Gignac steps into acting mayor role as Dilkens undergoes cancer surgery

As Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens undergoes cancer surgery, a Windsor councillor is stepping in as acting mayor.

Windsor Ward 6 councillor Jo-Anne Gignac has officially assumed the role of acting mayor, as Mayor Drew Dilkens undergoes surgery following his prostate cancer diagnosis.

“Council was informed yesterday. Pretty much the same time as everybody in the city,” Gignac said.

“The mayor has been very clear in terms of his decision with council and everybody, he’s very optimistic, as is Jane. His wife.”

Dilkens, 53, announced Monday he had been diagnosed with intermediate stage prostate cancer after years of regular PSA testing.

“I consider myself one of the lucky ones that I’ve been diagnosed early,” he said.

“Thank God my family doctor checked the box to get a baseline PSA number. Had I not had that number, honestly, there are no signs and symptoms. I don’t feel any different today than I did four years ago, or three years ago before I had this test. I would have no idea and that’s why prostate cancer is called the silent killer.”

Dilkens’ urologist, Dr. Raj Goel, said prostate cancer often shows no symptoms and stressed the importance of PSA screening.

“A lot of it is picked up with PSA testing. Physical exams can sometimes detect disease, but not in its infancy, so the PSA screening, prostate specific antigen screening, which is a simple blood test, just allows us to help pick up the disease a lot sooner,” Goel said.

While Dilkens recovers, Gignac will temporarily oversee mayoral duties, chair council meetings and represent the city at official events.

She said she expects the role to be short-lived.

“This is nothing new for me. And I’m pleased to be able to do it. We just want him back as quickly as possible,” she said.

Gignac noted Dilkens is eager to return to City Hall, though she has urged him to put his health first.

“Procedures are different for everybody. But I do know Drew Dilkens, and I do know that he will want to be back as quickly as possible,” she said.

“And quite frankly I’ve said to him, you’ve got to take care of yourself and make sure that you’ve healed properly.”