City of Windsor and Partners Plan Local “Line the Drive” Celebrations in Support of Detroit International Free Press Marathon

The City of Windsor is gearing up to join in the excitement of the Detroit International Free Press Marathon (DFPM) set to take place from October 18 to 20, 2024. One of the few truly international marathon courses in the world, the event attracts racers from across the globe. The racecourse showcases iconic and historic neighbourhoods in Detroit and includes crossings between Canada and the United States (US) via the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, as well as a stretch along Windsor’s waterfront.

As with Windsor’s National Football League (NFL) Draft Party this past spring, the DFPM provides another opportunity to showcase Windsor as a tourist destination with a passion for healthy competition, unforgettable experiences, and an electric and infectious community spirit. As with all major events in Detroit, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI) representatives anticipate hotel rooms in Windsor’s downtown core will be fully booked, with the influx of visitors expected to generate substantial economic benefits for the region while promoting downtown Windsor as a vibrant hub for event attraction.

To join in the excitement, the City of Windsor is partnering with the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association (DWBIA), Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI), the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel, AM800 CKLW, the City’s Strengthen the Core team, and local businesses and stakeholders in the city’s downtown core. In support for our neighbours to the north, the City is set to host an array of local activities and events the weekend of the big race, bringing the excitement of the DFPM to Windsor while providing opportunities for Windsorites to “Line the Drive” to cheer on the 26,000 runners from 43 countries, including 4,000 Canadians, competing in the race this year.

The line-up of weekend activities includes the weekly farmers’ market, a spooky charitable community walk, cheer zones, and more:

Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market
Saturday, October 19, 2024; 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

At the Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market, an exciting array of locally sourced farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, and irresistible artisanal food products await! Stroll through bustling stalls filled with handcrafted goods, unique local arts, and one-of-a-kind crafts from talented vendors. With lively community booths, captivating entertainment, and special events, the market pulses with energy, creating a fun, family-friendly atmosphere that brings the entire community together to celebrate the best Windsor has to offer!

Windsor Zombie Walk
Saturday, October 19, 2024; Gather at 4:30 p.m.; Walk begins at 6:00 p.m.

The Windsor Zombie Walk is a fun and free event that takes place each year, with the zombie-themed walk providing support for vulnerable residents, specifically through the Downtown Mission. Participants are encouraged to donate what they can, be it monetary or canned or dry goods for those in need. Participants will gather at 4:30 p.m. at the north-east corner of Tuscarora Street and Ouellette Avenue. The zombie horde leaves at 6:00 p.m. accompanied by floats and a grand marshal to create a Zombie Parade in downtown Windsor.

“Line the Drive” for the Detroit International Free Press Marathon
Three Cheer Zone locations along the route or anywhere on Riverside Drive

Sunday, October 20, 2024; 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The Canadian Cheer Zone presented by BIO STEEL will be located in the Vision Corridor alongside the Chimczuk Museum/Art Windsor-Essex gallery at Riverside Drive. The site will include the BIO STEEL Tour Bus display and product giveaway, where spectators can get their Canadian flag and join with the NorthStar Cheer team to salute the runners.

The Riverside Keg Canadian Cheer Zone presented by The Keg Steakhouse + Bar Patio will be located at The Keg Steakhouse + Bar – Windsor Riverside at 1 Riverside Drive West near Ouellette Avenue, and will include a “Patio Party” with breakfast menu, and a cheer section with Canadian flags and the NorthStar Cheer team.

The Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Cheer Zone presented by Windsor-Detroit Tunnel and the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County will be located on Park Street across from the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Customs Exit. Tunnel representatives will host this exciting activation area. The Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County will be on site with 40 flags representing 40 countries of origin connected to registered racers, along with commentary from local running community leaders Dave Orshinsky and Gary Belanger, and the NorthStar Cheer team leading the Final Mile Tunnel salute.

For the race next year in 2025, the City of Windsor plans to once again partner with the DWBIA and downtown stakeholders while including a celebratory event component for the new Civic Esplanade at the City Hall Campus.

Tunnel Closure Notice – Please note that, as part of this event, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel will be closed on Sunday, October 20, 2024, from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The tunnel will reopen to normal operations at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Strengthen the Core – The “Line the Drive” celebrations in the downtown core are the latest initiative connected to the City’s Strengthen the Core: Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan (STC), which launched in April to address safety, security, and cleanliness downtown while implementing measures and supporting activations to encourage new residents, businesses, and investments in the city’s core.

