River Town Times - July 1, 2020

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Wednesday, July 1, 2020

“Amazing” response to June 27th Miracle in Amherstburg

By Ron Giofu

The June 27th Miracle brought out thousands of volunteers and all of them were needed across the region to haul, sort and distribute the amount of canned goods and non-perishable food items that were donated.

In Amherstburg, there were approximately 650 people in all, including over 100 drivers, that went across the entire community picking up food from front porches and drop-off locations. They poured back into the Libro Centre after completing their routes where volunteers carried and sorted the hauls that were brought in.

Jennifer Stokes, Amherstburg team captain, was thrilled with the local response. A final total of what was colleted in Amherstburg was not available Tuesday morning but the Libro Centre was one of many arenas in the region that was packed with food.

“It’s amazing, an absolutely amazing turnout,” said Stokes, as she went from vehicle to vehicle co-ordinating the returning drivers.

Stokes said it was “overwhelming” to see the amount of people that volunteered and donated. She noted that it comes during the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic where there are

people out of work and short of money.

“They are giving of their time, gas and canned goods to those who may need help more than they do,” she said.

Food items donated in each municipality stays within the municipality meaning the wide variety of items that were being brought into the Libro Centre Saturday afternoon will stay in Amherstburg. Stokes said after the items were unloaded, they were sorted and eventually distributed to the Amherstburg Food Bank and the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission.

“Most importantly, it’s getting into the homes of those who need it the most,” said Stokes.

Stokes said she volunteers at many events and believes the June 27th Miracle resulted in the highest percentage of the population participating that she has ever seen.

There were reportedly over 10,000 volunteers across the Windsor-Essex County region helping with the June 27th Miracle. Among the sea of volunteers in Amherstburg were several town council members, including Mayor Aldo DiCarlo. DiCarlo said there were long lines of vehicles dropping off items at the Libro Centre.

Continued on Page 3

RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU

Christopher Gatti pulls a cart of food items into the Libro Centre last Saturday.

The local youth was one of 650 volunteers in Amherstburg helping with the region-wide June 27th Miracle.

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2 – River Town Times – Wednesday, July 1, 2020

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First “Open Air Amherstburg” weekend launched

By Jonathan Martin

Some local businesses got a bit of a financial booster shot last weekend.

Amherstburg held its first Open Air Weekend, during which the town closed sections of Dalhousie St., Richmond St. and Murray St. to vehicular traffic and allowed local establishments to stretch themselves out onto the road.

Clumps of patrons munched and sipped at outdoor tables, served by masked waiters and waitresses. Police were on-scene to ensure that everyone observed the provincially-mandated physical distancing rules and to redirect traffic if vehicles came too near to the erected barricades.

On the surface, the event seemed to run smoothly. Putting it together, though, was quite a scramble for the businesses involved.

Last month, Amherstburg’s town council voted unanimously to approve Open Air Weekends, a move councillors said would hopefully inject some muchneeded activity into the local economy.

First, though, the provincial government had to accept Essex County’s transition into Stage 2 of its “Framework for Reopening Our Province.” Until then, local businesses had to observe stringent regulations governing their interactions with the public.

On June 24, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that Windsor-Essex would enter Stage 2 the following morning.

On June 26, Amherstburg’s first Open Air Weekend began.

“We had around 24 hours’ notice,” said Jeff Fowkes, one of the founders of Lot 10 Brewing Company. “Paperwork, renovations, scrambling to buy patio furniture, getting our staff back in time

(to open). It was a real scramble.”

Lot 10 expanded its service area into the street and onto the sidewalk on the other side of the road. Kegs emblazoned with the business’ logo marked out the seating area its staff would serve.

The Beacon Ale House, a short walk up the road, kept its patrons on its patio.

Owner Sara Palmer said she wasn’t able to prepare for Open Air Weekends with such short notice.

“To participate in something like this, we want to be able to put our best foot forward,” she said. “We couldn’t get enough of our staff back so last-minute because of (Canada Day), and we didn’t have enough time to make the proper preparations in terms of materials and equipment.”

Palmer lauded “how easy” the town made applying to participate in the event, however.

“Basically, you just had to fill out an application,” she said. “The town did a good job putting it together.”

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) helped, too. On June 8, the AGCO announced that liquor sales licensees can extend their licensed areas until next year without applying to the AGCO or paying a fee. All they need is permission from their municipality. The Town of Amherstburg’s licensing division will provide a letter of non-objection in writing “if all applicable AGCO requirements are met,” an online notice reads.

Palmer said that the Beacon Ale House would join in on the next Open Air Weekend, set to run from July 3-5.

If this past event is any indication, the next will likely be well-attended.

After months of isolation, an evening out is a welcome change for most,

PHOTO BY JONATHAN MARTIN

Waiter Aleks Dobrich helps Duane Hornick decide what to order outside the Artisan Grill in Amherstburg on Saturday, June 27, 2020.

Hornick and his wife, Carol Charlton, used Open Air Weekends as an excuse to have their first date night in months. according to Carol Charlton and Duane Hornick. They spent the first date night they’ve had in months on Artisan Grill’s expanded patio.

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Wednesday, July 1, 2020 – River Town Times – 3

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Local couple wins free wedding thanks to golf course’s “Pay it Forward” campaign

Huge response for the June 27th Miracle

RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU

The floor of the main pad at the Libro Centre was busy Monday morning with volunteers sorting the thousands of canned goods and non-perishable food items that were brought in two days earlier in the June 27th Miracle. Food items gathered locally will stay in Amherstburg.

