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

capital projects

Multi-year Infrastructure Investment Strategy Details Planned Highway, Water Control, Northern Airport Capital Projects

Multi-year Infrastructure Investment Strategy Details Planned Highway, Water Control, Northern Airport Capital Projects

The massive plan details more than 800 approved capital projects planned for the next five years to improve provincial highway, water control and northern airport assets throughout the province. It includes over $2.5 billion for highway infrastructure including $560 million to improve Manitoba’s key trade and commerce routes grid and nearly $280 million to upgrade Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway to freeway standards. Once complete, this initiative will improve safety by adding interchanges and overpasses at all roadways and railway crossings. 214 water-related projects including the proposed $600-million Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels.

Infrastructure projects to keep the City running

Infrastructure projects to keep the City running

Water and drainage may not be as exciting as a new park or recreation centre, but they are vital to keep a city running. In 2022, $35 million will be invested in water, wastewater and stormwater protection projects that help with the daily function of our City. “Our Water and Wastewater Utilities at the City operate and maintain infrastructure that ensures what’s underground is in shape,” said Rod MacLean, Infrastructure delivery project manager. “This year, a number of capital projects across the City will improve the function of our water, wastewater, drainage and flood protection systems.”

RDCK board, February 16: Directors extend moratorium on new water systems

RDCK board, February 16: Directors extend moratorium on new water systems

The regional district won’t be assuming control of any more water systems for the next five years. The board agreed to extend the current moratorium on acquiring new systems until 2027. Although a Water Services Committee is almost in place to deal with water system issues in the RDCK, staff says it still makes sense to maintain the moratorium.

Province announces more money for irrigation upgrades

Province announces more money for irrigation upgrades

Alberta’s government announced Friday a $117.7-million addition to the already $815 million being directed toward capital projects in the irrigation sector. The funding was first announced in 2020 as part of the Investment and Growth Strategy, which aims to kick-start provincial economic recovery. Eight of the province’s 13 irrigation districts are participating. “The program is a 30% Government of Alberta grant,” Richard Phillips, general manager of Bow River Irrigation District and chair of Irrigating Alberta Inc., told the News. “The irrigation districts are paying the remaining 70% of that.”

Biting the bullet: Cornwall approves water-meter program

Biting the bullet: Cornwall approves water-meter program

The City of Cornwall is set to implement a water-meter program, which will come into effect in 2025. Cornwall city council narrowly voted 5-4 in favour of approving the implementation of the program during a special meeting on Tuesday. Couns. Elaine MacDonald, Justin Towndale, Carilyne Hébert, Dean Hollingsworth and Mayor Glen Grant voted in favour, whereas Couns. Syd Gardiner, Claude McIntosh, Eric Bergeron and Denis Carr voted against it. Couns. Todd Bennett and Maurice Dupelle were absent from the meeting.

Over $20M to support water quality improvement projects by region's farmers

Over $20M to support water quality improvement projects by region's farmers

Farmers in Waterloo Region have reached a milestone in making farm improvements to protect water quality. As of December 2020, more than $20 million in total capital projects have been completed through support from the Region’s Rural Water Quality Program (RWQP). The RWQP provides financial and technical assistance to farmers implementing voluntary projects to improve and protect water quality. Funded by the Region of Waterloo, the program started in 1998 to address non-point sources of sediment and nutrients and to protect groundwater.

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