October 2017

Eco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-NewsEco-News

• Seasonal Recipes• We’re Hiring!• Local Food workshops• Air Pollution Solution• T-shirt Gallery• Rural Radon Study

Inside

We’ve all heard that the earth is gettingwarmer. Some of us try to adapt to changes in cli-mate, and others are studying what happens as theearth warms. Élise Devoie, who loved the coldand snow of her childhood winters in ThunderBay, is a scientist who has spent months in an iso-lated field camp in the far north, documentingsome of these changes to permafrost so she canbuild a model to help us understand what thefuture will bring to this landscape. A condensedexcerpt from her blog post:

‘Let’s go on a field trip together. First destination: Yellowknife. We’reheaded north... far north. Onward to Fort Simpson and then to Checkpoint, acommunity of one house, two dogs, and a bunch of spare motor parts. We’reabout to embark on the last leg of our journey; a 20km snowmobile ridethrough the boreal plains at night. You sit on the back of a sled, occasionallylooking back to make sure that the cooler full of scientific instruments andsome fresh veggies is still there, while you whip past black spruce and tama-rack, gliding over snowdrifts and squeezing between close stands of trees.

We’ve been told that the impact of climate change is more pronounced incold regions where ecosystems are more ‘fragile’. Intuitively that makessense. But there is a difference between knowing and experiencing. The sheermagnitude of these changes sometimes catches me by surprise. Have you everwalked on lake ice in the morning, and paddled back across that very samelake in the afternoon? Have you ever found yourself chest deep in a swamp,wondering where the path you took that morning has gone? These are exam-ples of hard-to-miss changes that occur every spring – nothing to worry about.Except that last year the lake broke up a week later, and the path across thebog outlet was safe until the end of June but is impassible in May this year.To me, a scientist wandering around poking the ground, trying to figure outwhat is going on, these changes are interesting, but if I jump into the shoes offolks who live here, the changes I’m documenting become terrifying.

Scotty Creek research basin is a unique place in the discontinuous per-mafrost region where you can see the impact of climate change year to year,and where the hydrology is just beginning to be understood. This place hasgiven me a new appreciation for vegetables, down sleeping bags, beer, andmaking a family out of whomever is around. Right now, everyone knows thisplace is changing, and changing fast, but no one knows what it is changinginto. That’s my job, I’m supposed to let them know what to expect and whento expect it, so that homes, roads and businesses don’t just sink into the thaw-ing ground. That’s a tall order, but I’ll do my best.”

Élise Devoie is guest speaker at Environment North’s EnvironmentalKnowledge Seminar Series at The Study Coffeehouse, Lakehead Universityon Monday October 23 at 7pm. All welcome.

Some of our city’s most beautifulnatural features are the rivers runningthrough our urban neighbourhoods.Thunder Bay is largely defined by thewater that surrounds us, including thenamesake bay and several tributariesof our Great Lake. The Kaministiquia,Neebing, McIntyre, and Current riversas well as McVicar Creek provideplaces for everyone to enjoy the natur-al beauty of clear northern waters. Butin recent years, these waterways havealso become places of tragic loss withthe deaths of seven bright young spir-its. The inquest for the seven youthresulted in several recommendations,including a detailed study of safetyand security issues at identified river-front areas.

As a result of the study, local com-munity groups, advocates, Indigenousleaders, and local authorities are plan-ning community cleanup events alongthe rivers to take place this fall. Arearesidents will come together to clear litter and debris while sharing the healing powers of fast flowing waters.EcoSuperior will be providing clean-up supplies and promoting the events which are open to all. Getting peopleout to enjoy the shorelines more often will help make these areas safer and more welcoming, and we hope you willjoin us in these important efforts. Dates, times and locations will be widely publicized.

“Water is the most life sustaining gift on Mother Earth and is the interconnection among all living beings. Watersustains us, flows between us, within us, and replenishes us. Water is the blood of Mother Earth and, as such,cleanses not only herself, but all living things.” – Assembly of First Nations

Of Rivers & ReconciliationStudying Permafrostin a Changing Climate

By the numbers…Since April 1, 2017, EcoSuperior has:

- Provided safe cycling courses for 333 elementary students- Collected 107,543 cigarette butts for recycling- Provided bike valet parking to 181 cyclists- Delivered 52 school presentations- Staffed the Water Bar at 25 community events- Recycled 7,553 lbs of e-waste and 554 tires- Trained 15 new cycling instructors, including 4 police officers- Completed 112 home energy assessments- Distributed 375 rain barrels and 156 composters- Engaged more than 10,000 adults and 5,000 children in our

programs

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 2

The many community programs and projects that you will read about in this newsletter would not be possible without the efforts of those who finance andcontribute to EcoSuperior’s activities. Through contributions of ideas, connections, expertise and financial support, the following organizations have playeda major role in our success. We extend our sincere gratitude to the individuals within these organizations who have helped us along the way.

• Agricultural Adaptation Council

• Beef Farmers of Ontario

• CBC Radio

• City of Thunder Bay

• Confederation College

• Cooperative X

• Copperfin Credit Union

• Dennis Franklin Cromarty School

• Dougall Media

• EarthCare Thunder Bay

• Environment Canada

• GFL Environmental

• Green Communities Canada

• Heart & Stroke Fund

• Landale Gardens

• Northwestern Ontario

Innovation Centre

• Getaway Thunder Bay Casino

• Thunder Bay Country Market

• Thunder Bay District Health Unit

• Thunder Bay Economic DevelopmentCommission

• Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture

• Thunder Bay Hydro

• Thunder Bay Police Services

• Thunder Bay Ventures

• TD Friends of the Environment Fund

• Ontario Ministry of Environment& Climate Change

• Ontario Ministry of Culture, Recreation & Sport

• RBC

• Resolute Forest Products

• Rutter Urban Forestry

• The Chronicle Journal

• Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board

• Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce

In addition to the list above, we must thank the many local businesses who make it possible for people to make the right choices; the local media that helpus spread the word, and many volunteer and committee members who provide invaluable assistance.

Community Partners

We know by your phone calls and huge response to EcoNews that you might like to see it more often. However, we only have the budget to publish twice a year. Ifyou’d like more news from us, please sign up for our new E-News, sent out monthly to subscribers only. Visit our website and look for the sign-up box – enter youre-mail address and click on Submit. We’ll send you a quick and lively e-newsletter at the beginning of every month. You’ll be the first to know about new programsand offers coming up. Subscribe now – it’s free and we promise not to send you anything but our monthly newsletter!

