During the February 22 discussion, when Councillor Courtney asked about Open Air options AND pros and cons, Crain asked staff, hasn’t the past Council already looked at ways to refine open air and that’s why some of the barricades were moved in closer? This feels a bit redundant to me if this has already been looked at by council. And from last night and from what we’ve been hearing, it’s pretty clear that the format is great. But based on my understanding, council’s already looked at this.

He’s right, past council was presented with the THRIVE white paper on Open Air; ‘this White Paper will make a case to council that a revised Open Air with more town funding should be done in 2022.’ Crain was part of the team that created that white paper.

Renée D’Amore (director)
Sara Palmer (director)
Kory Renaud (director)
Richard Peddie (director)
Kurt Reffle
Linden Crain

During the March 13 Open Air discussion, Councillor Crain said he’d be completely honest, he didn’t even think Open Air should have been a topic of discussion.

What?! Why not? According to the Information and Privacy Commissioner Ontario site, ‘Open Government is based on the core belief that the public has the right to access the records and proceedings of government to enable greater openness, accountability, and engagement.’

The THRIVE site: We believe that it should be a permanent summer feature. 

On March 13, Crain said, I also think perhaps we shouldn’t even be discussing this every year because eventually it’s going to be nothing. We’re going to continue to tweak it and really try to please everyone and it’s not going to happen.

The following was emailed to members of council.

Kudos to Councillor Pouget for consistently acknowledging the town’s legal obligation to comply with provincial legislation.

Kudos to Councillor Courtney and Councillor Allaire for recognizing the duty to consider the needs of the whole community and recognize the distinction between public and private interests.

Shame on Deputy Mayor Gibb for speaking not only as a member of council but as a husband, father, son-in-law and businessman. I have little interest in how you and your family spend your time or what activities you participate in. Also, for stating, “I’m proud to say that I did complete the ADOA training that was offered to all members of council and I hope to put what I learned into practice not only in my “municipal life” but also in my personal life.” I hoped so too. I don’t know what the training consisted of since I was advised to file a Freedom of Information request.

Shame on Councillor McArthur for advocating for trails, active transportation, dog parks and consistently championing Open Air. As council’s rep on the Accessibility Advisory committee, you should have advocated for the removal of barriers. Maybe Councillor Pouget should have been appointed?

Shame on Councillor Crain who answered yes, he would remove Open Air barriers during the election campaign but voted to continue Open Air; he was a co-author of Thrive’s Open Air white paper. How would he fulfill the obligation to remove barriers? Answer, in part, ‘follow regulations outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act; always remain available to address concerns any resident faces in the Town of Amherstburg; work closely with Town Administration to establish procedures and measures that ensure those with disabilities have the opportunity to experience all our community has to offer.’ And then, during the March 13 meeting say he’d be completely honest, he didn’t even think Open Air should have been a topic of discussion.

Shame on Mayor Prue for asking Council to find it in their hearts to compromise with the other side. Shouldn’t the human right for equal participation in the community have superseded the desire to seek consensus? Public funds should never be spent on barriers and accessibility should never be compromised.

Finally, THANK YOU for confirming what I have wondered for over three decades – where does accessibility fit in the priorities? 

During the March 13, 2023 council meeting discussion of the boat launch, Councillor Crain asked administration, just looking at the five year capital budget, based on my understanding, a boat launch has not been projected over the next five years.

Heidi Baillargeon answered, It’s not in the five year it doesn’t mean that if Council chooses to shift priorities within that portfolio they can choose to do so.

I was wondering if a custom stamp should be created, like approve administration’s recommendations?

Yes, council sets priorities and administration implements their decisions. Let’s watch for that trend.

I asked CAO Critchley: on what date did current members of council receive training in accessibility?

Critchley: November 29, 2022.

I could not find accessibility listed on the November 29 council workshop agenda.

Then I asked CAO Critchley to email me copies of the accessibility training materials provided to members of council at their November training.

CAO Critchley: With respect to your request for documents, please file a Freedom of Information Request.

Tonight’s meeting starts at 6 pm and can be viewed online to find out:

Will Councillor Crain vote to remove barriers as he said he would during the 2022 campaign?

Will Councillor McArthur, council’s rep to the Accessibility Advisory Committee vote to remove barriers?

Will Amherstburg be the “welcoming, inclusive community that values diversity, accessibility and the essential dignity of all people?”

One of Prue’s priorities: Drive completion of key town projects – Duffy’s, revitalization of parks, new fire hall, public boat launch at Ranta, Belle Vue.     

The Festivals and Events Ontario award to Amherstburg recognizes ‘the best in municipal leadership and festival and event partnerships in the Province of Ontario.’

The application consists of:

Question 1

List of your individual festivals & events:

a) Please provide the judges with a clear presentation of why your Municipality should be selected.
b) Include a list of leading festivals and events (up to a max. of five (5). These festivals and events (provide dates) were staged in and/or supported by your Municipality for the time frame of September 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. Please tell us when the festival or event was established, who is your primary contact for it and, if known, also provide information on the approximate attendance at each and how many are local citizens vs out-of-town visitors/tourists (i.e those residing more than 100 km away).

Question 2

Tell us about your Municipal infrastructure for festivals and events:

a) Please provide your most recent (Canada Census)Municipal population.
b) What are the accommodation, parking and transit options for visitors to the festivals and events?
c) Outline your primary festival and event venues, including capacities for each.
d) Do you have an emergency response plan for festivals and events operating within your jurisdiction? e) Is there anything else you wish to include in this section?

Question 3

Tell us about how your municipality directly supports festivals and events through areas under its direct control:

a) Do you have a dedicated support team, policy or plan for presenting and/or supporting festivals and events? If so, please elaborate.
b) What monetary budget in direct funding do you provide for presenting and/or supporting festivals and events?
c) Do you also provide a value-in-kind budget or allocation as well? if so, please elaborate.
d) Define the role of your Municipal staff in festival or event Planning Committee/Board involvement (if applicable) and/or describe the Municipal approval process for a festival or event.
e) Does your Municipality help to market or promote the festival or event within your jurisdiction?
f) Is there anything else you wish to include in this section?

Question 4

Tell us how your Municipality may indirectly support festivals and events through areas that it may be able to influence:

a) Does your Municipality provide input to and/or assistance with the efforts of other non-Municipal-government operating bodies within your jurisdiction such as Chambers of Commerce, educational institutions, local or regional sports organizations (if applicable) and/or similar externally managed organizations etc. to support festivals and events?
b) Does your Municipality get involved in such areas as helping the festival and event organizers to source volunteers and/or sponsors and/or media support and/or festival and/or event industry suppliers?
c) Is there anything else you wish to include in this section?

Supporting Materials

1) Submit up to three (3) high resolution photos demonstrating how your Municipality supported festivals and events in your jurisdiction.

Councillor Courtney requested that staff bring back various business models for conducting Open Air and the pros and cons to each.

He mentioned that once council actually gets the ideas and the concepts and the pros and cons, they can defend council’s position.

Councillor Courtney moved, seconded by Councillor Pouget, and read aloud by the clerk ‘THAT administration bring back a report on the various business models for Open Air including pros and cons of each, for example, is it stay as it is Friday and Saturday on long weekends only? One weekend a month etc? For the next regular council meeting.’

Mayor Prue voted for the motion and it was carried.

Anne Rota Ussoletti’s Report to Council recommends council approve one of the five options; pros and cons do not appear to be included.