Press Releases

June 15, 2005: Conservation and environmental organizations from across Eastern Canada today filed a Section 115 Petition with the U.S. EPA Administrator. This action seeks emission reductions of contaminants from the 250 U.S. Midwest coal-fired power plants that cause smog and acid rain in Canada. Emissions from these plants also have serious global consequences associated with climate change. Read the press release
April 7, 2005: Rare Ecosystem Threatened By City of Windsor Infrastructure Proposal. Read the press release
April 4, 2005: Citizens Environment Alliance concerned about Federal plan on auto emissions. Read the press release

2004

November 4, 2004: CEA Receives Award by Gaia Singing Circles.
Windsor, Ontario - The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) Board of Directors and staff are thrilled to learn the organization is one of four Canadian non-profit groups that will receive an award from the Gaia singing circles on Saturday, November 6, 2004. The CEA was chosen as a recipient for the award as it shares Gaia s singing circles mission to educate, advocate, and act toward the preservation and restoration of our land and waters. Friends of Oakwood Bush, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and The Naturalized Habitat Network of Essex County and Windsor will also be receiving awards.

It is exciting news for the CEA to be recognized for their environmental commitment to Windsor - Essex County and surrounding areas. To receive this award from such a committed group of women working to preserve and protect our environment is greatly appreciated by our organization. states Lisa Tulen, CEA President.

Members from the CEA board of directors and staff will be present at the award ceremony on Saturday, November 6 at 11:30 am in the library at Massey High School, 1800 Liberty St.

