The Cortes Community Health Association’s (CCHA) Augmented Home Support Program (AHSP) provides minimal assistance to elderly people who might otherwise be forced to leave the island. So far, they have given 37 Cortes residents transportation to shopping and/or doctor; moved firewood; or light housekeeping. When needed, AHSP has provided some pre-cooked meals. This service is not a substitute for personal care provided by Island Health (like bathing, dressing changes or help with taking medication), but has been of great assistance to Cortes residents undergoing surgery or soon to be released from the hospital. The program’s funding challenges were such that CCHA actually contemplated terminating it last fall. Island Health will fund Cortes Island’s Augmented Home Support Program during 2020.
Continue reading Island Health Will Fund Cortes Island's Augmented Home Support Program During 2020Tag Archives: Cortes Island
Last Fall’s Chum Returns On Cortes & Quadra
Last fall’s chum runs were poor throughout British Columbia. Wilf Luedke, the chief biologist for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, described reports from the Sooke River, on Vancouver Island, as “the worst yet.” On the Fraser River, the Alouette River Management Society counted 500 instead of the 60,000 they expected. The chum returns on Cortes & Quadra Cortes were dismal.
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Coming To BC Ferries' Campbell River – Quadra Run
The first of BC Ferries’ new Island Class hybrid-electric vessels arrived in Victoria last Saturday. Their engines are currently powered by a combination of electric, with 800 kWh of battery energy storage capacity, and low sulphur diesel. When the cost of energy storage becomes more economical, BC ferries plans to upgrade to 2,000 kWh and go fully electric. Half a dozen electric ferries are expected to be in service by 2022. Two of these sleek new vessels are slated for our area as one of many improvements coming to BC Ferries’ Campbell River – Quadra run.
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Cortes Island’s Adrift Vessels
Two more abandoned derelict vessels washed up in Cortes Bay on January 15th, 2020. When Jenny Hartwick, Harbour Manager for Harbour Authority Cortes Island (HACI), reported them to the Coast Guard, she was told they were dealing with similar reports from multiple locations. Cortes Island’s adrift vessels are part of a province wide problem.
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Cortes Island’s Community Halls Could Receive Their First Cheques By Mid March
Three months ago, an overwhelming majority of Cortes residents voted to have their property taxes increased in order to provide some assistance for the island’s community halls. The Whaletown Community Club (WCC) is about to file the funding application for Gorge Hall. The Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA) has requested further information, before submitting Mansons Hall’s application. Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Chair Michele Babchuk says Cortes Island’s community halls could receive their first cheques by mid March.
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