About Mayor Drew Dilkens

Drew Dilkens is a lifelong resident of the City of Windsor. He holds business and law degrees from the University of Windsor (called to the bar in 2012) and an M.B.A. from Wayne State University. He received his Doctorate of Business Administration from the International School of Management in Paris, France with a focus on municipal amalgamation in Ontario. He obtained the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Directors College (2021), and also holds the professional designation of a Certified Human Resources Leader, along with training certificates from the Canadian Foreign Service Institute, Canadian Securities Institute and Federal Bureau of Investigations in the United States.

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Drew Dilkens was elected Mayor of the City of Windsor on October 27, 2014. He was re-elected on October 22, 2018, for his second term, and on October 24, 2022, for his third term. Mayor Dilkens is committed to a program of fiscal discipline, economic diversification, and investment in growth for the City of Windsor. Since being elected, he has continued to focus on improving the city’s infrastructure – including roads and sewers, holding the line on taxes, supporting economic development that creates jobs and attracts investments, and positioning Windsor as a destination of choice for those looking to build homes, careers, and families.

 

In 2017, Mayor Dilkens presented an 8-Point Plan to address flooding – including a push to expedite completion of the City’s Sewer Master Plan; the $5B plan for the next 50 years of sewer investments received Council approval in 2020. Under Mayor Dilkens’ leadership, significant investments have been made, and master plans approved that guide work for roadways, public transit, active transportation, parks, recreation and culture, public art initiatives, theming and districting, and more. While leading the community through major climate events involving floods and tornadoes, as well as the global pandemic (2020-2022), Mayor Dilkens also spearheaded the “Windsor Works” initiative to develop an economic strategy for Windsor’s future growth. Less than a year after Council adopted the plan, Mayor Dilkens helped secure a monumental investment of $5B for the first domestic EV battery manufacturing facility (NextStar) – the largest investment in Canada’s auto industry, and one of the largest investments in Windsor in a century. The results of that plan are also tied to Windsor attracting and leveraging additional opportunities connected to large-scale infrastructure projects including the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the new Windsor-Essex Acute Care Hospital, and more.

 

As communities across Ontario and Canada have tackled significant challenges connected to housing and the impacts of homelessness, mental health, and addictions issues, Mayor Dilkens led the City’s establishment of the H4 Homelessness and Housing Help Hub to support vulnerable residents. He was also a key leader in developing the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan, and helping to create a robust Downtown Windsor Revitalization strategy.