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

Island Health

Regional District of Nanaimo to borrow money to pay for Whiskey Creek water system upgrade

Regional District of Nanaimo to borrow money to pay for Whiskey Creek water system upgrade

The Whiskey Creek Water Service Area is scheduled for a much-needed upgrade to meet Island Health’s requirement deadline. The facility has been under notice from Island Health to address deficiencies in the water supply since 2013. The water supply system to Whiskey Creek has required improvement since 2012. In 2021, the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) commissioned a new groundwater source, but due to lack of funds, a temporary overland transmission water main and portable diesel-powered electric generator as a power source were installed.

Month-long boil water advisory finally over in Port McNeill

Month-long boil water advisory finally over in Port McNeill

Port McNeill residents can finally drink their tap water again without having to boil it. The town has been under a strict boil water advisory since Aug. 11, when water test results came back showing trace amounts of E. coli were found in one of its samples during routine testing. According to medical officials, some kinds of E. coli can cause diarrhea, urinary infections and even respiratory problems. After numerous weekly water tests throughout August, which continued to come back showing areas along Beach Drive were still producing trace amounts of E.coli and Total Coliforms, the boil water advisory continued on into September, when Island Health mandated for the town to complete a chlorine disinfection of the water distribution system.

Bacteria discovery has left island hospital relying on bottled water since March

Bacteria discovery has left island hospital relying on bottled water since March

Patients and staff at Salt Spring Island's sole hospital are still relying on bottled water, months after legionella bacteria was detected in the facility's water system. Island Health advised against using the water at Lady Minto Hospital for drinking or bathing in March, when routine testing showed low levels of the bacteria were present. 

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