Latest news with #CityHallSquare
CBC
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
The City of Windsor has unveiled its new civic esplanade — but some Windsorites' feelings are mixed
The City of Windsor recently unveiled its new City Hall Square plaza — a multi-use "civic esplanade" consisting of a concrete slab that converts into an ice rink, public washrooms, and a jet water display. But the new expanse of concrete has hit some mixed reviews from Windsorites who visited it — and climate experts say, it could have an impact on how people feel heat in the area. The CBC's Justin Escoto reports.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Live at The Square' set to energize City Hall Square
The City of Windsor unveiled the long-awaited renovations to City Hall Square on July 13, 2025. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) Windsor's new City Hall Square is making a splash in its first week. 'You can see behind me every day people are out here enjoying the facility, enjoying the features that we have out here. Kids playing in the fountain, jumping out of the water,' said Michael Chantler, the city's commissioner of Community Services. City Hall Square is a community gathering place that has been used frequently since its launch five days ago. 'It's not just a fountain. It's not just a splash pad. It's not just an ice rink,' Chantler exclaimed. The city has created activations for children. An event celebrating dogs is coming up this weekend. Residents are also encouraged to bring a lawn chair downtown because there will be music in The Square every Friday from now until Oct. 31. 'We are coming up with activations, whether it's the stuff we do with the kids during the day or it's our evening entertainment, like the Live at The Square free concert entertainment that's coming up,' Chantler said. Show times and musical acts can be found on the City of Windsor website. Events like Live at The Square bring people downtown who, in turn, may venture off into the core. There are a lot of events coming up this summer like Downtown Showdown on Ouellette Avenue on July 26, hosted by Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, which excites downtown business owners. 'It'd be great if we did five days a week,' said Duane Chouinard, owner at Eastwoods, who gets traffic from the Casino and Macassa Bay and appreciates any event or activation the city initiates downtown. 'Anytime there's any type of event, whatever it is, it just brings a lot of people to downtown core.' Kevin Dinardo is bringing an outdoor pole-vaulting event to the riverfront July 25 and 26 near the Macassa Bay. 'It's always good to take some of the events outside of the stadium, put it into an atmosphere where there's going to be general population to get them a little bit more of an experience of, you know, track and field events that they might not see,' Dinardo said. The atmosphere was electric atop the Pelissier parking garage last weekend when Border City Boxing held an event on the roof top with many staying downtown after the show. 'It was incredible,' said Chris MacLeod, chair of the Downtown Windsor BIA. 'It's events like that that change people's perception about downtown.'
CTV News
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Windsor unveils new multi-purpose City Hall Square
The City of Windsor unveiled the long-awaited renovations to City Hall Square on Sunday morning. The City of Windsor unveiled the long-awaited renovations to City Hall Square on Sunday morning. As part of its 133rd birthday celebration, dignitaries cut the ribbon and turned on the jets to cap off the $15.4 million project. 'So we had a proposition, are we going to spend $1 million to put lipstick on the pig and keep that bad ice rink going, or are we going to do something special,' Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told the crowd. Featured in the space are outdoor seating areas, a water feature, a pavilion, and grounds that will be converted in the winter for a skating rink. WINDSOR CITY HALL SQUARE The City of Windsor unveiled the long-awaited renovations to City Hall Square on July 13, 2025. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) Construction began on the redevelopment in July 2024. After delays kept skaters off the rink last winter, Dilkens said the infrastructure is in place to create the ice as soon as weather permits. 'This allows us to really celebrate our city, have a gathering spot where we can host events, have viewing parties here at City Hall and really have a gathering spot for everyone,' Dilkens said. Residents gathered on the square for the opening before receiving free cupcakes. The event continued throughout the day with live entertainment and activities. At times, concept plans for the space have been criticized for the cost and lack of green space. Those in attendance that we spoke with told CTV News they had a positive first impression of the square. WINDSOR CITY HALL SQUARE The City of Windsor unveiled the long-awaited renovations to City Hall Square on July 13, 2025. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) 'I really like the water. Yeah, it's nice,' said Windsor's Rebeca Nilsen. 'I think we'll come listen to the music.' For Ahmad Habib and his younger sister Talia, the area will be a new space to spend time with family and friends. 'It's a nice place, so all the people can, like, gather together, and the water really adds that, like, touch to make it all the more better,' said the elder Habib. In the future, there are aspirations and conceptual designs to continue building towards the Detroit River as part of the Civic Esplanade redevelopment. However, Dilkens maintained next steps would be decided during a future city council term. 'This is simply phase one. There will be multiple phases to come that actually connects civic Esplanade to the waterfront,' Dilkens said. 'There will be other city councils in the future, who will decide when and how to do that.'
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Big-budget projects getting set to open
The winter loop at LaSalle Landing is seen in this image from November 2024. (Source: Town of LaSalle) The Loop at LaSalle Landing is almost complete. 'It is nice to have it coming together,' said LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche. The fencing is down, and citizens can now see what has been going on since late last year. 'Residents are getting really excited, and they're excited to come walk in and see what it's all about,' Meloche said. People should be able to enjoy the park and trail, estimated at around $9 million dollars, at the end of the month. The Loop will be ready for its first official event on June 28th when the Rotary Club of LaSalle has a grand opening for the Rotary Circle. 'And then we have our first big event here on Canada Day,' Meloche told CTV News. The Canada Day celebration at the Loop will include food trucks, buskers and entertainment followed by a different kind of show in the sky at night. 'We're going to do a drone show at night,' Meloche said. 'Something a little bit different than all of our neighbors who are going with fireworks this year (to celebrate Canada Day). We've decided we wanted to do something unique and get people down to the LaSalle Landing to come check it out.' Another project to check out soon takes place July 13, when the City of Windsor celebrates its 133rd birthday. Along with the festivities will be the grand opening of the long-anticipated new City Hall Square. 'Growing up in downtown Toronto at Nathan Phillips Square, we have our own now,' said Ward 3 City Councillor Renaldo Agostino. The project cost just over $15 million dollars and like LaSalle, caught heat from some members of the public. 'I know what everyone says, 'Well, we could have spent it on more supports. You spent $25 million on supports last year,' Agostino noted. 'You got to have fun things for people to do in your city. You got to make people want to come downtown. You got to breathe life because life adds life.' Both Windsor and LaSalle look forward to opening each facility for skating in November. There is a side bet between Meloche and Agostino with the loser having to skate on the winner's ice, but both agree the amenities are important to the region for personal well-being and economic growth.
CTV News
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Windsor to celebrate birthday in style with opening of City Hall Square
The City of Windsor is marking its 133rd birthday with a major celebration on July 13, and everyone's invited. The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will feature the grand opening of the long-anticipated City Hall Square, which came in at a cost of around $15.4 million. This new, year-round event space is designed to bring people together in the heart of the city. Residents will get a chance to explore the downtown core in a whole new way. 'Super excited people will have another reason to come downtown,' said Downtown BIA Chair Chris MacLeod. 'It's a great opportunity to make an afternoon/evening out of it and visit our downtown shops and restaurants.' The city was aiming to open the ice rink in January but was delayed. The oval shaped rink is expected to open later this year.
