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Mayor, deputy mayor hopefuls field public’s questions By Ron Giofu Candidates for mayor and deputy mayor in the Oct. 26 municipal election fielded questions from the public last week in the first of two all-candidates nights. The three candidates for mayor – incumbent Michael Prue, Chris Gibb and Bill Fryer – sat with the two candidates for deputy mayor – Linden Crain and Bill Petruniak – on the first night. The questions were on a variety of topics, from taxes to Open Air Weekends and from growth and traffic to issues faced by the Fort Malden Golden Age Club and much more. Each candidate pulled a question at random, had time to think about it, answered it before the next candidate got a different question. Both evenings were presented by the Amherstburg Residents Forum and were held at the Columbus Community Hall. The evening opened with introductory statements. Petruniak said “the choice is simple for deputy mayor,” saying he has a lifetime of experience to draw upon. He cited his business experience in running a business in Michigan restoring classic cars, running a construction company and then his experience with Goodyear Canada. “For my entire career, I’ve been a problem solver,” he said. Petruniak believes if the right people are elected and they can work together, “we can make a difference in this town.” Prue said he decided to run again for mayor because of what is happening in the world, including what is occurring in the United States with talk of being the 51st state and tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump. “I, as a Canadian, want to fight back,” he said. Prue said he has faced questions over when he knew Diageo was closing its Amherstburg plant and he said he received a call from the company 15 minutes after the media told him. He added he worked with economic development agencies and wants to work with the plant’s new owners to bring jobs back to the site. Gibb, the current deputy mayor, noted he has roots in the area as he grew up in town, married someone from town and had a family. “I opened a business here because I believe in this

Mayor and deputy mayor candidates fielded questions from the public Sept. 29 at the Columbus Community Hall, in an event organized by the Amherstburg Residents Forum. Seated, from left, are mayoral candidate Bill Fryer, deputy mayor candidate Linden Crain, mayoral candidate Chris Gibb, mayoral candidate Michael Prue and deputy mayor candidate Bill Petruniak.

community,” said Gibb. “We are great and we can continue to get better.” Gibb said as mayor, he would want to empower council and do the hard work to negotiate better outcomes than what the town is getting now. “I think I have the skillset to do that,” he said. Crain, a current councillor, noted he went to school in Amherstburg before studying business at the University of Windsor and is now in the mortgage business in town. “Yes, I’m young,” said Crain. “I’m 26-years-old and I wear that proudly.” Crain added he wants to be “a strong voice at Essex County council” as deputy mayor and that he believes in listening to others although they don’t always have to agree. He added he is proud of the progress Amherstburg has had over the past four years and wants to build on it. Fryer said he is running for mayor because he hasn’t been a fan of what he has seen from town council the last 14 years. “I don’t like what I see and I plan on changing it,” he said.

Noting his policing background which stretched from 1969 to when he retired as chief in 1998, Fryer said he was responsible for the safety of the people in the community. “I made sure I did the job properly,” he said. Fryer added he had people in that era making sure he was accountable, citing one being Diane Pouget, who is retiring this year from municipal politics. He said it was “nice we had a watchdog.” “I have a lot of ideas and ambition,” he added. Questions were then drawn by the candidates. Regarding a question to do with complaints at town hall, Petruniak believed it is “a corporate culture from the top down.” “We need to change the corporate culture,” he said. “We need to make it a service organization.” Petruniak said he sends a lot of e-mails to town hall and challenged a pledge made by the town that e-mails would be returned within two business days. Healthcare and additional primary care for residents was a question posed to Prue.

Continued on Page 11

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2 – River Town Times – Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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Councillor candidates field questions at all-candidates night By Ron Giofu The 15 candidates for councillor in the Oct. 26 municipal election fielded questions drawn at random last week and did their best to answer them before a packed house at the Columbian Club Hall in Amherstburg. The Amherstburg Residents Forum presented the second night of its questionand-answer sessions with local candidates on Sept. 30 with each candidate answering the question they chose at random from a bowl and passing the microphone to the next candidate. It was a similar format to the previous evening when mayor and deputy mayor candidates sat together and answered questions. All candidates attended the meeting and went in the same order in each round of questioning with the seating order being Lorne Dupuis, Lena Lazanja, Shawn LeBlanc, Sonya Elliott, Jen DeLuca, Stephanie Pouget-Papak, Armand Anderson, Saurabh Katara, incumbent Molly Allaire, Dhaval Prajapati, Frank Cleminson, T.J. Botsford, Wes Ewer, Keith Boussey and incumbent Peter Courtney. Each candidate was given an opportunity for an opening statement with Dupuis noting his business background, going from the towing and collision business and now as a realtor. “I want to see change,” said Dupuis, adding he agrees with some decisions that council has made but does not with others. “I feel the way to make a difference is get involved.” Lazanja said she has been active in the area in local service clubs and that was her entry into getting to know the community. She said she ran before in

Councillor candidates were the subject of an all-candidates question-and-answer session at the Columbus Community Hall Sept. 30. From left: Lorne Dupuis, Lena Lazanja, Shawn LeBlanc, Sonya Elliott, Jen DeLuca, Stephanie Pouget-Papak, Armand Anderson, Saurabh Katara, Molly Allaire, Dhaval Prajapati, Frank Cleminson, T.J. Botsford, Keith Boussey, Peter Courtney and Wes Ewer.

the 2018 municipal election and there are issues that were on the table then are still relevant in 2026. LeBlanc said everyone has a list of needs and wants and would like to work together to accomplish many of those. He said he likes getting to know people and wants to know everyone in the room and beyond and the local realtor added he was excited for the rest of the campaign. Elliott said she has family roots in Amherstburg and cares about the community. The people in town have to “get together to work things out.” Elliott added she has enjoyed meeting new people as she campaigns in the community. DeLuca said she started thinking about running six-years-ago when delegating at a virtual council meeting and her microphone was cut off. She said she wants to be part of the change in Amherstburg, adding she is a teacher, coach and volunteer with the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission. Pouget-Papak said she is a local

historian and former curator at the Park House Museum who missed the classroom and so she got back into teaching. She got into the race due to concerns over affordability in Amherstburg so she wanted to be part of the change and build on the community’s foundation. Anderson said he has concerns with how the municipality is being run. He said additional financial discipline is needed and fixing needs has to be done before granting wants. “Amherstburg is more than just the downtown core,” Anderson added. Katara stated he opened a consulting business and has a financial background. “I do have a lot of experience,” he said. Katara added he “fell in love with Amherstburg” and also touted economic development and transparency as reasons for running. Allaire noted in addition to being a current councillor, she is on town committees and the chair of the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). She said she is passionate about parks and green spaces and the town has done a good job with playgrounds and trails. In a second term, she would like a greater focus on infrastructure. She added she does her best to inform residents of issues on social media. Prajapati said he is a professional engineer who has worked his way up in his field from being on the shop floor to being in sales and business development. He said he and his wife came to Amherstburg and decided this is where they want to be. He started an online series of 100 stories in 100 days, adding he is someone who talks to people and solve problems. Cleminson noted he spent over 11 years on the Amherstburg Police Services Board and noted policing is a “big ticket item” for the town. He also noted his employment at Enwin and that he has worked on

negotiations for collective agreements. He acknowledged that he has ran for council twice before and is enjoying meeting with people and hearing what they need once again. Botsford stated “this town has huge potential,” noting he moved to Amherstburg from Windsor. Botsford, who is a paralegal, said he has practical experience and also volunteers in the community including as a coach at a local elementary school. He added he has a degree in finance and wants to see economic growth and protect public services. Ewer believes he can help the community, noting it makes a difference even just to run for the position of councillor. He said he is in the insurance industry and has played sports, coached and volunteers in Amherstburg. He said he is passionate, willing to listen and collaborate on issues, noting he would be one of seven people on council if elected and willing to work as a team. Boussey stated his father was a police officer and councillor in Anderdon Township. While he has thought about running before, Boussey said his career often saw him travel for work but he is now working locally and can lend his time and experience to the position. “We need to be wise with our money,” said Boussey. Courtney said he got involved with municipal politics out of a desire to serve publicly. He noted he has played sports and coaches and volunteered in other ways. Courtney originally ran for council in 2010, stepped aside when his mother Joan wanted to run in 2014 and then had two successful campaigns of his own in 2018 and 2022. He added he has been “honoured and humbled” to have the privilege of serving the town.

Continued on Page 8

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – River Town Times – 3

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County of Essex, Essex-Windsor EMS reach tentative new agreement By Ron Giofu While the deal has to be ratified by both sides, it appears the County of Essex and Essex-Windsor EMS have averted a strike. The two sides reached a tentative deal late Monday night, just days before a strike deadline of Friday. Talks had broken off last Friday evening (Oct.2), which led to both sides outlining their positions, but things had changed as of Tuesday morning. CUPE 2974 president James Jovanovic confirmed the tentative contract was reached, stating it provides a “sense of relief” for paramedics and staff. In all, the union represents 340 workers with Essex-Windsor EMS. “It was a long, hard fought process,” said Jovanovic. Jovanovic said they went from painting picket signs to getting a new contract in a matter of hours. “It’s a good feeling,” he said. According to Jovanovic, it was the County of Essex that had reached out Monday looking to negotiate. He said it came out of the blue as the union wasn’t expecting to negotiate with the county that day, but the union was asked if their final offer from last Friday (Oct. 2) was still on the table. The offer from the Oct. 2 negotiations “formed the framework” of the tentative new deal and both sides made alterations to that before the deal was reached. “We had a verbal agreement by 10 p.m.,” Jovanovic told the River Town Times Tuesday morning. Jovanovich said they were not sure what prompted the county to come

forward, but the union suspects it may have been the amount of public support the Essex-Windsor EMS staff were receiving. “We’re hoping to get it signed today,” Jovanovic said Tuesday morning. Essex-Windsor EMS staff and supporters were expected to go to the Essex County council meeting tonight (Oct. 7) looking for elected officials to request that county administration return to the bargaining table. Instead, the tentative agreement is expected to go before county council Wednesday night for a vote. On the CUPE 2974.2 side, they are planning to hold information sessions this Thursday and Friday, with a ratification vote to occur after Friday’s information session. Jovanovic said other than monetary issues, the union was looking for improved working conditions, stability in the local EMS system, additional mental health supports and for the county to address issues around recruitment and retention.

