Powerful wind gusts up to 80 km/h are pounding the area and are only expected to get worse.

A tree feel in the 1000 block of Pelissier Street about 10 a.m. and crushed a car. Another massive tree was felled in the 4000 block of Howard Avenue.

Earlier in morning a large tree branch snapped off and fell into hydro wires on Lacasse Boulevard. 

All morning and afternoon ferries to and from Pelee Island have been cancelled and ERCA is warning of shoreline erosion.

Got pix of weather damage? Email them to the newsroom!

Strong winds toppled this tree in the 4000 block of Howard Avenue on Nov. 12, 2015. (Jason Kryk/Windsor Star)

High winds toppled a tree onto a car in the 1000 block of Pelissier Street on Nov. 12, 2015. (Dan Janisse/Windsor Star)

A large tree crashed down on a car on Thursday, November 12, 2015, in the 1000 block of Pelissier St. in Windsor, ON. Heavy winds caused problems across the region. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

City workers remove a large tree that crashed down on a car on Thursday, November 12, 2015, in the 1000 block of Pelissier St. in Windsor, ON. Heavy winds caused problems across the region. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

City workers remove a large tree that crashed down on a car on Thursday, November 12, 2015, in the 1000 block of Pelissier St. in Windsor, ON. Heavy winds caused problems across the region. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

City workers remove a large tree that crashed down on a car on Thursday, November 12, 2015, in the 1000 block of Pelissier St. in Windsor, ON. Heavy winds caused problems across the region. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

City workers remove a large tree that crashed down on a car on Thursday, November 12, 2015, in the 1000 block of Pelissier St. in Windsor, ON. Heavy winds caused problems across the region. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

A large tree crashed down on a car on Thursday, November 12, 2015, in the 1000 block of Pelissier St. in Windsor, ON. Heavy winds caused problems across the region. A local student and a black cat check out the damage. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

A tree falls on a car on Windermere Road in Walkerville. (Amanda Olsen/Special to The Star)

Strong winds toppled this tree in the 4000 block of Howard Avenue on Nov. 12, 2015. (Jason Kryk/Windsor Star)

High winds toppled a tree onto a car in the 1000 block of Pelissier Street on Nov. 12, 2015. (Dan Janisse/Windsor Star)

Municipal workers for the Town of Amherstburg voted 100 per cent in favour of strike action at a membership meeting held Monday for IBEW Local 636, Unit 27.

The union represents both inside and outside workers for the town. Their contract expires Dec. 31.

There were 43 out of a total 55 members in attendance.

“We’re so far apart I’d be surprised if we work it out,” said Brian Manninger, the local’s business representative.

Manninger said the local signed a one-year extension to the collective agreement with no wage increase last year to help the town “get through a financially tough time.”

Negotiations broke down Nov. 3 after both sides had met three times. Manninger said the union filed for conciliation and he’s heard that process will begin Dec. 7.

Manninger said the biggest issue blocking an agreement is a 35-page document of concessions tabled by the town.

Competing for a shrinking pool of students with three other publically-funded boards and a growing number of private schools, the Greater Essex County District School Board trustees approved a plan Tuesday to attract and keep more students.

“Our old philosophy has been if we prove we’re the best program we’ll draw them,” said trustee Dave Taves, who tabled the motion for a committee to study ways to improve the recruitment and retention of students.

“The playing field has changed. We have to adapt to it.

“It’s gotten way more competitive (for students).”

The new committee will include trustees, senior administration, school staff and community representatives.

If nothing else, Taves said the committee will help identify what’s working and what’s not.

“We have to look at ourselves,” Taves said. “Are we losing our market share of students? If so, why?”

The growth of private school enrolment in an era of shrinking student numbers is something Taves feels the board can’t ignore.

There are 16 private schools in Windsor and Essex County with nine of those being in the city.

Superintendent of education John Howitt said the numbers of students leaving for private schools in the Leamington area nearly doubled to 140 this year. Howitt said the new sex education curriculum likely affected those numbers.

“Elsewhere, we’ve seen no significant change across the board,” Howitt said.

Taves said new programming and expanding existing programming — such as French immersion — might be part of the solution.

“We don’t have any French immersion in Leamington,” Taves said. “Kids have to go to Kingsville to get it in our system.”

Board spokesperson Scott Scantlebury said the board currently promotes itself by advertising registration dates for kindergarten, Grade 8 days at local high schools, as well as school committees getting the message out to feeder schools.

He added that the board is also working with the Upper Canada school board to improve its use of social media.

“It makes complete sense to look at programs we can provide and what kinds of things there are across the province,” director of education Erin Kelly said of the scope of the study.

“There are lots of good models across the province we can research.”

Taves also suggested studying what the board is doing in its program to recruit and retain international students to see if there are any local applications.

In the first year of that program (2014-15), the board attracted 33 international students. In the first half of this year, that number has grown to 35 with students still being accepted for the second semester.

dwaddell@windsorstar.com

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county Tuesday. Check out the gallery.

Work continues on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, on the former downtown Armouries which will become the University of Windsor School of Creative Arts. An extensive amount of flooring material is being removed to created more space in the building.

Work continues on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, on the former downtown Armouries which will become the University of Windsor School of Creative Arts. An extensive amount of flooring material is being removed to created more space in the building.

