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Nipigon Bay successfully restored after 40 years of federal & provincial cleanup

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The governments of Ontario and Canada are celebrating the restoration of Nipigon Bay and its removal from the list of most polluted locations in the Great Lakes.

After 40 years of cleanup work, the province says water quality has improved, fish populations are revitalized and habitats for fish and wildlife have been restored.

“Returning Nipigon Bay in northern Ontario to a vibrant, healthy ecosystem is a major victory made possible through the dedicated efforts of our two governments, along with the many Great Lakes partners and local residents who supported this conservation work,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Located on the north shore of Lake Superior, Nipigon Bay is home to the neighbouring communities of Nipigon and Red Rock.

Nipigon Bay was designated an Area of Concern in 1987 due to environmental damage caused by hydroelectric development along the Nipigon River, effluent from the former Red Rock pulp and paper mill, and municipal wastewater discharges.

Its removal from the Great Lakes Areas of Concern list confirms that the bay’s affected ecosystems have been restored and water quality has significantly improved.

“Today is a great day for Nipigon Bay, the Great Lakes, and freshwater in Canada. The delisting of Nipigon Bay as an Area of Concern reflects decades of dedicated work by our government and partners to restore water quality, habitats, and ecosystem health,” said the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature and Minister responsible for the Canada Water Agency.

According to a press release from the government of Ontario, restoration work included:

  • Upgraded wastewater treatment, with secondary treatment facilities brought online in the Township of Nipigon and in the Township of Red Rock
  • Stronger industry standards, with changes made to align with stricter federal and provincial pulp and paper regulations, leading to improved water quality
  • Restored aquatic habitat, including former wetlands and historic spawning grounds in the lower Nipigon River, improving natural river flow, rehabilitating creeks and rivers to repair severely degraded brook trout habitat, and creating fish and wildlife habitat in the Township of Red Rock’s marina

Since the late 1980s, Ontario has invested nearly $25.5 million, including more than $17 million since 2018, to restore the Nipigon Bay Area of Concern. The province says the achievement reflects decades of work by federal, provincial, local and Indigenous partners, as well as community organizations and residents, including Red Rock Indian Band, the Township of Nipigon, residents from Red Rock and Nipigon, Lakehead University, Nipigon Historical Museum,

“For decades, people across the Nipigon region have been committed to restoring this important ecosystem, and we are now seeing the results in cleaner water, healthier fish populations and revitalized habitat. I’m proud to celebrate this milestone and the lasting benefits it will bring to the lands, waters and communities of Northwestern Ontario for generations to come,” said Kevin Holland, MPP Thunder Bay—Atikokan.

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Nova Scotia Health warns of dangers posed by blue-green algae

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Nova Scotia Health is reminding swimmers about the dangers of algae blooms.

Blue-green algae can pose a health risk to people, including an increased risk to children, and can be fatal to pets when ingested.

The algae is naturally occurring and can be found in freshwater bodies of water like lakes and rivers. According to Nova Scotia Health, blooms are more likely to occur during warmer weather and can happen with greater intensity.

Nine algae blooms and mats were reported in July alone. 

The provincial government has installed QR codes outside many provincial parks and beaches that lead to information about water safety and symptoms of algae sickness.

Swimming in blue-green algae can cause rashes, and itchy eyes and skin. More severe symptoms like nausea, vomiting and fever are possible by ingesting or inhaling contaminated water.

Tips from Nova Scotia Health include:

• Pay attention to Blue-Green Algae Alerts for freshwater lakes, especially in warmer weather. 

• Do not swim in or swallow water where blue-green algae is present. 

• If you come in contact with blue-green algae, wash yourself and any items that came in contact with it. Seek medical attention if you feel sick afterward.  

• If your pet swallows water with blue-green algae, contact a vet immediately.

To report outbreaks of blue-green algae, contact your local Department of Environment and Climate Change office or call Compliance and Enforcement at 1-877-936-8476.

Carleton County Courthouse

Two companies charged in massive fuel leak

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By Judy Cole, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, River Valley Sun

Two companies have been charged with violating environmental laws following a massive fuel leak at a local gas station on the Beardsley Road near Woodstock.

