Outgoing council members bid farewell in final meeting of the term
The 2022-26 term of council is officially ending this Sunday, but council members said farewell and thanked the public at the final regular meeting this past Monday night.
Four members – Mayor Michael Prue, Councillor Linden Crain, Councillor Diane Pouget and Councillor Don McArthur – will not be returning while three will be. Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb moves up to mayor while Councillor Molly Allaire and Councillor Peter Courtney were re-elected to their current positions.
Pouget is retiring from politics after 18 years of service and many members of her family joined friends and supporters in the council chambers at the Nov. 9 meeting. Pouget thanked her husband Paul, her children, grandchildren and all of her family. She said she missed a lot of family functions but her family were very accommodating and patient over the years.
“I want to thank the residents of Amherstburg,” said Pouget. “I am so blessed you believed in me and allowed me to be your voice for the last 18 years.”Pouget also thanked the Amherstburg Resident Forum, a group that meets monthly out of the union hall on Pickering Dr. She also thanked previous members of council she served with and said many were her mentors. Some have passed away, but their lessons stuck with her.
“I was very blessed to have good people in my life to help me serve you,” she said.
Public works, police and fire were thanked for helping to keep the town clean and safe, while Pouget also thanked all town employees.
“You’ve been great,” she said.
Pouget said she appreciated staff’s efforts in answering her calls and requests for information.
“You actually didn’t run away when you saw me approaching,” she joked.
Current and past councils were thanked, with Pouget stating she knows there were both good times and challenging times. She said they all had one goal and that was to make Amherstburg a better place.
Pouget told unsuccessful candidates that she also knows what it is like to lose an election but hoped they would stay involved in the community and apply for town committees.
“We need people like you to serve on our committees,” she said.
The new council members were wished well by Pouget.
“I know you are going to do your best for your community,” said Pouget. “Whatever you do, don’t drink the Kool-Aid.”
Prue, who served on Amherstburg town councillor for four years as a councillor and the last four as mayor, has a background that dates back to his days in East York and Toronto where he was a councillor and mayor there as well as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for 13 years.
Prue recalled his high school yearbook in 1967 where it said his goal was to be a full-time politician.
“There’s not many people who can say they’ve lived their dream,” said Prue. “I thank everyone for allowing me to live my dream.”
Prue said he’s won more elections than he’s lost but knows life has to go on after a defeat.
“The people of Amherstburg have decided it’s time for me to retire and I respect that,” said Prue.
Prue and wife Shirley moved to Amherstburg 17 years ago looking to retire and recalled Shirley buying a home in Amherstburg as they were driving back to East York after first visiting the town. He said he got calls from Pouget and the late Paul Hertel, a retired teacher and former Amherstburg council member, asking him to come out of retirement and run, which he did. He also had his wife’s encouragement to do so.
Regarding the incoming council, Prue encouraged them to do what is best for the residents and to always do what they think is right. He said passions can lead to heated debates but the current council showed they can be on the same page on the next issue. He thanked the current council for its service.
Prue concluded by reading a Bible verse from 2 Timothy as well as a quote from Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“I have fought the good fight,” said Prue. “The race has been run.”
Prue said he can now focus on spending more time with his wife, more time baking, fishing, travelling and gardening.
Gibb thanked Prue for the lessons he has taught him the last four years, both at Amherstburg town council and at Essex County council. The incoming mayor thanked his council colleagues at his final meeting as deputy mayor.
“I relied on you a lot,” Gibb told Prue. “I learned a lot from you. I’ve appreciated that.”
Gibb added: “For me, the last four years have been one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever had but one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever done.”
McArthur is leaving his role as a councillor after eight years, opting not to seek re-election. He thanked the people of Amherstburg, whether they liked him or not, for allowing him to serve as a councillor.
“Serving on this council has been the honour and privilege of a lifetime,” said McArthur.
Noting he read a quote from another person who served on a municipal council for eight years, with that stating if a person lives to the age of 80, they’ve spent ten per cent of their lives as an elected official. He said he used to be a journalist and at one time covered Amherstburg town council and decided to go for a seat on council in 2018. He said he was primarily into solitary pursuits like playing guitar, running and cycling but benefitted by being on council.
“Being on council, it brought me out of my comfort zone,” he said.
The local media were also thanked by McArthur for telling the town’s stories whether it be covering town council or other community events.
McArthur noted he enjoyed campaigning more than governing, stating he was able to get to know the community by knocking on doors and speaking with people. He encouraged the next council to “always try to do the right thing for the right reasons.”
McArthur also thanked town staff, stating they sometimes get “beat up a little bit” but they are following through on the direction set by council. He believed the “best and brightest” municipal staff are in Amherstburg
“They are professionals. They try their best for this town,” he stated.
McArthur said he learned a lot from both Gibb and Prue, noting the latter’s lengthy list of municipal and provincial expertise. He wished Allaire and Courtney well next term and said Crain has a bright future ahead of him and that Crain has inspired high school students to aspire to great things. He told Pouget that she “fights for the town and you fight for your constituents” and that he has been proud and honoured to serve with her.
Next to being a father, McArthur added being a councillor has been one of his life’s biggest honours.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity,” he said.
Allaire thanked residents for allowing her to serve the last four years and for giving her four more. She focused primarily on Pouget. Allaire said Pouget is “such a leader and an amazing woman.”
“You have been an inspiration to the town,” said Allaire. “You have left a mark. I know you are not done.”
Allaire believed Pouget will find ways to continue to serve the community, whether it be through her church or other means.
“You are a rock star,” Allaire told Pouget. “You killed it.”
Courtney paid tribute to all members of the current council, particularly those who are leaving, starting with Pouget. He put her in the same breath as Rose Kelly as women who have had lengthy, distinguished careers on town council.
“It’s been an honour and privilege to sit next to her and pick her brain,” said Courtney.
Courtney is entering his third term as a councillor, adding his first term was rocky due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the second term was better. He remarked that while he didn’t always agree with McArthur, he said his colleague was able to change his mind on some issues and was articulate in the process.
As for Crain, Courtney said “you are going places.” While acknowledging the last four years have been difficult at times for Crain, Courtney said “you stood up, took it on the chin” and kept going.
“The future is bright for you,” said Courtney.
Regarding Prue, Courtney recalled bonding with him to keep H. Murray Smith Centennial Park entirely as green space and that he is “indebted” to Prue for helping him navigate the world of municipal politics.
Crain told the RTT that “it’s been an honour to serve with this council” and that he is happy with what happened over the last four years.
“We accomplished many great things,” said Crain. “I’m proud of what we’ve done.”
Crain said he can sleep well with decisions he made as a councillor and he is excited for what comes next. That includes focusing on his mortgage business, starting a family with his wife and staying involved in the community with boards and organizations. He said he is unsure if he’ll make another run at a seat on town council again.
“We’ll see what my life is like in 2030,” he said.
Crain thanked town staff, his family and friends, the local media, his colleagues as well as his wife during his four years on town council.
The new council officially gets sworn in at the inaugural meeting Nov. 23 at the Columbian Club Hall in McGregor. That meeting starts at 6 p.m.
Outgoing council members bid farewell in final meeting of the term
By Ron Giofu
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