In 1944 the Windsor Planning Commission formed in anticipation of legislation pending in the Ontario Legislature. The commission’s duties included seeking solutions to local planning problems, fulfilling the planning needs of the community, and to act as the planning authority for the area. In 1946 the Ontario Minister of Planning and Development designated Windsor’s urban zone as the “Windsor Planning Area,” and devolved on Windsor City Council the responsibility of appointing a Planning Board to oversee the area’s urban development. Appointed by Windsor City Council in 1946, the Windsor Planning Area Board assumed responsibility for surveying and investigating the physical, social and economic condition of the planning area in relation to its development. The 1947 Windsor Planning Area Board Annual Report (RG10 CVIII/2) further outlined the duties of the Board: to prepare maps, drawings, texts, statistical information, and any other material necessary for the study, explanation and solution of problems or matters affecting the development of the planning area; to conduct public meetings and to publish information for the purpose of obtaining the participation and cooperation of the inhabitants of the planning area in order to solve any problems which may affect the development of the planning area; to consult with any local board having jurisdiction within the planning area; to prepare a plan for the planning area and recommend it to City Council for adoption; and to recommend to Council the implementation of any feature of the plan. By 1978, the Department of Planning and Urban Renewal consisted of three divisions: Long Range Planning, Current Operations and a Special Projects Division. Despite the name changes, the nature of the department’s activities remained virtually unchanged since the inception of the Windsor Planning Area Board in 1946.
Before the appointment of B.J.S. Macdonald as Windsor’s first City Solicitor in September 1930, the city had been in the practice of hiring a law firm as legal counsel. Some of the most notable firms and lawyers were S.L. Springsteen, M.C. Cameron, Patterson and McHugh; Patterson, Leggatt and Murphy; Ellis and Ellis; and F.D. Davis of Davis, Healy and Plante. Prior to 1935 when amalgamation took place, each of the individual municipalities had their own solicitors. The primary functions of the City Solicitor are the drafting of by-laws, agreements, deeds and conveyances; as well as acting as representation on the city’s behalf in legal actions. Initially, Windsor’s City Solicitor also acted as solicitor for local boards and commissions- particularly the Board of Education, Board of Commission and Metropolitan General Hospital. Solicitors no longer perform duties for these boards as they now have their own legal counsel. Initially the solicitors were also responsible for several duties which are now associated with the Chief Administrative Officer- such as reviewing staff matters, departmental reports and issuing directives to all departments. Functions of the Legal Department have evolved over time and now include grievance arbitration, expropriation, union negotiations, lien searches, Worker’s Compensation Board matters and Ontario Municipal Board Hearings. Windsor’s City Solicitors have been Bruce J.S. Macdonald (1930 – 1937), Leon Zenous McPherson (1937 – 1943), Lorne Raeburn Cumming (1943 – 1950), James E. Watson (1950 – 1976), Abraham Solomon Kellerman (1976 - 1993) and Patrick Brode (1993 – present).
The first public library established in the Border Cities was opened in 1894 at Lambie’s Hall on Ferry St. in Windsor. In 1903, a financial gift from Andrew Carnegie enabled the library to relocate to a larger structure on Victoria and Park Streets- the Carnegie Library. Extended library services was offered in Walkerville in 1896 and continued until 1904, when Walkerville opened its own public library. In 1914, the Windsor East Branch opened in Lanspeary’s Drug Store, moving in 1920 to a larger location on Parent Ave. Sandwich also relied upon extension services from 1921 until the establishment of their own library in the Sandwich Town Hall in 1923. Library service expanded further with the opening of the John Richardson Library in 1928 and the South Branch Library at Hugh Beaton School in 1929. Financial constraints caused the closure of the Windsor East Branch in 1933. Children’s branch libraries opened in Prince Edward and Victoria Public Schools in 1933 and 1934, respectively. After the amalgamation of the Border Cities in 1935, the libraries came under direct control of the City of Windsor. Anne Hume, librarian of Walkerville, and backed by former members of the Walkerville Library Board, successfully petitioned the provincial government to amend the Amalgamation Act to allow for a library board in 1937. As a result, the new system made J.E. Benson Memorial, John Richardson, Prince Edward, Hugh Beaton, and Victoria Public branch libraries, with the Willistead and Carnegie Libraries operating as the two main libraries within the Windsor Public Library System. In 1941, the Winston Churchill branch was opened within the St. Alphonsus Separate School. This branch closed in 1952, replaced the following year with the Seminole branch library. In 1955 the Riverside Library was constructed and operated independently until added as a branch of the Windsor Public Library system in 1966
The Windsor Utilities Commission was created in 1935 as an aspect of the amalgamation of Windsor, Walkerville, East Windsor and Sandwich. Four hydro and three water commissions, along with the Essex Border Utilities Commission merged under the City of Windsor Amalgamation Act, 1 July 1935. The Commission consisted of the mayor and four members appointed by City Council for two year terms. In 1936, the Commission designated a Board of City and its responsibilities included the distribution and supply of electrical power, operation of the water system, sewerage, drainage, district planning, street naming and house numbering as well as power over the Board of Health and Board of Park Management. In 1941, legislation was enacted which required members of the Commission to be elected, with two members holding two year offices and two members holding office for one year terms. In 1946, power over the Board of Health was transferred to City Council. Additionally, the Commission was relieved of its responsibilities concerning the Board of Park Management and district planning. In 1952, legislation was passed enabling all four elected Commissioners to hold office for two year terms. The Windsor Utilities Commission is currently composed of eight commissions administered by the five commissioners.
