Co-Founders & History
– THE HON. HILARY M. WESTON, WINDSOR CO-FOUNDER“Every morning, I wake to the quiet roar of the ocean. One of my greatest pleasures is to throw open the windows and then leap back into bed and watch the pelicans float past over the jungle of dunes below.”
History
Windsor traces its story to 1989, when W. Galen and Hilary M. Weston of Toronto, Canada visited South Florida in search of a winter home for themselves and their children. In Vero Beach they discovered a property that would become a cherished home, passion project and ultimately a critically acclaimed residential community.
The land that so captivated them was a former citrus plantation in an idyllic location between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean. Initially, the Westons built a few homes for friends and family and a polo field where Mr. Weston – an accomplished polo player – enjoyed hosting spirited matches. The polo field was soon followed by a championship golf course, and before long, inspired by the joy they found in this beautiful setting, they began to pursue a truly expansive vision – a community with small-town charm, world-class sporting amenities and sophisticated cultural events.
The Westons named the community after the location of their beloved English home in Windsor Great Park.
Co-Founders
Galen Weston (1940 – 2021) was a business innovator and Chairman of George Weston Limited, one of North America’s largest food processing and distribution companies. He was also the Chairman of Selfridges Group, a collection of iconic department stores that includes Selfridges & Co (U.K.), Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy’s (Canada), Brown Thomas and Arnotts (Ireland) and de Bijenkorf (the Netherlands). In recognition of his charitable work, Mr. Weston was made an Officer in the Order of Canada in 1990, awarded the Order of Ontario in 2005 and invested by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 2018.
The Hon. Hilary M. Weston is one of Canada’s most influential women, recognized for her volunteer and philanthropic work, her business acumen and her high-profile public service. Mrs. Weston served as the 26th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1997 to 2002. As HM the Queen’s representative in Ontario, she was responsible for the Crown’s constitutional and representational roles in the province. Mrs. Weston served as the first chancellor of the Order of Ontario and received the honor in 2001. She received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2003. In October 2015 Mrs. Weston was invested by HM the Queen as a Commander in the Royal Victorian Order.