Work continues on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, on the former downtown Armouries which will become the University of Windsor School of Creative Arts. An extensive amount of flooring material is being removed to created more space in the building.

Work continues on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, on the former downtown Armouries which will become the University of Windsor School of Creative Arts. An extensive amount of flooring material is being removed to created more space in the building.

Work continues on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, on the former downtown Armouries which will become the University of Windsor School of Creative Arts. An extensive amount of flooring material is being removed to created more space in the building.

Work continues on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, on the former downtown Armouries which will become the University of Windsor School of Creative Arts. An extensive amount of flooring material is being removed to created more space in the building.

Volunteer Harry Campeau prepares food on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, at The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County. The organization is seeking more volunteers, specifically men.

Volunteer Harry Campeau prepares food on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, at The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County. The organization is seeking more volunteers, specifically men.

Windsor and area residents get their first look at plans for the Gordie Howe bridge and customs plazas at an open house event at the Ambassador Golf Course in Windsor on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015.

Windsor and area residents get their first look at plans for the Gordie Howe bridge and customs plazas at an open house event at the Ambassador Golf Course in Windsor on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015.

Windsor and area residents get their first look at plans for the Gordie Howe bridge and customs plazas at an open house event at the Ambassador Golf Course in Windsor on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015.

Harrow’s Collin Hedges spikes the ball past Lajeunesse’s Jacob Croteau and Cayman Gagnon (right) at ƒcole secondaire E.J. Lajeunesse in Windsor on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

Harrow’s Durval Farias tries to spike the ball past Lajeunesse’s Alixe Saliba and Brayden Houte (right) at ƒcole secondaire E.J. Lajeunesse in Windsor on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

WINDSOR, ON. NOVEMBER 17, 2015. — Harrow’s Collin Hedges and Nikolas Motruk (right) try to block shot from Lajeunesse’s Jacob Croteau at ƒcole secondaire E.J. Lajeunesse in Windsor on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

Georgette Hinschberger, left, and Sayed Daher, special projects co-ordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Windsor and Essex County, were on hand Tuesday during the Alzheimer’s kickoff of a new program called Finding Your Way.

Ronnie Haidar, director of media and public relations for the the Windsor Islamic Association, is pictured on Nov. 17, 2015.

Jon Kelly, CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council, speaks as Kevin Laforet, Regional President of Caesars Windsor, and John MacFarlane, Senior Vice President of gaming with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, look on during media a event at Caesars Windsor on November 17, 2015. This month is the 10th anniversary for the Responsible Gaming Resource Centre program in Ontario Gaming venues. One of the first sites to open a RGRC was Caesars Windsor.

A slot machine is displayed at the Responsible Gaming Resource Centre at Caesars Windsor on November 17, 2015. This month marks the 10th year that Responsible Gaming Resource Centres have been in Ontario Gaming venues. One of the first sites to open a RGRC was Caesars Windsor.

Lawyers Myron Shulgan, left, and Alex Constantin, both of Sutts Strosberg, announce the expanding of a class action lawsuit against Volkswagen Tuesday November 17, 2015. The class will now include gas-powered 2016 automobiles built by VW.

Essex 73’s Alixe Saliba, centre, separates from Alvinston Flyers Mark McNally, left, and Fraser Wilson in Great Lakes Junior C hockey at Essex Centre Sports Complex Tuesday November 17, 2015.

Alvinston Flyers goaltender Matt Boere takes a drink during a three-goal barrage by Essex 73’s late in the first period of Great Lakes Junior C hockey at Essex Centre Sports Complex Tuesday November 17, 2015.

Essex 73’s William Stadder, top, pleads his case to the referee after drawing a penalty against Alvinston Flyers Brady Swan in Great Lakes Junior C hockey at Essex Centre Sports Complex Tuesday November 17, 2015.

Tourism was up on Pelee Island this year.

“It was a great summer,” Pelee Island Mayor Rick Masse said Wednesday.

“It’s probably been one of the better years since the 1990s.”

By the end of October, the ferry system that serves the Lake Erie island already had more passengers than all of last year, said Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island executive director Gordon Orr.

The ferry system had 90,551 passengers by Oct. 31 which beats the number of passengers in all of 2014 — which was 89,645 people — and could surpass the 2013 total of 90,628 passengers, Orr said.

And those numbers may not have captured the estimated 1,000 hunters for the fall pheasant hunts, he said.

It will take until the end of the year to see if the number of vehicles ferried to the island will surpass last year’s total. Orr said the ferry system transported 31,922 vehicles this year until Oct. 31, compared to the 32,323 vehicles that used the ferry in all of 2014.

Orr said it’s tremendous news.

The U.S. dollar has helped and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island promoted the island this year with new videos including one that is shown on the ferry and one that is shown at Highway 401 tourist information centres, he said.

Masse said he wanted to thank the Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island for the marketing campaign, and Michael Coteau, minister of tourism, culture and sport, for saying Pelee Island is a “premier tourism showpiece” this summer.

Ontario announced in June the island will be getting a new ferry to replace the old M.V. Pelee Islander and serve with the M.V. Jiimaan. More visitors to the island can also help Kingsville and Leamington where the ferries dock.

It’s too early to have tourism figures for Windsor and Essex County although Orr said he expects good news because hotel occupancy and tunnel traffic was up.

