All posts by Roy Hales

Health

Hospital Board Fears Island Health Is Ignoring Local Wishes

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(Editor’s note: The following article mentions matters of concern to residents of the entire Greater Campbell River Health Area, which includes Cortes, Quadra and other Discovery Islands.)

The Comox-Strathcona Regional Hospital District board (CSRHB) wants consultation of clinical pathology samples to remain in the Comox and Campbell River hospitals. It notified Island Health, twice, and received no answer. Now, with the current pathology contracts coming up for renewal at the end of this month, the hospital board fears Island Health is ignoring local wishes to retain pathology services. 

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Parks

FOCI: Maintaining Cortes Island Parks For 20 Years

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On February 10, 2020, the Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) posted a notice, on the Tideline, about the installation of new rails along the trail at Mansons Spit. They also invited local residents to a broom bash on the Spit, Saturday, March 28th, 10am- 1pm. According to Executive Director Helen Hall, FOCI started maintaining Cortes Island parks twenty years ago.

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Health

CSIL: Choice In Supports For Independent Living

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“Many of you may be aware of or have used VIHA’s home support services program, but not so many are aware that they have other choices when you require more assistance with daily living. Home support services provide a home care which we pay for according to our income. This service, though staffed by excellent workers, can be inconsistent and limited. Staff are only allowed to perform certain tasks and you may be assigned a different worker each day. The other option, which many of us do not consider, or may not be aware of is CSIL: Choice in Supports for Independent Living,” explained Quadra Island resident Ann McLean, in her rich Scottish brogue.

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Environment

Mansons Landing: Shoreline Of The Spit Is Eroding

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The shoreline of the spit, in Manson’s Landing Park, is eroding.

Last summer BC Parks brought in Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd (NHC) to investigate the causes and to develop viable engineering options to reduce erosion. On February 25, Grant Lamont of NHC unveiled his findings at a Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) meeting at Mansons Hall.

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Arts

Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music

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Quadra Island has a world class Festival of Chamber Music. The festival’s Co-founder and Artistic Director, Phillip Hansen, is currently the principal cellist with the Orquestra Filarmonica de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and has been featured in concert halls throughout Europe, the Far East and Americas. The other musician’s resumes are just as impressive. Glancing through them, I found myself continually exclaiming in disbelief, “On Quadra Island!” According to Catherine Smith, President of the Quadra Island Chamber Music Society, our rural lifestyle is part of the appeal that draws talent of this calibre. The Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music could also be a poster child for grants-in-aid.

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