Rochelle Baker

Reporter Discovery Islands English

About Rochelle Baker

Rochelle Baker joins Canada's National Observer as the first Quadra and Cortes Islands reporter, thanks to a grant from the Local Journalism Initiative of the Government of Canada. Rochelle has worked as a newspaper reporter and photographer in BC's Lower Mainland for over 7 years.

Read Rochelle's stories

413 Articles

Mamalilikulla Chief John Powell hugs Lydia Hwitsum, Chief of Cowichan Tribes, celebrating the endorsement of the Great Bear Sea MPA Network and its first ocean refuge site in Knight Inlet. Photo by Rochelle Baker

Milestone Great Bear Sea marine protection network on West Coast ratified along with first ocean refuge

Fifteen First Nations are assuming stewardship of the Great Bear Sea marine protected area network that covers two-thirds of Canada’s West Coast.

Oceans, Waterways & Coastlines

News, Island Insider | February 5th 2023

Joyce Murray, federal minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, emphasized the importance of Indigenous-led conservation at the launch a IMPAC5, a global ocean summit in Vancouver. Photo by Rochelle Baker

Canada promises Indigenous partnerships, 10 new marine conservation areas as international oceans summit kicks off

Canada is promising to establish 10 new Indigenous-led federal marine protected areas as IMPAC5, a global summit on ocean conservation, kicks off Friday in Vancouver.

Oceans, Waterways & Coastlines

News, Island Insider | February 3rd 2023

Canada under pressure to ban deep-sea mining

International scientists and environmental groups are urging Canada to join the tide of nations calling for a pause on deep-sea mining over worries a potential gold rush could destroy species and ecosystems before they are even discovered.

Oceans, Waterways & Coastlines

News, Island Insider | February 3rd 2023

NDP leader’s health-care concerns front and centre during Vancouver Island tour

“People aren’t getting the care that they need, and workers feel like they’re not delivering the care they were trained to deliver," said federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh on input from residents and medical professionals on health care during his Vancouver Island tour.

Oceans, Waterways & Coastlines

News, Island Insider | January 31st 2023

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced a $30-million cash infusion on Friday to help stabilize the regional health-care crisis on north Vancouver Island. File photo / B.C. government

B.C. health minister announces $30 million to address health-care crisis in North Island

The funding will drive numerous immediate measures to stabilize health care in the region but won’t immediately reverse current overnight emergency room closures in Port Hardy or Alert Bay.

Oceans, Waterways & Coastlines

News, Island Insider | January 27th 2023

Juvenile salmon caught in the Discovery Islands region bearing sea lice. Photo Tavish Campbell

Tussle over sea lice science unfolds as a federal decision on Discovery Islands salmon farms looms

Critics and supporters of West Coast fish farms are at odds over a recent Fisheries and Oceans Canada study suggesting sea lice infestations among juvenile wild salmon aren’t strongly tied to aquaculture operations.

Oceans, Waterways & Coastlines

News, Island Insider | January 27th 2023

Dr. Alex Nataros, getting a COVID shot above, expects to be the only ER doctor on staff at the Port Hardy hospital come July. He wants B.C.'s Health Minister Adrian Dix to allow him to hire physician assistants. Photo submitted

‘I’ve only got one set of hands’: Last remaining ER doctor in B.C. town wants to hire physician assistant out of his own pocket

The last remaining ER doctor in Port Hardy come July wants B.C. to allow the use of physician assistants, employed in other provinces in Canada, to deal with the hemorrhage of doctors and nurses in the North Island region.

News, Island Insider | January 24th 2023

The Powell River Queen was retired from service on Jan. 17 after plying the waters to Quadra Island for three decades and nearly 60 years in the BC Ferries fleet. Photo by Carla Duffey / Lime Soda Photography

B.C. islanders bid adieu to their Queen who reigned for nearly 60 years

Quadra Islanders braved lashing wind and rain this past week to bid farewell to the queen that dictated many aspects of their lives and reigned over their B.C. coastal community for decades.

News, Island Insider | January 23rd 2023

Federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray (second from left) and Lasse Gustavsson of Ocean Wise (centre) celebrate funding Monday to boost involvement of young people at the upcoming global ocean conservation summit, IMPAC5. Submitted photo

Feds and First Nations gearing up to host global ocean conservation summit

The upcoming IMPAC5 conference in Vancouver is an opportunity to chart the path to meet world leaders' promise last month to protect 30 per cent of the planet's land and waters by 2030, says federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray.

Oceans, Waterways & Coastlines

News, Climate Solutions Reporting, Island Insider | January 19th 2023

A dozen First Nations in B.C. funded to pursue clean energy projects

First Nations across the province are undertaking clean energy programs with provincial funding designed to help ditch the use of dirty diesel fuel.

News, Climate Solutions Reporting, Food Insider | January 18th 2023