Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Kai Harvey of Cortes Kayaks is feeling optimistic as BC enters phase one of its new restart plan.

“We definitely have a lot of bookings from Campbell River and all up and down Vancouver Island. No one from off island has booked yet. It is nice to know that people want to travel locally, so we will be able to get by and I feel optimistic about that,” she said.

“We have two trips for Cortes youth in the works this summer, which will be really fun. Hopefully other Cortesians will want to come paddling as well. We have a local discount.”

This is her third year of business.

Photos courtesy Cortes Kayaks

Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - There may be more to the enhanced emergency ambulance services being brought to rural communities like Cortes Island and Zeballos than meets the eye.

According to the letter which Darlene MacKinnon, Chief Operating Officer of BC Emergency Health Services, sent the SRD, they are creating 170 regular positions across the province. This includes regular part-time Scheduled On-Call (SOC) unit chief positions at every rural and remote station in BC that does not currently have a regular unit chief.

While this new enhanced emergency ambulance services model helps some paramedics, Mayor Julie Colbourne of Zeballos believes that the remainder will receive less pay. She wrote Adrian Dix, BC’s Minister of Health, that

“I see this move as a catastrophic collapse of a service. We are still in the thick of a global pandemic and are trying to see to the healthcare needs of our residents, the area, and the visitors who are seeking a break from urban locales. Help us do just that by finding a model that works for all the service users,” she said.

Paramedics are on standby for 12 hour shifts, during which time they cannot do anything that might hamper their response should a call come. They couldn’t leave the area; or be the only one looking after a child; or drink at a party - or even be a designated driver because you might have to leave everyone!

Under the previous plan (a KILO guarantee), paramedics were guaranteed four hours pay during each 12 hour shift.

This has been eliminated. Instead, they will receive $2 an hour standby pay unless called out.

“This project may be working in larger places but is not sufficient for a remote community such as ours,” writes Coulbourne.

The problem, in remote communities like Cortes Island and Zeballos, is that paramedics spend more of their shifts waiting than responding to callouts. Consequently, they will now be receiving $24 for most of their 12 hour shifts.

This is not a living wage and Mayor Colbourne predicts some of her community’s paramedics will seek employment elsewhere.

Prior to the introduction of the KILO guarantee, in 2017, Cortes Island ambulance needed to recruit new personnel every year. This turnover stopped after the KILO guarantee was introduced and paramedics received a real wage. Most crew members have sought additional training and the overall effectiveness of the ambulance service increased.

What will the elimination of the KILO guarantee mean for Cortes Island’s ambulance service? Will paramedics continue to devote as many hours to public service if they have to seek employment elsewhere? Who will fill the gap if there is an emergency and no available paramedics?  

Mayor Colbourne is concerned that some emergency patients in Zeballos may be forced to wait for ambulances to make the two hour drive out from the city of Port Hardy.

There are occasions, on Cortes Island, when patients have been flown to Campbell River or even the Vancouver General Hospital, but this is not an alternative to a local ambulance service. Even on those rare occasions, paramedics responded to the immediate call, gave interim medical care and transported patients to the helicopter.

BC Emergency Health Services has been queried, but did not respond in time to be included in this story.

Photo credit: Catastrophic accident by Sergei F via Flickr (CC BY SA,2.0 License)

Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - There may be more to the enhanced emergency ambulance services being brought to rural communities like Cortes Island and Zeballos than meets the eye.

According to the letter which Darlene MacKinnon, Chief Operating Officer of BC Emergency Health Services, sent the SRD, they are creating 170 regular positions across the province. This includes regular part-time Scheduled On-Call (SOC) unit chief positions at every rural and remote station in BC that does not currently have a regular unit chief.

While this new enhanced emergency ambulance services model helps some paramedics, Mayor Julie Colbourne of Zeballos believes that the remainder will receive less pay. She wrote Adrian Dix, BC’s Minister of Health, that

“I see this move as a catastrophic collapse of a service. We are still in the thick of a global pandemic and are trying to see to the healthcare needs of our residents, the area, and the visitors who are seeking a break from urban locales. Help us do just that by finding a model that works for all the service users,” she said.

Paramedics are on standby for 12 hour shifts, during which time they cannot do anything that might hamper their response should a call come. They couldn’t leave the area; or be the only one looking after a child; or drink at a party - or even be a designated driver because you might have to leave everyone!

