Restoration, preservation funding for Willistead Manor announced by city leaders
On Sunday, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and other city leaders announced $200,000 in funding dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the historic Willistead Manor.
According to a press release from the City of Windsor, a special reception was hosted at Willistead Manor in recognition of the continued support of Walkerville’s “historic gem.”
Mayor Drew Dilkens was joined by members of city council, city administration, Willistead Manor Inc., the Friends of Willistead, Rotary Club of Windsor (1918), among others, to recognize supporters and private and public donors.
Sunday marked the first time the reception has been held in person since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“City council and the City of Windsor remain committed to heritage conservation and preservation at the historic Willistead Manor in Walkerville. We are thrilled with these recent generous contributions,” said Dilkens.
Dilkens presented a cheque for $15,000 to Willistead Manor Inc., with the funds being raised during last summer’s Roaring 20s event during a fundraiser dinner that celebrated the unveiling of the Hiram Walker Commemorative Statue and the grand opening of the permanent Coach House Historical Exhibition.
Willistead Manor in Walkerville is seen on Jan. 29, 2023. (Michelle Maluske/CTV News Windsor)
Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) donated a cheque for $85,737.57 to the City of Windsor, which was raised during the 42nd annual Art in the Park Festival last summer. Proceeds from the festival support both the restoration of Willistead Manor as well as Rotary’s other charitable causes.
Charleigh Charitable Trust also announced a $100,000 donation, to be disbursed over four years in increments of $25,000 each year, on behalf of the Walker family descendants.
Hiram Walker’s great-great granddaughter Pamela Morse and her husband Tony were in attendance to present the cheque to the Willistead Manor Inc.'s Board of Directors.
“We are honoured to see our family legacy celebrated in the City of Windsor. We greatly appreciate the work of the Willistead Board, the Friends of Willistead, and the City of Windsor to preserve the manor and the story of the Walker family,” said Leigh and Charles Merinoff, on behalf of the Walker Family descendants.
“With this ongoing support, we are able to keep the manor house, the surrounding buildings, and the park site vibrant, thriving and brimming with heritage, culture and art all year long,” said Dilkens. “This is a great day for Willistead Manor, and the City is grateful for these significant contributions.”
As part of a 15-acre estate, Willistead Manor is a 36-room mansion that was originally constructed in 1904-1906 for Edward Chandler Walker, the second son of Hiram Walker, and his wife Mary Griffin Walker.
Today, Willistead Manor is used for weddings, meetings, performances, programs and special events.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.