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

Cermaq Canada’s semi-closed containment system

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An international aquaculture company has launched a trial of a new salmon farm containment system expected to drastically reduce the exchange of sea lice between wild and farmed fish. Cermaq Canada has stocked close to half a million Atlantic salmon smolts in a new semi-closed containment system (SCCS) in Millar Channel on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It is the first time the technology has been tested in Canadian waters.

Continue reading Cermaq Canada’s semi-closed containment system →
Health, Indigenous Nations

Update from the Klahoose Nation’s emergency checkpoint

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National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The last thing Byron Harry imagined having to stickhandle during a COVID-19 community lockdown was a cougar leaping onto his truck.

Harry was pulling a graveyard shift at the Klahoose Nation’s emergency checkpoint, which was set up to contain a cluster of cases that had broken out in the remote community on B.C.’s Cortes Island just days before.

Continue reading Update from the Klahoose Nation’s emergency checkpoint →
Indigenous Nations, Rivers & Oceans

First Nations pressure Ottawa about fish farm consultations

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ottawa is coming under increasing pressure from First Nations in B.C. as deadlines around contentious fish farms on the West Coast draw near.

Continue reading First Nations pressure Ottawa about fish farm consultations →
Transportation

MP questions wisdom of fining people for remaining in their cars on BC Ferries

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A West Coast MP wants the federal transport minister to ditch fines in the thousands of dollars and allow BC Ferries passengers to remain in their vehicles on enclosed car decks to protect themselves from COVID-19 despite regulations against the practice.

Continue reading MP questions wisdom of fining people for remaining in their cars on BC Ferries →
Health

A fortress breached: COVID-19 cases increasing on Vancouver Island

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The fortress that was Vancouver Island has been breached when it comes to the low COVID-19 case numbers it enjoyed compared to B.C.’s Lower Mainland during earlier stages of the pandemic.

Continue reading A fortress breached: COVID-19 cases increasing on Vancouver Island →