by CKTZ | Sep 8, 2023 | Uncategorized
This summer, the Canada Summer Jobs wage subsidy helped two local students return home for the season. Affordable housing, the draw to visit home, and learning opportunities motivated Lilly Allen and Manuel Perdisa to apply for local jobs that were subsidized by the summer student program. The students reflected on the experience with CKTZ as they were finishing up their contracts at the end of August. The two returned to the University of Victoria last week to continue their studies. Allen and Perdisa are part of a larger generation of Cortes locals, a result of a “baby boom” that occurred 20 years ago. Like many island youth, they left Cortes to attend high school on Vancouver Island, since there was no high school on Cortes at the time. Returning to work for local non-profits was an opportunity for both students to return for an extended period of time, since leaving for school and university. Allen worked for the Cortes Island Museum and Archives, which utilizes the subsidy to hire a host for the busy summer season. Allen noted the educational benefits of the job. “I could learn about the local community that I grew up in and I’m slowly drifting away from. As I grow up and grow older and I’ve started to do more things with my life and I wanted to really reconnect a little bit.” Perdisa said homesickness contributed to his decision to return to Cortes. “It’s nice to settle back into it, hang out with the family, see what’s changed.” The professional experience for the young locals was the biggest takeaway. “It’s been able to...
by CKTZ | Sep 5, 2023 | CKTZ News
Max Thaysen, a local environmentalist, was recently elected to the Executive Committee of the North Island NDP Electoral District Association in July. This was a decision he made after spending the past ten years “hiding in my cabin fretting” about climate change. “I think our democracy muscles have atrophied … we’ve lost the skills to participate,” he said. “We’ve lost the drive to participate.” Thaysen was also appointed alternate regional director for Cortes Island Electoral Area B for the Strathcona Regional District in the last year. Regional Director Mark Vonesch appointed Thaysen after Vonesch won during last fall’s election through acclamation. Thaysen explaineded why Vonesch appointed him. “Mark has publicly said that he chose me because he likes my ability to speak to a diverse audience and hear different perspectives and find common ground with a… range of different people and also because of my understanding of and passion around climate change,” he said. Thaysen encourages passionate people to get involved, noting that there is a lot of room at the table. “The door, once I found the door was open. And once the door was open, there was empty seats everywhere. And when I said, hey, I could sit in one of those seats, people would be like, that’s awesome! We’re so glad you’re here!” Thaysen emphasized the important work of slowing climate change. “We need more people from the silent majority who believe mainstream science and scientists on these things to speak up,” he said. To hear more about Thaysen’s experience with regional politics, listen to the CKTZ News Update below: https://cortesradio.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CKTZ-News-Local-immerses-into-politics.mp3 ”...
by CKTZ | Aug 29, 2023 | Uncategorized
Michael Datura will be joining the Cortes Island School this year as the new principal. Datura has 14 years of experience in outdoor learning, social justice, and imaginative education and says Cortes is his ‘favorite place on earth.’” He adds that he’s community-focused and has a mission. “One of my goals and mandates is to make the school a more community-oriented place where people feel welcome to drop by and chat and hang out, or volunteer and organize events.” The new principal began his journey in education on Cortes in 2004, attending the Linnaea garden program and working as a Zilla for Power of Hope. Datura just completed his PhD in environmental education at SFU last February. Datura told CKTZ about his initial expectations around outreach. “I think being a principal of a community is always a complex role,” he says. “And I think particularly within a community like Cortes, it’s really important to to get feedback and maintain open lines of communication.” “As is the case whenever any principal leaves, there’s this sort of period of flexibility and fluid re-imagination right now,” he adds. “So it’s a good time to get your two cents in.” Datura is hosting a public gathering on Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. at Smelt Bay for community members to stop by and offer input as to how the school can be more community oriented. To hear more about this new chapter at the Cortes Island School, listen to the CKTZ News Update...
by CKTZ | Feb 27, 2023 | CKTZ News
Local DJ legend Aspen King plans to kick off the festival season with a local triple header this weekend. Aspen will be joined on stage by her sister Carmanah and father Ian at “Family Reunion,” a musical event at the Gorge Hall on March 4. The young entertainer boasts her Cortes culture roots run deep. “I pretty much grew up around DJs and I’m pretty sure… my mom was pregnant with me the first time I went to Carrington (Rave).” Aspen’s dad was a DJ “back in the day,” and Ian is making his comeback at the “Family Reunion.” Carmanah will also be performing a DJ set, and all three plan to perform together at the end of the night. Aspen has historically offered DJ events at the Gorge Hall called “Cabin Fever.” She wasn’t able to put on these events for three years during the pandemic but hopes this event will revive that tradition. After this weekend’s local show, Aspen will be headed to Costa Rica to play at “Jungle Dreaming” March 17-19. The Central American event will bring several Cortesian fans and friends to the heat. Local DJ RichGaud will be performing while also featuring Stanton Warriors and Neon Steve. The event is the first of its kind, organized by Lilith Klassen, also connected to Cortes. King noted that Carrington Rave founder, Ben Howells, has his hand in helping organize the Costa Rican festival too. “Family Reunion” begins at 7 p.m. on March 4. To hear more about the current musical journey of Aspen King, listen to the CKTZ news update...
by CKTZ | Feb 23, 2023 | CKTZ News
Next week, Roots Roundup will be returning to the region to perform for the first time in eight years. The “hardrocking world beat dance” band, based in Vancouver, is set to perform March 3 at the Quadra Legion. CKTZ asked the band if they have plans to land on “the rock” soon, and founding member Greg Hathaway responded with excitement for the band to return to Cortes: they have taken the stage at the Gorge Hall numerous times since the band’s fruition in 1985. “We haven’t been up there for quite a few years now and like I say, we do really love playing there, so hopefully we can make that happen.” Hathaway and his brother, another member of Roots Roundup, summered on Cortes in their childhood and are even distantly related to a former Cortes fire and police chief named “Bert.” Hathaway is enthusiastic about returning to the stage after years of pause during the pandemic. “It was literally the longest I’ve gone without playing a show since I was 14 years old. When you play that regularly, to suddenly not play for two years was bizarre… when we finally all got back together in the rehearsal room, I felt such a surge of relief. I was like, wow, this is what I’ve been missing in my life.” To hear more tales of Roots Roundup performing on Cortes, listen to the CKTZ News Update...
