2025 - The Year in Review - Jan to Apr

The year 2025 has ended and here’s a sample of just some of the things we covered over the past 12 months. For further details on these stories and for even more information on the year gone by, visit www.rivertowntimes.com.

JANUARY 

•Family and friends of Kathleen “Kay” Bertrand gathered to celebrate her 100th birthday. Bertrand has four children, ten grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Mayor Michael Prue, Councillor Diane Pouget, Essex MP Chris Lewis and Essex MPP Anthony Leardi joined the celebration.

•The vehicle ferry from the mainland to Bois Blanc Island (also known as Boblo) was out of service for a weekend but resumed functioning later. Town council would pass a motion, calling for a meeting with a solicitor and council members regarding the outage. In March, Town council emerged from an in-camera meeting with a public statement regarding the ferry service. Council had questions regarding the contractual obligations by the operator of the ferry service. 

•A dream came true for Amherstburg’s Erica Fryer. Fryer, who completed her university hockey career with the University of Toronto, turned pro and signed with a team in Sweden. Fryer joined her new team SDE. 

•The Fort Malden Guild of Arts and Crafts, the board that operates the Gibson Gallery, held its AGM. The guest speaker was Meg Reiner from the Marsh Historical Collection, who spoke on railway history in Amherstburg.

•Royal Canadian Legion Br. 157 received a gift and was the site of a special presentation, all to remember those who have served. A Quilt of Valour was presented followed by the official presentation of a plaque commemorating those who served in World War II.

•An Amherstburg horse was chosen by Bryer Model Horses to be a Limited Edition model horse for the company’s 75th anniversary. Halcyonia Night Life, known around the barn by his owner as “Ace,” was selected by the company for the honour. 

•The Bryerswood Youth Camp received $150,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) for the improvements with a ribbon cutting and tour taking place. The money was used to fund upgrades to the kitchen and washroom in the camp’s activity centre. 

•Amherstburg councillor Molly Allaire was acclaimed as the new chair of the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). Allaire, along with Councillor Peter Courtney, have represented Amherstburg on the ERCA board since 2022. Windsor city councillor Jim Morrison, who had been the chair, was acclaimed as vice chair. ERCA presented its conservation awards the same night.

•Town council passed a motion to approve a $16.4 million project for a reservoir upgrade and redundancy protection project at the Amherstburg Water Treatment Plant. The money came from development charge water and highway reserves, OCIF funding, mill and pave and sanitary sewer upgrades and replacements. It was awarded to Amico Design Build Inc.

•The TRUE Festival came to Amherstburg with hundreds braving the cold to enjoy the event. The crowds enjoyed shows from “The Fire Guy,” as well as hot chocolate from the Rotary Club of Amherstburg, wheel spinning for prizes thanks to The House Youth Centre, s’more making, live entertainment at surrounding businesses and drag shows.

•Another long-term care home for Amherstburg moves ahead after a funding agreement was announced. The Building Ontario Fund entered into an agreement in principle with Arch Corporation to finance four new and redeveloped long-term care homes in rural communities.  The 160-bed retirement home is being built next to the Amherstburg Community Hub. The original announcement that Chateau Park Long Term Care Home would relocate to Amherstburg came in 2022. 

FEBRUARY

•Black History Month kicked off in the region. The Amherstburg Freedom Museum partnered with the River Bookshop on several events with a major event being the Windsor Symphony Orchestra at the Nazrey AME Church. The play “The Price of Freedom” was presented in Windsor in partnership with Arts Collective Theatre (ACT).

•Kids Curing Cancer (KCC) holds its biggest fundraiser of the year, as over 200 people attended a pasta dinner at Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery. Organized by the Baillargeon family and their team of volunteers, the event raised $11,230. Proceeds went to furnish the new MRI suite at Erie Shores Healthcare in Leamington.

•The Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum held its “Family Fun Day” on Family Day, with a steady stream of people of all ages coming in. The eventfeatured tours and children’s activities though wagon rides were called off due to the drop in temperatures. 

•Over a dozen new members joined the ranks of the Amherstburg Fire Department. A firefighter graduation ceremony was at fire station #1 where the new firefighters were congratulated on completing their year-long training period. Thirteen firefighters were welcomed with some being auxiliary members.

•Over 140 walkers hit the streets of Amherstburg for the local Coldest Night of the Year walk. The Amherstburg’s Coldest Night of the Year (ACNOY) was based out of the Amherstburg Community Hub, where The House Youth Centre is located. The over $41,600 in proceeds go to The House.

•Fishing in King’s Navy Yard Park, especially during silver bass season, was back in focus around the council table. Town council voted to launch a public awareness campaign, enhance park management and monitoring with “focused enforcement” with bylaw staff and police and to improve infrastructure in the park through such things as additional signage, waste disposal stations, expanding the approved fishing area in the south end of Navy Yard Park towards the Gordon House and fencing it off.

