Category: Uncategorized

By Matt Weingarden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter

The Town of LaSalle is mourning the loss of longtime councillor Sue Desjarlais, who passed away Monday.

Desjarlais was known as a dedicated and compassionate public servant, recognized for her unwavering integrity, generosity and care. Her passing marks a significant loss not only for council, but for the entire LaSalle community.

First elected to LaSalle Town Council in 2006, Desjarlais served with distinction for nearly 20 years. She was known for her deep commitment to listening to residents, advocating for their needs and working collaboratively to build a stronger, more inclusive LaSalle. Her focus was firmly rooted in community—supporting those in need, fostering meaningful connections and ensuring LaSalle remained a vibrant place to live and grow.

In addition to her municipal service, Desjarlais gave generously of her time to several organizations close to her heart. She served on the board of the John R. Park Homestead, was a proud member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland and a longtime supporter of Community Living Essex County, where she once held the role of board president. She was especially passionate about the LaSalle Food Bank, consistently lending a helping hand to those facing hardship.

Desjarlais also served with the Essex Region Conservation Authority, where she advocated for environmental sustainability and the preservation of natural resources.

Her dedication, warmth and approachability made her a beloved figure in LaSalle. Whether at a community barbecue, council meeting or volunteering behind the scenes, Desjarlais’s heart for service was always evident.

The Town of LaSalle has extended its condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and all who had the privilege of working with her. Officials said she will be remembered with great respect, gratitude and affection.

Flags at all municipal buildings will be lowered to half-mast in her honour. Details regarding memorial arrangements will be shared as they become available.

By: Isabelle Bujold, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter

Each spring, Memorial Park in Tilbury hosts hundreds of children as they hunt for colourful eggs. For more than 40 years, the Tilbury Kinsmen have brought Easter magic to the community—first in partnership with Phylis and the late Don McKenzie for 35 years, and independently for the past five.

On average, the Easter egg hunt draws hundreds of children, with peak years reaching up to 800 participants. In the week leading up to the big day, students from Tilbury Area Public School head to Memorial Park to help prepare the space by picking up sticks and garbage. Their efforts are rewarded with pizza, which was kindly donated this year by Domino’s.

Though the Tilbury Kinsmen sponsor the event in full, the support of the community plays a vital role. Donations from generous businesses, service clubs and individuals help fund the event, which costs roughly $5,000 annually and includes raffle prizes like bikes and other gifts.

“We wish to acknowledge our residents from Hudson Manor and their volunteers for packing our candy bags for the past 35 years,” said Tim Natyshak, co-chair of the Kinsmen.

“We enjoy our time with them and they love that they can be a part of our Easter egg hunt.”

This year alone, volunteers packed 4,500 candy bags.

With just 13 Kinsmen members, planning begins six weeks in advance. That’s when donation letters are sent, posters go up, the park is booked through the municipality and the call for volunteers goes out. By the time the event arrives, the volunteer team—which includes school kids, seniors and community members—totals around 50 to 60 people.

For Natyshak, his favourite moments include the thank-yous, the giant smiles and the sheer joy radiating from the children.

“The most memorable moment was the year we had 800 participants,” he said. “The park was buzzing and the kids were having a ball.”

Beyond Easter, the Tilbury Kinsmen stay active year-round. On May 31, they’ll host their second annual Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament at the Tilbury Golf Course, after raising more than $8,000 last year. In September, their End of Summer Bash brings free live music from local bands to the park behind the arena.

They also support community initiatives year-round—from running the adult beverage bar at Bluebirds hockey games to sponsoring soccer, bursaries and Canada Day fireworks in partnership with the BIA.

True to their motto, Serving the community’s greatest needs, the Kinsmen are a constant source of generosity in Tilbury.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our fellow service clubs in Tilbury who always support us in our projects, as we do with them,” said Natyshak.

Speaking on behalf of himself and co-chair Keith Edwards, Natyshak offered a heartfelt message to the community.

“Your support over the years means the world to us and to the families of our community,” he said.

