Windsor, ON 2017
 

Hi All

My wife are soon to receive our PR visas and will be looking to land in Canada this summer. We are in a fortunate position to be able to take our time and go exploring across the country to try a few places before settling somewhere.

I have always really liked Ontario, and have recently been trying to learn a lot more about Windsor and the surrounding areas (Tecumseh, Leamington, Kingsville, etc).

At present we live in a village just outside Bath, England and commute to Bristol about an hour away every day for work, which we don't mind.

I was wondering if anyone could give me some opinions on the Windsor area as we love some of the housing in that area, affordable for us, close to the American border which is ideal, waterfront views in some places.

But other than finding a 'VICE' article describing the place as one of the worst on earth I can't find much about the area in general. As well as a few very old posts on here, I can't see much info on the area. We certainly won't mind a long drive to get somewhere more central for work. I will be looking at the police force (have been told by Windsor PD they have open recruitment at the moment), and my wife really isn't fussed. We have no children, just a small whippet.

Our main priority is a nice house with a scenic view like we have here overlooking a valley.

Any opinions and info would be much appreciated. Apologies for the essay.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

You're lucky if Windsor police have open recruitment ....... most police forces seem to be insisting on Canadian citizens or permanent residents with several years of residency.


I've been to Windsor once for about a week, wasn't too impressed ..... and the economy there has got much worse in the intervening years as the car plants have closed or moved. The dire economic situation in Detroit (which is across the river) also seems to have affected Windsor due to lost jobs

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Canadian unemployment rate = 6.5%

Windsor unemployment rate = 4.9%

Major investments by car manufacturers.

Detroit is undergoing major gentrification.

The above statement may have been true several years ago, but not today.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Welcome to BE!

I'm not sure if we have any members from around that area but here are a few pointers that I gleaned from online research.

Air pollution can get quite bad there, due to the industrial pollutants from Detroit.
Thousands of tonnes of U.S. air pollution created on Windsor's doorstep - Windsor - CBC News

There's a tendency to have harsh winters (lots of snow) and bad storms
Sunday’s storm sets snowfall record in Windsor | Windsor Star
'Very small possibility' tornado could hit Windsor, says Environment Canada - Windsor - CBC News

It's part of Canada's "Tornado Alley"
Canada’s ‘Tornado Alley’ runs through Windsor and Essex County | Windsor Star
Windsor Tornado: Storm rips through Windsor, LaSalle | Windsor Star

There appears to be a fair bit of crime

I can't give you an opinion on the actual City as I haven't been there, sorry!

Where else are you considering? What type of area are you looking for - City, beaches, countryside? I'm not sure you will get a 'valley view' in Windsor - unless you live outside of the City.

You might find this forum (for police officers) helpful in your search for employment - and we also have a sub forum for police officers on BE - http://britishexpats.com/forum/police-79/

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

I know Detroit and I agree to a certain extent. Downtown and Midtown Detroit are definitely on the up - but from a pretty grim low. There's still an eerie lack of pedestrians and traffic in the downtown core. The new Q-Line streetcar and the ongoing development of "District Detroit" (including the new arena for ice hockey, basketball, concerts etc) are possibly steps in the right direction but let's not pretend that the city overall is in good shape. It's also debatable how much a new 3.3 mile streetcar that runs along Woodward every 20-25 mins will actually impact Motor City. There are lots of pretty bad areas with some of the most shocking urban blight in America - and that's saying something. The population decline has been ongoing since the 1950s and it still hasn't stopped. There is much to see and do in Detroit but you need to know where you're going and where you shouldn't be going. You'll see levels of urban blight in Detroit and some other US cities that you just don't see in Canada or the UK.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

I don't recall the name but there used to be a prolific poster in Windsor.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Had a quick word with my sister, she said you might like the Leamington area, it's just under an hour away from Windsor.

You have a national park on your doorstep (good for birding, she says) and beaches. House prices seem reasonable, but it would depend on what you are looking for. It's a small town, so there won't be the facilities for a wild nightlife, but it might suit you.


:)

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

We know Leamington quite well (visit a friend who lives there) and find it just OK... a typical small town, set in the middle of some of the most boring countryside in Ontario (flat, so you won't find a valley for your house to look over - and lots of tomatoes: the drive down from London is excruciatingly boring). The Heinz factory (the main employer) closed a couple of years ago, and though it's re-opened I gather it's a smaller operation, so the town is not really prospering. Pelee island is a short boat trip away, but I wasn't a great fan of that either... though the wine is OK! We also stayed for a week in Ridgetown (to the East of Leamington) and explored the area, thnking that Rondeau provincial park might make the area worth considering as our destination. We crossed both off the list pretty quickly!