The region receives about 4.8 million visitors a year which have an estimated economic impact of $500 million, he said.

shill@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/winstarhill

With continued growth over the last few decades, the Town of LaSalle recognizes it might be time for a transit system.

And based on responses at an informal public information display at the Vollmer Centre Wednesday night, residents are on board.

“It would be good,” said resident Cheryl Duran, who lives in the River Canard area. “LaSalle’s getting bigger and bigger every day, so it would be perfect.”

The town has commissioned a study on a transit system being headed up by the Toronto office of international transportation consulting firm Steer Davies Gleave.

“We have been hired by the town to first of all investigate the feasibility of a service so our study’s being done in two parts,” said associate Dennis Fletcher.

The first part, Fletcher said, is to investigate at a high level what the costs might be, where the demand is, what kinds of connections need to be made and what the cost to the community might be.

“The results of that phase will be reported to council in January,” Fletcher said.

“And then with council’s approval, we would then take the next step in terms of the details around specific routes and services, exactly what they look like, what the fares would be and we’re looking at both a community service that would connect points within LaSalle but also connections to and from Windsor and Transit Windsor.”

A Transit Windsor bus in downtown Windsor.

Duran said she has to drive her brother to St. Clair College every day and having the transit option would be helpful.

“We have friends that need to take buses too,” said Duran.

“The hours, it has to be early because people have to get to work by 7 or 8. I think the big one is St. Clair College because you can connect to other buses there too.”

The study is offering four different types of transit system models, a single fixed-route local bus, a community bus the provides indirect routing, a flexible-route bus and a demand response model where riders prearrange to be picked up.

Kerry Parker said she supports a transit system for LaSalle, particularly because her son will enter high school next fall.

“If he has extracurricular activities, my big concern is how is he going to get home?,” Parker said.

“Because the regular school bus, once it leaves, they’re done, and then it falls on the parents or someone else to pick them up.

“And if he gets a part-time job, say at McDonalds (on Ojibway Parkway), there’s no sidewalks, the kids can’t walk there, they can’t take their bikes, so the parents have to drive them.”

cthompson@windsorstar.com

The Salvation Army kettles are out, marking the unofficial start of the Christmas season.

The annual Christmas campaign has been a tradition in Windsor since 1903 with kettles at 18 different locations.

Salvation Army public relations and development representative Perron Goodyear said people always smile and tell him they know it’s Christmas when the kettles are out.

“It’s interesting to hear people’s stories and they tell you why they donate,” Goodyear said. “It can be everything from a family member to a grandfather who was assisted during the first or second world war to people who have a more recent connection to the Salvation Army where they or someone close to them as been assisted. It’s their way of giving back.”

Perron S. Goodyear, Divisional Director of Emergency & Disaster Service, Public Relations & Development Representative, helps launch the 2015 Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign, a fundraising effort that occurs each year during the Christmas season.

This year, the Salvation Army is hoping to raise $260,000 through donations. The kettles will be located at Devonshire Mall, Caesars Windsor, LCBO locations and various grocery stores.

“The people of Windsor are very generous and very supportive of the Salvation Army and of course we are very grateful because we can’t do the work we do without the support of the community,” he said.

But Goodyear points out the kettle campaign is not just about supporting people at Christmas. The money raised through the kettle program stays in the area to help support community and family services, the food bank, soup kitchen and of course the various Christmas programs like the Santa visit and Christmas social.

“Although we know it’s been difficult, we know the people of Windsor are very generous and past years have shown they support organizations like the Salvation Army,” Goodyear said. “We’ve been in Windsor since 1886. So we’ve been here for a long time and people recognize that relationship with the city.”

Anyone who would like to donate can visit salvationarmy.ca. or to host your own online kettle and invite other to donate go to fillthekettle.com

ksteele@windsorstar.com 

twitter.com/winstarkelly

The 2015 Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign has started in Windsor and Essex County. The Christmas Kettle Campaign is a fundraising effort that occurs each year during the Christmas season.

Zap Zone Fun Centre in Windsor is getting into the Christmas spirit.

From now until Dec. 21, bring a canned good into either of its two locations and get $3 off a regular priced game of laser tag. Zap Zone manager Ozzie Maltese said canned goods from the food drive will be donated to the Windsor-Essex County Food bank.

“The food bank is in desperate need of help,” he said. “We picked the food bank because it’s the hub with other agencies involved so we didn’t have to pick just one charity. This is our first time for this and we are doing it because we wanted to give back to the community.”

Zap Zone has two locations: 1930 Ambassador Drive and 1665 Lauzon Road.

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county yesterday. Check out the gallery.

Graduation ceremony for high school students taking part in Windsor Police Ethnic and Cultural Exchange Program at Ontario Court of Justice November 18, 2015. Front row are: Tessie Biel, left, Dallas Brophey, Kimberly Brown, Jillian Holland-Penney, Marialuna Martinez, Marija Medvidovic, David Moore, Jack Ross, Pamela Pelleova, Tehya Lacoursiere, right. Back row are: Andrew Beaton, Eduardo Arevalo, Deputy Chief Rick Derus, Chief Al Frederick, Hon. Justice Douglas Phillips, Sgt. Wren Dosant, Insp. Tom Crowley, Daniel St. Jean, Hunter Wright, Faris Sabri, Jessica Saclayan, right.

