2026 Impact Revealed as Windsor OLG Host Site

Today, the City of Windsor and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) gathered to reflect on the impact associated with being a host gaming community.

Officials gathered at Dieppe Gardens to unveil the new OLG flower bed and recognize the impact OLG has had on Windsor over the past 32 years under the Municipality Contribution Agreement (MCA). In the 2025–2026 fiscal year, the City of Windsor received $9,284,338 through its partnership with OLG.

Since the city’s first casino opened in May 1994, the City of Windsor has continued to receive an annual share of the gaming revenue generated from hosting Caesars Windsor through the MCA with the OLG. To date, Windsor has received $140,630,268 from this ongoing partnership.

“Each year, the City of Windsor receives significant funding from OLG through Caesars Windsor. Today reflects over three decades of shared progress and commitment with opportunities to fund a range of infrastructure projects and community initiatives that positively impact residents across the city. With a continued focus on keeping taxes low and Windsor affordable, we are Investing Responsibly and more than ever before in the infrastructure, assets, and amenities that matter most to Windsorites. OLG is working in lockstep with us, with generous annual contributions supporting everything from road improvements and infrastructure upgrades to park enhancements, new playground equipment, recreational facilities, economic development initiatives, and more. On behalf of City Council and the City of Windsor, thank you to our partners at OLG and Caesars Windsor for your ongoing support and investments in enhancing quality of life, ensuring sustainability, and Protecting our Future.” — Windsor Mayor Drew Dikens

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Biz X Was There – The 2026 Atelier Fashion Show

Runway photos courtesy Ted Kloske, others and video by Team Biz X!

The 2026 Atelier Fashion Show highlights the collections from the St. Clair College Fashion Design graduating students. The sold-out show, ran by the fashion design students took place at St. Clair College on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

CHECK OUT THE FINAL WALK THROUGH VIDEO

The top fashion designers from 2025 returned, Krishnendu Mohanan @astrae_ae, Elizabeth Trudell @aquasseilia and Lojain Sayyed @ruggedrreverie, opened the show with their new 2026 collections.

Emerging Designer Sponsor – St. Clair College Alumni Association Designer Collection Sponsors – Savvy Boutique, Vito’s Pizzeria, The Suit Shop Co. Ltd.

• 2026 Emerging Designer first place was awarded to . . . Akshat Virmani / Brand: AKKI @akkibyakshat
• 2026 Emerging Designer first place went to Larissa Kersey / Brand: Kerzi Klozet @kerziklozet
• 2026 third place collection winner is Alyson Sokolik / Brand CCC

The Judging Panel sponsor was Julie Bondy of Manor Realty and Signature Homes.

2026 Judges:

• Patti France, St. Clair College – Past President
• Tracey Harding, Fashion Buyer, Biz X writer & Fashion Week Windsor committee member
• Maddie Bevacqua, Mads Kollar – Fashion Designer
• Lindsay Angier, Dance Barre – Professional Dancer and Co-Owner

The Impact Award for the top sustainable collection is sponsored by Télio Fabrics in Montreal and won by Larissa Kersey / Brand: Kerzi Klozet @kerziklozet. In addition, the St. Clair College Fashion Design Technician program launched SEWING the SEEDS of CHANGE, a sustainable fashion competition open to all high school students.

The top three winners from across Canada also showed their designs on the runway on April 18. Criteria included to design, sew and construct one original outfit using upcycled garments, fabrics or materials.

Sewing the Seeds of Change winners:

• 1st place: Alexis Bombardier High School, Riverside Secondary
• 2nd place: Aryana Kroeger, High School: Wellington Secondary School, B.C
• 3rd place: Anna McMillian, High School: Holy Names Catholic High School

Pop Up Shop sponsor was MRA mobile experiential and the vendors were: ACWR; Enchanted House; Fashion Week Windsor; Miss MagPie; NN – Naajwi Naanooshgashinh; Risky Bee and Vibrant Mayhem
St. Clair College Professor Elaine Chatwood, Fashion Design Technician and her entire department wish to thank the title sponsor St. Clair College Alumni Association and . . .

