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

Ducks Unlimited

Advocates call on Sask. government to create wetland policy before agricultural water policy

Advocates call on Sask. government to create wetland policy before agricultural water policy

The Saskatchewan Alliance for Water Sustainability (SAWS) and other water advocacy groups are calling on the province to create a wetland policy. About 10,000 acres of wetlands are lost on average each year in Saskatchewan, according to Ducks Unlimited. It is the only province without a comprehensive policy to manage and preserve wetlands. Advocates said they are concerned that the province's new upcoming Agricultural Water Stewardship Policy will maintain existing drainage and create new wetland drainage projects. The policy aims to help farmers deal with occasional overland flooding.

Ducks Unlimited optimistic for return of water to Miner's Marsh in Kentville

Ducks Unlimited optimistic for return of water to Miner's Marsh in Kentville

In late October the largest pond at Miner's Marsh, along the Cornwallis River, was mostly dry after a year of dropping water levels, with the bottom sunbaked. While dozens of ducks and geese would normally have spent time there in the fall on their way south for the winter, only a handful of birds were walking through the water, most of it too shallow for swimming. The summertime population of ducks also seemed lower.

Trading homework for hip waders: Regina students become stewards of conservation park

Trading homework for hip waders: Regina students become stewards of conservation park

Science has always been a big part of Mireya Zigler's life. Zigler's dad was an environmental science teacher at Martin Collegiate in Regina, and she admits to having a bit of a dinosaur obsession as a kid. Now, Zigler and her Grade 10 classmates at Dr. Martin LeBoldus High School will get to explore their passion for science further, as they become environmental stewards at McKell Wascana Conservation Park. The project is a partnership between the school and Ducks Unlimited to make the roughly 70-hectare (171-acre) park in east Regina a wetland centre of excellence — part of a national network of schools and community partners for the conservation organization.

Ecologists, insurance companies partner up to mitigate flooding

Ecologists, insurance companies partner up to mitigate flooding

As climate change persists, researchers and stakeholders are working together to come up with nature based solutions to damage in urban communities caused by extreme weather. Nature Force, a project led by Ducks Unlimited in partnership with 15 property and casualty insurance companies, aims to use natural infrastructure, such as wetlands, to restore and protect high-risk areas from flooding.

Southwestern Ontario farmers asked to donate portions of land for wetland conservation

Southwestern Ontario farmers asked to donate portions of land for wetland conservation

Ontario is investing $30 million over five years to restore 60 wetlands in the province, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited (DU) Canada. Environment Minister Jeff Yurek made the announcement in St. Thomas, Ont. on Wednesday morning, telling those in attendance the new projects will help improve water quality, preserve habitat and help with impact of climate change.

Follow us