
The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) has elected its new chair and vice chair with the new chair being from Amherstburg.
Councillor Molly Allaire was acclaimed as chair of the authority’s board of directors during ERCA’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Essex last Thursday night. Allaire, along with Councillor Peter Courtney, have represented Amherstburg on the ERCA board since 2022.
“It’s absolutely inspirational. I’m super happy,” said Allaire. “I’m blessed. I feel I can do more for conservation.”
Allaire noted she is the mother of young children, and she is passionate about working towards a future of environmental sustainability for the region.
“I look forward to working with all regional municipalities to ensure that the broad scope of integrated watershed management programs we provide are fully implemented so that our regional conservation goals can be achieved,” she said. “It’s exciting because the reason I ran for council was to help our green spaces.”
There were “mumblings about a year ago” that Allaire should think about the position. She said she spoke with her husband Dan and others in her family about it and they decided she should take advantage of the opportunity when it came along.
“It’s a great next step,” she said.
Stating she was nervous when she first took the chair’s position, she quickly relaxed when she saw supportive looks from her fellow board members.
“It’s an honour being with my fellow board members and learning with them,” she said.
Fundraising and tree planting efforts are going well, Allaire believed, but she hopes to see expansion of those initiatives.
Allaire thanked her fellow board members for their confidence in her as well as staff for their ongoing efforts. One staff member honoured for her ten years of service was water quality scientist Dr. Katie Stammler, with Allaire adding Stammler is an Amherstburg resident whom she wants to work with.
“It’s very cool to echo what she does,” said Allaire.
Allaire said her family has long been involved with environmental initiatives, including tree plantings at their Amherstburg farm, and that has led her to take up the cause as well. She said her husband is “a huge fan of ERCA” and has organized races to benefit the conservation authority.
The Allaires have been heavily involved in the Super Santa Run in recent years, with that race benefitting the Essex Region Conservation Foundation. The foundation is a fundraising arm of ERCA.
Windsor city councillor Jim Morrison was acclaimed as vice chair. Morrison had served as chair the last two years and received a framed photo as thanks, with the photo being from celebrations held at the John R. Park Homestead.
Morrison commented that he was pleased to be the chair during ERCA’s 50th anniversary celebrations as well as when upgrades and renovations were made to the historic John R. Park Homestead property in Essex. Morrison said “there is no question we’ve navigated serious challenges” but was proud of what the board and the entire authority accomplished as a unit.
“There is no question we are stronger together,” said Morrison.
Amherstburg councillor to lead ERCA board of directors
By Ron Giofu
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