2003

December 18, 2003: City of Windsor Must Improve its Effort to Protect Natural Areas. The City of Windsor's remaining Candidate Natural Heritage Sites are threatened by development despite the limited efforts of the City over the years to protect these important green spaces. Read full press release
December 2, 2003: Fourth Annual Smog Report Card: City/County Receive 18 "F"s, 9 "D"s, 1"C", and 2 "C+"s. "We are concerned with the insufficient effort of the City of Windsor and the County of Essex to accomplish the tasks that are outlined in their Air Quality Action Plan. The plan remains fundamentally weak primarily due to the lack of an implementation strategy with targets, timetables and resources to improve our air quality," stated Derek Coronado, Research and Policy Coordinator for the CEA. Read full press release
November 5, 2003: Honoring Our Detroit River - Caring for Our Home: Presentation and Book Signing. Join us in the celebration of the recently published book Honoring our Detroit River - Caring for our Home. Dr. John Hartig, contributor and editor will provide a historical overview of the Detroit River- its early history, contamination and pollution and current initiatives to help preserve and restore our spectacular river. Read full press release
October 24, 2003: CEA Joins Ontario Smart Growth Network: Urban Sprawl A Fundamental Threat To Healthy Ecosystems. The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) has joined other organizations in Ontario to form the Ontario Smart Growth Network. The network brings together organizations that are working to prevent urban sprawl and promote sustainable, compact and healthy communities across Ontario. Read full press release
October 6, 2003: Bike The Canard River Delta; Hike On A Sidewalk Through The Woods. "Great tour! I liked exploring the wildlife and going on trails. I think you should do it next year... I’ll be there." That was a typical comment from one of the participants in our first annual series of Fall Nature Tours. With that in mind, the Citizens Environment Alliance is pleased to once again play host to two fall tours on behalf of the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup Committee. Read full press release
September 23, 2003: Government Agencies Attempt to Eliminate Public Participation in the Detroit River Remedial Action Process. In a thinly disguised attempt at eliminating public participation in the Detroit River remedial action process, Environment Canada has called for a renewed management framework for the Detroit River Canadian Cleanup Committee (DRCCC). The framework proposal has the support of the Essex Region Conservation Authority and the tacit support of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Read full press release
June 18, 2003: CEA To Attend Smog Summit On Friday. Derek Coronado, Policy and Research Coordinator of the Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) will be attending the Smog Summit in Toronto this Friday. The CEA asserts that all levels of government have, so far, failed to institute integrated and comprehensive policies and programs that will effectively reduce smog and improve environmental health in southwestern Ontario. Read full press release
May 27, 2003: Smogfest Parade/Demonstration & Closing Reception (The Final Gasp). If Smog is any indicator of our area's economic success, then business is definitely booming! On April 30, 2002, the "Clean Air" section of Environment Canada's website asserted "The summer smog capital of Canada is Windsor, and it averages more than 30 smog advisory days a year." On March 17, 2003, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment measured a smog day in Windsor - an indication the smog problem is worse than previously thought. Read full press release
May 21, 2003: Ministry of the Environment's Weak Smog Alert System Misleads The Public. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) continues to promote its weak smog advisory system. The MOE will only issue smog advisories when elevated smog levels persist for at least six hours. Currently, the air monitoring network measures six common air pollutants and releases average hourly data to the public several times per day. Read full press release
May 14, 2003: Citizens Environment Alliance presents its 2ND ANNUAL SMOGFEST ART EXHIBITION & SILENT AUCTION. As part of the 2nd annual Smogfest events, forty-five local artists showcase work that reflects Windsor’s poor air quality and other environmental issues at two locations: Milk Coffee Bar and the Art Gallery of Windsor. Read full press release
May 14, 2003: CEA Congratulates Transit Windsor on Free Transit Rides During Smog Days. The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) welcomes Transit Windsor's commitment to providing free transit during smog days. Transit Windsor secured funding from Windsor City Council ($30,000) and Environment Canada ($30,000) to provide free transit during smog days throughout this year. Read full press release
May 1, 2003: 1st SMOGFEST EVENT: Movie Night at Room with a Cue, Wed, May 7 beginning at 7 pm! The Citizens Environment Alliance is set to launch its second annual Smogfest with a Movie Night at Room with a Cue. This event will take place on Wednesday May 7, 2003 and features two movies: Blue Vinyl, a movie that looks at PVC siding, a toxic housing material and its human health and environmental impacts, and The Air We Breathe, a movie that looks at how we travel around our cities and its effect on the environment. Read full press release
May 1, 2003: CEA Gearing Up For SmogFest 2003. The Citizens Environment Alliance invites you to join us as we herald a new smog season. The first of May is the day typically recognized as the beginning of the Summer Smog Season in Ontario. Here at the CEA we like to think of the beginning of the Smog Season as a kind of New Year... so we're ringing it in with plenty of noise...Read full press release
April 15, 2003: CEA Opposes Detroit Waste Incinerator Renewable Operating Permit. The Citizens Environment Alliance has filed a letter of opposition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the renewal of the operating permit of the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Facility (Detroit Municipal Waste Incinerator). Read full press release
March 26, 2003: 2nd Annual SMOGFEST: Call for Submissions. We live in the Smog Capital of Canada. Here at the Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) we are still frustrated by the lack of positive environmental action from local industry and politicians. Countless press releases, public presentations and pleas for remedial action seem to be ignored by area power brokers. That's why we are holding our 2nd Annual SMOGFEST. Read full press release
March 18, 2003: On-Road Freight Transport A Significant Source Of Local Congestion And Environmental Degradation. The environmental impacts of on-road freight traffic have been in the background of the ongoing debate about border infrastructure development. Actions to reduce on-road freight traffic, in order to improve ecosystem and human health in southwestern Ontario, are urgently required. Read full press release
February 11, 2003: International Campaign To Curb Cross-Border Waste Shipments Unveiled. The Citizens Environment Alliance has joined with nearly two dozen Michigan environmental organizations, community and religious groups in a campaign to reduce the cross-border shipments of trash. Read full press release
January 27, 2003: CEA Responds to Joint Management Committee's Windsor Gateway Action Plan. The key recommendation in the Joint Management Committee (JMC) report, to build a truck freeway through neighborhoods in Windsor, while shutting down a train route, will ensure a greater volume of truck traffic flowing into the City. Read full press release

