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

345 Articles

West Coast kelp is in hot water, but scientific insights may help save our underwater rainforests

A new study may hold some keys to saving B.C. kelp from ominous ocean “blobs” as climate crisis advances.

News, Island Insider | June 7th 2022

File photo by Alex Tétreault / Canada's National Observer

‘We are losing a whole generation of Canadians’: Bill to curb toxic drug deaths defeated

The grieving moms who headed to Ottawa Wednesday to urge federal MPs to support a bill designed to tackle the deadly toxic drug crisis found their pleas fell on deaf ears.

News, Politics, Island Insider | June 2nd 2022

Campbell River estuary is a restoration showcase to save salmon habitat from climate change

Little more than 20 years ago, the Campbell River estuary was an industrial wasteland. Its restoration illustrates what can be achieved as governments and conservation groups undertake a massive push to save the critical ecosystems and salmon in a race against climate change.

News, Island Insider | June 2nd 2022

Carolyn Bennett, federal minister of mental health and addictions, announced the decriminalization of simple possession of illegal drugs in B.C. Tuesday. Photo courtesy of B.C. government

‘It’s flawed, but it’s a start’: Feds decriminalize carrying small amounts of hard drugs in B.C.

Response to Ottawa’s historic announcement that it will decriminalize the personal possession of small amounts of illegal drugs in British Columbia ran the gamut Tuesday.

News, Island Insider | May 31st 2022

Pressure mounts for Liberals to back bill decriminalizing drug use

Clearly, the stigma starts with the prime minister, says the NDP critic sponsoring the proposed legislation about the Liberals’ resistance to decriminalizing the personal possession of small amounts of drugs.

News, Island Insider | May 27th 2022

B.C. fish farms cultivate increased risks for wild salmon, new studies show

Two new studies suggest that pathogens from fish farms raise risks for B.C.'s plummeting wild salmon stocks.

News, New News, Island Insider | May 25th 2022

Small acts of kindness can lead to powerful changes, says Christopher Hauschildt, a team member with the Walk With Me project. Photo by Rochelle Baker / Canada's National Observer

Walk With Me project navigates personal stories of toxic drug crisis

An innovative, experimental project takes steps to build empathy for those impacted by Canada’s toxic drug crisis in small Vancouver Island communities.

News, Island Insider | May 20th 2022

On Cortes Island, it's all songs and warm vibes until the logging begins

Residents of Cortes Island have held off industrial logging since the 90s, but members of the tiny community are remobilizing to prevent the return of Mosaic Forest Management to the island.

News, Island Insider | May 18th 2022

Citizen science whale observers worry humpbacks being harassed

An observer network in B.C.'s Salish Sea wants more protections and enforcement to prevent whale watching vessels from stressing humpbacks.

News, Island Insider | May 13th 2022

Conservationists urge B.C. to protect bear dens ‘before it’s too late’

The destruction of coastal black bear dens from old-growth logging puts the future of the culturally iconic species at risk, say scientists, First Nations and conservationists.

News, Island Insider | May 11th 2022