Cortes Currents

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, as of September 3rd there have been 64 confirmed COVID cases in the North Island region this year. Only 4 were still active. None of these were critical. They did not indicate if there are still any active covid cases in our area, which includes Campbell River, the Discovery Islands and Mainland Inlets, but there have been at least 12 this year.

Odette Auger/Cortes Currents - This story is about how COVID-19 changed summer jobs for one Cortes student, I'm interviewing Natalia Nybida, a Vancouver Island university student, going into her second year. Originally airing on CKTZ 89.5fm, this is an excerpt of the Q+A, with photos.

Odette Auger/Cortes Currents - This story is about how COVID-19 changed summer jobs for one Cortes student, I'm interviewing Natalia Nybida, a Vancouver Island university student, going into her second year. Originally airing on CKTZ 89.5fm, this is an excerpt of the Q+A, with photos.

Roy L Hales/ Daily News - Local tourism had really taken a big hit when Mary Ruth Snyder, Executive Director of the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce and Dianne Hawkins, CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce agreed to visit each other’s cities and film the event. The pair did not stop there. They launched a social media campaign encouraging people to explore neighbouring communities and leave a visual record of their visits on social media using hashtags like #ExploreNextDoor, #MeetYourNeighbours, and #ExploreBC.

Roy L Hales/ Daily News - Local tourism had really taken a big hit when Mary Ruth Snyder, Executive Director of the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce and Dianne Hawkins, CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce agreed to visit each other’s cities and film the event. The pair did not stop there. They launched a social media campaign encouraging people to explore neighbouring communities and leave a visual record of their visits on social media using hashtags like #ExploreNextDoor, #MeetYourNeighbours, and #ExploreBC.

Manda Aufochs Gillespie/ Folk U - Folk University’s Folk U Talks returned to Cortes Radio live shows and podcast recordings on Friday August 28th with a virtual book launch featuring sometimes local author Shaena Lambert and a guest appearance by Marnie Andrews of Marnie's Books in celebration of Canada's Independent Book Seller Day.

Manda Aufochs Gillespie/ Folk U - Folk University’s Folk U Talks returned to Cortes Radio live shows and podcast recordings on Friday August 28th with a virtual book launch featuring sometimes local author Shaena Lambert and a guest appearance by Marnie Andrews of Marnie's Books in celebration of Canada's Independent Book Seller Day.

Max Thaysen/Daily News - Whaletown's Black Bear is still on the loose – but its days may be numbered.

This summer, a black bear has made the rounds in Whaletown, eating up fruit, stealing honey, breaking in to a chicken coop and even attacking a pig (according to community reports on the Tideline and Facebook).

The Conservation Officer Service, COS, received reports from several Cortes Islanders about the bear and responded by bringing a trap over to capture the bear.

We spoke with a Conservation Officer named Brad about the situation on Cortes and what the plan is for this bear.

If the COS can intervene early in a bear's career of homestead marauding, then they capture it, tranquilize it, give it an identifying earring and set it free in a distant location. If the bear returns to human spaces, they may escalate the human response.

Once a bear begins entering structures, the COS says it must be killed. Relocating a bear with that level of habituation and fearlessness around humans is too great a risk to public safety to release anywhere.

Brad said that they are aware that there could be more than one bear in the area and they rely on eye-witness testimony to identify the offending bear. The bear they catch must match the descriptions before they put the bear to death.

Max Thaysen/Daily News - Whaletown's Black Bear is still on the loose – but its days may be numbered.

This summer, a black bear has made the rounds in Whaletown, eating up fruit, stealing honey, breaking in to a chicken coop and even attacking a pig (according to community reports on the Tideline and Facebook).

The Conservation Officer Service, COS, received reports from several Cortes Islanders about the bear and responded by bringing a trap over to capture the bear.

We spoke with a Conservation Officer named Brad about the situation on Cortes and what the plan is for this bear.

If the COS can intervene early in a bear's career of homestead marauding, then they capture it, tranquilize it, give it an identifying earring and set it free in a distant location. If the bear returns to human spaces, they may escalate the human response.

Once a bear begins entering structures, the COS says it must be killed. Relocating a bear with that level of habituation and fearlessness around humans is too great a risk to public safety to release anywhere.

Brad said that they are aware that there could be more than one bear in the area and they rely on eye-witness testimony to identify the offending bear. The bear they catch must match the descriptions before they put the bear to death.

Manda Aufochs Gillespie/Daily News - Cortes Island staff and students will return to school for full-time classes on Monday September 14th and orientation will be on September 10th and 11th.

There are a lot of questions as to what school will look like this Fall. Cortes Island school is figuring out how to provide required schooling and ensure there are safe options for those with additional health concerns or that have caregivers that are vulnerable or work with vulnerable populations. Cortes Islanders with children planning to enrol at the school for in class instruction, those planning to be enrolled but more homebound, and those planning to homeschool or pursue primarily computer based learning are being asked to let the school district know by Tuesday September 1 their enrolment plans. Later today there should be furthered detail communications from Cortes Island School.

Principal Brent Wilken welcomes parents and students back to school on behalf of Cortes Island School and invites those with enrolment questions to reach out directly at [email protected]

If you haven’t received anything from the school district make sure you reach out to your local school so they know your intentions to enrol your child. If you are a Cortes parent and have concerns or questions, you can reach principal Brent Wilkin on his email or by calling the school directly at 250-935-6313.