Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Windsor celebrated its 133rd birthday on Sunday by unveiling a new year-round public event space at City Hall Square, the centrepiece of the first phase of a $15-million Civic Esplanade revitalization project.
Hundreds gathered downtown for a day of live entertainment, games, birthday cake, free museum access and family activities. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of the redesigned civic plaza, built to host cultural programming and public events in the city’s core.
“This is about more than infrastructure — it’s about building community spaces where we can showcase Windsor’s talent, celebrate its stories, and shape its future,” Mayor Drew Dilkens said at the event. “The Windsor Civic Esplanade is one of the city’s greatest assets of public space in the heart of the community.”
The new plaza replaces the former skating rink at Charles Clark Square with an all-season ice rink and gathering space designed by MJMA Ltd. and constructed by Oscar Construction Company Ltd.
City council approved the conceptual design in May 2023 as part of Windsor’s $2.24-billion 10-year capital plan, which includes more than $312 million in planned investments for 2025.
The federal government contributed over $6.7 million to the project through the Canada Community-Building Fund, administered in Ontario by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. The funding supports local infrastructure in categories such as culture, recreation, tourism and community resilience.
“The revitalization of City Hall Square is a great example of how federal investments are helping communities like Windsor grow and thrive,” said Gregor Robertson, federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure. “This new space will bring people together, support local culture, and strengthen the city’s vibrant downtown.”
Sunday’s celebration also launched the Explore Your City Passport initiative, encouraging residents to visit key attractions and events throughout Windsor. Participants can submit completed passports at community centres by Aug. 1, 2025, for a chance to win prizes.
The city also opened a public call for performers for Live at the Square, a new outdoor concert series running Friday evenings from late July through October. Funded by Enbridge Fueling Futures, the program aims to showcase Windsor-area artists.
More information is available at www.CityWindsor.ca.