On October 3 2025, host Manda Aufochs-Gillespie was joined by Kate Maddigan, Bruen Black, Amy Robertson, and Genevieve Cruz, for a special group discussion on revenue diversification for rural non-profits. Tune in for talk of circular economies, transportation, a brainstorm on creative revenue solutions, and updates from the Cortes Natural Food Co-op, CCEDA, and the Cortes Housing Society.
Continue reading Folk U: Revenue Diversification for Social Profits
The 2025 Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP) Virtual Forum is coming up on Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7. Two of the organizers, Francine Carlin and Kate Maddigan are my guests today.
“ It’s going to be a jam packed two half days, 9:15 AM to 12:30 PM. Our virtual events are really unique because we all live on islands or remote coastal communities and don’t have the opportunity to get together as a collaborative regional grouping. So it’s important to have these virtual events that bring together people from all across the coast and the islands, up from North Island as far as Alert Bay, to Sooke and beyond. So we have a pretty broad reach and this year it’s really important, particularly with the events in the world around economic issues that relate to our local economic and social wellbeing,” explained Francine Carlin, Chair of the Rural Islands Economic Partnership.
Continue reading This Week: 2025 Rural Islands Economic Partnership Virtual Forum
When the Cortes Island Foundation released Cortes Island’s Vital Signs Report last month, Executive Director Manda Aufochs Gillespie said she’d like to go into specific sections in more detail.
“One of the things that really stood out to me is the information around income and work and economy. This area starts around page 13 in this document and I’m going to be using a lot of words to talk about this, but when you look at the report there’s graphs, little quotes and etc. that make it easier to read.”
She suggested inviting Kate Maddigan, from the Cortes Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA), to get another perspective.
Continue reading A Closer look at Cortes Island’s Economy
The Care 4 Cortes campaign officially ends today, but there is still an opportunity to donate this weekend.
Manda Aufochs Gillespie, Executive Director of the Cortes Island Community Foundation, explained “There’s still a day or two where we’ll leave up our Care for Cortes donation page on Cortes Foundation.ca. you can still see all the different projects that were highlighted. Give to them, if you have the financial wherewithal. It doesn’t have to be a lot. $20 to something like MicroGrants for Neighbours or to the Cortes Death Caring Collective, makes a difference. If a lot of people do it, this makes a big difference.”
Continue reading Music & 9 Special Projects: The Care 4 Cortes Campaign
MLA Michele Babchuk was on Cortes Island for a few days last week. She spoke to Cortes Currents after meeting with some of the island’s non-profits in the Village Commons. This was the third time she’s visited the island since she was elected in 2020.
“I’m hearing that Cortes actually has a lot of capacity and we’ve known that for a long time. There’s a lot of not for profit groups here. A lot of them are feeling extremely underfunded,” she explained.
Continue reading MLA Michele Babchuk visits Cortes Island
