Mayor proclaims Boxing Day as Civic Holiday

Canadian Tire's bid to re-open retail shopping on Boxing Day suffered two major setbacks tonight.

First, City Council voted 6-5 in favour of drafting a bylaw requiring stores to close on Boxing Day.

Voting in favour of directing City staff to draft the bylaw were Mayor Rowswell and Councillors Celetti, Collins Butland, Hayes and Manzo.

Voting against it were Councillors Caicco, Mick, Turco, Curran and Delbianco.

Councillors Sheehan and Amaroso were absent.

In a surprise development, however, Mayor John Rowswell then used powers recently added to the Municipal Act to proclaim Boxing Day as a Civic Holiday.

Full text of mayor's proclamation:

Whereas Christmas is a special time of year for families; and

Whereas the City of Sault Ste. Marie swells in population at this time of year because family members converge on their hometown to enjoy the great family quality of life we have; and

Whereas many individuals and store owners have petitioned City Council in support of enhancing the community for families by requesting retail stores remain closed on Boxing Day; and

Whereas Section 148 of the Municipal Act authorized the Head of Council to proclaim civic holidays;

Now therefore, I, John Rowswell, by virtue of the power vested in me as Mayor of the City of Sault Ste. Marie do hereby proclaim and pronounce December 26th Boxing Day to be an annual Civic Holiday and that Retail Business Establishments shall be closed to the public every year on this date and further, I respectfully ask that retail businesses as outlined in the Retail Business Holidays Act support their employees by closing their stores on this important and now proclaimed Civic Holiday.

'You've just closed everything,' Fratesi says

The mayor tells SooToday.com that he believes the reference in his proclamation to the Retail Business Holidays Act will ensure that gas stations, convenience stores, pharmacies and video stores etc. can remain open on Boxing Day.

However, Chief Administrative Officer Joe Fratesi vehemently disagreed, telling Rowswell after the Shaw Cable cameras were turned off that "you've just closed everything."

"That's why you shouldn't pretend to be a lawyer," said the legally-trained Fratesi.

Bylaw still requires Council approval

Once the new Boxing Day bylaw is drafted, it will still require City Council approval, providing an opportunity for holiday shopping proponents to try to overturn tonight's Council decision.

SooToday.com's Carol Martin, meanwhile, has learned that just might happen when Councillors Terry Sheehan and Debbie Amaroso return to the Council chamber.

Watch for Martin's report early tomorrow.

Christopher Tossell, Richard Howard recognized

Saultites Christopher Tossell and Richard Howard were honoured tonight with Cultural Advisory Board Community Recognition Awards.

The awards recognize contribution and commitment in the field of culture as defined in the Cultural Policy for Sault Ste. Marie.

Tossell was honoured as a local heritage activist.

He was a central figure in the relocation of the Clergue Blockhouse, the restoration of the old post office (now the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, and the relocation and replacement of the Colonel Prince headstone in Bellevue Park.

Howard was recognized for his work as creator, founder and artistic director of Pull-Chain Theatre.

He has also worked in other capacities with more than 60 other community groups across Ontario.

Certificates of Achievement were given to Willy Eisenbichler, Frank Gardi, Joan Foster and Mark Stevenson.

Hann is a no-show

An expected presentation from Robert Hann, author of the Charity Casino Socio-Economic Impact Study, didn't happen tonight.

Mayor John Rowswell announced that Hann wasn't able to make tonight's Council meeting.

He's expected to be in the Sault at a future date.