Cortes Currents

Greg Osoba/ CKTZ News - Over 70 people are involved in Theatre Quadra’s staging of Chicago, The Musical this spring, according to producer, director and choreographer Heidi Ridgeway.

The play, described as a dark comedy, was adapted from its original 1926 production into a musical in 1975, Ridgeway says, by her favourite writer/choreographer Bob Fosse, who turned it into a Broadway hit.

Linda Lolacher is the chair and treasurer of the Quadra Island Recreation Society’s Steering Committee, which gave Ridgeway the go ahead to stage Chicago, The Musical. Lolacher is a co-producer and says she’s also helping out with costumes.

Despite legal restrictions, forbidding the use of paid advertising for the production, Ridgeway says the three performances are nearly all sold out.

Lolacher adds that since Theatre Quadra began as an amateur theatre group in 2011, it has staged 29 productions, making Chicago its 30th show.

The play will be performed at the Quadra Island Community Centre on May 5, 6, and 7.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District is looking into the possibility of offering community-focused non-profits access to insurance. Robyn Mawhinney, Regional Director for Area C, brought the idea forward at the April 12 Board meeting.

“I've been asked repeatedly if there would be a way for the Stratcona Regional District to offer access to more reasonably priced insurance for nonprofit groups. I wonder if there are other areas within the S R D where nonprofits have highlighted this concern, and if we might as a board be interested in inquiring with the Municipal Insurance Service of BC (MIABC) to consider offering a product accessible to community minded nonprofits in support of the valuable work they do and I do have a proposed motion when it's the right time,” she said.

Senior Manager Thomas Yates responded, “The Municipal Insurance Association has for quite some time had a program, called the Associate Member Program, whereby, nonprofits that do not wish to or can't afford their own insurance can apply through the Regional District. The kicker is that they must be providing a regional district service in order to qualify under the rules that have been in place for a long time. I don't believe those rules have changed, but if it is the wish of the board, we could certainly check that out.”

Gerald Whalley, Regional Director for Area A, brought up an alternate route, “Not to detract from your upcoming motion, but in Sayward we have a nonprofit society, Sayward Futures, that works as an umbrella group for every other little society who can't afford their own insurance. They are insured underneath the umbrella of that one. So that might be a model that you could look at.”

Mawhinney moved, “I would like to propose this motion, whereas the costs of insurance are continuously increasing and are a costly impediment to community nonprofit organizations, and whereas community nonprofits often rely on grant and aid funding from the regional district to support their operations in the face of rising insurance rates, that the Stratcona Regional District send a letter to MIABC inquiring under their framework for capturing ideas about the possibility of offering access to insurance for community focused non-profits.”

The motion was seconded by Cortes Island Director Mark Vonesch and carried with no opposing votes.

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The first Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP) Forum was held on Pender Island during 2019. They were forced to hold virtual events after COVID hit, but the 2023 RIEP Forum is an in-person event that will be held on Gabriola Island, April 25-27.

“The event is a flagship event for the 18 plus rural islands of BC. The reach is from Bowen Island to Malcolm Island to Salt Spring to Gabriola, to Cortes, and Quadra. Our motto is, no one island can be resilient alone, and together we're stronger and better,” explained Francine Carlin, Chair and Interim Executive DIrector of the Rural Islands Economic Partnership.

Kate Madigan was one of the half dozen Cortes Island residents that attended the 2019 RIEP forum and will be returning with 3 others from the CCEDA (Cortes Community Economic Development Association) this year.

KM: “Here on Cortes, we meet a lot of our community needs through nonprofits, and those are the people on the ground. We don't have municipal government support. We have the SRD, but it's fairly limited. I just really love listening to other people from the other islands who have the same Issues that we do.”

Cortes Island Regional Director Mark Vonesch was invited, but it's unlikely he'll be able to attend.

KM: “It’s too bad Mark couldn't join us, Noba (Anderson) did go in 2019, but we can get him involved in some of the online events.

FC: “I said to him, let's have a Cortes area delegation meet with you, and talk about what's really needed from a Regional District perspective.”

“We realize people are traveling from all across BC to come to this event. Many are arriving on Monday night, some are coming Tuesday morning to register, have lunch, and then the actual formal program with the welcome from the First Nation comes in at 1:00 PM. We have an opening around the model of ‘Donut Economics,’ which is recognizing that we need to have ecological and social justice in order to achieve our ability to live on the island, on the planet in a regenerative and sustainable way. We have Ben Geselbracht, the Nanaimo City Counselor who brought donut economics into Nanaimo.”

Carlin said Nanaimo was the first city in Canada to use Donut Economics as a lens for their decision making around climate adaptation and economic investments.

The first evening will conclude with a Sarah Osborne concert.

FC: “Wednesday is a very heavy day. We call it the un-conference Conference because it's not your typical ‘talking heads.’ It is plenaries, that are all interactive panels which engages the audiences with q and a.”

“We are really proud to have Vancity as the presenting sponsor and led by Michelle Laviolette, Director of Indigenous banking. Vancity was very excited about RIEP because RIEP represents the intersectionality of climate adaptation, reconciliation, and economic capacity building from a regenerative lens.”

“We have panels that are being sponsored by them around housing lessons learned across the islands, working with indigenous businesses through the lens of reconciliation and the economics of climate change We also have interactive panels on arts vitality, travel as a force for good , circular economy success , government services related to Island Coastal Economic Trust and the BC Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation."

“It's a very full packed schedule, and one that is also networking and connecting with Islanders across BC. In terms of just the general ambience of the program, it's basically a grassroots event. There's hardly any corporate or any government presenters. It's all the people who are on the ground doing the work.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - One of the hot topics for Cortes residents, at the April 12 Electoral Areas Services Committee (EASC) meeting, was garbage pick-up. We may soon be asked to pay another $43 per household for a service many of us do not use. This is the amount Recycle BC is currently subsidizing our garbage collection program. They are threatening to withdraw that subsidy, but Mark Vonesch, Regional Director for Cortes Island, believes the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) will come up with a plan that will satisfy Recycle BC.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - It has been five days since the Watershed Watch Salmon Society issued a press release stating Agrimarine’s semi-closed containment fish farm on Lois Lake, east of Powell River, may have been operating illegally since at least July 21, 2021.

A provincial bulletpoints template of that date, from BC’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, states, “DFO has determined that the new infrastructure is not located within the associated FLNR Crown land tenure and therefore (is) in non-compliance.”

Stan Proboszcz, Senior Scientist with the Watershed Watch, explained

“There are a lot of problems with the salmon farm. One of the key points is that a fish farm needs two licenses, essentially a federal one and a provincial one. The provincial one is called an aquaculture tenure, and that allows them to attach their farm to the bottom of the ocean or the lake. The federal government gives them a licence of operation to do aquaculture at the site.”

There are actually two fish farms at Lois Lake. An abandoned open net pen farm is in Agrimarine’s tenure and a newer facility appears to be on the other side of the lake. The Watershed Watch press kit contains a screenshot, from the provincial government’s interactive iMapBC website, showing the locations of these two facilities.

“They set up a semi-closed containment fish farm, in addition to the other one, and it's outside the tenure. It's outside where they're allowed to attach to the bottom. I believe they don't have a valid provincial license,” said Proboszcz.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) emailed Cortes Currents they are aware of compliance concerns:

“The facility is currently being investigated by fishery officers from DFO’s Conservation and Protection Aquaculture Unit. As this is an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - Prior to COVID, Campbell River’s business community used to regularly got together for ‘Lunch & Learn.’ These were times to visit people you haven’t seen for awhile, and learn about topics of mutual interest. The Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce is restarting the Lunch & Learn program this Tuesday, April 18, with legal Q&A.

“The legal landscape for businesses is changing so quickly. If someone has a business, or is a sole proprietor, or anybody out there has a business question around a legal issue: this is a great way to come and chat with Taylor Stephen from Tease Kittle Spencer, and we have Elizabeth Hunt from Campbell River Lawyers. This is their area of expertise. Come on out to the Anchor Inn at noon to have lunch and ask your questions,” explained Mary Ruth Snyder, Executive Director of the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce.

Greg Osoba/ CKTZ News - The Cortes Café has seen many owners and has had many themes over the decades. Julie Keith is the newest owner/chef to throw her hat into the ring, with help from husband Sandy.

Julie says she's spent decades in the food and hospitality industry and felt there was a need to revive the café to serve as a hub for the community.

The café, located in Mansons Landing Community Hall, is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, coinciding with hours of the nearby post office, and offers breakfast and lunch selections.

All services in the hall are under the oversight of the Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA). In 2020, the SCCA had raised funds to renovate the kitchen to conform with regulations governing commercial kitchens. Its board identified the re-opening of the café as a top priority in early fall 2022 after the former owner ceased operations in the early spring of that year in order to take on other work.

Julie says supply chain issues, and just having the Cortes community aware that the café had opened under new management, made for a difficult start up last fall/winter.

All services in the hall are under the oversight of the Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA). In 2020, the SCCA had raised funds to renovate the kitchen to conform with regulations governing commercial kitchens. Its board identified the re-opening of the café as a top priority in early fall 2022 after the former owner ceased operations in the early spring of that year in order to take on other work.

Julie says supply chain issues, and just having the Cortes community aware that the café had opened under new management, made for a difficult start up last fall/winter.

All services in the hall are under the oversight of the Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA). In 2020, the SCCA had raised funds to renovate the kitchen to conform with regulations governing commercial kitchens. Its board identified the re-opening of the café as a top priority in early fall 2022 after the former owner ceased operations in the early spring of that year in order to take on other work.

Julie says supply chain issues, and just having the Cortes community aware that the café had opened under new management, made for a difficult start up last fall/winter.

All day omelette served at the Cortes Cafe. Photo by Greg Osoba.

De Clarke/ Cortes Currents - Early Logging on Cortes Island and Vicinity: Local History with Lynne Jordan (Part 3 of 3)

Lynne Jordan has contributed to historical booklets available at the Cortes Island Museum and is currently researching the history of early logging activity in Whaletown.

In the course of an extensive 3-part interview, Lynne draws on original documents, archives, and oral histories to paint a picture of early settler loggers on Cortes -- their equipment, their floating camps, the economy in which some prospered and some failed.

De Clarke/ Cortes Currents - Early Logging on Cortes Island and Vicinity: Local History with Lynne Jordan (Part 2 of 3)

Lynne Jordan has contributed to historical booklets available at the Cortes Island Museum and is currently researching the history of early logging activity in Whaletown.

In the course of an extensive 3-part interview, Lynne draws on original documents, archives, and oral histories to paint a picture of early settler loggers on Cortes -- their equipment, their floating camps, the economy in which some prospered and some failed.

De Clarke/Cortes Currents - Early Logging on Cortes Island and Vicinity: Local History with Lynne Jordan (part 1 of 3)Lynne Jordan has contributed to historical booklets available at the Cortes Island Museum and is currently researching the history of early logging activity in Whaletown.

In the course of an extensive 3-part interview, Lynne draws on original documents, archives, and oral histories to paint a picture of early settler loggers on Cortes -- their equipment, their floating camps, the economy in which some prospered and some failed.