Fifty years ago on April 15, 1972, in response to the significant deterioration of water quality, Canada and the United States affirmed their commitment to work closely together to restore and protect the Great Lakes through a new framework for binational cooperation, the United States–Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA).

The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement is a commitment between the United States and Canada to restore and protect the waters of the Great Lakes. The Agreement provides a framework for identifying binational priorities and implementing actions that improve water quality. The Canada-United States GLWQA commits the governments of Canada and the United States to restore and protect the Great Lakes to achieve a series of objectives including: being a source of safe, high-quality drinking water; allowing for swimming and other recreational use, unrestricted by environmental quality concerns; allowing for human consumption of fish and wildlife unrestricted by concerns due to harmful pollutants.

A call for artists went out through the Detroit River Coalition network seeking community art designed to evoke conversation and create connections between our daily lives, our communities, the environment, and climate justice. As a result, the exhibition features 35 artists that represent a wide range of media under the themes: climate change, climate justice, Earth Day, environmental conservation, stewardship, intersectional environmentalism, marine debris, single-use plastic, ocean conservation, Great Lakes, and the Detroit River. There was also a Student Voices section featuring younger artists.The art was on exhibit to the public at the Belle Isle Aquarium between April 22 to 24 2022. To view the artists and their work, visit the Art + Earth Exhibition page here.

On Sunday April 24th, over 800 community members, Green Teams and volunteers helped plant close to 2,500 native trees to take climate action and celebrate Earth Day in the Little River watershed. Thank you to Enwin Utilities, Trees Canada & the LCBO, and CUPE 543 for sponsoring this event, and to the City of Windsor for its partnership!

This year, Canada has seen outbreaks of a highly infectious strain of avian influenza, a naturally occurring virus that affects wild and domestic birds. There has been a confirmed case of this virus locally, in Point Pelee National Park.

While it remains safe to visit the region's green spaces and trails, here are some precautions you can take:

If you encounter a sick or dead wild bird outside the park, contact the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 866-673-4781 or report online at cwhc.wildlifesubmissions.org.

Diseases such as avian influenza are naturally occurring in wildlife populations and past outbreaks eventually declined as populations of wild birds built immunity. Parks Canada will continue to follow all health precautions and work with Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to monitor the situation.

Note that participants fishing without a license must fish under the Conservation fishing license limits which are set out in the current Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. Hint - the Detroit River is in Fisheries Management Zone 19. If eating the fish, don't forget to follow the fish consumption guidelines outlined in the Guide to Eating Ontario Fish.

Join Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on Thursday May 5, 2022 at 12 p.m. ET for a one-hour public webinar on chemical contaminants in Lake Erie as part of our Let’s Talk Lake Erie webinar series.

Learn more about chemical contaminants in Lake Erie, their impact on human and ecosystem health, and what is being done about them.

For questions or comments, please email carol.kim@ec.gc.ca or james.d.luke@usace.army.mil.

Don’t miss an event! Email us at greatlakes-grandlacs@ec.gc.ca and ask to be added to our Lake Erie mailing list to find out when registration opens for our November 2022 webinar on Habitat and Species Protection!

The Let’s Talk Lake Erie webinar series is organized by the Lake Erie Partnership, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment and Climate Change Canada, which support specific lakewide management commitments outlined in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

The slogan was chosen to continue building momentum and support for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at the upcoming UN Biodiversity Conference #COP15.

Biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges. From nature-based solutions to climate, health issues, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back better.

Join 4th Wall Music as they perform their spectacular “Birdsong Inside Us” concert at Hillman Marshes on May 15 at 2:00. This fantastic strings quartet shares a beautiful afternoon of connecting music and nature. Bring your lawn chairs or blanket to enjoy this concert overlooking the marsh. Regular gate fees apply. Donations welcome.

With ears open to a sky full of song, humans have long been entranced by the original masters of melody, the birds. Musicians join the celebration of spring by playing bird inspired chamber music in an area world famous for the thousands of songbirds that pass through in May. Featuring a newly commissioned work from University of Windsor graduate David Bergeron for electronics, birdsong and acoustic instruments.

Featuring cello, oboe, flute, voice playing music by Pablo Casals, Olivier Messiaen, Nina Simone and more. Head to 4thwallmusic.com for more information!

This free event is open to all kids 12 and under to participate in the 63rd annual derby at both Reaume and Dieppe Parks in Windsor at the riverfront. Free bait is provided. Awards and a light lunch will be held at the Windsor Sportsmen's Club afterwards. Please bring your own rod and bait containers. For more information, please contact Greg Rossyan at truckergreg62@gmail.com.

Explore the park after dark and experience the dark skies of Point Pelee National Park. You will have the opportunity to stay late and experience the park at night. Visitors can pick up a seasonal star chart at the front gate upon arrival. The park is open until midnight, unless otherwise stated.