by Francesca | Feb 15, 2020 | Currents
“Convincing a stone to be something else is no small task; it’s heavy, it’s dusty, it’s dirty and it’s my labor of love”, says stone sculptor Julie Glaspy from Quadra Island. Chosen to represent Canada at the 2020 International symposium in Nepal, Julie talks to CKTZ about her journey in shaping stone to be something else: a granite heart two feet tall, or a small rose quatrz necklace, or her beautiful bowls. “Often, art is about finding beauty in places where it is not always commonly seen; to me art is about making something out of nothing, which is one of my main attractions to working with stone.” Cortes Currents: Francesca Gesuladi interviewing Julie Glaspy Julie Glaspy was born in Saint John, New Brunswick. Graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Kinesiology in 2002. Julie has been exploring stone in its many forms and functions for over ten years. She has worked as a stonemason and has created intricate pieces of jewelry. Julie has embraced both ends of the rock carving spectrum from intricacy to monumental impact. This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism...
by De Clarke | Feb 9, 2020 | Currents
On February 8th 2020, Cortes Currents was pleased to welcome Adam McKenty of CCEDA as the first guest on our new monthly live talk show component. CCEDA (Cortes Community Economic Development Association) is the new name for the organisation formerly known as CIBATA (Cortes Island Business and Tourism Association). Its 6-member board includes three members from prior CIBATA boards. Mic by Dennis Hill via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 LIcense) (Cortes Currents broadcast Feb 8th (1 PM), 11th (5 PM) & 12th (9 AM): De Clarke interviews Adam McKenty of CCEDA) CCEDA is a member organisation registered as a BC Non Profit Society. Its goal, according to Adam, is to put community well-being at the centre of economic development. “Community Economic Development is an existing thing, a concept that is already out there under that name,” says Adam. What’s the idea? to focus first on well-being and happiness in the community, then figure out what economic activities enhance that well-being while also generating revenue, jobs, etc. “It’s a reframing of what economic development is for and what it looks like… If we can develop local business and industries so that we actually have the ability to hire people on the island doing things that folks want to do for a livelihood, and at a level where it’s possible to afford housing and a decent lifestyle here… then that changes the equation.” Adam emphasises that CCEDA doesn’t see its role as telling Cortes Island what it should do, but as “identifying needs,” asking the community what its priorities are, asking business owners what resources would help them–and also networking with...
by Roy L Hales | Feb 1, 2020 | Currents
Recent events suggest that the Regional District system does not always work well in a remote island like Cortes. Some say, it is time to Cortexit. Our Regional Director says we should work within the existing system, it would be very expensive for a community this small to go it alone. She is currently wondering how a community council system would work on Cortes Island. “A minority of very active voices has been very effective at undermining my credibility at the Regional District, but if what I brought to the district was backed by this community council it would be harder to marginalize.” In this morning’s program we go to Cambridge, Vermont, to explore how an even more democratic system of government would work here. For more than two centuries, the local authorities have been carrying out the decisions made at an annual town meeting that everyone in Cambridge can attend.. Cortes Currents broadcast Feb 1st (1 PM), 4th (5 PM) & 5th (9 AM): Roy Hales interviews George Putnam & Marguerite Ladd about a local government based on town meetings Cortes Island is about 130 sq km (50 sq mi) in extent and has a population of about 1,000. The town of Cambridge, Vermont, spreads out over 165 sq km (64 sq mi) and has a population of just under 4,000. Both communities are embedded in larger political entities that make life ‘interesting’ for us. Town Meetings Though the meeting only lasts a day, this is where the town’s annual budget is passed and all major decisions are made. “When you are in town meeting, that is direct...
