Chronology

How did we get to this point?

DECEMBER 8, 2023 - Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) submits Stage 1.3 plan for the Ouellette Campus to the Ministry of Health outlining the services to be provided at the downtown Windsor location after the New Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital opens. View media release.

OCTOBER 19, 2023 - Dignitaries and leadership from regional First Nation communities join Windsor Regional Hospital and community leaders to honour the land where the New Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital will be built at the Maamaawi Gidoozhichigemin Ceremony. View Media Release

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

MARCH 2023 - Virtual town halls held in English and French to share high-level details of the Stage 1.3 submission before it is finalized.

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

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 - WRH releases Together We Build Review and Summary Report highlighting the main themes emerging from public engagement initiative. 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.

MARCH 3, 2022 - WRH launches the Together We Build Engagement Campaign offering everyone an opportunity to participate in town halls, complete surveys, share ideas and ask questions.

JANUARY 7, 2022 - WRH establishes a vision and guiding principles for the project based on community and staff input. View media release.

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. 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. View media release.

DECEMBER 10, 2020 - The Program and Services Steering Committee overseeing plans for the new Windsor-Essex Hospitals System releases the Stage 2 Community Engagement Strategy detailing plans for engagement in the next planning stage. View media release. 

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

MAY 2020 - KPMG releases a new economic impact study estimating the project will Contribute $1.73 billion to Canada’s GDP, of which $1.57 billion including a Labour Income of $1.12 billion and 15,845 jobs.

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

AUGUST 14, 2018 - Windsor City Council and the Planning Heritage and Economic Development Standing Committee vote to approve the hospital's zoning applications. Mayor Drew Dilkens calls the decision a big step forward for healthcare in Windsor-Essex.  View additional comments from Windsor City Council.  

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

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

AUGUST 2016 - WRH applies to the City of Windsor, requesting an amendment to the city's Official Plan and Zoning By-laws. View media release. 

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

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

JULY 28, 2016 - A Fairness Advisor appointed to oversee the process of selecting a site for the new hospital issues a report calling the process "fair and commendable."  View media release.

JULY 16, 2015 - The Program and Services Steering Committee overseeing Stage 1 planning for the new hospital announces the proposed Windsor-Essex Hospitals System, 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) closes. More than 20 parcels of land in the region are submitted for consideration. View media release. 

JULY 23, 2014 - WRH issues a Request for Proposals (RFP), inviting those with property they think is suitable for the new hospital to submit proposals. View media release. 

MAY 30, 2014 - The Steering Committee overseeing plans for a new acute care hospital announces the creation of the Site Selection Subcommittee - volunteer members From Windsor-Essex who will review proposals and recommend a location for the new hospital. View media release and 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 announces approval for the Hospitals to complete Stage 1 planning for a new state-of-the-art acute care hospital. View media release.

FEBRUARY 19, 2014 - WRH launches Explore the Future of Healthcare video blog, inviting the community to learn more about the project and tour other new and modern hospitals in Ontario and beyond.

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

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

OCTOBER 1, 2013 - As part of the realignment, WRH assumes governance and operations of all acute services at the Met and Ouellette Campuses and for the new acute care hospital. HDGH assumes 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 establishes a Capital Planning Steering Committee to prepare the stage 1A submission to the government.

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

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

JANUARY 2013 - Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announces funding for hospitals to proceed with Stage 1 planning for a new state-of-the-art acute care facility. This includes $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 releases 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 establishes the Windsor Hospital’s Study Task Force to examine the possibility and need for a new regional acute care hospital to replace current facilities.