Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Large numbers of pink salmon are returning to our area this summer.

“I am seeing these pink salmon return – their numbers appear huge, they are leaping everywhere, finning along the surface for hundreds of kilometers,” emailed independant biologist Alexandra Morton.

Lara Sloan, a communications advisor with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), wrote they are expecting a strong return to the Campbell River, based on the strong outmigration from the 2020 brood, cooler ocean temperatures and better food.

She added, “The numbers of pink salmon in the Campbell River are similar to 2020 at this stage.”

Streamkeeper Cec Robinson pointed out that there isn’t a pink run on Cortes Island.

“Sometimes on a big pink year, a few ‘vagabonds’ stray into our creeks, but not on a regular basis.”

A few showed up in Basil Creek during 2015.

There have been some good pink runs on Quadra Island in recent years.

A couple of dozen fishermen were strung out along the banks of the Campbell River, when Cortes Currents dropped by on July 28.

One of them remarked that the pinks seemed unusually small.

Sloan disagreed, “the fish are bigger than last year and 2020.”

“The 2022 Return are from the 2020 Brood who went out in 2021 where ocean conditions had significantly improved and more conducive to improved salmon survival. Pink fry leaving the Quinsam in 2021 were estimated just under 11 million natural production along with just over 4 million of hatchery supplementation (Total Production of ~15 million contribution to the 2022 return).”

Morton pointed to the removal of fish farms from the Discovery Islands, “These are the first generation of salmon to return after swimming through the salmon farm clearances in the spring of 2021. I counted the lice on pinks that spring and issued the huge thank you to Bernadette Jordan because they were so clean.”

She added, “Clearly ocean conditions were exceptionally good, so this (strong Pink Run) is a combination of factors.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The most popular story on Cortes Currents is ‘Where are Germany’s Bears, Wolves and Eagles?’ There were more than 14,000 views. As the written version of this interview was published six years ago, I did a quick Google Search to see if the information is still relevant. The results:

There are no bears in Germany, they were driven out more than 150 years ago ago.

After being virtually wiped out in the 19th century, wolves have returned and there are believed to be several thousand today.

And Yes, there still are eagles in Germany.

One of my wife’s fondest memories of Germany is the well maintained trails going through idyllic forests. She was visiting relatives during the late 1960’s and early 70’s. My impressions are both much later, and connected to the development of renewables. After my second trip to Germany, last year, I asked Andreas König, Head of Wildlife Biology and Wildlife Management at the Technical University of Munich, ‘Where are Germany’s bears, wolves and eagles?’

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Mark Vonesch hopes to bring a new kind of politics to Cortes Island if he is elected Regional Director on October 15, 2022.

“One of the biggest things I want to do with this campaign is bring people together who think differently than each other,” he explained. “What I can do is initiate conversations and get people talking about them.”

He then went on to outline the same issues that our current Director has been wrestling with: housing, climate change, ecosystem protection, economic development, land use planning, parks and recreation, and truth and reconciliation.

Cortes Island is one of the more left wing areas of the Strathcona Regional District (SRD). There is a small minority who oppose this.

The division was illustrated in the 2021 Federal Election, when 60% of the respondents to a Cortes Markerter 'Fun Poll' said they would vote Conservative. This reflects the opinions of a few readers. In reality, the Conservatives received a little more than 7% (40 votes). Despite a very weak campaign, 138 Cortesians voted Green (26%) and a whopping 273 (51% of the voting electorate) chose the NDP. Close to 77% of the population voted NDP or Green.

A similar proportion of Cortesians (75%) voted in favour of funding the island’s two community halls through property taxes when, after a decade of sometimes bitter debates, a referendum was finally held in 2019.

The numbers will change in specific counts because of our human complexities, but a basic trend remains.

“The top two issues that I hear most common from people are housing and protecting the environment (ecosystem protection and addressing climate change),”` said Vonesh.

While there are things the SRD can do at the local level (personal incentives, waste management), Vonesch believes the most effective thing the board can do is lobby the provincial and federal governments.

