Blog

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

The history of newspapers in the Town of Essex is one that goes back to 1879; a time where the small village was growing, even predating Essex Centre receiving town status in 1890.

In those early days, the newspaper ran under the various titles – including The Essex Centre Chronicle and The Essex Liberal – before being established as the Essex Free Press around 1889. It remained under the ownership of the Brett family from 1896 to 2011, a legacy in literature that lived nearly115-years.

At this point in time, the Essex Free Press was merged with the former Essex Voice. The Essex Free Press continues to be operated by London Publishing.

The archives – consisting of actual printed copies of the newspaper dating as far back as 1875 – have been shelved at the Essex Free Press office as time went one, with each week’s edition being added to the massive and continuously growing collection.

Knowing the importance of preserving this invaluable record of local history, the Essex Free Press recently donated this impressive collection to the University of Windsor Leddy Library’s Archives & Special Collections unit, where they will be housed in a climate-controlled facility that has to meet all sorts of international standards for preservation. The Essex Voice’s archived hardcopies were also donated to the collection.

Those editions that need extra protection will further be stored in archival boxes.

Historians wanting access to them will be able to do so by setting up a time, and viewing them onsite.

In addition, there are plans to scan the copies to fill in gaps and replace scans that were done for the online INK newspaper project, which has been offline for a year and Art Rhyno is working to reinstate.

For Rhyno, Systems Librarian at the University of Windsor, this was a passion project on his mind for many years, as the former co-owner of the Essex Free Press with his wife, Laurie Brett, who was also the Editor and Publisher.

Rhyno has been a volunteer with the Our Digital World project for some time, a non-profit dedicated to helping create digital collections of local history that inherited the INK system from a provincial project.

“These are such a great source of history,” Rhyno said of newspapers. “They are really important to preserve, because there is lots of content in those papers that doesn’t exist anywhere else. They are the only source for lots of critical information.”

Many community newspapers in Ontario have been microfilmed, but it is not a great medium for working with newspapers. “The problem is, if you lose the paper, all that you have left is the microfilm. But if you have the paper, it means you have the option to review it in a better format as time goes on.”

The Essex Free Press was microfilmed previously, but Rhyno noted there are entire reels that are tough to read. His hope is to redo a lot of it and fill in the digital gap through scanning them. The hope is this digital copy will be accessible to the public eventually.

The Essex Free Press, in particular, is a historic newspaper that has a very long history, Rhyno said, adding the paper is in relatively good shape for a community newspaper of that vintage.

“It is a good opportunity to put it into a safe place,” Rhyno said. “My hope is that it’ll be around long after we are long gone.”

Hands down, the Essex Free Press is the best resource that exists for local history, he added.

Most of the papers in the archive are bound by year in book-style. The book of newspaper copies for the year 1923, is, however, missing. Rhyno noted that someone borrowed it in the 1970s and never returned it. He hopes someone in the community will find the large book at home, recognize it, and return it, so it can complete the collection.

“It has got to be sitting in someone’s basement or attic,” he said.

That is the only gap in the record in which he is aware.

Ultimately, Rhyno hopes as many community newspapers can be preserved as possible.

“I don’t think anyone is funding that right now in Canada at the level it needs. I am convinced that this is the last chance to get a lot of these collections.”

He hopes other universities and public libraries do the same with their own community newspaper.

The Archives & Special Collections unit jumped into action to gather the Kingsville Reporter collection, when it closed in 2020.

Leddy Library’s Archivist, Dr. Sarah Glassford, gave Rhyno a lot of credit for the acquisition of the Essex Free Press archive.

She noted the newspapers are currently being stored in the storage vault, where staff will be able to look through the collection and determine the earliest and latest copies included.

The paper upon which newspapers are printed is typically delicate material to work with. There is a need to be cautious not to flake any portions off, as any damaged piece could contain content and information that too would become lost.

Staff will also assess the condition of the papers, then figure out if archival boxes or a paper wrap is needed to assist with preservation.

If the environmental conditions are controlled, and physical damage is prevented, Glassford noted the papers should be fine for hundreds of years.

Then, staff will look to see if every issue has been included, and if any are missing. Once that is completed, that information will be added to the library catalogue and WorldCat, a global library catalogue.

