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

freshwater research

INVESTIGATING IMPACT: FRESHWATER RESEARCH SUPPORTS WATER SECURITY IN CANADA’S ARCTIC COMMUNITIES

INVESTIGATING IMPACT: FRESHWATER RESEARCH SUPPORTS WATER SECURITY IN CANADA’S ARCTIC COMMUNITIES

Today is World Water Day, an annual reminder of the importance of fresh water. Though many of us take it for granted, there are billions of people around the world who don’t have access to clean, reliable water — some are right here in Canada. For the approximately 150,000 people who live in Canada’s Arctic, there’s no ignoring the fact that fresh water is a finite resource. “Igloolik ran out of water in 2015,” recalls Andrew Medeiros, assistant professor with the School for Resource and Environmental Studies. “The reservoir was not large enough; the dry summer meant the reservoir didn't fill completely while the subsequent extended winter meant they were drawing too much while there was ice on it.”

Promise tracker: What the parties are pitching on the campaign trail

Promise tracker: What the parties are pitching on the campaign trail

Invest $1 billion over 10 years to restore and protect large lakes and river systems. Establish and fully fund a Canada Water Agency. Invest $37.5 million over six years for freshwater research at the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s Experimental Lakes Area.

Healthy rivers: How DNA tool can help keep tabs on freshwater quality

Healthy rivers: How DNA tool can help keep tabs on freshwater quality

In Canada, these watersheds are vast and often inaccessible, making it difficult to monitor the health of these ecosystems. But with the help of a new tool, scientists and community members are collecting data to better understand the state of Canada’s rivers.

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