Category Archives: Housing

Housing

First Responses: 2026 Cortes Island Housing Survey

The 2026 Cortes Island Housing Survey was launched on Wednesday, February 11. This is a joint endeavour between Regional Director Mark Vonesch and the Cortes Housing Society, who recently provided a look at the first responses.

70 people had filled out the survey when Cortes Currents interviewed Sadhu Johnston, a day after the release.

Sadhu Johnston: “The first Cortes Island Housing Survey was really, really helpful for us in guiding the work of the Cortes Housing Society. We wanted to do another housing survey to gauge where people are at and how they’re feeling about the housing challenges on Cortes. Also, for us, as we’re building out Rainbow Ridge, it helps to get clarity on what people are looking for in terms of their housing needs. We want to make sure we’re building the right size units, the right number of bedrooms, and things of that nature,” he explained.

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Housing, Politics

Area B Director’s Report: A New Cortes Housing Survey

By Regional Director Mark Vonesch

In partnership with the Cortes Housing Society, I am releasing a new Cortes housing survey to gather and summarize our collective housing experiences and opinions.

Hearing from you and understanding the housing needs of Cortes and how it is changing over time is important for the future of our community’s well being.

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Communications, Community, Housing

Teen Takeover on Housing, the Death Care Collective & Podcasting

In the first half of this episode, Cortes Island Academy students Elsie, Lacey, and Elias discuss the housing situation on Cortes, from three different angles. This includes tiny homes, Rainbow Ridge, the Seniors Village, and interviews with five different locals, as well as their own stories and observations on the topic. Travel with them as they learn about the challenges of finding housing on Cortes, and the creative solutions that are emerging  to try and solve the issue.

In part two, Nathaniel Maki interviews Margaret Verschuur and Fawn Baron from the Deathcare Collective, and discusses the importance of having a healthy culture and communication around the topic of death and dying.

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Housing, Politics

Area C Director’s Report: exploring provincial land for housing + more Board news

From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney

Hello, 
This report includes news of the SRD investigating land for housing in Heriot Bay and other decisions of interest made at the January meeting of the SRD Board. Let’s jump in. 

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Housing

SRD Looking into developing two Provincial lots on Quadra Island

Strathcona Regional District (SRD) staff will be asking the Ministry of Forests about the possibility of obtaining two provincial lots on Quadra Island for development. Three of the four Regional Directors at the Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Electoral Areas Services Committee meeting voted to proceed. 

Meredith Starkey, Manager of Planning for the SRD, brought a list of 13 Federal, Provincial and Regional properties to the meeting. She explained that the report provides an overview of public land available near Quathiaski Cove and Heriot Bay on Quadra Island which could be considered for future affordable housing.

 “There’s really only three sites that are currently undeveloped in a suitable size and some other conditions that make them more suitable than others. They all have constraints.”

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