Continued from Page 1

Amherstburg residents Shawn Byrne and Jessica Bondy won a free wedding from Ambassador Golf Club in LaSalle through the golf course’s “Pay It Forward” contest. The couple is scheduled to tie the knot Feb. 14, 2021. In the centre is Diane Farquhar from Ambassador Golf Club.

By Ron Giofu

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An Amherstburg couple will be getting married for free thanks to winning a contest sponsored by an area golf course.

Jessica Bondy and her fiancé Shawn are scheduled to tie the knot Feb. 14, 2021 at Ambassador Golf Club in LaSalle after winning the golf course’s “Pay it Forward” contest. The prize is an all-expenses paid wedding, a contest Bondy said she discovered on social media “We’re ecstatic,” she said. “We just can’t be any happier.”

Bondy explained they had to send in an e-mail telling their story and roughly one month ago, they found out they were in the top ten out of 71 total submissions.

That led to their first interview and when they cracked the top three, they went for a second interview.

The Amherstburg couple received the word a short time after that they were chosen and will receive the all-expenses paid wedding. The approximate value of the prize is $30,000. Bondy said they want to thank Ambassador Golf Club as well as the over 20 vendors that are taking part in the contest.

“We want to give them the props they deserve,” said Bondy. “We’re over the moon. We couldn’t be more grateful.”

Bondy and Byrne have been together seven years. She said he proposed to her in 2016 but, one year later, Byrne was diagnosed with end stage renal failure.

That put their dreams of a big wedding

on hold as Byrne needs dialysis three times per week and is unable to work.

She added he is awaiting a kidney transplant.

Dealing with Byrne’s kidney illness has been tough on the couple and their family both financially and emotionally.

Not only did it impact their wedding dreams, but it also impacted their plans to buy a house and she added they currently have only one vehicle between them.

They have four children between the two of them in their blended family.

Byrne entered the relationship with two children, Bondy with one and they have had one together.

Another obstacle the couple has had to overcome is the loss of Byrne’s mother.

Her dying wish was to see Bondy and Byrne get married.

“She was our biggest supporter,” said Bondy.

Winning the free wedding from Ambassador Golf Club has brought a lot of excitement to the family, but some relief as well. They will be able to involve all of their children in the wedding and to be united further as a family.

Not only will the couple benefit from the contest, they will use it to pay it forward themselves. Whatever money they collect from their wedding will be donated to the local Kidney Foundation as that organization has helped Byrne and their entire family.

“It would be wonderful to help a lot of people and that organization is near and dear to our hearts,” said Bondy.

He expected strong support “but nothing like this.” He stated Amherstburg is known for its volunteers and generosity but also stated that in the middle of a pandemic, it was surprising to see Amherstburg outdo itself again.

“You can’t help but get an overwhelming feeling,” he said.

“The generosity of this community is unbelievable.”

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Stepping up the way the citizens of Amherstburg did is great at any time, but doing so during COVID-19 speaks to the supportive nature of people in Amherstburg, he added.

“On behalf of the town, thank you to everyone that organized this, those who came up with the idea, the volunteers and, of course, those who donated,” the mayor stated. “I can’t say thank you enough.”

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4 – River Town Times – Wednesday, July 1, 2020

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Daycares looking to re-open soon, eager to welcome back children

By Ron Giofu Day care facilities in the area are gearing up to re-open soon and work is underway to get ready.

One day care centre that is gearing up for a reopening is The Creative Child Learning Centre with owner Michelle DiCarlo stating they are getting ready for a July 6 re-opening. After learning of a 72-hour period to re-open in early June, DiCarlo mentioned the Early Childhood Education Association of Ontario told the provincial government they needed three weeks to prepare.

“You are only allowed ten people in a cohort per licensed classroom depending on the teacher-child ratio as well,” she said. “You can’t exceed ten children in one classroom.”

Children will not be able to go to any other classroom, she noted, as they have to stay in their classroom all day unless there are outdoor activities. Teachers and staff members will encourage children to stay apart in order to physically distance each other from themselves and they will each have their own toys and colouring materials.

Parents were “a little leery,” DiCarlo said, but there was a Zoom call with parents and guardians to smooth things over.

“It reassured them things are going to be safe,” she said. “Our Zoom call went very well and they were very thankful. Our guidelines are extremely strict and they are going to be enforced.”

There will be a screener at the door and both children and staff will have daily temperature checks. Parents will be able to drop their children off at the door but will not be able to enter the building during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We need twice the amount of staff,” said DiCarlo, noting that additional cleaning and screening measures have to be taken. The child care industry is looking for the government to assist with additional costs, with DiCarlo noting her facility has spent $500 on personal protective equipment (PPE).

“We are not going to pass those costs onto families,” she said. “We cannot increase childcare fees during these times.”

First priority will be children of essential workers, DiCarlo noted, with that being mandated by the province. She said a waiting list has been created for other children whose parents want to send them back to the centre. No new families can be welcomed at child care centres at this time and no building tours can be taken.

The Creative Child Learning Centre has been closed since March 17 and DiCarlo said they are eager to see children again.

“It’s been a long haul and we’re ready to get back to the new normal,” she said. “We work with children because this is where our love it.”

DiCarlo added they are still awaiting word on the fate of a possible summer day camp at Stella Maris School. She said if they are allowed to proceed, they would be able to welcome 27 children per day instead of 60 with the same cohort rules applying.

While “it was sad” to close in March, “we are eager and excited for July 6 to open up again.”

There have been policies and procedures put into place, she stated, and that while there are also some nervousness about what re-opening would look like, DiCarlo said they have been assured by emergency child care operators in Windsor that things will be fine once they re-open and get used to things.

RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU

Day care facilities, such as The Creative Child Learning Centre, are scheduled to re-open July 6. Owner Michelle DiCarlo said they are eagerly awaiting the return of the children, but there will be fewer children coming back due to regulations and that they have to abide by strict government guidelines.

Local distillery recognizes recent graduates

By Ron Giofu A local distillery is recognizing local graduates, whether it be from local high schools, elementary schools or post-secondary institutions.

The names of graduates from elementary and secondary schools as well as the University of Windsor and St. Clair College have been displayed on the sign in front of Wolfhead Distillery on Howard Ave. Danielle Moldovan, marketing and events co-ordinator at Wolfhead Distillery, said it was all Amherstburg students that were represented on their sign.

“Two weeks ago we circulated a post on our Facebook page for parents to submit their Grade 8, 12 college or university grads for our sign,” said Moldovan. “We had over 240 submissions in three days.”

Moldovan said she has a friend with a student who was graduating from Grade 8 and they were disappointed and they wanted more things to happen to mark the special occasion. Moldovan said they put their heads together and then she went to Wolfhead ownership who agreed to put the names of interested

graduates on their sign.

“They have kids, they understand. As a family run business with kids we know how important of an accomplishment graduation is to many students and families. We wanted to play a small part in adding cheer to our local grads,” she said.

Family members have headed to Wolfhead Distillery to see their loved ones name on the sign.

“There’s a lot of people stopping,” said Moldovan.

“Their kids’ names were rotating for 24 hours.”

Each school had a day where their graduates were on the sign, though the parents had to sign their student’s name up to have it displayed.

“We were hoping to inspire other businesses to put the graduates’ names on their outdoor signs,” Moldovan added.

RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU

Wolfhead Distillery recognized students from Amherstburg recently by putting the names of graduates on their sign. Parents could sign their student’s name up and have it displayed in front of the Howard Ave. distillery.

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Wednesday, July 1, 2020 – River Town Times – 5

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Mayor pleased with Amherstburg advancing to stage two, supports Kingsville and Leamington

RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo has his hair cut by Ambiance Hair Salon owner Gay-Anne Ledingham last Friday morning. DiCarlo was pleased Amherstburg is in stage two but said he supports Kingsville and Leamington, who were left behind in stage one for the time being by the province.

By Ron Giofu When the mayor gets a haircut, it usually doesn’t qualify as newsworthy, but Aldo DiCarlo’s haircut Friday morning meant more this time around.

DiCarlo and many others had a chance to get a haircut and do other things now that most of WindsorEssex County has entered stage two of the province’s re-opening protocol, one that was put in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s not just a haircut, it’s what it symbolizes,” he said after leaving Ambiance Hair Salon Friday morning. “It’s somewhat of a return to normalcy.”

The mayor said after over 100 days of not being able to get a haircut, it felt good to do so. Moving to the second phase of re-opening also meant the town could implement the “Open Air Amherstburg” initiative where downtown streets where closed as a way to try and assist local restaurants bounce back due to the pandemic. He said people are under no obligation to come down but the businesses he has spoken to are pleased thus far.

“If you are still not comfortable coming down, you don’t have to,” he said.

DiCarlo also shot down rumours that spread on social media that migrant workers were being bused in from Kingsville and Leamington to shop in Amherstburg.

There have been photos and pages set up on social media calling for those workers to be refused from town and DiCarlo said there is no truth to the rumours that migrant workers have been denied service in Kingsville and Leamington and were forced to look elsewhere.

“The facts have to get out there,” he said. “That’s just not true, period. It’s a human right. They are not coming here because they were denied access in Kingsville and Leamington.”

A photo of a bus at a local store circulated on social media and DiCarlo stated that after it was looked into, the bus was actually from Harrow and the workers that were on board had been tested for COVID-19.

“They came to Amherstburg not only because they feel safe here but they’ve been here in the past,” he said.

DiCarlo noted there are also a lot of Canadians that work in the agri-food sector and that it was unfair to target migrant workers.

“To single out these people and say they are a problem, anyone could be a problem,” he said. “Instead of discriminating against people, we should be thanking them for putting food on our tables.”

Testing has been ramped up, he said, adding the issue “is finally getting the attention it should have had a long

time ago.” He supported Kingsville and Leamington, as well as their respective mayors Nelson Santos and Hilda MacDonald.

In addition to advancing Windsor-Essex to stage two – with the exception of Kingsville and Leamington – the province announced three-point plan that “builds on the work already underway by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and enhances the co-ordinated efforts of the province, federal and local authorities.”

The plan involves ongoing and expanded on-site testing and access to employment benefits and supports with the province stating “temporary foreign workers are entitled to the same benefits and protections as any other worker in Ontario. That includes workers' compensation benefits, which are administered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). It also includes protections afforded by the Employment Standards Act. Under Ontario's new infectious disease emergency leave provisions, a worker's job is protected while they take unpaid leave due to COVID-19.”

The third prong of the plan is new public health guidance which allows “positive asymptomatic workers to continue working as long as they follow the public health measures in their workplace to minimize the risk of transmission to others.”

"We are doing everything we can to help WindsorEssex contain this virus and get back on track, so we can allow local businesses to reopen and get more people back to work," said Premier Doug Ford in a news release. "Clearly, our agricultural sector in this part of the province is being hit particularly hard. Our three-point plan will give farmers the support they need to protect essential workers and ensure they can keep putting food safely on our tables."

Essex MPP Taras Natyshak issued his own statement earlier last week, stating that Ford is “dividing the Windsor-Essex region with potentially dangerous consequences.”

“Our local economy has been devastated and lives have been lost because Doug Ford continuously fails to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks,” Natyshak said in his statement. “But instead of fixing what he broke, Ford is cruelly finger-pointing at farmers when he should be looking in the mirror.”

