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.
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality water utility and wastewater departments are in process of becoming a regulated commission known as the CBRM Water and Wastewater Commission. It’s the first step by council towards establishing a new governance and operational structure for water and wastewater in the municipality. The changes planned will modify how the delivery of water and removal of wastewater are funded, according to a press release issued by the municipality.
