Open Air Weekends to be prominent on new council’s agenda
Open Air Weekends are a part of the 2026 municipal election campaign in Amherstburg and the new council will likely be talking about it soon after taking over.
A motion, narrowly passed at town council at the Sept. 28 meeting, will see reports and information come before the new council shortly after they take over following the Oct. 26 election.
Councillor Molly Allaire put forth the motion calling on town administration to put together a report on Open Air Weekends for the Dec. 14 meeting, the first regular meeting under the new council. That report would include reports and presentations from 2023 and 2024 that have surveys and financial information on the event.
As it stands now, Open Air Weekends run in the Dalhousie St., Murray St. and Richmond St. areas of the downtown core for 14 weeks from late May until Labour Day weekend.
“This is great because it helps the new council coming in making an informed and honest decision on what we’ve been working with in the last four years,” said Allaire. “It provides all the information all in one. They are going to have to make a choice on it. I think just being prepped and ready would provide them with the information and let them have a good head on their shoulders when making that decision.” Allaire added if it is done right away, staff and administration can work on 2027 right away so they are also prepared for the summer season.
Councillor Don McArthur opposed the motion, stating the current council shouldn’t tell the new council what their top priority should be. He said there isn’t an urgency regarding timing as Open Air isn’t until summer.
“If at their first meeting, that council wants staff to assemble all of those reports, then staff can go off and assemble those reports and have them two weeks later,” said McArthur. “I don’t think it’s necessary for us to have staff do it tonight. Everyone is talking about this on the campaign trail. Whoever gets elected is going come here loaded for bear to deal with it. They can ask for the reports and information they need. The reality is it’s already there for anybody wishing to look at it.”
Councillor Diane Pouget said “council has been blocked from speaking or voting on it for two years. We couldn’t even speak to it or vote on it in budget sessions for two years. I think it’s extremely important the new council have all that information because during budget, they are going to have to have the knowledge about what preceded them on what it actually cost.”
Pouget wanted the information at the new council’s fingertips “right from the very beginning.”Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb said he opposed the motion, stating “if anyone is running for a seat on council and they’re not already reading these reports that are available, shame on them.”
“This is going to be one of the first topics they talk about. The reports are there. I don’t see why we have to have staff hold the next council’s hand to put it all together. It’s all available right now. I’ve been going over it myself,” said Gibb.
Gibb said when trying to balance setting up the new council for success versus directing them what to do, he was “leery” about directing them on what to do.
“All of this information is available,” he said. “Everyone running for council, if they’re not already looking at it, having it for them the first day of their new term isn’t going to help.”
Councillor Peter Courtney said he heard both sides of the argument but had questions on costing for Open Air Weekends. He asked if a report could come forward fully detailing costs for the new council, adding he believes there needs to be changes.
Deputy CAO Melissa Osborne said the 2025 year-end has been completed and they are summarizing tourism events and costs. She said salaries are not allocated by weekend or event, and told Courtney that breaking down the costs for Open Air could take a substantial amount of time.
Councillor Linden Crain did not support the motion.
“I don’t think it is within our purview to dictate to the next leadership team what they should be focusing their priorities on,” said Crain. “That’s up to the next council, the next mayor, the next deputy mayor, to decide what business to initiate when they take the oath of office in November.”
The motion passed 4-3, with Mayor Michael Prue breaking the tie and causing the motion to pass. Courtney, Allaire and Pouget were also in support with Gibb, Crain and McArthur in opposition.
Open Air Weekends to be prominent on new council’s agenda
By Ron Giofu
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