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

Surrey

Nicomekl boaters call foul on Surrey's allegations of illegality and sewage dumping

Nicomekl boaters call foul on Surrey's allegations of illegality and sewage dumping

Owners of boats anchored on a section of the Nicomekl River known as the "Hole" say the City of Surrey is wrong to say they are illegally moored and responsible for dumping raw sewage and garbage in the water. Fred Pincock, whose homemade 38-foot gaff cutter, Natalia, is moored at the Hole, says he and other boaters feel Surrey is engaged in a "smear campaign" against them. "It's illegitimate to say it's an illegal moorage, because it's not. That's one of the things that irks a lot of the [boaters] down there. They've been accused of breaking the law — in more ways than one — which isn't fair," he said.

Surrey to remove derelict boats on Nicomekl River

Surrey to remove derelict boats on Nicomekl River

Surrey city staff will begin removing derelict boats on the Nicomekl River in South Surrey, with help from Transport Canada. Derelict boats have been illegally mooring on a narrow section of the river and have been dumping raw sewage and garbage into the water, according to a city news release Wednesday. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says the river has many spots where boats can legally drop anchor, so there is no reason for any boater to illegally moor their vessel.

$288M contract awarded for Vancouver water tunnel

$288M contract awarded for Vancouver water tunnel

Traylor-Aecon General Partnership has been awarded a $288 million contract by Metro Vancouver for the Annacis Water Supply Tunnel, Fraser River Crossing project in B.C. The partnership is a consortium comprised of Aecon (40 per cent) and Traylor Bros Inc. (60 per cent). Aecon Group Inc. announced its share of the contract will be added to its construction segment backlog in the first quarter of 2022.

First Nation in Metro Vancouver will finally have clean drinking water in 2021

First Nation in Metro Vancouver will finally have clean drinking water in 2021

The Semiahmoo First Nation has been under one of the longest continuous boil water advisories in Canadian history, but this recommended health safety practice will finally end sometime in 2021. Earlier this month, the First Nation held a ceremony recognizing the City of Surrey’s opening of the Semiahmoo Water Tie-in Connections to the water distribution system.

Semiahmoo First Nation takes first step toward new water system

Semiahmoo First Nation takes first step toward new water system

The construction of a modest road into a small community wouldn't usually get a full ground-breaking photo op, complete with gold-coloured shovels and government officials. But for the Semiahmoo First Nation, the road work is just the first step toward new water infrastructure that will end the community's 15-year permanent boil water advisory. "I'm waiting for a day to be able to turn on a tap and drink a glass of water," said Harley Chappell, Semiahmoo's elected chief. "That's the goal."

Semiahmoo First Nation to have safe drinking water

Semiahmoo First Nation to have safe drinking water

Semiahmoo First Nation could have potable water – something they haven’t had in more than a decade – as early as next spring, after signing a pair of servicing agreements with the City of Surrey Monday. The agreements, signed at Surrey’s council meeting, also mean sanitary-sewer infrastructure and water for fire protection for the first time in the nation’s history.

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