NOVEMBER 22,2013
FEATURE
CONVERGEDCITIZEN
PAGE 6 ‘
Marine shipping on the rebound following 2009 recession
Photo By: Jolene Perron
Students from St. Clair Centre of the Arts culinary program prepare food to accompany the wines at the Wines of the World event Nov. 1.
Rotary raises money with wine and food Jolene Perron Associated Managing Editor Photo By: Richard Riosa
President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation Terrence Bowles speaks during a conference held at the office of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Oct. 11. Richard Riosa company which owns and taxes each year. Citizen Staff Reporter Great Lakes Between 2008 and 2009 the operates freighters. Barker said the Businesses folded, purchas- region saw a sharp, 25 per cent ing power decreased and decrease in total cargo tonnage Detroit – Windsor area’s manmany families were left home- coming in and out of the vari- ufacturing industry is imporless. The global recession of ous ports along the Great tant for the survival of the 2009 has had a lasting impact Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway. region’s shipping industry. “2009 was a tough time for on the economy worldwide. According to president and Canada’s recession CEO of the Windsor Port all, with the U.S. and the econlasted roughly nine months, Authority David Cree, the omy,” said Barker. “We starting in late 2008 and end- shipping industry responds to (Interlake Steamship) were no ing in 2009. The recession’s the demands of the economy different.” The recession also caused a impact on Canada was not as and the demands of producdecrease in cargo shipping at tion in the region. When the large as in the neighbouring Windsor’s local ports. economy suffers, so does the U.S.. Although many strugAccording to statistics on the gling businesses did fail dur- shipping industry. “We had some fairly signif- port authority’s website, 2009 ing this time, there were no massive government bailouts icant declines during that peri- saw a six per cent decrease in or bank closures on this side of od,” said Cree. “We were a lit- total yearly cargo tonnage tle under five million tons from the previous year and a the border. But Canada’s recession still coming out of the recession in 15 per cent decrease from their 10-year high which disrupted the economy, low- ’08.” occurred just three years prior Terrence Bowles, president ered profits and hurt employment rates. According to and CEO of the St. Lawrence in 2006. Cree said the Port Authority’s Management Statistics Canada, the national Seaway income-based GDP decreased Corporation, said the region’s 12 terminals throughout by almost five per cent reliance on manufacturing Windsor handle between five between 2008 and 2009. This tends to drive the local econo- and six million tons of cargo each year. In 2009, according decrease in national GDP is my. “This whole area’s very to their website, the port only reflected heavily in most heavily manufacturing inten- handled 4.9 million tons of industries. sive, which was a negative for cargo. The marine shipping indusAlthough the recession has try is crucial to the economy a while there, but today people of both the U.S. and Canada. understand that manufacturing negatively affected marine According to Marine Delivers, has a very important role to shipping in the region, as well a bi-national marketing entity, play with jobs and everything as locally, Cree said the industry is rebounding nicely in the Great Lakes – St. else,” said Bowles. President and CEO of The recent years. Lawrence Seaway produces a By 2012 the total amount of combined $33.5 billion in eco- Interlake Steamship Company cargo tonnage coming in and Mark Barker said his company nomic impact annually for out of the Great Lakes region was also negatively affected Canada and the U.S. and conhas increased more than 27 per tributes $4.6 in federal, by the recession. Interlake state/provincial and local Steamship is a U.S.-based SEE MARINE PAGE 7
A group in Windsor is showing how a simple glass of wine, fine dining and good company can impact the city. Wines of the World took place Nov. 1 at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts with an overwhelming response from the public. Ann Hetherington, chair of the Wines of the World committee, said 13 wineries, 16 restaurants and 360 guests attended the 18th annual event. “This is the best value for an evening out,” said Hetherington. “At $75 a ticket you can eat and sample wines the entire evening. Folks start at six o'clock in the evening and they go right through until 10 o'clock at night sampling the food that our restaurants have brought and sampling the wine as well, so it's a full four hours of dining, culinary experiences that you just can't beat.” The money brought in from the event will go to Roseland Rotary in Windsor. From there the organization distributes the money throughout their many subsidiary affiliates. Rotary is a worldwide organization that “provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards and helps build a goodwill and peace in the world,” according to their website. There are more than 32,000 clubs around the world in 200 countries. These organizations all work together supporting one
another as well as additional organizations throughout the community. “The proceeds come to us but we end up, we support local charities, local initiatives,” said Pat Soulliere, president of the Windsor Roseland Rotary Club. “Some of the money will go to six initiatives that we support internationally that we support through the rotary international.” All of the organizations were at the event as volunteers. Those who ran the event were also volunteers through the Rotary Club. Sherri Dulcamaro volunteers through the Rotary Club each year and says it is a “really important event for our community.” “Just some amazing work done by Roseland Rotary and I'm proud to be involved in it and contribute in any way that I can,” said Dulcamaro. “This is one of our signature events.” Since the event has been in the community for so many years, some attendees have been going to the event annually. Pam and Bill Seney have been attending Wines of the World for five years and have “enjoyed it all the time.” “We love to support the Rotary club of Windsor,” said Seney. “It's a great organization giving to a lot of great things and it's a great way to sample our local restaurants and wineries.” Hetherington said guests typically purchase a table of 10 and attend the event with friends and family.