Whether you're part of a family or couple, a single professional, entrepreneur, or retiree, the Windsor-Essex region has something for you. Highlighted by 160 km of beautiful shoreline along Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River, Windsor-Essex's lakefront living, temperate climate and small-city lifestyle with big-city amenities are why it's a prominent, rapidly growing part of Canada.
Learn more about what Windsor-Essex has to offer!
Quality of Life 360-Degree Video
Climate
As the southern-most region in Ontario (sharing the same latitude as Northern California), Windsor-Essex enjoys the warmest climate in all of Ontario. Windsor-Essex enjoys seven months of short-sleeve weather with the average temperature reaching above 10°C for 223 days of the year.
Weather facts
- Sunny climate including summers with a generous number of warm or hot sunny days.
- Four distinct seasons, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy the great outdoors with activities such as swimming, kayaking, scuba diving, pond hockey, cross country skiing, hiking on trails, and bird watching.
- The climate lends itself to a picturesque environment. The region is surrounded on three sides with the natural beauty of bodies of water including Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River.
- Longest growing seasons in Canada, extending from April to October.
- Snow depths of greater than 1 cm are seen on about 53 days each year in Windsor-Essex, compared with about 65 days further north in Toronto.
Sports and recreation
Many Windsor-Essex residents are proud sports participants and enthusiasts. With storied franchises like the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires, Windsor Express professional basketball team and the University of Windsor Lancers athletics program, there is never a shortage of opportunities to cheer on the home team. The St. Clair College SportsPark is a $26 million multi-sport facility featuring a soccer/football stadium, a baseball/softball diamond, an indoor 4-court tennis centre and a 4-court sand volleyball complex.
The area also features exceptional amateur recreational and leisure programs for residents looking to get active. Our municipalities' programs and facilities offer exceptional experiences to meet others and get involved.
- Hockey Leagues: Lakeshore Hockey League, Riverside Minor Hockey, Sun Parlour, LaSalle Minor Hockey Association, Windsor Minor Hockey Association, Essex South Point, Tecumseh Eagles
- Soccer clubs: Tecumseh Soccer Club, Essex County Soccer League, Soccer Windsor, Caboto Soccer Club
- 6 Most Popular Pickleball Courts in Windsor, Ont.
- Windsor Squash and Fitness Club Windsor Squash & Fitness Club | Gym | Courts | Training Is your top choice for elite level service for personal training and squash coaching and offers opportunities to attend tournaments.
Surrounded by lakes, the region is a boating and fishing paradise. Robust trail networks and golf courses of all types, from shorter par-three courses to championship layouts, welcome hikers and golfers from near and far. Cycling, camping and birding are also popular activities. The region has several parks and trail systems that provide families with many outdoor activity options.
Entertainment and shopping
From annual festivals and events full of rich culture offering food and dining options from all over the world, to waterparks, animal sanctuaries, indoor trampoline and dodgeball, escape rooms and Caesars Windsor Casino, there's never a dull moment in Windsor-Essex.
Our vibrant night life includes live entertainment with renowned musicians, movie theatres and stage performances, and multiple pubs, lounges, cocktails and nightclubs.
Our boutique shops, specialized shopping districts, farmers' markets, shopping centres and outlet mall offer everything you need as well as special gifts for loved ones.
Arts, culture, heritage and dining
Whether you're dining, exploring our area's history, taking part in our community festivals throughout the balmy, extended summer months, or simply out and about, our celebrated, diverse communities offer a rich, cultural experience. From local craft beer and distilleries to award winning restaurants with a variety of culinary delights including a diverse array of ethnic options, your taste buds will certainly enjoy the ride. In addition to many fresh farm-to-table experiences, the region also features an award-winning wine country to explore.
Our communities' art galleries and public art installations showcase the creativity of the area, while specialized museums, historic sites, walking tours and heritage villages allow you to explore our storied past.
Windsor-Essex is home to Canada’s southernmost award-winning symphony orchestra: The Windsor Symphony Orchestra (WSO). The WSO is under the helm of the critically acclaimed Music Director, Robert Franz. His passionate approach towards music making and technical control have been hailed as “viscerally thrilling!” The 100-year-old historic Capitol Theatre, located in beautiful downtown Windsor, is home to the WSO and continues to be a permanent fixture in Windsor’s Art Community.
