Category Archives: Technology

Food, Transportation

Nanaimo port expansion floats potential solutions for Vancouver Island supply chain woes

Editor’s note: The city of Campbell River has a goal of growing the equivalent of 10% of its food supply by 2031 and 50% by 2060. Thanks to the 2018 LEAP Report, there is more precise data for Cortes Island  – 63% of the respondents stated that 21% of their food was produced locally and close to half of these grew or sourced +51% of their food on Cortes. The percentage of people consuming local foods was highest among people with low incomes.  Surprisingly few respondents said they obtain less than 10% of their food locally.

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Expanding Nanaimo’s Duke Point Terminal could strengthen Vancouver Island’s vulnerable supply chain and improve the flow of food, fuel and essential goods when climate disasters or other disruptions strike, according to the Nanaimo Port Authority. 

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Transportation

BC Ferries Cancellations This Past Six Months

There was a marked decrease in the number of BC Ferries cancellations on the Campbell River run this past quarter, but little change on the Cortes Island Ferry. 

According to the corporations newly released report of cancellations statistics from July to September 2023, the new hybrid e-ferries only missed 24 sailings as opposed to 161 the previous quarter. 

Continue reading BC Ferries Cancellations This Past Six Months →
Transportation

Grrr. BC Ferries is getting better.

Originally published on qathet Living

If being crabby about BC Ferries’ bungling incompetence is what floats your boat, you’ll be disappointed with the newest set of sailing cancellation statistics. 

BC Ferries reports on cancellations quarterly. Mid-October, the corporation released the numbers for July through September. That was a period with unprecedented media focus on crewing shortages and other factors causing chaos during tourism season. 

Continue reading Grrr. BC Ferries is getting better. →
Health, Housing, Politics, Transportation

Eby talks transport, toxic drug crisis and short-term rentals at economic summit

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Transportation, short-term rentals and disorder related to the toxic drug crisis in city centres were the top issues raised with Premier David Eby at the State of the Island Economic Summit on Thursday. 

After addressing the crowd at Nanaimo’s conference centre, Eby fielded questions and concerns from business and industry leaders, politicians and communities on the key issues hurting economic development across Vancouver Island. 

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Transportation

Vancouver Island transportation survey highlights key connectivity gaps for communities

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A lack of affordable, convenient, frequent and reliable options for travel between many Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast communities was the top obstacle identified in a recent regional transportation survey.

Over the summer, the B.C. government funded extensive community consultations to study passenger transportation gaps faced by Indigenous, small, rural and remote communities on Vancouver Island and parts of the coastal mainland, as well as B.C.’s north and its southern Interior.

Poor connections between coastal communities, like ferries linked to transit, insufficient public transportation options to airports or harbours, and a lack of safe, accessible or low-emission services were other roadblocks highlighted in the Island Coastal Inter-Community Transportation study.

Continue reading Vancouver Island transportation survey highlights key connectivity gaps for communities →