Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 16th July 2025
Mark Vonesch
Hi Everyone,
Thank you to everyone that came to the Rainbow Ridge open house on Sunday. It was exciting to see all the progress that has been made, the volunteers and local building crew working away, and to see the plans for the first round of duplexes that will be complete in 2026.
Active Transportation
The SRD has announced the development of an Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP) for Electoral Area B. With funding from the Province of British Columbia’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program, part of the CleanBC strategy, the plan will support safer, more accessible ways to walk, bike, roll, and even paddle across Cortes Island.
Please spend a few minutes to fill out this survey to have your ideas incorporated into the plan.
https://srd.ca/area-b-atnp/ (open until Aug 1)
Once the plan is complete the SRD will be able to apply for infrastructure funding to make the highest priority project a reality.
Why This Matters - Cortes Island faces unique transportation challenges, including limited roads, ferry access, and spread-out communities. This plan will:
• Build on existing trails and natural routes
• Explore new ways of getting around, like shared walking and biking pathways
• Reflect the needs and ideas of residents, visitors, and First Nations through past and current community engagement opportunities
What will the Active Transportation Plan deliver?
• A complete map of active transportation routes and amenities
• A prioritized list of projects to improve walking, biking, and rolling
• One high-priority project ready for construction
• A long-term strategy to support health, sustainability, and climate resilience
SRD staff will also be at the Manson’s farmers market on July 18th and the Gorge Harbor market on July 19th to get your input.
Please fill out the survey! https://srd.ca/area-b-atnp/
New Sports Court
The new multi use sports court near the skateboard park passed another hurdle last week with the Electoral Area Services Committee supporting my motion to develop a long term lease agreement with the SCCA and commit $100,000 in gas tax funding toward its development. The motion goes to the full SRD board for approval at the end of the month.
Read the full staff report here:
https://agenda.strathconard.ca/SRDAttachments/SRDCommittees/Open/EAS/09-Jul-25/20250704-Cortes-Island-Multi-Use-Sports-Court.pdf
Cortes Zoning Bylaw
After input from the Cortes Advisory Planning Commission, the SRD board has now approved the new Cortes Zoning Bylaw draft and a public hearing date has been set for Sept 8th at 5pm at Manson’s Hall. Please put it in your calendars!
I decided to wait until the fall for the public hearing to make sure more people read the bylaw, can attend the hearing, and so we can get the results of the aquifer study to ensure our aquifers can handle a little more density.
Read the staff report, the zoning bylaw draft, and the updated zoning map here:
https://agenda.strathconard.ca/SRDAttachments/SRDBoard/Open/BRD/25-Jun-25/20250620-Bylaw-No_-598.PDF
Community Commons
It was a powerful grand opening to the Community Commons space. Having Klahoose leadership and youth share their culture and celebrate the opening of this amazing public space was powerful to witness.
The covered pavilion, shared working space, children play areas, and a stunning totem pole are incredible additions to public space on Cortes. Huge thanks to the Cortes Island Community Foundation and all of the crew that made it happen.
The SRD board unanimously supported my motion to contribute $100,000 in gas tax funding to complete the project and I’m grateful that the board understands the importance of having these funds for public infrastructure projects on Cortes.
The public meeting space and pavillion is now open for booking so if you need space to work, have a meeting, or host an event book a time here:
https://cortesfoundation.ca/village-commons-2/
Cortes Food Bank
Food bank usage has increased dramatically across Canada and Cortes is no exception to this trend. Many of our friends and neighbours rely on this service and the organization is losing their storage space and needs funding to renovate the sea cans on the Community Commons land to be the new hub for distribution.
Please consider supporting this important initiative here:
https://www.cortesfoodbank.ca/yesseacan
I hope you’re having an amazing summer and have some down time planned with friends and family. Please reach out if you have questions or want to chat!
Mark
Mark Vonesch
Cortes Island Regional Director
email: mvoneschsrd.ca
mobile: 250-202-4422
Sign up to my newsletters here: https://www.cortestogether.com/sign-up
Thank you to everyone that came to the Rainbow Ridge open house on Sunday. It was exciting to see all the progress that has been made, the volunteers and local building crew working away, and to see the plans for the first round of duplexes that will be complete in 2026.
