Connecting Windsor-Essex (CWE) is proud to announce the successful completion of its one-year regional cybersecurity training pilot, delivered from January 2025 to January 2026, as a part of its strategic commitment to strengthening the cybersecurity posture of the Windsor-Essex region.
The initiative brought together cybersecurity professionals from nine public sector organizations across the region, including the City of Windsor, Windsor Police Service, County of Essex, Essex County Library, Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, Greater Essex County District School Board, Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence, St. Clair College, and the University of Windsor.
Approved and funded by the CWE Board of Directors, the pilot directly advanced a key organizational priority: building regional cybersecurity capacity within public service organizations through proactive, coordinated investment in advanced training and expertise.
"Cybersecurity is no longer an isolated IT function; it is a shared regional responsibility," said Joanne Soave, CEO, Connecting Windsor-Essex. "By investing in a coordinated CISSP cohort, we made a deliberate decision to strengthen the expertise embedded within our public service organizations at the same time, rather than in silos."
"This pilot reflects our commitment to proactive resilience, collaboration, and protecting the critical systems and services our communities rely on every day," Soave said.
Eighteen technical leaders and practitioners from across these organizations- spanning municipal, public safety, education, and higher education sectors – participated in a fully subsidized Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) training and examination pathway.
The CISSP is one of the most globally recognized, vendor-neutral cybersecurity certifications, validating expertise in enterprise, security governance, risk management, and information security leadership.
Public sector organizations are increasingly operating in a rapidly evolving cyber threat environment where incidents can disrupt essential services, compromise sensitive data, and impact operational continuity. For municipalities, public safety agencies and educational institutions, cybersecurity is no longer solely a technical function, it is a governance and risk management priority.
Recognizing the shift, CWE designed a coordinated regional cohort model rather than a traditional individual training approach. This enabled multiple organizations to elevate their cybersecurity maturity simultaneously, strengthening collective awareness, governance practices, and internal expertise across the region.
"The CWE Board of Directors recognized early that cybersecurity capacity is no longer optional for public service organizations, it is essential," said Francis Mailloux, Chair, Board of Directors, Connecting Windsor-Essex. "Supporting this pilot represented a strategic investment in regional resilience, ensuring our stakeholders are better equipped with advanced expertise to manage risk, strengthen governance, and safeguard the critical systems and data our communities rely on."
By embedding advanced cybersecurity knowledge within nine public service organizations, the pilot contributes to stronger in-house capacity, improved risk mitigation, and a more connected regional network of cybersecurity practitioners capable of sharing insights and responding to emerging threats more effectively.
The intensive CISSP training component was delivered by Learning Tree International, supporting participants through a rigorous and structured certification pathway over the duration of the program.
This pilot demonstrates how a coordinated regional investment in advanced cybersecurity training can accelerate organizational readiness more effectively than isolated efforts, while reinforcing Connecting Windsor-Essex's commitment to collaboration, digital resilience, and the protection of critical public services.
"Typically, we see certifications pursued within single departments or organizations," said Costa Solanakis of Learning Tree International. "What makes this initiative stand out is the regional, cross-sector commitment to building cybersecurity expertise together - a model that significantly strengthens collective readiness and resilience."
Building on the success of this pilot, CWE will continue advancing its strategic focus on regional resilience through initiatives that strengthen both technical and leadership capacity.
This includes the Human-Centred Leadership series for senior leaders, delivered in partnership with Mainstream Corporate Training, which complements cybersecurity readiness by equipping leaders to navigate complex digital risks with clarity, trust, and a human-centred approach to decision-making.
