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

Halifax

Halifax will ask province to buy flood-prone Bedford homes

Halifax will ask province to buy flood-prone Bedford homes

The Halifax regional council will officially ask the province to buy a group of flood-prone Bedford properties. On Tuesday, council approved a motion from Bedford-Wentworth Coun. Tim Outhit to have Mayor Mike Savage write to Premier Tim Houston and ask for a provincial buyout program for Union Street properties damaged during July's extreme flooding. Outhit said these homes, which are all in a flood plain, are ones he's visited many times over the years as they've been damaged again and again by water.

'Complacency' blamed for N.S. struggles with flooding, other climate disasters

'Complacency' blamed for N.S. struggles with flooding, other climate disasters

In portions of Halifax and central Nova Scotia, as an estimated 250 millimetres of rain fell last weekend, similar confusion and improvisation was unfolding, in what some experts say is the latest example of the province's inadequate state of preparation for climate disasters. The mayor of the Municipality of West Hants has said many residents reported they didn't receive any emergency alert at all because of the area's spotty cellular service.

Nova Scotia wrestles with aftermath of devastating floods

Nova Scotia wrestles with aftermath of devastating floods

Canada's East Coast province of Nova Scotia began cleaning up on Sunday after torrential rainfall caused devastating floods, while the search continued for four people including two children who went missing during the deluge. The storm, which started on Friday, in some places dumped more than 25 cm (10 inches) in just 24 hours - as much as normally falls in three months. CBC meteorologist Ryan Snoddon said it was the most rain to hit the provincial capital Halifax since Hurricane Beth in 1971.

Vet hospital says dog died from blue-green algae exposure after 5 minutes in Halifax-area lake

Vet hospital says dog died from blue-green algae exposure after 5 minutes in Halifax-area lake

A veterinary hospital in Halifax says a dog's recent death was connected to exposure to blue-green algae at Long Lake in Hammonds Plains. Halifax Veterinary Hospital said in a statement Wednesday that a dog suddenly died after spending about five minutes in the water at the lake on June 16. The vet hospital said the dog quickly lost the ability to stand, was non-responsive and showed "seizure-like" activity.

2 Halifax-area lakes closed due to high bacteria levels

2 Halifax-area lakes closed due to high bacteria levels

Two lakes in the Halifax-area are closed to swimming after high bacteria levels were found in the water. Kearney Lake Beach and Albro Lake Beach – both supervised beaches -- are closed until further notice. A municipal news release Thursday said recent test results show bacteria levels at the beaches exceed Health Canada swimming guidelines.

Halifax-area beach closed because of toxin-producing algae bloom in lake

Halifax-area beach closed because of toxin-producing algae bloom in lake

Municipal officials in the Halifax area have closed a popular lakeside beach after the discovery of a toxin-producing blue-green algae bloom. The beach at Springfield Lake in Middle Sackville closed Saturday.

Proposed rules for mobile home parks in Halifax come as a relief to residents

Proposed rules for mobile home parks in Halifax come as a relief to residents

On a summer morning two years ago, Susan Doyle turned on the tap to run a bath — and was greeted with a splash of dark water. "It was black as tar, the water. And I'm like, 'Oh my goodness,'" Doyle said in a recent interview at her Woodbine Park mobile home community in Beaver Bank. After 13 years of winding its way through city hall, a proposed Halifax bylaw would outline construction requirements and service standards for so-called "land-lease communities" like Woodbine Park.

Halifax Water says supply remains safe, as wildfire burns near facility

Halifax Water says supply remains safe, as wildfire burns near facility

Halifax Water says its water supply remains safe as a wildfire burns just a few kilometres away from one of its large watersheds. The utility operates a pumping station and water treatment facility at Pockwock Lake, which supplies water to the Lower Sackville, Bedford and Halifax areas. That facility sits just northwest of where the fire is burning, and is located inside an emergency zone. "We are checking water samples, including additional water samples, to make sure the quality of the water stays consistently safe," Jeff Myrick, the utility's communications manager, told CBC Radio's Mainstreet Nova Scotia on Wednesday.

Ottawa grants $154M to Dalhousie-led study on North Atlantic and climate change

Ottawa grants $154M to Dalhousie-led study on North Atlantic and climate change

Dalhousie University in Halifax will lead what it calls "the most intensive investigation ever into the ocean's role in climate change" thanks to $154-million in federal funding announced Friday. The research program is getting a piece of $1.4 billion awarded to Canadian universities by the federal government through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.

Water main break disrupts water supply, traffic in Halifax

Water main break disrupts water supply, traffic in Halifax

A water main break in west-end Halifax disrupted water supply and traffic early Monday afternoon. Halifax Regional Police had asked drivers to avoid the Armdale Roundabout, where water was pooling, "making driving hazardous," the force said in a news release. Just before 4 p.m. AT, police said the roundabout had reopened to traffic. Halifax Water spokesperson Jeff Myrick said crews were working to repair the break, which occurred when a construction company hit a transmission main on Roosevelt Drive.