Want MoreEcoNews??

About Eco-NewsEcoNews is produced by EcoSuperior Environmental Programs. Look for our regular editions in your Chronicle Journal every April and October. All the articlesare written by EcoSuperior staff unless otherwise credited. We are a non-profit organization, providing public education programs and encouraging environmen-tal stewardship in the Lake Superior basin and beyond. If you would like to comment on our programs, please contact us: 562 Red River Road, Thunder Bay,Ontario P7B 1H3 • Telephone 807-624-2140 • Fax 807-622-0005 • www.ecosuperior.org • info@ecosuperior.org

Our StaffExecutive Director:Ellen Mortfield

Operations Supervisor:Jay Eingold

Acting Operations Supervisor:Ashley Priem

Customer Service:Matt Spackman

Program Coordinators:Jamie SaundersShannon CostiganJulia PrinselaarCaroline CoxAynsley KlassenAmy BumbaccoErin Moir

Certified Energy Advisor:Don Rutledge

Boardof Directors

We’re Hiring!Part-time OfficeAdministrator

A big thank you to the individuals whogenerously provide time and expertise toguide the operation of EcoSuperior:

Executive:President: Colin KellyConfederation College

Vice-President: James HeighColliers Project Leaders

Treasurer: Tim MatthewsHenderson Family Law

Secretary: Lee SieswerdaThunder Bay District Health Unit

Directors:Dr. Anthony GilliesLakehead University

Bryan HepplerRetired

Pat JohansenRetired

Deneen BrighamOntario First Nations Technical Services

Chris WaltonArbora Management Services

Sara ChowThunder Bay RegionalHealth Sciences Centre

Are you looking for a job that is more than apay cheque, that offers an opportunity to trulymake a difference in your community? Comework with us! EcoSuperior is currently seekinga part-time Office Administrator. You’ll need tobe a computer whiz with some fierce bookkeep-ing and financial management skills, some HRknowledge, an obsession with organization, apredisposition to multi-tasking and a love ofcomposting (well, that would be nice, butnot essential!) An intimate relationship withSage/Simply Accounting is a must. Education inBusiness Admin preferred but equivalent knowl-edge/experience also considered. Previous expe-rience in the non-profit sector would be a realasset. We are currently offering 15-20 hours aweek with flexible scheduling, but there ispotential for this to become a full-time positionfor the right person.

We are looking to fill this position A.S.A.P.

Visit our website for the full job description.Please forward your resume and cover letter toinfo@ecosuperior.org with Office Administratorin the subject line.

This year, EcoSuperior has been very fortunate to receive many donations from businesses and orga-nizations throughout the community. These contributions have allowed us to offer programs andimprove facilities that would not be possible without such generosity.

The Thunder Bay Casino is one of our strongest supporters. Their in-house Green Team works withus each year to provide an E-Waste and Tire Recycling collection in their parking lot, which generatesrevenue for our programs. This summer, the casino crew also presented us with a cheque for $1,000 fromthe proceeds from their cigarette butt recycling program. The casino Green Team is a truly awesomegroup of dedicated individuals!

We also received cash donations this year from: Copperfin Credit Union, Open Mind Interiors, TbayTel and Port Arthur Rotary.

Support From Our Community

The Thunder Bay Casino Green Team presents EcoSuperior’sEllen Mortfield and Shannon Costigan with a cheque from

proceeds of their cigarette butt recycling program.

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 3

The paper you are reading is manufactured by your friends & neighbourswho work at Resolute Forest Products – Thunder Bay Operations

Radon:Have you tested your home?

Radon is a radioactive gas that is created when uranium decomposes in soil. All homeshave some level of radon. The question is: how much? You can’t see, smell or taste radon, sothe only way to know if your home has high levels is to test. Fortunately, testing is easy andinexpensive. To test a home for the first time, use a long-term radon test kit. These kits remainin place for three months to one year and return accurate results. EcoSuperior sells kits for$50; lab fees and return shipping are included in the price.

For homeowners who have tested their homes, found high levels, and taken steps to reme-diate, a short-term test is the best way to confirm whether remedia-tion has been successful and radon levels have been lowered.Short-term tests are available at EcoSuperior for $70,including lab fees and return shipping.

While 6.9% of homes nationally have high radon, a2015 Radon Prevalence Study found much higherresults in some City of Thunder Bay wards.MacIntyre and Neebing had the highest results,with 43% and 30% of homes testing above rec-ommended levels, respectively. Red River (15%)and Current River (13%) also had results abovethe national average.

Regardless of where you live, EcoSuperiorencourages you to test for radon, since two side-by-side homes can have drastically different results.EcoSuperior has helped more than 1,375 ThunderBay residences test for radon in the past two years.

By Robin Cooper, M.H.K.Health Promotion Planner - Health Protection

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit isinviting residents of Oliver-Paipoonge andMarathon to participate in a study to helpmeasure radon levels in the Thunder BayDistrict. Beginning Monday, October 2, resi-dents of both communities will be able to reg-ister for a free radon home-testing kits. Atotal of 220 kits are available for OliverPaipoonge and 150 kits for Marathon.

To find out if you are eligible to receive afree radon testing kit, visit TBDHU.COM onMonday, October 2 and complete a brief sur-vey. If you don’t have access to a computeror would like more information, please callthe Thunder Bay District Health Unit at625-5917.

Kit pick-up will begin on Monday,October 16. Residents will be given a choiceof where to pick up their kit. Locations

include the Oliver-Paipoonge Public Library(Murillo or Rosslyn branch), the HealthUnit’s office at 999 Balmoral Street inThunder Bay or the Health Unit’s office inMarathon. The data gathered from the studywill help the Health Unit identify radon levelsin both communities.

“Exposure to radon gas is the second lead-ing cause of lung cancer after smoking.The only way to know the radon lev-els in a home is to test it. We wantto find the prevalence of radonin these communities so peo-ple can take action to reducetheir risk of lung cancer,” saysLee Sieswerda, manager ofEnvironmental Health. “Theonly way to know if a home hasa high level of radon is to test forit. The puck-sized radon detectorswill stay in the homes for 3 months, andthen will be collected and sent away for

analysis. Residents will be notified of theirresults.”

A previous study conducted by the HealthUnit found that 16% of homes tested inThunder Bay had high radon. That is overtwice the provincial average. The study alsorevealed that radon prevalence increased inthe rural areas of the city.

