Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Southpoint Sun - 3
Islanders’ presentation at meeting helps ferry issue mer schedule that saw the Pelee IslandBy Mark Ribble PELEE ISLAND — A public meeting er II running every other week, while last week hosted by the West Region the much smaller Pelee Islander ran the Transportation Task Force appears to opposite weeks, due to a shortage of have been the tipping point to getting qualified engineers for the big boat. This presented a problem for busithe Pelee Island ferry issues solved. Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDon- nesses relying on visitors as the province ald is co-chair of the task force along emerged from under stricter COVID with Marta Leardi-Anderson of Owen rules. Julie Clifford, owner of The Bakery on Sound Transportation. MacDonald took Pelee Island, said the differthe chair for this particular ence in sales was often stagmeeting and said members “We shouldn’t gering. of the committee, includAbout the off-weeks, Clifing Leardi-Anderson, were have to keep ford said, “It’s the worst very impressed with the Islanders’ presentation. worrying about we’ve ever seen it. There’s just no one here.” “The residents did a wonClifford has tried to rederful job,” she said about transportation.” main positive as the ferry the presentation. “I was so — Dave Dawson bugs are worked out, but proud of them.” hopes for a more permanent It appears that meeting solution going forward. with Islanders may have Those sentiments were echoed by been the catalyst to a solution as MPP Rick Nicholls had been having ongoing Pelee Island Deputy-Mayor Dave Dawdiscussions with MTO officials for sev- son, who spoke to the Sun on Friday. “We’ve got 10 other priorities for suseral days leading up to it. On Sunday, July 18, the Ministry of tainability on Pelee Island,” he said. “We Transportation sent a text to Pelee offi- shouldn’t have to keep worrying about cials letting them know that a solution transportation.” Dawson is also the chair of Pelee Ishad been worked out regarding the ferland Transportation Committee and ries. The Pelee Islander II will now be run- says that Islanders have long been strugning on its regular summer schedule, gling with the ferry service. “This is not a new issue,” said Daweffective Monday, July 19. The good news quickly spread among son. “We’ve been dealing with issues for years.” island business people and residents. Among the issues facing Islanders are, Prior to the meeting on Wednesday, July 14, frustrations were running high of course, the lack of tourists getting to as Islanders dealt with a rotating sum- the island and also the movement of
CELEBRATING IN STYLE — INDOORS LEAMINGTON — Cured Craft Brewing Company celebrated its one-year anniversary with being able to open up to indoor dining as the province entered Step 3 on Friday, July 16. Here, Sue and Randy Tuck of Staples await friends for dinner at Cured on Saturday afternoon. SUN photo
farm machinery and crops when the big boat isn’t available. Farmers who are harvesting grapes, wheat and soybeans have to be able to get their equipment back and forth, which is something they can’t do on the smaller vessel. “Old faithful Pelee Islander, built in 1960, still makes the trips across for us,” said Dawson. “But it just doesn’t have the capacity of the newer boat.” MacDonald said she’s happy that a solution has been reached, but cautions that they don’t want to take their foot off the gas just yet. “There has to be a more permanent, sustainable solution,” she said. “It’s hard for anyone to plan anything long-term with the uncertainty of the ferries,” says Dawson. “People want to
build here but won’t make a commitment without a reliable ferry schedule.” For now, at least, Pelee Island’s bustling tourism industry, wineries and farms should be able to bounce back with the increased schedule, but as Dawson and MacDonald have said, Islanders have to know that they’ve got reliable transportation going forward. The 63-metre MV Jiimaan sits in Kingsville Harbour under a 30-year review and has not sailed under a regular schedule this year. The 67-metre Pelee Islander II, built for about $40 million in 2019, was pegged to replace the aging Pelee Islander, which was built in 1960. That same Pelee Islander has been handling half of the trips across Lake Erie so far this summer.
