The Towns of Amherstburg, Essex, Kingsville, LaSalle, Tecumseh, and the Municipality of Lakeshore approved the establishment of a Joint Election Compliance Audit Committee for the 2026-2030 Term of Council.

Section 88.37 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (Act), requires a municipality to establish an Election Compliance Audit Committee prior to October 1 in an election year to deal with matters regarding election campaign finances and contributions.

Applications for appointment to the 2026-2030 Joint Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee are now open. Applications will be accepted until Friday, July 17, 2026 at 4:30 pm.

The Term of Office for this Committee coincides with the Term of Office for Council and appointments shall be from November 15, 2026 through to November 14, 2030. The Committee will make decisions regarding applications for compliance audit as a result of the 2026 Municipal Election or any by-elections thereafter with respect to any of the municipalities named above. 

The Committee shall be composed of five (5) members and one (1) alternate member from the public with demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Accounting and Audit – accountants or auditors with experience in preparing or auditing the financial statements of municipal Candidates;
• Legal – lawyers or other legal professionals;
• Academia – college or university professors with expertise in political science or local government administration;
• Municipal Governance and Elections – individuals with experience in government administration or experience and knowledge of the campaign financing rules of the Act.

Please note that the following individuals are prohibited from appointment to the Committee:

• Employees or officers of the municipalities or local boards that established this Committee
• Members of the councils or local boards of the municipalities that established this Committee
• Any persons who are candidates in the election for which the committee is established; or
• Any persons who are registered third parties in the municipality in the election for which the committee is established

Interested applicants should be at least 18 years old. For more information about the Committee, please review the Terms of Reference.

• Make decisions respecting applications for minor variance, consent and permissions to extend or enlarge legal non-conforming uses
• Make decisions respecting appeals to assessments of individual property owners in the associated Schedule of Assessment, forming part of an Engineer's Report
• Hear and make decisions respecting appeals of orders issued pursuant to the Property Standards By-law
• Hear and make decisions respecting appeals subject to provisions outlined in various Town By-laws.

• Councillor Thomas Neufeld
• Nicole Hackett
• Russell Horrocks
• Phil Caruana
• Ed Cornies

The Pollinate Kingsville Committee is a member of Bee City Canada, which supports collaboration and promotes the establishment and maintenance of healthy pollinator habitats. The purpose of the Committee is the promotion of naturalization and maintenance, education and engagement, and celebration of pollinators.

Committee Members:

• Deputy Mayor DeYong
• Alan Batke
• Carol Dunn
• Erin Hemphill 
• Jessica Towle
• Sue Novotny
• Peggy Kennedy

The Fantasy of Lights Committee assists with the planning, organizing, and operation of the annual Fantasy of Lights Festival. The purpose of the Committee is to:

• Plan, organize and operate the annual Fantasy of Lights Festival in collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Department
• Act as and recruit volunteers to assist in the operation of the annual Fantasy of Lights Festival
• Develop methods and new ideas to maintain the sustainability and build upon the tourism draw of the annual Fantasy of Lights Festival

Committee Members:

• Councillor Tony Gaffan
• Maria Edwards
• Dave Laman
• Leslie Pittendreigh
• Glenda Willemsma
• Janet Willoughby
• Doug Woolridge

The Joint Management Board of the Union Water Supply System (UWSS) is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Union Water Supply System serving Leamington, Kingsville and parts of Essex and Lakeshore.

Board Members:

• Mayor Dennis Rogers
• Deputy Mayor Kimberly DeYong
• Councillor Tony Gaffan
• Councillor Larry Patterson

The Accessibility Advisory Committee provides advice and recommendations to Council on town buildings and services to make sure accessibility needs are met under Section 29 of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The purpose of the Committee is:

• Advising Council in each year about the preparation, implementation and effectiveness of its accessibility plan
• Reviewing in a timely manner the site plans and drawings described in Section 41 of the Planning Act that the committee selects
• Advising Council on the accessibility for persons with disabilities to a building, structure or premises, or part of a building, structure or premises,
  • That the council purchases, constructs or significantly renovates;
  • For which the council enters into a new lease; or
  • That a person provides as municipal capital facilities under an agreement entered into with the council in accordance with Section 110 of the Municipal Act.
• At the request of Council, the Committee shall review and provide advice to Council on the accessibility for persons with disabilities regarding a service performed by the Town; a purchase of service by the Town; and/or the scope and effect of by-law.

Committee Members:

• Councillor Debby Jarvis-Chausse
• Jackie Barraco
• Phil Caruana
• Michele Chauvin
• David Kfrerer

The Kingsville Business Improvement Association (BIA) Board of Management supports the improvement area through marketing initiatives, business recruitment, streetscape and amenity improvements, and by holding special events and advocating on behalf of local businesses. The purpose of the Board is to:

• Oversee the improvement, beautification and maintenance of municipally-owned land, buildings and structures in the area beyond that provided at the expense of the municipality generally; and
• Promote the area as a business or shopping area.

Board Members:

• Roberta Weston
• Councillor Sheri Lowrie
• Heather Brown
• Delilah Carreira
• Amanda Everaert
• Maria Edwards
• Tony Gaffan 
• Abby Jakob

The Heritage Advisory Committee promotes and protects the heritage properties that are in Kingsville. There are 34 heritage designations within the Town of Kingsville. They advise and assist Council on all matters relating to the Ontario Heritage Act. The purpose of this Committee is to:

• Establish criteria for the evaluation of properties of cultural heritage value or interest, maintaining a list of properties and areas worthy of conservation

• Implement programs and activities to increase public awareness and knowledge of heritage conservation issues, and

• Advise Council on means of conserving heritage properties and areas, and on other matters relating to properties or areas of cultural heritage value or interest. This includes, but is not limited to, advice on funding sources and municipal legislation

Committee Members:

• Councillor Sheri Lowrie
• Carol Sitler
• Stacey Jones
• Elise Geschiere
• Jeff Battiston

Pursuant to the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, as of April 1, 2024, the Kingsville Police Services Board was dissolved and a new Essex County OPP Detachment Board - South was created that is made up of the Town of Kingsville, Municipality of Leamington, Township of Pelee and Caldwell First Nation.

The newly formed Essex County OPP Detachment Board - South is responsible for the provision of police services for the communities.

Board Members:

The Board includes members from all four communities:

• Council Members (One seat per community)
  • Town of Kingsville - Mayor Dennis Rogers
  • Municipality of Leamington - Mayor Hilda McDonald
  • Township of Pelee - Councillor Stephanie Briggs-Crawford
  • Caldwell First Nation - Vacant
• Community Representatives (Three seats)
  • Town of Kingsville - Douglas Cowper
  • Municipality of Leamington - Harpreet Singh
  • Joint Community Representative (Kingsville, Leamington, Pelee) - Peter Pryce
• Provincial Appointees (Two seats)
  • Deiba Wigle
  • Vacant

The Migration Festival Committee plans and operates Kingsville's Migration Festival. The Committee creates a memorable, fiscally responsible annual festival to commemorate the works of Jack Miner and the Town’s historic role in the annual migration of birds and waterfowl in the area. The purpose of the Committee is to:

• Plan, organize and operate the annual Migration Festival in collaboration with town staff
• Act as and recruit volunteers to assist in the operation of the annual Migration Festival, and
• Develop methods and new ideas to maintain the sustainability and build upon the tourism draw of the annual Migration Festival

Committee Members:

• Councillor Debby Jarvis-Chausse
• Councillor Sheri Lowrie
• Leslie Pittendreigh
• Layne van Loo
• Bailey Waldon
• Glenda Willemsma
• Erin Hemphill