Cortes Currents
1,486 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 23 hours ago -Cortes Currents is a news platform that asks what's current in Cortes and the Discovery Islands. Web articles & radio podcasts: Cortes Island, Quadra Island, Discovery Islands, Campbell River: news, lifestyle, local politics, affordable housing, economy, food security, health, ferries, tourism, history, culture, environmental issues, sustainable forestry, oyster farming, the arts, First Nations, energy, climate change, overshoot
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Episodes
TELUS started construction on Cortes Island
June 01, 2023 21:34 - 2 minutes - 6.7 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - TELUS started construction Monday, May 29, exactly two weeks after they notified Cortes Currents that Tla’amin First Nation had given them the go ahead to build a cell tower on their land. It has been two and half years since the communication giant informed the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) that they planned to construct three cell towers on Cortes Island and two more on Quadra. The SRD refused to give their approval unless TELUS held public meetings. S...
The Thursday Afternoon Art Collective: 'Between Heaven and Earth'
June 01, 2023 04:10 - 16 minutes - 38.8 MBRoy L Hales/ COrtes Currents - The Thursday Afternoon Art Collective will be coming to the walls of the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery at 6 PM on Friday June 9. The artwork of LIsa Gibbons, Madhurima Braaten, Dayna Davis, Caz Ratcliffe, Denise Drury, Jane Newman, Karen McDairmid and Darshan Stevens will remain on display until Sunday June 18. Lisa Gibbons explained, “I've been doing art classes in the studio for the last maybe 10 years. Mixed media art classes for different members of the comm...
First 2 months of ICAN's food recovery program: 1,300 people benefit
May 31, 2023 13:59 - 7 minutes - 16.3 MBRoy L Hales/Cortes Currents - In the two months that ICAN’s food recovery program has been in operation, close to 1,300 people have have felt the benefits. “Since the beginning of March we've distributed 1040 8.4 kilos of food, and that has been distributed to 338 individuals who were feeding 671 people. In addition to that, we have been supplying various agencies like Quadra Circle, the Read Island Aging In Place program, the Reed Island Community Kitchen. These agencies have been feedi...
Local Death Caring Collective expands services
May 31, 2023 11:41 - 5 minutes - 13.5 MBGreg Osoba/ CKTZ News - 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 those needs can be due to physical limitations, loss of a loved one, or ageing in place. To that end, the collective i...
Quadra Island's 'Dream Team Beach Clean-up'
May 30, 2023 22:42 - 11 minutes - 25.6 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Quadra Island’s 3-month-long beach clean-up finished over the weekend “Once a week, usually on Wednesdays, we would go on a remote beach hike, to different areas on Quadra that were hard to access. We had to go hiking for maybe an hour or so to some of these places and then collect and leave debris, and then we'd have to return by boat another day,” explained Nevil Hand, who organized the campaign. “Near the beginning, it was just Heather and I. We'd put out...
No sani-dump on Cortes this summer
May 30, 2023 13:40 - 4 minutes - 10.1 MBRoy L Hales/Cortes Currents - Cortes Island will not have a sani-dump this summer. The matter was brought to Cortes Currents attention by former Cortes Museum President Lynne Jordan, who has been living in Duncan for the past four years. “The closest RV sani-dump is at the Shell station on the upper highway above Campbell River, two ferries away! There is no public one on Quadra Island either. I had planned to visit Cortes this summer for about three weeks to continue doing some more r...
Local band celebrates 20-year-anniversary with live show
May 29, 2023 10:55 - 8 minutes - 8.54 MBLouis Belcourt/CKTZ News - 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 — has practiced "over 800 times at about 40 practices a year," including numerous live shows, over their 20 year career. The group considers themselves "Cortes Island's house band." "Well, 20 years ago I ren...
A Quick peek into the Quadra Island Outdoor Club
May 28, 2023 21:42 - 13 minutes - 30 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Quadra Island Outdoor Club made 6 trips this month, and 3 of them were off-island. They came to Carrington Bay and Grandmother’s Grove on Cortes Island, kayaked on the Sayward canoe circuit and visited the petroglyphs on Maud Island. Closer to home, they’ve walked Hyacinthe Bay at low tide, paddled around Gowlland Harbour to see the wild flowers and took part in a beach clean-up. “The Outdoor Club does provide a service to the community, particularly ...
