Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - Brenda Hansen, with her brother Dwayne and Kenny Hanuse, greeted the audience of Love Fest 2024 with the ‘Klahoose Welcome Song.’ (You can listen to it, sung in the ʔayʔaǰuθəm language, in the podcast version of this story.) 

Close to 700 people purchased tickets, performed, or were at the event on Saturday August 10. Cortes Currents went backstage to interview some of the performers and record clips of their music. 

Singer/songwriter Rick Scott explained, “I've often  been  interested in what happened with the hippie movement.  Because the hippies got it right on a lot of levels. The ecology, community,  the idea of cooperative  and  there was also a musical Renaissance that happened. All these  things coming out of that time were so great and it got co-opted.  Suddenly, Coca Cola had long hair, and the Monkees were clean-cut hippies. Like so many things, it got bought out and changed. We all grew older,  the computer age happened and all these things  distorted it in a different way. Something like the Love Fest reminds me of the essence of that time, that renaissance I call it.”

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - 283 people from Cortes, Quadra and the Outer Island’s as well as some visitors participated in CCEDA’s passenger transportation survey.  They were asked about a variety of options for passengers on the islands; a bus, taxi, carpool, van pool, or rideshare.

"We found that the most popular option for all respondents was a bus on Quadra that included both ferries. Cortes and Outer-Island residents only need a bus that goes from the Cortes ferry to the Quadra ferry.  They don't necessarily need to go anywhere else on Quadra. It's just  that straight line that so many people take across Quadra. On Quadra, the most popular option was a bus that included both ferries, but also made a loop. It would be helpful for people living on Quadra and for visitors to get around Quadra," explained Jennifer Banks-Doll, Project Lead for Quadra Island.

"Those were the most popular. Of course those are also the most expensive  options to try to implement, which is why we wanted to look at what else people would be interested in?"

"People are also really interested in having some kind of a taxi or ride-hail, because of course a bus  doesn't necessarily come to your door unless you're really lucky and live on the route. It doesn't come exactly when you need it. It doesn't necessarily have a direct route. It doesn't necessarily take you home from the bar at night."

"People are still really interested in some kind of door to door option that  they would  be paying more for, but it might be needed under certain circumstances."

"Ride sharing  was really popular and in terms of economics, it is really  the most economically feasible as well as the easiest to organize because it's already being organized on Quadra and Cortes, through  Better At Home. Only a very small number of people can access it that way, but it's a worldwide program funded here to help people stay in their homes. We found that many more people besides the clients of Better at Home are interested in ride sharing."

"The strongest thing motivating people to use passenger transportation was reducing their carbon footprint. A lot of people who responded have their own vehicles. They wanted to not always have to use them and be able to use options that are more environmentally sensitive."

Louis Belcourt/CKTZ News - The Cortes Community Forest Cooperative has obtained funding to implement two wildfire risk reduction projects in the community forest, a project that’s been in the works for years.

“The Forest Enhancement Society of BC gave funding to the community forest focused on fiber utilization, but since last year, they’ve been spending half their money on wildfire risk reduction and have a mandate to spend it all around the coast,” says Mark Lombard, manager of the Community Forest Coop.

“We’re the first shovel ready project that they have funded on the coast, which is exciting,” added Lombard.

This fall, the projects funded will involve thinning out the trees and reducing fuel loads in the Colter Bay residential neighbourhood and in another area in Squirrel Cove.

The Cortes Community Forest Cooperative worked with the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) to complete a revised wildfire protection plan that completed in 2020. These two projects are the final two of three remaining projects as a part of that plan, with one final project straddling Klahoose First Nation land.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - A crew of seven volunteers was just starting to put up the stage, when Cortes Currents arrived at Linnaea Farm on Wednesday. The doors to Love Fest 2024 will open at 11 AM on Saturday, August 10. 

“This is  the fifth year. We took two years off during COVID, so it's seven years since we started in 2017,” said Rex Weyler, one of the founding organizers of Love Fest,  

His co-producer, Benji Coey, added, “Things are going really well. We're about three days out and things are moving very smoothly, so fingers crossed touch wood it continues. It's going to be a beautiful day. The grass on the lawn in front of the stage is lush and green, which for this time of year is a miracle. The lake looks calm and I think the whole vibe is going to be really beautiful.”

The final line-up; food; the grounds; getting there

Manda Aufochs Gillespie/Folk U - On Friday, August 2, Johnny Hanuse performed a live + live-broadcast FolkU concert in the big Village Commons tent.

The Village Commons Music Series is put on every Friday by a partnership between Cortes Island Community Foundation, FolkU, and CKTZ Cortes Community Radio. The series is generously sponsored by Decoda Literacy and Coastal Community Credit Union.

This year, the series is also raising funds for the Cortes Foundation’s fundraising campaign Care for Cortes. Every week, the donations raised in the big tent go towards a different community project the campaign is highlighting. This week, the series highlighted the Cortes Foundation’s Climate Adaptation Fund.

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

Louis Belcourt/CKTZ News - A local sailing company “Calma Sailing” is offering a free sailing course aimed at providing Indigenous and lower-income people an opportunity to learn the sport.

“I think sailing is a bit of an elitist sport,” said Dominik Domanski, co-owner of Calma Sailing. “It seems so inaccessible.”

Funding is provided by Sail Canada’s “Sailing for All” initiative, created to support grassroots programs in delivering sailing experiences to underserved and underrepresented communities and groups.

