Windsor listed as one of Canada's top 10 'Great Escapes' in Maclean's writers' poll

Windsor is considered one of Canada's top 10 places to visit in 2023, according to a staff writers' poll for Maclean's magazine.

The article highlights "hidden-gem destinations" from across the country.

Writer Jason McBride says he specifically loves Ford City.

He applauds the area for its revitalization and "interesting" retail businesses.

McBride spoke to Windsor Morning host Nav Nanwa.

Here's part of that conversation centring on McBride's thoughts on, as he puts it, "The Rust-Belt Revival."

Why did you choose Windsor as one of the 10 places Canadians should be visiting right now?

I've been going to Windsor myself. I guess I have a couple of very good old friends who moved there about 15 years ago.

I started visiting the city soon after they moved there. And I, you know, fell in love with it.

After the second or third time I came to visit, and when my editor at Maclean's came to me to ask if I had any ideas for this travel feature, the first thing that came to mind was Windsor.

It's still kind of a secret, I think, for a lot of Ontarians, a lot of Canadians, and there's just a lot there that people aren't aware of. So, I thought I would bring it to their attention.

What's so fascinating is that you actually start the piece talking about your introduction to Windsor, which was your bachelor party. Out of curiosity, why did they choose Windsor and what was your initial reaction when they said you were going to Windsor to celebrate your bachelor party?

I was a little surprised. I mean, again, the friend had just moved there and he wasn't that familiar with the city really either. And so we were kind of discovering it together.

But that first impression, it wasn't honestly that great.

I saw sort of the more obvious parts of the city. We went to Detroit, which was fine, but it wasn't the kind of parts of Windsor that I talk about in the piece and which I have come to love.

I didn't really see those that first visit. So that stuff came to me over the next ten, 15 years, you know, as the city also changed and as my friends discovered more of the city.

One of the places that you really speak highly about is Ford City, in particular, the revitalization of Ford City. What is it about this neighborhood that resonates with you?

There's just so many interesting retail businesses that have opened there. There's a really nice energy.

It's very walkable and it's still small.

I mean, especially coming from Toronto. It's a small neighbourhood, but it's very walkable.

There's just a lot of potential.

I think in that neighbourhood and a lot of people are doing very interesting things.

Based on your yearly visits, what is it about Windsor that you feel is able to find this balance between gentrification and preservation?

It's an interesting question. I think that there's a lot of really dedicated kinds of city builders in the city of Windsor now, people that I know personally, people who have really invested their time and their energy and their thoughts.

I think that sometimes it might be a bit lost on the municipal government and the provincial government.

But there are people there who are really, really committed to making change. And, you know, grassroots bottoms up, bottom up change. And it's fascinating to watch.

What would you say is the biggest thing that Windsor has going for it right now?

I would say the people. I mean, it sounds a bit cliche, but I think that the people that are there love Windsor.

It's a small city and a tight knit city.

I have to acknowledge that I see it from a certain privileged and perhaps affluent perspective and through the lens of the people that I know. And I'm still just a tourist.

I only know a small part of it. But I think there's just a lot happening. There's a lot going to happen.

The opening of the Ojibway National Urban Park, which I talk about in the piece, is a huge, huge development.

You compare Windsor to places like Pittsburgh and Cleveland, which have undergone transformations lately due to focus on areas like tech, academics and the arts. What excites you the most about Windsor's future?

It's hard to really isolate one thing, but I think the nexus there's a really strong academic community strong biking community, strong art community.

I think the kind of collaboration between those different sectors I think is really exciting.

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