Natyshak did apologize to Ford over an incident in the Ontario Legislature. While video footage isn’t clear, Natyshak reportedly called the premier a “piece of s***” and later withdrew, then apologized for the remark.

Ford forgave him and wanted to move forward.

Warden Gary McNamara said the news most of the area is moving into stage two is “both welcome and disappointing at the same time.”

“I share in the distress and frustration felt by the residents and struggling business owners in Kingsville and Leamington, but I also know this news is being welcomed in municipalities from Amherstburg to Lakeshore. There have already been layoffs and closures in Essex County and more were sure to follow if the Premier had not made the decision to at least open up part of our local economy.

It is a difficult situation to be in but it is one that has been created by this global pandemic, not the actions of any of our local municipalities. Kingsville and Leamington are not to blame and they need our help now more than ever. Premier Ford has an extremely difficult job trying to balance public health against the harm caused by the economic shutdown and he is making the best decision he can with the information he has available to him at this time,” McNamara said his statement, issued last Wednesday.

McNamara is urging the provincial and federal governments “to take immediate action to provide relief to businesses struggling in Leamington and Kingsville.

They are hanging on right now but they can’t hang on much longer with the restrictions of Stage 1. There will be layoffs and there will be closures unless support from the upper levels of government provide financial relief.”

“The surge of COVID-19 cases in the agri-farm sector is occurring for multiple reasons and it is certainly not

the fault of any one group and certainly not the fault of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, which has diligently and tirelessly worked to keep this region safe and informed,” said McNamara, who is also mayor of Tecumseh and chair of the WECHU board. “The problem can only be solved by all levels of government working together with the farmers and the workers and public health agencies. A coordinated response is now being rolled out and I’m confident we can address this problem together.”

The warden stated “work being done on these farms is essential, providing food for residents of Windsor-Essex and beyond. Ensuring crops are harvested, processed and shipped to market, that the supply chain remains intact, is crucial to our health and wellbeing and also our economic sustainability. Our farmers and workers have been laboring under extremely stressful conditions and I’m confident our multi-pronged and multi-government response will provide them now with the supports they need.”

McNamara told Kingsville and Leamington residents to “stay strong” and “we have your back.” He noted the virus is still around and “we need to remain vigilant so we can keep moving forward. We will get through this crisis together.”

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6 – River Town Times – Wednesday, July 1, 2020

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General Amherst High School bids farewell to Class of 2020

By Ron Giofu

General Amherst High School paid tribute to the Class of 2020 last Thursday but, like most schools, did so in an unconventional way.

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic that closed schools in mid-March, the graduation ceremony went online with remarks delivered via the Internet rather than in-person. General Amherst’s graduation was broadcast online via its YouTube channel last Thursday night where valedictorian Cassidy Zelle offered her best wishes to her fellow graduates.

“I wish I was able to offer this in person, but this year hasn’t gone the way any of us planned,” she said.

Zelle said it is usually a time to celebrate their high school years and offered her support to the community as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Recalling entering high school as a “shy, awkward kid with braces” when she entered Grade 9, she said as the years progressed, they made a lot of memories.

“I am so thankful for all the opportunities available at Amherst. The clubs, the sports teams, the afterschool help from teachers and so much more,” said Zelle, who was also the student parliament prime minister this past year.

Zelle stated the world they are entering may look a little different, particularly in light of the pandemic, “but I know each and every one of you will make the world your own. I know you will all be the best at what you do and be very successful.

“My miracle was having the opportunity of going to General Amherst,” Zelle continued, “ a school filled with the most amazing teachers, outstanding students and amazing faculty. All these aspects created a community that is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Zelle credited her time at General Amherst for making her the person she is today.

“Thank you for the time of my life, Bulldogs,” Zelle concluded.

Principal Melissa DeBruyne said the graduation was a culmination of 14 years of education. She pointed out no one could predict the challenges they faced this year, but credited the students for persevering. She said life is always about learning and said they will always have the support of their high school.

“It’s about making mistakes and learning from those mistakes,” said DeBruyne. “You are all individuals but you will always have a team of Bulldogs behind you.”

The graduates also had a parade in their honour, with parents helping to co-ordinate the event. It started at General Amherst, wound its way through town before ending up at the Libro Centre, where graduates were announced as they slowly drove down the entrance driveway where the teachers cheered them on.

“This started in early April when I wanted to look into something for the 2020 graduation. We had a feeling they would miss out on their prom so I didn’t want the Amherst Grads to miss out on making the memories that we all have of our high school years,” said Wendy Dufour, a parent of a graduating student.

After speaking with other parents, she started work on the parade and while there were obstacles, she and other parents pulled it together. The parents bought the banner that went up along Sandwich St. S. “From there, angels stepped up and it all came together - from the stage that was built by Drew Coulson to the finish line where the Debbie and Chris Uszynski stepped up. It was a wonderful day and even so many more people lent a helping hand. It was all worth it when I saw the smiles and the videos of all our 2020 graduates. Now at least when they look back on their “Graduation Day” I am hoping they will smile and remember that something positive happened at the end of their crazy 2020 year,” said Dufour Dufour added with the extra money they had due to parent donations for the banner, they thought they could donate the money to the Amherstburg Food Bank on behalf of the General Amherst 2020 Graduates

RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU

Elyssa Grondin holds up her diploma as part of the parade held for General Amherst graduates last Thursday. The parade was organized by parents due to graduation ceremonies having to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. and “pay it forward.”

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Valedictorian Cassidy Zelle, Bailey Griggs and Taylor Dufour get ready to go out in the graduation parade last Thursday. General Amherst’s virtual graduation followed online later that evening.

