what it is we see others doing.
Personally, I’ve always felt that there’s a balance to everything. Keeping everything in balance, however, is not always easy Trying to keep up can leave us wondering about our life projection, what we have done in the past, and what we have planned for the future. What truly is important?
And while we spend time contemplating that balance, we can become a little critical of ourselves, wondering if we’re getting it all right; or if we’re doing anything right at all.
The mere fact that we can have this little voice in the back of our head that questions our reality and how it is we are shaping our now, indicates that we’re putting some thought into our place in the world. And though we might not always be particularly happy with the progress or the rate at which we
achieve the goals we long ago set out, we can take value in the fact that we’re stopping to think about how it is we are shaping the life we want to lead and impacting the world around us.
Being critical of ourselves is easy for many of us. Giving ourselves credit doesn’t always come as effortlessly. So, although we accept that we are our own worst enemies at times, we can also be our own biggest cheerleaders. That doesn’t mean leading with an ego. That doesn’t mean envying what others have or have accomplished. It simply means it’s okay to enjoy the small victories. That it’s okay to make mistakes, even fail, as long as we are learning and are continuing to try.
To all of you in a position to make or influence change in our community, I am writing this missive to express my frustration and concern about the significant changes to Colchester that our Town of Essex leadership has either already decided to implement or are considering for the near future.
These changes may seem relatively minor individually, but in total appear to indicate a genuine lack of concern for the residents of Colchester Of all the recent decisions made by Council concerning the Town of Essex, it seems Colchester and the beaches along Lake Erie are being specifically targeted and exploited in the name of tourism.
In most every decision, someone wins and another loses. Does the loser always have to be Colchester?
Here, to name a few, are recent examples of some of the decisions that have or will cause you to wonder ‘what were they thinking:’
1. COLCHESTER SCHOOL HOUSE – Old news but, in my opinion, this was a classic case of “Let’s do it before the people in Colchester notice.” The decision to sell off a historic building to build a motel was a travesty There was no attention paid to the neighbourhood or people involved. Fortunately, local residents stepped in to force the Town to reverse its course and move that motel to where common sense says it should have been all along. Shining
bright lights on Council’s decisions tends to add much more consideration to the needs of the affected citizens. When little attention is paid to meetings, perhaps Council believes the public isn’t involved and often make decisions that, in the light of day, would never stand up to careful examination by local ratepayers.
2. SHORT TERM RENTALS –I believe there are hundreds of Short Term Rentals advertised in the Town and have concern that many remain unlicensed, despite notices and warnings placed by the Town in newspapers and the like. When citizens report these infractions to our Bylaw Enforcement group, it appears nothing happens. I believe our ‘toothless’ STR bylaws are even less effective because it appears the Town refuses to follow through with enforcement.
3. BIG RED SHIPPING CONTAINER – Another thoughtless decision. A shipping container was dropped into our beautiful park without notice and without public discussion. We were told that it was to allow our tourists to flock to our town to rent bicycles to then bike out of town to get to wineries. No one talked about the four or five valuable parking spots it took over. My understanding is it is only temporary, because it will be moved to its permanent place this summer, correct Council?
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The 2022 Investment Performance Report was provided to County Council at its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 3.
It was received for
information.
Sandra Zwiers, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer, explained that at the end of last year, the County’s portfolio was held across seven financial
Continued from Page 4
4. More than 800 proposed housing units: Here’s the blockbuster info that our Council wants to keep quiet because it changes the entire complexion of Colchester. There are plans to build more than 800 new housing units (from single family dwellings to apartment units) in Colchester and near some of the nearby beaches. Say goodbye to the village life that you know and have loved for decades! These plans were in place before Bill 23. Welcome to progress!
5. SEWAGE SYSTEM UPGRADE – Wait for the next surprise to be dropped onto your tax bill. Our village sewer system works, it meets code and there are few issues or concerns. But, add up to 800 new housing units and that is all out the door. Of course, you say, the developers will pay the entire cost of the upgrade and my property taxes and Colchester homeowners will not be stuck with these added costs. I believe we’re all in for a rude awakening. I worry the Town and Province will find a way to ensure local taxpayers will pay their ‘fair share’ to ensure that developers don’t shoulder the entire costs.
6. FLOATING WATER PARK: I was happy to see this project declined recently. There was a proposed plan that could have allowed the addition of an inflatable water feature to be anchored at our beautiful beach. It would be a place for children to romp on. Before you start thinking that this sounds good, note that this would have been a massive, in-the-lake structure, anchored to the lake bottom by concrete blocks. Our beach is already busy and residents don’t want another Coney Island in Colchester.
We love this community and are proud to live here. Every time we drive west on County Road 50 from the Arner, we comment on how beautiful this area is and how lucky we are to live here. I would ask our elected leaders to keep that in mind when making decisions. Ask yourselves ‘If I lived here, what would I do to maintain that appreciation?’ Exploiting Colchester is not the answer.
My thanks for your time.
Sincerely, Mike Piche Colchester
institutions.
The County of Essex, she explained, has various municipallycompliant banks and credit unions, as well as investments in the pooled investment program for Ontario municipalities. Investments are made locally to support local branches, and across the country.
Zwiers noted it was nearly a $280m portfolio at the end of 2022. She said there was a healthy mix of cash, GICs, bonds, and equities; as well as principal protected notes.
“I am pleased to report this evening that all the investments had been made in accordance with our policy and goals,” Zwiers said.
Accountants, she added, do need to keep their finger on the economy when managing an investment portfolio and making investment decisions.
Not surprisingly, the market continued to be a bit of a volatile year in 2022, in terms of making investments, Zwiers said.
“We saw numerous times over the year, where interest rates were increased and, as a result, we had some volatility, particularly in the bond and equities,” she said, adding the equity and bond portfolios had some unrealized losses last year.
Despite the volatility, she said the portfolio performed quite well.
“Because of that diversification, and the mix of short, medium, and long-term investments –as well as the diversity of having investments outside of the bond and equity market – our portfolio was actually able to earn almost $10.2m last year.”
That helps to offset any unrealized losses. She assured that on paper, the
bond and equity holdings were losing money, but they were held over year end and there is no intention of divesting of those assets, until it makes financially good sense to do, Zwiers said.
The Report to Council notes unrealized losses in long-term products, namely bonds and equities, totaled around $6million.
The Report to Council notes the revenue
generated from the Corporation’s investment portfolio is reflected in the General Administration – Administrative and Financial Services Budget. Allocations of earned interest are made on an annual basis to the various capital reserves in accordance with the Corporation’s Reserve Strategy.
Peralta is a young, happy boy, who loves to have fun in life. He loves other people, doggos, kids, you name it! He is a typical, happy Lab! Peralta is best without other cats in the home, as he can be a lot of dog at times! He does need some help with things like separation anxiety, and not chewing things that aren’t his. We think in a home where someone has lots of time to spend with him and lots of love to give, Peralta will blossom into a great boy! He’s only a year old, so there is lots of time to work with him to make Peralta the perfect addition to your family!
The Windsor-Essex County Humane Society shelter is at 1375 Provincial Rd., Windsor. Ph: 519-966-5751. To start the adoption process online, please go to: windsorhumane.org/adoptable-animals
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy is asking residents about their priorities regarding policing.
Recently, she made a social media post on the matter, and is collecting that data to submit the results to the Essex Police Services Board.
Residents can reach out to her before the June meeting to have their concerns included.
The Board, she said, is putting together a list of three to five priorities for this Term of Council.
“We want to let the Police Services Board know what is important to you,” Bondy said, noting some of the top concerns she had heard so far includes speeding in residential areas, property damage, and loud mufflers, for instance.
“Now is the time to voice your concerns,” she said. “I am going to bring them forward.”
