Mayor admits to breaking COVID rules at whisky launch; will donate to charity
Mayor Drew Dilkens announced Monday he'll donate the equivalent of what he could have been fined — $750 — after attending an eight-guest dinner Wednesday when new social distancing rules put the limit at six.
“Listen, I made a mistake, I own up to it, I'm accountable for it, I should have known,” Dilkens said of his restaurant outing that recently was exposed on social media. At the end of Monday's council meeting, he issued a statement acknowledging an “unfortunate error on my part” that should not have occurred.
“As mayor, there is responsibility for me to lead by example and showcase to all in our region that we need to follow all restrictions and guidelines to the letter.”
He said the dinner at Nico Taverna on Erie Street had been organized weeks earlier by Tish Harcus, Canadian Club Brand Ambassador, to celebrate the launch of a new 43-year-old whisky.
At the time, regulations allowed as many as 10 people seated indoors at a restaurant, but that changed to six on Monday, Nov. 16, when Windsor-essex moved into the province's yellow (protect) risk category. The situation has since become even more serious, upgraded to orange.
Dilkens said he didn't know at the time that the limit was six.
He was only made aware after Harcus posted a photo of the gathering and CBC called Monday to inquire about it, Dilkens said.
“At the end of the day it's my responsibility to know and I'm the one who is ultimately at fault here for not stepping away from the table or saying we have to split the party up. So I'll take my lumps and move on.”
While he has not been issued a ticket for the violation, he said residents need to know that actions have consequences. So he's making a $750 donation to the Windsor Goodfellows.
“That will ultimately be the most expensive dinner I ever had, but it's the right thing to do in my position.”
Two other attendees will also be making donations. Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, is donating $750 to Maryvale Adolescent and Family Services. And Harcus is donating $750 to Hiatus House Windsor.