After such an emotional and vocal evening, the vote to close Harrow District High School ended in stunning silence.

The school had avoided closure for over two decades, but this time the financial threats from the province and the Greater Essex County District School board’s own budget numbers added up to a 5-4 vote in favour of shuttering the school this June.

On the motion to also close Western Secondary School, trustees voted unanimously to keep the school open.

“I’m about to cry because they closed Harrow and I thought they’d close Western too,” said Western student Vicky Cormiercole.

“I’m so surprised.

“I learned we have great support and people want to help us.”

Trustees instead approved a motion to keep Western open until it can be housed separately in a proposed new General Amherst. Then both the existing General Amherst and Western will be closed.

“The ministry says to build a new school in Kingsville, they needed a consolidation,” trustee Al Halberstadt said. “Unfortunately, Harrow was that consolidation.”

About 500 people gathered for the special meeting held at St. Clair College to hear the debate over the future of Harrow, Western, General Amherst and Kingsville High Schools along with Harrow Public Elementary School.

Board members listen to delegations during a special Greater Essex County District School Board meeting at the St. Clair College SportsPlex in Windsor on Tuesday, October 13, 2015. The closure of Harrow District High School and Western Secondary School was the topic of the special meeting.

Harrow and Western were the schools targeted for closure at the end of June because of low enrolment.

According to board statistics for 2014, Harrow housed 254 secondary and 110 elementary students while Western had 311 students.

The schools in the Program and Accommodation Review, which account for 25 per cent of the board’s 6,100 empty student spaces, also have combined repair costs of $40 million.

However, Harrow parent Sherry Dzudovich, who served on the Program and Accommodation Review Committee, said the board won’t realize all the benefits of students shifting to Kingsville.

“A petition circulated in the last two weeks in the town found 80 students would enrol in another board,” Dzudovich said. “That would cost the board $800,000 (in grants from the province).”

Students react to the decision to close Harrow District High School during a special Greater Essex County District School Board meeting at the St. Clair College SportsPlex in Windsor on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015.

In addition to closing Harrow, the director’s report calls for the building of a new JK to Grade 12 school in Kingsville and a new Grade 9 to 12 high school to replace General Amherst. The Kingsville site would also house Jack Miner and Kingsville elementary schools.

With Harrow closing, all high school students would shift to Kingsville while the Grade 7 and 8 students who share the Harrow site would return to Harrow Public Elementary School.

Harrow graduate Mitchell Long said the board’s decision will turn the town of Harrow into “predominantly a retirement community.”

“Closing Harrow means fewer families move in and more will move out,” Long said. “The school is at the heart of the community.”

In voting to defeat the motion to close Western, trustees were unanimous in being uncomfortable closing Western.

“I didn’t have a problem closing Harrow, but I had one closing Western,” trustee Tom Kilpatrick said.

“It’s a question of where are we going in special education.”

Western student Dayna Antonucci speaks during a special Greater Essex County District School Board meeting at the St. Clair College SportsPlex in Windsor on Tuesday, October 13, 2015. The closure of Harrow District High School and Western Secondary School was the topic of the special meeting.

Western student Dayna Antonucci said the programs at her school just can’t be replicated at other more populous schools.

“Because 75 per cent of students are special needs students, putting them in normal, larger classes, I don’t think they could handle it,” said Antonucci, who credited the school’s staff and students with helping her overcome challenging personal issues to succeed.

“The support is there (at Western).”

GECDSB is one of the few boards in Ontario to have a vocational school like Western.

“It’s not necessarily bad to stand out,” Harrow Baptist pastor Steve Forsey said. “We need to celebrate this school, promote it.”

Also tabled Tuesday, Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos offered the board a 25-acre site next to the town’s existing parks and recreation facilities to accommodate a new JK to Grade 12 school.

“Education is passing in a huge shadow of uncertainty,” Santos said. “We’re facing the prospect of having no schools in our town.

“We want to work with the board.”

dwaddell@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/WinStarWaddell

Local voters joined a record tide of early electors in Ontario and across Canada who flocked to last weekend’s advance polls in this year’s federal election.

The riding of Essex saw nearly a quarter of the total number of votes cast in the last federal election deposited into ballot boxes over the four days of advance polling.

Pollsters are predicting a tight election night battle on Monday in Essex between incumbent Conservative MP Jeff Watson and NDP challenger Tracey Ramsey.

Almost 30,000 voters in the three local ridings headed to the advance polls over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Essex saw 11,903 early ballots cast, representing 13 per cent of the 90,591 total eligible electors. But that figure represents 23 per cent of the actual number (52,697) who bothered to vote in 2011.

Essex’s early turnout was nearly double what was seen in Windsor West, where 6,306 voters (7.7 per cent of 81,428 eligible) cast advance poll ballots. In Windsor-Tecumseh, 9,498 (11 per cent of 86,351) voted early.

In Ontario as a whole, 1.3 million voters visited the advance polls, up a half-million from 2011. Across Canada, the total early vote was 3.6 million, more than 1.5 million above the 2011 tally.

University of Windsor political scientist Lydia Miljan said the higher numbers in Essex could be reflective of a competitive race, but that it could also simply be a reflection of where people live and work.

