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

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10 Celebs Speaking Out in Support of Climate Change

10 Celebs Speaking Out in Support of Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most, if not the most, pressing issue of our times. We all know it. That’s why some celebrities are using their platforms to advocate for change now. Here are just a few. For decades, Leonardo DiCaprio has been putting his money where his mouth is in regards to climate change. Seriously, he launched his eponymous foundation (now part of Earth Alliance), dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the planet, back in 1998. The actor has also produced a number of environmental docs and has sat on boards for organizations like the World Wildlife Fund. He even used his 2016 Oscar speech to shine a spotlight on the issue. “Climate change is real,” he said. “It is happening right now, it is the most urgent threat facing our entire species and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.”

Melillo wants to ‘eat his words’ on clean water crisis

Melillo wants to ‘eat his words’ on clean water crisis

Ottawa has once again delayed the completion of much-needed work on designing and building water construction plants in communities with long-term drinking water advisories but has recommitted to providing clean drinking water across the country. “It’s frustrating,” says Kenora MP Eric Melillo. “The government made a lot of promises to Canadians and Indigenous people across this country that they were going to end all long-term boil-water drinking water advisories.”

'We matter like all other Canadians': Tataskweyak Cree Nation calls on Ottawa to restore clean drinking water

'We matter like all other Canadians': Tataskweyak Cree Nation calls on Ottawa to restore clean drinking water

Tataskweyak Cree Nation (TCN) is one of more than 55 First Nation communities in Canada under a long-term boil water advisory and has been for the last four years. On Thursday, the First Nation’s Chief and NDP MP Niki Ashton called on Ottawa to restore clean drinking water. TCN has said the Canadian government has failed to deliver on the promise of clean drinking water for their community. “We can no longer ignore it anymore. We have to fight for our people," said TCN Chief Doreen Spence. "We matter like all other Canadians." Spence said they are left with no choice but to bring the issue – a basic human right – to the United Nations.

Ready to vote again on water fluoridation? Calgary to hold 7th plebiscite on issue

Ready to vote again on water fluoridation? Calgary to hold 7th plebiscite on issue

Calgary will hold yet another plebiscite on whether to restore fluoride to the city's drinking water this fall. Council voted 10-4 in favour of allowing the electors to decide the issue on Monday. It will be put to the public during the 2021 municipal election in October. Council chose to stop adding fluoride to its water supply in 2011, against the opinion of Calgarians who had voted in favour of fluoridation in 1998 and 1989 plebiscites. The city has held plebiscites on the issue dating back to the 1950s.

Clean water for First Nations critical during the COVID-19 pandemic: Activists

Clean water for First Nations critical during the COVID-19 pandemic: Activists

Activists in northeastern Ontario fighting for safe, clean water in First Nations communities across Canada are getting tired of broken promises. After five years and millions in spending, the Liberal government announced in early December that it would not fulfill its commitment to end all long-term water advisories on reserves by March 2021. Although some progress has been made – 97 advisories have been lifted since November 2015 – there’s still a long way to go. There are 59 active long-term water advisories in 41 communities across the country, and activists maintain that clean water should be a priority for the federal government, especially during a global pandemic. “Water is a basic human right, and nobody should have to beg for it. This is wrong, and it’s come to the point where I think it comes down to racism,” said Autumn Peltier, a teenage water-rights activist from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island.

Students test Mersey River for bacteria with shocking results

Students test Mersey River for bacteria with shocking results

A group of Grade 7 students delivered some shocking results to the Region of Queens Municipality council meeting December 22. The South Queens Middle School students had been working on a Social Studies project to test fecal bacteria, or enterococci, levels in the Mersey River. The students found readings of between 230 and 340 enterococci to 100 millilitres of water. Under Health Canada regulations, it is not advisable to swim in water where there is 70 enterococci/100 ml. And at 170 enterococci/100 ml, the water should not touch skin.

Indigenous ​activist Autumn Peltier vows to hold feds accountable for 61 boil water advisories​

Indigenous ​activist Autumn Peltier vows to hold feds accountable for 61 boil water advisories​

With tears in her eyes, Peltier has also pressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau directly about the ongoing threat that oil pipelines pose to the environment, specifically clean drinking water. “I’m kind of still holding him accountable because I’m not going to forget that,” she said. “When you think about Canada, you don’t imagine having a crisis or issue this big because we’re looked at as a rich country." The Trudeau government promised to end all long-term water boil advisories on First Nations reserves by March 2021. As of last March, 88 were lifted, but 61 still remain. Even through the pandemic, Peltier’s activism hasn’t stopped. Along with completing her school work, she’s also been empowering other youth through online events and speaking engagements.

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