Tag Archives: accessibility

Amherstburg Library Relocation: Community Concerns Unveiled

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Re RTT article, Amherstburg library in early stages of possible relocation, nothing imminent. 

Deputy Mayor Gibb’s statement that “people are assuming something is imminent” is concerning since he advised the library board in March that the town “is expected to begin searching for a new location for the Amherstburg branch in April.”

Gibb claimed his March 26 library board meeting comments stemmed from a March 25 council notice of motion, although council had not debated the notice of motion until April. Council’s subsequent motion was to obtain an administration report on future opportunities to relocate the branch. It might have been more helpful if the library had been included in the town’s space needs study last year.

Three council members’ allegations regarding library deficienciesu are disconcerting, especially because they have not answered questions about the reasons for their statements. 

While Gibb mentioned it certainly has challenges with the tall shelves, which most libraries have, Councillor McArthur stated it’s not as accessible as it otherwise might be ideal. Councillor Allaire said she would like the library to have a new place ‘that’s accessible’ and our library service is small and ‘not as accessible as we want it to be,’ and ‘its challenges are inaccessibility.’ 

The focus of the library board’s facilities space review was space preference which should not be construed as inaccessibility. 

In April, I asked the library board to provide me with any documentation indicating there are accessibility issues at the Amherstburg library; this month, I submitted a Freedom of Information request.

For decades I have repeatedly requested a stronger commitment to accessibility, while Mayor Prue referenced the AODA and declared that they have not brought it into force and this town has not been compliant. 

Council needs to prioritize accessibility and respond to community requests for washrooms in parks, shade structures, inclusive playgrounds, sidewalk repairs or replacements, rest areas, an accessible town hall, accessible voting, accessible signage, accessible parking and paved parking lots, for example. 

Council also needs to justify that its decision on whether to relocate the library is based on facts and not conjecture.

Linda Saxon

Inconsistencies: Councillor Allaire – Transparency

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Elected officials should be held accountable for statements, actions, and decisions made on behalf of the community. Amherstburg’s Code of Conduct Definitions include: Transparency in government implies openness, accountability and honesty.

During the April 14 council meeting, Councillor Allaire said she would like the library to have a new place ‘that’s accessible’ and our library service is small and ‘not as accessible as we want it to be,’ and ‘its challenges are inaccessibility.’ 

Unanswered questions: Would you please explain how this library is not accessible? Is this just your opinion? Or did you obtain an expert opinion? Can you cite an authority for your statement or a basis? And who is we? Are you referring to any standard regarding what you want it to be? Emailed April 15, followed up April 18 and 21.

During the April 29 council meeting, Allaire asked for a bit more transparency; she also mentioned more transparency, “which is what I would love,” at the May 12 meeting.

On June 14, I emailed Allaire that I believed she was not being transparent about her library accessibility issue statements. I reminded her that I emailed a couple of times but that she ignored my questions. I also quoted some of her statements about transparency at meetings: “I’m genuinely asking for a bit more transparency in adding it to our social media” and “I feel that the transparency was limited recently, and I think that that’s what the public really wants” and “I actually appreciate the fact that it keeps some sort of transparency.”

Still Silence From Council Members Allaire, McArthur and Gibb

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Council members Allaire, McArthur and Gibb alleged there were deficiencies at the Amherstburg Library during council meetings but none have answered my questions about their statements.

Following the February 14, 2025 presentation to Amherstburg town council by Essex County Library Board Mr. Joe Bachetti, Councillor Donald McArthur said, ‘in terms of the one thing there the redesign of physical spaces to promote flexible, welcoming branches that are accessible and modern, I think there must be some challenges in Amherstburg. We have a beautiful building, but it’s not as modern as accessible I don’t think as it as otherwise might be ideal. 

During the April 14 council meeting, Councillor Molly Allaire said she would like the library to have a new place ‘that’s accessible’ and our library service is small and ‘not as accessible as we want it to be,’ and ‘its challenges are inaccessibility.’ 

During the April 14 council meeting discussion, Gibb said, ‘it’s certainly not, well, I’m not gonna say it’s not accessible; it certainly has challenges with the tall shelves. It’s better if you can spread them out and have shorter shelves.’ 