As the tentative deal had not been signed as of Tuesday morning, Jovanovic was reluctant to get into specifics publicly, but said they were happy to get a tentative contract. “We’re excited,” he said. “Nobody really wanted a strike.” The County of Essex confirmed the tentative deal in a statement Tuesday morning. “The County of Essex has reached a tentative three-year agreement with Essex-Windsor EMS paramedics and support staff represented by CUPE Local 2974.2,” the county’s statement reads. “The agreement would take effect retroactively to April 1, 2026, following the expiry of the previous collective agreement. Details of the agreement are not being released until the ratification process is complete. The bargaining committees for both the County and CUPE Local 2974.2 are recommending ratification of the tentative agreement. County council will consider the agreement Wednesday night.” “Essex-Windsor EMS paramedics

and support staff provide an essential service to our community every day, often under extraordinarily challenging circumstances, and this tentative agreement reflects the importance of that work,” said County of Essex CAO Sandra Zwiers said in the statement. “We are pleased that the two sides have reached a tentative agreement and I want to thank everyone involved for the time and effort they have devoted to the bargaining process.” Essex-Windsor EMS Chief Justin Lammers said reaching a tentative agreement provides an opportunity to move forward together with a renewed focus on supporting the paramedics and support staff who work every day to deliver high-quality emergency medical services to residents of Windsor, Essex County and Pelee Island. CUPE Local 2974.2 represents more than 300 employees with Essex-Windsor EMS, the county confirmed, adding the tentative agreement remains subject to ratification by both county council and CUPE Local 2974.2 members.

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4 – River Town Times – Wednesday, October 7, 2026

www.rivertowntimes.com

Local restaurant aids ACS Guac Mexi Grill teamed with 107.9 FM CKBG The Burg radio station on a fundraiser for Amherstburg Community Services (ACS). The campaign ran through the month of August and saw $3 from every burrito or bowl sold donated to ACS.The partnership came as a result of ACS staff members eating at Guac Mexi Grill and discussing it with franchise owners Meshwa and Neel Patel. A cheque for $2,500 was presented at ACS’ offices in the Amherstburg Community Hub Oct. 1. From left:ACS executive director Kathy DiBartolomeo, Meshwa Patel, Neel Patel and CKBG owner Greg Adler.

RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Former municipal politician gives his thoughts on upcoming election There are very few basic qualifications to be able to run for office in a municipal election. If they meet the few qualifications anybody can run and there is no test to see if they know anything about being on council. We all should know what they will be able to bring to the table. What is the real reason that they are running for municipal office? Do they know anything about the Municipal Act, the Drainage Act or any other act from the upper levels of government that will restrict what they can and cannot do on council?

It is a tough job and it takes a lot of time away from your family, but it can be rewarding as they try to make our municipality better. I have spent 24 years in municipal government, and I know what it is all about. When you are considering who to vote for, you should have done your homework and know in your mind who will be best suited for the job. Some people first get elected because they have a lot of friends who will help them get elected. Are they really qualified? Others are well known and people

know the name. More important than that, we should be better informed about each candidate. What do you think that they can do at managing a multi-million dollar budget? This is not a requirement but do they have any background in budgeting, planning, construction, engineering, running a business or are they the type of person who can quickly learn some of these important areas? Do you think that they are the type of person who will do their own research, ask tough questions and do what is best for our town?

Once a person is elected, at every meeting they will be required to make decisions on subjects that they have never dealt with before. This is true for people who have spent years on council. There will always be something new coming up. We will need more than somebody occupying a chair. Will this person that I am voting for be able to contribute and be able to make informed decisions? I hope that I have prompted you to think about all of this. —Carl Gibb Amherstburg

Local resident thanks people for help in moving large tree limb Here in town on Wednesday, Sept. 23, it was very windy. I had just crossed Fort St. to go to Sobeys and on my return no more than a half-hour later, I was stunned to see a huge tree limb of about 40-feet or more. I started to back up and heard female voices yelling

“we’ll help!” Incoming was a mother-daughter team of first responders. They struggled and pulled it away from the ramp I needed to cross the street. Thank you ladies! I am so grateful and very proud of you both.

I am very happy that my guardian angel was working! —Mary Parkinson Amherstburg

Reader puts forth items to consider heading into the Oct. 26 municipal election As a former newspaper reporter that covered multiple municipal, provincial and federal elections and also served four terms as a municipal councillor, I have some thoughts on the upcoming election for residents to consider. The town is already assured two males will hold the top positions (mayor and deputy mayor) since women are not contesting those positions. Those men will also serve on county council. It might be wise for residents to consider voting in at least three females to councillor positions to have a “balance of viewpoints” in decision-making on council. This election allows residents the chance to consider a major change on

council composition since two positions are open as current councillors aren’t seeking re-election. Two new people, who are not currently on council, could be elected to both the mayor and deputy mayor positions meaning four new voices (maybe more) to consider town affairs. Apparently Belle Vue, because of certain designations, cannot be torn down but I don’t believe this edict would include the old house and pavilion behind it, both eyesores. The new council consider their removal. Do you walk or drive Amherstburg streets at night? Gaslight illumination in Jack the Ripper’s London was better. It is time to seriously consider some Member of the

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necessary upgrade to street lighting while continuing street repairs in the core area and on Concessions. Open Air is a nice concept, but it benefits certain businesses, and undercuts others and it closes down Dalhousie/Richmond Streets to residents that live in that area for approximately 14 weekends annually. There is extensive parking and open areas for events at the arena grounds and now new space on the riverfront, so why are we paying money to block off, then re-open, streets that were built for the use of residential vehicular traffic? This also causes Sandwich St. to host lengthy frustrating car caravans. There are many other concerns

that are election issues like residents moving to surrounding towns where taxes are less, apartment dwellers that pay taxes in their rent but whose opinions are often overlooked or ignored, fire hall costs, policing concerns, dangers related to electric bikes, the need for a hotel and many more. Finally, tourism is great, but tourists likely aren’t paying much in taxes here. While not everyone will agree, I feel these are some items for consideration this election, both for residents and the next council. —Robert Sinclair Amherstburg

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. Letters are published as space in the paper permits. • 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. •Letters printed in the River Town Times do not necessarily reflect views of the newspaper, staff or ownership.

Send letters to mail@rivertowntimes.com or drop off at the office: 80 Richmond St., Unit 9 or mail to: River Town Times, 80 Richmond St., Amherstburg ON N9V 1E9

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – River Town Times – 5

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E-bike issues return to council table now joined by vandalism issues By Ron Giofu The issue of e-bikes and those who operate them returned to Amherstburg town council. Not only was the discussion at the Sept. 28 meeting a follow-up to town council’s previous meeting, the issue of vandalism was also raised. Councillor Molly Allaire asked about e-bikes and questioned Staff Sgt. Jeff Taylor about whether officers were able to patrol the parks council had specified at the Sept. 14 meeting, namely Pat Thrasher Park and King’s Navy Yard Park. Taylor said a file has been created and

that results in a directed patrol. “We have them doing that,” said Taylor. Taylor added there have not been any tickets issued to riders or their parents as of yet. Allaire said she appreciates police showing up and checking on it. She added there is vandalism as well due to the e-bikes and e-scooters. According to Allaire, a small patch of playground that e-bike riders are “burning out” costs taxpayers about $5,000 to replace. A slide that suffered melted plastic due to a “burn out” costs $25,000-$30,000 to replace, she added, and an accessible bench that was installed was also

damaged and that cost roughly $10,000. Increased enforcement was called for, and Allaire said while her own children follow the rules, if they didn’t she would want the law to come down on them. “I would really encourage (police) to try and make them feel a little bit of fear so that there are some benefits coming out of this,” said Allaire. Taylor said e-bikes are “a hot topic around the province” and parents are getting fined. “We haven’t gotten there yet. We haven’t had to yet but it’s something that’s in our arsenal and we’re not afraid to use it,” said Taylor.

Councillor Peter Courtney asked about cameras and asked if a funding source could be found to put up cameras to help monitor playgrounds. “This infrastructure is very expensive,” he said. Courtney said cameras are a deterrent and he didn’t believe that behaviour was going anywhere soon. Taylor said police wouldn’t put them up but he would encourage it, noting high-resolution cameras are not overly expensive. “We would put it out on social media and it’s pretty good evidence. People recognize these people. It’s a great lead for us and I would definitely encourage it,” said Taylor.

Event raises $16,000 for family Royal Canadian Legion Fort Malden Br. 157 held a fundraiser for the Phillips family Oct. 4. Gloria works at the Amherstburg Legion and husband Joe is battling cancer. The band “Back to Back” played, there was a pasta dinner, large raffle and a lot of community support for the family. The event raised just shy of $16,000.

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6 – River Town Times – Wednesday, October 7, 2026

www.rivertowntimes.com

Two achievements celebrated by the Gibson Gallery

Gibson Gallery board president Dave Cozens (left) addresses the crowd at the unveiling of a mural by Amherstburg artist Dylan Whilte (left photo). Members of the Gibson Gallery board of directors stand with two cakes to celebrate the building’s 130th birthday. The gallery is creating a “Transportation in Amherstburg” exhibit in its caboose as the building is a former railway station.

By Ron Giofu

It was a day where two achievements were celebrated by the Gibson Gallery. The Gibson Gallery unveiled a new mural last Sunday (Oct. 4) and also marked the opening of its new transportation exhibit. The gallery is operated by the Fort Malden Guild of Arts and Crafts and president Dave Cozens pointed out it was the 130th anniversary of the opening of the building, which had been a Michigan Central Railroad station. Cozens said the gallery board had two goals for the 130th anniversary – two create a historically accurate mural depicting what the station looked in the late 19th Century and to renovate the caboose into a “Transportation in Amherstburg” exhibit. “We have completely renovated the caboose,” said Cozens. “The transportation exhibit is not finished today. It will be early next year.” The mural has been completed and

was painted by local artist Dylan White. It is on a sea-can on the west side of the gallery building. “What he created out there is far beyond what I expected,” said Cozens. “It’s awesome.” Cozens provided some history on rail service in Amherstburg and surrounding areas. He noted the Great Western Railway provided the first service to Essex County in 1854 with stops in Niagara Falls, Hamilton, London and Windsor. The Canada Southern Railroad was the first train to Amherstburg, as it went to Gordon Station in 1872. The Gordon Station was roughly between where Texas Road and the General Chemical pumping station on Front Road North is today. In 1893, the citizens and council of Amherstburg pressed for a train station closer to the town and taxpayers contributed $5,000 towards the project. The railroad station was built starting in 1895 and opened in 1896, 130 years ago.

