Tag Archives: Chum Returns

Energy, Politics

In the Midst of a Global Energy Transition: Canada’s New Pipeline

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Someone sent me a Facebook post in which North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn points to a Petro Canada sign advertising gas for $2.09.9 a litre. 

Gunn wrote, “Ridiculous. 4th-largest oil reserves on the planet. $2.09 per litre at the pumps. It’s time to build pipelines, refineries and an energy policy that puts Canada, and Canadians, first!” 

My first response, when I calmed down enough to have a polite response, was ‘does he think a fully operational pipeline is going to drop out of the sky?’ 

So far, no proponents have stepped forward to build the proposed pipeline. Premier Danielle Smith of Alberta recently said there are some Middle Eastern and Asian investors who expressed interest in a minority stake. IF a proponent steps forward and clears all the necessary preliminary steps, it is still going to take years before oil flows through the proposed pipeline. 

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Rivers & Oceans

2025 Chum Run on Cortes Island

Two months have passed since the 2025 Chum run. Unlike previous years, the Cortes Island Streamkeepers have not released a final count. 

A Tideline post at the beginning of the run noted, “Basil Creek is usually the first on Cortes to receive returning salmon, and true to form, the first chum showed up on October 23. These first Chum are gorgeous, big, strong, with no decay, and moving steadily up the creek. The Chum typically have a 4-year cycle – we saw good returns in the fall of 2021, so we can expect this year to have a strong return of spawning Chum.” 

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Rivers & Oceans

Final Numbers for Cortes Island’s 2024 Chum Run

The final numbers for Cortes Island’s 2024 Chum run are in. Local streamkeepers Cec and Christine Robinson gave a rundown. 

Christine Robinson: “I think we all know that this was  a stupendous year for Chums up and down the coast. So not just Cortes, not just Quadra, not just the Sunshine Coast, but from the mainland all the way up to Alaska and down through to Puget Sound and I think possibly further south.  The numbers on Cortes were the highest that we have seen since we’ve lived on Cortes, which is now 34 years.”

Cec Robinson: “To put it in context, they’re probably three times higher than the best years we’ve ever seen. So it was pretty huge.” 

Continue reading Final Numbers for Cortes Island’s 2024 Chum Run →
Rivers & Oceans

Cortes Island Streamkeeper Spawner Counts 2013-2024

By Cec and Christine Robinson

Recent monitoring of Cortes creeks officially began in 2013 by Cortes Island Streamkeepers, Christine & Cec Robinson. In 2014, streamkeeper numbers expanded as several more salmon enthusiasts began helping with spawner counts. Cortes Island Streamkeeper records were sent to DFO in Campbell River in 2014, and have continued yearly since.

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Environment

Only A Week From Now: FOCI’s 2024 AGM

The Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) 2024 AGM is coming up at 5 PM on December 3rd. They are celebrating more than 30 years with their Marine Stewardship program. Sabina Leader Mense will be the guest speaker. 

“That’s the second part of the AGM. For the first part, we will be talking about  the work we’ve done in 2024. We’ve just produced our 2024 Annual Report and that’s bursting at the seams with amazing work that we’ve been doing over the last year,” explained Helen Hall. executive director of the Friends of Cortes Island.  

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