“When this opportunity came up, I thought it’d be great to give the opportunity to people who live on Cortes, who, even though they live in this area, the sport might not be so accessible to them,” added Domanski.

Calma Sailing Co is based on Cortes Island owned by Dominik and Ania Domanski. The course is two days (running Aug. 12-13 and then Aug. 15-16) with a Sailing Canada certificate earned on completion on at the Gorge Harbour Resort.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - Rick and Cheryl Schellinck have been trying to obtain approval to subdivide their Quadra Island property, as the first step towards development, since 2011. The most recent version of the proposed Gowland Harbour Views project consisted of twenty-two 2 hectare rural residential lots,  a 5 hectare Agricultural Land Reserve parcel, and two small Regional District Parks. Quadra Island residents were given a chance to state their opinions of the project at a public meeting on June 12. Then Schellinck’s application was defeated in an electoral Directors only vote at the July 24, SRD Board meeting. It failed to make it to the third reading.

Greg Osoba/Folk U - On Friday, July 26, Josie Simpson performed a live + live-broadcast FolkU concert in the big Village Commons tent. Hosted by Greg Osoba, singer-songwriter Josie Simpson draws from influences of classic American jazz, blues, and country. "The timeless quality of her phrasing...sonorous melodies and tender songwriting are Simpson's strengths" - Regular Occasion.

The Village Commons Music Series is put on every Friday by a partnership between Cortes Island Community Foundation, FolkU, and CKTZ Cortes Community Radio. The series is generously sponsored by Decoda Literacy and Coastal Community Credit Union.

This year, the series is also raising funds for the Cortes Foundation’s fundraising campaign Care for Cortes. Every week, the donations raised in the big tent go towards a different community project the campaign is highlighting. This week, the series highlighted the Emily Ellingsen Scholarship Fund.

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

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District Board SRD is considering amending the Grant in Aid process. A proposed ‘Financial Assistance to Organizations’ policy from 2021 is being considered. Regional Directors Gerald Whalley from Area A, Robyn Mawhinney from Area C and Mark Vonesch from Area B (Cortes Island) voted in opposition, but were defeated.  

The associated staff report refers to a recent grant in aid to the Cortes Island School, questions the relationship between the school and Parent Advisory Council and asks whether the funds being requested should actually have come from School District 72.  

The policy brought forward in 2021 proposed that in the future: 

Applications must be submitted directly to the SRD’s Financial Officer.

Only registered non-profits can apply.

The funds are not to be used for core funding, operating costs, wages, insurance or multi-year funding etc.

Applicants must include a written statement indicating how the grant-in-aid will benefit the community.

The board will give preference to applications that do not exceed $5,000.

Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney, of Area C, spoke in opposition:

“I'm satisfied with the current model.  I think that the proposed policy that is included as a draft from 2021, does not benefit Area C constituents as it would deny applications for support with insurance fees, which can be a significant item for small organizations,  and the policy also denies support for groups which are not registered not-for-profits.  

"Apart from the repercussions this could create in area C. It made me wonder about more loosely organized events looking for support, such as the Campbell River Canada Group, which we supported with fireworks funding earlier this year, so I'm supportive of option B, leaving the grant and aid working as it currently is." 

Regional Director Gerald Whalley moved, “That the matter of policy for considering grants and aid not be pursued at this time.”

Campbell River Director Susan Sinnott explained, “The city of Campbell has got a substantial confusion in terms of how much money we're spending for various things like permissive tax exemptions, grants and aids and where we sit relative to other communities, including the funding source right now, where it's tied to the percentage of revenue of the city's tax base, which continue means it's growing, which I don't know if that's an acceptable use of tax dollars.” 

More in podcast

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - Peter Wrinch is stepping down from his position as CEO of Hollyhock. 

"My last day will be July 31st this year. That will be exactly seven years, to the day," he explained.

"The reason I'm leaving is a much deeper question. I'm 49 years old.  I'm turning 50 next year.  This is my second job as an executive director or CEO.  When I finished the first one, I said, 'Well, I will never do that job again” and then a few years later, I took on this role.

Coming into Hollyhock, I had very little sense of the depth and warmth and connection of this place. I also knew that I would not stay forever. I'm so happy that I got to experience the love that is Hollyhock. And, I am clear that my purpose at this stage of my life is to figure out how to support organizational leaders instead of being one myself. I've thught about this quite deeply and see this ending as a call to a deeper purpose.

“Heather Deeth who's been Hollyhock’s Chief Product Officer for two years and is an incredible colleague and incredible friend will take over as interim CEO for the foreseeable future. We have written a new strategic plan for our organization and are socializing it through our networks. The idea is that the board is going to hire the next full time organizational leader through the prism of the new strategic plan. I feel really confident in that view."

“Hollyhock has changed a lot in the seven years that I've been leading it. I had come from working in startups - political, advocacy, technology - and to come into an organization that was 37 years old was a new experience for me. When I came in, I did not regard myself as a change agent, but more as someone who culd manifest what was wanting to come through - mostly by getting out of the way. The change that has happened in the organization over the past seven years is the result of many, many beautiful hands.”

“It has occasionally been seductive to define my tenure through the lens of the pandemic. And there is no doubt that the pandemic changed all of our lives, and certainly changed my trajectory here. However, I have come to see it as an amazing time to lead the organization. It allowed us to lead from values and I am very proud of the way we led through those years."