From there, Glassford said better images can be made of the hardcopies as they exist. In the long-term, the hope is to digitize the collection and make it available in a better copy and online. That will take some time and resources to do.

She spoke of the importance in preserving print and hardcopies, so they can be digitized in the future as technology improves.

In speaking of students on campus, Glassford noted there is a real value and wonder in engaging with physical items of the past as they live in a digital world.

Glassford noted Leddy Library Head Librarian Selinda Berg values the role that the University of Windsor can play in community heritage preservation. She is thrilled to welcome the Essex Free Press archive to its collection.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Members of Essex County Council learned of the corporation’s work force composition, recruitment and retention, employee development, labour-relations, and health and safety measures, when it received the 2024 Human Resources Annual Service Report during the regular meeting on May 7.

This annual document reflects how the department is supporting a high-performing, future-ready workforce.

As of December 31, 2024, the County employed 778 staff members, of which 542 were in full-time positions and 236 working part-time. Employees are represented across several union groups, Gary Filiatrault, Human Resources Business Partner, outlined in his report to County Council.

The average age of County employees is 42, and the average tenure is 10-years.

“This speaks to a highly experienced workforce, but also highlights the need for robust succession planning and ongoing leadership development,” he added.

The County has a goal of being an employer with impact, Filiatrault, commented, adding when it comes to recruitment and retention, the strategic goal is to focus on Team Essex County for results.

In 2024, the County posted 138-positions, and received over 8200 applications, 92% of which were submitted externally. Internal movement, he added, remains strong with over 650 internal applications for those roles.

Retention rates at the two, five, and ten-year milestones remain stable.

“This gives us confidence in the long-term engagement of our employees and helps identify departments that may benefit from targeted retention strategies,” Filiatrault added.

In 2024, voluntary resignation decreased by 40% in each of the last two-years.

In the past year, 46 employees were approved for tuition reimbursement, “demonstrating a strong interest in further education and skill building.”

In answering Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers about the specifics on the tuition reimbursement, Filiatrault explained there is an annual availability of $2000 for each full-time employee who has worked for the County for a minimum of one-year. He added there is a payback component if they leave the County of Essex under certain guidelines.

The County’s HR Department is in the process of developing a formal Employee Development Program and Recruitment Strategy that integrates onboarding, continuous learning, and succession planning.

Last year, Filiatrault detailed, the County ratified three collective agreements. There are two agreements expiring in 2025 and three in 2026. In 2024, 44 grievances were filed, 19 of which have been resolved while a few are in a holding pattern. The rest were from the previous years.

Ensuring the health and safety of employees is a top priority, Manager of Corporate Health and Safety, Brady Boghean, said. “It is how we protect our team members and reduce risk.”

Last year, he added, the County updated 15 policies, delivered hands-on training, and conducted emergency drills.

“Training is a cornerstone of our approach, from health and safety awareness to leadership-focused programs, we are making sure every employee knows how to work safely,” Boghean said.

In 2025, Boghean added County staff will continue to work together to provide a healthy and safe work environment for County of Essex employees.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Essex County Council supported expanding the scope of work for Sun Parlor Home’s Comprehensive Analysis and Feasibility Study, and added a Service Delivery Review during the May 7 meeting.

In order to do so, County Council had to approve funding up to $140,000 from the Rate Stabilization Reserve, if necessary.

Bessant Pelech Associates Inc. will expand the Comprehensive Analysis and Feasibility Study, and further complete the Service Delivery Review.

County Council is the Committee of Management for this long-term care home in Leamington that has 206 beds.

County CAO Sandra Zwiers explained that last year, County Council approved moving ahead with the Comprehensive Analysis and Feasibility Study for Sun Parlour Home. When the County completed its Asset Management Plan update, condition ratings of all County-owned facilities and corporate assets were completed, including Sun Parlour Home.

According to Essex Free Press files, in July of 2024, County Council was presented three options on what to do with Sun Parlour Home:

• Redeveloping the building would include modifications like widening doorways, replacing windows, and upgrading lighting systems and competing retrofits necessary to address inadequate square footage for a total estimated cost of $2.7 million.

