Cortes Radio: Recent Episodes
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Cortes Island was included in the third annual Oceanwise Conservation Association’s 2024 Whale Blitz, which included events all over the Vancouver coast, educating people on whale information and how to spot whales and report on their sightings. A booth hosted by the coordinator of the Oceanwise Conservation Association provided information on whales in our area and […]
A humpback whale was spotted with an entangled fishing line off the coast of Campbell River on June 28. Fishing industry waste makes up the “majority” of marine waste collected along the coasts and rural islands in the Comox Valley Strathcona Waste Management (CVSWM) Region, according to services coordinator Stephanie Vidal. Vidal recently took part in beach cleanup projects […]
The Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) has announced an expansion to the Playschool operation, introducing a Summer Program and full-time hours. The announcement was first made at the SCCA AGM on June 15. The summer session will begin the week of July 8. Funding for the expansion is coming through the Cortes Island Community Foundation with […]
Sam Tudor, a recording artist based in Vancouver, is currently touring across BC to showcase their newly released EP and recently have included a show on Cortes Island as part of the tour. Tudor, a self-taught musician and recording artist, has been recording and releasing music since 2014. This upcoming show at Manson’s Hall on […]
Quadra Island RCMP are seeking the public’s help to find a vessel that was stolen from Whaletown, Cortes Island. Police were informed on June 11 that a grey 2022 Kingfisher 2725 Weekender with twin Yamaha 150 Hp outboards was stolen from a dock in the 900 block of Thunder Rd. “As much as it is […]
The Gorge Harbour Marina and the Gorge Hall have both booked Roots Round Up this weekend for two shows. The prolific Vancouver based band haven’t played Cortes since before the COVID-19 pandemic and have never played back-to-back shows on the island. Originally formed in 1985 in a small apartment in East Vancouver, Roots Roundup became […]
The Ministry of Education and Childcare announced earlier this month that the Cortes Island School would be awarded $195,000 in funding to build a new, more accessible playground. The funding comes from the Playground Equipment Program. Serene Watson, parent and member of the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), said the announcement has been “well received” in the […]
The Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) held their annual general meeting on June 15 and officially welcomed their new Executive Director Cora Moret. Moret began as a board member, evolving into facility manager, and then in April, she was appointed the executive director. Moret shared the current highlights and upcoming events happening at Mansons Hall […]
The Village Commons construction project aims to have its new structures operational by end of October, says General Contractor Richard Andrews. In January, the Village Commons title was transferred from CCEDA to the Cortes Island Community Foundation. The CICF set out to develop the land for community usage with a variety of grants. The current […]
For the first time on Cortes Island, there are four different regular music programs offering entertainment in one summer. Jemma Hicken has created a community music calendar to keep all the programming organized in one place, for both organizers and community members to benefit from. The Gorge Marina is bringing back its five-nights-a-week free music. The Cortes […]
The Whaletown Community Club (WCC) is hosting Pride events this weekend and, for the first time on Cortes, the Sweeth Tooth Burlesque Revue will be part of the lineup. Connie Quayle, one of the organizers, shared a bit about the performance troupe that will be featured from Nanaimo. “Four performers doing a bit of drag, […]
A local to Cortes is returning to the island to complete their Masters thesis on the health and wellbeing of the community. Kiera Tsakonas, an M.Sc Candidate in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, seeks to understand how the welfare on Cortes Island is impacted by climate events and the community responses […]
This summer, the Quadra to Cortes ferry route, Route 24, will see an additional sailing to help with traffic flow. The new schedule hopes to “minimize possible sailing delays and provide better break coverage for our crews”, according to the BC ferries service notice posted on Wednesday, June 12, that also included the new schedule. The new […]
The Cortes Island Community Foundation (CICF) has initiated a new project called “Vital Signs 2024” in order to discover the metrics of the small rural community. On June 7, CICF released a survey asking questions to islanders about assets and gaps in the community. Manda Aufochs Gillespie, executive director of CICF, explained that it is […]
The Cortes Island Community Foundation (CICF) has been awarded $105,000 dollars to distribute as part of the Community Prosperity Fund, a BC government fund intended to support the non-profit sector. The CICF aims to use the funds for “poverty reduction and social inclusion on Cortes Island,” says Andrea Fisher, operations manager for the foundation. “We’re hearing […]
A local association is engaging the community on rural transportation on Cortes Island this summer. The Cortes Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA) has been working on their “Cortes/Quadra Community Passenger Transportation Solutions” project and consulting the Cortes community on what passenger transport solutions they would want and use. Kate Maddigan, economic development officer for CCEDA, […]
Dayna Davis will retire on June 28 after 33 years of school teaching and the community is celebrating the local instructor’s legacy this week. Davis got her start teaching on Quadra Island in 1985 at the Waldorf School, emphasizing that learning is constant, entrenched in community, and the arts are “woven” throughout. “I’m a lifelong learner and […]
Due to an increase in waste produced in the summer, lack of priority sailing for waste management vehicles and a new BC Ferries policy banning tandem trailer trucks on Cortes Island ferries, Waste Management Operations Manager Aaron McCullough has issued a safety warning for anyone visiting the Waste Management Center. “We’re going to have trucks exchanging bins […]
After years going hungry while waiting for ferry overloads at the Whaletown BC Ferry Terminal, travelers will finally have access to a snack as Sunflower Foods opens their truck on Byer’s Point Road. Historically, the location of the new snack stop was a cafe that served people waiting for the ferry, but that establishment has […]
The Old School House Art Gallery is changing their traditional gallery schedule this year, opening with the Member’s Show in June, instead of closing the season with the wide-participation exhibit. New board member Christann Kennedy shared the news with CKTZ. In past years, the Members Show has been the culmination of the entire season’s efforts, […]
The local fire department is preparing for the upcoming wildfire season by bolstering their wildfire brigade by training more firefighters. “It’s a fairly small all time commitment compared to the regular department,” Fire Chief Eli McKenty said. “And it means in the case of a wildfire, we would have a reserve force of extra wildland […]
“Politics and the Polycrisis” was an event hosted at the Klahoose Multi-Purpose building on May 17. The organizer for the event, alternative Regional Director Max Thaysen, explained what poly crisis means. “The poly crisis is a term to try to capture the fact that we have a lot of really challenging crises that are interlinked.” Thaysen has […]
The local fire department is preparing for the upcoming wildfire season by bolstering their wildfire brigade by training more firefighters. “It’s a fairly small all time commitment compared to the regular department,” Fire Chief Eli McKenty said. “And it means in the case of a wildfire, we would have a reserve force of extra wildland […]
Christann Kennedy is a professional artist and educator that has begun hosting a regular life drawing class on Saturday afternoons in the spring and summer on Cortes Island. She had her first substantial turnout of students on May 18. “Drawing a model is something that is hard to arrange individually. So it’s a great community […]
Dylan Stone, a musician in The Unfaithful Servants band, is bringing his “brainchild” to life this month by launching a Gulf Island tour. Stone came up with the idea after experiencing the logistical challenges of touring British Columbia and wanting to explore the places he has become sentimentally attached to over the years. “I get out […]
The Gorge Harbour Marina Resort has begun reopening facilities and operations after a year of renovations and new leadership. Marco Beditti, general manager of the marina, noted all the upgrades to the grounds of the resort, as well as the traditions that will remain. Decisions were made in order to keep the resort safe and […]
The Cortes Housing Society (CHS) has applied for BC Housing’s community housing funds three times over the past six years and was recently denied again. The non-profit confirmed in an email April 29: “We did not get the grant from BC Housing to build out our 24 units on Rainbow Ridge. We are however pleased that they have awarded […]
Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) is partnering with Klahoose Shellfish Limited and the Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) to conduct a first ever, island-wide beach cleanup during May. Last year, FOCI collected two truckloads worth of waste from one beach. Organizers say the collaboration will help the island to increase their capacity for the cleanup […]
Marco Bedetti, the new general manager for Qathen Xwegus (QXMC), says he’s hoping to create more sustainable tourism on Cortes Island. QXMC is the community economic corporation for the Klahoose First Nation and a large part of their portfolio is tourism businesses including the Klahoose Wilderness Resort, The Gorge Harbour Marina, and a new quirrel Cove […]
A dog control bylaw will not be implemented on Cortes Island after 221 residents filed a form in opposition through the alternative approval process (AAP). The outcome was announced at the most recent Strathcona Regional District meeting on April 24. “This is the end of quite a big process…221 people voted-wrote in against the service, […]
The Cortes Museum and Archives Society debuted their 2024 exhibit on Sunday “From the Ground Up”. The exhibit explores the unique ways the island has built community and homes, frequently moving and re-using entire buildings. Monika Hoffman and Melanie Boyle co-curated the exhibit and collaborated with the Cortes Housing Society. “The museum itself is part of […]
One of the most invasive species in the world, the European Green Crab, was found for the first time on Cortes Island last Thursday, April 25. Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI), Klahoose Fisheries, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have been collaborating on a monitoring project on Cortes in anticipation of a possible spread of the […]
Cortes businesses are largely made up of “solopreneurs,” says business mentor, Tammy Collingwood. She has been hired by the Cortes Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA) to boost local economic well being. Collingwood explains what the term “solopreneurs” means. “What I like to refer to as the ‘solopreneur’…to make a business through self employment … you’re […]
When Michael Datura became the new principal for Cortes Island School, one of his main mandates was to make the school more “community-oriented” and welcoming. With a new volunteer-led science program, extra-curricular lunch program, and plans for a public science fair, the principal believes his goals are in sight as the school-year approaches its last month […]
This summer, the Canada Summer Jobs wage subsidy helped two local students return home for the season. Affordable housing, the draw to visit home, and learning opportunities motivated Lily Allen and Manuel Perdisa to apply for local jobs that were subsidized by the summer student program. The students reflected on the experience with CKTZ as […]
As everyone who knows him knows, Rick gives so much to the Cortes Community, to the Reiki Community, and to his family and friends near and far. We’ve probably all seen him on stage at Love Fest, a lip sync, benefits for island organizations, a square dance, a gig, and more often than not, making […]
For the first time in its 40 year history, Hollyhock will publicly serve liquor with their dinner service. Peter Wrinch, CEO of Hollyhock, explained the intention behind the new limited liquor license, “I think that what we’re trying to do is create …a level playing field for folks so that we don’t have to say, […]
Max Thaysen, a local environmentalist, was recently elected to the Executive Committee of the North Island NDP Electoral District Association in July. This was a decision he made after spending the past ten years “hiding in my cabin fretting” about climate change. “I think our democracy muscles have atrophied … we’ve lost the skills to […]
Cortes Island’s Manson’s Hall will be host to a live production of “The Great Simplification” podcast this Monday evening for the first time. “The Great Simplification” is the #1 earth science podcast on Apple podcasts in Canada, the United States and other countries. The podcast has been producing episodes since early 2021. Guests are from […]
Michael Datura will be joining the Cortes Island School this year as the new principal. Datura has 14 years of experience in outdoor learning, social justice, and imaginative education and says Cortes is his ‘favorite place on earth.’” He adds that he’s community-focused and has a mission. “One of my goals and mandates is to […]
An avid student of Jamaican Island Reggae will be featured at the Gorge Hall for the first time this weekend. Gisto and the Grateful Living have a special connection to the genre, offering a spirit of music specific to island culture. Gisto, the band’s leader and songwriter, explains what makes his band’s delivery so appropriate […]
Locals Connie Brill and Colin Funk are spearheading a resurgence of improv theater on Cortes Island. They have begun hosting all-ages sessions on Friday evenings at Mansons Hall and they are calling it “Rewild Theatre.” The sessions began back in June as a test drive of timing and interest. The duo originally began offering improv […]
The Cortes Island Fire Department is creating a new Wildfire Brigade to serve the community. It’s function will be to support the department during major wildfire events with Wildland firefighting, structural protection, and support tasks. In a deployment, Wildland members will work in teams supervised by existing department officers or team leaders. “We had a […]
An an award-winning filmmaker is teaching Cortes youth about being in front or behind the camera this summer. Jennifer Pickford is offering youth acting and filmmaking camps at Mansons Hall through the Summer Youth Recreational Program. The program runs this week and the week of August 14th. The Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) annually offers a […]
Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) is in the midst of developing a new 10 year plan. The second and current step in that development is community outreach. Community Educator for CSWM Lindsay Eason was on the ground on July 23 at the Cortes Waste Management Center to speak with locals about the new framework. Eason […]
The Cortes Skate Park will host the first Skate Jam event in 20 years this weekend. Organizer Lucy Diver and locals like Bubba Christmas are joining forces to bring back the community gathering, adding that they are, “really enthusiastic about trying to host some sort of event at the skate park and just bring some […]
A wood artist that transforms deadfall arbutus wood into sculpture will be revealing works next month that have been hidden away from the public eye since their creation. Ron Bazar works the forest fodder into kitchen utensils, letter openers and other products that he is known for and sells at the Friday Markets on Cortes […]
This weekend marks 25 years of the community-driven disc golf tournament “Dawg Dayz.” Brent Howieson and Liz Richardson moved to Linnaea Farm on Cortes 36 years ago, marking the beginning of disc golf traditions on the farm. Howieson brought the love of the sport from his previous time on Pender Island, which holds the largest […]
Howie Roman, the first official hall manager for the Gorge Hall, is retiring after 12 years at his post. The Gorge Hall is a 90-year-old building operated by the Whaletown Community Club (WCC). The hall serves as a gathering place for locals to engage in holiday celebrations, weekly programming, community dances and other events. Since […]
A local couple is bringing the art form of the bard to Cortes this summer. Otis Bell and Rue McDonald will be spearheading an extensive series of bard classes for kids hosted through the SCCA’s Summer Youth Recreation Program. The classes are being offered as a weekly gathering and will continue through the summer. Bell […]
Local environmental group Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) is relaunching the rideshare initiative Room for Rider post-pandemic. This hang tag on a vehicle indicates the driver has space for an on-foot passenger connecting between the ferry terminals on Quadra. Through the program, local drivers hang a bold red and blue tag on their vehicle when they […]
An opening ceremony was held at the Village Commons to open a new trail system as a part of the Rainbow Ridge Affordable Housing development. The trail system is now open to the public, and creates direct connectivity for travelers on several existing trail systems. The network is designed for humans, dogs, and even horses. […]
The Whaletown Community Club (WCC) is hosting an unprecedented amount of entertainment over the next month. Most notably, a traveling comedic act called the “Myrtle Sisters Review” will be featured soon. There hasn’t been a touring comedic act at the Gorge Hall in an estimated 10 years, according to Howie Roman, longtime hall manager. Shaun […]
Lovefest, the annual music festival on Cortes, will feature major acts this year, with more regional and international artists in the lineup. The headliner Adonis Puentes, a Grammy and Juno nominated Cuban-Canadian artist, is new to Cortes. Marianne Grittani is included in the lineup, along with Josephine Simpson and Healther Wolf. A local, regional favorite […]
With many BC residents seeking affordable housing, the provincial government unveiled a new housing plan this spring. On Cortes Island, locals have been using different living options including building tiny homes. Local tiny home owner and dweller Julian Nelson built their home for approximately $40,000, offering a comfortable living space at a more affordable price […]
This year’s harvest is looking promising compared to last year’s on Cortes Island, according to a local farmer. In 2022, throughout the region, some local farmers reported that fraction of their average fruit got pollinated. “It’s a much easier year compared to last year,” said Sara Stewart, a Cortes Island farmer. “It was so wet […]
Local pop artist Sachika has put together new live music programming to run all summer in the courtyard of the Cortes Natural Food Coop. Beginning July 1, there will be free entertainment at the bandshell every Saturday night put on by the new group, Cortes Music Collective. The Gorge Harbour Marina provided free live music […]
CKTZ held a roundtable chat with Regional Director Mark Vonesch and MLA for North Island Michele Babchuk. This is part two of that discussion, focused on mental health funding. During her visit to Cortes Island this spring, MLA for North Island Michele Babchuk shared that the provincial government was making a new record budget investment […]
” Good afternoon. I’m Doug Butt. Welcome to Allegro. “ Doug Butt launched Cortes Radio’s classical musical show Allegro. In honour of Doug’s passing we’ve made available some of his recordings. Enjoy.
CKTZ had a roundtable chat with SRD Regional Director Mark Vonesch and MLA for North Island Michele Babchuk. This is part one of that discussion. After becoming the regional director for Cortes Island last fall, Mark Vonesch said he made it his first priority to create an annual revenue stream for affordable housing on the […]
BC composer Wylie Ferguson showcased a new composition with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) this spring. Ferguson’s nearly six minute piece is titled “Broken Earth” and the VSO played his composition on May 30. The 30-year-old composer is very pleased with how it turned out; he describes the composition as “monster music, like something out […]
Local dance collective Dance Temple Cortes is marking its one year anniversary and growing its events on the island. Previously, the group hosted dances sporadically, but this summer, the collective is running bi-weekly events. The dance collective was founded by Connie Quayle and Val Lange, holding their first event in August 2022. They later garnered […]
Since the Floathouse was closed at the Gorge Marina, Hollyhock kitchen just opened for the season as the only dinner dining service on the island. Despite their lone status, they will continue to run for less than six months a year, and are limited by their style of kitchen service. Hollyhock kitchen is a part of […]
The “Thursday Afternoon Art Collective,” a newly-established group of eight female artists, is kicking off the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery season this weekend. Their show “Between Heaven and Earth” represents what the collective has been focused on since they began meeting last November. Lisa Gibbons is a long time local artist on Cortes. Due to […]
Sunflower Foods, a local food company, launched a Pay It Forward program this winter as a way to donate healthy pre-made meals to the food bank. “We wanted to find a way to provide food for people who couldn’t afford it, who were on disability, who did need some sort of subsidy. At first we […]
Cortes Island Death Caring Collective is looking to expand its services and hire a staff member as the local island’s population ages. Collective Co-founder Margaret Verschuur says that more community members are needing help to navigate the myriad of health care options available for addressing physical or mental health needs, or both. She adds that […]
Editor’s Note: Greg Osoba is a CKTZ News contributor. A local band is hosting a free show to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Six Foot Johnson — a band including Garden Stein on drums and vocals, Danfver Johnson on harmonica, rhythm guitar and vocals, Dave Murray on lead guitar, and Greg Osoba on bass and vocals […]
This is the third part of a CKTZ News series about Living Wages. To hear about the increase in living wages in the region, click here, and how other local industries are adapting, click here. The Squirrel Cove General Store is one of four grocery stores on Cortes Island, and owner Kurt Cunningham says all […]
A multimedia artist residing on Cortes Island recently showcased “Jellyfish Bloom in the Forest” at a Laketown Ranch festival called “Lamplight” on May 20. Now, having just finished a fine arts program at North Island College, Laurena Fairbairn will be touring the “Jellyfish” installation at major BC music festivals this summer. The installation was originally […]
The Comox Strathcona Waste Management Centre on Vancouver Island is launching a new marine waste eco pick up service next week. Services Coordinator Stephanie Valdal says the centre will send trucks with large bins to communities to pick up marine waste that has been collected by individuals, community groups and First Nations. She adds that […]
The Comox Strathcona Waste Management Centre (CSWM) on Vancouver Island is launching a new marine waste eco pick up service next week. Services Coordinator Stephanie Valdal says the centre will send trucks with large bins to communities to pick up marine waste that has been collected by individuals, community groups and First Nations. She adds […]
This story was updated on May 24th to include a follow up comment from Mark Lombard. The Cortes Forestry General Partnership (CFGP) has started public consultation on their next five year plan. Due to the Klahoose First Nation’s (KFN) ongoing treaty negotiations, the partnership actions will be planned in a flexible, adaptive way, in case […]
The Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) pulled its bootstraps up last week and managed to give the Mansons Hall deck a facelift with a minimal custodial budget around $2,000. Despite having grant funding on the way, the association said there was an urgent need to provide more outdoor seating for Julie’s Cafe as the high […]
This is part of a series called Living Wages on Cortes, hearing from local employers and advocates about raising the minimum pay rate to a living wage. Listen to the first story about Hollyhock here. As inflation increases, so does the cost of living in both rural and urban areas. This year, the living wage […]
Elise Boulanger will return to Whaletown to share an evening of specially curated live classical arrangements for the local community. The musician attributes the Whaletown Ferry Terminal for the creation of her new song, “Rush.” Boulanger told CKTZ that she plans to perform the Cortes-inspired track at the Gorge Hall on May 13. “I was […]
Hollyhock Learning Center will be raising its starting wages from $17 to $18 this year as they open this spring for the 2023 season, yet fails to meet regional living wages. The current living wage for the Cortes Island area is around $20.26, according to Living Wage For Families BC. This announcement follows a news […]
Editor’s Note: Manda Aufochs-Gillespie is a programmer at CKTZ Radio. After consulting with community and establishing a presence, the Village Commons land in downtown Mansons Landing is gearing up for its next phase. The Cortes Island Community Foundation stewards the land and Executive Director Manda Aufochs-Gillespie says grants are in the works from the BC […]
The Whaletown Community Club (WCC) recently approved the expansion of the Parents and Tots program at the Gorge Hall from a seasonal program to a year-round one. The WCC has secured funding to allow the program to continue through the summer and into next fall and winter uninterrupted. Facilitator Serene Watson said the expansion process […]
After a decade-long hiatus, Seafest will return to the Squirrel Cove General Store grounds on Saturday, May 20th. Seafest is hosted by the Cortes Island Seafood Association (CISA). Originally called Oysterfest beginning in the 1990s, it hasn’t taken place in Squirrel Cove since 2013. The annual seafood saga is a regional cuisine sampler that has […]
The Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) has been expanding the Playschool at Mansons Hall over the past year and half, aiming to reach demand in the community for childcare needs. Hannah Schwartzentruber was hired to the Playschool back in January 2022. SCCA executive director Tammy Collingwood described the juggling of the playschool administrative tasks as […]
Editor’s Note: Kate Maddigan is an occasional CKTZ News contributor. Once again, the Cortes Natural Food Co-op is opening garden plots to residents to grow plants and crops when garden space on the island can be limited. Up to five garden plots are available in the Cortes Island Natural Food Co-op’s community garden, according to […]
Artist and activist Thomas Basil will be celebrating the planet on the Gorge Hall stage this Saturday for a musical Earth Day fundraiser. The beneficiaries for the Earth Day celebration are the Streamkeepers, a stream stewardship program run by the environmental group Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI), and the event will feature a number of […]
Over 70 people are involved in Theatre Quadra’s staging of Chicago, The Musical this spring, according to producer, director and choreographer Heidi Ridgeway. The play, described as a dark comedy, was adapted from its original 1926 production into a musical in 1975, Ridgeway says, by her favourite writer/choreographer Bob Fosse, who turned it into a Broadway […]
A new book will be launched at the Cortes Island Museum and Archives (CIMAS) annual general meeting May 6 called Sheltering in the Backrush: A History of Twin Islands. The stories peer into the world of the upper class through time as well as long-time traditional First Nations use. Many locals on Cortes contributed to […]
Earlier this month, as one of her first tasks in the the role, Project Manager for the Cortes Community Housing Society Suzanne Fletcher oversaw a trail upgrade and expansion as part of an affordable housing initiative. The project is being carried out by local contractors around the 51 acre property where the 24 unit affordable […]
The Quadra Legion will be hosting performances featuring Cortes musicians Mike Desj and the Big Buzz this month, marking the first time the ensembles have graced the neighbouring island’s venue. Mike Desj will be featured at the Legion on April 15 for the Frankie and Friends Variety Show, with Frankie Thomas and Railroad Tye. Desj […]
A woman in Whaletown was woken up to a stranger knocking on her door at 1 a.m. on April 5. RCMP confirmed that the individual is suspected to be the same individual that assaulted a member of the Klahoose community in winter 2022. “We do believe it is the same person from last year from […]
The Cortes Café has seen many owners and has had many themes over the decades. Julie Keith is the newest owner/chef to throw her hat into the ring, with help from husband Sandy. Julie says she’s spent decades in the food and hospitality industry and felt there was a need to revive the café to […]
Tuesday April 25, 2023 6:30 PM ZOOM / PHONE IN (LINK AVAILABLE CLOSER TO MEETING) We need your presence at Cortes Community Radio’s AGM We aim to be in and out in 30 minutes! AGENDA: 1. Adopt Agenda 2. Accept Previous AGM Minutes 3. Station Programming Updates 4. Financial Report 5. Board Election Interested in joining the […]
Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) is expanding on the Lighttrap Project to detect an invasive Green Crab threatening the native ecosystems of the Salish Sea. The project, a collaboration with the Hakai Institute, requires local volunteers to check the traps as they look for the valued native Dungeness Crab and it’s invasive relative. Helen Hall, […]
The Cortes Island Waste Management Centre is preparing for a busy summer and the organization’s new manager is worried about capacity. Waste Management Centre manager Aaron McCulloch-Gary—who has been at the helm since the start of 2023 after taking over from long serving manager Brian Pfiefle—says everything is running smoothly at the moment, but he […]
Though it’s early spring, seniors on Quadra Island are being urged to act now to prepare their homes for possible forest fires in BC. Mike Gladish, coordinator of the local Seniors Emergency Preparedness Program, says that once the weather warms up the risk of forest fires increases. He advises seniors and the general population to […]
The Harbour Authority of Cortes Island (HACI) just opened summer moorage applications this week for locals to reserve space on government docks through the high season. The docks serve commercial fishing and shellfish operations as well as tourism operators, recreational boaters, liveaboards and water-access-only residents. Manager Jenny Hartwick and wharfinger Don Tennant are working together […]
The Cortes Island Food Bank has seen a doubling in the number of regular clients since last year, according to food bank treasurer Filipe Figueira. He says the total now stands at about 20 individuals, compared with seven to 10 last year. He says that spring is often the toughest time of year for people […]
All Things Must Pass For many different reasons the Lip Sync is no more. It’s the end of an era and we had an amazing run. Special thanks to the volunteers and performers who participated in producing over 25 successful events over the past 14 years. Special thanks to Rick and Meinsje who did a […]
A town council meeting in Tahsis saw a gavel taken from the deputy mayor during a heated exchange last week. The regularly schedule meeting had a variety of topics on the agenda, but the controversy was related to a decision to censure fellow Coun. Douglas Elliot. On March 21, Deputy Mayor Sarah Fowler was leading […]
The MicroGrants for Neighbours program is back once again and is looking for youth-led ideas on the island. The program gives small amounts of money ranging from $50-$500 to local residents of Cortes so they can do things that benefit the community like put on workshops, host gatherings and build micro-libraries, according to organizers. Micro […]
The Dillon Creek restoration project is coming to a close and is celebrating with a event that includes the premier of a documentary film about the project. Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) and Linnaea Farm are hosting the Dillon Creek Wetland Restoration Community Celebration Friday to showcase the two-year community led wetland restoration project that […]
Editor’s Note: Manda Gilepsie is a radio host with CKTZ. Registration for the second Cortes Island Academy is open after the high school program celebrated a successful pilot year in 2022. Prospective Klahoose and local-to-Cortes students will be prioritized and will make up about half the program says Manda Gilepsie, lead administrator of the Cortes […]
The Gorge Harbor Marina offered a raffle in February that awarded the winner a gift basket or a free cord of dry firewood. One of the winners is a young, local renter, and believes she struck gold when she won the “wood draw.” Yaffa Ibrahim has been plotting to move to Cortes for about a […]
Editor’s Note: Odette Auger is an occasional CKTZ News contributor. There is a new opportunity for young, Indigenous aspiring writers to level up their craft on Cortes Island. Local storyteller Odette Auger shared her experience in the Audible Indigenous Writers Circle program and is encouraging others to take part. Auger participated in the six month […]
The Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society is launching “Wayfinding: Stories of Maps and Place,” an exhibit largely composed of maps created by various inhabitants of the region throughout time, this weekend. One map is covered in names unique to that map alone, within the exhibit. Melanie Boyle, the museum’s managing director/curator, points to a […]
Friends of Cortes Island will be hosting an event this week to share positive news from a Western Screech Owl study currently in progress: there is evidence of a local habitat. The threatened species is the focus of what has become a three-year project for FOCI, with the organization already confirming evidence of the small […]
Hollyhock Leadership Institute, the local retreat center, was awarded $500,000 to build an outdoor spa. The funding is a slice of the $500 million dollar Tourism Relief Fund, a federal grant aimed to revitalize the tourism sector after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other businesses that were awarded the grant in the region include […]
The Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) will be hosting the second annual Spring Equinox celebration on March 25. After hosting the event outside last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the celebration will move inside the hall, for a warmer experience. Organizer Rebecca Thacker explained that the event is timed around the equinox which usually falls […]
Several Cortes Island non-profit organizations received grants recently, helping to secure their operations for now. But some of the organizations worry about their long-term financial sustainability. This winter, the Gender Equality Fund dispensed $40,000 to Cortes non-profits through the Cortes Island Foundation. The organizations are offering programming that aims to benefit women, two-spirited, and non-binary people […]
Have you always dreamed of becoming a DJ? We make it easy for you to express your creativity over a microphone. Contrary to popular belief, most DJs aren’t extroverts, but they’ve found the perfect outlet to learn, share, socialize, and connect with fellow islanders through public broadcasting. DJs come in all shapes and sizes, some […]
Local DJ legend Aspen King plans to kick off the festival season with a local triple header this weekend. Aspen will be joined on stage by her sister Carmanah and father Ian at “Family Reunion,” a musical event at the Gorge Hall on March 4. The young entertainer boasts her Cortes culture roots run deep. […]
Next week, Roots Roundup will be returning to the region to perform for the first time in eight years. The “hardrocking world beat dance” band, based in Vancouver, is set to perform March 3 at the Quadra Legion. CKTZ asked the band if they have plans to land on “the rock” soon, and founding member […]
A local karate and kinesiology specialist has been hosting a weekly self-defense class on Cortes Island and donating the proceeds back to the community. Kaitlin Garratt runs “Fierce and Fluid,” which she describes as an “empowered self defense class,” blending cardio kickboxing, karate, and “foundational energy principles to help you embody your core power and […]
A Cortes Island couple has been running a comedy podcast over the past six months and, 30 episodes in, momentum is building. “We Can’t Pick a Title” was created by local entertainers Bobbie-Gene Hanson and Jason Thompson and the podcast just reached the milestone of over 1,000 downloads. Thompson described the process of getting started. […]
The Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) is creating a new night market scene at Mansons Hall. “Hidden Treasures” will begin this weekend, with local vendors selling musical instruments, tools, art, records and vintage clothing. Rick Bockner is a local woodworker, musician, and healer. He will be selling many handmade items and materials related to woodworking, […]
As Gorge Harbour Marina Resort (GHM) proceeds with necessary large-scale infrastructure projects on the property, the management is attempting to minimize disruptions to services and employment the local community relies on. On Feb. 6, Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC) that oversees GHM released a statement announcing closures and cancellations for the 2023 season due to […]
The Cortes Island Waste Management Center is hosting a grand reopening of the Free Store next week to celebrate its return to the pre-pandemic schedule, Thursday-Sunday. The unique store was briefly closed during the pandemic and softly re-opened with special protocols. The Free Store, housed at the waste management centre, is a resource available to […]
Cortes Island Academy (CIA) is finishing its first ever semester with a fourth block in filmmaking. The new high school program is a one semester-pilot project this year, so a film festival on Tuesday night concluded the program’s 2022-2023 school year. CKTZ has covered the journey of the CIA pilot project, hearing from creators of […]
BC Ferries’ two-ferry service that began on the Quadra Island-Campbell River route on Jan. 18 was deployed for convenience and speed, but some Cortes Island passengers are concerned with their recent experiences. The loss of a priority loading lane for Cortes-bound traffic was mentioned in a news release by the company Jan.16. Traditionally, vehicles en […]
An investigation has begun on Quadra Island after a 39-year-old woman was found dead inside her home. RCMP were conducting a wellness check on Jan. 16 when they found her inside her home, according to press release Feb. 1. Police have confirmed that the death is criminal based on evidence forensic investigators have collected and […]
Editor’s Note: CKTZ FM is the Cortes Community Radio Society. The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) approved $18,000 in funding for a number of non-profits on Cortes Island last week. The Grant-in-aid (GIA) program awards funding to local, non-profit organizations, for the benefit of the community, through the SRD. This is an year-by-year program, where applicants […]
As the popularity of pickleball grows nationally, the sport has become a regular pastime on Cortes Island with the resurgence of team sports this winter. The school gym is booked four nights a week for adult sports, with pickleball offered twice weekly. If the weather is nice, pickleball moves to the outdoor courts at the […]
Content warning: This story discusses colonial history and its negative impacts on Indigenous people of Canada. In upcoming Powell River City Council strategic planning meetings, Coun. Cindy Elliott looks forward to making decisions on recommendations from the Joint Working Group she participated in last year. The group was set up following an official name change […]
Put on your dancing shoes, Islanders: there’s a new dance collective in town. Last summer, Connie Quayle and Val Lange began seeking opportunities on Cortes Island to start a dance temple collective. They hosted a dance temple in August and have managed to double their efforts with Mary Lloyd and Dancing Wolf joining in. This […]
Since its inception in 2019, the Cortes Island Women’s Resource Centre has struggled to find funds to ensure delivery of its basic services, but Director Tanya Henck says 2023 will see stable funding thanks to a number of grants from regional and national organizations. The organization received $42,000 through the Victoria Foundation ($5,000), Cortes Island […]
Cortes Radio is proud to present Lip Sync 2023! BUY TICKETS E-TRANSFERstore@cortesradio.ca Pay at the door(may sell out!) $15 per person Children under 12 FREE Family Rates can be negotiated: contact Howie: cortesradio@gmail.com E-TRANSFERstore@cortesradio.ca Once you’ve paid, send us an email to the address above telling us your name, phone number, and how many people […]
The Quadra Legion Branch turned 85 years old over the weekend. Photo courtesy of Quadra Legion Branch #154.The Quadra Legion honored its 85th anniversary this weekend with a music trivia night on Saturday and there's more events on the way... Click title for full article.
A beam featuring a Cortes Island artist's carving in Carrie Saxifrage's home. Photo by Greg Osoba.According to the BC government, recent projections indicate there will be a decline in timber supply by 2025 throughout the province... Click title for full article.
“Block GH1” is the proposed area for timber harvesting by the Cortes Community Forest General Partnership (CFGP). Image courtesy of the CFGP.The Cortes Forestry General Partnership is proposing the next steps in harvesting timber near Anvil Lake and is requesting comments from locals... Click title for full article.
Surf Scoter observed during Cortes Island Christmas bird count. Image courtesy of George Sirk.This year's annual Christmas bird count on Cortes Island was met with cold temperatures and bitter wind. It took place on Dec. 18, with additional individual observations adding to the count on the three days before and after... Click title for full article.
Jan Gladish, pictured second on the top left row, is the new trustee for the Discovery Islands on the Board of Education for District 72. Photo courtesy of School District 72.Jan Gladish was recently acclaimed as the school trustee for School District 72 to represent the Discovery Islands, including Cortes Island students. In the position, she hopes to hold space for the needs of the diverse students she represents in the unique rural setting of the Northern Gulf Islands... Click title for full article.
Public roads and ditch systems are pictured in the watershed, overflowing with surface bacteria-filled rainwater runoff. Photo by Miranda Cross.A local environmental group believes that the road runoff from seasonal weather is contributing to harmful algae in lakes on Cortes Island... Click title for full article.
Mike Desi and Jessie Roy perform on the stage of Lovefest 2022. Photo by Loni Taylor.Jessie Roy was one of the most prolific live music performers on Cortes Island over the past six months. She delivered vocals and keys on five stages between July and December 2022, and she's already got appearances lined up at the Gorge Harbour Marina for 2023... Click title for full article.
CityWest landing site ready to connect with undersea fiber optic cable on Cortes Island. Photo by Greg Osoba.CityWest regional manager for Cortes Island Dino Tsakonas says he originally hoped for fiber optic service to be available this month, but rocky terrain has stalled progress on constructing the network. He now expects service to begin sometime this spring... Click title for full article.
Quadra Island resident Sharron Hatelt retired from her volunteer weather observer duties with Environment and Climate Change Canada's Atmospheric Monitoring Section on Dec. 31, 2022—a position she held continuously since 1983.Over the years, her tasks consisted of walking out to her yard every morning and evening around 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. and recording the measurements for precipitation, as well as the immediate, high and low temperatures for the period, then resetting the equipment for her next reading... Click title for full article.
The Telus website currently shows complete 5G cell phone coverage on and around Cortes Island, with no gaps in coverage. Photo courtesy of Telus.There is a new proposal for the cell phone tower that Telus is looking to build in Mansons Landing, and Cortes Island community members are weighing in... Click title for full article.
Buy Local New Artists New Tracks All Canadian Early Sunday Morning Edition January 15, 2023 Artist Track Audio Boffins Gem Lake Eleanor Make Sense Tissa Rahim Better Off Alone Loon Town Doesn’t Matter Fontine Homemaker Kings of our Kin 10:45 Naduh Mysogynisticexpialidocious Mariel Buckley Shooting At The Moon
The Powell River Queen. Image courtesy of BC Ferries.The 58-year-old Powell River Queen sails her last run on the Campbell River to Quadra Island BC Ferries route next week and the public is invited to bid farewell to the vessel... Click title for full article.
The two tools orchardist Bill Wheeler recommends: by-pass hand pruners and a pruning saw; both should be clean and sharp. Photo by Anastasia Avvakumova.Late winter into early spring is the best time to prune fruit trees in temperate regions like coastal British Columbia, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac... Click title for full article.
The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery is one of the only venues with curated local art available for purchase on Cortes. Photo courtesy of Cortes Currents.The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery on Cortes is now open for proposals for the 2023 season. The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery hosts local Cortes Island artists in a series of shows each year and are encouraging new artists to apply. No prior experience presenting your work in necessary to propose a show... Click title for full article.
Cortes Island Community Foundation Board Chair Mark Spevakow says the organization is optimistic about 2023's plan. Image courtesy of Mark Spevakow.Cortes Island Community Foundation board chair Mark Spevakov says the organization made great strides in 2022, raising and disbursing more than $200,000 to local non-profit social service groups on the rural island of 1,000 year-round residents... Click title for full article.
Jen Stevens was a teacher and "held space" for the community during the winter solstice. Photo by Darshan Stevens.This year's winter solstice celebration on Cortes Island brought a touching event back after a five year pause.Alanah Caron and Jen Stevens initiated the light spiral ceremony in Mansons Hall, back in 2014. The winter solstice ceremony is a spiral shaped installation of cedar bows and candles that guides people to walk through and light a candle as they take a moment to move out of the darkness and welcome the return of the light... Click title for full article.
A new BC Ferries Island Class vessel sits at a berth on Quadra Island. Photo by Greg Osoba.Jan. 18 heralds the start of tandem ferry service between Campbell River on Vancouver Island and Quadra Island: the number of sailings per week on the route will increase from 105 to up to 210 during peak hours... Click title for full article.
Bruce Ellingsen was recognized for his dedication to the environment by FOCI with the Jo Ann Green Environmental Award. Photo by Loni Taylor. This past fall, local Bruce Ellingsen was recognized for his decades of community work sustaining healthy forests, primarily on Cortes Island. Friends of Cortes Island announced on Nov. 25, 2022 that Ellingsen was […]
Mike Gladish, coordinator of the Seniors Emergency Preparedness Program, on Quadra Island. Image courtesy of Mike Gladish.The Seniors Emergency Preparedness Program on Quadra Island started at the end of November 2022 through the non-profit Quadra Circle organization. Program Coordinator Mike Gladish says the goal is to help seniors cope with extreme weather conditions—whether it's during winter storms or intense heat in summer... Click title for full article.
One of the guiding principles of community choirs such as Isle Sing is to be inclusive and non-auditioned. Photo by Katie Moum on Unsplash.Dayna Davis, leader of the community choir Isle Sing, has witnessed a natural evolution of her group's involvement in the larger community on Cortes Island, BC since its beginning around 2009... Click title for full article.
The Gorge Hall is available to the community for events but not without its maintenance costs. Photo courtesy of the Cortes Island website.Locals on Cortes are hosting an all ages New Years Eve event with live music and food at the Gorge Hall for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020... Click title for full article.
A new BC Ferries Island Class Vessel sits at a dock on Quadra Island. Photo by Greg Osoba.BC Ferries has announced that January 18th marks the beginning of two vessel service between Campbell River on Vancouver Island and Quadra Island. The ships are part of the new hybrid diesel/electric Island Class series. They are replacing the 57 year old MV Powell River Queen currently operating on the route... Click title for full article.
Mary Clare Preston (L) and Donna Naven (R) at the Foxglove Pottery studio opening. Photo by Anastasia Avvakumova.Potterer Mary Clare Preston held a successful collaborative open house and sale at her Foxglove Pottery studio in Mansons Landing, BC... Click title for full article.
Scott Patterson and Emilie Laskie source their cacao beans from Nicaragua where they lived for years producing chocolate. Photo courtesy of Black Jaguar ChocolateBlack Jaguar Chocolate, a fine chocolate company located on Cortes, was named a World Finalist at the International Chocolate Awards.Scott Patterson and Emilie Laskie, owners and founders of Black Jaguar Chocolate, began making chocolate direct from the source where they lived in Nicaragua, and moved to Cortes during the pandemic and brought their business and their connections to the source of the cacao beans with them... Click title for full article.
Construction began on the Gorge Hall in Whaletown in 1932, according to Gabriel Dinim. Photo by Loni Taylor.On November 20th, the Whaletown Community Club (WCC) held their Annual General Meeting, marking 80 years of community spirit. The goals and aims of the WCC have not changed, as they continue to meet the needs of the community. Gabriel Dinim has been the volunteer president of the club for 3 years. He notes the timelessness of the principals driving the organization,“Cortes residents seem to have the same social needs and the same social desires and the same desire to express themselves- and I find that quite remarkable that we really are still the same.”... Click title for full article.
