The Ridgetown Tourist of the Week program ran for more than 40 years at first
If you’re not from Chatham-Kent, Ontario, and you show up in Ridgetown this summer looking a little lost, you could be arrested—well, sort of.
Nearly 2,800 people live in a town whose business improvement association (BIA) is bringing back its famous “tourist of the week” program, which ran for over 40 years before dying out about 10 years ago.
Ridgetown was often called the “friendliest town in Ontario” because of the promotion. In fact, the phrase used to be written on the town’s welcome sign. Now, the sign that says “Welcome” says, “Agriculture at its best.”
Before Chatham-Kent joined together and got a municipal force, the Ontario Provincial Police were part of the campaign. Officers from the Ridgetown detachment would “pull over and arrest” random drivers who weren’t from the area.
Now, they’ll make fake arrests of citizens instead.
Jim Brown, who works for the BIA and runs the Ridgetown Independent News, is glad the promotion is back.
“I always forgot about it… “We had a program that no one else did,” Brown said.
“You know, things happen over and over again. And when you can find your own little niche in something, it’s always nice.”
Chatham-Kent Ward 3 Coun. John Wright says that the Tourist of the Week program used to happen every week in the summer. But, he said, they’re bringing it back for a trial run four times this summer to thank people who come to Ridgetown, spend money there, and take the time to visit.
So, Wright said, “we’re just walking down the street to find tourists, but we’re not “arresting” them like they used to, we’re just making them the tourist of the week.”
“They read them a little citation, and then they bring in their awards or prizes.”
This summer, a tourist was pulled aside for the first time last week.
Wright said that after their first attempt failed, they finally found the perfect person from out of town at a women’s clothing store.
“We’ve just found… We went after a car that was from Alberta. They went into the variety store, but it was an agricultural student from the Ridgetown Campus of the University of Guelph. Then we found someone else at [retail store] Lucky Lady—you’re just asking people questions as you walk around.”
Bonnie Berdan from Glencoe, Ontario, was chosen and given a gift basket. Ridgetown is about 45 kilometers from Glencoe, which is about a 30-minute drive away.
Brown said that they will be paying close attention to license plates.
“We’ll catch the tourists one way or another, whether we have to catch them at a stop sign or pull them over in a parking lot or while they’re shopping.”
This time, the police are not involved
Brown said that after Chatham-Kent joined together in 1998, it became “harder and harder” to use police and keep the program going.
“The OPP used to be right in town.
He said, “This year, we’re doing it without the police because that’s what we have to do.”
The Chatham-Kent Police Service said it wasn’t asked to help bring the program back to life. But Sgt. Lynette Rosina said that the idea of stopping people who don’t know what’s going on worries her.
She said in an emailed statement, “The main concern is that fake traffic stops could cause confusion and pose risks to public safety.”
“It is very important to let the public know that these activities are part of a community-led initiative. Replicating law enforcement procedures without the right context can lead to misunderstandings and increased anxiety.”
Rosina said that she thinks it’s great that organizers want to make a community where everyone feels welcome. She also said that it’s important to work with the local police to keep the public safe and promote inclusion.