Windsor-Tecumseh residents will be choosing a new person to represent them at Queens Park in the June 2 provincial election.
The seat is now open after the most recent incumbent, the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) Percy Hatfield, announced last year his plans to retire at the end of the term. A former journalist, Hatfield entered politics in 2006, serving two terms on Windsor City Council before being elected to Queens Park in a 2013 by-election.
The provincial riding of Windsor-Tecumseh is virtually identical to its federal counterpart, encompassing the City of Windsor east of Langlois Avenue and Pillette Road, plus the entire Town of Tecumseh. The population at the 2016 federal census was 117,430.
Windsor-Tecumseh was known as Windsor-St. Clair from 1999 to 2007, then changed to its current name. Liberal Dwight Duncan represented the current riding from 1997 to 2013, and Hatfield served from his 2013 by-election. It has never been represented by the Progressive Conservative Party.
According to Elections Ontario, Hatfield won the 2018 election for the NDP with over 58 per cent of the vote. The PC Party finished a distant second with 27 per cent, and the Liberals polled eight per cent.
Advance voting locations in the Windsor-Tecumseh riding include the WFCU Centre from May 19 to May 28, along with the Forest Glade Community Centre and the Gino and Liz Marcus Community Complex from May 21 to May 27. You can also vote in advance now through June 1 at the Elections Ontario Windsor-Tecumseh returning office at Green Valley Plaza in Tecumseh, located on Manning Road at Tecumseh Road East.
To find your Windsor-Tecumseh polling place on Election Day, June 2, enter your postal code on the Elections Ontario website.
If you are unable to vote in person, you can apply to vote by mail. Elections Ontario has provided complete instructions on how to apply. The deadline to apply is 6 p.m. on May 27. To ensure that your mailed vote is counted, it must be received by 6 p.m. on Election Day, June 2.
Windsor News Today has compiled a riding profile, reaching out to all nominated candidates, listed here in alphabetical order.
Green Party candidate Melissa Coulbeck
Melissa Coulbeck is the Green Party of Ontario candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh. Photo courtesy Green Party of Ontario.
Coulbeck works as an ecological landscaper and has also volunteered many hours gardening with environmental advocates. She graduated from York University in 2018 with an honours bachelor’s degree in design. Coulbeck has also worked with York’s student ecological advocacy group, as well as volunteered for the Greens during the 2018 provincial election.
This is her first campaign for elected office.
You can find out more about Coulbeck on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and the Green Party of Ontario platform here.
Progressive Conservative candidate Andrew Dowie
Andrew Dowie is the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh. Photo courtesy Andrew Dowie.
Dowie is currently the Ward 1 Councillor for the Town of Tecumseh, where he has been serving since 2014.
Dowie is employed by the City of Windsor as an engineer, and he has worked and volunteered with numerous associations and youth programs.
You can find out more about Dowie on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario platform here.
Ontario Party candidate Steven Gifford
Steven Gifford is the Ontario Party candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh. Photo provided by Steven Gifford.
Gifford is a political newcomer. Born and raised in Windsor-Essex, he had previously been active in the local Jewish Federation and Community Centre. He attended St. Clair College, studying in the travel and tourism program and later working as an educational assistant. He is self-employed, running a business that coordinates the delivery of Postmedia products throughout the region.
You can find out more about Gifford on Facebook and Twitter, and the Ontario Party platform here.
Ontario Party Leader Derek Sloan's official Instagram can be found here.
New Democratic Party candidate Gemma Grey-Hall
Gemma Grey-Hall is the Ontario New Democratic Party candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh. Photo courtesy Ontario NDP.
Grey-Hall is a 17-year resident of Windsor-Tecumseh. She is currently employed by the University of Windsor as a Major Gift Officer. She has also been active as a women’s advocate and a community leader.
Grey-Hall was named the NDP candidate soon after Percy Hatfield’s retirement announcement. She was an unsuccessful candidate for Windsor City Council in 2018, finishing third in a crowded field of those vying for the Ward 8 seat.
You can find out more about Grey-Hall on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and the Ontario NDP's official platform here.
Ontario Liberal Party candidate Gary Kaschak
Gary Kaschak is the Ontario Liberal Party candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh. Photo courtesy Ontario Liberal Party.
Kaschak is the current Ward 8 seatholder on Windsor City Council.
The Windsor native worked for the federal government for 38 years, first with the Canada Revenue Agency, then the CBSA. This election is Kaschak’s first attempt at a provincial office.
You can find out more about Kaschak on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and the official Ontario Liberal platform here.
Ontario New Blue Party candidate Sophia Sevo
This is Sevo's first election campaign. Born and raised in Windsor-Essex, Sevo attended school in Montreal to be trained in fashion design.
She is an independent entrepreneur and a published author, who among other things, has written features for the Windsor Star. She has also worked for the City of Windsor as a gymnastics program coordinator and instructor.
You can find out more about Sevo on Facebook and Twitter and the New Blue Party's official platform here.
None of the Above Direct Democracy Party candidate David Sylvestre
Sylvester is a volunteer.
You can find out more about the None of the Above Direct Democracy Party here.
Independent candidate Giovanni Abati
Abati is a lifelong Windsor resident who has worked in green-related fields for years, and owns an environmental consulting and education firm/
He was the 2019 federal Green candidate in Windsor-Tecumseh, and was also a past candidate for Windsor City Council.
Independent candidate Laura Chesnik
Chesnik is a long-time elementary school educator at the Greater Essex County District School Board who is active in her Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario local.
In the past, she has run for federal and provincial office as a Marxist-Leninist.
Independent candidate Nick Babic
Babic is a Windsor resident.
