‘Gamechanger’: $3 million donated to expand Ronald McDonald House Windsor

Ronald McDonald House Windsor has received a record donation, setting the scene for an expansion at the city’s new hospital.

Ronald McDonald House Southwestern Ontario’s Windsor House is set to expand following a record donation.

The Stephanie and Barry Zekelman Foundation announced $3 million to nearly double the Windsor House’s capacity, when a new site opens at the Fancsy Family Hospital.

Currently inside the Windsor Regional Hospital’s Met Campus, the Windsor House is billed as a “home-away-from-home” for families with a seriously ill or injured child receiving care at the hospital.

“We wanted to make sure that in the new hospital that’s being built, that it was expanded, done the right way,” Barry Zekelman told CTV News.

Marking its 10th anniversary, a cheque presentation for the Windsor House on Wednesday included comments from officials and families who have relied on the Windsor House.

Featuring five private rooms and one short-term stay room, the site has seen demand outpace what can be offered.

In 2025, 58 families were turned away for long-term stays, and hundreds were denied access to a Day Pass program due to limited space.

“When you tour this place, and you see that the families can be close to their babies and be right there, I actually at first said, ‘yeah, wouldn’t you want to be off-site to be out of a hospital?’ They said, no, absolutely not. It’s a game changer to be here,” Zekelman said.

Once the new hospital is finished, the Ronald McDonald House Windsor – The Zekelman Centre will be able to provide aid to more families.

Kelly Heron, the hospital’s Vice President of Women and Children’s Perioperative and Surgical Services, said it’s “extremely important” for Ronald McDonald House to remain within the hospital.

“It just means so much to have the ability to stay within the hospital while you’re worried about your child, and how folks around you that are there to take care of you and help support you,” Heron said.

Zekelman said the donation will support the design and outfitting process.

“You need a lot of money to build that out and build it out properly, whether it’s the rooms, the kitchens, the family living areas, all of those things, and then staff it and run it,” he added.

Over its decade in service, the Windsor House has saved families an estimated $683,511 in out-of-pocket costs.