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.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is warning people to avoid the water at Shelter Bay on Lower Shebandowan Lake after tests confirmed the presence of blue-green algae. The health unit said some blue-green algae blooms produce toxins that pose health risks to people and animals, and the water at Shelter Bay should be avoided while the bloom is present, and for about two weeks after it dissipates.