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General Amherst graduate Emma Macvoy was one of the graduates that participated in the parade last Thursday. The parade wound from the high school to the Libro Centre

Wednesday, July 1, 2020 – River Town Times – 7

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École St.-Jean Baptiste parents parade their graduating students through town

By Jonathan Martin Students have been out of class since March 13, but local grade eights still got to experience their graduation.

PHOTOS BY JONATHAN MARTIN Dozens of students, their families and A fire truck leads a procession of vehicles in front of École St. Jean Baptiste their friends converged on King’s Navy in Amherstburg on Saturday, June 27, 2020. The procession celebrated the Yard Park last Saturday to celebrate school’s grade eight graduates.

Ecole St. Jean Baptiste’s graduating class of 2020.

Following a lengthy vehicular procession – complete with balloons, posters and plenty of honking – Serena Koehl stepped onto the Navy Yard’s pavilion. She pulled down her facemask, picked up a megaphone and called out each of Ecole St. Jean Baptiste’s graduating grade eight students. Each, in turn, stepped up to receive a rose and a framed, signed photo. Then, under the watch of a by-law officer, the children and their supporters enjoyed bowls of ice cream from Waterfront Ice Cream.

Members of the school board governing École St. Jean Baptiste, le Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence, took no part in the celebration. Members of the board were advised not to attend any gatherings as representatives of the board, one teacher said Sunday.

Shannon Semande, Shayne Semande, Seth Semande and Matt Semande wave signs at a procession of grade eight graduates in Amherstburg on Saturday.

Their relative, Mya Broker, was the class’ valedictorian.

Lucette Burrell (left) and Presley Gloude, a grade eight graduate from École St. Jean Baptiste, pose for a photo taken by Jessica Burrell at King’s Navy Yard Park in Amherstburg last Saturday. The group took part in a parent-planned graduation ceremony.

Former grade eight students from École St. Jean Baptiste celebrate their graduation at King’s Navy Yard Park in Amherstburg last Saturday afternoon.

The graduates’ parents organized a vehicular procession, followed by a ceremony held at the park’s pavilion.

Instead, the students’ parents planned and executed the celebration, Koehl said. She said she felt that the event was something her daughter needed.

“It’s important because the kids didn’t get to experience that last day of school,” she said. “That one last time with your friends to hug and cry before going apart.”

Mya Broker, one of two valedictorians selected by her peers, said the event was “awesome.”

“We’ve spent the past 10 years together,” she said. “We’re all really close and this is the last time a lot of us will see each other. A lot of us are going to different high schools.”

The high schools Broker and her former classmates attend will look a little bit strange. On June 19, the provincial government announced its plans to reopen schools in September.

Each school board is responsible for developing its own reopening strategy, but they must adhere to the government guidelines. Smaller class sizes, modified schedules and remote learning are likely to be enforced.

“The past few months have been weird, but I’m excited to see what the future holds,” Broker said.

8 – River Town Times – Wednesday, July 1, 2020

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Western Secondary School celebrates the 2020 graduation Western Secondary School valedictorian Michael Momney speaks during the virtual graduation last Wednesday.

The entire ceremony is available to be viewed on the school’s YouTube channel.

By Ron Giofu Western Secondary School celebrated the Class of 2020 last Wednesday night at the school’s online graduation.

The graduation was presented on the school’s YouTube channel with dignitaries and school staff offering their tributes to this year’s graduating class.

Like most schools, the graduation was shifted to the virtual format due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has shuttered schools in this area since mid-March.

Valedictorian Michael Momney said it was an honour to speak on behalf of his classmates at the 2020 graduation.

“Western has been a very important part of my life,” said Momney. “This school has offered me more opportunities than any others. Western has taught me many things – growth, strength and how to better myself in every way.”

Momney thanked his fellow students and teachers

and recalled the journey from Grade 9 to the present.

He recalled not just his classes but the extracurricular activities as well.

“Look at us now. Western has given us a chance to grow into the young adults we are today,” he said. “I managed to collect lots of memories through my trips through the halls and in and out of everyone’s classes.”

Momney concluded: “Welcome to the first day of the real world. Your life starts today… we did it!”

“All of my colleagues and I, of course, would prefer be with you in person for this occasion however I know you understand why that’s not possible right now,” said Greater Essex County District School Board chair Ron LeClair, who is also the trustee for Amherstburg and LaSalle.

LeClair thanked the school communities for helping create the virtual graduations and thanked the schools for their efforts during COVID-19.

“It has been in every way a crisis – a crisis, but in no way a catastrophe,” said LeClair.

Thanks to creativity and dedication, a high quality

education was still given in as manageable of a way as possible, he said.

“We are marking your achievements in school to date so I hope you smiled and said, ‘well done,’” said LeClair.

LeClair added there have been many tests and challenges during the entire four-year high school period and praised the students for accepting them and finding ways to succeed.

“I urge you to use the experience, both recent and former, to continue to strive and achieve,” said LeClair.

Director of education Erin Kelly said, “this is not the ceremony we envisioned when the year began or at any point in our collective memories though I am thankful we have the technology and resources to provide this modest recognition of your exceptional achievements.”

Kelly asked what they learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and urged students to look at it through the lens of “gain and not loss.”

“I think we can agree that not all learning has to come in a classroom and that not all lessons have to come from textbooks,” she said. “Our experiences in the world can teach us a great deal.”

Kelly said the graduates “belong to an exclusive fellowship” and their graduation ceremony is unique.

She said one year should not overshadow their entire educational “adventure.”

Principal Ange Safranyos said they were celebrating the young men and women completing their high school educations which included navigating through a global pandemic.

