By Tom Henderson

The Public Advisory Council (PAC) of the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup (DRCC; detroitriver.ca) is an independent branch of the DRCC representing the public. Volunteers and environment groups including the ECFNC, Little River Enhancement Group, Citizens Environment Alliance and others have held membership since we started in 2004. Meetings are open to the public and scheduled when issues arise. Gina Pannunzio has all the details.

Among the projects over the years: 

1.     Ojibway Parkway eco-passage. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority donated $1.5 million seed money to the City for an eco-bridge spanning the Parkway, projected cost around six million. PAC asked the Bridge Authority to undertake a 50-50 split with the City as part of its community benefits program. At present, the Bridge Authority is awaiting a response as to how much the City is willing to pay. Hopefully the eco-bridge will be constructed.

2.     Ojibway Shores on the Detroit River: In 2013 the Windsor Port Authority announced plans to destroy most of the property for use as a dumping site during construction of the Herb Gray Parkway. Three hundred people including PAC and ECFNC members attended a rally at the WPA public meeting to express displeasure with their plans. The property was saved and eventually will join the Black Oak Heritage Park to form 100 acres of the 800 acre Ojibway Prairie Complex.

3.     Herb Gray Parkway Restoration. When the parkway was under construction, 15 acres of provincially significant wetland were destroyed in the Walker Road area. PAC and others lobbied the provincial government for compensatory lands. The province promised 45 acres and eventually restored close to 100 acres near the Spring Garden Natural Area. The DRCC virtual movie night will feature a 30 minute video “Eco-Highway” displaying the results. 

4.     PAC officials meet regularly with our American counterpart, the Friends of Detroit River based in Taylor Michigan. We lobbied on their behalf during the Revere Copper spill near the Ambassador Bridge and Marathon Oil’s piling of petcoke east of the bridge. We also supported our U.S. friends in their efforts to save the $300 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. President Trump wanted to reduce the amount to $3 million. He failed.

Tom Henderson has been the PAC Chair since 2005. The Vice Chair is Andy Paling of the Friends of Canard River. Technical support is supplied by Jackie Serran, DRCC RAP Coordinator and her assistant Gina Pannunzio.