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.
Parks Canada will reopen locks on the Trent-Severn Waterway on Friday which were recently closed due to high water flows and water levels. The reopening will mean daytime navigation will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 24. Since June 1, the Trent-Severn’s watersheds received significant amounts of precipitation, prompting Parks Canada to close some lock stations in the interest of public safety.
To address very high-water levels and flows caused by recent high amounts of rain, Parks Canada says it will be moving water on the Trent River from Hastings to Trenton. This will happen after navigation hours starting Friday, Sept. 24. “This will result in unsafe boating conditions,” said a Parks Canada spokesperson.
Manitoba’s infrastructure minister said on Thursday that record-low precipitation levels continue to plague the province, and have led to record low water levels in several Manitoba waterways. During a Thursday press conference Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler confirmed the province has seen record low precipitation this spring and summer, and he said that water control structures are now being operated in the province “to mitigate low water conditions.”
