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.
Warmer temperatures and heavy rainfall are expected for Squamish, prompting the municipality to brace itself for another series of rising water events. Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Howe Sound. Rainfall of between 75 to 100 mm is expected between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. "Rising freezing levels with melting snow giving rise to high stream flows and localized flooding," the alert reads.