The Club 200 Youth Activity, the fundraising arm of Unifor Local 200, in conjunction with our Social Justice Fund, donated $40,000 in proceeds from the 20th Annual Children’s Golf Tournament “In memory of Frank McAnally”. Eight children’s organizations received donations from the $40,000 total. The recipients are Autism Society of Windsor-Essex, Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association, Windsor Essex Children’s Aid (Child Abuse Prevention Council), Computers for Kids, Children’s Leukemia Foundation, Canadian Mental Health Association – Grief Works Children’s Program, Jump Start, and Sunshine Foundation – Dreams for Kids. The event was held at the Unifor Local 200 offices on Turner Road in Windsor, Ont.

Const. Shawn Diotte helps students clean up their Facebook profiles during an anti-bullying event at Catholic Central in Windsor on Wednesday, Nov 18, 2015.

Const. Shawn Diotte helps students clean up their Facebook profiles during an anti-bullying event at Catholic Central in Windsor on Wednesday, Nov 18, 2015.

Perron S. Goodyear, Divisional Director of Emergency & Disaster Service, Public Relations & Development Representative, helps launch the 2015 Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign, a fundraising effort that occurs each year during the Christmas season.

The 2015 Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign has started in Windsor and Essex County. The Christmas Kettle Campaign is a fundraising effort that occurs each year during the Christmas season.

Perron S. Goodyear, Divisional Director of Emergency & Disaster Service, Public Relations & Development Representative, helps launch the 2015 Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign, a fundraising effort that occurs each year during the Christmas season.

Traffic backs up along Huron Church near E.C. Row Expressway following a morning accident that closed the road for period of time. Traffic was slow on the Herb Gray Parkway and Huron Church Road for several hours.

Jovana Burz gives Justina Nwaeser (right) a tour the 311 system during an GIS open house session at 400 City Hall Square in Windsor on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015.

The United States flag is seen at half staff near the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. The flags have been lowered in memory of the terrorist attack in Paris France.

Grade 6 student Elainy Meco, 11, works on a math exercise involving angles at H.J. Lassaline in Windsor, Ont., on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015.

Grade 3 students Trent Veloro, and Katie Cobb, both 8, work on a math exercise at H.J. Lassaline School in Windsor, Ont. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015. The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board announced their latest EQAO test results at the school.

Grade 3 teacher Ginny Ryckman works on a math exercise with students Yamin Mikhael and Nardine Asha, both 8, at H.J. Lassaline School in Windsor, Ont. on Nov. 18, 2015. The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board announced their latest EQAO test results at the school.

Richard Dalkeith, a spokesperson for the Street Labourers Of Windsor organization, is shown at the group’s newly opened union office on Tecumseh Road East in Windsor, Ont. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015.

Mike Vanveen, from left, Andrew Nellis, Joseph Boca and Richard Dalkeith, members of the Street Labourers Of Windsor, are shown at the organization’s newly opened union office on Tecumseh Road East in Windsor, Ont. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015.

Richard Dalkeith (L) and Mike Vanveen, members of Street Labourers Of Windsor organization, work on renovations at the newly opened union office on Tecumseh Road East in Windsor, Ont. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015.

Tecumseh Vista goalie Blake Dell poke checks the puck away from Essex’s Amilo Acampora on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at the Tecumseh Arena. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

Essex’s Wyatt O’Neil tries to bang in a rebound pass Tecumseh Vista goalie Blake Dell on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at the Tecumseh Arena. (DAN JANISSE/The Windsor Star)

Kerry Parker of LaSalle, left, gives transit details at the Vollmer Centre on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015.

Vipers Connor Rosaasen chases down Lincolns Matt Granger in second period action from Vollmer Centre November 18, 2015.

Amherstburg town council collectively takes its first hard look at administration’s 2016 budget proposal next week.

The draft calls for a 2.1 per increase to the municipal tax rate, which translates to a $35 increase on the tax bill of the average Amherstburg home valued at $191,000.

The budget reflects a $1.2-million increase to the town’s operating expenses over 2015. Operating expenses for 2016 are pegged at $21.5 million.

“I think it’s a good starting point,” Mayor Aldo DiCarlo said. “I think it reflects the same issues other municipalities are having with the cost of inflation and also infrastructure that continues to deteriorate and fail.”

The budget calls for $2.6 million in capital works with the majority going to roadwork at $1.2 million. A capital budget of $2.6 million could be funded from town sources without adding to the town’s debt load.

“It’s a pretty lean budget. I think we’re achieving continued progress repairing the infrastructure of the town without borrowing,” said Justin Rousseau, the town’s director of financial services.

Amherstburg treasurer Justin Rousseau, left, and Chief Administrative Officer John Micell at a town council meeting in this 2015 file photo.

Rousseau said the town’s debt will be reduced by more than $3 million at the end of 2015 to $43.1 million from $46.5 million in 2014.

Aside from the completion of Texas Road upgrades, the major roadwork project for 2016 would be the reconstruction of Alma St. between Walker Road and Howard Avenue at a price tag of $750,000.

Capital spending recommendations also call for $430,000 worth of work to culverts and bridges.

Administration is recommending the continuation of a capital replacement levy and a capital reserve levy and the establishment of a fire working capital reserve contribution and a working capital fleet reserve contribution.

