FORMER MAYOR HONOURED
Park named after Kishkon
Elizabeth Kishkon, Windsor’s first and only female mayor, was honoured Friday as the city renamed an east-end park after her.
“First and foremost, Elizabeth, it was your commitment to our residents that brought you into politics,” Mayor Drew Dilkens said Friday before unveiling a sign for Elizabeth Kishkon Park off Banwell Road. “It was your desire to ensure that their voices were heard. You were a tireless advocate.”
Dilkens praised her for helping to save Peche Island. She had been a secretary for the group fighting to preserve the Detroit River island when she got into politics.
“I know how important family and the protection of green space is to you.
“Your tenacity and leadership you showed to fight to preserve the integrity of Peche Island from development is something for which we are still grateful today,” he said.
Kishkon said she was grateful and excited to have a park named after her.
On being Windsor’s first female mayor, she said it was men who convinced her to run for the city’s top political post.
“It was very tough,” she said of her 1983 to 1985 stint as mayor.
Kishkon, 83, had served as an alderwoman in 1970-71 and again in 1981-82 before becoming Windsor’s mayor. And she was raising five children.
Her daughter, Kim KishkonFragos, remembers their home having two telephone lines. One for the teenagers and one line that was listed for anyone in the city to contact her mom.
“When we answered the one phone we knew it would be anybody, possibly with a problem, but she would always be there.
“So we grew up in an environment of helping no matter who it was or what time it was or no matter what day of the year it was, if somebody needed help she would get on that phone.”
The new Elizabeth Kishkon Park had been called Lakeshore Woods but that name was confusing because it was associated with the Town of Lakeshore. Many residents simply called it Banwell Park since it is off Banwell Road. Dilkens said there was an opportunity to rename it and have a permanent reminder of Kishkon’s commitment to the city.
It is a 21-acre park with two woodlots, trails, sports fields and two playgrounds including a new accessible one off the Banwell Road parking lot.
Dilkens quoted former mayor John Millson who called Kishkon “a real champion for the people of Windsor,” who encouraged women to enter politics. Millson said Kishkon was forceful, yet charming as she never backed down from a fight.