OFSAA swimming makes a splash in Windsor, boosting local economy

2,100 athletes will be coming to Windsor soon for OFSAA. CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco has the details.

Windsor is making waves this week as the OFSAA Swimming Championships bring more than 2,100 high school athletes to the city — along with coaches, friends and families filling local hotels and restaurants.

“The fact that there’s hotels that are so close by is fantastic and we can walk to the pool and have restaurants. We’re excited for going out for dinner this afternoon in Sandwich Town so we’re super excited. Happy to be here,” said Kathleen McNeil who is visiting from West Niagara.

Swim meet committee member Adam Mailloux says the influx is providing a welcome boost to the local economy, with hundreds of visitors staying, dining and shopping across Windsor-Essex during the multi-day event.

“TWEPI (Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island) has helped a tonne. Got contacts through them to help us coordinate hotels. They gave us all the bags for all the teams that came in. It’s just nice to have that contact and promote Windsor,” Mailloux told CTV News.

The swim meet is just one of four provincial high school championships coming to the region. Holy Names will host the senior girls’ basketball championships starting March 9, Villanova will welcome boys’ and girls’ hockey following March Break, and St. Anne will bring the provincial baseball tournament to the area in June.

“It’s a year of planning,” noted Stacey Ditchfield, co-ordinator of the senior girls’ volleyball tournament at Holy Names.

“Everyone plays a pivotal role in having it run smoothly and then without our volunteers and our student volunteers it just doesn’t happen.”

Jim Barbeau, OFSAA Sport Coordinator, said Windsor is an easy choice for many of the bids they receive.

“You get to showcase all of your facilities and when you have people like Danielle (Parent, OFSSA meet manager) and her group running it, makes it easier to say yes,” he said.

“They do a great job organizing. Very low stress, for me not for them. It is truly one of the best events we have, in my opinion.”