The budget also includes elements of a two-year reorganization plan at town hall that calls for hiring a director of parks, facilities, recreation and culture and a director for planning, development and legislative services.

Council has scheduled as many as three days for deliberations beginning with a full session from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday.

They’ll resume Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m. and hit the document again Thursday, if necessary, from noon to 6 p.m.

Council earlier approved an administration timeline of having a budget adopted by Dec. 14.

mcaton@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/winstarcaton

The Christmas spirit lands at Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary Dec. 4-6.

Santa drops by for a fireside visit and photo session Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Kids activities take place in the clubhouse and the Miner home Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Cookies, cider and live music are available. Christmas carols will play on the old Victrola.

Admission is free although non-perishable donations for the Kingsville Food Bank or the Humane Society are appreciated.

For further information call the sanctuary at 519-733-4034 or check out events@jackminer.com

The two largest local school boards have seen nearly 1,000 new students register this fall who have come from outside the Windsor and Essex County region.

The Greater Essex County District School Board has registered 710 of those students while the Windsor-Essex Catholic District Board has attracted 230 students.

The bulk of those students have come in the public elementary panel where nearly 18 per cent (495 students) of the 2,833 new students registered came from outside Essex County.

“It was a bit of surprise,” said John Howitt, the superintendent of education overseeing the elementary school panel. “It’s certainly a positive development.”

Of the 495 new students, 162 came from other parts of Ontario while 91 came from elsewhere in Canada.

“We’re seeing a number coming from Alberta,” Howitt said. “I can guess that’s related to the downward trend of the oil industry.”

Howitt said equally surprising is the rise of students coming from outside the country. This year, the board has a total of 213 new immigrant students.

“That’s up significantly compared to the past couple of years,” Howitt said. “Immigration to this area had kind of dried up the last couple of years.

“Those numbers could be pushed higher with the Syrian refugee situation.”

Howitt said another 44 students came from what he feels are likely unregistered private schools. The origin of another 92 students from outside the area is still being tracked.

The secondary school panel saw 215 students come from outside the region with 107 of those being immigrant students. Thirty-five students have come from outside Ontario and another 73 from elsewhere in the province.

“Having students coming from outside the area is a positive for our students here,” said Vicki Houston, superintendent of education overseeing the secondary panel. “It is an enhancement of their learning.”

Stephen Fields, communications co-ordinator for the WECDSB, said the Catholic board registered 100 students from outside the country this year.

“Obviously this is a positive sign for the region, especially when you couple that with the numbers coming from other parts of Ontario,” Fields said. “This is good for the board and good for the local economy.”

While the WECDSB hasn’t broken down it’s numbers to exact locations, Fields said a good number of students have migrated from the Greater Toronto area. There are 35 students who came from other parts of Canada.

Tanya Antoniw, executive director of WorkForce Windsor Essex, said the boards’ enrolment of outside students reinforces the story her organization sees developing locally.

WorkForce is finalizing a report that shows the area has moved out of negative territory in terms of migration among school-aged children.

“We had a slight net positive in migration among 0 to 17-year-olds going back to 2012-13 statistics,” Antoniw said.

“Based on the facts were seeing, anecdotal stories from employers, the health of the real estate and new housing markets and the school boards’ numbers, I expect to see increases in those numbers for 2014 and 15.”

The region also showed positive migration in the 45-to-64 and over-65 categories. That’s in stark contrast for the period from 2005 to 2010 when the Windsor region was losing population in every age category.

Antoniw said local employers are now attracting workers from out west in the skilled trades, logistics and construction.

“Luring back these workers with their young families is so important for our future,” Antoniw said. “There is definitely a positive trend happening, but we have a lot of work to do.”

dwaddell@windsorstar.com

The Windsor Star’s award-winning photographers covered the city and county Thursday. Check out the gallery.

Shirley Beaton surveys the near empty shelves at the Windsor Homes Coalition food bank in Windsor on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015. The food bank had to close its doors for the first time in their 45-year history.

A sign is seen on the door of the Windsor Homes Coalition food bank in Windsor on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015. The food bank had to close their doors for the first time in their 45 year history.

Lady Laforet, executive director at The Well-Come Centre in Windsor, Ont. is shown in the organization’s food bank on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015.

Windsor police chief Al Frederick discusses a street check that led to an arrest at police headquarters in Windsor, Ont. on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015. A male was taken into custody after he was found with a pistol.

Police say carding helped them get this gun off the street of Windsor.

Windsor police chief Al Frederick discusses a streetcheck that led to an arrest at police headquarters in Windsor on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015.

Police say carding helped them get this gun off the street of Windsor.

More than 400 local students attended a High School Entrepreneurial Summit hosted by the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator on Thursday, November 19, 2015, at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts in Windsor, ON. The event featured workshops facilitated by successful young local entrepreneurs. The students were also invited to visit booths at the event of entrepreneurs as well as local organizations that support entrepreneurship. Christopher Lim-Cunanan, a St. Joseph’s student adds his input to a board asking students what they wanted Windsor to be.

More than 400 local students attended a High School Entrepreneurial Summit hosted by the Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator on Thursday, November 19, 2015, at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts in Windsor, ON. The event featured workshops facilitated by successful young local entrepreneurs. The students were also invited to visit booths at the event of entrepreneurs as well as local organizations that support entrepreneurship. Sandra Vasquez (R), youth entrepreneur coordinator with the Windsor-Essex Economic Development’s Small Business Centre chats with students during the event.