By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice

How to protect Canadian agriculture from Donald Trump’s tariffs dominated the talk at the Kent Federation of Agriculture’s all candidates meeting April 17.

Around 150 people attended the event at the Retrosuites Derby Room to hear from five candidates vying to become Chatham-Kent–Leamington’s next Member of Provincial Parliament. And while the submitted questions ranged from affordability to infrastructure to supply chain management, the discussion kept circling back to Trump.

Candidates speaking at the one-hour session included incumbent Conservative MP Dave Epp; Seamus Fleming for the NDP; People’s Party of Canada candidate Trevor Lee; Liberal candidate Keith Pickard and Green Party representative James Plunkett.

The staid older crowd was mostly quiet, with the loudest applause coming in response to comments from Pickard that Mark Carney is the man to lead Canada through the turbulent Trump years.

The mostly civil meeting that saw candidates answer seven prepared questions took a slight turn at the end as Epp and Pickard took shots at each other’s parties.

“This election by far is the most important election of our lifetime, ” Pickard told the crowd. “As I said in the beginning our sovereignty is at stake. We need a strong government. And Mark Carney is the person to negotiate a trade deal to support Canada. Without a doubt Poilievre will not be able to garner the respect that Carney will get with Trump. You will not get the same trade deal.”

Pickard never missed an opportunity throughout the meeting to point out that dollars flow to the candidate that has a sitting member of the governing party in power.

“It’s essential that we tell the story of Chatham-Kent–Leamington and bring those funds back,” Pickard said.

Citing a decade of “Liberal ineptness,” Epp countered that “common sense says you don’t put the arsonist back in charge of the fire that they lit.”

Using Pickard’s words that dollars flow to the governing party representative, Epp called the practice “pork barrelling” consistent with Liberal “corruption.

“Make no mistake, I’ll advocate for good business, sound policy for this region and for any region,” Epp said, pointing out the Liberals “never talk about” their fiscal record or their record in agriculture.

“Why? Canadians need hope and to be put first for a change,” he added.

Lee echoed Epp’s comments.

“I agree with Dave, we need hope,” he said. “It’s not good here in Canada. Families are split, people are struggling to put food on the table. People can’t find or buy homes. We need to get Canada back to a position where we’re strong internationally and nationally. And fight for everybody and our neighbours… the People’s Party will do that. ”

With the exception of Lee, who said retaliatory tariffs would just make things more expensive, the candidates agreed that strong measures are needed to counter the threat posed by U.S. economic policy.

Epp said the Conservatives would look at removing inter-provincial trade barriers, institute a robust plan to train 350,000 apprentices, maintain Canada’s agri-business supply chains and facilitate an east-west energy corridor.

“We need to improve our position and our ability to trade and build on our strengths with other countries so we can face Trump’s tariffs,” Epp explained.

However, Pickard said the Liberals will remove all inter-provincial trade barriers by July 1 and focus on expanding agri-business across the board.

All of the candidates laid out plans for protecting agriculture, with Fleming saying the NDP will ban foreign speculation on farms and increase spending and long-term loans to the agri-business sector.

Fleming said the Chatham-Kent area has been “let down” by government, particularly in the area of rural health care.

“This election is not just about tariffs, it’s about making way for the next generation of farmers,” he said, noting the federal government has supported big grocery corporations such as Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Lee said the farming sector needs to eliminate inter-provincial trade barriers, return to a smaller, more sustainable farming model and get rid of supply chain management.

Plunkett said Canada needs to hold back the resources the United States needs until Trump drops the tariffs, which will help farmers.

He said the Green Party will also focus on clean energy and affordability for all, reducing the use of chemicals to protect citizens and farmland.

By: Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter

Chatham-Kent police responded to a series of incidents in early April involving impaired driving, domestic disputes, public mischief and assaults. Several individuals from Chatham, Tilbury, Wallaceburg and Blenheim were arrested and charged in separate cases. Some remain in custody pending bail hearings, while others have been released with future court dates.

