519-736-0972
Suspects arrested regarding Cowan Court fire
By Ron Giofu
The Windsor Police Service has arrested two suspects and are searching for another in connection with what police say was a deliberate house fire in Amherstburg.
Shortly after 5 a.m. on January 18, 2025, police say officers responded to an active fire at a new-build house in the 200 block of Cowan Court. The Amherstburg Fire Department was called to the scene and extinguished the blaze. According to Windsor police, it was the third time in 16 months that the property was the target of an arson attack.
No physical injuries were reported during the incident. The fire caused over $1 million in damages to the home and a neighbouring property, police add.
Members of the Windsor Police Arson Unit launched an investigation and obtained footage of three suspects running from the property carrying gasoline jerry cans and fleeing in a black luxury SUV.
Investigators soon identified and issued arrest warrants for two 19-year-old male suspects – one from Mississauga and the other from Brampton.
Both men turned themselves in at Windsor Police headquarters March 19. The accused have each been charged with arson causing damage to property, possession of incendiary materials and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence of arson.
Members of the Windsor Police Arson Unit have since obtained surveillance images of a third suspect.
Continued on Page 15
Public open house held on GAHS site
By Ron Giofu
The former General Amherst High School and the plans to redevelop the site was the focus of a public open house last week.
Crowds came to the Libro Centre’s downstairs community room last Thursday evening with the proposal being discussed with neighbours and others who are interested.
The Town of Amherstburg is looking at possibly moving town hall into the site, though that is still the subject of negotiations at this point, with other tenants possibly including a gym, restaurant and/or other retail.
Residential units, in eight and 11-storey towers, would also be included totalling 144 in all.
The eight-storey Sandwich Street Tower would have 79 residential units with the Park Side Tower having 11 storeys and 65 residential units.
There could also be two stories within the Sandwich Street Tower, namely floors two and three, developed as a hotel.
Kent Wigle said his concerns were mainly due to the
park next door. He said the baseball diamonds that were at H. Murray Smith Centennial Park are gone and he doesn’t want to see the baseball diamond at Bill Wigle Park removed either.
If people want a pleasant stroll, he indicated there is 1,100 feet of King’s Navy Yard Park they can use.
“I don’t care what you do to the high school but leave the ball diamond alone,” said Wigle. “The ball diamond is used all the time. It would be nice to look out of one of the apartments and see a baseball game.” Bob Rozankovic said he favoured the proposed development overall, but didn’t want to see Amherstburg town hall as a part of it.
“I love the development,” he said. “I just don’t want to see town hall there.”
Rozankovic questioned having town hall mixed in with the other uses and wondered what would happen in 20 years should there no longer be a lease arrangement.
“Why would you want to have town hall in a private building?” he asked.
Continued on Page 5
Crowds fill the downstairs community room at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg for a public open house on the General Amherst High School site (above photo). Valente Developments owner Peter Valente (centre) goes over plans for the site with members of the public last Thursday night at the open house. (right photo).
RTT PHOTOS BY RON GIOFU
Business licensing bylaw to be studied further, 2009 bylaw to return
By Ron Giofu
There is a business licensing bylaw in Amherstburg, but town council has turned back the clock for the time-being.
After roughly two hours of debate on the matter during Monday night’s meeting, town council reinstated the 2009 business licensing bylaw that was originally repealed in 2023, and want a further look at updating it all the while bringing in a business registry so it is known by the town exactly who is operating in Amherstburg.
Those who had a license under the 2009 bylaw will not have to pay a fee while businesses that have opened in town since that bylaw was repealed in 2023 will be subject to paying one. The new bylaw that town council passed in 2023 was suspended in 2024 and remains as such.
The 2023 bylaw that remains suspended angered those in the business community, many of whom questioned why they had to pay annual fees for inspections they said they were already getting from other agencies. While administration streamlined the process that originally saw businesses subject to licenses for various services, the number of categories were reduced and only one license would have been required.
Now, staff is tasked with taking another look at an updated bylaw.
“We need something in place,” said Councillor Linden Crain, of bringing back the 2009 bylaw for the time-being.
Crain’s motion also called for a business registry to be created, something others around the table had also been bandying about during the extensive
debate.
“I can’t vote on the 2009 bylaw if it’s not before me,” said Councillor Diane Pouget. “That would be ridiculous. I have no idea what that bylaw actually says.”
Pouget rejected the original recommendation to go forward with a new business licensing bylaw with annual fees, calling it “too restrictive.” She questioned a motion to refer the matter back to administration for further consultation, a motion that would fail, by asking “how many more times are we going to put businesses through this?”
Councillor Peter Courtney believed a “hybrid approach” was necessary. He didn’t believe the town had the resources for the bylaw that called for yearly inspections, calling it “a make-work project.”
“We need a bylaw,” he said. “Every municipality has one.”
“I think we’re going to have to take another run at it to see if council can have something to coalesce around,” said Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb.
Councillor Molly Allaire put forth a motion, the first of two that failed, calling for the recommended bylaw to pass with a one-time fee, meaning no follow-up fees, with a registry to show the town the business is still operating.
“There is a reason for it,” said Allaire, of business licensing. She said it is not because of the businesses that play by the rules and get inspected, but it was because of the businesses that do not.
Pouget said she would vote against the originally proposed business licensing recommendation, believing it would put an extra burden and strain on local
businesses. She believed it was a duplication of services and would create a hardship for business owners.
Councillor Don McArthur indicated the root problem was businesses who get a license in the beginning receive no follow-up inspections at all, giving customers a false sense of security when they see that hanging on the wall. He supported a registry but if inspections are carried out yearly, all residents should not have to pay for it.
Gibb said the original motion for annual licenses was “overreach” by the town, and that many of the inspections are done by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU). One example was fire issues, which he believed could be solved through the fire code.
“This just seems like we’re trying to solve a problem with a sledge hammer instead of a scalpel,” he said.
Manager of licensing and enforcement
Bill Tetler noted there has been some form of business licensing in Amherstburg since 1878 and Mayor Michael Prue said it was “very dangerous” to operate without one. He didn’t believe it was a major jump in price, stating it was $200 since 1965 to get a license with the proposed new fee having been $217. He said he is proud of the town as it is law-abiding, but rules and procedures need to be in place.
Tetler’s report stated that a business license would ensure businesses are properly zoned, follow the Ontario Building Code and Ontario Fire Code as well as the Health Protection and Promotion Act and bylaw regulations.
“Without having an annual business licensing regime, the Town has no way to determine if the businesses are keeping
ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENTS
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up with their annual requirements, and the need to renew the business licence ensures that these regulatory elements are kept up to date. Without that check and balance, the Town could incur liability by having a ‘licensed’ business which does not conform with the regulations,” said Tetler in his report. “The role of licensing is to confirm that inspections have taken place and that the entity is in compliance with and has met the regulatory standards. The specific agencies and/or departments responsible for completing the required inspections depend on the category of the licence.”