The inside of the Cortes Island Waste Management Centre is filled with art, sculptures, and decor- curated by the retiring manager, Brian Pfeifle. Photo by Loni Taylor. On December 31st, Brian Pfeifle will be officially retired from his role as Cortes Island’s Waste Management Manager. Pfeifle has been a resident of Cortes for 30 years […]
Whaletown Dock on Cortes Island, BC. Image courtesy of the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island. The Harbour Authority of Cortes Island has begun an information campaign about its purpose and responsibilities, as well as responsible boating practices. The Authority manages five government docks on Cortes Island located at Mansons Landing, Squirrel Cove, Whaletown, Cortes Bay, and […]
Staying active and getting outside daily is a good way to combat winter blues. Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash With fewer daylight hours and, typically, less social interaction, winter can be challenging on mental health — but we don’t have to suffer through it, a Cortes Island therapist says. Registered clinical counsellor Kira MacDuffee has a practice, Opening Works, in Mansons […]
The Gorge community hall on Cortes Island. Photo by Greg Osoba. Cortes Island’s annual community Christmas dinner at the Gorge community hall has been underway for 21 years. But due to pandemic restrictions over the past two years, it had to be take out only. Organizer Izabelle Perry is looking forward to this year welcoming the public […]
A large dead, douglas fir landed on the power lines along whaletown road during the summer of 2022.. Photo by Loni Taylor. On October 10th, a windstorm took down several trees, resulting in three small fires in Tyber Bay. BC Hydro advises the public to call 9-1-1 if they see a power line on the ground. […]
The Awakeneers consist of a father and three sons as well as two sisters from another family. Photo courtesy of the Awakeneers. This Friday, Dec. 16th, the Awakeneers will play their first indoor concert on Cortes Island in nearly three years. Robert, Erica, Frances and Immanuel during the CKTZ interview. Photo courtesy of the Awakeneers. Four members […]
It often takes snowplowing crews longer to get to rural side roads. Photo by Anastasia Avvakumova Already inundated with snow, Cortes Island’s roads are presenting challenging winter conditions for drivers early this season. Kallin Wilson, owner and operator of Wilson Family Drivers school in Campbell River, recommends that drivers trust their instincts and avoid going out if […]
Volunteers install a freshly painted sun beam to the peak of Mansons Hall, a 100 year old building. Photo by Loni Taylor. There’s a new interim manager at Mansons Hall community centre after a year long transition. In late November, Tammy Collingwood stepped into the role after volunteering in a number of leadership positions with the […]
The Cortes Island museum. Image courtesy of the Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society. Local artist Jane Newman is hosting a card making workshop this Sunday in collaboration with the Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society. Multi-media handmade card by Jane Newman. Image courtesy of Jane Newman. In the current digital age, Newman believes there’s something […]
Dragon Songs writer, performer and producer Thomas Basil. Photo by Greg Osoba. Dragon Songs, the first rock opera to be performed on Cortes Island, is getting ready for its opening night this month. Written and produced by Thomas Basil, who also performs in the show, the rock opera features a mythical dragon as the central character […]
Misty MacDuffee is the Wild Salmon Program Director for Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Photo by Alex Harris/Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Cortes Island is located in the Salish Sea, considered a part of the Discovery Island and the North Gulf Island archipelago. Locals and tourists enjoy consistent sightings of whales in the region, but a marine biologist says […]
Salmon spawning stream on Cortes Island. Image courtesy of Friends of Cortes Island. So far, monitoring of creeks and streams on Cortes Island indicates a very poor return of chum salmon to their spawning grounds this year, according to Christine and Cec Robinson. They’re longtime members of the local stream keepers project, overseen by the conservation […]
A Cortes Island Volunteer Fire Department vehicle parked out front of Klahoose Community Centre following the fire last Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Cortes Island Volunteer Fire Department. Authorities confirmed that no one was injured during an evening structure fire at the Khaloose First Nation Reserve last Wednesday. Cortes Island Volunteer Fire Department received a call […]
A BC Ferries “Island Class” vessel. Image courtesy of BC Ferries. BC Ferries is building four more “Island Class” ferries, due to increased demand and current vessels aging, and a call for proposals has gone out to shipyards in British Columbia, as well as nationally and internationally. Deborah Marshall, BC Ferries spokesperson, says the new vessels will […]
On Nov. 9, the Strathcona Regional District passed a new tax on short term rentals on Cortes Island. Image courtesy of the Cortes Island Community Housing Society. Cortes Island is adding a three per cent tax on short term rentals as a solution to help address the affordable housing crisis on Cortes Island. Regional Director […]
A donation jar for the Cortes Island Food Bank sits on a counter at a local store. Photo by Greg Osoba. The Cortes Island Food Bank joined Food Banks BC on Oct. 7 and has just launched its own website. Coordinator Filipe Figueira says joining the bigger provincial network provides more resources and funding possibilities. Established 20 years […]
Nate Drobner (L) and Nick Wisdom (R) are Potatohead People, headlining music show Hall Pass Saturday Nov. 26. Image by Thomas Maxey, courtesy of Amaris Daniel. Recently settled local Amaris Daniel is organizing Hall Pass this weekend, a music show at Manson’s Hall that is bringing long-time friends and musicians together. Nate Drobner and Nick Wisdom, who […]
Claudia Raaen has been playing ultimate for 42 years, enthusiastically leading drop-in games on Cortes since 1990. Photo by Loni Taylor. Recreational ultimate frisbee has been a regular activity on Cortes since 1990 and a local is working to keep the sport alive. Claudia Raaen has been playing ultimate frisbee for 42 years, and brought […]
Med-Man Brand has produced Chiapas coffee beans, locally-roasted by Becca’s Bean Coffee Roastery. Photo by Thaddeus Conrad. Food processing infrastructure is limited on Cortes Island. There is only one coffee roasting facility, and, up until recently, there was only one food business producing roasted coffee beans on Cortes. Thanks to a collaboration with Becca’s Beans, local […]
Clytosin, also known as Mansons Spit, is an eroding beach located in Mansons Landing Provincial Park. Photo by Loni Taylor. The mass boat removal on Cortes Island scheduled for this month has been changed by BC Parks. Last month, BC Parks left notices on dozens of boats on the beach at Mansons Spit. slated for […]
Kristen Scholfield-Sweet is offering a second series of art classes this winter. Photo by Laura Balducci. The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery is expanding new programming beyond the regular gallery season this fall. Kristen Scholfield-Sweet is a local with a PhD in Art Education and has been a board member for the gallery for 20 years. […]
Benji Duke has done over 1,000 quiz nights across BC during his career as a Quiz Master. Photo courtesy of Benji Duke. “Quizzing is a big part my life. I’ve been doing it pretty consistently for about 15 years now.” Benji Duke is bringing his famed Pub Quiz event all the way from Victoria to […]
English PhD Soma Feldmar published a book of poetry in 2009. Photo by Loni Taylor. As the first snow falls on Cortes Island, two creative groups are being formed for regular gatherings through the winter. Soma Feldmar, a local poet, is the artist initiating the groups and hopes to create a group for writers, poets, […]
Cortes Community Forest Cooperative President Carrie Saxifrage and Director Sadhu Johnston sit in a home finished with Cortes Island wood products. Photo by Greg Osoba. The Cortes Community Forest Cooperative (CCFC) is hoping to reduce logging on Cortes Island by developing more wood products locally. The organization, in partnership with the local Klahoose First Nation, holds a community […]
This sticker was placed on 57 boats at the beach of Clytosin, or Mansons Spit. Photo by Lisa Ferentinos. Some Cortes residents were surprised to find a notice stickered to their boats resting on the beach of Mansons Spit on Oct. 17. The BC Parks notices refer to the Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulation and give […]
Former Cortes Island Fire Chief Dave Ives prepares to hand in his gear at Fire Hall Number 1 on Cortes Island. Photo by Greg Osoba. Cortes Island’s fire chief was dismissed this week ahead after five months on the job. Dave Ives was a few weeks shy of completing his six month probation as chief […]
Friends of Cortes Island is a charitable ecological stewardship organization focused on monitoring and preserving the health of local ecosystems. Photo courtesy of FOCI. The Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) ecological stewardship organization has published a report on the drought this year and its links to the broader climate crisis. The report, published on Oct. […]
A BC Ferries “island class” hybrid electric/diesel vessel. Photo by Greg Osoba. BC Ferries’ Clean Futures Plan calls for its fleet to do away with greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and progress is being made, according to the organization. It issued an update to the plan on October 27th. Director of Climate Change Policy Frank Camaraire says […]
Cortes Housing Society, Cortes Community Economic Development Association, and the Southern Cortes Community Association have all done outreach over the past few years to engage the local community on trail-building plans. Photo by Chris Midgley & Kate Stefiuk from Kinship Design. The Cortes Housing Society (CHS) just announced a successful collaborative grant application to improve […]
Kim Marks is a local tattooist, and also creates jewelry with electroform copper. Marks will be one of the artists featured at the Craft Corral. Photo by Loni Taylor. The annual event Craft Corral is returning to the Gorge Gazebo this November. The event is organized by Kim Marks, a local artist and tattooist. Marks […]
Musician and composer Wylie Ferguson in performance. Image courtesy of Wylie Ferguson. Musician and composer Wylie Ferguson has been accepted into a mentorship program with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra where his work will be played and critiqued. The current VSO mentorship and readings program began on October 15th and runs until May 31st, 2023, culminating in the reading […]
Thaddeus Conrad grows and distributes medicinal cannabis products at the Friday Market in Mansons. Photo by Thaddeus Conrad. LONI TAYLOR – CKTZ – CORTES ISLAND • BC | 27-10-2022 Business, Community, Health Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin Share on pinterest Share on email Share on print A medicinal cannabis business owner recently settled on Cortes Island and […]
Mike Manson and his faithful dog Clem sit on the deck of their home at Sunny Brae Farm. Photo by Greg Osoba. The historic Sunny Brae Farm had one of its best growing seasons to date, but the local farm faced challenges with help during the harvest. Sunny Brae Farm was founded in 1888 by […]
The jurisdiction of the Cortes Island Volunteer Fire Department excludes the eastern community of Tiber Bay. Image courtesy of the Strathcona Regional District. Cortes Island was hit by a windstorm on Oct.10 that knocked some roadside trees on power lines by the late afternoon, causing intermittent power outages, and fires on the island. The Cortes Island […]
Strathcona Regional District logo. Image courtesy of the SRD. In the end, it wasn’t a close race in Area C of the Strathcona Regional District (SRD). BC voters went to the polls on Oct. 15 to elect municipal governments and Robyn Mawhinney garnered 69 per cent of the votes over Marc Doll in Area C of the SRD. Mawhinney says […]
The WCC hosts the Halloween Dance on October 29th. The event encourages patrons to dress up in costume. Photo by Loni Taylor. It’s been three years since the Whaletown Community Club (WCC) has hosted an indoor event for Halloween but this season, the WCC is celebrating the scary season with three local acts at the […]
All materials will be provided for the Haiku and Origami Workshop at the Cortes Museum. Photo by Laura Balducci. The Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society (CIMAS) is facilitating one more workshop to complement the Suitcase Project exhibit this month. Local poet Soma Feldmar will be offering the workshop to a limit of ten people […]
The Gorge Harbour Marina Resort general store. Photo by Greg Osoba. Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC), the business arm of the Klahoose First Nation on Cortes Island, is looking towards the future after a successful tourism season this summer. The QXMC operates two tourism-oriented businesses: the Klahoose Wilderness Lodge in Toba Inlet and the Gorge Harbour Marina Resort on Cortes. The wilderness […]
The Whaletown Dock is managed by the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island (HACI). Photo by Loni Taylor. The Harbour Authority of Cortes Island (HACI) will be hosting an Annual General Meeting (AGM) for its members this week and will be selecting a new director. HACI is a not-for-profit organization tasked with managing four government docks […]
The Fund for Gender Equality provides funding for initiatives that will support women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse individuals. Photo courtesy of Community Foundations of Canada. The Cortes Island Community Foundation (CICF) is partnering with the Community Foundations of Canada, the Equality Fund, and the Government of Canada to focus on local gender equality initiatives. The […]
A living plant juxtaposed with a bouquet of dried flowers don the wall of the Cortes Playschool. Photo by Loni Taylor. One year has made a big difference for the Cortes Playschool, according to its facilitator. After the school lost staff due to the Southern Cortes Community Association’s COVID-19 policies, the childcare operation was barely […]
Cortes Island Fire Department Chief Dave Ives. Photo by Greg Osoba. With fall in full swing, coastal BC residents are experiencing cooler temperatures, and many rural citizens rely on wood as a primary heating source in the colder seasons. Cortes Island Fire Chief Dave Ives says it’s time to ensure chimneys and wood stoves are in […]
“Worldwide Spin in Public” was hosted in the Heritage Garden on Sept. 17. Now regular “Spin in Public” events are being scheduled for Fall. Photo by Laura Balducci. Cortes Island is home to a community of fibre artists. Prior to the pandemic, many of the artists would gather weekly and monthly for an event called “Spin […]
A display from “Listen to the Bees,” an exhibit at the Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society. Photo by Laura Balducci. The Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society is continuing its programming for the fall with an event featuring bees. This Sunday, the museum is hosting “Save the Bees: Storytelling with Jane Newman.” The event […]
Area C candidate Robyn Mawhinney. Photo courtesy of Robyn Mawhinney campaign. Only two candidates are vying to represent Area C of the Strathcona Regional District when BC voters go to the polls Saturday, Oct. 15 to select new municipal governments: Robyn Mawhinney and Marc Doll are in a tight race. Both candidates are promising to take their lead from the public […]
Marc Doll with wife Jen and twin daughters Charlotte and Gabrielle. Photo courtesy Marc Doll campaign. As British Columbians head to the polls on Saturday, Oct. 15 for municipal elections, there are just two candidates in the race to represent Area C of the Strathcona Regional District: Marc Doll and Robyn Mawhinney. The area includes Quadra and Read […]
School District 72 and Cortes Island Academy instructor Jeff Lontayao. Photo by Greg Osoba. Students and instructors are happy with the first semester of a pilot program for senior high school students on Cortes Island. The Cortes Island Academy is the brainchild of parents on the island, where teenagers in grades 10, 11 and 12 had to […]
New Cortes Island municipal government representative Mark Vonesch. Photo by Greg Osoba. Mark Vonesch is facing no other candidates in the upcoming municipal election for directors to the Strathcona Regional District and he’s been acclaimed to represent Area B, which is Cortes Island. Vonesch says it’s a relief not to have to run against anyone; he’s excited to get […]
[REPOST FROM SEPTEMBER 14, 2022] Tanya Krahn is offering a one-hour guided ceremony with cacao at the Hollyhock sanctuary. Photo by Tanya Krahn. Tanya Krahn has been offering the Cortes community a taste of raw, wild-grown cacao for ten years. Now, the student of cacao is a teacher, guiding participants in ceremony with a specially […]
(From the Archives: Nov 4, 2014) There was a celebration on Cortes Island a little more than a week ago. Close to a hundred people came out in the rain to munch on some of the goodies and listen to some of the community’s elders. After more than a quarter of a century, Whaletown Commons […]
Q̓ᵂalayu House is located at the North Island Hospital-Campbell River Campus behind Yucalta Lodge. Photo by Ricci Miller. Q̓ᵂalayu House is a housing facility for pregnant women, and families with children seeking medical care in Campbell River and the facility is open to Cortes residents that fit this criteria and are travelling for medical care. The facility […]
The Cortes Community Housing Society had a number of updates to announce as they work towards having a town hall meeting for their Rainbow Ridge project. “We’re very much looking forward to having this town hall meeting, potentially near the end of October, but please stay tuned. We’ll announce the date, the time, and the place […]
Carol Titler served on the Friends of Cortes Island Board (FOCI) during some of the society’s formative years. She was not one of the founding members, but joined FOCI when it was still meeting in people’s homes and hauling its records around in boxes. “Then Hubert Havelaar built an office space and it was moved […]
(From the Archives: Feb 25, 2022) According to Campbell River’s Sustainability Community Plan, 12% all trips to work within the city were to consist of walking, cycling or transit by 2020. They hope to increase this number to a third by 2060. In today’s interview the city’s transportation specialist, Melissa Heidema, talks about Campbell River’s […]
