Walking track hours restored to pre-Feb. 10 levels amid public backlash

By Ron Giofu

A controversial decision to shorten walking track hours at the Libro Centre has been reversed by town council.

The hours for the walking track had been reduced on numerous days, including to 12 noon on weekends and 5 p.m. on Friday but were brought back to what they were prior to the recent change. The move sparked anger by many who used the indoor walking track.

Councillor Linden Crain was the one who initiated the motion, stating he also wants administration to work with user groups of both the turf field and the track to ensure everyone can co-exist.

“As we’ve heard, this has been a hot topic and many are upset with the hours being reduced,” said Crain, during the Feb. 13 town council meeting. “I completely understand administration’s perspective in trying to prevent health and safety issues from arising.”

Crain said all users have a right to use the facility.

“Taxpayers paid for the walking track at the Libro Centre. Although they are not renting the facility, their tax dollars paid for the facility,” he said. “Trying to prevent injuries is important but injuries can also happen in a soccer game, a football game, attending an Admirals hockey game or being in the Libro Centre in general.”

People like the hours being “a bit more open” and walking on afternoons and weekends, he said, and while he didn’t want to “micromanage” administration, Crain asked to return the hours to what they were before the recent change.

Manager of recreation services Trese MacNeil told town council that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 32 hours of walking track hours available. When the pandemic hit and provincial health regulations cancelled regular programming and sports, hours were able to be extended.

“In essence, we’re not actually reducing hours of operation,” she said. “In fact, we’re returning to what they were before COVID with an extension of hours.”

The open time at the walking track were 32 hours of available walking time with the hours that had started Feb. 10 meaning there was 63 hours. MacNeil said number of users at the track has been monitored with five to nine walkers every hour being observed the previous week.

User groups have insurance to use the facility, with walkers not purchasing insurance, MacNeil added.

Crain wanted to know how many hours were available at the walking track during the pandemic, with MacNeil saying hours were studied when programming returned. Several residents brought concerns to administration, she said, including concerns from the walkers about being struck with balls. There was also a report of a walker physically removing a child from the track, she stated.

“It didn’t take many incidents to occur before we realized there is an issue and we needed to evaluate,” said MacNeil.

The walking track closed at 5 p.m. daily prior to COVID-19, she added, but she said administration studied which programs could best co-exist with the walkers and adjusted hours from that.

“We didn’t paint everyone with the same brush. We looked at it independently for each of the programs,” said MacNeil.

Crain said people became accustomed to the hours that occurred during the pandemic and he said while he understood the risk of co-existing users, there is a risk that takes place in every sports facility at the Libro Centre.

“From a legal perspective, it’s not the same type of risk as when you are watching a game,” said CAO Valerie Critchley. “We are allowing people into that area knowing what the confined space is.”

Critchley said she read a recent article from an insurance company about co-existing uses “and the advice is not to have that happen.” With balls and flying objects flying around, people could get seriously injured and said MacNeil and her team tried to adjust hours based on where risks existed in order to keep the track open as much as possible.

“The risk is there and it’s a liability risk to the municipality and it’s greater than just someone standing on the sidelines and watching a game,” she said.

Councillor Don McArthur believed “staff is in a bind over this one” and there is “a serious design flaw” at the indoor facility. He suggested looking at using locations such as the upper mezzainine as it is “Grand Central Station” when the track and field are busy. Bags are often on the track, either from walkers or turf users.

“It’s just too many people in a confined space and there’s conflict there,” he said.

McArthur said it is the public’s building and while there is a risk, he suggested putting up signs to mitigate the risk. He added he wants to keep the track open as much as possible. Director of parks, facilities, recreation and culture Heidi Baillargeon recognized the risk and said where there is “heavy risk,” the facility is only being used for that particular sport.

“We’re just trying to recommend during those times when there are sports

Community Calendar

Ongoing

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

ART AUCTION - Run by local volunteers with proceeds going to park improvements in Amherstburg. Runs from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Cash only, no ATM on site. Held at AMA Sportsmen’s Association, 468 Lowes Side Road. Silent auction and sale, other items also available. For information, e-mail Kurt Reffle at trukref@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR - Presented by The House Youth Centre. Walk through downtown Amherstburg to support the local youth centre. To get involved or to donate, visit www.cnoy.org/location/Amherstburg. Volunteers welcome by calling 519-736-6811.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8

ESSEX COUNTY FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB

MEETING - The Essex County Field Naturalists Club meets every second Wednesday of the month, except for November, at Ojibway Nature Center. The next meeting is March 8th, at 7:30 p.m. at Ojibway, 5200 Matchette Rd. All are welcome. Free to the public. March is our Annual General Meeting. Come out and find out what our club is all about. A lot of interesting board openings and volunteer opportunities. The Essex County Naturalists also provide opportunities to observe nature alongside members keen to impart their knowledge at what we call “Pop-Ups”. The next pop-up is Sunday, March 12, 12:30 p.m.- 2:30 p.m., Malden Park.

MENTAL HEALTH & COUNSELLING SERVICESThe Youth Wellness Hub presenting mental health and counselling services at The House Youth Centre. Starts Feb. 8 and will run every Wednesday from 2-6 p.m. Free for people between the ages of 12-25. The House is located within the Amherstburg Community Hub at 320 Richmond St. For details, call 519-800-8640.

