Amherstburg Council Turns Over After 18 Years of Service
New officials take office in the Ontario town as three incumbents step down and three new members join the board.
By Ricardo Brooks ·
Amherstburg council convened on Monday evening for its final session under the current term. The gathering marked a sharp transition in local leadership following the municipal election held last month. Three long-serving members are leaving their seats, while three new representatives will join them at the next session.
The town’s leadership structure will shift completely. Chris Gibb, who currently serves as deputy mayor, will assume the role of mayor for the new term. Michael Prue, the outgoing mayor, lost his position in the recent vote. The council table will also see a complete change in membership composition, as two incumbents retired and one sought a different role.
Diane Pouget and Don McArthur did not seek re-election. Pouget served on council for 18 years. Linden Crain, an incumbent councillor, ran for the position of deputy mayor. However, the electorate chose Bill Petruniak for that role instead. Incumbents Molly Allaire and Peter Courtney won their seats again.
Colleagues used the final meeting to pay tribute to those departing. Councillor Molly Allaire praised Pouget’s impact on the community. “You have been an inspiration to this town; you have definitely left your mark,” Allaire said. She noted that Pouget would remain active in local events, describing her as a “rockstar.”
Pouget expressed gratitude for the public’s trust over the past two decades. “I am so honoured that you believed in me and allowed me to be your voice for the past 18 years,” she said. Councillor Don McArthur offered advice to the incoming members, noting that governing requires making difficult decisions. He urged them to always try to do the right thing for the right reasons.
The new council will include Keith Boussey, Jen DeLuca, and Wes Ewer. These three individuals were elected to fill the vacancies created by the departures. The first official meeting of the new term is scheduled for November 23. That date is two weeks from the final meeting of the outgoing group.
Outgoing mayor Michael Prue reflected on his career during the session. He recalled a high school yearbook entry that listed his life aspiration as becoming a full-time politician. “There are not many people who can say that they have lived their dream,” Prue said. He thanked the residents for allowing him to pursue that path.