Although the position of Police Magistrate was established before 1861, the Windsor Police Service and Board date from the passage of the British North America Act by the British Parliament 1 July 1867. Pre-Confederation law enforcement was the responsibility of the regular military, and later by contingents of the Royal Canadian Rifles. Initially composed of four members, the Windsor Police Service (formerly the Windsor Police Department, or Windsor Police Force) has grown into a complex municipal department with a wide variety of duties related to local law enforcement. The Windsor Police Services Board was originally made up of the Mayor, the Police Magistrate and senior County Court Judge. Recent changes to the Ontario Police Act have made judges ineligible for Board membership. The modern Board now consists of Mayor, a member of City Council, and community members appointed by the province
The Windsor Symphony Society, founded in the winter of 1949, was comprised of a group of citizens who wanted the Windsor Symphony Orchestra to be a community organisation, with the society responsible for its financing and general well-being. Several earlier attempts had been made to sustain an orchestra in Windsor, but the first local symphony with any success was founded in the fall of 1937 at the home of Mrs. W.T. Balman in Windsor. With the sponsorship of the Senior Mary Grant Society, a community orchestra calling itself the Windsor Symphony and comprised of nearly fifty musicians gave its first concert in April 1938. After the Second World War, the group stayed together and became known as the Windsor Federation of Musicians Philharmonic. Its aim was to provide the city with concerts of classical and light classical music. After receiving public and political backing, the name of the orchestra was changed to the Windsor Federation of Musicians Symphony Orchestra. The era of the Federation of Musicians Symphony Orchestra seems to have been between 1945 and 1947. Around 1947, the name changed again to the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, with Matti Holli as its conductor. The concerts were free due to the largesse of the City Council and the Federation of Musicians. Through the next thirty years of the orchestra's history there is a discernible progression in the size of the orchestra. In these "mid-years" of the orchestra's growth, the Women's Association was formed in 1956 and has since played a major role in the financial support of the orchestra. The fall of 1960 saw the orchestra move into what could be described as its "permanent home" - Cleary Auditorium. Matti Holli died suddenly on 11 November, 1977, and guest conductors were booked until a replacement could be found. The new conductor and music director chosen was Laszlo Gati, who began work with the orchestra in the Spring of 1979. The summer of 1979 saw the establishment of a new support group for the symphony, the Junior Women's Association. In 1985, health concerns forced Laszlo Gati to resign as Music Director and Conductor. At the end of the 1985-1986 season Timothy Vernon took over duties as acting Music Director and Conductor. At the end of the season Dwight Bennett was appointed Music Director and Conductor, ushering in a new phase of the history of the orchestra.
In 1934, the Windsor Theatre Guild was founded in Windsor, Ontario. Originally known as the Border Theatre Guild, the organisation was established by an active group of Border Players from 1924 to 1927. The guild changed its name to the Windsor Theatre Guild in 1938. The guild was established for amateur actors and actresses from the City of Windsor in an effort to protect the local theatre and its participants, and to preserve Windsor's cultural arts. Many of the guild's productions were well received in the Western Ontario and Canadian Drama League Festivals.
