Windsor-Essex is witnessing history. The region’s long-awaited new acute care hospital finally has an official name, and it comes with an unprecedented gift. The future facility will be called The Fancsy Family Hospital in recognition of a transformational $40 million donation from the estate of the late John Thomas Fancsy.

This is the largest private donation ever made in Windsor-Essex and one of the most generous gifts to a single organization in Canada. Hospital officials say this contribution will play a pivotal role in shaping health care in our region for decades to come.

A Historic Moment for Windsor-Essex

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald, and members of the Fancsy family gathered on August 12, 2025, at the construction site on County Road 42 to make the announcement.

Premier Ford called it “a record-breaking $40 million gift that will transform health care for families in Windsor-Essex for generations.”

Karen Riddell, acting president and CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital, described the donation as “an extraordinary act of generosity” that ensures the Fancsy family’s name will forever be tied to the future of health care in our community.

About John Thomas Fancsy and His Legacy

John Fancsy was remembered as a brilliant engineer, entrepreneur, and community builder. After earning degrees in mathematics and engineering, he worked in his family’s automotive parts business before later co-founding the award-winning Viewpointe Estate Winery in Harrow with his brother Stephen.

The Fancsy family’s ties to Windsor run deep. John’s grandfather helped build the local automotive sector, employing thousands over the decades. His mother, Antoinette Goyeau, was a nurse at Hôtel-Dieu Hospital and left her own gift toward the new hospital when she passed in 2016.

Their combined legacy reflects a deep commitment to Windsor-Essex and its future.

What This Means for the New Windsor Mega Hospital

The new Fancsy Family Hospital will be built on a 60-acre site at County Road 42 and the 9th Concession, near Windsor International Airport. It will be more than 50 percent larger than Windsor Regional Hospital’s current campuses combined, with state-of-the-art emergency, birthing, and pediatric care facilities.

Originally projected at $2 billion, the hospital’s total cost is expected to rise, though the City of Windsor and the County of Essex have already committed $100 million each. This record-breaking private gift is a major step forward in ensuring the project’s success.

A Lasting Legacy

The Fancsy donation comes less than a year after the Solcz Family Foundation pledged $15 million toward pediatric and birthing services. At the time, that was the largest private donation in local history. Now, the bar has been set even higher with this $40 million gift.

Windsor’s new hospital has been discussed for decades, and this announcement brings the project closer to reality. For many residents, it marks a turning point that will finally deliver the modern health care facilities our region has long needed.

Final Thoughts

The Fancsy Family Hospital is more than just a building. It represents community pride, lasting legacy, and a future where Windsor-Essex families have access to world-class health care.

This record-setting $40 million donation ensures that the dream of a new hospital is not just alive, but closer than ever to becoming reality.