“During your high school years, it’s been a journey for you to find the path to success that works for you and to overcome challenges and barriers in order to accomplish your goals,” said Safranyos. “It is our hope you continue to meet the challenge and opportunities in the future.”

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10 – River Town Times – Wednesday, July 1, 2020

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Rotary Club awards first-ever Hazen Price Rotary Scholarship to local student

By Ron Giofu

The first-ever recipient of the Hazen Price Rotary Scholarship has been revealed with the deserving student being congratulated by the man for whom the award is named.

Mackenzie Parks from General Amherst High School earned the $2,000 scholarship and was congratulated by members of the Rotary Club of Amherstburg, including Price himself.

As it turned out, there was a connection between Price and Parks.

“His grandfather is a friend of mine,” said the 97-year-old Price, who has been a Rotarian for over 70 years.

Price said he is honoured to have the scholarship named for him.

“I think it’s nice,” he said. “It’s quite a nice thing.”

Parks was also pleased.

“It feels amazing to get this award,” the graduating Grade 12 student said. “I applied for it because I felt I was really active in the community. I think it helped me further my education.”

Parks is a member of A-Team Robotics, a local youth group that not only builds and competes with robots but takes them to various community events as well. He

is also a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Amherstburg as well. He estimated he has amassed 340 volunteer hours.

The $2,000 will be used towards Parks’ tuition and books as he heads off to the University of Windsor later this year where he will study mechanical engineering.

“I hope to be able to work in the automotive industry around here,” he said.

A four-Rotarian subcommittee consisting of Karen Davidson, Sandie Older, Joan Donaldson and Tony Ross judged the applicants and Ross said it was a tough job to pick the winning recipient.

Ross indicated Parks’ community involvement was one of the major factors in why he was chosen.

“The essay he wrote, that’s what really put it over the top,” said Ross.

Rotary Club of Amherstburg president Ann Marie Favot said the local service club thanks all applicants, and pointed out the Hazen Price Rotary Scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving student from Amherstburg.

“It’s one of our highlights to be able to honour Hazen in this way,” said Favot.

“To continue with this scholarship every year will be part of his legacy.”

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The first-ever Hazen Price Rotary Scholarship was presented last week with the honouree himself on hand for the presentation. From left: Rotarian Tony Ross, Price, recipient Mackenzie Parks and Rotary Club of Amherstburg president Ann Marie Favot.

Town council approves nearly $140,000 in engineering costs for Fryer St. work

By Ron Giofu The reconstruction of Fryer St. between Alma St. and Simcoe St. could be coming in the next year or two as council has committed to spending nearly $140,000 on engineering costs for that stretch.

According to a report from manager of engineering Todd Hewitt, the street ranks highly on the town’s roads needs study. The stretch of Fryer St. between Fort St. and Military St. ranked ninth, from Military St. to Richmond St. ranked tenth, from Gibb St. to Richmond St. ranked 24th, from Alma St. to Fort St. ranked 91st while the stretch from Gibb St. to Simcoe St. ranked 295th.

“These sections of road are proposed to be converted from a rural crosssection to an urban cross-section including curb and gutter. Fryer Street is one of a very few streets in the main town core that still has a rural cross section,” Hewitt stated in his report to town council.

Councillor Peter Courtney questioned whether it was “premature” to do the engineering at this time, given the fact the new public high school will be built in the area on the south end of where Centennial Park currently stands. Hewitt said the town has an idea of what the school will look like so that was also factored in as was the possible long-term care facility that is proposed for the eastern portion of the Amherstburg Community Hub lands.

Hewitt indicated construction could occur over two years, with the stretch from Alma St. to Richmond St. being reconstructed in 2021 with the southern stretch of the road between Richmond St. and Simcoe St. being rebuilt in 2022.

In his report, Hewitt also noted administration has waived the requirement to issue an RFP for the work for engineering services based on three clauses in the procurement policy, including goods and services being in short supply due to market conditions, that the firm (Dillon Consulting) has demonstrated unique qualifications to undertake the project including in-house experience or historical data of the municipality and that time constraints restrict the ability to seek proposals or quotations that would result in increased costs or loss of provincial or federal funding.

Hewitt pointed out the town has had limited interest in recent years when issuing RFPs for such services and was hard pressed to provide a reason why.

“In the past few years the Town has issued Request for Proposals (RFP) for engineering services but has received dwindling interest from engineering firms for these proposals including only one proposal for the 5th Concession Road Reconstruction,” he wrote in his report. “This project is larger than most that the Town has undertaken recently and requires a larger multi-disciplinary firm to ensure that the work can be completed efficiently and within the timelines required.”

Councillor Michael Prue voiced concern with the fact the project was not tendered, noting he is “a fan of tendering” and wants the town to regularly do so as much as possible.

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo said the road is not in good shape and he regularly hears from residents along that stretch wanting it to be reconstructed. He said repair work done over the years has added to the problems.

“It looks like it has been done 20 times,” he said.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020 – River Town Times – 11

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House Youth Centre gets look at new home within Amherstburg Community Hub

By Ron Giofu One of the organizations moving into the new Amherstburg Community Hub got a look at the space they will soon be operating.

The House Youth Centre will be moving from its current location at 247 Brock St. and they are going into the hub, located at 320 Richmond St. The space The House will be occupying will be in the former St. Bernard School gymnasium, with the Fighting Island Boxing Club taking up the remainder of the space in the gymnasium.

Construction is now underway to divide the gymnasium into separate and distinct locations. Board chair Blanche Durocher was joined by board members Destiny Hamel and Brendan Clouthier during a tour last week.

“Programming won’t have to change and it will probably grow,” she said.

