Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - There are probably a dozen abandonned boats on Cortes Island right now, and Dominic dos Santos would like to have them towed away.

“A lot of them are floating. Some of them just have no names on them. People just leave them there. it's just been 15 years of 'not my problem.' we got fiberglass shards on every beach now because they abandon the boats and let 'em get destroyed on the rocks . All this stuff is gonna wind up on the beach in the next five, 10 years?” he said.

“Let's get them off the island while I have someone that is willing to take any boat that we can give them. They're going all the way to Victoria. Brittany and her partner from Victoria are willing to take any boat that we can give them. I arranged the date, which was before the 30th.”

“All the harbours are full of crap boats. It's gotta be like at least five or six boats that can be removed from the Gorge. There's the two at Squirrel Cove, that concrete boat at Mansons, and I just brought two from Cortes Bay.”

Cortes Harbourmaster Jenny Hartwick could only speak about the abandonned boats within the Harbour Authority area, but there are more in Squirrel Cove than dos Santos was aware of.

“There's actually three vessels that are sitting on the beach in front of the Squirrel Cove dock. All three have been surveyed by the Coast Guard within the last month and the process has been started to have them removed.The Coast Guard also assisted in the removal of Emily, which was the fish boat, which went down on the boy that was located outside of the Squirrel Cove government dock lease area and they are also currently looking into one of the boats that's sitting at the Squirrel Cove dock as well,” she explained.

Dominic dos Santos said, “People have been trying to give me the boats in Squirrel Cove. I'd love to take 'em. I need written permission, or can't do it. If I got the paperwork for those on, it would've been today.”

Harbourmaster Jenny Hartwick has not met do Santos and was not previously aware of his initiative, but is concerned about the situation he is dealing with.

“Unfortunately, the number of abandoned vessels is growing, and that's not just for Cortes Island, It's up and down the whole coast.”

So far, dos Santos has only obtained the paperwork for two boats, which he moved from Cortes bay to Gorge Harbour.

“I paid a dollar for each boat. I got the paperwork, I got 'em all signed over to me. They're my liability.”

He has received a number of complaints since they arrived in the Gorge.

“I'm just more surprised at the negativity surrounding what I thought would be a positive activity. My phone keeps going. If that's the case, I'll just do it on my own. It's a problem that I could fix and in the meantime I can grab a couple of anchors, or maybe a tube. This and that, some extra parts.”

“From my perspective, I'm doing a local that's been here for a while, a huge favor. If anything happens, he doesn't have to worry about it. Then also cleaning up Cortes Bay. I paid $250 to get a move to the Gorge, they’re going to pay me $200 for both boats.”

“I would love just a little bit of support from the community, if they want to help me tow a boat. It would seem that it would make more sense for more than zero people to step up and say, ‘Hey, let's get these boats off the island before they sink and go up on the beach and ruin oyster leases.’”

As dos Santos puts it, the two boats he currently has in the Gorge will ‘get Frankensteined’ after they reach Victoria.

“Brittany and her partner have a huge plot of land. They get all the boats together and they piece 'em together. They make something livable and then they sell it cheap for people that need a cheap house. It's kind of like a trailer park.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Cortes Island’s new high speed internet system could be live as early as December, otherwise early in 2023.

Randy, from CityWest, gave Cortes Currents a very graphic illustration of what this will mean.

I am currently downloading data from the internet at a rate of 21.35 megabits per second (Mbps) and uploading at 6.50 Mbps. Randy discussed plans for 100 or 500 Mbps, download and upload, depending on how much I wanted to pay. He also said there are no limits for the number of gigabytes I could use in a month, hence no overage charges.

Dino Tsakonas, the Regional Manager for our area, said he does not anticipate any changes to CityWest’s rollout now that TELUS has taken over our local provider, Twincomm.

On their website, Twincomm states, “For the foreseeable future, all products, services, prices, and billing will remain the same. Any updates on service changes will be well advertised.

CityWest crews have been very active around Cortes in the last few weeks, so Cortes Currents asked Tsakonas about the crews working in Smelt Bay and Squirrel Cove. He described those as landing sites.

