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.
They pulled 15 tires, 13 shopping carts and five bikes out of Winnipeg's Seine River. That was just some of the trash a team from an environmental non-profit removed from the river as part of their annual summer cleanup. There was also a suitcase so heavy and full of water it tipped their canoe, three knives and children's toys. Plus, oil drums, a rollerblade, and an old projector.
Parks Canada says staff will clean-up the plastic, garbage and debris spotted floating in the Rideau Canal after water levels were lowered this fall. An e-scooter, bicycles, pylons, election signs and other debris can be spotted on the bottom of the historic waterway after the spring and summer navigation season. Parks Canada lowered water levels along the Rideau Canal through Ottawa to their "lowest level" two weeks ago following the end of the boating season.
