Island Insider

Canada's National Observer is a proud participant of the Local Journalism Initiative, which supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.

Rochelle Baker will be covering Quadra and Cortes Islands in British Columbia.

556 Articles

Businesses ally with environmental groups to push B.C. to protect biodiversity

As many as 250 businesses are backing a resolution urging B.C.’s new Premier David Eby to stave off the extinction and climate crisis by backing the federal government’s 30x30 promise — to protect 30 per cent of the country’s land and waters by 2030.

Negotiating survival

Rochelle Baker

November 19th 2022

Wild salmon conservationists celebrate new victories

Open net-pen fish farming on the Pacific coast took a one-two punch after operations closures were announced in both B.C. and Washington state this week.

Rochelle Baker

November 17th 2022

Protecting B.C.'s at-risk species

Long-standing legal gaps at the federal and provincial level are aggravating threats of extinction in B.C., a report commissioned by conservation groups suggests.

Negotiating survival

Rochelle Baker

November 16th 2022

A deeper dive into the marine protected network plan on Canada’s West Coast

The lack of detailed protection measures for a network of marine protected areas in B.C. means the ambitious project to conserve vital ocean ecosystems risks becoming a string of “paper parks,” environmental groups say.

Rochelle Baker

November 4th 2022

Rewilding a school wetland is a lesson in climate resilience

“I can’t think of anything more hopeful than getting involved in rewilding and restoration projects," says teacher Sheldon Etheridge on Quadra Island's school wetland project, which will be an outdoor classroom and mitigate climate change in the community.

Oceans, Waterways & Coastlines

Rochelle Baker

October 27th 2022

North Island MP calls on feds to increase funding transfers for health care

But experts question if money will be enough to fix the health crisis in B.C. or anywhere else given the unending impasse over transfer funds between Ottawa and the provinces.

Rochelle Baker

October 26th 2022

‘Absolutely gutting’: Mourning the death of Spike the humpback whale

People should grieve the death of humpbacks as individuals because it helps us comprehend how human actions impact whales as representatives of the ecosystem, a B.C. researcher says.

Rochelle Baker

October 25th 2022

First Nations worry feds are flip-flopping on B.C. fish farms transition

First Nations fighting to get salmon farms out of the ocean are dismayed in the wake of federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray’s recent engagement tour on a plan to transition open-net pen operations in B.C.

Rochelle Baker

October 21st 2022

‘It’s a broken system that needs fixing,’ say emergency responders about B.C.’s rural paramedic shortages

On 11 days during the summer and early fall, Quadra Island had no local paramedics available for emergency medical calls, data from the emergency responders’ union shows.

Rochelle Baker

October 20th 2022

Researchers look to Canada’s oceans to sink planet-warming carbon

A new research initiative is working on a national assessment of the “blue carbon” storage capacity of Canada’s salt marshes, seagrass meadows and kelp forests to fight against climate change.

Rochelle Baker

October 17th 2022

Canada’s not prepared to handle marine cargo spills, House committee finds

A parliamentary committee is recommending changes and has red-flagged response gaps by Ottawa as debris from the ZIM Kingston cargo spill in B.C. reportedly reaches as far north as Alaska.

Rochelle Baker

October 12th 2022

BC Greens push for provincewide protection for bear den ‘nurseries’

Adam Olsen, Green MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, said the party’s private member’s bill is timely with bears bulking up before their winter hibernation — a critical period for pregnant sows, which give birth to their cubs in the safety of their dens.

Rochelle Baker

October 7th 2022

I swam with the salmon — they taught me about dignity and strength

Campbell River can host upwards of a million returning pink salmon in a banner year and is an ideal place to appreciate the fundamental role the iconic fish play in B.C.'s marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems.

Rochelle Baker

October 6th 2022

Small B.C. island floats new model of rural education

Cortes residents hope to improve access to high school for youth and revolutionize learning in their community.

Rochelle Baker

October 4th 2022

Housing and health care top concerns for Quadra Island local election

The housing and health care crises, coupled with an aging population, were the issues dominating Quadra Island’s candidates' meeting Tuesday evening.

Rochelle Baker

September 29th 2022