Those with ideas can email essexPSB@essex. ca.
Speeding is a top complaint Essex Mayor
Sherry Bondy hears, especially now as she doubles as the Chairperson of the Essex Police Services Board.
With construction season started, including on Talbot Street for the Essex Centre Streetscape, she is urging residents to inform the OPP about problem areas regarding speeding, so officers can target those areas. Concerns can be forwarded to the non-emergency OPP line, 1 888 310-1122.
“A lot of neighbours are speeding on neighbours,” Bondy said. “We want a community where people feel safe.”
She urges everyone, before they leave the house, to plan their day, give themselves plenty of time to get where they need to be, and go the speed limit.
Speeding was a topic brought up at the recent May Essex Police Services Board meeting. In addition, members went over the statistics for the month of March.
In March, there were 366 calls into the OPP from within Essex, which was lower than the 399 recorded in the same month in 2022 and 448 recorded in 2021. Essex had the lowest number of calls for service of local OPP police areas, with
Kingsville having 407, Tecumseh having 429, Lakeshore having 688, and Leamington having 878. There were also 256 calls put into the Provincial Unit.
In Essex, Top Calls for Services includes: 48 property checks, 21 motor vehicle collisions, 21 traffic enforcement instances, 19 community service calls, 17 emergency misdials, 15 traffic complaints, 15 suspicious person calls, 14 false alarms, 12 propertyrelated instances, and 12 well-being checks.
Violent crime calls were up slightly in Essex in March, with 11 instances. There were seven in the same month last year and nine in 2021. Essex had the lowest violent crime calls compared to neighbouring OPP policed communities, with Leamington having the most with 20, followed by Kingsville with 17.
In all area OPP policed communities, there was a 10.4% increase in violent crime in March 2023, compared to March 2022. There was a clearance rate of 76.1%.
Of the 214 property crime instances throughout area OPP policed communities in March, Essex had the lowest, with 24. Leamington had the most with 73, followed by Lakeshore with 51,
Kingsville with 34, and Tecumseh with 30. The Provincial Unit also dealt with two instances. The clearance rate was 16.4%.
In March, Essex had 23 motor vehicle collision instances, which was higher than the 17 recorded in the same month last year and 13 in 2021.
There was a 35.7% decrease in impaired/ over 80 offences in March 2023, compared to March 2022. Essex had no such instances.
In all local OPP policed communities, there were 13 driver’s licence suspensions in March, none of which were in Essex.
Essex had the lowest number of Criminal Code/ YCJA Charges in March compared to local OPP policed communities, with 29 of the 295 instances recorded. Leamington had the most with 74, Lakeshore had 54, Tecumseh 49, Kingsville 42, and the Provincial Unit dealt with 47. This accounts for a 41.1%
increase in Criminal Code Charges in March 2023 compared to March 2022, information to the Essex Police Services Board notes.
Of the 17 drug offences recorded in March of the locally OPP policed communities, Essex had one Cannabis Control Act and one CDSA instance. Overall, with all local OPP policed communities, there was a 60.5% decrease in drug offences in March 2023 compared to March 2022.
There were 611 POA Charges in locally OPP policed communities in March. Essex obtained 36 of them. Lakeshore had the highest with 144. Tecumseh followed with 115.
In March 152 traffic stops were made in Essex. 36 tickets were issued, along with 69 warnings. There were also 13 mental health calls from Essex.
“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you; it means learning to respect and use your own brains and instincts; hence, grappling with hard work.”
~ Adrienne RichEssex Council unanimously supported Mayor Sherry Bondy’s emergency motion on Monday evening, which is appealing to the Province of Ontario to acknowledge the challenges faced by the local emergency response system and take decisive action to resolve the gaps in healthcare.
In addition, the Town of Essex Council requests that the Province of Ontario conduct a review of projected population growth and aging in Windsor- Essex and increase health care capacity to match present and future needs.
“We require a holistic solution to address our hospital deficiencies and healthcare shortcomings on an underlying basis,” the resolution states. “We implore the authorities to apply an immediate and comprehensive review of our hospital offload delays and staffing crisis in our frontline.”
It adds that “While we recognize that our situation is not unique, we believe that it is essential to draw attention to our persistent Code Red and Code Black conditions, which are primarily caused by an insufficient number of hospital beds, medical personnel, and resources.”
The motion came out of information shared at the May 3 County Council meeting, where EssexWindsor EMS Chief Bruce Krauter shared there are many instances of ambulance off-load delays, that contributed to the Code Reds – a period of time, measured in minutes, where there are two or less ambulances available to respond to a request for Service – and Code Blacks – a period of time, measured in minutes, where there are no ambulances available to respond.
Krauter noted at that meeting that there were dips in Code Red and
Code Black statuses when the County declared an emergency on the issue in 2021, and then again when EMS implemented the Offload program that allowed a paramedic or two from an ambulance to watch up to four patients at the hospital.
Charts provided indicated in 2021 there were 3235 Code Red minutes and 791 Code Black minutes.
In 2022, there were 8086 Code Red minutes and 2257 Code Black minutes.
The chart he provided noted that up until March 31 of 2023, there have been 864 Code Red minutes and 119 Code Black minutes.
“Windsor and Essex County residents ought to have confidence that when they dial 911, it will elicit a prompt ambulance response for emergency situations. Local health care providers are engaging various initiatives, such as a paramedic offload program, offload to the waiting room for assessment and triage of less severe medical matters, diversion to another hospital for low acuity cases, and EWEMS’ paramedic patient navigator to monitor and manage dispatch.
“Nevertheless, these initiatives alone have been unable to curb the escalation of Code Red and Code Black frequency, signifying few or no ambulances available for emergencies,” the resolution notes.
When addressing Council on Monday evening, Bondy said since she raised this motion, Doctors and Nurses have approached her, noting there are preferable working conditions in the US and that there are not enough hospital beds in Windsor-Essex County.
The region is expanding and there are many baby boomers, she said, adding opioid
and other addictions are contributing to the need for health care. Perhaps there is a need for more mental health supports, she added.
“I don’t believe our hospital capacity has grown to match our needs,” she said, adding this is a multifaceted issue. “I don’t think there
is one solution or one easy fix, but I think this needs review because it is not getting any better.”
Though healthcare is not a municipal issue,
SALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER
Municipal Act, 2001
Ontario Regulation 181/03, Municipal Tax Sale Rules
THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF KINGSVILLE
Bondy believes it is up to Council reps to advocate for change. The County of Essex, she added, oversees EMS.
Continued on Page 9
Take Notice that tenders are invited for the purchase of the land described below and will be received until 3:00 p.m. local time on June 22, 2023, at the Town of Kingsville Municipal Office, 2021 Division Road North, Kingsville Ontario.
The tenders will then be opened in public on the same day as soon as possible after 3:00 p.m. at the Town of Kingsville Municipal Office, 2021 Division Road North, Kingsville.
Description of Land:
Roll No. 37 11 080 000 02700 0000; 149 Queen St., Kingsville; PIN 75183-0348 (LT); LT 14 PL 227 GOSFIELD; KINGSVILLE; File No. 21-05
According to the last returned assessment roll, the assessed value of the land is $121,000
Minimum tender amount: $17,987.05
Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit of at least 20 per cent of the tender amount, which deposit shall be made by way of a certified cheque/bank draft/ money order payable to the municipality.
Except as follows, the municipality makes no representation regarding the title to or any other matters relating to the land to be sold. Responsibility for ascertaining these matters rests with the potential purchasers. The assessed value, according to the last returned assessment roll, may or may not be representative of the current market value of the property
Pursuant to the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, S.C. 2022, c. 10, s. 235 (the “Act”), effective January 1, 2023, it is prohibited for a non-Canadian to purchase, directly or indirectly, any residential property, as those terms are defined in the legislation. Contraventions of the Act are punishable by a fine, and offending purchasers may be ordered to sell the residential property.