2002

December 3, 2002: Shawn Hupka Steps Down As Executive Director. Shawn Hupka is leaving the Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) after almost three years of service as Executive Director. "I will always cherish the time that I've spent with the CEA," reported Hupka. Read full press release
December 2, 2002: Climate Change Issue at Windsor City Council Tonight. While the Federal and Provincial Governments continue to debate the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, the City of Windsor is poised to take action on the issue tonight. Read full press release
November 28, 2002: Public Notice re: New Environmental Advisory Committee. The City of Windsor and the County of Essex are now seeking nominations for their new joint Environmental Advisory Committee. The Windsor Essex County Environment Committee (WECEC) is the working name for the committee that will likely begin meeting in early 2003. Read full press release
November 4, 2002: Third Annual Smog Report Card. "Both the City and County have been negligent in developing an implementation strategy for the Air Quality Action Plan. The lack of such a plan, with timetables and an annual report, has left the public without the information they require to assess the commitments made by their representatives," concludes Derek Coronado, Research and Policy Coordinator for the CEA. Read full press release
October 7, 2002: Explore our natural heritage: Announcing FALL NATURE TOURS 2002! The Citizens Environment Alliance invites everyone to join us for a hike in the woods - on an 80-year-old sidewalk. Or ride your bike over a bridge that looks like a boat. Or join with lots of other cyclists in a big ride along a little river. All this and more will be part of an upcoming series of fall nature tours. Read full press release
September 26, 2002: Stop Hazardous Waste Incinerator In Ontario! Mel, the Toxic Moose will be in Windsor Monday, September 30, 2002. Mel is the mascot of the Bennett Incinerator fight and has already logged thousands of kilometers in the fight against the Bennett incinerator proposal. Read full press release
September 4, 2002: Canada to Ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) welcomed the announcement from Prime Minister Chrétien that his Government will allow a Commons vote on the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. Read full press release
August 19, 2002: 5th Annual State of the Detroit River Boat Tour. The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) Fifth Annual State of the River Boat Tour is on Saturday, September 21, 2002. Boarding at the foot of Ouellette Avenue in downtown Windsor at 11:30am, we will travel for four hours on the Detroit River. Read full press release
June 20, 2002: Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) Executive Director, Shawn Hupka, to travel to Toronto for Tomorrow’s National Smog Summit. Citizens Environment Alliance believe that governments must do more to ease the air pollution burden in southwestern Ontario, especially Windsor, the Smog Capital of Canada. CEA Executive Coordinator, Shawn Hupka is taking this message to Toronto for the third annual Smog Summit. Read full press release
June 17, 2002: St. Clair College Environmentally Significant Area threatened by development. “…we’re going to bulldoze it.” -Thom Hunt, Manager of Planning Policy Services, City of Windsor Read full press release
May 23, 2002: Citizens Environment Alliance will Demand Protection for Ojibway Shores at Windsor Port Authority Annual Meeting - Thursday, June 6, 2002. The Citizens Environment Alliance is outraged that the Windsor Port Authority (WPA) intends to destroy Windsor’s last undeveloped-natural area on the Detroit River. The Windsor Port Authority has made it clear that they intend to pursue the destruction of this property, with or without public discussion or approval. Read full press release
May 6, 2002: Emissions of Pollutants in Windsor/Essex County Continue to Increase: Border Area Inundated by Air Pollution. “There is a toxic soup of pollution being dumped into the Windsor/Detroit area on an annual basis,” said Derek Coronado, author of the CEA report. “Our environment is under continual assault and that is completely unacceptable.” Read full press release
April 15, 2002: CEA calls on Chamber of Commerce to endorse Kyoto Protocol. The Citizens Environment Alliance wants the local Chamber of Commerce to break from its parent organization on the climate change issue. "The Canadian Chamber of Commerce recently took the unfortunate position that Canadian ratification of the Kyoto Protocol would be foolish. What would be foolish is to ignore the science behind climate change and not ratify this important international treaty,” said Shawn Hupka, Executive Coordinator of the Citizens Environment Alliance. Read full press release
February 15, 2002: Citizens Environment Alliance opposes Brighton Beach Power Station. The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) has appealed to both the Provincial and Federal Governments to intervene to stop the construction of the proposed Brighton Beach Power Station. "With so much public discussion on the need to address Windsor's health problems, the time has come for a moratorium on polluting development," said Hupka. Read full press release
January 23, 2002: CEA Demands Action for Public Health. The Citizens Environment Alliance believes that governments and their agencies must respond to the analysis "Community Health Profile of Windsor", published in Environmental Health Perspectives (December 2001) and conducted by Jim Brophy of the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers and Michael Gilbertson of the International Joint Commission. Read full press release
January 23, 2002: CAW to Negotiate Mercury Elimination. Cathy Walker, CAW National Director of Health and Safety, at a public meeting hosted by the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) on January 17, 2002, announced that her Union would put the issue of the elimination of mercury in convenience lighting switches in automobiles on the bargaining table this fall. Read full press release