Irving Oil Limited and Grant Enterprises (1984) Ltd. have each been charged under the Clean Environment Act with failing to immediately report a leak of a petroleum product and releasing a contaminant into the environment between Aug. 1, 2024, and Dec. 13, 2024. The two offences carry a potential fine of up to $1 million.

Lawyer Matthew Hayes, K.C., from McInnes Cooper, represented both businesses in Woodstock Provincial Court on July 28. The companies return to court for plea on Sept. 15 at 1:30 p.m. Crown Prosecutor in the case is Patrick Wilbur, and Tuesday’s proceedings were heard by Judge Rose Campbell.

The charges related to a massive diesel fuel leak that took place over time from a fuel storage system at the Beardsley Road Irving. Since the leak was discovered in December 2024, more than 180,000 litres of diesel were recovered from the soil around the gas station.

clean up

Scotian Shores in need of storage to support beach cleanups

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A group dedicated to cleaning up Nova Scotia’s oceans and beaches is in need of urgent help.

Scotian Shores is looking for storage space in Kings and Annapolis Counties. 

According to the group’s website, they’ve cleaned up more than 1.8 million pounds of debris since 2020. Project Manager Angela Riley said these decentralized storage spaces give them the ability to sort debris before taking it to the appropriate place for recycling.

“A big thing that we really focus on is the diversion of the materials, we don’t want to just pick it up and throw it in the landfill because that’s definitely not the answer to this,” said Riley. “We can recycle quite a bit, but in order to do it and to make it so that we’re not creating this huge carbon footprint by making a million tiny little trips we stockpile it… then we take time to have it sorted so it can be recycled.”

The group has storage spaces in Yarmouth County, Digby County, Barrington and Shelburne, but their current location in Kings County was donated by a member of the community, and is now going to be repurposed and developed.

Riley said that the local community would be the one to feel the biggest impact of losing that space.

“It’s good for the local people who are cleaning because there’s a lot of people out there that are doing beach clean ups,” said Riley. “They need a place close by where they can bring the debris and get help with sorting… If we don’t have a place to take the literal metric tons of rope and plastic bins and the other debris, then yeah, it’s going to impact us.”

Riley said a gravel pad, semi secure yard space, or corner lot would be enough, but that covered storage like a barn would be ideal.

“I’ve made a lovely little wish list, but you know, beggars can’t be choosers,” said Riley.

To reach out to Scotian Shores about available space or for any inquiries, Riley said their email, scotianshores@gmail.com is best, but that they also answer on their website and on Facebook.

Great White Shark

More great whites ‘an absolute win’ says shark expert

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Great white sharks are being seen earlier in Atlantic Canada this year.

Typically, great whites migrate from warmer waters later in the summer and fall, but this year sharks have been popping up in early July.

In an interview with Acadia News, marine biologist Dr. Neil Hammerschlag said he thinks warmer waters and an abundance of sea life could be attracting the sharks.

“These sharks have mental maps, they remember,” said Hammerschlag. “They spend a little more time here, they wander up to Atlantic water and go ‘yeah, this is pretty good, I’m going to come back next year, maybe I’ll even come back a little earlier.'”

Currently, great white sharks are still considered an endangered species in Canada.

Hammerschlag has researched sharks across the planet, and written more than 150 scientific articles with thousands of citations. While doing research in South Africa, he saw first hand how a significant decrease in shark population could have negative effects on the local ecosystem, and believes the opposite could be happening in Atlantic Canada.

“I think it’s an absolute win, and I think this is a very good sign. You need healthy ecosystems to support great whites,” said Hammerschlag. “I think this is a great sign of a rebounding ecosystem, and I think it shows that Nova Scotia has a bounty that can support them from a food perspective, and that’s probably a sign of healthy oceans.”

Despite their fearsome nature, Hammerschlag said great white shark attacks are extremely rare, and that there’s been no fatal attacks on record in Atlantic Canada. He said movies like Jaws and a natural fear of the apex predator help contribute to the great white’s reputation.

