Tag Archives: SRD

Disaster

Interview with Cortes Island’s new Interim Fire Chief

(Transcript of the radio program, with edits)

Eli McKenty had been Cortes Island’s Interim Fire Chief for 15 days when I interviewed him. He was actually the Department’s preferred choice as Fire Chief five months ago, but turned the job down, so they hired someone from Alberta. After five months of a six month trial period, the Cortes Island Fire Department came to the conclusion that ‘aspects of Dave Ives’ leadership style were at odds with the culture of our fire department’ and he was dismissed. McKenty agreed to be the Fire Chief until they can find a replacement. 

Continue reading Interview with Cortes Island’s new Interim Fire Chief →
Housing

Who will look after Campbell River’s homeless population when temperatures plummet?

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? →
Housing, Politics

SRD endorses Cortes Island application for 3% tax on short term rentals

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 →
Politics

First meeting of the new SRD Board

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 Board →
Housing, Politics

Rachel Blaney: Canada needs a ‘Bar of Dignity’

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’ →