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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Windsor Road Construction Updates – Closures, Lane Restrictions & Detours (June – July 2026)

Key Highlights (June 2026)

• Wyandotte Street East lane restrictions (multiple sections)
• McHugh & Cypress pedestrian crossover construction
• Barrymore Lane asphalt work
• Langlois Avenue full closure for milling & paving
• E.C. Row Expressway overnight closures at Banwell
• Central Avenue lane restrictions extended

Current Construction Zones

Tecumseh Road East Lane Reductions

Tecumseh Road East will have lane reductions in both directions from Rivard Avenue to Balfour Boulevard for milling and paving work and minor concrete repairs from Thursday, June 4, until Monday, June 29, 2026 (weather permitting).

Labadie Road Closure

Labadie Road will remain closed from Ontario Street to Seminole Street for road rehabilitation. Local traffic only ongoing through Monday, June 29, 2026 (weather permitting).

Vimy Avenue/Lincoln Road Lane Restrictions and Closures for Intersection Improvements

Vimy Avenue will be closed (local traffic only) from Gladstone Avenue to Windermere Road, and Lincoln Road will have lane restrictions from Lens Avenue to Ypres Avenue for installation of a pedestrian crossing from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, June 15, to Monday, June 29, 2026 (weather permitting)

Norfolk Street Lane Restrictions

Norfolk Street will have lane restrictions from Massey Court to Glenwood Avenue for sidewalk improvements and the installation of a pedestrian crossing from Monday, June 15, to Monday, June 29, 2026 (weather permitting)

Construction Work at Five Signalized Intersections in Windsor

The following intersections will have intermittent lane restrictions and temporary sidewalk closures during traffic infrastructure installation and realignment of the curbs/ramps from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, March 23, until the end of June 2026 (weather permitting)

• Ojibway Parkway and Sprucewood Avenue
• Ojibway Parkway and Weaver Road
• Tuscarora Street and Goyeau Street
• Tecumseh Road West and California Avenue
• Ottawa Street and Parent Avenue

There will be no full road closures during this work. Please note: During construction, the Tuscarora Street and Goyeau Street intersection will temporarily operate as an all-way stop controlled intersection. Once construction is complete, the intersection will be restored to signalized operation. Drivers are advised to follow posted construction signage and proceed with caution though the affected areas.

Goyeau Street Lane Restrictions

Goyeau Street will have lane restrictions at Tuscarora Street for road repairs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

Eastbound E.C. Row Expressway Lane Restrictions and Ramp Closures

Eastbound E.C. Row Expressway will have overnight lane restrictions from Jefferson Boulevard to Lauzon Parkway, and the eastbound off-ramp to southbound Lauzon Parkway will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Friday, June 26, to Wednesday, July 1, 2026 (weather permitting)

Eastbound E.C. Row Expressway Lane Restrictions and Ramp Closures Update

Eastbound E.C. Row Expressway will have overnight lane restrictions from Jefferson Boulevard to Lauzon Parkway, and the eastbound off-ramp to northbound Lauzon Parkway will be closed ongoing until Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (weather permitting): Eastbound off-ramp to northbound Lauzon Parkway closed

Lane Reductions and Overnight Closures for Westbound E.C. Row Expressway

Westbound E.C. Row Expressway will have lane reductions and complete overnight closures (weather permitting) between Central Avenue and Walker Road for road construction as follows:

Overnight closure from Central Avenue to Walker Road:

• Nightly, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Tuesday, June 30, to Wednesday, July 8, 2026 (except overnight Thursday, July 2, to Saturday, July 4)

Lane reductions between Central Avenue and Walker Road:

• Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Langlois Road Closure

Langlois Avenue will be closed from Grand Marais Road East to North Service Road for continued milling and paving work from Monday, June 29, to Friday, July 3, 2026 (weather permitting) (weather permitting)

Giles Boulevard West Road Closure

Giles Boulevard West will be closed from Janette Avenue to Ouellette Avenue for road and watermain rehabilitation work from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, June 4, until Friday, July 3, 2026 (weather permitting)

City of Windsor asks you to learn how to use the Zipper Merge.

Central Avenue Lane Restrictions

Central Avenue has intermittent lane restrictions at the E.C. Row Expressway on/off ramp intersections during traffic signal infrastructure installation from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Ongoing until Friday, July 3, 2026 (weather permitting)

Wyandotte Street East Lane Restrictions for Isabelle Place Intersection Improvements

Wyandotte Street East will have intermittent lane restrictions from St. Rose Avenue to Isabelle Place and at the Isabelle Place intersection for construction of a signalized pedestrian crossing and fibre-conduit installation from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 16, to Friday, July 3, 2026 (weather permitting)

Cedarview Street Traffic Disruptions

Cedarview Street will experience periodic traffic disruptions between Dormar Drive and Betty Drive during construction of the dry pond at Brumpton Park from Monday, May 25, to Monday, July 6, 2026 (weather permitting).

