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.
A Mitchell Island metal and used car recycling company requested the right to continue flushing contaminated water into the Fraser River, while it appeals an earlier order to stop the practice. The request was denied. The Environmental Appeal Board, a provincial body that hears appeals of such orders, said it is in the public interest to keep the order for Richmond Steel Recycling (RSR) in place to protect the environment.
The Springbank reservoir, designed to protect Calgary from another devastating flood, has cleared a significant regulatory hurdle. The project, to be built just west of the city limits, would divert water from the Elbow River into a dry reservoir in the case of high water flows. On Tuesday, the the Natural Resources Conservation Board, a provincial body, determined the project was in the public interest despite some vociferous opposition from area landowners. It assessed environmental, social and economic impacts.