The municipality assumes no responsibility whatsoever for ensuring bidders/tenderers comply with the Act, and makes no representations regarding same. Prospective bidders/tenderers are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act and are advised to seek legal advice before participating in this sale.
Transfers of properties that contain at least one and not more than six single family residences and are transferred to non-residents of Canada or foreign entities, are subject to the Province’s Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST).
This sale is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Tax Sales Rules made under that Act. The successful purchaser will be required to pay the amount tendered plus accumulated taxes and any taxes that may be applicable, such as a land transfer tax and HST.
The municipality has no obligation to provide vacant possession to the successful purchaser. A copy of the prescribed form of tender is available on the website of the Government of Ontario Central Forms Repository under the listing for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
For further information regarding this sale and a copy of the prescribed form of tender, visit: www.OntarioTaxSales.ca or if no internet access available, contact:
Vicky Sawatzky Tax CollectorThe Corporation of the Town of Kingsville 2021 Division Road North Kingsville ON N9Y 2Y9
519-733-2305 Ext. 233
vsawatzky@kingsville.ca
www.kingsville.ca
“It could be one of our residents who doesn’t make it to the hospital on time, and I don’t want that to happen,” Bondy said.
Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley said it is a complicated problem. He said it is a great motion and he was glad to see it brought forward.
Council will send the letter with the resolution to Ontario municipalities, local MPPs, Premier Doug Ford, the Leader of the Opposition for the Province, the County of Essex, and other organizations that could help resolve the matter.
Originally, Bondy wanted to send the letter to local municipalities, Councillor Kim Verbeek urged it be sent across the province, however, as there could be other communities facing the same issue.
Recently, Bondy, Shepley, and Verbeek participated in an online meeting with officials from ChathamKent. Bondy relayed the neighbouring region is not experiencing Code Reds and Code Blacks and hospital offload delays like Windsor-Essex.
Hours ahead of the motion being brought to Council, Essex MPP Anthony Leardi issued a statement on that matter that notes the Ministry of Health has
Continued from Page 7
been in constant contact with EssexWindsor hospital leaders, Ontario Health West, and Essex-Windsor EMS to collaborate on strategies to improve ambulance offload times.
“You solve these issues by putting together a plan and then presenting that plan to the government,” Leardi said. “Mayor Sherry Bondy has no plan. In contrast, regional hospital leaders and the Province are actively working together to support a plan that has been presented to the government. Earlier this year, when EWEMS wanted a new treatand-refer model for non-emergency patients, they presented a plan to the government, and it was approved in January 2023.”
He added that other supports were already provided to EMS including an additional $280,000 to Windsor, Hamilton, and Niagara in 2021/22 to address immediate ambulance offload pressures. This funding was in addition to their Land Ambulance Services Grant of over $200 million and nearly $1.2 million in funding for the Dedicated Offload Nurses Program in 2022/23 which is estimated to have increased ambulance availability by nearly 120,000 hours in the region.
submitted to EFP Tecumseh Town Council met this evening, and here are the highlights:
Regular Meeting of Council Pathway to Potential Funding Agreement 2023: Since 2013, the Tecumseh Community & Recreation Services Department has administered funding programs to assist low-income families with access to recreation programs, through the Pathway to Potential (P2P) program. The Town of Tecumseh offers children, youth, adults and seniors living on low income the opportunity to participate in any program offered through the Community & Recreation Services Department at 10 percent of the program cost. Council approved entering an Agreement with the City of Windsor & P2P for these programs for the budget year of 2023.
CRS-2023-09 Golden Age Club User Agreement: In accordance with approved recommendations from Report CRS-202307 on April 25, 2023, Administration prepared a User Agreement between the Town and the Golden Age Club (GAC) for the period they are accommodated at the St. Clair Beach Community Centre (SCBCC) during Cada Library renovations. The terms of the Agreement provide for the Town’s
obligations for care and maintenance of the SCBCC and the GAC’s obligations for their use of it, as well as the insurance and grant reporting requirements of the GAC. The agreement was endorsed by Council with authorization to provide the GAC a two-week period for their review and signoff. The agreement will return to Council for final consideration on May 23, 2023.
Summary of Public Consultation and Recommendations Regarding Proposed Changes to the Tecumseh Transit Service Route for 2023: Council received a report outlining the results of the engagement process and corresponding assessment for the Tecumseh Transit route, as well as recommendations on the proposed changes to the fixed route. Changes include re-introducing stops at Tecumseh Town Centre Plaza, and the Sobeys Plaza on Manning Rd, along with changes to timing for the Brighton Road Loop and relocation of the Dillon Drive route to Little River Blvd. Council approved the report, with the changes to be implemented on June 1, 2023.
Town of Tecumseh New Fireworks By-Law: Council received a report summarizing the revisions to the proposed fireworks by-law after feedback was
Continued on Page 18
The future of McGregor’s Co-An Park is being discussed as the Town of Amherstburg
and the Town of Essex –which co-own the facility – are undertaking the steps to create a multiyear Master Plan that will
detail short, medium, and long-term goals.
In November, Essex and Amherstburg teamed up to host an open house and online survey to garner public feedback, giving residents, facility users, and members of the Co-An Park Advisory Committee an opportunity to weigh-in on what site features and amenities they believe will enhance the facility.
Director of Parks, Facilities, Recreation, and Culture for Amherstburg, Heidi Baillargeon, relayed the survey results at the Co-An Park Advisory Committee meeting last Wednesday.
She noted there were 321 responses, of which 57 percent were from Amherstburg, 35.8 percent were from Essex, and the remainder were from other communities.
The majority of the survey respondents were between the ages of 30-50, at 55 percent. Baillargeon said they will look at avenues to target younger demographics.
While many of the respondents visit the park either weekly or monthly, 80 percent indicated they would visit more often if improvements were made.
The more popular
requested amenities included the desire to add a playground and splashpad. Secondary requests included walking paths, improved accessibility, trees, benches, improved lighting, and baseball amenities.
“The park has great bones, great infrastructure. What it needs is just the connectivity piece to it, and then looking at the extra space and repurposing that,” Baillargeon said, adding both municipalities need to decide how that puzzle piece fits within the community, based on visioning.
She believes both municipalities need to look at the assets already at the park and their life cycle to preserve longevity.
Some of the other asks though the survey, Baillargeon shared, included a dog park, upgrades to washroom facilities, a pool, pickleball, accessible parking, and one response requested an outdoor fitness station.
The survey results, she said, provide for a good structure in moving forward in terms of what
Continued on Page 17
The main focus of last week’s Greater Essex County District School Board’s Special Olympics events, which were hosted at Essex District High School’s track, was to have fun and create smiles.
Todd Awender, GECDSB Superintendent of Education for School Development and Design, was pleased to welcome over 600 elementary school students last Monday and around 300 secondary school athletes on Friday, who were all proud to wear their school colours, compete, and
cheer each other on.
The event offered several categories for the students to enter, including the 50m and 100m dashes, standing long jump, running long jump, shot put, and a ball throw. Non-ambulatory events were also offered to suit the needs of some of the participants.
The main focus is to “have fun and make friends,” Awender said, noting out on the track, there were nothing but smiles stretched across the faces of all the athletes as they competed and were cheered on by
family members, fellow competitors, peers, and school mascots.
Often, he added, the schools will allow the athletes to parade around the hallways after the event, giving them the opportunity to show off their ribbons and celebrate their successes of the day.
The event also offered the athletes a chance to participate in an opening ceremonies, enjoy a provided lunch, and participate in a dance
afterwards.