Two downtown business owners addressed council, both objecting to the original bylaw recommendation and calling for it to be rejected. Jen DeLuca from the Waterfront Ice Cream Parlour and Sarah Brush from Speck’s Restaurant say they are already inspected by organizations such as WECHU, the town, provincial agencies and more thus leading the administrative proposal to be “redundant.”
DeLuca said small businesses offer jobs, sponsor teams and contribute to the community with their reward being more fees and government overreach. With other agencies performing inspections, “it is not necessary for the Amherstburg bylaw department to police this.”
Focusing on making sure new businesses are licensed should be what the town is doing, DeLuca added, not “double policing” existing businesses. She added at least 17 businesses she was in contact with opposed the new businesses licensing bylaw that originally went before town council Monday night.
Continued on Page 4
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Amherstburg part of international emergency exercise
SPECIAL TO THE RTT
By RTT Staff
The Libro Centre was closed to the public for part of last week as part of an international emergency training exercise.
The Town of Amherstburg was one of the participants in an international fullscale exercise from March 14-21. That resulted in the closure of the Libro Centre to the public – with the exception of Team Rehab – from last Monday through Wednesday.
Amherstburg fire chief/Community Emergency Management Co-ordinator (CEMC) Michael Mio said the Cobalt Magnet 25 was a collaborative international response that included almost 4,000 responders from all over North America. Mio said the exercise was centered around a simulated release from a nuclear facility and brought together representatives from all levels of government on both sides of the border.
“This test of the Ontario Provincial
Nuclear Emergency Response Plan as well as the Amherstburg Emergency Plan allowed our town staff to practice the steps necessary to keep our citizens safe,” said Mio.
Town staff opened up the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and staffed it with over 40 personnel including Mayor Michael Prue and Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb. Mio added they hosted many local partners such as Windsor Police, EssexWindsor EMS, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), City of Windsor Social Services and Emergency Measures Ontario. Mio said those agencies “assist us to manage these types of large-scale emergencies.”
“These types of emergencies could potentially last for days. During the exercise we simulated having our operations centre command staff change out for breaks and sleep cycles. Town staff have been busy over the last year upgrading their skills and ensuring their preparedness for these types of emergencies,” said
The restaurant is NOT too loud. The grandkids do NOT speak too softly. The people are NOT mumbling today. Hearing loss is NOT normal for your age.
Mio. “Everyone came together as one team to help solve the issues they threw at us during the exercise. Town staff responded as if they manage these types of emergencies on a regular basis. Their training and commitment to the Town of Amherstburg is evident.”
Along with the Town of Amherstburg, Mio stated Emergency Operation Centres were also opened up in the City of Windsor, the County of Essex, the Provincial Emergency Response Centre in Toronto, a Federal EOC in Ottawa as well as Science Centres in Ottawa and Guelph to assist Amherstburg with this situation.
“For events like this, the whole country comes together to help,” said Mio.
Part of the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan calls for the Town of Amherstburg to staff and support an Emergency Workers Centre, he said.
“The Libro Centre has the space needed to safely operate this type of facility. Town staff also worked at the centre registering First Responders, and provincial and federal agencies that would be tasked to assist Amherstburg in the event of an emergency,” he added. “Agencies like Health Canada, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories as well as the Ministry of Transportation were working around town simulating the actions they would take during a real emergency.”
Amherstburg Fire staff was also tasked to provide decontamination for vehicles and personnel at the Libro Centre as well as ensuring they were ready to respond to normal day-to-day emergencies.
The Amherstburg Fire Department
responded to a residential structure fire on Malden Hill Road March 14, during the time the exercise was happening. Mio said this prompted calls and social media posts wondering if it was part of the exercise. Mio mentioned that there are contingencies built into the exercise that if the fire department had a real emergency, any staff required for the real emergency would be pulled away from the exercise. This is known as a No-Duff and staff and responders know that it is not a drill.
“Due to the complexity and amount of moving parts in the PNERP, Chief Don Williamson from Leamington Fire is relied upon to command the Emergency Worker Centre,” said Mio. “The plan also calls for neighbouring municipalities to assist the Town of Amherstburg in case evacuation is needed. Under the plan, the Town of Essex opens a registration center and the City of Windsor opens and staffs an evacuation centre that could shelter residents who have nowhere else to go. Staff from Bruce Nuclear and Ontario Power Generation also assisted in the response. EOC centres were also opened all over the province.”
Mio added the exercise also demonstrated the importance of programs like Amherstburg Alerts, and he encouraged people to do so at www.amherstburg.ca/ alert.
If a person changed your address or phone number, please register again.
Also, WECHU is still distributing Potassium Iodide Pills (KI Pills). Please visit Town Hall, Libro Centre or the WECHU location in the City of Windsor or visit www.wechu.org/nuclear/ potassium-iodide-ki-distribution for more information.
A simulated emergency call was practiced during last week’s training exercise that the Town of Amherstburg was a part of.
Town of Amherstburg makes public statement on Boblo ferry service
By Ron Giofu
The Town of Amherstburg emerged from an in-camera meeting Monday night with a public statement regarding the Boblo Island ferry service.
Service disruptions, some that have lasted for days, have left residents frustrated and town council worked with its legal counsel regarding the contractual obligations by the developer and operator of the ferry service.
The public statement, read in part by Mayor Michael Prue Monday night, said the particulars of the legal advice received is confidential pursuant to the Municipal Act, “council has communicated its concerns about the sufficiency and reliability of the ferry service to the developer” and the town wanted to provide an update to the community.
The town cites “several development agreements” between the developer, the town and Boblo residents and maintains “the developer is responsible for ferry service to the island. The ferry services are required to meet the specific standards set out in its agreements with the Boblo Island residents and property owners.”
According to the public statement
from the town, the town notes that the developer operates two ferries – the Columbia V (“Little Ferry” and the Ste. Claire V “Big Ferry” – and the Big Ferry is currently in service while the Little Ferry has been out of service since Oct. 2023.
“The town is advised that this circumstance is due to the expiry of the necessary safety certificate from Transport Canada for the Little Ferry. This has resulted in service disruptions in October-November 2023 and January 2025. A prior service disruption also occurred in December 2022,” the statement reads.
It is alleged by the municipality that “the town has assessed that the developer is not meeting its legal obligations to the Town with respect to these contractual duties. There may be additional legal obligations owed by the developer to which the Town is not party, including Boblo Island residents and/or property owners.”
The statement further reads: “Council has directed that the developer be formally apprised of the Town’s interests and its legal position, and to require the developer to outline the immediate steps to rectify
Business owners question licensing proposal
Continued from Page 2
Brush outlined the inspections her restaurant undertakes and “all come with significant costs.”
“These inspections are required to obtain insurance for my business,” said Brush. “They already provide an important layer of protection.”
