There are some Cortes Island elements in the story of a boat stolen from Campbell River on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.
Someone living in the Potlatch Road area of southern Cortes Island observed ‘big military type planes’ and some helicopters flying around the ocean that morning and thought it might be a Sea-Air Rescue excerise. He did not think about it again until reading about the incident on CHEK News.
Continue reading Cortes Island Elements In A Boat Theft StoryHarbour Authority Cortes Island (HACI) started taking applications for summer moorage spots at 9 AM on April 1st.
Harbour Master Jenny Hartwick explained, “What’s happened over the last few years on Cortes, especially after Covid, is we’ve seen a steady increase in summer visitors and local residents getting out on the water. That puts additional pressure on the available moorage that we have at the docks.”
“The one point that I want to make really clear is we have ample space available for anyone who is looking for moorage at the docks. What we do not necessarily have available is moorage at your first choice dock. We have some areas of higher population density and the docks that are in those areas tend to be the most popular. For safety reasons, we cannot accommodate every single boat that puts in a request for moorage at those docks. If we tried, there would be too many security issues: be it vessels getting damaged or the possibility of people getting hurt and, literally, the facilities themselves wouldn’t be able to support the weight of all of the boats that we have asking to stay there.”
Continue reading Summer Moorage Spots on Cortes Island
There were 45 people on the Whaletown dock when Cortes Currents left half way through the Open House on Monday, September 16. Some were listening to Andy Ellingsen, a Director of Harbour Authority Cortes Island (HACI), talk about the current condition of the wharf and what needs to be done. Others gathered in small groups, eating the free pizza, sharing memories or their perspectives on the matter. HACI has owned the 110-year-old structure since 2009 and now it is in need of extensive repairs.
Continue reading Open House at the Whaletown Dock; Renovations Needed
Originally published April 28, 2024
BC Ferries intends to upgrade their Heriot Bay and Whaletown terminals to accommodate new, higher-capacity “Island Class” ferries with the potential for all-electric operation. The construction project, scheduled for 2026, will necessitate closure of these docks and ramps — a serious logistical problem for BCF and for island residents.
On April 27th, 2024, BC Ferries hosted a two-hour open house at Mansons Hall from 12:30 to 2:30 pm, asking for community feedback and suggestions on their early draft plan for this disruptive project. The event was attended by more than 50 Cortes residents over the two-hour period; for those who were unable to attend, the online comment period remains open until May 6th.
Continue reading Terminal Upgrade Plan: BC Ferries Consults Cortes Residents
Three new signs have recently been greeting boaters arriving in Cortes Bay.
They say:
