Kingsville Times

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is launching its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, a guide that outlines how we will support and improve public health over the next five years. The plan was developed by listening to residents of Windsor-Essex, community partners and our staff. It reflects the priorities and challenges […]

Erie Shores HealthCare is launching a new plastic surgery service, expanding access to breast reconstruction consultations and supporting more coordinated breast cancer care in the community. The service is designed to strengthen the continuum of care for breast cancer patients, supporting smoother transitions from diagnosis and treatment through recovery and […]

Improved, modernized Paramedic Services dispatch system now coming to Essex-Windsor EMS by Sept. 2026 Essex-Windsor EMS has been fast-tracked by the Ontario Ministry of Health to switch to a new, cutting-edge ambulance dispatch system sometime between June and September of this year. The coming Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) is […]

The agenda for the upcoming Board of Health meeting is available on the Health Unit website. Date:    Thursday, February 5, 2026 Time:          3:00 p.m. Location:      Caboto Club – Marconi Hall 2175 Parent Avenue Windsor, ON N8X 4K2 The next Board of Health meeting is scheduled for Thursday, […]

Alcohol use is common in our society. Many people see it as a way to relax or connect with friends, or a common feature of social events. But we know that alcohol can harm our health and lead to serious problems like cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction. According […]

Hot flashes, disrupted sleep, decreased sex drive, and irrational urges to kick your husband for no good reason. The menopausal transition can make life hard to manage! Many women find themselves weighing the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). But not everyone can take HRT, and not everyone […]

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Windsor Regional Hospital – The Fancsy Family Hospital Project: Contract 1 Diagnostic and Treatment Block. The Fancsy Family Hospital is being delivered in three phases, with the hospital leading the Enabling Works projects and Infrastructure […]

Two Canadian clinical trials show poop pills could help patients respond to immunotherapy while also reducing toxic side effects of cancer drugs Fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), can dramatically improve cancer treatment, suggest two groundbreaking studies published in the prestigious Nature Medicine journal. The first study shows that the toxic side […]

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is currently experiencing operational issues with the hospital boiler system. As a result, some areas of the building are fluctuating in temperature.   The boiler system issues are also impacting the Medical Device Reprocessing Department, limiting the ability to reprocess medical equipment.  At this time, the decision has been made to cancel all elective […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is encouraged by strong immunization compliance across the region, with over 93.1% of students in Windsor and Essex County currently meeting Ontario’s school immunization requirements under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) R.S.O.1990 (ISPA). While most students are up to date, the WECHU is now […]

Erie Shores HealthCare’s board of directors has approved the appointment of Katelyn Dryden as interim president and chief executive officer, effective March 23, 2026. Until that date, Dryden will serve as interim president and CEO designate and will work closely with current President and CEO Kristin Kennedy through a structured […]

Eliminating the 20 million hours of unnecessary paperwork and administrative tasks doctors face annually would free up the equivalent of 9,000 full time physicians, according to Losing doctors to desk work: Canadian physicians lose 20 million hours each year to red tape report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) […]

Based on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s forecast, Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health is extending the Cold Warning for Saturday, January 24, 2026. A Cold Warning is issued when the temperature reaches -15°C (5°F) without the wind chill for a day. Everyone is at risk from cold, […]

Based on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s forecast, Dr. Mehdi Aloosh, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health has issued a Cold Warning for Friday, January 23, 2026. A Cold Warning is issued when the temperature reaches -15°C (5°F) without the wind chill for a day. Everyone is at risk from cold, […]

Why is it the face lines of aging men can make them handsome while a wrinkled female face needs improvement? That double standard should be put to bed. Nevertheless, looking and feeling younger is not a cosmetic matter, for women or men. Studies show that “feeling younger”, or perceiving oneself […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is reminding residents to use caution when consuming, purchasing, and storing cannabis edibles. As edible products continue to rise in popularity, so do concerns related to accidental ingestion, high-potency products, and the risks associated with unregulated cannabis sources. Cannabis is a potent drug, and […]

By any measure, what happened in Switzerland a couple weeks ago is a human catastrophe. A room filled with young people full of promise was turned into a scene of lifelong grief. Families shattered. Futures erased. Survivors left with horrible scars. Authorities will do what they must. Investigators will trace […]

