Tag Archives: Cortes Island

Indigenous Nations

RIEP Presentation: Ways To Further Support The Success Of BC’s Indigenous Economy

Editor’s note: Some of the SENĆOŦEN words do not appear in the following text, but can be inserted when the correct spelling is known. 

One of the most popular presentations at RIEP’s 2025 Virtual forum was Former Green Party MLA Adam Olsen’s identification of ways to further support the success of BC’s Indigenous economy.

Francine Carlin, Chair of the Rural Island Economic Partnership (RIEP) introduced Olsen, “ Adam is a proud member of the Tsartlip Nation. He currently serves as the lead negotiator for the Tsartlip, representing the nation’s interests on land and resource management, governance and the treaty land entitlement process. His leadership and negotiation plays a crucial role and advancing the nation’s rights and self determination, Adam’s expertise of bridging gaps between environmental concerns, indigenous rights and sustainable development makes him a true champion of the greater good.”

Continue reading RIEP Presentation: Ways To Further Support The Success Of BC’s Indigenous Economy →
Business, Community

Potential Land Use Issue at Evans Bay, Read Island

The text of Lannie Keller’s Tuesday, March 11 presentation made to the Electoral Areas Services Committee

I’m here to present local concerns and request SRD’s help to avert a land use conflict and a Bylaw zoning violation at Read Island.  

To begin, I’m grateful to live in unceded traditional territory of the Homalco and Klahoose First Nations. And for the wild beauty of this place.

We moved to Read Island in 1980, and have made our living creating and running (what is now) Canada’s longest operating kayak touring company from our home in Evans Bay. Coast Mountain Expeditions has become Read Island’s largest employer. We offer activities based on wilderness ambience – all in this local area. Our business is threatened by Island Sea Farm’s Aquaculture License #1401594, conditionally approved by the province in June 2023. 

Continue reading Potential Land Use Issue at Evans Bay, Read Island →
Business, Politics

RIEP Presentation: US Tariffs & How Island Economies Can Respond

Around 100 people signed up for the Rural Islands Economic Partnership 2025 Virtual Forum. At least 10 were from Cortes Island and there were others from Quadra, Bowen, Texada, Hornby, Denman, Cormorant, Malcolm and the Gulf Islands, as well as the Broughton Archipelago. Several of the topics were of great importance to islanders. One of the foremost was Aaron Cruikshank’s analysis of the impact US tariffs will have on island economies and what we can do about it.

Cruikshank is the founder of CTRS, a Market intelligence company from the Lower Mainland that has worked with hundreds of organizations and governments over the past 20 years.

Continue reading RIEP Presentation: US Tariffs & How Island Economies Can Respond →
Tourism

Folk U: Unexpected Detours, Chance Encounters, & Other Travel Adventures

On March 7, 2025, host Manda Aufochs-Gillespie was joined by a group of Cortesians as they swapped stories of unexpected detours, chance encounters, and the adventures that changed them. Are we talking international travel or trips to town gone wrong? Tune in to find out!

Continue reading Folk U: Unexpected Detours, Chance Encounters, & Other Travel Adventures →
Communications

Disruptions of CityWest Services on Cortes and Quadra Islands

CityWest’s internet service for Cortes Island was cut off again, sometime after 10:44 on Saturday, March 8, and not restored until after 9:00 on Monday, March 10. This is the third or fourth time in the last 12 months. 

The outage did not affect CKTZ, which relies upon Mascon de TELUS, but did shut down numerous CityWest customers (including Cortes Currents).

‘Rumour’ has it that the fibre cable was cut somewhere on the underwater stretch between Denman Island and Williams Beach.  

Continue reading Disruptions of CityWest Services on Cortes and Quadra Islands →