Help The Stray Cats Survive This Winter.

When summer arrives, there are many groups, organizations and just regular citizens that jump in to help the animals in the extreme heat.  They watch out for dogs left in hot cars or, check on dogs in the neighbourhoods that are tied outside for long periods of time to make sure that they have water and shelter from the sun.  Same goes for the feral and stray cats that live in the alleys or backyards of people.  It's much easier for them to find shelter on their own.  People take it upon themselves to throw some food out to them and set out bowls of water when it's hot and water is scarce.

There are several groups that reach out to these colonies of cats and take care of them.  They have what they call TNR programs.  This stands for trap, neuter and release cats to prevent over-population.  Vaccinations can also be included in this program.  These groups also place cats and kittens into foster homes hoping that eventually, they will find a forever home.  If you take a cat in to foster, food and supplies are provided to you and medical bills are covered by the group you are fostering for.  A few such groups that are found in Windsor are, Earn Your Wings, For The Love Of Grace and Kittenade, as well as others, are formed by volunteers and concerned citizens.  They rarely receive regular funding and they raise most of their money through yard sales, bake sales, craft sales and other fundraisers.  They rely on donations also. Besides monetary donations, food is a major item that is needed.  Blankets and food bowls, toys and other things can be used.  

Summer is coming to an end and winter is on the way.  A lot of people stop helping the feral and stray cats because they don't see them around.  This is because they are off somewhere trying to keep warm in the cold temperatures.  If you still provide food and water in the same area you did all summer, they will know where to go.  Food and water is essential to help them survive in the cold. Something that has become quite popular is people building inexpensive shelters and food stations for cats in their backyards and in the alleys.  They can be made from plastic bins, wooden boxes, cardboard boxes and lined with Styrofoam sheets, straw or wood shavings.  Anything that will hold moisture such as blankets or towels are not a good option.  Many designs and plans can be found online to make easy shelters if you are willing to buy a few things and take a little time to make them. You can also contact people from these groups that would be glad to help you along.

In addition to all the above mentioned donations, you could also donate materials to the groups to build shelters.  There are volunteers that would be happy to receive them and donate the time to build them.  There can never be too many shelters.  It's true that cats grow thick coats to help keep them warm but, with the winters that have been hitting us with extreme cold, extra protection is needed for them to survive.  Some, are able to seek out shelter on their own, in barns, sheds, woodpiles and other places.  A lot are not so lucky and have no where to go and do not have a regular food source. Unfortunately, many will not make it through the winter just as some, during the summer, do not make it during extreme heat.  Sadly, it is the cold temperatures that claim the most lives.

With all the efforts of trapping, spaying/neutering, vaccinating and having the wounded taken care of, will be useless if people don't jump in to help shelter these cats if they can.  All the hard work of raising money and collecting donations is wasted if cats are left to perish during the winter months.  

Others cats are lucky enough that someone takes them in and makes them their pet.

The efforts of these groups and organizations seems to have decreased the population of feral and stray cats.  There are so many more colonies out there that just keep growing.  You can contact any of these groups to see if they can help with trapping colonies in your neighbourhood.  This will definitely keep the colonies from growing.  Colonies can grow at a fairly rapid rate.  Another good reason to have these cats spayed and neutered is they become a bit less scared. Getting care and food helps them live together better.  Less fighting and growing used to one another creates less problems in the areas that they live.  A happy cat is a more friendly cat.

So, if you are one that has been feeling bad for stray cats in your area but, weren't sure what you could do, I hope this article gives you an idea or two.  Every animal, no matter what kind it is, deserves to live the best life possible.  Consider donating items or time if you can or, take in a foster!

Cardboard Shelter

Shelter maid from a Tote Bin

Written By:  Mike Crawford

High Speed Train Debate

A high speed train connecting London, Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto would be a huge economic growth to Southwestern Ontario.  Why are they excluding or, setting aside,Windsor from the original plan?

This could be very damaging to our economic growth and development.  Especially, after so many years of slowly trying to recover from the events of 9/11.  That was a huge blow to the city and recovery is still on-going.  It was quoted, "You will have to ride your horse and buggy to London first, just to catch the train."  From there, it would take approximately 45 minutes to get to Toronto, decreasing travel time and increasing opportunity immensely.  