Miljan said many rural residents, like herself, commute to work in the city and therefore prefer to vote early and on a weekend in order to avoid the after-work rush to the ballot boxes on election night.

“It’s a convenience thing,” she said. “If you start work at 8:30 a.m., you’re risking long lineups at the end of the day.”

Windsor West NDP candidate Brian Masse speaks with the media about the future for single-sports betting in Canada during a press conference near Caesars Windsor on October 9, 2010.

With NDP incumbent Brian Masse hugely favoured in Windsor West, Miljan said the lower advance poll turnout there is no surprise.

“The outcome there is a little more certain,” she said.

With connections to the campaigns of all three major parties, Miljan said she’s seen big pressure this year to get supporters to vote early.

For one, it locks up candidate support early and frees up more party faithful to help with volunteer duties on Oct. 19.

And getting voters out early also means they’ll be bombarding social media with personal posts, tweets and messages of what they did, providing partisan hype to those who haven’t yet voted, and supplying loads of free advertising.

According to Elections Canada, last Friday and Monday saw the highest advance poll turnouts ever, with 1.2 million ballots cast on Thanksgiving Day alone.

dschmidt@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/schmidtcity

Imagine a group of ninjas sweeping into polling stations and turning the election on its head.

That’s the idea behind a new campaign to promote youth voting.

“Our biggest thing was to try to get people excited about voting,” said Belle River native Nicolas Hyatt.

The 28-year-old and his partner Annie Charlebois, 26, decided to launch the VoteNinja campaign as another way to encourage youth to get out to the polls.

“When we started talking about doing a civic engagement project, the idea was to get something catchy, have a fun campaign with it,” Charlebois said.

“It would be great if people feel empowered by it, proud that they were part of the movement.”

The two created the website VoteNinja.ca with all the basic information on how to register to vote and cast a ballot on election day. They blend those details in with social media from the hashtag #voteninja and #realninjasvote.

Charlebois said she liked the idea of ninjas as powerful, knowleadgeable and in control. They may be fun, but they also represent confidence and strength.

“By telling people to be vote ninjas, we want them to feel confident in their act, empowered and part of a community,” she said. “Voting isn’t as scary as some of us think it is.”

Hyatt said he’s been involved in activities to improve civic engagement for years, including programs for high school and college students.

In 2011, the musician tried a social media campaign with videos and songs about the election.

“It’s hard to translate social media enthusiasm to people going out to the polls,” he said.

This time, Hyatt said the two designed the campaign as a non-partisan approach aimed primarily at empowering youth to learn more about the election and get out to the polling stations.

It already seems to be working. They’ve gotten emails with questions about how to vote by mail, how advance polls work, and where they can vote.

“The biggest thing is to get people to vote for the first time,” Hyatt said. “A lot of people say once they’ve registered to vote, they immediately started caring more. They felt like they could have an impact.”

ctthompson@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/caroethompson

LaSalle council has approved a new townhouse subdivision that will be geared to people looking to downsize from larger homes.

The 16-acre property is bounded to the south by Concession 6, to the east by Alliance Street and to the west by D’Amore Drive.

There will be 92 semi-detached and detached townhome units.

“We have been growing at a pretty steady pace over the last number of years and this contributes to it,” said Mayor Ken Antaya.

“It will really enhance a type of demand in this type of housing that the town has been experiencing over the last several years.”

The development is currently referred to by the town as the Head/D’Amore subdivision.

“These townhomes are becoming very popular for empty-nesters,” Antaya said.

“People that are looking at downsizing their homes into something that’s more manageable. It’s something that, in that area in particular, has really been on the rise.”

A new street within the subdivision will be known as Hayes Street.

Amherstburg town council got a jump on the 2016 budget process by directing administration to draft a proposal reflecting a two per cent increase to the general tax rate.

“Two per cent is a good starting point,” Coun. Rick Fryer said at Wednesday’s meeting.

In 2015, council included levies of two per cent to help replenish both the capital and reserve funds for an overall increase of 4.26 per cent on the tax bill.

Chief administrative officer John Miceli said administration strongly recommends keeping the reserve and capital levies in place for 2016.

Even if the levies remain, he said residents would see only a two per cent difference from last year’s tax bill.

Miceli noted the 2015 levies bolstered reserves by $600,000.

“We hope to do that again next year,” he said.

He reminded council “this is just a framework” for administration to follow.

John Miceli, Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Amherstburg, is pictured on Sept. 14, 2015.

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo said in an interview “two is a nice number to start with but if we don’t address the ongoing issues of capital reserves and capital costs we’re going to have to keep going to the bank for loans.”

Council also unanimously agreed to a timeline that would see the budget going to a vote Dec. 14.

In a report to council, administration stated a goal of having a 2016 budget approved prior to the start of that year giving them the full 12 months to realize any reductions.

That’s in stark contrast to recent years when deliberations have dragged on for months. The 2015 budget was not approved until May.

“The benefits are come Jan. 1st we’ll be in a position to start managing the operating budget and make informed decisions,” said Miceli.

The timeline calls for tabling a budget the week of Nov. 9 with public input for a two-week period after that. Budget deliberations would start the week of Nov. 23 with a final decision on Dec. 14.

