‘Why can’t we rebuild the west?’: residents march to demand change for Windsor’s west side

Windsor residents are fighting for the city’s west side, looking to make it a safer community.

Richard Janusas remembers when Windsor’s west end was tight-knit — when families knew each other, children played safely in the neighbourhood, and Forster Secondary stood as a community hub.

But now, he says those streets feel abandoned.

The 44-year Ward 2 resident organized the #SaveTheWest Community March, which began Saturday afternoon at the former J.L. Forster Secondary School and ended at Mic Mac Park.

The route cut through some of the same streets where Janusas grew up — now, in his eyes, changed beyond recognition.

“The west side really needs an overhaul,” he said. “As you can see when you look around for many blocks, there’s nothing going on that’s good.”

“We’ve got drug dens. We have houses turning into bombed-out shelters. It’s not safe for the kids. We need to get rid of all this mess and rebuild the west.”

For Janusas, the memories are everywhere — schools he attended, friends he used to visit, corners that once bustled with activity.

“It hurts, to be totally honest,” he said. “I used to be able to walk any of these streets. I went to Forster right here. I went to Brock School. I went to St. Edward’s. I went to St. Francis. I spent all my time in the west.”

Janusas also questioned why investment seems to flow everywhere but his neighbourhood.

“The only thing we get is a couple roundabouts and they clap about it,” he said. “Everywhere else is getting built up — east side, South Windsor, LaSalle — everywhere except the west side. I don’t understand it.”

He pointed to Forster’s now-vacant building as a symbol of decline — and potential.

“To see the old school just sitting here going to waste … why can’t it be turned into something prosperous? Why can’t we turn it into affordable housing?” he said. “Same thing with the streets where the houses are falling apart. Why can’t we rebuild the west and build it up?”

Janusas believes much of the neighbourhood’s character eroded when longtime families left.

“The west side used to be a real tight-knit community. Now, no one even speaks to each other,” he said. “The whole vibe now is just every man for themselves, and it’s not fair. People want to blame others, but it’s us as a community that has to come together.”

With the Ward 2 by-election approaching, he hopes the march sends a message to candidates seeking to replace former Coun. Fabio Costante.

“This side of town definitely needs to be brought back up,” Janusas said. “It needs a lot of TLC, and it needs a strong leader walking the line — not behind the line, but on the front line with everybody else.”

And while the march was about shining a light on what’s broken, it was also about remembering what’s worth preserving.

“This is the original Windsor, and people forget that Old Sandwich Town is the original Windsor,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Janusas says west-end pride hasn’t disappeared.

It’s just waiting to be reignited.

“The west side will always be the best side,” he said.