Under the previous plan (a KILO guarantee), paramedics were guaranteed four hours pay during each 12 hour shift.

This has been eliminated. Instead, they will receive $2 an hour standby pay unless called out.

“This project may be working in larger places but is not sufficient for a remote community such as ours,” writes Coulbourne.

The problem, in remote communities like Cortes Island and Zeballos, is that paramedics spend more of their shifts waiting than responding to callouts. Consequently, they will now be receiving $24 for most of their 12 hour shifts.

This is not a living wage and Mayor Colbourne predicts some of her community’s paramedics will seek employment elsewhere.

Prior to the introduction of the KILO guarantee, in 2017, Cortes Island ambulance needed to recruit new personnel every year. This turnover stopped after the KILO guarantee was introduced and paramedics received a real wage. Most crew members have sought additional training and the overall effectiveness of the ambulance service increased.

What will the elimination of the KILO guarantee mean for Cortes Island’s ambulance service? Will paramedics continue to devote as many hours to public service if they have to seek employment elsewhere? Who will fill the gap if there is an emergency and no available paramedics?  

Mayor Colbourne is concerned that some emergency patients in Zeballos may be forced to wait for ambulances to make the two hour drive out from the city of Port Hardy.

There are occasions, on Cortes Island, when patients have been flown to Campbell River or even the Vancouver General Hospital, but this is not an alternative to a local ambulance service. Even on those rare occasions, paramedics responded to the immediate call, gave interim medical care and transported patients to the helicopter.

BC Emergency Health Services has been queried, but did not respond in time to be included in this story.

Photo credit: Catastrophic accident by Sergei F via Flickr (CC BY SA,2.0 License)

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - At their upcoming board May 26th Board meeting, the Strathcona Regional District will consider informing Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) that they are opposed to TELUS erecting Cell phone towers on Cortes Island.

They have already done this in regard to the proposed TELUS tower on Quadra Island because “the method of public engagement proposed by Telus did not meet what the SRD considers to be an acceptable standard.

In the May 19 SRD staff report, it says:

“The public engagement process in respect of the proposed Codes Island cell tower proposals is similar in that questions, comments and concerns would be managed on a one-on-one basis rather than through a broader, community-wide discussion managed by the Regional District.“

“Telus appears to be avoiding the standard process of seeking support from the local government before proceeding with finalization of its plans, the Board may wish to consider expressing its concerns to ISED regarding the lack of meaningful public consultation.”

Staff recommends that the SRD write a letter expressing their concerns to ISED and oppose any permission TELUS receives until the community has been properly consulted and supports the construction of the proposed cellular towers.

The SRD Board will vote ob this recommendation in two days.

Photo credit: proposed TELUS site in Whaletown, Cortes Island - courtesy TELUS

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - At their upcoming board May 26th Board meeting, the Strathcona Regional District will consider informing Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) that they are opposed to TELUS erecting Cell phone towers on Cortes Island.

They have already done this in regard to the proposed TELUS tower on Quadra Island because “the method of public engagement proposed by Telus did not meet what the SRD considers to be an acceptable standard.

In the May 19 SRD staff report, it says:

“The public engagement process in respect of the proposed Codes Island cell tower proposals is similar in that questions, comments and concerns would be managed on a one-on-one basis rather than through a broader, community-wide discussion managed by the Regional District.“

“Telus appears to be avoiding the standard process of seeking support from the local government before proceeding with finalization of its plans, the Board may wish to consider expressing its concerns to ISED regarding the lack of meaningful public consultation.”

Staff recommends that the SRD write a letter expressing their concerns to ISED and oppose any permission TELUS receives until the community has been properly consulted and supports the construction of the proposed cellular towers.

The SRD Board will vote ob this recommendation in two days.

Photo credit: proposed TELUS site in Whaletown, Cortes Island - courtesy TELUS

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The offshore region between Northern Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii is one of the most seismically active regions in Canada. There have been more than 2,000 earthquakes during the last 4 to 5 years, and four of them measured more than 6 on the richer scale. While the 2.9 quake in Campbell River last February was smaller, it is a reminder that earthquakes happen here. In this morning’s broadcast Andrew Schaeffer, an Earthquake Seismologist with the Geological Survey of Canada, describes the network of seismic stations that have been erected to observe earthquakes on the West Coast

Cortes Currents contacted Schaffer last March because he installed and looks after the seismometer on Calvert Island, midway between North Vancouver Island and Bella Bella, but soon discovered there is a much larger story.