A worker puts the finishing touches on a section of the former Windsor Star building in downtown Windsor, ON. on Thursday, November 19, 2015. The University of Windsor’s School of Social Work and the Centre for Executive and Professional Education are now calling the landmark home.

Workers put the finishing touches on a section of the former Windsor Star building in downtown Windsor, ON. on Thursday, November 19, 2015. The University of Windsor’s School of Social Work and the Centre for Executive and Professional Education are now calling the landmark home.

General Amherst’s Mitch Wright scores a second half touchdown during the WECSSAA Arnott Conference playoff senior football final against Massey at Alumni Field in Windsor, Ontario. (JASON KRYK/WINDSOR STAR)

General Amherst’s Mitch Wright is congratulated by teammates after scoring a second half touchdown during the WECSSAA Arnott Conference playoff senior football final against Massey at Alumni Field in Windsor, Ontario.

General Amherst celebrates the WECSSAA Arnott Conference playoff senior football final over Massey at Alumni Field in Windsor, Ontario.

General Amherst’s Nick Esposito and Massey’s Cole Kozmenski go up for the football during the WECSSAA Arnott Conference playoff senior football final over Massey at Alumni Field in Windsor, Ontario.

University of Windsor students take part in a candlelight vigil to promote world peace and to denounce terror around the world.

University of Windsor students take part in a candlelight vigil to promote world peace and to denounce terror around the world.

University of Windsor students take part in a candlelight vigil to promote world peace and to denounce terror around the world.

University of Windsor students take part in a candlelight vigil to promote world peace and to denounce terror around the world.

University of Windsor students take part in a candlelight vigil to promote world peace and to denounce terror around the world.

Manon Pageau-Lane, right, asked why looking after children and elderly family members seems to fall to women during a town hall meeting dealing with Closing the Gender Gap held at Holiday Inn on Huron Church November 19, 2015.

Closing the Wage Gap town hall guests Silvia Nadeau, left, Terry Weymouth, Theresa Farao and Jodi Nesbitt listen to a presentation by gender wage gap steering committee, Ministry of Labour at Holiday Inn on Huron Church November 19, 2015.

A linesman breaks up Windsor Spitfires Andrew Burns, left, and Guelph Storm Noah Carroll in OHL action from WFCU Centre November 19, 2015. Spits Mikhail Sergachev was assessed a penalty on the play.

Windsor Spitfires Cristiano DiGiacinto, centre, is surrounded by Guelph Storm Vladislav Barulin, left, Kyle Rhodes and goaltender Bradley Van Schubert in OHL action from WFCU CentreNovember 19, 2015.

Windsor Spitfires Christian Fischer scores in the first minute of play against Guelph Storm goaltender Bradley Van Schubert and Tyler Boston in OHL action from WFCU CentreNovember 19, 2015.

Windsor Spitfires Mikhail Sergachev runs into Guelph Storm goaltender Bradley Van Schubert, right, in first period of OHL action from WFCU Centre November 19, 2015. Sergachev received a minor penalty on the play. Storm Garrett McFadder, left, tries to protect his teammate.

Windsor Spitfires Christian Fischer scores in the first minute of play against Guelph Storm in OHL action from WFCU CentreNovember 19, 2015.

The local health unit is hitting the road in the county.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will open a new space in Leamington sometime in the second quarter of 2016, helping create a sort of central clearing house for social services.

“We anticipate more like-minded organizations being in that building,” Dr. Gary Kirk, local medical officer of health, said Thursday at a health unit board meeting. “So we’re very excited about being located together.”

Kirk said the health unit will begin with 25 to 30 staff members at the new Leamington space, but will eventually ramp up to between 50 and 55.

“As we add more staff to our organization over the next several years, Leamington will be a landing place for some of them,” Kirk said.

Kirk said the health unit will manage the move with its current budget and will not need extra funding.

On Monday, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said that Ontario Works would be moving from its current home in Leamington to a multi-services centre, though he declined to name the new place until county authorities could be informed.

Kirk confirmed that the City of Windsor, which administers Ontario Works in the city and the county on behalf of the provincial government, would join the multi-service building, as will the Children’s Aid Society and others.

The health unit already has a smaller office in Leamington, though all of its efforts will be consolidated at 33 Princess St. The new social-services hub will therefore be called Central 33.

Kirk acknowledged that the Health Unit will eventually pull out of Essex — it has had an office at the Civic Centre for almost a decade — but said the new arrangement with locations in Windsor and Leamington will better serve the community as a whole.

“Essex won’t have a health unit in their backyard,” Kirk said. “But we think with the two distant geographic locations we will better serve the community.”

He believes the Central 33 concept will not only serve clients better to start, but will attract other similar organizations to form a one-stop shop for clients.

“We share many of the same clients,” Kirk said. “So there’s a natural synergy there.”

cpearson@windsorstar.com

twitter.com/winstarpearson

The overall wage gap between men and women in  Ontario is 31.5 per cent and Thursday night it was Windsor’s turn to weigh in on the disparity.

And the city didn’t disappoint at one of 14 town halls being held across the province by the Gender Wage Gap Steering Committee.

About 50 people, almost all women, packed into a meeting room at the Holiday Inn on Huron Church Road to lay blame and suggest solutions to the four-member panel.