In addition, Awender explained around 200 leadership students from the participating GECDSB schools volunteered to help out during the events, which was fantastic to see.
“It is a great day,” he
said. “The interesting thing is the staff members love it just as much as the students.”
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy participated in the opening ceremonies. She said it was incredible to see students from all over the region come to
EDHS to participate and show off their skills, all sporting smiles as they participated.
“It was really cool to be a part of it,” Bondy said, noting she hopes to volunteer to help out at the event next year.
Fundraisers like the one on Saturday help the Essex & District Horticultural Society to operate. Not only do the club’s members get to participate in monthly meetings, typically held on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Essex Retirees’ Social Centre starting at 730pm, where they are able to share ideas and gardening tips, they are often treated to a guest speaker, who shares information.
For instance, at an upcoming meeting, members will welcome
Paul Zammit, a Professor at Niagara College, who will speak about container gardening. This, Dicker said, helps individuals grow more in a smaller space.
Members also get to attend the annual bus trip, which will be destined to visit a nursery and private garden in the Woodstock area in June.
Essex & District Horticultural Society members are also gearing up to host a flower show in June and are planning to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary next year.
by Sylene Argent
Heritage Essex and the Essex & District Horticultural Society teamed up on Saturday to host a Flower Sale and Maker’s Market at the historic Essex Railway Station.
Many used the event as a way to treat mum as part of their planned Mother’s Day activities.
Heritage Essex’s Maker’s Market offered a shopping opportunity inside the Railway Station and outside, as well. Six vendors offered an array of wares and unique items to either spruce up the home décor or add to growing collections.
Funds raised through Heritage Essex’s events help maintain the Railway Station.
In addition, members of the Essex & District Horticultural Society hosted their annual plant sale, offering plenty of options to add to the home garden.
Members of the club – along with friends and others from the community who wanted to show support – donated plants to the sale from their personal gardens, Joe Dicker, President of the Essex & District Horticultural Society, said.
Capturing its franchise’s first Sutherland Cup on the road in Stratford last Tuesday night, the Leamington Flyers gave supporters a chance to celebrate with the team.
On Saturday, the Flyers,
donning their same red and white jerseys, hit the streets of Leamington in style, with some flashy hardware for all to see.
Parading through the streets of Leamington beginning at town hall, the team made its way to
the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre.
Leading the way was a pipe band, followed by cars lined with team ownership and staff members, before getting to the players, who lined the top of the ladder truck with their hardware
in tow for all to see.
After the nearly onehour venture, the Flyers returned to the arena infront of nearly 1000 people, where they displayed the trophies, offered photos as well as autographs, and a free barbecue. The event featured speeches from Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald, as well as local MP Dave Epp, who presented the club with a certificate of achievement. Players and staff also shared words with their fans.
For Flyers General Manager, Justin Solcz, having the chance to share the opportunity with the community was incredible. He noted throughout the season, and in playoffs, he saw the support grow. Without the support of the fans, sponsors, and the community, it all would not have been possible.
Looking in the stands on the road, he said it was special to see the Flyers fans traveling and supporting their team no matter what. And
while they missed the opportunity to win the championship on home ice, he is happy to bring the championship home to Leamington for the first time.
Looking ahead following the celebrations Saturday, Solcz and the entire Flyers organization are in the process of continuing to develop the program and beginning to assess and build the roster for next season in hopes of winning another title.
Local band “Fresh Breath” is a finalist in three International Singer-Songwriter Association Awards (ISSA) categories, and the Kingsville-based musicians Katie (KT) and Josh Pascoe are not only excited for the recognition, they are grateful for the abundance of community support. Being named as a finalist in the three categories for the ISSA awards means Fresh Breath made the Top 20 finalists list
in the categories of International Band of the Year, International Entertainer of the Year, and International Female Vocalist of the Year.
“This is huge for us. We’re excited,” Katie said.
Fresh Breathan alternative country band, fusing rock, blues, and pop - originally applied to be considered in the recognition program, and were thrilled to make the Top 20 list in the three categories. They made the finalists list, thanks to online support in the voting round from local community members and fans on both sides of the Canada/US border.
Making the finalist list means so much more than being recognized as great musicians, as the band from a small-town received enough support to make the list against bands from big cities.
“We have an amazing support system,” Josh said.
The local musicians are looking forward to hearing the results, which will be announced on August 5 in Atlanta, Georgia. They noted a gold, silver, and bronze winner will be chosen in each category.
In the meantime, the Pascoes have a summer of touring planned, which they are excited to start. The duo will head out west this summer to perform in Alberta, in addition to playing within the usual local route of venues and festivals within a four or five hour radius. They
returned recently from a two-month-long stint in Texas, where they were able to grow their fan base.
“We try to make everything as meaningful as possible,” Josh said of the songs he and his wife create, noting their songs are often about conflict and resolution; things in which anyone can relate.
“It helps us through hard times and we hope it helps others, too.”
The duo is also looking forward to releasing a new album in the fall, which has yet to receive a title.
Around three-quarters of the soon-to-be-released album will be happy in nature, while there will be a few tear-jerkers, as well. While touring after the pandemic, they noticed their audiences were ready and really responded to their upbeat music, so they are excited to share that new music.
Katie said the new album was recorded with a band, which provided for a nice, live band sound.
In 2021, Katie and Josh released a video, which they shot in downtown Essex Centre, for their song, “World Gone Crazy.” It ended up being a semi-finalist in the Canadian Independent Music Video Awards last year. This song was off its previous album, “How Did I Get Here?”
To learn more, log onto www.freshbreathband. com.
Experts agree that in today’s connected world, it’s a matter of when, not if, a business will face a cyber security problem.
Breaching incidents of all kinds, whether it’s compromised information, financial fraud or data that is held hostage until a ransom is paid are on the rise, and agriculture is not immune to these threats.
Recent incidents in our sector have affected Quebec’s general farm organization, the
Union des Producteurs Agricoles, and Ontario crop input retailers who had customer lists and credit card information held for ransom. Business was severely interrupted – and the path to not just regain access to data, but the trust and confidence of customers, employees or other stakeholders is a long and costly one.
Outdated, unmaintained systems running old software no longer being updated is one of the most common
vulnerabilities – and is widespread, especially in small businesses.
Research by Professor Ali Dehghantanha, a University of Guelph Canada Research Chair in cyber security and threat intelligence, shows that the last software update in 90% of farming systems was years ago, and most farms don’t have a software patching or updating policy.
Lack of data backup leaves a business particularly vulnerable in
a security breach, and can also be a serious problem in case of computer or server failure, or a virus, for example.
People also represent a cyber security risk. Lenient approaches to who has access to onfarm systems, such as sharing passwords, using a single login for all users or not removing system access from employees who no longer work for the business can leave a business vulnerable.
As well, a lack of
awareness amongst farmers, their families or their employees of scams like phishing emails, where fake messages encourage users to click on potentially damaging links or share information, is also a challenge. It used to be easy to pick out a phishing email through a strange sender address, poor grammar or content that didn’t make sense.
Now, cyber criminals are getting more and more sophisticated, such as, sending a clear, concise
message to the HR department from an email address that is incredibly close to an employee email address and advising of an address or bank account change with a request to “update the employee records”.
If the person reading that email doesn’t notice any inconsistencies or a business or organization doesn’t have a multi-step authentication policy, this can easily lead to a nonrecoverable financial loss
Continued on Page 17
WANTED
Farm Land to Rent Cash or Share Crop
Call Jeff Siefker (cell) 519-796-1240 or (home) 519-776-9501.