Man arrested twice in one day

A 44-year-old Chatham man was arrested twice on April 10 following two separate incidents involving suspected drug impairment and attempted theft, according to Chatham-Kent police.

The first incident occurred around 12:05 p.m., when officers were called for a wellness check after an unconscious man was found inside a vehicle parked at a local business in Chatham. Police located the man in the driver’s seat. After multiple attempts, they woke him and directed him out of the vehicle. Officers noted signs of impairment and discovered drug paraphernalia in the car.

The man was taken to hospital for evaluation by a drug recognition expert, who determined he was impaired by a central nervous system stimulant and a narcotic analgesic. He was arrested and charged, then released with a court date set for April 28.

Later that day, around 3:56 p.m., police responded to a theft complaint at a building on Grand Avenue West. A man was reportedly seen attempting to steal items from a basement hallway. When confronted by security personnel, the suspect allegedly refused to cooperate and attempted to flee. Police say a brief physical altercation occurred, during which the suspect struck one of the complainants.

Officers identified the man as the same individual arrested earlier in the day and took him into custody again. He was transported to Chatham-Kent Police Service headquarters, where he remains in custody pending a bail hearing.

Two people charged after domestic disturbance

A 78-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman have been charged following a domestic-related incident in Wallaceburg. Police were called to a residence in the northeast area of the community, where they found a 73-year-old woman outside the home. A man and another woman were located inside. Police say a verbal argument stemming from a relationship breakdown escalated into a physical altercation. Both the man and woman were arrested. The 61-year-old woman was released with a court date set for May 5. The 78-year-old man was also released with a court date scheduled for May 12 but is currently being held for bail.

Man charged after domestic dispute

A 38-year-old Chatham man is facing multiple charges after a domestic dispute involving a former partner escalated into a physical altercation and threats.

Police were called to a residence in Chatham. Upon arrival, officers learned the incident involved a man and a 36-year-old woman, both from Chatham, who had previously been in a relationship.

Investigators say the man was bound by court-ordered conditions from a prior incident, including a no-contact order and restrictions from attending locations where the victim was known to be, such as her home, workplace and school.

Despite these conditions, police say the man went to the woman’s residence, where a verbal dispute escalated into a physical confrontation and threatening statements were made. He fled the scene before officers arrived but was later located and arrested. The man was in breach of his court-ordered conditions. He has been charged and remains in custody pending a bail hearing.

Man charged after assault at retail store

A 34-year-old Chatham-Kent man is facing assault charges after police said he attacked a business owner in Tilbury and later assaulted a special constable while in custody.

Police were called to a retail store for a report of an assault. Officers say the accused, who had previously been banned from the property for trespassing, returned to the store and launched an unprovoked attack on the business owner. The victim sustained minor injuries that did not require medical treatment. Police located the suspect nearby and briefly took him into custody. While being held at police headquarters, the man allegedly became irate and spat on a special constable. He has been charged with assault and assaulting a peace officer.

Man charged after misuse of 911 calls

A 42-year-old Blenheim man is facing a public mischief charge after allegedly making multiple non-emergency calls to 911 over several days.

Police say the man contacted the emergency line five times for matters that did not require an urgent response. Officers say the man, who is known to police, was uncooperative during follow-up and was cautioned after the fourth call, but continued to misuse the service.

On April 7, around 11:04 p.m., police responded to another 911 call and located the man on Grand Avenue West in Chatham. He was arrested and charged with public mischief, then released with a court date set for May 5.

Chatham man charged for damaging vehicle

A 36-year-old Chatham man is facing charges after allegedly violating court-ordered conditions and damaging a vehicle during an incident in Chatham.

Police say the man had been bound by an undertaking since March 8 that prohibited him from being within 100 metres of a specific location in Chatham and from communicating with a 40-year-old Wallaceburg woman with whom he had previously been in a five-month intimate relationship.

On April 4, police say the man attended the restricted location and attempted to speak with the woman. When she did not respond, he allegedly threw a chair at her vehicle, causing an estimated $800 in damage. Officers arrested the man at the scene and transported him to police headquarters. He is currently being held for a bail hearing.

