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

evacuation orders

Evacuation orders issued for two regions in Woodlands County, Alta., due to flash flooding

Evacuation orders issued for two regions in Woodlands County, Alta., due to flash flooding

Flash flooding evacuation orders are in effect for two regions in Woodlands County, Alta., about 180 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, due to rising waters on the Athabasca River which is causing overland flooding. The order is in effect for residents in the Township Road 620A area along the Athabasca River, east of the hamlet of Fort Assiniboine and for the Flats Road area along the river. The orders came into effect Wednesday evening and require all residents to evacuate the area immediately. Rising waters are causing flooding and washing out roads and people have been advised to drive with caution and avoid impacted roads.

1 home destroyed as flood risk prompts more evacuation orders in Cache Creek, B.C.: fire chief

1 home destroyed as flood risk prompts more evacuation orders in Cache Creek, B.C.: fire chief

Flooding in B.C.'s Interior has destroyed one home and forced several others to be evacuated, according to the local fire chief.  Evacuation orders are now in place for five properties — including the local firehall — in the Village of Cache Creek, B.C., where a local state of emergency was declared on May 1 as the nearby creek and river threatened homes in the area and posed an "imminent threat to people and property."

No evacuation orders expected as Calgary river water levels reach peak, officials say

No evacuation orders expected as Calgary river water levels reach peak, officials say

Though this week's storm has already led to widespread power outages, fallen trees and water pooling on city streets, city officials say they believe they're well-equipped to handle whatever the next few days bring. The city remains under a state of local emergency called on Monday. While the Environment Canada rainfall warning for Calgary ended on Wednesday, the weather alerts remain in place for a swath of southern and central Alberta north, east and south of Calgary.

Evacuation orders issued near Terrace as Skeena River threatens to flood small communities

Evacuation orders issued near Terrace as Skeena River threatens to flood small communities

The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine has issued an evacuation order for three small communities near Terrace as the Skeena River continues to rise after a weekend of heavy rain and snowmelt. Residents of Old Remo, New Remo, and Usk were told to leave their homes by 8 p.m. PT Sunday. The district issued an evacuation alert on Thursday. The communities, built on low-lying flood plains, have faced flood crises over the past two decades. Old Remo was flooded in 2002, 2007 and 2017, seeing roads washed out and dozens of homes evacuated.

How to prepare homes for extreme flooding events

How to prepare homes for extreme flooding events

As evacuation orders remain for hundreds of properties in southwest B.C., following catastrophic flooding that swept away houses and caused a municipality's wastewater system to fail — forcing its 7,000 residents to flee — experts say it's more important than ever to make homes flood resilient. This means exploring ways to mitigate property damage and better protect flood-vulnerable spaces in homes.

Relentless rain prompts more evacuation orders as B.C. braces for 3rd consecutive storm

Relentless rain prompts more evacuation orders as B.C. braces for 3rd consecutive storm

The third in a series of increasingly intense storms is approaching British Columbia, leaving residents bracing for more torrential rain while officials are still addressing damage done across the Lower Mainland and southern Interior from the last two storms. Communities across the province were busy preparing for the latest storm during a brief reprieve from the weather in some areas Monday. Farmers rushed again to move dozens of cattle, including calves, to higher ground while residents packed sandbags around their homes.

Flooding evacuation orders rescinded as Skeena River recedes

Flooding evacuation orders rescinded as Skeena River recedes

More than 100 property owners living along one of northwestern B.C.'s largest river systems are allowed to return to their homes following evacuation orders due to flooding late last week. Water levels in the Skeena River and its Kalum River tributary have dropped significantly over the past few days, meaning residents will be allowed back into New Remo, Old Remo and Dutch Valley, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine said Monday in a release. Emergency officials say 47 homes and buildings were damaged by flood waters.

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