It turns out an unavoidable job conflict coincided with the scheduled court date, so I went in. Here's the report..
1) If you go in, you better have a very good reason and be prepared to outline it to the JP in great detail.
2) The JP may request for you to settle the matter with the prosecutor. Had I known about that, I would have prepared a sales pitch for the off-chance of them willing to go for it. Of course, the best they're allowed to do is give you a Charmin (R) brand fine reduction that still leaves a conviction on your record. Unable to accept a bylaw charge deal as nothing would have fit the offence, in the interest of saving both my time and the court's time.
3) I recommend trying to eke out a dismissal from the prosecutor first so you can at least be able to tell the JP that you tried to resolve the matter and find a common ground.
4) Once it was determined that a common ground could not be found, the rescheduling was pretty easy and it's based on the court's schedule, the prosecutor's schedule, the constable's schedule and your schedule, so you better have your availability handy.
What kind of a man would put a known criminal in charge of a major branch of government? Apart from, say, the average voter.