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

greenhouse gas emissions

From trash to treasure: Sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment

From trash to treasure: Sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment

The Bioenergy and Bioproducts Research Lab on the Agricultural Campus focuses on converting abundantly available and low-valued biomass waste into high-value materials for environmental remediation applications, primarily on wastewater treatment. “We are working with organic waste and turning it into something useful,” says Sophie He, Department of Engineering. For example, Dr. He and her team are converting spent coffee grounds, flax shives, barley straw and sawdust to biofuels or biocarbon materials.

How expanding Montreal's wastewater treatment plant will help the environment

How expanding Montreal's wastewater treatment plant will help the environment

The city of Montreal is looking to significantly reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions while vastly improving the St. Lawrence River's water quality by overhauling its wastewater treatment plant. As part of Montreal's 2023 budget (presented in November) the city earmarked $682 million over 10 years to replace the incinerators at the Jean-R.-Marcotte plant in Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles. 

Why do oceans matter for climate change?

Why do oceans matter for climate change?

As the climate crisis gets worse, oceans — the planet’s greatest carbon sink — can no longer be overlooked. Spanning 70 per cent of the globe, oceans have absorbed nearly a third of the planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans and 90 per cent of the excess heat those gases create. The heat stored in the Earth’s entire atmosphere is equal to what’s stored in the top few metres of our oceans. If that wasn’t enough, oceans produce more than 50 per cent of the planet’s oxygen and regulate our climate and weather patterns.

Amidst the climate crisis, the case for hope is getting stronger

Amidst the climate crisis, the case for hope is getting stronger

Are you hopeful that the world will soon turn the corner on climate change? The scientific evidence is clear — we have to stop filling our atmosphere with polluting gases that are heating our planet. And yet, the emissions from fossil fuels continue to rise unabated. At this very moment, there are industry lobbyists, politicians and media organizations fighting to prevent any government policies or global agreements that threaten growth in oil, gas and coal production.

'Smart taxes,' compost, better public transit ideas floated by mayoral hopefuls for greener Winnipeg

'Smart taxes,' compost, better public transit ideas floated by mayoral hopefuls for greener Winnipeg

A mayoral hopeful wants to use his social enterprise background to get Winnipeggers thinking about — and acting on — climate change. "This city hall thinks that our carbon emissions are a problem, and we have to spend money to address the problem. Its not a problem. It's our biggest economic opportunity we've had available to us in a generation," Shaun Loney said. Loney, who's helped create five different social enterprise businesses, wants to introduce "smart taxes" if he were mayor. Essentially, they're taxes or policies that reward businesses who focus on things like cutting carbon emissions or reducing the amount of water runoff in the city's sewer system, which eventually runs into Lake Winnipeg.

Canada and FCM invest in sustainable communities across Quebec

Canada and FCM invest in sustainable communities across Quebec

A cleaner environment, middle class jobs, and more money in Canadians' pockets: upgrading buildings to be more energy-efficient and investing in clean infrastructure fights climate change and creates good jobs, all while making sure municipalities, homeowners and businesses save on their energy bills. That is why the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, and Scott Pearce, Second Vice-President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to announce a combined investment totalling more than $12.6 million through FCM's Green Municipal Fund (GMF) to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduce waste and improve the quality of water in communities across Quebec.

Ambitious London, Ont., climate action plan would require 'unprecedented' effort from citizens

Ambitious London, Ont., climate action plan would require 'unprecedented' effort from citizens

City of London bureaucrats unveiled a sweeping climate emergency action plan to the city's media Wednesday that pledges to all but eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in the city by the year 2050. The 30-year plan gives city council recommendations on how the community can bring itself in line with the worldwide effort to reduce green house gas emissions in order to hold global temperatures below two degrees above pre-industrial levels.

Sundridge council banning one-time use plastic water bottles at municipal sites

Sundridge council banning one-time use plastic water bottles at municipal sites

The days of using plastic water bottles in municipal-related facilities in the Village of Sundridge will soon end. Town council is supporting a resolution banning the use of disposable one-time use bottles and is encouraging the use of reusable bottles. Coun. Fraser Williamson introduced the motion at council’s Oct. 13 meeting. Williamson was appointed to council over the summer to fill a vacancy, and it so happened his first meeting in July lasted nearly six hours and wrapped up at 11:52 p.m.

FCM invests in water quality improvements in Eastern Canada

FCM invests in water quality improvements in Eastern Canada

An investment of $104,800 will be made to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve water quality in St. John’s and Corner Brook in Newfoundland and Labrador, thanks to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Green Municipal Fund (GMF). The announcement was made July 20 by Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan Jr. and FCM president Joanne Vanderheyden.

Green, NDP leaders slam Liberals' 'failed approach' on climate goals

Green, NDP leaders slam Liberals' 'failed approach' on climate goals

The Liberal government’s claims that Canada has turned the corner on rising greenhouse gas emissions are drawing fire from opposition leaders who remain unconvinced. Since the Paris Agreement was signed, Canada’s emissions have climbed 3.3 per cent as of 2019, but the Department of Environment and Climate Change says that will be a high water mark. The figures showing Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission performance were released in a study earlier this week that found overall GHG emissions were down 1.2 per cent since 2005, but up a sharp 3.3 per cent since 2016. “We're confident we're now on track to be bending that curve and our department has told us we can confidently say that as of next year, when we see 2020 emissions… they will be going down year after year,” said Moira Kelly, press secretary for Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.

Activist honoured at first meeting of Great Lakes Guardians' Council

Activist honoured at first meeting of Great Lakes Guardians' Council

Ontario's government is working to protect what matters most by identifying priorities for action to help protect the water quality and ecosystems of the Great Lakes and other waterways as part of its commitment in the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan. Today, Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Grand Council Chief Glen Hare co-chaired the Great Lakes Guardian Council, which includes leaders from across Ontario including municipalities, First Nations and Métis communities, environmental organizations, and the science community, to discuss challenges and opportunities around the Great Lakes.

Water Act contentious at environment debate

Water Act contentious at environment debate

The Water Act, passed in the P.E.I. Legislature but not yet proclaimed, was one of the more divisive issues of the first leaders debate of the provincial election campaign.
More than 250 people packed into an auditorium at UPEI to listen to the leaders discuss environmental issues, at a forum organized by Island environmental groups. 
Topics ranged from protecting soil quality, to watershed group funding, to increasing the number of protected areas on P.E.I., to promoting the Island's natural history. 

Follow us