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.
In some areas of the K'atl'odeeche First Nation reserve, pavement is caving in and buildings are leaning against power poles — but volunteers are getting as much cleaned up on Tuesday morning as they can. Tuesday afternoon, the First Nation in N.W.T. says members can return to their homes. Most of K'atl'odeeche's residents have been displaced since last Wednesday night, when floodwaters from the Hay River surged into the reserve and the town of Hay River and forced the evacuation of both areas.
A new public education campaign will help Nova Scotians become more aware of blue-green algae when enjoying the province’s outdoors with the arrival of warmer weather. Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are naturally occurring in fresh water like lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. They can flourish in water high in nutrients, especially during hot, dry conditions. The bacteria can be harmful to people and fatal for animals, so it is important that Nova Scotians know what to look for and how to protect themselves, their families and pets.
Four homes at Manitoba's Pine Creek First Nation were destroyed and 17 were evacuated due to weekend flooding in the low-lying lands between Duck Mountain and the southern basin of Lake Winnipegosis. Derek Nepinak, chief of the Anishinaabe nation about 100 kilometres north of Dauphin, said about 30 people were forced to leave their homes, which have been cut off from the rest of the community and have no access to fresh water or supplies.
People who live and play along the Gatineau River between Chelsea and Low, Que., say they've been left high and dry after Hydro-Québec lowered water levels. The change was needed to work on the hydroelectric dam in Chelsea — with rocks now emerging from the river like miniature islands. Heather Horak relies on the river for her seasonal home's water and hauls essential supplies using a pontoon boat.
The Yukon’s allocation of federal ‘gas tax’ funding has grown to $18 million this year, with nearly $1 million already slotted for projects, according to the Yukon government. Unincorporated communities will receive about $1 million of the fund. “These funds are allocated to projects based on need,” said Bonnie Venton Ross, spokesperson for Community Services, in an email.
The threat to water security is just as urgent as the climate crisis, says Oliver M. Brandes, project lead of the POLIS Water Sustainability Project at the University of Victoria. For more than 20 years, Brandes has worked with UVic researchers, students and collaborators, as well as government committees, community members and other partners to raise the alarm while continuing to nourish a sense of hope.
Water levels have receded in Sambaa K'e, N.W.T., after a flash flood Sunday swamped some homes and properties. Dennis Deneron said there are still some low-laying areas with high water levels in the community of about 90 residents, but the community can begin cleanup now. The flood happened when ice blocked the main channel of Island River, which flows into Trout Lake. Deneron said that forced the water through another channel close to the community and into some people's yards.
Residents of Délı̨nę no longer need to boil their water before consuming it, the territorial government said on Monday afternoon. The boil-water advisory had been in place since May 10 after unusually high murkiness was reported in the Sahtu community’s drinking water. On Monday, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Services said the advisory had ended and no associated illnesses had been reported.
A drive through the Canadian Rockies will treat you to views of blue mountain lakes, wildlife and, of course, glaciers. But with our changing climate and warming winters, glaciers are receding at an alarming rate in Canada and around the world. Globally that will impact sea levels while here on the Prairies, the loss of our Rocky Mountain glaciers will affect our freshwater supply. “We’re past the tipping point for the glaciers in the Canadian Rockies,” says John Pomeroy, professor and Canada Research Chair in water resources and climate change at the University of Saskatchewan.
The majority of drinking water samples taken from Children of the Earth and Kelvin high schools contained concerning levels of lead in a recent review of fountains, kitchen taps and other fixtures in K-12 buildings in central Winnipeg. Manitoba’s largest school division released the results of a provincially mandated lead-testing program in its administrative buildings and learning facilities.
Friday the 13th was a weird weather day for Canada, with provinces experiencing everything from a record-breaking heat to spring snow, flooding and wildfires. In southwestern Quebec and eastern Ontario, spring sizzled away as the thermometer hit 30 degrees or more in cities like Ottawa and Montreal. The summer-like heat has set temperature records in Montreal and the nation’s capital over the past three days and is expected to last into the weekend, with showers possibly moving in on Saturday night and Sunday.
