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CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Windsor councillor asks for patience amid University Avenue construction
A Windsor city councillor is asking residents and businesses owners to be patient as major construction continues on University Avenue. Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino says he understands it's frustrating as the work continues, but it is work that needs to be done. University Avenue West is under construction between McEwan Avenue and Salter Avenue — the project started in mid-March. The work includes road reconstruction, streetscaping, boulevards, wider sidewalks, more canopy coverage, bike lanes and underground sewer work. Due to the construction, on-street parking and bicycle lanes are not available - something that is causing frustration among businesses. While majority of the construction lies within Ward 2, Agostino says part of it is within his ward as well. He says the finished product will be worth it. 'It's one of those things just like doing a project at home in your backyard, it sucks to wake up every morning and see the job unfinished, but once it does finish you're satisfied. It's going to take time, and we're going to try our best to mitigate the issues that come with the construction, but, you want nice roads, they've got to get done properly.' He acknowledges that some businesses are hurting. 'We try and do whatever we can to accommodate them, and open up some street parking, and move some giant piles of rocks and dirt to be able to have access to their parking lots. So we're trying to do this as best we can. We've got great people on the job out there, and it's just going to take some time and some patience.' Agostino goes on to say he understands gets the work is frustrating. 'Just like driving down Howard [Avenue], you get all upset, you go like 'who chose to do this at this time of year, what's going on here?', but listen, this is what it takes, this is part of growth, this is part of having a nice city, and it's just going to take some time. Believe me, you don't have to be somewhere that fast, so sometimes it's nice to slow down and enjoy the view around you.' This work will be ongoing until December 2025. Some additional work is expected to continue in 2026. Once completed, the street will be Windsor's first complete street and will offer the best mode of transportation for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. — Meagan Delaurier/AM800 News, Rob Hindi/AM800 News
CTV News
08-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Windsor city councillors call for more action on open-air drug use
Windsor city council wants to crack down on people using drugs in public. CTV Windsor's Bob Bellacicco explains. Two Windsor city councillors say there needs to be more action when it comes to open-air drug use. Ward 3 councillor Renaldo Agostino says other municipalities have implemented plans dealing with drug use on city streets. 'In some cases they are taking the drugs away, they're taking paraphernalia away. In some cases they are laying charges. A lot of it comes with compassion. A lot of it comes with education,' says Agostino. Other communities across Ontario, including Sarnia and London, have stepped up their efforts to clean up open drug use from their streets and Agostino wonders if the same can be done in Windsor. That's a question he'll bring up at council. 'What this is about is gaining back some control of our streets,' he says. Ward 8 councillor Gary Kaschak says he'd like to see a blitz in Windsor. 'The open drug use is just not good. We've seen an instance of that even in Ward 8 here in Windsor and people don't want to see that,' says Kaschak. While Windsor police haven't committed to a formal enforcement blitz, they acknowledge the community concerns surrounding open drug use. 'Whether it is downtown or any other place in the city we will strategically place our officers where they're needed,' says Const. Bianca Jackson. Since Strengthen the Core was put in place last year, officers and auxiliary officers have become more visible. 'We are doing our best to collaborate with our community partners to make sure the vulnerable in our community get the services they need for their health, care and well-being,' Jackson. A one-day blitz in Sarnia conducted last week led to five arrests for open drug use including one charge of trafficking. While there is frustration over drug use and the lack of arrests, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley feels when the health heart hubs open those days could come to an end. 'You'll be 30-days off drugs and alcohol before you go into this place but you'll get everything. Housing component, you'll get health care component, the addiction treatment. That is the key and I'm hoping the province will do that right across the province,' says Bradley.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Windsor aims to make downtown cleaner with new electric street sweeper
The City of Windsor is hoping a new street sweeper will help cleanup the downtown core. As part of ongoing efforts to revitalize the downtown area through the Strengthen the Core: Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan, the city introduced Monday a new electric-powered Glutton Zen street sweeper to its fleet. Officials say this investment reinforces the city's commitment to maintaining a clean, vibrant, and sustainable downtown environment and it's the first of its kind in the region. 'The new electric-powered sweeper will play an important role in creating the Downtown Windsor we all want to see, which is essential as we continue to implement improvements aimed at attracting more residents, businesses, investments, and visitors,' says Ward 3 councillor Renaldo Agostino. The Glutton Zen is a compact, 100 per cent electric vacuum designed for sidewalks, pathways, and paved alleyways, areas that are often difficult to access with traditional equipment. The unit's silent, emission-free operation makes it ideal for use in pedestrian zones, laneways, heritage areas, and mixed-use spaces, minimizing disruption to residents and businesses while supporting environmental goals. 'Cleanliness is one of the most visible and immediate ways we show that we care about our downtown; by investing in modern equipment like the Glutton, we're taking real action to support our local businesses, make our public spaces more enjoyable, and deliver on the promises of the Strengthen the Core strategy,' said Jim Leether, manager of environmental services. While initially deployed to support the Strengthen the Core initiative, the Glutton Zen will eventually be used across all business improvement areas (BIAs) citywide. This summer, the focus will be on the area of the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association (DWBIA), with plans to expand to other BIAs in the coming year. 'The deployment of the Glutton Zen sweeper is a visible step forward — one that supports a higher quality of life for current residents and helps attract new ones,' says DWBIA ChairChris MacLeod. Officials say this initiative builds on the success of the city's 'Curb the Trash' campaign. To learn more about the City's Strengthen the Core: Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan, visit