MARTY’S SMALL ENGINE REPAIRS - Tune-ups, repairs, & service on snowblowers, riding lawn mowers, chainsaws, & more! 519-733-0986, (c) 519-965-5918. 1-tf
1-tfn
KENNETH YARDWORKS - Spring CleanUp. leaves, Trees, bushes, trimmed or removed. Sod, mulch, eavestrough cleaning and repairs, power washing. Loads to the dump. Fully licensed & insured. Free estimates. Call Kenneth: 519-982-0362. 1-tfn
JOHN’S WOODWORKING - Repairs and refinishing of wood furniture. We are located in Essex serving Windsor/Essex area. Call/text 519-818-4480 or jjarps@ hotmail.com 49-tfn
FOR SALE: Clean Featherbed $40, Dart Board with darts $40, Fifth-wheel hitch, $200, foot spa $40, Massage mat $25. Call: 519-776-4976. 17-4t*
FOR SALE: Browning Auto Sweet 16 30-6 Centurion Bolt-Action. Like new. Also, Rocky Mountain Cross Bow, never used. $1200.00 for all. TWO acoustic guitars $400.00ea. with equipment.
19-1t*
PART-TIME WEBSITE & VIDEO EDITING
- Assistant to the Artist- Work in house 2 days per week in Essex. Monday & Tuesday preferred. Must have basic experience with Word press, video editing, & Microsoft Word. Call Ron 519.776.5767 from 10am-5pm.
10-1t
HELP WANTED: Greenhouse and Packing line Labour. General greenhouse labour, duties include pruning, picking, planting and cleaning of greenhouse. Packing line labour, duties include inspecting, weighing and packing produce on assembly line. Lifting, bending and standing is required. Must be able to work all shifts. Rural area. No public transportation available. No specific education required. Experience is an asset. Rate of pay- $15.50. To apply please email: Lindsay@policellafarms. com Or Mail to Domric International, PO Box 218, Ruthven ON N0P 2G0. 1-tfn
CASH PAID for antiques, costume jewellery, furniture, gold, sterling, coins, tools, complete estates. We take it all! Free appraisals. Call 519-727-8894. 1-tfn
WANTED: Jack Miner Goosebands wanted. $50.00 - $225.00 Call Ted: 519919-4716. 18-4t*
CASH PAID for scrap cars and trucks. Free removal. Please phone: 519-776-1361 or 519-791-5046. 1-tfn
Buying or selling a farm? Do you know the right questions and answers? Farm
Experienced Realtor Carl Idzinski, Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty - Brokerage. 519-817-8891. 1-tt*
MOVING SALE - Friday & Saturday, May 19 & 20 at 59 Maple Row, from 8am4pm.
MOVING SALE - Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 from 9am - 4pm at 1096 Lakeshore Rd. 107. 24x36 ft hoop greenhouse $2500.00.
GIGANTIC COMMUNITY-WIDE YARD SALE - Saturday, May 20, 8am - 1pm at Wildwood Golf & RV Resort. 11112
Conc. Rd, McGregor, On. Many bragains. Rain date is Sunday, May 21. Everyone is welcome. See you there!
We are looking to hire a few full time students for the summer to work in the yard. Please include resumes that can be dropped off at the store or emailed. E-mail us at: info@kimballlumber.ca
314 Road 8 West, Kingsville, ON N8M 2X5
PHONE: 519-776-6404
www.kimballlumber.com
HIRING! LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE and LANDSCAPE LABOURERS, $18/hour. Experience necessary. Fax your resume to (519) 723-2336 or email to quinlaninc@ kelcom.igs.net
1-1tf
Day Tours: St Jacobs, Aug 12, bus, wine tasting. lunch, St. Jacobs market and downtown $139.00 pp, Stratford
Sep 28, bus, lunch at Anna Mae’s, ticket $169.00 pp, Port Stanley, Oct 1, lunch & shop at Park’s Blueberries, fall colour train from Port Stanley, wine tasting, 145.00 pp, Frankenmuth, Dec 2, bus, Bronners, lunch Bavarian Inn, shopping Great Lakes $139.00 pp. Contact Paula Rigg from Southland Travel formerly of Mae’s Travel 519-890-9513, TICO # 50015786.
WANTED: GOLD, SILVER, JEWELRY, ALL COINS - Selling your Gold Silver ALL Coins? Please read!! I did not recently send a colour brochure to your home. Before you sell take the time to get a second opinion (My offer is often double)- *Locally Owned* 55-years of “SATISIFIED CUSTOMERS” Not Colour brochures. FREE ESTIMATES NO OBLIGATION. Thursday, May 25 at the Unico Centre, 37 Beech St., Kingsville and Friday, June 2 at the K of C Hall, 190 Richmond St., Amherstburg. Buying All GOLD, SILVER ALL COINS, CANADA, USA, WORLD - PAPER MONEY, MINT SETS, MILITARY ITEMS, WINDUP WATCHES, Free NO OBLIGATION ESTIMATES. House Calls Available. Dan Jones B.A.B.Ed. 1-519-818-1805.
Overview
The Town of Essex is seeking a suitable tenant for the purpose of farming a vacant parcel of land located at:
Concession 13, south of the South West Lagoons on North Malden Road, Essex.
Lease Area
The property is comprised of partial lots 17 and 18, being approximately 18.7 acres of land. The property has been zoned to allow farming, although the Municipality makes no representation as to the immediate suitability for farming or the condition of the soil.
Rent
To be negotiated.
Term
To be negotiated.
Additional Requirements
The Tenant will:
• Maintain insurance on the property in accordance with the Municipality’s requirements.
• Ensure that any unfarmed areas of the property are properly maintained and weed growth is controlled.
Contact Information
Those interested should contact the Town Clerk’s Office by May 26, 2023, by phone at 519-776-7336 ext. 1100 or ext. 1101 or by email to clerks@essex.ca for more information. Interest can also be expressed by May 26, 2023, by mail or in person to Essex Municipal Offices, 33 Talbot Street South, Essex, Ontario.
All information will be kept confidential.
Joseph A. Malandruccolo Director, Legal & Legislative Services/Clerk Town of Essex clerks@essex.caneeds to be worked on.
Both municipalities need to share their game plan, and discover where they meet in the middle, she added. From there, a design for the park can be created.
With a background as a landscape architect, Baillargeon said she would like to put the design together based on input to date, using the topographical survey Essex funded, and present that at a second open house this summer. This would determine where those suggested additives should go and how they should be positioned. It would
also take underground infrastructure into consideration.
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said if a splashpad is not feasible in the short-term, she would love to see a playground added to the park in this Term of Council.
Director of Community Services for the Town of Essex, Jake Morassut, believes a playground would be an easy project to undertake. It was estimated an accessible playground would cost around $300,000; with the cost to be split between the two municipalities.
It would be up to the
“It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving, it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.”
~ Thomas PaineContinued from Page 10
Amherstburg and Essex Councils to determine that.
The Town of Essex has $240,000 set aside in a reserve for a splashpad. In addition, during the 2022 Budget deliberations, Council voted to forward $81,741 into reserves for Co-An redevelopment as well.
Baillargeon said Amherstburg has some funds set aside for the park as well. Having a plan that works for both municipalities in place will help decide where funding will go to enhance the park.
Once the concept design has been created, Tina McAgy, Chairperson of the Co-An Park Advisory Committee, believes people will get more excited about the project.
“I’m actually very excited. I think for the first time – and I have been on this Board for
quite a few years – we are actually progressing, we are doing something,” McAgy commented. She recognizes it will take time to complete.
“This is the time,” Essex Councillor Kim Verbeek said, who represents McGregor. “The iron is hot, let’s strike.”
Baillargeon said she and Morassut hosted a similar meeting the Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum the week prior, which is located on the Co-An Park property.
That meeting was full of good dialogue, she said. The museum is full of working historical machinery.
Continued from Page 15
if a payroll deposit goes into an incorrect bank account, for example.