Active Transportation
The SRD has announced the development of an Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP) for Electoral Area B. With funding from the Province of British Columbia’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program, part of the CleanBC strategy, the plan will support safer, more accessible ways to walk, bike, roll, and even paddle across Cortes Island.
Please spend a few minutes to fill out this survey to have your ideas incorporated into the plan.
https://srd.ca/area-b-atnp/ (open until Aug 1)
Once the plan is complete the SRD will be able to apply for infrastructure funding to make the highest priority project a reality.
Why This Matters - Cortes Island faces unique transportation challenges, including limited roads, ferry access, and spread-out communities. This plan will:
• Build on existing trails and natural routes
• Explore new ways of getting around, like shared walking and biking pathways
• Reflect the needs and ideas of residents, visitors, and First Nations through past and current community engagement opportunities
What will the Active Transportation Plan deliver?
• A complete map of active transportation routes and amenities
• A prioritized list of projects to improve walking, biking, and rolling
• One high-priority project ready for construction
• A long-term strategy to support health, sustainability, and climate resilience
SRD staff will also be at the Manson’s farmers market on July 18th and the Gorge Harbor market on July 19th to get your input.
Please fill out the survey! https://srd.ca/area-b-atnp/
New Sports Court
The new multi use sports court near the skateboard park passed another hurdle last week with the Electoral Area Services Committee supporting my motion to develop a long term lease agreement with the SCCA and commit $100,000 in gas tax funding toward its development. The motion goes to the full SRD board for approval at the end of the month.
Read the full staff report here:
https://agenda.strathconard.ca/SRDAttachments/SRDCommittees/Open/EAS/09-Jul-25/20250704-Cortes-Island-Multi-Use-Sports-Court.pdf
Cortes Zoning Bylaw
After input from the Cortes Advisory Planning Commission, the SRD board has now approved the new Cortes Zoning Bylaw draft and a public hearing date has been set for Sept 8th at 5pm at Manson’s Hall. Please put it in your calendars!
I decided to wait until the fall for the public hearing to make sure more people read the bylaw, can attend the hearing, and so we can get the results of the aquifer study to ensure our aquifers can handle a little more density.
Read the staff report, the zoning bylaw draft, and the updated zoning map here:
https://agenda.strathconard.ca/SRDAttachments/SRDBoard/Open/BRD/25-Jun-25/20250620-Bylaw-No_-598.PDF
Community Commons
It was a powerful grand opening to the Community Commons space. Having Klahoose leadership and youth share their culture and celebrate the opening of this amazing public space was powerful to witness.
The covered pavilion, shared working space, children play areas, and a stunning totem pole are incredible additions to public space on Cortes. Huge thanks to the Cortes Island Community Foundation and all of the crew that made it happen.
The SRD board unanimously supported my motion to contribute $100,000 in gas tax funding to complete the project and I’m grateful that the board understands the importance of having these funds for public infrastructure projects on Cortes.
The public meeting space and pavillion is now open for booking so if you need space to work, have a meeting, or host an event book a time here:
https://cortesfoundation.ca/village-commons-2/
Cortes Food Bank
Food bank usage has increased dramatically across Canada and Cortes is no exception to this trend. Many of our friends and neighbours rely on this service and the organization is losing their storage space and needs funding to renovate the sea cans on the Community Commons land to be the new hub for distribution.
Please consider supporting this important initiative here:
https://www.cortesfoodbank.ca/yesseacan
I hope you’re having an amazing summer and have some down time planned with friends and family. Please reach out if you have questions or want to chat!
Mark
Mark Vonesch
Cortes Island Regional Director
email: mvoneschsrd.ca
mobile: 250-202-4422
Sign up to my newsletters here: https://www.cortestogether.com/sign-up
Rainbow Ridge duplex floor plan
Active Transportation Survey
Food Bank fundraiser