By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
County of Essex supports aligning IWE and TWEPI in principle
Members of Essex County Council approved, in principle, aligning Invest WindsorEssex (IWE) and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI) through governance, organizational structure, and future phased integration during the September 2 meeting.
This was a recommendation made through a report NorthGuide consultants created in June. The Board of Directors of each organization unanimously approved this alignment previously.
Both Boards and County Council heard and agreed to hire the consultant to undertake a review of how Invest WindsorEssex and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island could best be positioned for long-term success.
“Over the course of four-months, NorthGuide reviewed governance models from across Canada, organizational and financial information, conducted stakeholder interviews, and facilitated workshops with both boards and both teams,” Gordon Orr explained, who is the dual CEO of both organizations. He has been the CEO of TWEPI for 15-years, and was subsequently appointed CEO of IWE in June of 2025.
He asked that County Council endorse the alignment.
“The objective is to build a stronger organization by investing in people, not reducing capacity,” Orr commented, adding success will be measured by outcomes.
Orr suggested the consultant’s recommendations are evidence-based, practical, and designed to strengthen regional service delivery, while building on the success both organizations have already achieved.
“NorthGuide concluded that both organizations are highly respected and are performing effectively,” Orr said. He said the review was not initiated because of financial challenges or shortcomings, but to build on existing strengths.
The opportunity could create a stronger governance structure, consolidating administrative functions where appropriate, improving operational coordination, and reinvesting efficiencies into expanding capacity.
“The objective is a stronger organization, not a smaller one,” Orr said, adding any efficiencies should allow more to be done for the region.
The recommendation from the consultant included one skill-based board instead of two, of approximately nine to 11 directors. The board would be elected using a skills matrix. He added that the Warden of Essex County and the Mayor of Windsor, or an alternate, would continue to serve on the board to ensure municipal involvement.
He said neither of the organizations’ unique brands would disappear, and both IWE and TWEPI brands would be distinctly maintained.
“Both brands have built significant credibility with very different audiences. Maintaining those identities protects the equity that has been built up over many years,” Orr said.
The consultant also recommended shared services. Rather than duplicating administrative functions across the two organizations, areas such as finance, human resources, and IT support can be consolidated. That should create operational efficiencies. Any efficiencies achieved will be directly reinvested into expanding services and regional prosperity, Orr explained.
NorthGuide also recommended a shared vision, mission, and values between both organizations as part of an integration initiative. Also determining a long-term objective, eventually bringing both teams
together into one shared location by 2029.
A phased-in implementation was recommended by the consultant. Phase one would begin in 2026, including legal counsel, engagement on corporate structure, skills matrix development, and creating the shared mission, vision, and values.
Phase two would take place between 2026 and 2027, which would oversee the shared services and operations. Phase 3 would then take place in 2027 to 2029, overseeing the shared space and brand initiative.
He said any future implementation measures will continue to require board approval, and City and County Councils will receive a progress update in the first quarter of 2027.
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy said the direction being recommended was not surprising.
In answering Bondy about possible cost-savings, Orr reiterated that any cost-savings would be reinvested into the organization. So, there would be no real cost-savings to the City or the County. He believes both boards of both organizations saw an opportunity to be more efficient and effective by looking internally.
Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey was thrilled to see the report come forward and the integration work going on.
Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara supported the alignment, noting that economic development and marketing and promotions go hand-in-hand.
IWE is a local Economic Development organization. Orr said it has become much more than attracting new investment; it’s about supporting existing businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, and positioning Windsor Essex for future opportunities.
Last year, he said Invest WindsorEssex facilitated more than $382M dollars in new investment, 961 new jobs, 56 business expansions, and 86 business startups.
He added tourism continues to be a critical component of the Windsor-Essex economy. TWEPI’s work goes beyond attracting visitors, as it supports local businesses, promotes municipalities, and strengthens community pride.
Last year, Orr said Windsor-Essex and Pelee Island welcomed more than 5.16M visitors, who generated around $816M in visitor spending.