Durocher said there will be at least two larger meeting rooms, an office, storage space and other areas that could be used for smaller groups. There will also be computer areas, something The House will be able to expand upon thanks to a recent “Believe in Amherstburg” grant from the Amherstburg Community Foundation.

“We’ve been working with (director of parks, facilities, recreation and culture) Phil Roberts and he’s been amazing to work with,” said Durocher. “A lot of thought went into this and Phil and his team made sure the groups had what they needed.”

The goal is to have substantial completion of the newly renovated space by September.

“We’re hoping that’s the case,” said Durocher.

As for The House’s current location, it is owned by

the House but the Diocese of London has the first right of refusal if there is a sale. Durocher noted the Diocese has been contacted and they are waiting to hear back from them.

The House, originally known as The House of Shalom, was founded in 1971 by Father John Ware and the building at 247 Brock St. has been their only home.

However, its age and repair needs saw the House’s board seek other locations. Durocher said it “stings” having to leave their current home but believes it will work out moving to the community hub.

In addition to the House and the Fighting Island Boxing Club moving into the hub, the Verdi Club will also be joining them. The Essex County Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic was first to open in the building with Amherstburg Community Services expected to RTT PHOTOS BY RON GIOFU join them in the coming weeks.

The Verdi Club will occupy 1,050 square feet, said The House Youth Centre board chair Blanche Roberts, with the Fighting Island Boxing Club to use Durocher goes over the layout of how their space in 2,332 square feet while the House Youth Centre will the new Amherstburg Community Hub will look like. have 1,782 square feet.

The House will have 1,782 square feet.

“There are so many synergies in the building now,” said Roberts.

“It’s exciting,” said DiCarlo. “The demand for space Calling the former Catholic elementary school “a in this place has been off the charts.” rock solid building,” Roberts said the town is pleased While it was tough to give up the gymnasium, Roberts with how the renovations on the building are going. noted the demand for space from community groups He echoed Durocher’s statement that substantial was substantial. DiCarlo added the town has a joint completion of The House’s space should be done by use agreement with the Greater Essex County District September.

School Board so space in gymnasiums, including at the “There’s always things to tweak at the end,” he said. new public high school when it is built, will be able to Mayor Aldo DiCarlo said the former school is turning be accessed for community programming. into a true community centre, something the town There is still approximately 5,400 square feet in the envisioned when the building was purchased by the Amherstburg Community Hub that remains to be municipality in 2018. rented. That space is still the subject to negotiations and DiCarlo did not confirm how many potential groups could be housed in the remaining square footage due to the matter still being in negotiations.

The House Youth Centre board members Brendan Clouthier, Blanche Durocher and Destiny Hamel stand in the space they will occupy in the Amherstburg Community Hub. They are expected to call the former St. Bernard School home in September.

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Rotary Club helps out local organizations with donation of face shields

By Ron Giofu

The Rotary Club of Amherstburg has assisted local organizations with face shields as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

The Rotary Club donated face shields to Royal Canadian Legion Br. 157, the Park House Museum and Amherstburg Community Services (ACS) last week.

Rotary Club of Amherstburg president Ann Marie Favot said the local club received a grant of $1,000 from Rotary District 6400 to help with the project.

“District gave us enough money to assist in further protecting the community against the virus,” stated Favot, as she joined club members Tony Ross and Hazen Price as they made the donation of 41 face shields to ACS.

District 6400 wanted to help out during the COVID-19 pandemic, Favot explained, as local clubs are having a difficult time fundraising and holding events.

“We can’t fundraise like we normally do,” said Favot.

The Park House Museum and Royal Canadian Legion Br. 157 each received a donation of four face shields each.

ACS executive director Kathy DiBartolomeo indicated the face shields will be put to good use by their staff and volunteers. She said frontline staff will use the face shields, particularly when they re-open their office to the public. Transit drivers will also be given masks, she added, as well as Meals on Wheels volunteers and those who help with visits to seniors.

RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU

The Rotary Club of Amherstburg donated face shields to local community groups, including 41 to Amherstburg Community Services. From left: ACS executive director Kathy DiBartolomeo, Tony Ross, Rotary Club president Ann Marie Favot and Hazen Price.

“We’re really grateful for the donation,” said DiBartolomeo.

DiBartolomeo believes it will help put people at ease if they are still

concerned about the coronavirus.

“It’s another level of service,” she stated. “Thank you to the Rotary Club.”

Amherstburg Freedom Museum hosts pair of Facebook Live chats promoting Black history research

By Ron Giofu The Amherstburg Freedom Museum has hosted a pair of researchers on Black history that were held on Facebook Live.

The most recent was June 19 and it featured a presentation from Dr. Amadou Ba, who spoke on “The Forgotten History of the Contribution of Black Slaves and Soldiers to the Building of Canada (1604-1945).”

Ba noted that slavery helped build the economy in what is now Canada. He said there is no exact number of slaves that were in New France in that time period.

“That is very difficult to admit in the 21st century for many Canadians,” he said.

Ba outlined the fact that African-Canadians fought

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“We need to give that history and give them their place in history,” he stated The Amherstburg Freedom Museum also recently hosted a PhD candidate for an online chat based on some of the research she did at the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

The recent Facebook Live chat entitled “Borderlands & River Crossers: Re-Examining Freedom & Safe Havens in Upper Canada” with PhD candidate and Fulbright researcher Maria Esther Hammack.

Hammack outlined the history of slavery in the region, noting that “slavery did exist in Canada” but was abolished in 1834.