Over its time as a train station, it was operated by Michigan Central, Penn Central, New York Central and CNR. Between 1890-1923, the “Plug” train provided three trips per day to Essex with the first train leaving at 5:10 a.m. and the last train of the day arriving in Amherstburg at 7:08 p.m. The last passenger train left Amherstburg in 1923 and the last freight train left in 1978. In between, in 1969, Florence Gibson purchased the building and donated it to the Fort Malden Guild of Arts and Crafts. Cozens said the building is owned by the guild while the land was the Amherstburg Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and now owned by the Town of Amherstburg. He thanked the caboose and mural committee for their work on the project with that committee including himself, Marsh Historical Collection collections co-ordinator Meg Reiner, Marsh Historical Collection and Gibson Gallery volunteer Ken Hutnik and University of Windsor student Halle Mailloux. Reiner pointed out several stories related to train service. She noted people had to take a stagecoach from the Gordon Station to the Fox Livery on Richmond St., located where the Precision Jewellers building is today, before the construction of what is now the gallery building. That meant an extra layer of travel. “Going on the train was exciting,” Reiner said. People used to watch who was leaving and coming in on the train,

Reiner noted. There were also several issues on “The Plug,” including a fire when the roof of the coach ignited. Dennis White, Dylan’s father and an accomplished artist himself, said while Dylan had challenging days painting the mural on the corrugated metal surface, it turned out well. “I’m very proud of his work. I’m very proud he is such a fine artist,” said White. “He was very honoured to do it.” Essex MPP Anthony Leardi thanked the Fort Malden Guild of Arts and Crafts for its work in keeping the gallery going and allowing artists a place to exhibit their work. “You are continuing a great condition,” said Leardi. Leardi added the gallery is a place where artwork from artists in Amherstburg and surrounding areas to be shown. Mayor Michael Prue added the history drew he and his wife to Amherstburg and since they have been living here, they have been impressed by the artwork around the town. He noted White recently had another mural unveiled at Richmond Terrace Long-Term Care Home. “This is truly a historic piece,” he said of White’s latest work. The Gibson Gallery is located at 140 Richmond St. in Amherstburg. Current hours are Thursday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.gibsonartgallery.com or call 519-736-2826.

Amherstburg man facing impaired charge after crash in LaSalle

The LaSalle Police Service states that an Amherstburg man faces charges after a single vehicle collision early last Sunday morning. LaSalle police says that shortly after 2 a.m. Oct. 4, officers responded to a single motor vehicle collision in the area of Todd Lane and Malden Road. On arrival, officers located a pick-up truck that had struck a hydro pole. As a result of this collision, there was a power outage with Essex Powerlines stating on its Twitter/X account that impacted residents in LaSalle and

Amherstburg. In speaking with the driver of the vehicle, it is alleged that officers detected signs of impairment. As a result, the 23-year-old male driver from Amherstburg was arrested, charged for Impaired Operation of a Conveyance and after further testing, Operating a Conveyance with a blood alcohol concentration equal to or exceeding 80 mgs. The road remained closed for a period of time until the powerlines could be safely repaired, police add.

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Current ERCA reps approved to continue after amended motion passes By Ron Giofu Amherstburg town council’s representatives on the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) board of directors will be allowed to continue until the amalgamation of conservation authorities by the province. It took an amended motion for the request to be granted as Councillor Don McArthur had concerns with the wording of the original motion that called for the continuation of Councillor Molly Allaire and Councillor Peter Courtney until Feb. 1 “subject to the current appointees continuing to be eligible to serve following the election.” McArthur said his opposition to the original motion had nothing to do with how Allaire, the current ERCA chair, and Courtney have served the community. “I think they have served us quite admirably, to be honest,” said McArthur. McArthur noted his original opposition was to term limits and extending them. “It’s a slippery slope to create a crisis to extend a term,” he said. “Just in principle,

I have to oppose it. The crisis is not so great that we can’t have the next council come in, assuming Councillors Allaire and Courtney get re-elected, simply rubber stamp them so they can keep on fighting the good fight.” McArthur said it is clear in a letter from ERCA that if either Courtney or Allaire are not re-elected, the new council can just name new representation anyway. “As I said, it’s nothing against them or the work they’ve done on ERCA. Just as a point of principle, I think it’s a slippery slope,” he said. McArthur reiterated it should be the next council to decide who serves. Clerk Kevin Fox said the recommended motion contained a provision citing re-election so that issue had been covered off. McArthur later said it would “be the wrong thing democratically to do.” Councillor Linden Crain asked if each municipality in Windsor-Essex County faced the same recommendation. Fox said he assumed all municipalities received such correspondence but wasn’t sure the outcome in other communities.

Crain wanted to know timelines of what committees and board members are appointed, with Fox stating it generally occurs in the first three months of the new year. Courtney said he understands McArthur’s point, but “this is literally for a few months to clean up the loose ends.” He said Allaire is the chair and part of the transition team but “this is literally to close it out permanently.” He didn’t believe there will be much representation from the county on the new Western Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority. Allaire said she has no faith the amalgamation process will be completed by Feb. 1, 2027, adding the transition team is pushing back on how it is being done. “It is not being done smoothly. They are asking for no input. It is just being pushed on us, basically,” said Allaire. Allaire said her understanding is that if an elected official isn’t picked right now, it is not required to have an elected official as a representative. She said she understands where McArthur is coming from but voted in favour to have representation

that understands and cares about the community are on the board. “The higher tiers of government have the right to kick us off our transition committee and off of our current board,” she added. “They have already threatened to do that.” Allaire believed local representation is being polite but fighting for what they want but “I don’t think it really matters in the end because (the province) are going to pick who they want.” Councillor Diane Pouget agreed Courtney and Allaire have done an excellent job and she understood McArthur’s point, but asked if there was “an escape clause” to allow for new representation chosen by the next council. Mayor Michael Prue said the next council has the authority to choose who they wish. The motion was changed to read that the current representation continues to serve until their successors are chosen. McArthur said that addresses his concerns and that was the motion that passed, though McArthur noted he was in the minority anyway.

Suspect from Amherstburg faces assault and extortion charges

The Windsor Police Service has arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with an assault and extortion investigation in Amherstburg. Earlier this month, the victim reported to officers that he had advertised an item for sale online in June 2026. According to police, the suspect reportedly came to their home and said he would pay for the item by the end of the month. When he

didn’t come back, police say the item was sold to another person. It is alleged the suspect later returned to the residence, demanded money from the victim and threatened to harm the victim if the money was not provided by a specified date. It is further alleged that he then sprayed the victim with a noxious substance before leaving the area. Several days later, the suspect allegedly

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contacted the victim by telephone, again demanding money and threatening harm if police were contacted. Investigators identified the suspect and shortly after 12 a.m. Sept. 29, officers located and arrested him at a residence in the 300 block of Victoria St. South in Amherstburg. The suspect was charged with extortion (x 2), assault with a weapon,

administering a noxious substance, and breach of probation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division – Amherstburg Detachment at 519-736-8559 ext. 230. They could also contact Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.catchcrooks.com.

8 – River Town Times – Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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All-candidates night held for Amherstburg’s councillor candidates

Continued from Page 2

Regarding expenses he would like to review or eliminate, Dupuis said policing is a major issue and believed Windsor could still be an option as well as the OPP and Amherstburg. “I don’t think that ship has sailed,” said Dupuis. Dupuis added he wants to see taxes come down and that the town has to learn how to save money better and do more with less. Procurement is another issue he said he would like to study. The future of properties in town, such as Belle Vue, was a question for Lazanja. She said that was one of the issues faced in 2018 and she would like to see a developer come in and restore the property. Lazanja said there is no place in Amherstburg for proms and similar public functions and would like to see money from such events stay locally and not go to other communities. Recreational, cultural and community opportunities for younger families was an issue asked of LeBlanc. LeBlanc said he has his children help out with functions and fundraisers he puts on instead of playing on their phones, and they now enjoy giving back to their community. He said there are a number of events in town but there are opportunities to make the town better than ever. Policing was a topic of a question for Elliott. She said the town has to decide which way it wants to go for policing, and that cost is a factor. Elliott said another factor is whether the community is being protected the way the people want it protected. The condition of Amherstburg town hall was a question for DeLuca. She said reaching people at town hall can be difficult for people but as for the building itself, she believed the current Sandwich St. S. building should be renovated before anything new is built, including repairing the roof and installing an elevator. “I believe town hall can be fixed,” said DeLuca. Pouget-Papak was asked whether her campaign is accepting donations. She said she is self-funding her campaign and she is not soliciting donations. PougetPapak said families are facing too many essential needs and she does not want to ask for campaign donations from people who can use that money for other things. She added she doesn’t want to take money from groups

and cause a perception she might vote a certain way. Development and growth was a question for Anderson and it also included balancing heritage. He said the town’s Official Plan needs reviewing every five years. Anderson noted the town has a unique character that needs to be protected, but noted he is part of a generation that has difficulty buying a house. He said protection and the ability to buy a house can be done at the same time. Some areas need protection and others not as much and Anderson noted Amherstburg needs more housing. Stopping the “disrespectful treatment of the Golden Age Club” was a question put to Katara. He said yes, noting he is someone who would respect elders. He said he would support respectful treatment of seniors and wants everything to be good for them. Allaire was asked about keeping communication improved so timely and clear information is shared with residents. She agreed with DeLuca the town’s new phone system can be frustrating for residents and she has worked with the IT department on trying to fix things. Allaire added she tries to be open as she can be with residents. “I don’t care how you message me, I will respond,” she said. Allaire encouraged the community to reach out to her. Prajapati was asked about how to communicate how tax dollars are spent. He said he understands reports and budgets, but not everyone does so he can try and break it down for people. He said he has tried to do so online in his campaign materials. He said he wants to simplify documents for people who need it so they have a greater understanding of where money is being spent. Open Air Weekends was a question for Cleminson, who believed the event should be reviewed. He said there are concerns over parking and suggested co-ordinating events and possibly not go every weekend. He also wondered about access to parks, including King’s Navy Yard Park, and said he wants public meetings with residents and businesses. “It needs a total review and I’m committed to it,” said Cleminson. Performance bonds and end dates for the new fire hall were part of a question for Botsford and he was also

asked about not having performance bonds or end dates. Botsford said he is a first time candidate and did not have a vote on the matter, but said performance bonds are in place for protecting the building. He said those bonds are often put in place for failure to perform. Botsford added while the fire hall is taking longer than most people would like, there are still fire halls in Amherstburg. The issue of performance bonds in the future would be between the town and a contractor. The fire hall “will get done when it gets done.” Reducing taxes amid growth in Amherstburg and the plan for it was a topic for Ewer. He believed expanding the tax base and bringing in more commercial taxes would assist in lessening the burden on the residential homeowner. Reducing red tape could do that, Ewer believed. Looking at how the town does things and why things are done could result in savings, he added. Articulating to the residents on why things are getting done is also important, said Ewer. The effects of climate change on such places as the Big Creek settlement lands was posed to Boussey. Boussey noted severe storms continue to hit the region and lands have to be equipped with proper drainage to lessen the chances that flooding doesn’t happen. Protecting floodplains with drainage is key, he added, noting nobody wants flooded basements and streets. Putting the right things in the right place is also a factor, he indicated. Boblo Island residents and clear evacuation options was a question for Courtney. He said there is a homeowners association on the island, he noted, and there has to be a balance with the town, residents and the association. He said it is frustrating to deal with relating to the island including the private ferry service and it is a passion for him to try and solve. He noted, if re-elected, it is important for him to know what is available and try to improve upon it though noted it has often been “a tricky situation.” Differing opinions between town council and administration and finding solutions was a question posed to Dupuis. He said the people go to council and council tells administration on how to proceed.