You can’t see, smell or taste radon.Radon is a radioactive gas that is

created when uranium decom-poses in soil, rock or water. Itcan seep into your homethrough cracks in the founda-tion, pipe openings, sumppits, etc. All homes havesome level of radon. The

question is: how much?If residents discover they have

a high level of radon in their home,the Health Unit will provide information

on the steps they can take to reduce it.

This fall, a new event will improve accessto lights for cyclists in Thunder Bay. TheGreat Lights Giveaway will distribute 650 setsof white front and red rear lights to ThunderBay cyclists. Volunteer-run stations will be setup along main cycling corridors to distributelights in the morning and evening, when theyare most needed. Lights will also be availableat Safe Cycling Thunder Bay’s fall courses. Tovolunteer, contact EcoSuperior at 624-2141.

Lightsgiveawaycoming soon!

Radon: FREE Test Kits Available to Residentsof Oliver Paipoonge and Marathon

Not eligible forthe Health Unit’s free

radon test kits? You canpurchase the same test

units at EcoSuperior.$50 includes the 90-daytest unit, return postage

and lab analysis.

FREE PRESENTATIONRadon in Northwestern Ontario

Monday, November 13, 6:00 - 7:00 pmWaverley Public Library

Auditorium

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 4

Work continues at Confederation College on stormwatermanagement and habitat improvements for Campus. Work todate has been focused around the McIntyre building andShuniah residence which is currently the site of a major con-struction project. The Technology, Education andCollaboration (TEC) Hub, currently in development, is slatedfor completion in the spring of 2018. The new facility will hostvibrant research, incubation and technology transfer servicesto support the region’s advanced manufacturing, technologyand resource sectors.

Priorities for 2017 include the construction of an addition-al Low Impact Development site, installation of 2 rain gardens,development of a habitat restoration plan for sections of theMcIntyre River, plantings for shoreline bank stabilization andthe continued collection of baseline water quality for the river.

Through the years student involvement has been a maincomponent of this project. We continue to work very closelywith the Civil Engineering Technology and EnvironmentalTechnician programs to provide experience to students in

innovative stormwater management and stream protectiontechnologies. Training opportunities in stream assessmenttechniques and low impact development are offered as partof the field school component of the EnvironmentalTechnician program. In 2017 students will have an opportu-nity to gain credit through work on the installation of raingardens and low impact development sites. Opportunitiesinvolve not only classroom and hands-on instruction, but theproject also helps to provide funding for an intern and a part-time student assistant.

The McIntyre River is an important feature of theConfederation College campus, providing recreational andeducational opportunities as well as habitat for a coldwaterfishery. As new developments continue on campus,EcoSuperior is working with the federal Department ofEnvironment and Climate Change as well as the OntarioMinistry of Environment and Climate Change to helpConfederation College be a leader in stormwater managementand protecting our urban watersheds.

Invaders!By Sarah Friesen

The biggest cause of species extinction in theworld, next to habitat loss, is invasive species. InThunder Bay, we have invasive species in ourlakes, rivers, gardens, forests, and recreationalareas, and even more are at risk of being intro-duced. Thunder Bay is a hub for people in theNorthwest, making it the perfect destination anddeparture point for invasive species, which areoften unintentionally spread by human activity.

The new invaders in Lake Superior and ourinland lakes include the Round Goby and RustyCrayfish, which are able to displace nativespecies through aggressive feeding and preda-tion. Plants such as Japanese Knotweed cangrow through up to 8 cm of concrete, or throughthe cracks in your driveway, and InvasivePhragmites populations are so large, dense, and

decay so slowly that they create fire hazards inwetlands. Once invasive species like these areestablished, they are hugely expensive to con-trol and nearly impossible to eradicate. But hereare some ways you can help:

• Learn how to identify invasive species, theirimpacts, and control methods athttp://www.invadingspecies.com/.

• Clean your boots and/or ATV before leavinga trail.

• Clean, Drain, Dry your boat when entering orleaving a waterbody.

• Dump your bait bucket, bilge water, and livewells more than 30 meters from the shoreline.

• Don’t move firewood – buy it in the areawhere you will be burning it.

• If you think you have seen an invasive speciescall the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or visit www.eddmaps.org/Ontarioto make a report.

Whether you’re cleaning out your basement orgarage, or closing up camp for the winter, it cansometimes be difficult to know where to get rid ofall the stuff that’s piled up. That’s why the City ofThunder Bay’s Our Green Guide is such a valuableresource. This A-Z guide gives you disposal andrecycling information about all kinds of householdproducts, including appliances, e-waste, furniture,and more. Here at the EcoSuperior office, we field alot of inquiries about the proper disposal of a wholerange of items. Here is a list of some of the mostcommon inquiries, and where to dispose of them:

Every now and then, we get some realdoozies that might not be listed: things likeshopping carts, railway ties, a jar of liquidmercury, and a whole host of others. If it’snot listed in the guide, we’re happy to do a bitof sleuthing for you to find out where to dis-pose of it.

When in doubt, come by our office at 562Red River Rd. to pick up a free copy of OurGreen Guide, visit thunderbay.ca and search“green guide’ to download a copy, or call usat 624-2141.

Green Guide for Recycling Items

Collaborating with Confederation College

DISPOSAL SITE

EcoSuperior, Lowe’s, MagnaCharge Batteries, MGM Electric,Thunder Bay Public Libraries, 55 Plus Centre, Staples

Lowe’s, The Source,Best Buy, Walmart

Lowe’s (bulbs only, free), Westburne Electric Supply(bulbs and tubes, some fees may apply)

Pack Pros, Staples, Best Buy, Full Circle Recycling,PC Medic, Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Full Circle Recycling

ITEM

Batteries(AA, AAA, D, C, 9V, 6V 12V)

Batteries (Rechargeable,Cell Phone, Laptop)

Fluorescent Light Bulbsand Tubes

Computers and Electronics(E-Waste)

Refrigerators and Freezers

A rusty crayfishcaptured in the

McIntyre River duringa field trip with oursummer day camp.

EcoSuperior is once again proud to offerhands-on classroom presentations to ThunderBay area schools. We offer programming for JKto Grade 12 on a number of great topics such as;water conservation, waste management and com-posting, invasive species, climate change, plasticpollution and so much more! Each presentationis 40 to 55 minutes and delivered by an enthusi-astic and knowledgeable EcoSuperior staff mem-ber. Programs are designed to supplement theOntario curriculum and are a great unit introduc-tion, or wrap-up activity.