“Actually, we’re not their natural prey item, we’re very fortunate we’re not on their menu,” said Hammerschlag. “If they wanted to, they could, and they don’t. I think that tells us something.”

According to the Canadian Shark Research Laboratory, the second largest great white shark ever recorded was caught off the coast of P.E.I in 1983, measuring 5.2 m (17.06 feet).

Hammerschlag said that although he still goes in the water and people shouldn’t be afraid to partake in “Canada’s ocean playground”, he does recommend being aware of the conditions that make a shark attack more likely.

Keeping an eye out for potential prey, like seals or an abundance of fish, avoiding swimming in deep waters at dusk or dawn and staying away from fisherman who might attract sharks with a struggling fish on the line are all habits Hammerschlag recommends to be “shark smart”.

“A lot of shark bites on people are just shark mistakes,” said Hammerschlag. “Why not reduce the chance of a shark making a mistake?”

His last piece of advice is to listen to your gut.

“A lot of people that have been bitten report having a weird feeling like, ‘I should get out of the water’,” said Hammerschlag. “And they ignored that gut feeling and got bitten. Its possible our subconscious knows something that our conscious doesn’t. I would just say listen to your inner voice.”

PROTECTED AREAS MAP 2026

N.S. government not on track to meet 2030 conservation target, advocates warn

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The Government of Nova Scotia committed to protecting 20 per cent of its lands and waters by 2030—a target set in law under the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act and reaffirmed in its 2023 protected areas strategy—but advocates warn the province is no longer on track as progress stalls, putting species, ecosystems, and communities at risk.

With just four years remaining until that deadline, concerns are growing about whether the province can meet its commitment.

James Gunvaldsen Klaassen, a lawyer with Ecojustice, says “that’s a legislative goal that they have set for themselves,” but momentum has slowed “to the point where it’s possible that we may not in fact meet that goal in the province,” noting the target is already lower than Canada’s broader environmental commitment.

Canada is also a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which commits governments to protecting ecosystems and species.

“There’s been a 73 per cent decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations across the globe, and in Canada, it is in a similar decline,” Klaassen explains. “These losses are avoidable with stewardship and with respect for nature.”

‘We are undermining our own existence by not protecting the species we share this world with’

Earlier this month, Klaassen stood alongside more than 50 environmental groups in Halifax to present their concerns, announcing a new interactive online map showing which areas are protected, which should be protected, and which are under threat.

“If there is not adequate space provided for endangered species, and for the many species that make up the ecosystems in Nova Scotia, we’re going to see even more dramatic declines than we’ve already seen,” urges Klaassen.

He says these spaces are often threatened by development “which is not always done in a way that fosters survival and the maintenance of these species.”

Klaassen says his work focuses on “protecting what we have and to advocate for stronger protection and laws.”

‘It’s pretty arrogant to say they don’t matter’

The piping plover, a small shorebird found mainly in the Maritimes and parts of Ontario, is an endangered species—and recently, Ecojustice celebrated the end of a two-year court battle over its protection.

“There’re only a few hundred breeding pairs in Atlantic Canada and if we don’t protect those remaining pairs we won’t have piping plovers. It’s an iconic species, it has every right to exist just as we do, and if we don’t allow for that it will be a massive tragedy,” says Klaassen.

Other species in Nova Scotia, including wild salmon and mainland moose, are also facing significant declines, and Klaassen worries some people are still not taking issues like this seriously.

“Our whole ecosystem is built on their existence and sharing of these systems with everybody else—all the other organisms that make up the biomass of Canada, of this world—and to suggest that they’re not important is pretty short-sighted, it’s pretty arrogant.”

Klaassen says humans are deeply connected to the natural world, and ignoring that reality comes at a cost.

“We are actually undermining our own existence by not protecting the species that we share this world with,” he says. “Our existence does not operate in isolation from everything else on this planet, and without them it would be a tragic loss.”

He adds that failing to meet the province’s protection target would not only break a promise to Nova Scotians, but could also put it at odds with its own legislation.

Environmental groups say they will continue pushing to protect Nova Scotia’s lands, waters, and species—but with 2030 quickly approaching, pressure is mounting on the province to meet the commitment it set for itself.

