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

Province declares state of emergency for Stikine region

Province declares state of emergency for Stikine region

The Province is declaring a state of emergency for the unincorporated Stikine region in response to the ongoing wildfire situation and is expanding campfire bans throughout the province. An evacuation order is in place for specific areas in the region affected by the Little Blue River wildfire. The Stikine region is B.C.’s only unincorporated region. The Province is responsible for implementing evacuation orders for the region, which requires the Province to issue a state of emergency for the region.

Hudson Valley Flood Emergency Triggers Rescues; Woman Drowns In Orange County, New York

Hudson Valley Flood Emergency Triggers Rescues; Woman Drowns In Orange County, New York

A​n estimated half-foot of rainfall or more inundated areas of New York's Lower Hudson Valley region on Sunday, washing out roads and overwhelming vehicles to the point that drivers needed to be rescued. O​ne death has been blamed on the flooding. In Orange County, New York, a woman drowned while trying to evacuate her home, according to the Associated Press. "​Her house was completely surrounded by water," Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus told the AP. He added: "She was trying to get through (the flooding) with her dog, and she was overwhelmed by tidal-wave type waves."

Alma residents asked to conserve water; boil water advisory still in place

Alma residents asked to conserve water; boil water advisory still in place

With the reservoir low, residents in Alma, N.B., are being asked to conserve water. This comes just days after the Municipality of Fundy Albert advised residents to boil their water. Fundy Albert Mayor Robert Rochon said the issue isn't a lack of water as much as an aging system that can only fill the reservoir so fast. He said the reservoir is fed by a well that can pump 50 gallons of water per minute, but the demand on the system exceeds that.

Invasive crabs are thriving in B.C. waters. Can we eat our way out of the problem?

Invasive crabs are thriving in B.C. waters. Can we eat our way out of the problem?

These green crabs aren't just a West Coast problem. Fisheries and Oceans Canada notes that the species, which originally came from Europe and North Africa and likely hitched a ride to North America on wooden ships in the early 19th century, first invaded east coast waters in the 1950s.

Turning your yard into a meadow can save water and time. Here's how to do it

Turning your yard into a meadow can save water and time. Here's how to do it

As the prospect of having a green lawn becomes increasingly unattainable during bone-dry summers with water restrictions in place, a growing number of people are ditching their grass altogether. Kristen Miskelly, owner and operator of Satinflower Nurseries in Vancouver Island's Capital Regional District, says she's seen increased interest and general awareness for her "meadow-making" workshops over the years. 

Some Vancouver residents unhappy about park board leaving Vancouver ponds dry

Some Vancouver residents unhappy about park board leaving Vancouver ponds dry

In 2020, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation stopped filling the ponds with potable water in a bid to conserve water, implementing a bylaw that requires some water features, like ponds that do not recirculate water, be switched off. Now many ponds throughout the city are drying up or have completely dried up — to the disappointment of some residents, like Seear. The park board said it is focusing instead on restarting a handful of fountains it previously closed to save water. 

A decade ago, Toronto was underwater. Here's what's changed since the 2013 flood Social Sharing Facebook Twitter Email Reddit LinkedIn

A decade ago, Toronto was underwater. Here's what's changed since the 2013 flood Social Sharing Facebook Twitter Email Reddit LinkedIn

Flooded streets, destroyed basements and a GO Train stuck in so much water that passengers had to be ferried to dry ground in inflatable boats — 10 years after Toronto was pounded by a record-breaking storm, many can still remember where they were when it happened. The storm on July 8, 2013 saw at least 300,000 Toronto residents hit with power outages and about 1,400 passengers stranded for hours on a train filled with water. It also highlighted the need for more investment to help prevent flooding.

City seeks to borrow $15M for treatment plant

City seeks to borrow $15M for treatment plant

Brandon City Council will introduce a bylaw to borrow $15 million for the final phase of upgrades to the municipal water treatment plant at its next meeting. In January, Premier Heather Stefanson announced that Brandon would be receiving a further $15 million from the province toward the project on top of the $38 million it had already provided.

Casselman residents disgusted by latest bout of 'horrifying' brown water Social Sharing

Casselman residents disgusted by latest bout of 'horrifying' brown water Social Sharing

Manganese levels were at a historic high earlier this week, reaching 0.45 mg/L, according to Mayor Geneviève Lajoie. They subsequently decreased to 0.35 mg/L on Thursday, still well above Health Canada's "maximum acceptable concentration" of 0.12 mg/L. That guideline is based on the possible risks for infants, who may be particularly sensitive to neurological effects.

