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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Fire threat triggers mandatory evacuation order for northern community's 300 residents
About 300 residents of a northern Manitoba community were ordered to leave their homes by 1 p.m. Tuesday because of an out-of-control wildfire, while evacuees from a First Nation were relieved to be finally headed home. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for Cormorant, about 70 kilometres northeast of The Pas, after residents were told late Monday night to begin packing a bag. 'It's scary because the fire is so close,' said Marie Lavallee, who was readying her six children before they had to leave. 'We're on the edge of town where there's forest.' MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Alberteen Spence of Tataskweyak Cree Nation is among a group of evacuees told to be ready to return home Thursday. In a social-media post, Cormorant's council said provincial crews were mobilizing to battle the blaze, which was northwest of the unincorporated community. Heavy equipment was being trucked in to create a fire break. 'Your safety is our priority. Please remain calm,' the post said. Cormorant announced a two-hour evacuation notice Monday night, telling residents to prepare and listen for a fire-truck siren and alerts delivered by megaphone if a mandatory evacuation order was necessary. Residents were told to meet at a school before leaving Tuesday afternoon. People who did not have transportation of their own were boarding Winnipeg-bound buses. The fire was detected Monday, following a lightning strike, as per the Manitoba Wildfire Service. The blaze grew to at least 422 hectares the first day. The province's online map displayed 126 active fires at about midday Tuesday. Of those, 26 were classified as out of control. Lavallee had trouble sleeping Monday night after residents were told to prepare to leave within two hours, if necessary. She left her window open in case officials went door-to-door to announce an evacuation. 'I didn't get very much sleep,' she told the Free Press by phone at about 11 a.m. 'It's smoky today. It's just a light haze.' Lavallee has lived in Cormorant since she was six years old. She has never been through a wildfire evacuation. She said she hopes to stay with family or friends in The Pas. She doesn't want her family to stay in a congregate shelter in Winnipeg alongside dozens or hundreds of other evacuees. In May, she ran a sprinkler outside her house as a precaution while a wildfire burned in the Clearwater Lake area nearby. Cormorant was shrouded in heavy smoke at the time. 'That one was scary. The sky just turned black, and it was spooky,' Lavallee said. 'It was like something out of a horror movie.' Meanwhile, Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake) announced Monday night that evacuees have started returning, about two months after they were forced out. 'It's very good news this week. We're happy to announce today that people are now going home, and I know some people are already at home,' Chief Doreen Spence said in a Facebook Live video Monday night. A mandatory evacuation order was issued May 30, a day after a wildfire was detected near the community, which is home to about 2,400 people. At least seven homes were destroyed July 4 when flames swept into Tataskweyak, northeast of Thompson. At more than 25,000 hectares, the blaze was still classified as out of control Tuesday. The fire was caused by human activity, as per the Manitoba Wildfire Service. SUPPLIED During a wildfire update Tuesday, the Town of Snow Lake said ground and aerial crews contained several flare-ups, and continued to extinguish hot spots near the town and mining areas. Evacuee Alberteen Spence, who has stayed in hotels in Niagara Falls, Ont., and Winnipeg, said she was relieved by news of the repatriation. 'I'm a little bit apprehensive because we don't know what we are going home to,' she said. 'Large sections of the bush have been burned. They told us it doesn't look the same.' Evacuees are returning to Tataskweyak in stages. Alberteen Spence said she is among a group that was told to be ready to return Thursday. Residents were told to throw out food and other contents in their refrigerators and freezers due to multiple power outages. 'That's another thing I've been thinking about,' Alberteen Spence said. '(Food) is going to be rotten.' Doreen Spence said a planeload of evacuees, who stayed in hotels in Niagara Falls, Ont., flew to Thompson on Monday, with a second flight scheduled Tuesday. Tataskweyak attempted a repatriation in mid-June, but it was put on hold because the community's water treatment plant malfunctioned. The fire flared about two weeks later, destroying some homes. Doreen Spence said another round of water-quality testing will take place once another new pump installed. When they return home, residents should run their hot water until it gets cold about three times, she said. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Elsewhere in northern Manitoba, work continues to contain fires in the Thompson area, the city said in a social-media post. Other than hot spots that are being extinguished, 'there is no further fire' in Leaf Rapids, the town said in a separate post. Last week, one normally occupied house was damaged when winds blew flames into the community. The Town of Snow Lake said ground and aerial crews contained several flare-ups, and continued to extinguish hot spots near the town and mining areas. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a warning for a majority of Manitoba, including Winnipeg, on Tuesday because smoke was causing poor air quality and reduced visibility. Chris KitchingReporter Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris. Every piece of reporting Chris produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Cision Canada
5 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Caldwell First Nation Announces Historic Equity Investment in Chatham to Lakeshore Transmission Line with Hydro One
