Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - A 2014 study estimates there are more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic floating in the ocean. There is also a great deal of polystyrene. These are two of the most prevalent types of ocean debris washing up on our beaches. The Ocean Legacy Foundation decided to do something about it and partnered with the qathet Regional District to open up BC’s first Ocean Plastic Depot in Powell River.

This is the first of a series of two interviews with Abby McLennan from Let’s Talk Trash in Powell River. Let’s Talk Trash is both an hour long monthly radio program broadcast over Power River Community Radio, CJMP 90.1 FM, and, since 2011, also the qathet Regional District’s Waste Reduction Education Program.

The quathet Regional District stretches from the ferry terminal at Saltry Bay, north along the coast to Toba Inlet. Hernando, Texada, Savary, and Lasqueti islands are all within its boundaries. More than 65% of the inhabitants live in Powell River (2016 pop: 13,157).

Savary Island, the village of Lund and smoke from the mill at Powell River can all be seen from the eastern shore of Cortes Island. They are also within the broadcast area of Cortes Radio, CKTZ, 89.5 FM.

The Ghost Fear Fund

“The $8.3 million Sustainable Fisheries Solutions and Retrieval Support Contribution Program, known as the Ghost Gear Fund will fund 22 projects in Canada and four internationally over the next two years. All projects fall into at least one of four categories: gear retrieval, responsible disposal, acquisition and piloting of available gear technology, and international leadership.” - press release from Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada.

The First Ocean Plastic Depots

“The Ocean Legacy Foundation was successful is getting some funding, we partnered with them and that is how this Ocean Plastic Depot came into being. It’s really a vision of the Ocean Legacy Foundation. They want to have these satellite depots all up and down the coast, so there is a place to bring the material for recycling, and not just disposal, when [beach] clean-up efforts happen. This is the first depot in BC, and I believe in Canada … A second one has just been installed in Tofino,” said McLennan.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - According to data on the Pacific Salmon Explorer website, Northeastern Vancouver Island’s Chum runs have tended to be about 42% lower in the last decade. 2016 was an exception. Pete Calverley, from the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society, recently told the National Observer, “This year’s chum spawners are the result of a strong parent run four years ago.” The final numbers are not in yet, but there are high expectations for this year’s Chum return.

Terry Palfrey, Resource Manager with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said the numbers further south, along the Nanaimo, Cowichan and Goldstream Rivers, are already much better than last year. 6,000 chum returned to the Goldstream. Between 45,000 to 50,000 are expected on the Nanaimo and over 160,000 on the Cowichan River.

The numbers are lower on Cortes Island.

There were only about 50 last year, but we have already greatly exceeded that.

Will this year’s count match 2016’s, when more than 1,300 Chum were counted?

Cortes Island streamkeeper Cec Robinson emailed, “We are hoping that the bulk of the run is still to arrive, in the next few days, with this rain raising the stream levels. So far, as usual, Basil Creek is the most active. First chum counted just today (Wednesday, Nov 4th) in James Creek. A very few so far in Hansen. Nothing yet in Whaletown.”

It has been almost three weeks since October 17th, when a group of young streamkeepers from the Cortes School counted 197 Chum at the mouth of Basil Creek, in Squirrel Cove. This appears to be the highest of four tallies.

More fish arrive every day.

While Cortes Currents visit to Basil Creek a few days ago was not a count, several dozen chum were reported. There were more waiting in Squirrel Cove, just outside the entrance to the creek, and in the segment of the creek between the mouth and culvert. Others had already swam upstream.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - According to data on the Pacific Salmon Explorer website, Northeastern Vancouver Island’s Chum runs have tended to be about 42% lower in the last decade. 2016 was an exception. Pete Calverley, from the Quadra Island Salmon Enhancement Society, recently told the National Observer, “This year’s chum spawners are the result of a strong parent run four years ago.” The final numbers are not in yet, but there are high expectations for this year’s Chum return.

Terry Palfrey, Resource Manager with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said the numbers further south, along the Nanaimo, Cowichan and Goldstream Rivers, are already much better than last year. 6,000 chum returned to the Goldstream. Between 45,000 to 50,000 are expected on the Nanaimo and over 160,000 on the Cowichan River.

The numbers are lower on Cortes Island.

There were only about 50 last year, but we have already greatly exceeded that.

Will this year’s count match 2016’s, when more than 1,300 Chum were counted?

Cortes Island streamkeeper Cec Robinson emailed, “We are hoping that the bulk of the run is still to arrive, in the next few days, with this rain raising the stream levels. So far, as usual, Basil Creek is the most active. First chum counted just today (Wednesday, Nov 4th) in James Creek. A very few so far in Hansen. Nothing yet in Whaletown.”

It has been almost three weeks since October 17th, when a group of young streamkeepers from the Cortes School counted 197 Chum at the mouth of Basil Creek, in Squirrel Cove. This appears to be the highest of four tallies.

More fish arrive every day.

