Windsor’s Peace Fountain is set to return to the city’s waterfront one year from Monday, with officials marking the milestone by announcing plans for a grand reopening and community celebration. The International Charles Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain was removed from Coventry Gardens in 2023 after 45 years of service. The City of Windsor says the replacement project represents a total investment of $11.3 million, with the new fountain expected to be officially unveiled on Sept. 21, 2027, marking next year’s International Day of Peace. Mayor Drew Dilkens said the replacement has been a priority for the city since the original fountain was removed. “Many folks since we’ve had to remove the fountain have said, when’s it coming back?” Dilkens explained. “We’ve tried to track it publicly through city council to make sure that people knew that we are committed to it, that it is coming back.” The city says the replacement will retain the general look of the original 1978 fountain while incorporating new pumping, lighting, and control systems. The new floating structure will be capable of sending water arches up to 21 metres into the air over the Detroit River. It will also feature programmable LED lighting and be designed to remain at Reaume Park during the winter, eliminating the need to transport it to Lakeview Marina each year. Dilkens said the contract for the fountain has been awarded to a Canadian company and came in at about $8.3 million, slightly under budget. “The stuff that people don’t see ... the pump systems and all the back-end electronics and control systems ... are brand new,” he said. The fountain was originally dedicated in 1978 in memory of Charles “Charlie” Brooks, founding president of United Auto Workers Local 444 and a prominent advocate for peace. His son, George Brooks, attended Monday’s announcement and said the project represents an important continuation of his father’s legacy. “It marks the milestone legacy of Dad,” Brooks stated. “It’s fundamentally important to us.” Brooks said the fountain also represents the broader contribution of the labour movement and his father’s belief in improving people’s lives and promoting peace. The family supports keeping the general appearance of the original fountain, he said, noting its location provides a sweeping view across the Detroit River toward Belle Isle. “If I turn around and look at the expanse looking over towards Belle Isle, it is a dynamic, wonderful view of our view of the world,” Brooks said. “This is so open and so lovely that it is an ideal place to have the fountain.” Former Canadian Auto Workers president Ken Lewenza Sr. said the fountain continues to reflect Brooks’ influence on Windsor’s labour movement and his commitment to peace. “Charlie Brooks was connected to the community, and he was an advocate for world peace,” Lewenza told CTV News. “Today’s announcement and International Peace Day being recognized each and every year gives us all time to pause and keep fighting for peace.” The city is also planning to establish an annual peace-focused community gathering at Reaume Park. Brooks said he hopes the new fountain can serve as a reminder that communities have a role to play in shaping the future. “The inspiration that we as a people and humanity can and we have control of whether or not the planet is viable and will sustain,” he said. The city says the Sept. 21, 2027, event will combine the grand reopening with an International Day of Peace community celebration. Dilkens said the fountain has become an important part of Windsor’s identity and a gathering place for both residents and visitors. “Every postcard you see has the picture of a bridge or it has the Peace Fountain on it,” he said. “Certainly, people were saying, when is it coming back? It will be back.” According to Brooks, the return of the fountain is also a chance to continue sharing his father’s message. “He taught us well. He taught us to care. He taught us to give,” Brooks said. “He taught us to live in the face of reality and to view everything in an impartial way.” The International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations in 1981 as a day focused on non-violence, reflection and promoting peace.
