Local tourism had really taken a big hit when Mary Ruth Snyder, Executive Director of the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce and Dianne Hawkins, CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce agreed to visit each other’s cities and film the event. The pair did not stop there. They launched a social media campaign encouraging people to explore neighbouring communities and leave a visual record of their visits on social media using hashtags like #ExploreNextDoor, #MeetYourNeighbours, and #ExploreBC.
Continue reading Explore Next DoorTag Archives: North Island
Tourism pretty dire for Local Kayak Operators
National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
This summer season was short, and perhaps sweet enough so some of B.C.’s tourism operators were able to weather the pandemic‘s negative impacts.
Campgrounds, parks, restaurants and a range of tourism services reaped some measure of reward from B.C. residents exploring their backyards and following the government’s staycation directive.
But kayaking expedition operators certainly weren’t buoyed by a wave of local vacationers, said Rick Snowdon, owner of Spirit of the West Adventures based on Quadra Island.
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Upgrading Hoskyn Channel Dock: A photo essay
Originally published in Surge Currents, August 2020
By Ginny Vassal, Read Island
The occasional grounding of the Hoskyn Channel dock became much more pronounced in September 2018. The stream at the base of the ribbons re-routed itself towards the dock following heavy rains; the up-stream clear-cutting most likely caused the concentrated run-off that moved large rocks and cut a deep channel with stream sediment running directly towards the dock.
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Discovery Island Items at the next SRD Board Meeting
Public rezoning hearings are proposed for four projects on Cortes and Quadra Islands. The final agreement with Cortes Island’s community halls is close to being signed. A parcel tax to help 32 Quathiaski Cove property owners pay their portion of the Quathiaski Cove Sewer Extension. Surge Narrows Community association is requesting a tax exemption for the proposed park on Read Island. These are among the Discovery Island Items to be discussed at the August 19th SRD Board Meeting.
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Sea Star On Brink of Extinction
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Every child who has ever explored a West Coast shore relishes the discovery of a sea star, with its bumpy skin, jumble of arms and striking colours.
But the once common treasure of the tidal pool is at risk of being eradicated along the Pacific coastline from a deadly combination of disease and warming oceans caused by climate change, said biologist Alyssa Gehman.
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