There is no such thing as 100% security, but with cyber criminals looking for weak or vulnerable targets, experts suggest taking steps to minimize risk as much as possible. A few simple steps include:
• Making a checklist of all your current technology and ensuring that you’re using current software versions and systems.
• Establishing basic rules for your team to recognize where threats come from and what to do – or not do. Free online videos are available to help with training.
• Ensuring new systems or devices are set up properly and asking suppliers what security the devices have and whether data is encrypted.
• Not sharing passwords, making sure passwords are strong and updating login credentials when an employee leaves the business.
• Backing up data and installing valid anti-virus software, firewalls and malware detection systems that are kept up to date.
Ultimately, we need to think about cybersecurity on the farm like we do biosecurity – an investment into a best practice that, while not foolproof, will go a long way to minimizing or even avoiding risk.
Yes, it can be tedious and there is some cost involved, but every day, week or year that we protect our businesses and prevent problems is invaluable.
Email your photo and content to contact@ essexfreepress.com or drop by our office at 16 Centre St., Essex. Personal notices must be received by Monday at 12:00 noon to appear in the Thursday edition.
Please Join us for a Celebration of Life in Loving Memory of Michael
May 20, 1953 - March 22, 2021
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 12:00 - 2:15 pm at the Essex Legion Br. #201. We will gather to share some of our favourite memories.
Continued on Page 9
Our
“The
received from major local stakeholders. Changes include requiring permits for aerial fireworks, further definitions in the by-law of such terms as “Fireworks Supervisor” and “Assistant”, and changes to the bylaw to reflect federal recommendations. Council approved the report and adopted the By-law.
Maisonneuve Street
Sidewalk from Shawnee Road to Lesperance Road: At a meeting on January 26, 2023, Administration was requested to prepare a report on the feasibility of installing a sidewalk along Maisonneuve Street from Shawnee Road to Lesperance Road to have it connect with the Lesperance Road Trail that is scheduled to be installed in 2024. At this time Administration does not recommend the installation of a sidewalk on Maisonneuve Street from Shawnee Road to Lesperance Street due to the high likelihood that segments of the sidewalk installed may be removed and replaced during future infrastructure improvements to the entire street. Council did not approve adding the Maisonneuve Street
65 years ago I met “Joan” in June 1958. On May 21st, 1960 “Joan” said yes & we got married, had three beautiful children, Bill, Ken, Barb. They gave us 13 beautiful grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren. Everyday they remind us “what” we lost “Joan” on December 1st, 1996, due to cancer. “Joan” was our Best Friend, Wife, Mother, Grandmother. “Joan’s” body may be gone, But the memory of “Joan” will never die. In Memory of “Joan”, my friend, for 38 years and 5 months, My wife for 36 years, 6 months, and 10 days. Till we join hands again.
Love, memories, Cecil, Bill, Ken, Barb & family. “The Good ones die way before their time.”
Sidewalk, from Shawnee Road to Lesperance Road. Upper Little River Watershed Drainage and Master Plan Class Environmental Assessment Study Completion and Final Adoption: The City of Windsor and Town of Tecumseh together with the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) commenced this watershed study to document the existing conditions of the Upper Little River Watershed and to recommend stormwater management measures to mitigate potential negative impacts as development occurs over time. The Master Plan is considered approved under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process and may proceed to implementation. Council adopted PWES-2023-34.
Request to Refer Drainage Report Back to Engineer – Shuttleworth Drain: Council approved Report PWES-2023-37 to refer the Drainage Report for the Shuttleworth Drain back to the Drainage Engineer based on the requests from the two landowners and the discussions with OMAFRA. Administration recommended that Council refer the Drainage Report for the Shuttleworth Drain back to the Drainage Engineer. Once the Drainage Report has been referred back and all necessary changes have been incorporated, the Drainage Engineer will submit an updated Drainage Report for reconsideration and the Drainage Act process will proceed again.
Request for Repair and Improvement to the North 12th Concession Drain –
Appointment of Drainage Engineer: A request was submitted to replace (and lengthen) a driveway culvert that provides access over the Drain on the west side of 12th Concession Road commencing north of County Road 46. Council approved Josh Warner, P.Eng. of R. Dobbin Engineering Inc. to be appointed Drainage Engineer to produce an updated report for the access culvert that will include the watershed boundary, plan and profiles, and updated construction and future maintenance Assessment schedules.
Subsequent Connection to a Municipal Drain (s. 65) – Cyr Drain & Extension: Council approved the landowner’s request to allow a subsequent connection to the Cyr Drain and Extension (Drain) in accordance with Section 65(3) of the Drainage Act (the Act). This request was made to help facilitate proposed development of the parcels, whereby stormwater would be serviced into a single drainage area being the Cyr Drain.
Amendment to the 2023-2027 PWES Capital Works Plan County Road 43 Trunk Watermain Project W-4 (CP Rail to County Road 42): Council received recommendations to amend the 2023-2027
Capital Works Plan to include the County Road (CR) 43 Trunk Watermain Project from CP Rail to County Road 42 as part of the County of Essex Phase 2 CR42 & 43 Improvement Project. Dillion Consulting Limited will be retained for engineering consulting
services.
Total project expenditures of $4,886,000 for engineering (2023) and construction (2024) will be funded through the Watermain Reserve Fund. Council approved the recommendations.
Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund 2023 Intake Cedarwood Sanitary Pump Station Reconstruction: Council approved Administration to apply for federal funding under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) 2023 Intake, for the Cedarwood Sanitary Pump Station Reconstruction Project. As part of a 2022 Condition and Capacity Assessment conducted by Stantec Consulting Ltd., full reconstruction of the Cedarwood PS is recommended due to site elevation and susceptibility to flooding, as well as age of the pump station and maintenance challenges including sourcing replacement parts, frequency of repairs and increasing costs. A full replacement will mitigate risks associated with potential pump failure and ensure optimal operating efficiencies across the service area. The preliminary estimate for the reconstruction is $7.75M, which if successful under DMAF, may be covered up to 40% ($3.1M). The Town’s share of 60% ($4.65M) would be funded from the Wastewater Facilities Reserve Fund.
Next Regular Meeting:
The next regular meeting of Council is May 23, 2023. The agenda and livestream will be available on the Town’s website.
Salvation Army Essex Church
submitted by Carolyn Barnett
Join us at 10:30a.m. Victoria Day weekend for Family Worship led by Major Jim Hann. “The Door” is his sermon topic .A warm welcome is extended to all.
Tuesday, May 23 from 10- 1, will find us enjoying Game Day at SA Connections. We also do Drum Fit Exercise, and end the morning with a delicious lunch. Check us out-you will be glad you did!
From 1 - 2pm, Major Hann leads us thru an in-depth study of 1 John. All are welcome to attend.
Our Food Bank shelves are emptying quickly as there is a great demand for our services. Please consider donating non -perishable goods such as canned soup, tuna, fruit, cookies, crackers etc: We gratefully accept donations Tues., Wed. and Fri. between 9 and 2. We are located at 26 Talbot S. across from the Municipal Offices. For more info, call the church at 519-776-4628.
Essex United Church
Sunday, May 14th’s service, led by Rev. Lexie Chamberlain, is now on YouTube on essexunitedchuch. ca. Please enjoy our Mother’s Day service. This coming
MAY 20 - HARROW ROTARY CLUB’S SPRING BLOOM & BOAT SHOW- at Rotary Park (old Petro lot, King St). Vendors, boats, Scavenger Hunt in town. From 12-6pm.
