Volunteers salvage parkway properties
LaSalle
Post News
It's
a hot summer to be doing demolition work, but over 200 volunteers have taken
time out of their schedules to salvage materials from homes slated for
demolition along the Windsor-Essex Parkway corridor.
Since
the official launch of the W.E. Pay It Forward property salvage project,
volunteers have donated their time to reclaim materials from commercial and
residential buildings that were purchased by the province during expropriation
procedures to make way for the new truck route and international border
crossing.
Many
of the the homes that sit unoccupied are located along Talbot Road in LaSalle.
"The
response that we've had from Windsor and Essex County volunteers has been
incredible," Windsor-West MPP Sandra Pupatello said of the project. "As we
continue to salvage building materials from these properties, we are not only
helping our environment but also doing our part to help local charities like
Habitat for Humanity. I encourage more people to come out and get involved in this
unique project."
The
reclaimed building materials salvaged through W.E. Pay It Forward are recycled
back into the community through charitable housing and improvement initiatives.
Preliminary
estimates suggest that approximately 1.5 tonnes of material per building are
being diverted from landfills.
Habitat
for Humanity and Essex County's Horticultural Society, the leading charities
for this initiative, have involved several other charities in salvaging
building materials.
Habitat's
ReStore in Windsor-Essex alone did $131,000 in sales for the month of July. The
project has engaged over 200 volunteers working day and evening shifts to stay
ahead of the demolition crews during one of the hottest summers on record.
More
volunteers are required. Those interested in volunteering and local
not-for-profit organizations interested in receiving materials from the salvage
operations can visit www.wepayitforward.ca.
Port of Windsor getting $20 million infrastructure upgrade
The
federal government is floating at least half the money for the more than $20
million in upgrades to the Port of Windsor.
The
announcement of the federal government's $10.1 million investment was made
Tuesday.
The
project will create a multi-purpose marine facility that will handle petroleum
products and aggregate materials on Windsor Port Authority property.
Improvements include an extended dock, a 20-acre storage facility, new
loading-unloading infrastructure, and new office and warehouse space.
It
is the hope of the Port Authority that improving their facilities will help
support economic growth and improve the quality of the transportation network
in the region.
"This
new facility will allow the port to meet the projected increase in demand for
liquid asphalt and construction aggregates generated by the many significant
infrastructure projects planned for this area," said Charles Pingle, chairman
of the Windsor Port Authority. "The Port Authority greatly appreciates the
commitment the federal government has made to ensure Port Windsor will continue
to grow and meet the needs of the community."
Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure, and Communities, and Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament for
Essex, joined Pingle and Port Authority president and CEO David Cree for the
announcement.
"Our
government's investment today will create jobs, help make Windsor a port of
choice for commerce, and bring economic benefits to both the region and the
rest of Canada," said Watson.
"Windsor
is home to the busiest commercial crossing in North America, and this new
facility will be a major advantage to the Canadian economy, helping move goods
more efficiently and safely than ever before," said Strahl.
The
project is one of 1,900 across Ontario eligible for funding under the
Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. More than $1.5 billion will be spent on the
projects.