WECHU shows records of inspections on its website and shows if establishments pass or are non-compliant, she indicated.
Restaurants were hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic and threatened tariffs could also have a negative impact, Brush told town council. She questioned what standards she would be accountable to and wondered why restaurants were among the most focused upon.
“It seems like businesses already inspected are being targeted,” she said.
Deputy fire chief Dan Monk told council that from a fire perspective, there are nine sections in the fire code with about 64 categories. Fire protection companies use about a dozen of them when inspecting, he said, but Pouget maintained that such inspections are redundant when businesses already go through them.
Monk added the Amherstburg Fire Department issued 170 orders in recent years to restaurants including three with illegally operating kitchens. Pouget countered by saying that was done without needing an extra business licensing fee.
When discussing the original recommendation, Courtney added “I can’t get behind this issue. How can we do this fairly without extra fees?”
When bringing forth the motion that would eventually pass to reestablish the 2009 bylaw and work on a more permanent updated solution, Crain said he did not hear complaints with that bylaw until a new one was drafted. Building a registry was something that had been mentioned by others on town council as well during the course of the debate.
this situation to the satisfaction of the Town.”
The Town of Amherstburg adds it is “not in a position to advance or comment on any legal rights that the residents or property owners may have directly, but is concerned by the need of all community members to have reliable service to and from the island. That includes the Town’s overall interest in ensuring emergency personnel and other municipal services have reliable access to the island.”
The next steps the town says it is taking include continuing to engage with the developer and monitor the ferry service.
The Town of Amherstburg further stated Monday that it “will consider its formal legal remedies when and if it becomes clear that this is the only means of resolving the reliability issues” it claims that exists.
The statement further adds: “The Town encourages residents who may have questions about their own specific rights with respect to the ferry service to consider seeking advice on their own account, as the Town is not in a position to speak to these matters.”
“The Town understands the importance of safe and reliable ferry service for the residents of Boblo Island and other members of the Amherstburg
community. The Town is committed to ensuring the developer meets his obligations in a timely and co-operative fashion.”
The service is run by the Amherstburg Ferry Company, which operates under the umbrella of Amico.
The River Town Times has reached out to Amico and its vice president Cindy Prince for comment but has not heard back as of press time.
In a 2023 presentation to town council, Prince stated Amico doesn’t guarantee ferry service as residents know “ferry service may be disrupted due to, but not limited to, weather conditions, mechanical breakdowns, work stoppages, river conditions, etc.” Its Amherstburg Ferry Company arm “shall not be responsible for alternate transportation arrangements” or any losses or damages by a lack or delay in ferry services, she noted during that previous meeting.
“We are fully acknowledging to purchasers there may be days the service doesn’t run,” said Prince.
During that same meeting, Prince stated the development agreement with the town is being followed “to the letter” and that Amico has incorporated many of the suggestions of the Amherstburg Fire Department and then-chief Bruce Montone.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Resident believes no town centre should be at 130 Sandwich St. S.
The size, height, and congestion of the proposed 11- story Valente complex is totally out of line with the feel of the neighbourhood and historic nature of the town.
The traffic situation on Sandwich St will be increased significantly, beyond bearable, and parking/traffic on surrounding residential streets will destroy what the Town has invested in around our National Historic Site. The Laird Ave access will increase traffic and parking issues.
Just look at the huge increase in parking on Brunner Ave. from the new Rivers Edge Apartments. Expect the
same around Toddy Jones Park.
The Town Hall should not be in this complex. If we rent, we are at the mercy of the landlord forever. If we buy, we are at the mercy of the developer as he gets to divide his capital costs on to the taxpayers. For the taxpayers it’s a lose/lose option.
Town administrators and politicians - step away, as we should from Amico/Loop with the Belle Vue. There are other options where the taxpayers have full control.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
• Letters must stay in the 250-350 word range please.
• We reserve the right to edit for spelling, grammar and length. We also reserve the right to edit for libel/slander concerns.
• We reserve the right to not publish letters that we view inflammatory, inaccurate or ‘rants’ against specific people, groups, religions, governments or ethnic organizations. Those rants are more suited to social media.
• We will gladly print letters commending specific people or organizations in the community, as we believe that this helps the community as a whole.
• Please sign your letters and provide a phone number for verification or questions if we need to reach out to you.
• Anonymous letters are not printed as we cannot verify their origin.
—Ed Debevc Amherstburg
County council rejects Amherstburg’s request to control phragmites
By Fred Groves
An attempt by the Town of Amherstburg to get the County of Essex to take responsibility for the control of phragmites has been rejected.
Earlier this year Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue brought forth a motion that would see the upper-tier county government take over combating the invasive species. His motion, which at the time was seconded by Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara, was put off to the recent county council meeting which was held last Wednesday.
“After review and having conversation
with our local environmental folks I withdraw my support of this motion,” said McNamara.
McNamara went on to say that controlling phragmites should remain something that is done by each of the seven lower-tier municipalities. Several other councillors agreed with McNamara.
While McNamara withdrew his support of Prue’s motion, Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb stepped in to second it.
“We feel we have a robust program and would like to continue the status quo,” said Essex Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley.
Speaking on behalf of himself as well as
Mayor Tracey Bailey, Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt said that their public works department does a good job spraying and controlling the species.
LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche agreed that it should be a local responsibility and that LaSalle is willing to work with the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) and consult with the county when needed.
“I think it is good we have conversation about phragmites. It’s the first time we have gone back to the locals and started the conversation,” said Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy.
The county along with ERCA have a
working group in place and Bondy said that perhaps in the future more money could be allocated for the control of phragmites.
Phragmites is an invasive grass that can grow several meters in height. It can cause significant damage and affect drainage.
Back on February 5, Essex County’s director of infrastructure and planning services Allan Botham gave a report to county council. He said that, at the time, several local municipalities actively manage and budget for phragmites.
Botham also indicated that ERCA is leading a local Nature Conservancy of Canada funded initiative.
Essex County’s Strategic Plan showing positive results
By Fred Groves
The County of Essex’s first ever Strategic Plan is already showing positive results.
At last week’s county council meeting, deputy warden Joe Bachetti said that members of county council, thanks to the plan, are growing as leaders.
“We have done a paradigm shift. We are out there in the community,” said Bachetti, the deputy mayor of Tecumseh.
County CAO Sandra Zwiers brought county council up to date on the plan and said that the three goals are – Working as Team Essex County, Growing as Leaders in Public Service, and Building a Regional Powerhouse.
“People right now are seeing the County of Essex in the news. They know county councillors exist and we are going to build on that foundation,” said Bachetti. Bachetti added that those three goals are exemplified in the fact that last Wednesday night the county
acknowledged several of its employees for their contribution to Essex County.
As well as several honourable mentions the following were recognized as the recipients: Teamwork – Tanya Fick, Innovation Award – Adam Jamieson, Service Excellence Award – Nicholas Kramer, Empowerment Award – Janey Murphy.
