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.
Drought conditions on Vancouver Island are now impacting winter activities at a popular ski destination. Mount Washington Alpine Resort, located about a 30-minute drive from the Comox Valley, is set to open Friday, Dec. 9, and a lack of snow on the hill and water in the local reservoirs mean visitors will have limited terrain to play on and will have to bring their own drinking water.
Work is underway to make changes to Nova Scotia's Avon River to allow freshwater to be pumped to Ski Martock for their snowmaking guns. For years, water has been pumped from the river to the ski hill, which is located near Windsor. But in March, a federal ministerial order stated gates at the river causeway were to be kept open for longer periods to allow for the passage of fish. As a result, water levels receded drastically and there was no way water could be pumped to the hill.