During the 2016/2017 school yearEcoSuperior visited 48 schools and engaged over3600 students in environmental stewardship!Already we are busy visiting schools throughoutThunder Bay – helping teachers to add a littleextra to their curriculum needs. Short descrip-tions of in-class presentations can be viewed onour website. Interested in something a little dif-ferent? We can help shape a program to meet thespecific needs of your classroom.

Even schools outside of the Thunder Bay areacan access EcoSuperior programs, by using ourexclusive EcoKits. Each kit is filled with aweek’s worth of lesson plans and all the materi-als, worksheets and resources you need to com-plete the associated activities, all packed in ashippable box. If you are part of the LakeSuperior watershed, we can ship you an EcoKitfree of charge and you can even send it backempty! Use the lessons, use the materials, returnit us and we’ll restock it ready for the next groupof inquiring minds. There are three EcoKitsavailable: Grade 5 Waste Reduction, Grade 7Environmental Contaminates, and Grade 9Energy.

If you are looking for a new challenge thisschool year, EcoSuperior is the NorthernOutreach Coordinator for the OntarioEcoschools Program. Ontario Ecoschools, is aschool wide certification program that nurturesenvironmental leaders, reduces the ecologicalfootprint of schools and builds environmentally

responsible school communities. Both elemen-tary and secondary schools are eligible for cer-tification by creating an environmentally awareschool network (students, teachers, administra-tion, parents and community partners), buildingstrong EcoTeams and embedding ecological lit-eracy into everyday curriculum.

Interested in booking a program, borrowingan EcoKit or learning more about OntarioEcoSchools? Contact Erin at erin@ecosuperi-or.org or call 624-2147 for details.

EcoSuperior’s Summer Day Camp has once again come to end. After many days spent explor-ing the great outdoors, we would like to say a big thank you for another successful summer. First,thank you to all the wonderful campers. Your enthusiasm, love for nature, curiosity and energymake our job easy! Another big thank you to Kasper Mini-Bus for getting us out into the com-munity in style! Your generosity is greatly appreciated. Finally, we are grateful to the many com-munity partners that help make our summer program such a success. A big thank you to Let’s TalkScience, Science North, the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, Metis Nation of OntarioYouth Group, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, St. John Ambulance, Ontario Nature,Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters & the Ontario Invasive Species Program, Safe CyclingThunder Bay and the Thunder Bay Beekeepers Association. Each organization has shared with ourcampers new knowledge of the natural environment, personal safety and cultural heritage. Checkout our website for updates as next year’s program planning begins in the early winter.

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 5

EcoSuperior is excited to announce our con-tinued commitment to serve schools along thenorth shore of Lake Superior. Communitiesincluding Marathon, Terrace Bay, Schreiber,Nipigon and Red Rock are all able to benefitfrom our awesome school programming. Eachfall, our program coordinator travels the northshore to share programming with communitiesto the east. This is a great opportunity for

EcoSuperior to reach more students around theLake Superior Basin.

The Superior Greenstone District SchoolBoard (SGDSB) has increasingly become a partof EcoSuperior’s regular programming schedule.In addition to bringing programs to these com-munities, EcoSuperior recently delivered aworkshop for SGDSB during their annual prin-cipal’s meeting at the end of August. Our 2 hour

workshop titled ‘Strategies for EnvironmentalEducation’ is designed to help administrationbring innovative environmental education teach-ing strategies and sample activities back to theirschools to share with teachers and support staff.

EcoSuperior is developing ProfessionalDevelopment workshops for education staffthroughout the region. We will guide youthrough easy to use activities for incorporating

environmental education into the everyday class-room and include an overview of funding oppor-tunities and helpful easy to access online envi-ronmental education resources. As part of thisworkshop, teachers are provided with ‘Grab &Go’ resources.

Contact Erin at erin@ecosuperior.org or call624-2147 for more information, details andworkshop fees.

Summer Wrap-up

Expanding School & Education Programs

Teachers:We’re Back in Class

A. VilleneuveMechanical Ltd.Plumbing & Hot Water Heating

www.villeneuvemechanical.comFax: 807-623-7142807-622-8835

Commercial • IndustrialResidential

Boiler InstallationsIn Floor and Radiant Heating

Natural Gas and Propane InstallationPlumbing Installation and Repairs

Backwater Valve Installations

Backflow PreventerTesting and Certification

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 6

CALL 768-4411 TO ORDER YOUR TICKET

Waste Reduction & Recycling Information FairSaturday, October 14 • 10:00am - 6:00pmIntercity Shopping CentreThe City of Thunder Bay, EcoSuperior, and Confederation College will be at Intercity with giveawaysand information on ways you can reduce waste. Learn to how to recycle, compost and reuse house-hold items and reduce your environmental footprint. Find us in the promo court and enter the drawfor great prizes.

A Plastic OceanTuesday, October 17 • 7:00pmParamount TheatreJoin EcoSuperior, the City of Thunder Bay and the Environmental FilmNetwork for a free screening of A Plastic Ocean, an adventure doc-umentary that reveals the causes and consequences of plastic pol-lution and shares solutions. Learn what you can do to reduceplastic waste. Sign the pledge and choose to refuse single useplastics in your life! This event is also supported by theOntario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

Public Tour of the City of Thunder Bay SolidWaste and Recycling FacilityWednesday, October 18 • 2:00pmEver wonder where your bags of garbage go once they leave the curb? Don’t miss the opportunityto witness the behind-the-scenes operations the City of Thunder Bay Solid Waste & RecyclingFacility. The tour is free of charge and transportation is available. Call 624-2141 or visit www.eco-superior.org/wrw for shuttle location and to reserve a seat now! Space is limited.

Composting 101 WorkshopThursday, October 19 • 7:00pmComposting is a simple way to reduce your curbside trash by as much as 30 percent and providesa great source of superb natural fertilizer for your lawn and garden. Learn the ins and outs of bothindoor (vermicomposting) and backyard composting including troubleshooting and tips. Call 624-2141 or visit www.ecosuperior.org/wrw to register for this free workshop. You can also pick up acomposter during the workshop for just $25.

Composter Delivery ServiceTake advantage of our complimentary composter delivery service offered exclusively during WasteReduction Week. Call EcoSuperior at 624-2141 between October 10 and 17 to reserve a composterand enjoy free, to-your-doorstep delivery. Composters are $25 for City of Thunder Bay residents –payable by credit card over the phone or by cheque or exact change on delivery. Delivery is restrict-ed to locations within city limits.

