Chronology

How did we get to this point?

APRIL 28, 2023 - Windsor Regional Hospital submits the Stage 1.3 (formerly Stage 2) plan to the Ministry of Health. The submission includes the functional program, campus plan, block diagrams, and an updated cost estimate. View media release.

NOVEMBER 22, 2022 - Infrastructure Ontario's November 2022 Market Update shows an accelerated project timeline with the tendering process beginning in early 2025 and construction starting between July and September of 2026.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 - Windsor Regional Hospital selects Stantec Architecture as the Planning, Design, and Conformance (PDC) consultant for the New Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital Project. View media release. 

MAY 3, 2022 - Infrastructure Ontario's May 2022 Market Update indicates the tendering process for the new hospital will start in early 2025 and construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2027.

OCTOBER 18, 2021 - Premier Doug Ford and Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott announce $9.8 million to fund ongoing planning of a new state-of-the-art acute care hospital, moving the project to Stage 2. View media release. 

MARCH 24, 2021 - The Ontario government commits $9.8 million in funding in its 2021 Ontario budget to cover "Stage 2" planning costs for the development of a new state-of-the-art acute care hospital to serve Windsor and Essex County.

DECEMBER 10, 2020 - The Program and Services Steering Committee overseeing plans for the new Windsor-Essex Hospitals System released an engagement strategy for the next planning stage. View Stage 2 Community Engagement Strategy.

OCTOBER 16, 2020 - WRH announces it officially acquired land at County Rd. 42 and the 9th Concession for the new hospital.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2019 - Infrastructure Ontario 2019 Market Update targets Windsor Regional Hospital New Acute Care Facility in a greater than a 5-year time frame.

AUGUST 14, 2018 - Windsor City Council and the Planning Heritage and Economic Development Standing Committee voted to approve the hospital's zoning applications.

DECEMBER 1, 2017 - Minister Eric Hoskins announces that planning for the new Windsor-Essex Hospitals System is moving forward, but the funding still was not released.

APRIL 27, 2017 - As part of the 2017 budget, the previous government gave the green light for the Windsor-Essex Hospitals System proposal to move forward in the planning process but did not release funding.

AUGUST 2016 - Windsor Regional Hospital submitted an application to the City of Windsor, requesting an amendment to the city's Official Plan and Zoning By-laws.

APRIL 25, 2016 - Windsor City Council voted (9-1) to approve a levy to cover the city's share of the project. The city's share is $108.5 million or 54% of the $200 million local shares.

APRIL 20, 2016 - Essex County Council voted unanimously to approve a levy to cover the county's share of the new Windsor-Essex Hospitals System. In doing so, the county committed to approximately $91.5 million, or 46% of the local share.

JULY 16, 2015 - The proposed Windsor-Essex Hospitals System was released including plans and a location for the new hospital. This information was submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as part of the Stage 1B proposal.

OCTOBER 1, 2014 - The Request for Proposals (RFP) closed. More than 20 parcels of land in the region were submitted for consideration.

JULY 23, 2014 - A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued, inviting those with a property they think is suitable for the new hospital to submit proposals.

MAY 30, 2014 - The Steering Committee overseeing plans for a new acute care hospital announced the creation of the Site Selection Subcommittee - volunteer members From Windsor-Essex who will review proposals and recommend a location for the new hospital. Learn more about the Site Selection Process.  

FEBRUARY 28, 2014 - The Honourable Teresa Piruzza, MPP, Windsor West and Minister of Children and Youth Services and the Minister responsible for Women's Issues announced approval for the Hospitals to complete Stage 1 planning for a new state-of-the-art acute care hospital.

NOVEMBER 26, 2013 - The Erie St. Clair LHIN Board approved the Stage 1A report at a board meeting in Petrolia, Ontario.

OCTOBER 29, 2013 - The Capital Planning Steering Committee shared its final report with the HDGH and WRH Boards of Directors. HDGH and WRH Boards of Directors voted unanimously to approve Stage 1, Part A, Service Delivery Model.

OCTOBER 1, 2013 - As part of the realignment, WRH assumed governance and operations of all acute services at the Met and Ouellette Campuses and for the new acute care hospital. HDGH assumed governance and operations of chronic care, regional rehabilitation, specialized mental health and addictions, and children's mental health at the Tayfour campus.

MAY 29, 2013 - ESC LHIN established a Capital Planning Steering Committee to prepare the stage 1A submission to the government.

MARCH 26, 2013 - The Erie St. Clair LHIN approved the voluntary realignment of services between HDGH and WRH.

FEBRUARY 12, 2013 - HDGH and WRH Boards of Directors announced a jointly agreed upon, proposed new vision for Windsor/Essex. It included the realignment of services.

JANUARY 2013 - Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced funding for hospitals to proceed with Stage 1 planning for a new state-of-the-art acute care facility. This included $2.5 million to prepare an initial 1A submission to the government; an additional $35 million would flow for further planning upon completion and Ministry approval of the 1A submission.

NOVEMBER 30, 2012 - After months of community engagement, The Windsor Hospital's Study Task Force released a final report recommending the province "proceed immediately in approving the planning and construction of a new single-site" for the Windsor Essex region.

APRIL 21, 2012 - Finance Minister Dwight Duncan created the Windsor Hospital’s Study Task Force to examine the possibility and need for a new regional acute care hospital to replace current facilities.