Connecting Windsor-Essex completes regional cybersecurity pilot. One-year cohort equipped technical leaders with advanced cybersecurity expertise The County of Essex was proud to partner with Connecting Windsor-Essex in the successful completion of a one-year regional cybersecurity training pilot, delivered from January 2025 to January 2026, as a part of a strategic commitment to strengthening the cybersecurity posture of the Windsor-Essex region. The initiative brought together cybersecurity professionals from nine public sector organizations across the region, including the County, City of Windsor, Windsor Police Service, Essex County Library, Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, Greater Essex County District School Board, Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence, St. Clair College, and the University of Windsor. Approved and funded by the CWE Board of Directors, the pilot directly advanced a key organizational priority: building regional cybersecurity capacity within public service organizations through proactive, coordinated investment in advanced training and expertise. "Cybersecurity is no longer an isolated IT function; it is a shared regional responsibility," said Joanne Soave, CEO, Connecting Windsor-Essex. "By investing in a coordinated CISSP cohort, we made a deliberate decision to strengthen the expertise embedded within our public service organizations at the same time, rather than in silos." "This pilot reflects our commitment to proactive resilience, collaboration, and protecting the critical systems and services our communities rely on every day," Soave said. Eighteen technical leaders and practitioners from across these organizations- spanning municipal, public safety, education, and higher education sectors - participated in a fully subsidized Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) training and examination pathway. The CISSP is one of the most globally recognized, vendor-neutral cybersecurity certifications, validating expertise in enterprise, security governance, risk management, and information security leadership. Public sector organizations are increasingly operating in a rapidly evolving cyber threat environment where incidents can disrupt essential services, compromise sensitive data, and impact operational continuity. For municipalities, public safety agencies and educational institutions, cybersecurity is no longer solely a technical function, it is a governance and risk management priority. Recognizing the shift, CWE designed a coordinated regional cohort model rather than a traditional individual training approach. This enabled multiple organizations to elevate their cybersecurity maturity simultaneously, strengthening collective awareness, governance practices, and internal expertise across the region. "The CWE Board of Directors recognized early that cybersecurity capacity is no longer optional for public service organizations, it is essential," said Francis Mailloux, Chair, Board of Directors, Connecting Windsor-Essex. "Supporting this pilot represented a strategic investment in regional resilience, ensuring our stakeholders are better equipped with advanced expertise to manage risk, strengthen governance, and safeguard the critical systems and data our communities rely on." By embedding advanced cybersecurity knowledge within nine public service organizations, the pilot contributes to stronger in-house capacity, improved risk mitigation, and a more connected regional network of cybersecurity practitioners capable of sharing insights and responding to emerging threats more effectively. The intensive CISSP training component was delivered by Learning Tree International, supporting participants through a rigorous and structured certification pathway over the duration of the program. This pilot demonstrates how a coordinated regional investment in advanced cybersecurity training can accelerate organizational readiness more effectively than isolated efforts, while reinforcing Connecting Windsor-Essex's commitment to collaboration, digital resilience, and the protection of critical public services. "Typically, we see certifications pursued within single departments or organizations," said Costa Solanakis of Learning Tree International. "What makes this initiative stand out is the regional, cross-sector commitment to building cybersecurity expertise together - a model that significantly strengthens collective readiness and resilience." Building on the success of this pilot, CWE will continue advancing its strategic focus on regional resilience through initiatives that strengthen both technical and leadership capacity. This includes the Human-Centred Leadership series for senior leaders, delivered in partnership with Mainstream Corporate Training, which complements cybersecurity readiness by equipping leaders to navigate complex digital risks with clarity, trust, and a human-centred approach to decision-making. Connecting Windsor-Essex (CWE) is a publicly funded, non-profit regional consortium that convenes public and private sector organizations to advance connectivity, cybersecurity, and digital resilience across Windsor-Essex. Through collaborative initiatives and regional capacity building, CWE works to strengthen infrastructure, cybersecurity posture, and organizational readiness. Contact Us County of Essex 360 Fairview Ave W, Essex ON N8M 1Y6 Telephone: 519-776-6441 TTY: 1-877-624-4832 Fax: 519-776-4455 [email protected]

