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

World Water Day

World Water Day marked with funding announcement for research and protection of our most precious natural resource: fresh water

World Water Day marked with funding announcement for research and protection of our most precious natural resource: fresh water

We are taking advantage of World Water Day to support our ambitious climate change actions that keep our air and our fresh water clean. Already, the Government of Canada has committed to create a Canadian Water Agency to protect this natural resource, which provides us with clean drinking water, transportation, energy, and economic opportunities, as well as recreation. Parliamentary Secretary Terry Duguid is also attending the United Nations Water 2023 Conference in New York this week as Canada's representative to discuss the mid-term review of the goals of the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, 2018–2028.  

Statement by the Prime Minister on World Water Day

Statement by the Prime Minister on World Water Day

Today, as we join the international community to mark World Water Day, we are reminded of our shared responsibility to protect access to clean, safe water here at home and around the world. There is no resource more essential to Canadians and the Canadian economy than clean water. Water ecosystems, when managed properly, help alleviate hunger, poverty, and illness, fight climate change, and support biodiversity. This year’s World Water Day theme, ‘Accelerating Change’, asks us to speed up our action to keep our water safe, clean, and sustainably managed.

'A human rights issue that has been overlooked': Winnipeggers mark World Water Day

'A human rights issue that has been overlooked': Winnipeggers mark World Water Day

Water issues continue to disproportionately impact Indigenous communities, according to advocates speaking at a World Water Day event at the Odena Circle Wednesday night. "World Water Day is really important to reflect on our impact on water and water systems here in Canada, on Turtle Island and globally in the world," said Sadie Lavoie, one of the speakers.  About 30 people attended the event held at the Forks in Winnipeg to mark the annual UN observance day to raise awareness about the importance of fresh water. It's estimated that about 2 billion people live without access to fresh water.

Reliance Home Comfort Pledges $15,000 in Support of Water First to Mark World Water Day

Reliance Home Comfort Pledges $15,000 in Support of Water First to Mark World Water Day

Reliance Home Comfort® (Reliance) is a leader in home services and energy efficient solutions in Canada, with over 2 million customer relationships. In celebration of World Water Day, marked annually on March 22, Reliance has pledged a $15,000 matching gift campaign to Water First. Water First is Canada's leading charitable organization dedicated to working with Indigenous communities to address local water challenges through education, training, and meaningful collaboration.

‘We have to fix it faster’: 28 First Nations communities still under boil water advisories

‘We have to fix it faster’: 28 First Nations communities still under boil water advisories

Wednesday marks World Water Day, a day raising awareness of the more than 2 billion people around the world living without access to safe water, including many First Nations communities in Canada. The federal government says 138 long-term drinking water advisories have been lifted since November 2015, although some short-term boil water advisories have also slipped into the long-term category during that timeframe.

Changing how we use, consume water

Changing how we use, consume water

Our most valuable resource is water, which we frequently take for granted. World Water Day is observed on March 22, and this year’s message is about change; it encourages us to change how we use, consume and manage water in our daily lives. There are several steps that homeowners can take to ensure their water is safe for their homes and consumption. I always recommend homeowners get their water tested, no matter where they live, but particularly outside urban centres or if they rely on a well source.

UCalgary students make positive change with Indigenous clean water initiative

UCalgary students make positive change with Indigenous clean water initiative

Former UCalgary student group and now a nationally registered non-profit organization, Water Movement organized and hosted the inaugural National Indigenous Water Operator Day (NIWOD) on March 21. NIWOD is recognized on March 21, a day before World Water Day, and acknowledges those who treat and bring clean water to Indigenous communities. Water Movement, created by UCalgary students Bita Malekian, Amrita Nag, Kondwani Asefa and Anita Malekian, was awarded third place and a prize of $7,500 at Western University’s World's Challenge Challenge (WCC) global final in 2021 after pitching their unique idea at the UCalgary WCC competition.

MIKE HOLMES: How to make your water better

MIKE HOLMES: How to make your water better

This week we celebrated World Water Day (March 22), which addresses water scarcity, sanitation needs, and access to clean water globally, so it only makes sense that this week’s column is about, you guessed it: Water. Many factors affect water quality, like acidity (pH balance), dissolved solids, gases like radon, hardness, and sediment. We can’t control all these factors, but homeowners can introduce systems that will enhance the water quality you use and consume and thus improve the quality of your life.

/R E P E A T -- OPSEU/SEFPO: Clean and safe drinking water is a human right/

/R E P E A T -- OPSEU/SEFPO: Clean and safe drinking water is a human right/

On the eve of World Water Day, OPSEU/SEFPO President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and the OPSEU/SEFPO Indigenous Circle are challenging Ontario's political leaders to pass MPP Sol Mamakwa's Bill 286, the Inherent Right to Safe Drinking Water Act. Many First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Ontario have been without clean water for years. Neskantaga First Nation in Northwestern Ontario had a boil water advisory issued on February 1, 1995. It's still in place today.

LETTER: We should not take our clean water for granted

LETTER: We should not take our clean water for granted

Tuesday, March 22 is World Water Day – a day to celebrate and recognize the critical importance of water in our lives (and our existence) and to raise awareness about the billions of people living on this planet without access to safe water. In Canada we are blessed to have 20 per cent of the world’s surface freshwater and up to 7 per cent of the world’s renewable water flow (third highest in the world).

Q and A with the experts: Current and future challenges facing Canada’s groundwater supply

Q and A with the experts: Current and future challenges facing Canada’s groundwater supply

World Water Day, annually observed by the United Nations on March 22, celebrates water and raises awareness to the billions of people living without access to safe water. This year’s theme is groundwater: making the invisible visible. But what are the current and future challenges facing this natural resource in Canada? University of Waterloo’s Earth and environmental sciences professor and groundwater expert David Rudolph answers this and other questions.

