Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island

Will the column of the Star’s Anne Jarvis give rise to a legal action being launched? 

In casting  a shadow on Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI), Jarvis has bandied about aspersions regarding TWEPI board members and the newly elected chairman, Jake Rondot. I’ve known Jake through the Walkerville BIA and he even agreed to act as moderator when The Square hosted the Ward 4 debate. I nearly fell out of my chair when I read what Annie wrote about him.

In her article of 3 February, Jarvis spent as much time rehashing a 14 year-old civil law court case  as she did on the machinations that, she says, requires the tourism board to be disbanded. By linking the alleged actions of board member Wayne Strong to the rest of the TWEPI Board of Directors, Jarvis jumps to the conclusion that residents of Windsor and Essex County (and Pelee Island) are not served well by the board volunteers. She interprets what initially was support for a decision that was reversed as support for Strong. While Annie takes umbrage with Chairman Rondot she’s ready to clear Councilor Drew Dilkens of any wrong doing simply based on his word.

Let’s have a look at this, shall we?

The precursor to TWEPI was the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB). Essentially tasked with the same responsibilities, in 2007 the powers that be decided to restructure the organization and in the interim between CVB dissolving and TWEPI emerging there arose the Tourism Windsor Essex Transitional Board (TWETB) with Councilor Dilkens as chairman. Also appointed to the board at TWETB was Wayne Strong.

In 1992 Strong was the plant manager of the General Motors Trim Plant in Windsor. Another GM employee, in Oshawa, internally filed allegations against Strong accusing him of raping her in 1985. Strong was let go from GM as a result of an investigation conducted by the car company. Strong was never charged criminally, and does not have a criminal record. He has always maintained his innocence.

Fast forward to 2008 and the TWETB.

Wayne Strong, the owner of Ye Olde Walkerville B&B, was appointed to the tourism transitional board as Member at Large and acting on behalf of the City of Windsor. (CORRECTION: Wayne Strong is no longer the owner of Ye Olde Walkerville B&B.  Larry and Joyce Duffield have been the proud hosts and owners of Ye Olde Walkerville B&B. Larry and Joyce look forward to welcoming readers of The Square to the lovely Victorian era residence. Ye Olde Walkerville B&B, 1104 Monmouth Road, Windsor, Ont., N8Y 3L8. Tel: 519 254 1507. http://www.walkervillebb.com/)

Chairing the board was Drew Dilkens. According to Jarvis’ article Dilkens is quoted as saying that he was unaware of Strong’s past.

“Of course I didn’t know, for crying out loud,” board member Coun. Drew Dilkens said when I asked him if he knew about Strong’s past. “No one ever raised it.” (A Jarvis, Windsor Star Online, 3 February 2011)

Really? Is Councilor Dilkens saying that he failed to do his due diligence? As Chair of the transitional board and later as board member of TWEPI, and as City Council’s representative, Dilkens has associated with Strong for at least three years. (They are even Facebook friends) Considering how many articles the Windsor Star dedicated to the civil suit in 1997 and the appeal in 2000, you’d think that Dilkens would be, or ought to be, aware of the history being carried by Strong. In a town the size of Windsor the balance of probabilities support the notion that word of Strong’s past would have made it to Dilkens’ ear.  After all, Annie told us “Strong’s sex assault case was a very public one.”

Or was the councilor relying on the Managing Director of the CVB, Gordon Orr, when he endorsed the transition board?

“We were very pleased with the response from the tourism industry when we called for applications for the transitional board, and the slate that has been put together is a solid reflection of the best this region has to offer. The boards’ skill sets will serve the industry in this new capacity and we thank them for agreeing to serve,” says Gordon Orr, Managing Director of the CVB.

That’s a big time endorsement from Gord Orr. If you can’t trust the current Marketing and Communications Officer, then whom can you trust?

To Dilkens’ defense, this is only the balance of probabilities. But Strong was found liable in his civil suit on a balance of probabilities. It was also enough for Jarvis to cast aspersions on all members of the TWEPI Board of Directors, save for Councilor Dilkens.

Why is that?

Why is Annie trying to crucify the board (except Drew) and calling for its disbandment? After all, most of the board members only joined TWEPI well after the transitional board had concluded its mandate and formulated the new organization.

Current Chairman, Jake Rondot, joined TWEPI through the Sport Tourism Committee just last year. His appointment was made by a grinning Councilor Dilkens who appeared in front of Windsor Council as a delegation. Wayne Strong was already sitting on the board at the time of Rondot’s appointment to the committee.

Last week Strong was appointed as CEO of TWEPI. After his past caught up with him, his position as head of the board was reconsidered and the decision was rescinded. Then Rondot was elected as chairman. It is understandable that board members would not want to publically disclose personnel discussions, especially with the likes of Anne Jarvis. After all, doesn’t the City of Windsor use the same excuse to hold so many meetings in-camera? I don’t blame any of the members for not wanting to discuss Strong, or his past, with the media.

In her article Jarvis alludes to the fact that Strong was termed a “predator”. She did not, however, tell her readers that it was General Motors in its Statement of Defence that used this label.  GM was being sued in the lawsuit by Strong. Jarvis using that term may well cause damage to him.

In her headlong dive into tarring and feathering the members (except Dilkens) she has dropped the councilor into the vat of tar anyway. Through her obvious hate for Strong, Jarvis is willing to incriminate by association a group of volunteers who unknowingly made an error in judgment. All this before Jarvis decided to go on her rampage.  Does Jarvis forget that Ted Whipp has promoted Strong’s bed and breakfast operation?

There’s enough variety for even a hometown visitor to step away and visit for a getaway. And they do, says Wayne Strong, who operates Ye Olde Walkerville Bed & Breakfast, 1104 Monmouth Rd.

Neighbours within walking distance of the Victorian manor built in 1903 have stayed overnight, enjoying the seclusion, eggs Benedict for breakfast and the Jacuzzi.

Bed and breakfasts offer a romantic refuge. Five couples got engaged here, Strong says. “Three in the parlour, and the men proposed on bended knee. The other two were in the suite.”

Strong refers to the spacious room that takes up the entire third floor, more than 1,200 square feet, complete with large king-size bed, en-suite Jacuzzi, TV seating area and small office nook.

Strong says couples enjoy the wineries, the variety of dining choices and the attractive waterfront with its Odette Sculpture Park. (T Whipp, Windsor Star Online, 28 January 2009)

Should Whipp resign? Should the Star be disbanded? Who’s going to break that to Paul Godfrey?

In her attempt to bring down the TWEPI board Jarvis took a non-situation and made a mountain of a molehill. When the real news was the election of Jake Rondot as Chairman of TWEPI, Jarvis decided to create a different story where none existed. The members should be applauded for adopting a different game plan when the facts of Strong’s past came to light. If Dilkens didn’t know about Strong’s history then how could other members be aware of it? If they are to be held accountable for not knowing, then Dilkens should be as well.

If any members of the board are forced to resign because of this, then Dilkens should do the honourable thing and resign as well. As a councilor he is held to a higher standard than others.

Don’t hold your breath.