County Council highlights for march 4, 2026. Warden honours Paramedic, celebrates County employees. Warden Hilda MacDonald opened Wednesday night's Council meeting paying tribute to Jennifer Miner, an Essex-Windsor EMS Paramedic who passed away last Saturday while off duty. "Jen, as her beloved and admiring colleagues called her, was one of our devoted, front-line community Paramedics. She served the community for nearly 30 years and received her Governor General's Exemplary Service Medal in 2019," said MacDonald. "Jen was universally admired for her kindness and the compassion she always demonstrated while caring for patients around the region... It is a tragedy her life was cut short so abruptly. But you will never be forgotten, Jen - by the countless residents you cared for and by everyone who worked proudly alongside you at Essex-Windsor EMS." Following a moment of silence, MacDonald welcomed County of Essex employees and their families who were in Council Chambers for the second annual Employee Excellence Awards. Awards are handed out in four categories aligned with the County's Strategic Plan - Team Spirit, Innovation, Service Excellence and Empowerment. "These awards are presented annually to employees from across our corporation, who best embody our organizational values, who demonstrate excellence in their roles, and who inspire others to achieve their best," said MacDonald. "I know I speak for all County Councillors in passing along our heartfelt thanks, and appreciation, for jobs well done." Employee Excellence Awards presented to outstanding county staff. Twenty employees from multiple departments in the County of Essex were celebrated Wednesday night at the second annual Employee Excellence Awards. Employees were recognized in four categories aligning with the County's Strategic Plan - Team Spirit, Innovation, Service Excellence and Empowerment. Sue Vidinovski, a Human Resources Assistant, won the Team Spirit Award for her "consistent commitment to collaboration, support and fostering a positive team environment" and for always displaying "an upbeat, energetic attitude and a genuine willingness to help, making her a trusted and valued team member." Jay Gilchrist, a Network Administrator with the Information Technology department, won the Innovation award because he "consistently delivers creative solutions, improvements and ideas to drive progress and enhance County of Essex operations." Cat Griffin, Communications Coordinator for the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority, won the Service Excellence award for always making herself available "to ensure an emergency or urgent deadline is met, even if it means stepping in for another team member who is not available." She was praised for her dedication and support for others, which leaves "a lasting effecting on everyone fortunate enough to have worked alongside her." Jeanie Diamond-Francis, the Manger of Community Services, won the Empowerment award for her tireless advocacy "for the vulnerable in our community and the members of her staff on her small but mighty team." She was lauded for her efforts to address affordable housing and homelessness in the County and delivering "exceptional service every day." Council approves User Fee By-law, Green Bin charges. Council approved a User Fee By-law for 2026 that includes charges for the Green Bin program and directed Administration to report on transitioning to a levy-based funding model for the 2028 budget year. Council had previously voted to charge eligible residential households user fees to cover the costs of the new organics collection service. For 2026, that would include eligible residential households in Essex, Lakeshore, LaSalle and Tecumseh. Residents in the Phase 2 municipalities of Amherstburg, Kingsville and Leamington would not be charged a user fee until 2027, after organics collection begins for them in the autumn of 2026. A number of properties, including institutional, commercial and industrial properties, are not being offered the service at this time, and, as such, are not subject to the initially proposed user fee. "The Green Bin user fee is not a tax and does not form part of the County levy. It is a service-specific charge intended to recover the cost of providing the Green Bin program from eligible households," said a report to Council. Green Bin program user fees will vary by municipality and are based on actual program costs, including tonnage collected and fixed operational expenses. This ensures the user fee is tied as closely as possible to the cost of service delivery within each municipality, consistent with the user-pay principle. Proposed details, including the estimated household costs by Phase 1 municipality for all of 2026 and three months of 2025, are shown in the table below: | Municipality | Number of eligible households | 2025 budgeted costs to be recovered | 2026 budgeted costs to be recovered | Total to be recovered (2026 tax bill) | Green Bin user fee per household | | Essex | 8,478 | $254,231 | $1,323,577 | $1,577,808 | $186.11 | | Lakeshore | 15,168 | $459,421 | $2,389,693 | $2,849,114 | $187.84 | | LaSalle | 11,307 | $342,176 | $1,782,097 | $2,124,273 | $187.87 | | Tecumseh | 8,410 | $248,772 | $1,295,642 | $1,544,414 | $183.64 | Municipalities are authorized under Section 391 of the Municipal Act, 2001, to impose fees or charges for services provided, including solid waste services, on a cost-recovery basis. Council voted in June of 2024 to endorse the user-fee funding model that would see the charge appear on local tax bills, with the revenue collected on behalf of the County and paid to the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority, which operates the Green Bin program. Also included in the proposed User Fees and Charges By-law for 2026 is a proposed increase in the fee for commissioning documents, from $20 to $25, and a proposed increase in the fee for Ambulance Call Report (ACR) Requests, from $75 to $100. There is no fee charged when an individual submits an ACR request related to their own care. Council votes to receive Green Bin program funding report. Council voted to receive a report from Melissa Ryan, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer, outlining the implications of offsetting the costs of the Green Bin program with reserves. "Reserves are established to protect the County against financial risk, revenue volatility, and unforeseen pressures," said the report. "They are not intended to support ongoing operating programs on a recurring basis." The report noted that no reserve had been established for the Green Bin program and that it would not be appropriate or financially prudent to draw funds from other reserves. Notice of Motion to offset Green Bin costs defeated. Council voted against a motion by Councillor Tracey Bailey to offset Green Bin program costs by using reserves. The motion sought to fund 100 per cent of the program from reserves in 2026 and offset costs again in 2027 and 2028. The Green Bin funding report prepared by Melissa Ryan, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer, identified the impact to the Rate Stabilization Reserve if the proposed plan was approved, noting the reserve would fall into a significant deficit position. Public Petitions Policy formalized. Council approved a By-law that formalizes the County's Public Petitions Policy, outlined until now only as an item under the County Council section on the County's website. Notice of Motion on regional social services delivery. Councillor Tracey Bailey introduced a Notice of Motion calling on the County to formally express its opposition to "the pursuit or development of a County-administered social services delivery system" and to affirm its support for the existing model. The Notice of Motion will be debated at a future meeting of Council. Contact Us County of Essex 360 Fairview Ave W, Essex ON N8M 1Y6 Telephone: 519-776-6441 TTY: 1-877-624-4832 Fax: 519-776-4455 [email protected]

Grant will see all-weather AED cabinets in every local municipality. Friday october 24th, 2025, 11:17am. A $30,000 grant from Enbridge Gas will see each municipality in the County of Essex, plus the City of Windsor and Township of Pelee have a life-saving Automated External Defibrillator made permanently available outdoors - for public use at any time, on any day, year-round. Essex-Windsor EMS is partnering with Enbridge Gas and with each municipality to install one of these cutting-edge, all-weather Rotaid AED cabinets in each of Windsor, Amherstburg, LaSalle, Tecumseh, Lakeshore, Essex, Kingsville, Leamington and Pelee Island. Each AED will be protected in a circular, all-weather, heated, illuminated, alarm-triggerable Rotaid cabinet with its see-through cover - and installed at a highly visible, prominent, easily accessible location within each municipality. An AED is a portable electronic device that can restart the heart of a person - of any age - who experiences cardiac arrest. The device monitors a patient's heartbeat and, if necessary, can deliver one or more heart-resuscitating electric shocks. Even those without medical training can follow an AED's simple, situation-specific instructions - displayed visually on a digital screen as well as spoken aloud via a built-in speaker - to try to save a life. The need for readily available AEDs outdoors is pressing in Essex County because some 90% of all 1,300 registered AEDs in Essex/Windsor/Pelee are stored indoors, with the vast majority of those typically accessible only during business hours, Monday to Friday. The outdoor Rotaid AED cabinets are made of durable materials to ensure long-lasting protection in any environment, year-round. A Rotaid AED cabinet is being, or already has been, installed at each of the following locations over the coming weeks in area municipalities: * WINDSOR: Riverside Baseball Park and Farrow Riverside Miracle Park, 6755 Wyandotte Street East * AMHERSTBURG: Libro Credit Union Centre arena, 3295 Meloche Road * LASALLE: Vollmer Centre splashpad, 2121 Laurier Parkway * TECUMSEH: New parks & rec building, just south of the traffic circle at Manning Road and Riverside Drive * LAKESHORE: Lakefront in Belle River, by washrooms, canteen west of the canal * ESSEX: Colchester Harbour Boat Launch, 100 Jackson Street, in Colchester * KINGSVILLE: Essex County Library, Kingsville branch, 40 Main Street West * LEAMINGTON: Caldwell First Nation, by the new residences just west of the gas station * PELEE ISLAND: Municipal Office, 1045 West Shore Road