Coun. Diane Pouget asked about the danger of working on a budget without having 2015 actuals in front of them.

Director of financial services Justin Rousseau described the risk as “very minimal. I think we’ll be working with good projections.”

mcaton@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/winstarcaton

His opponents once dismissed him. Now they’re chasing him.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper dealt fear. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau offered optimism.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair was cautious. Trudeau was bold.

Harper was polarizing. Mulcair couldn’t connect. Trudeau inspired.

It’s not often that politicians inspire us. Canadians want change. This is why Trudeau will likely form the next government. The guy that Harper called “just not ready” (yes, I thought that, too) ran the best campaign.

But if you’re voting strategically, in Windsor and Essex County, vote for the NDP.

It’s not only Trudeau’s charisma (the photo ops were hokey). It’s what he’s saying. Ending child care benefits for the rich makes sense. They don’t need it. Giving more to those who do need it also makes sense. So does taxing the rich more and the rest of us less. The rich can afford it. We could use a break.

The economy is struggling. Interest rates are low. Why are we stuck on balancing the budget? Why shouldn’t we spend more to invest in public infrastructure, in the foundations of our economy and society?

Everyone thought Trudeau would be shredded in the foreign policy debate, but he was pointed on citizenship, refugees and abandoning our role as peacekeepers.

There are questions, for sure. Trudeau used to support balanced budgets. Deficit spending is a campaign strategy. It’s not enough to do everything Trudeau says it will. He says it will be for only three years. If it’s longer, that will be a problem.

Trudeau said he opposed Bill C-51, the anti-terrorism law, but he voted for it. Now he says he’ll amend it.

He’s skirting the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will have a major impact on Canada’s economy.

Most troubling here is that Trudeau has said little about manufacturing and the auto industry. Southern Ontario should be “transitioning away from manufacturing,” he said earlier this year. He hasn’t been west of London since the campaign began.

From left, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, New Democratic leader Thomas Mulcair and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, all meet and greet before the Globe and Mail Leaders Debate 2015 in Calgary, on September 17, 2015

Regardless, we know the Liberals are going to win because we aren’t going to elect any here. That’s where the NDP comes in.

In Windsor and Essex County, if you want change, vote for the NDP because only the NDP can defeat the Conservatives here. The Liberals can’t win here. So we’re not going to have a member of the government. But we could have the next best thing: a voice in the party that can influence a Liberal minority government.

True, Mulcair didn’t inspire. What happened to the guy who held Harper’s feet to the fire in question period? Mulcair was progressive; he offered change. But Trudeau was more progressive and offered more change.

Mulcair did land one of the campaign’s high points. Most of his party’s seats are in Quebec. He knew Quebecers oppose the niqab. Yet he stood firm: “Let me be clear. No one has the right to tell a woman what she must — or must not — wear.” That’s something else you don’t see often: principle in politics.

Importantly for Windsor, Mulcair rightly points out the concern about the impact of the TPP on the auto industry, our No. 1 export. The NDP was also the first party to have an auto strategy, acknowledging that Canada is not landing new capacity, that we’re hemorrhaging manufacturing jobs, that other countries are getting billions of dollars in new plants and they already have auto strategies.

The party will make loans to auto companies tax free (the Conservatives just promised grants), invest $90 million in auto parts companies, establish one office for companies to access government programs, support partnerships between industry and universities for innovation and convene a summit with government, industry and labour on a strategy with targets for investment, jobs and research and development.

The party has pledged to give Ray Tanguay, new auto adviser to the federal and provincial governments, the resources needed. And it will renew funding for Auto21, the University of Windsor-based research program the Conservatives let die.

Windsor West MP Brian Masse of the NDP has steadfastly stood for this community on the auto industry, the border and the Great Lakes.

The NDP gets us.

The flaw in this strategy is if the Liberals win a majority. We’re told we should vote for the party that’s winning so we have a member of government. But what if the winning party’s candidates here include someone who’s running because no one else would. Or a parachute candidate? What if the winning party doesn’t really understand our interests? Should we really wait to see which way the wind is blowing and let the rest of Canada decide who should represent us?

Vote for who you believe in.

ajarvis@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/winstarjarvis

Q: Should I get the flu shot?

A: This question abounds now that the annual push is on to get people vaccinated. The short answer, according to public health professionals, is a resounding yes.

“Everyone should get their flu shot,” says Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Windsor-Essex County’s associate medical officer of health.

The reasons are obvious, Ahmed says. The flu is one of the top 10 infectious diseases in Canada. Up to 20 per cent of Canadians get it every year. Last year, 3,500 people died after contracting the flu and developing complications like pneumonia and heart failure.

Ahmed says you protect yourself, your family and your community when you get the flu shot. Since the elderly and other vulnerable people often end up in the hospital when they get the flu, you save fellow taxpayers health-care costs when you get the shot.

Erika Vitale and Dr. Wajid Ahmed (right) urge residence to get to their annual flu shot during a press conference at the The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit in Windsor on Thursday, October 15, 2015.

The only people who shouldn’t get a shot are those with severely compromised immune systems and those who might have anaphylactic reactions to the ingredients, Ahmed says. Those numbers of people are so small to be “almost negligible,” he says.