Looks like Sault got a hub snub from Canada Water Agency

Looks like Sault got a hub snub from Canada Water Agency

It’s been nearly one week since local officials learned the federal government chose Winnipeg over Sault Ste. Marie as the host city for the Canada Water Agency (CWA) headquarters. Disappointed by the decision, members of the CWA task force in town remained hopeful the Sault could still have some involvement with the federal agency by hosting a regional hub.

Shrinking coastlines: Will more Canadians have to move because of climate change?

Shrinking coastlines: Will more Canadians have to move because of climate change?

Few will forget post-tropical storm Fiona, battering the east coast last fall. From Cape Breton to Charlottetown, Halifax to Port aux Basques, Canadians were caught between downed power lines and trees, with harrowing stories of narrow escapes from the rising waters. Some homes were completely submerged, and carried out to sea. One woman in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, tragically lost her life this way.

Emergency water repair in Halifax: Halifax Water

Emergency water repair in Halifax: Halifax Water

Halifax Water crews are working to repair a water main on Kaye and Sackville streets in Halifax. Water service will temporarily close the road between Belleshire drive but sidewalks will remain open. The utility says motorists should expect delays and use alternate routes. Halifax Water says customers in the area may experience discoloured water during, and or, after the repair. It is recommended that those customers run the cold water until the water runs clear.

'It's quite remarkable': Halifax is about to set a record for lack of snow

'It's quite remarkable': Halifax is about to set a record for lack of snow

Halifax hasn't seen any snowbanks or snowplows so far this winter, and the lack of lasting flakes is about to break a record. Saturday will break the record for the latest date into winter without having at least two centimetres of snow on the ground at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, according to Jim Abraham, president of the Canadian Meteorological Oceanographic Society.

Canada plans to welcome millions of immigrants. Can our aging infrastructure keep up?

Canada plans to welcome millions of immigrants. Can our aging infrastructure keep up?

The Canadian population just blew past 39 million, and the country is only going to get bigger: Ottawa announced in November it wants to bring in a half-million more immigrants each year. The population grows apace, our infrastructure — governmental and private — is struggling to keep up. And it’s a story playing out across Canada. Few young people can afford a home, we’re all stuck on gridlocked roads or jammed into buses and subways, and our hospitals are overcrowded. Climate change will only further weaken infrastructure that is crumbling in many parts of the country. And Canada isn’t particularly known for getting stuff done quickly anymore.

Work to begin on water quality improvements at Victoria General Hospital

Work to begin on water quality improvements at Victoria General Hospital

Health Minister Michelle Thompson says work will begin next week to improve the water quality at the Victoria General Hospital so people can take showers at the ailing Halifax site that was supposed to be demolished this year. Repairs will start on the fifth floor of the Centennial Building, which houses cancer patients and others requiring hospitalization. A localized water treatment and hot water on-demand system that is safe for immunocompromised patients will be installed.

Shoreline cleanup planned at English Bay as part of annual event

Shoreline cleanup planned at English Bay as part of annual event

Communities across Canada will head to the water on Sept. 17 for International Coastal Cleanup Day to recover litter from shorelines, parks, and other natural places in their communities. In B.C. the cleanup is planned at English Bay in Vancouver. There are also cleanups planned at Black Rock Beach in Halifax and Woodbine Beach in Halifax. This is also the first year a cleanup will be hosted in the U.S., with details to come. Since 1994, Ocean Wise has organized nearly 1 million volunteers participate in Shoreline Cleanups, collecting more than 2.1 million kg of trash across Canada’s shorelines.

Halifax providing drinking water to residents whose wells are going dry

Halifax providing drinking water to residents whose wells are going dry

The Halifax Regional Municipality is making drinking water available to people whose wells are going dry. Each household can receive two litres per person per day, plus one litre per day per pet, and residents can collect one week's supply at a time. Beginning Aug. 16, residents can get drinkable water at six different fire stations each Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., except station 38 and 42, which have different hours:

Halifax wastewater operations return to normal after repeated pump failures

Halifax wastewater operations return to normal after repeated pump failures

Halifax Water says emergency repairs have been completed on a Duffus Street wastewater pump station in Halifax. In a release Thursday, the utility says operations have returned to normal after three pump failures in two months. The pump started operating Wednesday evening and was monitored overnight. Wastewater and stormwater are now being pumped from the Duffus Street station to a wastewater treatment facility on Upper Water Street rather than flowing into Halifax harbour.

Untreated wastewater again being released into harbour, Halifax Water says

Untreated wastewater again being released into harbour, Halifax Water says

Halifax Water is again asking people to stay away from Halifax harbour and flush less. In a news release Sunday night, the utility said a wastewater pump failure is causing "screened but untreated" wastewater to be released into the harbour. "Residents and visitors are strongly advised not to go swimming or participate in recreational activities requiring water contact in Halifax Harbour until further notice," the release said. The utility is asking people living in Larry Uteck, Park West, Clayton Park, Fairview and parts of the west and north ends of Halifax to reduce the amount of water they flush and pour down their drains.

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