All posts by Rochelle Baker

Rochelle Baker is a staff reporter with Canada’s National Observer, thanks thanks to a grant from the Local Journalism Initiative of the Government of Canada. She previously worked as a newspaper reporter and photographer in BC’s Lower Mainland for over 7 years.
Rivers & Oceans

Get Reel: A young Campbell River filmmaker’s film about fly-fishing

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As he attempts to sleep at night, high school student Benji Bridle cannot help but review the images trapped in his head from a day spent on the river fly-fishing.

How the sun or rain hits the water, the silver slap of a struggling salmon, or the beauty of the sport itself, all play out in Bridle’s mind.

Recently, the aspiring cinematographer drew on his bank of nighttime imaginings as fodder for an award-winning film.

Bridle, 16, won for best screenplay at the 2020 Vancouver Island Youth Film Festival (VIYFF) in late February for his beautifully shot short film, Get Reel, which examines his pathway to — and newfound passion for — conservation through the sport of fly-fishing.

Continue reading Get Reel: A young Campbell River filmmaker’s film about fly-fishing →
Forests

Three week reprieve on Fairy Creek injunction hearing

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National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Fairy Creek blockade activists trying to protect some of the last stands of old-growth forest on southern Vancouver Island have won a three-week reprieve after a judge adjourned an injunction hearing on Thursday.

Continue reading Three week reprieve on Fairy Creek injunction hearing →
Food Security

Gabbing about gardening on Quadra Island

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National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s no biggie.

Lucretia Schanfarber just simply plans to save the planet by gabbing about gardening.

The writer and organic green thumb — who lives on the remote edges of a tiny B.C. island plagued with shaky internet service — has launched free, weekly Zoom gatherings to inform, inspire and connect gardeners worldwide.

Continue reading Gabbing about gardening on Quadra Island →
Forests

Supreme Court Battle: Fairy Creek blockade

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Protesters attempting to protect some of the last stands of old-growth forest on southern Vancouver Island are facing arrest if a logging company gets court approval to disband their camps this week.

Forestry company Teal-Jones has filed an application with the Supreme Court of British Columbia for an injunction to remove the Fairy Creek blockade at various entry points to its Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 46 near the community of Port Renfrew.

Continue reading Supreme Court Battle: Fairy Creek blockade →
Health

Parents and teachers push for masks to be mandated in BC

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Many B.C. teachers and parents are incredulous the province isn’t mandating masks in classrooms, especially as new COVID-19 variants begin to crop up in school settings.

Continue reading Parents and teachers push for masks to be mandated in BC →