Did You Know… Windsor Was the First Canadian City to Introduce Electric Streetcars?

This “Did You Know” section highlights fascinating facts about Windsor, Ontario, and will be updated periodically to bring you more interesting insights into the city’s history, culture, and unique features.

Stay tuned for more fun and surprising tidbits!

Did you know…

… that Windsor was the first city in Canada to introduce an electric streetcar system? Streetcar #351, which operated on the SW&A (Sandwich, Walkerville, and Amherstburg) line, was part of the fleet until the system was shut down in the late 1930s. In 2017, Windsor acquired Streetcar #351, ensuring that this piece of local history would be preserved. It’s one of only three surviving streetcars that once ran in the city.

… that during Prohibition, Windsor played a major role in smuggling alcohol into the United States? In fact, 75% of all the alcohol smuggled into the U.S. crossed the border at the Windsor-Detroit Funnel. Windsor became a key hub for rum-running, with an estimated 900,000 cases of liquor shipped to the area in the first nine months of Prohibition, often disguised as private consumption.

… that Windsor is the southernmost point in Canada? It shares the same latitude as Northern California, Rome, Italy, and other warm cities like Madrid, Spain, and Athens, Greece.

… that Windsor, Ontario has the most pizzerias per capita in Canada? This fact was highlighted in the documentary The Pizza City You Never Heard Of, where filmmaker George Kalivas showcases Windsor’s distinctive pizza culture.

… the world’s first international submarine telephone line was laid between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, on July 11, 1881? This pioneering achievement allowed for direct communication across the border and showcased Windsor’s role as a technological trailblazer. The cable was a significant step in global telecommunications, occurring years before similar connections between other major cities.

… while Canada lies north of the United States, Windsor is uniquely positioned as the only Canadian city south of the U.S.? Located directly below Detroit, Michigan, Windsor’s position across the Detroit River places it geographically beneath its American neighbor, creating a rare exception in the U.S.-Canada border layout.

… Canada’s only Olympic medal in basketball was won by a team from Windsor? At the 1936 Berlin Summer Games, the Windsor-based “Ford V-8s” formed the core of the Canadian men’s basketball team, which took home the silver medal. This was the first time basketball was featured in the Olympics, and the games were played on outdoor clay courts, even during rainstorms. Despite challenging conditions, the Windsor players helped Canada secure its place in basketball history.

… Ford of Canada was founded in Windsor on August 17, 1904? This partnership between Ford Motor Company and Canadian investors made Windsor the heart of the country’s automotive industry. In 1913, Windsor also became the site of Canada’s first fully Canadian-made Ford vehicle.

… The Ambassador Bridge, connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, was indeed a groundbreaking structure when it opened in 1929. At that time, it held the title of the world’s longest international suspension bridge, stretching 7,490 feet from end to end.

… the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, completed in 1930, remains the world’s only underwater international vehicle tunnel? It connects downtown Windsor, Ontario, to downtown Detroit, Michigan, and spans about one mile under the Detroit River. This engineering marvel facilitates over 20,000 vehicle crossings daily.