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.
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is pleased to welcome six new members to its board of directors. Supporting the organization’s mission to conserve and restore wetlands and other natural areas, these directors bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help DUC advance sustainability, biodiversity and climate resiliency and achieve its vision of healthy wetlands and clean water for waterfowl, wildlife and people.
The provincial government is investing $350,000 in a project that aims to conserve and restore wetlands along the lower Saint John River and mitigate the effects of climate change. “Our government has made it clear, protecting and preserving New Brunswick's natural areas is a priority,” said Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland. “This includes wetlands. Not only do wetlands provide important habitat for waterfowl and wildlife, but they also play a key role in increasing the province’s resilience to climate change.”
Amid all the heartening and hope-filled ways Canadians have resolved to make 2021 a year of positive change, one in particular holds water: the commitment to saving our wetlands. Leading up to 2021, the Government of Canada promised to make significant investments in our environment-and in the wetlands that underpin its health. Today, this commitment must be among our greatest convictions. Our ability to address the colliding crises of biodiversity loss and climate change depend on it. So does our economic recovery.