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

That was our ex-moderator Biiiiink.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

@the OP: I always liked the extreme SW part of Ontario, especially the small towns on the Erie coast and even the Detroit River. Nice little places if you don't need any but the most basic of facilities.

Windsor itself might provide a job but I certainly wouldn't choose to live there. Oh, and you can forget views over valleys. There aren't any.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Thank you for your input everyone.

As I said in my original post we are looking at ideally somewhere like Leamington to live and are happy to commute as that's what our current setup is.

Not sure where it says I am looking for a Valley view though:goodpost: Merely stated our current view is of a Valley and therefore what we see out our window is fairly important. Waterfront properties in Leamington or around Lake Eerie look spectacular and with Windsor only an hour away it prompted my question.

We definitely aren't party people and prefer the comforts of home opposed to nights out on the town. We live in a village and a quiet home life is ideal. Definitely not looking to live in a central location, but within 45 mins to hours commute.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Why leave all that behind. The grass is not always greener on the other side.
I don't have a lot to write about Windsor because I live in the greater Toronto area. I have been to Windsor and did not find it attractive. The economy of Windsor is linked to car sales.
Have you been to Windsor?

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

If being near the US bnorder is what matters to you, the Niagara region or Kingston are much more pleasant areas IMHO!

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

It was a bloke I was thinking of. Possibly G77.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

As someone who lives near Windsor, I was astonished at the misinformation provided by some posters.
Windsor is the most southerly major city in Canada.
It is on a latitude south of many US states.
Often called the "Sun Parlor" or the "Banana Belt" it has temperatures that regularly are higher than anywhere in Canada.
As far as snowfall is concerned, it gets much less than most other major cities.
Google its crime rate and compare it to any other major city in Canada and judge for yourself.
I live a half hour drive from Windsor and have farm fields on one side, a wood lot on another side, a vineyard on the third side and Lake Erie on the fourth side.
Look deeper into this area before you make a decision.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

This poster didn't like Windsor apparently but he was writing 10 years ago.

If it was me I'd take the Somerset countryside.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

It would be helpful if you actually cited specific misinformation.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Having lived in both Uk (three decades) and Canada (nearly 3 decades), I love living in Canada, but at the same time people underestimate what UK has to offer.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Really? I looked up the stats and it doesn't beat the Okanagan heat wise- thankfully we are cooler in the North of the valley- what tends to throw a spanner in your argument is that Windsor is the most humid of anywhere and has the most thunderstorm days...:unsure:- I prefer heat which is nice and dry. I thought that you were in Colchester anyhow :lol:

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ne...r-cities/52023

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

.
Where you live sounds lovely - so perhaps rather than negativity aimed at other posters (I'm not sure what misinformation you are referring to), you could give some suggestions on where the OP might look at to live? I'm sure they would appreciate 1st hand knowledge of the area.

:)

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Windsor was on the list of potential places to live when i moved to Canada and i spent some time there in 2007 the same time as this post roughly..having visited the area i quickly concluded although housing was cheap and there were some very nice areas..it was never a viable option work wise for me so i ended up in Alberta.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

We are currently in the process of moving to Windsor from New Brunswick.

I have been to Windsor a few times and I really like the place. I can understand how its not for everyone and some of the information that you will get will be out of date. The City is currently undergoing a renaissance. The unemployment levels are now half what they were a few years ago. There has been some major investment in the car plants over the last couple of years. The house prices there are going up at a rate of knots. Our realtor says that its because of the unemployment and the area is now catching up to where it should be. Windsor is a safe city and has low crime rates compared most Canadian cities. The climate is mild compared to most of Canada and the snowfall much lower than most of the country. About 1/3 of what we get here in NB. There are plenty of nice places within a short drive of Windsor. If you decide to live in the City itself then the further East you go generally the nicer it is. Having a major US City close by is also appealing to us. Throw in being halfway between Chicago and Toronto there is an enormous amount on offer within a four hour drive.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Living in an area which is disparaged by a few posters and disagreeing with them is not negativity.

The above post makes some of my points.

I'm not a fan of Leamington, but if a person is seriously thinking about relocating to this area, Kingsville and Amherstburg should be considered.

To the poster who thought I lived in Colchester, I actually live in Colchester South which is in SW Ontario, south of Windsor (and Detroit) but I thought Daveincolchester would be good enough for a board name.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Thanks again for the useful information to those that provided it.