It was once believed that people allergic to eggs shouldn’t get the vaccine, but Ahmed said recent studies have dispelled that. “Egg allergy is not a contraindication to getting a flu shot.”

Also, contrary to popular belief, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. The Ministry of Health stresses the vaccine contains an inactive dose of the flu virus that can’t come back to life after you’re vaccinated.

Flu shots are available now through your family doctor. After Oct. 26, a limited quantity of flu vaccine that can be inhaled through a nasal spray will be available for children aged 2 to 17.

For more information on the flu shot go to the Ontario Ministry of Health page at www.ontario.ca/page/flu-facts.

Sue Wilkinson receives her flu shot from nurse Monique Hayes during a press conference at the The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit in Windsor on Thursday, October 15, 2015.

Shane Bondy wanted to ask permission to call his adoptive parents mom and dad.

The 16-year-old waited until his siblings had gone to bed before he asked Amy and Mike Bondy whether it would be OK. He was worried his new brother and sister would think it was strange.

The couple told him he should ask the other kids. He got a thumbs up.

“It’s been not very long that we’ve known Shane, but it feels like he’s always been here,” Mike said. “I can’t imagine it any other way.”

Changes to Ontario’s adoption programs are helping other families like the Bondys go through the process and get support once the adoption is finalized.

The changes include making more families eligible for monthly funds, a new support program and more recruiters to help match kids with parents. They take effect over the next year and a half.

With the Bondys, the adoption process began about two years before they met Shane. The couple had already thought of adopting before giving birth to Hailey, 6, and Noah, 4.

They had worried it would be hard to raise children with special needs or medical conditions. But then Noah was born with a rare bleeding disorder. It sent them on some scary visits to the emergency room and to London for frequent medical treatment.

“If they had presented us with someone like Noah, with his medical needs, we would have said, ‘We can’t do it,'” Amy said. “Instead, we had him and there was no choice. You just step up, you learn and you can do it.”

The couple had put a zero to 10 age range on their adoption application, but were willing to adopt someone older if it felt right. Shane was 15.

“There are more challenges in placing children that are older, or children who have complex needs,” said Linda Goodhue, director of permanent services with the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society. That’s why the government program gives parents about $950 a month per child to help cover the costs.

That program is being expanded. Parents who adopt children from eight to 21 years old can now apply. Before that it covered adopted children from 10 to 18. Families that earn $93,700 or less qualify.

Goodhue said the money can encourage foster families that want to adopt children in their care, but can’t afford it.

The first meetings between the Bondys and Shane were on neutral ground. They went fishing by the river, they got ice cream, they talked about woodworking and cars — things Shane and his dad have in common.

“It was a little overwhelming to start,” Mike said. “He was afraid we wouldn’t like him. We were afraid he wouldn’t like us.”

After two and a half months, Shane moved in. That was last September.

Since the family hadn’t known what age to expect, they had to convert Amy’s office into a comfortable bedroom for Shane. They started paying for riding and piano lessons. Shane also has some specials needs. The Grade 11 student will be in high school until he’s 21 because he’s in the STEPS program, which helps children with special needs.

The subsidy provided a monthly fund to help with some of the costs.

“With the subsidy, it also allowed Mike to take some time off to really allow the family to blend together well. It went well, but it’s challenging,” Amy said. “It takes some time.”

Mike said the family also set up opportunities for Shane, Hailey and Noah to spend time together, learning how to be siblings. They did some small family vacations, and went out in the community. Shane met all his relatives — cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

Most families try to adopt younger children, to avoid upsetting the birth order. Shane bumped Hailey out of the oldest child slot, which took some adjustment. Noah still teases that Shane is his younger — not older — brother.

The adoption was finalized in June. Although they still have contact with the Children’s Aid Society, Amy said the government’s new support network would help parents like them after the adoption, when questions about the transition come up.

The province is also funding more Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters through the Dave Thomas Foundation. In 2007 Windsor was one of the first cities in Ontario to get one, who even helped with Shane’s adoption.

Children and youth working with a recruiter are nearly twice as likely to be adopted, and the odds of finding a family are even higher for children with mental health issues who work with the recruiter.

Last year, 24 children were adopted in Windsor and Essex County. Goodhue expects more than 30 this year. But there are more than 6,000 Crown wards eligible for adoption in the province.

“With Hailey and Noah, God’s plan was for us to meet them right from birth,” Mike said. “With Shane, he was always our son. We just didn’t meet him until recently.”

And what does Shane think about his family?

“This is forever,” he said with a smile.

ctthompson@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/caroethompson

The $64-million question on the minds of lottery ticket holders is who will win the largest jackpot in Canadian history?

Lotto 6-49’s draw Saturday night is worth an estimated $64 million in addition to the guaranteed $1 million prize draw.

“If I won 6-49, I’d take care of my friends and family first and take them on a very nice vacation,” said Myles Russell, 19, of Essex, who had just purchased his first lottery ticket ever at the Downtown Smoke Shop on Ouellette Avenue.

“I’d never work a day in my life.”

Russell, who works for his uncle’s heating and cooling business, said the first thing he would buy would be a nice new pickup truck.

“Anything, really,” said Russell. “Just to get around.”