SRD preparing reports for Quadra: rentals, parking, waste collection
May 26, 2023 15:25 - 3 minutes - 7.87 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - SRD staff have been instructed to prepare studies on residential waste collection, the legal status of short-term rentals and roadside parking on Quadra Island. These topics arose at the Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC) meeting on May 10th. Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney made the following motions, all of which were seconded by Cortes Island Director Mark Vonesch. “The reliability and costs of solid waste collection services on Quadra Island is c...
Making room for Cortes, Quadra and other rural areas within the SRD
May 25, 2023 14:24 - 20 minutes - 45.8 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District’s rural Directors often feel they do not have much input in Board decisions. The topic came up at the May 10 meeting, when the board passed a resolution that staff prepare a report on methods to increase public consultation for regional services.’ A second resolution calls for a policy to have the Municipal Services Committee refer new services to the Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC) for public consultation prior to a fe...
Spring 2023 Bird Count, and an ap called Merlin
May 24, 2023 12:43 - 18 minutes - 42.8 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Local naturalist George Sirk was sick for Cortes Island’s Spring Bird Count earlier this month, so bird watchers had to rely on a new app to help them identify species. This new app, called Merlin, is one of many topics that he and Nancy Kendel, from the Cortes Island Museum, discussed with Cortes Currents. The conversation started out with Kendel (NK) giving an overview: “For quite a number of years, the museum has sponsored two bird counts every year. In D...
A new marine waste pick up service gets underway
May 23, 2023 11:41 - 8 minutes - 19 MBGreg Osoba/ CKTZ News - 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 at this point the service will be by request and will be monitored to measure demand. She says spring is typically the time whe...
Mark Lombard Interview
May 23, 2023 11:13 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBDe Clarke/ Cortes Currents - he Cortes Community Forestry Co-operative held its annual AGM on May 7th at Mansons Hall. The Co-operative is an equal partner with Klahoose First Nation in the Cortes Forestry General Partnership, locally known as the “Community Forest.” Mark Lombard is the General Manager for the Partnership. At the Forestry Co-op AGM, Mark reminded attendees that a public meeting would be held soon (May 11 at the Klahoose Multipurpose Hall). At this meeting he would present a ...
Seafest 2023 at Squirrel Cove
May 22, 2023 13:11 - 11 minutes - 26.3 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - About 350 people* came to Squirrel Cove for Seafest on Saturday May 20. There was a flow-though crowd and not much more than a third of this number appeared to be at the six-hour long festival at any given time. “I think it's great it gets, a lot of cultures together and lots of different seafood,” said Sharon Francis, a Squirrel Cove resident and member of the Klahoose First Nation.. Curt Cunningham, owner manager of the Squirrel Cove General Store which hos...
The Outdoor Season begins at Mansons Friday Market
May 21, 2023 15:46 - 8 minutes - 19.1 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Mansons Friday Market’s ‘Outdoor Season’ officially started on May 19. “I think it's great. It's a beautiful sunny day and long weekend and, but still mostly locals, which is really nice to have their support,” said Sara Stewart, of Reef Point Farms. CC: Can I ask, where do you do most of your business? “I have a lot of different venues. There's the farmer's market. I also have the farm stand. I sell to the co-op and to Hollyhock and the Gorge Store when ...
Cortes Island's Business Roadmap for value added forestry products
May 19, 2023 12:10 - 10 minutes - 24.5 MBRoy L Hales/Cortes Currents - On Monday, May 15, Rami Rothkop and Oliver Scholfield unveiled their ‘Business Roadmap for Value-Added Forestry Products’ on Cortes Island at Mansons Hall. Most of what they presented has been discussed before, the difference being that they were not just talking about ‘ideas.’ These were things they had already accomplished. That is why the Cortes Community Forest Cooperative hired them. They previously met with local mill owners Ron Wolda, Henry Verschuur, ...
BC Government approves 3% tax on Cortes Island short term rentals
May 18, 2023 14:44 - 4 minutes - 10.1 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - On May 16, Mark Vonesch, Regional Director for Cortes Island issued a press release stating, “I’m excited to let you know that the provincial government has approved Cortes Island's short term rental tax application. Starting on July 1st, tourists will pay an extra 3% on their short term rental bookings and the funds will be collected by the provincial government and sent to the Cortes Housing Society on a monthly basis to contribute to the development of Rainbo...
SRD recommends Eli Mckenty be appointed Local Assistant
May 18, 2023 14:00 - 1 minute - 3.71 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - British Columbia's Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) is the Provincial government office tasked with providing support to BC's fire services through fire investigation, collecting statistics, fire prevention and establishing standards for fire service training. It is based in Saanichton and operates through numerous Local Assistants. At the request of the Cortes Island Fire Department, the Strathcona Regional District Board is recommending that Fire Chief El...
More questions that certainty about April Point parkland
May 17, 2023 23:38 - 5 minutes - 12.2 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Fifteen years ago April Point Developments submitted a subdivision application for phase one of, what was at the time, a three-phase development proposal for a 134 acre parcel on Quadra Island. This application triggered a requirement that the developer dedicate close to 7 acres as parkland. The matter was thought to have been finally settled last summer, when the SRD Board accepted April Point’s parkland dedication offer - but the developer made some revisions....
New curbside-pick-up measures introduced for Cortes Island
May 17, 2023 13:53 - 3 minutes - 8.72 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District’s *SRD) plan to increase the yield of recyclable materials, collected by the curbside pick-up program on Cortes Island, officially went into effect yesterday. Engineering Services Coordinator Sheena Fisher gave the Electoral Area Services Committee (EASC) an update at their May 10 meeting. “I believe it was at the last EASC meeting, that we introduced a letter that we received from Recycle BC where they were asking us to devel...
The Dead Boats Disposal Society on Cortes Island
May 16, 2023 21:13 - 9 minutes - 21.8 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Dead Boats Disposal Society was on Cortes Island last week. John Roe (JR) said there are close to 4,000 abandoned boats in British Columbia, and he has been removing them for the past 30 years. The provincial government set up the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative Fund and the federal government has the Abandoned Boats Program. “We have our team and are pretty proficient at boat removal. It just requires a lot of pre-work. The pre-work is myself go...
SRD moving forward with Regional Fire Service
May 16, 2023 14:23 - 1 minute - 2.84 MBRoy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District is moving forward with adoption of a regional fire administration support service that would provide assistance to the various fire departments in the Regional District. There was little discussion and no opposing votes at the May 10 SRD Board meeting. Regional Director Gerald Whalley, of Area A, brought forward the motion that will make this immediate, rather than waiting for next years budget. “I move option B that the reg...
Lunch and Learn: Growing local businesses beyond our borders
May 16, 2023 10:28 - 5 minutes - 12.4 MBRoy L Hales/Cortes Currents - Two experts are coming to Campbell River to teach local entrepreneurs how to how to grow their businesses beyond our borders. Brady Calancie oversees Export Navigator on Vancouver Island, on behalf of Export Canada. Julie Sperber is the CEO of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance. Together they oversee Foreign Trade Zone VI, Vancouver Island. “That's a special designation given to Vancouver Island under their umbrella from the federal government. Normally fore...
TELUS Given go-ahead to erect a cell phone tower on Cortes Island
May 15, 2023 20:32 - 2 minutes - 5.29 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - TELUS issued a press release stating “it has gained approval to construct a new tower on Tla’amin Nation treaty lands that will dramatically improve wireless service on Cortes Island. Once completed, this new site will provide residents and visitors of the Mansons Landing area and surrounding waterways with reliable cell service, enhanced safety and access to emergency services throughout the area.” “This upgrade is part of TELUS’ broader coastal connectivity ...
The Cortes Island Museum AGM, Upcoming Garden and Studio tour & search for an Events Coordinator
May 15, 2023 11:56 - 8 minutes - 19.8 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Cortes Island Museum just its AGM. They have hired two summer students, want to hire an events coordinator, and are gearing up for the Creative Spaces Garden and Studio Tour this summer. These are the topics that Managing Director/Curator Melanie Boyle discussed with Cortes Currents.
