Residents and visitors to Lakeshore will be better connected by next summer.
The Municipality announced Monday that free public WiFi will be coming to eight Lakeshore parks by the summer of 2024. Lakeshore Council has agreed to provide a letter of support for the project to Gosfield North Communications.
"This service will be yet another reason to visit Lakeshore’s incredible parks and public spaces and is a step towards digital inclusion and accessibility," said Mayor Tracey Bailey. "The addition of free WiFi will help bridge the digital divide and provide free access to reliable Internet to individuals and community members who need it most. We appreciate Gosfield North Communications' leadership, and we are proud to partner with them on this important initiative."
With the green light, the Municipality will begin creating the necessary infrastructure at Optimist Park, Ladouceur-Lions Park, Duck Creek Park, Lakeview Park, Millen Park, Orioles Park, and Comber Fairgrounds Park. WiFi will also be installed at Lakeshore's town hall.
Gosfield North will install, operate, and maintain the WiFi network.
"All of this is made possible through the successful acquisition of our Connecting Windsor-Essex grant funded by FedDev Ontario," said Gosfield North General Manager Don Casemore. "This partnership enables us to provide complimentary public Wi-Fi access to Lakeshore's residents, enhancing their experience as they make use of the exceptional facilities. With a decade of dedicated service to Lakeshore's communities, Gosfield has proudly delivered high-speed fiber connections to numerous residences. This transformative project further exemplifies our unwavering dedication to fostering stronger communities."
Lakeshore is the first Windsor-Essex municipality to benefit from such an initiative.