Founded in Windsor, Ontario on 27 September, 1951, the Windsor Torch Club's purpose was to encourage dialogue among professional men. The Windsor Torch Club became a reality because of the sponsorship of two members of the Detroit Torch Club who resided in Windsor- pharmacist John F. Smith and physician Dr. Euclid V. Joinville. In June of 1951, at a meeting at the Prince Edward Hotel, twenty-eight men resolved to request membership in the International Association of Torch Clubs. When it was granted its charter, the Windsor Torch Club became the 101st charter member of the International Association of Torch Clubs and the second Torch Club in Ontario after the Hamilton Torch Club. The Windsor Torch Club's activities consisted of monthly general meetings during which the members listened to speeches given by guest speakers on a wide range of subjects chosen by the members. Furthermore, delegates from the Windsor Torch Club participated in regional meetings along with Torch Clubs from St. Catharines, Grand Valley, Detroit, Toronto, and Hamilton to share issues that were of concern to their respective clubs. In addition to general and regional meetings, the Windsor Torch Club also sent representatives to the annual meeting and convention of the International Association of Torch Clubs, hosted by various local Torch Clubs. In June of 1970, the Windsor Torch Club was afforded the honour to organise and hold the prestigious annual gathering in Windsor. In keeping with the times, the Windsor Torch Club amended its membership by-law in 1983 which stipulated that only professional men be accorded membership in its organisation. In its place, the term ‘persons' was added, thereby allowing for the induction of professional women into the Club. However, in spite of this alteration and vigorous recruitment effort, the Windsor Torch Club was faced with a decline in membership. As a consequence, the Windsor Torch Club ceased to exist in 1987.
In 1876 the Windsor Board of Trade was incorporated. Its major interest was to promote industrial and commercial development as well as the interests of business. It initiated the establishment of an organisation to formally promote the city to outside investors and to help new entrepreneurs locate in the area and overcome obstacles which might impede their plans. Carrying on the tradition of civic and county promotion, the Greater Windsor Industrial Commission was established in 1958, and renamed the Windsor-Essex County Development Commission in 1974 to reflect the expanding area the Commission served as well as recognizing the contributions of its financial supporters. Today, the purpose of the Windsor-Essex County Development Commission is to provide the following services to the City of Windsor and Essex County: to attract new business and capital investment to the region; to aid in the strengthening, diversification and growth of existing businesses; to maintain an attractive business and economic environment through constant contact with the appropriate government agencies and community groups; and to promote the region as a desirable business location.
Windy Pine Point is a property on Lake Kushog in Haliburton county. It is also the name of a girls' canoe tripping camp located there from 1941-1950 run by Mary Northway and Flora Morrison. Windy Pine Point was deeded by Mary Northway to Trent University in 1985 to be used as a centre for Canadian Studies meetings and events. And this is the original and compiled history.
The IODE (Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire) is a national volunteer organization for women, dedicated to providing assistance, to those in need, in the areas of educational programmes, community services, and citizenship projects. It was a voluntary organization open to all Canadian women and girls with a love of country and a concern for others.
The Wingate’s Raiders Chapter of Woodstock was formed on September 1, 1945, and was named after British General Orde Wingate’s 77th Indian Brigade, called the Chindits - a guerilla unit which fought the Japanese in Burma in 1943-1944. Claire Dunlop was the Chapter’s first Regent.
The Chapter organized such events as teas, bridge parties, recitals, fashion shows, dances, bake sales, rummage sales, and bingos. One of the Chapter’s more popular events was their spring project “The Reg Hall Fashion Show” which was held in conjunction with Reg Hall Ltd. until the business was sold. Each show had a different theme every year, and the Chapter was responsible for making the arrangements and selling the tickets. Through events such as this, the Chapter was able to raise money for fundraising endeavors such as supporting two remote schools, offering bursaries for local high school students, adopting two Greek children through the “Save the Children” organization and contributing funds to complete the exterior lighting of Woodingford Lodge.
As numbers continued to decline over the years, the Chapter finally closed in May 2008.
Wingham United Church, located at 217 Minnie Street in Wingham, was established in 1925, formerly Methodist. Wingham Methodist Church was formed in 1863 as Wingham Primitive Methodist Church. In 1884 it joined the Methodist Church of Canada. A new building was constructed in 1901-1902. In 1925, it joined the United Church of Canada. It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada.