The Cortes Island Food Bank needs more funding to meet a dramatic increase in the number of people it is serving. They had 5 clients at the end of October 2022. This October there were 70. Food Bank Treasurer Filipe Figueira said the need for food banks has been increasing throughout Canada. He estimates the Cortes Island Food Bank will need $25,000 to meet the need.
Continue reading Cortes Food Bank Seeks to Raise $25,000
Amanda Smith, of the Quadra Island Food Bank emailed, “Obviously our buying power has diminished across the board due to inflationary pressures. Increases for fruits and vegetables and eggs have been most disturbing. Our vegetable choices are now largely governed by price. 2022 saw a 35% increase over 2021 for the number of hampers distributed. The number of hampers distributed so far in 2023 is markedly higher than 2022 and there is no relief in sight. Every distribution this year has registered new first-time users.”
Samantha Statton, President of the Cortes Island Food Bank, reported a rise of about 15%.
Continue reading The Cortes and Quadra Island Food Banks in a time of rising prices and declining real wages
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Quadra Islander Ramona Boyle is rummaging through cardboard boxes when her friend lets out a triumphant shout.
“Look at this!” exclaims dood, known by a single moniker similar to Madonna, plucking a package of thick-cut bacon from a box and waving it in the air.
“This normally costs at least 15 bucks.”
Boyle peers into the box filled with various packages of frozen meat.
“There must be hundreds of dollars worth of food in here!” she replies.
The pair, members of the Quadra Island Climate Action Team (I-CAN), are appraising their first haul for a new project to tackle climate change and food insecurity in their rural community.
Continue reading Tiny B.C. island community’s answer to climate change? Feed everyone
“One of the core messages and core reasons that I am running for Regional Director is because I want decisions to be centered on island values. To me, island values are respect for First Nations, long term sustainability, also the rural nature that we all love. That’s why we live here. Quadra Island has a rich history of volunteerism. The role of the director is really to be an advocate for the majority of the community at the Strathcona Regional District (SRD),” said Robyn Mawhinney who hopes to be elected Regional Director of Area C (Discovery Islands and Mainland Inlets) on October 15th, 2022.
Continue reading Mawhinney: Centering decisions on Island Values
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 survey