MISSION HOURS - The Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission, 298 Victoria St. S., is open from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with lunch served between 12-1 p.m. Mission food bank open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.11:45 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. For info, call 519-736-9140 or visit www.aburgmission.ca. Stop by for food, fellowship and a warm welcome.

EMERGENCY DONATIONS NEEDED - During the pre-Christmas cold snap, water pipes in the main lodge at Bryerswood Youth Camp froze and burst. Urgent donations are requested to help pay for repairs. Donate at www. bryerswood.com/donate.

FREE COMMUNITY MEAL - Lighthouse Church, in conjunction with Feeding Windsor, invites the public to come every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. for a free dinner. Everyone welcome. Come meet others in the community and enjoy some good food. No registration required. Bring a friend! Lighthouse Church is located at 266 King St. (entrance off Gore St.).

RAPID TEST KITS - Free COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test kit distribution program being supported by the Amherstburg

Chamber of Commerce and Amherstburg Community Services (ACS). Info at https://amherstburgchamber.com/ covid-19-rapid-screening-program/. Small and medium sized businesses with under 150 employees complete the Program Agreement form found at the link and bring the completed form to ACS between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Currently distributing boxes of 25 test kits/per box.

GOLDEN AGE CLUB - The Golden Age Club, Amherstburg’s friendship club, located at the Libro Recreation Centre is offering social activities five days a week. It costs $10 a year to join. There are over 160 members who have a lot of fun playing euchre, pepper, bingo, cribbage, and bridge and doing line dancing. We also have three special luncheons and a beautiful Christmas party each year. You pick which activities you want to participate in. Go to our website (www.goldenagecentre.ca) to see how to join, participate, and learn how we support our community.

JUNIOR OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL - Looking for youth in Grades 4-12 who are interested in giving back to the community and developing leadership skills. Contact Caitlin at 519-995-5289 or secretary@bryerswood.com.

BINGOS - K of C Hall in River Canard starting bingos Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Dine-in BBQ first Friday of the month, call in advance for tickets – 519-734-8575.

ACS FOOD BANK - Curbside pickup at Amherstburg Community Hub (320 Richmond St.). Runs Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-12 noon. Call 519-736-5471 for assistance.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Community service volunteer hours are available for high school students. Outside jobs at being played, the people who are using that facility and are paying to use that facility have full use of that facility inside those walls,” said Baillargeon.

Netting inside the indoor turf facility is not foolproof, she added, and balls are still striking walkers.

Critchley said no matter how many signs are installed, if someone is injured, the town would be sued.

“Because of joint and several liability in the Province of Ontario, in all likelihood, we’re going to be told the test is what a reasonable person could have foreseen. A reasonable person could have foreseen this could have happened even with the signage,” she said.

Councillor Diane Pouget believed user groups are being pitted against one another, and thought council has “to find a way to work with all of them.” Changing in the changing rooms and keeping equipment there and not on the track should be enforced, Pouget suggested, with nothing or nobody impeding the walkers.

The indoor facility at the Libro Centre has also been the subject of controversy as to whether the turf will remain or whether it be eventually converted into a five-sport gymnasium. A sports needs study valued at $75,000 was in the budget, with deliberations beginning on the budget last night after this issue of the River Town Times went to press. A budget paper stated the town was approached by the Amherstburg Indoor Sports Association (AISA) asking to convert the field into a gymnasium, but while the AISA says it wants to work with sports groups, an AISA representative said it wasn’t their idea. He said the recommendation came from administration and AISA had no say in the matter.

“The Town Administration always has the larger picture to consider that AISA and the rest of us are not privy to, said Joe Thachen-Cary. “So the administration must have had their own reasons for making this budget recommendation to the council regarding the indoor turf.” Groups like the AISA and Amherstburg Soccer Club have said they want to work with groups to find solutions.

Bryerswood Youth Camp. Please contact info@bryerswood. com. Thank you.

BOTTLE DONATIONS - The AMA Sportsmen Association continues to accept donations of empty beer and wine bottles. People who wish to donate their empties can drop them off at the rear of the club, 468 Lowes Side Road in Amherstburg. For information, visit www.amasportsmen.com or call 519-736-5706.

MISSION NEEDS DONATIONS - The Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission, 298 Victoria St. S., needs donations, including bleach, Lysol wipes, face masks, canned tuna, canned peas, canned cut green beans, canned peas & carrots, ketchup, egg noodles, sugar, powdered juice, canned fruit, honey, macaroni & cheese, Sidekicks, ranch dressing, kidney beans, peanut butter, jam, cookies and baggies. Monetary donations welcome. For info or to donate, visit www.aburgmission.ca or call 519-736-9140.

FOUNDERS CLUB - Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club seeking donors to join the “Founders Club.” Donors help fund general operations fund of the camp. Donors with gifts of $5,000 and over become “Founders Club” members and have one square of camp property sponsored in their name. Multiple squares are available for sponsorship. Tax receipts provided. For info, visit www.bryerswood.com, call 519-996-7364 or e-mail info@bryerswood.com.

AMHERSTBURG COMMUNITY SERVICES - Located at 320 Richmond St., 519-736-5471. Meals on Wheels, CareLink Accessible Transportation, Food Bank, Senior Support, Keep The Heat, Ontario Energy Support Program & much more. Please call to see how we can help!