By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Wildfire season is never really over.
When infernos subside in one region, they begin somewhere else. As the world continues to heat up and the climate changes, forested areas like British Columbia will experience greater wildfire impacts year-round, including on the physical and mental health of frontline firefighters.
Continue reading 3 things you need to know about wildfires in BC
By Patrick Penner, Tri-Cities Dispatch, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Port Moody is advocating for the province to test universal basic income (UBI) as a way of tackling poverty.
On Tuesday, council endorsed a wide-ranging list of requests to be sent to B.C. Premier David Eby as well as the minister of housing, the minister of social development and poverty reduction, the Lower Mainland Local Government Association, and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.
Continue reading Port Moody calls on province to trial universal basic income in its poverty plan
By Bhagyashree Chatterjee, The Squamish Chief, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As home insurance costs increase due to climate change, mitigation efforts can help residents stabilize their costs.
“We’re seeing more wildfires, floods, and storms driving up insurance costs,” said Justine Bowman, branch manager at Westland Insurance Group.
Over the past decade, the cost of claims related to natural disasters in Canada has tripled, reaching over $2 billion annually on average, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).
Continue reading How climate change impacts insurance costsBy Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
“It’s like someone turned the fire switch on and it’s just not stopping.”
That’s what wildfire ecologist Kira Hoffman told me in November, as we discussed our new wildfire reality. I can’t help but think back to that conversation today, as we watch the out-of-control blazes burn Los Angeles, putting at least 180,000 residents under evacuation orders and engulfing entire neighbourhoods in the second-largest U.S. city. It’s all happening in January, a month that should have brought some rain to southern California; instead, the region is drought-stricken and bone dry.
It points to an uncomfortable reality: we need to be thinking about wildfires year-round, and not just when fires are actively burning where we live.
Continue reading Burning out: B.C. wildfire fighters share stories from the frontlines
By Carrie Saxifrage
We are lucky to have impressive work toward affordable housing by our Regional Director Mark Vonesch, Cortes Island Housing Society Executive Director Sadhu Johnston, Cortes Foundation Executive Director Manda Aufochs Gillespie, Cortes Community Economic Development Association Economic Development Officer Kate Maddigan, donors who make all this possible and everyone else helping the community as a whole. Also, the 2002 bylaws have worked really well for us, especially the foresight regarding forest zones. Thanks to those who engaged in that process. I hope, if you have thoughts about the proposed revision, you will let the SRD know.
Continue reading Residential Upzone Proposal for Cortes Island
