The Town of Tecumseh is moving forward with a proposal to formally incorporate Monroe Island, currently located within the Municipality of Lakeshore, into its jurisdiction through a municipal restructuring process.
Although Monroe Island lies within Lakeshore’s municipal boundaries, municipal officials said the property is more efficiently serviced by Tecumseh due to direct access via 440 Brighton Road.
According to the Town of Tecumseh, a servicing agreement between the two municipalities has been in place since 2021.
The proposed restructuring would transfer the island to Tecumseh for taxation and governance purposes. The plan includes transferring relevant municipal records, updating emergency services mapping, and submitting an application to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) to create a new assessment roll.
Monroe Island, which contains a single residential dwelling, is geographically located in Lakeshore but is only accessible through Tecumseh. For several years, Tecumseh has provided municipal services to the property under an interim agreement.
“It often surprises people to learn that there is a little independent island in Pike Creek,” said Marg Misek-Evans, chief administrative officer for the Town of Tecumseh.
“It was a bit tricky during COVID—it wasn’t a front-burner issue. That’s why we came up with the inter-municipal agreement so the property owner could move forward and build the house. Now, we’re essentially tidying up the full process.”
Ryan Pawluk, who owns the property on Monroe Island with his family, said he’s happy to see the restructuring process moving forward.
“We’re pretty excited about it. It’s been a long road here and we’re glad to be a part of Lakeshore, but we’re looking forward to come home to Tecumseh,” said Pawluk.
“It’s a great place to raise a family, to live. That’s part of the reason why my wife and I wanted to get back here. We love it—it’s like having your own little park in the middle of the city.”
Pawluk praised the cooperation between the two municipalities, despite the complex nature of the process.
“They were both excellent to deal with and worked well together,” he said.
“It just took a while—some red tape and following protocol—but now that the house is done, it just feels natural for this property to be part of Tecumseh."
Both Tecumseh and Lakeshore councils are reviewing the restructuring agreement concurrently. Tecumseh council has authorized staff to submit the application to the ministry.
“Once the boundary adjustment is concluded, [Pawluk] will get a civic address and roll number that’s part of the Town of Tecumseh, and his taxes will be directly levied by the town,” Misek-Evans added.
Council for the Municipality of Lakeshore has approved the jurisdictional transfer under the Municipal Act, 2001. The restructuring process has been undertaken collaboratively between Lakeshore, Tecumseh, and the County of Essex, with input from all affected stakeholders. The matter will now proceed to Essex County Council and then to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for final approval.
“The Municipality of Lakeshore remains committed to ensuring seamless and cost-effective service delivery for all residents and to working cooperatively with our municipal partners,” Lakeshore said in a statement.
