By Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
The Municipality of Lakeshore and the Centre for Cities at the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law have officially launched Horizons, a multi-year initiative aimed at helping the community navigate the pressures and possibilities of rapid growth.
The project, announced this week, will include three public engagement sessions this month to share information and gather feedback from residents, with hands-on community workshops to follow. Organizers say the initiative is designed to ensure future development in Lakeshore reflects local values and priorities—particularly in areas like housing, infrastructure, and sustainability.
Horizons comes as Lakeshore continues to experience one of the highest growth rates in the region. According to Statistics Canada, the population increased by more than 10 per cent between 2016 and 2021.
“This is the start of a transformative project—the development of a new vision for the future of Lakeshore’s communities that prioritizes thoughtful, long-term planning, sustainability and meaningful resident engagement,” said Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey. “This approach will ensure that our communities, from Lighthouse Cove to Woodslee, Comber to Puce, reflect their unique identities and visions.”
Bailey noted that the Horizons project is being rolled out in parallel with major infrastructure upgrades, particularly in Lakeshore’s water and wastewater systems, to maximize value for taxpayers and accommodate future needs.
Anneke Smit, director of the Centre for Cities (C4C), said community engagement is central to the project’s success.
“Horizons is about engaging the community directly in conversations around social, economic, and environmental priorities, while ensuring that growth reflects what Lakeshore residents value most,” said Smit.
The first phase of the public engagement will include three open-house style sessions at the Atlas Tube Recreation Centre’s Renaud Room (447 Renaud Line Rd., Belle River):
· Monday, June 16, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
· Wednesday, June 18, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
· Thursday, June 19, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The sessions will explore topics such as walkable neighbourhoods, environmental stewardship, and farmland protection, while offering interactive discussions to better understand the pressures of municipal growth—including financing infrastructure, maintaining livability, and addressing housing affordability.
Horizons will also support Lakeshore’s work under the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), part of a broader effort to modernize local planning processes and meet evolving community needs.
The project is being delivered under a new Memorandum of Understanding signed by the University of Windsor and the Municipality of Lakeshore earlier this year. Horizons is the first formal initiative launched under that agreement and will span an initial three-year term.
C4C says the collaboration is a milestone in community-driven development and a model for how academic institutions and municipalities can partner to shape the future of growing regions.
Residents unable to attend in person will have other opportunities to contribute through future workshops and digital engagement tools. More information is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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