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.
Ucluelet residents are being asked to approve borrowing up to $13 million for a new water-treatment system for the community of slightly more than 2,000 on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The goal is to put an end to what’s known locally as “Ukee brown water days.” Council will be permitted to borrow the money unless 10 per cent of electors fill out a form in opposition.