An estimated 105,529 Canadians travelled abroad for medical care in 2025, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “More Canadians are deciding they must leave the country to get the medical care they need in a more timely manner,” said Nadeem […]

Erie Shores HealthCare marked the opening of its newly renovated Discharge Lounge today with a ribbon-cutting at the hospital. This dedicated space for patients was renovated with support from the Erie Shores Health Foundation to improve patient flow and create a more comfortable, private setting for patients who are medically […]

I hear paternal grumbling at what I’m about to say. Dr. Gifford-Jones often warned we are a “nation of wimps” when it comes to pain. He believed we were losing the toughening effect that ordinary aches and setbacks once gave us. Furthermore, anyone who has run a marathon, climbed a […]

Windsor‑Essex County (WEC) continues to experience significantly high influenza (flu) activity following the holidays. For the final week of 2025 the region has experienced nearly a six-time increase in the number of cases as compared to the same time period in 2024. The strain seen the most throughout Ontario continues […]

Both Erie Shores HealthCare and Windsor Regional Hospital are experiencing higher-than-usual volumes in our Emergency Departments (ED) today, and wait times may be longer than normal for patients with non-life-threatening concerns. Our teams care for patients based on medical urgency, not arrival time. If your symptoms are mild or you’re […]

Welcome to the world, Baby Alice! This bundle of joy was born at 12:41 a.m. on January 1st,  at Erie Shores HealthCare. Alice Isidro Guenther is the first baby born in Essex County this year. She came into the world at 7 pounds and 12 ounces. She has three sisters […]

How many of us can recall our grandfathers leaning back in a favourite chair, saying, “Let me tell you something you should remember.” What followed was usually a story that had grown larger with time, about hardship, happenstance, or a decision made when the stakes were high. On the other […]

Windsor Regional Hospital wishes a very warm welcome to the first baby born in the City of Windsor in 2026! Favour Jesuseum Josiah waited until 2:53 am to enter the world. This precious baby girl weighed in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce (3230 grams), measuring 19.7 inches (50 cm) long. […]

Erie Shores HealthCare’s Board of Directors announced today that Kristin Kennedy will conclude her role as president and chief executive officer, effective March 22, 2026, as she prepares to become the next president and CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital. “On behalf of Erie Shores HealthCare’s Board of Directors, I want […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit offices will be closed on: Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Thursday, January 1, 2026 Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: 519-258-2146 Facebook: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Instagram: thewechu  Twitter: WEC Health Unit YouTube: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

How many times in 2025 did you complain about something? And with good reason! But this is the time of year for setting aside our thoughts about the issues driving us crazy. Take a step back during the holidays and reflect on what really counts. Health and happiness. That’s the […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit offices will be closed on: Wednesday, December 24 Thursday, December 25 Friday, December 26 Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: 519-258-2146 Facebook: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Instagram: thewechu  Twitter: WEC Health Unit YouTube: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

Erie Shores HealthCare has unveiled a new tribute wall recognizing the Erie Shores HealthCare Auxiliary, celebrating 75 years of volunteer service and giving to support patients, staff and hospital programs. The unveiling was part of the hospital’s 75th anniversary celebrations and comes as the Auxiliary wraps up its organization after […]

Last week I shared thoughts on aging parents. Many of you wrote asking for more, particularly about the challenges of caring for a parent with dementia. It’s not an easy assignment, but here is a list of practical advice. 1. Start legal, financial, and medical planning now, not later. The […]

The following items were discussed at the December 9, 2025 open meeting of the Erie Shores HealthCare Board of Directors. Masking Returns Effective Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, masking will be mandatory for all staff and physicians within 2 metres of a patient during direct patient care. This applies across all clinical […]

I have been lucky as my parents aged past 90. My father, Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, stayed vibrant longer than most people dare hope. In his nineties he was still hopping on planes, giving talks across Canada, researching and writing his next column, and scheming about the next promotion or the […]

On December 9, 2025, Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, issued the following update on respiratory virus season in Ontario: “With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s important to take all necessary precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy, including by ensuring your vaccines are up to […]

On October 14, 2025, George Westerik became the first patient at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) to receive radiation – typically used for cancer treatment – to target a cardiac issue called ventricular tachycardia. The treatment marks the first time that radiation therapy has […]