EMAILS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Allaire: During last night‘s council meeting, you said you would like the library to have a new place ‘that’s accessible’ and our library service is small and ‘not as accessible as we want it to be.’ Would you please explain how this library is not accessible? Is this just your opinion? Or did you obtain an expert opinion? Can you cite an authority for your statement or a basis? And who is we? Are you referring to any standard regarding what you want it to be? Emailed April 15, followed up April 18 and 21.

McArthur: During a council meeting earlier this year you referenced an accessible library. Do you consider the current library inaccessible? If so, in what way? Is this your personal opinion? Or did you obtain an expert opinion? Emailed April 16, followed up April 19 and emailed Following up. Since you spoke about accessibility of the Jack Purdie Park trail at the April 14 meeting, I thought you would’ve welcomed an opportunity to comment on accessibility at the library. If not, people might assume you promote accessibility when it suits April 23.

Gibb: During an Amherstburg Residents’ Forum meeting that you attended, I asked you if the library board noted any deficiencies and you answered, ‘none whatsoever.’ During the April 14 council meeting, you said, ‘it’s certainly not, well, I’m not gonna say it’s not accessible; it certainly has challenges with the tall shelves. It’s better if you can spread them out and have shorter shelves.’ So you do think it’s accessible? Don’t all libraries have ‘tall shelves?’ Have you heard of reachers? Will all the library branches be altered so they have ‘shorter shelves?’ Is this just your opinion or an expert’s opinion? Emailed April 23, followed up May 14.

I’ve also reached out to the library board and submitted an FOI request for documentation from same.

20 Year AODA Anniversary – Barriers In The Burg

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Then-MPP Michael Prue stood in the Ontario Legislature twenty years ago today, on May 10, 2005, where the historic Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) unanimously passed. Watch the moment at about 4:26 into the video.

As Mayor, during a May 23, 2023 Amherstburg Council Meeting, Prue declared we have not brought it into force. Listen to the audio.

Unofficial transcript: 2025 we’re going to have to make everything accessible in this town, that’s the law. I was in the legislature 20 something years ago, and I spoke to this issue when the bill was presented in the legislature, and I scoffed at them. I scoffed at the liberals who were standing up waving this piece of paper around, saying we’re going to be accessible, because it could take 25 years to bring it into force. Well, in this town, we have not brought it into force. 

When the first dog park opened in Amherstburg, Prue was quoted as saying, it ‘reflects our commitment to creating a vibrant and inclusive community for all residents, including our beloved canine companions.’

During a January 27, 2025 council meeting, Prue referenced the AODA and said, ‘this town has not been compliant. And I have promised, as mayor, and the council has promised, that we will hence for, hence forward, going forward, always be AOD compliant. And I want people to know that the those who have disabilities have every right to use every one of the services in this town, the same as everyone else.’

For as long as barriers exist, and they do, no one should claim we are an inclusive community. It takes strong leadership and a strong commitment to remove the barriers and keep promises.

Another ‘Want’ With An Over-expenditure Approved – Jack Purdie Park Trail

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To ensure that anyone interested would like to read an accurate blog post about my April 14 delegation to Amherstburg council I’m sharing this document, which is what I actually stated. I reminded council that consultation with persons with disabilities was mandatory and I requested council to create a process to ensure compliance with the AODA Regulation, embrace the spirit of the AODA and to create an engagement policy, a topic that wasn’t discussed much and one which was not granted.

Jack Purdie Park Trail

In response to Councillor Pouget’s questions, the clerk outlined a four step consultation process that included consulting the accessibility committee and the public, which is what I pointed out. The AODA Regulation clearly states that, aside from the public and accessibility committee, it is mandatory to consult people with disabilities. Council’s lengthy discussion about the Jack Purdie Park trail then focused on the approximate $100,000. over-expenditure and procurement processes.

