By Dancing Wolf
Last Thursday, Jan 24, many of us were witness to some great visionary ideas and concepts regarding our near future in 2040.
I was deeply moved and inspired by this remarkable presentation created by the Students of the Cortes Island Academy and wonderfully supported by their Teachers.
So much so that I wrote a short poem to express my gratitude.
Continue reading Teenage Breakthrough: A Poetic Response To The Cortes Island Academy Year End Presentation
There is a community meal somewhere on Cortes Island every week.
“A warm bowl of soup, or a stew, that’s at the heart of it. Then there’s always some sort of fresh veggies or a fresh veggie platter cut up. Folks are getting that kind of food in them. Then bread and butter, because that’s just the basics for everybody and usually a dessert, some sort of cookies or brownies and the whole meal includes gluten free and vegetarian options,” explained Yasmina Cartland.
“There’s nothing you have to do to come to lunch. Everyone can come. You don’t have to prove that you need it. It’s completely inclusive. It’s meant to be a warm social time and it’s meant to actually nourish people with some warm nourishing food.”
Continue reading Cortes Island’s Community Meal ProgramCortes Currents asked all three candidates in North Island-Powell River (NIPR) for an interview. Jessica Wegg, of the Green Party, was the first to respond. Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn, who 338Canada currently projects as leading in our riding, has yet to acknowledge the invitation. NDP candidate Tanille Johnston, whose party is trailing in the projections, intends to visit Cortes Island soon and emailed her answers to my questions.
As with my previous interview with Jessica Wegg, this is a discussion of Johnston’s beliefs, not a debate on policy. There is some fact checking on her remarks about the Conservatives negativity (by comparing the name calling and negative imaging in the headlines of Conservative, NDP and Green press releases) and whether they do represent the rich (by looking at the cost to attend a party event and a report from the National Post).
Continue reading Q&A With NDP Candidate Tanille JohnstonThere are approximately 100 short term rentals, collectively earning between $1 million and $1.5 million* a year, on Cortes Island. At of the end of 2021, there were 177 on Quadra. As of May 1st, all Airbnbs and short-term rentals in BC have to register with the provincial government.
“It’s a process where the provincial government is asking short term rental operators and short term rental platform operators to register. Then they’re going to cross reference and use that as a way to regulate Airbnbs,” explained Mark Vonesch, Regional Director for Cortes Island (Area B).
Continue reading Short Term Rentals must be registered by May 1, 2025CityWest started hooking Cortes Island residents up to the internet in December 2023, but many homes are still waiting. As the evidence is anecdotal, it is difficult to say how many people are currently connected through CityWest and how many are not.
Sherman Barker just informed me that he has never met anyone who is connected. After waiting for two years of waiting, he was using Starlink by the time a CityWest crew showed up to do the final hook-up.
“I have a pile of CityWest cable, all the way from my driveway to my yard, that they don’t want back.”
Sean Coyote, a techie who works for Cortes Community Radio, said typically people who have yet to be serviced are told their names are on a list. Some, like Sherman, subsequently moved on to other internet providers. Sean added that there are a couple of CityWest trucks working on the island right now.
Continue reading Cortes Island Residents Waiting for CityWest To Connect Them
