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

Six Nations moving to second phase in waste water upgrades

Six Nations moving to second phase in waste water upgrades

Six Nations is moving into phase two in its wastewater facilities upgrade. Six Nations Elected Council (SNEC) approved payment of a little over $382,000 for the project at its Finance Committee meeting on November 7. The project will replace a pressurized sewage pipe with a larger, 932-metre pipe through horizontal drilling that will connect the lift station to three lagoons. Replacing this pipe, which runs from Fourth Line to the lagoons behind the public works building will speed up sewage treatment.

Explainer - COP27: How climate change impacts countries around the world

Explainer - COP27: How climate change impacts countries around the world

While delegates at the COP27 climate conference discuss the shared problem of climate change, each country will face its own challenges and threats. In February, the U.N. climate science agency released a major report on adapting to a warmer world - and detailed how that effort would differ from place to place. While some countries see glaciers melt or coastlines rise, others will contend mostly with raging wildfires and extreme heat, the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said.

Transport Canada to dispose of 11 derelict vessels in Vancouver's False Creek

Transport Canada to dispose of 11 derelict vessels in Vancouver's False Creek

Transport Canada has served notice it will seize and dispose of 11 vessels moored in False Creek that the federal agency deems wrecked, abandoned or hazardous. “Transport Canada can deem a vessel abandoned if it is left unattended for two years or less in circumstances where it appears that the owner will not be returning,” a spokeswoman for Transport Canada said in an emailed response to questions.

Is road salt killing salmon in B.C. streams? UBC researchers trying to find out

Is road salt killing salmon in B.C. streams? UBC researchers trying to find out

University of B.C. researchers are embarking on a five-year study to find out whether road salt is contributing to salmon mortality in B.C. streams. The team, led by Patricia Schulte, Chris Wood and Colin Brauner, also involves dozens of volunteer stream-keepers at 30 streams or creeks. Schulte, a professor in the Department of Zoology at UBC, said as the ice melts on the roads, it runs down into freshwater streams or can seep into the groundwater. Researchers know the salt can harm baby salmon or trout but what they don’t know yet is how much of the salt is winding up in the water.

Ford government's proposed changes to Greenbelt could spell trouble, environmental experts warn

Ford government's proposed changes to Greenbelt could spell trouble, environmental experts warn

Environmental experts say the Ford government's proposal to build thousands of homes in parts of the Greenbelt while adding other protected land elsewhere will cause a host of ecological problems. Last Friday, the provincial government announced a proposal to build 50,000 new homes in some areas that are now part of the Greenbelt, and add 9,400 acres of protected land elsewhere. Premier Doug Ford says it's all part of the province's plan to tackle the housing crisis by building 1.5 million homes over the next decade — as the federal government pledges to start bringing in half a million immigrants a year.

High school student from northern Sask. First Nation representing youth at COP27 in Egypt

High school student from northern Sask. First Nation representing youth at COP27 in Egypt

A high school student from a First Nation in northern Saskatchewan is representing Indigenous communities on the world stage. Sean Bernard, a Grade 12 student from Waterhen Lake First Nation, about 290 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, is in Egypt this week to attend COP27, the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Bernard is a youth delegate, representing the youth of the world as well as Indigenous communities across North America.

N.W.T.'s Daniel T'seleie at COP27 says 'land back' to Indigenous people part of climate solution

N.W.T.'s Daniel T'seleie at COP27 says 'land back' to Indigenous people part of climate solution

Daniel T'seleie, who is with the Keepers of Water, and Indigenous Climate Action, both Indigenous-led organisation focusing on climate change action, said climate change solutions on the agenda for COP27, like carbon trading, don't address what really needs to be done. "The only way to stop climate change," he said, "is to stop the extraction and use of fossil fuels. If that's not the flagship then we're not going to stop the climate crisis."

Paradise Gardens farmers face uncertain future due to fears of more spring flooding in southern N.W.T.

Paradise Gardens farmers face uncertain future due to fears of more spring flooding in southern N.W.T.

Devastating flooding last spring has many in the farming community around Hay River, N.W.T., contemplating their future. Andrew Cassidy and Helen Green, owners of Greenwood Gardens, are still deciding on their next move as they grapple with what's left of their home and business after floodwaters tore through the Paradise Gardens valley in May. "The flooding was really damaging, like it washed away soil, it washed away our raised beds," Cassidy said.

B.C. regional district seeks emergency extension as winter water supply ‘uncertain’

B.C. regional district seeks emergency extension as winter water supply ‘uncertain’

British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast Regional District says continued “uncertainty” about its water supply means it will seek an extension of the state of local emergency declared last month. A statement from the regional district says it is working to secure the water supply for users of its main Chapman reservoir, but uncertainty of that supply in the coming months prevents removal of stringent water use restrictions. Environment Canada data shows the region just north of Vancouver received 56 millimetres of precipitation this month and 68 mm in the last 10 days of October, but saw only a trace of rain between July and mid-October, when it usually records 200 mm or more.

Manitoba's new water strategy: Limit its use

Manitoba's new water strategy: Limit its use

Manitoba is unveiling a new water strategy that emphasizes conservation — and floats the idea of a new pricing system. The provincial Progressive Conservative government released a strategy on Tuesday that will, in broad strokes, guide Manitoba's actions to protect its water resources for years to come. The province said it will develop an action plan this winter to determine its future decisions. The strategy vows to "make every drop count" by valuing the province's water resources. "The focus needs to shift from supply-side management solutions to approaches that reduce how much water we use," the strategy reads.

