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

Sask. First Nations among many in Canada continuing to fight for safe drinking water

Sask. First Nations among many in Canada continuing to fight for safe drinking water

The SDWF provides educational tools and tips to schools in Saskatoon and beyond, showing students where drinking water comes from and what can be done to ensure safe drinking water for everyone. Some of their educational tools also reference the psychological, emotional and spiritual harms that can come from not having safe drinking water. Hancock said the work they do is in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action 18 and 19, which ask for all forms of government to acknowledge the rights of Indigenous people when it comes to proper health care and close the gaps between First Nations and non-First Nations people in health care outcomes. This includes infant mortality, maternal health, suicide, mental health, addictions, life expectancy, birth rates, infant and child health issues, and chronic diseases.

As salmon are ‘cooking’ in hot water, Lake Babine Nation stands up to Fisheries and Oceans Canada

As salmon are ‘cooking’ in hot water, Lake Babine Nation stands up to Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Many others, in Lake Babine Nation and beyond, share Charlie’s concern. The Babine River is an integral tributary for Skeena sockeye, which is a major sockeye run in B.C., second only to the Fraser River. Skeena sockeye are central to Lake Babine Nation health and economy. Every bad year has future ramifications. If fewer salmon return to spawn one year, it can mean a lower return four or five years down the line — the length of the sockeye life cycle.

Destructive freshwater Zebra mussels officially found in Atlantic Canada

Destructive freshwater Zebra mussels officially found in Atlantic Canada

Zebra mussels, an invasive species that kills native mussels and chokes drinking water systems, have been discovered in the Saint John River in New Brunswick, the farthest east in Canada they've been positively identified. Fisheries and Oceans Canada said last week in a release that environmental DNA tests over the summer had detected the presence of the small Eurasian freshwater mussels with the telltale striped pattern in parts of the river as far apart as Edmundston, Grand Falls and Nackawic, communities that span more than 200 kilometres.

Ottawa to table ‘co-developed’ First Nations water legislation this fall: Hajdu

Ottawa to table ‘co-developed’ First Nations water legislation this fall: Hajdu

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says she hopes to table a piece of legislation this fall that she says is the closest the federal government has come to co-developing law with First Nations. “It’s really, to me, very important that it reflects the input of Indigenous Peoples,” she said.

Alberta Energy Regulator followed rules in Kearl mine wastewater release, report finds

Alberta Energy Regulator followed rules in Kearl mine wastewater release, report finds

A third-party report into the release of millions of litres of oilsands wastewater at Imperial Oil's Kearl mine has found the Alberta Energy Regulator followed its rules in keeping the public and area First Nations informed — but concludes those rules are significantly lacking. "There were no areas of non-adherence to stated policies and procedures," says the Deloitte report, prepared for the regulator's board.

Nicomekl boaters call foul on Surrey's allegations of illegality and sewage dumping

Nicomekl boaters call foul on Surrey's allegations of illegality and sewage dumping

Owners of boats anchored on a section of the Nicomekl River known as the "Hole" say the City of Surrey is wrong to say they are illegally moored and responsible for dumping raw sewage and garbage in the water. Fred Pincock, whose homemade 38-foot gaff cutter, Natalia, is moored at the Hole, says he and other boaters feel Surrey is engaged in a "smear campaign" against them. "It's illegitimate to say it's an illegal moorage, because it's not. That's one of the things that irks a lot of the [boaters] down there. They've been accused of breaking the law — in more ways than one — which isn't fair," he said.

Is the tap water in Calgary stinky? Yes. Is it safe to drink? Also yes

Is the tap water in Calgary stinky? Yes. Is it safe to drink? Also yes

If your tap water tastes or smells a little off — don't panic. Some Calgarians are experiencing a funny taste or smell in their water, particularly those in the north part of the city. Mark Crowdis, manager of water quality with the city, said it's because of geosmin, a harmless compound which can be found in the late summer and early fall. 

The 5 Most Snake-Infested Lakes In Canada

The 5 Most Snake-Infested Lakes In Canada

Some of the most spectacular lakes in the world call Canada home. In fact, Canada has more lake area coverage than any other country. For example, 563 lakes in the country span over 40 square miles. Furthermore, fresh bodies of water cover eight percent of Canada’s landmass. Therefore, not only do these lakes provide a source of fresh water, but they also bring in a lot of tourism with their recreational activities. However, these lakes also serve an abundance of wildlife, including snakes. So, below is a list of the most snake-infested lakes in Canada.

Residents of Sainte-Dorothée in Laval warned not to use water

Residents of Sainte-Dorothée in Laval warned not to use water

The Sainte-Dorothée district in Laval, Que., is currently under a notice of non-use of water due to water quality concerns. Citizens are permitted to use their toilets and flush, but other water use is restricted until further notice. The notice of non-use of water is issued when water consumption poses a health risk, and the water system contains contaminants that cannot be removed by boiling, the city says on its website. 

Ontario developer's plan to build golf course on farmland has some worried it will 'destroy' their village

Ontario developer's plan to build golf course on farmland has some worried it will 'destroy' their village

Some residents of a small village in Ontario's cottage country are speaking out against a proposed development that would see farmland turned into a golf course resort and housing. The Kawartha Bay project in Cameron, Ont., located approximately 150 kilometres northeast of Toronto in the City of Kawartha Lakes, is being proposed by Markham-based Flato Developments. It would feature an 18-hole golf course interspersed with 339 seasonal homes, 84 rentals, a clubhouse, restaurant and a refurbished marina.