“The cables are already running around the island. A bunch of the landings are ready, the fiber optics to the island is pretty much done. We just have some finalization of getting power to those sites and connecting all those fiber optics in between the landing sites,” he explained.

“Right now as we're doing the cold installs, that's bringing the service from the outside to the inside of your home. We're trying to be live by the end of this year or by win winter. That's going to happen in Manson's Landing, Seaford and for the Klahoose First Nation. Whaletown will come later becuase we don’t habe the main line set up yet.”

People who have signed up for this service will be notified by phone or email when it is time for them to receive updates prior to going live. This should occur in December.

Meanwhile crews are working on Denman Island right now, but have not arrived on Hornby Island, Quadra Island or Sayward.

“ I'd like to add for people of the surrounding areas in islands is just to be patient a little bit, but not so much because we are coming,” said Tsakonas.

Manda Aufochs Gillespie/ Folk U - ortes Islanders Celebrated Life on Glorious Earth & Create Culture on Folk U last Friday with live music from the Awakeneers, interviews with the Creative Culture Guide Website development team, and discussion of Creative Culture and Sustainability on Cortes Island.

They met for this in person live event at the CCEDA Village Commons. This was the official launch of the Creative Culture Guide, the grand opening of the Community Village POD, and enjoy live music and inspiring conversation.

The Creative Culture Guide has been five years in the making, the website provides an evolving mandala of guiding principles, best practices, primary sources and regional resources for an enlightened, regenerative, and sustainable society.

Folk U Radio is taking old school viral every Friday at 1 and Mondays at 6:30 p.m./Wednesday at 6 a.m. @CKTZ89.5FM or livestreamed at cortesradio.ca. Find repeats anytime at www.folku.ca/podcasts.

Image credit: courtesy Manda Aufochs Gillespie

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Both the Campbell River Mirror and National Observer reported how the tiny Surge Narrows Community Association (SNCA) purchased 20 acres on Read Island in 2019.

“We just couldn’t bear to see yet another clearcut,” said Read Island resident Lannie Keller. “It was a beautiful piece of treed land along the main road where people travel to get mail, to the school or the dock.”

A Strathcona Regional District (SRD) staff report states, “A public walking trail passes through a variety of unique ecosystems on the property, including mature/old growth forest.”

This is the third year that the SRD has waived the property taxes for Lot 302.

Rosie Steeves, one of SNCA’s Directors, described the 2019 purchase as a game changer, illustrating how a handful of determined residents can save their environment.

Some people hope to emulate this on Cortes Island, purchasing the 2,681 acres owned by Mosaic Forest Management. The forestry giant had intended to start logging operations this month, but recently posted notice in the Tideline that they will defer operations until the beginning of 2023.

In his post, Land Use Forester Colin Koszman cited, “Several factors, including contractor availability, ongoing assessments and planning work, and continuing discussions with the community and our partners.”

Cortes Island residents have a respite of at least three months.

How much money would it take for Mosaic to part with its extensive Cortes holdings? Is there enough time to raise it? 

This is the second time SNCA has purchased property on Read Island, but it took two or three years to raise the $78,000 for Lot 309 in 1992.

Ralph and Lannie Kellar offered to put up $50,000 and guarantee the full $150,000 purchase price for Lot 302. There was no need. SNCA raised the funds in four months.

The Kellars are among the 130 residents of Read, Maurelle, Rendezvous, and Sonora Island residents who belong to the charity.

Lot 302 is now a green corridor, stretching from the Surge Narrows dock to the island’s Fish and Forest Reserve.

The SRD Board cited Section 391(4)(a) of the Local Government Act when it waived the taxes:

“The following property that is in an electoral area may be exempted under subsection(a) land or improvements, or both, owned or held by, or held in trust by the owner for, an athletic or service organization and used principally for public athletic or recreation purposes”

Lot 302 is meant to be as public park in perpetually.