In her presentation to council, Zwiers noted that creation of the first Strategic Plan has had some challenges especially in that first year, 2023 in which there were significant turnover in senior leadership.
“The worse thing that can happen with a Strategic Plan is that it can sit on a shelf and gather dust. Administratively we don’t want to see that happen,” said Zwiers.
In her report she said that recent political events both at home and abroad create uncertainty for the county and that the strategic plan allows the county to move forward in a positive direction.
In February 2023, Strategy Corp was brought on as the consultants for the plan, which among other areas focuses on decision-making, service delivery and organizational priorities.
Zwiers said that it was a complete task that included employee engagement surveys and meetings with the public.
“It was a real robust consultation process and there were some tough conversations around this (county council) table as we tried to develop our strategic plan.”
The Strategic Plan guides the county into 2027 and Zwiers highlighted some of the 70 tasks to complete the plan. The completion of those range from being 100 percent to 20 percent.
Bachetti gave accolades to county warden and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald for having the vision to see the county has a Strategic Plan.
“I know this is one thing she wanted to accomplish. It’s the first for the county,” he said.
Development could be a mix of commercial and residential, no decision yet on town hall
Continued from Page 1
Rodger Hudson agreed that would not be a good place for a town hall. Hudson also noted there are heritage aspects to the building that administration had previously been tasked with studying. The murals along the Laird Ave. side of the building were also an issue that needed further investigation.
Catherine Cristofaro, who owns the Rivertown Dance Academy (RDA), said she is in favour of having the civic theatre stay within the proposed development.
“I just feel our town needs a theatre,” she said. “We have been part of the community for 20 years. All of our performances have been scheduled in LaSalle, Windsor or Lakeshore.”
Cristofaro believes dancers, musicians, actors and other artists could perform in a theatre in town. It would keep money in town and keep people in the community to showcase their skills.
Phil Kasurak lives in the area and said while he likes to see residential development in Amherstburg. He believes the height of the buildings are too tall for the area.
Kasurak questioned how residential towers that tall would be compatible with nearby Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada and other historical structures in the area.
“It’s too tall,” he believed.
Kasurak also had questions on traffic and how that would be addressed.
“What traffic calming steps do they envision?” he asked.
The former high school, located at 130 Sandwich St. S., is owned by Valente Developments. President Peter Valente said he was hearing mainly good things during the open house.
“I’m hearing a lot of positive comments,” he said. “I think everyone likes the building respects the history of Amherstburg and seeing the town change. We see LaSalle grow being close to Windsor and now we’re seeing Amherstburg grow. I hope to be part of positive change.”
Valente said he and his wife hope to reside in the condo portion of the development.
“We’re very passionate about doing a good job,” he said.
As for the height of the buildings, Valente said he studies market conditions and his architects look at massing, shadowing and parking provisions and they believe it will work at that location.
Valente said they hope to have the project approved in May. He added “we are not prepared to talk about that right now.”
If approved, Valente estimated it would be a two-year build. He said they are talking to potential businesses about occupying the space, but no one has been signed as of yet.
“Until the project is approved, we’re not inking anyone as of yet,” he said.
Valente said people can go to www.valentehomes.com for ongoing information on the proposed project.
“It’s such a beautiful location with Laird Ave. and Sandwich St. S.,” he said. “It’s right in the middle of town. It’s basically centre ice.”
Conservative Lewis seeking third consecutive election victory
By Ron Giofu
Chris Lewis will be looking for this third victory in federal politics.
The incumbent Member of Parliament for the riding of Essex will once again represent the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) locally as Canadians go to the polls April 28. The election call came last Sunday.
“The biggest issue I’m hearing is that people are worried,” said Lewis. “They are full of anxiety and people are frustrated. They want stability in their lives.”
According to Lewis, eight in ten young adults believe home ownership is out of their grasp. He added there are concerns from small and medium sized businesses as well as worries from the seniors about how they will be able to move forward.
“Without businesses, there are no jobs,” he said.
Tariffs are one of the issues but affordability is as well as he has had people
in his office openly worried about the future.
“The beautiful thing is it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Lewis, “and it doesn’t have to be this way again.”
Lewis said “it’s the same old story” where Conservatives come up with ideas only to have Liberals and the NDP come along and take them and move forward with them. He noted the carbon tax issue, with Conservatives and leader Pierre Poilievre championing the cause for a long time to cut it.
“Conservatives are the ones who have been calling to ‘axe the tax’ for a long time,” said Lewis.
From plans to support home ownership to those in skilled trades and more, the Conservatives have an “assortment of great ideas” for Canadians, Lewis said.
“There are fresh ideas for across the country,” he said. “I’m excited to be part of the solution. This country is far too great to give up on.”
Lewis said he is excited to hit the
campaign trail across the Essex riding, believing “there is something spectacular that is about to happen.” He said there are opportunities across the country, as well as in Essex, to improve.
Noting he has listened to people
Demo at the hub
Work is ongoing at the Amherstburg Community Hub with the southeast corner of the building being torn down. That part of the property will be converted into additional parking. The hub is located at 320 Richmond St. and the building is the former home of St. Bernard Catholic Elementary School. The Town of Amherstburg set aside $700,000 for that project. Fencing and a construction trailer are next door where the long-term care home is going. The long-term care home is being developed by the Arch Corporation and will house a new 160-bed Chateau Park Long-Term Care home next to the hub.
in industry since being an MP, Lewis noted he has “very deep roots in the auto industry” as both the chair of the Conservative Auto Caucus and shadow minister of labour. He said he has listened to unions and others in the labour movement.
“They need someone to step up to the table. We need people with common sense and cool heads,” he said. “I’m proud to be a Conservative and I know Pierre Poilievre and his leadership will put us on the right path.”
Lewis said his message remains as it was when he was first elected and that is to leave the world a better place than when he found it. He said he is more excited now than when he was when first elected in 2019. He was re-elected in 2021.
In this year’s federal election, Lewis will be up against Liberal Chris Sutton, Lori Wightman of the NDP and Jason Henry of the People’s Party of Canada (PPC). No other candidates were known as of press time.
Chris Lewis will carry the Conservative banner in the riding of Essex again this election. He’s seeking his third term as MP.
RTT PHOTOS BY RON GIOFU
Sobeys gives
Sobeys Amherstburg co-owners Krista and Rick Truant presented cheques totaling almost $10,000 to four area food banks last Friday morning. Sharing the proceeds were the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission, Amherstburg Community Services, the Harrow Food Bank, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. John the Baptist chapter. The money was raised over the holiday season. A new campaign called “Toonies for Tummies” is underway and will aid school breakfast programs.
Nearly $400,000 playground coming to Co-An Park in McGregor
By Ron Giofu
A new playground is coming to Co-An Park in McGregor.