Money, power and an ecosystem are all at stake in Canada-U.S. negotiations over a massive river

Money, power and an ecosystem are all at stake in Canada-U.S. negotiations over a massive river

Walk along the banks of the Columbia River in B.C. and you might be forgiven for thinking it's like any of the province's other big waterways. You might spot a sturgeon, or glimpse one of the more than 60 dams in the Columbia's watershed. But the Columbia is not like other rivers. For one, it crosses the U.S. border to empty into the Pacific in Oregon. The Columbia River basin is also a vital source of electricity, providing about 40 per cent of all U.S. hydroelectric power, while B.C. draws almost half of its total electrical generation from the region.

Why Calgary's drinking water is tasting icky

Why Calgary's drinking water is tasting icky

You may wonder why your water is suddenly tasting mouldy. This unpleasant taste may follow you into the shower, your workplace, gym or college campus. You may have also been losing sleep over thoughts of contaminated water affecting your health. But the reality is nowhere near as dangerous as it seems. City officials say the cause of your worry is geosmin, a “harmless” naturally occurring carbon compound that usually makes its way into Calgary’s reservoirs in late summer or fall.

Monitoring Alberta's wastewater could help drug users avoid harm. Here's how.

Monitoring Alberta's wastewater could help drug users avoid harm. Here's how.

A Calgary research facility that developed the most comprehensive wastewater monitoring program in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic is setting its sights on another burgeoning public health issue: illicit drug use. Advancing Canada Water Assets (ACWA), a joint initiative between the City of Calgary and the University of Calgary, is applying the same techniques it used to monitor COVID-19 case numbers to track illicit drugs in the province's wastewater.

ATS To Acquire Biomedical Research & Life Sciences Water Purification Equipment Provider Avidity Science

ATS To Acquire Biomedical Research & Life Sciences Water Purification Equipment Provider Avidity Science

ATS Corporation (TSX: ATS) (NYSE: ATS) ("ATS" or the "Company") a leading automation solutions provider, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire  Avidity Science, LLC ("Avidity"), a growing designer and manufacturer of automated water purification solutions for biomedical and life science applications, for US$195 million (~C$265 million), representing 11.2x Avidity's projected calendar 2023 adjusted EBITDA1,2, or 10.3x Avidity's projected calendar 2023 synergy-adjusted EBITDA1,2. The Company expects US$1.5 million of cost and commercial synergies by year 3, and US$2.6 million of cost and commercial synergies by year 5. The acquisition is subject to customary post-closing adjustments.

Bottled water distributed to 'vulnerable' residents in Wheatley, Tilbury amid boil water advisory

Bottled water distributed to 'vulnerable' residents in Wheatley, Tilbury amid boil water advisory

Bottled water will be made available to "vulnerable populations" in Wheatley and Tilbury this week as a boil water advisory for the municipality stretches on following a fire last week. In a release, the municipality said the water will be distributed for free through the Wheatley Resource Centre and Tilbury Food Bank. 

As climate change impacts flooding, swaths of Canada risk becoming uninsurable

As climate change impacts flooding, swaths of Canada risk becoming uninsurable

But with proper adaptation methods, experts are hopeful that flooding can be tackled. In the middle of a busy re-election campaign during the summer of 2014, Burlington, Ontario mayor Rick Goldring’s basement flooded. More than 5.5 feet of water was gushing through it due to record rainfall. Goldring wasn’t alone: more than 3,000 homes in the city were flooded, and roads and businesses were severely impacted. “As far as the volume of rain, what was really off the charts was the intensity of the rain and how quickly it fell,” Goldring told The Weather Network (TWN) in a recent interview.

Residents in Trois-Rivières, Que., have a recycling plant for a neighbour. They say it's far from green

Residents in Trois-Rivières, Que., have a recycling plant for a neighbour. They say it's far from green

Frustrated neighbours in Trois-Rivières, Que., are sparing no effort to make their case that the province should think twice before doing business with a glass recycling company near their homes — collecting water samples and even using drones to prove that the operation is far from environmentally friendly. Gilbert Cabana and his neighbours have a wide array of skill sets.

Businessmen float idea of shipping Greenlandic water to Iqaluit

Businessmen float idea of shipping Greenlandic water to Iqaluit

Two Toronto entrepreneurs say they have a solution to Iqaluit’s water supply needs: They’ll ship it in from Greenland. Fred Grootarz and Mark Albert want to use tankers to transport the water to Iqaluit’s port, where it would be stored year-round in electrically heated tanks. Albert calls the plan “a perfect fit” for Iqaluit.

Sask. First Nations gather for water conference

Sask. First Nations gather for water conference

People from across the province are in Saskatoon this week with the goal of ensuring safe, clean drinking water in First Nation communities. Around 200 participants have gathered for the AGM, conference, trade show and banquet of the Saskatchewan First Nations Water Association (SFNWA).

Wheatley water treatment plant could take a year or more to fix after fire

Wheatley water treatment plant could take a year or more to fix after fire

Wheatley's water treatment plant might not to be return to normal operations for a year or more, but a boil-water advisory isn't expected to last that long, officials said Wednesday. The communities of Wheatley and Tilbury in Chatham-Kent have been under a boil-water advisory for a week after fire caused damage to the water treatment facility.

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