There was no discussion at the September 21 SRD Board Meeting. It took a little more than a minute for the SRD Board to waive the need for three readings, and the taxes for 2023.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - One of the core beliefs of the Campbell River Vineyard is that God is speaking to us. There is a Rama Space in their church. People who receive a word, vision or relevant scripture reference can explain to the congregation what the Lord has put on their hearts. So Cortes Currents asked Senior Pastors Barry and Nancy Kaardal, ‘How does God speak to us?’

God speaks in multiple ways

“Well, actually God speaks to us in multiple ways,” replied Nancy.

“Sometimes we know that this is Him, because there's such a strong presence in the room. It's so quiet that you know it's God. Sometimes you just think it's your own voice talking. Each person is built different and each person hears the way God has made them to hear.”

She proceeded to list the ways God speaks to people:

A verse that stands out when you are reading Scripture, that might even bring you to tears because it went so deep

a dream, a picture that enters your mind, or a vision

seemingly random thoughts

“Sometimes I will say things and I actually don't know it is God's speaking. I just say things to people and random stuff comes out of my mouth,” she explained.

“They say, ‘How did you know that?’”

“I said, 'Well, I didn't, but you confirming what I just said means that it's God that has just spoken to you and this is a word from him.’”

Is it God speaking?

Nancy said that when she gets ‘a word,’ she usually seeks confirmation from other believers.

Barry agreed, “Especially if it's a directive word for the church or for a person's life, we would counsel them to get the whole community helping to discern what God is actually saying to them.”

He added that our primary way to hear God's voice is through ‘His word,’ the 66 books of the Bible.

“In his word though, it talks about what we call Rama (Rhema) words or words where God will speak to us today. Jesus says my sheep hear my voice. I speak to them and they hear me and they know me and they follow me. So we know by the Holy Spirit, which has come to the church at Pentecost, that we have this ability now to communicate with God,” he said.

“God wants to talk to us, but it always has to line up with the character and with the will that we see in the scriptures. The scripture tells us what God's character is like, what His will is, what His plans are, what our commission is - all of those things. So to me, when God is speaking, it can't outright contradict the Biblical text.”

He gave a number of examples:

God would not tell you to do something that is dishonest

Nor would He tell you to leave your spouse so you could be with another woman (or man).

God does want us to clean up our lives.

“He convicts us of sin, but it's usually for redemption. God is a forgiving and loving God who will speak that love and forgiveness into us and that's also a way in which we recognize the voice of God.”

Another test of the word is truth.

“The first step would be, does this person confirm it? Or does it happen? For example if I say, ‘God says this is going to happen in the next couple of days’ and it doesn't happen. Then I wasn't hearing God. There was a bunch of Christians that really believed Trump was going to be re-elected in the last election and then he wasn't. My view would be they have to repent and realize that they did not hear God,” said Barry.

Roy L Hales/ COrtes Currents - Transport Canada (CT) transferred administration of the wharves at Owen Bay on Sonora Island, Surge Narrows on Read Island, and Port Neville on the northern shore of the Johnstone Strait, over to the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) in 2014. The SRD was also provided with $2.9 million for maintenance and upgrades that were to be completed by 2024. These upgrades have not yet occurred. Nor has a service to carry out operations and maintenance been established for Area C. In the face of local opposition, the SRD deferred discussion of this issue until next January.

At the September 21 board meeting, Chief Administrative Officer David Leitch explained, “Throughout the years, at every budget meeting that I've been at, we've been trying to establish a work service to put these in. The lack of establishment of the wharf service has delayed us in doing the capital works to these. It occurs greater liability and finally this year we had support from the area director as the other electoral area directors were adamant this year that they wanted that the liability removed from the admin function. So the Area C Director made the motion, supported all the votes on it and then for some reason we'd seen articles in social media that the director was supporting a referendum of the folks and subsequently, saying that there was gonna be increased cost of the service, lack of control and that is what we believe inspired a petition process that basically caused the service vote to fail.”

In their report drawn up for this meeting, staff presented two options to the board:

Option A - seek elector agreement through a vote

Option B - abandon the service proposal and return the $2.9 million to Transport Canada.

