Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - BC Hydro’s 2020 Annual report provides insight, but local knowledge is needed to understand the Cortes Island electric grid.

Vancouver Island has more trees per kilometre of utility power line than any place else in North America and this can translate into power outages.

The average Campbell River resident experienced 1.86 power outages, averaging 2.55 hours in 2020. This seems high when compared to cities like Victoria and Nanaimo, but is better than Duncan or Port Hardy.

Cortes Island does not appear in the graph, but a Squirrel Cove resident recorded 6 outages lasting between 2 and 12 hours (each) in her calendar. While the numbers are rounded off, this suggests Cortes is one of the worst areas in the Vancouver Island area for outages.

The average lifespan of a wooden power pole is 40 to 50 years, and BC Hydro is currently replacing more than 8,000 poles across BC.

As electricity reached Cortes Island in the early 1970s, many of the poles are presumably near their end of use.

Vancouver Island produces about 40% of its electricity. The remainder is supplied by two transmission submarine cable systems crossing the Strait of Georgia. The older of the two systems, built in the 1980s, crosses from the Sunshine Coast, over Texada Island and emerges at Qualicum Bay. A second cable, laid in 2008, connects Tsawwassen and Duncan.

Transmission cables cross from Campbell River to Quadra Island, but Cortes’ electricity comes from a different direction. A submarine cable connects the Cortes Island electric grid to the Malaspina peninsula.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - BC Hydro’s 2020 Annual report provides insight, but local knowledge is needed to understand the Cortes Island electric grid.

Vancouver Island has more trees per kilometre of utility power line than any place else in North America and this can translate into power outages.

The average Campbell River resident experienced 1.86 power outages, averaging 2.55 hours in 2020. This seems high when compared to cities like Victoria and Nanaimo, but is better than Duncan or Port Hardy.

Cortes Island does not appear in the graph, but a Squirrel Cove resident recorded 6 outages lasting between 2 and 12 hours (each) in her calendar. While the numbers are rounded off, this suggests Cortes is one of the worst areas in the Vancouver Island area for outages.

The average lifespan of a wooden power pole is 40 to 50 years, and BC Hydro is currently replacing more than 8,000 poles across BC.

As electricity reached Cortes Island in the early 1970s, many of the poles are presumably near their end of use.

Vancouver Island produces about 40% of its electricity. The remainder is supplied by two transmission submarine cable systems crossing the Strait of Georgia. The older of the two systems, built in the 1980s, crosses from the Sunshine Coast, over Texada Island and emerges at Qualicum Bay. A second cable, laid in 2008, connects Tsawwassen and Duncan.

Transmission cables cross from Campbell River to Quadra Island, but Cortes’ electricity comes from a different direction. A submarine cable connects the Cortes Island electric grid to the Malaspina peninsula.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) board has joined the growing number of local governments protesting the DFO’s failure to consult before ruling that the Discovery Island fish farms must be phased out by June 2022.

Regional Director Brenda Leigh brought forward a motion that the SRD write the Prime Minister of Canada and Federal Fisheries Minister.

“Whether or not you are in favour of these particular fish farms that they are eliminating, the crux of this motion is that we were not consulted. I would like the Federal Government to consult with our Regional District since we have all these communities under our care, regarding land use decisions and we need them to listen to us. We need to tell them so that this does not keep happening. People are out there. Their lives are being decimated and they have no input into this decision that is happening right now. Our MP is talking to the Federal Fisheries Minister right now and I am afraid that we are not going to get the point of view of local communities across to the Minister,” she said.

Charlie Cornfield, who is both a Campbell River councillor and SRD director, explained, “The federal government does not recognize local government as a level of government. So … if they talk to a couple of people in town, or a couple of organizations, they’ve done their community consultation … Whatever letter goes off, I want it to be very clear that they did not have any dialogue with any local government: whether it is cities or the Regional District. The impacts of this decision are huge. We need to stress the fact that local government is the voice of the local communities.”

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) board has joined the growing number of local governments protesting the DFO’s failure to consult before ruling that the Discovery Island fish farms must be phased out by June 2022.

Regional Director Brenda Leigh brought forward a motion that the SRD write the Prime Minister of Canada and Federal Fisheries Minister.

