County staff are engaging the new owner of the former Tenacity docks in front of 35 Bridge Street. They propose negotiating an operating agreement for 67 of the new boat slips in Picton Harbour  for the 2026 boating season.

At a Committee of the Whole meeting February 26, Council instructed staff to continue their efforts to expand its  marina operations in Picton Harbour and to negotiate with new owner, Casa Dea Financial Limited, to operate their slips. 

The Picton Marina at 1 Head Street includes a fuelling and pump out station, boat launch, and 14 slips.

In a report to Council, Supervisor of Environmental Services Albert Paschkowiak noted the Marina generated gross revenues last summer of $185,520 from docking and launch fees, parking, fuel sales, pump-outs, and ice, but costs were $192,000, netting a $6.5k loss.

Mr. Paschkowiak said a review of 2025 operations identified a few pain points. An electronic marina management system is required, while the lack of water and hydro services available to would-be berthers is a significant obstacle to expansion.

“We also had a lack of VHF radio communications, which we hope to rectify this year, and that’s been included in this year’s budget,” he added. 

For the year ahead, he expects more trial and error.

“After the operation of the Marina in 2026, we will be in a much better position to return to Council for the 2027 budget and make further recommendations,” he said. “If that means addressing power and water at the docks or whatever other issues arise, we’ll have the data to support decisions.”

Expansion Proposal

Casa Dea Financial Limited acquired ownership of 35 Bridge Street and with it the marina in Water Lot 1 late last year, and approached County staff with a proposal to operate the slips for the 2026 season.

Over the four years it operated the Picton Marina for the County, CJ and Megan Thompson of Tenacity Marina remediated the harbour lands and built 70 boat slips and a public boardwalk at a cost of $1.5 million. $250,000 was contributed by the municipality toward the public boardwalk, while Tenacity created an easement to enable a public walkway along the harbourfront.

As Megan Thompson put it, “Our marina is located immediately to the left of 1 Head Street, which is the site of the County’s municipal boat launch and marina. These are two separate operations.” 

“Despite that distinction, the County’s actions [last year] interfered with our ability to operate our own marina business and utilize infrastructure in which we had invested approximately $1.5 million, creating substantial financial strain that ultimately contributed to the change in ownership.” 

“After the marina business experienced significant disruption, Casa Dea acquired the marina assets. Casa Dea continues to be a partner alongside us in other related businesses, including Tenacity Marina Corp., which remains in active litigation with the County.” 

Tenacity and the County are engaged in civil litigation at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Tenacity claims the municipality actively obstructed its ability to operate its own marina last summer. For its part, the municipality claims the Tenacity docks were the forfeit chattels of an evicted tenant.

Nonetheless, the County is now negotiating an agreement to operate the slips with the new owner.

“The docks on Water Lot 1 do not currently have an operating agreement. One must be established to comply with the Head Lease. Alternatively, removal of the docks would be required,” said Mr. Paschkowiak.

Adding the slips to the current Picton Marina operation means additional staff and expense, presumably to be covered by an increase in revenue.

Councillor Brad Nieman noted the County paid $31,734 in repairs and upgrades to the fuelling station in 2025, suggesting that outside that capital investment, the operation might have turned a profit.

Yet Mr. Paschkowiak noted further upgrades are required — water and hydro among them.

Councillor Phil St-Jean said expanded rental opportunities could turn Picton Marina into a profit centre in the coming years and provide reserve funding for other municipal boat launches as well as the Wellington Harbour.

Given the acrimonious dissolution of the previous partnership between the municipality and Tenacity Marina, Councillor John Hirsch asked Mr. Paschkowiak about the viability of negotiating with the new owners of 35 Bridge Street.

“We have involved legal counsel in every step of this process and no action has been taken without their consultation,” he responded.