Hammack outlined the treaties and legislation of the time period but noted that while Canada proved to be a safe haven for slaves looking to escape the United States, so was Mexico. She believed there are discrepancies in exactly how many people escaped to Canada with some stating there were 30,000 while some scholars estimating there were over 100,000 people that escaped slavery by coming north.

Hammack outlined stories of two escaped slaves, one of which was Charlotte, a woman that fled to Amherstburg in 1840. She married in 1840 to a man whose last name was Valentine but Hammack said there is not a lot known of what happened to her after that.

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PhD candidate and Fulbright researcher Maria Esther Hammack gave a Facebook Live presentation entitled “Borderlands & River Crossers: Re-Examining Freedom & Safe Havens in Upper Canada” recently. It was hosted by the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

Dr. Amadou Ba presents “The Forgotten History of the Contribution of Black Slaves and Soldiers to the Building of Canada (1604-1945)” during a Facebook Live event put on by the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

Ontario came to the area after leaving Arkansas but the slave owner appealed to the Governor of Michigan of the time period and the slave was eventually sent back to the United States.

“Not everyone who fled north or south found the freedom they were looking for,” said Hammack.

Descendants of both are being looked for by Hammack.

Hammack said she enjoyed working the Amherstburg Freedom Museum but has been hamstrung in other respects due to archives being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on the Amherstburg Freedom Museum, visit www.amherstburgfreedom.org or visit www.facebook.com/AmherstburgFreedom to re-watch Hammack’s presentation.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020 – River Town Times – 13

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Culvert replacement to happen near River Canard

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

20, coordination of reasonable detour routes between the county and the town (of LaSalle) is required. Signed detour routes and local and through traffic restrictions can be appropriate measures when construction is expected to impose significant traffic impacts, such as a need for full road closure or directional lane closures.”

Mustac added in her report to Essex County council that “developing and implementing a comprehensive Traffic Management Plan before construction starts results in clearer direction to share with the public through the media and construction notices to keep road users informed of the construction work, its impact, and the options available for navigating work zones, while encouraging the use of alternate travel modes or routes if possible.”

The County of Essex and the Town of LaSalle have developed a plan with “several scenarios and conditions will be closely monitored as the work schedule approaches,” she added.

By Ron Giofu The County of Essex is planning a culvert replacement project on a roadway that borders on Amherstburg.

Essex County council has awarded a tender worth $416,078.98 plus HST to Matassa Incorporated to replace the Chappus Drain on County Road 3 (Malden Road) in River Canard. The project is scheduled to take about four weeks to complete, require complete closure of the road and start by the end of July.

The engineer’s estimate for the Chappus Drain culvert replacement project was $500,000.

Director of infrastructure services/county engineer Jane Mustac noted there is another infrastructure project in that area that will be happening at the same time.

“The Town of LaSalle has initiated a watermain project on County Road 20 that is expected to continue during the closure of County Road 3. With the predicted flooding potential for County Road

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A map shows the approximate location of a culvert replacement to be done later this summer on Malden Road in River Canard.

Essex County council awarded a tender worth $416,078.98 plus HST to Matassa Incorporated to replace the culvert later this summer.

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Call to book an appointment.

519 713-9199

Laurie Cavanaugh Owner

Amherstburg, ON cavanaugh_laurie@yahoo.com

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JOE SHAW

Sales Representative of the Pedler People

Office: 519.966.3750 Cell: 519.259.2105 Email: shawz444@sympatico.ca

Million Dollar Gold Club Member since 1990

REAL ESTATE PREFERRED REALTY LTD 80 Sandwich St. S., Amherstburg, Ontario N9V 1Z6 Each office independently owned and operated

JOHN HALL SALES REPRESENTATIVE CELL OFFICE EMAIL WEB

226.347.8956 519.736.1766 CALLJOHNHALL@GMAIL.COM WWW.CALLJOHNHALL.CA

Call Hall Today!

Wednesday, July 1, 2020 – River Town Times – 15

www.rivertowntimes.com

As more businesses and services reopen, and with social gatherings increased to 10 people, we all must continue our efforts to protect each other.

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Practice physical distancing, stay two metres apart.

Wear a face covering when physical distancing is a challenge.

Continue to wash hands frequently.

Get tested if you are worried you may have COVID-19, or have been exposed to the virus.

Inside or out, stay safe. Save lives.

Visit ontario.ca/coronavirus Paid for by the Government of Ontario

16 – River Town Times – Wednesday, July 1, 2020

www.rivertowntimes.com

REMEMBER YOUR MASK WHEN ATTENDING ANY COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT.

THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AMHERSTBURG is recruiting for a PART TIME GUEST SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE (TEMPORARY – Contract up to 19 Months) Libro Centre Reporting to the Manager of Recreation Services at the Libro Centre, the Part Time Guest Services position is responsible for providing customer service to residents and representatives from the community on recreation matters.

The successful candidate will have a Grade 12 diploma (OSSD or equivalent), and have completed courses in a related field such as customer service or office administration.

1 to 2 years’ experience in customer service and cash handling is required. Experience in sports/recreation or a related environment is an asset.

Visit www.amherstburg.ca for a detailed job description. Interested applicants are invited to submit a resume to resumes@amherstburg.ca no later than Friday July 10, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. Qualified applicants will be notified of the pre-employment testing date.

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Personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O 2001, and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility for employment.

The Corporation of the Town of Amherstburg is dedicated to maintaining a fair and equitable work environment, and in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Human Rights Code, the Town of Amherstburg will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities. If selected to participate in the recruitment process, please inform the Town of Amherstburg Human Resources staff of the nature of any accommodations you may require to ensure your equal participation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.wechu.ca

519-736-0012 • www.amherstburg.ca 271 Sandwich St. South, Amherstburg, Ontario N9V 2A5