Windsor Votes 2026: Francis talks Sandpoint Beach, Pasquach talks arts

It's been more than a year since the city of Windsor closed Sandpoint Beach indefinitely for safety reasons. Mayoral candidate and current Ward 1 councillor Fred Francis says that's why he chose it as a backdrop for announcing his campaign platform on Windsor quality of life improvements. The beach does not need to look like it's abandoned. We can get rid of the makeshift fencing and improve other barriers that are more aesthetically pleasing. We can maintain the beach so it doesn't look abandoned, so it doesn't look derelict, so it's not an eyesore. Francis's announcement was attended by Ward 7 Councillor Angelo Marignani. Francis pointed out that he and Marignani were the only council members who voted in June 2025 to speed up implementation of the Sandpoint Beach Master Plan. That's the $15 million project to redesign the beach and move its swimming area to the eastern part of the property, away from the deadly current created by the shipping channel that's close to the western part. Drew Dilkins has had 12 years to make improvements to Sandpoint Beach, and the job simply has not gotten done. For him to stand here and say he will be the one to make improvements to Sandpoint Beach when he had an opportunity to do it and voted no is just electioneering, political hypocrisy at its worst. Marignani, who is seeking re-election in Ward 7, said he appreciates Francis' position on Sandpoint Beach. However, he's not specifically endorsing Francis to be Windsor's next mayor. I mean, this is an endorsement of anyone who wants to get the job done And that's my answer. And whoever is mayor, I will work with them wholeheartedly. Other aspects of Francis' quality of life platform include improving accessibility of city-owned facilities, better maintenance of city parks, and stronger enforcement of e-bike and e-scooter regulations on city paths and trails. Notably absent are any visions for new city features. We can't lose sight of the basics. With a Mayor Francis administration, we're going to focus on the basics. Windsor Mayoral Candidate Kat Pasquitch had her own policy announcement. She's proposing to direct the money of Windsor's Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund to an independent, arm's-length arts council so that decisions on municipal funding for the arts are made by people more involved in them than incumbent Mayor Drew Dilkens. I have never seen Drew Dilkens participate in any of the art cultural programs in the 18 years that I've lived in this city. The art galleries, Art Council Windsor and Region, the plays that have happened in our community, and I have never seen him participate in our community in that way. Election day is October 26th. 26th, Dolson Chen, CBC News, Windsor.