• Building a brand-new home is estimated to cost around $500,000 per bed and does not include land acquisition.

•Maintaining the status quo and completing renovations and upgrades as needed would avoid immediate capital expenditure, but poses long-term financial and operational risks, due to increasing maintenance and compliance costs.

Upgrades, County Council was warned, must meet current standards set in 2015, often requiring mores pace.

Even if County Council decided to maintain the status quo, not enough money is being set aside for the capital projects that will be needed going forward, Jayne Brooks-Keller, Administrator for Sun Parlour Home, warned last year.

At that time, Council for the County of Essex authorized Administration to continue exploring options to redevelop Sun Parlor Home by engaging a consultant. It also received a Building Condition Assessment for information.

A report to County Council at the time noted there was $252,262 in reserve for Sun Parlour Home at the end of 2023, utilized for capital asset requirements. The targeted investment rate is 2.19%, while the County is investing only 0.17%.

“We know we need to take a deeper dive on the facility itself, in terms of what is the future life and vision for Sun Parlour Home as a facility.” Zwiers said at the May 7 meeting, adding it is currently not operating under current provincial standards for long-term care.

It is compliant currently, but under older building standards. Any renovations trigger new standards, “which is problematic, concerning the size and scale of our home and some certain limitations,” Zwiers said.

“We need to look forward to what does a new home look like. Are we redeveloping the current site, are we building at a new site?” Zwiers asked. All questions required the expertise of an external consultant.

Doing so was included in the 2025 Budget, but estimated at $50,000.

The County competitively tendered the work and received no bids, she told Council. Zwiers noted that in speaking with the market the County did not have a high enough budget for the scope of work.

Bessant Pelech Associates Inc. estimated the work to be around $107,000, plus taxes and incidentals.

“We do feel the need to move forward with this valuable work,” Zwiers said. The cost of a new long care bed home – with the number of beds the County is envisioning – is upwards of a $100M investment.

That number was much smaller pre-pandemic. Like with all construction estimates, it ballooned.

Though the cost of the report was significant, Zwiers believes it is worth it in determining whether to redevelop or build new.

Tied in with that, Zwiers spoke of the importance of conducting a Service Delivery Review, as well. A previous report conducted in 2018 did not provide specifics on the roles and responsibilities of all job functions at the home.

Administrators, leadership, and frontline staff from the home want clarity on their roles, Zwiers said.

Bessant Pelech Associates Inc. also has expertise in that field, and Zwiers recommended a sole source assignment due to the integration of work it will do on the feasibility Study. The Service Delivery Review is expected to cost $60,000, plus taxes.

With the $50,000 set aside in the budget, the overage of the two reports of up to $140,000 will come from the Rate Stabilization Reserve in 2025, so the projects could commence as soon as possible.

Ideally, the County will be able to use surpluses before drawing from the Rate Stabilization Reserve.

In addition, Essex County Council received a report detailing Sun Parlor Home’s Declaration of Compliance for 2024 as information.

Information on the matter notes the Long-Term Care Service Accountability Agreement between Ontario Health West and the Corporation of the County of Essex requires an annual Declaration of Compliance indicating that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, Sun Parlor Home has fulfilled its obligation under the Service Accountability Agreement.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

The County of Essex will communicate to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing its support for the annexation of a parcel of land known as Monroe Island to the Town of Tecumseh, from the Municipality of Lakeshore.

The support was approved at the May 7 meeting, where Essex County Council also approved a By-law in support of the annexation.

The Municipality of Lakeshore and Town of Tecumseh have each passed By-laws in support of the Town of Tecumseh annexing Monroe Island, located at 440 Brighton Road, David Sundin, County of Essex’s Director of Legal and Legislative Services, explained to members of County Council. Tecumseh also Authorized a Boundary Adjustment Agreement.

He noted this was to help clear-up a geographic anomaly.

In Sundin’s report, he outlines that this is a unique property which, although being located within the boundaries of the Municipality of Lakeshore, is an island with its only access being a driveway/bridge that connects to land in the Town of Tecumseh.

The Town of Tecumseh was seeking to annex the Island, and Lakeshore was supportive of the endeavour.

He noted it appears this change would have no implication to the County.

