CITY HALL FLASHBACK
City council went back 125 years on Wednesday, having some fun re-enacting what the council of 1893 would look like. Current Ward 6 Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac got into the act, urging her colleagues to allow women to run for political office.
Windsor city council took a ride in a time machine Wednesday night, re-enacting the meeting 125 years ago when Mayor Oscar Fleming announced that the Town of Windsor had been given city status by Queen Victoria.
Councillors became aldermen with aliases, Queen Victoria was there along with Hiram Walker, and Alderman Atticus (Drew) Dilkens, wearing a long curly white wig, was acting mayor because Mayor Fleming had been involved in a golfing accident.
City CAO Onorio Collucci played the town crier, wearing a long curly black wig and long robe, and ringing a bell to begin the meeting.
Queen Victoria herself (mayor’s office chief of staff Norma Coleman) appeared and led everyone in a rendition of God Save the Queen.
All the aldermen wore period attire, along with wigs and beards.
Johanna (Jo-Anne) Gignac began the meeting in the gallery surrounded by a group of women carrying signs demanding the vote, which would not come for another 24 years.
“I speak for the powerful women with voices,” Gignac said. “We come before you to request that our voices be heard.”
Gignac said it was ridiculous that women in Ontario had the recently-won right to study law, but they could not vote for the people who make those laws.
After some raucous debate, Gignac was allowed to sit at the council table, but not allowed to vote.
Hiram Walker appeared before council to ask that a statue of himself be erected and was lauded by aldermen for his business acumen and dedication to building the successful neighbouring Town of Walkerville, which would not become part of Windsor until 1935.
“I hope to one day amalgamate with that municipality,” Dilkens said.
Acting chief constable Vincente (Vince) Power appeared on behalf of chief constable Alberto Frederick, who had been injured in the same golfing accident as Mayor Fleming.
Alderman Alfonso (John) Elliott rose to recite the many accomplishments of black Canadians over the years and asked that Windsor be committed to being an inclusive and welcoming community.
“In 1866, Mifflin Gibbs was the first black politician in Canada,” Elliott said.
He also asked that the word “coloured” be removed from the census.
The scripted play was written by city staffer Christopher Menard and the costumes were provided by Windsor Light Music Theatre and Korda Productions.
“We were really surprised at how receptive all of them were to it, they all really got into it,” said Pam Mady from the mayor’s office, who helped organize the play.