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

World-first satellite to measure Earth’s water levels blasts into space

World-first satellite to measure Earth’s water levels blasts into space

A UK-backed mission involving the University of Bristol, which will observe huge swathes of ocean and surface water in unprecedented detail, has launched into space. The international Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite took off from Vandenberg in California on 16 December. SWOT will use a revolutionary radar instrument, named KaRIn, to survey at least 90% of the Earth’s surface, measuring and monitoring changes in the ocean, lakes, reservoirs, rivers and wetlands, to produce data that will help improve our understanding of climate change, as well as predict and mitigate flood risks around the world.

Eby may signal change in B.C.'s stance on climate action, environmental groups say

Eby may signal change in B.C.'s stance on climate action, environmental groups say

Environmental groups are applauding B.C. Premier David Eby's new promise to protect 30 per cent of the province's land by 2030 in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. The goal signals a potential shift by the NDP under the new premier to improve B.C.'s lacklustre record of protecting biodiversity and endangered species hot spots, conservation groups say.

Tłı̨chǫ concerned after N.W.T. rejects Wek'eezhii's initial plan for Diavik reclamation

Tłı̨chǫ concerned after N.W.T. rejects Wek'eezhii's initial plan for Diavik reclamation

The Tłı̨chǫ Government expressed "concern" over the N.W.T's decision not to approve an application by Diavik Diamond Mine to begin a process of progressive reclamation. The Tłı̨chǫ raised its issue with the decision in a letter dated July 27, stating the problem is around jurisdiction. The letter was addressed to Shane Thompson, the minister of environment and natural resources, claiming he is ignoring the treaty by rejecting a recommendation by the Wek'èezhı̀ı Land and Water Board, the land management authority for the area created after the Tłı̨chǫ agreement.

Coquitlam leadership involved in legal battle between Metro Vancouver and wastewater contractor

Coquitlam leadership involved in legal battle between Metro Vancouver and wastewater contractor

Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart and the city's top bureaucrat have found themselves at the centre of the newest chapter of a multi-million dollar legal battle between Metro Vancouver and an international construction company.  Metro Vancouver has filed a notice of application in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against Acciona — a company it fired from the building of a $500 million wastewater treatment plant.

'The world is running out of water,' says water expert from Six Nations, Ont.

'The world is running out of water,' says water expert from Six Nations, Ont.

The world is "running out of water," Makasa Looking Horse says, and if we don't take action soon, it will be too late. Looking Horse, from Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario, is one of the hosts of the Ohneganos Ohnegahdę:gyo – Let's Talk about Water podcast, which won a 2021 David Suzuki Foundation Future Ground Prize. The prize recognizes youth-led movements. It's a podcast created, the Suzuki Foundation says, to "engage Indigenous communities and disseminate research findings by facilitating meaningful discussion about water issues and climate change."

UBCO engineers dive into local flood recovery, prevention

UBCO engineers dive into local flood recovery, prevention

While infrastructure clean-up and repairs continue across the province after the extreme weather events of 2021, UBC Okanagan researchers have created measures to help municipalities mitigate damage from future climate-related disasters. “Communities across British Columbia have established strong policies and strategies to prepare and limit damage due to these extreme events, but policies related to post-disaster management are still in their infancy,” says Sadia Ishaq, a doctoral candidate in UBCO’s School of Engineering and lead author of a new paper that examines municipal risk management strategies.

Residents from dozens of Sask. First Nations qualify for compensation

Residents from dozens of Sask. First Nations qualify for compensation

Numerous people who lived on a First Nation in Canada - including Saskatchewan - that had a long-term drinking water advisory for more than a year are eligible to submit a claim for compensation. The First Nations Drinking Water Settlement provides compensation for both individuals and First Nations Band Councils that were impacted by long-term drinking water advisories that lasted continuously  for at least one year between Nov. 20, 1995,  and June 20, 2021.​ The deadline to apply is March 7, 2023. 

Prince Philip School kids get chance to drive Canadian-made lunar rover

Prince Philip School kids get chance to drive Canadian-made lunar rover

“I told the kids that we get to drive the rover that is the model for the real one, which is so cool,” said Christie. “They’re essentially doing a live simulation of the project they put together. They use the science instruments and tools (on the rover) to determine if there’s water evidence.” At one point, Leah David-Purcell with Avalon Space announced to the kids that the rover had detected evidence of water, but then one of the students stood up to say her analysis showed the rover had detected iron, not water.

Fresh water: Quebec to spend $150M annually to protect 'blue gold'

Fresh water: Quebec to spend $150M annually to protect 'blue gold'

Quebec plans to “significantly increase” the fees charged to companies that extract fresh water in the province, Premier François Legault said Thursday. Speaking at the United Nations COP15 biodiversity conference in Montreal, the premier announced his Coalition Avenir Québec government will introduce a bill early in 2023 on protecting water. Describing water as “blue gold,” Legault said 25 per cent of the planet’s fresh water runs through the St. Lawrence River.

Canada-made radar technology to be used in global surface water survey

Canada-made radar technology to be used in global surface water survey

A piece of Canadian radar technology will play a key role in a satellite mission scheduled to launch Friday that aims to study almost all of the Earth’s water surfaces and provide data that will be a boon for Canadian researchers. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission is led by NASA and France’s space agency –Centre national d’etudes spatiale– with contributions from the Canadian and United Kingdom space agencies.