2001

December 6, 2001: Pegasus Plastics Gets Permit to Pollute. Ministry of the Environment Negligent in protecting Public Health. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has quietly issued an air pollution permit to Pegasus Plastics that could see more than ten tonnes of harmful pollutants discharged directly to our air. Read full press release
November 26, 2001: CEA opposes proposed Brighton Beach Power Station. The CEA prefers a renewable energy project based on wind and/or solar power. The proposed power station would contribute to atmospheric particulate matter, NOx and SO2. Read full press release
October 31, 2001: CEA Releases Air Quality Report Card for Windsor - Essex County. Funding, pollution reduction strategies and evaluation are fundamental aspects of any anti-smog action plan. Regrettably, they are absent here. Read full press release
October 5, 2001: Air Quality Committee requests Provincial and Federal Funding for Transit. Windsor Essex County Air Quality Committee (WECAQC) endorsed two motions requesting Provincial and Federal funding for a regional transit network linking Windsor and Essex County. The motions, introduced by the Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA), are part of the CEA’s overall efforts to encourage the implementation of the Windsor Essex County Air Quality Action Plan. Read full press release
September 20, 2001: Fair Trade, Bird-Friendly Organic Coffee. The Citizens Environment Alliance and Far Flung Foods vendor Greg Williams are encouraging local coffee connoisseurs to consider a “fair trade” alternative to their regular cup of joe. “When folks choose this coffee, they’ll be helping the environment here and in Central and South America as well,” said Williams. A portion of the proceeds of the Viridian Organic Blend will be donated to the Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) Read full press release
September 18, 2001: Second Annual Car-free Day. The Citizens Environment Alliance has the perfect solution for the traffic congestion currently plaguing Windsor and Detroit: leave your car at home! Read full press release
September 5, 2001: Local Environmental Group welcomes appointment of IJC Director. The Citizens Environment Alliance of Southwestern Ontario welcomes the appointment of Dr. Gail Krantzberg as Director of the International Joint Commission (IJC) Great Lakes Regional Office in Windsor, Ontario. Read full press release
July 13, 2001: No More Incinerators In Southeast Michigan! The Citizens Environment Alliance has requested that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) reject a permit to build yet another incinerator in Detroit. "We've got to end southeast Michigan's love affair with incinerators," said Shawn Hupka President of the Citizens Environment Alliance. Read full press release
June 30, 2001: Citizens Environment Alliance Congratulates Herb Gray on Climate Change. The Citizens Environment Alliance welcomed the Canadian Government’s recent commitment to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. In particular, Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray must be commended. Read full press release
June 8, 2001: Anti-Idling Bylaw Before Council June 11, 2001. A proposed anti-idling law, endorsed by several local organizations is before the Council. If adopted, this could cut automobile emissions, a significant source of air pollutants. “It’s time for Windsor to get on side with other progressive municipalities." stated Butler. Read full press release
May 7, 2001: The Future of Ojibway Shores. Windsor's last piece of natural shoreline, Ojibway Shores, is still scheduled for destruction. With over 16 hectares of woodlot, a marshy pond and 426 metres of natural Detroit River shoreline, Ojibway Shores is a ecological gem on an otherwise heavily developed Detroit River. Sadly, it is zoned for heavy industrial port use and its natural features and ecological benefits are threatened. Read full press release
April 30, 2001: Pesticide Petition to be Presented to City Council. On Tuesday, April 17, 2001 Windsor City Council declared the week of April 29 - May 5, 2001, Pesticide Awareness Week. In recognition of this, the Citizens Environment Alliance will submit a petition calling for the elimination of pesticides on municipally owned property in the City of Windsor. "With over 1,200 signatures calling upon Windsor City Council to eliminate the use of pesticides on public land, this petition cannot be ignored," said Alliance President Shawn Hupka. Read full press release
April 5, 2001: Exploring Options For Community Action. The Citizens Environment Alliance and Local 444 CAW Environment Committee are teaming up to host a public meeting to explore options for community action to ensure long-term protection of the Black Oak Woods Heritage Park / Ojibway Shores ecosystem. Read full press release
February 5, 2001: CEA opposes Heritage River Designation for the Detroit River. In a letter to Don Gibson, the Chair of Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) board, dated February 2, 2001, the Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) urged Heritage River designation be rejected for the Detroit River. “The Management Strategy proposed for the Detroit River through the Heritage River programme has serious flaws: insignificant environmental value; insufficient public involvement and ownership of the process; and poor accountability and transparency within the Management Strategy. Indeed, our concerns extend to the nomination of the Detroit River as a Heritage River,” wrote Shawn Hupka, CEA President. Read full press release

