Image from Loyalist Township
Loyalist Township Council has voted to change its ward boundaries after years of public input and expert review. At a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on April 29, councillors voted 4–3 in favour of “Option 1,” which keeps five local councillors and makes Amherst Island its own ward.
The decision follows public consultations that began in February 2025, after residents pushed for changes in 2022. Consultant firm Watson and Associates presented two final options. Option 1 was chosen even though it will create population imbalances by 2035, with Ward 1 falling far outside the acceptable range. Still, most wards are expected to grow or stay balanced over time.
Option 2, which was rejected, would have reduced the number of councillors to four and grouped Amherst Island with the mainland. That option would have kept all wards within the recommended population range through 2035.
Some councillors raised concerns about the risk of overrepresentation for Amherst Island, while others emphasized the importance of respecting every resident’s right to vote. Staff will now prepare a bylaw to officially change the ward boundaries.
Council will review it at the next meeting on May 13, 2025.
Written by Emily Chatwood
