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

water lines

$205 M needed for 26 km of water and sewer lines in Prince Rupert

$205 M needed for 26 km of water and sewer lines in Prince Rupert

Giving a breakdown of costs, Bomben explained $5 million is for engineering and design, $130M is for water works and the remaining $70M is for “similar vintage and condition sewer lines.” “These must be replaced at the same time as the water mains since the failure of the sewer lines could also impact adjacent infrastructure and potentially cause the water system to fail. It would be far more costly and disruptive to the community to excavate the same road system twice to replace these systems at different times.”

Municipalities Across Ontario Partner with Service Line Warranties of Canada

Municipalities Across Ontario Partner with Service Line Warranties of Canada

Since 2014, over 65 Canadian municipalities have launched partnerships with Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC) to give their residents access to affordable service repair plans for common plumbing emergencies. SLWC is the trusted source of utility line protection programs in Ontario as recognized by the Local Authority Services, part of the Association of Municipalities on Ontario (AMO).

What is the truth?

What is the truth?

Sometimes, perhaps like you, I wonder what really is the truth behind some stories. Here are some of the things that puzzle me today…and I wonder what is the truth. 73 per cent of First Nations’ water systems are at high or medium risk of contamination. In 2010, the United Nations declared that water and sanitation were basic human rights, acknowledging they are essential to the realization of all other human rights. But if we can build oil lines going through Indigenous land, why can’t we bring water lines to those lands? What is the truth?

Chief Rickard announces funding to upgrade water systems

Chief Rickard announces funding to upgrade water systems

Chief Rickard has announced last night that Garden River First Nation has received $2.8M to upgrade the water lines in the community. The original lines were installed 50 years ago with minimal resources and funding. The upgrades will include the Ojibway subdivision, including the Green Sky, Gemah and Shingwauk Street area. “This project will continue to protect one of our most sacred gifts and necessities of life- access to clean and safe water for our people. Our goal is to strive for future infrastructure improvements throughout the community,” Chief Rickard comments in the press release.

Semiahmoo First Nation to have safe drinking water

Semiahmoo First Nation to have safe drinking water

Semiahmoo First Nation could have potable water – something they haven’t had in more than a decade – as early as next spring, after signing a pair of servicing agreements with the City of Surrey Monday. The agreements, signed at Surrey’s council meeting, also mean sanitary-sewer infrastructure and water for fire protection for the first time in the nation’s history.

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