Man charged with impaired driving

A 58-year-old Tilbury man has been charged with impaired driving after his vehicle ended up in a water-filled ditch on Baptiste Road.

Officers were called to the scene, where they found a vehicle partially submerged in three to four feet of water. Police entered the water to assist the driver, who appeared disoriented but had no visible injuries. Following an investigation, police determined the man was impaired. He was arrested at the scene and transported for breath testing, which registered blood alcohol concentrations of 180 mg — more than twice the legal limit. He has been charged with impaired operation and operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration over 80 mg.

 

 

By: Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter

As the Easter holiday weekend approaches, residents of Chatham-Kent are being reminded of the various closures and modified hours at municipal facilities and businesses for Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday.

The municipality has released an official list outlining which services and amenities will remain open or closed throughout the weekend, as well as any changes to transit schedules. Here’s what you need to know before heading out this long weekend.

Municipal Offices and Facilities

Most municipal offices and facilities in Chatham-Kent will be closed for the Easter holiday weekend, with exceptions for certain essential services. Here’s a rundown:

Chatham-Kent Municipal Centre: The main municipal offices will be closed on Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21. Services will resume on Tuesday, April 22. For urgent inquiries or services, residents can contact the after-hours service by calling 519-360-1998.

Libraries: All Chatham-Kent Public Libraries will be closed on Friday, April 18, Sunday, April 20, and Monday, April 21. They will reopen on Saturday, April 19, with regular hours.

Recreation Centres: Most community recreation centres, including the Chatham-Kent Community Centre and Blenheim Community Centre, will be closed on Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21. However, some facilities will remain open on Saturday, April 19, for regular programming.

Parks and Cemeteries: Public parks will remain open for the duration of the holiday, and cemetery offices will be closed Friday, April 18 through Monday, April 21. For urgent inquiries, please call 519-352-8300.

Public Transit: Chatham-Kent Transit will operate on a holiday schedule on Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21, with adjusted hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Regular service will resume on Tuesday, April 22.

Retail and Grocery Stores

While many large retail stores and grocery stores will be open for the majority of the weekend, some will have reduced hours on Good Friday and Easter Monday:

Walmart: Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Good Friday and Easter Monday, with regular hours on Saturday and Sunday.

Loblaws and Sobeys: Open on Good Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with reduced hours on Easter Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Both stores will be closed on Sunday, April 20, for Easter Sunday.

Shoppers Drug Mart: Most locations will be open on Good Friday and Easter Monday with reduced hours, generally from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Sunday hours will be slightly adjusted, with stores opening at 11 a.m. and closing at 5 p.m..

Restaurants and Food Services

Restaurants in Chatham-Kent will operate under their usual holiday hours but may close early on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Many local businesses, including those in downtown Chatham and Blenheim, will be serving Easter specials, with reservations recommended.

Tim Hortons: Locations will remain open for Good Friday and Easter Monday but with reduced hours, typically from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m..

McDonald’s: Most locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Good Friday and Easter Monday, with Sunday hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m..

Chatham-Kent Tourism and Attractions

For those looking to enjoy a bit of sightseeing or outdoor activity over the holiday weekend, several popular tourist attractions in Chatham-Kent will be open, although some may have adjusted hours:

Rondeau Provincial Park: The park will remain open, with regular hours for visitors to explore its trails and enjoy the outdoors. The visitor centre will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday, but park entry is still permitted.

Chatham-Kent Museum: Closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday, but open on Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..

Emergency Services

As always, emergency services will continue to operate throughout the holiday weekend. Residents are reminded to dial 911 in case of an emergency. For non-urgent matters, the Chatham-Kent Police Service and Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services will be operating under regular schedules.

Chatham-Kent residents and visitors are encouraged to check the specific operating hours of facilities, stores, and services ahead of the long Easter weekend. Whether you’re staying home to enjoy the holiday or taking advantage of local attractions, planning ahead will help ensure you enjoy a smooth and hassle-free weekend.

For more information on holiday hours and closures, visit the Town of Chatham-Kent’s official website or contact the municipal office directly.

