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.
Staff at greater Moncton's wastewater utility had to move fast last week to clean up oil and chemicals that someone apparently dumped down the drain. Oil could be seen on the surface of the primary clarifier and in one of the bioreactor cells on Aug. 17, and a strong acetone-type smell was in the air, TransAqua manager Kevin Rice said. Rice suspects the substances may have included parts-washer solution from an automotive shop or other industrial facility.