“Obviously there are things we can do and it takes bravery for us to do things differently, as individuals. But the biggest impact we're going to have is looking at the big picture of climate change,”

“Where are the big polluters? And what can we do to transition our economy and transition the way we live as humans on this planet into a way that is just really facing the facts and dealing with the reality of the situation we've created?”

“… We have to push and advocate provincial governments to stop giving subsidies to oil and gas developments and to eventually phase them out. The reality is we are facing a climate crisis that is growing and growing

Vonesch is encouraged by the prograss being made in the Cortes Community Forest and the broad consensus Cortesians have about protecting the forests.

“The other side of this conversation is that forestry is part of our economy. We live in wooden houses. We need wood. It's about striking the right balance of having forestry jobs and doing forestry in a sustainable way.”

Forestry is one of Campbell River’s three economic pillars. Fish farms is another one and both of them are threatened by environmental policies. Most of the people in the SRD live in Campbell River and are concerned about the prospect of massive job losses in their community.

Vonesch pointed out that these are economically uncertain times. We have to find better ways of managing our forests and utilizing the wood that comes out of them.

“I'm really encouraged by the local mills on Cortes and the willingness for Cortesians to purchase local wood and to make the smart choice of using the wood that we have here,” he said.

Moving forward, Vonesch hopes to find “that fine balance of building not consensus, but widespread support for moving forward.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - It is almost two months until the October 15, 2022, election. So far, Mark Vonesch is the only one to put their name up as a candidate for Cortes Island’s Regional Director.

In the fourth of a series arising from an interview with Vonesch, he was asked what he would bring to the office from his years of experience working in Cortes Island’s volunteer community.

It has been 17 years since Vonesch founded Reel Youth, a non-profit that uses filmmaking to teach youth how to use filmmaking to speak about the issues they care about. He has facilitated a series of films that bring youth and seniors together.

During this time Vonesch has also played an active role on the boards of organizations like the Linnaea farm society, the Cortes Island Parent Advisory council, Cortes Literacy Now, the Friends of Channel Rock Society, and the Southern Cortes Community Association.

“I know how to work with people. I know how to participate on a board level in a way that allows us to come together and create solutions,” he explained.

“Volunteerism is a key part of being in this community. I hear from a lot of older folks in the island Cortez used to be a place where everyone volunteered and we were really in this together. We did things together and we made things happen through volunteering. I think that's really important.”

Vonesch added, “I also think we live in a different time now in that families are more stressed out and it's more challenging for everyone to play a significant volunteer role in the island, especially when they have housing instability and/or job insecurity.”

While he finds it encouraging that folks are asking ‘what can you do for this community?’ Vonesch said we also need to recognize that a lot of the challenges we face are not necessarily going to be solved through volunteering.

“We need a whole broad way of solutions to deal with our challenges.”

Manda Aufochs Gillespie/ Folk U - Dr. Suzanne Simard, author of Finding the Mother Tree, forest ecologist, and professor shares her reflections from her time on Cortes Island and her work on understanding forest ecosystems.

Dr. Robin Hood of the Mother Tree Network interviewed Dr Simard.

This is a special Folk U recording by Bill Weaver, with an intro by host Manda Aufochs Gillespie.

The program was originally broadcast Friday July 15th on cortesradio.ca or 89.5FM and repeats Monday Jul 18 at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday Jul 20.

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

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Cortes Islanders will be going to the polls on October 15th and Mark Vonesch hopes they will elect him as their next Regional Director. In the third of a series of interviews, he talks about how the example of former Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson inspired him to enter politics.

Vonesch’s connection dates back to the years Robertson was living on Cortes. For a number of years prior to entering politics. His kids went to the schools and he was part of the local community.

“I initially got connected with him while he was living here on Cortez and as he got into politics, it opened my eyes to like, oh wow, people I know can run for politics and make a difference and make a positive impact. I was really attracted to that,” explained Vonesch.

“When he announced his candidacy to run for the mayor of Vancouver, I volunteered on his campaign.”

Vonesch did everything he could, from signing up volunteers to making politcial videos.

Robertson became the longest serving mayor of Vancouver, serving from Dec 8 2008 until Nov 5, 2018.

