Tag Archives: Campbell River

Rivers & Oceans

Feds launch licence buyback plan to scale down B.C.’s salmon fishing fleet

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ottawa has launched its awaited fisheries licence buyback program to protect plummeting Pacific salmon stocks on the West Coast. 

Looking to fix the problem of too many boats chasing too few fish, on Wednesday, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) unveiled details on its voluntary commercial licence retirement (LRP) program that will pay salmon harvesters to exit the industry. 

Continue reading Feds launch licence buyback plan to scale down B.C.’s salmon fishing fleet →
Housing, Politics, Poverty

Housing on Cortes: an Interview with Mark Vonesch (part two)

Currents interviewed Mark Vonesch in early December. This is the second half of that interview, in which we dig a lot more deeply into issues related to housing on Cortes and in the local area: homelessness, employment, property values, AirBnB and much more.

We present here some excerpts from nearly 30 minutes of audio. Our interview covered quite a bit more ground: homelessness in Campbell River, and their approach to it; property tax structures and how they could be made more equitable; the related issue of a real estate market in which, as with rent, locals cannot compete with tourists and rusticators; the fundamental problem of treating housing as a speculative investment commodity. We recommend listening to the entire podcast for the most complete information.

Continue reading Housing on Cortes: an Interview with Mark Vonesch (part two) →
Waste

This past year at FOCI, an interview with Helen Hall

Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) recently had its AGM. This is also Helen Hall’s seventh year as Executive Director. So Cortes Currents asked her for an overview of this past year and how the organization has changed during her tenure. 

Helen Hall: “That’s a big question, FOCI has always been doing a lot of different projects. I act as the central point for FOCI, but there’s a lot of work going on with volunteers and our contractors.” 

Continue reading This past year at FOCI, an interview with Helen Hall →
History, Rivers & Oceans

The origins of Cortes Island’s Shellfish Industry

In the most recent of her interviews about Cortes History, Lynne Jordan, former President of the Cortes Island Museum, traces one of the Island’s foremost industries from its pre-contact beginnings up until recent times.  

Lynne Jordan: “ The First Nations cultivated clam gardens on this coast for 3,000 to 5,000 years, maybe even longer. One on Quadra Island was recently dated at being around 3,500 years old.”

Continue reading The origins of Cortes Island’s Shellfish Industry →
Community

Campbell River driving instructor gives advice on winter driving

CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

Already inundated with snow, Cortes Island’s roads are presenting challenging winter conditions for drivers early this season.

Kallin Wilson, owner and operator of Wilson Family Drivers school in Campbell River, recommends that drivers trust their instincts and avoid going out if conditions feel unsafe.

Continue reading Campbell River driving instructor gives advice on winter driving →