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Swarm of fish flies returns to Leamington, signalling a healthy lake — and a seasonal headache
Swarm of fish flies returns to Leamington, signalling a healthy lake — and a seasonal headache

CTV News

time25-06-2025

  • Climate
  • CTV News

Swarm of fish flies returns to Leamington, signalling a healthy lake — and a seasonal headache

Residents of Leamington are once again swatting, sweeping and sighing as fish flies make their annual appearance along the Lake Erie shoreline. The delicate, short-lived insects — also known as mayflies — emerge in large numbers every June, coating cars, sidewalks, and windows across the southern Ontario town. 'If it's good for the environment, I'm happy to see them, but they are kind of a pain in the neck,' said Daphne Steer, a Canada Post letter carrier. 'You just use the mail and swat around you as you're walking.' Fish flies in Leamington, Ont. 2025 Fish flies swarm Leamington, Ont., seen on June 25, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) While their presence can be overwhelming, scientists and local officials say the arrival of fish flies is actually a positive sign. 'When mayflies are thriving and hatching, that's telling you that you have a lot of oxygen in the water,' said Ken Drouillard, director of the School of the Environment at the University of Windsor. 'And it basically suggests that things are getting pretty good.' Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald agrees. 'This is just what happens. It's a sign the lakes are healthy, and we just get used to it,' she said. 'We turn off the outside lights at night. We hose off our cars. They're not particularly creepy. They're just kind of annoying. And they're on your windows and all of that. It's a regular season, I can't say there's more. The one big thing is they smell bad when they're dead. They smell like fish.' Fish flies in Leamington, Ont. 2025 Fish flies swarm Leamington, Ont., seen on June 25, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) The smell, the mess, and the sheer volume are what many residents are dealing with this week. 'We get thousands of them,' said Connie Nelson, who has lived in Leamington for five years. 'The good thing is they're only here for a couple of weeks, and we know they're going to come every June. So, we just deal with it and know that July's coming soon.' Alan Antoniuk, who lives near Seacliff Park, said the latest wave hit hard overnight. He placed a 'Free fish flies' sign on his front yard. 'The fish flies hit hard last night again. About four to six inches in spots,' he said. 'The town's been fabulous cleaning it up. We haven't had any accidents. Some years, it makes such a grease slick that the cars go to stop, and they go right into the fence down here at Seacliff Park. But for the most part, it's been okay.' He added that they're feeding the environment, and they're needed, but they cause a big mess. 'Free fish flies. Bring your own buckets. Bring your own truck. Truckloads at a time. I'll give you the shovels if you want, you can clean them up on your own first thing in the morning,' Antoniuk said. Drivers are among those most frustrated, with cars and windshields often coated by the insects, especially if they sat under a light overnight. 'There's a lot of them,' exclaimed Tim Hergott as he washed his car. 'I don't know why they use my car as a target, but they do.' Hergott said he's been washing his vehicle more often since the insects arrived. Fish flies in Leamington, Ont. 2025 Fish flies swarm Leamington, Ont., seen on June 25, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) 'I'd rather they move on, but they're only here for, like, two or three weeks, and then they're gone,' he explained. 'You'd never know they were here.' Others are simply avoiding cleanup until the bugs are gone. 'I don't like it. They smell and there's no sense in trying to clean it off until they're all done coming here,' said Susan Bondy. 'It's crazy.' While short-lived, the mayflies serve a vital role in the ecosystem. 'It's remarkable how many other things in the environment are just waiting for that mayfly emergence to happen,' Drouillard said. 'So, first of all, even when those mayflies are sitting in sediments, they're a prominent component of fish food. Our walleye and yellow perch are consuming these at various stages of their life stages. And then when they emerge and they come out into the air, all kinds of birds and frogs and snakes, you name it. I've even seen skunks having a feeding frenzy on these mayflies.' As Leamington residents brace for another week or two of buzzing, crunching and sweeping, many are trying to keep their cool — and their sense of humour. 'Free fish flies,' Antoniuk said. 'Truckloads.'

Leamington to install AI-powered security cameras as part of waterfront safety strategy
Leamington to install AI-powered security cameras as part of waterfront safety strategy

CTV News

time24-06-2025

  • Business
  • CTV News

Leamington to install AI-powered security cameras as part of waterfront safety strategy