While Cortes Currents visit to Basil Creek a few days ago was not a count, several dozen chum were reported. There were more waiting in Squirrel Cove, just outside the entrance to the creek, and in the segment of the creek between the mouth and culvert. Others had already swam upstream.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) released the funding for Cortes Island’s community halls. Though they were to have received this money in quarterly instalments, it has been close to a year since the SRD passed the Bylaw “to establish a community hall service within and for the benefit of Electoral Area B (Cortes Island).” The minutes of that meeting refer to the need for “a further report outlining next steps for implementing the community hall service.”  Former Chair Michele Babchuk and the SRD’s Corporate Officer did not receive authorization to ‘execute the contracts’ until last August. A spokesperson from the Whaletown Community Club (WCC), which operates Gorge Hall, said the funds needed for a year of operations have now been deposited directly into their bank account. Manson's Hall Manager, Mary Lavelle, confirmed that a similar deposit was made into the Southern Cortes Community Association’s (SCCA) account on Friday, October 30th, 2020.

This money comes out of Cortes Island’s property taxes and will be used for core operating expenses: electricity, heating, garbage collection, telephone and fax, internet service, property taxes, insurance, supplies and contract services related to operating and maintaining the two halls.

De Clarke’s 2018 study of twenty community halls, between Haida Gwaii and the southern gulf islands, found that almost all of them were funded through property taxes. Three of these halls service populations of less than 200 people.

As WCC Director Ashley Zarbatany said, in a recent interview, “For years we struggled to pay our bills due to a lack of stable funding sources. Now, we will be able to focus on what we do best, which is providing services that make our community better.” 

“The SCCA Board of Directors appreciates that the SRD staff were able to respond to the Cortes Community's  concerns about the Hall Tax funding being delayed,” said Myrna Kerr, President of the SCCA Board of Directors.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) released the funding for Cortes Island’s community halls. Though they were to have received this money in quarterly instalments, it has been close to a year since the SRD passed the Bylaw “to establish a community hall service within and for the benefit of Electoral Area B (Cortes Island).” The minutes of that meeting refer to the need for “a further report outlining next steps for implementing the community hall service.”  Former Chair Michele Babchuk and the SRD’s Corporate Officer did not receive authorization to ‘execute the contracts’ until last August. A spokesperson from the Whaletown Community Club (WCC), which operates Gorge Hall, said the funds needed for a year of operations have now been deposited directly into their bank account. Manson's Hall Manager, Mary Lavelle, confirmed that a similar deposit was made into the Southern Cortes Community Association’s (SCCA) account on Friday, October 30th, 2020.

This money comes out of Cortes Island’s property taxes and will be used for core operating expenses: electricity, heating, garbage collection, telephone and fax, internet service, property taxes, insurance, supplies and contract services related to operating and maintaining the two halls.

De Clarke’s 2018 study of twenty community halls, between Haida Gwaii and the southern gulf islands, found that almost all of them were funded through property taxes. Three of these halls service populations of less than 200 people.

As WCC Director Ashley Zarbatany said, in a recent interview, “For years we struggled to pay our bills due to a lack of stable funding sources. Now, we will be able to focus on what we do best, which is providing services that make our community better.” 

“The SCCA Board of Directors appreciates that the SRD staff were able to respond to the Cortes Community's  concerns about the Hall Tax funding being delayed,” said Myrna Kerr, President of the SCCA Board of Directors.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - In response to reduced revenues arising from the pandemic, the city of Campbell River plans to increase property taxes and either defer or cancel $1.5 million dollars worth of services.

Why this is important for the Discovery Islands?

While this does not directly effect Cortes Island, Quadra Island, or the other Discovery Islands, we are in the Strathcona Regional District.

Close to 80% of the SRD’s inhabitants live in Campbell River.

Mayor Andy Adams, and city councillors Charlie Cornfield, Ron Ker and Claire Moglove are all members of the Strathcona Regional District Board. So was former city councillor Michele Babchuk, whose seat is now vacant as a result of her election as our representative to the Provincial legislature.

Proposed Campbell River property tax increases

City council wants to keep the tax increase to no more than $79 for the average Campbell River home, valued at $442,000.

This is less than the regular annual tax increase that Campbell River residents experienced in the years prior to 2014, when Mayor Andy Adams was elected.

Similar tax increases are being implemented in other communities throughout the province.

Proposed Service cuts

The proposed cuts include $356,300 from recreation programming, $165,600 from the Campbell River Airport’s payroll and $360,200 across many City departments.

This week’s Council decisions will be reviewed Nov. 30, when more detailed estimates on new construction values are available from BC Assessment. The budget will be adopted in December, and submitted to the Province before year-end.

“While the cuts reflect difficult, but necessary decisions, this budget still provides for renewal and replacement of aging infrastructure and funding to support new initiatives. In 2021, there will be a stronger focus on downtown safety, economic development and new maintenance requirements for the Bike Skills Park and Robron Fieldhouse,” said Mayor Andy Adams.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - In response to reduced revenues arising from the pandemic, the city of Campbell River plans to increase property taxes and either defer or cancel $1.5 million dollars worth of services.

Why this is important for the Discovery Islands?

While this does not directly effect Cortes Island, Quadra Island, or the other Discovery Islands, we are in the Strathcona Regional District.

Close to 80% of the SRD’s inhabitants live in Campbell River.

