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

387 Articles

‘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.

News, Island Insider | 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.

News, Island Insider | 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.

News, Island Insider | 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.

News, Climate Solutions Reporting, Island Insider | 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.

News, Island Insider | 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.

News, Island Insider | 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.

News, Climate Solutions Reporting, Island Insider | 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.

News, Island Insider | 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.

News, Island Insider | September 29th 2022

‘A huge achievement’: Vision for vast network of West Coast marine protected areas unveiled at last

A total of 17 coastal First Nations spearheaded a vision for a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in partnership with the B.C. and federal governments to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity hot spots stretching from northern Vancouver Island to Alaska.

News, Island Insider | September 19th 2022