Mayor Drew Dilkens Named 2026 “Mayor of the Year” by Municipal World Magazine
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens has been named the 2026 “Mayor of the Year” by Municipal World Magazine.
Published 12 times a year, Municipal World has been Canada’s leading municipal magazine since 1981. The publication seeks to inform those in the municipal sector on the latest developments in the field and has maintained a reputation as a cutting-edge communication brand. Across print and digital editions, the magazine examines the issues that impact communities: new federal and provincial policies and legislation; new theories about economic development and renewal; new strategies and emerging best practices from communities like Windsor and across the nation.
The magazine’s “Mayor of the Year” award is chosen by the editors of Municipal World following extensive research, personal interviews, and first-hand observations of the municipal sector. The award, launched in 2014, recognizes a Canadian mayor who goes above and beyond the call of duty for their municipality.
The magazine’s editorial team noted, “In recent years, [Dilkens] has advocated for policies that preserve the integrated Canada-U.S. supply chain; protect manufacturing jobs; and maintain the efficient movement of goods across the Detroit-Windsor corridor, North America’s busiest commercial border crossing. These challenges have become increasingly significant amid heightened trade tensions and uncertainty surrounding the future of Canada-U.S. economic relations.”
Drew Dilkens has served as Mayor of Windsor since 2014. He was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, and holds business and law degrees from the University of Windsor and an M.B.A. and Doctorate of Business Administration. As mayor, Dilkens took a fiscally responsible approach, strengthened Windsor’s relationship with Detroit, and kept the city on the world stage with world-class sports/tourism events. His focus was supporting economic development that created jobs and attracted numerous investments, including the largest single investment in Windsor’s history, the $6 billion NextStar Energy battery facility. Dilkens sought to make Windsor a destination of choice for families and businesses. During his three terms serving as Mayor — while navigating tornadoes, floods, a global pandemic, and a trade war with the United States — Dilkens worked with the Province to realize construction of a new regional hospital, established the $5 billion plan for sewer upgrades for the next 50 years, and cut the ribbon on the Gordie Howe International Bridge while also spearheading Bright Lights Windsor, Open Streets Windsor, the Public Art Fund, the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor strategy, Strengthen the Core: Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan, and the Experience Windsor initiative.
“It is such an honour to be selected as Mayor of the Year by Municipal World Inc.,” said Mayor Drew Dilkens. “Windsor is a city that works. We build things. We fix things. We look after each other, and when something knocks us down, we get up and get on with it. None of us gets unlimited time, and what you do with the time you have is more or less the whole question. My work as Mayor has been about helping to guide our community into a position of strength as we seize every opportunity and meet every challenge ahead of us. Leading through times of unprecedented growth and tremendous uncertainty has been a balancing act. I am proud of what we’ve all accomplished together, and I’m truly grateful for this recognition.”
This is the third year for the Mayor of the Year award, and Drew Dilkens joins Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and former Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek on the honour roll of recognition.