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

Strathmore

Fluoride Debate Trickles Down From Calgary To Strathmore

Fluoride Debate Trickles Down From Calgary To Strathmore

On Monday the City of Calgary debated and approved the reintroduction of fluoride to their water treatment. This week it was revealed that once Calgary updates its fluoridation equipment, in the next 18 to 24 months, Strathmore’s drinking water will include fluoride within Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality limits. Fluoride was removed from the city drinking water in 2011, but in 2019 Calgary began discussions about the reintroduction of fluoride. Strathmore receives its water from Calgary. Earlier in 2021, the Town of Strathmore council debated the topic at a Committee of the Whole meeting.

Strathmore left out of Calgary fluoride debate

Strathmore left out of Calgary fluoride debate

Despite receiving its water from Calgary through a regional system, Strathmore has been left out of discussions about reintroducing fluoride to the city’s potable water. In 2011, Calgary water fluoridation was discontinued. But in 2019, the City of Calgary started discussions about adding fluoride to the city’s water supply once again. A report to Calgary city council was presented on Dec. 14, 2020, stating that adding fluoride to the water supply would cost about $30 million over two decades, including about $10.1 million in capital expenses, about $1 million per year in operating and maintenance costs, and about $2 million to $4 million in upgrades over that period. The report stated an associated change in water utility rates or service levels are not anticipated, though this is not guaranteed.

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