2000

November 3, 2000: Emissions of Pollutants in Windsor-Essex County Decrease, But... Today the Citizens Environment Alliance of SW Ontario (CEA) released its analysis of pollutant emissions to air, water and land of Windsor and Essex County. The study was developed by data collected from the1998 National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI). Read full press release
November 1, 2000: CEA demands $1 Million Investment in Air Initiatives. The City of Windsor allocated only $20,000 (or approx. 10¢ per resident) this year to smog and greenhouse gas reduction measures, which is very little compared to other North American cities. Read full press release
October 18, 2000: CEA Releases Air Quality Report Card for Windsor. The CEA June 2000 "progress" report yielded nearly all failing grades. In this more comprehensive year-end report only a few grades have improved. The CEA is calling on Windsor City Council and Administration to allocate adequate resources so that departments can properly implement the provisions of the Air Quality Action Plan. Read full press release
July 12, 2000: CEA demands cleanup at Ojibway Shores. The CEA is calling on the Federal Government to cleanup its mess! In February, the Windsor Port Authority, a federally mandated body, dumped contaminated sediment in the Ojibway Industrial Site (Ojibway Shores). The dumped sediment dredged from the Riverside Marina contains mercury, cadmium, lead and TPH (gas/diesel) and lies some 100 to 200 metres from the shores of the Detroit River. Read full press release
June 12, 2000: City of Windsor Fails Important Air Quality Test. Four weeks ago today Windsor City Council unanimously passed an anti-smog action plan aimed at addressing Windsor's poor air quality. Recommended by the Windsor Essex County Air Quality Committee, the plan requires the City and its departments suspend a number of activities during high smog days. Read full press release
March 14, 2000: The CEA Requests Marshfield File from ERCA. The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) has submitted a formal request under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) for the entire contents of its Marshfield Woods File. The CEA has doubts about ERCA management's commitment to the preservation of the woodlot. Read full press release
February 3, 2000: Local Emissions of Pollutants in Windsor - Essex County on the Rise. Today the Citizens Environment Alliance of SW Ontario (CEA) released its annual analysis of emissions of pollutants to air, water and land of Windsor and Essex County. The study was developed by data collected by the 1997 National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI). Read full press release

1999

August 5, 1999: US Report says NO ESCAPE from Record high smog levels this summer. A report released today nationally in the US and in Southwestern Ontario shows that monitoring stations around the US are reporting record record high levels of smog. Read full pres release
January 4, 1999: Mercury: A Re-emerging Issue In Detroit River Ecosystem. According to Dr. Russell Kreis, Director of the U.S. EPA Large Lakes Research Station on Grosse Ile, studies indicates that mercury concentrations are increasing in the Detroit River system. Read full press release

1998

December 1, 1998: Citizens Environment Alliance Joins U.S. Health & Environmental Groups in Conners Creek Litigation. An international alliance of U.S. and Canadian environmental, neighborhood and public health groups are joining forces to keep Detroit Edison from restarting Conners Creek, because the 48 year-old coal-fired plant fails to meet healthy air standards. Read full press release
November 10, 1998: Harbour Commission Project Will Destroy Ojibway Shoreline Habitat. The Harbour Commission plans to cut down trees and prepare the Ojibway Shoreline area, the last remaining natural shoreline within City limits, for industrial development. The substantial loss of .6 hectares of upland habitat will negatively impact the entire area. Read full press release
October 27, 1998: Environmental Groups Unite To Save Marshfield Woods. A coalition of concerned groups and local residents has been formed to save Marshfield Woods from development. Marshfield Woods is a 194 acre wooded lot, in Colchester South, that is environmentally significant and, in the opinion of the Essex Region Conservation Authority, qualifies as a Significant Woodland under the Ontario Provincial Policy Statement on Natural Heritage. Read full press release
September 28, 1998: Local Emissions of Pollutants in Windsor-Essex Buck National Trends. Today, the Citizens Environment Alliance of SW Ontario (CEA) has released an analysis of emissions of pollutants to air, water and land of Windsor and Essex County. The study was developed from data collected by the 1996 National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI). Read full press release
September 16, 1998: CEA Predicts More Smog, Noise and Congestion with New Chrysler Head Quarters. The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) is predicting more smog, noise and congestion with the new Chrysler Norwich block development. "Without a specific transportation policy for downtown Windsor, the new development could create a nightmare for people who work and live downtown," says Rick Coronado, Research Coordinator for the CEA. Read full press release