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

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Water Warriors hit the streets to help vulnerable Edmontonians during long weekend heat

Water Warriors hit the streets to help vulnerable Edmontonians during long weekend heat

Volunteers with a local charity were busy handing out water to vulnerable Edmontonians as the city was placed under a heat warning. On Saturday afternoon, Environment and Climate Change Canada placed the capital region under a heat warning as high daytime temperatures and overnight lows were expected throughout the long weekend. Volunteers with a local charity were busy handing out water to vulnerable Edmontonians as the city was placed under a heat warning.

On Saturday afternoon, Environment and Climate Change Canada placed the capital region under a heat warning as high daytime temperatures and overnight lows were expected throughout the long weekend. Heat warnings are issued by Environment Canada when very high temperatures can pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, like heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

From farm waste to water bottles: Biotech gets a boost

From farm waste to water bottles: Biotech gets a boost

The company has partnered with major players like Danone, Nestle and Pepsi as they prepare to launch 100 per cent plant-based plastic products that are fully recyclable and 100 per cent carbon neutral. "There is a significant effort that is happening,” says Lambton College’s Vice President of Research and Innovation Mehdi Sheikhzadeh. “Across the region, across Canada, around building a clean-tech sector, but in this specific case this is a bio-clean tech sector."

Water needed to keep Vernon’s vulnerable safe during heat wave

Water needed to keep Vernon’s vulnerable safe during heat wave

Help is needed to keep citizens cool as temperatures soar towards 40 degrees Celsius this week. The Upper Room Mission and Turning Points Collaborative Society are looking for donations of water to keep people hydrated. “This rising heat is so dangerous,” said the Outreach Team with Turning Points, which provides water and refillable bottles to those in need.

From trash to treasure, recyclables are being sold for top dollar. That's good news for collection

From trash to treasure, recyclables are being sold for top dollar. That's good news for collection

In a win for agencies that run curbside recycling programs, materials like plastic, cardboard and aluminum have gone from trash to treasure on the markets. The shift has led to a big windfall for the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority (EWSWA) in southwestern Ontario. "We're seeing increased pricing across the board, so both in fibre and in metal as well as plastics," said Michelle Bishop, general manager of the EWSWA.

Rock the Park attendees can now fill up their own water bottles for free

Rock the Park attendees can now fill up their own water bottles for free

Organizers of Rock the Park have requested the city provide free water at the weekend music festival after being criticized for only offering water bottles that attendees had to buy. City spokesperson Patti McKague said the request was made Monday and the city has obliged. The four-day music festival takes place July 13 to 17 in Harris Park after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, CBC News reported that a 72-year-old volunteer quit in disgust after learning that the only source of water would be bottled water sold at $5 apiece.

More than 700,000 water bottles being distributed to GTA homeless

More than 700,000 water bottles being distributed to GTA homeless

There’s no time like the present for Project Water, a program by the charity Engage and Change. With temperatures expected to feel close to 43 C with humidity on Thursday in the GTA, Project Water founder Jody Steinhauer was busy helping distribute about 700,000 water bottles from the parking lot of her 34-year-old discount wholesale business, Bargains Group, with the precious cargo going to the homeless in more than 200 locations. “How sad is that, that the agencies that were serving don’t have access to drinking water, drinking fountains,” said Steinhauer. “Homelessness is not a downtown Toronto problem — it’s spread everywhere.”

CLEAN DRINKING WATER BEYOND SCOPE FOR HOMELESS

CLEAN DRINKING WATER BEYOND SCOPE FOR HOMELESS

Clean drinking water is a readily accessible resource for most Canadians yet beyond the reach of those in our community living on the streets, leaving them vulnerable to dehydration and ultimately death. On average, a person living in a temperate climate requires 3 liters (13 cups) of fluid intake a day to maintain adequate hydration for proper bodily function. Access to life-saving water remains a challenge for relief agencies and outreach programs that provide aid to those living in shelters and on our city streets. The problem is growing – the aftershock of COVID, the lack of affordable housing, the opioid crisis, poor hygiene, and a steady increase in refugees mean that the mortality rate among this high-risk group could surpass critical numbers.

Trudeau's broken promise of clean water for First Nations

Trudeau's broken promise of clean water for First Nations

In 2015, Justin Trudeau promised that if elected he would end boil-water advisories in First Nations communities within five years. “We have 93 different communities under 133 different boil-water advisories,” said at the time. “A Canadian government led by me will address this as a top priority because it’s not right in a country like Canada. This has gone on for far too long.” That top priority was abandoned last October when the government admitted that they would not make the mark. They have given no updated timeline for when this national travesty will end.

Khloé Kardashian Fires Back After Facing Online Backlash Over Plastic Water-Bottle Comments

Khloé Kardashian Fires Back After Facing Online Backlash Over Plastic Water-Bottle Comments

Khloé Kardashian is responding after facing a backlash over some comments she made about water bottles this week. Kardashian ranted on her Instagram Story about people pouring single-use plastic bottles into reusable bottles, insisting it defeats the purpose. She also encouraged people to buy “water filtration adaptors” to hook up to their sinks instead of buying plastic bottles. However, some social media users pointed out that Kardashian uses private jets and things like balloons at parties, which also aren’t great for the environment.

Verner’s ‘brown water’ problem makes rare winter appearance

Verner’s ‘brown water’ problem makes rare winter appearance

West Nipissing municipal staff are flushing hydrants in Verner today as they investigate a mysterious winter appearance of ‘brown water’ during the past couple of weeks. Some residents, but not all, are reporting water issues that have a long history in the area due to manganese found in the Veuve River, the source for Verner’s drinking water. While the mineral is considered safe to ingest, it’s actually required in small amounts in the human diet, it smells and tastes bad and is hard on laundry.

Building trust in its tap water will be Neskantaga’s next big challenge

Building trust in its tap water will be Neskantaga’s next big challenge

The chief of the First Nation in Northern Ontario that has suffered through the country’s longest continuous boil water advisory is hopeful that water coming out of the taps in the homes of Neskantaga will be safe to drink sometime in early 2021. The question now is: Even if public health and First Nation officials pronounce the water safe to drink, will anyone trust in the purity of what comes out of their taps?

Stuck in a hotel during a Christmas pandemic, Neskantaga members wait for water crisis to end

Stuck in a hotel during a Christmas pandemic, Neskantaga members wait for water crisis to end

"This investigation is going to open a can of worms," Quisess said. "We want Canadians to know the full story. We want Canadians to know how the tax dollars are used." Neskantaga's plant was built in 1993 and has never adequately treated and disinfected water. A long-term drinking water advisory was put in place on Feb. 1, 1995, less than two years after the plant was commissioned. It's been in effect ever since.

Contigo Kids Cleanable Water Bottles Recalled In Canada Due To Choking Hazard

Contigo Kids Cleanable Water Bottles Recalled In Canada Due To Choking Hazard

Parents, check your cupboards, backpacks, cars, and everywhere else you keep water bottles. Health Canada recalled a popular brand of water bottles for kids on Tuesday due to a choking hazard. About 157,000 units of the affected Contigo Kids Cleanable Water Bottles, which are sold individually as well as in two- and three-packs, were sold in Canada. About 5.7 million were sold in the U.S.

Study sheds light on human consumption of microplastics

Study sheds light on human consumption of microplastics

The study found that a person's average microplastic consumption — based on those food items previously analyzed — would likely be somewhere between 70,000 and 121,000 particles per year. While younger girls were at the lower end of the spectrum, adult men were at the high end. People who consume a lot of bottled water could see that number jump by up to 100,000 particles per year. 

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