 

 

By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice

Following what officials call a “rigorous recruitment process,” Chatham-Kent has appointed its first deputy chief administrative officer.

Dave Taylor, the municipality’s current director of legal services, has been named to the post, according to a municipal media release.

Taylor, a lawyer who holds a law degree and a master’s degree in public administration from Western University, brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, according to a municipal press release. A Chatham-Kent employee since 2012, Taylor holds a certificate in long-term care leadership, and is also a municipal law instructor in the law government program at Western.

According to the release, Taylor’s new portfolio will focus on overseeing several divisions within Chatham-Kent, but he will also be tasked with advancing Chatham-Kent’s advocacy efforts with senior levels of government. This will include communicating C-K’s unique needs and opportunities to the provincial and federal governments, with a focus on financial sustainability.

The release stated Taylor has experience in municipal advocacy, having led parts of the efforts to lobby the province in the wake of the 2021 Wheatley explosion.

Taylor brings extensive volunteerism to the job as well and currently sits on the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance board.

Previously, he held seats on the boards of the Chatham-Kent Community Foundation, Restorative Justice Chatham-Kent and the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre.

Taylor said he’s looking forward to the job.

“I am thrilled to continue my journey serving our amazing community in this new capacity,” Taylor explained. “Throughout my career, I have been inspired by the passion and commitment of our mayor, council, and community groups to make Chatham-Kent a great place to live, work, and visit. I am committed to using my new role to continue the municipality’s goal of delivering quality services and improving Chatham-Kent for all of our citizens.”

The deputy CAO role was created following the retirement of C-K general manager of corporate services Cathy Hoffman, the release said. Her responsibilities will be redistributed amongst the executive management team.

Mayor Darrin Canniff, Entegrus president & CEO Jim Hogan, Oxford County CAO Ben Addley, Leamington CAO Peter Neufeld, Chatham-Kent CAO Michael Duben and Hoffman were part of the decision-making team that reviewed applications for the position.

By: Muhammad Aamir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter

Chatham-Kent police have laid charges in several unrelated incidents across the region in recent weeks, including robbery, theft, harassment, traffic violations, and assault. Investigations led to arrests in cases involving stolen property recovered through social media, bear mace used in a confrontation, and a man allegedly reporting a break-in he committed himself.

MAN CHARGED AFTER THEFT OF WIRING FROM LIGHT POLES

A 25-year-old Chatham man has been charged following a February incident in which wiring was stolen from several light poles on a property along Gregory Drive East, police say.

The police were called to the scene after a 23-year-old Chatham man reported damage and theft. Investigators say a suspect tampered with a light pole on the north side of the property, removing a wiring box and cutting wires, disabling the lights. The suspect then allegedly targeted two additional poles on the southwest side, removing another 40 to 50 feet of wiring. Surveillance footage captured a white SUV arriving at the scene, with a man and woman seen entering and exiting the vehicle within 15 minutes. Police say an Ontario licence plate was visible in the video. The police arrested a 25-year-old Chatham man at police headquarters. He was charged in connection with the theft and mischief and later released with a court date scheduled for May 5.

WOMAN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HARASSMENT

A 50-year-old Chatham woman has been charged after allegedly violating her probation order and engaging in criminal harassment.

Police say the accused, who had been placed on probation on March 24 with conditions to stay at least 100 metres away from a 41-year-old victim’s residence, was heard yelling profanities near the victim’s home on Colborne Street around 6:18 p.m. The victim contacted the police, and video evidence confirmed the accused was within the restricted area. Officers arrested the woman for breaching her probation and engaging in criminal harassment. She was transported to the police headquarters and held for a bail hearing.

MAN CHARGED AS TRAFFIC STOP REVEALS SUSPENDED LICENCE

A 33-year-old Chatham man is facing multiple charges after a patrol officer pulled him over in the early morning and discovered he was driving with a suspended licence and unauthorized licence plates.

