From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney
Hello,
Summer’s bustle has faded while the warm amber of the big leaf maples is brightening our shorter days. We are so fortunate to live in a beautiful place which visitors want to experience and while visiting, support our island economy. Along with our golden memories of a lovely island summer, some folks may have recollections of seasonal ferry-related traffic concerns.
On this Folk U, the students of the Cortes Island Academy took over the radio waves to answer this question: If you were to send a message in a bottle that drifts through time and space to another “time being”: another person, species, or world, what would it sound like?
Continue reading Cortes Island Academy: Message in a bottle
By Isaac Phan Nay, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Is Canada Post doomed, a victim of tech changes and new competition that have made daily mail delivery irrelevant?
Or has the 174-year-old institution been strangled by government policies that limited its chance to compete and block new ways of growing revenue?
The federal government asked William Kaplan to answer those questions last year after a strike by 55,000 Canada Post workers halted parcels and letter delivery across the country.
Continue reading Has Time Run Out for Canada Post?
By Sonal Gupta, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Three Indigenous land defenders are set to be sentenced this week for blocking construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline on their nation’s unceded territory in northern British Columbia.
Hereditary Chief Na’Moks said the defenders from the Wet’suwet’en Nation are standing on the right side of history. He called their efforts an act of care for the land, water and air that sustain everyone. “They are simply protecting what is right for this entire planet,” he said.
Sleydo’ Molly Wickham, Shaylynn Sampson and Corey “Jayohcee” Jocko were convicted in January 2024 for defying court injunctions that aimed to end blockades against pipeline construction in 2019. The sentencing hearing for the three begins today in Smithers, BC. For the community, it’s raising fundamental questions about how Canadian and Indigenous law coexist.
Continue reading Sentencing of land defenders tests Canada’s commitment to Indigenous rightsHello,
The past week was a blur of learning, advocating, and networking as I was immersed for five and a half days at the annual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention which this year took place in lovely Victoria BC.
Along with study sessions, learning workshops, discussion forums, and plenary sessions from early morning till late afternoon, UBCM provides an opportunity for regional districts and municipalities to advocate on their priority issues with provincial Ministers and to meet with provincial staff as well. This report shares an update on advocacy the SRD Board & I engaged in, representing regional and community concerns with the Province.
Continue reading Area C Director’s Report: update on UBCM advocacy