That would leave Windsor quite isolated from businesses that might want to expand here, new businesses that want to invest here and, for people that just want to visit here.  Even more tourists that visit is a boost to our economy.  At speeds of 300 km/h people would have the opportunity to live in one city and travel to another miles away in a short time.  There would be less crowded highways and less pollution.  This has always been about the Windsor-Quebec City corridor.  Almost 20 million people live along this main route.  It's the most densely populated and most industrialized rail line in Canada.

It would be a new, fast way to connect everyone from Quebec City to Windsor, Windsor to Detroit to Chicago, and Windsor to Detroit, onto Toledo and Cleveland.  Tying into what is called the "American Run," will connect millions of people, corporations, businesses and people between all cities.  Many stations along the rail are being or already have been upgraded, now it's time to work on the rail lines themselves.

A 10 year, $29 billion transit and infrastructure plan called, Moving Ontario Forward, is in place by the Government to create high speed rail service between London and Toronto, which will also connect Ontario to Quebec City.  Then saying, "Windsor will be a part of this plan at some point."

It will be a tremendous expense, the federal government estimates $50 billion, to install and implement such a huge project.  When you look into the future, there are numerous benefits from boosting the economy, to large corporations and businesses, expanding along the high speed rail corridor and into Windsor.  Therefore, paying for itself over the years.

If Windsor is not included, or is included years down the road, it will mean missed opportunities.  It is common sense, it is business sense.  We, as a city, have to fight long and hard to not be just an after-thought.  If not for us personally, then for a brighter future for our children, Grandchildren and even our Great Grandchildren and beyond.

Written By:  Mike Crawford

Community Gardens

Community gardens have been supported by the Trillium Foundation and the City of Windsor.  These gardens are more than growing food, they also regenerate neighbourhoods and provide them with fresh produce.

Residents that live near a Community garden are required to weed, prune and provide water for them in exchange for fresh produce.  They are expected to ensure that gardens do not become overgrown and that produce does not go to waste.  Any excess produce can be donated to local food banks.  It is with hope residents that tend to community gardens, will exchange seeds with neighbouring Community Gardens to provide each community with a variety of produce.

University of Windsor Community Garden for example, promotes positive interaction between them and the community.  They support garden-based education and community beautification to improve food security within Windsor.  While producing organic food, gardens increase biodiversity and sustainability.  The gardens provide habitat and food beneficial to species such as birds and butterflies.

It's with great hope that Community Gardens will expand to help those in need.  Those that don't have access to or, can't afford fresh produce.  Studies have shown that there is a need for these gardens throughout Windsor and Essex County.

Neighbouring Community Gardens will allow communities to get acquainted with each other and build a sense of belonging amongst each other.  Although, the concept is not new, popularity in these challenging times is rising.  Fresh, healthy and, nutritious food is one of the most essential, basic needs of everyone.

Community gardens are relatively cheap to start and the variety of produce is endless.  The exchange of seeds between the communities will make it even easier.  Partnerships with schools, food banks and community organizations will hopefully find a way to raise money for the start up and expansion of these gardens.

An individual, that plants a garden for their own personal use at home and, finds that a lot of what they produce is going to waste, are encouraged to donate any excess produce to local food banks. Those that are in need will appreciate the fact that valuable nutrition will be added to their diet.  It's difficult for them to maintain a healthy diet on a regular basis,

A little bit of fruits and vegetables goes a long way to provide needed nutrition.  If you are an individual that has the extra space, consider growing extra of what you can, to donate it to local organizations that help the less fortunate.

Written By:  Mike Crawford

Windsor Ontario and the Prohibition

You've heard of the Prohibition in the United States but, do you know about Windsor's role in it?  It took effect in January of 1920.  This Act was to ban the sales, consumption and maufacturing of alcohol.  Federal, state and local authorities were to enforce the prohibition of alcohol.  In Michigan, churches, businesses and community leaders had been working to ban alcohol since 1852.  This ban was put in place with the hopes of reducing crime, improve family life and increase employee productivity.  With all of this, came the introduction of smuggling rings.  When the ban spread nationally across the United States, they turned to Canada.

Windsor became a major route for smuggling bootlegged alcohol. These smugglers coined the name, Rum Runners.  They would cross the Canadian Border through the waterways between Ontario and Michigan.  These waterways became known as the "Windsor-Detroit Funnel."  When the waterways were frozen, alcohol was simply driven across or, skated across with smugglers pulling sleds full of alcohol.

