Tag Archives: Cutthroat Trout

Environment, Industry

Friends of Cortes Island: Re the proposed Cortes Island Quarry Expansion

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To: Ministry of Mining and Critical Infrastructure

Re: Cortes Island Quarry, Mine File 1610613

Friends of Cortes Island wishes to formally object to the proposed expansion of Cortes Island Quarry by the applicant 2385425 Alberta Ltd (operating locally under the business name of Island United).

We are deeply concerned that the proposal will cause significant harm to nearby sensitive ecosystems, namely riparian and wetland habitat and fish-bearing creeks. It will also result in the direct loss of a sizeable area of associated forest habitat.

In addition, we are very concerned that the application has been submitted without a comprehensive environmental impact assessment or any meaningful mitigation measures. As such, we respectfully ask the Ministry to reject the proposal in its current form. Please see our comments and recommendations below.

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Industry, Rivers & Oceans

Local volunteers challenge the expansion of a BC quarry near fish-bearing creeks

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By Sonal Gupta, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A small quarry on Cortes Island, BC, could soon grow to more than four times its current size and local streamkeepers say the province may be considering the expansion without a full picture of nearby creeks, wetlands and fish habitat.

Island United, a local construction company, runs the Cortes Pit — a rock and gravel quarry in Whaletown. The company is asking the province to greenlight its plans to expand the quarry from 1.25 hectares to 5.16 hectares, add gravel washing and a concrete plant and extract about 40,000 tonnes of rock and gravel each year.

In a formal objection, Cortes Island Streamkeepers, a local volunteer group that monitors and restores island streams, is asking the province to pause the application while it works to set the record straight on what it calls “misleading information” about nearby streams and fish presence.

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Industry

Gleanings from the May 7 Community Meeting: Island United’s proposed Quarry Expansion

Around 100 people packed into Mansons Hall on May 7, 2026, for a community meeting on the proposed expansion of the Island United Quarry on Cortes Island. While most appeared to be opposed to the project in its current form, some added that Cortes Island needed a smaller quarry more in line with the island’s needs

Neither Howard Nielsen, who owns Island United, nor his wife were present. Regional Director Mark Vonesch explained, “ It’s their 15th wedding anniversary and they’re on a trip.” 

Mike Moore, who MC’d the event,  added, “First of all this is a meeting that is for information. We’ll have a question and answer period at the end of a few little presentations. It’s not a protest by any means. No profanity (audience chuckled); no derogatory comments. We’re here to look at the Island United Quarry expansion in Whaletown.”

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Industry, Rivers & Oceans

Fishy Business: Cortes Streamkeepers opposed to quarry expansion plan

[Article by Christine and Cec Robinson, reprinted from Tideline; the audio version of this story includes not only the text of this article, but an interview with the authors about the history of Cortes Streamkeepers and the importance of watershed protection. The feature image is a cropped area from an original painting of James Creek by Desiree Bond, see end notes.]

Controversy continues to simmer over Island United’s application for an ambitious expansion of the Cortes Pit (a gravel and rock quarry in Whaletown). Cortes Currents has been covering the issue; this article is the third in a series.

Note: There has been some confusion over the deadlines for commenting on the permit application. There are two different deadlines for two different application processes.

  • One is strictly a mining application and is terse and minimalist. Its deadline is May 8th. BC government confirms that this means comments must be received before midnight on May 8th.
  • The other is an application for expansion and mining use of a Crown Land lease. It is more elaborate and includes the much-quoted “Aggregate and Quarry Management Plan” which contains many errors and misstatements. Its deadline is May 14th.
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Justice

Site C contractor fined $1.1 million for illegal dumping

Editor’s Note: An alarming story about a businesses actins and environmental protections.

By Tom Summer, Alaska Highway News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Site C contractor Peace River Hydro Partners will pay a $1.1 million fine after pleading guilty in Fort St. John Provincial Court on July 31 to one charge of depositing a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish.

In direct contravention of the federal Fisheries Act, the charge stems from an investigation led by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers into the discharge of 3,300 cubic metres of contaminated drainage water into the Peace River on September 9 and 10 in 2018.

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