Further, the Province was looking to the County of Essex to endorse the change that Tecumseh and Lakeshore have both agreed to, Sundin added.

Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey thanked the Town of Tecumseh for its partnership on the matter and its continued collaboration on matters such as these.

She was happy to move the report.

The County of Essex’s support will be forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

The County of Essex has never had a formal Indemnification Policy before. It now has one on the shelf, as County Council approved its first such policy during its May 7 meeting.

David Sundin, Director of Legislative and Legal Services, explained it appears the County has only had to rarely, on an ad hoc basis, identify employees of the County. It is, however, becoming increasingly common to see individual members of Council and municipal employees named personally in claims against municipalities across the province.

With that in mind, County Administration recommended providing members of County Council and staff with peace of mind by having a formal Indemnification Policy in place.

In his report to County Council, Sundin noted that the Municipal Act and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act allow municipalities to indemnify its employees and members of Council in certain situations.

“Currently, if an employee or member of Council was personally named in a legal proceeding, they would have to seek Council approval on a case-by-case basis in order to have the County indemnify them,” Sundin outlines in his report on the matter.

“By adopting a formal Indemnification Policy, Council will remove any uncertainty and… employees and members of Council can perform the tasks required by them on behalf of the County, with certainty that they will be protected as long as they are appropriately exercising their respective duties.”

County Council gave approval to the policy without any members asking any questions.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Back in February, Essex County Council directed Administration to explore a buy Canadian Procurement Strategy. As a result, at the May 7 meeting, County Council unanimously received and approved a “Canadian First Strategy” report, and further directed Administration to make the required amendments to the County’s Procurement Policy.

Those amendments will reflect on the approved wording as outlined in the report regarding the implementation of a Canada First Procurement Strategy and a tariff escalation clause.

Later in the meeting, a By-law 2025-22, to Amend By-law 2024-08 to adopt a Procurement Policy for the Corporation of the County of Essex (to Include Provisions for a Buy Canadian Strategy), was passed.

LaSalle Mayor Mike Akpata originally brought forward this idea, wanting the County of Essex to ensure it buys Canadian so the organization puts its money back into the folks that give them the privilege of sitting around the County Council table, and to ensure it is done in a proper manner.

It was presented in reaction to the US tariff matter.

Melissa Ryan, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer, pointed out key administrative recommendations to County Council.

The first proposed amendment introduced a Canada First Procurement Strategy, modelled after the Province’s recently adopted Procurement Restriction Policy.

This strategy would prioritize Canadian vendors for County purchases that fall below the key trade agreement thresholds, which is $353,300 for goods and services and $8.8M for construction, Ryan explained. It still allows for exceptions when needed. That would include when no Canadian options are available.

“The intent is to strengthen support for Canadian businesses, especially those right here in our community, while staying within the boundaries of legislation and aligning with Ontario’s broader public sector response to international trade dynamics,” Ryan said.

The second recommendation was to introduce a tariff-related escalation clause to the County’s Procurement Policy. Ryan explained that it would provide a clear, transparent process for vendors to request price adjustments if new tariffs are imposed during the course of the contract.

The process would require justification and documentation of mitigation efforts from vendors, she added.

Some optional strategies Ryan outlined County Council may want to explore in the future include buy Canadian awareness campaigns, and short-term tax deferrals for local businesses impacted by economic pressures that are a direct result of newly imposed tariffs.

“Given the evolving nature of international trade policies, we will continue to monitor the landscape and remain open to adjusting or removing any provisions if circumstances change,” she said.

Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue was fully supportive of this. He did want to make sure decisions would be brought to Council still. Ryan noted any contracts would follow typical procurement policies, which details that anything over $500,000 needs to go to Council. Anything below would go through Administration for proper sign-offs that way.

He wanted to ensure Administration follows County Council’s intentions, which Ryan assured would happen.

Essex Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley wanted to ensure American companies would not be excluded from bidding. He understands the spirit of what the County wants to do, but wants to ensure American companies are not excluded at the detriment of taxpayers at the end of the day. He spoke of instances that could potentially result in substantial savings for taxpayers.