Carrie Saxifrage: Reflections from the outgoing Community Forest President
May 11, 2023 19:20 - 7 minutes - 16.8 MBThis is Carrie Saxifrage with some reflections on the community forest. Thanks so much to those who attended the Cortes Community Forest Cooperative (CCFC) AGM and to all the forest folk who keep this place deep green.
Suzanne Simard speaks at the Cortes Community Forest AGM
May 11, 2023 16:40 - 24 minutes - 55.6 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Mother Tree Project began in one Lower Mainland and nine Interior forests. They recently expanded their research on the coast, where Dr Suzanne Simard says the forests are richest in terms of biodiversity. A team came to Cortes Island at the invitation of the Cortes Community Forest Cooperative, and students from the Cortes Island Academy will be taking part in a research propject later this year. Dr Simard described the Mother Tree Project’s work on Cortes,...
Cortes Fire Department met with the SRD
May 10, 2023 10:53 - 3 minutes - 8.76 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Last week, Sadhu Johnston, President of the Cortes Island Fire Fighters Association met with David Leitch, Chief Administrative Officer of the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) and two of his staff. “There was a lot of smoke and not a lot of fire in there. We ended up having a very productive conversation and we'll be entering into contract negotiations for another five year contract for firefighting on Cortes. It was very productive and they got really just ...
CCHA AGM Held at Mansons Hall
May 10, 2023 10:23 - 10 minutes - 9.23 MBDe Clarke/ Cortes Currents - The Cortes Community Health Association held its annual AGM at 1pm on Sunday May 7th, in the main room at Mansons Hall. The meeting was lightly attended and no controversial topics were on the agenda. After opening the meeting, Board President Ed Safarik welcomed guest speaker Yasmina Cartland who made a brief presentation about “Compassionate Communities.” The rest of the meeting was devoted to the usual business of an AGM, concluding with selection of Board mem...
Kate Maddigan, EDO of The Cortes Community Economic Development Association
May 09, 2023 14:54 - 14 minutes - 34.3 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Cortes Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA) recently hired Kate Maddigan as its new Economic Development Officer (EDO). Colin Funk, the President of CCEDA, explained, “I have known Kate pretty much the entire time I've been on Cortes, I think I'm coming up to my 10th summer here. I've been on a few boards with her when I was active with Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI). We live pretty close together in the south end of the island. So like many...
Final Elizabeth May comes to Campbell River: Why Greens matter
May 08, 2023 11:04 - 29 minutes - 67.1 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Green Party leader Elizabeth May flew in from Ottawa on Saturday, May 6. She was the feature speaker at the North Island - Powell River Electoral District Association (EDA) AGM at the Maritime Heritage Centre in Campbell River. Around 60 people from Campbell River, Comox, Powell River, Port McNeil, Quadra Island and Cortes Island were in attendance. This is an edited transcript of her speech, and a couple of excerpts from the subsequent remarks made by local ...
Long term moorage in Whaletown and Cortes Bay fully booked for the summer
May 05, 2023 17:23 - 9 minutes - 22.1 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - As the weather turns warmer, some recreational vessels seek moorage at Cortes Island docks for periods of between one and six months. This is called long-term-moorage. On Wednesday, May 3, the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island (HACI) issued a press release stating that their docks in Whaletown and Cortes Bay are now full for long-term-moorage this summer. “When we're talking about long-term recreational moorage, we're just talking about individuals who are lo...
The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery’s 2023 Exhibition Line-up
May 05, 2023 13:36 - 6 minutes - 16 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery is looking forward to what may be their best season in years. “There's a post COVID enthusiasm which was first evidenced by the submissions that we had that have resulted in seven shows. There's no hesitation about Covid rules, or what we should or shouldn't do. We've been a nonprofit for a year and a bit, and the new manager has had a year behind her. Things feel more settled, and more focused on the magic of the shows than ...