NEOLINER MEDIA KIT

‘Weird-looking’ cargo ship sparks curiosity in Halifax

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If you’re out-and-about in the downtown area, you may have noticed a strange-looking cargo ship docked in the Halifax harbour.

According to the Vessel Finder website, the Neoliner Origin arrived around 8 in the morning on Monday.

The vessel is operated by French shipping company Neoline, which says the ship is a hybrid design that relies primarily on wind power to travel. When needed — including while manoeuvring in port — it can also operate using a diesel-electric motor.

Neoline says the ship’s unique design allows it to use about 80 per cent less fuel than a conventional cargo vessel travelling at a similar speed.

While docked in the Bedford Basin, the ship’s large sails are lowered and its masts are tilted inward, forming an X-like shape on top of the vessel — a sight that has caught the attention of many harbour watchers.

white and blue clouds

New air pollution rules take effect in Nova Scotia

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Although it is allergy season, Nova Scotia is tackling other things that might bother your lungs.

New rules came into effect Monday for industrial air pollution.

It brings the number of regulated pollutants up from six to 26 and sets limits on the amount that industries can release. Industrial facilities such as power plants, manufacturing plants, mines and quarries are among the operations covered under the rules.

Robert MacDonald, the CEO of Lung-NS-PEI, says this is an important step in preventing lung disease.

“Reducing exposure to air pollution will help lower the risk of conditions like asthma and COPD, improve health outcomes, and help Nova Scotians breathe easier,” wrote MacDonald in a previous news release.

The change was originally tabled in the legislature in April and marks the first major overhaul in air quality rules since 1995.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman says the update is aimed at keeping environmental protections current while supporting economic growth.

“As Nova Scotia seeks new economic opportunities, this is another example of how we are maintaining strong and effective environmental regulatory oversight, and ensuring our regulations and policies are modern and clear,” said Minister Halman.

with files from Evan Taylor

body of water under blue sky

New nature reserve announced for Digby County

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The Nova Scotia government has announced a new nature reserve in Digby County as part of its plan to expand protected land and water across the province.

Premier Tim Houston made the announcement on Wednesday, confirming the designation of the Toy Makers Marsh Nature Reserve. The protected area includes wetlands, forest, and migratory bird habitat.

Together with two expanded nature reserves and seven expanded wilderness areas, the move protects a total of 836 hectares of land and water, along with 5.2 kilometres of coastline.

The province has also opened consultation on 13 proposed new or expanded protected areas. If approved, those sites would add nearly 2,000 more hectares. Some of the land was acquired with federal funding under the Canada–Nova Scotia Nature Agreement.

The effort is part of Nova Scotia’s broader goal to protect 20% of its land and water by 2030.

happy birthday cake with candles

Beloved naturalist Sir David Attenborough celebrates 100 years of life and legacy

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Sir David Attenborough, the beloved narrator behind some of the most iconic wildlife series ever produced, is celebrating his 100th birthday today — marking a century of life and a career that has profoundly shaped how millions understand the natural world.

If you’re a fan of nature documentaries, his voice is likely unmistakable.

The English broadcaster, writer, and naturalist has spent more than 70 years bringing the wonders of the planet into living rooms across the globe. He is best known for landmark productions such as Planet Earth and the groundbreaking Life series, a nine-part collection that transformed the way nature documentaries are filmed and told.

Throughout his career, Attenborough has not only showcased the beauty of Earth’s ecosystems but has also become a leading voice on environmental issues, helping to raise awareness about climate change and biodiversity loss.

Reports from around the world say colleagues, scientists, and fans are paying tribute on his milestone birthday, describing him as curious, compassionate, and deeply committed to protecting the planet.

Many credit him with inspiring generations to care more about the natural world and their place within it.

Attenborough says he’s “completely overwhelmed” by the outpouring of love he’s received, even having a new species named for him in honour of this milestone birthday.

After decades on screen, Attenborough’s legacy remains unmatched — his storytelling continuing to educate, inspire, and remind audiences of the fragile beauty of life on Earth.

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