by Loni Taylor | Sep 28, 2023 | CKTZ News
Wildflower Produce had its first successful year of ginger crop make it to market this month on the island. This is the second time local farmer Sara Stewart has grown the crop, but last year’s abnormally wet spring posed challenges. Even growing in a greenhouse didn’t protect the farmer’s crop. “Last year, the ginger didn’t do well because even though it was in a greenhouse in the exact same conditions, we had an unusually cool, wet long spring,” Stewart said, saddened. “We had ‘June-uary’ for six months, it was like completely demoralizing.” Due to climate change, Stewart notes that the mental health of farmers continues to decline and has become a serious issue. “In Canada, the suicide rate for farmers is three and a half times the national average. So having things like climate change on top of something that’s already stressful is very challenging,” Stewart said. Two Canadian organizations are acknowledging this issue by offering services through Agsafe and the Canadian Centre for Wellbeing. Stewart has utilized these resources, and encourages other market farmers to seek it out. With some optimism, Stewart will continue to expand her growing in greenhouses as she utilizes the infrastructure year round now. “If things were unlimited, I would have 10 greenhouses. It just makes things so much easier.” To hear more about how climate change is affecting farmers, listen to the CKTZ News Update below:...
by Loni Taylor | Sep 28, 2023 | CKTZ News
The Old Schoolhouse Gallery saw more engagement than ever before this past year, and there are still plans for educational workshops in October. Chairperson Kristen Scholfield-Sweet reported at the AGM on Sept. 17 that the gallery saw 1,380 visitors this year, up from 670 in 2022. They also managed to feature 15 artists across seven shows and an additional 21 artists for the members show. “At every level, in terms of proposals and member contributions, and just coming out and enjoying art. It was just a great year,” Scholfield-Sweet said. But the year is not over yet, thanks to Grant-in Aid funding from the Strathcona Regional District, there will be more art curriculum offered to the public this October in the Old Schoolhouse building. Before the gallery became an official society last year, the building sat vacant for about eight months a year. Heating is still an issue in the building, so there is consideration to offer more art classes through this winter at another location. To hear more about the growth of the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery, listen to the CKTZ News Update below:...
by Loni Taylor | Sep 27, 2023 | CKTZ News
The Campbell River-Quadra-Cortes ferry route endured the biggest changes seen in a decade this past season, and now the company will hear feedback from the local Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC). BC Ferries is hosting a semi-annual meeting with the FAC at Mansons Hall on Wednesday. Michael Lynch has been a chairmen for the FAC for five years, and noted there is more feedback coming from Cortes Islanders than from his home on Quadra. He explained the community’s opportunity to address BC Ferries executives directly. “So far, there’s no members of the public that have asked for time to make a presentation, but they still have time to approach me and do so if they wish to.” Lynch noted 14 points will be discussed in the agenda and several issues raised by Cortes Islanders will be included. Mainly, the chairman mentioned connectivity between the two routes, with four ferry runs on the Campbell River side linking up to a singular run on the Cortes side. In relation to the Cortes Island feedback, Lynch discussed priority loading in Campbell River and the “first-come, first-serve” intention of the terminal staff. Staffing the ferries is another issue that he noted feedback on, which he relates to housing constraints on Cortes Island. The meeting is open to the public to listen, but they can only participate if they make prior arrangements with Lynch. There will also be an open house for the public to directly engage with BC Ferries staff after the meeting at 3:30 p.m. BC Ferries has advertised a virtual option to attend the meeting, but community members are required to reach...
by Loni Taylor | Sep 25, 2023 | CKTZ News
This year, Randy Louie was included in the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery’s member show for the first time. Louie is the second member of the Klahoose First Nation to be featured in the Gallery’s member show after Kenny Hanuse. The annual show is a collection of works by the society’s members who apply to be included in the show. This year, the show concluded on Sept. 10, but one of Louie’s carvings, featured in the member’s show, remains featured at the Hollyhock gift shop. Louie is a member of the Klahoose and the Malahat First Nations; he says his familial identity lead him to wood carving sculpture. Klemkwateki, one of Louie’s cultural names, was initiated into paddle carving about 9 years ago by his cousin Darren Blaney, Chief of the Homalco First Nation. It was then that the budding artist completed his first miniature paddle. But Louie was 16 when he completed his first wood carving. Louie also has a cultural name from his Malahat great, great grandfather-whom was also a fisher, paddler and paddle carver. Louie has also spent many years as a spiritual dancer, which is part of supporting familial celebrations. Louie noted the contrast of black to abalone was his new ‘signature’ aesthetic. Louie noted the abalone, “brings the animal to life”. Photo and art by Randy Louie. Family is central to the time he spends carving these small paddles, that are worn like pendants, which he estimates he has made 4,000 of to date. “A lot of my time is spent carving those paddles, preparing for family in the winter time and preparing for the...
by Louis Belcourt | Sep 15, 2023 | CKTZ News
An anonymous donor has donated around $250,000 to create a one time, experimental grant program that gives directly to the Cortes community. The Cortes Island Community Foundation (CICF) was chosen to create the program and distribute the funds in the form of one time, cash “gifts” to individuals. The gifts never have to be paid back, and the CICF do not need receipts of how the cash was spent. “We want people to apply for money for their specific needs instead of trying to fit their needs into a box like most other grants,” says Isabelle McKnight, executive administrator for the CICF. “What the Cortes Foundation wants to do is just have people apply for what they actually need, whether that’s a car to get their kids to school or dental work that they need to get to town for, whatever it is.” The funds will be distributed in gifts ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 and aren’t taxable. The program is looking to focus on families and individuals that are in acute financial need. “It’s a very generous, one time thing that the donor has offered and they wish to remain anonymous,” says McKnight. “And it’s a pilot program, so if we can figure out how to run this and it’s really successful, we’re hoping to attract other donors to do projects like this, because this is the core of what we want the foundation to be, is to provide whatever people in the community actually need.” More information can be found at the CICF’s website. Listen below for more from CKTZ: https://cortesradio.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CKTZ-Giving-Well-Story-2.mp3 ”...
