The mayor of Windsor says he wants the city to pay tribute to the late Sergio Marchionne.
Mayor Drew Dilkens plans to discuss the idea to honour the former CEO of Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) with council, perhaps as early as next week.
Dilkens credits Marchionne for saving Windsor during the 2008 global economic meltdown by investing $1-billion in the Windsor Assembly Plant and adding another 1,000 jobs. Dilkens says Marchionne was a giant and deserves recognition.
"Sergio Marchionne is someone who went to school here, someone who had roots in the community, someone who understood the spirit of the City of Windsor and knew the hard work of the men and women here, came forward and said we are going to make a big investment in the Windsor Assembly Plant," says Dilkens.
Dilkens says the family and FCA will be notified before a decision becomes public.
Marchionne attended the University of Windsor and called his years there among the best of his life. Marchionne passed away last month.
Dilkens is grateful to Marchionne because FCA could have closed the plant but he chose to stay true to his roots and kept it open.
"He understood the spirit of our community. So, I think it's right that we reflect now that he's passed and think of a way that we can appropriately recognize what he did for the community and the men and women who live here and work here and count on that plant to be successful for their employment," he says.
Dilkens says Marchionne should be celebrated and remembered after what he did for Windsor and the city could name something after him.
"It probably would include some form of naming but I want to have that discussion with city council because I have some ideas and council may have some other ideas and we will see what comes out at the end of the day," the mayor says.