Continued on Page 13

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – River Town Times – 9

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Terry Fox Run at North Star High School raises $1,300

Senior students at North Star High School participate in the annual Terry Fox Run behind the Simcoe St. school Sept. 29. The school raised $1,300, achieving its goal.

Chloe Girard, Maddie Ceccacci and Juliena Flore were in the spirit for the Terry Fox Run.

gathered in the school’s main gymnasium to watch a video on Terry Fox and his 1980 “Marathon of Hope” when he tried to run across Canada to raise money in the fight against cancer. He started in Newfoundland but stopped in Thunder Bay when his cancer came back. Remembered as part of the event was Stephen Scott, a teacher who died of cancer. His son Evan, a current student at North Star, read his dad’s story to both groups of students including his dad’s

diagnosis, trips to Toronto for treatment but still making his sons’ sporting events and activities, and his battle with the disease in the latter part of his life. Evan praised his father’s strength and resilience during the assemblies. Stephen Scott passed away July 26, 2025. “Cancer took his life but not his legacy,” said Evan. Mikki Balestrini, one of the teachers that helped organize the Terry Fox Run, said the school established a $1,300 goal and were able to reach it. She noted

By Ron Giofu The Terry Fox Run at North Star High School reached its goal this year. The Amherstburg public high school held its annual Terry Fox Run Sept. 29 with junior grades (Grade 9 and 10) heading out for laps of the school property in the rear of the building with the senior grades (Grade 11 and 12) getting out of class and participating later in the afternoon. Prior to heading outside, students

Evan Scott tells the story of what his father Stephen went through in the fight against cancer as teacher Mikki Balestrini holds the microphone.

the school was part of the recent “Fox Fest” at Sandwich Secondary School that featured Terry’s brother Fred, and that event helped rally all public high schools. Top classes received a pizza party, with classes taught by Stef Heber and Nikki Baltzer raising $375 and $126 respectively. Balestrini thanked all teachers who helped out. There was also a raffle with prizes for lucky students.

Harrow woman grieving loss of her dog after reported attack By Ron Giofu A Harrow woman is grieving the loss of her dog after she said it was attacked inside of her own home. Donna Brown said she went to hang laundry Sept. 26 and one of her dogs, Dexter, followed her into another room.

That left her other dog River, a two-yearold Yorkie alone inside. Another dog, a Golden Retriever, is accused of busting through a screen door and entering the home. Brown said she covered her dog with a towel and got a neighbour to drive her to a veterinarian in Harrow. Donna soon

discovered her organs were exposed. The dog died in her arms a short time after. “Never ever did it dawn on me that I had to worry about my dog in the house,” said Brown. Brown said she contacted Essex’s animal control and the OPP. “It’s like a nightmare I can’t wake up

from,” she said. The owner of the Golden Retriever, according to Brown, offered to let her run losses through their insurance. “I really miss my dog,” she said. “I know I can’t change the end result of what happened. She’s gone and can’t come back.”

10 – River Town Times – Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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Ribbon cutting held to celebrate new beauty salon in Amherstburg By Ron Giofu

Joined by owner Heaven Cooper, members of her family and friends, Mayor Michael Prue cuts the ribbon to officially open Purple Vixen Beauty. It is located at 111 Sandwich St. S.

River Town Times’ candidate Q&A

A new beauty spa has opened in Amherstburg. Although owner Heaven Cooper had already been operating Purple Vixen Beauty for over three years by going into homes, she has now opened up a new storefront location in unit 103 at 111 Sandwich St. S. It is the commercial/residential building in front of Sobeys. “It’s been a labour of love to get here,” said Cooper. “I couldn’t have done it without my husband, who helped with the construction.” Cooper also thanked her parents and family for the support, noting they received help in looking after their children while she worked with her husband at renovating the space. Services she provides includes waxing, manicures, pedicures, lashes and brows, and party packages with services. Cooper stated it was important to her to have her new shop be accessible, noting she has a daughter

The River Town Times has posed a series of questions to the 20 election candidates running in Amherstburg and will publish the answers next week, both in print and online. Six identical questions have been posed to the candidates. Due to space restrictions, three answers each will be in the Oct. 14 print edition but all six will be online on our website

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with spina bifida. “It was really important for me to provide that atmosphere for her and those like her,” said Cooper. Mayor Michael Prue praised the accessibility features of the new spa, and wished Cooper the best in her new location. He said new businesses and new locations help “put the town on the map,” adding he believes it is a good location for Purple Vixen Beauty as there is the possibility there could be hundreds of new apartment units across the street from her when the former General Amherst High School is developed by the Valente Development Co. “Thank you for choosing Amherstburg,” said Prue. “Thank you for having faith in our town. Council, and the town, is very proud of you and wish you success going forward.” For more information, call 226-340-4011, visit www.purplevixenbeauty.com or e-mail the salon at contact@purplevixenbeauty.com.

at www.rivertowntimes.com. Thank you to the candidates who have returned your answers thus far. The deadline for all candidates is this Saturday (Oct. 10) at 10 a.m. There are three candidates for mayor, two for deputy mayor and 15 for the position of councillor.

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Questions posed to Amherstburg mayor and deputy mayor candidates Continued from Page 1

“Doctor shortages are nothing new in our country or in Amherstburg,” said Prue. As a member of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit board of directors, Prue said he contacted them as well as the provincial Minister of Health Sylvia Jones. He said there is a need to bring facilities to Amherstburg, but believed the town is on “a good trajectory” to bring doctors to town. Performance bonds on construction projects was a question asked of Gibb. Gibb said the town does get bonds for major construction projects. He said for the town to get any sort of damages in a dispute, they would have to sue the contractor and show damages. He added that would also cause a total shutdown of the project while that occurs. Crain was asked about expectations as a member of town council, with him responding he is not afraid to ask questions of an MP, MPP or warden. He said the role is there to make relationships with others in government and ensure Amherstburg is not forgotten about. Crain added the importance of being “a brand ambassador” and he tries to use social media to inform residents. “I’m committed to doing that going forward,” said Crain. On the matter of utilizing knowledge of committee members such as the audit and finance committee, Fryer said people volunteer to be on committees so it would be best to utilize their services. He said the audit and finance committee had suggestions to cut the budget in 2026 by over $700,000 and that came from people on the committee with financial backgrounds. On how to keep taxes low, Petruniak said Amherstburg is on the high end of per capita taxes in Essex County. “The first thing to go after is the low hanging fruit,” he said. Petruniak suggested going to a zero-based budgeting system and go to town departments and ask for cuts. He believes that method of budgeting is tough but the right way to go. “There are things we can cut in every single department,” he said, adding council members have to “have the backbone to stand up to administration.” Having public spaces such as parks be accessible to people of all ages was asked of Prue, who said Amherstburg has “a wonderful parks system” with 17 parks. He said they rely on the accessibility committee to tell town council what is needed and what should go into local parks. Parks have to meet provincial standards, he added, and cited H. Murray Smith Centennial Park as an example of a park being upgraded with trails and tennis courts. Bringing business and investment to Amherstburg was a question for Gibb, with the answer focusing on the Howard Industrial Lands. The tax burden falls mainly on residential taxpayers in Amherstburg, something which he said the rate of is “unsustainable,” and Gibb wanted to see good paying jobs come to town. The development of the Howard Industrial Park would help provide that and that would allow more young families to stay and raise their families in town. Gibb believed the Howard Industrial Lands could turn into “Oldcastle Part 2” when it is developed. Items such as a boat ramp, tennis courts and a swimming pool were raised in a question for Crain. He said it takes time to create these items, noting the town works off of a seven-year capital budget and a parks master plan. Pre-planning projects and not “kicking them down the road” continues to be a priority, he indicated. “I would love to have a pool but it would be very expensive,” said Crain. “Everything can be looked at. I’m

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always looking for ideas from residents.” Fryer was asked if the town’s chief financial officer (CFO) should have an accounting background. He also wanted to ensure council was aware of all hires. Council has to ensure people are qualified to do the job council directs, Fryer indicated. Prioritizing the needs of the community was another question posed, with Petruniak stating the biggest need is infrastructure. He said projects have been “kicked down the road for decades” and that some items are getting worse. The town needs to look at all of its assets, he added, get rid of what is not needed and use the money from them on infrastructure needs. “Roads are falling apart and buildings are leaking,” said Petruniak. “If I get elected, it’s going to change really quick.” A question of building “the foundation of Amherstburg” was posed to Prue. He interpreted the question to be about infrastructure. “What we need to do is find the money,” said Prue. Prue said there could be a savings of about $3 million if the town goes from Windsor police to the OPP. “If you take that money, there are many things that can be improved,” said Prue. Policing, specifically whether to go with the OPP or re-start Amherstburg police, was asked of Gibb. He believed “the cost would be insurmountable” to go back to Amherstburg and that the town couldn’t afford it. “I don’t see any other option,” he said of the OPP. Gibb believed the Town of Amherstburg still should have asked for a price from Windsor to see what staying with the Windsor Police Service would have cost. He believed that was a broken promise to ratepayers. “We didn’t have to go with it but we should have asked for it,” said Gibb. The first Golden Age Club question of the night went to Crain and it was about the facility on Victoria St. S. Crain said the town fully renovated the space but is open to hearing the needs and wants of the seniors community. “I’m always open to having conversations with the Golden Age Club. Our seniors are the foundation of the community,” he said. The condition of town-owned buildings like the Carnegie Library, Belle Vue, and town hall and whether anything would be different if Fryer was elected was asked. Fryer said this has been an issue “for quite some time” and that repairs need to be done. “When you make a list, you take care of it. You don’t talk about it, you do it,” said Fryer. “You make your list and deal with the priorities.” Fryer added “under my watch, it’s going to get done” and that a council led by him would make the decisions to find a solution. Increasing residents’ participation in town council meetings was asked of Petruniak. He said there is not a lot of space in council chambers but it would cost “virtually nothing to put a table in the chambers in case a delegate required one. Prue drew a question about the Boblo ferry, with him stating “I live on the island, everyone knows this.” He told the crowd the existing ferries are 80 and 90-yearsold with one of the ferries currently in dry dock. He said he has spoken with Essex MP Chris Lewis on the matter, adding his belief the federal government should “put pressure” on the island and ferry owners to ensure there are two ferries operational at all times. What types of development to pursue was a question for Gibb with him stating having a lot of housing options is a good way to start making housing more affordable. Getting a variety of housing options is key and having a

