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By Gina Pannunzio, Kelly Laforest and Ian Naisbitt

Woke up today and checked the foreboding weather forecast: “Frost advisory in effect for: Windsor – Leamington – Essex County and Special weather statement in effect for: Windsor – Leamington – Essex County.” More details included: increasing cloudiness. Rain beginning this afternoon. Amount 5 mm. Wind becoming southeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 near noon. High 13. UV index 2 or low. Regardless of the advisory and special weather statement, it looked like there was a window of opportunity to plant the trees and shrubs in the morning. We always have a positive attitude that volunteers will be able to get the job done.

In the past, volunteers have persevered and cleaned up or planted trees in all kinds of wicked weather: pelting rain or snow with blustery winds. It builds character and adds to our stories we tell friends and family, right?

The planting site is located in the Detroit River Watershed in East Windsor’s Little River Corridor Park, east of the Ganatchio Trail and south of Wyandotte Street. This natural area is the same site that our community has planted numerous times to celebrate Earth Day.

Over 125 volunteers, including children, their parents and other community groups participated by digging holes; planting, wrapping and mulching 350 trees! We started planting at 9:00 a.m. and the job was completed just after 12 noon.

On Saturday, 26 October, TD Bank sponsored their TD Tree Day Windsor program by inviting our Windsor-Essex community to help TD employees plant trees. Groups that participated included: City of Windsor, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, Essex Region Conservation Authority, Essex County Nature – Little River Enhancement Group, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Caesars Windsor – CodeGreen, students from the University of Windsor and local secondary schools, the How To Crew and members of the Windsor Junior Spitfires Hockey Minor Hockey Association.

The heavy afternoon and evening rain were a great help to settle the soil around the newly planted trees.

Trees Provided Fall Colours for us to Enjoy

The species of trees that we planted included: Basswood, Elderberry, Buttonbush, Swamp White Oak, Nannyberry, American Sycamore, Freeman Maple and Red Cedar.

Essex County Nature – Little River Enhancement Group would like to thank TD Bank, Essex Region Conservation Authority and the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup for planning this community event in the Little River Watershed. This volunteer effort addressed the Beneficial Use Impairment, “Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat” of the Remedial Action Plan by improving the ecosystem health of the Detroit River Watershed.

Today’s TD Tree Day Windsor planting event brings the total number of trees and shrubs planted by community volunteers in the Little River Watershed to 44669.

We Appreciate the Efforts of Local Volunteers

By Jennifer Nantais

Windsor joined over 400 other jurisdictions across Canada in declaring a climate change emergency through a unanimous city council vote on November 18th.

Several delegates spoke out in support of the declaration including environmental specialists from the Essex Region Conservation Authority and Citizens Environmental Alliance, representatives from the Windsor Law Cities and Climate Action Forum, and residents.

While this declaration is largely symbolic, it shows that the city is serious about tackling climate change, and could serve as a helpful tool to support future planning and policy commitments. 

By Jennifer Nantais

On November 29^th 2019, experts and stakeholders gathered at the Windsor-Essex Climate Action Symposium held at the University of Windsor. A wide range of speakers included Claire Sanders from the Essex Region Conservation Authority, Karina Richters from the City of Windsor, Dr. Anneke Smit and the University of Windsor Cities & Climate Action Forum, energy specialist Peter Garforth, former Guelph Mayor Karen Farbridge, University of Windsor professors Paul Henshaw and Edwin Tam, and Amandeep Hans from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

Morning lectures shared data on temperature, energy use and emissions, with topics including Climate Change and Health, Community Energy Planning, Climate Emergencies and your Municipality, and the Cost of Doing Nothing, while the afternoon allowed attendees to engage in brainstorming session workshops.

Climate Change is projected to cost Canadians more in the future due to increased heating and cooling demands and energy shortages, but costs are not limited to economics. Social, ecological and health costs are already being felt today, and studying these will help us to anticipate and prepare for an uncertain future. Prevention costs much less than a cure, and the longer we wait, the greater the cost will be. Sharing information and resources can help us to understand the impact that human activity is already having on a changing climate in order to plan for a healthy, sustainable future.