Leamington is one of the first places we stumbled across on our research and ticks a fair few boxes. I'm pleased there are some people who live in the surrounding areas of Windsor who have a positive outlook on it.

Nothing is set in stone, I just wanted some more information on Windsor as an area to commute to from quieter places on the outskirts.

As for why we want to move, why does anyone want to move to Canada? I could give you a fairly comprehensive list but if you would like one? When you have spent 15 months being in the process of applying and spent approximately £6,000 along the way, you have to be fairly sure you have a keen sense to go.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Hi, we live in Kingsville. Came in 04 and have stayed.
lovely small comunity, although getting busier every year.
Husband works in windsor, which takes half hour,(give or take) property is cheap, but there seems to be a sellers market, so prices are rising fast. great properties with water views, we live otherside of road so i can hear it lol. let me know if i can help with any questions.:thumbsup:

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Thank you, sent a private message :)

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Hello! Sorry I'm late to this post but I only ever check this site every now and then.

I have lived in the Windsor area since 2010 so unlike some on this thread can tell you from first hand experience exactly what you need to know:lol:

I love the summers here and the winters I can deal with because I know the summer will be a scorcher!:thumbup:

The big positive for me is being able to get to the border within 15mins and to be in downtown Detroit. I could write a whole book on the benefits of having the US so close. #1 being the price of goods most people in Canada pay for things. Its extortionate most of the time. Crossing back with items has never been a problem and I cross on a weekly basis and never have to pay duty unless I bring back a crazy amount.

Black Friday shopping I got waved straight through with over $800 worth of electronics:thumbsup: The border guards are only interested in alcohol and tobacco and I am not the only the person who will tell you this. Gas is around 20-30% cheaper plus we have been shopping @Kroger and regularly get 30 cents of a gallon. Last week I got 50 cents of a gallon!

Housing was dirt cheap when I got here so much so I bought quite a few and rent them out - its all I do now. It's still fairly cheap when you compare it to other parts of Canada or the UK even but prices have gone through the roof recently.

Being able to shop @HomeDepot.com Amazon.com and so on instead of the .ca version puts a big grin on my face.:lol: I have a UPS US mailbox too for when I can't do store delivery.

I live in a small town called LaSalle which I really like - I did live right in Windsor for the first couple of years and would have stayed if I could have found the right property. In my opinion LaSalle is the best area;) due to the schools, the town itself, proximity to the border, the city and everywhere else. Amherstburg is breathtaking lots of homes on the water there check out Boblo Island. Tecumseh, Belle River and Lakeshore are also great places in my opinion.

If you want to ask me anything please feel free to PM me I know a few other expats G77 being 1 of them I know someone mentioned him in a previous post.

Oh and welcome:welcome:

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Lived in Windsor for three years. Loved it. Cheap to rent or buy. Close to Detroit for "culture", nice waterfront area, and Walkerville is a nice place for pubs and shops. Ojibway Municipal park is one of the most biodiverse in all of North America (but Windsor Council in their wisdom are building box stores next to it). Close to Point Pelee and Pelee Island. Short drive to Cedar Point, Ohio, if you like rollercoasters. Just 4 hours to Chicago for a long weekend. Good local airport. Superb craft breweries. Amherstberg is a nice visit, 25 minutes drive away.

Negative - public transport between towns are non-existent save VIA rail (or Greyhound bus). It's far from everywhere else in Canada! Downtown is a bit ratty and suffers from US youth overspill due to different age-limits for public alcohol consumption. Drug and alcohol abuse a bit of an issue. "West-of-the-Ambassador bridge" dodgy, having said that - some bars in Sandwich are great.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Thanks for the positive input to those who had sensible things to contribute.

My wife and I arrived in Canada and had our documentation signed and stamped and are officially canadian residents. Wed did very very well with our house sale, and it's given us a massive cushion to come out here for several months and explore each place thorough before making a final decision.

With the help of TrustedHouseSitters.com we have had some great experiences of seeing what everyday life has been like living in certain places looking after someones dog or cat. It's given us a good flavor of what living in a particular place is like.

At present we are in Vancouver (weather is obviously milder here than out East) and are enjoying a penthouse view out of a software company owners posh apartment over BC Place. It's been very helpful, and in the first week taught us we can't live in the mix of a major city. Also we are extremely priced out of buying a home here.

