All posts by Guest Post

Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

Kelp forests, foundational to coastal ecosystems and Nuu-chah-nulth culture, are at risk

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

Thriving in cool water temperatures, kelp forests cover over a quarter of the world’s coastlines, with Canada having the longest, says Marissa Ng, Seaforestation Project Coordinator for Ocean Wise. 

Of Canada’s 243,042-kilometre long coastline, British Columbia makes up 25,725.

“In the Pacific Northwest, kelp forests are a foundation species. Similar to salmon, they’re important for the health of the coastal ecosystem,” said Ng. “They’re also foundation species because they’re so abundant up and down the coast and much like forests on land, marine forests – kelp forest – they provide food and shelter for thousands of marine species.”

Continue reading Kelp forests, foundational to coastal ecosystems and Nuu-chah-nulth culture, are at risk →
Health

Drug checking shows unpredictable list of additives contributing to death toll

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

Vancouver Island, BC – A lab was shut down in late March, stopping $7.8 million worth of fentanyl and cocaine that were meant to be distributed throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

Vancouver Police Departments launched the Toluene Project in January to focus on criminals manufacturing and trafficking illicit drugs throughout the region. 

Continue reading Drug checking shows unpredictable list of additives contributing to death toll →
Arts

Theatre Quadra staging its most ambitious production ever: Chicago, The Musical

By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

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.

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Cost of Climate Change, Energy

Oil and gas, transportation remain biggest obstacles in Canada’s quest to cut emissions

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canada’s progress on significantly cutting pollution by 2030 is being undermined by growing emissions from the country’s oil and gas industry, according to the federal government’s annual emissions report to the United Nations.

Overall, Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available. However, the federal government was quick to note emissions that year were still lower than before the pandemic.

Continue reading Oil and gas, transportation remain biggest obstacles in Canada’s quest to cut emissions →
Housing

Provincial response to tiny homes resolution elicits disappointment

By Rachelle Stein-Wotten, Gabriola Sounder, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Local elected representatives are disappointed in the province’s response to appeals to address local government’s concerns around supporting tiny homes as an affordable housing option.

Continue reading Provincial response to tiny homes resolution elicits disappointment →