By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As the heat of the summer extends into October there has been a prolonged forest fire season. As of Oct. 18, the province has 201 active fires with six having started in the previous two days.
Though two of the four fires in the Port Alberni area are no longer burning, four in Strathcona, and four between Gold River and Zeballos remain.
Continue reading Wildfires affect air quality, impacting schools on Vancouver Island
130 Cortes, Read and Quadra Island residents completed the Quadra ICAN rideshare survey, and another 36 responded to specific questions.
“Ride sharing is a really interesting alternative. It wasn’t the transportation solution that everyone is really looking for. I think it’s just a small part of trying to tackle this larger issue. If it works for a few communities that’s great, but it’s not ‘the’ answer,” explained Aaryn Perreault-Laird, who is overseeing the program.
Continue reading ICAN Rideshare survey may lead to a trial run next year
By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca
With fall in full swing, coastal BC residents are experiencing cooler temperatures, and many rural citizens rely on wood as a primary heating source in the colder seasons.
Cortes Island Fire Chief Dave Ives says it’s time to ensure chimneys and wood stoves are in good working order and recommends having them inspected and cleaned by a professional. A majority of emergency calls directed to the Cortes Fire Department are house fires, according to the chief.
Continue reading Fire chief gives tips on wood stove safety as winter approaches
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Canada may have the longest total coastline in the world, but it still doesn’t have a solid understanding of the role nearshore ecosystems can play in sinking greenhouse gas emissions to combat the climate crisis, marine ecologist Julia Baum says.
“We’re not really accounting for ocean climate solutions right now, which is ironic because we have three oceans.”
That will change with the launch of an ambitious research initiative to produce a national assessment of the “blue carbon” storage capacity of Canada’s salt marshes, seagrass meadows and kelp forests, said Baum, a principal investigator and University of Victoria professor.
Continue reading Researchers look to Canada’s oceans to sink planet-warming carbonMore than half of the familiar faces will not be returning to the SRD Board this term. The former Chair and Vice Chair, Brad Unger and Claire Moglove, were both defeated in their bids for re-election. So were Regional Director Brenda Leigh and former Campbell River Directors Charlie Cornfield and Colleen Evans. Neither Mayor Andy Adams (of Campbell River), Jim Abram (from Area C) or Noba Anderson (from Cortes Island) sought re-election. Only 5 of the 13 Directors from last term were re-elected. Two of the previous alternates from Campbell River will most likely take a seat at the SRD table.
Continue reading Election 2022: The new Strathcona Regional District Board
