Tag Archives: Victoria

Feb 25 in Victoria: Local Organizations preparing for Old Growth Rally

On the eve of the 2020 provincial election, Premier John Horgan declared, “I’m committed to keep moving forward to protect old growth, create good jobs, and maintain family-supporting livelihoods in communities across the Province. A re-elected BC NDP will implement the full slate of proposals from the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel. We will act on all fourteen recommendations and work with Indigenous leaders and organizations, industry, labour and environmental organizations on the steps that will take us there.”

It has been almost two and a half years and very little of this has come into being.

Continue reading Feb 25 in Victoria: Local Organizations preparing for Old Growth Rally

‘Staggering’ number of first-time users during holidays, says Salvation Army

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Vancouver Island, BC – This past holiday season saw what seemed like endless snow filling communities throughout Vancouver Island. As the snow fell, the social services sectors worked hard through the month tending to weather and holiday needs of vulnerable people. 

Among some services that were needed was the Salvation Army’s emergency weather response program, which provides extra mats in shelters to meet the demands of unhoused folks.

Continue reading ‘Staggering’ number of first-time users during holidays, says Salvation Army

A long serving BC Ferries vessel retires on January 17th and the public is invited to say goodbye

Editor’s note: This story concerns matters that will have an effect on ferry traffic to Cortes Island.

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

The 58-year-old Powell River Queen sails her last run on the Campbell River to Quadra Island BC Ferries route next week and the public is invited to bid farewell to the vessel.

Continue reading A long serving BC Ferries vessel retires on January 17th and the public is invited to say goodbye

Our neighbours, Pacific White Sided Dolphins – to cull or cultivate?

There have been numerous reports of Pacific White Sided Dolphins in our vicinity this past year. The most recent came from Powell River, where pods of around 200 dolphins were spotted from the shore on December 17th and again on December 28th. One of the reports from Campbell River mentioned more than 100 swimming through Discovery Passage. On their website, Wildwaterways Adventures describes this species in its list of wildlife that fill the Discovery Islands. According to the Times Colonist, “After 100 years of absence, large numbers of Pacific White Sided Dolphins are back in the northern part of British Columbia’s Salish Sea.” 

Continue reading Our neighbours, Pacific White Sided Dolphins – to cull or cultivate?

B.C. unprepared to house immigrants Canada is welcoming, experts say

Editor’s not: Very few of the people moving into our area appear to come from directly from overseas. According to  State of Campbell River 18 of the 4,029 people (i.e. about ½%) that moved to Campbell River between 2015 and 2019 came from outside of Canada.  Quadra Island’s Community profile states 12 of the 470 people (2.55%) that moved to Area C between 2011 and 2016 were immigrants. The Cortes Island Profile does not differentiate between people from ‘another province or another country,’ but states 27.7% of the household moves between 2011 and 2016 were made by people from outside of B.C. The vast majority were most likely Canadians.

By Shalu Mehta,  New Canadian Media, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Simran Sahani took a leap of faith in October, 2022 and moved from Mumbai, India to Victoria with her husband and six-year-old daughter. The couple left their long-standing jobs, family and home behind in the hopes of forging a brighter future for their daughter. While they knew it wouldn’t be easy, Sahani says it’s been harder than anticipated to find housing and jobs that match the education and experience she and her husband have.

Continue reading B.C. unprepared to house immigrants Canada is welcoming, experts say