Cortes Island Academy has students for 2023/24, still needs funding
May 03, 2023 23:05 - 5 minutes - 13.7 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Cortes Island Academy appears to have its full quota of 20 students for 2023/24. Manda Aufochs Gillespie, the Academy’s principle Board member, explained, “We've let the first 20 students know that they have a spot if they want it, and then we'll start taking students off our wait list. This time last year, we were still like, 'oh no, we don't know if anybody will sign up for this crazy new program we have.’ This year, not only is it an established program ...
2023 Gorge Hall Mother's Day Plant sale
May 03, 2023 22:32 - 3 minutes - 7.87 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The 2023 Gorge Hall Mother's Day Plant sale will be from 11 AM to 2 PM on Sunday May 14. This has been a Whaletown Community Club (WCC) tradition for more than 30 years. “It's a community event. The pleasure of people seeing each other, talking to one another outside of the absolute necessity of needing something from a neighbour. This is an opportunity to see the gardening health of Cortes and the vibrancy of it by seeing what's on the table. The vigor of the...
Mark Vonesch: How a shared fire service could save us money
May 03, 2023 13:27 - 5 minutes - 11.8 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) centralized fire service, unveiled at last week’s board meeting, was not what many feared. It seemed to compliment, rather than replace, the District’s seven volunteer fire departments. Cortes Currents reached out to Mark Vonesch (MV), the Regional Director for our area, for a more in depth perspective. MV: “The size of this service is quite small and it's really just funding two full-time jobs to provide some general ad...
SRD Resilience Grant Wood Chips
May 01, 2023 23:44 - 4 minutes - 4.15 MBRoy L Hales/Cortes Currents - At the regular SRD board meeting on April 26th (minutes), a couple of issues of interest to Cortes residents were discussed. There were new developments in the story of SRD’s proposal to centralise rural fire hall administration; this was covered by Roy Hales on Monday. The Board also discussed the “Community Resiliency Investment Grant” and its uses, specifically the provision of wood chipping service for properties with road access, and the local use of those...
Elizabeth May coming to Campbell River for local Green AGM; Jessica Wegg to run in next election
May 01, 2023 23:31 - 3 minutes - 7.91 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Elizabeth May, co-Leader of Canada’s Green Party, will be the guest speaker at the North Island-Powell River riding AGM in Campbell River this Saturday, May 6, 2023. This is the first riding in Canada to announce its candidate for the next Federal election. Jessica Wegg (JW) was also the Green candidate for this riding in the 2021 election. Cortes Currents asked her, “Is this meeting open to the public?” JW: “Yes, it's open to the public. If you want to ...
SRD considering a shopping list approach to Regional Firefighting Administration
May 01, 2023 14:37 - 2 minutes - 6.53 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District (SRD)’s centralized fire administration support service may be a lot less controversial than expected. Regional Director Gerald Whalley, of Area A, was originally opposed to the idea of a centralized fire service. At the April 26 Board meeting he said, “I have come to support this. I think it's a good idea. I think it's gonna save us all money.” Chair Mark Baker, who is also the Mayor of Sayward, added, “Just to let y'all kno...
Project Manager needed for the Village Commons
May 01, 2023 13:36 - 9 minutes - 21.9 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Cortes Island Foundation is seeking a Project Manager to oversee development at the Village Commons, in downtown Mansons Landing. This is a two year position, expected to take about 24 hours a week and pays between $35 and $40 an hour. “We at the Cortes Island Community Foundation are really excited to be able to offer a job and to attract someone into this awesome role as Project Manager for the Cortes Island Village Commons development,” explained Execut...
Wild Cortes: The New display areas
April 28, 2023 13:00 - 7 minutes - 16.8 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Cortes Island’s natural history centre just expanded. In addition to the main exhibition area, Wild Cortes now has displays in the Linnaea Education Centre’s lower atrium area. While the Ecolab has been operational for some time, it has not been widely publicized. In the conclusion of a two part series about the 2023 displays at Wild Cortes, local biologist Sabina Leader-Mense (SLM) takes us outside of the main exhibition area.