In her report to County Council Ryan adds that adopting a Canada First Procurement Strategy may result in increased costs in certain cases, particularly when Canadian or non-U.S. suppliers are unable to offer competitive pricing compared to U.S. companies. Those added costs may be offset by the broader economic benefits of supporting domestic suppliers—including job creation, local economic investment, and enhanced regional economic resilience.

Ryan noted this would exclude US bidders under those thresholds outlined. She noted the County does not typically find that US bidders are bidding on County construction projects. They do business with them on IT software and hardware and some pieces of ambulances. Those are situations where there are no other Canadian options available.

Her report adds that those contracts will continue to be monitored closely to assess risk and availability.

Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt echoed Shepley’s concerns. He did not want to take this to an extent that it would significantly affect the tax base. From what he heard, that is a low risk.

Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers was interested in further exploring the short-term tax deferrals for local businesses impacted by economic pressures that are a direct result of newly imposed tariffs as Ryan outlined.

CAO Sandra Zwiers noted the procurement changes presented during the meeting were key ways the County could support local businesses. When it comes to a tax deferral program, it would have a more cumbersome administration, requiring applications from businesses. The County can explore how to build the framework to make that happen.

She added the Windsor-Essex Economic Trade Task Force is promoting awareness of help that already exists at the provincial and federal levels for businesses.

“At the municipal-level, we have a role to play, but wanting to make sure – before we get into a tax deferral program that would then impact the tax flow of municipalities that also help to contribute to the local economy – that we really promote those provincial and federal avenues, as well,” Zwiers said.

If it is County Council’s desire to look at a tax deferral program, it can be raised at the Regional Treasurers’ Group, comprised of Treasurers from the County and the seven local municipalities, to be explored, and solutions can be found to propose to Council to move forward.

Rogers further moved that in terms of the short-term tax deferrals that the Regional Treasurers’ Group discuss target municipal property tax relief in order to suggest how to provide relief to businesses impacted by recently imposed tariffs, and report back to County Council.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara also supported the tax deferral piece in terms of conformity across the local municipalities. He pointed out it is a deferral.

“We need to send a message to our friends in Washington that we’re serious about taking care of business,” McNamara said.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Ontario’s need for electricity is growing, Sonny Karunakaran, Hydro One’s Vice President of Strategic Projects and Partnerships, stated when sharing the utility’s preferred route for the proposed Longwood to Lakeshore Transmission Line project.

The announcement took place virtually last Wednesday afternoon.

While the Independent System Electricity Operator anticipates the province’s electricity demand will grow around 75% in the next 25-years, demand is expected to quadruple in Southwestern Ontario, Karunakaran, explained.

That growth is expected to come from a number of factors, Karunakaran said, including industrial automation plants, greenhouses, residential developments, and various economic development opportunities that continue to come into the region.

A number of projects have been identified for southwestern Ontario to address that demand, including the Chatham-Lakeshore project that was energized in 2024, which was completed one-year ahead of schedule and around $30M under budget, and the Longwood to Lakeshore Transmission Line.

This network of projects is expected to improve resiliency and reliability, economic growth and investment, and support for local industry and the ag sector.

The preferred Longwood to Lakeshore Transmission Line includes two new single-circuit, around 118km, 500-kilovolt transmission lines connecting the Longwood Transformer Station in Strathroy-Caradoc to the Municipality of Lakeshore.

Hydro One has identified the preferred route for the project as “3B,” which scored the highest based on a series of categories. This route will minimize vegetation removal, will be the least impactful to surface water resources and aquatic habitats, and lowers potential effects to species at risk and species and habitats of concern.

It also had the least impact on residential and commercial properties, and would cross fewer features of archeological and cultural heritage potential, including the avoidance of the North Buxton National Historic Site. In terms of Indigenous culture and land use, the preferred route also had the least impact on native and rare species and their habitats.

Benefits of the route include maximizing use of existing transmission corridors, the shortest line-length which would result in lower material cost, and minimizing impact on residential properties.

Hydro One continues to engage with conservation authorities, municipalities, and other infrastructure companies, and the public on the project.

Engagement and development activities will continue throughout the lifecycle of this project.

Construction is expected to commence in 2027. Once the line is in service, which is expected to be by 2030, it is anticipated to bring around 550 megawatts of electricity to the region, “which is enough to power the city the size of London, Ontario,” Karunakaran said.

