Professor Trevor Pitcher says the centre is one of the few environmentally related facilities open to youth in the area
The Freshwater Restoration Ecology Centre opened in May, but the centre decided to open its doors to the public for an open-house Saturday.
Researcher Trevor Pitcher says more than 50 people braved a rainy day to make their way to the centre — housed in the Riverdance building at 1 Adam Ln. near Front. Rd. and Laurier Dr. in LaSalle.
"It's a research facility that focuses on three main things, water quality, fish health and population, and invasive species,” he says.
Recently, pitcher says the FREC has nurtured a school of sturgeon along and will introduce them to the ecosystem in Windsor-Essex soon.
.@PitcherLab explains how the @FRECUwindsor is working to bring sturgeon back to the region. He says more than 50-people came through the research facility Saturday to learn more about what they do. pic.twitter.com/7yQQO9yTXj
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) November 18, 2017
He says it's research and initiatives like the repopulation program, that provide opportunities for area youth.
"There are a lot of opportunities in the area to learn about things like automotive engineering and manufacturing, but there's relatively few environmentally related opportunities to get practical hands on experience," says Pitcher. "This facility allows that for children of all ages."
Saturday's open-house will be the first of many, according to Pitcher.
"We're really happy to have our partners from the Town of LaSalle here, and we look forward to having many more open houses in the future," he says. "We also tour this facility."
The research centre is part of a joint venture between the University of Windsor, and the Town of LaSalle.
One of several holding tanks at the Freshwater Restoration Ecology Centre in LaSalle on Saturday Nov. 18, 2017. (Photo by AM800's Gord Bacon)