Pelee Island eyeing jump in cycle tourism

Pelee Island is hoping to increase cycling tourism in the area once the Gordie Howe International Bridge opens up.

With the Gordie Howe International Bridge slated to open this year, Pelee Island mayor Cathy Miller said it is going to be big for cycling in the region.

“Pelee presents an interesting scenic stop over that you can kind of cut the Great Lakes and do the loop between Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario and back again,” Miller told CTV News.

Miller was among the leaders at this morning’s mayor’s breakfast hosted by the Leamington Chamber, telling attendees the island is working with Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island to help promote local tourism opportunities.

“Over 100,000 passengers are on the Pelee Islander every year going over and discovering what Pelee Island has to offer. We want to get more people to do that of course, but we also want them market ready,” said Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI).

Orr feels one way to help is through the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) which allows communities to generate revenue from overnight visits to re-invest in the community.

“It really would help their audience understand what they have but also build and support the infrastructure they have to welcome those guests each and every year,” Orr said.

Miller recognizes the needs to accommodate cyclists and birders alike.

“Some of the infrastructure that you need to have like proper maps, proper signage, proper amenities like bathrooms and access to water, and making sure that they have what they need when they’re on routes,” Miller said.

Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers looks forward to seeing shovels in the ground for the town’s west side collector road.

“What it’s going to do is create a loop bypass for our community, but that west side, now it’s a catalyst for opening up growth and development on the west side. Residential, commercial, you name it,” Rogers said.

He pointed out new water lines have been installed opening the capacity for 3,000 homes plus redundancy for over 4,000 homes. The road will extend up Heritage and go to the 2nd Concession.

In Leamington, Mayor Hilda MacDonald said the municipality is hoping to purchase an aerial fire truck.

Building permits increased by $35 million year over year.

MacDonald said Leamington is in a position to grow responsibly and sustainably. She is excited and proud of the waterfront project and anticipates the waterfront market plaza to be done midway through the year.

“That will attract food trucks and even small businesses that might sell things, whether they’re in a container or whether they’re in a tent,” MacDonald explained.

“We want to have that whole picture of our community, not just uptown, not just at the waterfront. Both balancing and complementing each other.”

MacDonald said the town is also looking at a music venue by the dock.

“We used to focus so much on tourism. Tourism is still a facet, but it’s important that you create venues and opportunities for enjoyment for the people that live, work, play, and stay in your community,” MacDonald said.