Police say the officer was travelling east on Wellington Street West when the cruiser’s Automatic Licence Plate Reader (ALPR) flagged the vehicle for an unattached plate.

A subsequent investigation determined the plates did not belong to the driver or the vehicle and that the man was under two licence suspensions — one for unpaid fines and another for medical reasons. The plates were seized and returned to the Ministry of Transportation. The has been charged with using a plate not authorized for the vehicle and two counts of driving while under suspension.

MAN CHARGED AFTER REPORTING BREAK-IN AT PROPERTY

A 48-year-old Chatham-Kent man has been charged with a break-and-enter after allegedly reporting a crime he was later believed to have committed.

The police say they were called about an insecure property on St. Clair Street, near Grand Avenue in Chatham. Officers arrived to find the door to a vacant apartment above a business had been kicked in. Following an investigation, police say evidence at the scene and comments made by the man who reported the incident led them to believe he was responsible for the damage. He was arrested, charged with break-and-enter, and released with conditions and a court date set for May 12.

MAN CHARGED AFTER VEHICLE ROBBERY IN DRESDEN

A 42-year-old Wallaceburg man is facing charges after a vehicle was stolen during a robbery at a gas station in Dresden and later found abandoned following a crash.

Chatham-Kent police say officers were called to a gas station in Dresden after a man entered the business, threatened a 29-year-old employee, and demanded the keys to his vehicle. The suspect then fled the scene in the stolen car. Police were able to identify the man quickly using video surveillance footage. A short time later, Ontario Provincial Police reported the vehicle had been involved in a single-vehicle crash north of Glencoe and was left abandoned.

The OPP officers located the suspect in Petrolia, where he was arrested and later transported to Chatham-Kent Police Service headquarters. The stolen vehicle was recovered and returned to its owner. The man has been charged in connection with the incident.

WATER HEATER RECOVERED AFTER SPOTTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA

A stolen tankless water heater has been recovered by the police after it was listed for sale online. The police say the heater was taken during a break-and-enter. A 28-year-old Chatham man contacted police after spotting an item matching the stolen heater on a social media marketplace. Officers traced the listing to a local residence and confirmed the item matched the one reported stolen. A 34-year-old Chatham man was arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. He was released with a court date scheduled for April 28. Police say the water heater was later returned to its rightful owner.

MAN CHARGED AFTER BEAR MACE INCIDENT

A 54-year-old Tilbury man is facing charges after allegedly spraying another man in the face with bear mace during a sidewalk confrontation.

The police were called to Young Street after reports of a disturbance. Investigators say the accused encountered a 38-year-old man with whom he had a prior disagreement earlier in the day. As the verbal argument escalated, the older man allegedly pulled out bear spray and discharged it at close range into the victim’s face.

The victim fled into his residence, while the accused was also affected by the airborne spray and fell to the ground. Both men were assessed by Chatham-Kent EMS and cleared at the scene. The 54-year-old was arrested and has been charged in connection with the incident.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

During the recently held Provincial Election – and during other past upper-tier elections – the County of Essex used its website and social media to advance its priorities.

 

Tecumseh Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti, who is also the Deputy Warden for the County of Essex, asked if Administration had any plans to put out a list of its priorities during the current Federal Election.

 

Administration has had some internal discussions and a list of priorities has been created, CAO Sandra Zwiers noted at the April 2 meeting, when this matter was brought up.

 

Back in 2021, during the previous Federal Election, there were four priorities, Zwiers relayed. They included affordable housing, infrastructure funding, strategic business investment, and universal broadband internet.

 

“Today’s announcements have certainly changed the landscape and the influence of the federal government as it relates to tariffs and its impact on Windsor-Essex businesses,” Zwiers said. The announcement in which she referred was US President Donald Trump’s on automotive tariffs.

 

“This is something on top of everyone’s minds.”

 

She suggested updating the 2021 priorities to include the tariff conversation.

 

“I think it is very important that the federal government backstop and support local businesses who are on the frontlines of these decisions that are completely out of their control,” Zwiers said. “And we would be looking to advocate to the federal government – whichever party wins – to make sure Windsor-Essex businesses are fully supported in that.”