LEAMINGTON, ON, July 29, 2025 /CNW/ - Caldwell First Nation is proud to announce its landmark equity investment in the Chatham to Lakeshore Transmission Line, marking a new chapter in Indigenous economic empowerment and infrastructure partnership. The investment is made through Caldwell's business development arm, Northwind Business Development LP (NBD), as part of a 50-50 First Nation Equity Partnership with Hydro One Networks Inc. (Hydro One) and other impacted Anishnaabe First Nations whose traditional territories are located along the route of the transmission line. The investment is supported by a loan from Manulife and a loan guarantee from the provincial Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program (IOFP), which helps Indigenous partners secure equity ownership in major infrastructure projects. This project not only ensures reliable power for a rapidly growing region, but also represents a powerful model of reconciliation and economic inclusion. Caldwell First Nation's participation reflects its strategic focus on long-term financial sustainability and self-determination for future generations. "Today marks a transformational moment for Caldwell First Nation and our partners," said Chief Nikki Van Oirschot. "By securing equity in the Chatham to Lakeshore Transmission Line, we are asserting our rightful place in the energy future of this province. This partnership is a testament to what is possible when First Nations are meaningfully included in the economic life of their territories. It's not just about power—it's about empowerment." John Wladarski, President and CEO of Northwind Business Development LP, added: "We are proud to lead this investment on behalf of Caldwell First Nation. This agreement demonstrates the strength of Indigenous-led economic development and reflects Caldwell First Nation's commitment to sustainable growth. Thanks to the support of the Province's new financing program, we've turned opportunity into ownership." "We are delighted to partner with Manulife and Caldwell First Nation on this transaction," said Michael Fedchyshyn, CEO of the Building Ontario Fund. "As the administration of IOFP transitions to the Building Ontario Fund we look forward to creating more opportunities for Indigenous equity participation in transformative infrastructure projects across Ontario." "Every new major transmission line offers an opportunity for First Nation partnership. We value the partnership we have built with Caldwell First Nation and we are pleased to celebrate this exciting milestone on the Chatham to Lakeshore Transmission line together," said Matthew Jackson, Vice President, Indigenous Partnerships and Business Development, Hydro One. "Electricity is the foundation that will enable the economy and power the opportunities we see in every corner of the province. We will continue to work alongside First Nation governments and communities through our industry-leading 50-50 First Nation Equity Partnership Model to build an electricity network that advances reconciliation and supports a more prosperous Ontario." The Chatham to Lakeshore Transmission Line is a critical infrastructure project that will enhance electricity reliability and support economic growth in southwest Ontario. With this investment, Caldwell joins a growing network of Indigenous communities reshaping the Canadian energy landscape through equity partnerships and shared prosperity.
CBC
7 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Floating home community in Delta, B.C., worries silt buildup in Fraser River putting it at risk
Residents of a floating home community on B.C.'s South Coast are worried about their homes as silt builds up in the Fraser River, causing them to sit in the mud during low tide. Ted Dufresne, a resident of Canoe Pass Village in Delta, B.C., said the homes tilt when the tide is low, which is putting residents' safety at risk. "We have a lot of seniors in this community," he said. "Let's say someone got up during the middle of the night and fell, broke a hip or had a heart attack … emergency vehicles, ambulances would have a real problem trying to access them and [for] some houses, they may not even be able to get inside." Paul Scott, head of maintenance for the village, said he's had to get creative to fix damage to docks as a result of this situation. After five years of working in the community, he said sediment buildup under the docks is only getting worse. "It shouldn't be this way." The silt building up in the Fraser River is also affecting Tsawwassen First Nation members; the First Nations said the buildup is threatening river health and access to fishing sites. "For us, this is not only about navigation or infrastructure, it is about our way of life," the Nation said in an email. "Without action, the silt buildup threatens, not just access to the river, but also the reasonable opportunity to fish, a right guaranteed under our Final Agreement." Now, the Tsawwassen First Nation and Canoe Pass Village residents alike are calling for the area to be dredged — but it's unclear who is actually responsible for dredging that particular channel of the Fraser River. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is responsible for dredging the main channel of the Fraser River, but told CBC News no single authority is responsible for the secondary channel, where Canoe Pass Village is located. Delta Mayor George Harvie said the port authority used to dredge the secondary channel, but since it stopped, no one has taken responsibility for taking care of it. Dufresne, who has lived in Canoe Pass Village for 12 years, said the channel hasn't been dredged since he's lived there. In an emailed statement to CBC News, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said "several organizations and levels of government" have met to discuss the issue "regularly." Harvie said Canoe Pass Village is trying to get emergency dredging done under their float homes, but the community is waiting for a permit. Residents could try having the channel dredged without a permit, but they could face hefty fines, Harvie added. He suggested annual dredging would cost about $3 million per year. Harvie said he, along with Richmond's mayor and local First Nations, sent a letter to the federal government explaining the situation and dire need for support, but they never heard back. "It's $3 million," Harvie said. "It affects public safety, affects people's jobs. I don't understand why they just won't take action on it."