McArthur spoke about the condition of the trail and said they need to fix the trails in that park. It’ll benefit the people in the monopoly subdivision, will benefit the entire community, it will benefit the 6300 people with accessibility issues in town (people don’t have accessibility issues, they have disabilities and I bet he didn’t know about the 6300 people until I mentioned it that night) because it is going to make a wider path from a narrow one. It’s going to fix a patchwork of alligator cracks, and it’s going to be AODA compliant. (He actually mentioned AODA complaint).

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb thought it was time to deliver for the people who live in that area. He believed it was the parks master plan, one of the top amenities that people wanted were walking trails so it checks that box for him. It’s unfortunate that it’s over budget, but costs are rising faster than anybody can account for them, which is certainly no fun. But we got to do what we got to do. I like the idea of having this in the park so that kids learning to ride bikes or roller blade or whatever can do it in the park rather than on the streets or on the sidewalks.

Councillor Crain parroted the master plan and he likes how they’re incorporating a number of trees and they’re now going to be making this pathway accessible; it went to the accessibility committee as well. (I don’t think he watched the accessibility committee meeting because the committee just sat there without any comments or questions, other than one member who asked how much over budget they were, $100,000. and the clerk interjected to say financials really are not in the realm of the advisory committees). About the high cost, well it’s very difficult for staff to catch up to that point when it is put out to tender.

Councillor Pouget said she would be voting against this; she cannot in good conscience vote for this. In a perfect world, maybe back in 2022 things were so different. Now in 2025 our residents fear for their livelihood. They’ve heard over and over again the food bank cannot keep up; they have over 27% increase with the needs of our municipality, and the mission is the same way. People are fearing for their jobs and their livelihood; they don’t know how they’re going to put food on the table and provide the necessities of life for their family. She believed it was unreasonable and unfair to approve a large, $100,000 over-expenditure for an eighth trail and the third large sliding hill in these tough economic times. This council cannot justify spending this large amount of money on a want instead of a need when Council must approve $191,303 for a boiler replacement tonight, and take $91,000 from reserves at the Libro, pay $3 million for a fire truck and another $91,000 taken from reserves. These are necessary needs. The track and hill are not a need; they are a want. This money for this expenditure, for this already beautiful park, would be better used to pay for the unforeseen costs of the expansion of our water treatment plant, the new policing replacement and contract, the town hall, the former Duffy’s property, and the upgrades and necessary repairs to all municipal buildings, crumbling infrastructure and replacement of dwindling reserves. It’s unfair to pour additional money to one park while other parks have been neglected, and it’s unreasonable to approve this over expenditure on a $30,000 grant from Enbridge that is currently unknown. It is ridiculous to approve this expenditure on these wants instead of these needs, when washrooms and shade cover are more important for this park. Just this past week, we were told that they couldn’t afford to repair the window sills at the library unless it went to the heritage committee and to the 2026 budget. Today, they were told they can’t fix six concession north, even though it’s in deplorable condition to the 2031 budget. For these reasons, I think that what we should be doing is taking a pause on this park and until our economy improves. 

Mayor Prue passed the gavel to reminisce and praise Councillor Allaire. Prue mentioned sitting there in 2021 and talking about this park and an administration motion to sell a portion of the park off in order to get enough money to build what we’re building today. Well, ‘God bless Councillor Allaire, because she wasn’t a councillor then, but she went around that whole area putting up signs and organized the community. The community wanted no part of that park being sold off.’ (Generalized statements about survey results are often made, including claims that everyone wants it. As someone in the Jack Purdie Park survey commented, “Only approx. 369 people out of a town of 22,000 completed the survey. Why was some affordable housing options dismissed completely based on a survey completed by 369 persons out of 22,000 persons population?? A lot of power given to 369 opinions.”

