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

Princeton

Thousands of carcasses of pigs drowned in B.C. floods pose no threat to environment, composting plant says

Thousands of carcasses of pigs drowned in B.C. floods pose no threat to environment, composting plant says

WARNING: This story contains graphic images of piled-up pig carcasses The Castanet story quoted an Upper Similkameen Indian Band official saying the massive amount of biowaste may contaminate the river and groundwater, something Ocejo says isn't true. The band also sent a letter of complaint to the Town of Princeton on Jan. 11, saying its staff discovered the colossal amount of hog carcasses at the Net Zero Waste facility on Dec.10, and found that leachate and contaminated water were flowing directly from the facility to the Similkameen River's surrounding areas.

Military assistance for flood-ravaged B.C. ends, focus now on housing and recovery

Military assistance for flood-ravaged B.C. ends, focus now on housing and recovery

The mayor of a British Columbia community devastated by last month's floods says finding winter housing for displaced residents is his top priority with recovery efforts underway. Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne said about 300 people from the area are still on evacuation order and about one third of them will need accommodation. "We want to keep people in the community," he said. "If we move people out of the community, they're not going to be able to work and that's going to add another layer of stress and obstacles to overcome."

Cars, couches, fridges and fuel tanks among 'mountains' of flood debris requiring disposal

Cars, couches, fridges and fuel tanks among 'mountains' of flood debris requiring disposal

Unprecedented flooding in southwest British Columbia last month has left hard-hit communities dealing with the disposal of debris like drywall, insulation, silt-soaked mattresses, couches and kitchen cupboards damaged by water that gutted homes and businesses. Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said a second waste transfer station is expected to open for "mountains" of trash left outside homes after record rainfall killed thousands of livestock and devastated a prime agricultural area of the province.

B.C. Flooding: New water line being built as Canadian Forces arrive in Princeton

B.C. Flooding: New water line being built as Canadian Forces arrive in Princeton

The town’s water system is down to one line across the Tulameen River, and pressure for the system is depending on two fire hoses. A new water line is currently being constructed, drilling underneath the Tulameen River. “The challenge is, mostly, there’s a cobble situation, so it’s more challenging than most drilling,” said Greg Truman, an Ironman Directional Drilling project manager. Ironman Directional Drilling has been contracted to construct the new water line. Truman said it’s rewarding work for a community that needs help.

No heat or potable water in Princeton, B.C., as locals brace for freezing temperatures after flood

No heat or potable water in Princeton, B.C., as locals brace for freezing temperatures after flood

The town of Princeton, B.C., remains in a state of emergency after days of relentless rain caused extreme flooding, and now the scramble is on to get heat and water working in the community again as the mercury drops and freezing temperatures add to the emergency situation. Half the town is under water after extreme rains pushed the Tulameen and Similkameen rivers to overflow their banks and dikes on Monday, forcing people to evacuate 295 properties and creating a state of emergency in the community of 3,000, located 190 kilometres east of Vancouver.

Town of Princeton swamped after floodwaters breach dike

Town of Princeton swamped after floodwaters breach dike

The mayor of Princeton, B.C., says half the town is under water after extreme rains pushed the Tulameen and Similkameen rivers to overflow their banks and dikes. "The water level came up so fast that we couldn't get ahead of it. It just kept coming and coming," said Spencer Coyne. "There's a number of [dike] breaches. Houses are under water, cars are gone." Coyne said water levels were about 150 centimetres higher than the previous worst flood in memory, which hit the town in 1995.

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