Construction manager EllisDon will begin preparing the site for the new Fancsy Family Hospital in Windsor-Essex in early July 2026, with a ceremonial groundbreaking expected later that month, Windsor Regional Hospital CEO Kristin Kennedy announced Thursday.
Site Preparation and Timeline
EllisDon will mobilize at the former farmland at 9th Concession and Cabana Road, setting up trailers, hoarding, fencing, and other necessary infrastructure. Kennedy made the announcement during the hospital's annual general meeting at Met Campus.
“This is more than a construction milestone. It is the beginning of a transformational chapter for health care in Windsor-Essex County,” Kennedy said. “It represents our commitment to providing world-class care closer to home, supporting innovation, and attracting the next generation of health-care professionals. It also creates a facility designed around the needs of our patients for decades to come.”
Project Details and Cost
Brandon Bailey, vice-president of redevelopment, stated that once construction begins, it will continue uninterrupted until the hospital is complete. However, a precise timeline remains uncertain, pending the bidding process for builders. “That will be a part of their bid submissions, and it’s still to be determined, but Infrastructure Ontario puts out as much information on schedule as they can in their IO market update,” Bailey said.
The project's cost has not been updated by Infrastructure Ontario for several years, with the province still citing a $2 billion estimate from over a decade ago. Hospital officials acknowledge costs have risen but have not disclosed a new figure. “With respect to Phase 1, we’re still finalizing this contract, and with respect to the following phases, it’s still too early to release that procurement-related information with respect to cost,” Bailey said, adding that the hospital follows Infrastructure Ontario's lead on cost disclosure.
Community Impact
Kennedy expressed hope that the imminent groundbreaking will reassure the community that the project is progressing. “The team here at Windsor Regional Hospital has been working very diligently, not only over the last decade, but over the last few months to really optimize the submission, and to work with the ministry on getting the rubber stamp,” she said.
The new hospital, named the Fancsy Family Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital, is expected to bring 101 additional beds to the region, as mentioned in the Ontario budget. The project aims to modernize healthcare infrastructure and attract new medical professionals to the area.
