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.
The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) has issued a flood warning for the Chippewa Creek in North Bay, and a water safety statement for the rest of the watershed. A warning means flooding is imminent or already occurring in specific watercourses or municipalities. Recent thunderstorms in the region have caused significant rainfall and increased volumes in waterways.
