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

Lakehead conservation authority watching snow depth and water content's risk for spring flooding

Lakehead conservation authority watching snow depth and water content's risk for spring flooding

It's too early to predict flooding, but the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority is keeping a close eye on snow depth in the Thunder Bay area. Measurements taken Tuesday at three LRCA monitoring stations found the current snow depth ranging between 65 and 84 centimetres. That's 54 per cent greater than the average depth measured on March l over the past 48 years. The surveys were done near McVicar Creek in the city, the Pennock Drive area in Rosslyn, and at Hazelwood Lake. Tammy Cook, the CAO of the conservation authority, says an exceptionally snowy winter doesn't necessarily result in flooding.

Water, water everywhere and not a drop for free: Ucluelet’s water treatment upgrade costs double

Water, water everywhere and not a drop for free: Ucluelet’s water treatment upgrade costs double

The price tag for Ucluelet’s water treatment system upgrades has doubled. During the Feb. 22 regular council meeting, Ucluelet’s director of engineering James Macintosh told council that the original $9.6 million estimate from 2020 was re-estimated in December 2021 at $20.7 million. Ucluelet’s water treatment and capacity upgrades include: improving the Lost Shoe Creek Wellfield with a filtration for manganese removal, improving the Mercantile Creek water source to include a filtration, and constructing a third reservoir near the Highway Reservoir to increase storage capacity.

Government of Canada launches call for proposals for projects that enhance water and wastewater capacity building efforts in First Nations communities

Government of Canada launches call for proposals for projects that enhance water and wastewater capacity building efforts in First Nations communities

Skilled water and wastewater operators are essential to ensuring long-term access to safe drinking water in First Nations communities. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting First Nations as they implement sustainable solutions that address the need for skilled operators in ways that best suit their communities. Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, launched a call for proposals for projects that address the retention, recruitment, and availability of water and wastewater operators working on reserve.

Back to top Eight Kootenay Lake conservation projects receive RDCK support

Back to top Eight Kootenay Lake conservation projects receive RDCK support

Conservation efforts around the water and aquatic systems of Kootenay Lake will see some support from the regional district this year. The Regional District of Central Kootenay board of directors approved $75,000 in grant funds for the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund (KLLCF) to be spread among eight different projects. Established in consultation with residents in electoral areas A, D and E — following a referendum in 2014 — each of the eight projects will receive 80 per cent of the money up front and the remaining 20 per cent upon receipt of the final report. The Kootenay Lake and surrounding area has been impacted for its ecological and habitat values due to dam operations and development pressure, noted Sangita Sudan, general manager of the RDCK’s Development and Community Sustainability.

New Brunswick to open public health lab in Moncton in 2024

New Brunswick to open public health lab in Moncton in 2024

The New Brunswick government plans to open a public health laboratory in Moncton by 2024 at a cost of about $10 million. Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced the plan Wednesday morning with work expected to begin this fall. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need for New Brunswick to have its own provincial public health laboratory to ensure a dedicated public health response," Shephard said.

Male loons are getting smaller, raising concern over the health of North American lakes

Male loons are getting smaller, raising concern over the health of North American lakes

The loons will soon be back, and the past year has brought startling scientific research that shows our best loved bird is not always what you thought it was. Walter Piper of Chapman University in California is the continent’s top researcher in loons and their behaviour. He tracks loons on hundreds of lakes in Wisconsin and Minnesota — similar, he says, to central Ontario, which he also knows. And he has found a problem.

Additional information on water rights with Nechako River

Additional information on water rights with Nechako River

Firstly, in my five decades of involvement with the Cheslatta Carrier Nation, I have been involved in and witness to the many issues and processes regarding the Nechako River, the Kemano I and II projects, and the 1987 and 1997 settlement agreements. I have represented Cheslatta in the British Columbia Utilities Commission hearings, the Nechako Watershed Council and the Nechako River Roundtable and I am also a director of the Nechako Kitamaat Development Fund (NKDF).

Municipal boundaries, new community centre on Regina city council's agenda Wednesday

Municipal boundaries, new community centre on Regina city council's agenda Wednesday

Regina city council is set to discuss municipal boundaries, a new community centre and residential drainage when it meets Wednesday afternoon. Amending the current wastewater and storm water bylaw — which was last updated in 2016 — is among the first items on the agenda. City administration is suggesting council vote in favour of a new bylaw that would allow for the protection of city-owned drainage infrastructure, and for the enforcement of new and existing lot grading regulations.

Hydro to power construction phase of mining project

Hydro to power construction phase of mining project

The construction phase of the KSM mining project in British Columbia, Canada, is set to be powered by hydropower following the signing of a Facilities Agreement between Seabridge Gold's wholly owned subsidiary, KSM Mining ULC and British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro). KSM will connect to BC Hydro's existing Northwest Transmission Line (NTL) at Treaty Creek Switching Station (TCT). This TCT is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2024. KSM Mining has completed its design for a 30km long 287 KV transmission line to interconnect the TCT and the KSM plant site. This KSM transmission line is scheduled to be constructed in 2023 with completion and commissioning planned for late 2024 to be ready for connection to the TCT.

