Category Archives: Housing

Forests, Health, Housing

Avoid Wood Smoke

3 Comments

By Roy L Hales

According to the Daily Mail, “Wood-burning stoves emit six times as much pollution as a diesel truck.” The Environmental Protection Agency states wood smoke contains several toxic air pollutants including: benzene; formaldehyde; acrolein, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Health Canada claims, “In communities where wood heating is common, wood smoke can be responsible for as much as 25% of the airborne particulate matter.” They advise people to avoid wood smoke.

Continue reading Avoid Wood Smoke →
Development, Housing

Home for the Holidays

By Roy L Hales

For most of us, Christmas is a time when families come together. However there are still some Cortesians for whom the word home takes on a more temporary aspect. Cortes Community Housing is attempting to help rectify this situation on 51 acres they recently purchased in Mansons Landing. In this morning’s program, Sandra Wood and Hayley Newell talk about their association’s new initiative to giving option: Home for the Holidays.

Continue reading Home for the Holidays →
Development, Housing

Adding Housing While Reducing Human Impact On The Lakes

1 Comment

Cortes has a housing crises. Young families are being forced off the island because of the lack of affordable units and there is not much room for seniors who are no longer able to maintain large lots. The Cortes Housing recently purchased 51 acres in Mansons Landing to help address this issue, but are facing another issue as well. There are already too many nutrients draining into Hague and Gunflint Lakes. In this morning’s program we talk to Rex Weyler, Lake Stewardship Coordinator for the Friends of Cortes Island and David Rousseau, President of the Cortes Island Foundation, about adding housing while reducing human impact on the lakes

Continue reading Adding Housing While Reducing Human Impact On The Lakes →
Development, Housing, Poverty

Addressing The Cortes Island Housing Crises

5 Comments

Some vital issues undergird the impending Cortes Community Housing fund raiser, on July 14. According to David Rousseau, one of the principal organizers, “We are slowly slipping towards a community of older people who can not afford to be here. And the people who want to come here; live here;  raise families and work here are slowly being squeezed out.” He points to Hornby Island as an example of what could happen. (The population average is a decade older than on Cortes and most trades come from off island.) Cortes Island Seniors Society’s purchase of a 51 acre parcel close to downtown Mansons Landing is a significant step towards addressing the Cortes Island Housing Crises.

Continue reading Addressing The Cortes Island Housing Crises →
Forests, Housing

Fun with Firewood

1 Comment

By Roy L Hales

Firewood is a vital source of heat energy on Cortes Island. Some think of it as our secret sin. There may be more environmentally conscious people here than any other part of British Columbia, per capita, yet we use a more carbon producing energy source than coal. This is the season when we cut and stack it for the coming winter. It’s also time to have fun with firewood.

Continue reading Fun with Firewood →