Citywest North Island Regional Manager Dino Tsakonas. Photo by Greg Osoba. Cortes Islanders will receive unlimited high speed Internet, TV and phone service by the end of 2022, according to service provider Citywest. The company has partnered with the Strathcona Regional District to lay fiber optic cable to businesses and residences across the island. CKTZ News first reported on the […]
{From the Archives: July 11, 2020) Summer is here, and with it an increase in the number of homeless people in our communities. According to Sue Moen, the Salvation Army’s representative in the Campbell River and District Coalition to End Homelessness, this problem goes back about forty years – to when the federal government stopped subsidizing affordable […]
[From the Archives: Oct 29, 2017] Phil Allen became a DJ back in the years that Cortes Community radio was a pirate station. He likes to find new music and share it with others. Phil jokes that his show is the one man and his dog show. It can feel very lonely, being in the DJ […]
Cortes Currents published a factually incorrect story about the proposed Anvil Lake logging road on Tuesday, August 30, 2022.. Few people knew this, because I pulled the story before it was broadcast on Cortes Radio. Nick Reed, a local resident, told me, “The concern is mainly the wetlands that this road has to go through, […]
[From the Archives: May 7, 2018 – Editor’s not: Stone Soup has been a popular program on Cortes Radio for the past 9 years or so.] Catriona Vega’s first Cortes Radio program consisted of live performances into a single mic. She launched “Stone Soup” after returning to Cortes Island about 2012. It is: “A cup […]
Carmen Hills has traveled between Cortes Island and Vancouver for the past 12 years, without a car. Photo by Loni Taylor. Traveling to and from a rural, isolated community like Cortes may seem like a daunting task. According to Carmen Hills, it is less stressful if you remove a personal motor vehicle from the equation. […]
The Cortes Community Housing Society received two properties by donation this year. Image courtesy of the Cortes Community Housing Society. The Cortes Community Housing Society received two properties by anonymous donation this summer. Executive Director Sandra Wood said they were to be sold under the condition that they were used to create affordable housing options. […]
(From the Archives: June 11, 2018 – Editor’s note: Vinho do Porto was once one of the most popular programs on Cortes Radio from 2017 until the fall of 2020. Susanna Vijaya and her partner, Lyle Brulhart, were winterng in Mexico throughout those years. They were unable to find a place to park their trailer on Cortes when they […]
Area C candidate Marc Doll. Image courtesy of Marc Doll’s campaign. Marc Doll is running to represent Area C in the Strathcona Regional District, covering some of the Discovery Islands and mainland inlets between Vancouver Island and the Mainland, in BC’s upcoming municipal elections. Quadra and Read Islands are part of Area C with a large concentration of […]
CKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter [From the Archives: Sept 6, 2021) A number of species at risk were seen near a part of Fairy Creek where the logging company Teal Jones is about to commence operations. A spokesperson for the BC Ministry of Forests confirmed there have been sightings and they have hired a species […]
A happy, healthy starfish basks in the salty waters of Cortes Island. Photo courtesy of Friends of Cortes Island and the Hakai Institute. Friends of Cortes Island Society (FOCI), a conservation group on Cortes Island, is spearheading a project to monitor sea stars’ status in regards to sea star wasting syndrome. In collaboration with the […]
More than 12 years of research lie behind local artist and historian Judith William’s exhibition, which opened in the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery on Friday, August 26. In an interview with Cortes Currents, three months prior to the Bute Inlet landslide, Williams spoke against the installation of power lines in that area because it is too avalanche prone. […]
Editor’s note: The following program was originally broadcast on August 23, 2019, three months prior to the Bute Inlet landslide. One of the reasons local historian Judith Williams gave for rejecting a proposed run of the river project in that region is “to run power out of there, you have to build these 400 foot […]
[From the Archives: Feb 16, 2021] While the largest slide in human memory occurred only months ago, local historian Judith Williams says Bute Inlet ‘lets loose’ all the time. Collecting water, Raindrop Creek Falls, Bute Inlet – courtesy Judith Williams Other times Bute let loose The earliest information she has comes from the diary Robert Humphrey left, after he came to […]
Jen Stevens left this world on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. In today’s program, her daughter Darshan Stevens talks about Jen’s life, her medically assisted death (MAID) and the changes that came about throughout this process. “My biggest grief was when my mom received her diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer and my longest grief is probably what I […]
[From the Archives: Jan 21, 2022] Dr. Kelsey Gil is a postdoctoral researcher at UBC’s department of zoology and the lead author of a paper published in Current Biology that literally peaks down the throat of a lunge whale. Lunge feeding whales (humpbacks, blue whales and fin whales etc) open their mouths as they accelerate […]
Janeen Sutherland has been the Wilderness Tourism Association’s (WTA) Executive Director for close to three months. The North Vancouver native’s background is in tourism and sustainable community development. She moved to Toronto in the late 1990s to work with the touring company Butterfield and Robinson. Sutherland researched, put together and guided cycling trips all around the globe. Returning […]
Improvised waste bin on a Cortes Island government dock. Photo by Greg Osoba. A garbage removal service at a Cortes Island dock is being suspended after this summer season due to boaters failing to follow conditions, rising costs and more. It’s been challenging for the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island to keep up with waste removal from […]
BC Ferries has announced that, thanks to $1.5 million in funding from provincial government grant, they have been able to provide WiFi in an additinal 14 small terminals. Whaletown and Heriot Bay are among them. Daniel McIntosh, Communications manager with BC Ferries explained, “Now they will be able to access WiFI at the terminal. Previously they […]
On August 17, Cortes Currents published a review of David Broadland’s report ‘Land-use planning on Quadra Island has been undone by the Ministry of Forests.’ Broadland wrote that while all of the other Quadra Island woodlots leave big trees standing, Okisollo Resources fells a substantial number. In ‘before’ and ‘after’ satellite images from one of their cutblocks at Hummingbird […]
A tiny home on Cortes Island. Photo by Greg Osoba. As Cortes Island wrestles with demand for affordable housing, the creation of a tiny home park is being considered as one short term solution. Sandra Wood, executive director of the Cortes Community Housing Society, says creation of a tiny home park was something the society looked in […]
[From the Archives: April 27, 2021] A $50 million a year business seeks increased logging restrictions in the Outer Discovery Islands. Ralph Kellar, ad hoc chair of the Discovery Islands Marine Tourism Group, cites studies showing that marine tourism brings just as much money as logging into the local economy. Proposed Visual Quality Objectives for Maurelle, […]
Sandcastle Day is an annual competition near Smelt Bay Provincial Park. Photo by Carole Thacker. A sculpture competition will return to the low tides of Smelt Bay this week: Sandcastle Day is set for Saturday, Aug. 27. The annual event has been held on the Cortes Island beach for around 20 years, but it has been […]
Oriane Lee Johnston described her book launch in the Cortes Museum’s Heritage Garden as ‘a perfect fulfillment.’ “There we are in the Heritage Garden of Cortes Museum and Archives. I counted afterwards probably more than 65 people and I’m standing looking out at my friends and neighbours who are happily attentive and all smiling. It […]
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is developing an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) for Area C. the Discovery Isalnds and Mainland Inlets. Meredith Starkey, the Manager for Parks and Planning, described this as a broad level vision plan which can lead to more specific policies and regulations. Group discussion Photo by Headway on Unsplash “For instance, building permits […]
[Part 1 of 3, originally broadcast on Feb 4, 2022] As the second year of the Dillon Creek Wetlands Restoration project on Cortes Island is coming to an end, project manager Miranda Cross gave an overview of the creek’s natural history and ways to restore it. She explained how European settlement brought changes to the […]
[Part 3 of 3, originally broadcast on Feb 8, 2022] In the conclusion of a 3 part series on the Dillon Creek wetlands restoration, Project Manager Maranda Cross talks about BC’s disappearing wetlands and the revegetation currently underway at Linnaea farm on Cortes Island. “Forestry, agriculture and residential developments are our main threats to ecosystems […]
[Part 2 of 3, originally broadcast on Feb 6, 2022] As the second year comes to an end, Project Manager Miranda Cross described the growth of a sediment island within the new Dillon Creek wetland on Cortes Island and gave an overview of the restoration project. This project arose as a response to the algae […]
The Strathcona Regional District Board (SRD) expressed its frustrations with the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) consultation process at the Aug 17 SRD Board meeting. Although they were among the parties invited to a series of meetings about the transition of open net pen fish farms out of the ocean, there have been last minute scheduling changes. Podcast image: […]
[From the Archives: May 3, 2021] At the April 28, 2021 meeting, The Wilderness Tourism Association (WTA) of BC asked the SRD Board to support DFO’s decision to remove fish farms from the Discovery Islands. WTA President Breanne Quesnel, of Spirit of the West Adventures on Quadra Island, reminded the board that they also represent the interests of 15 of its member companies […]
The women’s centre has been operating for four years, providing a variety of services to women in need. Photo courtesy of Cortes Women’s Resource Centre. Photo courtesy of the Cortes Island Women’s Resource Centre The Campbell River and North Island Transition Society is looking for private safe homes to shelter women and children fleeing violence […]
Lin Chen practices Tai Chi on the beach at Smelt bay. Photo by Kashif Abbas. Lin Chen, is offering a four-part series of classes at Smelt Bay Provincial Park over the next two weeks. On Wednesday and Friday mornings, 9am-10am, Tai Chi will take place near the volleyball court. Chen explained how gentle the practice […]
[From the Archives: June 29, 2022] There was an upside to this summer’s long ferry waits at the Whaletown terminal on Cortes island. One of North America’s leading fungi experts, Paul Stamets, was in the car in front of me. While we were waiting for a second ferry, he told me about his discovery of […]
Mosaic informed the SRD Board of its intentions to log Cortes and Quadra Islands in a presentation at the August 17 SRD Board meeting. “Earlier this year, we were really happy to announce that Way Kay Ventures, a newly formed company owned in part by the We Wai Kai First Nation is providing us with our timber […]
Changes are coming to curbside garbage pick-up on Cortes Island. The charge to the island’s 692 units will be rising 50 cents from $97.75, currently, to $99.25 as of April 1, 2025. There are also some changes to the contract. Waste containers – Photo by Donald Trung Quoc Don (Chữ Hán: 徵國單, own work) – via Wikimedia Commons – (CC BY-SA […]
Who needs a fire when you have a Smelt Bay Sunset? The fire chief suggests residents make use of water recreation this summer. Photo by Loni Taylor. BC Wildfire Service has issued a full, open fire ban in the Coastal Fire Centre of British Columbia, which includes Cortes Island. Since Aug. 4, the fire ban has included […]
[From the Archives: Oct 22, 2017] Andy Vine’s best known song is probably Woman of Labrador, which was released in 2005. His musical roots go back to the UK’s 1960s folk revival. CKTZ listeners know him as the host of the Folk Club, every Wednesday at 10:00 AM. I recently interviewed Andy about folk music, his trip to Ireland […]
[From the Archives: June 17, 2016] Greenpeace exploded into the public’s awareness after confronting the Russian Whaling fleet off the coast of California. This kind of environmental action was unheard of in 1975! The next day, there were photographs around the world. Looking back today, Rex Wyler thinks that, in some ways, that moment was the launch of the […]
Sola wood flowers are so life-like, they are commonly used in the place of real flowers for weddings. Photo by Bobbie-Gene Hanson. “Art in the Garden” is a summer program being offered by the Cortes Museum and Archives. The program is coordinated by Laura Balducci and takes place in the Heritage Garden of the museum. Each […]
Cortes Island author Brian Hayden. Image courtesy of Brian Hayden. Brian Hayden, a Cortes Island local and archaeologist, has published his first novel. The Eyes Of The Leopard takes place 20,000 years ago in southwestern France during the ice age. The central character is a young teen who tries to adapt to a new community after […]
Lynne Jordan, former curator of the Cortes Island Museum, is writing a history of Whaletown. Her manuscript is already 300 pages long. In the first of a series of interviews about her research, Jordan describes the history behind Whaletown’s name. Image credit: Humpback whale breaching – Photo by Todd Cravens on Unsplash The First Nations were hunting whales long before […]
Cortes Island Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dave Ives at one of his recruitment stops. Photo by Greg Osoba. Cortes Island has 1,000 year-round residents with a summer population that increases threefold and is served by a volunteer fire department. Dave Ives took over as chief in July and says that, due to conditions during the […]
Devryn Moret and Marisol Thacker performed “Hard Knock Life” from the musical Annie with fellow youth at Mansons Hall. Photo by Loni Taylor. Jennifer Wilson offers a musical theater workshop through the Youth Summer Recreational Program at Mansons Hall and, this summer, Annie is on stage. The recreation program is heavily subsidized through provincial gaming grants, making […]
David Broadland recently wrote a devastating critique of the old growth logging at Hummingbird Lake on Quadra Island. It is sometimes necessary to cut down an old growth tree, so I asked the Cortes Community Forest how often this occurs in their operation. Some of the trees at the edge of one Okisollo cutblock – Photo by […]
Cortes Kayaks bioluminescence tours have been setting out from Mansons Lagoon every Friday and Saturday for the past month. There were about a dozen people in our group, which was mostly composed of off islanders from Vancouver, Victoria or the Cowichan Valley. The only experienced kayakers were our guides, Jolaine Boucher and Maria Francis. However most of […]
[From the Archives: A series of programs originally broadcast daily between Dec 13 and 17, 2021] I mean, I’ve been in cut blocks quite a lot before, I’ve been around that sort of stuff quite a lot, but I’ve never seen it the way I did when I was at Fairy Creek, you know, feeling […]
An exquisite scene hangs outside the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery for the 2022 Annual member’s Show. A hummingbird is depicted flying upward to sample the nectar from a cluster of flowers. Izabelle Perry’s piece is actually a gateway, which some members hope will become a permanent exhibit. The price is $2,500, Kristen Schofield Sweet agreed […]
Cortes Island is home to the Pacific Great Blue Heron. Photo by Helen Hall. Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) is coordinating the Annual Great Blue Heron Count on Tuesday, Aug. 16. The development coordinator and conservationist assistant for FOCI, Shannon Hogan, explains how it works. “If people wanna help us out and participate, they can reach […]
(From the Archives: November 18, 2019) Willow acknowledges the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory or the Laich-Kwil-Tach people of the Wei Wai Kai Nation. Quadra Island’s folk roots quartet Willow has just released a new EP: “The Southend.” They chose that name because the EP was recorded at the United Church in Cape Mudge, and many of the […]
There was much more than artwork in the ‘Sacred Dreamscapes’ exhibit at the Old Schoolhouse Gallery in July. Both of the artists, Kira MacDuffee and Majie Lavergne, are psychotherapists who have described their work as depictions of their ‘inner worlds.’ I was off island at the time, but requested an interview. MacDuffee consented to describe her pilgrimage when I returned. […]
Cosmo Sheldrake enjoying the Beaver Swamp in Kwas Park. Photo by Flora Wallace. Cosmo Sheldrake—musician, composer and producer— is headlining the upcoming local music festival Lovefest. The popular musician is based in London, but he explains how his connection to Cortes Island began early in life. “The first time I came here…my mom was pregnant […]
The Lonely consists of Benji Coey, Jack Weyler, Adam Cleland, Gord Light and newest member, Danielle Lebeau-Petersen. Photo by Geoff Tomlin. A popular cover band from Victoria, The Lonely, will be performing for the first time on Cortes Island at Lovefest on Aug. 14. Jack Weyler is a member of the band, with deep roots on Cortes […]
[From the Archives: Nov 11, 2019] Quadra Island probably has one of the most highly developed Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Programs (NEPP) in Northern Vancouver Island. In the last of my interviews from the 2019 Emergency Preparedness Tradeshow, Betsy Young Quadra Island’s NEPP coordinator, explained how to set up a NEPP program in your neighbourhood. Click here to listen to a podcast […]
The Community Action Bus is coming all the way from Victoria to offer an efficient transit option to Lovefest. Photo courtesy of Community Action Bus. LoveFest is an annual, family friendly music festival at Linnaea Farm that is returning after a two-year hiatus. Every year, the organizers of LoveFest look for creative ways to innovate […]
In the third of a series of interviews leading up to the October 15 election, Area C candidate Robyn Mawhinney describes some of the challenges emergency services face on Quadra Island. “Every month on Quadra Island, there are multiple days where there are no paramedics available, as well as no after hours emergency ferry,” she […]