The Municipality of Leamington is moving ahead with new surveillance infrastructure aimed at curbing disruptive behaviour and improving safety in the community's waterfront and marina areas. A report going before council Tuesday recommends awarding a $115,000 contract to Empire Communications of Oldcastle, Ont., for the purchase and installation of a new AI-enabled security camera system. The project will be funded through a combination of previously approved capital funds and a draw from the municipality's IT reserve fund. The move is part of a broader effort to address community concerns about noise, loitering and unsafe activity along the waterfront. According to a municipal media release issued Monday, the measures follow the creation of a Waterfront Committee in May 2024, which includes residents, municipal officials and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) representatives. 'Leamington's waterfront is a treasured community space,' said Mayor Hilda MacDonald. 'Through the collaborative work of our Waterfront Committee and the support of our partners at the OPP, we're taking proactive steps to protect this area and promote respectful use of our public amenities.' Leamington marina cameras Leamington marina seen in Leamington, Ont. on June 24, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) The waterfront district has since been designated a Community Safety Zone, increasing penalties for traffic violations, while the nearly completed Robson Road reconstruction project includes traffic calming features. The marina parking lot has also been redesigned to improve traffic flow, accessibility and boat launch staging. To support these changes, surveillance cameras will be installed not only at the marina and Seacliff Park Concession but also at the Seacliff Park Amphitheatre and Performer Room, Mersea Park, the nearby rainbow crosswalk, OPP station and the municipal building's employee parking lot. A report from David DelCiancio, the municipality's Manager of Information Technology, describes the cameras as a 'modern security camera solution' that transforms surveillance from passive recording into a proactive system. Using artificial intelligence, users can quickly search footage for specific people, vehicles or behaviours without needing to manually review hours of video. The total project cost is $115,000 plus HST. Although only $50,000 was included in the 2025 capital budget, a review of municipal facilities identified several sites where surveillance equipment was either outdated or non-existent. The project variance will be covered through the IT Reserve Fund, if council approves the recommendation. Leamington marina cameras A no loitering sign seen in Leamington, Ont. on June 24, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) Additional safety enhancements include upgraded lighting, new signage restricting parking to between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., and prohibitions against loitering, excessive noise and engine revving. The signage also notes enforcement under the Trespass to Property Act. The OPP will increase their presence in the area to help enforce these regulations and support what the municipality calls 'a safe and enjoyable waterfront experience for everyone.'

Accessibility flag raised at Essex County building to mark National AccessAbility Week
Accessibility flag raised at Essex County building to mark National AccessAbility Week

CTV News

time26-05-2025

  • General
  • CTV News

Accessibility flag raised at Essex County building to mark National AccessAbility Week

A locally designed accessibility flag was raised Monday at the Essex County administration building to mark the beginning of National AccessAbility Week. The flag features the word 'Accessibility' beneath a stylized figure in a wheelchair facing right, with seven chevrons pointing in the same direction — representing the county's seven local municipalities moving forward together on accessibility. 'We are raising this flag to raise awareness about the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in our region,' said Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald, who is also mayor of Leamington. 'It acknowledges that we've made much progress but still have considerable work to do.' Accessibility flag Accessibility flag raising in Essex County, Ont., on Monday May 26, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) MacDonald praised the Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee for its efforts, including the launch of the inaugural Accessibility Fest-for-All event last year in Colchester. The festival is returning this fall, on Sept. 12, at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg. 'Fest-for-All is an incredible event that brings accessibility advocates and organizations together in common cause,' MacDonald said. 'It's an opportunity to learn and inspire, and a chance to connect communities and champion inclusivity.' Dennis Sanson, chair of the accessibility committee, said the county wasn't just raising a flag Monday — but raising awareness. 'Any kind of visibility, any kind of public event — especially in the age of incessant media — it's an important part of what we do,' Sanson said. Flag raising Accessibility flag raising in Essex County, Ont., on Monday May 26, 2025. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor) Sanson encouraged Essex-Windsor residents to take part in Red Shirt Day of Action for Accessibility and Inclusion on Wednesday by wearing red and sharing photos using the hashtags #RedShirtDay and #RedForAccessAbility. He noted the committee's ongoing work, particularly in the areas of barrier-free building and outdoor inclusion — from accessible trails to better fishing and hunting access for people with disabilities. 'There are still lots of opportunities to engage different parts of the community,' he said. 'It's been interesting to see more people come forward who want to help build those connections — especially in outdoor recreation.' Sanson said the flag-raising was also a chance to connect with the public, away from screens. 'It's an opportunity for people to come together and take time out of the work schedule. person to person, as opposed to of seeing something that's online,' he said. 'Every time we host something like this, I meet new potential partners.' Sanson explained, 'It's an opportunity for us to make accessibility more accessible.' Sanson gave the region's accessibility efforts a 'B+ and moving right along,' praising the work of his committee colleagues, including Vice-Chair Debbie Alexander, Kingsville Deputy Mayor Kimberly DeYong, Julie Miles, Rachel Jewell, Diana Kirkbride and Sherrie Currie. MacDonald said it's important municipalities recognize and act on the need for more inclusive communities — particularly as populations age and accessibility needs grow. 'We want everyone to feel that they're welcome and included,' she said. 'To be aware of barriers and to do something about them — I think it's incumbent on us.' MacDonald also acknowledged recent discussions around flag-raising policies in neighbouring Windsor. The city is reviewing its current process amid debate over which flags should be flown at city hall. 'In the Municipality of Leamington we've always had a policy where we've limited the flags to certain ones, and here at the county, same thing,' she said. 'We do upper levels of government, we do Indigenous flags, we do the Pride flag and we do the accessibility flag. Those decisions were made by administration. They were not political decisions, and I think that has served us well.' While flag policies vary across jurisdictions, MacDonald said consistency helps municipalities avoid controversy and remain focused on messages of unity. 'There's always that fear of not being inclusive, and yet sometimes certain flags create controversy in our community. So perhaps it's just best not to have too wide of a policy that you get into trouble.' The Accessibility Fest-for-All event is free for individuals, organizations and accessibility-minded businesses to attend or participate in. Those interested must fill out an online registration form by June 5 at

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