All posts by Guest Post

Energy, Indigenous Nations

Land defenders build tipi along TMX construction route in ‘Burnaby’

By Aaron Hemens, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As the January rain falls around her, Khursten Bullock carefully approaches a tipi that was recently assembled alongside the Trans-Canada highway in “Burnaby.” 

The structure, emblazoned with a “Stop TMX” sign, interrupts the 1,150-km path of the still-unfinished Trans Mountain expansion project (TMX) — part of an ongoing effort with the environmental group Protect the Planet to set up camps along the pipeline route.

Continue reading Land defenders build tipi along TMX construction route in ‘Burnaby’ →
Uncategorized

Alexandra Morton: Open Letter to Strathcona Regional District Board

Editor’s note: The transcript that Alexandra Morton refers to, in the following open letter, is actually the transcript of my January 27 radio program. While extremely quote heavy, it is highly edited, considerably shorter, and not a word for word transcript of the meeting.

To the Strathcona Regional District Board,

I read the January 25, 2023, transcript of your Members’ Report on the Open Net Pen Transition. Thank you for the care and thought you are putting into this.  The statement that logging, tourism and fish farming are critical to Campbell River’s existence must be a serious concern given all of these are facing challenges.

Continue reading Alexandra Morton: Open Letter to Strathcona Regional District Board →
Health

It’s the ‘Eve of Decriminalization’ for Drug Possession in BC

By Moira Wyton, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

People who use drugs are cautiously optimistic about British Columbia’s forthcoming move to decriminalize possession of some  drugs, but frontline harm reduction groups across the province say  uncertainty about how it will be enforced is hampering their efforts to  prepare.

On Jan. 31, B.C. will  become the first jurisdiction in Canada to decriminalize possession of  small amounts of cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, MDMA and methamphetamine for  personal use. 

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Animals

Human behaviour needs to shift for coexistence with wildlife, say specialists

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Vancouver Island, BC – Vancouver Island is known for its predatory wildlife, such as black bears, coastal wolves and cougars, that roam the rugged coastline. Amidst the coast many towns and villages sit in areas with high populations of predatory wildlife, making interactions with humans often inevitable, unless effective coexistence management is in place.

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Community

Migrants call on Trudeau to fulfill his promise to regularize the undocumented

Editor’s Note: According to the State of Campbell River (2021), only about ½% of the immigrants to Campbell River came from outside Canada. The percentage was 2½% on Quadra Island. The Cortes Island Profile does not differentiate between immigrants from ‘another province or another country.’ 

By Isabel Inclan, New Canadian Media, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Refugees, undocumented migrants, international students and caregivers will rally Monday outside the federal government’s winter retreat in Hamilton.

Organized by the Migrant Rights Network (MRN), demonstrators want a national immigration regularization program for the 500,000 undocumented migrants in Canada.

Continue reading Migrants call on Trudeau to fulfill his promise to regularize the undocumented →