Town of LaSalle Contact Information

LaSalle Civic Centre5950 Malden Rd., LaSalle N9H 1S4

Phone: 519-969-7770www.lasalle.ca

Mayor, Council and AdministrationExt. 1233

Council Services/Clerks DepartmentExt. 1234

Finance/Tax DepartmentExt. 1230

Public Works DepartmentPhone: 519-969-4143

Development & Strategic Initiatives/Building ServicesExt. 1245

Culture & Recreation DepartmentExt. 1235

Vollmer Culture & Recreation Complex2121 Laurier Parkway, LaSalle N9J 0B4Phone: 519-969-7771

LaSalle Fire ServicePhone: 519-966-0744

LaSalle Police ServicePhone: 519-969-5210

For ambulance, police and fire emergencies, dial 911

LaSalle Messenger is printed twice a year; once in spring/summer and once in fall/winter. It is prepared by the Communication and Promotions Officer. Copies are delivered in LaSalle via Canada Post. Additional copies are available at the LaSalle Civic Centre.

Send your questions and comments to: communications@lasalle.ca or call 519-969-7770, ext. 1253.

Fall 2018 Town of LaSalle5950 Malden RoadLaSalle, Ontario N9H 1S4519-969-7770www.lasalle.cacommunications@lasalle.ca

Messenger

The 2018 LaSalle Municipal Election was successful. For the first time, electors voted by internet or telephone. A total of 42.12% of eligible voters cast a ballot in the election.

The polls officially opened on October 12. Between 8:00 am and 8:30 pm on that day, just over 950 votes were cast. Although the polls remained open 24 hours a day until October 22, many people waited to vote on Election Day with 2,968 votes cast on October 22.The following is the voter turnout for the last five elections:

2018 42.12%2014 45.51%2010 50.17%2006 36.92%2003 30.85%

On November 14, LaSalle administrative staff, fire, police, and EMS personnel took part in responding to a mock emergency scenario. Each year, the municipality is required to conduct emergency management training to practice the steps that would be taken in the event of an actual emergency.

The mock emergency created the need to open the town’s Emergency Operations Centre at the LaSalle Civic Centre and an evacuation reception centre hosted by Red Cross volunteers at the Vollmer Complex. In addition, representatives from Windsor Fire, City of Windsor, 211, Plains Midstream, Union Gas and the County of Essex took part in the session. Staff from all departments in LaSalle were involved in the response to the incident, the reception centre and the administrative side of making plans

and providing support to emergency workers.

On the same day, a test message was sent to all those who are registered with LaSalle Alerts. This system will be used to provide important information in times of emergency. This system allows us to contact those registered during events such as floods, large fires, evacuation orders, etc. We will provide notifications on municipal response, recommended actions, emergency information, and special instructions as appropriate throughout the event. When registering in the system, you choose how we contact you (one or more methods): text message, phone call to a cell phone or land line and/or email. Register yourself today at:

www.lasallealerts.ca

Emergency Management Training

2018-2022 LaSalle CouncilBack Row (l to r): Mike Akpata, Councillor; Anita Riccio-Spagnuolo, Councillor; Jeff Renaud, Councillor; Mark Carrick, Councillor Front Row: Crystal Meloche, Deputy Mayor; Marc Bondy, Mayor; Sue Desjarlais, Councillor

Smoking Prohibited at Vollmer ComplexEffective Oct. 17, 2018, the Smoke-free Ontario Act 2017 was amended and prohibits any and all forms of smoking and vaping at community recreational facilities, and within 20 metres of the perimeter of those properties.

Smoking is no longer allowed anywhere on the Vollmer Complex property or within 20 metres of the perimeter of the Vollmer Complex property (i.e. no smoking in the parking lots, on the trails and/or sidewalks, at the pavilions, on the sports fields etc.). Locally, the Smoke-free Ontario Act 2017 is enforced by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s (WECHU) Tobacco Enforcement Officers.

Upcoming Eventswww.lasalle.ca

Jan. 2, 3 and 4, 2019Vollmer Complex Free recreational skating from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Family Day - Mon., Feb. 18, 2019Vollmer ComplexFree recreational swimming (1:00 pm to 5:45 pm) and recreational skating (12:00 pm to 3:50 pm). Pre-registration is strongly encouraged for swimming and skating.

For more information about these events or other upcoming events, please visit our website at www.lasalle.ca.