Myles Russell holds up the first lotto ticket he as ever purchased after turning 19. Russell purchased the Lotto 649 ticket at the Downtown Smoke Shop in Windsor, Ontario on October 16, 2016. The Lotto 649 jackpot has will be $64 Million on Saturday.

The previous record 6-49 jackpot was $63,413,885 for the April 13, 2013 draw. There were four lucky winners, three from B.C. and one from Alberta, who walked away with nearly $16 million apiece.

Heidi Steinhoff spent $6 on tickets on Friday. She said she only buys tickets when the jackpot exceeds $30 million.

“It would buy me a lot of time with my family and friends, that’s for sure,” said Steinhoff. “I’d rent a resort and have everybody come visit me on different weeks and have a lot of fun.”

Steinhoff, a bank teller, said buying a ticket provides hope.

“It’s a dream,” said Steinhoff. “It’s like buying a dream. Until you check your ticket and buy another one.”

Heidi Steinhoff holds up a lotto 649 ticket she purchased at the Downtown Smoke Shop in downtown Windsor, Ontario on October 16, 2016. The Lotto 649 jackpot has will be $64 Million on Saturday.

Saturday’s jackpot pot is only the second time the prize has exceeded the $60-million mark. Lotto 6-49 has seen the pot exceed $30 million on 35 occasions.

Canada’s fourth largest jackpot and the largest single-winning ticket was worth $54.3-million and was shared by 17 oil industry workers in Camrose, Alta.

Downtown Smoke Shop clerk Mohamad Harb is bracing for a busy Saturday.

“When the Lotto Max was $60 million, it was probably the biggest day ever in lottery,” said Harb. “People are going to go crazy.”

For those fascinated by the numbers, the most popular sequence of numbers played is 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42.

The most frequently drawn numbers are 31, 45 and 40.

The odds of a buying a single ticket and winning the top prize, worth 79.5 per cent of the pool’s fund, are one in 13,983,816.

The last time the 6-49 jackpot was won was on Sept. 5 when it was $7 million. Since then, it has rolled over 11 times.

Since the lottery was launched in June 1982, Ontarians have won $10.9 billion in prizes in 3,313 draws.

Tickets will be for sale until 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.

cthompson@windsorstar.com

Re: This is not my Canada, column by Anne Jarvis, Oct. 14.

Finally, words of real wisdom from columnist Anne Jarvis about the repulsive divisive politics of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

I am with Anne. I cannot vote for Harper’s Conservatives either. His constant spreading of fear and suspicion is loathsome.

I was born in Windsor, and I always call it “Canada’s original multicultural city,” a city that embraced multiculturalism long before it became a Canadian value.

I’m proud of Windsor and Essex County for that, and for many other reasons.

I’m also proud of Justin Trudeau’s Liberals for their positive approach, rooted in our traditional values of tolerance and acceptance of others.

By voting Liberal all across Essex County, for Frank Schiller, Dave Sundin, and Audrey Festeryga, we’re confident that we take back our country and make it great once again.

LISA FERRANTI, LaSalle

Some long-time LaSalle residents had trouble finding the Riverdance Community Centre polling station Monday.

“I didn’t know this building was here,” said Phyllis Studak, who has lived in LaSalle 45 years.

Although some voters walking to their cars said they had no trouble finding it, other voters were confused.

Voters had the address, 1 Laurier Dr., but there is no name on the building to identify it as the Riverdance Community Centre. Studak figured if the address was 1 Laurier Dr., it must be by the water and she found it. The parking lot is off Adam’s Lane.

Dixie O’Rourke, a central poll clerk, said LaSalle needs better signage for its building.

To help reduce the confusion, Elections Canada workers put two vote signs with arrows on Laurier Drive and on Front Road. O’Rourke said voting had been steady by Monday afternoon.

The London region with roughly the same population as Windsor Essex County has four major modern hospitals. With one new major hospital being planned, we will again be the poor relations down the road at the end of Ontario.

Imagine trying to sell the region to prospective investors in the future. We have half a million residents in Windsor-Essex County but only one major hospital.

We will need a lot more beds in the future, not the fewer planned number of beds in the new hospital compared to existing beds.

With one hospital, there will be no major alternate facilities in case of infection outbreaks like SARS, tornadoes, fires, major winter storms, etc. As larger jets start to use the airport more, you will have a substantial noise issue for patients at the airport site.

The core of the city would suffer from this consolidation removing a large number of jobs in the city centre and creating another large vacant site. Vitality of the downtown is important to investment in the region.

With a small percentage of the anticipated costs of a new hospital, we could have a complete modernization and expansion of the existing hospitals.

This could include buying up some nearby houses for expansion if needed. Local municipalities are trying to minimize tax increases and yet, this would require an additional tax line for taxpayers for many years.

Just check how long Ontario residents have been paying the Hydro One debt repayment charge.

JIM GLASIER, Belle River

LaSalle’s official plan review is kicking off with a public workshop for residents to identify important issues and develop vision statements.

Administration is hosting the workshop on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in council chambers at the LaSalle Civic Centre.

A brief presentation will be made by the project team, outlining the study process, the goals of the town and provincial planning requirements.

Then participants will work in small groups, discussing the issues and opportunities for change and working toward developing a vision statement to help shape the detailed polices of the municipality’s official plan.

