A slice from Windsor or Cornwall? Welcome to an Ontario border-city pizza battle

CBC

04-06-2025

Windsor's claim of having Canada's best pizza has people in other parts of Ontario talking. It's even getting political as a pizza rivalry heats up with Cornwall.
"Windsor Pizza Sucks" and "Cornwall Pizza Rules" were the politically charged messages emblazoned on signs carried by a trio of protesters outside Windsor's beloved Capri Pizza last December.
That spot is known for making one of the southwestern Ontario city's signature pizzas. They feature a cornmeal and flour crust, high-fat local mozzarella, shredded pepperoni and canned mushrooms.
A recent documentary made hours at the other end of Highway 401 highlights another border city trying to stake claim to the province's, and the country's, top pie — in Cornwall.
Filmmaker Stacey Case was inspired by Windsor's claims of having the best pizza.
"Windsor chose themselves as being number one," he previously told CBC.
"Here in Cornwall, if you walk down the street, I can talk to every single citizen in Cornwall, and they will talk about Cornwall pizza."
Cornwall is known for its thick pizza, with cheese on top of the toppings.
"A medium all-dressed [pizza] weighs between three and four pounds. There's nothing subtle about it. Many people eat it with a knife and fork with grease dripping down their arms," Case said.
Let's get political
The debate around whose pizza is superior has now gone political.
Cornwall Mayor Justin Towndale wants to find a way to work with Windsor to settle the skirmish and declare a winner.
"Have an internal contest here, and then put that pie up against Windsor's best pie and look to have some … judges that are impartial, trying to figure out … which one you think is better," he told CBC's Windsor Morning host Amy Dodge.
Towndale thinks it would be a great opportunity for the communities to promote some "Canadiana."
"Especially with everything going on with, with the trade war and the border conflict right now."
And what would the winner receive?
"I think bragging rights are pretty good right now. I don't think there'd be anything else," Towndale said.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said he and his city are up for it.
"Challenge accepted," he said in a statement through his office.
Windsor couple with Cornwall connection
Ryan McNamara grew up in Cornwall, eventually moved to Windsor and has continued to go back to Cornwall to see family — and order their pizza.
"I could eat it today and it would taste exactly the same as when I was child," he said.
McNamara said he'd be torn if he had to pick which city's is the best.
"They're so distinctly different and I like them both — like, I really do have that emotional response to Cornwall pizza because it's the flavour of my youth. I don't know if I could pick one that was better than other."
McNamara's wife, Ann-Marie Zugaj, is a lifelong Windsor resident (and pizza eater). She's had a good experience with Cornwall pizza, but said without hesitation, she'd select a Windsor-style one.