{"id":54812,"date":"2021-07-30T06:44:05","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T10:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/?p=54812"},"modified":"2021-08-02T10:24:17","modified_gmt":"2021-08-02T14:24:17","slug":"cortes-foundation-bridging-the-issues-that-divide-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/cortes-foundation-bridging-the-issues-that-divide-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Cortes Foundation to set up public conversations on issues that divide community"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometime this fall, the\u00a0Cortes Foundation<\/a>\u00a0will be offering the community of\u00a0Cortes Island<\/a> a public venue to explore, and bridge, the issues that divide.<\/p>\n

The topic came up during a discussion about the water shortages some of the Island\u2019s shallow wells are currently experiencing, while Cortes is at\u00a0drought Level Four<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to set up a much larger conversation, island wide, on any topic. Yesterday we were at a meeting that discussed sponsoring a facilitator to be present through the fall, on specific dates, to get together and start airing out some of the issues that people are encountering on the Island, any divisiveness between groups,\u201d said John Preston, one of the directors of the Cortes Foundation. \u201cSo we are aiming at taking the next step, offering the Island a voice to speak to itself and try to reach consensus on many different issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

As we get closer to the launch date, they will be explaining how, where and when these discussions will take place.<\/p>\n

One of the immediate topics of concern will undoubtedly be a collective response to the Island\u2019s water issues.<\/p>\n

Preston believes the deep wells some people are drilling punch holes in the aquifer and threaten everyone\u2019s water supply.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a game changer for Cortes. We now have an instrument that will allow us to attend to these kinds of issues. Cortes now has a basket that it can fill with resources that are for everyone. The foundation is island wide and we are going to be putting out a message that we want to hear from people: What are their needs? What are their worries?\u201d Preston said, regarding the Cortes Foundation.<\/p>\n

He described the Cortes Foundation as an organization that will allow the people of Cortes Island to cumulatively\u00a0contribute to their future.<\/p>\n

Links of Interest<\/h2>\n