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.
Burns Lake and two other municipalities will share a $10 million investment for building three new water and wastewater projects under Canada’s infrastructure environmental quality program. Burns Lake’s old sewage treatment plant and electrical equipment have reached the end of their service life and will need to be replaced, and this grant will be invested into this project.
People who want to protect the Atlantic salmon populations in Cape Breton say a small grant from the Nova Scotia government will have a big impact on their efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change in a local waterway. The Cheticamp River Salmon Association recently received $75,000 under the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund to help build deflectors, which are piles of rock that narrow the river channel and make the water deeper.
Dalhousie University in Halifax will lead what it calls "the most intensive investigation ever into the ocean's role in climate change" thanks to $154-million in federal funding announced Friday. The research program is getting a piece of $1.4 billion awarded to Canadian universities by the federal government through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.
If you have spare land in Niagara in need of some trees, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) is looking for you. “Trees for All” is an initiative that sees the NPCA partner with local community groups, environmental agencies and government organizations. Landowners can apply for the grant to help Canada reach its goal of planting two billion trees.
Vernon mayor Victor Cumming is bringing attention to a nearly $30 million grant received by Greater Vernon Water (GVW) for a planned water filtration plant on Mission Hill. In a press release, Cumming said the grant was “the lightest reported story over the last four years and not even mentioned in the (past) campaign for mayor or council.” The grant, part of the roughly $40 million needed for the plant, is the result of “nine years of pressure by local politicians and Greater Vernon Water staff,” said Cumming.
Fifteen communities will receive support for water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste projects through the Provincial Capital Assistance Program, the Province announced today, August 26. “Access to safe drinking water and wastewater treatment are vital for strong, healthy communities,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables and MLA for Cumberland South, on behalf of Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr.
Grimsby’s aging downtown water infrastructure is set to be upgraded thanks to funding from two upper levels of government. On April 18, the Town of Grimsby was awarded a $1.9-million grant to replace the water mains, service pipes and fire hydrants on Main and Elm streets. The project will include the replacement of the old cast-iron water pipes with ones made from PVC. The design phase of the program will start in 2023, with construction expected to begin in 2024.
The District of 100 Mile House is taking steps towards softening its water supply. Council voted unanimously last week to approve a grant application through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for a pilot bulk softening project, expected to cost about $300,000. Council also voted to commit to the district’s share of the pilot cost, anticipated to be around $75,000.
In an effort to remove financial barriers that prevent some people from getting lead water pipes replaced, the City of Greater Sudbury is poised to look at opportunities to help get the lead out. Earlier this week, the city’s operations committee resolved to request a business case from city staff for the creation of a subsidy and loan program to replace private-side lead pipes. Their unanimous approval means it’s likely city council will ratify the decision at an upcoming meeting and a business case will be drafted for future consideration. The proposed program would include a grant of up to $3,000, an interest-free loan of up to $10,000 to be paid back over 10 years and provisions for water filters for homes built in 1960 and prior with confirmed lead water service.
Saltair taxpayers will pay less and receive more following the approval of a grant application for the Saltair water treatment expansion project. “I wanted to run up and down the streets knocking on everyone’s door to spread the amazing news,” noted Lynne Smith, Cowichan Valley Regional District director for Area G. An Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Green Infrastructure (Environmental Quality Program) grant will provide $6 million in funding.
