Mike McKay

Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker supports UWindsor research during rare Lake Erie deep freeze

Dr. Mike McKay to the right talking to two Coast Guard cadets on the leftDr. Mike McKay (right) explains how to use collection kits to Canada Coast Guard officer cadets Raphaël Cere (left) and Jack Hogan (middle). (MIKE WILKINS/University of Windsor)

By Sara Elliott 

With Lake Erie locked in its heaviest ice cover in more than two decades, a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker has become an unlikely research platform for University of Windsor scientists. 

As the CCGS Vincent Massey breaks through thick ice, its crew is collecting water samples to help researchers understand how winter conditions shape the lake’s ecosystem.