Greetings Melanie,
Although the busy spring tree planting and clean-up season is winding down, there is still a wide variety of environmentally-related activities taking place. See below for all the details:
Volunteers Needed for Peche Island Day
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Everyone who has been asking about Peche Island Day will be happy to hear that this celebration will be taking place again this year! It is scheduled for Saturday, July 7 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Once again, donated boats will be bringing people back and forth from Lakeview Park Marina to Peche Island.
A number of volunteers are needed to help make this event a success. We need people to welcome visitors, help them onto boats and shore, lead tours, make and sell food, and provide direction as people are waiting. Most of these positions will require you to be there from 9:30 to 3:00. To make sure that volunteers won't miss out on a chance to tour the island themselves, we will be holding a volunteer orientation event on the evening of Wednesday, July 4. This will give us a chance to train you on your volunteer task, and will also give you the opportunity to explore the island for yourself. Volunteers will be provided with a t-shirt and lunch on the day of the event. If you would like to volunteer, please email Melanie at coulter@detroitriver.ca. Please include your contact information and the type of task you are interested in if you have a preference.
Keep Cool...and Be Rewarded
Weekends - June 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 2007
EnWin and the Clean Air Foundation are teaming up for to offer two great energy saving programs during the month of June. Visit the Home Depot at 655 Sydney Avenue or 6570-6630 Tecumseh Road East on the following weekends - June 2/3 and June 9/10 and June 16/17 to turn-in your old room air conditioner and/or halogen lamp and EnWin will recycle them for free and reward you for participating. Also get incredible savings on energy efficient products and learn about energy conservation from EnWin representatives. Some conditions apply - see below for details about the rewards.
Bring your old room air conditioner to Home Depot on event days and in exchange get a $25 Home Depot gift card. Old room air conditioners drive your electricity costs up and contribute to air pollution - they use 30 to 70% more electricity than new Energy Star® models.
Bring your old halogen floor lamp to Home Depot on event days and in exchange get $30 off an energy- efficient model. Halogen lamps can be a fire hazard and use up to 70% more electricity than Energy Star® compact fluorescent lamps.
Go Natural Campaign Wraps Up
The DRCC is wrapping up our spring Go Natural: Pull, Don't Spray pesticide awareness campaign after a series of nine give-away events. This project is a partnership with the City of Windsor and Environment Canada, and the goal was to raise awareness about pesticide issues and to get people thinking about alternatives to pesticide use in their own backyards. Nearly six thousand hand-held weed pullers were given away free of charge to local residents, along with educational materials encouraging them to consider pulling out a few dandelions rather than spraying their yard with chemical pesticides. There was a very good public response, and a lot of people were interested in learning more about alternatives to pesticides. There are still a few weed pullers remaining; they will be distributed at the Ojibway Butterfly Count, at Peche Island Day, and at the opening of municipal pools (limited quantities available).
The DRCC would like to thank all of the volunteers who came out and helped to make this event such a great success. We couldn't have done it without you!
The winner of the draw for the complete organic lawn care package by Ladybug Lawn Care was S. Chapados. Congratulations!
- DRCC Go Natural web site
- Ladybug Lawn Care web site
Environmental Assessment Open House
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
The City of Windsor is holding an open house as part of the Class Environmental Assessment for its proposed retention and treatment basin facility to control combined sewer overflows. This project is something that has been identified as important to the clean-up of the Detroit River.
The project is currently in phase 3 of the Class EA process, which involves evaluation of alternative designs leading to the selection of the preferred design. The public open house is taking place to provide further information about the project and to receive input and comment. It will take place on Wednesday, May 23 in room 409 at 400 City Hall Square East, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm and again from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Additional information is available from the City of Windsor by calling 311.
Cedar Creek Canoe Excursion
Saturday, June 2, 2007
On Saturday, June 2 the Friends of Cedar, Mill, and Wigle Creeks will be hosting the Cedar Creek Canoe Excursion from 9:00 am until noon at Camp Cedarwin, 1495 Arner Townline (County Road 23). A limited number of canoes will be available on a first come, first served basis, or you are welcome to bring your own canoe. If you don't want to canoe, a guided nature walk will take place from 10:00 to 11:00 am. A potluck lunch starts at noon. Be sure to bring along your own plate, cups, and silverware along with your potluck dish. For more information, contact Caroline at 519-776-5209, ext 245.
