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.
Canada may not be on track to achieve its self-imposed goal of ensuring access to clean water to all Indigenous communities by the end of this month, but the government says the issue sits among its top priorities. At a news conference in Ottawa on Monday, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller unveiled a new strategy designed to lift all remaining boil water advisories across the country.