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

critical infrastructure

Technicity GTA 2023: How municipalities prioritize data security

Technicity GTA 2023: How municipalities prioritize data security

Kush Sharma, director of municipal modernization and partnerships for the Municipal Information Security Association of Ontario, reported that 92 per cent of respondents to a recent poll of members said municipalities should first focus on critical infrastructure — such as the water system, public transit, solid waste and the voting system — before what they called traditional IT. “What you don’t want is the water system to be breached. If Microsoft Office 365 and your documents go down, or maybe you can’t process some financial statements, that can be fixed. But if your water system goes down there are life-safety issues. If we can try to balance the resources we have as municipalities and focus on the critical infrastructure components …. that would be a good start.”

Canada Infrastructure Bank invests $7.9 million in Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg infrastructure to accelerate residential and economic growth

Canada Infrastructure Bank invests $7.9 million in Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg infrastructure to accelerate residential and economic growth

Investment enables water, electricity, and broadband connections for community growth, housing and commercial space The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg (formerly Pic Mobert First Nation) have finalized their agreement for the CIB to lend $7.9 million towards critical infrastructure required for commercial and residential development that will improve living standards on reserve.

Sumas River dike in Abbotsford, B.C., to be permanently repaired by month's end, says province

Sumas River dike in Abbotsford, B.C., to be permanently repaired by month's end, says province

British Columbia's public safety minister was in Abbotsford Thursday nearly a year after the area was hit by catastrophic flooding. Mike Farnworth said progress has been made rebuilding critical infrastructure on the Sumas Prairie and in parts of the Fraser Valley following last year's atmospheric river. Farnworth said permanent repairs to the Sumas River dike are expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Canadian legislation aims to improve infrastructure cybersecurity. Lobbying against cyberflashing. EPA urged to focus on protecting water system. Update: US Federal privacy legislation.

Canadian legislation aims to improve infrastructure cybersecurity. Lobbying against cyberflashing. EPA urged to focus on protecting water system. Update: US Federal privacy legislation.

Referring to US water and wastewater systems as the “weakest link” in the country’s critical infrastructure, water sector leaders on Wednesday urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to focus on better regulating the cybersecurity of these critical services. According to Mark Montgomery, executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, the EPA only has around $7 million in its annual budget dedicated to water sector cybersecurity, a far cry from the $45 million the Solarium Commission recommended the EPA earmark for the Office of Water. Nextgov.com explains that for the 2023 fiscal year, the EPA is requesting $4 billion for the water sector, and EPA Administrator Michael Regan told Congress that includes $50 million to support resiliency and sustainability initiatives, $25 million to improve cyber capabilities, and $35 million to provide technical assistance.

Communities to benefit from improved services, environmental infrastructure

Communities to benefit from improved services, environmental infrastructure

People in communities throughout British Columbia can look forward to better services and improved environmental infrastructure thanks to a $270-million partnership between the provincial and federal governments. “Everyone in British Columbia deserves to have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water, as well as the peace of mind knowing their communities are well equipped to treat and manage wastewater and stormwater,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “This federal, provincial and local government funding will ensure that communities can continue to build and maintain critical infrastructure that provides the services people count on and protects the environment well into the future.”

Better drinking water and wastewater systems coming to multiple BC communities

Better drinking water and wastewater systems coming to multiple BC communities

WEST VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 27, 2019 /CNW/ - The governments of Canadaand British Columbia are investing in modern reliable water services to build healthy sustainable communities where families can thrive today and for years to come. Today, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country, on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; and Sheila Malcolmson, Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Nanaimo, on behalf of the Honourable Selina Robinson, B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, announced funding for 15 projects to improve drinking water and wastewater services for residents across British Columbia.  

Follow us