Optimism abounds at annual Mayors’ Breakfast

By Mark Ribble

After a two-year hiatus, the annual Leamington District Chamber of Commerce Mayors’ Breakfast returned to the friendly confines of Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens on Thursday, January 19 with a ‘trifecta’ of mayors in attendance.

The event, which usually involves Kingsville and Leamington mayors, also included Pelee Island Mayor Cathy Miller this year.

Joined by Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald, the event was sponsored by WFCU Credit Union and Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.

Chamber of Commerce Manager Wendy Parsons welcomed the sold-out crowd back to Colasanti’s and handed the podium over to Chamber Chair Chad Robinson.

Robinson acted as the emcee for the morning affair, which included scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, tater tots and Colasanti’s famous donuts.

Every member of Leamington and Kingsville council attended the event, along with several local dignitaries. Pelee Island councillors Stephanie Briggs-Crawford and Sherri Smith-Ouellette took a flight across from the island for the event.

Mayor MacDonald, who was also recently elected Warden of Essex County, spoke to the support that each mayor was seeing from their staff and fellow council members.

“It’s great to have that support,” she said. “I’m happy to see all your faces.”

MacDonald stated that

2022 had been a “tumultuous year”, citing the municipal election campaign as stressful for all involved.

“We put our personal reputations, our service record and our character on the line for a job that, in the big scheme of things, is rewarding in intangible ways, rather than tangible ways,” she said. “Most don’t do this for financial gain.”

MacDonald reviewed some of the highlights from the last four-year term in Leamington and was happy that the community had put their faith in council again.

“This council got through the election with flying colours. All of us returned, with one new councillor replacing our retiring John Hammond. We welcomed Councillor Anthony Abraham,” she said. “The message from the silent majority this election was keep doing what you are doing. Job well done. We want this council to continue to lead. We are grateful and appreciative of that support.”

Leamington’s 2022 capital and operational spending was $79.6 million and of that amount, almost $52 million was spent in dayto-day operations. Another almost $28 million was spent on big projects like roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Mayor MacDonald outlined a plan for the coming term, which begins with strategic planning meetings where council identifies the vision they see for the next four years and beyond.

“We determined that our vision for 2023-2026 will be that we want Leamington to be a community people choose and stay in because of an outstanding quality of life,” she said.

Over in Kingsville, new Mayor Dennis Rogers is looking forward to the term ahead and says plans for a ‘Kingsville 2040’ initiative are underway.

He was grateful for the support of the new council — all of whom attended the event — referring to the trio of Thomas Neufeld, Tony Gaffan and Larry Patterson as ‘the three wise men’.

He complimented new councillor Sheri Lowrie for the enthusiasm she brings to the table and fellow newcomer Debby Jarvis Chausse as the councillor with her finger on the pulse of the community.

Rogers was also quick to highlight Deputy Mayor Kimberly DeYong for her common sense approach and said she was key to keeping him centered on the job ahead.

Mayor Rogers talked about the past term and how much the previous council had accomplished, but said there is much more to be done.

“We need to have a strategic plan not only for the next four years, but we need to know where we will be in 20 years,” he said.

Kingsville’s growth over the past few years is indicative of the region’s growth as well.

Rogers highlighted Kingsville’s uptown area as the gem of the community and complimented town staff and business owners for their vision, highlighting the flourishing restaurant industry as leaders in that area.

He cited the current development with plans to purchase any future school properties, develop the waterfront and spoke to Kingsville’s festivals and events, which numbered in the dozens in 2022.

Pelee Island Mayor Cathy Miller talked about the challenges that the island faces by being in the middle of one of the largest bodies of freshwater in the world.

“Pelee Islanders are self-reliant, proud, and we persist,” she said.

She said that a much anticipated broadband internet service will be invaluable for businesses, residents and tourists.

“You can sit with your feet in the sand watching the clouds go by as you trade stocks, upload content, and consult via video conference from Canada’s sunny, southernmost inhabited land,” she added.

Pelee Island is also the only municipality in the province that permits both residential and commercial golf cart operation on the roadways.

Ridership on the Pelee Island ferries was way up in 2022 and Miller expects things to get busier as the island continues to prosper. Businesses are rebounding after a tough pandemic period and she says she expects more growth in that area.

“Like every single community in the country, COVID-19 was transformative,” said Miller.

“On Pelee, transportation limitations were real and border closure presented significant pain given we are a port of entry with a relatively large American population.”

The common theme among the three mayors is that there is plenty of work on the horizon, but on that same horizon, there is also plenty of opportunity to increase the way of life in each of the three communities.