Tag Archives: Quadra Island

Cost of Climate Change, Health

Quadra Circle receives $25,000 Emergency Preparedness Grant

United Way British Columbia awarded an Emergency Preparedness and Response grant of $25,000 to Quadra Circle.

“We’re pretty excited about it. We are a group of various social service and community organizations on Quadra,” said Maureen McDowell, President of Quadra Circle.

Quadra Circle’s ‘Better at Home Program,’ the Quadra Island Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program (NEPP), Quadra Island Seniors Housing, Quadra Legion Branch 154, Quadra ICAN, Old Age Pensioners and the Quadra Island Medical Clinic are all involved.

Continue reading Quadra Circle receives $25,000 Emergency Preparedness Grant →
Communications

High Speed Internet could reach Cortes Island as early as December

Cortes Island’s new high speed internet system could be live as early as December, otherwise early in 2023.

Randy, from CityWest, gave Cortes Currents a very graphic illustration of what this will mean. I am currently downloading data from the internet at a rate of 21.35 megabits per second (Mbps) and uploading at 6.50 Mbps.  Randy discussed plans for up to 100 or up to 500 Mbps, download and upload, depending on how much I wanted to pay. That ‘up to’ is important because customers might not experience these speeds at their computer terminals, but we are still talking about much faster service. He also said there are no limits for the number of gigabytes I could use in a month, hence no overage charges.

Continue reading High Speed Internet could reach Cortes Island as early as December →
Politics, Transportation

With the 2024 deadline approaching, SRD defers the CT wharves problem to the next administration

In 2014, Transport Canada (CT) transferred administration of three wharves to the Strathcona Regional District (SRD). Owen Bay on Sonora Island, Surge Narrows on Read Island, and Port Neville on the northern shore of the Johnstone Strait are all within Area C. The SRD was also provided with $2.9 million for maintenance and upgrades that were to be completed by 2024. These upgrades have not yet occurred. Nor has a service to carry out operations and maintenance been established for Area C. In the face of local opposition, the SRD deferred discussion of this issue until next January.

Continue reading With the 2024 deadline approaching, SRD defers the CT wharves problem to the next administration →
Health

The paramedic situation on Cortes and Quadra Islands

There have been numerous reports of BC ambulances being understaffed recently. According to Prince Rupert Northern View, the Bella Coola ambulance was only in service for 52% of July. Quadra Island volunteer firefighter Marc Doll recently informed Cortes Currents there are times when no paramedics are available on Quadra and ‘any firefighter that currently has a class four license is basically being put on standby because they no longer have the ability to have two people scheduled to keep the ambulance going.’ After receiving a couple of anonymous tips on Cortes Island, Cortes Currents asked BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) for an update on the local situation. 

Continue reading The paramedic situation on Cortes and Quadra Islands →
Politics

Abram agrees to repay the SRD $8,640 for expense payments not meeting their criteria

When the auditor submitted his report to the Strathcona Regional District Board last Spring, it showed one director billing significantly more than his colleagues.

“I received more money than other directors,” admitted Regional Director Jim Abram of Area C (Discovery Islands-Mainland Inlets) at the Strahcona Regional Dirstrict’s May 25 board meeting. 

Continue reading Abram agrees to repay the SRD $8,640 for expense payments not meeting their criteria →