by Greg Osoba | Aug 9, 2022 | CKTZ News
New Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation General Manager Jason Johnson. Photo courtesy of Jason Johnson. After being sold last year to the local Klahoose First Nation, Cortes Island’s Gorge Harbour Marina Resort got off to a rough start this spring. The new co-managers hired by Klahoose Nation’s business arm, Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC), were recently fired. The two co-managers for Gorge Harbour Marina Resort were let go on July 24. Image courtesy of QXMC. Heather Reimer and Ron Quire were let go on July 24 following complaints by Gorge Harbour Marina Resort staff and local Cortes Islanders. Five longtime staff had resigned in recent months including former co-managers Bill Dougan and Tammy Allwork who suddenly quit back in April, even though they had agreed to stay on and help with the management transition until August. CKTZ News reached out to Reimer and Quire for comment, but they declined. Quadra Island RCMP confirm that they continue to investigate allegations surrounding the management changes, but no charges are pending and they have no comment at this time. Maintenance employee Scotty Martin was one of the staff members who quit. “I resigned from the Gorge with great sadness because of the new managers and assistant managers. I quit because of the assistant managers who had no clue what they were doing although they acted like they did. All the managers did not care about the community at all…they were only out for themselves. I offered to come back once I heard of the mess the place was in after they were fired. I’m now working three days a week back in maintenance.” Jason Johnson took over as...
by Loni Taylor | Aug 8, 2022 | CKTZ News
The Beach Crashers will light up the dance floor at the Gorge Hall Saturday night, Aug. 13. Photo by Cara Toutcourt. The Whaletown Community Club is bringing more family fun to the Gorge Hall with live music performances from the Qathet region’s “Beach Crashers” and “Little Pharmer.” Crashers is made up of Paia Elliot, Cam Twyford, Davis Steele and Maxime Paquette. Twyford also performs for Little Pharmer. Steele and Paquette shared more about the band with CKTZ. “Our sets are pretty much designed for the dance floors,” Max said, grinning. The group has planned a combination family vacation and music tour to Cortes Island. “We have a big green 38 foot bus that we are fitting the family in because I got plenty of kids and Cam’s got his kids too. And we’re planning to crash somewhere on Cortes and then go to the LoveFest the next day,” Paquette explains. The tour will continue for Beach Crashers at the Sunshine Music Festival in Powell River. Beach Crashers and Little Pharmer perform live at the Gorge Hall Saturday night, Aug. 13. Doors are at 7 p.m. and admission is sliding scale $10-$20. All ages are welcome and the band recommends barefoot dancing. Hear more about the magic that brought Beach Crashers together in the story below: Cortes Radio · CKTZ News - Beach Crashers rolling to Cortes Island in 38 foot bus This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative....
by Greg Osoba | Aug 5, 2022 | CKTZ News
The results of a Strathcona Regional District study have come in and residents are reporting concerns about road safety. Image courtesy of the SRD. The Cortes Island Active Transportation Planning Project Study was recently conducted by the Strathcona Regional District (SRD), via a $20,000 grant from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, and the results are in. Cortes Islanders were canvassed on methods of transportation, road safety and trail networks. SRD Manager of Planning and Parks Meredith Starkey says the findings come as no surprise: residents are concerned about vehicle speeds, narrow roadways and inadequate road shoulders. About 120 residents took part in the study. Collecting the data was useful, she adds, as it now allows the SRD to apply for infrastructure grants from the BC Ministry of Transportation to address road safety concerns. If successful, up to $500,000 could become available to carry out road improvements. Starkey also says the desired infrastructure enhancements will be added into Cortes Island’s Official Community Plan, or OCP, next year. CKTZ News speaks with Starkey in the interview below: Cortes Radio · CKTZ News - Recent study shows concerns about road safety on Cortes Island This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative....
by Loni Taylor | Aug 4, 2022 | CKTZ News
Hollyhock is feeling the love as they celebrate 40 years of lifelong learning at the Cortes Island campus. Photo courtesy of Hollyhock Learning Centre. Hollyhock Learning Centre celebrated 40 years of lifelong education programming on Cortes Island, the week of July 27th. Since 1982, possibly earlier, the land has been bringing people together to grow their strengths in social justice. Heather Deeth is the new chief product officer at Hollyhock, and said there’s an exciting pulse on campus. “It was just such a gift to see everyone together again…to have this dinner so everyone can see what they’ve created with all this life and joy and vibrancy of people doing really hard work.” Deeth extended an ongoing invitation to local community members to visit the campus and utilize the scholarships for upcoming programs: Climate Hope, Essential Somatics, Heart of the Condor, and Flying SOULO are all upcoming at Hollyhock and still have availability for locals. To view more information about events and programming at Hollyhock, go to Hollyhock.ca. Listen to the full CKTZ News Update below: Cortes Radio · CKTZ News - Hollyhock celebrates 40th anniversary with room for locals to enjoy programming This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative....
by Loni Taylor | Aug 2, 2022 | CKTZ News, Uncategorized
Mansons Hall will host the first Dance Temple event of 2022, but there are more to come. Photo by Naomi Jason. Connie Quayle and her partner, Val Lange are bringing Dance Temple to Cortes Island next week. Quayle is a former resident of Cortes, returning to live on the island after spending the last five years in Victoria. It was there, in the city, that Quayle first connected with Dance Temple. “Every Sunday morning we have it in Victoria - ecstatic dance. I’ve hardly missed a week, even throughout the pandemic, still putting on headphones and dancing on the beaches,” Quayle explains. “Ecstatic dance is completely freeform dance…Movement for the sake of joy and release.” “It’s also a completely sober space. And usually there’s a held container. Certain rules, like no talking in the space, using cell phones outside the space, no technology within the container,” Val adds. The ecstatic dance enthusiasts plan to help make Dance Temple a regular occurrence on Cortes. “My vision would be something like four or five people involved co-holding it and having it run regularly, but it might take a couple years… So for now, maybe just every couple months just to get the ball rolling,” Quayle says. Quayle and Lange are bringing Dance Temple to Cortes Island at Mansons Hall on Aug. 6. The event is scheduled from 730-930 p.m. Music will be by DJ N Joy, aka Naomi Jason, one of the founders who helped develop Dance Temple on Salt Spring Island and Victoria. Quayle will be offering a sound therapy session at the end of the evening by playing the...
by Greg Osoba | Aug 1, 2022 | CKTZ News
Kate Maddigan (left), volunteer with the Cortes Island Academy with her mother Anne MacDonald (right). Photo by Greg Osoba. The Cortes Island Academy is launching its inaugural semester of programs for high school students this September. The Cortes Island School only accommodates students up until Grade 9. The Cortes Island Academy, or “CIA” as it’s known, is the creation of a number of Cortes parents, who wanted to ensure students did not have to leave the island for Grades 10, 11 and 12. The program is part of local School District 72. Volunteer Kate Maddigan says all the courses within the curriculum are for credit within the school system. She adds that the unique programs features courses in leadership, marine and wildlife biology, radio journalism and filmmaking. With 24 students registered for the upcoming semester, Maddigan says there are still half a dozen who need housing on Cortes Island. She adds that people who house and feed students will receive about $900 per month. She speaks with CKTZ News about the housing need and program details in the interview below: Cortes Radio · CKTZ News - Cortes Island Academy urgently seeking fall housing for students This program was funded by a grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and the Government of Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative....
