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Opportunities in the Trades
The Cortes Housing Society is hosting “Opportunities in the Trades” at Manson’s Hall and on Zoom this Monday, April 14th from 5-7 PM Presenters from North Island College, Skilled Trades BC, North Island Employment, Roots to Roofs Community Development and Citizen Design Build will share their expertise about how to get started.
Land Share Models: A Learning Forum
Thanks to everyone who joined us on March 8th to discuss different models of land sharing and to learn from islanders who have decades of experience sharing land on Cortes. It was inspiring to hear about the variety of ways they have managed to make home ownership more affordable.
Breaking Ground
Dear community,
After many years of planning and fundraising for Rainbow Ridge, we will be breaking ground on Monday, February 10th. This first phase of construction will involve felling trees, pulling stumps, and grading the area that will house our utility building and the first 7 homes.
Community Consultation
Thanks to those who joined us at Manson’s Hall to hear updates from multiple organizations about projects in Manson’s Landing before Rainbow Ridge construction gears up to start in spring 2025 and new multi-purpose courts are being developed.
2024 Year-End Report
Global housing challenges really hit the news in 2024. You likely heard the national headlines in Canada with new funding programs and initiatives to get more housing built. In many ways, Cortes is a poster child for these challenges with important island contributors like the garbage truck driver moving off island to find affordable land elsewhere. While we certainly have our work cut out for us, 2024 was a banner year for the Cortes Housing Society.
Rental Subsidy Programs
Did you know that BC Housing offers two rental subsidy programs? One is for families and the other is for seniors. Check out their on-line calculator to see how much you could save every month: https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/rental-assistance-programs
Proposed Zoning Changes on Cortes
Perhaps you’ve heard that the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is updating the zoning bylaws that govern development on Cortes. These bylaws should have been updated to reflect the Official Community Plan (OCP) over a decade ago. As a result, our currently bylaws are quite outdated and this update is a very important opportunity to shape housing on island for the next decade.
Aquifer Study
With all this rain, it’s hard to imagine that our island’s natural water systems are vulnerable. Looking to other islands in our region and recognizing changing climates, we absolutely need to be working to protect and preserve our below-ground fresh water. We have recently received notice from the Real Estate Foundation of BC that we were awarded a grant to conduct an aquifer health assessment for Cortes to progress this work here.
Rainbow Ridge News
A big thank you to everyone who pitched in at our work bee on Tuesday. “Many hands make light work”. We were amazed by how much was accomplished in two hours. Our beautiful trails are easier to navigate without the prickles!
Two offers and an Ask
Greetings-
The Cortes Housing Society is spreading the word about available rentals for both shop space and housing, as well as spreading the word about other housing related opportunities outside of the direct CHS involvement including the possibility of lending funds to help a Cortes resident purchase property here.
Housing Updates and New Members on the Team
Happy Harvest Season!
As we harvest and enjoy the fruits of our garden labors, we are also gearing up with important housing opportunities that I’d like to update you on. We’ve had a busy summer, settling the CCHA doctors into their new house on our Community Land Trust project at Orchard Village (the name of our new property at 671 Sutil Pt Rd), as well as planning to initiate building housing on Rainbow Ridge…
Explore the Trades Directory
Connecting residents with local professionals for home improvement, construction, landscaping and more, making it easy to find recommended services in the region.
Explore the Trades Directory
Connecting residents with local professionals for home improvement, construction, landscaping and more, making it easy to find recommended services in the region.
What You Can Do
Three ways you can help.
Stay Informed
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with our latest news, events and community activities.
Get Involved
Come to our Open Houses & Forums, follow our Speaker Series, and contribute to our Trades Directory.
Donate
Help fund our housing projects and initiatives with a monthly or one-time donation.
Thank you to our 2023/24 $10K+ funders
And the hundreds of Cortes residents that support our work on an ongoing basis
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