Tag Archives: SRD

Waste

Cortes Island Garbage Pick-up being reduced to $86

SRD staff are currently preparing a bylaw that will reduce the residential waste collection charge on Cortes Island from $112 to $86, effective this year. This change has been in development since last year, originating from a shift in the SRD’s administrative policy. 

Staff estimate that $121 per user is required to fully fund the service, so the shortfall this year will be approximately $25,000. However, the service currently possesses $103,000 in reserves to cover such gaps. 

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Community

What does the community want from the Quadra Community Centre and the new Blenkin Park Pavilion?

The Quadra Island Recreation Society is asking the community for their input into what the Quadra Community Centre and a new pavilion at Blenkin Park should be used for.

Marc Doll, Vice Chair of the Society, explained: “We started by looking at one desperate need for the community centre, which was the lack of a proper kitchen facility. We came up with some solutions, but the price tag came in higher than what we wanted for a very small improvement. So, conversations continued, and we decided that we really had to look at the bigger picture. The Quadra Island Community Centre has been serving the community since 1985, and we felt it was time to go back to the public and ask: what do we need this building to do for the next 20 years?”

“At the same time, we’ve been working with the SRD for the last number of years to get an outdoor pavilion in Blenkin Park. The funding is in place, and we’re looking to start building as early as 2026.”

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Rivers & Oceans

Update from the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society

The Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society grew out of poor salmon runs in the 1970s and 80s and has been a non-profit organization (and registered charity) since 1981. In this morning’s interview Lauren Miller, a director,  talks about the 2025 salmon run, climate change and some of the projects her organization has undertaken.

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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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Politics

Regional Director Launches Petition to Investigate Incorporation Option for Cortes

Cortes residents may have noticed a petition available in paper form at our post offices and grocery stores, or received an email update from our Regional Director inviting them to consider signing the online version. The petition mentions governance and incorporation: what’s it all about? I interviewed Regional Director Mark Vonesch to get a better understanding of the issues and why he’s chosen this moment to launch a petition regarding our governance model.

[This article is a condensed version of our interview. The full version is available in podcast form in the links below. Inset quotes in this article are comments made by Cortes residents who have signed the online petition.]

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