Recycling is as Easy as 1, 2, 3 WorkshopConfused about what can be recycled in Thunder Bay? Don’t know how to properly sort your recy-clable materials? Host a free lunch and learn presentation for your workplace or organization dur-ing Waste Reduction Week and learn the ‘whats’ and ‘hows’ of recycling here in Thunder Bay. Call624-2142 or email shannon@ecosuperior.org to book a free workshop today!

Classroom PresentationsEcoSuperior has exciting new presentations and activities for your classroom during WasteReduction Week! These fun and interactive presentations will help students learn the importance ofreducing single-use plastics in our daily lives.

• Grade 2 to 4: Early Bird Gets the…plastic? - Students review the importance of reducingwaste and get to mimic a bird’s life in a plastic-filled environment.

• Grade 5 to 8: Packaging Analysis - Students analyze product packaging through a waste-reduc-tion lens – is there some plastic packaging we can avoid?

• Tour the Solid Waste and Recycling Facility - Nothing gives a better perspective of how muchwaste a community produces as a trip to the local landfill. Email shannon@ecosuperior.org toinquire about tours.

Call 624-2147 or email erin@ecosuperior.org for more information on scheduling presentations!

Waste Reduction WeekOctober 15 to 21

For more information visitwww.ecosuperior.org/wrwWaste Reduction Week is funded by the City of ThunderBay’s Solid Waste and Recycling Services Section anddelivered by EcoSuperior Environmental Programs.

Reducing the amount of waste we create is an easy way to help make a difference in our environment every day.Whether you're at home, on the go, in the office, or at school, there are many opportunities to go green by reducing,reusing, and recycling. Remember, the limit for curbside garbage in Thunder Bay is now two items, so take some timeand check out these events and promotions to learn how you can reduce the waste you send to landfill!

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 7

Michael Gravelle, MPPThunder Bay-Superior North

I am proud of ourgovernment’s

initiatives to build astronger, greener

Ontario.”

“

179 South Algoma StreetThunder Bay, ON P7B 3C1807-345-3647mgravelle.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Great PumpkinCompost Collection!

Did you know that smoking-related litter is themost prevalent form of litter in Thunder Bay andaround the world? Every year, millions of ciga-rette butts end up tossed as litter on shorelines,parks, and sidewalks across Canada.

What’s the problem with all these butts?

• They make our streets look ugly!

• They are made of plastic and stick around inthe environment for years and years!

• They are loaded with chemicals that are harm-ful to humans and wildlife!

• They end up in our waterways taking the plas-tic and chemicals with them!

Businesses, community groups and individualscan all play a part in tackling cigarette litter inour community. Here’s what you can do!

Help clean up by planning a butt blitz.

• Throughout the spring, summer and fall thou-sands of cigarette butts have been removedfrom our streets, business areas and shorelinesby dedicated volunteers. Plan one in yourneighbourhood. We can help!

Spread the word about proper disposal and dis-tribute pocket ashtrays.

• EcoSuperior is always looking for partners tohelp spread the word about the trouble withbutts. Join us and we can provide you witheverything you need!

Install an ashtray and participate in our ciga-rette recycling program.

• That plastic in cigarette butts can be recycledinto cool stuff like park benches to put yourother butt on. Look for one of our speciallymarked ashtrays popping up around town andknow that your butt will find new life.

Interested in learning more or participating inany of the above? It’s easy! Visit www.ecosupe-rior.org/cigarettes to get started.

Want to recycle your butt?New participants to theprogram include:• Red Lion Smokehouse • Sovereign Room• On Deck• Lakehead Manor• Bay Lock and Key • The Foundry• Cheers

Need a pocket ashtray?You can get them free of charge at the followinglocations:• EcoSuperior • City Hall• Canada Games Complex• Thunder Bay Transit• Sovereign Room• The Salvation Army

Butt Blitzes have been happening all over thissummer. Here are some of the results!

• Spring Up to Clean Up – May 1 to 31, 2017 –2637 volunteers = 17,696 butts

• Nipigon Green Day Clean Up – May 19, 2017– 150 volunteers = 4853 butts

• Terrace Bay Beach Festival Clean Up – July16, 2017 – 25 volunteers = 743 butts

• Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up atBoulevard Lake – August 2, 2017 – 60 volun-teers = 645 butts

• Real Canadian Superstore’s Stand Up 4 CleanUp – September 13, 2017 – 15 volunteers =2,536 people

Put ithere!

Thunder Bay has a Halloween tradition that you won’t find in every city – it’s the annual GreatPumpkin Compost Collection! Instead of sending all those jack-o-lanterns out to the curb in a trashbag to be landfilled, help turn them back into valuable compost by placing them in one of threecollection bins around town. Other compostable decorations such as cornstalks and straw can alsobe placed in the bin. Just remember to remove all candles and other non-compostable items.

Collection bins will in place from November 1 – 13, 2017 at the following locations:• County Fair Plaza on Dawson Road• Intercity Shopping Centre overflow lot on Fort William Road• Westfort Playfield on Neebing Avenue

This waste reduction program funded by the City of Thunder Bay’s Solid Waste andRecycling Services Section, delivered by EcoSuperior Environmental Programs andsponsored by GFL Environmental.

Plastic, plastic and more plastic! Everywhere we look, we can see plastic items that are meant tobe used once and thrown away. Plastic water bottles, plastic bags, plastic cutlery and plasticstraws; very little of this is actually recycled and often ends up as litter. More than 8 million tonsof plastic is swept into our rivers, lakes and oceans every year. It takes years to degrade in theenvironment and can affect water quality, harm wildlife and destroy habitat. We have developeda disposable lifestyle, but it’s not too late to do something about it!

Here are five simple steps that you can take to reduce the plastic waste that you create.

1. Drink your beverages from reusable a water bottle or mug. Over 500 million plastic water bot-tles are thrown away around the world each year!

2. Bring your own bag shopping. Up to 1 trillion plastic bags are discarded worldwide every year!

3. Say no to plastic straws and cutlery. In the U.S. alone, people discard more than180 billion plastic straws a year! You can carry your own cutlery in your purseor backpack.

4. Buy in bulk and pack your lunch in reusable containers. The averageOntario school produces over 8,500 kilograms of waste every year justfrom lunchtime!

5. Give up on gum. Yes, it’s plastic. Over 100, 000 tonnes of chewing gum are spitout around the world annually!

Want to learn more about the impact of plastics in our environment? Join EcoSuperior,the City of Thunder Bay and the Environmental Film Network for a free screening ofA Plastic Ocean on October 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre.