The park, co-managed and funded by the Town of Amherstburg and Town of Essex, will see a larger and upgraded playground installed later this year. Essex town council approved an amount of $389,791 for the new playground, including non-refundable tax, with 50 per cent of that funded by Amherstburg. The playground will be designed and installed by New World Park Solutions Inc.
“The proposals received were evaluated using a scorecard approach, taking into consideration the experience with similar projects, understanding of the proposal scope and quality of the proposal, design, age appropriateness features, accessible features, equipment warranties and public opinion, based
on a fixed budget of up to $390,000, including non-refundable taxes,” stated a report from Jake Morassut, director of community services with Essex. That report appeared on last Wednesday night’s Amherstburg parks and recreation advisory committee meeting. Heidi Baillargeon, Amherstburg’s director of parks, facilities and recreation, told the committee it was a joint project between the two towns and the designs went to
a public vote.
Baillargeon said construction activity is about three to four weeks away at the park.
“They are going to prep the base out there. The equipment itself won’t be in for another eight weeks. We’re hoping by summer there will be equipment out at Co-An Park,” said Baillargeon.
Amherstburg agreed Essex would oversee the Request for Proposals (RFP) process with Amherstburg’s input and provided a pair of staff members for the evaluation committee. An administrative review team from both towns helped look over the proposal, with two of the five people being from Amherstburg. The Amherstburg representatives were manager of parks and naturalized areas Annette Zahaluk and technical support project manager Stephen Hayes. Essex representatives were Morrassut, assistant manager of finance and business services Jackson Tang and manager of parks and facilities Rodney Klie.
Essex oversaw a two-week virtual vote in February where 859 online votes were
Farm Equipment Auction rm (Jim) 30 Mersea Rd 12, Leamington, Ontario N8H3V4 review: Mar 28 & 29, 2025 - 10AM-3PM
cast to choose which playground design the public preferred. Tony Pietrangelo, a member of Amherstburg’s parks and recreation committee, said he wanted to make sure Amherstburg ratepayers are “getting fair value for their buck.” He wanted to know how many people from Amherstburg voted, and was told last week there was no breakdown available at the meeting regarding the 859 total votes as to how many came from Amherstburg and how many from Essex. A further breakdown will come at a future committee meeting.
The playground replacement comes as part of the Co-An Park Master Plan, which was developed by both municipalities.
Councillor Molly Allaire asked about the location, and Baillargeon said last week at the committee meeting that the playground will be located in the same vicinity. Baillargeon said it will be moved slightly north to steer clear of underground infrastructure including septic systems and underground wiring and drainage.
Belluz Family Farm (Jim) 30 Mersea Rd 12, Leamington, Ontario N8H3V4
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RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU
Town to turn to public to choose Malden Centre Park playground
By Ron Giofu
What the playground at Malden Centre Park will look like will largely be decided by the community.
The parks and recreation advisory committee was told by director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon at last Wednesday evening’s meeting that several potential designs for the park have been received and those will go to the public so that residents can decide which one they prefer.
“We actually got a number of designs back,” said Baillargeon. “They will go to the public for a vote.”
There were eight designs that have been submitted to the town.
Committee member Tony Pietrangelo asked what the cost of the designs would be with Baillargeon noting that cost board during an RFP process
were something she was not at liberty to disclose but administration did ask for “an all-inclusive price” that would include everything from equipment and benches to drainage and walkways.
There was $300,000 set aside in the 2025 budget for the equipment, Baillargeon did point out.
Responding to a question from Councillor Molly Allaire about
timelines, Baillargeon said she hopes to bring a report before town council April 14.
If approved, the equipment could be ordered shortly after that and orders usually take about eight weeks to be fulfilled.
“With luck on our side, we’ll have it installed by late summer,” she said.
The vote is already underway on the town’s Talk the Burg website.
Councillor Peter Courtney noted there are still park designs to be decided upon and wondered how the playground could impact that.
Baillargeon indicated the playground location will not impact the rest of the designs of the overall park.
The next round of designs for Malden Centre Park will be shown as part of the next parks master plan open house, which is scheduled for May 5.
Community grant cheques presented to non-profit organizations
By Ron Giofu
The issue of community grants was a topic during the 2025 budget deliberations and the final results were delivered last week.
Town council agreed to distribute $60,000 to community and non-profit groups during budget talks last December and the cheques were presented to those groups recently. Most were delivered March 11 at the Amherstburg Municipal Building with Amherstburg Community Services (ACS), represented by executive director Kathy DiBartolomeo and program director Branka Stewin, receiving $15,000.
The Amherstburg Historic Sites Association (AHSA), the board that operates the Park House Museum, received
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum, represented by assistant curator Irene Moore Davis and board member Barbara Porter, received a cheque for $8,500 while the Windsor-Essex Bike Community (WEBC) was presented $2,500 in funding. WEBC representatives in attendance included Glyn Buck, James Braakman and Amanda Dywelska.
Mayor Michael Prue said the work the organizations do in the community is essential. He believed it was important to provide assistance.
“You are making great contributions to all of us,” said Prue. “We feel it is important to keep institutions like these going and make sure they have enough money to operate.”
Continued on Page 15
$10,000. Curator Kat Schryburt and board member John McDonald expressed their thanks for the grant.
Members of Amherstburg town council recently presented the community grant cheques that were committed at budget time.
& Giggles
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
WORD SCRAMBLE
Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to finance.
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20
Aries, you may encounter some stubborn people this week and that always has the potential for confrontation. Make yourself scarce if conversations veer in the wrong direction.
TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21
Things might not be lining up perfectly for a whirlwind trip right now, Taurus. Don’t let it get you down. In a few more weeks, an entirely different story may emerge.
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21
Gemini, this is a good opportunity to begin clearing up the clutter in your life. Start tackling the mess as soon as possible and enjoy the weight being lifted off your shoulders.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22
Try not to sweat the small stuff right now, Cancer. It often is easier said than done, but the little things could be dimming your light unnecessarily. Seek the support of positive people.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23
Leo, there are plenty of opportunities available to you now whether you realize it or not. Keep an open mind and equally open eyes to see if you can spot chances to learn and grow.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, your mind and heart are simply not able to let something go that happened in the past. Your emotions may feel restricted because of it. It’s a passing thing and will resolve.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, you are going through a period of evaluation of certain things in your life. This may bring about tension and even some friction, but it’s a necessary step for you.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22
This week there may be a weighty air that puts a damper on your jovial nature, Scorpio. Instead of getting down on yourself, use this time to focus and get a job done.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21
Sagittarius, you have a chance to make tremendous progress and further your career. It will take hard work, but the rewards will start to roll in soon enough.
Parks committee wants sponsorships explored
By Ron Giofu
Amherstburg’s parks and recreation advisory committee is expressing a desire that the town find new ways to help offset costs for projects.
