Cortes Currents

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Narrator: “Mills have closed across rural British Columbia, devastating the economies of many small forestry dependent communities. Tiny Harrop-Proctor Community Forest has bucked this trend. The Harrop-Proctor experience shows that even a small, locally controlled mill can make a significant difference in creating local jobs while adding value to forestry operations generally.”

“ About a quarter of the wood from the community forest is staying in the community. Comes four kilometres down the hill, ends up here, gets bucked up, runs through the mill, and local builders are coming to buy stuff. There's a huge benefit there because those jobs weren't here before,” explained Rami Rathkop speaking in a film about Harrop-Procter Forest Products (close to Nelson, in the Kootenays).

The Cortes Community Forest Cooperative hired Rathkop and his associate, Oliver Schofield as consultants to help Cortesians draw up a value-added forest products business roadmap. Around 40 people turned out for a workshop they held in the Klahoose Multi-Purpose Building on Saturday.

Rami Rathkop: “It’s been overwhelming, the level of interest here. I'm kind of vacillating between overwhelm and excitement, just because there's so much interest and there's so many champions. I don't know yet what's going to happen here, because I'm coming in from Proctor with some ideas of things that worked for us. Now my co-worker Oliver and I are here trying to collate all the information that has come at us for the last three days and somehow help out as best we can to create with some knowledge of things that did and didn't work for us, a vision for a Cortes based on what folks want here.”

“I don't want to dictate anything. I want to say, well, in my experience, this worked for us. This might not work here because of things we didn't think about, that I didn't know 20 years ago.”

“We met with Ron Wolda Friday morning. The guy's brilliant. We hit it right off. He's a piece to the puzzle. You've got Henry Verschuur on the other end of the island milling boards and he's a piece to the puzzle. We've got Aaron and Jeremy. There's all these people here that have great ideas, and so now we need to collate them.”

“The next step is to take it up a notch and amp up the vision on behalf of the local producers.”

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - Editor’s note: While there are no fish farms on Cortes Island, there was one on Raza Island directly north of us. The Discovery Island fish farms were in Electoral Area C.

The Strathcona Regional District passed a motion for staff to prepare a report that ‘consolidates the information on open net pen transition provided to the SRD Board prior to October 2022, and updates.’

“I think if we're going to look at information, we need to look at it all,” said Regional Director John Rice of Area D.

“Outside of the friendly (sources)? of DFO?” asked SRD Chair Mark Baker

To which Campbell River Director Susan Sinnot responded, “Anything that the staff thinks is reliable and relevant.”

This segment of the Jan 25 SRD board meeting began with Director Sinnot’s account of DFO’s recent meeting with local government.

DFO’s Jan 16 meeting with local government

Susan Sinnot: “Fisheries and Oceans had an invitation that came out, I think maybe in December, and I indicated I was interested in attending what they call ‘the local government transition plan engagement.’ I think they'd had one previous to my being elected, but they had a further one in January, on the 16th. That was Wednesday. It was held between 9:00 and noon.”

“They had agenda items: aquaculture innovation and a trust and transparency section. They were looking for feedback from local government. What I did hear them say, which wasn't quite on the paperwork, was that they basically were looking for two choices in terms of the future of aquaculture on the coast: A zero impact wild salmon in the ocean in net pens, so some sort of technology that prevents any feed or any type of flow of water escaping from the pens into the wild; and then land-based technology.”

“There was a lot of discussion about innovation, but they also said that there was no current technology that permit either choice and my recollection was that they said if they can't do one of the two choices that they're proposing, then there'd be no more industry.”

“It was quite confusing at the meeting. A number of the participants were saying, ‘why are we doing this? You already decided to close everything. I don't understand, you've already made your decision. Why are we talking about having transitions and accommodations of ongoing aquaculture salmon farms in the ocean? I thought you were closing them all down.’”

“Last April, the Federal Court of Canada overturned the minister's decision based on procedural fairness grounds and then it went back to, I believe, cabinet. This is now the end result, the DFO consultation process because they didn't do a consultation process before they made the announcement in 2020 to close down everything.“

“They've already prearranged the two choices and they're looking for local government impacts, and wants. They were specifically asking what does local government want? And I think they were suggesting that if they did close down the entire industry, what would we need and want?”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) officially recognizes 10 First Nations within their boundaries, but the Tla’amin are not among them.

While Mansons Landing and Marina Island are both within their traditional area, the Tla’amin First Nation ceded their claim to most of this area when they signed a treaty in 2014. They retain a small parcel on Cortes Island, and thus still possess land within the SRD.

This question was part of a larger discussion at the inaugural meeting of the SRD’s First Nations committee, on Wednesday Jan 25.