Most Calgarians are facing a 3.6 per cent hike on their property taxes this year — that is, unless you live in Shepard, about 20 minutes southeast of downtown, where residents are bracing for a 40 per cent increase. The area was annexed by the City of Calgary in 2007, and as part of the agreement, residents were given a 15-year reprieve before switching from tax rates set by Rocky View County — their previous municipality — to Calgary tax rates.
Heavy downpours are causing flooding concerns for some Saskatchewan communities. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued rainfall warnings Friday for southeastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba. The weather agency says a low-pressure system coming up from North Dakota is bringing widespread rainfalls of 30 to 60 millimetres — which can cause flash floods, water pooling on roads and localized flooding in low-lying areas — and wind gusts up to 80 km/h.
After close to two weeks, water is finally receding in Peguis First Nation, but officials say the community isn't out of the woods yet. Those who have stayed in the community in Manitoba's Interlake through the worst of this spring's flooding there are tired, but happy to see the water starting to go down. That includes Kim Sutherland, whose family spent the last week and a half working nearly 24/7 to save their home, using six pumps and a Tiger Dam — a series of water-filled tubes that create a barrier to hold the floodwaters back.
For the next 16 months, the Strathmore MunicipWheatland County Council is seeking more information regarding the logistics of potentially providing a grant to help fund a waterline for Redland residents. Councillor Glenn Koester spoke at the May 3 regular council meeting on behalf of a delegation of residents from Redland. “The residents of Redland are asking the County to grant the Wheatland Regional Corporation (WRC) $75,000 … Wheatland County has granted WRC approximately $4 million in the past,” said Koester. “WRC is experienced in putting in (water) lines and maintaining them. WRC would own this line and maintain it. This is a one-time grant, so the residents can enjoy water.”
Anaergia Inc. (“Anaergia” or the “Company”) (TSX: ANRG) announced that it signed a design-build agreement with the Town of Petawawa, Ontario. Under the terms of the agreement, Anaergia will upgrade the existing anaerobic digesters located at Petawawa’s Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP). Anaergia’s Omnivore™ system will be used to upgrade the WPCP digesters to process biosolids from the wastewater treatment operations along with organics from the municipal solid waste stream. The digesters will then produce biogas that will be used to fuel a combined heat and power engine, reducing WPCP’s dependence on fossil energy supplied by utilities, and reducing its operating costs.
Gaudet said homes on the west side of the settlement, near Highway 35, remain at the highest risk because floodwater is taking longer to drain from the area. The settlement said it's looking for the provincial and federal government's help in assessing and repairing the damage. He added the flood has been very traumatizing because it reminds community members of a fire that burned down half the settlement and forced evacuations in 2019.
The water has receded near Kashechewan First Nation, which has reduced the risk to the community. Discussions are now underway to return people home. The northern Ontario community experienced its annual spring flooding from the nearby Albany River. Hundreds of residents were flown to host communities: Kapuskasing, Thunder Bay and Val Rita-Harty. The risk to the community has subsided said Wilbert Wesley, emergency management services manager for Mushkegowuk Council. He is also the custodian helping the First Nation during its evacuation phase.
After two years of being shut down due to COVID-19, a Manitoba fishing and hunting lodge finally reopened this spring to face the most devastating flooding one of its owners has seen in nearly four decades. "There's probably about four feet of water in the boathouse right now," said Donna Hastings, who, along with her husband, owns Windsock Lodge on the shore of Long Lake in Nopiming Provincial Park. The lodge's dock, and a deck attached to that, have been "ripped apart," she said.
The chief administrative officer of a Métis settlement in northwestern Alberta says water is slowly receding, but an emergency alert is still in place after heavy flooding in the area five days ago. Justin Gaudet of the Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement says damages are being assessed after rain and snowmelt raised water levels on nearby rivers to heights residents have not seen before. Gaudet says the excessive moisture, combined with contaminated water, has a high potential to cause mould and unlivable conditions on the settlement.