During those 10 years Vancouver adopted the Greenest City Action Plan, and put in bike lanes.

That kind of leadership that shows that things could be differently. Despite status quo of doing things was a great example on that front.

“Vancouver was the first city to call itself a city of reconciliation and actually make significant impact on recognizing that we're living on the unceded lands of indigenous people and doing active things towards reconciliation,” said Vonesch.

Robertson showed him how politics works: how ugly it can get and what can be accomplished.

“It really left me with a belief that making positive change through politics can happen, especially building a coalition of voters that have shared values around the key issues that are important to the community. There's a lot of work to be done in Cortez and there's more common ground between us than we might think.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - In the second of a series of programs about his running for Regional Director of Cortes Island, Mark Vonesch talks about growing up in the farm and what his rural background could mean when it comes to representing Cortes on the Strathcona Regional District Board.

His family operated a dairy farm, with 50 cows, outside Olds, Alberta. Mark is the oldest of six children, which he jokes may have been a strategic move on my parents to have lots of help on the farm!

“You know, what I gained from that experience: a hard work ethic. When crops need to be sewn or hay needs to be made, or the cows need to be fed or milked, it needs to happen and family has to step and do that,” said Vonesch.

His love for rural living began about 2003, when Vonesch came to Cortes Island about 2003, as a volunteer at the ‘Power of Hope’ Summer Arts Camp on Linnaea Farm. He was experimenting with engaging young people to use media production as a way to speak up about issues that they care about.

“I volunteered for the summer and fell in love with the place and eventually moved here. I started Reel Youth. We have an office here. We have a staff in Vancouver and Cortes, and I've really made a life for myself here and just feel really privileged to be able to call this place home,” said Vonesch.

He served on the Board of Linnaea Farm for six years, as President, Vice President and a Director.

“I think my involvement there really speaks to my farming roots, appreciation for people that work with the land, grow food and look after animals. They provide a really important and a growing essential service on this island, which is food security and locally produced food that is adaptable to climate change.”

As food costs continue to rise, he believes there will be more opportunities for local farmers to play a key role in the market.

“I don't think farmers get enough credit for the endless hours that they put in, and generally at a pretty low pay rate,” said Vonesch

“I think the role of Regional Director is to understand the island, speak to people and represent the island on at the Regional District.”

This includes supporting local farmers.

“Being an advocate for buying local for supporting our local farms is one of the biggest things I can do. If we can increase the revenues generated on Cortes through food production, it makes sense for consumers, it makes sense for farmers and I'm gonna be a strong advocate for that.”

De Clarke/ Cortes Currents - Part 5

- Breaking new ground: dealing with a care facility. Sharing information, web site.

- How can people help if they want to? Volunteering, donations?

- Training and mentoring available.

- Mailing list.

- Benefits of facing death realistically instead of with denial and avoidance.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - It has been a week since Mark Vonesch announced that he would be running for the position of Cortes Island’s Regional Director in the October 15th SRD election. In the first of a series of stories, he told Cortes Currents about his desire to bring a new kind of politics to Cortes Island.

“We are so fortunate on Cortez to have a real community where we still drive down the road and wave at each other. There is a sense that we're all in this together, despite our differences and that's part of the reason why I call this place home and I want to continue playing a positive role here,” he began.

“One of the biggest things I wanna do with this campaign is bring people together who think differently than each other. I think it's one of the most fundamental, revolutionary things we can do an example and an example that we can set for other places in the world.”

In the podcasct above he talks about divisions within the community and says it is time for everyone to accept the fact we have different opinions and let gto of past grievances.

“We're gonna have to break through some of the challenges that we have, but the number one issue for me on this campaign is bringing voices together and finding solutions together.

“The Regional Director is not the person to be an expert on everything, to tell this community what should be done. It's up to this community to come together and work through our differences and find a find common ground,” insisted Vonesch.

“Part of democracy is not getting your way, all the way, all the time. I think that's the reality. I think why so many people are disillusioned by politics is that they expect their view of perfection all the time, really living in a society, living in a community means that we need to listen to each other, find common ground and make solutions that most of us can agree with.”