The committee will be recommending to town council that ways to explore getting third party sponsorships and donations for projects be considered. Councillor Peter Courtney said he also plans to address the issue around the council table, noting his interest to see ways the business community can be involved to provide monetary or in-kind assistance to projects.
“I’m looking for options here,” he said. “If we want to engage third parties, how do we market that?”
The debate on sponsorships and contributions came out during a verbal report from director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon about a new multi-use pathway planned for Jack Purdie Park. Baillargeon reported some good news and some bad news as part of her report to the committee.
“We did send the project out to tender. We got 12 bid submissions, which is amazing right off the hop,” said Baillargeon. “Unfortunately, they were all over-budget.”
Baillargeon told the committee bids were about $100,000 over what the town had budgeted for.
A “plan of action” will go before town council on how to cover the extra money, with $80,000 of it proposed to be covered through leftover funding from earlier rounds of the park redevelopment process. Council will also be asked to re-direct other funds, she indicated,
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20
Avoid questioning superiors or those in positions of authority right now, Capricorn. This is a surefire path into hot water. Take a break and sort through negative emotions.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18
Aquarius, you might be going through a time of great preparation with a focus on building a major life project. This is not to be taken lightly and will require a lot of attention.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20
There may be a sober feeling to the week that leaves you feeling a bit down, Pisces. Focus on finishing projects and these feelings will pass by before you know it.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
MARCH 23 - Kyrie Irving, Athlete (33)
MARCH 24 - Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Dancer (39)
MARCH 25 - Elton John, Singer (78)
MARCH 26 - Jonathan Groff, Actor (40)
MARCH 27 - Jessie J, Singer (37)
MARCH 28 - Reba McEntire, Singer (70)
MARCH 29 Elle Macpherson, Model (61)
though she told the committee there will be different options to go to council. That report is anticipated to be on the April 14 council agenda.
“I feel there is money in town and money in Essex County,” said Courtney. “Are we doing anything to solicit businesses for some of the materials?”
Baillargeon stated they are bound by the procurement process when issuing tenders but while Courtney said he understood that, he was hoping to see administration be able to figure out a way to “get crafty” and find ways to allow for outside donations and sponsorships to projects.
Courtney noted there is a quarry in town that could be contacted for granular material. He said other municipalities have gone out and sold naming rights to parks and park amenities, noting Amherstburg has as well with the Libro Centre being an example.
“That’s why I think we have to go out and spread our money out further,” he said.
Committee member Tony Pietrangelo agreed with Courtney, noting businesses value having their names on something. He said having a business name in a place where people can see it is good for that business.
“To have something in town that has the name of your business on it, it’s dynamite for your business,” he said.
Councillor Molly Allaire wanted to know when the multi-use pathway could be completed, with Baillargeon stating that depends on council’s decision April 14. Baillargeon said there had been a goal to have it installed before the summer.
“Day of Champions” held for house league divisions
By Ron Giofu
A little bit of history was presented last Sunday along with several trophies.
The Amherstburg Minor Hockey Association (AMHA) presented its final “Day of Champions” last Sunday where house league teams were crowned champions of their respective age divisions. It is the final as AMHA because the organization is merging with the Erie North Shore Minor Hockey Association (ENSMHA) starting next hockey season.
The “Day of Champions” was all day at the Libro Centre.
AMHA past president Marc Renaud said it has been well over 30 years that AMHA has been around and was formerly Tri-Community Minor Hockey. He said they had close to 400 players in AMHA this season, which he said is about average for the last number of years.
The U10 and U21 Stars have had great years, advancing far in the Bluewater League playoffs.
The season has gone well, Renaud believed.
“Overall, I think this has been a positive experience for players, coaches and volunteers as a whole,” he said.
“Without the volunteers, we would be in trouble.”
The new association is working under the name Lake Erie Minor Hockey, he said.
“It was a great year this year,” said Renaud. “We’re looking forward to next year with the merger.”
Memorial awards handed out during Sunday’s “Day of Champions” included:
U18 Keith Berard Memorial Memorial Award (Awarded for sportsmanship) –Alex Stadnick U15 Danny Hallock Memorial Award
(Outstanding Play throughout the Season) – Luke Repke
U13 Robert St. Pierre Memorial Award (Outstanding Play throughout the Season) – Cole Martin U13 Jeremy Bailey Memorial Award (Outstanding Play throughout the Season) – Smith Storey U11 Murray Dufour Memorial Award (Outstanding Play throughout the Season) – Luke Jarvis Coach of the Year – Dave Pitt
Trainer of the Year – David Shea
Adult Volunteer of the Year – Derek Gignac
Youth Volunteer of the Year –Drew Shank
Off to the OMHAs!
The Amherstburg Stars U21 A hockey team captured the Bluewater League title and they have advanced to the OMHA finals next weekend in Kingston. The Stars were victorious in their series against the Riverside Rangers this past weekend. Amherstburg won 6-3 in Windsor Friday night, tied Riverside 2-2 Saturday afternoon at the Libro Centre before clinching the series Sunday evening back at the WFCU Centre in Windsor. Photos are from Saturday’s game in Amherstburg.
The Maroon team won the championship in the U15 house league division at Sunday’s AMHA Day of Champions at the Libro Centre.
Luke Jarvis (top left) and Luke Repke (top right) were among the memorial award winners (Murray Dufour U11 and Danny Hallock U15 respectively) while the family of Jeremy Bailey and AMHA past president Marc Renaud presented the Jeremy Bailey Memorial Award.
RTT PHOTOS BY RON GIOFU
Community Calendar
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
FISH FRY; Will be held at the Columbus Community Hall, 190 Richmond St. in Amherstburg. Hosted by the Good Friday Procession group of St. John the Baptist Church. Runs from 4:306:30 p.m. Choice of fish or chicken dinner. 50/50 draw that evening as well. Of note, all you “Bingo goers”, double your fun and luck by coming out to support night before (Thurs., March 27).
SATURDAY, MARCH 29
CORNHOLE FOR EASTER SEALS; Presented by the Rotary Club of Amherstburg at the McGregor Columbian Club, 9560 Walker Road. Proceeds to support Easter Seals in Windsor-Essex County. Fifty per cent payout on prizes. Doors open at 11 a.m., starts at 12 noon. Cost is $60 for a team of two. Register your team with ScoreHolio at https://bit.ly/EasterSealsCornhole2025. Contact rotaryclubofamherstburg@gmail.com for more information.
SATURDAY, MARCH 29
CRAM-A-CRUISER; Presented by Windsor Police Const. Nick Dupuis, the community services officer, in support of Wings Rehab. Needed items for the animals cared for at Wings include assorted nuts in the shell, unsalted nuts, sunflower seeds, bird seed, dog and cat food, apple sauce, fresh fruit and vegetables (no hot peppers or tomatoes), baby food, cereal, facial tissues, toilet paper, bleach, paper towels, heavy duty garbage bags, dish sap, old newspaper, storage containers, heating pads (no timers), baby blankets. Runs 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Rob & Tina’s No Frills in Amhestburg.
