On Monday, April 13, I was intending to board the ferry in Heriot Bay bound for Cortes Island.
“How will you be paying?” the officer in charge of boarding asked.
“Cash.” I replied. I only had cash, having left my wallet at home on Cortes.
“We don’t take cash… Because of the virus,” he replied.
Continue reading BC Ferries Don’t Take CashNational Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
David Suzuki put more than 350 people on hold Thursday evening after spotting salmon leaping in the ocean through the window of the Quadra Island home where he’s currently riding out the coronavirus pandemic. Canada’s best-known environmental activist, scientist and broadcaster was participating in a Zoom call hosted by National Observer to discuss the intersection of COVID-19 and climate change. But unable to contain his excitement, the 84-year-old naturalist wandered off-screen to alert his family to the beauty unfolding before him. The moment only underscored the point he’d been making during his conversation with National Observer CEO and editor-in-chief Linda Solomon Wood, that despite the havoc COVID-19 is wreaking on people and their families, public health and economies worldwide, the virus was providing a breather for the environment.
Continue reading David Sukuki On Covid 19Read Island’s 2018 ‘out of control’ wildfire spread over 8 hectares. According to the Campbell River Mirror, the 2019 blaze consumed 34 hectares. The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is concerned about the potential for fires on some of the neighbouring islands in the Surge Narrows as well. After consultation with Read Island residents, on March 12, 2020 their protection plan was amended to become the Surge Narrows Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Continue reading Surge Narrows Community Wildfire Protection PlanNational Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Lucas Chickite almost didn’t hear it. The Quadra Island fisherman was standing on the bow of the Armada, a vessel working a scallop farm off the east shore of Rebecca Spit, on Thursday at around 6 p.m., when he heard a faint sound over the noise of the engine and hydraulics. The west wind had come up to 20 knots in the afternoon and the water was showing whitecaps. He strained his ears again and looked around, but didn’t see any other boats. He was about to start working, when he heard it again.
“It definitely sounded like someone cried, Help,’” said Chickite. “I starting scanning the horizon and I saw a white hand flash out of the water.”
Continue reading First Nations Fishermen Rescues Kayaker Off Rebecca SpitNational Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Easter long weekend is usually the unofficial start to tourist season in B.C, but tourism operators are not sure they are going to survive COVID-19.
Continue reading Tourism On Life Support