Canadian patients in 2025 waited 28.6 weeks from GP referral to actual treatment, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Remarkably long wait times for medically necessary care have become the defining characteristic of the Canadian health care experience,” said Nadeem […]

Province will spend $125M to handle 20,000 orthopedic surgeries in GTA, Ottawa and Windsor The Ontario government is investing $125 million over two years to add four new community surgical and diagnostic centres licensed to deliver orthopedic surgeries across the province. This expansion will reduce wait times and support up […]

Hernias are an ancient ailment. And modern medicine still debates the best ways to repair or live with them. One of the earliest references appears in the Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian medical scroll from around 1550 BCE. The treatment for hernias was to push them back into place, in techniques […]

Erie Shores Health Foundation has launched Care 365, a new monthly giving program designed to support high quality care at Erie Shores HealthCare and The Hospice, Erie Shores Campus — every day of the year. To kick off the campaign, a generous $15,000 matching gift from a grateful patient will […]

Stem cell transplantation is now available as a possible treatment option at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) for adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). While this treatment has been available for patients with SCD elsewhere in the province, in November 2024, through a collaborative team effort, the Blood and […]

We applaud people solving problems who are focused, efficient, and fast. But I was recently reminded that progress doesn’t always follow a straight line. Before investigators can conduct studies that yield breakthroughs, they often need others to finance and build major research infrastructure. It takes time, with various stops and […]

Early indications are calling for an elevated risk of flu activity this season relative to previous years. The cause of this is a new strain referred to as H3N2, a type of Influenza A known to cause more severe illness in young children, older adults, and individuals with underlying health conditions. […]

New Ontario law mandates the life-saving devices on big construction sites come Jan. 1 Essex-Windsor EMS is offering free tutorial and information sessions to help area construction companies prepare for a new provincial law mandating life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at large construction sites. Fortis Construction last week became the […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) along with local partners and organizations around the world are joining up to recognize Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week, November 18 – 24, 2025. To mark the occasion, the WECHU’s Windsor office will be illuminated in blue to raise awareness of the growing global threat […]

The Alzheimer Society of Ontario calls for urgent national and provincial action to strengthen early diagnosis and ensure equitable access The Alzheimer Society of Ontario (ASO) is calling for immediate action across federal and provincial governments to prepare Canada’s health system for the arrival of new Alzheimer’s treatments that can […]

The upcoming Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Board of Health meeting will start at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The agenda is available on the Health Unit website. Location: Caboto Club – Marconi Hall 2175 Parent Avenue Windsor, ON N8X 4K2 The next Board of Health meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026.

Grade 8 student Alaina Ha helps connect hearing impaired to 911 operators

At London Health Sciences Centre’s (LHSC) Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are enhancing patient access to timely, high-quality cancer care while supporting oncologists in delivering the best possible outcomes. By working collaboratively, NPs and oncologists are reshaping how cancer care is delivered – reducing wait times, improving continuity […]

Erie Shores Health Foundation (ESHF) is excited to share that the ‘Stache Campaign is back for 2025. With the campaign, ESHF is rallying men across Essex County to rock their facial hair to raise funds in support of enhanced cancer care at Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC). Building on the success […]

We don’t choose the starting line. The family and life circumstances into which we are born is happenstance. Reading “Straight Life: The Story of Art Pepper,” a book described as ‘sheer horror’ and the ‘saddest autobiography ever written’, I’m reminded of my more fortunate start. Pepper was a jazz musician, […]

Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC) has launched a dedicated Paediatric Respiratory Clinic to provide timely assessment and care for children and youth with mild to moderate respiratory symptoms—such as cough, cold, fever, sore throat, wheezing, and asthma flare-ups—during the peak flu season. The clinic will operate on Thursdays from 4 to 7 […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit offices will be closed to the public for Remembrance Day on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: 519-258-2146 Facebook: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Instagram: thewechu  Twitter: WEC Health Unit YouTube: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

What started as a routine U15 hockey game quickly turned into every parent’s nightmare for Jennifer Thorpe when her 14-year-old son, Tyler, suffered a life-threatening wrist injury on the ice last March. Late in the third period, as the Elgin Middlesex Canucks battled to tie the game, Tyler skated past […]

I have been sorting through unpublished Gifford-Jones columns. Among them, I found a dusty clipping from a Reader’s Digest article by Robert A. Siegel and a rough draft of this week’s column. In it, we find a glimpse into a lecture hall at Harvard Medical School 75 years ago, and […]

Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC) yesterday celebrated the ribbon-cutting of its newly renovated Reflective Space, a serene, non-denominational room designed to offer comfort and quiet for patients, families, visitors and staff. Formerly the hospital chapel, the space was transformed through a donation from the HL Tiessen Foundation, coordinated by Erie Shores […]

It’s a night when we willfully indulge children in alarming amounts of things we call treats. Halloween is a lot of fun for kids, and for adults too. But otherwise intelligent people are facilitating the celebration of a tradition that has swerved in the wrong direction. What could be high-quality, […]

November is Radon Awareness Month! Did you know: Radon is an invisible radioactive gas that can be found in elevated levels in homes across Canada. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Testing for radon in your home is easy to do. Our short-term digital testing kits are […]

“The superfluous,” said Voltaire, the French philosopher, “is a very necessary thing.” Alas, his thinking predated our understanding of the norovirus. The norovirus is one of the most common viruses on the planet – yet it seems to be doing nothing useful, let alone necessary. It’s just making hundreds of […]

With respiratory illness season upon us, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is reminding residents to protect themselves and stay healthy this fall. One of the most effective ways to prevent serious illness from respiratory viruses is by staying up to date with recommended vaccinations. Eligible residents are encouraged to […]

Do you ever find yourself a little low on fuel, right when you could really use some? Men may discover they need a touch of help with their tiger, so to speak. But being low on steam could occur at less exciting moments too, like when walking up the stairs. […]

Made-in-Essex County pathway aligns with Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC), in partnership with the Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (ECNPLC) and Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (weCHC), has launched a made-in-Essex County pathway to connect unattached patients with a primary care provider before they leave hospital. […]

A multi-centre study led by London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI), Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph’s Health Care London (Lawson), and University Health Network (UHN) has found a novel imaging solution, called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, can more effectively detect the recurrence of […]

Up to $3.61 million to speed up offloading, cover extra operating costs The Province of Ontario is providing up to $3.61 million more this year to Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services, to help free up paramedics faster from hospital offloading, and to help the service cover extra operating expenses. As part […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit offices will be closed to the public for Thanksgiving on Monday, October 13. Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: 519-258-2146 Facebook: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Instagram: thewechu  Twitter: WEC Health Unit YouTube: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

Why do so many women ignore one of the most obvious warning signs of uterine cancer? It’s a cancer that usually announces itself early. But women wait, or brush off the warning signs, and that allows the disease to take hold. Uterine cancer, also called endometrial cancer, is not rare. […]

The Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation announced a remarkable donation of $2,718,473 to the Windsor Regional Cancer Program. This donation represents an investment in hope, healing, and world-class cancer care close to home. Members from both organizations, along with medical professionals, past patients, and community supporters gathered to celebrate the fundraising […]

New space prioritizes women’s pain management while easing pressure on operating rooms London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is raising the standard of women’s health care with the opening of the Women’s Minor Procedure Room (MPR), a dedicated space designed to reduce pain and enhance the patient experience during common gynecologic […]

Windsor Regional Hospital is launching a renaming and rebranding initiative, inviting input from staff, patients, and the broader community through a public survey. The process is expected to take about nine months and will lead to a new name and visual identity for the organization. While the name Windsor Regional […]

Researchers at London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI) have launched a Phase II clinical trial that aims to treat renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) by inserting microscopic beads filled with radiation directly into blood vessels surrounding cancerous tumours. The goal is to improve patient outcomes through a new treatment […]

Mobile Medical Support (MMS) is a community liaison team of healthcare professionals looking to help clients in High Priority Communities (HPC) overcome barriers that prevent them from seeking healthcare and linking into community resources. Our goal is to help navigate clients in need by providing health assessments, follow-up care, assistance with […]

Are you in the group of people who treat insurance the way you do exercise? You know it’s good for you, but you put it off until it’s too late. Human behaviour can be so irrational! But insurance really should be a priority for your attention among the list of […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit offices will be closed to the public to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Tuesday, September 30th. Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: 519-258-2146 Facebook:  Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Instagram: thewechu  Twitter: WEC Health Unit YouTube: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

