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

trucked water

Yellowknife looks at increasing some water and sewer rates

Yellowknife looks at increasing some water and sewer rates

In a news release on Monday, the city said “at least 20 years” had passed since the rate structure was last fully reviewed. According to the city, a report found that trucked water and sewer fees only cover 75 percent of the cost to the city. City Hall says the best practice would be to charge 90 to 110 percent of the cost. The 190-page report, conducted by utility rate design consultants InterGroup and billed as only an interim version, recommends phasing in new rates over three years, beginning in January 2024.

Ongoing blizzards prompt state of emergency in Clyde River, Nunavut

Ongoing blizzards prompt state of emergency in Clyde River, Nunavut

A series of blizzards continued to batter the hamlet of Clyde River, Nunavut, on Friday — hampering municipal services and prompting the hamlet to declare a state of emergency. The community has been dealing with huge amounts of snow since at least January, when a week-long blizzard shut down roads and access to peoples' homes. It's a huge problem for a community that relies on trucked water and sewer services.

N.W.T. health officials issue boil-water advisory for Behchokǫ

N.W.T. health officials issue boil-water advisory for Behchokǫ

Public health officials are urging residents in Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T., to boil drinking water for at least one minute. The advisory comes following mechanical problems at the community's water treatment plant. In a news release the Department of Health and Social Services said the problems led to turbid — cloudy — water being distributed. The advisory applies to both piped and trucked water.

Northern Alberta hamlet evacuating residents after water plant shut down

Northern Alberta hamlet evacuating residents after water plant shut down

Leadership in a northern Alberta hamlet will be evacuating about 150 people after a chemical mix-up at the community's water plant. Vern Janvier, chief of the Prairie Chipewyan First Nation, said the First Nation decided on Monday to offer residents who rely on piped water the option of leaving their homes.  There are 107 houses on the system, and Janvier said from one to six people live in each house. He anticipates there will be between 150 and 200 evacuees. 

Iqaluit residents speak out on trucked water, sewage services

Iqaluit residents speak out on trucked water, sewage services

The public gallery at Iqaluit city hall was packed for Thursday night's public consultation on a bylaw that governs the city's water supply and sewer service. However, with increasing water restrictions due to low levels in the city's water supply from Lake Geraldine, people came out en masse to talk about water usage in general.

Follow us