Dates to RememberMunicipal Offices Closed(5950 Malden Rd)December 24 - January 1

2019 Budget DeliberationJanuary 10 -11

Water Billing Due Dates Friday, January 25Friday, April 26Friday, July 26Friday, October 25

Tax Billing Due DatesFriday, February 22Friday, April 26Friday, June 28Friday, August 30

As we end our term of Council, it is hard not to reflect on the accomplishments of the current and previous Councils. Making decisions that affect your community for years, and in some cases generations, can be a daunting responsibility.

During our first term that concluded in the fall of 2014, our Council, made up of Deputy Mayor Carrick, and Councillors Bondy, Desjarlais, Burns, Meloche and Ray Renaud, we departed from a traditionally cautious approach to an aggressive one. Our most notable accomplishment, included the construction of new municipal facilities housing Police, Fire, and Public Works. We also proceeded with the construction of the LaSalle Civic Centre, which houses our Administration, Library and Senior’s activities. Also included in this initiative, was the acquisition of approximately 75 additional acres to enlarge the Vollmer Complex grounds.

Although some might have thought this substantial investment in our infrastructure was risky, we as a Council in concert with our Administration, weighed the benefits of proceeding when we did and recognized the need to energize the Town Centre. We were confident it would rejuvenate this area, and create a pedestrian friendly, vibrant business district, that would attract investors. We believe that is occurring.

The next term of Council presented an

entirely new challenge. The Town was developing rapidly, and we needed to assure orderly and accountable growth, without placing a burden on the existing residents.

The Council, made up of Deputy Mayor Bondy, and Councillors, Burns, Desjarlais, Meloche, Akpata and Jeff Renaud, again with the guiding hand of Administration, began a Strategic Planning tactic. Five different directives that would balance our approach of assuring that the Town would continue to develop in a responsible manner. This innovative direction would also provide for more “subtle” changes that had not really been pursued by the Town in the past. Some may call them unnecessary. We preferred to call them vital to sustaining and growing our Town.

We installed attractive entrance signs welcoming all to our Town; banners celebrating special events and accomplishments of Town residents; initiated Master Plans for Drainage, Recreation and Economic Development; introduced Public Transit; furthered our partnership with the University of Windsor as it relates to the Fresh Water Fish Research station; purchased a strategic piece

of property on County Road 20, that will be redeveloped in full consultation of the public; constructed a splash pad and accessible playground at the Vollmer; introduced “Le Griffon”, a historical key to our past (and part of our Town logo), in the round-about at Todd and Malden; and many other enhancements that make LaSalle what it is…“Healthy, Vibrant, Caring”.

It has been an incredible honor to serve my hometown as Mayor for these past 8 years. I am able to exit the office, knowing our Councils advanced the Town during these terms of office. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the residents, and our entire staff of dedicated professionals, for their patience, guidance and understanding throughout my terms of office.

I would finally like to thank our Councils. They were elected to carry out the business of our Town, and they did so with integrity. Many of them will be returning for the next term, led by Mayor Marc Bondy, and I wish them well. A special thanks to Councillor Terry Burns for his over 20 years’ service as a Member of Council. Thank you all.

Ken AntayaProud Mayor of LaSalle

Rick Nicholls, MPP Chatham-Kent (l), recently met with Mayor Marc Bondy (r), to announce grant funding in the amount of $37,500 to LaSalle. The funding is part of the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program. The funds are being used to develop an Economic Development Strategic Plan in LaSalle. The plan will establish effective ways to attract and retain jobs in LaSalle, while boosting non-residential assessment to increase economic investment in the Town.

Farewell from Mayor Antaya

A group of students from Sacred Heart Grade School joined LaSalle Council Members, TD Bank and Essex Powerlines at Gilbert Park (International St.) in LaSalle to celebrate the opening of a brand new 0.5 KM paved trail with interpretive signage. You can learn about local butterflies, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, bird species, forest flora, pit and mound, and the Carolinian Forest.

The Town of LaSalle was honoured to receive a $30,000 grant from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) to construct the trail and install the signs along the path. Essex Powerlines Corporation planted 100 trees in the park as part of their paperless billing campaign.

LaSalle Council 2014-2018

LaSalle Citizen of the Year John Sobhi

Young Citizen Lina Chaker

Outstanding Service Club Dr. Nick Krayacich

Outstanding Board Volunteer Ivan Petric

Milestone: 15 YearsBill Armstrong (95th Scouts)Sheri Koscielski (95th Scouts)Kathe Campeau (46th Girl Guides)Maureen Taylor (27 yrs. with 46th Girl Guides)

Milestone: 30 yearsBrian and Nicole Hicks (95th Scouts)

In September, LaSalle Council members, along with Tracey Ramsey, MP, Essex, thanked and congratulated LaSalle’s 2018 Volunteer Recognition recipients.