• MRA mobile experiential
• Julie Bondy of Manor Realty/Signature Homes
• Savvy Boutique
• Vito’s Pizzeria
• The Suit Shop Co. Ltd.
• FREEDS
• D & R Vacuum and Sewing Centre
• Cabello Hair

Hair for the show was styled by the Cabello Hair team and SCC Hairstyling students.

Make up for all the models was created by the SCC Esthetician students and faculty, along with Kelly Spinarsky’s pro MUA team. Special thanks as well to all the volunteer models.

The show was produced/Directed by: Elaine Chatwood, Dee-Dee Shkreli, Lori Moore and the SCC Fashion Design students and volunteers.

Check out the 2026 St. Clair College Fashion Design student portfolios on their website. Follow them on IG @stclairfashiondesign.

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Cup of Joe – Art Matters

This October marks the 20th anniversary of the Art Matters Symposium I hosted for TVCOGECO (now YourTV).

The event was recorded for repeated broadcasts on community television, presented in partnership with the Arts Council Windsor & Region. The symposium stood as a pivotal community gathering, exploring the intersection of arts, culture, and urban revitalization. At the time, Windsor was grappling with significant manufacturing downturns, and the conversation focused on how art is not simply a “luxury” or a “frill,” but is fundamental infrastructure for a healthy city. Leaders and luminaries from the Windsor Essex arts community joined forces with civic stakeholders, urban planners, and the public to emphasize art’s essential role in city life.

Over the past two decades following the symposium, our region has demonstrated a strong commitment to the arts and culture sector. As a border city and one of Canada’s most ethnically diverse communities, Windsor’s arts scene reflects a distinctive combination of industrial heritage, international perspectives, and longstanding local traditions.

Grassroots efforts have played a central role in driving this progress. However, there is a continued need for greater support from the municipal government and some educational institutions.

from the Municipal Benchmarking Network Canada (MBNCanada) and recent local reports reveal Windsor’s per capita spending on cultural grants remains among the lowest nationally.

With approximately $1.54 allocated per person compared to the national average of $7.39, the 2022 MBNCanada benchmarking report observed that Windsor invests significantly less than the median for participating Canadian municipalities.

Unfortunately, the University Players — a distinguished theatre company at the University of Windsor School of Dramatic Art — ended its operations in 2024 after an impressive 65 seasons, a result of
budget cuts at the university. And the previous year, Migration Hall in Kingsville also closed its doors after three decades of theatre performances, following the sale of the former Kingsville District High School property.

The performing arts community has been significantly impacted by these two events.

“Art” is broadly categorized into Visual Arts — painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, and sculpture — and Performing Arts, which encompasses music, theatre, dance, and spoken word. Other subsets include literary, media/digital, culinary, and urban arts, but visual and performing arts remain the most prevalent and recognizable forms. Several organizations are dedicated to nurturing the arts in Windsor and Essex County. These include the City of Windsor Culture Department and three not-for-profit organizations: the Arts Council Windsor & Region, Windsor Endowment for the Arts and Artcite Inc.

The city’s main venues for the Performing Arts are the Capitol Theatre (home to the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Windsor International Film Festival, and various theatre groups), and the Chrysler Theatre
(the performance home of Windsor Light Music Theatre).

Smaller venues include Shadowbox Theatre, Korda Artistic Productions, Green Room Theatre, Shō Studios, The Bank Theatre (Leamington), and The Rum Runners Tour (a local 3.5-hour bus tour).

Windsor is home to numerous performing arts groups, such as Arts Collective Theatre Windsor (ACT), Windsor Light Music Theatre, BRC Theatre Co. (Cardinal Music Productions), Post Productions,
Korda Artistic Productions, Encore Productions of Windsor (The Rum Runners Tour), HNM Dance, Windsor Dance eXperience Inc., and the Music Theatre Performance Program at St. Clair College. The two main venues for Visual Arts in Windsor are Art Windsor-Essex and the Windsor Sculpture Park. Both are located along Windsor’s scenic riverfront.

