Latest news with #SherryBondy
Hamilton Spectator
25-07-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Essex, Amherstburg officially open Co-An Park's new playground
As co-owners of the 40-acre Co-An Park in McGregor, Essex and Amherstburg jointly worked on a Master Plan for over two-years to map out a multi-year document to help guide future development of the park. That Master Plan was adopted by both municipal Councils last year. One of the outcomes of the Master Plan was to add a playground to the outdoor sports facility. After further collaboration between both municipalities, that playground has been installed. A ribbon cutting was hosted last Friday afternoon. 'Today is really exciting,' Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said, while youths sat atop the slide, ready to head down to the bottom. Most importantly, the ribbon cutting was exciting for the families and children, who now get to enjoy the new playground facility. The new playground replaces an existing structure that was smaller and older. Staff and Council members of both municipalities, in addition to members of the Co-An Park Advisory Committee and the Town of Essex Accessibility Advisory Committee, took part in the ribbon cutting on Friday afternoon, officially opening the new playground. They all had a hand in developing the Master Plan. Bondy called it a 'bold plan that outlines thoughtful future improvements to this beloved park,' while prioritizing accessibility, inclusivity, recreation, and bringing people together. As part of developing the Master Plan, a public survey highlighted the desire to add a playground and splashpad, with administration noting previously that adding the latter feature will be more complex. 'This project is a true example of collaboration and action. Funded equally by the Town of Essex and the Town of Amherstburg, it reflects what we can do when we work together to accomplish a shared vision for our communities,' Bondy said. Adding the playground, Bondy commented, is one of the first steps in the implementation of action items set out in the Co-An Park Master Plan. She thanked the members of the Co-An Park Advisory Committee and the Town of Essex Accessibility Advisory Committee for their input and guidance. She also extended appreciation to New World Playground Solutions for providing the playground's design. In selecting the playground design, three companies, with each providing two designs, submitted to the process. Four of the six designs were ranked high enough to qualify for the public feedback portion. To obtain public input the Town of Essex held a two-week virtual vote in February, allowing the public to review and rank the four designs. Back in March, Essex Council awarded the Request for Proposal to design, supply, and install the playground equipment for Co-An Park to New World Park Solutions Inc in the amount of $389,791, with half of the cost coming from Amherstburg. That was after Essex put $200,000 aside for the playground. So too did Amherstburg. 'This playground is more than just slides, it is where families can come together, where friendships form, and where the community feels a little bit closer,' Bondy added. 'It is our duty to ensure these spaces are not only safe and fun, but accessible.' 'This is a really important playground,' Amherstburg Mayor Michale Prue added, also recognizing the work Amherstburg's Accessibility and Park committees contributed to the Master Plan. He acknowledged the park is not located in his municipality, but it is 'part of Amherstburg's soul.' He noted people on both sides of Walker Road in McGregor – the municipal boundary line – come and utilize this park. 'I'm really delighted how it has turned out,' he added, because he often says not enough is done for accessible groups. 'This playground is a testament to all of the people who worked on it. It is a testament to how many hours went into making sure every child – and I mean every child – has the opportunity to come out and play.' The park has sensory features and rubber matting. Prue hopes the facility will be well utilized. Co-An Park was established in 1977. The playground is added to the facility that already houses an array of amenities, such as six baseball diamonds, three soccer fields, two tennis courts, washrooms, pavilion and canteen, walking paths, and the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
16-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Essex mayor urges residents to stop misusing public garbage cans
Sherry Bondy with a public garbage can seen in Essex, Ont. on July 16, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) The mayor of Essex is calling out a growing number of residents who are stuffing household garbage into public bins intended for light litter. In a Facebook post earlier this week, Mayor Sherry Bondy expressed concern about people using uptown municipal garbage cans to dispose of full bags of household waste, refuse, even a glass picture frame. 'People are literally putting bags of their home garbage beside our municipal pails,' Bondy said in an interview. 'One or two of those bags and the bins are full. Then we have to pay staff to come out and empty them.' Essex garbage cans Misuse of garbage cans seen in Essex, Ont. on July 16, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) Bondy said while the receptacles are provided for convenience while walking, for items like coffee cups, dog waste and gum wrappers, they are increasingly being misused. 'When you see it once or twice, you think maybe someone's moving,' she said. 'But when it's on a regular basis, it seems to be a habit for some people.' She said the town has an excellent garbage collection system, including curbside pickup with no bag or size limits and access to local waste depots. 'We take basically everything. Whether you live in an apartment or a house, I encourage you to use your home garbage option,' Bondy said. 'This is one way we can save money — by not putting all of our home garbage in our town garbage pails.' Essex garbage cans Sherry Bondy with a public garbage can seen in Essex, Ont. on July 16, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) Residents and visitors have also taken notice of the misuse. 'I see it all the time — people pull up in their cars with a couple of bags and drop them in,' said Rick Tramutola, who was in Essex on Wednesday. 'I've even seen people dump fish scraps. It's gross.' Tramutola said he believes a fine might be necessary. 'Nothing too big, but something to say, 'Do it properly — we've got the facilities.'' Bondy said the town hasn't yet discussed implementing fines but isn't ruling it out. 'It's something we're monitoring,' she said. 'Everything costs money — from buying more bins to paying staff to empty them more than once a week. It all factors in at budget time.' Essex garbage cans Misuse of garbage cans seen in Essex, Ont. on July 16, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) For some residents, the misuse is baffling. 'It's too bad,' said Gayle Mitchell. 'We have garbage pickup right at our house. And if you live in an apartment building, they always have a bin. There's no need to put it on Main Street.' Lucille Lewis, who was shopping in Essex, said people have other options. 'There are a lot of places you can call for recycling or disposal. I don't think that should be done.' Paul Robertson agreed. 'There's no need for it,' he said. 'You can put everything out to the road, they'll take it.' Bondy said the goal is to keep Essex clean and avoid overflowing bins that send trash blowing down the streets. 'We want our town to look clean,' she said. 'This is one way we can work together.'