An interactive map on the project website www.hydroone.com/about/corporate-information/major-projects/longwood-to-lakeshore allows users to zoom in and view the preferred route.

Background on the project includes conducting a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) in 2024, meant to help determine how a new piece of critical infrastructure will impact Indigenous communities, residents, and community spaces, Karunakaran added.

It included consultation and engagement with Indigenous communities, government officials and agencies, and interested persons or organizations. It also allows for the evaluation of alternative routes and an assessment of the existing environment and ways to mitigate potential effects.

Since, Hydro One has continued to collect important environmental and technical information, Karunakaran explained.

Once this portion of the project is completed, Karunakaran noted Hydro One will submit an Environmental Study Report to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks. Before the project is built, permits to construct will be applied through the Ontario Energy Board.

The Independent Electricity System Operator will determine the in-service date for the second line through its regional planning process, Karunakaran explained.

Hydro One continues to advance development for both lines and streamline engagement with landowners to minimize the project’s footprint and identify opportunities to reduce overall project costs.

Karunakaran added Hydro One will work closely with directly impacted property owners, residents, and communities along the route.

Residents and members of the community are invited to learn more about the preferred route and engage with the project team at upcoming community open houses, including a virtual open house on the project website on Thursday, May 15, from 7 to 8pm. There will also be four in-person open houses, including one on Thursday, June 5, from 4 to 7pm at the Tilbury Community Centre.

Those who need to connect outside the open houses, can do so by emailing Hydro One through the project website.

In a statement Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey prepared in regards the announcement, she noted Council understands that any major critical infrastructure project, like the Longwood to Lakeshore Transmission Line, will have some impact on communities, residents, and specific property owners.

“To balance the impact on our community members, Council supported entering into a Community Support Agreement (CSA) with Hydro One in August of 2023. As part of that agreement, Lakeshore will benefit from receiving $8M towards new local investments, including $5.8M to directly support culture and recreation projects in the communities affected by the project.

Over the past two-years, Mayor Bailey continued, the community of Comber has already noticed these investments take shape, including improvements to the war memorial in the heart of Comber, the purchase of a plot of land at 6311 Main Street for the future home of a gathering and event space, and new sidewalks to improve walkability within Comber.

As part of the CSA, Lakeshore has also committed to working with Hydro One to identify concerns and routing solutions throughout the Environmental Assessment process. As part of that work, Lakeshore Administration has participated in Technical Advisory Committee Workshops related to these critical infrastructure projects.

Lakeshore residents are encouraged to participate in either the Virtual Open House on May 15 and/or attend one of the in-person events.

“These events are an opportunity to ask questions and understand Hydro One’s route evaluation process,” Bailey added.

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

“We are facing extraordinary times right now in this county and the country,” Keith Andrews, COO & Strategic Advisor to the Board of Directors for Invest WindsorEssex (IWE) – the region’s economic development organization, told members of Essex County Council at the May 7 meeting.

“We have never really seen a situation like we are facing right now when it comes to trade and the uncertainty of what we will be facing in the economy.”

Every day, however, “we continue to work hard, and I am pleased to say [for] uncertain times, we are seeing success,” Andrews continued. “We drive investment, we drive expansion, and the team continues to put their dedication to fostering economic growth and supporting our companies and our communities.”

The IWE reps appeared in front of County Council as last year, the organization made a commitment to provide Essex County Council with regular, in-person updates on its activities, its work, and what it does on behalf of the region.

That promise was made after County Council decided to reduce IWE’s County contribution 15%, from $1,122,060 to $953,750 during 2025 Budget Deliberations. Originally, IWE asked for $1.23M, around a 9% increase from 2024, then pulled it back to match its previous funding ask.

IWE is funded by the County and the City of Windsor. With that funding, it also obtains provincial dollars.

The original cut in funding stemmed from a survey Essex County Council received back in July that detailed the results received from a discretionary regional shared services survey sent out to the seven local municipalities.

In terms of satisfaction, 53% of respondents report being either satisfied or very satisfied with Invest WindsorEssex products/services. From a reputation standpoint, 52% of respondents rated their impression of Invest WindsorEssex as good to excellent. 43% believed their municipality is receiving good value for money from Invest WindsorEssex.