Cortes Natural Food Co-op offers island residents limited number of garden plots
April 28, 2023 12:27 - 6 minutes - 15.6 MBGreg Osoba/ CKTZ News - 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 new volunteer garden coordinator Kate Maddigan. With 35 plots in total, she says the Co-op views the space as a great resource for helping with food security and sustainability on the island, where finding an ...
Hollyhock Silent Auction: "Bid For A Better Future"
April 27, 2023 19:49 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBDe Clarke/Roy L Hales - Hollyhock Retreat Centre is holding a Silent Auction (online) this year from April 10th to May 12th. Proceeds from the auction will go to fund scholarships for Hollyhock events and programmes. A wide range of “lots” have been donated by a variety of individuals and businesses. Roy Hales interviewed Rhys-Thorvald Hansen about the auction, its purpose, the fundraising target, and items being auctioned.
Earthday 2023: The New Wild Cortes Exhibits (Part 1)
April 23, 2023 16:36 - 11 minutes - 26.9 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Wild Cortes celebrated Earth Day, on Saturday April 22, with the opening of the new Mother Tree Exhibit. One of the advantages of being among the first to arrive, is that the facility was not too crowded. There were only half a dozen people when Wild Cortes opened at noon. Local biologist Sabina Leader-Mense agreed to give Cortes Currents a walk through. She was making some last minute touches to the exhibit when I asked some of the first viewers, ‘What’s your i...
Seafest returns to Squirrel Cove Sat May 20
April 21, 2023 16:02 - 7 minutes - 16.5 MBRoy L hales/ Cortes Currents - Seafest is returning to Squirrel Cove on Saturday, May 20, 2023. “SeaFest is coming out of hiatus. It ran for over 20 years and then we shut it down during COVID. We were going to start it up last year at the Gorge, but then the Gorge was going through a lot of changes. This Sea Festival is coming back to Squirrel Cove. The view is spectacular. I think it's got the best view on the island and it's got a rustic feel about it too. The old store has been there f...
Blaney asks the name of our riding be changed to ‘North Island - qathet’
April 20, 2023 21:17 - 3 minutes - 8.27 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - In response to a request from the Tla’amin First Nation, Rachel Blaney is asking the electoral Boundary Comission to change the name of our riding to North Island qathet. Blaney explained, “the North Island component of my riding is very similar to the provincial riding, which is also called North Island. So that part is a fine and a good name that makes sense. On the other side of my riding, of course, is a huge chunk of the mainland. I have a neighbor here ...
How the EASC Committee is working together
April 20, 2023 14:19 - 6 minutes - 15.4 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - One of the biggest stories coming out of the SRD may be the way the new Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC) seems to be working together. It has only been a little more than five months since the election, but the deep personal divisions that were so apparent in the previous EASC committe are not there, at least not yet. Cortes Currents asked our two local Discovery Island Directors about this. Mark Vonesch, Regional Director of Cortes Island, said, “I wa...
SRD applying for authority to suspend normal voting procedures during emergencies
April 19, 2023 14:14 - 2 minutes - 6.06 MBRoy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District is applying to have its name added to the list of Regional Districts that can take special votes on urgent matters. This regulation states that the SRD must make reasonable attempts in writing, by phone or electronic means to ‘ensure that each director entitled to vote has the opportunity to do so.’ There is no need for a quorum. When necessary, resolutions and bylaws can be passed even if only the chairperson and one other di...
CKTZ.Greg .Theatre - Quadra - Stages - Chicage - The - Musical.Apr .2023
April 19, 2023 11:34 - 9 minutes - 22.9 MBGreg Osoba/ CKTZ News - 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 hit. Linda Lolacher is the chair and treasurer of the Quadra Island Recreation Society’s Steering Committee, w...
SRD considering insurance for non-profits
April 18, 2023 18:18 - 2 minutes - 6.19 MBRoy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District is looking into the possibility of offering community-focused non-profits access to insurance. Robyn Mawhinney, Regional Director for Area C, brought the idea forward at the April 12 Board meeting. “I've been asked repeatedly if there would be a way for the Stratcona Regional District to offer access to more reasonably priced insurance for nonprofit groups. I wonder if there are other areas within the S R D where nonprofits hav...