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Beach closures prompt push for E.coli source tracking in Essex County
The mayor of Essex is looking for more information on how the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) conducts weekly beach testing. Every Wednesday, WECHU takes water samples from area beaches and posts results on Friday, resulting in area beaches either being closed, a warning posted, or fully open. Sherry Bondy introduced a motion at Monday night's council meeting wanting a follow up from WECHU, wanting to know if it's possible to determine the source of in the waters. 'Every municipality in Essex County lives on the water, so we need to start questioning our water quality more, find out if it's something going on in our own backyard, or is it something going on in the U.S.,' Bondy said. 'To me it's not acceptable to go down to the beach, you get your family and you get down there and you find out that there's warning or a beach closure, and now you can't swim. Bondy says she's also looking to have discussions with different levels of government. 'We've had correspondence on our agendas looking at provincial support from other municipalities on septic systems, and inspecting septic systems, so is that something we can get maybe provincial resources and look at inspecting septic systems, if you live along the shoreline,' she said. 'Maybe there are several hot taps or sewage leaking right into our lakes.' Bondy wonders if its time to have a regional committee to investigate the issue. 'Bring some scientists on board, really see, can we hone more on what is in the water, and try to find the sources rather than just putting up a sign, walking away, and saying the beach is closed,' Bondy said. 'I don't want our beaches to be closed, I want all of our beaches to be open, and I want them to be safe.' Colchester Beach, located on the north shore of Lake Erie, is within Bondy's municipality. One warning has been issued for so far in 2025. In 2024, five warnings and one closure was issued. Six warnings have been posted at Holiday Beach in Amherstburg since testing began in May, and one warning at Cedar Beach. Sandpoint Beach remains temporarily closed to swimmers by the City of Windsor for safety not related to water testing. — Rob Hindi/AM800 News
CTV News
27-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Essex County Library Board calling for further communication and agreements among branches
The Vice Chair of the Essex County Library Board wants to see formal agreements with all local municipalities to ensure everyone's responsibilities are properly identified. Essex mayor Sherry Bondy raised a notice of motion during the Library Board meeting on Wednesday evening, requesting that the library administration work with local municipalities to get formal agreements in place that would set out level of service benchmarks, heating and cooling agreements, health and safety expectations, or other requirements. The motion was unanimously passed. Bondy said following the air quality concerns that were brought up and are currently being addressed at the Stoney Point Library branch, she began to question what level of service each municipality has to provide in order for the Library Board to provide adequate services. Bondy, who also serves as the Vice Chair of the Essex County Library Board, added it would be good to spell out exactly what each municipality would be responsible for. 'And this would spell out exactly who does what,' she said. 'It could be down to the condition of the building, it could be down to snow removal, whether the building is accessible or not, it could even be the size of the building, potentially even the location. It depends on what the municipalities in the County or the Library Board come up with.' She said that everyone needs to know what their role is, helping to ensure that services aren't disrupted. 'Nobody wants to shut down a library, or not to have an area in service, but we also have to make sure that as the Library Board, we're providing services in places that are safe, not only for employees, but for members of the public that goes to these branches.' By delegating a responsibility to each, that would also put costs for improvements on the specific branch in charge. 'Municipalities would have to incorporate that in their budget,' said Bondy. 'If a roof is leaking or an air conditioner needs fixing. Another example is Amherstburg Library. The air conditioning is not working to its full potential, so that branch had to be closed. So, it could potentially spell out areas of improvement for local municipalities.' She added that this will take time for the conversations to take place. The Stoney Point facility closed to the public on April 30 following concerns of air quality issues as staff and library users were experiencing throat and eye irritation during periods of warmer temperatures. The Municipality of Lakeshore has opened a temporary facility to be used for the next year while those issues are being addressed. The Essex County Library posted to social media on Wednesday that the Amherstburg Branch would be closed for the day due to extreme heat and air condition issues. - Written by Rob Hindi/AM800 News.
CTV News
21-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Essex asks residents to give input through survey
The Town of Essex sign in Essex, Ont., on June 11, 2020. (Melanie Borrelli / CTV Windsor) The town of Essex is asking for residents' input on their Asset Management Plan through a survey. The initiative is the town's program for replacing its infrastructure. The Asset Management Plan manages public infrastructure, such as road networks, bridges and culverts, water network, sanitary sewer networks and stormwater networks. By participating in the survey, residents can give input on the program's strengths, areas for improvement and priorities for upcoming years. The feedback will inform the town's plan in alignment with Ontario Regulation 588/17. Sherry Bondy, the mayor of Essex, said the questionnaire gives residents a chance to have a say in how the town cares for and invests in infrastructure. 'Your input will help guide responsible planning and ensure we continue to build a strong, vibrant future for Essex,' said Bondy.