Prue continued with his speech. What they wanted, and what they’re getting, is that park to be developed and we have fought for this for the last four and a half years for this to be a jewel, and I’m disappointed that it cost me more money than we thought it was going to cost but I will tell you that the council has to think long term. We have to listen to the residents. The community organized itself and said exactly what they wanted in this park. They’ve gone to all the meetings. They’ve told the staff what they want. They’ve gone to the meetings with the Parks and Recreation Committee. They’ve gone to the meetings with the accessibility committee. They’ve gone and explained every single aspect that’s necessary. I wish it was less money. Yes, I do. But remember, there are 12 people, 12 separate companies bid on this, 12 of them, and this was the lowest. So I don’t think we’re getting bamboozled here. I think that’s just the cost. So you either believe in those things that we said four and a half years ago or five years ago, and you believe in what the community wants and it’s the right thing to do, or you don’t, yes, can we save the money? Yes. Can we do something else? Yes, but I will tell you, there will be a lot of disappointed people in the monopoly area, all those kids (there’s about 2600 children ages 0-14 in town), all those parents, all those people have spent four and a half years fighting for this to see it go down the tubes. And I won’t let that happen.

In the end, the project was approved with only Councillor Pouget opposing the project.

Crickets From Council Members Allaire, McArthur and Gibb

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Not one of the three council members that I’ve contacted has answered any of my questions regarding their comments about accessibility issues at the library. I’ve contacted Allaire and McArthur three times and Gibb once.

I’m wondering if accessibility matters when it suits. For example, McArthur, who volunteered to be council’s rep on the Accessibility Committee, spoke about accessibility of the Jack Purdie Park trail at the April 14 council meeting but he won’t comment about the library. Mind you, he is an avid supporter of trails – both walking and biking.

County Road 20 Speed Limit Reduction Approved

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Shocking. Councillor Prue actually praised Councillor Pouget during the April 16, 2025 Essex County Council meeting when council received a report on County Road 20 and Lowes Sideroad. Based on my observations, it’s easy for people to perceive some unfair treatment at the town council meetings where some behaviours are tolerated when they shouldn’t be and others are not tolerated when they should be.

The County Traffic Engineer explained that the intersection of County Road 20 and Lowes Sideroad is actually a county connecting link; therefore, the town of Amherstburg has jurisdiction, and any decision regarding the addition of a pedestrian facility would be theirs to make, and this was discussed with our local municipal partners, the engineering department. So therefore, the recommendation of this report is to reduce the speed limit on County Road 20 from 70 kilometers an hour to 50 kilometers an hour from just south of low side road to 50 meters south of Dalhousie Street. There is limited financial implications, as the signage changes would cost less than $2,000 and could be done by our maintenance staff in our roads crews, and the money would be taken from our 2025, road safety budget. Thank you.

Warden: Thank you, Jerry. Are there any questions? We’ll start with you. Councillor Prue. Listen to the audio; text transcript below.

Prue: first of all to thank you, because this is quite an issue. And Councillor Pouget, who occasionally comes when one of us is not here, this was one of her champion things. She has pushed this and pushed it, and I’m sure she’ll want to say thank you as well, just in terms, I just want to correct for the record, you said a hotel at one time, it was a motel, but it’s now the Blue Haven, and what it is, it’s it’s populated almost entirely by people in wheelchairs and people with some severe disabilities. So I just want that to be clear for the record, this is part of the reason we did this, not because people are driving in and out in a hotel, because they’re not. These are people who have very limited access, and their access is to go out onto the road and somehow get across to the pharmacy and everything that’s on the other side. So just for the record, that’s what it is. But we thank you for what you’ve done, and I guess the ball is now in our court.

The warden then read the recommendation, noting it’s quite lengthy, and it is that:

Essex County Council receive report 20250416, Intersection of County Road 20 and Lowes Sideroad as information, and that Essex County Council direct administration to reduce the speed limit on County Road 20, from 70 kilometers per hour to 50 kilometers per hour, between Lowes Sideroad and 50 meters south of Dalhousie Street. And that by law 202517, be adopted amending by law 262002, to regulate traffic and parking on highways within the Essex County road system, schedule H, to reduce the speed on County Road 20 between Lowes Sideroad and 50 meters south of Dalhousie Street. Moved by Councillor Gibb, seconded by Councillor Prue. Carried.

RECAP Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting April 2, 2025

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Three members were absent: Chris Drew, Councillor McArthur and Christine Easterbrook and Chair Shirley Prue was on zoom. (She was loud, unlike when she’s in person and the mic is sometimes off to the side so it’s difficult to hear her). Vice Chair Pietrangelo chaired the meeting. For whatever reason he, like Prue usually does, called on the clerk to read the land acknowledgement.

