Latest news with #JoAnneGignac
CBC
6 days ago
- CBC
Will Windsor relocate Sandpoint Beach or shut it down permanently?
Social Sharing Windsor could be without a beach to swim in this summer after city council unanimously approved shutting down Sandpoint Beach and Stop 26 until a corner's report into the latest drowning is complete. The corner's office says that could take months to finish. But some on council wonder if the city should ever allow people to swim in the area again now that at least 9 people have drowned in the area since beach opened in 1980. "There is no way that I think we can offer to the public a safe swimming environment," said Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac during a city council meeting this week. Gignac made the comments before council unanimously agreed to indefinitely close the beach while staff revisit the master plan to redevelop the beach. The most recent drownings have occurred before the beach officially opened for the season and without lifeguards at the beach. Safety officials blame a sudden underwater drop off and strong whirlpool like currents immediately west of Sandpoint Beach for the drownings in the area. Gignac said the initial plan to relocate the beach further east was done in good faith but said "it's not going to be presented to the public as a safe place to swim. Ever." Coun. Kieran McKenzie said ending swimming in the area is something to consider. "I don't want to signal to the community that I'm prepared to eliminate swimming altogether in that space but it's on the table," said McKenzie. Coun. Angelo Marginani, who has advocated to have the beach moved even before being elected to council, agreed to close the beach until the coroner's report is finished. But he wants to see council fund the $15 million master plan to redevelop the area to keep Windsor's only beach open. "I believe the cost is not what we spend but what we fail to gain," said Marginani. Windsor city council earlier this week opted to close Sandpoint Beach pending the outcome of a coroner's investigation after a 15-year-old died swimming at the beach in May. But why is the water so dangerous? The CBC's Chris Ensing explains. A spokesperson for the corner's office said that the final report will not be made public because of privacy laws and will not be shared with the city. However, if the investigation turns up any recommendations, those will be shared with the city. Council reviewed a safety audit about the beach in 2013. It recommended council consider relocating the beach to a safer area because of the sudden shift in the water currents and depths on the western side of the beach. Here's how the idea to relocate Sandpoint Beach has moved through council over the years: 2012: City council lists the redevelopment of Sandpoint Beach and Stop 26 in the capital budget for after 2017 2013: City council receives a safety audit from the Lifesaving Society that recommends the city "consider closing the beach in favour of moving it eastwards" and "at a minimum" fence off the western portion. The city installs a metre tall fence for $10,000. 2014: The budget earmarks $5 million for the closure of the western side of Sandpoint Beach and new water access further east. The timeline is sometime after 2019. 2018: Council asks how much it will cost for preliminary study to relocate Sandpoint Beach. Staff suggest it will cost $250,000 to study. 2019: The capital budget sets aside $250,000 for the study in 2024 and $5 million for the relocation beyond 2026. 2021: In May, a 24 year old drowns while swimming at Sandpoint Beach, the sixth person to die while swimming in the area since the beach opened in 1980. At a press conference weeks later, Mayor Drew Dilkens calls the relocation a high priority. Council decides to pay for the study to start in 2021. 2022: Public consultations start which shows a relocation design that closes western edge of the beach and lengthens beach access on the eastern edge of the beach. The expected relocation costs doubles to $10 million. 2023: The budget earmarks $1 million spread across 2024 and 2025 for the relocation of the beach with an additional $900,000 from 2028 to 2030. A master plan for the redevelopment of Sandpoint Beach is completed in November. 2024: In May, two young men drown near Sandpoint Beach, the seventh and eighth people to die in the area while swimming. Council installs taller fences at the western edge of the beach. An updated master plan is presented to council but deferred to early 2025. The city's capital budget shuffles the money around so that there is $1.5 million between 2029 and 2030. Relocating the beach is now expected to cost $15 million. 2025: In January, council approves the master plan, which will close of the western portion of the beach and extend the eastern beach. Council directs staff to consider funding as part of future capital budgets with Dilkens saying it will take years to complete. In May, a 15 year old boy drowns while swimming at the beach. City council decides to close the beach until a coroner's report is complete.
CBC
09-06-2025
- CBC
Council votes to close Sandpoint Beach following drowning death of swimmer
Social Sharing Windsor city council has decided to close Sandpoint Beach following the drowning death of a 15-year-old last month. Councillors say they want to wait until a coroner's investigation into this death is complete before deciding next steps. "Before we make any decisions on this, I'd really like to see that report and see some of the recommendations," said Coun. Gary Kaschak. On May 19, OPP divers recovered the body of a 15-year-old who disappeared in the water near the beach the previous day. Police said two teenagers were swimming just west of the beach when one went under the water and did not resurface. The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario has confirmed it will be investigating the teen's death. Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac, who agreed with Kaschak on the need to look at the recommendations, put forward the motion to close the beach pending the outcome of the report. "We have to stop and take a sober second look at whether or not the area will be ever be safe. And I'm not convinced of that," she said. 9 deaths in 4 decades Nine people have drowned while swimming in the beach area since 1986. The western edge of the beach, which has signage and fencing to deter swimmers, drops off sharply in depth and there is a strong undertow. The city has approved a $15-million long-term plan to relocate the beach a short distance to the east and make other enhancements to the area. Coun. Angelo Marignani, who represents the area, put forward a motion to accelerate that plan, which failed. Kaschak said that he appreciates Marignani's intent to keep the beach open, but without knowing if the area is ultimately safe, he suggested council could be "throwing good money at a bad situation." The city hasn't said when the closure will start, and it's unclear if the entire beach will be shut down, or just access to the water.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- CTV News
City shuts down Sandpoint Beach, pending review
Sandpoint Beach seen in Windsor, Ont. on May 20, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) Sandpoint Beach is closing — at least for now. Windsor city council voted Monday to temporarily shut down access to the city's east-end beach following the recent drowning of a 15-year-old boy. Instead of moving ahead with a motion to fast-track safety upgrades, council approved a different approach: close the beach immediately, await the results of the coroner's investigation and have administration report back on whether the beach's long-term redevelopment plan can be expedited. 'It wasn't a motion that I put on the table without a lot of thought,' said Ward 6 councillor Jo-Anne Gignac, who introduced the alternate motion. 'We've had nine drownings in the area since 1980. And I think it's time for a good sober pause to consider a number of things.' Gignac questioned whether relocating the swimming area at Sandpoint Beach, as the redevelopment plan suggests, is enough. 'I'm not convinced that there is a safe way to do it in that area,' she said. 'How many people do we have to watch go into the water and not come out?' She pointed to comments from the Windsor Port Authority warning that the Detroit River is not safe for swimming — and suggested future redevelopment at Sandpoint could focus on amenities that don't involve getting into the water. 'I think we can do a very, very nice project there that doesn't involve actually getting into the water,' she said. Ward 7 councillor Angelo Marignani, who represents the area and brought forward the original motion to prioritize funding for safety upgrades, said he supports council's direction and remains committed to seeing improvements made. 'I'll be doing my best to ensure that Sandpoint Beach is a wonderful place for everyone to enjoy,' he said. 'But first and foremost, it has to be safe.'
CBC
16-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Ontario budget promises new police helicopter and more skilled tradespeople for Windsor-Essex
A new helicopter for Windsor police and almost a billion dollars in funding for worker skills development are among the aspects of the latest Ontario budget that will have a direct impact on our region. CBC's Dalson Chen spoke with Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac of the police board and John D'Agnolo of Unifor Local 200 for their reactions.
