WINDSOR ESSEX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOSTS MAYOR DREW DILKENS AT THE 2026 STATE OF THE CITY
The Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2026 Mayor’s State of the City at the Caboto Club on April 8, 2026, attracting a sold-out crowd of local business leaders, community partners, and elected officials.
The event highlighted Windsor’s achievements, ongoing initiatives, and future prospects, with Mayor Drew Dilkens emphasizing “Windsor’s Long Game”, the commitment to sustainable growth, strategic planning, and a long-term vision for success.
Mayor Dilkens delivered an engaging keynote address, emphasizing how responsible and forward-thinking decisions made today are fortifying Windsor’s economic resilience and safeguarding the community’s future. The speech discussed Windsor’s strengths, key investments, and priorities guiding the city’s growth, investment, and sustainability. The Mayor’s remarks highlighted recent successes under the City’s Housing Solutions Made for Windsor strategy, the Strengthen the Core Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan, investments made possible through the largest capital budget in the City’s history, and the unprecedented potential for the development of Sandwich South.
Sponsored by Port Windsor, the annual event gave attendees the chance to hear directly from the Mayor and to connect with leaders from across Windsor‑Essex’s diverse business and community landscape. The gathering fostered meaningful dialogue around collaboration and innovation.
Mayor Dilkens’ remarks underscored the importance of strategic planning and collaboration in advancing Windsor’s long‑term vision and ensuring the city remains positioned for continued success. With a look to the future, Mayor Dilkens pointed to significant potential projects envisioned for infrastructure improvements, housing, community safety and wellbeing, quality of life, place-making, economic development and more.
“I continue to believe that Windsor’s best days lie ahead. The City continues to deliver for residents, with a focus on getting the basics right and planning for our long game. We’re leaning into what we can control, Investing Responsibly and delivering the largest capital investment program the city has ever seen, while keeping taxes in check, securing the foundation that will continue to build our community, improving public service, protecting our future, and ensuring that Windsor is a great place to invest, lay down roots, and raise a family. We are leveraging a period of unprecedented growth and opportunities hardly seen but once in a lifetime. Canada begins in Windsor. That has been more evident this past year than almost any other time in history. I thank the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce, Port Windsor, all sponsors and partners, and everyone who attended today’s State of the City. I look forward to all that we will continue to do, together, to make sure that Windsor remains the best City… in the greatest Province… within a strong and united Canada!” – Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens
This impactful gathering remains a cornerstone event for the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce, fostering dialogue between municipal leadership and the region’s business community while reinforcing a shared commitment to economic resilience and long‑term prosperity.
The Caboto Club was selected as the backdrop for this year’s State of the City as the organization celebrates its 100th anniversary, aligning with the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce’s recent 150th anniversary milestone. Together, the setting and the event marked a meaningful reflection on legacy, continuity, and the shared role long‑standing institutions play in shaping Windsor‑Essex’s past, present, and future.
