Tag Archives: Campbell River

Health, Transportation

Islanders worry they’ll be marooned if medical emergency strikes at night

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Editor’s note: the last ferry from Cortes Island, a 45 minute ferry trip away from Quadra, leaves at 5:50 PM

Residents of Quadra Island are worried about being stranded ashore when medical emergencies occur at night because BC Ferries can’t guarantee a crew for sailings to get ambulances across to the hospital in Campbell River.

A petition with close to 1,000 signatures is circulating in the community of 2,700 full-time residents calling on B.C.’s Transportation Minister Rob Fleming to work with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and BC Ferries to reinstate off-hour ferry service so ambulances can get patients to hospital in a timely manner.

Continue reading Islanders worry they’ll be marooned if medical emergency strikes at night →
Health, Housing, Poverty

With no place to live, some B.C. seniors are couch-surfing

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

One senior spoke about the anxiety she feels not having a family doctor after losing four in the past eight years. 

Another, the president of the local seniors centre, asked what she should tell a woman in her 80s crying on the phone because she’s got nowhere to live and is reduced to the indignity of couch-surfing with friends after a lifetime of paying taxes. 

Continue reading With no place to live, some B.C. seniors are couch-surfing →
Justice

A Policeman’s Perspective: Violent Crimes in Campbell River

There has been an increase in the number of violent crimes reported in Campbell River.

According to Cst. Maury Tyre, “For the last three or four years,  we have seen a general spike in ‘calls for service’ in Campbell River. One of those years actually saw roughly a 12% increase. A lot of those increases are based on things like calls for service, checking wellbeing, and things like that. But effectively, when there is an increase in calls for service, you’re also going to have an increase in violence.”

Continue reading A Policeman’s Perspective: Violent Crimes in Campbell River →
Transportation

BC Ferries offers large discounts on late evening Quadra sailings, but skips Cortes route

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

BC Ferries is launching a promotion for locals and tourists to enjoy the savings on some inter-island routes this summer but the Cortes Island route is not among them.

The goal of the promotion—a 75 per cent discount off vehicle fares—is to motivate customers to travel on later or earlier sailings by providing a discount, freeing up space on more popular sailings.

Continue reading BC Ferries offers large discounts on late evening Quadra sailings, but skips Cortes route →
Animals

 A North Island situation: solutions for Campbell River’s Bear problem

Campbell River’s bear problem is escalating. There were twice as many reports of bears raiding garbage cans this year. Sergeant Mike Newton, a Conservation Officer with the Ministry of Environment, went to the June 27 city council meeting with a couple of suggestions.

They both hinge upon changing human behaviour.

Continue reading  A North Island situation: solutions for Campbell River’s Bear problem →