The Council of Canadians Inverness County chapter will be at a water ceremony to honour Lake Ainslie on Nov. 29.
Lake Ainslie is the largest freshwater lake in Nova Scotia.
The chapter explains it “has requested a water ceremony to be held to honour Lake Ainslie and the sacredness of all our waters, on November 29th, the Global Day of Action on Climate Change. Pipe-carriers Jane Meader and Katy MacEwan from Membertou First Nation will be joined by others to conduct the ceremony, which is also a celebration of the successful efforts of the local Mi’kmaq and non-native community activists who loudly opposed the plans of Petroworth, an oil and gas exploration company, to conduct test drilling and fracking on the shores of Lake Ainslie, resulting in the company deciding not to drill here.”
In 2010, Petroworth had proposed to drill within the Lake Ainslie watershed area, which feeds a number of other rivers including the historic Margaree River and its salmon spawning grounds.
After stopping Petroworth in November 2012, the chapter worked with their municipal council to create and pass a by-law banning fracking in Inverness County in May 2013.
The chapter adds, “With this ceremony, we renew our commitment to Respect our Mother Earth and all our sacred waters, as we continue to work to transform our fossil fuel-based economy into one that is capable of respecting and sustaining all Life. The ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Trout Brook Provincial Park, 2535 Hwy. 395, the East Lake Ainslie Rd., which is a 15 min. drive from Whycocomagh, and a 30 min. drive from Inverness. All are welcome!”
For more, please see the chapter’s Facebook page here.
Further reading
Inverness chapter concerned about proposed oil well near Lake Ainslie (Sept. 9, 2010)
Petition to ban hydraulic fracturing in NS presented in Legislature (Nov. 18, 2010)
Inverness chapter condemns approval of oil/gas drilling by Lake Ainslie (Aug. 29, 2011)
Inverness chapter confronts NS environment minister on oil drilling by Lake Ainslie (Sept. 24, 2011)
Sunday causeway protests for Lake Ainslie (Nov. 20, 2011)
Inverness county council calls for environmental impact study of Lake Ainslie/Margaree watershed (Jan. 10, 2012 blog by Angela Giles)
Mi’kmaq and Council to gather near Lake Ainslie to oppose fracking (Sept. 21, 2012)
WIN! Petroworth loses its partner for oil & gas drilling by Lake Ainslie (Nov. 9, 2012)
WIN! Inverness County passes fracking ban (May 7, 2013)