lot to choose from would help lower costs, he suggested. Gibb added if seniors are moving into an apartment or condominium, that opens up housing choices for younger families. At the county level, Gibb added there is a goal to partner with the province and there is an active plan to work on the issue. Town hall and whether to rent or sell was posed to Crain. He pointed out the former General Amherst High School is privately owned and a heritage easement agreement was signed with the Valente Development Corporation to develop it, but that will be for residential and commercial units. That leaves the current town hall, he said, which sits on prime real estate and the building has accessibility issues, is outdated with a leaky roof. How council measures its priorities and achievements was asked of Fryer, with him stating there are priorities each council should have. He said he wants to set a plan, set goals and priorities, and where the town wants to go. Fryer added before anything new is built, the town has to fix the roads, with drainage being another key issue. Having a sign along the street in front of the Golden Age Club was an issue that was asked of Petruniak with the candidate stating there are a number of concerns with the club. A sign should be “an easy solution” as it wouldn’t cost a lot of money. Other issues include paving the parking lot near the Victoria St. S. building. “Take care of the small things and the big things take care of themselves,” he said. Recognizing and appreciating service organizations and their volunteers was brought up to Prue. Prue said he was “very proud” that Amherstburg spends upwards of $60,000 per year giving grants to non-profit groups. He added that while county council voted itself a 137 per cent pay increase, he voted against that and used that money he received to give to non-profit organizations in the community. “Without these organizations, we’d be a much poorer town,” said Prue. Homelessness was a question for Gibb, who said “we live in a society where different levels of government have different responsibilities.” He said homelessness is a provincial responsibility, but the County of Essex does do work on the subject including a hub in Leamington and outreach workers. The issue does hit Amherstburg, he added, noting that volunteers with service organizations in town know people who are impacted. Crain received a similar question about helping those less fortunate and he pointed out he grew up living in co-operative housing and has been involved with Habitat for Humanity. He believed there has to be shovel-ready projects that will be priced affordably for residents and that it is an issue that needs multiple levels of government to fix. “We need to work with others,” said Crain. Fryer was asked what skills he would bring to council. He listed leadership, accountability, integrity, honesty and the ability to build high-performance teams. “When I took over as (police) chief, I was the guy to get the job done,” said Fryer. Fryer said he created a community-based police service, stating park patrols from officers and auxiliary officers was an initiative he was proud of. Another town hall question, this one about moving it into the Valente property in the former high school, was posed to Petruniak. He believed that would have been a good move for the developer but not for the taxpayers. Petruniak added he believes the current town hall can be renovated and called cost estimates from administration “ridiculous.”

Continued on Page 12

12 – River Town Times – Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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Candidate Q&A with mayor and deputy mayor candidates presented

Continued from Page 11

Petruniak said he has experience in the construction industry to help out with that issue and the town has to be smart on what it spends on. “We need to do things we can afford,” he said. Keeping streets from being “clogged with vehicles” was a question posed to Prue. Prue said it comes down to planning and that the town regulation in the past was 1.25 parking spaces per unit and is now 1.5 spaces per unit. He believed that should be increased further and “we can’t keep clogging up places where people live.” Specifically regarding Brunner Ave., Prue said permit parking could be a solution with residents allowed to get permits while others would not, and the latter being subject to tickets if they were there too long. Regarding prioritization of the population or businesses, Gibb said it is a balance town council has to weigh. He said being a member of council means being one of seven people and it is the priority of the team that should go forward. Working together and achieving common goals is important, Gibb added and the town needs to collaborate with each other. He said the town has been around for 230 years and the next council will be around for four, so the new council has to leave the town better than they found it. The question of Open Air Weekends was posed to Crain, who said it needs to be looked at to see if there are things needing to be changed. “I am a big supporter of Open Air,” he said. “I will not kid you.” Crain said it comes with a lower cost than other events the town puts on and

has good features to it such as Latin Fest, Carousel of Nations and more. He said he wanted it decided for two years so administration had certainty when planning. “I’m open to seeing it revised,” he said. “I’m ready to look at all options.” On the issue of campaign donations, Fryer said he accepted two donations from family and friends. “I’ve had no campaign donations because I’m doing it myself,” he said. How to make recreational programming affordable for struggling families was a question for Petruniak. “It’s a problem all of us need to look at,” he said. Petruniak said he didn’t have the answers and “I’m asking for your input.” Asking family and friends to assist was a suggestion he put forth. Green space and its protection was covered in a question to Prue. Prue pointed out Amherstburg resident and environmental advocate Greg Nemeth in the audience and thanked him for his work. Prue added the town has the best natural coverage of Essex County municipalities at 16 per cent, a percentage that is higher than the United Nations standard of 15 per cent. He suggested developers look at various environmentally-friendly options such as “green” roofs and other initiatives. The reporting of committee findings to council and how they are brought up was a question for Gibb, who stated he was on the audit and finance committee this term and council decided not to hear from them but rather just look at the minutes. Members of council need to be involved and ensure others are up-todate, adding no one member is above

anyone else. Committees were also part of a question for Crain, who said committees are there to help provide knowledge to council. He said when the new council takes over in a couple of months, the town will be seeking applications for new members of the committees and he encouraged people to apply. Regarding the prioritization of fixing local infrastructure, Fryer pointed out roads need repairing and it’s his belief nothing more should be done without fixing local roadways. Some roadways may need to be widened as well, noting there is going to be more traffic in the area of Lowes Side Road when 1,100 new homes come to that area. Petruniak identified the town’s procedural bylaw as being important to him, and called it one of the most restrictive of its kind in Ontario. He wanted improved communication between council and the residents and for elected officials to listen more. Funding needs and wants was a question posed to Prue, who said “we live in difficult times” and the municipality is not getting as much money as it used to from the provincial or federal governments. He didn’t foresee too many wants being fulfilled over the next four years as the resources the town does have will have to be focused on needs. He said they live in an “elbows up” environment and the town will have to be frugal. A question of benches in the area of the Golden Age Club was raised to Gibb. Gibb said council has to make a lot of decisions and while such things as more amenities at the Victoria St. S. club are possible, the town has to balance the needs of everyone in town. Other things such as paving the parking lot there have

to be considered in conjunction with paving a road and while the town has a $65 million budget, council has to look long-term. “It’s long-term planning that will make us successful,” he said. A voice on the police services board was a question for Crain. Crain said he is more focused on what kind of service is provided. Regarding Windsor police, he said the town contracted a service much like the Transit Windsor bus that comes through Amherstburg as the town doesn’t have a voting member with Transit Windsor either. “For me, it’s about a level of service and not about a seat on the board,” he said. The issue of medical care for residents resurfaced with Fryer getting that question. Fryer recalled then-Mayor Bill Gibb trying to get a medical centre on Simcoe St. in the area where the ambulance base is now but that didn’t pan out. He added that funding and support should be sought from the provincial and federal levels of government to try and bring doctors here. “Do we have enough doctors? I don’t think so,” he said. The next round of all-candidates nights comes this Wednesday (Oct. 7) and Thursday (Oct. 8), this time presented by the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce (ACOC). The ACOC events will see councillor candidates face off Oct. 7 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. while the mayor and deputy mayor candidates will square off separately Oct. 8, also from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Doors open at the McGregor Columbian Club at 4 p.m. both nights and the debates both nights will be live streamed on YouTube.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – River Town Times – 13

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Variety of subjects in questions posed to councillor candidates

Continued from Page 8

“I think that should be respected,” said Dupuis. Affordable housing and what plans for getting some options for Amherstburg was part of a question for Lazanja. She noted it is an issue that hits close to home for her as her children are grown. It is not just an Amherstburg problem, but a provincial and federal problem. It is not just an issue of building more. Because more housing is built, it may not be affordable for all as affordability is subjective, she said. Lazanja said she would like council to find ways to watch and learn from other municipalities to work with developers to help young adults and older people get what they need. A ward system and the support of one was posed to LeBlanc, who said he does not support a ward system. “Any time you get five members of council and it should be the best of the best,” said LeBlanc. LeBlanc said if a person wants to represent a certain area, they should knock on the doors in that area and ensure they vote. He didn’t want to divide the community and didn’t want to see people pigeon holed because of where they live. Elliott was asked if she would approve a bylaw to dismiss a council member if they negotiated with a contractor on an issue that was discussed in-camera. She said she would likely dismiss that person as “we should be discussing together what is going on. That’s what we’re supposed to do.” Open Air Weekends and the cost of the 2025 and 2026 versions of the event was a topic for DeLuca, who said she would like to see that. “We should know how much the cost is,” she said. “It’s not just my money, it’s everyone’s money.” DeLuca said Open Air is successful when attached to the town’s “excellent festival” but opposed street closures from Friday evening to Sunday evening. She also suggested a different format with one idea being closing Richmond St., Ramsay St. and Murray St. and utilizing Art Alley and not closing a main artery like Dalhousie St. Businesses who need Open Air to be successful should contribute to it, she added, and not have it all fall on the tax base. Tweaking the event and bringing it back to council is something she is open to, noting some businesses in the area are not making the money they used to. Projecting what full-time staff in ten years was a question posed to Pouget-Papak. She estimated it would increase but believed it would be ridiculous to try and put a number on it at this stage. Managing staff and how they operate was a better question with each department having to be looked at as well as what the community needs. She said additional staff may be a more efficient option versus paying out more overtime hours. Resident concerns and consideration of community input was a matter for Anderson to discuss. Anderson said residents should know what is going on and the town has a responsibility to communicate issues and decisions with residents directly. Using a possibly rezoning as an example, a single newspaper ad doesn’t cut it and he suggested notification to each resident in the impacted area but such things as registered mail. Reconfirming and utilization of knowledge from volunteers on the audit and finance committee was asked of Katara. He said the he has a financial background himself and there are CPAs on the committee that should also be utilized. He said committee members should also have experience and the ability to read a budget. Accessibility parking during downtown festivals was asked of Allaire. She pointed out she is walking around with crutches due to ACL reconstruction surgery she had in her knee in September and that has been an eyeopener for her. She has learned the town needs to do a better job, noting she has a motion prepared for accessibility buttons at doors to washrooms at parks. Regarding parking spaces, Allaire said the town is trying hard to create spots but “we could advertise that a lot better.” If there was access to Dalhousie St. during events, more accessible parking could be provided. She also credited residents for stepping up and telling council what could be done. Prajapti was also asked about Open Air Weekends, and he said he loves and supports Open Air. He acknowledged Allaire’s motion at the Sept. 28 meeting to bring a report back with costings and reports on Open Air to the

new council’s first meeting. He said “we need to understand what works and what doesn’t” and realizes while there is a desire for change, the new council has to figure out what that is. “Once we have all the answers, we can make informed decisions,” he said. Prajapati said Open Air is a reason he came to town, noting his family would come, buy an ice cream “thanks to Jen” and enjoy the event but “I’m open to change.” Prioritizing issues like roads and drainage while balancing limited municipal resources was asked of Cleminson. Cleminson acknowledged it is a vital issue that can be controversial, as many residents want to see their roads done. He cited Concession 6 North as an example. There are 287 kilometres of roads in Amherstburg and Cleminson said town council has to look at its budget, possibly do some work in-house like on sidewalks, and have a plan in place on priorities for roads. “We have to go in and do it right,” he said, adding provincial funding should be sought to offset costs for the town.