Registration is not required. Further information can be found at www.town.lasalle.on.ca or by calling 519-969-7770, ext. 1253.

jkotsis@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/JulieKotsis

Concerned residents crowded into LaSalle council chambers Tuesday night seeking answers on how to discourage what they see as a growing problem with coyotes in the area.

And although police stats on calls regarding coyote problems in LaSalle — only six reports in the last 10 years, according to Staff Sgt. Peter Chevalier — are low, many residents said they think the population is growing and the animals are getting bolder.

Bonnie Desjardins said she was walking her small Schnauzer early one morning last fall when a coyote followed her for several blocks.

“I’m getting scared,” Desjardins said. “But I thought it’s not after me, it’s after my dog.”

She said the animal came within 10 feet of her as she yelled and waved her arms and walked backwards away from the coyote despite her desire to run.

“The only saving grace there was, I got to Reaume (Road) and there was a car that went by and it must have spooked it,” she said. “It didn’t run but it let me go across the road with the dog.

“It was just a little unnerving.”

Cara Hernould, a management biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, said there are no statistics on the exact number of coyotes in LaSalle, but “they are in abundance.”

Hernould said this area has Eastern coyotes, a hybrid of the Western coyote and the Eastern wolf, and it is an important part of the ecosystem as it helps keeps rodents and deer populations in check.

She said they are normally “quite small,” about the size of a border collie or other medium-sized dog, with thick fur coats that make them appear larger.

Hernould said “a community effort” is needed to eliminate the things that attract coyotes and help avoid habituation.

Measures include getting rid of food sources such as garbage, keeping pets indoors from dusk to dawn or accompanying them at night and being vigilant in picking up dog waste.

It’s also important to spay or neuter dogs because coyotes will attempt to breed with them.

Building fences, installing motion detector lights and blocking off space under decks and sheds where coyotes may want to set up a den can also help.

“If you’re having a problem and you’ve taken all of the steps to reduce attractants, then have a talk with your neighbours,” Hernould said.

She said coyotes are 90 per cent nocturnal and most will not approach humans.

“Avoidance behaviour (by coyotes) is ideal and normal,” Hernould said. “Most coyotes will never come close to you.”

Hernould said anyone who feels threatened by a coyote should call 911 for immediate assistance and then report the incident to the ministry.

If a coyote approaches, throw a rock at it, scream, wave your arms, back away slowly but never run. Hernould also suggested carrying a flashlight, air horn, bear banger or pepper spray.

jkotsis@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/JulieKotsis

The grandson scam is back.

The Ontario Provincial Police are warning the public about a scam that recently cost an elderly Tecumseh resident $1,500.

The man received a call from his “supposed” grandson who said he needed money to get out of jail for an impaired driving charge, an OPP news release said Wednesday.

The victim asked why the supposed grandson sounded different and the scammer replied he broke his nose in the impaired driving crash that landed him in jail. The elderly Tecumseh resident was asked to buy Petro Canada Pivot Load Vouchers worth $1,500. The scammer phoned back the following day to get the PIN numbers off the back of the cards to access the money.

The OPP is reminding the public not to get fooled by such emergency scams and to report such scams to allow police to investigate and help prevent other people from falling victim to similar frauds.

Police advise people to check with another family member or a trusted friend first to verify the information in the call before sending money or offering credit card information by phone or email.

Warning signs of emergency scams include requests that sound urgent which may push some victims not to take the time to verify the story, requests that play on emotions and scammers who plead with victims not to tell anyone about the situation. Another warning sign is the request for a money transfer such as a Money Gram, a Western Union transfer or one through your bank.

If you or someone you know have fallen for one of these emergency scams, contact your local police service or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

The Ontario Provincial Police are looking for two teenagers they believe stole a pickup truck in LaSalle before crashing, fleeing on foot, and stealing some bicycles to complete their getaway.

The theft of the white Ford F-150 truck from a residence in LaSalle occurred early Saturday. The suspects left the scene but struck a building in Harrow at the intersection of King Street and Queen Street. The suspects then fled and may have stolen bicycles in the area before ditching them at the end of the Chrysler Greenway trail at Highway 3 and Walker Road.

Police believe the two youths then walked or hitchhiked in the direction of Windsor.

The first suspect is described as a white male about five feet tall and thin, approximately 13 years old, who at the time was wearing a black hoodie and a tan-coloured, three-quarter length coat with a tan-coloured backpack

The second suspect is described as a white male about five feet seven inches tall and thin, 14 to 15 years old, with light hair who at the time was wearing a dark blue jacket with a hood and a red sweater.

Police would like to speak to anyone who noticed anything suspicious or who saw two youths walking or hitchhiking near Walker Road of Highway 3 early Saturday morning. Call the OPP at 519-723-2491 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Several local workplaces have been recognized in the Healthy Workplace and Bike Friendly Workplace Awards.

The awards, sponsored by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and the Working Toward Wellness Workplace Wellness Committee, were presented at a breakfast ceremony Wednesday at the Ciociaro Club.

The 2015 Gord Smith Healthy Workplace Award winners were classified in bronze, silver, gold, platinum and diamond levels.