High E. coli levels close beaches in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

High E. coli levels close beaches in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

During Friday’s sweltering hot weather, some Maritimers visited lakefront beaches and were not able to swim due to high E. coli levels. This was the case for Haja Nabay and her son who stopped by Albro Lake Beach in Dartmouth Friday, only to find out that the beach was closed to swimming due to high bacterial levels deemed unsafe for swimming.

Coast guard issues first-ever fine for abandoned vessel in Victoria

Coast guard issues first-ever fine for abandoned vessel in Victoria

The Canadian Coast Guard has issued its first fine against the owner of a derelict and abandoned vessel under a federal law that took effect four years ago. A statement from the coast guard says the agency levied a fine of $15,000 against the owner of a boat that was grounded and abandoned in Cadboro Bay, near Victoria.

The real cost of renting a hot water tank

The real cost of renting a hot water tank

What they don’t tell you is that hot water tanks are mechanically very simple, require little to no maintenance and last an average of 16 years. By installing a far more fuel efficient electric heat pump water heater, they estimated we could reduce our overall home energy consumption by 11 gigajoules per year, which translates into over 3 megawatts and potentially, hundreds of dollars annually in energy savings. However much to my horror, on further inspection I discovered that unbeknownst to my wife and I, that in order to get out of our current hot water tank rental with Enercare (which we inherited from the previous owners), we would be legally obligated to first purchase our current seven year old tank at a cost of over $1,100.

Hamilton aims to double its tree canopy amid wildfire smoke, extreme heat and climate change

Hamilton aims to double its tree canopy amid wildfire smoke, extreme heat and climate change

Trees filter air to reduce smog and pollution, capture and absorb water to prevent flooding, block the sun's rays to reduce heat islands and provide wildlife habitat to support biodiversity, says the city's urban forest strategy. Last month, council approved the city's plan to increase its urban canopy to 40 per cent by 2050, with a focus on planting more trees in areas that are lacking, like downtown, and keeping existing trees healthy. 

Human waste behind E. coli issue in Lower Sackville's First Lake, report finds

Human waste behind E. coli issue in Lower Sackville's First Lake, report finds

Human waste is to blame for high levels of E. coli bacteria at First Lake in Lower Sackville, N.S., according to a report commissioned by the Halifax Regional Municipality. A popular beach on the lake was removed from the municipality's beach supervision program in 2020 because of high bacteria levels, so no lifeguards have been monitoring the swimming area and the water isn't regularly tested by the municipality.

Canada’s Cornerstone Environmental Law Gets an Update

Canada’s Cornerstone Environmental Law Gets an Update

Beatrice Silver was in the middle of cataloguing the health impacts caused by industrial pollution in her community with her neighbour, Clarence Williams, when Williams’ health declined and he passed away. Williams was in his late 50s, and Silver says his death is connected to the job he previously held at Westlake Pipe and Fitting facility, which makes polyvinyl chloride, or PVC pipes. The factory is located in the middle of Upper Sumas 6 reserve.

Global Activated Carbon Market to Reach 5.7 Million Tons by 2030

Global Activated Carbon Market to Reach 5.7 Million Tons by 2030

Global Activated Carbon Market to Reach 5.7 Million Tons by 2030. In the changed post COVID-19 business landscape, the global market for Activated Carbon estimated at 2.8 Million Tons in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of 5.7 Million Tons by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.2% over the analysis period 2022-2030.

2 Halifax-area lakes closed due to high bacteria levels

2 Halifax-area lakes closed due to high bacteria levels

Two lakes in the Halifax-area are closed to swimming after high bacteria levels were found in the water. Kearney Lake Beach and Albro Lake Beach – both supervised beaches -- are closed until further notice. A municipal news release Thursday said recent test results show bacteria levels at the beaches exceed Health Canada swimming guidelines.

Canada Will Start Regulating ‘Forever Chemicals.’ What to Know

Canada Will Start Regulating ‘Forever Chemicals.’ What to Know

The Canadian government released a report detailing the risks of PFAS exposure and potential management options. This report, which advocates for the regulation of the thousands of PFAS as a whole, will directly influence future regulations and policies surrounding their production and use. This contrasts to previous policy initiatives that targeted PFAS individually.

Seven things you should know about blue-green algae

Seven things you should know about blue-green algae

It happens every summer: blue-green algae bloom into vast blankets of colourful scum in lakes, disrupting ecosystems and potentially exposing people to toxins. Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, act as single-celled microscopic plants fuelled by high temperatures and nutrients often found in chemical runoff.

Stage 3 Watering Restrictions

Stage 3 Watering Restrictions

Stage 3 Water Restrictions come into effect July 3rd for the Town of Ladysmith, Diamond Improvement District and Stz’uminus First Nation. These annual restrictions are intended to help control water usage during the warmer, dryer weather. Remember, being waterwise throughout the year can save you money.

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