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

press release

$30M water filtration grant worth highlighting: Vernon mayor

$30M water filtration grant worth highlighting: Vernon mayor

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.

SCRD steps up water use patrols

SCRD steps up water use patrols

The current and forecasted continued warm and dry weather in our area has led the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) to ramp up patrols to enforce current watering rules and educate residents on conservation measures. The SCRD introduced Stage 2 measures in late July for both the Chapman and South Pender systems, while Eastbourne is at Stage 3 and North Pender remains at Stage 1.

Boil-water advisory issued for Chelsea, Que.

Boil-water advisory issued for Chelsea, Que.

A boil-water advisory has been issued for the town of Chelsea, Que. The advisory was issued Thursday evening following repairs earlier in the day to a burst watermain on chemin Old Chelsea, the public works department said in a press release. Any residents who use the municipal water system should boil their water for at least one minute before consuming it.

Water project a first in Canada

Water project a first in Canada

The first Indigenous owned and operated water utility in Canada developed by way of public-private-community partnership is a step closer to reality in the North Okanagan. A formal agreement has been signed between the Okanagan Indian Band Group of Companies, EPCOR and Enterprise Canada. The companies will identify commercial opportunities in utilities-related infrastructure, including water, wastewater and irrigation management, to provide quality drinking water and ensure adequate firefighting supply to serve the OKIB reserve lands.

‘Deeply frustrated’: 60 evacuated from Neskantaga First Nation over water crisis

‘Deeply frustrated’: 60 evacuated from Neskantaga First Nation over water crisis

A First Nation community in northwestern Ontario that has been under a boil water advisory for more than 25 years says it is evacuating some of its members after a new issue with its water supply was discovered. In a tweet just before 5 p.m. ET, Neskantaga First Nation Chief Chris Moonias said it is “disheartening and sad” that he has had to evacuate the elderly, infants, chronically ill and vulnerable people from the community for a second time during his tenure.

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