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

Lakes Huron/Michigan could see 3.5 foot drop below record low levels by 2030: study

Lakes Huron/Michigan could see 3.5 foot drop below record low levels by 2030: study

A study on water levels projects an unprecedented drop of water levels on Lakes Michigan-Huron and Georgian Bay to 1.1 metres (3.5 feet) below the record low by 2030. By 2040, levels may rise to 0.3 metres (one foot) higher than the 1986 record high. The study by W.F. Baird & Associates Coastal Engineers Ltd. was commissioned by the Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation (GBGLF) and was shared virtually by GBGLF on May 16/17. The Baird conclusions are essentially the same as those found in a recently completed five-year study by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), presented during a week-long Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands webinar series from April 4 to 8.

Evacuees from Grassy Narrows First Nation arrive in Thunder Bay following spring floods

Evacuees from Grassy Narrows First Nation arrive in Thunder Bay following spring floods

About 100 Grassy Narrows First Nation residents have arrived in Thunder Bay, Ont., after the community was partially evacuated due to flooding. They arrived in Thunder Bay, which is about 400 kilometres southeast from Grassy Narrows, on Monday. Grassy Narrows Chief Randy Fobister said the evacuees from his community are all vulnerable people, including those with health issues and elders.

2 candidates show to discuss well water issues

2 candidates show to discuss well water issues

Dave Lusk really misses his well. Dug in 1965, the well at his Greenvalley Line farm supplied pure, cold water for some 53 years before it failed in 2018. Lusk believes the well was spoiled as the direct result of the impact of wind turbines on the aquifer.

Manitoba testing community's drinking water for lead

Manitoba testing community's drinking water for lead

The Manitoba Government is monitoring the drinking water in a number of communities to test for lead. On Tuesday, the province confirmed it is working with water systems to find any lead exposure in Manitoba’s drinking water. This comes after Health Canada created new guidelines for lead in drinking water in 2019, prompting the Manitoba government to adopt the guidelines as the standard. The province also created a lead in drinking water website and developed an operation guideline for water systems. When it comes to lead monitoring programs, the province is prioritizing older, larger water systems that have known or suspected lead services. Lead monitoring was brought into Winnipeg in 2019 and then Brandon in 2021.

Whiteshell property owners prepare to stay and fight flood despite evacuation order

Whiteshell property owners prepare to stay and fight flood despite evacuation order

Resort owner Amy Vereb says she will be one of many people in the Whiteshell staying behind to protect their properties from rising floodwaters after an expanded evacuation order goes into effect Tuesday. "There's lots of us out here that this is all we have, and I just don't think that people realize that," said Vereb, who owns Otter Falls Resort. "This isn't just cottage country."

Water level monitoring data with global cellular connectivity

Water level monitoring data with global cellular connectivity

Solinst Canada Ltd. have joined forces with with CityKinect to provide worldwide cellular connectivity to their Model 9500 4G LevelSender 5 Telemetry Systems, thus offering a simple, reliable and economical way to gather water level data from Solinst dataloggers deployed in remote locations. The optional CityKinect SIM card which is activated and installed before shipping to provide end-users with an inexpensive, data-only plan which is coordinated and billed directly by Solinst. The LevelSender 5 is delivered already set-up, which makes programming and installation a simple task and provides the operator with a plug and play solution to provide remote water level monitoring data.

River floods out ferry crossing at Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T.

River floods out ferry crossing at Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T.

In Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T., the Mackenzie River is rising to its highest levels since 2008, flooding out shoreline fish camps and rising roughly six feet overnight. That's what resident and river watcher Mickey Andre told the CBC's Wanda McLeod on Tuesday, after seeing the waters go to their highest in 15 years. "It's jammed up pretty good right now," said Andre.

Grad student's art connects water science to the people

Grad student's art connects water science to the people

Science, art, and the great outdoors. Megan Leung describes these three things as her greatest passions in life. Growing up in Mohkinstsis — on the traditional territories of the Treaty 7 region, located in the Canadian Rockies of Southern Alberta — the hydrologist, artist, and MSc geography student at the University of Calgary has always been in awe of her surroundings. It’s a love that inspired both her art and her academic path. For years though, Leung felt those passions were completely divergent parts of her life.

Border restrictions keep flooded cabin and resort owners away from their properties

Border restrictions keep flooded cabin and resort owners away from their properties

The water level of Sand Point Lake along the Minnesota-Ontario border continues to rise. Docks are submerged, propane tanks are floating in the water, and floodwaters are lapping against the sides of buildings. Yet dozens of cabin and resort owners on the Canadian side of the lake can’t access their properties, because a Canadian customs office on the lake remains closed.

Riverhurst Ferry in Sask. beached indefinitely because of low water levels

Riverhurst Ferry in Sask. beached indefinitely because of low water levels

Spring is well underway in Saskatchewan, but one of the province's busiest ferries still hasn't been able to open. The Riverhurst Ferry, located northwest of Moose Jaw, typically transports about 30,000 vehicles annually over the South Saskatchewan River, according to the Ministry of Highways, which operates the vessel. But water levels are too low for it to begin operations. Levels in Lake Diefenbaker are about a metre-and-a-half below normal for this time of year, according to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Highways. Diefenbaker is a human-made lake, located north of the Riverhurst Ferry and fed by the South Saskatchewan River.

