Tag Archives: Quadra Island

Community

Reflections on the eradication of Canada’s middle class 

A recent article in the Capital Daily outlines how the housing crisis is eradicating Victoria’s middle class. 

Throughout British Columbia, the average rent and mortgage payments exceed what many people can pay. 

“What’s been happening over the last 10 years is that the share of homes bought by first-time buyers has been declining, and their market share has largely been taken over by investors,” said John Pasalis, president of Toronto-based Realosophy Realty, told CBC News.

He added that, contrary to what many believe, the lion’s share of the investors were domestic owners who purchased a second home as an investment. 

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Health

No Longer an Official Emergency, COVID Remains a Crisis


Editor’s note: Between March 2020 and October 2022, there were 1,809 documented cases of COVID in the Greater Campbell River Health Area. There were fatalities in outlying areas like Cortes and Quadra Islands, as well as in the city. While the numbers have decreased, COVID is still a threat. According to the Government of Canada, 7,274 British Columbians have died of COVID as of August 3, 2024. Of course, these are just the documented cases. The actual numbers are undoubtedly higher.

By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

British Columbia’s top doctor has ended the COVID-19 public health emergency, which began nearly 1,600 days ago on March 17, 2020. 

Declaring COVID-19 a public health emergency gave provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry the ability to issue mask mandates, travel and gathering restrictions and vaccination requirements for health-care workers to curb the spread of the virus. 

While experts The Tyee spoke with agree the  public health emergency may no longer be needed, they stressed that  COVID-19 still poses a serious and potentially deadly threat to the  general public. 

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Transportation

What the Cortes/Quadra Passenger Transportation Survey Discovered

282 people from Cortes, Quadra and the Outer Island’s as well as some visitors participated in CCEDA’s passenger transportation survey.  They were asked about a variety of options for passengers in the islands, a bus, taxi, carpool, van pool, or rideshare.

“We found that the most popular option for all respondents was a bus on Quadra that included both ferries. Cortes and Outer-Island residents only need a bus that goes from the Cortes Ferry to the Quadra Ferry.  They don’t necessarily need to go anywhere else on Quadra. It’s just  that straight line that so many people take across Quadra. On Quadra, the most popular option was a bus that included both ferries, but also made a loop. It would be helpful for people living on Quadra and visitors to get around Quadra,” explained Jennifer Banks-Doll, Project Lead for Quadra Island.

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Development

Gowlland Harbour Views Development Voted Down

Rick and Cheryl Schellinck have been trying to obtain approval to subdivide their Quadra Island property, as the first step towards development, since 2011. The most recent version of the proposed Gowlland Harbour Views project consisted of twenty-two 2 hectare rural residential lots,  a 5 hectare Agricultural Land Reserve parcel, and two small Regional District Parks. Quadra Island residents were given a chance to state their opinions of the project at a public meeting on June 12. Then Schellinck’s application was defeated in an electoral Directors only vote at the July 24, SRD Board meeting. It failed to make it to the third reading. 

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Politics

SRD Considering a Grant-In Aid Policy; Directors Mawhinney, Whalley and Vonesch opposed

The Strathcona Regional District Board SRD is considering amending the Grant in Aid process. A proposed ‘Financial Assistance to Organizations’ policy from 2021 is being considered. Regional Directors Gerald Whalley from Area A, Robyn Mawhinney from Area C and Mark Vonesch from Area B (Cortes Island) voted in opposition, but were defeated.  

The associated staff report refers to a recent grant in aid to the Cortes Island School, questions the relationship between the school and Parent Advisory Council and asks whether the funds being requested should actually have come from School District 72.  

The policy brought forward in 2021 proposed that in the future: 

  • Applications must be submitted directly to the SRD’s Financial Officer.
  • Only registered non-profits can apply.
  • The funds are not to be used for core funding, operating costs, wages, insurance or multi-year funding etc.
  • Applicants must include a written statement indicating how the grant-in-aid will benefit the community.
  • The board will give preference to applications that do not exceed $5,000.
Continue reading SRD Considering a Grant-In Aid Policy; Directors Mawhinney, Whalley and Vonesch opposed →