Greater salary transparency by private-sector employers, better affordable day care, better education of young girls in better-paying job sectors and an increased minimum wage were among the topics discussed during the session.

“It’s become almost unacceptable for a man to leave work because his child is sick,” said Manon Pageau-Lane, advocating for more flexibility for men to take a greater role in parenting.

“But if my husband got called to go pick up my child because she’s sick, he’s threatened to lose his job. Because it’s not the same standard. And that case needs to change for men as well.”

Closing the Wage Gap town hall guests Silvia Nadeau, left, Terry Weymouth, Theresa Farao and Jodi Nesbitt listen to a presentation by gender wage gap steering committee, Ministry of Labour at Holiday Inn on Huron Church November 19, 2015.

Comments made during the session were recorded but those speaking did not have to supply their names.

The panel’s mandate is to examine how the roles of women at work, in their families and in their communities are affected by the gender wage gap.

Sina Naebkhil, who works in the non-profit sector, said she had a conversation with a male friend about coming to the session.

“His argument is it’s not men’s fault because women don’t ask for higher pay,” said Naebkhil.

“I am in negotiations for a contract, and I still have a hard time learning if I earn fair pay compared to my male counterparts. What questions do I need to pose?”

Many women who spoke told stories of the obstacles they faced related to child-rearing. Affordable day care came up time and time again, as did the burden being placed on older family members to look after young children because day care was out of reach financially.

Manon Pageau-Lane, right, asked why looking after children and elderly family members seems to fall to women during a town hall meeting dealing with Closing the Gender Gap held at Holiday Inn on Huron Church November 19, 2015.

Pageau-Lane said in Germany young girls are being taught computer coding at ages as young as kindergarten.

“Anyone can do it, you just have to put the pieces together,” said Pageau-Lane. “The system has to start right at the beginning in showing the value of all work to any gender.”

There is a 12 per cent gap in general hourly wages, 26 per cent in annual average full-time earnings for a full year, and 31.5 per cent in total for all earners, according to Statistics Canada.

Research shows that greater workplace equality would benefit the province’s economy and society at large by increasing economic security for women and their families, improve the province’s economy and maximize the labour force talent pool.

The panel is about halfway through its town hall meeting schedule and will have a final report back to the minister of labour by May 2016.

cthompson@windsorstar.com

THE SHOW OF ART: BNE & FRIENDS  
Exhibition runs through Nov. 21
Reception: Saturday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m.
Join BNE & Friends for a night of fine art, delicious snacks and shenanigans.

LUV LOCAL HOLIDAY MAKERS’ MARKET @ Walkerville Brewery
Friday, Nov. 20,  5 p.m.-9 p.m. & Saturday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where can you do all your holiday shopping, get original, local handmade items and feel good about supporting local small business? At the LUV LOCAL Holiday Makers’ Market.

WALKERVILLE HOLIDAY WALK, Walkerville, Windsor
Nov. 20 & 21
We encourage families, friends and new faces to come together in harmony and stroll the streets. Shop local and see who’s new to the ‘Ville.

BREACH: EXHIBITION AND SALE, one ten park
Friday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.
Celebrate the Fall Season before it turns to Winter. Collette Broeders, Susan Gold, Melissa Marchant will turn their workspaces into an exhibition of new work.

JOHN LARSH ART OPEN HOUSE, 1501 Dougall Ave. Windsor
Saturday, Nov. 21, noon-5 p.m.
Stop by and see John Larsh’s new innovative paintings. Need a special gift or card? Thinking about Christmas giving? You’ll know it when you find it, love what you buy.

INTO THE MOMENT, Art Galia
Saturday, Nov. 21, 6 p.m.
Evening of Poetry readings, music, live flute and a short artist talk (Susan Lapp) on her biggest work yet will create an amazing evening. Come out and get into the arts.

GARDEN OF EDEN: DANUTA SINIARSKA, Common Ground Art Gallery
Exhibition runs Nov. 21-Dec. 4
Reception: Sunday, Nov. 22, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Canadian Art has the advantage of being enriched, very often, by the ethnic elements in contemporary art, by the different cultural origins of artists and their ability of artistic visualization.

CURRENT AND ONGOING at THE GALLERIES

ARTCITE INC. – After the Hunt | Emily Jan. Exhibition runs to Nov. 21.

ART GALLERY OF WINDSOR – Treaty Robe, for Tecumseh; Bonnie Devine, exhibition runs through Jan. 10; The Summit Meeting: Raphaelle de Groot, exhibition runs through Jan. 27; Professional Native Indian Artists Inc., exhibition runs through Jan. 17.

ARTSPACE – Boreal: Lisa Marshall. Exhibition runs through Nov. 28.

ARTSPEAK GALLERY – The Show of Art: BNE & Friends. Exhibition runs through Nov. 21. Reception: Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.

GIBSON GALLERY – Currently Installing Holiday Art Show. Exhibition runs Nov. 26-Dec. 13.

LEAMINGTON ARTS CENTRE – A Signature Christmas Market. Exhibition runs until Nov. 28.

LEYDAN GALLERY – 10th Anniversary Art Show: Leyla Aysel Munteanu & Monica Radulescu Tudorache. Exhibition runs through Nov. 29.

