Tag Archives: Cortes Island Housing

Women

Cortes Island Women’s Centre: offering support and resources since 2019

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The July 2 broadcast has been added.

Some seven or eight years ago, longtime Cortes residentTanya Henck perceived a need for more support for women on the island struggling with various issues — domestic violence, sexual harassment, housing insecurity, poverty, mental health, social isolation — and launched the idea of a Women’s Resource Centre. Joined by a few other island women, she rented a space in the Mansons Hall building and formed a partnership with North Island Transition Society. In 2019, the Centre opened — just in time for the Covid pandemic.

Since then, the Cortes Island Women’s Resource Centre has served island women in many capacities. In an interview with Tanya in late May, we discuss recent organisational changes (the Centre is now a BC Non-Profit Society in its own right), current programming and services, the level of need on the island for those services, the ongoing relationship with North Island Transition, and Tanya’s plans for expanded services and projects in the coming year.

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Indigenous Nations

Folk U: Chief Kevin Peacey on Politics, Projects & the Past (Part 2)


Interview by Manda Aufochs Gillespie; written version by Roy L Hales

This is the second half of a highly abridged text version of Manda Aufochs Gillespie’s interview with Chief Kevin Peacey of the Klahoose First Nation.

In Part 2 Kevin talks about QXMC businesses, the new restaurant in Gorge Harbour, the Squirrel Cove project, Treaty Negotiations, Land & Rights, Klahoose History, his own life and Future Challenges   

Manda: “I want to talk a little bit about your development arm, Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC). What is its relationship to Klahoose?”

Kevin: “The corporation is Klahoose. We just keep it hands-off so that we’re not bugging them with, ‘We need this, we need that.’ We let the corporation do what they need to do.”

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Housing, Politics

2026 Housing Survey Results

(Part Two of the March 18, 2026 Area B Director’s Report )

By Regional Director Mark Vonesch

When we put out the housing survey I was hoping to get at least as many respondents as two years ago. The more people that participate, the better understanding the Cortes Housing Society and I have about the housing reality for people on Cortes and their opinions of how we should move forward.

I am happy to report we received 100 more submissions than two years ago with 361 submissions in total! Thank you to all of you that filled one out.

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Housing

Six Units Underway at Rainbow Ridge, Further Updates

If everything goes as planned, the first two rental suites at the Rainbow Ridge Affordable Rental Project on Cortes Island will be ready in June, and six units could be occupied as early as January. In this morning’s interview, Mark Lombard, the Construction Manager, provides an overview of how the work is progressing at Rainbow Ridge, as well as updates from the Cortes Island Housing Society‘s other housing sites—Orchard Village and the Makerspace.

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Housing

First Responses: 2026 Cortes Island Housing Survey

The 2026 Cortes Island Housing Survey was launched on Wednesday, February 11. This is a joint endeavour between Regional Director Mark Vonesch and the Cortes Housing Society, who recently provided a look at the first responses.

70 people had filled out the survey when Cortes Currents interviewed Sadhu Johnston, a day after the release.

Sadhu Johnston: “The first Cortes Island Housing Survey was really, really helpful for us in guiding the work of the Cortes Housing Society. We wanted to do another housing survey to gauge where people are at and how they’re feeling about the housing challenges on Cortes. Also, for us, as we’re building out Rainbow Ridge, it helps to get clarity on what people are looking for in terms of their housing needs. We want to make sure we’re building the right size units, the right number of bedrooms, and things of that nature,” he explained.

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