SRD staff suggested that the following acknowledgement be used for written communications within their area:

“The Strathcona Regional District respectfully acknowledges that our corporate office and the Strathcona Garden Recreational Complex are located on the traditional unceded territory of the Liqʷiłdax̌ʷ people. We also recognize that we operate within the traditional, treaty and unceded territories of the Ehattesaht, Homalco, Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che: k'tles7et'h', Klahoose, K'omoks, Mowachaht–Muchalaht, Nuchatlaht, Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum First Nations.”

De Clarke/ Cortes Currents - UBC researchers have identified three biological compounds sourced in Canada that prevent COVID-19 infection in human cells. All are derived from marine organisms, including a sea sponge from Howe Sound.

The discovery paves the way for the development of new medicines for COVID-19 variants based on natural sources. BC’s ocean and forest ecosystems may contain a wealth of new antivirals waiting to be discovered.

In a recent study, an international team of researchers led by UBC scientists investigated a catalogue of more than 350 compounds derived from natural sources -- including plants, fungi, and marine sponges -- in a bid to find new antiviral drugs that might be used to treat COVID-19 variants such as omicron.

 This interdisciplinary research team is unraveling the important possibilities of biodiversity and natural resources and discovering nature-based solutions for global health challenges such as COVID-19..

--- Dr François Jean, senior author and associate professor of microbiology and immunology

The UBC team bathed human lung cells in solutions made from the compounds, then infected the cells with SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus that causes COVID-19. Of the hundreds tested, 26 compounds significantly reduced viral infection in the cells.

All three of the most effective compounds were found in Canada: alotaketal C from a sea sponge collected in Howe Sound, B.C., bafilomycin D from a marine bacteria collected in Barkley Sound, B.C., and holyrine A from marine bacteria collected in Newfoundland waters.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Sometime this spring, possibly as early as March, Cortes Island residents will get to choose their internet provider.

After building Twincomm up to the company islanders recognize today, on June 28, 2021, former General Manager Dino Tsakonas left to join CityWest.

In an interview at that time, he told Cortes Currents that this came about as a result of the Connected Coast project, which will bring reliable high speed internet to Cortes Island. CityWest partnered with the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) to become the local provider.

“I was heavily involved with that because I was trying to get more fibre optiks so we can better serve our Twincomm customers. What happened is that project continued, and they got the grants. We were trying to work out a deal last fall between Twincomm and CityWest. That fell through and then CityWest just offered me a job. I decided it was my best interest to switch teams.”

“After that, I got them both back at the table to make some type of deal. Now we're in negotiations to see if CityWest can purchase Twincomm. That way it's a smooth transition, but it's very entirely possible that both the CEOs decide not to make a deal, that's out of my hands now, but I brought them both back to the table.”

Twincomm’s much anticipated deal with CityWest never occurred. Instead, on June 30, 2022, TELUS acquired Twincomm ‘as part of its Mascon by TELUS brand.’

Colleen Dragseth, who has beenTwincomm’s General Manager since Tsakona’s departure, emailed Cortes Currents that the migration to Mascon by TELUS will occur later in 2023.

“At this time, Twincomm will not be providing an interview. Please feel free to contact us again in the spring. Once we have more information regarding our transition to Mascon by Telus, customers will be contacted. ”

We do not know what Twincomm will look like after it becomes part of Mascon by Telus. Colleen and Debbie Dragseth, Lyle Brulhart, Jason Thompson, Dave Blinzinger and Liesa van Rossem have been working there for years. Will they still be in the new Mascon by TELUS team? Twincomm’s infrastructure will most likely improve. Mascon by TELUS is offering download speeds of up to 120 Mbps, and upload speeds up to 12.5 Mbps up on Quadra Island.

Dragseth emailed a description of four of Twincomm’s current service speed plans. They all have upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps but the download speeds range from ‘up to 8’ to ‘up to 30 Mbps,’ depending on what people are willing to pay.

Cortes Currents uses the Standard Plus plan and in 6 out of 7 recent speed tests was clocked at +16 down/+6 up. My low score was 15.32/6.54. That is still better than the 15/5 advertised for this plan.

Dragseth explained, “We allow slightly more if the network capacity allows it.”

Tsakonas said, “You get 16 MBps? That's half of what our lowest speed is.

We offer up to 1,000 Mbps. You can get it for $138 a month.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Lip Sync returns to the stage of Mansons Hall at 8 PM on Saturday, February 25.

 “Over the last three years I've heard from people who want it back. So when are you doing a lip sync? We haven't been able to do it until now,” explained Howie Roman.

“It is without a doubt, one of the highlights that I would point to in my time on Cortes. I just love it when that many people get involved in something. It's about 30 nowadays, performers and crew.”

Cortes Currents: How many Lip Syncs have they been?