 

Other priorities could include removing interprovincial trade barriers.

 

“We want to have a country with federal leadership that understands Canadians’ economy should help fund itself,” Zwiers said. “And working together across our provincial boundaries, I think, is very important and something we should be advocating for, particularly for Essex County.”

 

From the 2021 priority list, infrastructure funding and affordable housing are things that are relevant for the County to advocate for in the present, she noted.

 

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara believes the Canadian government needs to maintain funding on the Great Lakes, let the US know the need to protect fisheries, and the importance of clean water and source water protection of the Great Lakes.

 

That will be added to the priority list.

 

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy hopes whoever is elected as the Essex MP will meet with County Council after the election.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

How County of Essex Council could even start the topic of potentially exploring regional policing still needs to be determined, if Council even chooses to explore the option at all.

 

Essex County Council will be able to decide whether or not to direct County Administration to provide a report on the cost-estimate for engaging a consultant to perform a feasibility study for regional policing at the June 4 meeting.

 

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy made that a Notice of Motion at the April 2 meeting. She noted it is a big file, a big ask of County administration to explore, and something the Town of Essex is also looking at.

 

That will give time for County Councillors to go back to their municipalities and connect with their municipal staff and Councillors on the matter.

 

She would also want County Council to get any historical reports at the County-level on policing.

 

“I’m not even saying I am going to support the motion that I am going to raise, but I am all in favour of gathering information,” Bondy said. “I think it is diligent to actually have information.”

 

This was the outcome on the matter last week, after Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue initiated the conversation.

 

At the March 5 meeting, Prue put forward two Notices of Motion in forms of options for County Council to consider as it relates to regional police. They were introduced to County Council for discussion at the April 2 meeting.

 

He hoped County Administration could report on both options in the future, so County Council could consider them in the future.

 

Option 1 asked County Council to direct Administration of the County of Essex to work with local municipalities to explore options for traditional regional policing models for the County of Essex and that it be in place for January 1, 2029. Administration would report back as

soon as possible.

 

Option 2 asked County Council to direct Administration of the County of Essex work with local

municipalities to explore possible options for a collaborative approach to policing in the long-term, where the Police Board, Command, and Corporate structures are held at the County-level and local communities are provided with options for flexible service delivery models to meet local needs and pricing.

 

The Option 2 model should be built upon the premise that any municipality can opt-out of the program if they have other means of providing policing to their community.

 

In having the County coordinate, there would be one Chief of Police, one administration, and municipalities could opt-in or opt-out. LaSalle, in having its own service, may want to opt-out, for instance, Prue noted.

 

“This would allow the local municipalities to determine their wants and needs, and potentially save money for each one of the municipalities that currently uses the OPP,” Prue said.

 

The 2029 timeline would allow the County to discover if there is a better model going forward than the ones local municipalities are using at this point.

 

Through his motions, Prue noted that the Town of Amherstburg Policing Contract with the

City of Windsor ends on December 31, 2028 and the City of Windsor has decided not to renew this contract with the Town of Amherstburg.

 

“We in Amherstburg found ourselves in a particularly bad situation a few months ago,” Prue said when they learned the contract with Windsor Police Services will be terminated.

 

That follows the decision made a few years back, when Amherstburg decided to do away with its own police force. It does not have its own police equipment, cars, radios, and soon will be without its own police officers.

 

Council for the Town of Amherstburg wanted to look at five options: Ask Windsor Police to reconsider, see if LaSalle Police would be interested, create its own – though that was thought to be cost-prohibitive, approach the OPP, or approach the County of Essex to see if a new structure could be put in place to assist all municipalities of Essex County.

 

He also noted that five of the seven local municipalities in Essex County are currently receiving policing services from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

 

Because the County is not currently in the business of providing police services, Essex County CAO Sandra Zwiers suggested retaining a third-party consultant to unpack the options and work on the costing, instead of having administration create the report.