Co-An Park Inclusive Playground Design

Heidi Baillargeon, Director, Parks, Facilities and Recreation via zoom, asked if anyone had any questions about the design. Shirley Prue said she thought there was one and offered to read it just because ‘she’ was not going to be there. (‘She’ wasn’t referred to by name but I assume ‘she’ was absent member Christine Easterbrook and ‘she’ actually had three questions).

Question 1: where does the ramp go? It looks the same as the playground apparatus at Ranta, where the ramp goes nowhere; at the end they encounter steps. 

Baillargeon: the ramp does only go up so far within the design; she knows that the design does meet all of the compliance, it is considered fully inclusive; it was the only design that was fully inclusive so when it says fully inclusive, it takes into consideration there’s music panels on there, other play panels, the elements in it and around the playground itself as well as the surfacing and access and egress in and around the playground and to it is what makes it a fully inclusive playground design.  

Prue: What ‘she’ said was that if you let the child get on the ramp and then they just watch everybody play. 

Baillargeon: I guess I would say the intent of the design is they’re allowed to access so far within the structure itself, and then when they’re there, it’s encouraging interactive play in and among the elements so they can get up to all the other areas. So they can go to the top on this one, in terms of coming down that extra wide slide and that’s extra wide if they had somebody assisting to be able to go down there; it accommodates a number of kids at one time, so they can play inclusively alongside those kids.

Question 2: Then ‘she’ asked as well about the swing – is it possible to get a child in a wheelchair on it? 

Baillargeon: the Libro Centre has one. The ones where the wheelchair can fit on don’t meet the public standard, because they need to be fully enclosed, and there has to be a key for them because if the weight of that struck another child on the playground it has the potential to kill them. So those types of swings are in a very controlled environment where there is staffing and personnel. We couldn’t put that out in the general public.

Question 3: ‘She’ did also ask if there was any sort of financial requirement here, but it looks like everything’s covered in the presentation.

Pietrangelo asked if a child in a wheelchair that reaches that area can they go any further right around the curve and go down the slide if they’re in a wheelchair? Baillargeon: in a wheelchair they have to be transferred and then kind of work their way up to the other platform. 

Pietrangelo: so as far as a wheelchair goes, they go up to where it says 305, and there is equipment around there that they can play and even though they’re sitting in their wheelchair, that there’s things. Baillargeon: all the way around that deck. And if they were assisted with somebody else, they could be guided up to the other deck, as well as to the end where the slide is that they could go down with somebody else or another child.

Pietrangelo:  so you’re saying that by themselves, going from that area where it says 305, to the area where is 1.22 they would have to be assisted to go up there, they wouldn’t be able to go up there on their own in a wheelchair. Baillargeon: in a wheelchair, no, depending on their mobility issues they’d have to leave the wheelchair at that point to progress to that stage.

Pietrangelo: and there’s no way, I see figure 1.53 there’s no way that a wheelchair could go over that; there’s barriers around it. Baillargeon: they wouldn’t be able to cross that threshold where it says 305, up to the other one without some kind of assistance to get up. 

Pietrangelo asked what to do and the clerk advised, at this point, the committee could endorse it, receive it, whatever it chose to do. Generally, at this point, the committee does endorse the RFP at this stage. Marc Renaud moved to endorse the proposal as laid out and it carried.

Malden Park RFP for a New Accessible Playground

Baillargeon mentioned this was the first process patterned off of Essex, where there’s a public vote component. The public can visit talk the burg to vote for the playground of your choice of eight designs. Voting closed on April 4 and it’s on Council’s April 14 agenda for approval. Other than Pietrangelo’s question about the survey results, there was no discussion and Renaud’s motion to accept the proposal as presented carried.

Jack Purdie Park RFP for Multi-Use Trail

Baillargeon mentioned the trail is 10 feet wide, fully paved, and inclusive, connecting all elements within the park; ‘little signs’ (hopefully accessible signs) will indicate distances. Baillargeon also noted that every element that they currently have in the park is connected, and every element they develop in the future will also be connected.  (I disagree, given that the accessible swing is segregated). A sledding hill will be installed. Prue asked if they have washrooms in this one. Baillargeon said they’d love to have a washroom; they don’t have funding yet, but they are in the design as well as a future splash pad and a sports court but they’re doing it in phases and this was phase two.