New this year! Join the 1st Annual Thunder Bay Pumpkin Parade at Hillcrest Park onNovember 1 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Bring your jack o' lanterns to share your creativity, or justcome to check out all the pumpkins on display! Volunteers will have candles to light up your mas-terpiece. Pumpkins on display will join the Great Pumpkin Compost Collection after the event. Formore information, visit www.ecosuperior.org/pumpkin

Say No to Single Use Plastic

Let’s get the butts off the streets!

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 8

To celebrate Ontario’s 150th Anniversary, EcoSuperior has hostedtwo Open Streets Thunder Bay events in two different neightbourhoodsand the third and final installment for this year is coming soon.Pavement turns into a playground when streets are closed to vehiclesand open to the community during an Open Streets program. The goalis to bring the community together in a celebration of neighbourhood,fun and fitness for people of all ages and abilities.

Sunday, August 20 residents came out to play on Algoma Street, fromJohn Street to Egan Street. From noon to 3 pm the street was closed totraffic and filled with activities for all ages and all abilities. On Saturday,September 16, Open Streets moved to Simpson Street and VictoriaAvenue, in conjunction with the City of Thunder Bay Strong Blockevent. The Open Streets route included Simpson from May to Pacific.

The October 1st event brings Open Streets back to the north side butthis time on Court Street and coincides with Culture Days. Residents areinvited to walk, wheel and wander along Court St and meet neighbours,be active, and enjoy the businesses in the area. Experience HighlandDancing with Morgan’s School of Highland Dancing, Sweet NorthBakery is hosting Pierre Schryer and an open Celtic Session, SafeCycling Thunder Bay is offering bike and helmet safety checks and theCity of Thunder Bay is putting on a free outdoor concert with DJ Shub,all in a car-free environment!

For further information, to comment, or to participate,please contact: Ashley Priem at EcoSuperior 624-2142,ashley@ecosuperior.org

EcoSuperior celebrates Ontario 150with Three Open Streets Programs in 2017!

Training Cyclists Across Ontario

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This year, EcoSuperior has had the opportunity to work withcommunities across the province to deliver cycling education.Cycling courses have been offered in Windsor, Sudbury, North Bay,and Niagara, with additional courses planned for Temiskamingregion and Mississippi Mills in October. This project is taking placeas part of Ontario150: Celebrate by Bike, a sesquicentennial part-nership between Share the Road, the Waterfront Regeneration Trust,Ontario by Bike and the Greenbelt Foundation.

Locally, we have had a great year for cycling training in ThunderBay. Fifteen new instructors have been trained, including a teacherand 4 police officers. Twenty two schools held bike rodeos, withover 300 elementary students receiving cycling instruction.EcoSuperior provided 14 Learn to Ride courses for the public, andthe Discovery Ride series over the summer attracted 87 participants.

Senior cyclists are getting on board too, with some of our mostpopular programs being the 55+ courses. A tire-changing workshopwas offered at the 55+ Centre and our Safe Cycling team also con-ducted helmet fittings and bike safety checks at Open Streets events.

Another new program that is beginning to grow is our YouthEarn-A-Bike program. The 8-week program provides at-risk youthwith safe cycling training as well as bike mechanic skills to refur-bish a bike. By the end of the program, each student takes hometheir bike to keep. The first Earn-A-Bike course took place atDennis Franklin Cromarty High School last spring, and the fall edi-tion is currently underway. We are also launching a public coursewith Evergreen-A United Neighbourhood, so if you know a youngperson in the neighbourhood who would like to participate, contactcaroline@ecosuperior.org

Youngsters at EcoSuperior’s summer day camp enjoy a safecycling course with one of our certified instructors.

Open Streets comes to Court StreetSunday, October 1st from noon to 3:00pm

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 9

Food SkillsWorkshopsComing to

the CountryMarket

Smokey Rutabaga

Eating with the Seasons

Meet at the Market is a new workshop seriesto be launched in October 2017 at the ThunderBay Country Market. Following market hours onWednesdays, hands-on workshops will be avail-able for anyone looking to build their food skills,knowledge, and confidence. Classes may includetopics such as preparing a hearty winter soup,using inexpensive cuts of beef, baking flatbread,and preserving jams and jellies.

The Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy isproud to be one of several partners working withthe Thunder Bay Country Market on the work-shops initiative. In recent years, public awarenessof local food issues has blossomed dramaticallywith more individuals, organizations, govern-ment agencies, businesses, and others promotinga local food system in the Thunder Bay Area.Many have recognized the nutritional benefits oflocal food, in addition to its exceptional flavours,its benefit to the local economy, and positiveimpacts on the environment.

Meet at the Market will build on the growinglocal food scene by offering an opportunity forcommunity members to further develop theirfood preparation skills and awareness of the localfood system. Food skills are an important tool forhealthier eating, breaking the reliance onprepackaged food which tends to be less nutri-tious than foods prepared from scratch.Developing the ability to prepare food also fos-ters greater confidence in shopping for locallygrown products and can result in cost-savings.For instance, it is much more expensive to pur-chase separate pieces of chicken than to takedown a whole chicken.

Space will be limited in each class to ensureparticipants receive individualized attention.Make sure to register ahead through the CountryMarket’s website and stay tuned as more detailsare released this fall.

Eating seasonally means including foods in your diet at the time of year that they are grown locally.Eating in this way has a multitude of benefits for your health, the local economy, and the environment.Locally grown foods are harvested at the peak of freshness, often within 24 hours of arriving at the market.The less time there is between harvest and consumption, the more nutritiously dense and flavorful the food.Limiting food transportation also contributes to a reduction in ‘food miles’ or transport-related greenhousegas emissions and supports our local farm families. Discover more seasonal recipes on the Food Strategywebsite (tbfoodstrategy.com).

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:• 2 lbs rutabaga• salt and pepper• 1/2 cup whole milk

Directions:• Place the rutabaga in a pot of salted water. Bring to a boil and cook

for about 25 minutes, until tender. Drain and return the rutabaga tothe pot.

• Add the milk to the pot and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Warm overmedium-low until the milk is warm. Turn off the heat.

• Add the cream cheese to the pot and whip the mixture with a handblender of whisk until a mashed potato consistency is achieved, oruntil the desired consistency.

• Add the paprika and mix thoroughly. Transfer to a dish and sprinklewith additional paprika.