The seismometers at Mount Washington, Campbell River and Sayward are among the twenty installed on Vancouver Island.

There is another seismic station in Prince Rupert and a string of stations along the Douglas Channel and out to Banks Island. After that, there is a station in Bella Bella.

“Because it is a challenging area to work in, with very little in the way of communications, stations are fairly sparse on the inside north coast. They are more than adequate to detect magnitude four earthquakes, which is what the Canadian National Seismic Network is tasked to do. It is tasked to detect and alert magnitude four earthquakes anywhere is Canada. Those are the earthquakes that will have an impact. Those are the earthquakes that, if you are close to it, it could cause damage. Less than that could cause an unpleasant shaking, but they do not typically cause damage,” explained Schaffer.

TheGeological Survey of Canada is trying to understand the how, when and where of earthquakes.

“To do that, we need a better understanding of the small earthquakes. That’s where adding more stations along the coast comes in. We are not improving the protection of magnitude fours, but we are improving the detection and location of magnitudes twos and threes that allow us to paint a much clearer picture of where the earthquakes are happening and start to address questions like why? For example, there are 300 kilometres between Port Hardy and Bella Bella and we’ve cut that distance in half by installing a station on Calvert Island, which allows us to detect smaller earthquakes than we could before,” said Schaffer.

The seismic station on Calvert Island is extremely sensitive. For example, it records ground vibrations from the impact of waves hitting the beach and trees swaying in a breeze.

“When there is a local earthquake it is usually significantly higher amplitude than these features from wind and waves. Once there is an earthquake of a decent magnitude nearby, that will all of a sudden come out of this low level noise,” said Schaffer.

“The seismometer on Calvert Island has picked up every global earthquake of more than a magnitude five since it was installed. The most recent would have been those earthquakes in New Zealand off the Kermadec Trench. (See chart at top of page) It has picked up a very beautiful signal from all of those. Any earthquake around the world that is at least a 5 or so, 5½, possibly even 4 depending where it is: this seismometer will pick it up.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The offshore region between Northern Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii is one of the most seismically active regions in Canada. There have been more than 2,000 earthquakes during the last 4 to 5 years, and four of them measured more than 6 on the richer scale. While the 2.9 quake in Campbell River last February was smaller, it is a reminder that earthquakes happen here. In this morning’s broadcast Andrew Schaeffer, an Earthquake Seismologist with the Geological Survey of Canada, describes the network of seismic stations that have been erected to observe earthquakes on the West Coast

Cortes Currents contacted Schaffer last March because he installed and looks after the seismometer on Calvert Island, midway between North Vancouver Island and Bella Bella, but soon discovered there is a much larger story.

The seismometers at Mount Washington, Campbell River and Sayward are among the twenty installed on Vancouver Island.

There is another seismic station in Prince Rupert and a string of stations along the Douglas Channel and out to Banks Island. After that, there is a station in Bella Bella.

“Because it is a challenging area to work in, with very little in the way of communications, stations are fairly sparse on the inside north coast. They are more than adequate to detect magnitude four earthquakes, which is what the Canadian National Seismic Network is tasked to do. It is tasked to detect and alert magnitude four earthquakes anywhere is Canada. Those are the earthquakes that will have an impact. Those are the earthquakes that, if you are close to it, it could cause damage. Less than that could cause an unpleasant shaking, but they do not typically cause damage,” explained Schaffer.

TheGeological Survey of Canada is trying to understand the how, when and where of earthquakes.

“To do that, we need a better understanding of the small earthquakes. That’s where adding more stations along the coast comes in. We are not improving the protection of magnitude fours, but we are improving the detection and location of magnitudes twos and threes that allow us to paint a much clearer picture of where the earthquakes are happening and start to address questions like why? For example, there are 300 kilometres between Port Hardy and Bella Bella and we’ve cut that distance in half by installing a station on Calvert Island, which allows us to detect smaller earthquakes than we could before,” said Schaffer.