Wyandotte Street West Lane Reductions

Wyandotte Street West will have lane restrictions in both directions from Sunset Avenue to Huron Church Road for milling, paving, and minor concrete repairs from Monday, June 22, until Wednesday, July 8, 2026 (weather permitting)

Construction Work at Two Signalized Intersections in Windsor

The intersections of Ottawa Street/Kildare Road and Ottawa Street/Walker Road will have intermittent lane restrictions and limited crosswalk access during traffic infrastructure installation and curb/ramp realignment from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, June 11, until Friday, July 10, 2026 (weather permitting)

Chilver Road Closure Update

Chilver Road will remain closed from Assumption Street to the cul-de-sac for watermain installation as well as milling and paving work. Full closure during paving operations ongoing until Monday, July 20, 2026 (weather permitting)

Peter Street and South Street Closures for Watermain and Road Work

Peter Street will be closed from Mill Street to Brock Street for watermain and road construction work from Tuesday, May 19, to Friday, July 10, 2026 (weather permitting)

South Street will be closed from Peter Street to Bloomfield Road for watermain and road rehabilitation work from Tuesday, May 19, to Monday, July 31, 2026 (weather permitting). Roads to be fully closed with access for local traffic only.

Find out the latest road conditions on the Ontario 511 website.

Caron Avenue Road Closure

Caron Avenue will be closed from Wyandotte Street West to Elliott Street West for road and watermain rehabilitation work from Thursday, June 4, until Friday, July 31, 2026 (weather permitting).

College Avenue Road Closure

College Avenue will be closed from Lena Avenue to Brock Street for watermain construction work from Monday, June 1, until Friday, July 31, 2026 (weather permitting).

Norman Road and Olive Road Closures

Olive Road and Norman Road will be closed to through traffic along Kinsmen Norman Park for approximately two months for lot servicing from Monday, June 8, until the end of July 2026 (weather permitting).

 Construction Resumes on University Avenue

Following a break for the winter, construction has resumed on University Avenue West for road rehabilitation work. The following areas are impacted ongoing until fall 2026:

• University Avenue West is closed from McKay Avenue to Wellington Avenue as well as from Elm Avenue to Oak Street.
• From Oak Street to Salter Avenue, traffic has been shifted to the south side of University Avenue West, while the north side of the road is closed for construction.

On-street parking and bike lanes are not available for the duration of the construction. Please follow posted detour signage and use caution while driving, riding or walking in the work zone.

Riverside Drive East Intermittent Lane Closures

Riverside Drive East will have intermittent lane closures near St. Rose Avenue for the queuing of trucks during construction of the St. Rose Pumping Station, ongoing intermittently, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, until October 2026 (weather permitting)

Giles Boulevard Road Closure

Giles Boulevard will be closed from McDougall Street to Parent Avenue for road and watermain rehabilitation work from Friday, June 19, until Friday, September 4, 2026 (weather permitting)

Lane Restrictions for City-Wide Streetlight Pole Replacement

Watch for brief intermittent lane restrictions around Windsor this summer and fall for the removal and installation of 123 streetlight poles.

There will be no full road closures related to this project, but drivers are asked to follow posted construction signage and drive with caution in the impacted areas. Pole replacements at each location will take approximately three to six hours to complete at various locations from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday, June 29, to Friday, October 30, 2026 (weather permitting)

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NextStar Energy Production Begins on New Battery Pack Line

The strategic move strengthens Canada’s position in the global battery supply chain

NextStar Energy has announced the start of production on its new battery pack manufacturing line at its facility in Windsor, Ontario. The expansion adds a third production stage to the site’s existing cell and module operations, enabling full vertical integration from battery cell to finished pack.

The investment responds to growing global demand for energy storage systems (ESS) and allows NextStar Energy to broaden its product portfolio while strengthening its position in the North American battery supply chain.

“Adding pack production means we can now take a battery from cell to module or to a finished pack, all here in Windsor,” said Danies Lee, Chief Executive Officer of NextStar Energy. “This expansion reflects our commitment to capitalizing on the rapid growth of the ESS market and is a meaningful step to strengthen Canada’s position in the global battery supply chain as well.”