Other venues include the not-for-profit galleries like Artcite, Common Ground and ArtSpeak, various private commercial galleries, and in the county, the Leamington Arts Centre and Gibson Gallery
(Amherstburg).

One notable annual event is Art in the Park at Willistead Park, scheduled in 2026 for June 6 and 7.

The visual artists residing here reflect the area’s rich and varied community. Notable names include Donna Jean Mayne, Melanie Janisse-Barlow, Eric Faraci, Daniel Bombardier (DENIAL), Ron Suchiu, Dennis K. Smith, Shirley Williams, Paul Murray, Kris Knight, DERKZ, Christy Litster, Nancy Johns, Dennis White, and
Nadia Silvestri.

Alongside those listed, there are countless other gifted and innovative artists contributing to our thriving visual arts scene. (Note: The names and organizations shown above, are by no means exhaustive).
This vibrant creative momentum was evident in a recent ArtSpeak Gallery special exhibition from April 13 to 26, 2025.

SIX WORKS — FIVE DECADES featured a distinguished selection of artworks by Jim Mroczkowski, highlighting 50 years of his artistic practice.

His work consistently explores themes related to religious and artistic iconography, idol worship, and spiritual symbolism. The breadth and enigmatic quality of his work engage both emerging and established art audiences.

Based in Windsor, Mroczkowski recalls: “I began my creative journey at the age of five when a family doctor provided me with tempera paints, brushes, and paper as a form of support for my mother during her recovery from postpartum depression. This formative experience shaped my ongoing conviction that art possesses the power to heal, transform, and enlighten — a philosophy that continues to influence my artistic approach.”

Mroczkowski adds: “This exhibition highlighted one artwork from each decade of my career, beginning with a mixed media painting from 1975.

The exhibition offered an exclusive preview of my newest multi-panel piece from 2025, ‘far from the truth,’ which reflects on the tragedy of the Iraq War from 2003 to 2011.”

In conjunction with the exhibition, Mroczkowski presented an artist’s talk during the closing reception on April 25 and elaborated on his creative processes and the influences that have informed his longstanding body of work.

For further information regarding his formal education and academic achievements, 33 years of teaching experience, exhibitions, collections, and numerous honours, including significant commissions, please visit online.

I hope many of our readers attended this exhibition last year and continue to support the strides the Windsor and Essex County arts community has made in the past 20 years — and will make in the future
— because truly, “Art Matters”.

See this story, and many more in the March issue of Biz X magazine

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Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island Launches The 7th Annual Holiday Gift Guide

Guide Inspires Locals to Shop & Support 250+ Local Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Events

The holiday season officially kicks off in Windsor Essex with the 7th Annual Holiday Gift Guide, the region’s go-to source for local shopping inspiration and festive experiences presented by Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, a division of Invest WindsorEssex.

Available now at yqgholidays.ca, the 24 page guide features more than 250 local artisans, makers, shop and events, making it easier than ever to find the perfect locally-made gifts and embrace the spirit of the season.

“The Holiday Gift Guide continues to grow each year, and so does our community’s passion for shopping local. This year’s edition brings together the best of the region — from one-of-a-kind gifts and seasonal events to local recipes and cocktail inspiration. It’s truly your one-stop destination for a Windsor Essex holiday.” – Gordon Orr, CEO Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and CEO, Invest WindsorEssex

Now in its 7th year, the Holiday Gift Guide is a cornerstone of the region’s Support Local movement. Beyond gift ideas, the guide also features festive recipes, wine pairings, holiday happenings and more. Enhanced features in the 2025 guide include:

• Holiday Light Pass profiling the regions four community lights festivals in Amherstburg, LaSalle, Kingsville and Windsor, and encouraging visitors to explore and share their experiences for their chance to win a $500 Devonshire Mall Shopping Spree
• Elf on the Bar Shelf in partnership with our Barrels Bottles & Brews Trail partners, this new digital pass gives users the chance to find ‘Hops’ the elf hidden at our local breweries, cideries and distilleries for the chance to win
• An updated holiday edition of the Night Market Hop profiling night markets and events celebrating the holiday season including the W.E. Made It Market at Bright Lights Windsor presented by Tourism Windsor Essex

This year’s guide is already hitting mailboxes, with 100k print editions of the guide being distributed through Canada Post direct to Windsor Essex residents. An additional 5k will be distributed through retail locations and at local events or for pick up at the Tourism Windsor Essex offices (98 Chatham St. E., Windsor). A digital, mobile-friendly version can by found online at yqgholidays.ca.

To add some cheer, today also marks the first day of the ‘45 Days of Giveaways’ where locals can win prizes featured in the guide through December by visiting yqgholidays.ca each day to find the hidden icon of the day and enter to win.

“We’re proud to bring together Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, a division of Invest WindsorEssex, to shine a spotlight on the people and businesses that make Windsor Essex such a special place,” said Gordon Orr. “Supporting local isn’t just about shopping and the economic benefit derived – it’s about celebrating the creativity, talent, and community spirit that thrives here year-round.”

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Stay Safe and Informed: Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week Kick Off

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week runs from Saturday, November 1 to Friday, November 7, 2025. This awareness week is recognized across Ontario to highlight the deadly dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and stress the importance of having working CO alarms in homes to save lives.

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas that is lethal and undetectable without a working CO alarm. Each year, Ontario records multiple deaths from accidental exposure to CO – lives that could have been saved with the installation of a working CO alarm. 

“Carbon monoxide is a silent and dangerous threat that can only be detected by a working alarm. Having one in every home helps protect our families, our neighbours, and our community.” – James Waffle, Fire Chief, Windsor Fire and Rescue Services

Since 2014, CO alarms have been required by Ontario law outside all sleeping areas in homes with fuel-fired appliances, fireplaces or garages. Ontario is expanding these requirements in the new year to further protect residents from CO exposure.

Starting January 1, 2026, homes that contain a fuel-fired appliance, fireplace, attached garage, or that receive heated air from a fuel-fired appliance located outside the home (such as in a utility shed), will be required to have CO alarms installed on every storey of the home, including storeys with and without sleeping areas.

Expanded CO alarm requirements will also apply to multi-unit residential buildings such as apartment buildings, condominiums, hotels/motels, and retirement homes. In addition, CO alarms will now be mandatory in buildings that contain care occupancies where residents require special care and need assistance to evacuate during an emergency. 

Under the Fire Code, carbon monoxide alarms are permitted to be hardwired, battery-operated, or plug-in devices. Many devices on the market are combined units that include both a smoke alarm and CO alarm in one device.

Windsor Fire & Rescue Services reminds everyone that carbon monoxide exposure can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, collapse, loss of consciousness, and death. Safety starts with awareness – practice the following and protect yourself and loved ones from carbon monoxide:

• Test carbon monoxide alarms each month and change the batteries at least once a year using Day Light Savings Time changes as a reminder (“change your clocks, change your batteries”).
• If a carbon monoxide alarm activates or you suspect someone in your home has symptoms of CO poisoning, immediately go outside and call 9-1-1.
• Know the difference between the sound of the CO alarm and the smoke alarm, and each alarm’s low-battery signals. If the audible low-battery signal sounds, replace the batteries, or replace the device.
• CO alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms, and vice versa. Know the difference.
• Ensure all fuel-burning appliances, heating systems and fireplaces are inspected and cleaned by a qualified technician annually. This is particularly important in the colder months when these appliances are used more frequently. If an unknown leak or blockage has developed, CO exposure in the home could occur. Find a registered contractor at COSafety.ca.
• Keep exhaust vents and chimneys clear of bird and squirrel nests, leaves, and other debris to ensure proper ventilation and routine operation of appliances.
• Never use barbecues, portable fuel-burning camping equipment, or gas-powered generators indoors, including inside the garage.

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