Gangs began to capitalize on the smuggling trade.  The Purple Gang dominated Detroit, a group of killers and thugs.  They became a major supplier to Al Capone and his Chicago Empire.  The Purple Gang fell in 1929.  This is when Al Capone came into contact with Blaise Diesbourg, also known as "King Canada."  Blaise was a major figure in the smuggling and bootlegging business around Windsor and, became very successful.  Capone arranged with Blaise to have regular shipment delivered by plane to the U.S.

Harry Low became one of Windsor's very prominent rum runner.  He opened his own pool hall on Sandwich Street, now known as Riverside Drive in Windsor.  As prohibition came to a peak in the 20's, Low set up a bootlegging business for his pool hall customers.  Profits from this operation allowed him to move on to a bigger business.  He started running liquor from Windsor, across the river, to Detroit.  His success lead to him building one of Windsor's most treasured Historic sites, the Harry Low mansion, formally known as Devonshire Lodge, located in Walkerville.  The house is famous for housing Prime Minister Paul Martin.

The Devonshire Lodge has been recently restored and can be found at
2021 Ontario St in Windsor, ON

Hiram Walker played a big role in the prohibition.  Being born in the United States and, being an entrepreneur, he was looking to expand business into Canada.  He established a distillery in what was to become Walkerville and branded the name, Hiram Walker's Club Whiskey.  Walker had started out working as a clerk in a dry good store.  Eventually, he started his own grocery store and a vinegar distillery.  He was also involed in the grain business and had his hand in real estate.  He had an interest in distilling his own liquor but, with the prohibition laws, he was unable to do so. He did distill his first barrel of whiskey in 1854.  Hiram Walker was a major supplier of alcohol to the U.S. during the prohibition after the distillery was constructed in 1857.

Hiram Walker main office building, built in 1894

View of the Hiram Walker Distillery

Main office building after being restored in 1990.
2072 Riverside Drive East,  Windsor, ON

Speakeasies, blind pigs and saloons could be found underground or, hidden within store fronts and businesses across Canada and the U.S. Cocktail parties and elegant private clubs were very popular in the 1920's and, supplied with barrels of alcohol that came right from Windsor, ON.  The prohibition ended in December of 1933.

There are many more historical sites throughout the city that were involved in the prohibition.  You can learn nuch more online or, take the Rum Runners Tour along the river and learn the secrets of Windsor from the Roaring 20's.  www.rumrunnerstour.com

Written By:  Mike Crawford

Trails and Parks In the Windsor Area

After a long week at work or, the stresses of running your household and taking care of the kids, you may be looking for ways to escape the usual routine.  A way  to relax and retreat from the usual humdrum of the city.  With just a short commute, you can escape to enjoy some peace and quiet at one of Windsor and surrounding areas nature trails. The trails are something to do as a family or, alone.  Whether you wish to exercise or enjoy the scenery, there is something for everyone.  From hiking, to walking, to snowshoeing, each trail offers different terrain.  Some have asphalt paths and others are only compacted soil.  There are many forms of vegetation that can be observed.  Over 500 types of plants can be found.  Some of which are designated as being rare.  You will also find an assortment of trees from the Carolinian Forest.  This forest, once covered a large part of Southwestern Ontario. Wildlife is abundant within the wooded areas along the trails.  The most commonly found species are birds and snakes.  Different types of owls and bats inhabit most of the woodlands and protected areas of the grass prairies.   A couple of the more popular trails are, The Devonwood Conservation Area and The Ganatchio Trail.  The Ojibway Nature Centre that is located at 5200 Matchette Road, hosts a variety of activities.  Inside, you can learn all there is to know about nature.  There is a viewing window that allows you to view wildlife and their habits.  Outdoor feeders attract an array of birds to observe.  On the nearby trails at the Centre, there are tours with educated guides that can teach you about the wildlife and vegetation. Dont forget about the parks around Windsor.  Especially, along the river.  You can find more common wildlife and wildflowers along the waters edge.  All these areas are open year-round.  Parking, picnic areas, washrooms, resting areas and bike racks are available at most of the trails.  The Ganatchio Trail also has a boat launch. Take time out to explore what Windsor and surrounding areas have to offer.  More information on these trails and parks can be found online at, The Department of Parks and Recreation, Ontario Parks, Essex Region Conservation Authority and the Ojibway Nature Centre.
Written By:  Mike Crawford