This year’s 28 winners were recognized for health promotion strategies including awareness raising, education and skill building, environmental supports and supportive policies and demonstrating organizational social responsibility activities.

In the silver level one category were the Essex Region Conservation Authority and KM & T Lean Evolutions Ltd.

Achieving silver level two were Ford Motor Company and Green Shield Canada.

Recognized with gold level one was Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence.

Reaching gold level 2 were Cimpress and K & S Windsor Salt Ltd.

Achieving platinum status were the Redoe Group , The Benefits Company and the University of Windsor.

The diamond level was achieved by Anchor Danly, Bonduelle Canada Inc., Caesars Windsor Unifor Wellness Committee, the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor Essex County branch, DJ Galvanizing Corporation, Enwin Utilities Ltd., Essex Power Corporation, FCA Canada/Unifor Windsor Assembly Plant, FCA Canada Windsor offices, Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, John McGivney Children’s Centre, St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology, the Corporation of the City of Windsor, the Corporation of the Municipality of Leamington, the Corporation of the Town of Tecumseh, WFCU Credit Union, Windsor Mould Group — Automotive Components Division, Windsor Regional Hospital and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Vitality Program.

The 2015 Bike Friendly Workplace Award winners are similarly group into broze, solver, gold, platinum and platinum plus.

The awards are awarded based on policy supporting cycling to work, promotion of cycling as a way to commute to work, educating employees about cycling, providing facilities for cyclists such as bike racks and providing incentives to cyclists.

The complanies recognized at the gold level are the Greater Essex County District School Board and its joint employee assistance program and the Corporation of the City of Windsor.

The platinum level was achieved by Anchor Danly Inc., Bonduelle Canada Inc. and Caesars Windsor Wellness Committee.

The platinum plus level was achieved by Enwin Utilities Ince, FCA Canada Inc./Unifor Windsor Assembly Plant, Ford Motor Company, K & S Windsor Salt Ltd., Redoe Group Ltd. St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology, the Corporation of the Municipality of Leamington, the Corporation of the Town of Tecumseh, Windsor Mould Group automotive components Division and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit vitality program.

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county Wednesday. Check it out.

Union Gas technicians are shown at the scene of a house explosion on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, in the 1400 block of Francois Rd. The home exploded in flames shortly after midnight.

A home that was destroyed in the 1400 block of Francois Rd. is shown on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. The home exploded in flames shortly after midnight causing extensive damage to two other houses.

Bill (L) and Sue Lariviere speak to an investigator at the scene of a house explosion on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, in the 1400 block of Francois Rd. The home exploded in flames shortly after midnight. The couple’s home directly to the south of the explosion suffered extensive damage.

A home that was destroyed in the 1400 block of Francois Rd. is shown on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. The home exploded in flames shortly after midnight causing extensive damage to two other houses.

University of Windsor students mingle with Therapeutic Paws of Canada canines and their handlers during English Corner session at the International Student Centre on University of Windsor’s main campus, Wednesday October 21, 2015. Students Kim Barry, left, Renata Presta, Maggie Guan, Nadine Darsa and Amanda Swatman, right, give lots of attention to dogs Dora, front, and Lexi, who were brought to the session by Shannon Hyatt, centre, and other members of Therapeutic Paws. All students were invited to attend.

University of Windsor nursing students Amanda Swatman, right, and Nadine Darsa are greeted by therapeutic canine Lexi, a mini schnauzer, held by Shannon Hyatt, left, Wednesday October 21, 2015. Therapeutic Paws of Canada spent two hours with students during English Corner session at the International Student Centre on University of Windsor’s main campus. All students were invited to attend.

The Windsor Spitfires will be well represented at the 2015 Canada Russia Series. From left, Logan Brown, assistant coach Jerrod Smith, head coach Rocky Thompson, associate coach Trevor Letowski and Cristiano DiGiancinto are shown at a media conference on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2105 at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, ON. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

The interior of an apartment at 444 Park St. W. in Windsor, Ont. is shown on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. Tenants are upset with the run down condition of the building.

Dustin Gerner is shown on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, at the apartment building he lives in at 444 Park St. W. in Windsor, ON. Tenants are upset with the run down condition of the building. He is shown near a ceiling that was been leaking and is visibly crumbling.

Dustin Gerner is shown on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, at the apartment building he lives in at 444 Park Street in Windsor, Ont. Tenants are upset with the rundown condition of the building. He is shown in the basement laundry room that is flooded and mouldy.

Maya Hannagan of Massey is shown on her way to winning the junior girls WECSSAA cross country race at the Malden Park on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015 in Windsor, Ont.

Midget boys take off at the WECSSAA cross country championships at the Malden Park on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015 in Windsor, Ont.

Alicia Bruner, left, walks Oscar while friend Ryan Donaldson walks Grover on a warm autumn afternoon in East Windsor at Riverside Kiwanis Park Wednesday October 21, 2015.

Alicia Bruner, left, walks Oscar while friend Ryan Donaldson walks Grover on a warm autumn afternoon in East Windsor at Riverside Kiwanis Park Wednesday October 21, 2015.

A group of fishermen fish for musky on the shores of Lake St. Clair in Belle River on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015.

