Before the Open Air Weekends survey went to town council Monday night, the town’s economic development committee had a crack at talking about it.
The committee talked about Open Air during its meeting last Thursday evening and they passed a motion to not only support it, but to not debate the issue for the remainder of this term of council.
“I can’t fathom why anybody would be against Open Air. It has been so successful wherever it’s been tried all around the world,” said committee member Jack Edwards.
Edwards referenced the report and the survey results within, noting “the percentages are so high” of people who support it. He cited comments from local hairdressers, and suggested they can try different methods to draw people in during Open Air.
Edwards called it “a no brainer” that the event move forward as it is.
“It’s good for the town,” he said. “It’s good for the county.”
Deputy CAO/director of development services Melissa Osborne said it is built into the 2025 budget that Open Air Weekends continue for 14 weeks from Friday through Sunday. She added unless there is direction from town council otherwise, Open Air will continue in that format.
“That doesn’t change unless council makes a motion to make that change,” said Osborne.
Councillor Diane Pouget thanked Edwards for his feedback but she said Open Air is still a controversial issue.
“Without a doubt, I get so many complaints about Open Air. I get numerous, numerous complaints,” said Pouget.
Pouget said many businesses don’t want Open Air, adding she hears from taxpayers concerned about the cost of the event. She said the business survey called for businesses to be surveyed within the footprint, and also had concerns about being invited to a public meeting on the topic a few months ago.
Clerk Kevin Fox said the motion council passed last March was that a meeting be held with business owners within a 500m radius of the footprint, with the clock tower being the base of where the 500m was measured from.
Pouget said hairdressers are impacted as are their customers, pointing out bridal parties have to walk two to three blocks to get hair done for weddings.
She also cited accessibility issues, saying “you have no idea how many phone calls and complaints I received.”
Caregivers of those with accessibility issues have difficulty taking their loved ones to the bank or other services, she told the committee. She said there are concerts in the park that people with disabilities have difficulty getting to because they “have to park five to six blocks away.”
“We put barriers in place,” she said.
Pouget said there are points where streets are bare yet the streets are closed.
Edwards replied that he believed it is “the few” who are complaining.
“It’s the majority who want this,” he said.
Edwards said making more spots near the footprint as handicapped spaces could solve the issue.
Councillor Linden Crain supported Open Air Weekends, stating he agreed with Edwards. He said the report speaks to economic impact, noting the report says over 104,000 people attended in 2024.
“I voiced this at council several times. We continue to poke at Open Air and try to, in some cases, shorten the timelines, shorten the cost and shorten the event,” said Crain. “We should be really looking at how can we enhance it to make it better. We see the economic drivers and the activity it’s bringing in and the spending that’s taking place in town.”
Crain suggested he didn’t want to see surveys every year that yield the same results. He made a motion to endorse the report, have the committee show its support for Open Air and do so for the remaining term of council. He believed if council would agree, it could avoid debate on the matter until 2026.
Committee member Michael Deneau said he witnessed “a lot of density” when it came to people walking the streets and going into shops.
“There was significant density. The atmosphere was wonderful. It was something that seemed to catch on even beyond the borders of Amherstburg,” said Deneau.
Deneau said there are things that can be done to meet accessibility needs but said “it would be a complete shame” not to take advantage of the environment that Open Air brings.
“This is an initiative that not only Amherstburg carries, but many other communities like us carry,” he said.
Committee member Kenneth Morrison called Open Air “an amazing treasure” that brings in people. He said programming is drawing in more diverse events.
“There’s always going to be periods of time at any festival or any kind of event where it’s not going to be as busy as other times. That’s just the way it works,” said Morrison. “You look at this thing by in large, 104,000 people going downtown, spending money, participating, it’s a phenomenal thing to be able to witness.”
Families can go down with their children and not having to worry about traffic helps the event be “a pretty unique treasure.” Morrison added he was of the understanding the Navy Yard Park parkette was converted into an all-accessible parking lot. Fox said that lot is transitioned to have all accessible spots with more added around the footprint.
“The distance travelled from those parking spaces to the centre point of Open Air is often less than it would be from an accessible parking space into the Libro Centre,” said Fox.
The motion passed 5-1 with Crain, Edwards, Morrison, Deneau and committee chair Patricia Simone in favour. Pouget was opposed.
EcDev committee endorses Open Air
By Ron Giofu
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