Ipperwash Beach Stakeholder Meeting

June 14, 2025 – 10 a.m.

Thomas Hall, Thedford Legacy Centre

CICA is hosting a Stakeholder Meeting on June 14th to provide a calm and welcoming space for discussing issues that lessen enjoyment and preservation of our beautiful Centre Ipperwash beach. As an organization that represents both lakefront and non-lakefront property owners in the area (about 50% in each owner category), CICA has been distressed about increasing tensions around beach access and usage over the past few years.

Facilitator is hired. Angelo C. D’Ascanio, an experienced mediator and attorney from London (https://scottpetrie.com/mediation-services/) will serve as a neutral facilitator for the Meeting. He has a strong interest, knowledge and love for cottage country, and is not serving in a legal capacity. Please note that CICA respects the rights of all property owners to define and manage their properties.

Facilitator tasks. As facilitator, Angelo plays two key roles:

• One, to listen to the concerns of key stakeholders and citizens ahead of the meeting. Angelo has been reaching out to some community members interested in expressing their point of view. While Angelo will not be able to interview everyone, all input received is being documented and shared with him
• And two, to lead the meeting, where people can share facts and express different viewpoints, start to understand and respect the views of others, and then brainstorm potential solutions related to signage, parking, public communications, etc. Again, this meeting will not be about legal definitions of private property or beach use rights, which is beyond CICA’s mandate.

We will post more updates about this meeting as the date approaches. We look forward to working together with everyone who cares very deeply about our special beach.