Every so often, history taps you on the shoulder. That happened to me recently when I discovered a book on the science, culture, and regulation of drugs by Professor Lucas Richert, a historian of pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The book devotes its entire first chapter to none other […]

Researchers at London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI) and Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry have launched a clinical trial that is evaluating a new type of dialysis filter called Elisio HX™ that may significantly improve outcomes for people living with kidney failure across Canada. Unlike standard […]

If you don’t know much about life-saving AED units, or how to operate one, your kids might. With grade schools and high schools having reopened for students this month, Essex-Windsor EMS aims to continue providing AED/CPR awareness sessions to as many Grade 6-12 students as possible, in all corners of […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has launched a new interactive Food Safety Inspection dashboard. This dashboard is a public-facing online platform that has consolidated food safety inspection results for all food premises in Windsor and Essex County, making it easier for the public to view inspection outcomes. Key features include: Searchable […]

The following items were presented during the ESHC Board of Directors Public Meeting held on September 11, 2025. Addiction Services Expansion (Partnership with HDGH, CMHA & weCHC) Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC), in collaboration with Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH), CMHA Windsor-Essex County and the Windsor-Essex Community Health Centre (weCHC), is expanding […]

When it comes to health, my father always told me that good luck is as important, if not more so, than good genes. Like genes, luck is allocated at life’s outset. Watching nightly news on wars, famine, and other disasters has always made me grateful to have been born in […]

Many of us have the experience of boarding a plane with a prayer that the pilot has had enough sleep. With your surgeon, it’s a similar problem. Few people get to choose who will do their surgery. Even if you’ve gone to the trouble of arranging a referral to the […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit offices will be closed to the public for Labour Day on Monday, September 1st. Website: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Phone: 519-258-2146 Facebook:  Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Instagram: thewechu  Twitter: WEC Health Unit YouTube: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit

BEACH WATER TESTING RESULTS AVAILABLE . Sampling date: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 . . Please note that the beach water testing program has ended for the 2025 season and will resume in the spring of 2026. Continue to enjoy using our beaches with the safety tips at https://www.wechu.org/beaches/beach-safety . All Beaches […]

Starting in 1975, my father, Ken Walker, under the penname W. Gifford-Jones MD, wrote a weekly column first appearing in the Globe and Mail, and subsequently syndicated in Canada and the U.S. This year, the column crossed the 50-year mark, my father passed away at 101, and now I’m carrying on. […]

BEACH WATER TESTING RESULTS AVAILABLE . Sampling date: Wednesday, August 20, 2025 . . Warning Signs Posted Swimming is not recommended at the following beach as E.coli counts are 200 or higher: Lakeshore Lakeview Park West Beach . . Sandpoint Beach has been temporarily closed to swimmers by the City of Windsor […]

There’s no harm in being gullible when the stakes are low or when you are having fun. Being open to the incredulous is part of being a curious person. And playing along with a friend’s tall tale strengthens your connection while giving you both a good laugh. But in matters […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has reported its first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) this year in one resident. WNV is an infection transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. This positive human case is a reminder for WEC residents to continue to protect themselves. […]

WATER TESTING RESULTS AVAILABLE . Sampling date: Wednesday, August 13, 2025 . . Closed The following beach is closed because E.coli counts are 1000 or higher. Beach closure signs/procedures must be followed. Holiday Beach . . Warning Signs Posted Swimming is not recommended at the following beaches as E.coli counts are 200 or higher: Cedar […]

One should never use the word “crusade” lightly. But if you’ve ever watched someone battle against deeply entrenched systems, close-mindedness, or worst of all, indifference, then there’s no better word for what needs doing. There is unfinished business that I must pick up. And sure as night follows day, there […]

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is issuing a public notice about a potential exposure to Hepatitis A for anyone who dined at Fratelli’s Pasta Grill in Tecumseh. Possible Public Exposure Details: Restaurant Details: Name: Fratelli’s Pasta Grill Address: 13340 Lanoue St., Tecumseh, ON N8N 5E1 Eligible for Vaccination If you ate at Fratelli’s between August 1 […]

Routine monitoring for West Nile Virus (WNV) has identified positive mosquito pools in our community. This is the first sign of WNV in Windsor and Essex County (WEC) this year. Certain types of mosquitoes spread WNV, a potentially serious infection to humans. So far in 2025, no human cases of WNV have […]