Frazier Fathers wins Windsor Ward 2 byelection

Windsor saw Frazier Fathers win Ward 2’s byelection on Monday night.

Residents in Windsor’s Ward 2 have voted in Frazier Fathers to serve out the rest of the term on city council.

In unofficial byelection results released by the city Monday evening, Fathers received 983 votes with all polls reporting. In a race that featured 15 candidates, Fathers received about 47 per cent of the vote.

At a celebration for his victory, Fathers said he was feeling an “overwhelming” variety of emotions over the election win.

“I’m privileged and honored that, you know, Ward 2 has voted for me and supported me,” Fathers told CTV News.

“I’m looking forward to getting to work with the rest of council on tackling everything I’ve heard at the door in Ward 2, as well as some of the citywide issues.”

Fathers, who previously worked for the United Way, is a non-profit and affordable housing consultant. He pointed to the work experience and opportunities to volunteer on Windsor’s west side as a “track record” in Ward 2.

In the coming months, Fathers’ priorities include continuing to address boarded-up homes in the ward and identifying niche issues in each neighbourhood.

Following the death of a pedestrian while crossing Sandwich Street earlier this month, Fathers added that traffic calming measures are top of mind.

“Given the recent tragedy, traffic calming has been something even before that [it was a priority], but just recently with the tragedy here in Sandwich Town, you know, that’s a top priority across the board,” Fathers said.

The byelection comes less than one year before Ontario municipalities send voters back to the polls on Oct. 26, 2026, for the next election.

“Obviously, I have a long list of ideas that I’ve heard from the residents here in West Windsor, and I don’t know how that all plugs in to the mayor’s upcoming budget, and you know what other council priorities there are,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to sitting down with the mayor and the rest of council and having conversations about what can be done in the next year.”

A Ward 2 byelection was spurred by the resignation of longtime councillor Fabio Costante in June to head the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation.

Costante was first elected to Windsor City Council in 2018.

Following his resignation, city council opted to host the byelection rather than appoint a new councillor.

The price tag is estimated to fall between $150,000 and $200,000.

Fathers is expected to be sworn in to his new role ahead of the next Windsor City Council meeting on Nov. 10.