ONGOING
GIBSON GALLERY EVENTS; Reclaimed paper collage class
Wednesday Apr 2 at 6 p.m., Pysanky Egg Painting Sunday, April 6 at 1 p.m. Emerging Artists exhibit March 20 - April 6 with North Star High School and St. Thomas of Villanova High School.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED; The Amherstburg Food & Fellowship Mission needs volunteers to clean, wash dishes and provide maintenance. Cleaners are required Monday-Friday from 2-4 p.m. to mop floors and to clean bathrooms, countertops, tables, carts, etc. Dishwashers are needed Monday-Friday 1-3 p.m. to wash dishes, pots and pans. Maintenance people are needed MondaySaturday as needed for maintenance of the building. Commitment is one day or more per week, on a regular basis. If interested or for more info, send e-mail to aburgmission@yahoo.com.
FREE COMMUNITY MEALS; Lighthouse Church, in conjunction with Feeding Windsor, invites the public to come every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. for a free dinner. Everyone welcome. No registration required. Lighthouse Church is also showing “The Chosen” every Thursday at 6:30 p.m., after the meal. Free to attend, everyone welcome. Church is located at 266 King St. in Amherstburg (entrance off of Gore St.).
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP; Lighthouse Church is offering “Griefshare,” a 13-week support group meeting every Tuesday. Runs through April 29 from 1-2:30 p.m. at Lighthouse Church. For more information or to register, please call 519-962-9525. Lighthouse Church is located at 266 King St. (entrance off Gore St.).
ROTARY CLUB OF AMHERSTBURG MEETINGS; Rotary meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. New members welcome. For info, e-mail rotaryclubofamherstburg@ gmail.com or call Susanne at 519-990-2775.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS RIVER CANARD EVENTS; Charity bingo every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Chicken or rib dinner first Friday of every month. Eat-in/take-out. Call before Friday to order call
“Cram-A-Cruiser”
By Noah Paquette and Ron Giofu
Another Cram-A-Cruiser event is this Saturday and the public is being asked to help a local wildlife organization.
Windsor Police Const. Nick Dupuis and a team of auxiliary officers will be at No Frills in Amherstburg for a Cram-ACruiser event to support Wings Wildlife
Rehabilitation Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Wings Rehab provides care for over 4,000 animals annually.
Some items needed are assorted nuts in the shell and/or unsalted nuts, sunflower seeds and bird seeds, dog and cat food (dry/canned), bleach, canned fruit and vegetables (no hot peppers or tomatoes), rice pablum, cereal, facial tissues, toilet
519-734-8575. Dinner 4:30-6 p.m. Hall at 8965 Malden Road.
COLUMBUS COMMUNITY HALL EVENTS; The Columbus Community Hall at 190 Richmond St. still has bingos every Thursday night and fish fries (with chicken as well) on Friday nights. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the evening. Sr. Parties start back up in September.
SERVICE TIME CHANGE; Christ Anglican Church, 317 Ramsay St., has changed the times of their Sunday service. There is now one service, starting at 11 a.m. All are welcome.
MEALS ON WHEELS; Offered by ACS. Meals on Wheels assists people unable to shop for food and cook meals. Also available to those recovering from illness or surgery. Healthy, delicious and affordable meals provided to residents of Amherstburg, Harrow, McGregor and LaSalle. ACS caters to dietary needs. Cost $8 per meal. Call 519-736-5471 for details.
AMHERSTBURG RESIDENTS FORUM; Group welcomes residents seeking solutions to town hall to join them the last Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the union hall on Pickering.
GOLDEN AGE CLUB; The Golden Age Club, located at 179 Victoria St. S., offers social activities five days a week, $10 a year to join. There are over 160 members who play euchre, pepper, bingo, cribbage, mahjong and bridge and line dancing. Club also crochets mats from milk bags for those in need. We also have three special luncheons and a Christmas party. You pick which activities you want to participate in. Visit www.goldenagecentre.ca to see how to join, participate, and learn how we support our community.
MENTAL HEALTH & COUNSELLING SERVICES; The Youth
paper, paper towels, heavy duty garbage bags, dish soap, totes, heating pads with no timers, baby blankets, old newspapers, old towels, shovels and rakes.
Dupuis said around this time last year, officers assisted a deer along the waterfront. Wings Rehab helped and now Dupuis said police want to help give back.
“I think it’s a really good opportunity to
Wellness Hubs Windsor-Essex presenting mental health and counselling services at The House Youth Centre. Runs every Thursday 2-6 p.m. Free for people between the ages of 12-15. The House is located at 320 Richmond St. For details, call 519-800-8640
MISSION HOURS; The Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission, 298 Victoria St. S., open from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with free lunch between 12-1 p.m. Mission food bank open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. For info, call 519-736-9140 or visit www.aburgmission.ca. Stop by for food, fellowship and a warm welcome. All donations welcome.
ESSEX COUNTY ORCHID SOCIETY MEETINGS; The Essex County Orchid Society invites you to join them monthly, third Sunday of the month till May at St. Stephen’s Church Hall, 5280 Howard Ave; 1:30 p.m.
help them,” he said.
Monetary donations are being accepted in the store, he noted.
Dupuis said when wildlife is in distress, the first people he thinks of are the staff and volunteers with Wings.
Last year’s Cram-A-Cruiser was at Sobeys and assisted the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission.
CLASSIFIEDS
Essex County resident nominated for global award
By Ron Giofu
An Essex County resident has been nominated for a global award.
FOR RENT
CASA BLANCA & BELLA
VISTA APTS. 365-369 Dalhouise. Centrally located in downtown Amherstburg with river views. Large, clean, quiet and secure. Stainless steel appliances, on-site laundry, patio or balcony and parking. Starting at $1395 including utilities. Call 519984-1745 to view.
PEST AND WILD
ANIMAL CONTROL
DELINE’S SERVING AMHERSTBURG since 1988. Call 519-736-2448.
DOG GROOMING
LISA’S DOG WASH; Baths & Haircuts in a stressfree environment. One on one service. All breeds welcome! $10 OFF first groom! Call or TXT Lisa 519-965-0781 Open 9 am - 9 pm.
FOR SALE
BAR AND 2 STOOLSgreat for poolside or home use $250. Call 226-3407195.
“ARE YOU SAVED?”
That is the most important question you will face. Jesus Christ is the answer. Mt. Beulah Church, 246 King St., Amherstburg 519-736-4110.