 

“This is not a new conversation for County Council,” Zwiers said, believing there are at least two feasibility reports on file that were created over the last two-to-three decades. One was completed prior to the 1999 amalgamation, the other a few years after amalgamation.

 

Funds could also be set aside in the 2026 Budget to get the consultant.

 

The Town of Essex was to discuss a report on policing at an April 7 special meeting, which Bondy will send to members of County Council.

 

“That report could give us awesome information as well,” she noted.

 

“We need to have a fulsome conversation, but I don’t want to have a knee-jerk [reaction],” Bondy said. “I think residents, generally, think we can do regional police and they think we can do it really easy. And they think we can do it cheaper.”

 

As someone involved in municipal Council for over a decade, she is a little more of a realist. Bondy noted the Town of Essex pays a little over $3M for its policing. The start-up costs alone will cost residents millions.

 

She respected Amherstburg’s position, and noted regional policing in theory makes a lot of sense.

 

“But I think it is going to be really expensive.” Bondy was also skeptical the opt-in, opt-out option would be sustainable for the County.

 

If County Council was going to talk about retaining a consultant at budget time, Bondy believes resolutions from the local municipal Councils would be needed first in addition to hosting public consultations.

 

In Essex, Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley said, nostalgia says there is a desire for the municipal police. But, it is not a reality, he said.

 

He believes what there is currently in terms of policing is working for Essex, and there is room to make it better.

 

Perhaps there could be a hub and spoke system that would better serve the community and allow for more policing, which residents would like to see.

 

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara said his municipality has had an OPP contact since 1947. A recent survey conducted in Tecumseh provided the OPP with a 90% approval rating.

 

To start a regional police department, it would cost astronomical dollars, he added.

 

Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers put forward a motion to postpone the matter to the May 7 meeting, and that the two previous reports on regional policing be distributed for Council review and consideration. This motion failed.

 

LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche thought this was an important conversation, and felt terrible for Amherstburg’s situation.

 

“We do love our LaSalle Police,” she said, noting LaSalle was not looking to change its model.

 

Hiring a consultant on this matter, Meloche anticipated, would be high.

 

If there are municipalities in the area interested in creating a regional police service, perhaps they can look into this together. LaSalle would want to opt-out at this point, as it knows it is not interested in changing its model.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Essex Council learned 2024 was a quiet year in terms of complaints lodged to the Integrity Commissioner.

Integrity Commissioner for the Town of Essex, Bruce Elman, presented his annual report for 2024 during the April 7 meeting.

“There was very little activity, and that is really good,” Elman told Council. “So, this is a positive development and pretty consistent with 2023, as well.”

Last year, Elman said he produced one letter of advice, but did not produce any primers, which provide guidance to members of Council and others to whom the Code of Conduct applies, so that they can avoid violations. He added there were three instances of brief advice that were provided.

When it comes to complaints, one was filed, Elman said. It was discontinued and no further action was taken.

There were also a few instances of brief service, as well.

The primary functions of an Integrity Commissioner are to provide education and training, advice to members of Council, investigate complaints, engage in complaint adjudication and resolution, and on occasion help to develop town policy when it comes to ethics and integrity, Elman outlined.

After the 2022 election, Elman spent time with Council members to go over the Code of Conduct Policy and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. He hopes that training will be extended to members of the community who volunteer on town boards and committees in the future.

In preparation for the 2026 Municipal Election, Elman said there are certain ethical rules and principles that govern municipal elections and govern the conduct of Council members when seeking re-election. In the fall, he intends to speak to the Town Clerk and CAO to arrange time to present a training program for current Councillors intending to run for re-election, as the rules are quite strict.

In answering Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley’s question on the typical turnaround for Elman to respond to an email from a Council member, Elman said the turnaround time is dependent on the situation. If the issue is a drawn-out matter, for instance, it may take a longer period of time to provide advice.

Shepley also asked about the complaint, and wondered if the Council member who had the complaint issued against them is notified about it, in addition to the result of the investigation. Elman said that typically, when a complaint is made, he tries to gather particulars, and then connects with the member of Council who is the subject of the complaint.