If you are interested in a longer canoe tour, you may want to consider the Ottawa Riverkeeper's River Healing Journey by canoe from Ottawa to Montreal, starting on June 11 (4-day trip). The goals of the trip are to raise awareness of river issues, to raise money for the Ottawa Riverkeeper, and to provide people with an opportunity to travel from Ottawa to Montreal in a replica "Montreal" voyageur canoe.
- Ottawa Riverkeepers web site
Tour the Lake Erie Archipelago Islands
Weekends - May 26 & 27, June 2 & 3, June 9 & 10, 2007
The Lake Erie Archipelago Islands are home to the most remote and diverse colonial bird colonies on the Great Lakes. Colonial birds, such as great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, great egrets, and double-crested cormorants are present in numbers of national significance. The coastal area provides habitat for a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds, and herring gulls nest on the rocky shoreline. The Peaceful Parks Coalition is organizing boat tours visiting the colonies of East Sister Island and Middle Island scheduled for May 26 and 27, June 2 and 3, and June 9 and 10, 2007.
The cost of the tour is $100 per person. Tours are a full day and leave from Leamington. Space is limited. For more information or to reserve your place, please call 416-785-8636 or email ppc@peacefulparks.org.
- Peaceful Parks Coalition web site
Lakeside Park Riparian Buffer Project Community Planting Day
Sunday, May 27, 2007
The Friends of Mill/Wigle Creeks are organizing a community planting day as part of the Lakeside Park Riparian Buffer Project on Sunday, May 27 from noon to 4:00 pm. This planting honours the 100th anniversary of Kingsville's Lakeside Park. Volunteers will be provided with lunch and refreshments, and should meet at the foot bridge. Hiking or rubber boots are recommended. For more information, contact Caroline at 519-776-5209, ext 245.
Field Naturalists' Spring Excursion
Sunday, June 3, 2007
The Essex County Field Naturalists will be hosting the spring excursion on Sunday, June 3. Enjoy a late spring walk along the well-tended circular trail on the Ojibway Provincial Prairie Nature Reserve. Learn about the spring flowering prairie plants and special spots to revisit in the months ahead to see a continual prairie plant floral display into October. Shirley Grondin and Betty Learmouth will lead this walk. Participants should meet in the Ojibway Nature Centre's parking lot at 2:00 p.m.
IJC Survey on the Great Lakes
In the spirit of international cooperation between the citizens of Canada and the United States, the International Joint Commission of Canada and the United States will conduct a survey to gather public views around this international basin. The survey will "test the waters" regarding these views on:
- How successful the current U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement has been in improving water quality in the lakes,
- Whether there is a need for a new or amended agreement, and
- Who should be responsible for further improvements to water quality.
The results of the survey will be released at the Commission's "Sustainable Cities, Healthy Watersheds" 2007 Great Lakes Biennial Meeting and Conference. The two-day conference and public meeting will be held on Thursday and Friday, June 7 and 8, 2007 on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago. The public is welcome to attend and participate.
- IJC Great Lakes survey web site
Drinking Water Source Protection
In 2006, the Province of Ontario passed the Clean Water Act into law. This Act will require community based source protection plans to be developed for Ontario's drinking water. These plans will be developed by community-led Source Protection Committees, with assistance from conservation authorities and municipalities. A Drinking Water Source Protection Discussion will take place at the Essex County Civic and Education Centre, 360 Fairview Avenue West, Essex on Tuesday, June 12. Two sessions will be held - one from 2:00 to 3:00 pm and the second from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.
The Essex Region Conservation Authority is currently accepting expressions of interest for membership on the proposed Source Protection Committee. A formal period of member recruitment will take place once the regulations have been finalized, but those who may have an interest are encouraged to submit an expression of interest. More information as well as the Expression of Interest form can be found on the web site (click the link under 'Conserving our Water').
- Source Water Protection web site
Environmental Job Postings
The Toronto Atmospheric Fund is seeking a Manager of Grants and Special Projects. This is a one-year contract position with the possibility for renewal. The position is based in Toronto. Application deadline is May 31.
The Climate Action Network is seeking an Executive Director. This full-time position is based in Ottawa. Fluency in French is required for this position. Application deadline is June 11.
- Toronto Atmospheric Fund posting
-
Climate Action Network posting
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"There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew. " Marshall McLuhan, 1911-1980
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