Underwater issues delay progress on Windsor’s new Peace Fountain

Are you wondering what all happened this week at Windsor’s council meeting? CTV Windsor’s Travis Fortnum summarizes what you need to know.

Plans to bring Windsor’s new Charles Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain to life have hit an unexpected snag beneath the surface.

City staff told council Monday that underwater survey work at Reaume Park revealed ‘a few surprises,’ setting back the project’s schedule as consultants continue design and site preparations.

Commissioner of Community Services Michael Chantler said the findings were discovered during early stages of the in-water work, and a detailed update on the revised timeline will be shared with councillors.

James Chacko, the city’s Executive Director of Parks and Facilities, said work on the new fountain design continues and the project remains on track to begin construction next spring.

“We are expecting to see, if everything goes well, the Peace Fountain work start in the spring,” Chacko told council.

“There’s still a good chance that there will be a piece of art up and running at some point later next year. But the goal is still to have it up and running for some point of the 2026 operating season.”

Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac, who represents the area, noted that the Ministry of Natural Resources must also review timing of the underwater work due to fish spawning in the Detroit River — another factor affecting scheduling.

Council previously approved a $10.5 million plan to replace the aging fountain, which was removed in 2023 after decades of wear.

The new floating structure is expected honour the original design while adding modern features like LED lighting and variable-speed pumps.

The Peace Fountain was first installed in 1978 to commemorate Charles Brooks, a Windsor labour leader and founding president of UAW Local 444, who was killed the year before.