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

Tiny Township

International experts want to tap into area's pristine water

International experts want to tap into area's pristine water

When people use the phrase "it must be something in the water," they are likely referring to anywhere else but North Simcoe. University of Alberta renewable resources professor Michael Powell addressed the recent meeting of Midland council with a request that could impact area residents. “We would like the town of Midland to join in as an official partner on a groundwater study that will attempt to unravel the scientific secrets of why the waters of Simcoe County are so pristine,” pitched Powell to council.

Upcoming Festival du Loup over the moon to be low-waste event

Upcoming Festival du Loup over the moon to be low-waste event

Tiny was also the first Blue Community in Ontario and third in Canada, as a municipality that recognizes water as a human right, bans the sale of bottled water in civic spaces, and supports the public ownership of water utilities. “In order to support this commitment and thanks to capital funding received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation 15 accessible and touchless water fill stations will be installed in the fall 2023 at 12 municipal parks (five beach parks and seven inland parks), including Lafontaine Park," Desroches told MidlandToday through email. However, without those water refill stations installed prior to the festival, Petitpas shared that La Meute worked to find a solution. “Getting water refill stations was a bit of a conundrum since no local company rents mobile water fill stations,” said Petitpas. “We got creative and will have big five-gallon water jugs with pumps (filled with municipal water).” Reusable water bottles with festival logos will also be sold at the all-day event.

Tiny waits on clean-water study before endorsing gravel mining moratorium

Tiny waits on clean-water study before endorsing gravel mining moratorium

Tiny is waiting for a study to reveal if and how the water tables have turned. At a recent committee of the whole meeting, Tiny council discussed a previous deputation by David Jeffrey, who represented the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition, in regards to council’s support of a temporary moratorium on further new and expansion of aggregate permits. Last month, Jeffrey shared information and a presentation to Tiny regarding the impacts of gravel mining and its relation to climate change across the province. Part of Jeffery’s research included a look at the online pits and quarries interactive map provided by the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF).

'It’s important to all Canadians': Petition calls on federal government to protect Tiny Township aquifer

'It’s important to all Canadians': Petition calls on federal government to protect Tiny Township aquifer

The Government of Canada is being asked to take action to protect the Alliston aquifer, which is said to have the purest water known to science. Tiny Township resident Erik Schomann has initiated a House of Commons e-petition, with the help of Simcoe North MP Adam Chambers and former MP Bruce Stanton. This petition is urging the federal government to use the Canada Water Act and any other relevant legislation to protect the pristine waters of the Simcoe Uplands — also known as French’s Hill — so that research may proceed into how this purity is created and maintained.

Petition seeks federal help to protect 'purest water in the world'

Petition seeks federal help to protect 'purest water in the world'

A new petition is calling for federal intervention to protect the region’s “exceptional” groundwater. Spurred to action by companies using water for aggregate washing in Tiny Township and other Simcoe County locales, the petition was hand delivered to the House of Commons this week by Simcoe North MP Adam Chambers. “This water (Alliston Aquifer) is the gold standard for water worldwide, a national and global treasure,” noted the petition that had 23 signatures by mid-afternoon Thursday. The petition goes on to note that ancient deposits under the Simcoe Uplands in Tiny, Springwater, Oro-Medonte and Tay townships contain “pristine” groundwater. Tiny Township is the host to two aggregate wash water facilities: Teedon Pit owned by Dufferin Aggregates at 40 Darby Road, and Waverley Pit No. 2 owned by Sarjeant Company Ltd at 1379 Baseline Road South.

Tiny inviting authorities dealing with Great Lakes water levels for a discussion

Tiny inviting authorities dealing with Great Lakes water levels for a discussion

While they say they realize building shoreline resilience is important, Tiny councillors first want to chat with authorities involved with Great Lakes' water levels. Coun. Tony Mintoff said he appreciated the value of developing resilience, but he also believed a multi-pronged approach needs to be taken. “While we're looking at opportunities to create resiliency for those property owners, I think it's also responsible that we put our foot on the accelerator in terms of the governing bodies,” he said at a recent committee of the whole meeting.

Appeal 'a way of protecting extraordinary water resource,' resident says

Appeal 'a way of protecting extraordinary water resource,' resident says

A Tiny Township group and the municipal council are ready to put up a fight for the township's groundwater. Both Federation of Tiny Township Shoreline Associations (FoTTSA) and the township will be filing a notice of appeal against CRH Canada Group Inc.'s recently renewed permit to take water for aggregate washing at the Teedon Pit. "Appealing this permit to take water is very important as a way of protecting an extraordinary water resource," said Judith Grant, member of Federation of Tiny Township Shoreline Associations (FoTTSA).

'Cleaner than ancient arctic ice,' university scientists plan to study Tiny groundwater

'Cleaner than ancient arctic ice,' university scientists plan to study Tiny groundwater

Two University of Alberta scientists gave Tiny Township council a taste of the municipality's superior groundwater while asking the municipality to collaborate on a project they hope to launch next year. William Shotyk and Michael Powell were at a recent committee of the whole meeting to present the work they've done so far studying the artesian spring present in this region of Ontario. "The groundwater has below-detection limits of nitrates and phosphates," said Shotyk, professor and Bocock agriculture and the environment chair. "It's an indication of the water quality. The other perimeter is chloride.

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