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

task force

Province creates task force for upgrades to Winnipeg sewage-treatment facility, but no new money yet

Province creates task force for upgrades to Winnipeg sewage-treatment facility, but no new money yet

The Manitoba government is putting together a task force to push for the timely completion of Winnipeg's most expensive infrastructure project, but the province isn't ready yet to commit any additional money to the project. Kevin Klein, the provincial environment minister and a former city councillor, and current Coun. Brian Mayes are teaming up for a new joint task force to advance wastewater projects, with particular focus on the North End Water Pollution Control Centre. Klein will serve as chair and Mayes will be vice-chair.

'Above-average' flooding could hit Ottawa region this spring

'Above-average' flooding could hit Ottawa region this spring

A City of Ottawa task force is monitoring water levels ahead of the spring thaw and says there's no major flooding in the immediate forecast — but that could change in the weeks ahead. Water levels are currently normal or close to normal, according to the joint Thursday memo from public works general manager Alain Gonthier and Kim Ayotte, general manager of emergency and protective services.

Sault Ste. Marie officially applies to be home of the Canada Water Agency

Sault Ste. Marie officially applies to be home of the Canada Water Agency

This past week, representatives from the Sault officially applied to become the site of the Canada Water Agency. Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said he is confident the city's bid will be successful. “We’re located right here in the middle of the Great Lakes on the gathering place between Lake Huron and Lake Superior and a short drive or short boat ride away in some cases from Lake Michigan,” Shoemaker said. “When you think water in Canada, freshwater specifically, Sault Ste. Marie is at the heart of it all.”

Gardi wants Canada Water Agency commitment from mayoral candidates

Gardi wants Canada Water Agency commitment from mayoral candidates

Ward 5 incumbent Corey Gardi is calling on mayoral candidates to support his efforts to get the federal government to establish the Canada Water Agency in Sault Ste. Marie. Gardi, who spearheaded the initiative, is leading a task force that has obtained letters of support from many local and regional organizations, agencies and communities who want to see the proposed agency in Sault Ste. Marie. “The mayor (Christian Provenzano) has taken the time to contribute to the task force, and has joined me in meeting with representatives of the federal government, to keep them apprised of our efforts, and to clearly articulate why the Sault would be an ideal place for the agency.”

Community in favour of hosting federal Canada Water Agency

Community in favour of hosting federal Canada Water Agency

A task force working to submit a bid to be the host city for a proposed federal government clean water agency has published its community discussions on its website. The project website can be found at www.cwassm.ca. Ten in-person and virtual discussions held between August and December have resulted in more than 200 participants representing local organizations, Indigenous persons, youth and the general public, providing information and discussion the city’s plan to host the future agency. The idea was first sparked by Ward 5 Coun. Corey Gardi, who presented the idea to city council.

Community feedback helps shape Sault Ste. Marie's water agency bid

Community feedback helps shape Sault Ste. Marie's water agency bid

A Sault Ste. Marie task force is releasing the findings of its community consultations that will help shape its bid to become the future home of the Canada Water Agency. Creation of the new federal agency was announced in 2020, with officials saying its goal is to help improve freshwater management in Canada. In Sault Ste. Marie, an official bid to host the agency was launched last year, with the Sault's central location to the Great Lakes as a big selling point.

Canada Water Agency task force releases report based on community feedback

Canada Water Agency task force releases report based on community feedback

The city-led task force responsible for pitching Sault Ste. Marie as the future headquarters for the forthcoming Canada Water Agency has released its findings following a months-long process of community engagement. The report, which is now live on the task force’s website, is the result of 10 in-person and virtual community discussions held between August and December of last year that were facilitated by Lake Huron North Program Coordinator Dr. Elaine Ho-Tassone. More than 200 participants - drawn from local organizations, the Indigenous community, youth and the general public - provided their perspectives for the report.

Water agency task force pitching in the flow

Water agency task force pitching in the flow

Sault Ste. Marie City Council held a vote approving the establishment of the Canada Water Agency Task Force on June 28. This organization is building a pitch to the federal government to have the anticipated country-wide agency located in the Sault. The task force is led by Natural Environment Coordinator Sault College Ryan Namespetra. One year ago, the federal government announced its plans to establish an agency to serve as a central hub for the management of water in Canada. This includes research, dealing with the effects of climate change, water scarcity, Indigenous/government relations and following international law.

Upstream wildfires could contaminate Calgary's drinking water — so the city's planning ahead

Upstream wildfires could contaminate Calgary's drinking water — so the city's planning ahead

Wildfire season is getting longer in Alberta every year with climate change, scorching land and polluting the air with thick smoke. But, the City of Calgary is studying another, perhaps less obvious, impact of wildfires — drinking water contamination. There haven't been any major fires in the Bow and Elbow river watersheds, upstream of the City of Calgary, for years. But, there are fears a major fire west of the city could wash burned material into the rivers, impacting the drinking water supply for the city's 1.4 million residents.

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