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.
Fort McMurray is more prepared for a flood than ever before, says a top official with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. All work on permanent flood mitigation is expected to be completed by 2023, Matthew Hough, the municipality's deputy chief administrative officer, told council Tuesday. "We are a more resilient community," Hough said, adding that he was struck by how much was accomplished this year.
