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

rural communities

Why volunteers scoop thousands of fish out of Alberta irrigation canals each year

Why volunteers scoop thousands of fish out of Alberta irrigation canals each year

Throughout the warmer months, Alberta's irrigation networks play a crucial role in the province. They transfer water from rivers and reservoirs, delivering it to rural communities, to farmers and to recreational areas, supporting some wildlife along the way. But along with the water comes the fish. And in the fall, when the irrigation networks shut down, thousands of them become stranded. "It's absolutely a recurring problem," said Lesley Peterson, a Calgary biologist with Trout Unlimited Canada.

Federal government invests to upgrade water infrastructure in New Brunswick

Federal government invests to upgrade water infrastructure in New Brunswick

SAINT-HILAIRE N.B.—Through the Green Infrastructure Stream (GIS), the Government of Canada is investing over $2.2 million to upgrade the water supply infrastructure in two rural communities in New Brunswick. The Village of Saint-Hilaire will benefit from increased access to potable water by drilling three to four exploratory wells, constructing one to three new wells and excavating the land in order to connect the new wells to an existing pumping station, indicates a release, adding once completed, the project will allow the community to meet water consumption demands and help remove a boil water advisory.

Bill to give free well-water testing to Islanders passes 3rd reading

Bill to give free well-water testing to Islanders passes 3rd reading

A Liberal opposition bill to eliminate well-water testing fees on P.E.I. passed its third reading in the legislature Nov. 4 and could come into effect early next year. Liberal MLA Hal Perry, who introduced the bill, first started working on it in early 2020. "It's about safe drinking water for Islanders who live in rural communities," said Perry.

Singh says there’s no excuse for lack of safe drinking water in First Nations communities

Singh says there’s no excuse for lack of safe drinking water in First Nations communities

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says no excuse is acceptable for the Liberals’ failure to deliver on their 2015 promise to lift all drinking water advisories in First Nations communities. Speaking to reporters in Sioux Lookout, about 230 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ont., Singh said he is not dismissing that it’s hard to reach rural communities, but Canada’s wealth and technology are sufficient enough to lift all remaining drinking advisories.

Prince Albert region taps $45 million water project

Prince Albert region taps $45 million water project

Rural communities near Prince Albert want to turn the taps on a $45 million water project. The Town of Shellbrook and the RM of Shellbrook have struck a steering committee with the Prince Albert Rural Water Utility (PARWU), spending $60,000 on studying a new water treatment plant with connecting pipelines to the communities, according to its terms of reference. “I really believe that building a water treatment plant will open the door to other communities to get good water,” noted Brent Miller, who is the steering committee chair and a Town of Shellbrook councillor.

Canada and New Brunswick invest in the expansion of the water system for residents of Memramcook

Canada and New Brunswick invest in the expansion of the water system for residents of Memramcook

The water system expansion project will convert a test well into a production well in the new East Memramcook region. This will expand the capacity and the sustainability of the system and benefit the community by increasing access to potable water. The project will also provide water to residences that are currently not serviced. A booster station and a water storage tank will also be constructed in order to provide sufficient water pressure to residents. This expansion will also provide a secure water source for an additional 175 users.

How UCalgary experts help keep Canada's water safe and sustainable

How UCalgary experts help keep Canada's water safe and sustainable

In Canada, we are fortunate to have an ample supply of water; in fact, some statistics suggest we hold within our borders 20% of the world’s freshwater.  And while our issues are not the same as those who struggle to find the resource. We are still challenged to ensure that everyone has access to a sustainable and safe water supply.

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