MAY 24 - ESSEX & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEETING - Please note the time and location, 7:00 pm at the Essex Legion. Speaker Paul Zammit
MAY 25 - 28 - LEAMINGTON FAIR - at the Leamington District Agricultural Society, 194 Erie St. N., Leamington. For more info: ldasfair.weebly.com
MAY 26 & 27 - ECHRS FUNDRAISER SALE in the basement of 18 Gordon Avenue, across from Post Office. 9-5
MAY 27 - “GET IN TOUCH WITH NATURE” - Town of Kingsville’s Communities in Bloom Committee. 10 - 2 at Grovedale Arts and Culture Centre. Variety of vendors & speakers.
MAY 28 - LASALLE’S NIGHT MARKET- at LaSalle Civic Centre , 5950 Malden Rd. from 4-8pm. For more information: www.lasalle.ca/markets
JUNE 8 TO 11- LASALLE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL - at the Vollmer Complex, 2121 Laurier Parkway. For info: www.lasalle.ca/strawberryfestival
JUNE 11 - MCGREGOR MUSIC FESTIVAL - at Co An Park, 11071 Conc. Rd. 11 at 10am. Live entertainment all day, raffles, etc. Proceeds for Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation.
JUNE 10 - ANNUAL GREG HOROKY WALLEYE DERBY & RUBBER DUCK RACE - at Colchester Harbour. 6-7am launch times. For info, visit ColchesterWalleyeDerby.com
JUNE 24 - HARROW ROTARY CLUB & TOWN OF ESSEX’S 1ST SOAP BOX DERBY - in the streets of Harrow. Mark your calendars.
JUNE 24 - WOODSLEE UNITED CHURCH ROAST BEEF DINNER - 4-7 pm. Take-out only. 2616 Belle River Rd. South Woodslee. Contact 519-919-5715
JUNE 25- LASALLE’S NIGHT MARKET- at LaSalle Civic Centre , 5950 Malden Rd. from 4-8pm. For more information: www.lasalle.ca/markets
JUNE 25- LASALLE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY - ‘Egg to Butterfly’ event. Learn to raise Monarch butterflies. From 10am-2pm at St. Andrews Church, 205 Laurier Dr., LaSalle. HIATUS HOUSE: offers counselling services in Essex County. Women’s Fresh Start group therapy is once a week. For info or to schedule an intake appointment, call the 24-hour Hiatus House helpline at 519-252-7781.
Sunday, May 21st, Brian Stocks will lead our service.
On Sunday, June 4th at 11:00 a.m. we will participate in a service at Gess†wood Camp. It is open to our city and county churches. Lunch will be served. There will be a sign up sheet available next Sunday.
The Essex Food Bank is open Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The phone number is 519-776-4070.
Trinity Anglican Church
Farmers work long hours to keep us fed; please be patient when you encounter farm equipment on the roads.
Thank you to Barb and Diane for organizing a very enjoyable craft evening. We look forward to more events.
Rev.’d Hilton Gomes will be inducted as Rector of St. Stephen’s Church of our Redeemer and Trinity. We invite you to join us on Sunday, June 11th at 3 pm at St. Stephens. There will be no morning service on the morning of June 11th.
Please keep those who are ill in your prayers. Sunday services are at 9:45 am. all are welcome to join us.
Essex Christian Reformed Church submitted by Beverley Van Huizen
We invite you to join us each Sunday at 10:00am. All safety protocols are in place with hand sanitizing and your choice of mask wearing. Or you may join us online each Sunday morning, beginning at 10:00am.
You may prefer to join us online each Sunday morning beginning at 10:00 am. Visit us at www.essexcrc.ca for a link to our social media page.
Come be part of the community, our Take-a-book Leave-a-book library is now in front of Essex CRC church.
Bethel-Maidstone United
Our ser vice begins at 10am on Sunday mornings, and all are invited to hear Rev. Paul Rodey’s message. We enjoy coffee hour in the hall after the service. All are welcome.
Our building is wheelchair accessible. Sunday school is now available during the service.
The secretary can be reached on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9am - 1pm at: (519) 723-2284 and our email is bethelmaidstone@gmail.com. We are located at 933 Talbot Road, Maidstone, near the corner of Manning Road and Talbot. www.bethelmaidstone.com
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
submitted by Sandra Lypps
Join us for Sunday service each week at 11am, as always all are welcome to join us!
For more information about what is happening at St Paul’s, please see our website (www.stpaulsessex.ca) and social media. Messages are checked regularly at the church office, you can reach us there at 519-776-7711.
St. Stephen’s and Church of the Redeemer
As the Easter season draws to a close, St. Stephen’s and Church of the Redeemer will be celebrating Ascension this Sunday, May 21st. All are welcome as we remember Jesus’ ascension into heaven.
Strawberry Social, yard sale, bake sale, and barbeque are all part of the Church of the Redeemer’s Strawberry Social on Saturday, June 17th. Mark it on your calendar.
Woodslee United Church
Join us for Sunday Service and Sunday School at 10:45am. Rev. Carl will lead the Service. Video of the service and bulletins are on our website: woodsleepastoralcharge.ca
ROAST BEEF DINNER is on Saturday June 24 From 4-7pm. TAKE OUT ONLY. Tickets from church members or contact 519-919-5715
Join us for coffee and conversation every Thursday at 10am. Join us every Monday at 1pm for Euchre, and every Wednesday at 1pm for Pepper.
Central Essex County Catholic Family of Parishes Essex, Maidstone, McGregor, and Woodslee
There will be a family pasta dinner and bingo on May 27th at Holy Name of Jesus parish hall. Tickets are available at the office.
St. John’s CWL is having a raffle to help local charities that work to relieve hunger and homelessness in our community. Tickets are available from the office.
Holy Name of Jesus CWL is having a Mother’s Day Raffle. Tickets can be purchased after Mass. St. Mary’s Altar Society will be selling religious articles after Mass on May 18th and 21st.
The Essex CWL is collecting unused cellphones and chargers for the homeless. Please drop off at Holy Name of Jesus church.
For up to date news, please visit our website: centralessexcatholic.dol or social media.
“Document the moments you feel most in love with yourself - what you’re wearing, who you’re around, what you’re doing. Recreate and repeat.” ~ Warsan Shire
experience from home. Set up a tent in the backyard or a local campground, light some candles or a bonfire, and roast marshmallows and hot dogs using sticks fallen from nearby trees.
Try bringing food and snacks you already have in the fridge or pantry. If grocery shopping’s a must, consider carbon-neutral food options like Maple Leaf Natural Top Dogs. The Carbon Zero logo indicates a carbon neutral company to help you identify planet-friendly options for your cookout.
Looking for a new experience? Try visiting food festivals or fundraisers in your area. These provide
the opportunity for you and your family to support the community while also cutting down on your carbon emissions since you won’t have to travel far.
If booking a hotel or rental property, ask your accommodation provider about their sustainability commitments to choose an option that aligns with sustainable tourism.
Make staycations the new vacations. The more we explore our neighbourhoods on foot, the smaller our carbon footprint.
(NC) Thinking about a summer vacation but unsure where to start? This year, why not explore close to home and connect with nature. Here’s how to make the most of everything Canada has to offer with a more sustainable summer vacation.
For a truly refreshing and restorative staycation, disconnect for a few days without reaching for phones or laptops. Electronics can disrupt our circadian rhythm and natural sleep cycle. Consider morning salutations or meditation to connect with nature and set your intentions for the day.
There are 37 national parks and 10 national park reserves in Canada, plus numerous provincial parks and local nature reserves to explore, meaning nature isn’t far from your doorstep.
Roughing it in the outdoors may not be ideal for everyone, but it’s easy to create a quality camping
Essex Council put weight behind Ward
One Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais’s motion on Monday evening, directing Town staff to investigate safety options for pedestrian crossing at the Gosfield Townline/Arthur Avenue/Maidstone Avenue intersection.