Next we are onto Vancouver Island with a house sit in Sooke looking after a cat, and then Victoria for a week. From there we are going to Winnipeg having ruled out places like Kelowna, Kamloops, Calgary, Regina. After there we have a long house sit in Collingwood Ontario, and I have also managed to track down a long lost 1st cousin once removed (40 years my senior) living in Owen Sound Ontario who emigrated there in the 80's. From there we will explore New Brunswick briefly and then Nova Scotia, before flying home to collect the last of our belongings, and our dog before moving back. We have plenty of time to find somewhere to live when we get back.

Looking forward still to exploring the areas between London, ON and Windsor, ON a bit more thoroughly.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Welcome to Vancouver. It's cold but nice and sunny today. While there's not much to do in the city in winter, you should try to check out an important cultural Canadian event, Wing Wednesday. There are quite a few bars that will not only feature this, but will combine it with discounted lager between the hours of 3pm - 6pm. It's a must on any tourist's list of dos.

Added to note: As you're in a major Canadian city, there may be some places that will offer Taco Tuesdays, so that's an extra bonus. :thumbup:

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Well one would be remiss to pass up the chance of discounted tacos that's for sure. Enjoying Vancouver, but sitting a dog has it's drawbacks as we don't feel comfortable leaving him alone for any longer than 3-4 hours but we have taken him to some great sites, which gives us some insight as to what life would be with our dog.

Thanks Oink

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

There are dog beaches around. Although I'd wait until low tide. I'd enjoy today as the weather is going back to being crappy for the rest of the week.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

That really is an excellent way of gaining experience at little expense (other than flights and food etc., of course) - what a brilliant way of having a recce and visiting different places! There's also https://www.housecarers.com/advanced...d-housesit.cfm (and I'm sure others).

I think this is a great idea for people to do if they are unsure on exactly where they would like to live.

Well done you!

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Well we are coming to the end of our recce trip and have now seen Windsor or the outskirts anyway. We drove from Sarnia in the morning and had a look around Chatham-Kent. From there we drove to Belle River (lovely) Tecumseh, and just followed the road the lakes edge of Windsor (and drove around the inner city), down through LaSalle, Amherstberg, Kingsville, Leamington and then up to London.

Although it definitely isn't as nice as some parts of Canada we have seen, I definitely think people should not comment on a place unless they have recently seen it. So many Canadians have told us it's a dump, don't go there, waste of time. From what we could see it isn't anywhere near as bad as some areas of Ontario we have seen, not by a long shot.

Some of the surrounding areas like Belle River, Kingsville are really pretty places that aren't to long a commute to Windsor. I wasn't expecting a hell hole and it isn't anything close to that. Sarnia was definitely closer to that description. We saw Windsor on an utterly disgusting day of bad rain and thick fog and I imagine in sunshine it looks a lot prettier.

So far on this recce we have seen tons of Vancouver, and done house sits in White Rock, downtown, Harrison Springs, seen North Vancouver, Coquitlam etc

We have seen a ton of Vancouver Island and done house sits in Victoria and Sooke. Most of Calgary over two trips now. We've been to Winnipeg (long story) and most of middle and lower Ontario. So Niagara on the lake, Crystal Beach, Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford, Kitchener, Guelph, Cambridge, London, Chatham-Kent, Windsor, Sarnia, all up lake Huron to Tobemory, Owen Sound, Meaford, Collingwood, Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Wasaga Beach, Ajax, tons of Toronto.

In short Windsor isn't that bad and although our hearts are definitely in Vancouver Island still, anyone reading this should not be put off by Windsor, for climate, views of water, proximity to the states, reasonable work opportunities, affordable beautiful housing in the outskirts, it has enough going for it to call it home depending on your preferences.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

:goodpost::nod::amen:

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Or even actually spent time there.

A lot of these things are kind of confirmation bias.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

Windsor has had a good reputation on this board for a long time. Biiiink moved there (admittedly from Winnipeg) and spoke highly of the place.

I've been there several times through a complicated family connection and think that it's fabulous to be able to have a house on a big river for not very much money. I don't think there's very much there but small town Canada is like that.

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

I assumed Bathexpats was speaking generally about commenting on "a place" rather than Windsor or anywhere specific. :unsure:

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

I lived in Victoria for a few years so happy to help with any questions about the island if I can

Re: Windsor, ON 2017
 

:goodpost: Very very true but unfortunately people love to bash a place having just driven through it or listened to the news or someone.

Downtown Detroit is another place that gets a bad rep. Had Easter dinner at Red Smoke BBQ right next door to Wahlburgers - Many people in Windsor and the surrounding areas go and support the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Pistons all located in the Downtown area.

Give me Downtown Detroit every day over Downtown Windsor for a evening/night out...