CBC
8 hours ago
- Health
- CBC
Meet Cheech: this Sturgeon Lake healing guide turned from a life of drugs to plant medicine
Social Sharing CBC's virtual road trip series Land of Living Stories explores the hidden gems across Saskatchewan. Reporter Janani Whitfield hit the road to Sturgeon Lake First Nation in search of inspiring stories of community spirit. This is the first of a two-part series from that community. Step inside Sturgeon Lake First Nation's healing lodge, and the smell of drying plants fills the air. Elsewhere in the province, fires rage and smoke fills the sky, but this morning, all is clear and peaceful here in this First Nation that sits on the shores of Sturgeon Lake, surrounded by towering trees. Through the course of the morning, Darren Turner — known to locals as Cheech and the reserve's pharmacist — gets a wave of requests from people looking for his help to find a similar peace within themselves. Want to get rid of heartburn? There's a traditional medicine for that. Want to get rid of negative energy? He hands a man some diamond willow and tells him to burn it in his house. As a respected guide to healing, people seeing Turner now would never know he's had to fight his own inner demons. "I want to be part of helping people because people helped me through my addictions and helped me through my trauma that I went through," he said. Turner is focused on how to support the health of the people in his nation. It's top-most in his mind and the mind of Willie Ermine, the nation's traditional health co-ordinator. Their work isn't surface level. It's at the very heart of the earth and land they live on. Here on their land, they say they can find 90 per cent of the traditional medicines they need to treat any ailment. "I tell people our Cree culture here in the community is like a bag of treasures, and we're not using these treasures," said Ermine. "The more you dig into our treasure bag, the more you uncover all these beautiful things that we have, but we have to grow them." Ermine notes ancestors of Sturgeon Lake First Nation have lived in this area for thousands of years, with Indigenous knowledge keeping their people healthy and alive for centuries. It's Ermine's mission in life to share this knowledge with others, particularly young people. "This is an opportunity to keep showing them, to keep hammering away at this image that we can be a healthy community without alcohol, without drugs. But it needs community cohesion," he said. From violence to medicine It was turning to the land and its medicines that gave Turner his own purpose. Growing up, life was harsh for him growing up in a home where both his parents dealt with addictions and trauma from having lived through residential schools. "I grew up seeing violence, I grew up seeing alcoholism," he said, adding he started drinking at the age of seven or eight. "We didn't have no role models." By the time he was 16, he described himself as "a full-blown junkie." But after 15 years of living that life, he'd seen too many of his friends die, and he was also hospitalized for IV treatment. Then his father got sick. "I kind of grew up not liking my dad because of [him] just not being a good role model to me," he said, adding that when his father got sick, it reminded him of the times when his father had been caring toward him. "When I told him I wanted to quit my addictions, he encouraged me," he said, adding it was the first time in a long time that he listened to what his father had to say. "I said, 'OK, I'll try it.' So we kind of made a bet and then about two weeks later he passed away." That led to Turner seeking methadone treatment and counselling, and a spiritual awakening within himself. When someone recommended he attend a medicine camp in Manitoba, he took the opportunity, which led to four years of learning traditional medicines. As someone living with Hepatitis C, he said he could see the benefit himself when guides showed him the uses of dandelion root to cleanse his liver. He felt clearer in his own mind and once-sluggish body after following their teachings. "It's not just taking the dandelion, just like going with it, but at the same time, going along with that medicine too, taking care of yourself … having a good mind." He and others in this nation just wrapped up an annual trip to the mountains, inviting others to come with them to harvest some of the medicines that can't be found in the local region. These harvested medicines will be shared freely, with Turner only asking for an offering of tobacco or cloth in return. He only hopes to live a good life, and help others do the same. "Most of the times it was pretty negative when I was growing up, and now I have a grandson," he said. "I wanna hug him, I wanna kiss him, you know, things like that … I wanna be around for a long time for me to show them something good." He believes it's his turn to show others unconditional love and support, part of a domino effect for others to become part of a healthier community.
Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Time for re-election, or for a re-evaluation?
Opinion His worship, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, has committed to seeking another term in office. One of his top priorities is the completion of the upgrade for the North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC), which is crucial if Winnipeg wants to increase housing stock. The plant is 88 years old and has reached capacity, so there is a sense of urgency. Getting this monkey off of city hall's back will entail the benevolence of the province and federal government who ironically have charged the city for last February's gigantic sewage spill at the Abinojii bridge. Concurrently, all three levels of government are also in court fighting a $4.8-billion lawsuit by 11 First Nation communities over its role in the pollution of Lake Winnipeg. Winnipeg's sewer infrastructure is an absolute mess and, if elected, the mayor will be spending his next term stickhandling around lawsuits, environmental arraignments and the implementation of a woefully inadequate sewer master plan. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham plans to run for re-election to finish a series of major projects. During his first term, he was obliged to raise taxes substantially to accommodate infrastructure that had been neglected for decades. His campaign promise of a 3.5 per cent increase soon became 5.95 per cent, and in addition, increases in garbage and sewer rates were levied. As a result, the average sample home will see a tax hike of close to $400/year. We're playing catch up for all those years of tax breaks and are now facing the real costs of flushing toilets and picking up garbage, which will continue to rise. Homeowners should expect to pay for city amenities especially since their properties are increasing in value by leaps and bounds. The real costs of essential services must also be shared with any new or infill construction, Winnipeg is experiencing an infill housing boom thanks to a federal housing initiative which puts pressure on communities still dependent on combined sewers. According to the city's master plan it may take until 2095 to get even close to significantly reducing releases. Citizens are fed up with the pollution of our rivers and lakes and it will take some innovative strategies to overcome what has reached epic proportions in cost overruns and lengthy deferrals. There are two major elephants sitting in the council chambers — an outdated sewage treatment plant and sewers that combine household waste with storm drain flows. With very few exceptions, government contracts far exceed their estimated costs and it is with some relief that a consultant has been hired by city hall to review the treatment plant project in search of efficiencies. In 2015 the estimated cost for revamping the NEWPCC was $795 million, it has now ballooned to $3 billion. This review will cost $180,000 but hopefully will meet Mynarski Coun. Ross Eadie's expectations that upgrades will come in under budget, but we shouldn't be holding our breath. There are very few companies willing to take on such a massive undertaking, so awarding the contract under the consultant's fiscal constraints by mid-September may be unrealistic, kicking the project further down the road. Although Winnipeg homeowners are being called upon to pay the piper, the city must also ensure that a levy on new developments include realistic costs for city services. Gillingham has an obligation to ensure projects are brought on in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Council must also recognize that status quo for sewer infrastructure planning is not robust enough to deal with the anomalies of climate change. The department of waste and water will have to revise the master plan for combined sewers slated for review by the province in 2030. In order to make changes to the plan's timeline, Gillingham will be required to arrive cap in hand at the doors of both federal and provincial ministers to desperately procure infrastructure capital. Seeking re-election, the mayor would be wise to summon his departments to review their own efficiencies and accountability and make them public, especially since he is asking for such substantial increases in taxes. It is virtually impossible to interview representatives from the waste and water department or get a full account of what went wrong when 230 million litres of sewage was spilled in to the Red River 17 months ago. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. Transparency would make the tax bill a little easier pill to swallow. The mayor needs to get ahead of these chronic problems at city hall. His promise from last year to avoid diluted sewage from going into the river rings hollow. His belief that the city is doing as much as it can doesn't seem to be reducing the billions of litres of raw sewage entering our rivers each year. Contrary to the Gillingham's belief, there's much more to be done to clean our rivers. Is this the mayor to see it through? Dave Taylor has drawn attention to the pollution of rivers in Manitoba for several decades and is a regular contributor to the Free Press. Visit his blog at
