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.
Most Canadians take safe, clean drinking water for granted – most, but not all. In fact, over 17,600 people in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario alone are currently living under a drinking water advisory that has been in place for longer than a year. These Canadians, the vast majority of whom live in First Nations communities, rely on bottled water for hydration, cooking and personal hygiene.
I put seven of Canada's bottled water brands to the test to uncover the real composition of their contents. Although it's generally safe to consume bottled water in our nation, I wanted to dig deeper. The question is not just about safety, but about which brands offer the best quality, and which ones you might be better off avoiding. I opted for some of the most popular brands including Flow, Nestlé Pure Life, Smartwater, Aquafina, Naya, Dasani and Eska.
Vivreau Water is pleased to announce its return as the official hydration partner for TED2023. This marks the company's sixth year providing sustainably-focused, premium still and sparkling water to conference attendees. Attendees can look forward to the latest advancements in Vivreau's water dispensing technology with advanced filtration capabilities and enhanced hygiene features available in the Top Pro and Extra I-Tap. Hydration is an essential part of maintaining mental clarity and focus, and Vivreau is proud to support TED2023 attendees in maximizing their conference experience.
I know the topic of how much water to drink is always controversial, and I don’t claim to be an expert on the matter at all. This is just my passionate opinion. I love and appreciate water. My go-to comment whenever one of my household members complains of not feeling well, or is abnormally tired is “When did you last drink water?” And the answer is usually “I don’t know” or “Does coffee count?” Then I roll my eyes and launch into my lecture on the importance of hydration.
One Londoner has donated 4,000 bottles of water to help keep London's most vulnerable hydrated during the most recent hot spell, but advocates say that number can only last for so long. Jen Martin, who works in program support for My Sister's Place, said staying hydrated is a challenge for the 200 daily participants who rely on the centre for snacks and community. Reusable bottles are not always a practical solution, as having a place to wash and fill them can be difficult.
In the summer, our body is sweating more because of hot weather, so it becomes even more critical to stay hydrated with this increased water loss, says Samantha Blizzard. "Keeping hydrated is immensely important for more reasons than I could list," says Blizzard, a registered dietitian working for the Atlantic Superstore in Charlottetown and Montague, P.E.I. Water makes up approximately 70 per cent of our body. Our organs need water to function properly, and it helps deliver nutrients to our cells, which is crucial for maintaining optimal energy levels, she explains.
