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

drought level 4

Some B.C. regions at Drought Level 4 as water scarcity affects the province

Some B.C. regions at Drought Level 4 as water scarcity affects the province

Little to no rainfall over the past five weeks in several areas of British Columbia has prompted a warning from the Ministry of Forests about drought. The ministry says Vancouver Island, the inner south coast and the northeast corner of the provincehave reached the second-most severe level of drought on a five-point rating scale. A statement from the ministry says those regions are ranked at Drought Level 4, meaning conditions are extremely dry and will likely have unfavourable impacts on everything from jobs to ecosystems.

B.C. warns of rising drought levels on Vancouver Island

B.C. warns of rising drought levels on Vancouver Island

Persistent dry and hot conditions on British Columbia's coast led the provincial government to raise all of Vancouver Island as well as the Haida Gwaii basin to drought level 3 on Saturday. People who live in eastern and western Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii are being asked to reduce their water consumption wherever possible and to respect watering restrictions issued by local and regional governments, water utility providers or irrigation districts. "The high temperatures, consistent sunshine and lack of recent rain have increased water temperatures in numerous Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii streams," B.C.'s Ministry of Forests said in a news release.

B.C. residents encouraged to curb water use as drought conditions grow

B.C. residents encouraged to curb water use as drought conditions grow

B.C.’s River Forecast Centre is asking residents and business owners to start curtailing water use, as drought conditions intensify across the province. As of Friday, seven areas were at drought level 4, from southern Vancouver Island to the Kootenays. An additional nine areas, including the Lower and Middle Fraser, were at drought level 3. Local and regional governments make the formal rules around water usage, but the forecast centre manager George Roman said it would be prudent if people start altering their behaviour now.

Follow us