Indigenous Nations, Tourism

Wei Wai Kum Aquire Control Of Campbell River Adventure Tours

Wei Wai Kum First Nation‘s latest business venture is acquiring a majority stake in the Campbell River Adventure Tours Group, which includes Campbell River Whale Watching and Wildcoast Adventures. 

The current owners Stephen Gabrysh and Tyler Bruce will remain partners and oversee day-to-day operations during the transition to full ownership, which is anticipated in the near future.

This acquisition is another step in a broader economic strategy that includes a number of businesses operating within their traditional territory.

Continue reading Wei Wai Kum Aquire Control Of Campbell River Adventure Tours →
Forests, Indigenous Nations, Tourism

Could shifting gears from forestry to tourism pay the bills?

By Nora O’Malley, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Jordan River, B.C. – At the mouth of Jordan River in Pacheedaht First Nation territory on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, the tide is pushing. Heat from a February sun warms the face as sets of friendly waves roll in under the backdrop of the Olympic Mountains. Parking at the day-use area of this regional park is squeezed on this fine Friday away from the screen. 

A tugboat called Miss Jordan cruises by a bob of surfers, dragging a line of thick rope towards a raft of floating logs, otherwise known as a log boom. Some of the surfers catch a wave towards the cobble shoreline and exit the water.

“They’ll run right over us if we don’t get out of the way,” says a stand-up paddler. 

“But it is a nice day for it,” he concedes.

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Housing

Six Units Underway at Rainbow Ridge, Further Updates

If everything goes as planned, the first two rental suites at the Rainbow Ridge Affordable Rental Project on Cortes Island will be ready in June, and six units could be occupied as early as January. In this morning’s interview, Mark Lombard, the Construction Manager, provides an overview of how the work is progressing at Rainbow Ridge, as well as updates from the Cortes Island Housing Society‘s other housing sites—Orchard Village and the Makerspace.

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Indigenous Nations, Politics

smǝlqmíx leaders emphasize ‘no consent’ as B.C. approves Copper Mountain Mine expansion

By Aaron Hemens, IndigiNews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Indigenous leaders from the Similkameen Valley are “deeply disappointed” by a provincial decision to approve a contentious mine expansion in their territories — emphasizing that they did not give consent for the project to move forward.

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Health

BC Halts Construction of Seven Long-Term Care Facilities

By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

British Columbia is pausing construction on seven long-term care facilities as it searches for a way to reduce building costs.

The pause was announced as B.C. released its annual budget on Tuesday. During question period on Wednesday, Health Minister Josie Osborne said construction was being stopped while the province searched for ways to build the beds for less than $1.8 million each, which is what it currently costs. 

Seven long-term care facilities in Abbotsford, Campbell River, Chilliwack, Delta, Fort St. John, Kelowna and Squamish have been put on hold indefinitely. Osborne said the projects are not cancelled. 

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Whats Current on Cortes and Beyond