Windsor, Ontario

Windsor ({{coor dm|42|18|N|83|01|W|}}; EST), the southernmost city in Canada, lies at the western end of the heavily-populated Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is the county seat of Essex County, Ontario and lies across the Detroit River and Lake St Clair from Detroit, Michigan, to which Windsor is linked by bridge and tunnels. The 2005 Projectory Census put the population of Windsor at 209,000, and its metropolitan area's population at 340,000. Windsor's motto is "The river and the land sustain us." It is the only point along Canada's southern border where one enters the United States by heading north.

Related Topics:
EST - Canada - Quebec City-Windsor Corridor - Essex County - Ontario - Detroit River - Lake St Clair - Detroit - Michigan

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Windsor was first settled in 1749 after farms started getting too far from the protection of a fort in Detroit making it the oldest continually inhabited European city in Canada, west of the Quebec border. The area was first named Petite Côte (Little Coast), and the site later became known as La Côte de Misère (Misery Coast) because of the sandy soils near Lasalle. Windsor's French heritage is reflected in many French street names, such as Ouellette, Pelissier, Marentette and Lauzon. There is a significant French speaking minority in Windsor and the surrounding areas. Many of them are in the Stoney Point area.

Related Topics:
Detroit - Lasalle - French - Stoney Point

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Windsor's nickname is the "City of Roses" and is home to the University of Windsor and St. Clair College. The university campus is just east of the Ambassador Bridge, and the college campus is situated along the main artery between the Ambassador Bridge and Highway 401. Windsor has several large parks on the waterfront and the Queen Elizabeth II Sunken Garden at Jackson Park. Jackson Park had an actual Lancaster Bomber mounted on a concrete pedestal. It was taken off its pedestal after 40 years on May 26, 2005. The plane will be restored and in its place will be mounted a Spitfire replica and a Hurricane replica.

Related Topics:
University of Windsor - St. Clair College - Ambassador Bridge - Highway 401 - Lancaster Bomber - Spitfire - Hurricane

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Of the large parks along Windsor's waterfront, the largest is the 5km stretch downtown overlooking the Detroit skyline. It stretches from the Ambassador Bridge to Hiram Walker's. The western portion of the park contains the Odette Sculpture Park which features over 32 large-scale contemporary sculptures for public viewing along with the Canadian Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the central portion contains Dieppe Gardens, Civic Terrace and Festival Plaza and the eastern portion has the Bert Weeks Memorial Gardens. The second largest is Coventry Gardens and is across from Belle Isle. The focal point of this park is the Peace Fountain which actually floats in the Detroit River and has a coloured light display at night.

Related Topics:
Ambassador Bridge - Hiram Walker - Odette Sculpture Park - Canadian Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Dieppe Gardens - Bert Weeks - Coventry Gardens - Belle Isle - Peace Fountain - Detroit River

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Windsor competes with Oshawa, Ontario for the title of automotive capital of Canada, due in large part to its proximity to Detroit. Its industries include DaimlerChrysler's minivan assembly plant, several Ford Motor Company engine and casting plants, General Motors' transmission plant and Hiram Walker's Canadian Club plant, along with a myriad of smaller manufacturers that supply the larger plants. Windsor tourist attractions include Casino Windsor, a lively downtown, the Odette Sculpture Park, Ojibway Park, and nearby Point Pelee National Park. Windsor was a major entry point into Canada for refugees from slavery via the Underground Railroad and a major source of liquor during American Prohibition.

Related Topics:
Oshawa, Ontario - DaimlerChrysler - Ford Motor Company - General Motors - Hiram Walker - Canadian Club - Casino Windsor - Odette Sculpture Park - Ojibway Park - Point Pelee National Park - Canada - Refugee - Slavery - Underground Railroad - Prohibition

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Every summer Windsor participates in the two-week-long Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, which culminates in a gigantic fireworks display that celebrates Canada Day and the American Independence Day. The fireworks display is among the world's largest and is held the Wednesday before Canada Day, on the Detroit River between Detroit's Renaissance Center and Windsor's Festival Plaza. Each year, the event attracts over a million spectators to Windsor's riverfront parks.

Related Topics:
Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival - Canada Day - Independence Day - Renaissance Center

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Labour union membership is very high in Windsor, and both of the city's current federal Members of Parliament are members of the New Democratic Party.

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Windsor is also home to the Great Lakes Regional Office of the International Joint Commission.

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The current mayor of Windsor is Eddie Francis.

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