There’s still no timeline on the official designation of an Ojibway National Urban Park — and a Parks Canada representative is asking the community to adjust its expectations.
“I want to shift the narrative a bit,” said Maria Papoulias, a manager with Parks Canada’s national urban parks program, in an interview with CBC Windsor.
“This is more of a continuum. You know, there isn’t a date where we cut a ribbon and open the gates to the park. We are actually planning a partnership that’s going to last for hopefully generations.”
A family enjoys a walk in Windsor’s Ojibway Park. (Dalson Chen/CBC)
“There’s been a lot of conversation in the media about when the park will be open. The park is already open: You can go to Ojibway Park or Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve today, and go for a hike on the trails… We’re not really doing anything new here.”
While Papoulias said Parks Canada is committed to an Ojibway National Urban Park, she explained that it won’t result in the Ojibway areas becoming federally owned and supervised like Point Pelee National Park or Rouge National Urban Park.
“It was never intended to be a program where Parks Canada simply takes over land and is the sole administrator, like a conventional national park,” Papoulias said.
Maria Papoulias, a manager with Parks Canada’s national urban parks program. (CBC News)
Asked why people would have a different conception of the project, Papoulias acknowledged that “early on in this process,” the private member’s bill by former Windsor West MP Brian Masse did call for an Ojibway National Urban Park similar to Point Pelee National Park.
However, that bill died when Parliament was prorogued in January 2025.
“I can fully understand why that would have created some confusion in the community,” Papoulias said.
Dilkens: ‘I’m not entirely sure what Parks Canada is doing’
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens makes a point during a special meeting between city council members and local MPs and MPPs. (City of Windsor)
Last month, at a special meeting between local MPs, MPPs and city council members, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens expressed frustration with Parks Canada.
“I don’t want to speak out of turn, but I’m not entirely sure what Parks Canada is doing,” Dilkens said. “I just can’t believe it’s been so slow-moving — that we’ve made so little progress, at this point in time, after this conversation was started so many years ago.”
Dilkens said it’s his understanding that Parks Canada wants the lands involved to remain under their respective municipal and provincial ownerships, with the federal agency only having a managerial role.
Sunset in the Ojibway Prairie Complex in Windsor. (Dalson Chen/CBC)
Papoulias said the mayor’s understanding of the current plan is accurate.
“These land administrators, including the City of Windsor, have managed this land competently, with very professional and knowledgeable staff, for decades,” she said. “We don’t want to simply come in and displace that and replace that.”
Papoulias said the list of partners on this project (besides Parks Canada) includes the City of Windsor, the Town of LaSalle, the Province of Ontario, Hydro One, the Essex Region Conservation Authority, Caldwell First Nation, Walpole Island First Nation, and Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.
“The City of Windsor is a key project partner. We meet with City of Windsor staff very regularly,” Papoulias said. “We had a meeting with them last week.”
Federal funding for Ojibway National Urban Park already in use, says Parks Canada
It’s been four years since the Government of Canada gave word that the process had begun to recognize the six natural areas of the Ojibway Prairie Complex as a federally protected park.
Earlier this year — before the April 2025 federal election — Steven Guilbeault, who was Canada’s minister of the environment at the time, visited Windsor to reaffirm a federal funding commitment of $36.1 million over five years for an Ojibway National Urban Park, plus $4.6 million of annual operational funding.
Papoulias said the $36.1 million is already in use, for purposes such as environmental remediation and clean up at Ojibway Shores.
“To me, the even more exciting part of that announcement is the $4.6 million in ongoing funding… That does mean the park is going to be protected and enhanced in perpetuity.”
A sign indicating areas of the Ojibway Prairie Complex. (Dalson Chen/CBC)
As for the promise in March 2025 by Irek Kusmierczyk, who was then the Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore MP, that an Ojibway National Urban Park would be designated and open before the end of the year — Papoulias would only say that more conversations are needed.
“This is a partner initiative,” she said. “I’m not in a position to make promises on behalf of all of our partners.”
Tallgrass prairie during winter in the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Preserve. (Dalson Chen/CBC)No set date for announcement of designation
Asked when an announcement could take place, Papoulias said Parks Canada is “very close” to “our first meaningful step, which is the agreement in principle.”
Such an agreement would need to be signed by all the interested land-administering partners and rights-holding First Nations, Papoulias said.
Pressed for more of a timeline, Papoulias said the signing of the agreement in principle would be followed by development of an operational plan, and public consultation. “We’re hoping to have that done imminently, within the next few months. But that all depends on what the partners decide together.”
Asked if that means the designation will come in 2026, Papoulias replied: “Parks Canada is hoping to have an announcement as soon as possible.”
Asked why the process has dragged so long, Papoulias said: “As you can understand, to align the interests of so many partners takes time.”
Leaders call for answers from Parks Canada
Along with the mayor, other community leaders have complained about lack of clarity and action by Parks Canada on this subject.
At the November special meeting, Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie said he doesn’t have an answer why the federal agency needs so much time “to simply organize land.”
“The Province of Ontario is certainly committed to participating,” Dowie said.
Windsor West MP Harb Gill presents a petition on the Ojibway National Urban Park to the House of Commons. (ParlVU)
On Nov. 20, Harb Gill — current MP for Windsor West — presented a certified petition in the House of Commons, signed by community members who want the designation of an Ojibway National Urban Park finalized.
“This has already been considered by all the appropriate committees,” Gill noted.
Papoulias said Parks Canada is aware of the petition, and the agency asks for patience.
“This is a lot bigger than just organizing land,” she said. “We’re actually co-developing a vision in a government structure for a brand new type of protected area.”
Friends of Ojibway Prairie remain optimistic
Michael Fisher, chair of the Friends of Ojibway Prairie, takes a walk in Ojibway Park. (Dalson Chen/CBC)
Michael Fisher, chair the citizens’ advocacy group Friends of Ojibway Prairie, is still optimistic — and idealistic — about an Ojibway National Urban Park.
“I think there’s good understanding locally, across the county, and internationally, just how special Ojibway is,” Fisher said.
Mike Fisher, chair of the Friends of Ojibway Prairie, holds a sign advocating for an Ojibway Urban National Park. (Dalson Chen/CBC)
Fisher said he presented the petition to Gill and spoke with the MP at length about the issue.
Friends of Ojibway Prairie are maintaining a lawn sign campaign that urges the federal government to “act now” on an Ojibway National Urban Park.
“We’re continuing to push and communicate through all avenues we can, to make sure this gets across the finish line,” he said.