Jim Abram, the Regional Director for Area C, took exception to Leitch’s description, “First of all, I have to say, our CAO, with respect, is completely wrong on his assessment of why this failed. It had nothing to do with me. It had to do with a number of people on Quadra Island mainly, and on Reed Island, that were completely incensed by the fact that I had put it through to move to approval process. I was the target of the negative comments, not the SRD and it further moved to the SRD later, of course, but I have to say that the opposition to this proposal was due to a community lack of understanding and feeling that the service was being pushed through without proper consultation. That came from one local media, one of our local media and a few organizers, not me. I first heard about it when I was called by disgruntled constituents and in a letter. It was community driven period.”

He explained that no money was being taken from any electoral area, including Area C. Only Transport Canada money had been used.

“The service establishment could be dropped at this time and reintroduced at a later date with a better information campaign to assure approval. At that time, the service could be established for the three TC wharves,” proposed Abram.

“There's no need to return the wharves to Transport Canada along with the funds. Transport Canada would not want, nor would they take them back. The money has been spent on the wharves and would be part of the return of the wharves should that take back piece happen, which it won't. I know it won't from having talked with Transport Canada.”

Abram suggested this project be forwarded to either November or January, after which the meeting descended into a disagreement as to who should make the motion.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - When the auditor submitted the 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report to the Strathcona Regional District board last Spring, it showed one director biilling significantly more than his colleagues.

“I received more money than other directors,” admitted Regional Director Jim Abram of Area C (Discovery Islands-Mainland Inlets) at the Strahcona Regional Dirstrict’s May 25 board meeting.

A subseuquent reviewing of Abram’s renumeration payments for 67 meetings during 2021 and 2022, determined that 54 of the meetings did not meet the criteria laid out in the SRD compensation bylaw

Consequently, at the Wendnesday Septermber 22 meeting, Abram announced, “Without prejudice, I'd like to agree to pay back the amount in the report from the finance department of $8,640 for meetings that were said to not meet the criteria and I hope that this will put an end to this issue. I will submit the check in full today. Sorry.”

Mayor Andy Adams of Campbell River responded, “I want to preface this by saying that this is not, personal in any way, shape or form, but more a fiduciary responsibility. The motion will be that the CAO will be instructed that failing receipt of payment in the amount of $8,640 by September 22nd, 2023, no further monthly stipend expense or meeting pay claims be paid to director Abram until the balance has been fully repaid to the S R D finance department.”

Abram objected, “The date is unreasonable. I have to mail that check today. It will not go out until tomorrow, which is the 22nd and it would not be received until probably the 23rd, possibly the 24th of September and I believe the amount is incorrect, so I would have to vote against the motion, although I have already totally agreed to the concept.”

Chair Brad Unger said, “$8,640 is the correct amount if I'm not mistaken. As far as the dates and that …”

Abram agreed, “yes. You're you're correct. You're correct. I'm sorry.”

Chief Administrative Officer Davd Leitch said, “Mr. Chair, the date is moot there. I think the 22nd is fine. We don't regularly make payments till the end of the month anyways. So as director Abram said, if the check's mailed in takes a few days, we would certainly get it before the end of the month. Anyway. So I don't think the date is an issue in this resolution.”

Regional Director Gerald Whalley objected, “Mr. Chair, in my opinion, I think this is inopportune. I believe what the directorate is doing to Adams is calling the question, the integrity, the honesty of director Abraham into question. I think that's out of line. Director Abram is giving his word that he's going topay. I think we should take that and if in the future there was some untoward thing that was to happen, we can look at this item again, but at this point in time, I think this is disrespectful.”

Campbell River Director Charlie Cornfield added, “Wouldn't it be more reasonable to put by the end of September, is when we normally issue payments, distribute money, et cetera.”

Adams agreed, “I’m fine with that. I'm leaving it at the discretion so that our finance department and the CIO have that ability in the unforeseen circumstances that that would be required if it's not, then it becomes mute. This is A fiduciary responsible motion and then nothing other.”

Unger said, “Okay. Thank you. So if it's okay with a mover, then we'll have a friendly saying September 30th.”

