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

Quebec government

Hailed as green energy source, northern Quebec lithium project divides Cree

Hailed as green energy source, northern Quebec lithium project divides Cree

According to the promoters, the region contains some of the world's largest deposits of spodumene, a rock from which lithium — key to the energy transition and the electrification of transport networks — is extracted. Nemaska Lithium describes itself as a corporation that "intends to facilitate access to green energy, for the benefit of humanity." The Whabouchi open pit mine will be located about 30 kilometres from the village of Nemaska, in the watershed of the Rupert River, considered one of Quebec's ecological gems. "If the water becomes contaminated by the mine, I don't see how we can limit the damage to the food chain," says Thomas Jolly, who was chief of Nemaska from 2015 to 2019, stressing the importance of fishing to his community.

As water sources dry up, towns in southern Quebec sound the alarm

As water sources dry up, towns in southern Quebec sound the alarm

During an unrelenting stretch of dry, hot weather last August, Rachel Mahannah and her husband spent two hours a day hauling water from their other farm a kilometre and a half away, to make sure their dairy cows didn't get dehydrated. The well on the dairy farm, 70 metres deep, had almost run dry. "That was the first kind of red flag that came up for us," said Mahannah, who co-owns Mahvhays dairy farm in Brigham, Que., about 75 kilometres southeast of Montreal.

With election on horizon, Legault government commits to increasing royalties on water

With election on horizon, Legault government commits to increasing royalties on water

The Quebec government is moving toward increasing the amount it charges commercial water users, in what amounts to an early campaign promise months before the next election. Environment Minister Benoit Charette is expected to table a proposed law this week that would raise the royalties charged to commercial water users. There are few details about the coming legislation, which was first reported Monday by La Presse and later confirmed by Radio-Canada.

No water, no school: How water delivery issues disrupt learning for Inuit children in Nunavik

No water, no school: How water delivery issues disrupt learning for Inuit children in Nunavik

Once every week or two, Elom Akpo runs out of the principal's office at Tarsakallak School in Aupaluk, Que., jumps into the school truck and cruises the streets of the village, looking for a water delivery truck. This wasn't part of the job description when Akpo took up his duties as principal last January, but it's what he does to keep the only school in the village of 233 open. Tarsakallak School routinely runs out of water. If its reservoirs are not filled before they run dry, Akpo has to send all 60 or so students home.

Canada and Quebec invest in the construction of a water treatment plant in Drummondville

Canada and Quebec invest in the construction of a water treatment plant in Drummondville

The governments of Canada and Quebec are taking decisive action to create jobs and stimulate the economy while meeting the essential infrastructure needs of communities. Both governments are committed to providing modern and effective water infrastructure throughout the province. Today, Élisabeth Brière, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, along with André Lamontagne, Minister Responsible for the Centre-du-Québec Region, accompanied by Sébastien Schneeberger, Member of National Assembly for Drummond-Bois-Francs, and Alain Carrier, Mayor of Drummondville, announced more than $32.2 million in funding for the construction of a water treatment plant in Drummondville.

Is it safe to swim in a pool during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Is it safe to swim in a pool during the COVID-19 pandemic?

As temperatures across Canada continue to rise, few things do a better job of keeping us cool than going for a swim. But with the closure of public swimming pools across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many may be left wondering how safe it will be to return to these spaces once they reopen. According to Matthew Miller, a biochemistry professor at McMaster University in Hamilton who is studying the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 is highly unlikely to be transmitted through water.

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