MUDPUPPY GALLERY – A Stitch in Time: Fabric and Fibre Art. Exhibition runs through Nov. 21.

SB CONTEMPORARY – Stories of the City. Exhibition runs through Dec. 5. Reception: Friday, Nov. 20, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

WALKERVILLE ARTIST’S Co-Op – S.H.E.: Paintings by Suellen Evoy-Oozer. Exhibition runs through Nov. 23

CALLS, AUDITIONS & JOBS

ARTCITE INC. – Call for Submissions: Doin’ the Louvre FUN(d)raising Exhibition. Drop off date through Nov. 21 from 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

ARTS COUNCIL WINDSOR & REGION – Call for submissions: Mistletoe and Snow Members’ Exhibition. Submissions accepted: Nov. 24-27.

LEAMINGTON ARTS CENTRE – Call for submissions Silent Art Auction, Saturday, Nov. 28 & Anything’s Possible Photo Contest, Saturday, Dec. 23.

INDUS EXPERIENCES – Call for participants: 16 Day Royal India Tour. Departure Date: Feb. 15, 2016.

W.A.V.E.S. FESTIVAL – Open Call for Creative Projects. Deadline: Thursday, March 31, at 3 p.m.

_______________________________________________________________________
Arts Council Windsor & Region
1942 Wyandotte St. E. 519.252.ARTS

Here’s how the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit’s five-star system rates the conditions of more than 2,400 restaurants, community kitchens and bulk food warehouses in the region.

1. Every restaurant starts with five stars and it’s up to the owners to maintain that score.

2. As health infractions pile up, the restaurants collect demerit points, which range from one point for minor issues to 10 points for the most severe. Restaurants lose a star in their rating for every 11 points they accrue.

3. Typically, inspectors visit high-risk sites three times a year, moderate-risk sites twice a year and low-risk sites once a year. Those inspections don’t include return visits, which are conducted to ensure compliance with any infractions.

4. The length of time given to comply varies significantly depending on the infraction. Owners could have up to a year to replace an aging floor that is difficult to keep clean, while others may have a day or two for more severe orders.

5. The star ratings of establishments and recent infractions are posted for the public to view on the health unit’s Safe Food Counts website. Customers with concerns about food safety can contact the health unit at 519-258-2146 ext.1450.

If there was a yellow sticker on the door of an airplane, would you hesitate to fly? So what if there’s a yellow poster on a restaurant door?

That’s the comparison expert Keith Warriner makes when trying to explain what makes a restaurant inspection disclosure system work. Cities in Ontario are required by law to make public the information gleaned from restaurant inspections.

The first in the province was in Toronto. DineSafe uses a traffic-light coloured posters to show the public whether the restaurant got a pass (green), a conditional pass (yellow), meaning the restaurant has to make a fix within a day or so and get inspected again, or a fail (red), meaning an infraction poses a serious health concern and the business is shut down until it’s fixed.

Most cities contacted by the Star use a version of Toronto’s traffic light system: London, Hamilton, even Ottawa is about to adopt it for a trial year.

Windsor’s star-rating system is less common. Warriner hadn’t even heard of it.

In 2008, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit launched its Safe Food Counts system, giving restaurants between one and five stars based on demerit points for infractions found during inspections. The star system was chosen based on surveys of 400 residents and 108 restaurant operators — representing five per cent of local establishments. It was the second system to be implemented in Ontario, after Toronto in 2001.

The health unit’s director of health protection at the time told the Star in 2008 that the program involves a ” huge education component, so there shouldn’t be any two-star (restaurants)” in the community. Earlier in November, four restaurants in Windsor had two stars. One had a one-star rating.

Richard Meldrum, a food safety expert at Ryerson University, said there is a concern that the public won’t understand those ratings. That’s why he favours the pass/conditional pass/fail system.

“The ultimate goal of having these schemes is having some sort of identifier to the public that intends to give reassurance that this establishment has been inspected and is safe,” he said. 

When asked if the five-star rating accurately reflects what inspectors find, Mike Tudor, inspection manager at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, stands behind the system.

“If it gets to the point where it does present an immediate health hazard, then … it’s addressed as a closure,” he said.

Tudor says too many people put an emphasis on the star rating. Instead, owners should focus more on the infractions and make sure they are adhering to the best practises.

“I have never played up the loss of a star. Mostly, it’s about compliance with food regulations,” Tudor said.

— With files from Derek Spalding

Charges are pending against an Amherstburg cyclist who lost his leg as the result of an early morning collision with a minivan.

An Amherstburg police spokesman said they are looking at charges under the Highway Traffic Act which pertain to improper bicycle lighting for an adult.

Senior Const. Shawn McCurdy said the investigation into the Sept. 30 incident showed the bicycle involved had no reflector or light on the back.

McCurdy said the driver of the minivan will not face charges.

Richard Orum, 26, was struck from behind as he rode his bicycle to work on Alma Street in the pre-dawn darkness.

Last week, he had to have part of his left leg amputated below the knee due to his injuries.

He retained a personal injury lawyer earlier this week with the intent of suing the minivan driver.

His lawyer, Jennifer Bezaire, referred to her client as “lit up like a Christmas tree,” on the morning of the collision and sent out a photo showing a flashlight attached to a backpack she said he was wearing.

Amherstburg police were unsuccessful in their attempt to serve Orum last week. A conviction would carry a fine.