THUNDER BAY - For people who have lived at the Windsor Street townhomes for 32 years or just under two years, there has always been a strong sense of community and with many improvements in recent years, as well as a new technology resource centre, residents believe the neighbourhood has a bright future ahead.
“It means a lot to me. There are a lot of people I recognize and it’s a pretty good place to be,” said John Brian, who has lived in the area for 32 years. “It’s improving lots now. For the last year and a half and two years, there is lots of improvements. Before it was really rough here, but they are improving lots.”
The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board celebrated the Windsor Street townhomes 51st anniversary on Thursday, with COVID-19 restrictions last year preventing any celebrations during the actual 50th anniversary.
“We are happy to finally be able to celebrate it today with the tenants and community partners,” said Bill Bradica, chief administrative officer with the TBDSSAB.
Bradica added that throughout the past 51 years, the neighbourhood has grown and many improvements have been made, including an emphasis on tenant support.
“At one time, we had two tenant support workers, we have five as an organization now,” he said. “And more recently in the last few years of putting emphasis on community partners providing programming to the residents.”
“It’s a terrific thing to see it here 50 years and we are hoping to see 50 more,” added Lucy Kloosterhuis, chair of the TBDSSAB. “I believe it’s really grown in the district and the area. You can see that it’s a really family-oriented place, families getting to know each other, it’s just a real community centre and that’s what’s good about it.”
On Thursday, the TBDSSAB also unveiled a new technology hub in the Windsor Street resource centre, providing internet access to all residents.
“We do think it will make a big difference. The cost of internet is quite substantial for people,” Bradica said.
“For example, someone in receipt of social assistance, a single person, their basic needs is only $340 a month. To pay for a modest internet package of say $70 a month is beyond their ability to do that. So to have that available in the neighbourhood is quite important.”
There are plans to add similar technology hubs to other TBDSSAB housing units throughout the city, as well as other improvement plans including the redevelopment of the Bertrand Court on North Court Street.
“TBDSSAB is always improving. Every year we have it in our budget that certain areas get improvements,” Kloosterhuis said. “It’s an ongoing thing and we keep up all sites up to good condition.”
Residents at Windsor Street are very thankful for the improvements made in recent years.
“Honestly, I’m not going to lie, I was pretty scared when I got an offer here but they cleaned it up a lot through the past couple of years,” said Pandora King, who has lived at Windsor Street for almost two years.
“There are a lot of programs, there’s Our Kids Count and the youth program. All the kids play together and it’s really nice. They improved it a lot.”
King added that the introduction of the technology hub will be really helpful, especially for youth to help them with school and finding jobs.
And while King said there is still some crime in the area, she doesn’t believe it is within the Windsor Street townhome area and she feels safe living there with her children and other families.
“Here in Windsor, all the mothers talk to one another and everyone looks out for everyone,” she said. “It’s a real community here.”
