By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
British Columbians will get four new cancer care centres that can offer radiation treatment as the province gets ready for an increase in cases of age-related cancers.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said Thursday that new cancer care centres will be opening in Kamloops, Nanaimo, Surrey and Burnaby.
Continue reading BC Promises Four New Cancer Care Centres
In the two months that ICAN’s food recovery program has been in operation, close to 1,300 people have received benefits.
“Since the beginning of March we’ve distributed 10,408.4 kilos of food, and that has been distributed to 338 individuals, who were feeding 671 people. In addition to that, we have been supplying various agencies like Quadra Circle, the Read Island Aging In Place program, the Read Island Community Kitchen. These agencies have been feeding an additional 600 people. In total, we estimate that this food has provided meals for 1,271 people,” said Ramona Boyle, Coordinator of Quadra ICAN.
Continue reading First 2 months of ICAN’s food recovery program: almost 1,300 people benefit
By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca
The Seniors Emergency Preparedness Program on Quadra Island started at the end of November 2022 through the non-profit Quadra Circle organization. Program Coordinator Mike Gladish says the goal is to help seniors cope with extreme weather conditions—whether it’s during winter storms or intense heat in summer.
Continue reading New program underway on Quadra Island to help seniors cope with extreme weather
According to data from the 2016 census, 20% of Quadra Island residents and 27% of Cortes Island residents are paying more for their homes in rent or mortgages than they can afford. More recent studies suggest that a significant number of families throughout the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) are so financially stretched that they are at risk of becoming homeless. 75% of the ‘housing insecure’ respondents to the ‘Collecting Stories of Where We Live’ survey on Cortes Island, and 33% on Quadra Island, are working. These are some of the people North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney is referring to, when she talks about the need for a bar of dignity.
Continue reading Rachel Blaney: Canada needs a ‘Bar of Dignity’
By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca
The historic Sunny Brae Farm had one of its best growing seasons to date, but the local farm faced challenges with help during the harvest.
Sunny Brae Farm was founded in 1888 by Scotsman John Manson, one of the first Europeans to settle on Cortes Island. The farm has remained in the Manson family through the generations and is now owned and operated by John Manson’s grandson, Mike Manson.
Mike Manson also describes his family and Cortes Island history in: The Manson Family: One of Cortes Island’s First Settler Families and How People’s Attitudes Towards Nature Changed
Continue reading 134 year old Sunny Brae Farm had strong growing season, but struggled to find enough help