A large crowd filled the Columbus Community Hall in Amherstburg Sept. 30 for the councillor candidate Q&A presented by the Amherstburg Residents Forum.

Ensuring council sets direction and priorities and having administration carry out those tasks was a subject for Botsford. He said administration does a lot of work preparing agendas and it is important they give all the information to town council and have elected officials ask questions, seek answers and make decisions. “As more information comes in, we can make an informed decision to benefit the taxpayers and not just rubber stamp something because this is how we feel,” said Botsford. Ewer was asked if he views himself as a team player and he said he does. He said his life has been dedicated to volunteerism, noting his parents set the way for him. He said he embraces that and they set the example of how people should conduct themselves. Noting he was promoted in his job to team leader, Ewer said “everything I do is in a team approach.” He said it is about “we” and not “me” as council is seven people that have to collaborate on issues. “It takes seven people to work together in agreements and disagreements,” said Ewer. Boussey was asked about Boblo and they are taxpayers, and their access to services. He said he knows they pay taxes like everyone else, and compared them to rural residents who sometimes feel they don’t get services they deserve. Boblo residents deserve exactly what mainland residents receive, with Boussey adding “it doesn’t matter where you are in the community, we deserve to get the services we are all paying for.” The process of receiving and reviewing reports from administration was a topic for Courtney to discuss. He said the town has gotten better with getting information out there, with the agenda being put out almost ten days before the meeting. Courtney said he respects professional staff but there is “room for improvement.” He said there are some reports that need more options and believed there are times staff can approach an issue better. He added there are in-camera issues that come before council members in short order and Courtney said he is frustrated by that. Dupuis asked how he would work with council when they disagreed with him. He said he is passionate about what he believes in and wants to fight for residents. Dupuis said he may be opposed to something but is willing to change his mind if presented with an argument he finds reasonable. “I can be stubborn but I can definitely listen to reason,”

said Dupuis. Lazanja was also asked about Open Air Weekends. “It doesn’t matter what I think about Open Air. Everyone in this room has an opinion. To be honest, I’ve watched our town become divided over it. The council is divided over it. It’s raised contention and I’d like to see that stop,” she said. Compromising is the key, Lazanja said. She noted there is a new waterfront plaza and suggested putting events into the plaza, also known as the Navy Yard Park extension. That could appease both sides as it doesn’t cancel Open Air, just relocates it. LeBlanc was asked about what he would do about the Golden Age Club and his plans. He admitted he didn’t know about it but said when council is presented something, elected officials need to research it. He would walk to the club, find out more about it, then make a decision when he has more information. “One thing I would love to have is resident feedback on the seniors club and is it something they actually want to have open,” he said. LeBlanc added his career is about doing research and finding out more information and would do the same about the seniors club. Ferry service to Boblo during an emergency and an evacuation plan was a question for Elliott. She responded by stating there should always be a plan and it should be reviewed every few months, noting she worked on the island many years ago. She believed an extra boat should be on hand so it can be used in case of an emergency. “We really need to think about that. No one wants to be stuck there,” she said. Reviewing the procedural bylaw and public participation in meetings was a question for DeLuca. She said everyone can delegate but that doesn’t work for everyone and council meetings need to be structured. “There has to be a way to reach our elected officials,” she said. The bylaw should be amended, suggesting not having it be a unanimous vote of council to have a resident be heard. Questions do not have to be answered that night but can be followed up, she said. What Pouget-Papak wants to see as far as wants in a progressive budget was asked, with her response including housing, safety and infrastructure evaluations and how to fund those. After that wants to come in, as the town needs to assess what is needed and go from there. “Being in a middle class home, we are seeing the middle class being broken by the tax base and it’s getting more and more difficult for everyone. We have to put our needs higher,” she said. Anderson was asked about transparency if he were a business owner and abstaining from voting if he had a financial interest. He said he is not a business owner and was not aware of any financial investments that he would have to abstain from voting on. Anderson said if he became a business owner and a matter that pertained to his interests came forward, he would recuse himself just as everyone should. Katara was asked how he was going to judge whether the town needs new staff before new people were hired. He said he believes in reviewing information and going over all of the numbers. He wants to see exact costs and whether the work is getting done. “I would make sure I would go over every number and analyze everything. If I still think we need more people, I would vote for it,” said Katara. Cell towers, spotty internet and receiving emergency notification was a question posed to Allaire. She said current council did pass a motion to look at re-instillation of sirens. She acknowledged there are cell reception issues in certain areas. Allaire added government is “painfully slow” and issues have to go to higher levels of government. She said current council is trying hard and hopes the next council keeps trying as well. Prajapati asked if council members should chair or co-chair committees. He said yes. Council members and volunteers work to help residents and council members can use their voice and tell other council members and community members what is happening. He said it would be great to help residents get further knowledge of how things work.

Continued on Page 14

14 – River Town Times – Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Kicks & Giggles ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, some free time opens up this week. Focus on social outings and keeping things light. Use the time to relax and recharge. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Tact may be required in the days ahead, Taurus. You have strong opinions about how to approach a situation, but present your views with kindness and express a willingness to be flexible.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, save up your energy for something fun instead of getting swept up in someone else’s drama. Patience is your best friend this week, even if it doesn’t always come easy. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 You tend to be very careful with money, Cancer. Financial discipline is a great asset that will pay dividends for you in the days ahead. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 You may find yourself in a highly visible position this week, Leo. That means you will need to be on your best behavior at all times . People will notice your every move. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, steer clear of any controversial subjects this week because they may escalate into something that can be off-putting for all involved. Try to keep your opinions to yourself.

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Councillor Q&A’s held at Columbus Community Hall Continued from Page 13

Cleminson was asked if he would vote for a forensic audit on looking at administrative positions to save money. He said he would like to see subcommittees and get residents together to garner input and concerns. If the town can find savings to put in other areas, why not go through and have a complete look at the whole system. Laying off staff in slower times of the year was asked of Botsford. He said that might be difficult given that town staff is unionized. He also asked what constitutes a “slow time” of year. Botsford believed the best way is to do a study to see what slow times are otherwise he wasn’t sure it was feasible. He believed all employees need to be valued and be allowed to continue the work they have always been doing. Ewer was asked what values he would bring to council. Listening to people is vital, he said, and part of that is recognizing the voters “are the boss.” “We work for the residents. If listening isn’t number one, I don’t know if you are doing it right,” he said. Disagreeing is fine but collaboration and respect are also important, said Ewer. He said collaboration and respect “go hand-in-hand” and knows every decision made impacts everyone differently. Boussey was asked what the most important issue the town faces over the next four years. Infrastructure was top

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of mind and he said studies are being done. He said traffic is an issue with cars backed up from light to light and that has to be addressed particularly with 1,100 new homes coming. He said he would review existing studies to see traffic patterns, traffic light timing, and see what can be done. The commercial arena on St. Arnaud St. and how it impacts a neighbouring family was a question for Courtney. Courtney said it is “a very frustrating file” and the province has changed legislation and wants to fast-track development. Regarding the question, he said the Ontario Land Tribunal tends to favour developers. On St. Arnaud St., there is a variety of zonings but if they are going to blend, Courtney said buffers need to be created. He said the homeowner faces an “unfair” situation but “council has no say in this.” “It’s a very frustrating situation there. Council did its best to protect the resident,” he said. “It’s not at this level.” The next round of all-candidates nights comes this Wednesday (Oct. 7) and Thursday (Oct. 8), this time presented by the Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce (ACOC). The ACOC events will see councillor candidates face off Oct. 7 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. while the mayor and deputy mayor candidates will square off separately Oct 8, also from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Doors open at the McGregor Columbian Club at 4 p.m. both nights and it will be live streamed on YouTube.

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Admirals come up short against Flags and Blades By Fred Groves The Amherstburg Admirals have got some work to do. This past weekend they came up short in a pair of Provincial Junior Hockey League games. They lost 5-1 to the Mooretown Flags last Saturday night in Mooretown and the next night, in Blenheim, were beaten handily by the Blades, 5-2. “One or two goals are not going to win you hockey games. We have to do a better job at that,” said Admirals’ head coach Paul Bortignon. Amherstburg has now dropped three in a row and will try and get back on the winning trek this Saturday at the Libro Centre when they faceoff against the Dresden Kings. “When you are 2-6, nobody is happy. Nobody is enjoying coming to the rink as much as they want to. We play Dresden at home and then hopefully we can string some wins together,” said Bortignon. In their most recent game against the Kings, the Admirals came out on top with their best performance of the season this far, a big 7-3 win. Dresden won the season-opening game in Amherstburg 6-4. Against Mooretown, rookie Mathew Gomes got his first of year in a penalty-filled tilt that saw Curtis Chamney receive a three-game suspension for slew-footing. In Blenheim, the Blades crashed the net and got on the

Amherstburg’s Freddie McCroy (right) pokes the puck away from Blenheim’s Brady Patterson in Sunday’s game.

scoreboard just 31 seconds into the game. A spin-a-rama move by Amherstburg’s top sniper Parker Janisse tied it up but it only took the Blades less than a minute to regain the lead. “That was maybe just a little bad luck,” said Bortignon,

of the home team scoring early. The Blades held a commanding 3-1 lead after the first period and there was no scoring in the middle frame. Blenheim once again struck quick in the third as they found the back of the net 59 seconds into the final period. “That one in the third, we mishandled it. I don’t know if it’s a case of not being ready to go or just not making plays at the right time.” In the third, Amherstburg captain Cale Marontate got his second of the season before Blenheim added an empty netter. A bit of a bright spot for the Admirals is that rookie Cooper Woodman tried to breath a bit of life into his team with some bursts of energy. Amherstburg has added defenceman Riley Zanier who comes over from the Wheatley Sharks. The Admirals have been plagued with injuries on the blueline. “I think it has been that way for eight games and it’s tough. The only consistency has been McCroy and Robinet,” said Bortignon. Bortignon added to prepare for the Kings on Saturday the Admirals will concentrate on defensive zone responsibilities and back checking. SLAPSHOTS… Xavier Gelinas has received a fivegame suspension for an infraction in a recent game… Congratulations to Cale Marontate for winning the Ontario College Athletic Association golf championship… Second-year forward Brayden Hebert was recently named Player of the Month for September.

