Author: Gayle Baker

• How Can Trust in Islands Trust be Rekindled?

   August 19, 2022: Only eight joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming Laura Patrick, one of our Salt Spring Island Local Trustees for the Islands Trust. While the circle was small, the low numbers allowed a casual, but very rich, conversation. During her Territorial Acknowledgment, Laura spoke of the journey of Reconciliation, reminding us that Reconciliation begins with…

• CRD Candidates, Kylie Coates and Gary Holman, Square Off on Issues: Housing, Water, and an LCC

   August 12, 2022: A total of 16 came for all or part of this ASK Salt Spring gathering that welcomed our two declared candidates in the October 15, 2022 local election for CRD Electoral Director, current Director, Gary Holman, and Kylie Coates. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, each candidate began by telling us a bit about themselves.  We learned that Kylie is a…

• Alarming Cracks in our Mental Health Systems – and Caring Peer Support Workers Seeking to Fill Them

   August 5, 2022: While we began with a very small circle of participants, during our time together, a total of 15 joined our conversation about mental health in our community. Always seeking to attract youth and young families to these ASK Salt Springgatherings, we hit the jackpot with our 16th – and youngest yet guest – infant…

• Welcoming Our Chamber to the Conversation About Salt Spring’s Most Important Issues

  July 29, 2022: Eleven joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering in the United Church Meadow, welcoming our Chamber’s new Operations Manager, Alexander Fischer-Jean, and its president, Darryl Martin. After our Territorial Acknowledgement questions began, resulting in a rich conversation focused on our local businesses – their challenges and successes. (For all you ever wanted to know about our…

• Culverts 101 and Other Road Maintenance Challenges

   July 22, 2022: Only 11 joined our conversation about roads maintenance at this ASK Salt Spring gathering in the United Church Meadow. A rich and interesting conversation, the low number of participants might lead one to believe that Salt Springers are quite content with the maintenance of our roads. And, listening to this ASK Salt Spring conversation, this supposition was…

• Whatever is Draft Bylaw 530? And. . . Is it Part of the Solution for Salt Spring Housing?

   July 15, 2022: A total of 14 joined all or part of the conversation with Trustee Laura Patrick at this rainy ASK Salt Spring gathering in the United Church Meadow. Laura offered a Territorial Acknowledgement in which she reminded us of the personal learning opportunity reconciliation offers each of us.  Laura began by highlighting important recent decisions made…

• Bylaws for the Proposed Local Community Commission Released! 

  July 8, 2022: Twenty-two gathered to welcome CRD’s Gary Holman to this ASK Salt Spring gathering on a lovely summer day in the United Church Meadow. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began our conversation, almost totally about the proposed Local Community Commission (LCC). The timing of Gary’s visit to ASK Salt Spring was serendipitous as the CRD bylaws laying the…

• Conversation with our RCMP Sargent Clive Seabrook

   June 24, 2022: Fifteen gathered in the lovely United Church Meadow to welcome our RCMP Sargent Clive Seabrook. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we asked Clive what was on his mind. He responded with his characteristic graciousness by responding that he was with us to listen and learn and that our comments would help him navigate some of…

• Firehall, Local Community Commission, Warming Space, Parking and Noise. . .a Rich CRD Discussion

  June 10, 2022: Only seven joined us for this Zoom gathering to welcome CRD’s Gary Holman. (In hindsight, weather would have permitted us to gather in the United Church Meadow. . .hopefully next Friday!) While offering us a Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary spoke briefly about the recent Provincial denial of a subdivision on James Island:https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/james-island-subdivision-rejected-1.6477735).  Gary sees this as…

• Salt Spring Divided. . . Is it the Province’s Responsibility Bring Vision to Solve it?

   June 3, 2022: Eighteen joined this ASK Salt Spring Zoom gathering welcoming our MLA, Adam Olsen. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam began by telling us about some of the things on his mind. He spoke briefly about the adjournment of the Spring legislative session and his transition to focusing undivided attention on constituent advocacy. He is looking forward…