NextStar Energy, now a wholly owned subsidiary of LG Energy Solution, recently celebrated its grand opening as Canada’s first and only commercial-scale battery manufacturing facility. The company began commercial cell production in November 2025 and reached the milestone of producing one million cells in February.

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City of Windsor Financial Rating Affirmed at ‘AA+’ by S&P

S&P Global Ratings has affirmed its long-term issuer credit and senior unsecured debt ratings for the City of Windsor as double A plus (‘AA+’) for the fifth consecutive year with a stable outlook. ‘AA’ is the second highest rating of the ten utilized by S&P and signifies a very strong capacity to meet financial commitments.

“Once again, the City of Windsor has maintained our favourable AA+ Bond Rating, which remains a solid vote of confidence in our unshakeable commitment to Investing Responsibly and Protecting Our Future with a continued focus on strong financial management and strategic investments. In the face of continuing global economic uncertainties and the ongoing tariff and trade war brought about by the U.S., City Council is focused on Windsor’s long game. We are investing more than ever before in the infrastructure, assets, and amenities that matter most to Windsorites, while working to attract new investments, businesses, residents and visitors to our community. We’re accomplishing that while ensuring that Windsor remains one of the most affordable cities of its size in Ontario. Through innovative strategies addressing economic development, growth and expansion, housing, neighbourhood revitalization, community safety and wellbeing, infrastructure enhancements, and more, we continue pursuing all opportunities that support a robust local economy, and to navigate the unique challenges that come with the unprecedented growth and development in our international gateway community.” – Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens

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Ontario Rewards Chatham-Kent With $440,000 Through the Building Faster Fund

The Ontario government is rewarding the Municipality of Chatham-Kent with $440,000 through the third round of the Building Faster Fund, which provides funding to municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their provincially designated housing targets. In 2025, Chatham-Kent broke ground on 577 new homes, achieving 525 per cent of its annual target. The funding will help the Municipality of Chatham-Kent build more homes and community infrastructure while advancing the province’s plan to protect Ontario by investing in projects that support economic growth and keep workers on the job.

“Chatham-Kent’s strong results show what’s possible when municipalities remove barriers and move projects forward,” said Graydon Smith, Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Our government is recognizing that leadership by reinvesting in the infrastructure needed to sustain this momentum and support long-term growth. By exceeding its housing target, the community is helping create more opportunities for families and workers to find a place to call home.”

Announced in August 2023, the Building Faster Fund is a three-year, up to $1.2 billion program that helps municipalities build more homes faster. The fund rewards municipalities that make significant progress toward their housing targets by providing funding for the infrastructure needed to support new housing and growing communities.

“Chatham-Kent is a community that is trending upwards, and this investment is another example of the opportunities that come with growth,” said Darrin Canniff, Mayor of Chatham-Kent. “When more people choose to live, work, and invest here, it strengthens our communities, supports local businesses, creates jobs, and helps us build a more vibrant future. We are committed to ensuring Chatham-Kent has the housing, infrastructure, and services needed to support continued sustainable growth, and we appreciate the Ontario government’s partnership in helping us make that happen.”

The Ontario government is also helping to speed up the construction of new homes and infrastructure by streamlining development processes and reducing unnecessary costs, most recently through the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026, and the HST Relief Implementation Act (Residential Property Rebates), 2026.

“Chatham-Kent continues to take meaningful steps to support housing growth and meet the needs of our growing community. This $440,000 investment through the Building Faster Fund recognizes the municipality’s efforts to increase housing opportunities for residents while planning for the infrastructure and services that support sustainable growth. By rewarding communities that are helping to get more homes built, this funding will help ensure Chatham-Kent remains a great place to live, work, raise a family, and invest for years to come.” – Trevor Jones, Member of Provincial Parliament for Chatham-Kent

As part of the up to $8.8 billion Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build, Ontario has introduced the Development Charge Reduction Program, which will provide funding for housing-enabling infrastructure projects over 10 years. Funding will be prioritized for municipalities that reduce and maintain reductions on development charges. The agreement also supports the removal of the HST on new homes from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, which will save homebuyers up to $130,000 off the cost of a new home. Collectively, these measures help to enhance affordability, support builders as they get shovels in the ground on new homes and keep workers on the job.

Quick Facts

• From January to May 2026, Ontario saw 26,084 total housing starts, an increase of 17.2 per cent compared to the same period in 2025.
• From January to May 2026, Ontario saw 13,599 rental starts, an increase of 94.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2025. This is a record for rental starts for this time of the year.
• To help make way for more housing opportunities and support growing communities, the government is also giving municipalities more time to spend funds rewarded through the Building Faster Fund, extending the deadline to 2028.

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