This could include temporary stop signs or traffic signals, McGuire-Blais said.
The motion was dealt with Monday night as she said it was urgent, due to the increased traffic at the intersection because of the road works being completed on Talbot Street as part of the Streetscape project.
Leamington resident Ben Koop at 18 bought a gleaming black 1952 Meteor Customline 2-door sedan from Noble Duff’s used car lot in Windsor in 1953 for $1550. Ben installed a Mercury push-button radio, dual exhausts, 2-inch lowering blocks, and ’53 Meteor chrome strips on the front fenders.
Ben and Marg drove to Florida on their honeymoon in 1957 in their ’52 Meteor. In 1960, Ben traded it for a truck and never saw it again until now.
A reader of Old Autos recently contacted Ben to say a friend has a 1952 Meteor worth seeing. Ben and his son Dave drove five hours across Ontario to see the car, a deep purple 1952 Meteor Customline 2-door sedan with a Mercury push-button radio, dual exhausts, 2-inch lowering blocks, but no ’53 Meteor chrome strips on the front fenders.
When the current owner bought the car ten years ago, he removed the non-original chrome strips. Ben and Dave were seeing the same car Ben sold sixtythree years ago! The owner will pass the car along to his son to keep it in their family. He then invited Ben and Dave for a drive with Ben behind the wheel.
I’m always looking for stories. Email billtsherk@sympatico.ca
The Gosfield / Arthur / Maidstone intersection is set to be redesigned later this year, so a temporary fix is needed
currently, she said.
Fellow Ward One Councillor Joe Garon agreed.
“We have to do something,” he said.
CAO Doug Sweet said Administration is continuing to look at ways to improve the area where children cross. The Town is looking at additional signage, enhanced training for crossing guards, and has informed the OPP.
McGuire-Blais asked residents to take caution and be aware that children use that intersection to cross the street. Included in the 2023 Budget was $285,000 for improvements to the Maidstone/Arthur/Gosfield intersection.
Half from grants and half from Asset Management Reserve. The total project cost is $686,666, with the remainder carried over from 2022.
submitted to EFP
A long stretch of empty road and a warm and comfortable vehicle would sound like a terrific combination to many driving enthusiasts. Paired with a lack of sleep, an overworked mental state and eyelids that seem to be getting heavier and heavier, however, this combination can spell disaster.
Drowsy driving is a serious problem on Canadian roads. To mark this year’s
National Road Safety Week, May 16-22, the Canada Safety Council is reminding Canadians of the impacts that drowsy driving can have on not only the driver experiencing it, but road users around them as well.
One of the biggest risks of drowsy driving is impaired driving performance. When drivers are tired, reaction times are
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by Sylene Argent Photos submitted by Mayor Sherry Bondy.
In recognition of National Nursing Week, Essex’s Original Guys (OG) Pizza Pies made a surprise delivery to the frontline nursing staff at
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accordingly slower. Decision-making ability is impaired. Attention to the road ahead is diminished. These factors can make it much more difficult to respond to unexpected situations on the road, and in turn increase the risk of accidents and injuries.
Fatigued driving is frequently cited as affecting one in five drivers, and even this statistic is underreported owing to the nature of the issue.
“Fatigue is a serious threat to road safety, and it’s a problem that affects everyone on the road,” said Gareth Jones, President and CEO of the Canada Safety Council. “All drivers must take the risks of fatigue seriously, and take steps to stay alert and focused on the road.”
To combat the risks of drowsy driving, there are a number of strategies that drivers can use to stay alert and focused on the road. These include, but are not limited to:
• getting adequate rest before driving
• taking breaks during long trips
• avoiding driving during times when you would normally be sleeping.
Avoid relying on methods including drinking caffeine, rolling down the windows or raising the volume of the car stereo. These are temporary at best and fail to address the root of the issue – namely, a lack of proper sleep.
For drivers who struggle with getting enough rest, sleep aids like Sleep Tracks can also be helpful. Sleep Tracks is a series of sleep aids that are designed to promote restful sleep and demonstrate how effective the roads can be at putting the user to sleep. The system uses modified sound waves and repetitive sound patterns to help users fall asleep quickly and stay asleep throughout the night.
Ultimately, the risks and impacts of drowsy driving in Canada are significant, but drivers can and should take steps to protect themselves and others on the road. Be a responsible road user and help keep Canada’s roads safe for all.
Iler Lodge, providing for a free lunch.
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said OG Pizza contacted her about wanting to make the donation to celebrate National Nursing Week and recognize all the
frontline staff do to care for the residents at Iler Lodge.
Bondy and Essex Councillor Kim Verbeek helped to arrange the donation and met onsite to support the surprise.
The donation, Bondy
said, was a great way to recognize the local nurses and nursing staff for all their hard work and dedication.
“We are grateful for it,” she said. “Getting a treat makes the day better.”
Photos submitted by Mayor Sherry Bondy.
Last Wednesday, Essex County’s five McDonald’s restaurants participated in the annual McHappy Day, and collectively raised $64,642 for Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario and the John McGivney Children’s Centre.
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy was pleased to volunteer to help with the fundraiser in support of families with sick little ones, who utilize the service.
Youth Council Reps Colin Pyne and Lauryn Smith joined her.
Bondy said she and the Youth
Council Reps had a fun and friendly competition to see who could raise the most money at the drive-through.
The fundraiser was a success, no doubt, Bondy said, because Ronald McDonald House has touched a lot of families in their time of need.
In addition, she said it has been a lot of fun working with the engaged Youth Council Reps.
Members of Essex Fire & Rescue were also onsite, offering to help raise funds during the event.
Combined, Windsor-Essex raised a combined total of $255,903, and nationally over $7.5 million was raised during McHappy Day.
On the same page.
Whether they’re thumbing through pages or swiping to the next article, 4 in 5 people in Canada read the news each week — by print, online or digitally.
Learn more at championthetruth.ca
by Garrett Fodor
Residents were able to travel back in time this past weekend as the Leamington Renaissance Festival trotted into Leamington.
Setting up at the Leamington Fairgrounds, the Leamington Renaissance Festival ran through various school groups before opening up to the public on Saturday and Sunday. The festival featured full contact jousting, birds of prey displays, sword fighting, juggling, vendors, and face painting, among other activities.
“For us, this event is something new that we have not tried or seen in this area for quite some time,” Jennifer Robinson, Secretary for the Leamington District Agricultural Society, explained. “It’s a learning experience, lining up with
the school curriculum for grade four and five students, so we had over 500 students out for field trips. It’s a different kind of family fun and activities for them to check out and we hope to see it grow.”
Robinson notes one of the biggest draws of the festival was the jousting performances put on by “The Knights of Valour.” On the backs of horses, riders charged at one-another, taking full contact as they duelled for supremacy in front of the crowd assembled. The entertainment and organization features founder Shane Adams, who starred on History
“When we have school age groups come out to me, the biggest response we get is ‘you are making history books come to life’ and to us that is so rewarding,” Adams described. “That’s the unique thing about what we do. It’s one thing to read about it in class, but it is another to see it up close and in front of your eyes. We have traveled for over 25-years putting on shows, and it is so rewarding. We have high hopes for what the festival can become.”
As the Festival was hosted for the first
time in Leamington, Adams is optimistic they can grow and expand within the footprint of the fairgrounds and continue to excite the community.
“We have some people that have seen us before and travel to watch us, whereas others have not and are not familiar with us and they quickly learn,” T.J. Duquette said, who is a part of the Knights of Valour.
“After the first pass, we really hear the crowd’s reactions. Once they hear the metal clink together, they’re on the edge of their seat, pouring their heart out and it’s exciting. We love to see children leaving with play swords, armour, or equipment, as we hope to inspire them and pass on the passion to them as well,” Duquette added.