Cortes Island author Oriane Lee Johnston. Photo by Greg Osoba. First time author Oriane Lee Johnston published The Geography of Belonging, A Love Story through Cortes Island’s independent Salmonberry Arts and Publishing in late July. The jacket cover of The Geography of Belonging, A Love Story. Photo by Greg Osoba. It’s a memoir taking place in Zimbabwe and coastal […]
[From the Archives: Oct 26, 2021] Spirit of the West Adventures had a much better season than expected. Co-owner Breanne Quesnel says that after BC’s interprovincial travel restrictions were lifted, last June, “we saw unprecedented demand for our particular outdoor experience.” Photo courtesy Spirit of the West Adventures The kayaking company adjusted their routine to be […]
[Originally Published May 16, 2019] Many of you are probably aware that Cortes Island’s best known schooner has changed hands. After twenty-one years of showing tourists around our area, Mike Moore and Samantha Statton are retiring. I recently met with the Misty Isles new owners, Amy Bockner and Jonas Fineman, outside the Co-op in Mansons Landing. Amy […]
Jemma has been performing live as well as online throughout her career. Photo courtesy of White Point Photography. Jemma Hicken is a born and raised Cortes musician who is returning to the scene this year to play at the returning, annual summer music festival Lovefest. Hicken has recently finished a degree in music and has […]
Robyn Mawhinney identified housing as the #1 issue in this upcoming October 15 election. “There are already two levels of government, federal and provincial, which are working on housing. I’m not sure that we can ever completely solve it, but it’s really important that we tackle it and there’s many small shifts that could happen,” […]
Discovery Islands Pride Society will host their first event Aug. 14. Image courtesy of Discovery Islands Pride Society. A pride event is being held on Quadra Island this week to celebrate and acknowledge the regional 2SLGBTQ+ community. The new Discovery Islands Pride Society is hosting the event. Marcus Greatheart is a local organizer for the […]
Cortes Currents learned that Jason Johnson was going to be Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation’s (QXMC) new General Manager back in June, but at that time he was busy finishing up as Sayward’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Around the time Johnson took over the helm of the Klahoose First Nation’s economic development corporation, I was on vacation for three […]
[From the Archives: April 26, 2016] A thriving ecotourism sector has grown up in the twenty years since logging ruled over British Columbia’s economy. One of the foremost voices in the Discovery Island area is Mike Moore, whose sailboat the Misty Isles has been touring these waters since 1997. This is the first program taken from a long […]
Quadra Island designer, print maker, graphic artist and ‘rural community enthusiast’ Robyn Mawhinney will be running for Regional Director in Electoral Area C (Discovery Islands and Mainland Islets) on October 15, 2022. The incumbent Jim Abram, who has been a director since 1988, recently announced he will not seek another term. Mawhinney explained, “I have been speaking with a lot […]
New Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation General Manager Jason Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jason Johnson. After being sold last year to the local Klahoose First Nation, Cortes Island’s Gorge Harbour Marina Resort got off to a rough start this spring. The new co-managers hired by Klahoose Nation’s business arm, Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC), were recently fired. The two co-managers for […]
[From the Archives: Aug 15, 2017] As many as 100,000 people participated in the 1967 Summer of Love. There were 450 at the recent anniversary celebration on Cortes, which is a huge turn-out for our little island. I was there, asking what the 50 Summers of Love says to this generation. What the 50 Summers […]
The Rainforest Trail, near Tofino, is much more than a simple path through the woods. Massive western red cedars and western hemlocks tower over visitors as they follow the twisting boardwalks through an enchanted landscape full of the ferns, lichen and fungi typical of an old growth ecosystem. The oldest inhabitant of this stand is a […]
The Beach Crashers will light up the dance floor at the Gorge Hall Saturday night, Aug. 13. Photo by Cara Toutcourt. The Whaletown Community Club is bringing more family fun to the Gorge Hall with live music performances from the Qathet region’s “Beach Crashers” and “Little Pharmer.” Crashers is made up of Paia Elliot, Cam Twyford, […]
The Electoral Areas Housing Needs Report identified an immediate demand for 75 rental and 40 retail units on Cortes Island. In a previous interview, Mark Vonesch from the Cortes Community Housing Society, said, “I hear stories of people having to quit their jobs because they can’t find housing for the summer. I know people that are living under […]
(From the Archives: Aug 26, 2019) Her first performance was as a little girl at Linnaea School on Cortes Island. She was 21, when she produced her first CD. Since then, she has become one of the area’s better known artists. She is living on Mayne Island now, but her mother, Naomi Hayter, still lives on […]
[From the Archives: Dec 5, 2017] According to Volunteer and Fundraising co-ordinator Odette Auger, Deep Roots is important because it is “local, regionally based spoken word programming.” Steering Committee leader David Rousseau says, “it builds capacity and connection around Cortes Radio.” Senior producer Greg Osoba explains, “Deep Roots is both a skill building and story telling exercise to generate […]
The results of a Strathcona Regional District study have come in and residents are reporting concerns about road safety. Image courtesy of the SRD. The Cortes Island Active Transportation Planning Project Study was recently conducted by the Strathcona Regional District (SRD), via a $20,000 grant from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, and the results are in. Cortes […]
[From the Archives: July 9 2019] As I was waiting for the ferry at Quathiaski Cove, my eyes were drawn to a trailer full of rough planking and an antique floating devise. They belonged to a BC Ferry captain from the Quadra to Cortes run. Randall Warnock spends a lot of time salvaging on British […]
According to BC Parks, Campbell River is home to “the only significant stand of old-growth Douglas Fir north of Macmillan Provincial Park [Cathedral Grove].” Yet the city seems to be virtually oblivious of the “towering old growth Douglas Fir and Cedar trees” in the 3.5 kilometre Riverside and Old Growth Loop trails. Screenshot from Parking […]
Hollyhock is feeling the love as they celebrate 40 years of lifelong learning at the Cortes Island campus. Photo courtesy of Hollyhock Learning Centre. Hollyhock Learning Centre celebrated 40 years of lifelong education programming on Cortes Island, the week of July 27th. Since 1982, possibly earlier, the land has been bringing people together to grow […]
(From the Archives: July 1, 2018) From the beginning, Meinsje was been a prominent voice in Cortes Island’s artistic community. She taught art at the Linnaea school for fifteen years and is a director of the Old School House Art Gallery. Meinsje’s “Dream Caravan” dance troop, her performances at Cortes Island Lip Syncs and Cabarets, puppetry and paintings continue […]
Mansons Hall will host the first Dance Temple event of 2022, but there are more to come. Photo by Naomi Jason. Connie Quayle and her partner, Val Lange are bringing Dance Temple to Cortes Island next week. Quayle is a former resident of Cortes, returning to live on the island after spending the last five […]
(From the Archives: March 14, 2022) It was a beautiful time; you know, there’s these blips in history and you don’t realize that when it’s happening, how special it is. — Lovena Harvey On February 9th 2022, Whaletown neighbours near the Robertson/Whaletown intersection were alarmed by an unusual sight: the old “Trude’s Café” building was […]
(From the Archives: Feb 10, 2018) George Sirk’s newest radio program comes from a lifelong passion. He became a specialist in “tropical ecology, in places such as Australia, Papua New Guinea and tropical America,” and later an expedition leader in the Canadian Arctic. He first brought this to the airwaves for CFUV in Victoria. George also produced seven minute clips […]
(From the Archives: Jan 10, 2018) George Sirk whispered “Cortes Radio” for years before he found the right pair of ears. This led to a meeting at Manson’s Hall, to discuss possibilities. Howie Roman attended and, six months after the station was launched, became a DJ. He still is. “My prime interest in Cortes radio […]
Large numbers of pink salmon are returning to our area this summer. “I am seeing these pink salmon return – their numbers appear huge, they are leaping everywhere, finning along the surface for hundreds of kilometers,” emailed independant biologist Alexandra Morton. Lara Sloan, a communications advisor with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), wrote they are expecting […]
Kate Maddigan (left), volunteer with the Cortes Island Academy with her mother Anne MacDonald (right). Photo by Greg Osoba. The Cortes Island Academy is launching its inaugural semester of programs for high school students this September. The Cortes Island School only accommodates students up until Grade 9. The Cortes Island Academy, or “CIA” as it’s known, is the creation […]
[from the Archives: July 9 , 2019] According to the description on their website, the McKentys saga starts sounds on a steep snowy mountainside in the backwoods of British Columbia. Robert and Elizabeth had a small cabin, “many children of various sizes, a wood stove, a small battery-powered stereo system that sometimes worked, a mandolin, […]
When Cortes Currents asked the Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) who to interview for more in depth coverage of ‘species at risk,’ they responded ‘Jenna Cragg’ from BC’s Ministry of Environment. That was last January, which shows how busy she is. Sabina Leader-Mense described Cragg as one of FOCI’s key ‘go to’ species at risk biologists, who […]
[From the Archives: Jan 6:2022] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released a survey that showed the total number of marine species at risk within the Salish Sea doubled between 2002 and 2015. While the Discovery Islands are within the study area, the EPA study did not list specific locations. So Cortes Currents asked Max Thaysen, President […]
“Falling Boundaries” depicts collages of historical imagery of colonial deforestation and photos of the present day destruction left behind. Photo courtesy of David Ellingsen. David Ellingsen is presenting his latest work “Falling Boundaries” at the Old School House Gallery opening this weekend on July 29. “Falling Boundaries” depicts collages of historical imagery of colonial deforestation […]
Three full-time job opportunities are available at the office of the Klahoose First Nation, located in the Multipurpose Building. Photo courtesy of the Klahoose First Nation. For over ten years, Kerry (Marion) McKellar has been the administrator for Klahoose First Nation. McKellar is retiring at the end of 2022. The job is being split into […]
[Written version from the Archives” October 2016; premiere of the radio version July 28, 2022.] Editor’s note: The most popular story on Cortes Currents is ‘Where are Germany’s Bears, Wolves and Eagles?’ There have been more than 14,000 views. There were 126 last month. As the written version of this interview was published six years ago, […]
[From the Archives; Sep 20, 2017] Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure closed a small segment of Whaletown Road on Cortes Island. The impact on the local community is minimal. However British Columbia’s threatened fish stocks greatly benefit from projects like replacing the culvert at Basil Creek. The Problem With About 140,000 […]
“Love is forever,” says Alunaye Laura Holland, Wet’suwet’en of the Laksilyu House. Martha Martin (left) and Laura Holland (right) stand together at a memorial for Jared Lowdnes, Holland’s son. Photo by Odette Auger. Note: This story contains accounts of police violence, racism and hate against Indigenous people that could be triggering. Please listen with care. […]
Mark Vonesch hopes to bring a new kind of politics to Cortes Island if he is elected Regional Director on October 15, 2022. “One of the biggest things I want to do with this campaign is bring people together who think differently than each other,” he explained. “What I can do is initiate conversations and […]
Gordy Ryan and ensemble perform at the Seattle World Rhythm Festival. Image courtesy of Seattle World Percussion Society. Since 1990, members of Babatunde Olatunji’s Drums of Passion ensemble have been teaching West African drumming and dancing at Hollyhock Leadership Learning Centre on Cortes Island. Babatunde Olatunji. Image courtesy of last.fm. “Baba”, as he’s known, was based in […]
(From the Archives: May 14, 2016.) Six to eight hundred adult Chum Salmon used to come up Hansen’s Creek. Now there are 30 in a good year and as few as 3 in poor ones. Though we were talking about Cortes Island, this is a common phenomenon along the West Coast of British Columbia. What happened to the salmon? […]
Harbour Authority of Cortes Island manager Jenny Hartwick. Photo by Greg Osoba. Summer is the busiest time of year for recreational boaters, and docks on Cortes Island are popular. Harbour Authority of Cortes Island Manager Jenny Hartwick anticipates one of the busiest seasons on record. She advises vessel owners to secure valuable items on board in […]
(From the Archives: August 23, 2016) There are more than more 40 names on the Cortes Island Museum’s list of fishermen from the 1970’s. Some were wives, who worked alongside their husbands. Others may have been deckhands. The names of 28 boats are given, though not how many were working in any given year. Now […]
The October 15 election is in a little less than two months. So far, Mark Vonesch is the only candidate for Cortes Island Regional Director. In the fourth of a series arising from an interview with Vonesch, he was asked what he would bring to the office from his years of experience working in Cortes […]
(From the Archives: July 21, 2019) While better known as an environmentalist and one of the co-founders of Greenpeace, some of Rex’s earliest memories involve singing. “Being with a group of people and making music together is one of the most intense forms of communication I’ve ever experienced.” In this morning’s interview we get to hear […]
(From the Archives: October 4, 2019) He settled on Cortes just after BC Ferries started serving the island. John Sprungman became one of the principal voices behind the 1978 – 80 renovation at Mansons Hall. He went on to serve several terms as President of the Southern Cortes Community Association. In this morning’s interview he talks about the origins of Mansons Hall, […]
The Fungisle spread at the Farmers Market may include Golden Enoki, Chestnut, Coral Tooth, Lion’s Mane, and/or Black Pearl Oyster mushrooms. Photo by Farhad Zahir. Farhad Zahir incorporated his business, “Fungisle,” last year on Cortes Island and his edible mushroom farm is expanding quickly. A new community supported agriculture (CSA) box service has been introduced […]
Reef Point Farm has been an established farm for decades on Cortes Island and Sarah has taken up the mantle of working the land. Photo courtesy of Weaver Films. Sara Stewart, a local produce farmer on Cortes Island, has been running her market garden called Wildflower Produce for years, but recently, with unpredictable weather patterns, […]
(From the Archives: April 9, 2019) His first memory of Cortes Island is of the Ellingsen family moving their log float home to Von Donop Inlet in 1945. His stories go back decades further. Michael Manson, whose name is preserved in Mansons Landing, was his maternal great grandfather. What was life like in the 1940s and […]
Entryway to the Quadra Island RCMP detachment. Image courtesy of Quadra Island RCMP. On Quadra Island, police are seeking leads on two unsolved crimes. One involves the theft on June 13 of more than $1,500 worth of linens—bedsheets, towels, and rags from Taku resort. As well, about $600 was lifted from a cash register in a separate […]
(From the Archives: April 22, 2021) Born in New York, he chose Canada. Another two years passed before he arrived on a remote island off the West Coast. Paul Kirmmse remembers Cortes Island in 1971. “I originally came here in January of ’71, looking for land. A guy gave me a job for the summer, beginning in April, serving coffee […]
Cortes Islanders will be going to the polls on October 15th and Mark Vonesch hopes they will elect him as their next Regional Director. In the third of a series of interviews, he talks about how the example of former Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson inspired him to enter politics. Vonesch’s connection dates back to the […]
Michael Manson’s grandfather came from the Shetland Islands and founded Sunny Brae Farm in the late 1880s. Mike told me the Cortes Island Story, as experienced by one of the first settler families. The Farmer Gene Places Mentioned in the podcast – adapted from Google Maps by Roy L Hales Mike explained, “I think I […]
Majie Lavergne (left) and Kira MacDuffee (right) showcase their work in “Sacred Dreamscapes” at the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery. Photo by Loni Taylor. Over the weekend, the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery opened a new show called Sacred Dreamscapes. The artists behind the exhibit, Kira MacDuffee and Majie Lavergne, are also psychotherapists. “We’ll be working with using some […]
Mixed media preview of “Ordinary Magic” opening night at the Old Schoolhouse July 1st. Art by Jane Newman. Cortes Island is enjoying many returns to the arts this summer, as COVID-19 restrictions lift, magic is filling the Old Schoolhouse. Jane Newman had applied to have her art show exhibit at the art gallery for the […]
A new UBC study found that the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population isn’t getting enough to eat. As lead author Fanny Couture explained, “The study goes from 1979 to 2020. We were trying to understand whether the Southern Resident Killer Whale population had enough food to eat to sustain their energy needs. So a human needs […]
It has been twelve months since billions of marine animals along the West Coast of British Columbia perished during a record breaking heat wave. Temperatures of between 35°C and 40°C were recorded at the Cortes Island School during the last five days of June. Dr Chris Harley examining some of the die offs in Vancouver – submitted […]
Jane Newman calls her exhibition ‘Ordinary Magic.” It will be coming to the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery on Friday July 1. “What I find that I’m trying to do, since I’ve been living on Cortes for the last five years, is express the energy of the land, or the energy of nature. I’m very much connected to […]