CTV News
06-07-2025
- CTV News
SUPIE program returns to Windsor's Mitchell Park
Mitchell Park in the area of Giles Boulevard and Bruce Avenue in Windsor, Ont. (Courtesy of Google Street View) A park in South Central Windsor will again be supervised over the summer following the continued success of a city-run program. The SUPIE (supervisor) Program returns for the third year at Mitchell Park, 399 Giles Boulevard West. The goal of the program is to enhance park safety and engage children in enriching recreational activities. Ward 3 councillor Renaldo Agostino said the program began in 2023 following discussions with nearby residents who were frustrated with ongoing crime in the park. 'During that meeting all the residents came out, everybody was upset, and everybody was angry, and everybody was telling me what was going on at the park, and I just sat there and I thought about when I was a kid, and when I was a kid there was park supervisors,' Agostino said. 'So, I brought up the idea of the SUPIE program and everyone there was struggling between security and activities.' The program was launched with both security and SUPIES, however security was dropped after the first year because there was only one incident requiring their assistance. In partnership with the Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative, Agostino said SUPIES will be on hand seven days a week, working with youth from 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. until Aug. 30. 'They're just working kids doing arts and crafts, playing sports, soccer, basketball, there's all kinds of different activities that they do, so it's great, it's a great program,' he said. Agostino said when the program began, it came at a cost of approximately $30,000. 'Now we've got it down to, from what I understand, the last numbers I saw, just over $12,000 that now makes it a possibility to branch out into other parks, and other parts of the city,' Agostino said. The city said over 250 youth have participated in SUPIE since introduced in 2023, with stakeholder feedback showing that the program contributed to an increase in park utilization, community engagement, and overall park satisfaction. The city points to data from partners that indicates the program has been successful in the goal of reducing crime in the park. -With files from AM800's The Shift with guest host Kristen Siapas. Written by Dustin Coffman/AM800 News.
CTV News
01-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Alcohol to be permitted on Windsor pedal pubs starting July 1
Pedal pub passengers in Windsor will soon be able to sip a drink while they ride. The Ford government has announced that, starting July 1, alcohol can be served and consumed on pedal-powered tour bikes in Ontario — including Windsor, one of four cities in the province where the businesses already operate. The change is being welcomed by Windsor's downtown councillor. 'Looking forward to seeing that happen. It's another cool thing to be happening in the community,' said Ward 3 City Councillor Renaldo Agostino. Previously, drinking on pedal pubs was not allowed. Participants could travel between licensed establishments but weren't permitted to drink onboard. The new rules, enabled by a regulation change under Ontario's Liquor Licence and Control Act, will allow alcohol with a special licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. 'Anytime you can, instead of taking away when it comes to experiences, that's a good thing,' Agostino said. 'And this is that, the government adding an experience that people are doing all over the place. I know people go over to Detroit all the time for it. It's a fun thing to do to get a group of friends together. And it's a daytime activity. It's something different and it'll be cool in Windsor.' Agostino said questions about safety and liability remain to be seen, but is confident that this is a positive step for the local community. 'I think the most important thing is how the AGCO will regulate it. Because there is some danger when you're drinking on a pedal bike,' he said. 'But, you know, we're not the first to do it, so we won't be the last. It will be interesting to see how the insurance companies in this country handle it, because that's a whole other level of complexity when it comes to do stuff like that, since obviously there's gotta be some type of insurance coverage, and I'm not sure anybody in the province offers that type of coverage.' Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie also applauded the move, calling it a boost to the region's tourism and small business sectors. 'Really, what we saw here was a great opportunity to allow for more local Ontario product to be distributed, local Ontario breweries, wineries, cideries, other producers,' Dowie said in an interview on AM800's Dan MacDonald Show. 'Gives them another venue to sell, our local products and create a destination experience for our community.' Dowie added, 'This is one more step in our growth of the tourism industry that we have here in Windsor-Essex.' Operators of Windsor's Pedal & Pour tour say the change has been a long time coming. 'It is exciting news, like, beyond exciting to hear that they are finally going to allow us to serve alcohol, as we've been waiting for this for about three years,' said Head of Public Relations Leeann Corbeil. Corbeil said the business was created to offer a new kind of experience. 'We started this business to bring some unique opportunities to people living in Windsor, but also those that are there for tourism,' she said. 'You know, there was always these opportunities across the border, but not on this side. So it also opens up the opportunity for local breweries and restaurants.' She added, 'As you know, we encourage 2 or 3 stops on the tour to go and experience some of these restaurants and pubs and breweries that they might not have tried otherwise. I know adding the opportunity for them to have a drink on route to these, I think, just adds a little extra to the whole experience.' Locals who spoke to CTV News also shared support for the plan — with some caveats. 'Yeah, I think it's a good idea,' said Windsor resident Eric Brouillard. 'As long as they're cautious, you know, they're not drinking and driving too much, you know? I mean, have a couple of drinks, socialize or whatever, but, yeah, just be careful and make sure that you stay hydrated with some water or something too.' 'As long as there is something nice to do in the city and it's exciting and the driver is not drinking, it's great,' added John Vacratsas. 'The more we have downtown the better it is.' To serve alcohol onboard, pedal pub operators must be licensed through the AGCO, which will maintain oversight and enforce responsible service rules. Municipalities, including Windsor, retain authority to regulate routes, hours of operation and other safety considerations. Ontario officials say the change supports the province's $32-billion tourism industry and aligns with efforts to modernize its alcohol marketplace.
