Elliot Page’s $25,000 donation for a community well in Shelburne, N.S., has become a prolonged ordeal marked by delays and disputes, with the region still lacking access to clean water. The project, initiated seven years ago, has been marred by disagreements among various stakeholders, including the province, municipalities, a community college, and the South End Environmental Injustice Society (SEED).
Page, in an exclusive interview from New York City, expressed frustration over the project’s ongoing challenges, emphasizing the urgent need to provide clean water to a community facing significant obstacles. The proposed well’s location has been a point of contention, with accusations of racism further complicating the situation.
The documentary “There’s Something in the Water,” released in 2019 by Page, shed light on the history of environmental racism in Black and Indigenous communities in Nova Scotia, sparking his commitment to fund the well project. However, the allocation of Page’s donation and the project’s progress have faced setbacks, with only a portion of the funds utilized for well testing in 2023.
Efforts to move the project forward have been met with shifting plans and timelines, with the province allocating $170,000 in funding under the condition that the project is completed by November 2027. The complexities of the project have led to challenges in reaching a cooperative operating model, with municipal authorities and community groups navigating the intricate process.
Ingrid Waldron, a social justice scholar whose work inspired Page’s documentary, highlighted the resonance of addressing industrial pollution near marginalized communities, emphasizing the relevance of combating environmental racism. The urgency of the well project has been heightened by climate change impacts, with the community facing recurring drought conditions and water scarcity.
Despite the setbacks, Page remains committed to the cause and hinted at the possibility of a second documentary as the community continues to grapple with the prolonged delays in accessing clean water. The collaborative efforts of stakeholders and ongoing discussions aim to resolve the project impasse and provide a sustainable solution for Shelburne’s water needs.