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

responsibility

First Nations-led water authority in Mi'kma'ki sees $173 million investment in federal budget

First Nations-led water authority in Mi'kma'ki sees $173 million investment in federal budget

The federal government’s proposed 2022 budget includes millions for a first-of-its-kind Indigenous-led water authority to assume responsibility for water systems in First Nations communities. Indigenous Services Canada is set to receive $173 million in funding over 10 years to support the transfer of water and wastewater services in 17 First Nations communities in Eastern Canada to the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority. “We were optimistic about the budget submission but did not want to get ahead of ourselves leading up to the announcement. As Chief of a community that faced problems with its water for many years, (Thursday’s) announcement is a huge step in the right direction,” Potlotek Chief Wilbert Marshall, chair of the water authority’s board of directors said in a written statement.

Sewage in the sink: Frozen utility lines in Iqaluit cause chaos for Stoneridge residents

Sewage in the sink: Frozen utility lines in Iqaluit cause chaos for Stoneridge residents

Residents at the Stoneridge apartments in Iqaluit, who have been waiting for more than a week for a solution to their frozen pipes, can now at least shower at a different building and haul water back to their homes. But for Maxine Chubbs, that solution is too little, too late. It also does nothing to stop the smell of raw sewage from filling her apartment, where frozen sewer lines have caused sewage to back up into her sink and flow out of the building.

Coors Seltzer Includes North Saskatchewan River Water Quality Improvement Project Within Its Commitment to Help Restore Over 6.5 Billion Litres of Canada's Waters

Coors Seltzer Includes North Saskatchewan River Water Quality Improvement Project Within Its Commitment to Help Restore Over 6.5 Billion Litres of Canada's Waters

Canada is globally admired for its breathtaking landscape, naturally architected by its rich water supply. In fact, according to Canada's Changing Climate Report, 20% of the world's freshwater flows in Canada, coming from over 8,500 rivers and more than 2 million lakes. But with these resources comes responsibility, and regrettably, Canada's climate is said to be warming twice as fast as the global average which negatively impacts the country's water systems and supply.

NWMO encouraged by Swedish facility

NWMO encouraged by Swedish facility

“It is irresponsible to leave nuclear waste in water basins year after year without a decision,” said Strandhall, who was quoted in a nuclear-industry publication based in London, England. “We must not hand over the responsibility to our children and grandchildren,” she added. “We, and Finland, are the first in the world to take responsibility for nuclear waste.”

U.S. officials consider plan that would 'send' Nooksack River overflow into Canada

U.S. officials consider plan that would 'send' Nooksack River overflow into Canada

A plan devised by American officials that could lead to the creation of a “floodway” to allow the Nooksack River to spill into Canada during high water has many Abbotsford residents on edge. Paula Harris, river and flood manager for Whatcom County, presented the concept to the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone Advisory Committee earlier this month, asking them to support a request for federal funding to buy out homes in an area between the Nooksack River and the Canadian border as a way to mitigate future flooding.

Manitoba government deemed partially responsible for 2011 flooding of Lake Manitoba

Manitoba government deemed partially responsible for 2011 flooding of Lake Manitoba

A judge has found the Manitoba government at fault for severe flooding along Lake Manitoba that destroyed homes and forced evacuations a decade ago. Manitoba's Court of Queen Bench Justice Joan McKelvey made the ruling in a decision released on Friday. McKelvey acknowledged high precipitation contributed to the overland flooding, but it didn't negate the impact of Manitoba's decision to intentionally divert water into the lake to protect Winnipeg.

London now 'Blue Community' for water stewardship efforts

London now 'Blue Community' for water stewardship efforts

The City of London has joined the likes of Berlin, Paris and Los Angeles in joining the world's 'Blue Community' movement. In a Blue Community, water and water sanitization are considered a human right, with the city not cutting off water to those struggling to pay for it, rejecting privatization of water services and not selling bottled water at municipal properties.

Did you receive a letter with a city of Ottawa logo for sewer and water line warranty? What you need to know

Did you receive a letter with a city of Ottawa logo for sewer and water line warranty? What you need to know

A letter arriving in mailboxes with a city of Ottawa logo on it, offering warranty coverage for sewer or water lines is raising questions from some residents. Who is the letter from and do you need warranty coverage? Rick Spring lives in Ottawa's Alta Vista neighbourhood. He received two different letters offering a "Service Line Warranty Plan." One of the letters outline pricing, which caused some concerns. "At first I wondered if it was a scam," said Spring.

How colonial systems have left some First Nations without drinking water

How colonial systems have left some First Nations without drinking water

Rebecca Zagozewski, executive director of the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association, said she has seen contractors save on costs when building water treatment plants on reserves by using obsolete parts and failing to include maintenance manuals, ventilation or chemical rooms, and bathrooms. “Engineering companies will put in their bids obviously as low as they can go,” said Zagozewski.

Wastewater spill from Travellers Rest business was an accident

Wastewater spill from Travellers Rest business was an accident

A Travellers Rest business has taken responsibility for a recent wastewater spill and is working to make sure it never happens again. The spill was noticed on Dec. 27, when Chris Wall, who lives in the adjacent community of New Annan, saw that the stream on his property was filled with smelly, grey water. “Seventy-five feet from the brook, I could smell the potato leachate,” said Wall, whose property is more than a kilometre from P.E.I. Potato Solutions, which has offered washing and sorting services to farmers across the Island since 2014. Wall snapped photos showing what he described as an unusual, thick, grey cloud of material in the stream, a tributary to the Barbara Weit River. He immediately suspected the wash plant and went directly to the culvert that exits the property, where he photographed dirty water flowing off-site. Wall reported what he saw to the Department of Environment.

Ontario should stop playing 'jurisdictional ping pong' with First Nations' water crisis, says NDP MPP

Ontario should stop playing 'jurisdictional ping pong' with First Nations' water crisis, says NDP MPP

The NDP MPP for the region with the longest-running boil water advisories of any First Nations in Canada is demanding the Ontario government become part of the solution. Sol Mamakwa, who represents the riding of Kiiwetinoong in northwestern Ontario, said the provincial government could do more to help alleviate the suffering of communities on long-term drinking water advisories.

Follow us