First Helium Receives Regulatory Approval for Disposal Well

First Helium Receives Regulatory Approval for Disposal Well

First Helium Inc. ("First Helium" or the "Company") (TSXV: HELI) (OTCQX: FHELF) (FRA: 2MC), today announced that it has received the necessary regulatory approvals to commence operation of its water disposal well at the Worsley Oil Battery. The Company is activating disposal operations immediately to facilitate increased oil production with materially reduced ongoing operating costs.

NASA-led international satellite mission to conduct first global water survey from space

NASA-led international satellite mission to conduct first global water survey from space

A NASA-led international satellite mission is set to conduct a comprehensive survey of the world's oceans, lakes and rivers for the first time. The advanced radar satellite, dubbed SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography), is designed to give scientists an unprecedented view of the fluid that covers 70 per cent of the planet. The survey will be able to shed new light on the mechanics and consequences of climate change.

Cheating Death-Related Emissions

Cheating Death-Related Emissions

The 78-year-old Cowichan Valley resident and her husband have both made plans with a local funeral home to dispose of their remains using alkaline hydrolysis, also known as aquamation or water cremation. Mitchell says she’s attracted to aquamation because of her long commitment to reducing her carbon footprint. Flame-based cremation emits around 320 kilograms of CO2 per body, which Mitchell says she’d be “horrified” about. Aquamation uses water, warm temperatures and an alkaline solution, like potassium hydroxide, to break down tissue and bones.

N7 Energy pleads guilty to disturbing creek bed without prior approval

N7 Energy pleads guilty to disturbing creek bed without prior approval

The Alberta Energy Regulator says N7 Energy Ltd. has pled guilty to violating the province's Water Act. The regulator says it laid the charge against the Calgary-based oil and gas company in August 2022. According to an agreed statement of facts, in August 2020, N7 Energy started construction activity at a bridge over a creek near Swan Hills, Alta. without prior approval from the regulator.

Sanexen is Awarded the Contract for the Major Environmental Restoration of the Former Aleris Plant Site in Québec

Sanexen is Awarded the Contract for the Major Environmental Restoration of the Former Aleris Plant Site in Québec

SANEXEN Environmental Services Inc. ("SANEXEN"), a subsidiary of LOGISTEC Corporation ("LOGISTEC") has won the bid for the environmental remediation project of the former Aleris plant site in Trois-Rivières, Québec. With an estimated duration of four years, this large-scale project will be completed for the Québec Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, in order to give this vast land back to the community.

Libero Copper Provides Update on Advances at the Esperanza Prophyry Project in San Juan, Argentina

Libero Copper Provides Update on Advances at the Esperanza Prophyry Project in San Juan, Argentina

Another important milestone in the project permitting process was the recent site visit to the project area with representatives from the Ministry of Mines of San Juan to confirm project conditions before activity restart.  The visit complimented the latest water quality work carried out by the Institute of Hydraulic Investigation of the National University of San Juan for the water baseline study.

Dealing with ‘erasure’: The role of Indigenous knowledge in drawing maps of Canada

Dealing with ‘erasure’: The role of Indigenous knowledge in drawing maps of Canada

The research these youth snorkelers are partaking in is part of an Indigenous-led project to map the coastal waters of Átl’ḵa7tsem, once polluted by industry, but now teeming with fish. For centuries, Indigenous communities have had their traditional knowledge and cultural traditions overlooked, if not erased. That’s reflected in the conventional maps of Canada.

Province giving out chemical testing kits to Newfoundland and Labrador well owners

Province giving out chemical testing kits to Newfoundland and Labrador well owners

The provincial government is handing out free chemical testing kits to well owners throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The pilot program looks to give well owners information on the safety of their drinking water and collect baseline groundwater data for the province. About 2,000 chemical test kits will be distributed. The kits can be picked up at no cost at various Digital Government and Service N.L. regional offices.

Amid struggling COP15 talks, Indigenous leaders from Canada offer some solutions

Amid struggling COP15 talks, Indigenous leaders from Canada offer some solutions

Talks on a plan to protect land and water globally are underway at the COP15 meeting in Montreal, with the host nation Canada among a legion of countries pushing for a “30×30” deal to protect 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030. Agreements on the targets, approaches and language in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework have been especially slow, with ministers from around the world set to arrive tomorrow to approve on the text. Indigenous delegates and analysts are calling for the integration of Indigenous land rights, knowledge and financing to resolve the 30×30 conservation target, citing Canada’s guardians program as a successful way to meet area-based conservation goals.

Water rate hike too high: Brockville council

Water rate hike too high: Brockville council

A proposed water rate increase of 14 per cent is too high, city councillors said Tuesday, asking staff to find efficiencies in the water and sewer budgets. After a lengthy presentation on the water and wastewater budgets, council unanimously approved a motion to refer the vote on those budgets to the Jan. 10 meeting, hoping staff can find a way to reduce the rate increase by five per cent. Coun. Jeff Earle, who introduced the referral motion, said he is not asking for cuts, but efficiencies. He does not know what savings can be achieved, but he challenged staffers to try.

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