Erica Køhn and Zain Burgess are co-facilitators for the Reel Youth Film Program on Cortes Island. Photo by Erica Køhn. Reel Youth will host a film festival for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic this Tuesday, June 28. The premiere will be showcasing local Cortes media-makers ranging in age from nine to 17-years-old. Artistic […]
The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery’s 2022 Season kicks off at 6 PM on Friday, July 1, with Jane Newman’s solo exhibit ‘Ordinary Magic.’ This is also the first season in which the gallery has a manager. Bianca Lee, Manager of the Old SChoolhouse Art Gallery – submitted photo Bianca Lee explained, “The gallery manager gets to […]
The open water between Cortes Island, Reed and Quadra Island. It is a 40 minute boat ride from Quadra Island RCMP dispatch to Cortes Island. Photo by Loni Taylor. Quadra Island RCMP say communication is vital when it comes to responding to incidents in remote communities like Cortes and Quadra Islands. Const. Rebekah Draht is […]
Another logging confrontation may be coming on Quadra Island. On November 15, 2021 a little group of Quadra Island ‘grannies,’ calling themselves the Friends of Hyacinthe Creek, shut down the Mosaic Forest Management logging operations in Tan Creek. Eileen Sowerby – Photo by Rod Burns “We said they could take out the logs that they’ve already cut. […]
Community Musical Play facilitator Christopher Fleck. Photo by Greg Osoba. Music has been an important part of Christopher Fleck’s life for decades and he’s now using sound and movement to bring people together in facilitated sessions he calls “Community Musical Play.” Fleck launched the free weekly outdoor sessions, which take place Saturday afternoons, this spring at a […]
The Strathcona Regional District’s rural directors responded to the Housing Needs Report at the Electoral Areas Services Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 15. Sandy Mackay, of M’akola Development Services, gave the Directors a presentation. “We began earlier this year and continued throughout winter and spring of 2022. The study was extensive. It included a selection of key informant interviews, which […]
An adult black-legged tick which can carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Photo credit: Erik Karits on Unsplash. Spring and summer is the time to be cautious about ticks and Lyme disease, and this year the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has created an interactive map to help people see if they reside in a […]
Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced a two-year renewal of licences for marine finfish aquaculture facilities outside of the Discovery Islands. “I have mixed opinions about the announcement. I think there’s some good things and there are some not so good things,” said Stan Probosczc, senior scientist with the Watershed Watch Salmon Society. “They received a license for […]
Dave Ives is the new fire chief for Cortes Island VFD. Photo courtesy of the Cortes Island Volunteer Fire Department. David Ives has recently taken on the position of Fire Chief for the Cortes Island Fire Volunteer Department (VFD). He has been working in the firefighting realm for 20 years, and began as a volunteer. […]
Mark Lombard walks the community through a map of the Community Forest’s licensed forestry lots. Photo by Loni Taylor. The Cortes Forestry General Partnership (CFGP) hosted its first consultation with the community in regards to the Anvil Lake area on June 18. This specific consultation was the first community discussion to navigate the possibility of building an […]
The fate of a proposal to develop 51 residential lots, a campground, marina and two waterfront parks on Quadra Island may finally have been decided. The public meeting for Rick Schellinck ’s proposed Gowland Harbour Views development was originally scheduled for July 28, 2011 and, after eleven years of delays, finally occured on April 20, […]
The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) will be holding its 2022 convention in Whistler on September 12 -16. Local governments traditionally seek interviews with high level provincial officials. The interviews can be up to 15 minutes long and cover up to 3 topics. The SRD chose their topics at the Wednesday June 15 Board meeting. […]
Heather Reimer took over as General Manager of Gorge Harbour Marina in February. Her day usually starts at 6:30 AM with coffee as she looks through the emails that came in throughout the night. Two hours, and several cups of coffee later, Reimer will usually be in the office. Heather Reimer – submitted photo She […]
A tour of kayak paddlers enjoys the waters off Cortes Island. Image courtesy of Cortes Kayaks. Kai Harvey grew up on rural Cortes Island and comes from an entrepreneurial family. She’s committed to the island and wanted to find a way to stay, rather than needing to leave the island to find work, as many […]
Tanya Krahn has been bringing raw food products to Market on Cortes for 10 years. Photo by M. Anderson. Tanya Krahn is celebrating 10 years as a raw food supplier for Cortes Island: what began in the Andean Mountains of Ecuador has carried on into the development of a lineup of raw cacao products under […]
Forty-five percent (45%) of the respondents renting homes in rural areas say they pay more than they can afford, according to the SRD Electoral Areas Housing Needs Report. Statistics from the 2016 census support this. 41% of renters and 9% of home owners in the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) paid more than 30% of their income on accommodation. […]
The Klahoose First Nation may be close to signing a treaty with the governments of British Columbia and Canada. In an email to the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) dated April 26, Jessica Jamieson, from BC’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, stated the Klahoose were to be provided with an offer of treaty land and cash this […]
There have been many droughts in Vancouver Island’s history. A University of Victoria study of tree ring data found that some were worse than anything in modern records, but also predicted a mega-drought is coming. This year’s wet Spring may make a difference, but there have been reports of wells running dry every summer since 2014. Consequently, increasing […]
The Cortes Island Academy aims to approach learning in a hands on way with education happening out in the field as well as in the classroom. Photo by Rachel Claire on pexels.com The Campbell River School District 72 has helped create and fund a new high school program for students in Grades 9-12 this fall […]
In a previous interview, Bernie Amell said that development could take place in a manner that respects the natural water balance. Amell is a co-owner of the environmental design firm Source2Source and a recognized authority in the design of constructed wetlands for water treatment, and in the restoration of streams and riparian habitats. He has presented his work […]
General Manager Mary Lavelle stands outside the Cortes Natural Food Co-op. Photo by Greg Osoba. Mary Lavelle took the general manager’s reigns at the Cortes Island Natural Food Co-op at the beginning of this year. She says she had big boots to fill after former general manager Eric Hargrave moved on after a nine year tenure. Lavelle’s […]
This is the third in a series of articles about island aquifers. First, we spoke to the Quadra ICAN water security team members Jude McCormick, Kris Wellstein, Bernie Amell and Mike Gall about evidences that the groundwater supply is diminishing. Then we reviewed some previous stories about this issue on Cortes Island. Now we return to […]
Cortes Island is experiencing a wetter than normal Spring this year, but some of Cortes Island’s shallow well owners experience water shortages every summer. Scientists appear to agree that there will be more severe shortages in the future. This is a global phenomenon and there appear to be many causes: the depletion of forest coverage, growth of […]
Vaudevillian Angus Magico will perform on Cortes Island June 17-18. Image by Kael LaLonde. Angus MacDonald is a street performer with a show titled, “Angus Magico.” The show is slated for two performances at Mansons Hall this weekend, June 17-18. MacDonald was a street performer for 15 years, touring Europe, Australia, and Mexico. The magician […]
Last month, there was a celebration in honour of three women who returned 47 acres on Read Island to the Homalco First Nation. “There’s a lovely little sort of swamp on it, the bluffs and you can see the sea, but I live on Quadra and Helen lives in Vancouver and we rarely went out […]
Odette Auger was “honored” and “happy” to be recognized at the recent Canadian Association of Journalism Awards (CAJA). Photo by Odette Auger. Cortes Island resident and journalist Odette Auger recently received a Mindset Award for mental health reporting. Auger began her journey in journalism with the “Deep Roots” project. The audio story initiative was a collaboration between Friends […]
Sometime in the next three weeks, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries, Joyce Murray, will decide whether the licenses for 79 fish farms will be renewed. “I heard a rumour that the minister laid out her options or her ideas to cabinet and cabinet has the plans right now. They’re figuring out what to do. We can […]
Coast Guard training provides hands on experience for new hires. Photo courtesy of the Canadian Coast Guard Twitter. The Canadian Coast Guard has four seasonally operated Inshore Rescue Boat stations across the BC coast that reopened for the season on May 20th. The stations are located in Cortes Bay, Sointula, Nootka Sound and Kelsey Bay […]
The Cortes Natural Food Co-op. Photo by Greg Osoba. As of June 1, British Columbia’s minimum wage is the highest in Canada at $15.65 per hour. Yet businesses in urban and rural communities are struggling to meet staffing needs; some of the hardest hit are the service, hospitality and retail sectors. According to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, […]
Shark Spit is a popular destination for boaters to land on Marina Island. Photo by Loni Taylor. A group of youth kayakers were faced with a disturbance on Marina Island, a remote spot just off the west coast of Cortes Island, on May 28. The Quadra RCMP released the following statement: “On May 28th, 2022 […]
Mariano (Mario) De Rose is described as heavy set, with a grey beard. Photo courtesy of the Quadra RCMP. A former resident of Cortes Island is wanted by RCMP for uttering threats against a person and against property. Last week, Quadra Island RCMP released a statement regarding Mariano (AKA Mario) DeRose, who relocated to Quadra Island […]
Dr Chelsey Geralda Armstrong is an associate professor from SFU and the lead author of a paper, about the ancient forest gardens in Nuu-chah-nulth territory, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. While individual species do grow in the wild, forest gardens and orchards exhibit a sophisticated understanding of cultivation and are found adjacent to ancient […]
The grounding of “March Wind” in January prompted Roy Hales to write a story about boats adrift. I’d like to dig (or dive?) a little deeper under that story and consider some of the factors that have led to the increasing number of derelict and dilapidated boats on the BC Coast. The Good Old Days … […]
The streets of Campbell River have opened up with a series of free, family-friendly events and entertainment that will continue until September. “We think that this is a great opportunity. Hopefully COVID is starting to leave us and we have the ability to return to a new normal. This whole set of opportunities with the […]
TECHspert owner/operator Clio Forsyth Morrissette. Photo by Guillaume Simoneau. Editor’s Note: CKTZ is a supporting partner of the TECHspert drop in service. Sensing a need by Cortes Islanders for help with technology, Clio Forsyth Morrissette discovered that other islanders had the same vision. She wondered how to provide help to as many people as possible, seeking help […]
How our local government works The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) reversed its previous decision and approved the rezoning of a property in Quathiaski Cove, on Quadra Island. Jonathan and Eliah Turkstra wish to subdivide their 5 acre property into two parcels. In an Electoral Area directors only vote, the Turkstra’s application was turned down on May 11, 2022. […]
The connected coast is a joint communications project undertaken by CityWest and the Strathcona Regional District (SRD). They will bring high speed internet to 90,000 households in remote communities from Haida Gwaii to northern Vancouver Island. As of June 2, they have laid more than 500 of the 3,400 kilometres of fibre optic cable needed by this project. They […]
Johnny Hanuse cradles his epiphone, as he strums and sings by fire light. Photo by Loni Taylor At least eighty people were filed into the Gorge Hall on May 27. Amy and Rick Bockner sang a father-daughter blues duet to tease the crowd, then Jonathan James was introduced to the eager audience. Dancing began instantly […]
Poster advertising the Strathcona Regional District’s housing survey. Photo by Greg Osoba. The Strathcona Regional District on Vancouver Island conducted a housing needs survey aimed at determining levels of housing access in individual communities from April 11-May 11. Cortes Island is within the district and residents actively participated in the survey. The Cortes Island Women’s Resource Center helped with […]
The Cortes Forestry General Partnership is currently focusing on wildfire fuel mitigation strategies. While none have been large, there were recent fires on West Redonda, Read, Quadra and Sonora Islands. “It’s highly possible that we can have a fire here,” said General Manager Mark Lombard. Lombard has been working on wildfire and fuel mitigation strategies for Cortes Island. He helped SRD […]
Tickets for Lovefest 2022 go on sale this week. Rex Weyler is distributing them to stores throughout Cortes Island and will be selling tickets at Mansons Friday Market. “The whole purpose of Lovefest, right from the beginning, is just a fun community day of people being together. Great music and giving a venue for the […]
Mansons Hall advertises a movie night. Photo by Loni Taylor The energy to bring people back together on Cortes Island is taking a hold in Mansons Landing, with a new community group emerging. Cora Moret said a recent community survey showed a renewed demand for social gatherings. The Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) conducted the […]
The Strathcona Regional District is seeking legal advice about expanding the access road and parking lot at Hoskyn Landing, on the north east corner of Quadra Island. Hoskyn Landing is used by foot traffic crossing from Quadra to Read and Maurelle Islands, as well as hikers on the Surge Rapids Trail and kayakers within Surge Narrows Provincial Park. The SRD’s […]
On Friday, May 27, a group of pro-fish farm scientists responded to recent testimonies before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans through an opinion article in the Globe and Mail. Four of the authors are from British Columbia. Dr Tony Farrell is a professor and Canada Research Chair for fish physiology, culture and conservation […]
Jesse Bignall, owner/operator of Big Tows Towing. Photo by Greg Osoba. Up until a few weeks ago, for Cortes Islanders needing to remove dead vehicles, or get ones in need of repair to a mechanic, it meant a trip to neighboring Quadra Island, or to Campbell River on Vancouver Island, or, hiring someone providing those […]
The Mansons Hall Playschool sits quiet and empty, five days a week. Photo by Loni Taylor Hannah Schwartzentruber is now the Playschool Facilitator at Mansons Hall. In a short time in the position, she has already made improvements to childcare accessibility on Cortes by expanding the playschool hours and offering an additional outdoor program. Schwartzentruber […]
The Strathcona Regional District will be conducting an independent audit of director remuneration and expenses. “I received more money than other directors,” admitted Regional Director Jim Abram of Area C (Discovery Islands-Mainland Inlets), who then proceeded to explain how this came about. Chair Brad Unger said, “There’s no defending anything here. The motion is for […]
‘Climate Crisis: The Cascade Effect’ opens at Wild Cortes, in the Linnaea Education Centre, 1 PM on Sunday May 29, 2022. Co-curator Donna Collins explained that this exhibit illustrates what the climate crisis is doing to our natural habitat, especially species like deer, owls and the island’s apex predators. Deer ticks are already a problem, […]
Some of Canada’s top scientists are being asked to testify before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, While it is not clear exactly why this is happening, the common theme running through their presentations is the need for DFO to be more based in scientific evidences and less in the needs of […]
Campbell River is a hub for Vancouver Island tugboat companies, but Reuben Buerge lives in Heriot Bay on Quadra Island. “When I first started, I was the deck hand. At that time we were towing log booms up and down the coast. I worked locally here on a really cool boat called the Utah for a […]
Michael Keith pictured with custom-made cigar box guitars crafted in Campbell River, BC. Photo by Iris Gildea Cortes Island is home to many musicians, but, during the pandemic, live music events were almost entirely non-existent due to public health orders. With the orders finally lifted, local artists are eager to return to the stage. Michael […]
Editor’s note: Cortes Currents was notified that this event has been put on hold due to an illness. They plan to reschedule it in the near future. The Hereditary Chiefs of the Laichkwiltach, We Wai Kai and K’omok First Nations will be taking a protest flotilla to the Raza Island fish farm on Saturday, May […]
In the second of a series of posts gleaned from the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, Dr John Reynolds proposes that DFO adopt a prime directive “where management objectives are expressly prohibited from influencing science.” Dr Reynolds is a professor of Aquatic Ecology and Conservation at Simon Fraser University, the lead or co-author of 183 peer […]
Close to 600 people died in British Columbia’s June 2021 heat wave. As it occurred during an abnormally low tide, billions of mussels, clams, sea stars and other invertebrates are believed to have perished. Some of the marine devastation was on Cortes and Quadra Islands. A new record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Canada was set, but a new […]
Cortes Creations owner Leslie Mack-Mumford attends the recent Mother’s Day beach clean up on Cortes Island. Photo by Greg Osoba. Inspired by the enthusiasm her teenage sons shared after being on hand for a high school presentation nearly 10 years ago, Cortes Creations owner Leslie Mack-Mumford got creative. The family business was looking for a way to […]