Municipal councillor, residents opposed to proposed infilling of Dartmouth Cove

Municipal councillor, residents opposed to proposed infilling of Dartmouth Cove

A major infilling project is proposed for Dartmouth Cove and the municipal councillor and area residents aren't happy about it. An area of water spanning more than three football fields would be filled with rock over a period of six years if the proposed project, which requires federal approval, is allowed to proceed. Coun. Sam Austin, the councillor for Dartmouth Centre, says residents are afraid their community will become a dumping ground.

Canada would require five Earths to sustain its current resource consumption, destroying children's environments globally - UNICEF Canada

Canada would require five Earths to sustain its current resource consumption, destroying children's environments globally - UNICEF Canada

Countries like Canada are creating unhealthy, dangerous and noxious conditions for children worldwide, according to the latest Report Card published today by UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti. UNICEF Report Card 17 compares how 39 countries fare in providing healthy environments for children. Despite its abundance of wealth and environmental resources, Canada ranks 28th among 39 wealthy countries in the environmental well-being of children and youth.

Water meter replacement program under budget despite COVID-19 challenges: report

Water meter replacement program under budget despite COVID-19 challenges: report

Council will discuss progress on year one of the City’s water meter replacement program when a report detailing the total cost and amount of water leakage is presented at Tuesday’s executive committee meeting. The water meter replacement program began in March of 2019 and was completed in July of 2020, replacing a total of 11,332 meters around Prince Albert. The total cost of the project amounted to $4,603,563.20, landing more than $3,500 under budget. The report found that the new meters more accurately read the actual water used, reducing water loss in the City.

Important health, well water, waste disposal and road closure information in response to storm

Important health, well water, waste disposal and road closure information in response to storm

Well water Well water can become contaminated after extreme weather and flooding. Ensure your well water is safe during and after emergencies on the Government of Canada’s Be Well Aware page. General well water information Residents with private wells can get more information about well water maintenance and safety on the Durham Region Health Department’s Private wells page.

Water services restored as premier, MLAs set to visit Hay River, Kátł'odeeche First Nation

Water services restored as premier, MLAs set to visit Hay River, Kátł'odeeche First Nation

Water services are being restored in Hay River, N.W.T., as the premier, minister of municipal and community affairs, and MLAs for Hay River and the Dehcho region prepare to visit the flood-stricken community on Monday. Lift Station No. 1, which serves much of the town, was brought back online Sunday after "extensive electrical and mechanical work" was completed over the weekend. The lift station was almost completely submerged during flooding earlier this month.

Gatineau preparing for flooding for 3rd time in 6 years

Gatineau preparing for flooding for 3rd time in 6 years

Officials are once again preparing for flooding in Gatineau, Que., with several parts of the city now at risk. The city was notified about rapidly rising water levels in the Baskatong Reservoir by civil security officials the day prior, Mayor France Bélisle said at a press conference Monday. "We received 130 millimetres of water in 10 days. Usually, over the same period, we only receive 80 millimetres," she told reporters in French.

Calm returns to Lac Saint-Jean after weekend of flooding

Calm returns to Lac Saint-Jean after weekend of flooding

Conditions on Lac Saint-Jean are slowly starting to return to normal after a weekend of flooding caused by record rainfall and the spring thaw. Municipalities surrounding the lake reported light flooding on Sunday, with the lake still topping the official flood mark in the area. "The water is coming down and our morale is rising," Luc Gibbons, Saint-Félicien's mayor, told Radio-Canada.

Okanagan residents encouraged to get the most out of their water use

Okanagan residents encouraged to get the most out of their water use

The May long weekend marks the unofficial start to summer, which means it’s a good time for Okanagan residents to start thinking about their water use. The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is encouraging residents to take the ‘Make Water Work’ pledge. Okanagan mayors have been promoting the annual campaign on social media with tips for getting the most out of your water.

Our cities will keep flooding. What if we stopped fighting it and worked with nature instead?

Our cities will keep flooding. What if we stopped fighting it and worked with nature instead?

In November 2021, Abbotsford, B.C. was deluged with several days of heavy rain, flooding much of the low-lying valley around the city, wreaking havoc and causing millions of dollars in damage. With climate change, that will likely happen a lot more often in cities across Canada, including Calgary, Ottawa, and Montreal. So what should we do about this? Rivers are not naturally static bodies of water. A river can fluctuate in size and even shift direction depending on the climate, resulting in floods to the land next to it.

Quebec's Saguenay region braces for flooding as water rises to 'exceptional, historic' levels

Quebec's Saguenay region braces for flooding as water rises to 'exceptional, historic' levels

Water in Lac Saint-Jean is expected to rise to almost six metres this weekend, and officials in Quebec's Saguenay region are bracing for damage to homes from flooding. As of Saturday morning, public security officials in Roberval said the lake was at "medium" flood risk, with water levels topping the official flood mark in the area. According to Saint-Félicien Mayor Luc Gibbons, the rising waters have already damaged several roads in the city.

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