Howie Roman: “We lost track, but between the Lip Syncs, the three cabaret nights we did, and throw in a handful of variety nights that Rick and I did in Gorge Hall back in the late eighties, early nineties — with all those, it's over 30, in the last 35 years.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Bird’s Eye, Quadra Island’s only weekly newspaper has a new owner.

“It was an 11th hour saving of the local paper that was about to close the doors. Had been trying to find a new publisher for several months with no luck and Amanda Smith, who has been the publisher editor for several years was posting the final edition when ICAN approached her to ask was it possible to save the paper and could a deal be worked out?” said Ramona Boyle, Coordinator of Quadra ICAN.

“So literally 24 hours before the final edition went to press, a deal was worked out and she was able to publish in her final edition that a new publisher had been found. The last of Amanda's issues was the 24th of December. It's been accustomed to take a little bit of a break over the holiday. We had our first edition published on the 11th of January. One came out on Wednesday the 18th, and our next one is Wednesday the 25th.”

Cortes Currents: Who is going to be the editor?

Ramona Boyle: “I was hired as the coordinator for ICAN in November and it's now part of my job to edit the ICAN’s new paper. So I'm it.”

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - On the eve of the 2020 provincial election, Premier John Horgan declared, “I’m committed to keep moving forward to protect old growth, create good jobs, and maintain family-supporting livelihoods in communities across the Province. A re-elected BC NDP will implement the full slate of proposals from the Old Growth Strategic Review Panel. We will act on all fourteen recommendations and work with Indigenous leaders and organizations, industry, labour and environmental organizations on the steps that will take us there.”

It has been almost two and a half years and very little of this has come into being.

A number of local businesses and environmental organizations are among the more than 170 signatories of a petition calling upon Premier David Eby and the NDP Government to fulfill their commitments to protect old-growth forests. Their joint declaration states, “Our coalition is bringing a broad-based mass mobilization to the BC Legislature on February 25, 2023, that reflects the majority of public will in BC for progressive solutions to the crisis in the woods.”

They are to meet in Victoria’s Centennial Square and then descend upon the lawn in front of the provincial legislature

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - There was a mud slide in Campbell River during the evening of January 17. Two of the apartment buildings along the foreshore, on South Island Highway, had to be evacuated and the residents are still not able to return to their homes. The following day, Wednesday Jan 18, the Srathcona Regional District and city of Campbell River held two press conferences. Cortes Currents attended the virtual conference for reporters who could not go to Campbell River.

It was too early to answer a great many of our questions. They do not know the quantity of mud and debris involved, or the full impact that the heavy rains had on the hillside behind the condos at 738 and 758 South Island Highway. A great deal more information is required before they can talk about preventative steps that may be taken in the future.

The dialogue that follows was gleaned from the initial presentation and question period that followed.

Acting City Manager Drew Hadfield provided information about the mudslide.

SRD Protective Services Coordinator Shaun Koopman oversaw the relief effort.

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - In a recent report about CityWest not being able to offer internet service on Cortes Island until sometime this Spring, CKTZ News unintentionally misrepresented local provider TwinComm’s download speed.

As you can see in the written version of this article, some Squirrel COve residents are experiencing download speeds of +16 megabits per seconds (Mbps).

In his report, report Greg Osoba told Dino Tsakonas, the local manager for CityWest, “The service that we currently have available on Cortes tends to be even the low to moderate bandwidth or speed of around, oh gosh, 8 to 10 megabits per seconds for downloads (Mbps). What will the new fiber optic service provided by City West do?”

Tsakonas replied, “Our slowest speed is 30 mgs download, 30 mgs up all unlimited. So you can use that as much data as you want. So there's no data overages, but the plan that we try to recommend is 100 down, 100 up, and that starts with $88 per month.”

In the written version of his article, Osoba wrote, “Tsakonas says that once service becomes available, internet speeds will jump from the current 8 to 10 megabytes per second download speed to up 100 megabytes per second, a tenfold increase.”

Tsakonas told Cortes Currents he does not know what Twincomm’s current download speed is, the incorrect statistic originates with Osoba.

Colleen Dragseth, General Manager of Twincomm, emailed Cortes Currents that “Twincomm Residential Plans include download speeds ranging between - up to 8 Mbps and up to 20 Mbps - depending on plan, with upload speeds up to 5 Mbps. Twincomm Business Plans include download speeds ranging between - up to 20 Mbps and up to 30 Mbps - depending on plan, with upload speeds up to 5 Mbps.”

Tsakonas told CKTZ News that CityWest had hoped to start providing service this month, but had been slowed down by Cortes Island’s rocky terrain.

Squirrel Cove,Seaford and Mansons Landing will be the first communities to receive service. Mansons Landing will follow.