•The policing issue rose to the forefront again almost six years after the Town of Amherstburg turned to Windsor for service. The City of Windsor informed the Town of Amherstburg it is opting out of the current policing contract.  Mayor Michael Prue confirmed the town has been informed of Windsor’s decision. In August, Prue said the town had been discussing renegotiating with Windsor but the city not agreeing to have an Amherstburg representative on the Windsor Police Services Board caused talks to break off. The town’s desire to have a regional police service explored was shot down in April by Essex County council.

•Essex County council has opted to reverse its previous decision on how much money it gives to a non-profit economic development organization. Tecumseh Deputy Mayor and Deputy Warden Joe Bachetti brought forth a motion that would reallocate the amount that will go to Invest Windsor-Essex. Back in 2024 when the county was going through its budget deliberations, it was decided to reduce the amount to Invest Windsor-Essex by 15 per cent. Bachetti said he brought forth his motion, which was accepted, in light of new information provided.

•Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) named its Top 100 Festivals and Events with four Amherstburg events listed. Those events were Open Air Weekends, the River Lights Winter Festival, the TRUE Festival and the Amherstburg Uncommon Festival.

•Anthony Leardi wins a second term as Essex MPP. The Progressive Conservative candidate won in the provincial election. NDP candidate Rachael Mills finished second followed by Liberal candidate Tamara Stomp. Next were Green Party candidate Stephen Higgins, Travis Jacques of the Ontario Party, Brigitte Belton of the New Blue Party, Kevin Linfield of the None of the Above Direct Democracy Party and independent candidate William Szabo Verzoc.

MARCH

•Almost 200 pasta dinners were sold but, more importantly, a group of children and youth in D.R. Congo were helped through those meals. The Hope of St. Joseph Inc. presented a pasta dinner fundraiser at the Columbus Community Hall. A total of 172 people ate in-person while roughly another 20 had take-out meals.

•The Amherstburg Chamber of Commerce held its annual general meeting and reviewed its most recent year. The election of the executive saw Dan Gemus return as president and Ron Bondy as vice president. 

•The board of directors with the Essex Region Conservation Authority approved its 2025 budget. The board voted that the draft budget totalling $12,215,958 be approved as the 2025 final budget and that the board approve the municipal cost apportionment of $3,053,491, for mandatory programs and services. Further, the board approved the municipal cost apportionment of $327,262, restricted to the seven unanimously supported Category 3 non- mandatory programs and services.

•Local women from various professions gathered to discuss issues, challenges and triumphs they have had over their lives. The International Women’s Day event, the “Queens of Business,” was held at G.L. Heritage Brewing Company. The event was co-organized by Jen Desjardin-Grondin and Laura D’Alessandro, co-owners of G.L. Heritage Brewing Co. and the River Town Times respectively.

•In a strategy to fight the ongoing threat of tariffs from the United States, Essex County Council joined the Border Mayors Alliance. The seven mayors from the county will be part of the existing group that has, according to Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue, two separate groups, one in the western Canada and the other in the east, the latter chaired by Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. 

•An electric low speed vehicle (LSV) assembly facility and sales outlet sets up shop in Amherstburg. Icon Electric Vehicles Canada is operating on Renaud St., at the corner of Alma St., with it being owned by Scott Elliott and Mike Bezzoubkin. The LSV’s are mainly fully electric golf carts and recreational vehicles under the Icon EV and Epic golf cart lines.

•Essex MP Chris Lewis awarded about 30 King Charles III Coronation Medals. Recipients included John Garnet “Jack” Edwards, Bill Granger, Ernest Gazdig, Ed Gibbs, Ron Giofu, Sarah Machnik, Tim Byrne, Robin Martin, Andrew Stewart, John Vanthournout, Bruce Lodge, Sandy Repko, Jim Crichton, Brandon Chartier, Donald Lucier, Gilbert Bastien, Linda Lynch, Richard Brooks, Mary-Maureen Atkin, Tim McAllister, Jeremy Douglas Sinasac, Christopher Bailey, Jennifer Baggio, John Cappucci, Jennifer Chevalier, Katherine Gunning, Kristin Kennedy, Thomas LeClair, Helen Lewis and Stephanie Zekelman. 

•Town council’s remuneration for 2024 was made public. Total remuneration for Mayor Michael Prue was $73,221.49. Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb’s amount was $35,212.56. Councillor Diane Pouget’s remuneration for 2024 was listed in a report at $31,339. Councillor Molly Allaire’s 2024 remuneration was listed at $30,236.08. Councillor Linden Crain’s remuneration was $29,353.23. Councillor Peter Courtney saw his total remuneration figure listed as $27,210.99. Councillor Don McArthur had a 2024 remuneration figure of $25,529.40.

•The Windsor Police Service made arrests in connection with a house fire in Amherstburg. According to Windsor police, a January fire was the third time in 16 months that a Cowan Court property was targeted. No physical injuries were reported during a January incident. The fire caused over $1 million in damages to the home and a neighbouring property, police add. 