BioLargo subsidiary presents pilot program results at Canadian conference; shows up to 100% removal of contaminants from wastewater

BioLargo subsidiary presents pilot program results at Canadian conference; shows up to 100% removal of contaminants from wastewater

BioLargo Inc said positive results from a municipal wastewater treatment pilot were presented at the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association's annual conference by its subsidiary, BioLargo Water, showing how its water treatment technology is a powerful yet energy- and cost-efficient solution for removing contaminants from wastewater. BioLargo Water's lead research scientist Dr Laura Patterson-Fortin spoke at the National Water and Wastewater conference, held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on how the company’s advanced oxidation system (AOS) fits into global interest in water treatment technologies that can remove a broad spectrum of water contaminants, including legacy contaminants like bacteria and viruses.

Israel and Jordan move forward with water-for-energy deal

Israel and Jordan move forward with water-for-energy deal

Israel and Jordan on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to move ahead with a water-for-energy deal after an initial examination of the project found it to be feasible. The idea, first announced a year ago, is for Jordan to build 600 megawatts of solar power capacity that would be exported to Israel. In return, Israel would provide water-scarce Jordan with 200 million cubic metres (mcm) of desalinated water.

Northern Ont. activist Autumn Peltier a finalist for $135K International Children’s Peace Prize

Northern Ont. activist Autumn Peltier a finalist for $135K International Children’s Peace Prize

Autumn Peltier of Wiikwemkoong First Nation is a finalist for this year’s International Children’s Peace Prize. Peltier, 18, is one of three people who made a shortlist selected by a panel of experts from more than 175 nominees from 46 countries. The winner will receive 100,000 euros, or about $135,000, half of which will go to a project they support. “Global youth environmental activist Autumn Peltier, also known as ‘The Water Protector,’ has been advocating for clean water in Canada and beyond for many years,” said a news release Tuesday from kidsrights.org.

One year after flooding disaster, recovery continues for Fraser Valley farmers

One year after flooding disaster, recovery continues for Fraser Valley farmers

Farmer Richard Bosma points to an armpit-level felt pen mark on the wall of his milking barn to show how high the water rose during the catastrophic flooding on his Fraser Valley dairy farm almost a year ago. "So there were about 54 inches of water here at its peak," he said. In another barn, Bosma introduces assembled media and politicians to Miracle, a black-and-white, hay-munching calf that earned its name by arriving in the world immediately after its mother was rescued from the rising water.

Atlantic First Nations Water Authority becomes first Indigenous water utility in Canada

Atlantic First Nations Water Authority becomes first Indigenous water utility in Canada

After years of discussion, the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority made history Monday by becoming the first Indigenous water utility in Canada. The transfer agreement was signed in Dartmouth, N.S., by Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFWNA) CEO Carl Yates, Potlotek First Nation Chief Wilbert Marshall, and federal Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu.

Marimaca Secures Water Option for Life of Mine Seawater Supply

Marimaca Secures Water Option for Life of Mine Seawater Supply

Marimaca Copper Corp. (“Marimaca Copper” or the “Company”) (TSX: MARI) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a water option agreement to secure the future water supply required for the Marimaca Copper Project (the “Project”) in Chile. Under the agreement, seawater would be supplied following its use in cooling systems at an electricity plant in Mejillones, located 25km from the Project and operated by one of Chile’s largest energy suppliers. The option has a term of 5 years, with the ability to extend for 2 years, and will allow the Company to advance final Project permitting and technical studies, including water pipeline studies that are already underway.

B.C., Teck opposed to international study of Kootenay watershed pollution

B.C., Teck opposed to international study of Kootenay watershed pollution

Provincial opposition to a proposed investigation of Kootenay watershed pollution may have dashed initial federal support for the review, based on a trove of documents recently released through freedom of information disclosure by the Ktunaxa Nation Council. The documents show correspondence between the provincial and federal governments related to potential participation in the International Joint Commission, which adjudicates transboundary water issues between Canada and the United States and provides resolution recommendations to disputes.

“We never drink from the tap”: Halton Hills residents cautious of hard water supply

“We never drink from the tap”: Halton Hills residents cautious of hard water supply

Clean water is essential for a variety of reasons. For many Halton Hills residents, this means navigating the challenges of water hardness levels greater than most other Ontario municipalities. Isobel and Jim White — who’ve lived in Georgetown for nearly half a century — never drink from their tap. “The water quality has never been the best,” said Isobel, adding that the purchase of a water softener with every move was always top priority.

Arsenic levels in Garden Bay well water under investigation, residents notified four weeks later

Arsenic levels in Garden Bay well water under investigation, residents notified four weeks later

The water supplied to 18 Garden Bay area homes is under a “do not use” warning from Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) as of Nov. 4. Dream Valley Estates residents were notified by VCH that slightly elevated arsenic levels were detected in Sept. 28 water supply samples. Health Canada’s maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) for arsenic in drinking water is 10 parts per billion (ppb). Two of three Dream Valley samples tested at 11.3 and 11.6 ppb. One of those samples tested raw water and one was on treated water.

Drought-stricken work together to fight water woes

Drought-stricken work together to fight water woes

Drought-stricken countries, led by Senegal and Spain, announced an alliance Monday to help each other manage water scarcity by sharing technology and expertise. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the U.N. climate conference, COP27, which is taking place in the sun-baked Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after a fifth failed rainy season on the Horn of Africa.

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