FOR RENT
3-BEDROOM UPPER
DUPLEX FOR RENT IN AMHERSTBURG, Very clean, well maintained, approximately 1200 sq. ft. Upper-Duplex in quiet neighbourhood on Queen Street. Open-concept Living-Room and DiningArea with Cathedral-Ceiling. Carpet and Ceramic-Tile throughout. Open-concept Kitchen with Island includes: Fridge, Stove and Dishwasher. Includes: In Apartment Laundry-Room with Washer and Dryer Provided. 3 Bedrooms with lots of Closet-Space. 4-Piece Bathroom. Central Forced-Air Conditioning and High-Efficiency Gas Furnace. Includes Private Driveway for Parking One Vehicle. No Smoking. Private access to Your Own Deck, within shared Rear-Yard. $2,125 Monthly, which Includes Utilities. Minimum 1-year Lease. Apply with: References, Income-Verification and Credit Checks. First and Last Months Rent Required. By Appointment Only, call 519-736-4473 between 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and leave a detailed message.
Please Recycle this Paper
RENOVATIONS & REPAIRS
WITH OVER 30 YEARS of renovation and construction experience, I can ensure your project is completed professionally, correctly, and with pride. Locally owned & operated. www.renovisions.ca Steve 519-300-0961.
APARTMENT FOR RENT: NEW RENO
Don’t miss seeing this newly renovated 1 bdrm + 1 bath unit in the heart of Amherstburg at 46 Indiana Place overlooking Purdy Park. Open concept kitchen with white quartz countertops, walk-in pantry, island and all stainless steel appliances overlooks dining room and living room with large gas fireplace. Porcelain tiles throughout for easy cleaning. All newer windows, blinds and doors. Hi-effec furnace, AC and instantaneous hot water. Comfortable bedroom with large closet. In-suite laundry with washer/dryer/sink. Large 3pc bath with fibreglass tub. Yard has new concrete patio with veg patch. 2 car parking available. April 1, 2025 possession date. Asking $1750 per month plus utilities. Must see! You won’t be disappointed. Text Gus at 519-566-3070 for an appointment to see this gem!
FOR RENT
1-BEDROOM MAIN FLOOR APARTMENT just outside of Harrow. 2645 County Rd. 20. $900 + hydro and water. Clean, quiet, and recently renovated with large yard. No smoking. 226-3509779.
Lynn McLaughlin was recently nominated as a finalist for the 2025 Women Changing the World Awards in the “Woman in Education – Adult Education & Training” category. She was nominated by Trish Tonaj, who is also nominated for an award. Tonaj owns her own business in Ajax called “Share Your Stories,” an organization that assists small businesses.
“I give her a heartfelt thanks,” said McLaughlin. McLaughlin is not just representing Windsor-Essex County, but she is the sole Canadian nominated in her category. These awards are led by Dr. Tererai Trent and the awards celebrate women making a lasting impact in education, health, innovation and beyond.
“It’s pretty exciting,” McLaughlin said of the nomination. “It’s pretty daunting.”
Mental health is the focus of what McLaughlin is now working on, with the goal of helping children early and addressing matters at a young age with strategies to help them as they get older.
McLaughlin has over 35-years of experience in education as a teacher, principal and superintendent and has gained insights into the growing mental health challenges students face. She said she was teaching in the educational support program at St. Clair College in 2019 and one day, it hit her to call her niece Amber Raymond, who was pursuing her Masters in social work at the time. That led to a discussion on how to give children the tools to deal with issues early rather than wait for mental health challenges to result.
“That’s where it all started with our ‘The Power of Thought’ book series with my niece,” said McLaughlin. The children’s books, done with the aid of illustrator Alyssa Batin, a Kennedy Collegiate graduate and current University of Windsor student, were developed from there. McLaughlin said they can help children as young as five-years-old develop social skills, build self-confidence, problem solve and acquire other skills to get them through life.
“It’s all about mental health,” she said.
Getting the five books completed and released took about three years. McLaughlin added they are available online and in most book stores, including River Bookshop in Amherstburg. The books also contain QR codes where parents and educators can work with children on different activities.
Her current project is a game she and her niece have developed, a card game that leads to better self-esteem.
“We’re really trying to get the game in the hands of a game publisher,” she said.
McLaughlin is also a brain tumour survivor. She was a superintendent of education with a local school board at the time and when she came back, “I had to figure out the new me.” She overcame short and longterm memory issues and took a professional speech class, the latter seeing her challenged to develop her own podcast. That podcast is known as “Taking the Helm” and also helps parents and educators shift from reactive responses to proactive strategies to mental health.
The winners of the Women Changing the World Awards will be announced April 3 at the Women Changing the World Global Summit in London, England. McLaughlin is going to the summit and believes it will be a great experience win or lose.
“I’m honoured to be among them,” she said, adding she will be able to reach more people and spread her message further.
For more about McLaughlin’s work, visit www. lynnmclaughlin.com.
Lynn McLauglin holds some of the books she has co-authored with her niece.
Windsor police seeking third suspect in relation to Cowan Court fire
Continued from Page 1
The third suspect is described as an East Indian male, approximately 5’10” tall, with a medium build and a tattoo on his left hand. At the time, police say he wore a black sweater with a hood, black Roots pants, and a black Nike toque. He may reside
U10s advance to Bluewater final
The Amherstburg Stars U10 travel team advanced to
Community grant cheques presented
Continued from Page 8
The two organizations that received community grants from the Town of Amherstburg that were unable to attend the first photoshoot were recognized two days later. The Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission received $15,000 with president Tim McAllister thanking the mayor and council.
“Your kindness and dedication to helping others makes a big difference,” said McAllister.
Prue also stopped by Christ Anglican Church to present Rev. Lisa Poultney with a community grant. The $547 received by the Ramsay St. church is for maintenance of its historic cemetery. Also as part of the $60,000 community grants was an affordable housing grant of $8,453 but that is a contractual obligation for the town.
in the Brampton or Mississauga area. Police add this remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Windsor Police
Arson Unit at 519-255-6700, ext. 4330. They can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at http://catchcrooks.com.
CRAM-A-CRUISER
March 29th 11am to 2pm
Wings Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre provides critical care for over 4,000 animals each year, including birds, mammals, and other species. Volunteers work tirelessly to heal these animals and return them to their natural habitats. Through their compassion and dedication, Wings is helping restore balance to our ecosystem and ensuring wildlife get a second chance at life.
Please join Windsor Police on March 29 th from 11am to 2pm at No Frills in Amherstburg for a Cram -A-Cruiser event to support Wings Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre! We'll be collecting donations of food and cleaning supplies that are critical for the care of injured and displaced wildlife.
MONEY WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS
Keep your dollars in Canada to strengthen communities and support local businesses, including your local newspaper.
Mayor Michael Prue presented community grant cheques to Rev. Lisa Poultney at Christ Church (left) and the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission.
the Bluewater League final with a 3-2 overtime win last Friday night at the Libro Centre. A powerplay goal just nine seconds into overtime gave the Stars the win and finished the series with the LaSalle Sabres. Amherstburg now plays Belle River in the league finals, which started Sunday evening at the Atlas Tube Centre in Lakeshore. Belle River won the first game 12-4.
RTT PHOTOS BY RON GIOFU
