This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative.
In response to reduced revenues arising from the pandemic, the city of Campbell River plans to increase property taxes and either defer or cancel $1.5 million dollars worth of services.
Continue reading Campbell River’s plan to increase property taxes and cut servicesThe ‘Sayward Futures Society‘ application was turned down because they proposed to use the funding to hire a coordinator. Emergency Management BC (EMBC) did not feel the COVID situation on Vancouver Island was sufficiently desperate, but they did approve a study to see how the SRD Delivers program could be implemented on Cortes Island. More than 80% of the $10,370 obtained from the province was forwarded to organizations that “offered assistance with grocery shopping, the delivery of food, prescriptions and other essentials for the benefit of the elderly (65+) and other vulnerable persons.” The SRD delivered to 230 households in Campbell River, Read Island, Gold River and Tahsis.
Continue reading SRD Delivered to 230 HouseholdsRegional Directors Jim Abram, Brenda Leigh and Gerald Whalley would prefer to more independent of the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board. For reasons obvious to anyone who has observed the Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC) over the past two years, Cortes Island Regional Director Noba Anderson would rather stick with the board. A proposal that staff study the feasibility of an independent EASC Grant in Aid Service was brought forward at the May 27, 2020, SRD Board Meeting.
Continue reading Proposed EASC Grant in Aid Service DeniedThe political maneuvering began as the agenda, for the Strathcona Regional District Board’s May 27th meeting, was adopted. Regional Director Jim Abram added a “subsequent,’ which he said was way down the agenda. A number of comments, scattered throughout the video below, show that the other rural directors knew what was coming. Regional Director Brenda Leigh alluded to Abram having “something better to propose.” Cortes Island Regional Director Noba Anderson expressed disappointment that one of her colleagues “is trying to put forward a motion ahead of time to not even allow this discussion.” Two major Quadra Island projects – the proposed BC Ferries passenger service and new firehall – have also been delayed because of the Electoral Areas Services Committee’s (EASC) prearranged decision. The public hearing for Rainbow Ridge is postponed until sometime after September 7th, 2020.
Continue reading Public Hearing For Rainbow Ridge Postponed Until September – Or LaterOver the course of the last two months, the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) received funding requests from both of the community foundations operating within its area. At the April 29th Board meeting, they granted a total of $32,500 to the Campbell River Foundation – whose catchment area includes Sayward, Quadra, Cortes and the Oyster River. On May 12, the Cortes Island Foundation asked for $50,000. This prompted an intense discussion of the SRD’s relationship to community foundations at the end of which the Cortes Foundation application was denied.
Continue reading Cortes Foundation Application Denied