The following motion carried, with five Directors (Whalley, Abram, Leigh Davis and Kerr) voting in opposition:

“That the SRD CAO be instructed that failing receipt of payment in the amount of $8,640.00 by September 30, 2022, no further monthly stipend, expense or meeting pay claims be paid to Director Abram until the balance of $8,640.00 has been fully repaid to the SRD Finance Department.”

Image Credit - Cover of the Strathcona Regional District 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - There have been numerous reports of BC ambulances being understaffed recently. According to Prince Rupert Northern View, the Bella Coola ambulance was only in service for 52% of July. Quadra Island volunteer firefighter Marc Doll recently informed Cortes Currents there are times when no paramedics are available on Quadra and ‘any firefighter that currently has a class four license is basically being put on standby because they no longer have the ability to have two people scheduled to keep the ambulance going.’ After receiving a couple of anonymous tips on Cortes Island, Cortes Currents asked BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) for an update on the local situation.

A BCEHS spokesperson named Cindy described the situation on Cortes as very different from Quadra Island.

“Cortes Island is well staffed with all 4 Scheduled On-call (SOC) positions filled and 3 on call staff. SOC shifts are 24-hour shifts. Paramedics are at the station from 8am to 4pm, and carry a pager outside those hours,” she said.

The report that a ‘Cortes firefighter’ has driven the ambulance is true, but only because ‘BCEHS has a staff member who also works as a duty officer for the Cortes Island Volunteer Fire Department.’

“There have been instances where the staff member was available by pager while on duty for the Fire Department. In those instances, the staff member was paid, as a BCEHS employee, for each time he drove the ambulance.”

Fire Chief David Ives added, “I can confirm that the Cortes Island Fire Department works very closely with BC Ambulance service and intends to further improve this relationship via additional joint training sessions as well as the fire department broadening the types of medical calls we are automatically dispatched to. This initiative has less to do with BC Ambulance shortfalls – either perceived or real and more to do with the fire departments’ drive to provide an ever-evolving and ever-improving level of service to Cortesians and their guests.”

Cindy confirmed a report that paramedics were brought up from Courtenay when there were no local paramedics available.

“Once in August, the Cortes Island crew timed out. A Courtenay crew was brought over via water taxi to respond to calls on Cortes.”

She added, “Cortes Island is not facing any significant staffing issues.”

“On Quadra Island, BCEHS has asked for the assistance of Firefighter First Responders to act as drivers at times, and we greatly appreciate their assistance. Between May 1, 2022 and September 6, 2022 our records indicate that the Quadra Fire Department drove an ambulance for BCEHS 17 times.”

She said that this relationship is not unusual:

“BCEHS has agreements with many fire departments throughout the province. Firefighter first responders can provide basic first aid and emergency health services, such as CPR and defibrillation while paramedics are on route to a medical emergency call. The program is voluntary, and each First Responder partner agency determines which types of medical emergencies they are able to respond to and when.”

According to Doll, ”There are periods of time where there is no one scheduled and there is no ambulance available on Quadra Island.”

Fire Chief Sharon Clandening told the National Observer that there were 6 occasions where there were no paramedics on duty this past summer.

Cindy admitted that Campbell River paramedics have responded to events when there were no paramedics available on Quadra.

“Currently, there is one projected shift vacancy for the month of September on Quadra Island and we are working hard to fill this shift.”

photo credit: Man in front on headlight – Photo by Eugene Triguba Unsplash

Roy L Hales/ COrtes Currents - Over the past 20 years, Christian Gronau has documented 149 fossiliferous rocks in our area.

Fossil #144 was recently installed at the Cortes Island Museum, but the German-born and trained palaeontologist said, “Palaeontology became a question for me when I was settled here. I looked around, of course was interested in the local geology, and realized that Cortes is just a big pile of granite with very little exceptions to that rule and started wondering what I was going to do with my interest in fossils.”

He moved to Canada in 1972 and met his partner, Aileen Douglas, while working in the mining sector.

