Government of Canada Supports Establishment of First Nations Community Weather Station

ESKASONI, NS, Nov. 29, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Canada and Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Canada's Environment Minister, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, today announced the official opening of a partner weather station in Eskasoni First Nation, Nova Scotia, with more than $70,000 of in-kind support from Environment Canada.

"Our Government is committed to ensuring all Canadians have access to reliable and timely weather information in order to keep them informed and safe," said Minister MacKay. "This weather station also indicates our efforts to ensure weather monitoring infrastructure offers access to world-class weather, water and climate monitoring data."

The Meteorological Service of Canada has worked with Eskasoni, the largest Mi'kmaq community, located on Cape Breton Island, in Nova Scotia, to install a state-of-the-art weather station. This is the first station along Cape Breton Island's Bras d'Or Lake. All of the data collected at this site is transmitted to Environment Canada and used to predict daily weather and monitor climate trends.

"The community appreciates Environment Canada's support in establishing this weather station," said Leroy Denny, Chief of Eskasoni. "It will help Eskasoni residents to safely plan their daily activities and is also part of a new youth education program about meteorology."

Weather.gc.ca offers up-to-the-minute information on current weather conditions, forecasts, and warnings for over 800 locations across Canada, 24/7.

Know your weather, plan your day; visit weather.gc.ca.

                                                             

SOURCE: Environment Canada

Jennifer Kennedy
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008

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(Également offert en français)