“Whether or not you are in favour of these particular fish farms that they are eliminating, the crux of this motion is that we were not consulted. I would like the Federal Government to consult with our Regional District since we have all these communities under our care, regarding land use decisions and we need them to listen to us. We need to tell them so that this does not keep happening. People are out there. Their lives are being decimated and they have no input into this decision that is happening right now. Our MP is talking to the Federal Fisheries Minister right now and I am afraid that we are not going to get the point of view of local communities across to the Minister,” she said.

Charlie Cornfield, who is both a Campbell River councillor and SRD director, explained, “The federal government does not recognize local government as a level of government. So … if they talk to a couple of people in town, or a couple of organizations, they’ve done their community consultation … Whatever letter goes off, I want it to be very clear that they did not have any dialogue with any local government: whether it is cities or the Regional District. The impacts of this decision are huge. We need to stress the fact that local government is the voice of the local communities.”

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) board has joined the growing number of local governments protesting the DFO’s failure to consult before ruling that the Discovery Island fish farms must be phased out by June 2022.

Regional Director Brenda Leigh brought forward a motion that the SRD write the Prime Minister of Canada and Federal Fisheries Minister.

“Whether or not you are in favour of these particular fish farms that they are eliminating, the crux of this motion is that we were not consulted. I would like the Federal Government to consult with our Regional District since we have all these communities under our care, regarding land use decisions and we need them to listen to us. We need to tell them so that this does not keep happening. People are out there. Their lives are being decimated and they have no input into this decision that is happening right now. Our MP is talking to the Federal Fisheries Minister right now and I am afraid that we are not going to get the point of view of local communities across to the Minister,” she said.

Charlie Cornfield, who is both a Campbell River councillor and SRD director, explained, “The federal government does not recognize local government as a level of government. So … if they talk to a couple of people in town, or a couple of organizations, they’ve done their community consultation … Whatever letter goes off, I want it to be very clear that they did not have any dialogue with any local government: whether it is cities or the Regional District. The impacts of this decision are huge. We need to stress the fact that local government is the voice of the local communities.”

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - TELUS is looking at five potential communication tower sites in the Discovery Islands.

Three of these are on Cortes Island, where they already have land rights on two sites. TELUS owns property in Mansons Landing and has reached an agreement with a property owner in Squirrel Cove. They are also looking for a Whaletown resident who is willing to host a tower on their land.

TELUS is looking for properties in Heriot Bay and Drew Harbour on Quadra Island, but has not yet identified any candidates.

Discovery Island Regional Director Jim Abram told two TELUS representatives at the January 13th Strathcona Regional District Board meeting, “You have mentioned a number of times, on the flyer with the maps, that you haven’t picked a spot, but I am receiving calls from very elderly people on Quadra Island that they are receiving calls from your consultants offering them 30 year contracts at $1,000 a month to put a tower up on their properties. So you have obviously picked some sites, based on their geographic location, how far they reach etc. You have actually gone as far as going to these people and offering them large sums of money.”

He chided TELUS for ‘jumping the gun,’ by approaching property owners before consulting with the SRD.

Abram also said, “I’ve worked with TELUS since 1990, progressing our connectivity whether it be broadband, wireless or cell towers. Our service is still terrible, as they probably know.”

Brian Gregg of SitePath Consulting Ltd was part of the TELUS delegation.

“TELUS does not have dependable wireless service on Quadra and Cortes Islands, including the surrounding waterways. This not only poses an inconvenience, for people to remain connected, but also a public safety issue given that the majority of calls to emergency service responders are now placed through wireless devices, such as cell phones,” he said.

A TELUS spokesperson emailed Cortes Currents that, “more than 70% of phone calls to 911 these days come from a cell phone.”

Gregg continued, “For a number of years, we’ve been receiving a lot of customer complaints from community members, regarding a lack of service. With increased remote working during COVID 19 pandemic, those complaints have been escalating in your area and, frankly, across the country.”

If this project goes forward, it is expected to would dramatically increase cellular service throughout the area which means residents and visitors could use their wireless devices (such as cell phones and tablets) to make phone calls, send emails and text messages, and use the Internet.

