Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

City of Toronto

High levels of bacteria in Lake Ontario closes 3 Toronto beaches

High levels of bacteria in Lake Ontario closes 3 Toronto beaches

Three Toronto beaches have been deemed unsafe to swim due to high levels of bacteria in Lake Ontario on Friday. E.coli levels at Marie Curtis Park East in Mississauga, Sunnyside Beach in downtown Toronto, and Kew Balmy Beach in the Beaches have been labelled as “unsafe to swim” by the City of Toronto ahead of the weekend. E. coli are a bacteria that can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The levels are predicted to be above 100 E.coli per 100ml of water, which may pose a risk to human health, according to the city’s water quality data.

People posing as City of Toronto workers attempting to enter homes, get personal info

People posing as City of Toronto workers attempting to enter homes, get personal info

Individuals posing as City of Toronto staff have attempted to enter homes and gather personal information, the City warned Wednesday. In posts on Twitter, the City said it has been notified that people are posing as Toronto Water staff. The post noted that staff are currently conducting testing in the sewer system to identify defects. But officials said staff don’t need to enter homes to do the work and would never ask for personal information.

City of Toronto issues third social bond

City of Toronto issues third social bond

Yesterday, the City of Toronto issued its third social bond. Toronto was the first – and remains the only – government in Canada to establish a Social Debenture Program, furthering its leadership in sustainable finance while promoting positive and equitable socioeconomic outcomes. This social bond issuance was for $235 million, with a 20-year maturity, a coupon interest rate of 4.55 per cent and will mature on July 27, 2042. It was issued on July 11 and will settle on July 27. Despite sustained concerns about inflation and the economic implications from the rising interest rate environment, investor confidence in both the City and Toronto’s economy remains strong. This issuance was very well-received and has a total of 29 Canadian and international investors. The proceeds will be used to fund Council-approved capital projects from several City divisions and agencies, such as Toronto Transit Commission’s Easier Access program, and the George Street Revitalization project. The City’s Social Debenture Program advances positive social action and sustainability for all Torontonians.

Lack of working water fountains a symptom of Toronto's 'bad management,' advocate says

Lack of working water fountains a symptom of Toronto's 'bad management,' advocate says

Despite an early start to summer weather, the City of Toronto revealed it has some 245 water fountains that aren't turned on, something an urban planning advocate says spells a bigger problem for those who rely on public amenities. Mayor John Tory revealed Tuesday only 60 per cent of the city's 700 public water fountains were up and running during recent record-breaking heat spells.

City of Toronto frozen pipes public education campaign encourages residents to take action during extreme cold temperatures

City of Toronto frozen pipes public education campaign encourages residents to take action during extreme cold temperatures

Tips to avoid frozen water pipes in the home: Know where to find the main water shut-off valve and how it works (in case your pipes burst) and ensure areas that contain indoor water pipes are kept above eight (8) degrees Celsius, especially near the water meter. Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage. Outdoor faucets are the first to freeze. Unscrew any hoses, turn off the outdoor water supply and let the taps drain. Insulate pipes most prone to freezing, especially near outside walls and in crawl spaces, the attic and garage. This can be done with foam pipe covers available from building supply or home improvement stores.

Toronto Fire investigating oil spill in Lake Ontario at Sugar Beach

Toronto Fire investigating oil spill in Lake Ontario at Sugar Beach

Toronto Fire is investigating an oil leak in Lake Ontario at Sugar Beach near Queens Quay. Emergency crews received the call at around 2:05 p.m., and were alerted about the incident by a caller who reached out to CP24. A fire boat was sent out to investigate. Toronto Fire confirmed there is oil on the water but added it was trying to determine the source of the spill.

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