Windsor’s integrity commissioner finds no wrongdoing in hiring of mayor’s wife

Integrity commissioner finds no wrongdoing after the City hired the mayor's wife.

The City of Windsor’s integrity commissioner has cleared Mayor Drew Dilkens of any wrongdoing around the hiring of his wife for a position with the city.

The report released March 9 found there was no undue influence, abuse of power, or conflict of interest in the hiring of Jane Deneau.

Deneau was hired in the spring of 2025 as a recreation and facilities project manager in the Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department.

The position was posted internally and externally on various websites on Friday, April 4. 278 people applied, and three candidates were selected for interviews, according to the city.

When word of the hiring broke in May 2025, the city said the top-scoring candidate was offered the position, and the candidate was scored the highest by all three interviewers.

The city says the selected candidate has 27 years of relevant experience in project management.

According to the integrity commissioner’s report, though the position involved is a ‘project manager,’ because of the nature and responsibilities of the position, it did not fall into the category of ‘manager’ positions that required mayoral sign-off.

No involvement of the mayor or the chief administrative officer was sought with respect to either the establishment of the position or the hiring of Deneau, and neither was involved in decision-making regarding the recruitment for the position.

The integrity commissioner says, “We have determined that during the position establishment and then recruitment and hiring process, there was no impropriety, undue influence, or abuse of power exercised by the mayor or by anyone on his behalf. The City’s administrative policies and procedures were followed appropriately, and the family relationship was disclosed at the appropriate time within the process. Further, since the mayor had no involvement in the decision-making in this matter, there was no potential for a conflict of interest to arise.”