Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
Dozens of researchers from across Canada and the U.S. are embarking on a first-of-its-kind study in the Great Lakes region this week to uncover the mysteries of what lies beneath the surface during the winter months. The event dubbed the “Winter Grab” involves bi-national scientists from several institutions including the University of Windsor to fill the knowledge gaps of what takes place in the largest source of fresh water in the world year-round.
A binational team of scientists hits the offshore ice later this month to study the Great Lakes ecosystem in the winter, a first-of-its-kind data collection effort aimed at revealing new insights into one of North America’s most precious natural resources. Dubbed Winter Grab, the research project includes a University of Windsor duo and will see ice drilling, water sampling and the gathering of zooplankton (including algae) at as many as 30 different sites.
