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

Guest column: Working to improve and protect nature across the country

Guest column: Working to improve and protect nature across the country

Across Canada, people have been ramping up their efforts to protect our planet. In 2021, Indigenous communities, donors, land owners and all levels of government came together with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to protect more than 200 square kilometres of wetlands, beaches, forests and prairie. These big, bold projects are vital to tackling the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. We saw heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and severe floods in the past year. Nature conservation projects give me hope for restoring a healthy planet where people can thrive, despite the gravity of these crises.

Greater Sudbury looking for volunteers to keep fire hydrants clear

Greater Sudbury looking for volunteers to keep fire hydrants clear

A new program is underway in Greater Sudbury, encouraging people to be aware of where fire hydrants are in their neighbourhoods and whether they can be accessed. The Hydrant Hero program asks volunteers to make sure hydrants are free from snow and ice in their neighbourhood. Participants can send a photo to the city, suggest a name for a new city mascot and potentially win a prize. Public safety officer with Greater Sudbury Fire Services, Jimmy Kolar, said city crews work to keep the more than 5,800 hydrants clear during the winter.

Nova Scotia mining company fined for environmental charges

Nova Scotia mining company fined for environmental charges

Atlantic Mining NS Inc., the subsidiary of an Australian gold mining company, has been fined $10,000 and ordered to pay an additional $240,000 in financial penalties after pleading guilty to federal and provincial environmental charges relating to its gold mining operations on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore. Judge Alanna Murphy imposed the penalties Friday afternoon in Nova Scotia provincial court a week after lawyers outlined a plea arrangement to end the case.

Indigenous communities to be hit with ‘ecological grief, loss of land and traditional knowledge’ because of climate crisis

Indigenous communities to be hit with ‘ecological grief, loss of land and traditional knowledge’ because of climate crisis

The list of how the climate crisis is affecting Indigenous communities is long — and everything on it is to the detriment of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people says a new report from Health Canada. “The changing climate will exacerbate the health and socio-economic inequities already experienced by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, including respiratory, cardiovascular, water- and foodborne, chronic and infectious diseases, as well as financial hardship and food insecurity,” says the report called Health of Canadians in a Changing Climate that was released Thursday.

Federal government invests to upgrade water infrastructure in New Brunswick

Federal government invests to upgrade water infrastructure in New Brunswick

SAINT-HILAIRE N.B.—Through the Green Infrastructure Stream (GIS), the Government of Canada is investing over $2.2 million to upgrade the water supply infrastructure in two rural communities in New Brunswick. The Village of Saint-Hilaire will benefit from increased access to potable water by drilling three to four exploratory wells, constructing one to three new wells and excavating the land in order to connect the new wells to an existing pumping station, indicates a release, adding once completed, the project will allow the community to meet water consumption demands and help remove a boil water advisory.

Edzo residents have gone weeks with brown water, frozen water lines

Edzo residents have gone weeks with brown water, frozen water lines

Residents in Edzo, N.W.T., have been struggling with disruptions to their piped water delivery after aging equipment broke down last month, and Tłı̨chǫ leaders say the community government can't pay for sustainable repairs alone. "Our communities are showing the wear and tear of the old infrastructure," said Behchokǫ̀ Chief Clifford Daniels. Behchokǫ̀ includes the communities of Rae and Edzo.

Ongoing blizzards prompt state of emergency in Clyde River, Nunavut

Ongoing blizzards prompt state of emergency in Clyde River, Nunavut

A series of blizzards continued to batter the hamlet of Clyde River, Nunavut, on Friday — hampering municipal services and prompting the hamlet to declare a state of emergency. The community has been dealing with huge amounts of snow since at least January, when a week-long blizzard shut down roads and access to peoples' homes. It's a huge problem for a community that relies on trucked water and sewer services.

Indigenous youth activist advocating for clean water for all Canadians

Indigenous youth activist advocating for clean water for all Canadians

After its acclaimed debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2020, The Water Walker, which followers the Anishinaabe Indigenous rights advocate Autumn Peltier on a journey to speak in front of the United Nations, has been picked up by HBO Canada and will be available to stream on Crave in April. At only 17, Peltier has over 100,000 Instagram followers and has spoken to prominent world leaders while advocating for safe and easy access to water as a fundamental human right.

Water and Waste Management Consulting Services Global Market Report 2022 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Water and Waste Management Consulting Services Global Market Report 2022 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The global water and waste management consulting services market is expected to grow from $28.05 billion in 2021 to $31.94 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9%. The market is expected to reach $50.21 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 12.0%. Major players in the water and waste management consulting services market are Arcadis NV, WorleyParsons, Stantec Inc., AECOM, Catalyst Canada, Republic Services, Casella Waste Systems, SUEZ Environnement, Blue Vista Technologies Inc. and DowDuPont Inc.

Bottled water will no longer be for sale in city of Ottawa vending machines

Bottled water will no longer be for sale in city of Ottawa vending machines

You will not be able to buy bottled water from vending machines in city of Ottawa facilities by the end of June, as the city aims to eliminate the sale of plastic water bottles in facilities. In a report for the Community and Protective Services Committee, staff say the city has worked with Coca Cola to eliminate water bottles from vending machines by the end of the second quarter.

Community in favour of hosting federal Canada Water Agency

Community in favour of hosting federal Canada Water Agency

A task force working to submit a bid to be the host city for a proposed federal government clean water agency has published its community discussions on its website. The project website can be found at www.cwassm.ca. Ten in-person and virtual discussions held between August and December have resulted in more than 200 participants representing local organizations, Indigenous persons, youth and the general public, providing information and discussion the city’s plan to host the future agency. The idea was first sparked by Ward 5 Coun. Corey Gardi, who presented the idea to city council.

Our oceans are hotter than ever. Scientists say they worry about what that means for our future

Our oceans are hotter than ever. Scientists say they worry about what that means for our future

Amid another record warm year for the planet, one of the most dramatic and alarming changes occurred in our oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They are the warmest they've been in recorded history. In fact, the ocean heat has been topping its own record annually for the past seven years, with last year's record set despite the absence of El Niño — a warming in part of the Pacific Ocean that tends to drive up global temperatures.

Health Canada releases assessment report on effects of climate change on health

Health Canada releases assessment report on effects of climate change on health

The price of climate change is real. This crisis has already taken lives in extreme heat waves, and is increasing risks to Canadians from flooding, and from respiratory illnesses like asthma. Bold, urgent action is not only needed – the science is clear that it will make a real difference. Many of these health impacts can be prevented by scaling up efforts to adapt to climate change in an intersectional manner—both in Canadian society at large and in health systems. Strong adaptation measures can prevent potential health impacts and make health systems and facilities more resilient to climate change.

Strengthening protections for Canadians and the environment from harmful chemicals and pollutants

Strengthening protections for Canadians and the environment from harmful chemicals and pollutants

Canadians expect their government to protect their health and the environment from harmful chemicals and other toxic pollutants. Today, the Government of Canada took an important step forward to do just that. The Government introduced in the Senate the bill Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, which would modernize the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) for the first time in twenty years and make related amendments to the Food and Drugs Act.

Coors Seltzer: Restoring a total of 6.5 billion litres of Canada’s waters in 2022

Coors Seltzer: Restoring a total of 6.5 billion litres of Canada’s waters in 2022

What do the highly popular and Instagrammable sights of The Cowichan River, Garibaldi, and Joffre Lakes have in common? Water! 20% of the world’s freshwater flows in Canadians lakes and rivers, and Coors Seltzer is the hard seltzer on a mission to protect it! Last year, Coors Seltzer funded several projects across Canada, including the Hanceville fire reforestation project. Now in its second year on shelves, Coors Seltzer will more than double its 2021 water restoration goals.

Authorities says Iqaluit water is still safe; engineers assessing plant

Authorities says Iqaluit water is still safe; engineers assessing plant

During the week of Jan. 24, a team of specialists including engineers, water quality chemist and environmental mediation experts were on site, according to the City of Iqaluit. The purpose of this visit was to investigate the condition of the water treatment tanks throughout the water treatment plant. These updates were provided by the City Feb. 7. Parts of this included taking concrete samples, a structural/material assessment, testing and water sampling. The investigation is ongoing.

Town taking steps to give teeth to no-wake rules in Collingwood Harbour

Town taking steps to give teeth to no-wake rules in Collingwood Harbour

If all goes according to plan, there should be smoother sailing in Collingwood Harbour this summer. During Monday’s (Feb 7) corporate and community services standing committee meeting, harbour master and director of parks, recreation and culture Dean Collver provided an update to councillors on the town’s process to apply for a Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORR), a federal tool that would be used to help enforce no-wake rules in Collingwood Harbour.

California’s Drought-Relief Dreams Are Quickly Drying Up

California’s Drought-Relief Dreams Are Quickly Drying Up

As recently as Christmas, it looked like California’s devastating drought could—if not fully disappear—at least be on track for serious improvement by spring. That’s no longer the case. California’s snowpack was promisingly high at the start of the year after Pacific storms in October and December delivered a round of heavy rains and deep snows. But it has since dropped below where officials hoped it would be for this time of year after those early-season cloudbursts turned out to be isolated events.

Community feedback helps shape Sault Ste. Marie's water agency bid

Community feedback helps shape Sault Ste. Marie's water agency bid

A Sault Ste. Marie task force is releasing the findings of its community consultations that will help shape its bid to become the future home of the Canada Water Agency. Creation of the new federal agency was announced in 2020, with officials saying its goal is to help improve freshwater management in Canada. In Sault Ste. Marie, an official bid to host the agency was launched last year, with the Sault's central location to the Great Lakes as a big selling point.

Schools in Flint, Michigan have clean drinking water again thanks to The Elon Musk Foundation

Schools in Flint, Michigan have clean drinking water again thanks to The Elon Musk Foundation

Thanks to a donation from The Elon Musk Foundation, school students in Flint, Michigan have clean drinking water for the first time since 2016. A total of 136 hydrations were recently installed at 12 different Flint school buildings. One of the stations was unveiled at a special ceremony on Tuesday at the Flint Southwestern Academy. Fifteen of the 136 stations were installed at this school, which provides education to students in grades 8 through 12. The hydration stations were made possible through a $480,000 donation by The Elon Musk Foundation, which also provided $423,000 to buy laptops for middle school students.

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