Baillargeon said it would go before council April 14 and let the committee know that all of the bids were over the approved budget for the park in terms of what was allocated just for the trails. Enbridge contributed $30,000 to help fund this project.

Pietrangelo asked how much over budget they were and Baillargeon said all in all, $100,000. The clerk interjected with, just with regards to the role of the committee financials really are not in the realm of the advisory committees. The advisory committee’s purpose and focus is meant to be on the respective subject matters that they deal with, with regards to matters of the financing that really is more of a council matter. Motion to accept as presented carried.

Update on Accessibility Fest for All

Amherstburg offered to host the Essex County Accessibility ‘Fest for All’ to be held at the Libro on September 12. The clerk mentioned how the town has a number of amenities that it can focus on at this location:

  1. the wheelchair swing, one of three in the county
  2. the miracle league diamond itself
  3. sledge hockey 
  4. they’re also working with their aphasia friendly friends for the commitment the town has made to push for that proposal for the town to be aphasia friendly. 

Unfinished Business: 

  1. The clerk mentioned the progress of the aphasia-friendly Amherstburg initiative, aiming to train businesses and organizations in non-verbal communication strategies with a goal to having the town certified as aphasia-friendly by October 2025. (Individuals or businesses could be certified by taking the basic training, but I fail to see how an entire town could be certified). The clerk said if they’re welcoming people to come to our community, they want them to be able to walk into any business and receive that level of support. (Not everyone can just walk into any business if there are stairs and steps though).
  2. The Miracle League is looking for volunteers.
  3. The Seymour Street reconstruction.
  4. Renaud wanted someone to explain the process of accessible parking, how it works, and the requirements for a home based business for example.
  5. Accessible Parking and Enforcement Blitz.
  6. Promote the email address for accessibility concerns: accessibility@amherstburg.ca

Adjournment since there was no new business.

Moving Beyond ‘Crazy’: Language and Disability Awareness

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It’s 2025 and people are still using offensive language, including a resurgence of the ‘r word’. Councillor Allaire has used ‘crazy’ several times, including during a radio interview:

“like a crazy person”

“just a wild and crazy question“

“not trying to say anything crazy”

“yes I’m crazy and I did look at every single line”

“I had a few crazy questions“

“that route is crazy”

“it was crazy”

“it seems crazy”

“I feel it’s crazy”

“this is gonna sound crazy“

“it’s not so crazy“

“it’s crazy“

Back in 2019, the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee discussed an agenda item, Talking Accessibly, and carried a motion, “That Person First Language (PFL) BE ADOPTED as a pilot project at the Accessibility Committee level with further consideration of use in the organization at a later date.” 

Unfortunately, accessibility committee members have used outdated terms like handicapped.

In June 2023 I let council and CAO Critchley know that i was appalled to hear one Accessibility Advisory Committee member use “wheelchair bound” and another use “bound;” this language is outdated and offensive. i was equally shocked to see the term “crazy” used in three images on the town’s facebook page in reference to woofaroo. I provided a resource, Are You Still Using The Word Crazy in 2022,

i suggested there was a need for more training given the language used by a member of a committee that should be more aware of preferred terminology and the number of times i’ve encountered ableist attitudes.

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy, launched in 2019, included Guidelines; the section below is from the original Guidelines, which have been updated (refer to pages 17 and 18).

5. USE PROPER LANGUAGE IN ORAL AND INFORMAL SPEECH

Most persons with disabilities are comfortable with the words used in daily life. You can say “let’s go for a walk” to a person who uses a wheelchair or write “have you heard the news?” to a person who is deaf. However, phrases such as “blind as a bat” or “deaf as a post” are unacceptable and should never be used, even in informal contexts. You should also be careful with metaphors like “blind to criticism” and “to fall on deaf ears”.

