Category Archives: Humanity

Community

Folk U: Life on Read and Sonora Islands (Part 1)

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(Interview by Manda Aufochs Gillespie; written version by Roy L Hales)

On Friday, June 5, host Manda Aufochs Gillespie welcomed three women from neighbouring islands to Folk U Radio. Renate Harvey and Renée Desautels from Sonora Island and Sheila Hollanders from Read Island talked about their lives, families, communities and hopes for years to come. This is the first part of a highly edited and abridged version of that interview.

Manda (Host of Folk U):  Today, we’re getting closer in community with our neighbour islands—many who are even more remote than Cortes. What do we have to learn and share with our neighbours from across the waters?

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Community

Folk U: Life on Read and Sonora Islands (Part 2)

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(Interview by Manda Aufochs Gillespie; written version by Roy L Hales)

In the conclusion of a two part story, Manda Aufochs Gillespie interviewed Renate Harvey and Renée Desautel from Sonora Island, as well as Sheila Hollanders from Read Island, about life on their islands. In Part 1 they talked about their daily lives, the seasons and community life. This segment deals with community support and future sustainability— the Surge Narrows Community Association and funding, land access/emergency preparedness, relationships with Homalco First Nation, youth and schooling challenges, and hopes for the next decade. 

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Politics

Area C Director’s Report: news from the May Board meeting

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Hello,
Far from complaints of ‘Junuary’, recent rain showers have been a blessing as we head into a predicted hot, dry summer. FireSmartBC.ca shares actions, resources & tips for reducing the risk of wildfire damaging your home… they say the best protection against wildfire damage is prevention. This short report shares news from the May 27 Board meeting & summer dates for ‘chat with the Director’.

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Cost of Climate Change, Energy

Majority of Albertans don’t want taxpayer dollars used for pipeline; say province’s economy too dependent on oil and gas

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Despite the latest spike in oil prices and months-long push by oil and gas industry for the stripping back of environmental regulations, Albertans are concerned about overreliance on single sector.

By Janetta McKenzie , News release from the Pembina Institute

CALGARY — A majority (61 per cent) of Albertans say they do not want taxpayer money to be used for a new pipeline, with even more (67 per cent) saying they think the province’s economy is too dependent on the oil and gas sector. 

New polling commissioned by the Pembina Institute and conducted by Probe Research in late April and early May suggest Albertans’ views on energy policies are not aligned with priorities being brought forward by the Government of Alberta and oil and gas industry leaders. These have included a broad push for environmental deregulation, as well as a proposal for a new oil pipeline that has so far been funded exclusively with Alberta taxpayer dollars, and has still yet to attract a private sector proponent.

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Tourism, Transportation

Cortes Cruiser: A New Way To Get Around Cortes Island

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Eric Denis grew up in Quebec and is the technical operator of machines at Island Sea Farms. Melissa Steblyk comes from Alberta, is a substitute teacher at the Cortes Island School, and also manages the Gorge Marina. Last May, they launched a moped rental business called Cortes Cruiser in the Gorge.

It didn’t start out that way.

Melissa Steblyk: “Eric’s got three kids, and his oldest is almost 16. We were thinking a scooter would be a great option for him when he gets his license.”

Eric Denis: “In March, we bought that first bike. It was one of those Yamaha BWS—just a little bit of a beater. It was for my kids, so it was like, ‘We’ll fix it up.’”

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