INVESTIGATING IMPACT: FRESHWATER RESEARCH SUPPORTS WATER SECURITY IN CANADA’S ARCTIC COMMUNITIES

INVESTIGATING IMPACT: FRESHWATER RESEARCH SUPPORTS WATER SECURITY IN CANADA’S ARCTIC COMMUNITIES

Today is World Water Day, an annual reminder of the importance of fresh water. Though many of us take it for granted, there are billions of people around the world who don’t have access to clean, reliable water — some are right here in Canada. For the approximately 150,000 people who live in Canada’s Arctic, there’s no ignoring the fact that fresh water is a finite resource. “Igloolik ran out of water in 2015,” recalls Andrew Medeiros, assistant professor with the School for Resource and Environmental Studies. “The reservoir was not large enough; the dry summer meant the reservoir didn't fill completely while the subsequent extended winter meant they were drawing too much while there was ice on it.”

Saskatoon has a lot to celebrate during Canada Water Week

Saskatoon has a lot to celebrate during Canada Water Week

The City of Saskatoon is joining the country in celebrating Canada Water Week which runs for the week of March 21 to 27. Canada Water Week is a national celebration of water that is held annually to coincide with World Water Day on March 22. “Saskatoon has a lot to celebrate and be proud of when it comes to our water. Not only does our city have one of the highest quality water supplies in North America, but right now we have several projects in motion to ensure we continue to deliver a high quality and safe drinking water product,” said Saskatoon Water Interim Director Pam Hamoline.

Join AquaAction and the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation as they Launch a Nationwide Awareness Campaign to Highlight Innovative Solutions to Critical Freshwater Issues in Canada

Join AquaAction and the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation as they Launch a Nationwide Awareness Campaign to Highlight Innovative Solutions to Critical Freshwater Issues in Canada

AquaAction, a Canadian organization dedicated to restoring freshwater health in Canada by engaging young innovators and activating their solutions, kicked off a multi-million-dollar media campaign aimed at raising awareness about critical water issues and the cutting-edge solutions that are emerging to solve them. "As we mark World Water Day 2022, we want to shine a light on the brilliant young innovators who are working to solve some of the most critical issues we face with regards to freshwater in Canada. Access to clean water is a human right and is essential to the health of our communities, eco-systems and economies. We need to urgently mitigate and adapt to the impact of a changing climate, and we believe in the ingenuity of young Canadians and their innovative solutions when it comes to restoring and preserving freshwater health as we do so," said Francois de Gaspe Beaubien, Chair of the Board of AquaAction.

Indigenous Youth Challenge Marks World Water Day

Indigenous Youth Challenge Marks World Water Day

Tomorrow is World Water Day, and RESEAU Centre for Mobilizing Innovation is marking the occasion by challenging Indigenous youth to solve drinking water problems in their community with the support of scientists and innovators. The Indigenous Youth Potable Water Innovation Challenge 2022 is a pilot program designed to foster innovative spirit in water-health. Working in teams, Indigenous youth in grades K-12 will engage Elders and community leaders and operators to identify local water challenges, barriers to solving them and potential solutions. With innovative educational tools and mentorship from scientists, engineers and experts from the water industry and universities, the teams will develop a solution to solve the most pressing local challenge. Then, they’ll workshop their idea with entrepreneurs before presenting it to their community.

Safe water is central to health and development

Safe water is central to health and development

Why should Canadians care about WASH in the developing world? “Because Canadians are generous, Canadians are kind, and because it’s a basic human right,” Hurtubise said. “But also because WASH is central to everyone’s health and is central to sustainable development. “If we invest in WASH in other countries and are able to contribute to curbing the pandemic, and also contributing to environments that are safer and more stable, it’s a win-win for everyone. It’s a question of individual dignity and individual security.”

Water: Preserving a precious commodity

Water: Preserving a precious commodity

McGill Bioresource Engineering Professor Chandra Madramootoo – a member of the steering committee of the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture – expands on the theme of this year’s World Water Day: Valuing Water, and describes the goals of the federal government’s Canada Water Agency, which is in the process of being created. He is contributing to this effort.

Equity is key to the future of Alberta’s watersheds, experts say

Equity is key to the future of Alberta’s watersheds, experts say

For World Water Day 2021, the United Nations wants us to think about how we value water, and the ways it benefits our lives. If we want to continue to have access to water in all the ways we value, UCalgary experts say that equity needs to be the goal: equitable access to water, equitable opportunities to have a say in the future of our watersheds, and equitable consideration of sustainable approaches.

Water is a human right: Advocacy group dives into water crises affecting Indigenous populations

Water is a human right: Advocacy group dives into water crises affecting Indigenous populations

For most people, this simple routine is so commonplace that we take it for granted. But for 38 Indigenous communities across Canada, this is not the reality. The water they need for drinking, washing and bathing must first be boiled for at least one minute until it is safe to use. “I think water should be the right of all our people, regardless of how many people are living on a certain reserve. If there is an accessible water source then they should be doing what they can to provide potable drinking water for that community,” says Warren Brown, manager of Lytton First Nation O&M Department Operation.

2 Manitoba grand chiefs highlight long-term boil water advisories on World Water Day

2 Manitoba grand chiefs highlight long-term boil water advisories on World Water Day

Indigenous people in Manitoba are highlighting the significant role clean water plays in society today — practically and culturally — in honour of World Water Day. The United Nations declared March 22 as World Water Day since 1993. It's a day to focus on the importance of fresh water, and advocating for sustainable development and bringing clean drinking water to more people.

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