Downtown Mission eyes move to H4

The Downtown Mission's board wants to move off Ouellette into the City's H4 at the old Water World, aiming for spring 2027, its executive director says. Not yet public: a council vote, the cost, or an operating agreement. Mayor Dilkens made the move a campaign pledge Oct 13.

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The Downtown Mission wants to leave Ouellette Avenue and move into the City of Windsor's Housing and Homelessness Help Hub (H4), inside the former Windsor Water World at 400 Wyandotte St. E.

Confirmed

The Mission's board wants the move. Executive director Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin confirmed her board's desire to relocate to H4 and said she hopes the Mission can move by spring 2027. She said the City and the Mission have not yet worked out the details. (Windsor Star, Oct 15)

H4 is being expanded. The City says that once current upgrades are done (filling in the old pool and upgrading heating, ventilation, air conditioning and washrooms) the site will have capacity for up to 150 beds plus space for dining and programming. (City of Windsor)

Campaign pledge

On Oct 13, mayoral candidate and incumbent Drew Dilkens pledged to move the Downtown Mission off Ouellette Avenue and Pozitive Pathways Community Services off Pelissier Street, with both relocating to the H4 site. He said early talks with the Mission have been positive. This is a campaign pledge ahead of the Oct 26 election. (CBC News)

Unclear

No council vote on the Mission moving to H4 has been reported.

No cost and no operating agreement have been made public.

It has not been said whether the move goes ahead regardless of the Oct 26 election result.

Our FOI

Windsor News filed a freedom of information request with the City on Sept 21 for City funding to the Downtown Mission. We will report what comes back.

Sources: Windsor Star (Taylor Campbell, Oct 15, 2026), CBC News (Oct 13, 2026), City of Windsor.