Included in STC’s seven initial action items are Action Item 4 – Place-Making, which seeks to encourage people and businesses to move downtown by investing in infrastructure and initiatives; and Action item 5 – Vibrant District, which creates vibrancy by attracting and engaging residents and visitors with unique amenities, gathering spaces, and engagement opportunities. This latest initiative also supports recommendations in the Windsor Works economic development strategy, which highlighted the benefits of Windsor working more closely with the City of Detroit.

For up-to-date information, including an interactive route map, on Windsor’s “Line the Drive” event in support of the Detroit International Free Press Marathon, check out www.VisitWindsorEssex.com/marathon.

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Ontario Helping Kids Stay Active and Healthy

The Ontario government is investing $15.3 million in more than 100 organizations that provide fun, safe and supervised activities for children and youth across the province through inclusive team sports and active recreation programs.

“Our government is proud to support opportunities for children and youth throughout Ontario to lead active and healthy lifestyles,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport. “This funding will expand access to vital resources and enable partner organizations to continue delivering high-quality, tailored active recreation programming that aligns with the needs of local communities.”

This investment of wraparound supports through the Ministries of Sport and Education will help more than 13,000 children and youth, from kindergarten to Grade 12, in more than 80 communities across the province to enjoy supervised sport and recreation activities. This year, the government is providing:

• $14.6 million through Ontario’s After School Program (ASP) to help children and youth in more than 80 communities be active and healthy
• $550,000 to Special Olympics Ontario to expand the Unified Sport Program to more schools across the province. This program strengthens student engagement and well-being through inclusive team sport activities for students with and without intellectual disabilities
• $100,000 to Jays Care to help more girls benefit from sports programming, while training educators and coaches on how to promote inclusion in sport
• $59,000 to Canadian Women & Sport to research the underrepresentation of girls, young women and marginalized youth in sport/physical activity and share findings with school boards. The funding will also be used to help boards identify and address gender equity challenges in their schools.

Families interested in Ontario’s After School Program can contact a participating organization for more information about eligibility requirements and services offered by their program.

“Promoting physical and mental well-being inside and outside the classroom is key to helping students stay healthy and focused on getting back to basics, including reading, writing, math and STEM,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Education. “In addition to modernizing Ontario’s curriculum, removing cellphone distractions and banning vaping, today’s announcement supports our efforts to help all students succeed.”

As part of the government’s investments to support initiatives that help promote equity in sport and recreation, this funding will create opportunities for children and youth across the province to be more physically active and engaged, and to develop leadership skills.

Quick Facts

• Ontario’s After School Program was launched in 2009 and is currently delivered by 111 organizations across Ontario including municipalities, First Nations and community-based, non-profits with a sport and recreation mandate, such as YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs.
• As part of this funding, the Ministry of Education is providing $709,000 in funding to several organizations to support initiatives that help promote equity in sport and activity. Organizations include Special Olympics Ontario, Jays Care and Canadian Women and Sport.
• Currently, 11,000 students with and without intellectual disabilities in 500 schools across the province participate in the Unified Sports Program, which promotes social inclusion through sports training and competition. Today’s announcement expands the program to up to 3,000 more students in 100 additional schools.
• Jays Care’s Girls At Bat baseball program focuses on increasing sport participation rates among self-identifying girls by providing an inclusive baseball program at various public schools.
• According to Canadian Women & Sport’s Rallying for Girls’ Mental Health—The Benefits of Safe and Healthy Sport Participation:
• 78 per cent of girls who participate in sports report positive mental health (compared to 68 per cent of those who do not participate)
• 76 per cent of girls said that sport participation enhances their mental and emotional health

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It’s Back – the 5K Super Santa Walk/Run/Wheel Returns to Amherstburg

After a three year hiatus, bells will be ringing again in downtown Amherstburg as hundreds of jolly participants run and walk in support of the local environment at Essex Region Conservation’s Super Santa Run on Saturday, November 18, starting at 5 p.m.

A sea of Santas will flood the streets along the five-kilometre route, which winds its way through downtown Amherstburg and highlights a number of historic sites, including Fort Malden and Navy Yard Park. The event also kicks off the spectacular Amherstburg River Lights Festival.

“This is event is fun for the whole family.  In addition to promoting healthy and active living, it is a great way to kick off the holiday season,” said Danielle Breault Stuebing of Essex Region Conservation. “It’s always amazing to watch nearly five-hundred Santas fill the streets in support of conservation efforts.”