Misused terminology can also be inappropriate and hurtful, so avoid saying “I must have Alzheimer’s” when you forget something or “they’re paranoid” when people seem to be acting with excessive mistrust. Never use disability-related terms as an insult or to express criticism. For example, do not use the word “lame” to mean “boring” or “uncool”.

Another Resource: A way with words and images: guide for communicating with and about persons with disabilities.

Library Space Concerns Do Not Equal Accessibility Concerns

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Comments from Councillor McArthur and Councillor Allaire following Monday night’s council meeting presentation by Library Board Chair Bachetti and Library CEO Adam Craig prompted me to write this post and email to those involved.

Please do not misinterpret space preferences or needs for accessibility. Following my ten year campaign to make the Amherstburg library accessible, which culminated in a human rights complaint, the Ontario Human Rights Commission hired a renowned accessibility expert, and the town eventually implemented his recommendations. The town also installed a plaque at the library crediting others with my accomplishment.

Other than concerns about the elevator, which is the town’s responsibility to ensure its maintenance and operability, there are no documented accessibility concerns. Instead, the often repeated plea is for a modern one floor library.

During an Amherstburg residents’ meeting I asked Deputy Mayor Gibb if the library board noted any deficiencies, and he answered none whatsoever.

I then emailed Adam Craig in September 2023: has the essex county library board noted any deficiencies with the amherstburg branch?

Mr. Craig asked me to be more specific and he stated, “In the time that I’ve been here we’ve noted a handful of issues that have popped up, and in every case the Town of Amherstburg has done a fantastic job of addressing them. I’m thinking specifically of some problems with the elevator that have been addressed, some heating and cooling issues, and so on.”

One year later, a September 9, 2024 letter from Mr. Craig and Library Board Chair Joe Bachetti states, in part, “As you’ll see, one of the most striking deficiencies across the County is at the Amherstburg Branch” which was in reference to space/square footage. The letter further stated, “the attached review doesn’t speak to other ongoing concerns with the current facility, not least of which are its accessibility and aging structural features.”

During the September 2024 Amherstburg council meeting, Deputy Mayor Gibb said the building is beautiful but no longer serves the purpose of what a modern library is. He didn’t put a timetable on addressing it but said it is an issue and a lack of square footage would become a bigger problem in future years.

I emailed Mr. Craig to advise that I read the report regarding square footage and accessibility concerns and noted that the majority of the report was about the square footage, comparisons with other municipalities and there was a vague reference to accessibility concerns. I asked if he would elaborate on the accessibility concerns: who determined there were accessibility concerns at the Amherstburg branch? what criteria was used? What specifically are the accessibility concerns?

Mr. Craig acknowledged that he thought what I was referencing was included in the covering letter and not the report:

‘…the space review doesn’t speak to other ongoing concerns with the current facility, not least of which are it’s accessibility and aging structural features.’

Mr. Craig further stated that he should have qualified that by noting that the library does meet the appropriate standards BUT contemporary library design shies away from multi-floor facilities because of the inherent difficulties with access. Even in the case of a branch like Amherstburg where we have an elevator in place, given the choice between an elevator and having everything on one floor, the best option is always a single floor (emphasis added). The concern is always with the reliability of the elevator.

Following the February 24, 2025 presentation to Amherstburg council by Mr. Bachetti and Mr. Craig, Councillor McArthur commented about the design of physical spaces to promote flexible, welcoming branches that are accessible and modern. He also mentioned having a beautiful building and shared his thoughts about how it’s not as modern or as accessible as it otherwise might be ideal. Finally, he asked Mr. Craig for his thoughts on that. Mr. Craig’s response pertained to a more modern space, modern library design and outdated architecture, outdated hardware and equipment.

Councillor Allaire stated, “so we’re trying to improve accessibility for our town, but our elevator seems to be out quite often at our library” and asked Mr. Craig if he knew how often it was down. Mr. Craig stated that he did not have the numbers in front of him, but he thought it was more regular than they would like; he added that he thought that was kind of inherent with any elevator. Councillor Allaire acknowledged that he was saying what they were lacking was space and the needs of a modern one level and Mr. Craig agreed that it was the size of the space.