City of Windsor WINDSOR, located in southwestern Ontario, is the southernmost city in Canada.It is to the southeast of Detroit, the U.S. city known as the home of the country’s automotive industry. It is a four-hour drive away from the provincial capital of Toronto but only five minutes away from Detroit. Windsor is an important tourist destination and industrial base in Canada. It is home to the headquarters of Chrysler Canada. ? Eddi Francis Born in Windsor in 1974, Eddie Francis was elected mayor in 2003 at just 29 years old, making him the youngest mayor in the city’s history. He is also its first mayor of Lebanese descent. Francis holds a combined degree in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario. After he graduated from the University of Windsor Law School, Francis ran a family business with his brothers. In 2003, he was awarded the Windsor Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year. ? ? Sun Jin, Zhang Yang zhangy49@gmail.com BENEFITING from its close proximity to the United States’ automotive center Detroit, Windsor is regarded as the home of Canada’s automotive industry. The city has faced severe challenges since the U.S. automotive industry went into decline in 2005. Windsor’s dependence on the auto industry needs to be revised, Mayor Eddie Francis said in an exclusive interview with Shenzhen Special Zone Daily. The city has made a plan to revive its economy. “The core of the plan is to diversify the city’s economic development venues through increasing government spending on infrastructure and boosting the high-tech industry,” Francis said. An auto city The Canadian Government started cooperating with U.S. auto multinationals in the mid-1980s, making Canada an important auto industrial base in North America. Francis said the relationship between Windsor and Detroit is similar to that between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Only separated by a river from Detroit, Windsor has taken full advantage of its geography to develop its automotive industry. “The U.S. auto industry has created a great number of jobs in Windsor and helped the city integrate into the global market,” Francis said. Despite its decline, the auto industry has a considerable legacy in the city, he added. For example, Windsor has invested billions of Canadian dollars in auto research and development. Strict environmental laws have spurred the booming of green automobile manufacturing in the city. Windsor’s education institutes have cooperated with the automotive industry. University of Windsor has worked with the industry to offer its students more opportunities to gain hands-on experience in auto research and development. The university and Chrysler Canada jointly established an auto research center in 1995. The center is now the largest of its kind in the country. Chrysler Canada has recently invested US$500 million in researching safety, lighting and new energy. Many college graduates and professors dream of working at the center, Francis said. Diversifying its economy Windsor is now aiming to diversify its economy. The local government is striving to develop the city’s new energy and biomedical industries, as well as its tourism, digital and convention and exhibition industries, Francis said. The University of Windsor and St. Clair College will be central to this effort. The city government has recently granted C$2 million (US$2.01 million) to the University of Windsor to fund a new-fuel technology program. Francis said new energy will be key to the city’s future development because it would re-energize its auto industry. A newly established medical school at University of Windsor has indicated that the city will explore new development opportunities in the biomedical and public health areas. Windsor’s education and health care systems are respected worldwide. All the city’s schools, 86 percent of businesses and 99 percent of homes, have been equipped with fiber-optic cables. Windsor is now building a citywide ultra-fast broadband network that will connect every community and provide various online services, such as distance learning and medical services. “The digital industry has huge potential for growth, which will bring job opportunities and improve efficiency and the standard of living,” Francis said. Tourism is another area Windsor is striving to boost. With maritime climate and plenty of sunshine, Windsor has an abundance of vineyards. The city is also promoting wine events to attract tourists. The city’s 14 wineries have won international awards and more are under construction. These wineries not only offer tourists an opportunity to learn how wine is made but also are equipped with leisure facilities for tourists to spend their holidays. Convention and exhibition industry is another important part of Windsor’s tourism. Located on the border between Canada and the United States, Windsor could reach 60 percent of the population in two countries. The city is expanding the Caesars Windsor convention center. After the expansion, the center will be able to hold 5,000 people for concerts and exhibitions. An international city Windsor boasts immigrants from 175 countries and regions. It has 75 festivals and celebrations every year featuring different ethnic cultures and 50 museums and art galleries representing various art forms and cultures. There are also many international towns in Windsor including Italy town, China town and Mexico town. “Shenzhen raised its international profile by holding last year’s Universiade. Windsor also aims to hold international sporting events,” Francis said. The city will hold next year’s International Children’s Games in August. Thousands of children from nearly 100 countries and regions will participate in the games in Windsor. “I believe these young athletes, after they return from the games, will say good things about the city,” Francis said. | 