At least 8 killed as major floods swamp Australia

At least 8 killed as major floods swamp Australia

Parts of Australia's third-most populous city Brisbane were under water Monday after heavy rain brought record flooding to some East Coast areas and killed eight people. The flooding in Brisbane and its surrounds is the worst since 2011 when the city of 2.6 million people was inundated by what was described as a once-in-a-century event. The latest fatality was a man in his 50s who drowned on Monday after driving his car into floodwater before dawn at Gold Coast city, south of Brisbane, Queensland state police said.

First Nation Goods Develops Clean Water Initiative for First Nation Communities in Canada

First Nation Goods Develops Clean Water Initiative for First Nation Communities in Canada

The organization is seeking partners to bring clean water to Indigenous communities in Canada. First Nation Goods, a company offering a wide range of services and products to Indigenous people and communities in Canada, announces the Clean Water For All initiative. The effort seeks to promote and provide access to clean water for Indigenous communities.

Putting the WATER in Waterloo

Putting the WATER in Waterloo

The WATER (Waterloo Aquatic Threats in Environmental Research) facility is now one of the largest aquatic test facilities in Ontario and has the capability of studying a wide range of aquatic organisms, from Canadian coldwater fish to tropical fish and amphibians. The facility is also equipped to trace the multi-generational effects different environmental stresses may have on aquatic life over multiple lifespans.

Lakehead conservation authority watching snow depth and water content's risk for spring flooding

Lakehead conservation authority watching snow depth and water content's risk for spring flooding

It's too early to predict flooding, but the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority is keeping a close eye on snow depth in the Thunder Bay area. Measurements taken Tuesday at three LRCA monitoring stations found the current snow depth ranging between 65 and 84 centimetres. That's 54 per cent greater than the average depth measured on March l over the past 48 years. The surveys were done near McVicar Creek in the city, the Pennock Drive area in Rosslyn, and at Hazelwood Lake.

Teck opens third B.C. water treatment plant

Teck opens third B.C. water treatment plant

British Columbia-based Teck Resources Ltd. announced Friday that a third water treatment plant is operational for the coal giant to treat selenium in the upper Fording River of Canada. The new facility has a daily capacity of treating up to about 5.3 million gallons of water. The company said its water treatment operations remove some 95 percent of selenium and nitrate from waters treated in the Elk Valley.

Climate change is damaging Canada faster than it can adapt, warn UN scientists

Climate change is damaging Canada faster than it can adapt, warn UN scientists

Fallout from climate change is escalating at such a rapid pace the world now faces a “narrowing window” to adapt to a warming planet if it does not reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, a United Nations report warns. Released Monday, the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report brought together 270 scientists from 67 countries to assess the impacts climate change is having on humans and the ecosystems they rely on. “Today's IPCC report is an atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

Good news for water: BC budget contained good news for water protection

Good news for water: BC budget contained good news for water protection

Peachland residents, Syilx people and water leaders are encouraged the provincial government has acknowledged many communities in B.C. face a water crisis, made worse by a changing climate and increased land uses. Budget 2022 dedicates $30 million in much-needed funding to safeguard B.C.’s watersheds by supporting local and Indigenous governments and non-profits like Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance doing watershed work. As the climate crisis continues, we are also pleased to see the government recognize the central role those resilient watersheds play in our lives by investing in much-needed floodplain mapping and outdated flood infrastructure, which will make our communities more resilient to future storms and floods.

City revamps communication around lead service lines on website, annual letters

City revamps communication around lead service lines on website, annual letters

The city has made headway on its commitment to improve communication and education on lead service connections (LSC) in Regina with updates to its website and annual mail-out. “It’s very important that we share information with residents and make it as clear as possible and … as easy as possible to get filters, to get lead service connections replaced,” Kurtis Doney, director of water, waste and environment for the City of Regina, said in an interview Tuesday.

N.W.T. communities need more money; minister says gov't can't give it to them

N.W.T. communities need more money; minister says gov't can't give it to them

The Northwest Territories' minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) says it's "not realistic" to expect the territorial government to give communities all the money they need to cover their basic costs. Minister Shane Thompson acknowledged on Monday that N.W.T. communities are underfunded, but said it isn't feasible for the territorial government to close the funding gap, given "today's economy … and our current fiscal situation."

Canada backs global plastics treaty at UN assembly

Canada backs global plastics treaty at UN assembly

Canada is throwing its support behind a push for a global treaty that could do for plastic pollution what the Paris agreement is slowly doing for greenhouse gas emissions. A resolution is set to be voted on Wednesday at the United Nations Environment Assembly meeting in Kenya, calling for a legally binding agreement to cut plastic waste by curbing demand and improving both the reuse and recycling of plastics. The resolution is intended to kick-start a wider negotiation to develop a treaty that addresses plastic pollution from production and design right through to waste management. The hope is that it will be ready for signatures the next time UNEA meets in 2024.

Hamilton homeowners should think about where water would go in a flood, group says

Hamilton homeowners should think about where water would go in a flood, group says

With so-called one-in-100-years storms happening at least once a year now in Hamilton, Miranda Burton says preparing for potential flooding is more urgent than ever. And that's why her organization is trying to mobilize people to do just that. Burton, program manager for the Hamilton not-for-profit Green Venture, says they're trying to get Hamiltonians to look at overland water flow differently.

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