Mayor Andy Adams, and city councillors Charlie Cornfield, Ron Ker and Claire Moglove are all members of the Strathcona Regional District Board. So was former city councillor Michele Babchuk, whose seat is now vacant as a result of her election as our representative to the Provincial legislature.

Proposed Campbell River property tax increases

City council wants to keep the tax increase to no more than $79 for the average Campbell River home, valued at $442,000.

This is less than the regular annual tax increase that Campbell River residents experienced in the years prior to 2014, when Mayor Andy Adams was elected.

Similar tax increases are being implemented in other communities throughout the province.

Proposed Service cuts

The proposed cuts include $356,300 from recreation programming, $165,600 from the Campbell River Airport’s payroll and $360,200 across many City departments.

This week’s Council decisions will be reviewed Nov. 30, when more detailed estimates on new construction values are available from BC Assessment. The budget will be adopted in December, and submitted to the Province before year-end.

“While the cuts reflect difficult, but necessary decisions, this budget still provides for renewal and replacement of aging infrastructure and funding to support new initiatives. In 2021, there will be a stronger focus on downtown safety, economic development and new maintenance requirements for the Bike Skills Park and Robron Fieldhouse,” said Mayor Andy Adams.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Chum salmon have returned. Last year was disappointing. Cec Robinson told Cortes Currents there were perhaps 50, but there had been close to 1,300 in 2016. So Cortes Streamkeepers anticipate a much stronger count this year.

There were between three and four dozen around the new culvert on Basil Creek on Sunday, Nov 1, 2020. Most were swarming around the front, but at least a half dozen were on the other side.

The Tideline carries Christine Robinson’s report of a survey of Basil Creek made two weeks ago, on October 17th. A party of young streamkeepers from Cortes School broke into four groups, each of which made its own tally. One group counted 197 Chum: 110 females and 87 males. The aggregate count varied widely:

 live fish - numbers between 80 and 286

dead - numbers between 8 and 28

predators - numbers between 12 and 40 (They counted every raven & crow!)

There are two viewing areas where the public can look at the salmon in Basil Creek without trespassing on private property, the culvert and where the creek empties into Squirrel Cove.  

Christine asked that visitors keep their dogs on leases or better still, leave them at home.

She added, “Approach from downstream (that way, if you startle the salmon, they will swim upstream rather than downstream where they came from).”

There are three more salmon bearing creeks on Cortes Island. James Creek runs through the Children’s Forest into Carrington Lagoon. Hansen Creek empties into the Gorge Harbour. Whaletown Creek runs through the other new culvert into into Whaletown Lagoon.

Friends of Cortes Island Streamkeepers will continue to monitor and count spawners from mid-October through November.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Chum salmon have returned. Last year was disappointing. Cec Robinson told Cortes Currents there were perhaps 50, but there had been close to 1,300 in 2016. So Cortes Streamkeepers anticipate a much stronger count this year.

There were between three and four dozen around the new culvert on Basil Creek on Sunday, Nov 1, 2020. Most were swarming around the front, but at least a half dozen were on the other side.

The Tideline carries Christine Robinson’s report of a survey of Basil Creek made two weeks ago, on October 17th. A party of young streamkeepers from Cortes School broke into four groups, each of which made its own tally. One group counted 197 Chum: 110 females and 87 males. The aggregate count varied widely:

 live fish - numbers between 80 and 286

dead - numbers between 8 and 28

predators - numbers between 12 and 40 (They counted every raven & crow!)

There are two viewing areas where the public can look at the salmon in Basil Creek without trespassing on private property, the culvert and where the creek empties into Squirrel Cove.  

Christine asked that visitors keep their dogs on leases or better still, leave them at home.

She added, “Approach from downstream (that way, if you startle the salmon, they will swim upstream rather than downstream where they came from).”

There are three more salmon bearing creeks on Cortes Island. James Creek runs through the Children’s Forest into Carrington Lagoon. Hansen Creek empties into the Gorge Harbour. Whaletown Creek runs through the other new culvert into into Whaletown Lagoon.

Friends of Cortes Island Streamkeepers will continue to monitor and count spawners from mid-October through November.

Tan Mei Xi/Vancouver Co-op Radio, Local Journalism Initiative - Vancouver's City Council has been passing a number of motions to alleviate the city's homelessness crisis since May. But for those on the street or in tent cities, those motions haven't translated into changes in their living conditions.

Earlier in September, Council directed staff to report back on five options to alleviate the homelessness crisis, including leasing apartment buildings, hotels, or motels; allowing tiny homes; creating temporary disaster relief shelters; converting City-owned buildings into temporary shelters; and opening RV parks.

Since then, Council has passed a motion directing staff to spend up to $30 million to purchase or lease apartment buildings or hotels and create an indoor temporary disaster relief shelter. More recently, Council passed another motion directing staff to research how bylaws would need to be changed to allow for tiny homes in the city.

In the last week, the federal government announced $51.5 million dollars in funding for housing for residents experiencing homelessness. According to the Tyee, it is still unclear when the funding will be provided.

This i part 2 of our interview with journalist Jen St. Denis. Jen covers the DTES beat for The Tyee.