From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney
Hello! Here’s a short interruption in your gardening, beach walking, and sun-drenched busyness: a summer SRD update.
Continue reading Area C Director’s Report: Tyee Plaza parking, aquaculture regulation & more
The renovations at Gorge Harbour Marina are finished. This has been much more than a facelift. It includes a new water system, upgraded septic and electric systems, yet the face of the resort has also been dramatically improved. The RV sites, campsites, much of the grounds and internal layout of the lodge have all been redesigned. Six new visitor domes, 2 cooking stations, a new massage hut, a new bridge across the creek and a food truck have been added.
There is one big decision remaining. Will QXMC, the business arm of the Klahoose First Nation, build a restaurant to take the place of the former Floathouse restaurant? General Manager Marco Bedetti says a decision is imminent and, for now, the food truck serves the resort’s needs.
The last three months at the resort have been a success story, which Bedetti insists starts at the board level.
Continue reading Gorge Harbour Marina Renovations CompletedEditor’s note: According to the BC Treaty Commission’s Interactive Map, the waters of Von Donop Inlet and Carrington Bay, on Cortes Island, are within the traditional territory We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum Nations. They also claim Quadra, Read and Raza Islands, as well as Toba Inlet. These are all areas that are within the traditional territories of the Klahoose First Nation. whose principle village is on Cortes Island. The K’omoks and Klahoose First Nations have overlapping claims on Read, Quadra and Mitlenatch Islands.
By Madeline Dunnett, The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A new notification system and app that alerts coastal B.C. First Nations about oil or hazardous chemical spills on their lands and waters was recently launched.
The initiative was developed collaboratively between 12 First Nations and the province’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. The process was coordinated by Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative.
The system uses technology from Alertable, an emergency alert system that is used by various local governments to notify residents about critical alerts in their communities such as those related to floods or fires.
Continue reading New system alerts coastal First Nations about hazardous spills on land and water
Editor’s note: the Cortes Island concert, originally scheduled for July 12, has been cancelled.
Alan Morrison of the Sunday Herald described Simon Kempston as ‘One of Scotland’s very best singer-songwriters.’ Scottish Television said he is ‘a stunning Talent.’ Tom Robinson of BBC Radio 6 added, ‘Beautifully authentic guitar style & heartfelt vocals.’
Kempston will be performing in: Campbell River’s Spirit Square from noon to 1:15 on Tuesday, July 9th and in the Kameleon Cafe on Quadra Island, at 7 PM on Friday July 12th.
Continue reading Simon Kempston Coming To Campbell River and Quadra – Cortes CancelledOne of the most controversial ideas being considered in the SRD’s Poverty Reduction Plan is advocating for a Universal Basic Income (UBI). (A higher level of government would need to implement this.) There are numerous examples showing that UBI is an effective way to raise people out of poverty. The problem is too much of the financial impact may fall on the diminishing middle class ($50,000-$135,000 per anno in BC) rather than the rich who appear to be increasingly growing richer.
Continue reading Would Universal Basic Income work in the SRD?
