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.
Spring may feel far off, but the government of Manitoba is making plans to address any potential seasonal flooding that could occur after a difficult flood season last year. The province's Hydrologic Forecast Centre released its first flood outlook for the season on Tuesday and is predicting moderate flows along the Assiniboine and Red rivers, and in the Interlake region along the Fisher and Icelandic rivers.
Manitoba’s infrastructure minister said on Thursday that record-low precipitation levels continue to plague the province, and have led to record low water levels in several Manitoba waterways. During a Thursday press conference Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler confirmed the province has seen record low precipitation this spring and summer, and he said that water control structures are now being operated in the province “to mitigate low water conditions.”