Hollyhock offers garden-fresh fare for program attendees and the public. Photo courtesy of Hollyhock Lifelong Learning Centre. Hollyhock, a lifelong education center located on Cortes Island, serves Canadians far and wide. But as the campus opens up for the spring season, there are many offerings available to locals as well. As the world faced the […]
The latest Quadra RCMP update mentioned five episodes. The most dramatic was about a man who went missing on Cortes Island a week ago, but the RCMP now assure us he has been found alive and well. They did not want to release any more details, for privacy issues, but did say he was located somewhere off […]
It has been three weeks since a federal court ruled that former Federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bernadette Jordan breached the rights of B.C. salmon farmers to procedural fairness, when she ordered them to phase out their operations in the Discovery Islands by June 2022. Now Cermaq Canada is returning to its site on Raza Island. Raza Island […]
The public hearing for a proposed RV park on land owned by the Quadra Island Golf Course (Quadra Links) has been rescheduled to November 23, 2022. This is a reversal of the decision made at the April 13 SRD Board meeting, when Regional Director Jim Abram had insisted the meeting be held on May 18. […]
While they have had a forestry license in Toba Inlet since 2009, Klahoose Forestry has been going through some significant changes. Bruno Pereira, Senior Manager of Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC) explained that when he arrived three years ago, operations were managed by a partner from Vancouver. “The last few years have been transition years going […]
Cortes Men’s Circle founder Tommaso Biasiolo believes it is important to offer men safe spaces. Image courtesy of Tommaso Biasiolo. The Cortes Island Men’s Circle is launching its new season of meetings on May 3 with an open evening at the Hollyhock Learning and Leadership Center sanctuary. Since 2020, Tommaso Biasiolo has organized The Cortes Island Men’s Circle. Biasiolo feels […]
[OPINION/EDITORIAL] Public opinion and Federal and Provincial policy are finally swinging (at the eleventh hour) towards protection of the pathetic remnants of BC’s old growth forest and possibly some reform of forest management practise. In response, the timber/pulp industry appears to be mounting a last-ditch PR effort to defend its traditional extractive model and discredit […]
Tim Pley and Associates has been hired to conduct a feasibility study for a fire brigade to serve the Outer Discovery Islands. The Surge Narrows Community Association (SNCA) requested the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) investigate the costs and implications of this project last September. A motion to hire Pley and Associates passed without comment at the April 27, […]
Unlike their Mainland cousins, Vancouver Island’s Black Bears make their dens almost exclusively in large-diameter old trees, stumps, logs, or root wads. Dens are normally left dormant for a while after use, due to parasite infestation and the need to escape predators. However a study in the Nimpkish Valley, south of Port McNeill, found that 72% of […]
Wetlands, such as this pond in Kw’as Park where the interview was recorded, are important habitat for amphibians. Photo by Anastasia Avvakumova. The familiar sound of a chorus of frogs is one sure sign that spring has arrived, and is an important part of the animals’ courtship during mating season. The Pacific Tree Frog, also […]
There was one Cortes and four Quadra Island reports in this week’s email from the Quadra RCMP detachment. None of these involved an arrest, fine or any police action beyond a warning. In one case, a group of youth were commended as ‘good citizens.’ Image credit: A 911 dispatcher courtesy BC RCMP Facebook page With temperatures rising, the RCMP […]
When Cortes Currents asked the Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) who to interview for more in depth coverage of ‘species at risk,’ they responded ‘Jenna Cragg’ from BC’s Ministry of Environment. That was last January, which shows how busy she is. Sabina Leader-Mense described Cragg as one of FOCI’s key ‘go to’ species at risk biologists, who […]
Dr. Amita Kuttner is the new interim leader of the Green Party of Canada. Photo courtesy Amita Kuttner/Facebook. KATE MADDIGAN – CKTZ – CORTES ISLAND • BC | 27-04-2022 Community, Politics Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin Share on pinterest Share on email Share on print Dr. Amita Kuttner, interim leader of the national Green Party, began their Reconnection […]
This January, at the Friends of Cortes Island Annual General Meeting, Bruce Harrison was awarded the Jo Anne Green Environmental Award. The Jo Anne Green award is an honour for leadership in community-based environmental awareness, protection and restoration. Jo Anne Green was a founder of the Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) and an inspiration for […]
A newly erected shelter adorns the middle of the “Village Commons” in the Mansons Landing area of Cortes Island. Photo by Greg Osoba. The “Village Commons” in the Mansons Landing area of rural Cortes Island can now be booked for public events via The Tideline, community website. The Cortes Community Economic Development Association overseas the outdoor venue and […]
The Strathcona Regional District is in the midst of a 30 day survey of rural housing insecurity and service needs. The Campbell River and District Coalition to end homelessness emailed copies to every Vancouver Island Regional Library in the district. There was a network of volunteers ready to work with them on Cortes Island and […]
On Friday, April 22, a federal court ruled that Former Federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bernadette Jordan breached the rights of B.C. salmon farmers to procedural fairness when she ordered them to phase out operations in the Discovery Islands by June 2022. the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal are in the Supreme […]
Sexual health education for kids is needed more than ever, according to educator Kerri Isham. Photo courtesy of the Province of British Columbia. On February 25 of this year, the Cortes Community Health Association provided a free online workshop entitled “How to talk to your kids about…” The workshop was led by certified sexual health educator Kerri […]
In the three years since they hired Bruno Pereira, Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC) has purchased the Klahoose Wilderness Resort, Gorge Harbour Marina, a water taxi, a piece of ocean front property for a combined campsite/RV park and entered into the seaweed farm business. They intend to add another 20 rental units, a larger store and gas station at the Gorge. […]
The Cortes Island health center in Mansons Landing. Image courtesy of the Cortes Island Community Health Association. A shortage of family doctors in British Columbia is not only affecting cities, but has spread to rural areas. Nearly a million people are without a family doctor in the province, according to a BC Family Doctors press […]
There were two public forestry events, while Mosaic visited Cortes Island this week. About 135 people attended the mixed in-person/ZOOM ‘Celebrating our Forests’ meeting at Mansons Hall on the evening of April 20, 2022. Around 16 people joined Mosaic on at least one of the two field walks of proposed cutblocks the following day. (Someone* […]
More than 20 people gathered at the Klahoose hatchery in Squirrel Cove to watch around 5,000 Chum fry be released back into Basil Creek on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Six of them were women and girls from the Klahoose village, who came to sing a prayer song. Seven were homeschool students, enrolled in the Partners in […]
Cortes Island evacuation map. Photo courtesy of the Strathcona Regional District. The Quadra Island Emergency Program (QIEP) is having a disaster preparedness expo on May 14, and residents from the surrounding islands are invited. QIEP is an emergency volunteer organization functioning under the SRD’s emergency program. It works to assist residents in the event of emergencies, […]
Quadra ICAN sells 250 gallon water storage tanks at cost ($200 each). According to Kris Wellstein, from the ICAN water security team, they have sold about 200 so far. She connected Cortes Currents with two Heriot Bay residents to get further details about their installations. A spigot for watering – courtesy Kathryn Manry “Were you around last […]
The entry way to The Cortes Market general store on rural Cortes Island. Photo by Greg Osoba. On June 1, BC’s minimum wage will increase by 45 cents to $15.65 per hour, making it the highest in Canada, according to the Retail Council of Canada. The provincial government says the rise is to help workers cope with inflation, […]
Regular water taxi trips between Lund and Cortes Bay are only one of services that the Access Point Marine Group is bringing to our area. They are transforming Finn Bay, a two minute walk north of Lund, into a hub for water transportation and tourism. The water taxi started making scheduled trips to Cortes Island last November, but went to […]
Left to right: Aaron McCulloch-Gary, Greg Osoba, Garden Stein and Dana Trueman, members of local band Six Foot Johnson, perform at Lovefest 2018. Image courtesy of Richard Trueman. Editor’s Note: Greg Osoba has played with bands Six Foot Johnson and with the Mark Brotten and Rex Weyler ensembles in past Lovefest events. An annual summer […]
Teramura said past international students in the school district have come from Spain, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and other countries. Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash BC School District 72 (SD72) is preparing for a brand new high school program called Cortes Island Academy (CIA) this fall and needs homestay families to host off-island students. The pilot program aims to remedy the […]
In community workshops, Iris J. Gildea offers poetic inquiry as a creative practice. Photo by Kate Maddigan. With pandemic protocols slowly winding down, Cortes Islanders can expect more in-person events and gatherings returning to the community, including a monthly poetry workshop led by Iris J. Gildea. Using an expressive arts approach with meditations, the March […]
Cortes Island discusses response to Mosaic Forest Management logging plans. Photo by Kate Maddigan. In response to Mosaic Forest Management’s proposed logging activity on Cortes Island, announced in January, a public meeting was held outdoors at the Village Commons lot in Mansons Landing on March 12. More than 30 people attended on the cold and rainy day […]
The MV Tachek docks at the Whaletown ferry terminal on Cortes Island. Photo by Greg Osoba. A 1.5 million dollar fund provided to the BC Ferries corporation by the provincial government, has added internet access to 14 small terminals on the BC coast. The effort is part of an initiative aimed at increasing broadband service to more […]
This illustration of aquifers was created by Water Security Team’s Bernie Amell. Image courtesy of Quadra ICAN’s Water Security Team. The Water Security Team, part of Quadra Island’s Climate Action Network (Quadra ICAN), is stepping up its offerings of information, research and implementation of projects vital to the future of water. Emeritus professor and stone sculptor Lee Gass, […]
Cortes Streamkeepers Cec and Christine Robinson show children salmon fry they are about to release. Photo by Anastasia Avvakumova. Cortes Island Streamkeepers released nearly 20,000 chum salmon fry into Whaletown Creek on Cortes Island on Saturday, March 19, in an ongoing effort to bring back the natural fish population for a healthy ecosystem. Fry are fish […]
The newly changed by-laws allow an interested board member to reapply for election after reaching the previous maximum of 6 years. Image courtesy of Cortes Natural Food Co-op. A unanimous vote by the attendees of the Cortes Natural Food Co-op‘s general meeting approved several changes to the organization’s by-laws on Tues, Mar. 15. The changes included: […]
The program will kick off with outdoor adventure leadership. Photo by Tatum Bergen on Unsplash A unique high school program is coming to Cortes Island this fall, created in collaboration between School District 72 (SD72) and Cortes parents and volunteers. The program, called Cortes Island Academy (CIA), will provide BC’s core curriculum augmented with place-based education that includes Indigenous learning approaches, hours […]
BC Ferries tests a new “Island Class” hybrid vessel in coastal BC waters. Image courtesy of BC Ferries. With summer on the horizon, Quadra and Cortes islanders are keen to see promised changes implemented on BC Ferries’ Campbell River to Quadra Island route, for congestion ease. For several years there have been chronic sailing overloads, no matter […]
The Cortes Museum’s primary location at 957 Beasley Road also houses tourist information. Photo by Anastasia Avvakumova. After four years of running the Cortes Island Museum and Archives as managing director, Jane Newman is currently training her successor, Melanie Boyle. Jane Newman installing the Listening to Bees exhibit, currently viewable at the Cortes Island Museum. Photo courtesy of Jane Newman. […]
The Gorge Harbour Marina hosts many people living on boats every winter, photo by Kate Maddigan Bill Dougan says the Gorge Harbour Marina had 14 boats with liveaboards at the dock this winter. As one of the managers at the resort, he says lately there have been more people looking to live aboard their boat […]
Falling Boundary by David Ellingsen. Image courtesy of Cortes Museum. Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society is planning for their first in-person annual general meeting in two years, which will feature a presentation by fine art photographer David Ellingsen. The AGM will be held at Manson’s Hall on Sunday, March 27th, with doors opening at 12:30 pm. […]
The iconic Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery on rural Cortes Island. Photo by Greg Osoba. The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery on rural Cortes Island has been attracting visitors during its summer season for nearly 25 years. With recently acquired non-profit status, it now seeks a manager to move forward. Applications are being accepted until March 15th. Long-time director Kristen Schofield-Sweet […]
As food security becomes a growing topic, speakers at the RIEP’s February public Zoom event suggested it’s imperative to make local produce more accessible in both supply and cost. Photo by Artur Rutkowski on Unsplash Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP) hosted a virtual meeting focused on local food resilience on Feb. 22, as part of their monthly Connection Café […]
Remote communities such as Cortes Island face special employment challenges with their remote location. Photo by Kate Maddigan. The North Island Employment Foundation Society’s, or “NIEFS” out of Campbell River has recently begun is Virtual Webinar Series, Money Matters, for Cortes Island. Last week it delivered the webinar “Managing on an Irregular or unsteady Income,” […]
A Western Screech Owl. Photo courtesy of Pixabay. With funding from the BC government, the Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) conservation and education society is taking part in a “threatened species” field research project aimed at determining the local status of the Western Screech Owl. The launch began with a public notice to Cortes Islanders on February 23rd and […]
Flying saucer shaped mushrooms grow out of a fir tree in a Cortes Island forest. Photo by Greg Osoba. After toiling away in North Vancouver, Farhad Zahir made the move to Cortes Island in 2020 to escape the city and try rural life. He brought with him a passion to grow mushrooms for food […]
Zucchini Mock Ravioli. Photo by Vince Kehn, who gave a lot of volunteer time to photograph the recipes. Island Cookery III: A Taste of Life on Quadra Island is a full-colour cookbook produced on Quadra last year as a fundraiser for the Quadra Island Children’s Centre. With over 1,000 copies sold since its release in December […]
The custom-built water taxi “Goat 1,” shown docking at the Klahoose Wilderness Resort, was designed by QXMC with sightseeing in mind. Photo courtesy of QXMC. Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC), which oversees sustainably-focused economic development for the Klahoose First Nation, is a busy beehive of activity, thanks to its innovative team. Adding to its established strong presence […]
“Log Dump Road” leading to the Gorge Harbour, adjacent to where Mosaic Forest Management will be harvesting this fall. Photo taken Jan. 28 by Kate Maddigan. Mosaic Forest Management provided a Cortes Island Activity Update Zoom meeting on January 27, 2022 about their proposed forestry activities in the next 3 years, starting this fall. Over […]
The class size is relatively small, with a total 12 students accepted into the program. Photo courtesy of North Island College. North Island College (NIC) in Campbell River is starting another round of tuition-free four-week-long wildfire crew member training at the end of this month. Instructor Henry Grierson, who’s been in the forestry and wildfire suppression industry for […]
An artist’s sketch of proposed Rainbow Ridge 20-unit housing development. Image courtesy of Cortes Island Community Housing Society. Conceived in 2018, the 20-unit Rainbow Ridge community driven affordable rental housing development on Cortes Island is finding it is slow going to get shovels in the ground. The project was put forward as one initiative to […]
Grant funds saved on previous off-island transportation and disposal of the chips can be instead used for fire prevention education and initiatives. Photo by Ananth Pai on Unsplash Thanks to Gulf Islands residents’ advocacy for better allocation of a local resource, Cortes and Quadra Islands community organizations can lodge applications for free wood chips until […]
Fridays For The Future protestor demands action on climate change. Image courtesy of Pixabay.com. Since last November, a dedicated group of Cortes islanders has been meeting every Friday to protest the slow progress on climate change and other issues, and to find ways to have their concerns heard. They call their gatherings “WTF Fridays.” Organizer […]
Many people on Cortes Island who heat their homes with wood rely on others to cut their firewood for them. Photo by Kate Maddigan. For Cortes Islanders relying on local cutters to bring them enough firewood to warm their homes each winter, there has recently been a greater feeling of firewood scarcity. Everyone knows someone […]
FOCI volunteers and contractors working on the Dillon Creek wetland restoration project in 2021. Image courtesy of Friends of Cortes Island. The charitable environmental protection organization Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) held their annual general meeting (AGM) on Jan. 20, which included presentations of project progress in 2021 and a significant change to the board of directors. […]