At the regular meeting on February 18, however, a majority of County Council moved Tecumseh Deputy Mayor/Deputy Warden, Joe Bachetti’s, motion to rescind that resolution and reinstate the original funding amount.

Detailing IWE’s work in the first quarter of 2025, Joe Goncalves, Vice President Investment Attraction & Strategic Initiatives, noted IWE’s Investment Attraction Department and Business Retention and Expansion Department and Small Business Centre landed around $421M worth of new investment.

In addition, there were five expansions, 1260 direct jobs, and 14 business startups. 31 business support sessions were also held, which were provided to 576 attendees. 291 business consultations took place, stemming from businesses that connected with IWE looking for support.

“I don’t need to tell anybody around this room how important this is to the economic vitality of our region in how it is going to contribute to new home building, to commercial plazas going up, and really to the GDP output of Windsor-Essex,” Goncalves said.

In building off Andrew’s previous statement, Goncalves noted “we live in very complicated times. Even in those complicated times, we managed to land investments in the Windsor-Essex region, which will benefit us all.”

He spoke of the $120M over eight-years investment from Neo, and the $300M Minth investment that also has plans for further expansion.

In looking at the Minth investment, for instance, Goncalves highlighted that will equate to an economic output of nearly $357M, create an additional indirect 1564 regional jobs, with regional wages totalling $151,708, 247 introduced to the Windsor-Essex area.

There are four expansion projects to be announced in Essex County in the near future, which will total $43M and 220 jobs, Goncalves said.

“We do this because we want to build great things for the community that we serve, and we want to improve the quality of life of every resident across Windsor-Essex,” Goncalves said, noting the projects he highlighted will contribute to that.

In terms of dealing with the US tariff situation, Wendy Stark, Director of Business Retention & Expansion, noted IWE has partnered with the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce to launch and cochair the Windsor-Essex Economic Trade Task Force.

The group has been meeting weekly, but will likely move to biweekly moving forward, and has hosted a couple of events, as well.

“I personally met with many companies across the region since all of this started, trying to connect them with programs that are available, provide them with all the information we have,” Stark said.

The Task Force has tried to help businesses implement strategies to help mitigate tariffs and examine other markets for their products.

Stark also spoke of the New Start Ventures program, launched March 1 by IWE’s Small Business & Entrepreneurial Centre, aimed to help newcomers to Canada with essential skills, knowledge, mentorship, and resources to start and grow their own businesses.

In speaking to the IWE’s Strategic Plan, a document many County Councillors previously voiced they wanted to see complete, Andrews noted the strategic planning process began in January, and IWE is on schedule.

The overall goal is to develop a five-year roadmap for the organization, and will identify priority areas of focus, and will determine how IWE should be organized to deliver on the plan, Andrews said.

Work will continue this month, with additional input gathered. The target is to have the Strategic Plan presented to the Board of Directors by mid-June.

Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers appreciated the update from IWE. He asked if the Strategic Plan will be shared with County Council.

Andrews noted IWE will look to its Board of Directors first to vet the draft plan, which would then determine what the next steps would be.

Something that keeps Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara up at night is looking at Canada as a G7 Nation and that it is at the bottom for productivity. He said productivity has to be brought up.

He believes that has to be a top-down funded opportunity from the federal and provincial jurisdiction to aid companies.

McNamara asked IWE what the County can do at the ground-level to convince the government to make big investments, so Canada will be a successful nation moving forward.

Andrews agreed with McNamara, noting productivity is an important issue, and is a silent issue in some respects. To Goncalves, tariffs are a threat, but Canada’s productivity gap is a bigger threat.

He spoke of how many small companies know AI needs to be implemented, but very few know how to do that.

Goncalves spoke of how IWE set up a proposal with the federal government to do a SWOT analysis of around 300 companies across the region in the automotive, logistics, service, and pharmaceutical industries to look at what they need to do, and when, in terms of implementing AI. Phase two shows the return on investment.

Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb said it is important for County Council to hear of IWE’s successes with small business owners.

“A truly resilient economy is one where small business owners can create their own jobs,” Gibb said.