When temperatures plummeted to −20° last year, SRD Emergency Coordinator Shaun Koopman stepped in to make arrangements for Campbell River’s homeless population to be sheltered in the city’s community centre. The SRD intervened again last week, but at their November 9 meeting the Board decided this was a Campbell River problem.
Continue reading Who will look after Campbell River’s homeless population when temperatures plummet?Cortes Island just passed a major hurdle on the road to adopting a 3% tax on short term rentals. In the first meeting of the new board, the Strathcona Regional District unanimously voted to write a letter of support, which will accompany the Cortes Community Housing Society’s application to the provincial government for a Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT).
Continue reading SRD endorses Cortes Island application for 3% tax on short term rentals
The new Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board was sworn in on Wednesday, November 9.
“10 of the 14 Directors on the Strathcona Regional District Board are new. There’s been a huge changeover. You do have some folks with experience in there, but it’s a new place to work. My initial experiences with folks is that people are approaching this job with a really open mind, a willingness to work together, cooperative attitudes and it’s really great,” explained Mark Vonesch, the new Regional Director for Cortes Island.
Continue reading First meeting of the new SRD BoardMore than a third of the ‘housing insecure’ respondents to the survey on Quadra Island and 15% on Cortes Island were seniors. The percentage was lower throughout the Strathcona Regional District, but a significant number of residents are paying more for rent or mortgages than they can afford. In the second half of an interview with North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney, she talks about ways the government can help seniors living below the poverty line.
Continue reading Blaney: Seniors living below the poverty line, GST rebates & carbon pricingThe inaugural meeting of the new Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board occurs today. All of the incoming and re-elected Directors will be sworn in. Both of the two new Directors from our broadcast area, Mark Vonesch and Robyn Mawhinney, will be among them. Cortes Currents spoke to Mawhinney about her preparations to take office.
Continue reading Mawhinney prepares to become Area C’s new Director
