It has been a week since Mark Vonesch announced he would be running for Regional Director of Cortes Island in the October 15th election. In the first of a series of broadcasts, he told Cortes Currents about his desire to bring a new kind of politics to Cortes Island.
Continue reading Mark Vonesch 1: Moving Forward Together
By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca
Mark Vonesch has spent the last 17 years engaged in various organizations, both professionally and as a volunteer on Cortes Island and now, he wants to represent the community as a director on the board of the Strathcona Regional District. He’s thrown his hat into the ring to run in the next municipal election set for Oct. 15.
Continue reading Mark Vonesch running as candidate for Cortes Island director in upcoming municipal election
Forty-five percent (45%) of the respondents renting homes in rural areas say they pay more than they can afford, according to the SRD Electoral Areas Housing Needs Report.
Statistics from the 2016 census support this. 41% of renters and 9% of home owners in the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) paid more than 30% of their income on accommodation.
“This survey sheds light on an issue that is kind of hidden. People that are living in unstable housing aren’t necessarily telling everyone about it because it can be embarrassing. ‘I can’t afford the right housing,’ or ‘I’m living in an overcrowded place,’ or ‘I’m having to choose between good food or paying my rent,’” said Mark Vonesch from the Cortes Community Housing Society, one of the key stakeholders in this study.
Continue reading Rural Housing Survey 1: unaffordable rents, vacant houses, Airbnbs
The Strathcona Regional District is in the midst of a 30 day survey of rural housing insecurity and service needs. The Campbell River and District Coalition to end homelessness emailed copies to every Vancouver Island Regional Library in the district. There was a network of volunteers ready to work with them on Cortes Island and individual volunteers on Quadra, but some areas can only be reached through social media. The survey comes to an end on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.
Continue reading The rural housing and service needs surveyFifteen youth, aged 8 to 14, signed up for the Reel Youth Partners in Education (PIE) film program, which starts on Monday January 10th.
This online program is run by the Powell River School Board but, as might be expected, considering Reel Youth’s strong connection to Cortes Island, seven of the fifteen students are Cortesians. (Five students come from the Comox Valley and three from Powell River.)
Continue reading Reel Youth’s ‘Partners in Education’ course launches January 10th