•There is a business licensing bylaw in Amherstburg, but town council turned back the clock for the time-being. Council reinstated the 2009 business licensing bylaw that was originally repealed in 2023, wanted a further look at updating it all the while bringing in a business registry so it is known by the town exactly who is operating in Amherstburg. 

•The final house league “Day of Champions” was presented by the Amherstburg Minor Hockey Association (AMHA). Local players join the Lake Erie Minor Hockey Association for the 2025-26 hockey season.

•Four local food banks got some financial aid thanks to Sobeys. The Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission, ACS, the Harrow Food Bank and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Society St. John the Baptist Church in Amherstburg split the almost $10,000 that was raised during the campaign.

•A large crowd of family, friends and supporters packed the Libro Centre for Skate Amherstburg’s annual ice carnival. This year’s show, which featured skaters of different ages and abilities, was called “Hittin’ the Streets with Rivertown Beats.”

•A ceremony was held in Harrow where King Charles III Coronation Medals were awarded. Essex MPP Anthony Leardi hosted the event where medals were presented to Jack Howson, John Fox, Vincent Georgie, William (Bill) Shea and Paul Mastronardi.

•The “Sunshine List” was released for 2024. The list of employees with the Town of Amherstburg who topped the $100,000 salary mark in 2024 totalled 34. The County of Essex had 250 employees on the “Sunshine List,” most of them members of Essex-Windsor EMS. LaSalle had 88 on the “Sunshine List,” with LaSalle still having its own police force. Leamington had 46 staff members on the list, while Lakeshore had 35. There were 30 from Tecumseh, 27 from Essex and 23 from Kingsville on the list.

•Working collaboratively and supporting one another were just two of the theme highlighted at the Warden’s Luncheon. Warden Hilda MacDonald went over her priorities and those of the County of Essex during her address. MacDonald pointed out the region always supports each other. She said the same will happen amid trade tensions with the United States.

•A packed house was at Shooters Roadhouse to judge which local band they liked best. The “Battle of the Bands” was presented by Musicland. The four finalists included Two Years Apart, Case the Joint, Meandergreen and the eventual champions Riverside Drive. 

APRIL

•The Essex County Agricultural Hall of Fame grew by three members. Leslie Huffman Balsillie, Murray McLeod and Robert Repko were inducted at the Harrow Agricultural Exhibition Hall. 

•Often called “Coach Dan” or “Petta,” Dan Pettypiece has been a fixture at the former AMA Arena and the Libro Centre. For his tireless service to the community for nearly five decades, Pettypiece was honoured at the Libro Centre. Pettypiece started coaching and teaching skating and hockey skills to children, youth and adults in 1976 and doesn’t have any plans on stopping. His dedication and contributions to the community were the subject of kind words, accolades and special presentations during a nearly one-hour ceremony.

•Amherstburg Community Services and the Town of Amherstburg held a volunteer recruitment fair. The fair was hosted at ACS’ location within the Amherstburg Community Hub with 16 organizations taking part.

•The Italian Community within St. John the Baptist Church in Amherstburg held the annual Good Friday procession through the downtown streets. Christ Church and St. Andrew’s Church were included along the route as was a stop in front of Richmond Terrace Long-Term Care Home.

•The Ontario Gymnastics Championships returned with events with four days of activity. The event was sponsored by Rose City Gymnastics with president Diana Giorgi saying upwards of 1,300 athletes participated. Giorgi estimated that 5,000 spectators from across Ontario came to the meet.

•Town council unanimously approved a motion which called for Amherstburg to be removed by the Ontario government from the list of municipalities getting “Strong Mayor” powers. Mayor Michael Prue had the matter added to a council agenda after receiving correspondence from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing informing him of the proposal to expand powers to 169 more municipalities, including all Essex County municipalities. Despite his objections, Prue was granted the powers anyway.

•The Jane’s Walk Festival comes to the region, including walking tours and lectures where people could sit. There were walking tours of the downtown core with some of the sites involved being Royal Canadian Legion Br. 157, the Amherstburg Freedom Museum, Bois Blanc Island, Marsh Historical Collection, Art Windsor-Essex, Park House Museum and more.

•The Amherstburg Minor Hockey Association held its final travel banquet before the organization amalgamated with Erie North Shore Minor Hockey to become the new Lake Erie Minor Hockey Association. Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Marc Renaud, Joe Laframboise, Rosemary Fryer, Leonard Mailloux, Dan Pettypiece, Paul Tonietto and Dennis Emerson.

•Earth Day events were held with the town itself hosting a tree planting and tree giveaway with the Bryerswood Youth Camp also busy with environmentally-friendly activities.

•Conservative incumbent Chris Lewis won his third federal election in the Essex riding. He defeated three challengers - Liberal candidate Chris Sutton, NDP candidate Lori Wightman and People’s Party of Canada candidate Jason Henry. 

•Friends and family of Vera Badiuk went to Encounter Church to celebrate a significant milestone in her life. Badiuk was honoured on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Her family calls it “100 years of perfection.”

Continue reading in Year In Review Part 2 (May-August)

2025 - The Year in Review - Jan to Apr