Wolves start well but end up on short end of 27-7 final score to L’Essor By Ron Giofu The North Star Wolves football team continues to show improvement but that improvement hasn’t resulted in any victories thus far. The latest game was last Friday (Oct. 2) against L’Essor and despite a good start, the Wolves ended up on the short end of a 27-7 final score. It was their first home game of the season. North Star was able to start a drive deep in the Eagles territory midway through the first quarter but were not able to capitalize. On a drive later in the quarter, they did find the end zone thanks to a 16-yard touchdown run from Grayson Wilson. After Kingston Gardin’s extra point, it was a 7-0 lead for the Wolves and their first lead of the 2026 WECSSAA season. It turned into the Marshall Rocheleau show from there, as the L’Essor running back scored on four touchdown runs. Two of those came in the second quarter on one and nine-yard runs to make it a 14-7 halftime advantage. After a scoreless third quarter, L’Essor tacked on two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter thanks to

North Star players (black jerseys) and L’Essor players (orange jerseys) battle during the Oct. 2 game at the Libro Centre.

Rocheleau’s legs. Rocheleau scored on another nine-yard run and then on a 55-yard run later in the final quarter, though the Wolves blocked the extra point attempt on the last touchdown. “It obviously was a tough one,” said North Star head coach Emmitt Rosati. “It didn’t go the way we wanted.” Rosati said things started well, as their defense shut

Wildcats on the court The St. Thomas of Villanova Wildcats senior boys volleyball team was in action at home last Thursday afternoon (Oct. 1) against the St. Anne Saints. The Saints won 25-13, 25-21 and 25-15. Villanova is now 2-1 on the season and travel to Kennedy this Thursday (Oct. 8) for a match against the Clippers.

RTT PHOTOS BY RON GIOFU

down L’Essor on their first few series and their offense scored first. “We kind of let things get away from us,” added Rosati. Rosati credited L’Essor for being a hard playing, physical and well-coached team who capitalized on North Star’s penalties and mental mistakes. He also believed the fast start may have gone to his young players’ heads a little bit, though he was pleased to see his players happy that they were having some success. The Wolves will keep drilling on the fundamentals in practice and work on their depth. He noted they have young players in key positions so the coaching staff is working on teaching them and getting them as ready as possible. North Star, now 0-3, stay at the Libro Centre for two of their next three games. They host the St. Joseph Lasers this Friday (Oct. 9) at 5:30 p.m. in Amherstburg, travel to Essex for a 7 p.m. game against the Red Raiders Oct. 16 and close out the regular season Oct. 23 with a 5:30 p.m. game at the Libro Centre against the Herman Green Griffins.

16 – River Town Times – Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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Amherstburg, ON cavanaugh_laurie@yahoo.com

ROOFING

Pittao Electric Ltd. COMMERCIAL - INDUSTRIAL - RESIDENTIAL

• PARKING LOT LIGHTING • NEW SERVICE & SERVICE UPGRADES • HOT TUB & POOL INSTALLATION • MAINTENANCE & CODE CORRECTIONS • RENOVATIONS • ALL OF YOUR ELECTRICAL NEEDS

STEVE PITTAO, Owner - 519.796.9812 stevepittaoelectric@gmail.com

PAVING

Michaelangelo’s Paving ltd Asphalt Concrete Interlock Driveways

Boulevards Patios Major/Minor Repairs Sealer

HOUSE CLEANING

Calm

Home Cleaning and Organization Thorough and detailed cleaning for your home, condo or business. Supplies and equipment provided.

Michael Italiano

226-346-SEAL (7325) M.A_Italiano@hotmail.com

Home Cleaning

Sandy Maedel

519-971-1078 - sandymaedel78@gmail.com

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS

Keep your dollars in Canada to strengthen communities and support local businesses, including your local newspaper.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – River Town Times – 17

www.rivertowntimes.com

REAL ESTATE

TOP INDIVIDUAL SALESPERSON 2023 & 2024 TOP LISTER 2024

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519-919-3506

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65 Sandwich St. N., Amherstburg ON N9V 2T9

226.347.8956 519.997-2320

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COMPLETE WHOLE HOME WATER SYSTEM & RO SYSTEMS

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226-787-2528

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Community Calendar

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE; Held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 129 Simcoe St. (at Bathurst St.) in Amherstburg. Runs from 7-9 p.m. Entertainment TBA. Free admission, donations accepted.

2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner, soap, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, mouthwash, floss, jam, peanut butter, soups, Sidekicks, non-perishables. Drop-off hours at the museum are Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 214 Dalhousie St. Runs through Oct. 14.

FRIDAY, OCT. 23 & SATURDAY, OCT.24 ALL HALLOWS EVE CANDLELIT TOURS; Held at the Park House Museum, 214 Dalhousie St. in Amherstburg, with tours at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. each night. Experience the Park House Museum by candlelight and learn about the history of your favourite fall traditions. Sessions must be booked in advance. Recommended for ages six and up. Adults $12, children/seniors $8, family rate $35. Call 519-736-2511 or e-mail parkhousemuseum@gmail.com.

YARN DONATIONS WANTED; Donations needed to make hats, mittens, scarves and blankets for the homeless and for hospitals. Also, volunteers making beds for cats and dogs at the Windsor-Essex County Humane Society. Call Deb for pick-up at 519-995-4057. Thank you in advance!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 PUMPKINFEST; Held at North Star High School, 330 Simcoe St. in Amherstburg, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Over 200 vendors of all types expected and will be outside, inside in the hallways, cafeteria, gymnasium and more. Culinary program students will be selling food. Admission free, donations accepted. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 TRUNK OR TREAT; Held at Bryerswood Youth Camp, 6480 Texas Road. Third annual event encourages children to dress up and trick-or-treat from Halloween decorated vehicles, play fun games and activities. Runs from 12-3 p.m. FRIDAY, OCT. 30 & SATURDAY, OCT.31 LANTERNS & LEGENDS; Held at the Park House Museum, 214 Dalhousie St. in Amherstburg. Experience the Park House Museum by candlelight and learn all about the legends of one of Amherstburg’s most haunted buildings. Will we make you a believer? Tours at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. both nights. Sessions must be booked in advance. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Adults $12, children/seniors $8, family rate $35. Call 519-736-2511 or e-mail parkhousemuseum@gmail.com. ONGOING FILL THE HEARTH FOR THE HARVEST; Food drive being held at the Park House Museum to benefit the Amherstburg Food & Fellowship Mission. Needed items are toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wash, deodorant,

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED; Amherstburg Food & Fellowship Mission needs reliable volunteers every Friday from 3-5 p.m. to help clean, including sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping. For info, e-mail Jill at aburgmission@yahoo.com or visit www.aburgmission. ca and look under the “Volunteer” tab. A volunteer application can also be filled out at the mission, 298 Victoria St. S. VOLUNTEERS & ALUMINUM CANS NEEDED AT BRYERSWOOD; Community service volunteer hours are available for students. Outside jobs at Bryerswood Youth Camp. Please contact info@bryerswood.com. Camp accepting donations of aluminum cans. Drop by the camp Monday-Friday 12:30-4 p.m. with donations. ROTARY CLUB OF AMHERSTBURG MEETINGS; Rotary meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. New members welcome. Rotary has temporary meeting location of a board room behind the Site Zero store at Willowood RV Resort on County Road 18. For info, e-mail rotaryclubofamherstburg@gmail.com or call Susanne at 519-990-2775. GIBSON GALLERY EVENTS; Latest exhibit is “130th Anniversary Transportation Exhibit and Caboose Museum Reopening.” Gibson Gallery invites community to celebrate two special milestones. Reception Oct. 11 from 2:30-4 p.m. For more info on the exhibit, guilds or adult/children’s classes, visit www.gibsonartgallery. com or call 519-736-2826. Gallery is located at 140 Richmond St. in Amherstburg. Current hours are ThursdaySunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. LEGION EVENTS; Royal Canadian Legion Fort Malden