Roasted Pumpkin SoupMakes 4 servings

Ingredients:• 2 sugar pumpkins

(2-1/4 cups pumpkin puree)• 1 tbsp oil• 2 shallots, diced• 3 garlic cloves, minced• 2 cups vegetable broth

Directions:• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.• Cut off the tops of the pumpkins. Cut each pumpkin in half and

scoop out the seeds and strings. (Don’t forget to save the seeds forfuture roasting!)

• Brush the flesh of the pumpkins with oil and place face-down on thebaking sheet. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a fork can easily piercethe skin. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Peelaway the skin and set the pumpkin aside.

• Pour the oil, shallots, and garlic into a large saucepan over mediumheat. Cook for 2 minutes or until translucent.

• Add all remaining ingredients (including the pumpkin) to the saucepanand bring to a simmer.

• Transfer mixture to a blender or use a hand blender to puree the soup.Pour the mixture back into the pot and continue cooking over medi-um-low heat for 5-10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

• For a Kale Topping: Add 1 tbsp oil and 1 minced garlic clove to the hotpan and sauté until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup ofchopped kale and cook until the kale is wilted. Set aside for toppingsoup.

• If you roasted the pumpkin seeds, consider adding those to the soup aswell!

• 1 oz cream cheese• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 cup milk• 2 tbsp maple syrup• 1/4 tsp salt• 1/4 tsp pepper• 1/4 tsp cinnamon• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

May We Be Your Guest (Speaker)?

Boulevard GardensECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 10

Ever wonder what harmful ingredientsmight be lurking in your cosmetics or house-hold cleaning products? Find out at one of ourhands-on workshops for grownups!

EcoSuperior’s Keep It Simple presentationhighlights the environmental and human healthconcerns hidden in everyday personal careproducts and household cleaning products.This 45 minute program is great for a work-

place ‘lunch and learn’, or a special presenta-tion at your community group meeting.

In addition to demonstrating the environ-mental and human health concerns of theseproducts, EcoSuperior shares hand-on tools,tips and tricks to help you make informedchoices for the products you use daily. The pre-sentation can include a trade-in event; bring inany one cleaning product with a hazardous

symbol on the label, and we’ll trade you for aGreen Cleaning Kit. Or your group maychoose the DIY option and learn to make aLemon Sugar Body Scrub out of simple andsafe household ingredients.

If you don’t have a group ready to host aworkshop, you can join us on WednesdayNovember 8th at the Waverly Public LibraryAuditorium. We will be hosting a public Keep

It Simple workshop from 6:30 to 8:00pm andeveryone is welcome.

Check out our website at www.ecosuperi-or.org under Services – Speakers andPresentations or contact erin@ecosuperior.orgto book a free presentation today or to registerfor our public workshop. Several other speakertopics are also available.

Matt is that friendly voice on the phonewhen you call our office, and here he is mod-eling some of the great t-shirts we have forsale. All shirts are $20 each, in a full range ofadult sizes, and every sale helps support ourcommunity programs. If you like to wear whatyou believe in, you’ll love these t-shirtdesigns. We’re always looking for new ideastoo, so let us know if you have a suggestion forour next wearable message!

Wear it –Live it!

The photo here was snapped recently in Thunder Bay, in front of a home that clearly values ourpollinators. This garden is well maintained and features a variety of wildflowers that are attractiveto pollinators. Boulevard gardens like this could add character, colour and charm to our city streets,as well as provide habitat for birds, butterflies and other pollinators that are suffering from dimin-ishing natural areas.

In Thunder Bay, homeowners are required to maintain the boulevard that fronts their property,but current city by-laws actually prohibit letting the grass grow over 8 inches, let alone planting abeautiful garden. Homeowners can apply to the city to have a boulevard tree planted, but there iscurrently no provision for boulevard gardens.

Many cities have started viewing boulevards as areas for homeowners to expand their gardens.In Vancouver, for example, residents can grow vegetables and flowers, install temporary raised bedsor other garden structures, as long as they are removable and don’t obstruct the view of drivers. TheCity of Barrie and City of Guelph have also enacted boulevard garden policies with height restric-tions on plants, and suggested planting lists.

A grass monoculture on all our boulevards provides no habitat value and requires maintenanceto stay lush and green. EcoSuperior is planning a pilot project to test the growth of white clover ona boulevard, which will not require mowing and will also provide flowers attractive to bees andother pollinators.

Would you like to see more boulevard gardens in Thunder Bay? What kind of regulations mightbe needed? We are interested in your comments – please email info@ecosuperior.org and have yoursay on boulevard gardens.

ECO-NEWS • EcoSuperior • 11

Rain garden tour success

Stormwater Managementa Community Effort at Castlegreen

UNDERSTANDING PRINCIPAL RESIDENCES AND YOUR ESTATE

Join us Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at the Victoria Inn (Carlton Room) starting at 7:00 PM. To RSVP to this FREE seminar please contact Lindsey Wychopen at 684-7106 or by

email at wychopel@tbh.net

Speaker Series

Legacy Giving Thunder Bay

WITH PRESENTERS David Facca, CPA, CA (BDO)

Jason Williams, CPA, CA, CTA (BDO)

ESTATE TAX PLANNING

Join us Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at the Sleeping Giant Brewery starting from

5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. To RSVP to this FREE seminar please call (807)345-6363 ext 231 or

text (807)229-6344. Seating is limited.

WITH PRESENTER Lawrence Siddall, Investors Group

Community residents are embracing naturalapproaches to stormwater management afteranother successful rain garden tour.

With funding from the City of Thunder Bayand the Ontario Ministry of Environment andClimate Change, EcoSuperior coordinated thesecond annual tour on September 9, showcasingfive residential rain gardens throughout the city.

“At my home, the tour was a resounding suc-cess,” said Wanda Martin, who installed tworain gardens on her front lawn last year andreceived a $500 reimbursement for landscapingsupplies through the City-funded Rain GardenRebate Program.

Martin counted 95 visitors over the course ofthe tour, one of which was Genevieve Cernjul.

“Beautiful, keep it going. Please continuethis every year,” Cernjul wrote on a surveyabout the tour.

A rain garden is typically planted with nativewildflowers and grasses, and is shaped like abowl to soak up rain water from rooftops andpaved surfaces. Runoff picks up chemicals andother pollutants from these surfaces along theway, and typically flows into storm drains thatempty into local streams and rivers. Capturingthis water in a rain garden allows it to slowly fil-ter into the soil before it reaches our waterways,

resulting in cleaner water and reduced flood riskduring heavy rains.

