Tag Archives: Tofino

Weather

Behind the scenes at BC Hydro repairs after recent ‘weather bomb’

CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

The historic storm that hit the Pacific Northwest region on Oct. 24 caused loss of power to tens of thousands of households across the province. The storm has been called a “weather bomb” by the Weather Network, and it set the record for lowest barometric pressure of 942.6 millibars recorded offshore near Tofino.

Cortes experienced one of the longest island-wide power outages in recent years, which lasted close to 48 hours in some neighbourhoods. Most people lost power early Sunday afternoon and waited until mid-morning on Tuesday for electricity that, in many cases, also enables running water.

Continue reading Behind the scenes at BC Hydro repairs after recent ‘weather bomb’ →
Disaster, Fire

New Disaster preparedness app coming to Vancouver Island

A new disaster preparedness app is about to be deployed in seven Vancouver Island communities.

Pilot projects will be launched in the Village of Tahsis, District of Tofino, City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and City of Nanaimo next month.

Preparations are underway to bring the project onstream in the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District.

Continue reading New Disaster preparedness app coming to Vancouver Island →
Community, Indigenous Nations, Jobs

Tofino businesses struggle to stay open amid staffing shortages

By Melissa Renwick, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Tofino, BC – On a community bulletin board outside of the Tofino Co-op Food Store, Shed restaurant advertised a $500 signing bonus for line-cooks and dishwashers. 

Live to Surf, TOFINO Kombucha and Wolf in the Fog also had job postings on display.

Meanwhile, the Dockside Smoked Fish Store has closed for two days a week.

“Staffing is the main issue,” said owner and Ahousaht Tyee Ha’wilth Maquinna Lewis George. “It’s super busy. We shouldn’t be closed, but we’re having to close.”

Continue reading Tofino businesses struggle to stay open amid staffing shortages →
Health

Better pay for paramedics in rural communities

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BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) is trying to ensure that there are sufficient paramedics in rural communities throughout the province. 

In a leaked memo from Chief Ambulance Officer Leanne Heppell and Troy Clifford, Provincial President of the Ambulance Paramedics of BC, dated August 6th, BCEHS notified its employees and Local 873 members of two changes of great importance to Cortes Island, Sayward, Tahsis and Zeballos.

Continue reading Better pay for paramedics in rural communities →
Development, Housing, Indigenous Nations

Rainbow Ridge: Preparing for the next round of funding

 Rainbow Ridge is not one of the six Vancouver Island projects that BC Housing is funding this season. 

“We suspected that was a possibility because there were so many applications and so much need across the province. We definitely had our fingers crossed and hoped we would be accepted but, unfortunately, we were not,” said Elizabeth Anderson, President of the Cortes Community Housing Society (CHS).

Continue reading Rainbow Ridge: Preparing for the next round of funding →