Cold Lake community tackles environmental health

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A small concerned group of local government representatives and community members gathered in the reserve health center Feb. 6 to discuss environmental health concerns.

Initiated by councilor Mary Francois, who is in charge of health and social services, the two-hour meeting brought to light a long list of issues that the public should be made aware of.

The meeting closed with a list of recommendations to reduce environmental dangers.

"I'm hoping to get people aware about the environment. How to keep the area clean and healthy," said Francois.

"Our plant life is dying, our animal life is dying, birds...who is doing that?" she asked.

"We have no governing bodies that monitor the reserve water, air, ground water, lakes," she said.

Some concern centered on the effect of a large amount of oil and gas activity in the area and the noise from the nearby airbase. But many other concerns about environmental health pointed towards the community itself.

"Basically it has to start someplace," said Alberta Indian Health Care Commission Representative Jerome Yellowknee.

"What can you do as an individual? These issues here are not unsolvable. Some may be uncontrollable. Most are controllable by us right at the community level," said Public Safety Services Officer John Piche.

"We can deal with them, finalize them and get them solved."

Awareness of environmental health was one thing which was considered lacking in the fight towards improving the pollution situation.

The need for a local person or department to monitor environmental concerns and educate people was an immediate recommendation.

Some other plans voiced included the forming of an environmental health committee consisting of people who are concerned about the environment.

The group wants to solicit government officials and industry to gather information over their concerns and want to talk with local elders to discuss the issue of environmental health in the community.

"People are careless, they need to be taught," said Francois. "Education and awareness for a cleaner environment (is my goal)."

"People were concerned (about the environment) but none wanted to start it. As portfolio holder in health and social services, I wanted to see something done. We'll form a committee, look at the recommendation and bring the concerns to the local government and Medical Services Branch," she said.