“It’s not the Wild West anymore,” says
Ward 2 councilor John Elliot. “That might
have been true 30 years ago, but times
have changed.”
Elliot has lived in the west end of
Windsor since he was 13 years old. “It was
a tough place to grow up,” he says. “But
that’s not the case anymore.” A long-time
community advocate, Elliot points to the
area’s youth crime rate – the lowest in the
city, he says – as just one piece of
evidence.
The west side of Windsor – broadly
defined as the area west of Crawford and
north of Tecumseh Road – has been in the
headlines a lot lately, and unfortunately,
little has been positive.
“The boarded-up houses are our
biggest problem,” says Elliot, referring to
the fallout in the ongoing struggle
between the bridge company and the City
of Windsor. “There are more than 117
boarded-up houses and businesses out
here. Who wants to live across the street or
around the corner from that? Who wants
to set up shop near that?”
But it’s a testament to the grit and
determination of the community that no
one’s letting the stalemate stop them from
looking forward.
Elliot’s enthusiasm and love for his
neighbourhood is palpable. On the phone
with The Hub, you could hear him smiling
and waving his arms to emphasize a point.
“No other community works so
closely together,” he says. “For twenty
years, the efforts of groups like Sandwich
Teen Action Group , the high schools, the
police patrol have been making a
difference.”Elliot is the executive director
of STAG.
“What you see is boarded-up houses
– but if you peel that back, West Windsor
is made up of all different ages, races,
economic classes and cultural
backgrounds that come together to make a
difference.”
Fabio Constante echoes those
sentiments. “It’s made up of great people
doing great things.” Constante, a local
lawyer, professor and now Catholic school
board trustee for Ward 2, also has his roots
in the west end.
“I grew up here until I was about ten,”
he says. “Attending the university was the
impetus for my return in 2005, and I
purchased my home here in 2011.”
Constante is well-known for his ongoing
blog and newsletter Our West End, which
is “dedicated for residents to share
information regarding neighbourhood
issues and developments with the primary
intention of making West Windsor a better
place to live, work and play.”
Constante sees the area as a great
place for young couples and families to
put down roots. “The neighbourhoods are
walkable, with amenities close by, and
housing is affordable.” While the presence
of the University of Windsor does create a
certain level of transience, with students
moving in and out, the eclectic mix of
residents adds to its appeal. “As long as
growth by the university is managed
properly,” he adds. “Committees like Town
and Gown help.”
The diverse population is one of the
area’s best assets. Home and business
owners provide a solid foundation and
their investment in the community
indicates a faith in its future. Students
bring energy and vibrancy, and new ideas;
those new to Canada bring a broader
cultural perspective. “That’s the beauty of
it,” says Elliot. “There’s a place for
everyone to fit in.”
STAG is doing its part, sharing its
building with a variety of other groups in
the neighbourhood.
“Last week was exam week, so we had
about 50 teenagers here every day,” said
Elliot. The Somali Community of Windsor
now calls the building home, and
Bloomfield House, a community outreach
organization, has been using the building
for some of its programs. “It’s not just a
place for teens anymore,” says Elliot.
“We’re really becoming a community
centre.”
Our West End details multiple events, Top to bottom: Mic Mac Park, historic
Sandwich Town, Old Sandwich Town
Festival, University of Windsor