Photo credit: existing tower at TELUS' property on Cortes Island - Roy L Hales

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - TELUS is looking at five potential communication tower sites in the Discovery Islands.

Three of these are on Cortes Island, where they already have land rights on two sites. TELUS owns property in Mansons Landing and has reached an agreement with a property owner in Squirrel Cove. They are also looking for a Whaletown resident who is willing to host a tower on their land.

TELUS is looking for properties in Heriot Bay and Drew Harbour on Quadra Island, but has not yet identified any candidates.

Discovery Island Regional Director Jim Abram told two TELUS representatives at the January 13th Strathcona Regional District Board meeting, “You have mentioned a number of times, on the flyer with the maps, that you haven’t picked a spot, but I am receiving calls from very elderly people on Quadra Island that they are receiving calls from your consultants offering them 30 year contracts at $1,000 a month to put a tower up on their properties. So you have obviously picked some sites, based on their geographic location, how far they reach etc. You have actually gone as far as going to these people and offering them large sums of money.”

He chided TELUS for ‘jumping the gun,’ by approaching property owners before consulting with the SRD.

Abram also said, “I’ve worked with TELUS since 1990, progressing our connectivity whether it be broadband, wireless or cell towers. Our service is still terrible, as they probably know.”

Brian Gregg of SitePath Consulting Ltd was part of the TELUS delegation.

“TELUS does not have dependable wireless service on Quadra and Cortes Islands, including the surrounding waterways. This not only poses an inconvenience, for people to remain connected, but also a public safety issue given that the majority of calls to emergency service responders are now placed through wireless devices, such as cell phones,” he said.

A TELUS spokesperson emailed Cortes Currents that, “more than 70% of phone calls to 911 these days come from a cell phone.”

Gregg continued, “For a number of years, we’ve been receiving a lot of customer complaints from community members, regarding a lack of service. With increased remote working during COVID 19 pandemic, those complaints have been escalating in your area and, frankly, across the country.”

If this project goes forward, it is expected to would dramatically increase cellular service throughout the area which means residents and visitors could use their wireless devices (such as cell phones and tablets) to make phone calls, send emails and text messages, and use the Internet.

Photo credit: existing tower at TELUS' property on Cortes Island - Roy L Hales

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - TELUS is looking at five potential communication tower sites in the Discovery Islands.

Three of these are on Cortes Island, where they already have land rights on two sites. TELUS owns property in Mansons Landing and has reached an agreement with a property owner in Squirrel Cove. They are also looking for a Whaletown resident who is willing to host a tower on their land.

TELUS is looking for properties in Heriot Bay and Drew Harbour on Quadra Island, but has not yet identified any candidates.

Discovery Island Regional Director Jim Abram told two TELUS representatives at the January 13th Strathcona Regional District Board meeting, “You have mentioned a number of times, on the flyer with the maps, that you haven’t picked a spot, but I am receiving calls from very elderly people on Quadra Island that they are receiving calls from your consultants offering them 30 year contracts at $1,000 a month to put a tower up on their properties. So you have obviously picked some sites, based on their geographic location, how far they reach etc. You have actually gone as far as going to these people and offering them large sums of money.”

He chided TELUS for ‘jumping the gun,’ by approaching property owners before consulting with the SRD.

Abram also said, “I’ve worked with TELUS since 1990, progressing our connectivity whether it be broadband, wireless or cell towers. Our service is still terrible, as they probably know.”

Brian Gregg of SitePath Consulting Ltd was part of the TELUS delegation.

“TELUS does not have dependable wireless service on Quadra and Cortes Islands, including the surrounding waterways. This not only poses an inconvenience, for people to remain connected, but also a public safety issue given that the majority of calls to emergency service responders are now placed through wireless devices, such as cell phones,” he said.

A TELUS spokesperson emailed Cortes Currents that, “more than 70% of phone calls to 911 these days come from a cell phone.”

Gregg continued, “For a number of years, we’ve been receiving a lot of customer complaints from community members, regarding a lack of service. With increased remote working during COVID 19 pandemic, those complaints have been escalating in your area and, frankly, across the country.”

