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.
“You can imagine how terrible it is for me. I was out there, trusting the science, telling people that they should be drinking the water. I was drinking the water, my kids were drinking the water, you know, we’re bathing in it.”— Iqaluit Mayor Kenny Bell on initially telling residents that the city’s tap water was safe, when it was later found to be contaminated with fuel
CIBC announced today it is donating $25,000 to True North Aid to support relief efforts in Iqaluit, where a state of emergency is in effect over fuel contamination of the city's tap water. "This is a truly devasting situation for the Iqaluit community. We join our clients and team members in helping ensure the people of Iqaluit have access to safe drinking water," said Stephen Forbes, Executive Vice-President, Purpose, Brand, and Corporate Affairs, CIBC.