The seismic station on Calvert Island is extremely sensitive. For example, it records ground vibrations from the impact of waves hitting the beach and trees swaying in a breeze.

“When there is a local earthquake it is usually significantly higher amplitude than these features from wind and waves. Once there is an earthquake of a decent magnitude nearby, that will all of a sudden come out of this low level noise,” said Schaffer.

“The seismometer on Calvert Island has picked up every global earthquake of more than a magnitude five since it was installed. The most recent would have been those earthquakes in New Zealand off the Kermadec Trench. (See chart at top of page) It has picked up a very beautiful signal from all of those. Any earthquake around the world that is at least a 5 or so, 5½, possibly even 4 depending where it is: this seismometer will pick it up.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce and Destination Campbell River have launched an EXPERIENCE LOCAL campaign for tourism.

They ask that people show their support on social media by using hashtags #DiscoverCampbellRiver and #BCTourismCounts.

Mary Ruth Snyder, Executive Director of the Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce, which represents Cortes, Quadra and the rest of the Discovery Islands as well as Campbell River, says, “The biggest challenge for the tourism sector throughout the Campbell River area is that we may have to make it through a second summer without international travel. One summer, they were able to manage okay. They limped along with the domestic tourism. It is going to be very challenging to make it through a second summer, because following a second summer is a second winter when they have to keep lights on through the winter months to get to the Spring of 2022, when everyone is hoping the world is opened wide up again.”

There is much more in the podcast

Photo credit: Elk Falls byTyler Cave Productions courtesy City of Campbell River

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce and Destination Campbell River have launched an EXPERIENCE LOCAL campaign for tourism.

They ask that people show their support on social media by using hashtags #DiscoverCampbellRiver and #BCTourismCounts.

Mary Ruth Snyder, Executive Director of the Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce, which represents Cortes, Quadra and the rest of the Discovery Islands as well as Campbell River, says, “The biggest challenge for the tourism sector throughout the Campbell River area is that we may have to make it through a second summer without international travel. One summer, they were able to manage okay. They limped along with the domestic tourism. It is going to be very challenging to make it through a second summer, because following a second summer is a second winter when they have to keep lights on through the winter months to get to the Spring of 2022, when everyone is hoping the world is opened wide up again.”

There is much more in the podcast

Photo credit: Elk Falls byTyler Cave Productions courtesy City of Campbell River

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Telus unveiled its plan to erect five cell phone towers on Cortes and Quadra Islands at the January 13th, 2021 SRD Board meeting. More recenlty, they have given public announcements for three towers.

Two weeks ago they announced plans to erect a 73 foot metre tower is proposed on land owned by the We Wai Nation in Drew Harbour, Quadra Island. Anyone wishing to comment on this project has until June 4th

Another two towers have now been announced on Cortes Island. A 63.1 metre tall tower is proposed on TELUS’ property at 798 Rexford Road, in Mansons Landing. A second tower, 73 metres high, is to go up at 765 Whaletown Road in Whaletown. The comment period for these towers ends on June 28th.

According to their original plan, there could be another teo towers. TELUS did not answer a Cortes Currents query about an agreement they mentioned reaching, with a Squirrel Cove property owner, last January. They were looking for a property in the Heriot Bay area at that time.

A TELUS spokesperson emailed, “We are seeking input from local residents through the public consultation process, which is underway. We will continue working with the community and the Strathcona Regional District, and look forward to keeping residents updated as we progress toward our goal of upgrading wireless service in 2022.”

A concerned citizen wrote, in the Cortes Tideline,“If Telus gets the bid to build their towers on Cortes and Quadra, then the Connected Coast Project would not receive the funding it needs to be completed, as these areas would no longer be considered ‘unserved’. If the Connected Coast Project lost its funding, we’d be losing the opportunity for remote communities who could benefit from this government funded telecommunications infrastructure.”

She suggests that while Twincomm ‘could have the opportunity‘ to use Connected Coast’s cables, TELUS’ towers would take away business.

The TELUS spokesperson claimed the towers are “part of a broader project to improve cellular coverage throughout the inside passage of Coastal B.C. These proposals will provide residents of Cortes Island with an excellent level of cellular connectivity and will complement the high-speed Internet access planned as part of the Connected Coast project.”

There is more in the podcast

TELUS photo by Andrew Currie via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)