Tag Archives: Read Island

Indigenous Nations, Politics

Reconciliation: Two Regional Directors Speak Out on DRIPA and the Path of Reconciliation

With all the current hype about the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), Cortes Currents reached out to two rural politicians to ask how they see this legislation working at the local level. Mark Vonesch is the Regional Director for Area B (Cortes Island) and Robyn Mawhinney is the Regional Director for Area C, which includes Quadra and most of the other Discovery Islands. They both sit on the board of the Strathcona Regional District (SRD). 

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Politics

Area C Director’s Report: OCP next steps + healthcare advocacy

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

A warm hello this frosty January. 

I trust you are rejuvenated after the festive break and energized for a wonderful 2026 (I am). This report brings news about the next steps in our Official Community Plan process (there are upcoming meetings on Quadra & Read Islands) and healthcare advocacy.

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Community

Expanding Funding Opportunities for the Quadra Island Foundation

Over the past few years, the Quadra Island Foundation has channeled hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy. Now, thanks to a change in their charitable status, they may be able to do a great deal more.

Marc Doll, Vice President in Charge of Communications, explained:

“We have had charitable status since our inception. The change is in the scope of that status. Previously, we were only able to work with charities within a very, very defined set of parameters. Our charitable purposes really limited us to only working with established charities on the island. We couldn’t work with individuals or societies. It handcuffed us, so even when we gave out our small neighborhood grants, we had to work with the Rec Society because we didn’t actually have the ability to funnel that money directly to people who were not registered charities.”

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Animals, Rivers & Oceans

Where Killer Whales and Dolphins Hunt Cooperatively

A new study found that Northern Resident Killer Whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins have formed a cooperative hunting relationship to catch Chinook salmon in the Johnstone Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound. The dolphins utilize echolocation to locate fish at depth, but their small teeth are designed primarily to grip prey, and they cannot swallow large species like Chinook salmon whole. Instead, dolphins locate the fish, and then wait for the killer whales move in to tear them apart, scattering bits of tissue and flesh into the water.

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Health, Politics

Area C Director’s Report: primary care recruitment & positive e-petition policy shift

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

Hello,
This report shares some recent learning about primary care provider recruitment and news about a Board decision regarding receipt of electronic petitions.

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