Last week Vonesch saw an example, of what he believes politics should be, outside Manson's Post Office. Someone asked about his campaign and before long there were five people discussing the housing crisis:

‘What do you think about this? What is this? The solution?’

“That’s sort of the old style of politics, where we are talking to each other. We are involved in the political process, not just at the polls and voting every four years, but actually playing a role in our community to have conversations and bringing the diversity of opinions and ideas together and moving forward,” said Vonesch.

“I think it's gonna give us strength and I'm hoping this campaign can be an example for the way that politics can be.”

Vonesch insists that there is way more common ground than we think.

“If we can get past ourselves and be willing to look each other in the eye and see the humaness of our community, we can make progress.”

This is the first in a series of posts that will talk about:

- Mark Vonesh’s roots on the farm and what this could bring into Cortes Politics

- his connection to former Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson

- his previous work with some of the non-profits on Cirtes Island

- what does he believes is the #1 issue in this election and what he can do about it as Regional Director?

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Around 30 people trekked through the spit into Mansons Lagoon, during the July 12 ‘Gumbooting the Lagoon.’ While Jane Newman explained the site’s human history, marine biologist Deb Cowper and FOCI’s Autumn Barret Morgan introduced everyone to intertidal life forms. One of the many topics that arose was the loss of marine life.

After the tour, Cortes Currents asked Cowper further explanations.

“I haven't come and done any firsthand studies or seen any data sets that people have been monitoring over time. I can't give a definitive answer that such and such a population is in decline or what the trends are, “ she began.

Then Cowper proceeded to make some personal observations. The parts of the shortline shorelineusually covered by water looked pretty healthy, but there appeared to be less biodiversity and numbers in the more exposed upper region. This appeared to also be true in the inner lagoon.

“There's probably no one smoking gun on here. You could talk about impacts of people trampling or collecting. You could talk about shifting climate, that’s probably a really big one. You could point to a number of different things and without proper studies, it would be kind of wrong on me to try and figure out exactly what was the cause,” explained Cowper.

Tokin Wakefield has observed the lagoons crab population virtually disappear during the 40 years she has lived by the edge of the lagoon. She and Cowper discussed the species during the gumboot tour.

“They used to be everywhere And now we can hardly find them in the inner lagoon,” said Wakefield.

Cowper also noted that, while it could a coincidental, she saw a much higher proportion of sea stars with wasting disease.

“They seemed to be more on the rebound before the heat dome. This year I was surprised that probably a quarter of the individuals that we did see were impacted, which is concerning that it seems to be happening again,” she said.

While some species are recovering better than others, Cowper said she has not seen as much biodiversity in the lagoon since last year’s heat dome.

While thousands of barnacles perished in the heat dome, there is also “lots of the spat of the little babies on the rocks.” So she expects to see a full recovery providing there isn’t another heat dome.

The number of sea stars is so reduced that Cowper suggested they need imported plankton born replacements.

“I'm quite worried about the sand dollars though, I really expected to see more this year. Last year, I saw an absolutely beautiful crop of sand dollars before the heat dome. I saw the devastation immediately afterwards, but it really doesn't seem to have rebounded that I can just see from our tour today. That's a bit of a concern.”

She added, “If we've got a lot of those heat dome type episodes as climate change progresses, I think we might be in trouble and see lots of shifts in the ecosystem.”

Providing heat domes are once in a lifetime events, or not particularly frequent, she expects the Marine life to rebound.

“What we're all very concerned about, and I think what we're witnessing unfold, is that climate change is going to bring these significant changes at a far greater rate and the frequency of those is going to ultimately impact species attempts to recover,”

“Different species on the intertidal zone have a different range of tolerance. Those who are really adapted and do well, or live in a habitat like those gaper clams fairly well protected and deep where it's cool, they will continue to do reasonably well. But those species that are not as tough to do with changing temperatures in particular, salinity perhaps, and so on, they will quite likely shift in terms of their distribution. They might well lose numbers and potentially lose their foothold on this area.”