All posts by Guest Post

Jobs

Living wage in Clayoquot Sound jumps over $5 in two years

Editor’s note: While the example is from Tofino, the liveable wage question is vital to Cortes and Quadra Island residents.

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

Tofino, BC – On Nov. 9, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust 2023 vital signs report was launched, revealing an over five-dollar increase in the living wage for Vancouver Island’s west coast communities. 

The living wage grew to $26.51 per hour, while in 2021 it was $21.25.

Continue reading Living wage in Clayoquot Sound jumps over $5 in two years →
Indigenous Nations History

WLFN-owned company brings a decolonial lens to archaeology: ‘We need Indigenous knowledge’

By Dionne Phillips, The Wren, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On a recent archaeological exploration for the Cariboo Memorial Hospital project in Williams Lake, Demetrius George discovered a small, ancient rock tool in the dirt. 

The fine-grained volcanic artifact is very sharp, he explains, but doesn’t seem to be made for scraping deer hide — rather, for smaller jobs, such as cutting string. 

Continue reading WLFN-owned company brings a decolonial lens to archaeology: ‘We need Indigenous knowledge’ →
Jobs

Unions to Get More Power with Replacement Worker Ban

Editors note: The 300 or so employees of Rogers Communications Inc currently on strike in Campbell River, belong to  United Steel Workers, Local 1944.

According to statistics Canada, 29.7% of British Columbia’s workforce was unionized in 2022. While the word ‘union’ does not appear to be used often in our area, teachers working at the Cortes and Quadra Island schools are members of the Campbell River District Teacher’s Association. School District 72’s other employees belong to CUPE 723. CUPE 401 represents Vancouver Island Public Library employees on Cortes, Quadra and throughout Vancouver Island, as well as staff working for the city of Campbell River. United Steelworkers Local 1-1937 represents forestry workers and the 82 unionized workers at Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex. There are undoubtedly more examples of unions in our remote corner of the globe.

In addition to the union aspect, this story is of local interest because it is about the struggle to obtain a liveable wage while prices continue to rise.    

By  Zak Vescera, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Raine Wright yells into his megaphone as men in neon yellow jackets circle around a chain-link gate outside an East Vancouver industrial yard.

They’re members of United Steelworkers Local 1944, some of the roughly 300 technicians who have been locked out by telecom giant Rogers after contract talks broke down and the union announced it would launch rotating strikes.

Continue reading Unions to Get More Power with Replacement Worker Ban →
Jobs, Poverty

Living Wage Symposium brought multiple sectors together to tackle the affordability crisis

Editor’s note: This is a local issue. 33% of the respondents to the most recent Point In Time count of Campbell River’s unhoused population said they lost their homes because of insufficient income. In the Comox Valley, this statistic rose to 56%. According to the 2021 Census, 38% of the renters in those areas are paying more than they can afford for shelter. This is also true on Quadra Island and on Cortes Island the number of tenants paying unaffordable rents was 47%.

By Sidney Coles, Capital Daily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Wednesday morning, representatives from the not-for-profit, private and public sectors gathered at the Living Wage Symposium at Victoria City Hall to discuss creative ways they can address the economic squeeze people are feeling in the CRD. The event was organized by the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria (CSPC) in partnership with the United Way Southern Vancouver Island, Vancity, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Living wage Families for BC.  

Continue reading Living Wage Symposium brought multiple sectors together to tackle the affordability crisis →
Transportation

BC Ferries was in negotiations with controversial ship-breaking operation, email shows

Editor’s note: The following article is of interest because of BC Ferries involvement and the fact Union Bay is close to our broadcast area.

By Madeline Dunnett, The Discourse,  Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

BC Ferries was at one point actively negotiating with Deep Water Recovery, a controversial ship-breaking operation in Union Bay, regarding the dismantling of an end-of-life vessel. That’s according to an email from BC Ferries, obtained through an access to information request.

“Everybody thought it was just here because they didn’t have a place to store it,” said Marilynn Manning, a Union Bay resident and member of Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound, during a rally against the operation in October. “But we found out through freedom of information that [Deep Water Recovery] was in negotiation to take it apart here.” 

Continue reading BC Ferries was in negotiations with controversial ship-breaking operation, email shows →