If this project goes forward, it is expected to would dramatically increase cellular service throughout the area which means residents and visitors could use their wireless devices (such as cell phones and tablets) to make phone calls, send emails and text messages, and use the Internet.

Photo credit: existing tower at TELUS' property on Cortes Island - Roy L Hales

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Salmon farming is a significant local employer in Northern Vancouver Island. According to a recent report there are 572 Campbell River, Sayward and the Discovery Islands residents working in this sector. 702 people are said to have indirect jobs, which means the industry is bringing about $324.3 a year into the local economy. Another 512 direct and indirect jobs, representing $135.1 million, are in Port Hardy and Port McNeill.

Mayor Andy Adams announced the extent of the mayor’s support during a the January 11, 2021 meeting of the Campbell River City Council.

“Speaking on behalf of myself, Mayor Baker of Sayward, Mayor Unger of Gold River, Mayor Dugas of Port Hardy, Mayor Wickstrom of Port McNeill, we have all been working in collaboration together for the industries, staff and employees and residents of the North Island. While we recognize that there is nothing more important than the preservation of wild salmon stocks, we are of course in Campbell River, the salmon capital of the world,” he began.

“ … We have seen the evolution of aquaculture here on the North Island. It is science based, with the innovation and technology that have made it the number one agricultural export for the province of British Columbia and that industry is at risk.”

“That is 1,500 employees in the North Island. It is people’s lives, people’s jobs and all the family and friends around them that are adversely impacted.”

“So I can tell you that the group of mayors have been working right through the holidays, every single day. reaching out to the powers that be at the provincial and federal level. We had a video conference Friday with Minister Kahlon, MLA Babchuk and Minister Osborne reviewing the economic impact. We were to have a video conference this morning with MPO Blaney, however that got sidetracked and is now trying to be rescheduled with the parties that we are in agreement should be there. We are also working to set up a conference call with Minister Jordan”

Mayor Adams added that the mayors are also in communications with people supporting open net salmon farms on the Atlantic coast.

He concluded, “I want to say to all of those that have worked in the industry through our economic recovery task force, as we have done with forestry in the past, we are going to stand up and speak on your behalf, for you and in support of you. And in support of dealing with the facts of science, technology and innovation.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Salmon farming is a significant local employer in Northern Vancouver Island. According to a recent report there are 572 Campbell River, Sayward and the Discovery Islands residents working in this sector. 702 people are said to have indirect jobs, which means the industry is bringing about $324.3 a year into the local economy. Another 512 direct and indirect jobs, representing $135.1 million, are in Port Hardy and Port McNeill.

Mayor Andy Adams announced the extent of the mayor’s support during a the January 11, 2021 meeting of the Campbell River City Council.

“Speaking on behalf of myself, Mayor Baker of Sayward, Mayor Unger of Gold River, Mayor Dugas of Port Hardy, Mayor Wickstrom of Port McNeill, we have all been working in collaboration together for the industries, staff and employees and residents of the North Island. While we recognize that there is nothing more important than the preservation of wild salmon stocks, we are of course in Campbell River, the salmon capital of the world,” he began.

“ … We have seen the evolution of aquaculture here on the North Island. It is science based, with the innovation and technology that have made it the number one agricultural export for the province of British Columbia and that industry is at risk.”

“That is 1,500 employees in the North Island. It is people’s lives, people’s jobs and all the family and friends around them that are adversely impacted.”

“So I can tell you that the group of mayors have been working right through the holidays, every single day. reaching out to the powers that be at the provincial and federal level. We had a video conference Friday with Minister Kahlon, MLA Babchuk and Minister Osborne reviewing the economic impact. We were to have a video conference this morning with MPO Blaney, however that got sidetracked and is now trying to be rescheduled with the parties that we are in agreement should be there. We are also working to set up a conference call with Minister Jordan”

Mayor Adams added that the mayors are also in communications with people supporting open net salmon farms on the Atlantic coast.

He concluded, “I want to say to all of those that have worked in the industry through our economic recovery task force, as we have done with forestry in the past, we are going to stand up and speak on your behalf, for you and in support of you. And in support of dealing with the facts of science, technology and innovation.”