“While the event has always been inclusive, based on feedback received, this year ‘Wheel’ has been added to the title to ensure it is abundantly clear that all are welcome,” Breault Stuebing adds. “For this event, ‘wheel’ refers to wheelchairs, scooters used for mobility assistance, walkers and strollers.”

Registration fees are $49 per adult and $39 for children under 16. All participants will receive a free Santa suit to wear for the run, including a jacket, pants, belt, beard, and hat. Teams of ten or more will receive $4 off per participant, so grab your friends, cousins, and co-workers to join in the jolly fun – and save!

All funds raised support local conservation. If you are not able to participate, consider being one of Santa’s helpers as a volunteer marshal along the route. The event is a great opportunity for high school students to fulfill their required community hours.

For more than four decades, Essex Region Conservation has been sustaining and enriching the environment of the Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island region to ensure it is the Place for Life.

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St. Clair Saints Cross Country in Alberta Again for Nationals

Medicine Hat, AB – The St. Clair College Cross Country teams are heading to Alberta for the third consecutive season to compete in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships that are being hosted by Medicine Hat College in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The Saints are participating at the national level for the 11th consecutive season having qualified this year with a Men’s team gold medal and a Women’s team silver medal at the OCAA Provincial Championships two weekends ago in Thunder Bay.

The St. Clair Men are ranked #2 in the latest CCAA poll and have a chance at their 2nd national team title in program history having four runners in the top 10 from provincials. 2nd year runner Jacob Fitzpatrick (Tecumseh, ON/Tecumseh Vista) was a silver medalist at OCAA’s with 5th year runner Tyler Jones (LaSalle, ON/Sandwich) taking a bronze. 5th year runner Rick Nepomuceno (Windsor, ON/Holy Names) was 6th allowing St. Clair to take three All-Ontario First-Team selections. 2nd year captain Matt Lafleur (Kingsville, ON/Kingsville District) was 10th for an OCAA Second-Team member nod.

The St. Clair Women team are ranked #6 nationally and led by 3rd year runner Mya Palumbo (Amherstburg, ON/General Amherst) who was 6th at the OCAA’s to receive All-Ontario First-Team honours. 2nd year runner Melody Knight (Tecumseh, ON/Tecumseh Vista) was 16th followed by rookie Victoria Skoyles (Mount Elgin, ON) in 18th place with 3rd year runner Natasha Atherton (Windsor, ON/Holy Names) finishing 20th.

Due to his team’s success 7th year Saints Head Coach Paul Boots earned his first OCAA Coach of the Year Award which automatically nominates him for the CCAA Coach of the Year Award.

Meet race times on Saturday are 2:00pm (EST) for the women’s event followed by the men’s event at 3:00pm (EST) which will be run on the campus of Medicine Hat College.

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Ontario Helping People with Disabilities Stay Active

Variety Village to receive funding for sport and recreation programming in 2021-22

The Ontario government says it is supporting Variety Village with $1 million in 2021-22 to help ensure they can continue to offer programs and services as the province navigates a safe reopening from COVID-19.

Variety Village delivers programs and services thorough sport, fitness, wellness, education, training and skill development that are diverse while promoting appreciation, interaction, empowerment and inclusion opportunities for people with disabilities. This funding will help Variety Village provide physical activity programs for individuals of all ages at its 178,000-square-foot health and fitness facilities located in Scarborough, as well as through program partners and virtual offerings across the province.

“Staying active and engaged within communities is essential for living healthy lives,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “Today’s announcement helps people with disabilities in Scarborough, and across Ontario, to stay active through the great work offered at Variety Village.”

“We are building a stronger and more inclusive Ontario through our support for critical services such as Variety Village,” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “This funding will ensure that individuals continue to receive the support they need to participate more fully in their community.”

The Ontario government is committed to working with sector partners, like Variety Village, to create more opportunities for children, youth, families and athletes to play safely. Through programs like these, sport and recreation continue to be at the heart of Ontario’s communities and accessible to all.

“Variety’s community remains grateful to the Government of Ontario for its steadfast commitment to accessible sport and recreation. Through capital and operational support to Variety Village, the government has ensured that all kids will be able to return to play,” said Karen Stintz, President & CEO, Variety Village. “The impact of the pandemic has been particularly difficult for children with a disability but through our camps and programs, these kids will be able to get off the sidelines and into the game.”

While the province works towards recovery, the government wants to ensure Ontario’s sport and recreation sector is strong, vibrant and remains a source of pride, and makes a positive impact on the lives of Ontarians.

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