Br. 157, thanks to a federal New Horizons for Seniors grant, hosting seniors programming. Senior games Wednesday at 7 p.m., chair yoga at 10:30 a.m. and craft club Saturday at 1 p.m. All welcome. During the month of October during the Thursday night chicken dinners (3-6 p.m.), $5 from every family pack will be donated to the Legion’s poppy fund. MENTAL HEALTH & COUNSELLING SERVICES; The Youth Wellness Hubs Windsor-Essex holds mental health and counselling services at The House Youth Centre, 320 Richmond St. (Amherstburg Community Hub) every Thursday from 2-6 p.m. Free for people ages 12-25. For details, call 519-800-8640. MEALS ON WHEELS; Offered by Amherstburg Community Services (ACS). Meals on Wheels assists those unable to shop for food and cook meals or 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. Meals come with soup, bread, main course and dessert. Cost $8 per meal. Call 519-736-5471 for details. SERVICE TIME; Christ Anglican Church, 317 Ramsay St., now has one service, starting at 11 a.m. All are welcome. QUILT GUILD MEETINGS; Erie Shores Quilt Guild invites guests/new members to attend monthly meeting held every third Tuesday at St. John’s Hall, 1782 Oriole Park, North Woodslee. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., meeting at 7 p.m. Our purpose is to promote and encourage the art of quilting in Essex County. 519-726-5869. FOUNDERS CLUB; Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club (BYCOC) seeking donors to join the “Founders Club” to help fund general operations of the camp. Donors with gifts of $5,000 and over become “Founders Club” members and have one square of camp property sponsored in their name. Multiple squares available. Tax receipts provided. For info, visit www.bryerswood.com, call 519-996-7364 or e-mail info@bryerswood.com. RIVER CANARD COLUMBIAN CLUB EVENTS; Charity bingo Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Chicken or rib dinner first Friday of every month. Eat-in/ take-out. Call before Wednesday to order 519-734-8575. Dinner from 4:30-6 p.m. Hall at 8965 Malden Road. Hall space

available for rent for showers, weddings, birthdays, stags and more. For info, call 519-734-8575. COLUMBUS COMMUNITY HALL EVENTS; The Columbus Community Hall at 190 Richmond St. has bingos Thursday nights and fish fries (with chicken as well) Friday nights. Everyone welcome to come and enjoy the evening. Sr. parties every second Tuesday at 3 p.m. except in July and August. For info, call 519-736-4870. 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 at 140 Pickering Dr., across from Walmart. GOLDEN AGE CLUB; The Golden Age Club, Amherstburg’s friendship club, located at 179 Victoria St. S., offers social activities five days a week, $10 a year to join. Over 200 members play euchre, pepper, bingo, cribbage, mahjong, bridge and line dance. Sewing instruction program pending. Tai Kwando instructions starting Oct. 6. We also have three 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. MISSION HOURS; The Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission, 298 Victoria St. S., open from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. with free lunch from 12-1 p.m. Mission food bank open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and 1-2:45 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. BOTTLE DONATIONS; AMA Sportsmen Association accepts donations of empty beer and wine bottles. People donating empties can drop them off at the rear of the club, 468 Lowes Side Road. For info, visit www. amasportsmen.com or call 519-736-5706. AMHERSTBURG COMMUNITY SERVICES; Located at 320 Richmond St., 519-736-5471. Meals on Wheels, CareLink Accessible Transportation, Senior Support, Keep The Heat, Ontario Energy Support Program & more. Please call to see how we can help! Food bank runs Tuesday, Thursday, Friday with curbside pickup available.

18 – River Town Times – Wednesday, October 7, 2026

www.rivertowntimes.com

DELINE’S SERVING AMHERSTBURG since 1988. Making your home look new again. 519-7362448.

ANNOUNCEMENTS from $25+tax WORD ADS from $15+tax

CALL 519-736-4175 OR EMAIL sales@rivertowntimes.com to book your spot!

“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.

EVENT SPACE FOR RENT

RENOVATIONS & REPAIRS

WITH OVER 30 YEARS of renovation & construction experience, I can ensure your project is completed professionally, correctly, and with pride. Locally owned & operated. Fully insured and references available upon request. www.renovisions.ca Steve 519-300-0961.

SUDOKU ANSWERS

Hall Rental for showers, birthdays or gathering at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church129 Simcoe St. Amherstburg. For information, please contact FOR RENT Linda @ 519-736-6096 or 1 bedroom recently Doris @ 519-734-8154. remodeled, main-floor, apt. in quiet building just outside Harrow. $1100 Please plus hydro & water. 226Recycle 350-3035

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.

DONATIONS WANTED

Looking for donations of material and fabric for quilting and sewing, used sowing machines in working order and other sewing accessories and equipment. Please call (519) 903-2317

FOR SALE

4x 16 INCH RIMS + TIRES. $600 Call: 519-971-4551

IN MEMORIAM in Loving Memory

Stephen Bastien 1939 - 2021

Daily E-Waste Drop Off at the following:

Five years have passed since you went away, but you are loved and missed every single day. No longer in our lives to share, but in our hearts you are always there.

Joe Meloche Ford Amherstburg Harrow & Colchester South Arena Computers for Kids Windsor Essex Centre Sports Complex Lally Southpoint Ford Leamington

We offer FREE PICKUPS for Corporations & Businesses

www.cfkcanada.org For more information please call SCRAMBLE ANSWER

Love, Linda, Mike Jen & Evelyn

519-253-KIDS CLEAN(5437) 4150 Sandwich St. Windsor ON

SUDOKU ANSWERS

Registered Charity # 860001437RR0001

SCRAMBLE ANSWER

CLEAN

Obituaries Daniel G. Talbot It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Dan after a courageous battle with cancer. Dan was a loving father to his daughters Danielle (Brad Phillips) and Kelly (Steve Greenham). He was proudly known as “Pipi” to his cherished grandchildren: Ben, Audrey and Sadie. Dan was predeceased by his beloved wife, Marjorie (nee Allen) in 2019; his loving parents Leo And Barbara Talbot and his brother Wayne Talbot. Dan was further welcomed into peace by his deeply loved in-laws, Ivan and Catherine Allen of Amherstburg, Ontario. Dan is also survived by his companion, Sherri Deneau. Dan grew up in a large family with eight brothers and sisters. Dan will be deeply missed by his siblings: Elaine Manser, Maureen Allen, Colleen Durham, Leo Talbot, Randy Talbot, Nadine Janisse and Jackie Allen. Throughout his life, Dan was a dedicated employee of Chrysler for forty two years, which during this time made and kept many lifelong friends. Above all, Dan’s greatest joy was his family. His memory lives on through his daughters and their families. Following Dan’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private celebration of Dan’s life will take place at a later date. If so desired, memorial donations can be made to Erie Shores Hospice. Arrangements entrusted to Cremation First (Essex) 519398-9188. Online condolences and cherished memories may be shared with the family at www.cremationfirst.ca.

Homuth, Ruth Mae Of Amherstburg. Passed away peacefully at the Erie Shores Hospice on September 27, 2026 at the age of 89. Beloved wife of the late Robert "Big Bob" Homuth (2014). Ruth is survived by her son Bobby (Joyce), daughter, Donna (Terry), daughter-in-law Joanne, and predeceased by her children, George, David and Janet. She will be fondly remembered by her grandson Tom and many other grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Also survived by her siblings, David (Winnie) and Gina (Gerry). She will be dearly missed by many close friends at Pleasure Beach and Pickering Tower Apartments, especially her best friend Moe. The family wishes to extend special thanks to the Erie Shores Hospice team for their outstanding care of Ruth in her final journey. If so desires, memorial donations may be made to the Erie Shores Hospice. Cremation has taken place as per Ruth's wishes. A celebration of life will take place with family and friends at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Cremation First (Essex) 519-398-9188. Online condolences and cherished memories may be shared with the family at www.cremationfirst.ca.

SUDOKU ANSWERS

C L A SSI F I EDS

POWER WASHING & PEST CONTROL

SCRAMBLE ANSWER

CLEAN

www.rivertowntimes.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – River Town Times – 19

BUILDING A

ECONOMY FOR ALL CANADIANS The Government of Canada is taking action to build a stronger economy: Driving major nation-building initiatives expected to create 337,000 jobs Securing more than 20 economic and security partnerships across four continents Reducing trade barriers across provinces to create one strong Canadian economy Creating Build Canada Homes to build affordable homes faster than ever

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PLAN.

canada.ca/BUILDSTRONG

20 – River Town Times – Wednesday, October 7, 2026

www.rivertowntimes.com

Happy Thanksgiving

Wed

Mon

Tues

2026

Drainage Board Mtg 6pm Town Hall

Wed 14 Thurs Committee of In-Camera Mtg Adjustment Mtg 5pm Town Hall 8am Regular Council Co-An Park Mtg 6pm Advisory Town Hall Committee Mtg Co-An Park 5pm

Senior Chair Yoga (55yrs+)

Mondays 9:30am - 10:30am

Senior Social (55yrs+)

Fridays 9:30am - 11:00am

Sat 10 Council Meeting Monday, October 12th Garbage & Agenda LIVE Yard Waste Amherstburg.ca/ (South) Collection council will be picked up today

Fri

Last Day to Call White Goods Pickup 519-736-3664

Sat 17 Advance Voting Day @ the Libro Centre and Anderdon Public School 10am-8pm

2026

JOB FAIR Libro Centre 1 - 5pm Wed

OTE Thurs 22

Fri

Sat 24

2026

OTE 2026 Municipal Election is on Monday, October 26. For voting information, visit: amherstburg.ca/election

Libro Centre Drop-in Programs Fall 2026 Day/Time

Yard Waste South Zone

Yard Waste North Zone

Program

Fri

OTE

Municipal Offices & Libro Closed Garbage & Yard Waste(south) collection will be picked up Sat, Oct 10th. Mon 19 Tues 20

Sun 18

Advance Voting Day @ the Libro Centre 10am-8pm

OCTOBER

Sun 11

Thurs

Green Bin collection begins in November ewswa.org

White Goods Pick Up

2026

OTE Dates Sep. 14 - Dec. 21

Sep. 18 - Dec. 18

Cost FREE

FREE

Amherstburg

Vote in person in the 2026 Municipal Election. Bring your Voter Notification Card and valid ID to your suggested voting location. Don’t have a Voter Notification Card? You can still vote. Bring valid ID and visit any of the voting locations listed below.

Advance Voting Days & Locations Chair Yoga

Tuesdays 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Sep. 15 - Dec. 22

$6/person $5/senior

Yoga (All-levels)

Wednesday 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Sept. 16 - Dec. 23

Gentle Yoga

Tuesdays 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Sept. 15 - Dec. 22

$6/person $5/senior

Stretch & Strengthen

Thursdays 9:30am - 10:15am

Sept. 17 - Dec. 17

$6/person $5/senior

Tai Chi

Wednesdays 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Sept. 16 - Dec. 16

$6/person $5/senior

Ultimate Frisbee Youth & Adult (6yrs+)

Tuesdays 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm Wednesdays 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm

Oct. 13 - Dec. 23

Adults $6 Senior $5 Youth $4

Turf Tots (0 - 5 yrs)

Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10:00am - 12:00pm Sunday 9:00am - 11:00am

Oct. 14 - Dec. 20

$3/child Sundays: FREE

For full program details visit amherstburg.ca/beactive Follow Us Subscribe to our online calendar at calendar.amherstburg.ca facebook.com/livingamherstburg Tel: (519) 736-0012 Email: recreation@amherstburg.ca

Hours: 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Libro Credit Union Centre, 3295 Meloche Road Saturday, October 17, 2026 Libro Credit Union Centre, 3295 Meloche Road Anderdon Public School, 3170 Middle Side Road

Election Day Voting Locations Hours: 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 26, 2026 Libro Credit Union Centre, 3295 Meloche Road North Star High School, 330 Simcoe Street McGregor Columbian Club, 9560 Walker Road amherstburg.ca/election election@amherstburg.ca

519-736-0012 • www.amherstburg.ca 271 Sandwich St. South, Amherstburg, Ontario N9V 2A5