Small-city lifestyle with big-city amenities
Windsor-Essex is well-known as a two-nation destination, with even more offerings available a short hop away across the Windsor-Detroit border!
Embracing the best of both worlds, Windsor-Essex offers families a rich cultural tapestry and unparalleled opportunities. Our city's position as a gateway between two countries provides a diverse blend of traditions, languages and experiences.
Windsor-Essex residents have direct access to Detroit's major league sports, concerts, art galleries, casinos and vibrant downtown entertainment district. As a major metropolitan hub, the city pulsates with the excitement of professional sports teams like the Tigers in baseball, Lions in football, Pistons in basketball and Red Wings in hockey, igniting the passion of sports enthusiasts year-round. Its legendary venues, including Comerica Park and Ford Field, host thrilling games and monumental concerts, drawing world-class performers and diverse musical acts.
Education and childcare
Local school boards
The Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB)
Committed to providing a high standard of public education, the GECDSB focuses on fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment for students of diverse backgrounds. With a dedication to academic excellence and the holistic development of each student, the board strives to prepare learners for success in a rapidly evolving world.
Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB)
Committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment, WECDSB is dedicated to providing high-quality Catholic education to its diverse student body. With a focus on academic excellence, the school board strives to nurture the intellectual, spiritual, and social development of each student, instilling values that align with the teachings of the Catholic faith.
Private schools
Specialized education opportunities tailored to individual learning needs, can help foster academic and personal growth. Windsor-Essex private schools prepare students for success from kindergarten throughout high school levels of education.
Académie Ste-Cécile International School (ASCIS)
English private, co-educational, day and resident elementary and secondary school committed to academic excellence. It includes a dance and music school and child enrichment centre (nursery).
Maranatha Christian Academy
Offers Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 to about 250-300 students every year.
Canadian Christian Academy
Provides affordable, high-quality, faith-based educational services for students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. We provide an individualistic learning experience for every student while incorporating the principals of our faith.
An-Noor Private School
A fully accredited elementary school affiliated with the Windsor Islamic Association registered full-time with the Ontario Ministry of Education for grades Pre-K to Grade 8. Students, which incorporates Islamic teachings and Montessori methods.
Cranbrook Schools
Located just one hour away from downtown Windsor in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan is one of the world’s leading centers of education, science, and art. Cranbrook Schools is a private PK–12 educational institution located on a 319-acre (129 ha) campus in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan featured world-renowned architecture. It includes a co-educational elementary school, a middle school with separate schools for boys and girls, and a co-educational college-preparatory high school with boarding facilities.
Childcare
Daycares in Windsor-Essex play a vital role in providing a nurturing and educational environment for the region's young children. With a focus on early childhood development, these day cares often implement a curriculum that combines play-based learning with essential social and cognitive skills. The Windsor-Essex community is home to a variety of day care facilities, ranging from small home-based settings to larger, more structured centers. These facilities strive to create a safe and engaging space for children, offering activities that promote creativity, socialization, and a foundation for future learning. Locate local childcare facilities.
Housing, commuting and low crime rates
While currently booming, Windsor-Essex is still one of the most affordable places in Ontario to find the right property for you. We also feature one of the lowest worker commute times in Canada, with easy access to major transportation routes. You can get where you need to go by way of personal vehicle or reliable public transit.
Our communities of LaSalle, Amherstburg and Kingsville are among the top 10 safest communities in Canada, with very low crime rates according to Statistics Canada.
As well, every community in Essex County is ranked within the top 30 per cent of all communities in Canada by Maclean's Magazine in the publication's Canada's Best Communities feature (2019).
Affordable housing rates
Windsor-Essex boasts a bevy of affordable properties available, compared to other larger, urban centres across Ontario.
| City | Median resale detached home price, residential | Year over year % change |
|---|---|---|
|
Windsor-Essex |
$517,401 |
+5.6% |
|
London |
$665,000 |
+3.9% |
|
Kitchener-Waterloo |
$830,000 |
+5.7% |
|
Hamilton |
$880,000 |
+4.1% |
|
Toronto |
$1,250,000 |
+4.2% |