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Emergency Preparedness 101 Made Fun
Thirteen(and one very well-behaved dog) joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome our Emergency Planning folks, Jennifer Carvill, Electoral Area Emergency Services Coordinator, and John Wakefield, our Salt Spring Emergency Management Lead. John offered our Territorial Acknowledgement, reminding us of the First Nations’ reverence for connection, that same interconnectedness that will support us as we navigate emergencies. After we had a chance to introduce ourselves, Jennifer and John shared what “excited and delighted” them. Jennifer told us of her love of her job, a passion that extended to the wildlife and pets that are impacted and must be protected during…
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Hope from MP Elizaberth May in Troubling Times
Eighteen came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MP Elizabeth May. After her Territorial Acknowledgement, a chance for each of us to introduce ourselves, and some kind words about ASK Salt Spring, Elizabeth told us about her delight with her baby granddaughter, Lily, born October 2024. Already a loving grandmother to 11 step-grandchildren, she has been totally blown away by the overwhelming love she has for little Lily. She spoke, also, of her recent visit to a secondary school in Ottawa. Aware of a general feeling of sadness and overwhelm among our youth, she discovered a way to…
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When Will We Get Our Salish Sea Trail?
Fifteen joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Island Pathways’ Robin Jenkinson to talk about Salt Spring’s proposed Salish Sea Trail. During her Land Acknowledgement, she reminded us that our trails today often follow age-old First Nations routes. We also learned that many of our roadbeds are artifact-rich as they were first constructed using crushed shells from local middens. When we introduced ourselves, we learned that participants at this gathering were a mixture of avid cyclists and those who do not feel safe enough cycling on Salt Spring. In addition to locals, we were pleased to welcome participants from…
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Conversations About Widespread Land Title Fears with MLA Rob Botterell
Fifteen joined this afternoon’s 2:30 pm ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MLA Rob Botterell. After his Acknowledgement during which he emphasized the critical importance of First Nations collaboration followed by a chance for each of us to introduce ourselves, Rob shared what “excited and delighted” him. Top on his mind at that moment was his delight that there was a non-stop ferry to Pender that afternoon leaving at 4:05 that would get him home early after a week away from home and his wife. Asking our permission to leave our gathering an hour early, he promised to give us…
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Learning All About Our Farmland Trust from Andrea and Jenn
Twelve joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust’s (https://www.ssifarmlandtrust.org/) Executive Director Andrea Palframan and Board Chair Jenn LeBlanc. While not a large group, after our gathering, Andrea noted that each one of our participants brought a unique and valuable perspective, creating a quite wonderful conversation. After an Acknowledgement during which Andrea spoke of the power of healing relationships offered to us by Reconciliation, we had a chance to introduce ourselves. Among the participants were several farmers and long-time agricultural advocates as well as a few elected officials and some who were simply excited…
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Finding Solutions for our Canada Goose Conundrum
Thirteen joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Samantha Hammond, CRD Goose Management Coordinator and Penelakut First Nations Ken Thomas of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Natural Resources to discuss our conundrum around the damage these intelligent, majestic, and family-focused Canada Geese are doing to our environment. After all had a chance to introduce themselves, revealing a surprisingly high level of expertise on this issue among our participants, Ken offered a blessing for our time together of building relationships and seeking collaborative solutions. Samatha shared that she was “excited and delighted” by the growing success of CRD’s Goose Management program and expressed…
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Welcoming Royal Roads University President to Talk About RRU Salt Spring
Fifteen came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Royal Roads University’s President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Philip Steenkamp. In his Territorial Acknowledgement, he spoke of the natural order of seasons in indigenous cultures with spring a time of reuniting, shellfish and greens gathering, and preparation for the coming season of salmon fishing. Reminding us how we can learn from their practices, he told us that the land-based curriculum of Royal Roads University (RRU) is rooted in these natural imperatives of our land and its seasons. We all had a chance to introduce ourselves, revealing that most had come to…
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Learning About Lookout’s New Drake and Dean Road Housing
Eleven came to this ASK Salt Spring conversation to welcome the Lookout Housing and Health Society (https://lookoutsociety.ca/) Team, Lee Fox, Director of Vancouver Island Operations and Corey Burtini, Manager of both Drake and Dean Road housing facilities. After our Land Acknowledgement and an opportunity for each of us to introduce ourselves, Lee and Corey began by telling us what “excited and delighted” them. Lee, a member of the Lookout team for over 15 years, began by telling us that she was gleefully anticipating the arrival of spring, looking forward to grounding herself in her garden, riding her motorcycle, and enjoying…
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Aging in Place on Salt Spring
Our Restorative Justice Team hosted the ASK Salt Spring conversation on the topic “Aging in Place on Salt Spring: Enhancing Senior Vitality.” Community members gathered to reflect on how Salt Spring could better support aging with dignity, safety, and connection. Our time together began with each of us taking deep, grounding breaths followed by a Land Acknowledgment that honored Elders as vital keepers of tradition, culture, and knowledge. We noted our emphasis on restorative, voluntary dialogue and a commitment to a healing and inclusive conversation. The circle’s purpose was clear: to celebrate what Salt Spring did well for older residents,…
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Honest and Difficult Conversations About Housing with MLA Rob Botterell
March 6 Seventeen gathered at this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MLA Rob Botterell. The afternoon timing (2:30-4:30) was intended to make it possible for those who cannot attend the 11-1 time slot to join the conversation, a change acknowledged by one participant as very helpful. The timing also allows Rob to get home to Pender this evening, a welcome benefit after his busy week in the Legislature and his plentiful constituent activities. Rob began by acknowledging that we are meeting in the traditional territory of Coast Salish nations and that any discussion about land, housing, and wealth must be grounded…