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.
After a winter that has seen snowfalls nearly double the average in some areas, officials in southern Manitoba say they're keeping a close eye on the weather heading into spring — and getting ready for possible flooding. The province's hydrologic forecast centre released its first flood outlook for the season last month. It is predicting major flows along the Red River and its tributaries, including the Roseau, Rat and Pembina Rivers.
