Food, Gardening

Wildflower Cidery: A Unique Model For A Small Island

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In this morning’s interview we hear from Sara Stewart of Wildflower Produce and Cidery, near the southern tip of Cortes Island.

Sara Stewart: “I’m not a religious person, but when you depend on the natural world you become deeply ingrained in it. I used to think I was building connections with the natural world when I lit a fire on Imbolc (the Ancient Celtic beginning of Spring) and celebrated Soma. I now find that rituals or ceremonies can disconnect you from nature. So I try to cultivate the spirituality of a squirrel. I don’t see wildlife celebrating Imbolc—you just notice what’s happening in your body and respond accordingly.” 

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Community

What does the community want from the Quadra Community Centre and the new Blenkin Park Pavilion?

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The Quadra Island Recreation Society is asking the community for their input into what the island’s Community Centre and a new pavilion at Blenkin Park should be used for.

Marc Doll, Vice Chair of the Society, explained: “We started by looking at one desperate need for the community centre, which was the lack of a proper kitchen facility. We came up with some solutions, but the price tag came in higher than what we wanted for a very small improvement. So, conversations continued, and we decided that we really had to look at the bigger picture. The Quadra Island Community Centre has been serving the community since 1985, and we felt it was time to go back to the public and ask: what do we need this building to do for the next 20 years?”

“At the same time, we’ve been working with the SRD for the last number of years to get an outdoor pavilion in Blenkin Park. The funding is in place, and we’re looking to start building as early as 2026.”

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Politics

Most Albertans Don’t Buy IT! – new Angus Reid poll finds

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It has been a week since Premier Danielle Smith declared “I support a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.” 

On January 2, Elections Alberta approved the Alberta Prosperity Project’s petition for ‘a Referendum Relating to Alberta Independence.’ If they can obtain 177,732 signatures, it will trigger a referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada and become an independent state. 

A new Angus Reid poll suggests that most Albertans aren’t buying into the separatist agenda. 57% of the respondents stated they would definitely vote to stay in Canada; only 8% would definitely vote to separate. If you add in the people who are leaning one way or the other, these numbers change to 65% vs 29%.

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Rivers & Oceans

In wake of right whale’s death, feds launch overdue whale-safe gear strategy

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Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canada has rolled out its overdue whale-safe fishing gear strategy days after an endangered North Atlantic right whale, known as Division, died from entanglement after more than a month of suffering. 

The four-year old male, which had been spotted in Canadian waters during the summer, was next sighted off the Georgia coast in early December severely ensnared by fishing lines cutting across his head and blowhole. Rescue crews were able to remove some of the gear and continued efforts to track and intercept the whale — but its health continued to decline before being confirmed dead on Jan. 27. 

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Housing, Politics

Area C Director’s Report: exploring provincial land for housing + more Board news

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Hello, 
This report includes news of the SRD investigating land for housing in Heriot Bay and other decisions of interest made at the January meeting of the SRD Board. Let’s jump in. 

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Whats Current on Cortes and Beyond