All posts by Guest Post

Waste

New waste management centre boss eyes busy summer season with concern

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

The Cortes Island Waste Management Centre is preparing for a busy summer and the organization’s new manager is worried about capacity.

Waste Management Centre manager Aaron McCulloch-Gary—who has been at the helm since the start of 2023 after taking over from long serving manager Brian Pfeifle—says everything is running smoothly at the moment, but he has serious concerns about the upcoming summer season, when the Cortes Island population triples beyond its 1,000 year-round residents.

Continue reading New waste management centre boss eyes busy summer season with concern →
Justice

15 First Nations Justice Council centres to open throughout British Columbia

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

Since the signing of the BC First Nation Justice Strategy in 2020, a carefully outlined plan with 43 actions to reform the system and restore Indigenous legal traditions, one of the priorities outlined is the implementation of 15 First Nation justice centres throughout the province.

The first four centres in Prince Rupert, Prince George, Merrit, and virtually marked their opening in January 2022.

In late 2022 the BCFNJC announced that the next centres to be opened will be in Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, and Kelowna in 2023. 

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Arts, Community, Health

West Van director raises autism awareness with ‘When Time Got Louder’

By Mina Kerr-Lazenby, North Shore News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It can be a double edged sword, inclusivity in film. The two steps forward taken by the industry when representing otherwise marginalized or excluded communities are often followed by a step back when that community isn’t represented as accurately as it could be.

It is the driving force behind much of Connie Cocchia’s work. The LGBTQ+ writer and producer, originally from West Vancouver, has made creating accurate representation in film her raison d’être. Now, for her directorial debut, she’ll be releasing a film that has a character with autism at its centre – but not in a way that you’ll likely have seen before.

Unlike films like Rain Man and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, which depict those with autism spectrum disorder as savants or hyper-logical detective types, Cocchia’s character bears a relationship to neurodiverse people who live regular lives.

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Jobs

Keeping a low profile: jobless rate in Kootenay region stays below provincial average for second month

By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Although the jobless rate has slipped slightly in the Kootenay region it still remains well below the provincial and national rates.

The percentage for known unemployed people in the Kootenay region — which includes West and East Kootenay, as well as Nelson, Castlegar, Trail and Grand Forks — was 3.2 per cent in March, according to Statistics Canada latest figures, up from 2.9 per cent in February.

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Food Security

Cortes Island Food Bank sees clients double, issues spring appeal for donations

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

The Cortes Island Food Bank has seen a doubling in the number of regular clients since last year, according to food bank treasurer Filipe Figueira. He says the total now stands at about 20 individuals, compared with seven to 10 last year.

Continue reading Cortes Island Food Bank sees clients double, issues spring appeal for donations →