EcoSuperior offers information sessions onhow to build rain gardens, as well as a limitednumber of rain garden rebates with fundingfrom the City of Thunder Bay. If you are inter-ested in installing a rain garden on your proper-ty, contact EcoSuperior in March 2018 forprogram updates, or subscribe to our monthlye-news by emailing info@ecosuperior.org.

A local housing co-operative is the focalpoint of the first neighbourhood green infra-structure project in Thunder Bay.

The Groundbreakers Project installed a seriesof rain gardens and rain barrels in residentialareas of Castlegreen Co-operative, demonstrat-ing natural approaches to better managestormwater and improve water quality flowinginto nearby McVicar Creek.

“These rain gardens help support CastlegreenCo-op’s “green” initiatives and support forenvironmental sustainability,” said SharonMcKinnon, general manager of CastlegreenCo-operative.

A rain garden is typically planted with nativewildflowers and grasses, and is shaped like abowl to soak up rain water from rooftops andpaved surfaces. Runoff picks up chemicals andother pollutants from these surfaces along theway, and typically flows into storm drains thatempty into local streams and rivers. Capturingthis water in a rain garden allows it to slowly fil-ter into the soil before it reaches our waterways,resulting in cleaner water and reduced floodrisk during heavy rains.

With help from volunteers on August 23 and24, two rain gardens were planted in the 500sand 1300s apartment blocks, capturing runofffrom the rooftops of two units. On September13 and 14, volunteers returned to install a larg-er rain garden south of the 400s block that col-lects water from three apartments via a grassedswale. Collectively, these rain gardens divertapproximately 28 cubic meters of rainfall fromstorm drains and other unwanted areas in theneighbourhood during an average rain event.

“Rain gardens are valuable assets that pro-vide not only stormwater management, butadded community value and beauty. The pro-ject has allowed individuals who are not intogardens to have a beautiful garden space thatthey can visit and enjoy,” said Stacey Livitski,board member of Castlegreen Co-operative.

The project also includes ten rain barrels inthe 500s apartment block to store water for lateruse in neighbourhood gardens and landscaping.

In partnership with The City of ThunderBay, Castlegreen Co-operative, and LakeheadRegion Conservation Authority, the Ground-breakers Project relied on a raft of volunteers,

sponsorship and donations from individuals andbusinesses in Thunder Bay. We’d like to thankeveryone who came out to lend a hand, as wellas Thunder Bay Hydro, Rotary Club ofThunder Bay - Port Arthur, Royal Bank ofCanada, Rutter Urban Forestry, Paulusma’sGreenhouses, MNRF Ontario Stewardship

Youth Rangers – Kakabeka, and Thunder BayRotaract Club.

The project also received support fromEnvironment Canada, Thunder Bay DistrictStewardship Council, Co-operative HousingFederation of Canada, the Ontario TrilliumFoundation, and Green Communities Canada.

Local Air Pollution InnovationEmily Cross is a grade 12 student at

Hammarskjold as well as an internationally-awarded youth scientist, science mentor andSTEM educator.

She has won numerous awards, has been aTEDx speaker and is constantly working onher own research projects. Her research discov-eries include:

• a method for extracting fossils, fossilizedsoft tissue and gemstones from ironstonewithout damage,

• the discovery of specific environmental fac-tors that degrade or alter stone tool artifacts,

• the contra-indication of the formation theory

of a North Americanfossil deposit

• and recently a newand highly effectivemethod of removingharmful air pollu-tants.

Using a dual stagesystem of vapour cham-bers, and zebra musselsas a bio-filter, Emily istesting a process thatcan remove airborne pollutants from ambientair. She has used this process on diesel and

gasoline combustion emissions. Her prototypehas successfully transferred air pollutants towater, and then used the invasive mussels toremove the contaminants, with potable water asthe end result. How amazing is that?

Emily’s process could eventually have amajor impact on human and ecological health.But until this innovative technology becomeswidely available, there are things we can all doto keep our air clean. One of the biggestimpacts on air quality locally comes from vehi-cle exhaust. It’s hard to avoid driving with thelong distances and few public transit optionshere in northwestern Ontario, but we can avoidneedless idling.

• If you’re stopping your vehicle for more than10 seconds and you’re not in traffic, shut theengine off!

• Put away the remote starter. Modern enginesneed no more than 60 seconds to warm up,so dress for the weather and drive away.

• Clear your windshield of frost and snow witha good quality scraper, or use windshieldcovers.

• Establish a No Idling Zone at your school,business or workplace. Call EcoSuperior fora free presentation and signage.

Rats are on the rise in Thunder Bay and area, and thereasons behind the increase are a popular subject of debate.Some are convinced that backyard composters and urbangardens are to blame. The fact is that cities all acrossCanada are experiencing huge increases in rat populations,and the main factor is our warmer winters. A national pestcontrol company recently published a list of the top 25“rattiest” cities and Thunder Bay didn’t even make the list.

A rat’s lifespan is only about 2 years, but females startbreeding at three months of age and can have as many as15 litters of 10 – 20 babies in a year. Normally, cold win-ters kill a lot of rats, but with milder temperatures allowingeven a few extra litters to survive, the population growsexponentially very quickly.

If rats have discovered your backyard composter as asource of food and shelter, you may have to put the com-poster away for a few weeks until the rats move on. Hereare a few tips that can help keep rats out of your com-poster:

• Make sure you are putting only vegetable matter in yourcomposter.

• Try wrapping the bottom of the composter in strongwire mesh (1/4 inch hardware cloth).

• Move your composter out in the open, rather than close

to a fence or shed. An open area makes rats more vul-nerable to predators.

• Visit your composter often! Activity scares rats away.

• Give your pets more yard time – dogs and cats make aninhospitable neighbourhood for rats.

• Keep your yard clear of hiding places. Remove piles ofbrush or lumber and keep garage and sheds free of clutter.

• Remove bird feeders, or put them in a place where youcan clean up spilled seeds daily – this is a major foodsource for rats.

If all else fails, you might want to try indoor vermicom-posting or consider an above ground tumbler type of com-poster.

Rat Facts• Rats' front teeth grow continuously, forcing them to

wear them down by constantly gnawing on everything,including brick, wood, cement, glass and metal.

• A pair of brown rats can produce as many as 2,000descendants in a year if left to breed unchecked.

• A rat can tread water for three days and survive beingflushed down the toilet.

• A group of rats is called a “mischief.”

Oh Rats!