Regarding their decision to move to Cortes Island in 1978, he explained, “it's a winding path, a complicated path, but a happy path that led me here and palaeontology didn't feature into the decision making. More the landscape, the political climate of Canada, people of Cortes. This was a long time ago.”

He and Aileen moved to a water access only property without hydro or telephone and became shellfish farmers, but palaeontology is very important to Christian Gronau.  

“It's one of the major aspects of defining our existence, explaining our origins, putting us in some context and giving us an identity on this planet. It gives us a real sense of deep time, because we can trace our ancestry as far back as life itself, which I think is pretty profound, pretty important.”

Everything changed after fossil #1 turned up in Gorge Harbour.

Image credit: The important pieces of evidence in support of Bute Inlet having been the main conduit for the transport of Buchia erratics from the Potato Range to Cortes Island. Fossil #129 found by Barry Saxifrage, Fossil #130 by Christian Gronau - photo courtesy Christian Gronau

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - On Saturday, September 3, 2022, Christian Gronau installed a 130 million year fossil on the Cortes Island Museum porch.

This is the third rock from his collection on display, and fossil #144 of a series.

“I believe this quest for fossils, the erratics that he's been searching for has been a 20 year project,” said Melanie Boyle, Managing Director of the Cortes Island Museum and Archives.

Gronau added, “It's a very fine specimen, different from the other two specimens that are already there. So it makes a very nice combination.”

He wrote, “Every one of the fossiliferous rocks (containing Buchia spp. bivalves) found around Cortes and neighbouring islands, is an ‘erratic.’ They have been transported by glaciers of the last Ice Age all the way south from the Potato Range in the Chilcotin  -  a journey of roughly 200 kilometres. The main travel route was down the Homathko River and Bute Inlet.  Once the glaciers escaped the confines of their respective valleys (fjords), they spread out and deposited their rock loads as far as West Thurlow Island and as far south as Smelt Bay, Cortes Island.”

He described finding fossil #144 ‘as a collaborative effort in the widest sense of the word.’

It came to his attention as a result of a conversation during which his neighbouor told a visitor from Vancouver there are fossils on some of the local beaches.

The girl responded, “Oh, I've seen one on Marina Island. It's much bigger than what you are talking about.”

She had a photograph of the general location, but said the boulder was too large to move.

So with his partner, Aileen Douglas, and regular collaborators, Carrie and Barry Saxifrage, Gronau set out in his boat to find to find the boulder.

“We did find it fairly high up the beach on the really bad side of Marina Island, where the boulders reach out about a quarter mile in very erratic patterns and it's tricky boating. We realized that we would have to time the tides and correctly,” explained Gronau.

“One beautiful summer day which was very hot, so it was good to work half underwater, we approached the location with our boat. One old trick that every old timer who ever cleared a patch of beach knows, it is a lot easier to move rocks when they're underwater because their buoyancy cuts their weight roughly in half. So we were able to move this boulder underwater onto a wooden ramp that led onto the back transom of our boat and walk the rock, which we estimate was about 300 pounds, up onto our boat. We took it to a boat ramp, onto a dolly to our car and onto the porch of the museum, where it has since been properly installed and on a base and cemented securely so that it won't tip over. It's a very specimen different from the other two specimens that are already there. So it makes a very nice combination.”

Boyle added, “Christian’s done this beautiful hand painted sign that will track the progress of these erratics and I'm hoping that more and more people will stop by and explore. There's a wonderful binder chronicling the whole quest with his team,His friends who've been on the journey with him and lots of the young people who were inspired by this research, who've probably gone on to careers in geology or palaeontology, many other things.”

She added, “Christian has had a long relation with the museum and he has so generously offered off his knowledge through this project, but also just generally.”

Gronau also curated the ‘Curiouser & Curiouser’ show at the museum in 2018.

He has posted 17 blogs on the museum website so far.'Living With (Paper) Wasps' (2015), ‘F stands for Fossil’ (2021) ‘The Mystery of the Perambulating Clam’ (2022) are among them.

This is part one of a series about the erratic fossils found in this area, in part two Christian Gronau describes his research in greater depth.