Mayor Eddie Francis, Chair

The youngest Mayor in the history of the City of Windsor, Eddie Francis was first elected Mayor in November 2003, and since then, he and City Council have achieved a record of ambitious accomplishments.

Windsor’s downtown has been and continues to be revitalized.  The establishment of two new downtown campuses for St. Clair College, the Windsor International Transit Terminal, and the proposed development of a downtown canal/marina and urban village development, complement a major expansion of the first ever Canadian Caesars property.  Caesars Windsor is Ontario’s third largest convention centre which includes a 5,000 seat coliseum and a 400-plus-room hotel tower.  Financially, Windsor is back on the right track.

Mayor Francis was elected on a promise of fiscal reform, and Windsor’s long-term debt has been slashed from a projected $250 million in 2004 to $182 million today.  It will be further cut to $119 million by 2014.  At the same time, Windsor has achieved an average of a 1 percent tax levy in the past five years.

In response to the global recession, Mayor Francis introduced a $646 million capitol infrastructure plan – the largest in Windsor’s history.  This aggressive plan will transform our neighbourhoods and our transportation networks, including Windsor International Airport (YQG), building a modern, competitive city for commerce and job creation.

Under the Mayor’s leadership, City Council commissioned a groundbreaking report which assessed and promoted the need for new inter-modal transportation systems and border crossings that are fully integrated with trade routes across North America and beyond.  This report laid the foundation for the future new border crossing and highway connection, and it resulted in increasing the original $300 million at-grade highway connection to a $1.8 billion roadway and a new bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit.

Before his election, Eddie Francis ran a very successful small family business with his brothers.  He was awarded the Windsor Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year.  Eddie graduated with a combined undergraduate degree in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario.  He went on to graduate from the University of Windsor Law School, completed his articles with international law firm Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone, and was called to the Bar in 2002.  He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. 

Eddie Francis is married to Dr. Michelle Prince, a Doctor of Chiropractic who has a family wellness practice in Windsor.  They have two children, daughter Sienna and son Phoenix.

Toni Scislowski, Vice Chair

Ms. Toni Scislowski was appointed to the Windsor Police Services Board in March, 2007 and was re-appointed for a further 4-year term in May, 2011.  Ms. Scislowski is a Registered Nurse who is a Nurse Consultant at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

Ms. Scislowski is a graduate of the Woodstock General School of Nursing, Fanshawe College; has an Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Windsor; and a graduate Diploma in Disability Management, Dalhousie University. 

She is a Director, Executive, Board of Directors, Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (formerly Teen Health Centre and Sandwich Community Health Centre).   She also serves on the Quality Care Standing Committee to the Board of Directors, Windsor Regional Hospital.

 Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac   

Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac was appointed to the Windsor Police Services Board on January 17, 2011.  Jo-Anne is a lifelong resident of the Riverside area and was first elected to City Council in 2003 representing Ward 5.  A few of Jo-Anne's extensive committee appointments include Licensing Commission, Rail Issues, Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority, Essex Region Conservation Authority, Lou Romano, Planning Advisory Committee, WFCU, Windsor Canada Utilities, Environmental Master Plan, Service Delivery Review and many more.  Her work on the Operating and Capital Budget Committees has been very productive in addressing the financial challenges the City has and will continue to wrestle with.

Additionally, Jo-Anne has represented the community at the School Board level; she was elected in 1988 as a Trustee and subsequently served as Vice-Chairperson and Chairperson of the School Board until 2000 when she decided not to seek re-election.  Jo-Anne has also been involved with a number of Community organizations including the Children's Achievement Centre, Windsor Catholic Family Services, Habitat for Humanity, Maycourt and Committee of Adjustment.

Councillor Gignac says her continuing priorities are to attract diversified investment in Windsor to create jobs; continuing our fiscal focus on reducing costs and taxes; promoting safe and clean neighbourhoods, and investing in improved sewers and roads.

Jo-Anne says she is committed to working tirelessly with residents and business, making the tough decisions to achieve an attractive, vibrant community at the forefront of social and economic innovation.

Ron Doherty

Mr. Ronald Doherty was appointed to the Windsor Police Services Board on April 18, 2011.  His 39-year working career was played out in the field of transportation and passenger rail.  Initially hired on with Canadian National Railways and in 1978, upon the creation of VIA Rail Canada, Mr. Doherty was transferred to the new Crown Corporation.  The lion's share of his career (since 1985) was as Manager of Customer Services here in Windsor.  In this capacity, Mr. Doherty was the supervisory office for VIA staff not only at Windsor, but also Chatham, Sarnia, London, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Woodstock, Brantford, Burlington, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls,.  His work-life involved a wide range of daily issues (Human Resources, Public Affairs, Labour Relations, Development of Budgets, Accounting, and Real Estate), and long range planning.  Every aspect of his work required that he draw on his innate love of communication.  For a number of years, Mr. Doherty also acted as the Transportation Officer in Southwestern Ontario under which title he supervised Locomotive Engineer's and Conductors.

In the late 1980's, Mr. Doherty was an active member of the Board of Directors of the Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society, and served as its President and Past President.  Mr. Doherty feels that this advocacy role was a very positive experience and he was honoured to be able to serve his community in this important role.

Mr. Doherty has been married for 38 years to Gloria and together they have raised two remarkable daughters, Mary and Eileen.  Mr. Doherty notes, “I truly believe that anything I have accomplished is inevitably linked to the support of my family.”

Michael Ray was appointed to the Windsor Police Services Board on May 11, 2011.  He is a retired lawyer, former educator and politician. Mr. Ray was an Ontario Crown Counsel (Civil Law); a municipal Solicitor; and a former Director of Clinical Law with the University of Windsor Faculty of Law.  He has been elected as a Member of Provincial Parliament for Windsor-Walkerville and as a member of Windsor City Council.  Mr. Ray has served on a number of provincial and federal committees and many community committees, boards and agencies including the Planning Board, Development Commission, Conservation Authority, Police Commission, Harbour Commission, Health Unit, Art Gallery and Symphony. He is currently a member and past Chair of the Windsor Regional Hospital Board and is a director of the Windsor Port Authority.

Mr. Ray holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Honours Economic and Political Science from the University of Western Ontario; a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Windsor; and Secondary School Teachers Certificates from the Ontario College of Education. Mr. Ray was called to the degree of Barrister-at-Law and admitted to the Ontario Bar at Osgoode Hall, Toronto. 

Karen A. Ceman, Administrative Assistant to the Board 

Karen Ceman joined the Windsor Police Services Board as the Administrative Assistant in November 2009 and is also the Secretary-Treasurer for the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards Zone 6. 

The Board office is located at Windsor Police Headquarters and Ms. Ceman can be reached at (519)255-6700, extension 4445 or by email:  kceman@police.windsor.on.ca.