Monica Staley, right, VP, Erie St. Clair Regional Cancer Program, prepares to take her first mammogram with MRT Yolanda Mifflin, left, during Just Book It mammogram campaign at Windsor Regional Hospital Met campus, October 21, 2015. October 21st is the provincial Day of the Mammogram and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month . The Just Book It campaign aims to get women 50-54 to sign up for their first mammograms and the entire procedure is less than 10 minutes, which could save a woman’s life.

Several of the pathway lights along the riverfront trail fail to come on as the sun goes down over Windsor on Wednesday, October 21, 2015.

St. Anne’s Shane Way spikes the ball at F.J. Brennan’s Aaron Russette at St. Anne Catholic High School in Lakeshore on Wednesday, October 21, 2015. (TYLER BROWNBRIDGE/The Windsor Star)

The LaSalle Vipers Nathan Savage collides with the Strathroy Rockets Dane Gubbels at the Vollmer Centre in LaSalle on Wednesday, October 21, 2015.

WINDSOR, ON. OCTOBER 21, 2015. — The LaSalle Vipers Liam MacDougall tries to cut around the Strathroy Rockets Noah Tooke at the Vollmer Centre in LaSalle on Wednesday, October 21, 2015.

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county on Thursday. Check out the gallery.

A couple enjoy a sunny walk near the Little River on Thursday, Oct 22, 2015.

The view of the Little River corridor, looking south from Twin Oaks. (Jason Kryk/The Windsor Star)

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. The City of Windsor has spent $2.9 million the last five years in legal fees, fighting the Ambassador Bridge in court over a string of issues.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Blighted properties owned by the Ambassador Bridge company are shown on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.

Heavily damaged Buick Enclave is towed away by Myers Towing operator on eastbound E C Row Expressway October 22, 2015. Traffic was backed up in both directions of E C Row and both service roads due to several collisions which occurred after the first incident. South bound Walker Road was very slow as motorists tried to find their way around the mess.

Assumption Raiders Sussie Doe, left, guards Kennedy Clippers Adriana Ahmeti in senior girls high school basketball at Kennedy gym October 22, 2015. Referee Gino Barzotto keeps his eye on the play. No foul was called. (NICK BRANCACCIO/Windsor Star)

A castor bean plant is seen in Windsor on Thursday, October 22, 2015. Several children were taken to hospital after ingesting the beans. The beans from the plant contain the poison ricin.

Five Grade 6 students from Ecole Secondaire Georges Vanier are being watched closely by their parents after coming in contact at their school with castor beans, which are poisonous to humans.

A castor bean plant is seen in Windsor on Thursday, October 22, 2015. Several children were taken to hospital after ingesting the beans. The beans from the plant contain the poison ricin.

Douglas Porter, chief economist and managing director, BMO Financial Group speaks to a group of investors and commercial clients at the Ciociaro Club in Windsor on Thursday, October 22, 2015.

The Greater Essex County School Board could soon have the power to dock the pay of teachers and other unionized support staff conducting work-to-rule campaigns, but it’s a power trustees didn’t request nor are they sure if they’ll have any leeway in using it.

Premier Kathleen Wynne announced Friday, the province will give school boards permission to start docking the pay of unionized public school elementary teachers — as well as support staff represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees and Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation — starting Nov. 1.

The public board has employees in all three unions.

“We weren’t one of the school boards that wrote a letter asking for this,” said trustee Tom Kilpatrick, who is acting as the spokesperson for the public board on contract matters.

“We didn’t request it because the sanctions are not having as great an impact on us as other boards. For instance, our CUPE custodians negotiate locally not provincially like across the rest of the province, so the schools are getting cleaned.”

The board also needs the province to clarify how the disciplinary measures would be imposed, he said. “Supposedly any unit imposing work sanctions could have their pay docked. Does that mean secondary school teachers, who have a provincial agreement, but are still negotiating locally? We’re not sure if we have a choice on whether we use it. We don’t know the formula for how much to dock.

“What we’re really hoping is there is a settlement in the next eight days.”

The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board is affected by work-to-rule sanctions being imposed by CUPE, which represents office administrators, educational assistants, early childhood educators and various other support staff locally.

The Catholic system’s teachers’ union has approved a deal at the provincial level and hasn’t yet started negotiations locally.

The custodians for the Catholic board belong to Unifor.

Catholic board spokesman Stephen Fields said trustees made no request for pay docking powers to the Ontario School Board Trustees’ Association which represents all Catholic boards at the provincial negotiations.

“At this point, we’ll be looking for direction from the province on this one,” he said. “It’s a very complicated issue.”

Fields said talks are ongoing with the board’s local unions.

Wynne’s decision to dangle the financial sword over the various unions came after the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario announced its members would no longer volunteer to run extracurricular activities beginning Wednesday. The move was also spurred on by the slipping sanitary conditions at schools elsewhere in Ontario where CUPE custodians are working to rule.

Kilpatrick said negotiations locally are ongoing with all of the board’s bargaining partners.

The most difficult of those talks have been with District 9 of the OSSTF. After having been at a stalemate for two weeks, when no talks were held, the two sides were back at the table Thursday and Friday.

“There are a lot of outstanding items at the secondary level,” Kilpatrick said.

dwaddell@windsorstar.com