WHO: Maude Barlow, water expert and National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, and Ben Gotschall, Energy Director of Bold Nebraska, alongside Chief Fawn Wapioke of Iskatewizaagegan (Shoal Lake 39) and Chief Erwin Redsky of Shoal Lake 40.
WHAT: Photo and interview opportunity on the shores of Shoal Lake prior to Barlow and Gotschall crossing the ice to visit Shoal Lake 40.
WHERE: Landing on the shores of Shoal Lake at the end of Shoal Lake Road, following Hwy 673. See attached map.
WHEN: Sunday, April 12, 1pm.
WHY: Barlow and Gotschall are visiting the First Nation communities to discuss concerns with TransCanada’s proposed Energy East pipeline that traverses the Shoal Lake watershed and their territories. This includes running alongside Falcon Lake and High Lake, which flows into Shoal Lake, and could be contaminated by a pipeline rupture in the area. Shoal Lake is also the source of Winnipeg’s drinking water.
The risks presented by a pipeline spill add to the very serious implications of Winnipeg’s drinking water supply. The needed aqueduct has left Shoal Lake 40 members on a man-made island forced to traverse dangerous ice roads.
DETAILS: Maude Barlow and Ben Gotschall are in the area as part of a tour presenting key information on Energy East in a series of public forums, site visits and meetings. This includes information on the risks to waterways and farms of a diluted bitumen spill, TransCanada’s questionable pipeline safety record, the pipeline’s effect on tar sands expansion, and experiences opposing TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline.
INFORMATION: Andrea Harden, 613-793-5488
