Author: Gayle Baker

• Will Islands Trust Housing Bylaw Equal More Rental Housing?

  April 15, 2022: Six Salt Springers joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering at the Library to welcome Laura Patrick, one of our two local Islands Trust elected officials. While the holiday may have been a factor in the the lower than normal participation, rising COVID numbers has convinced us to return to Zoom. The link for ASK Salt…

• After Such Progress, Do We Face Big Shelter Challenges?

  April 8, 2022: Only nine joined us to welcome CRD’s Gary Holman to this ASK Salt Spring gathering in the Library Program Room. While it is likely that it was the unpredicted sunny weather that enticed folks away, could it be interpreted as Salt Springers’ contentment with CRD-related issues? After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary took some time…

• Should We Fear the Slippery Slope of a Tiered Healthcare System?

  April 1, 2022: After a moving Territorial Acknowledgement, the 19 who gathered in the Library Program Room welcomed our special guest, MLA Adam Olsen. Adam was accompanied by his constituency advocate, William Kelly, and two legislative interns Rose Williams and Jerram Gawley. He began by sharing something this week that – while emotional – had excited and…

• Want to Talk About a New Firehall for Salt Spring?

  March 25, 2022: Surprisingly, only nine came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering in the Library Program Room – and three of them were our special guests: Fire Chief Jamie Holmes, Fire Trustee Chair, Rollie Cook, and local consultant, Bruce Cameron! We thought that Salt Springers were interested in the proposed new firehall. Were we wrong?  Despite…

• Islands Trust Challenges: Laura is Listening

  March 18, 2022: Fourteen joined us to welcome Laura Patrick, one of our two local trustees for the Islands Trust, to this ASK Salt Spring gathering in the Library Program Room. While we shivered with the open wall of glass doors, we were happy to be together in person again. After a Territorial Acknowledgement, Laura encouraged each…

• Whatever is a Warming Space?

  March 11, 2022: A total of 26 joined us for all or part of the time at this ASK Salt Spring Zoom gathering welcoming CRD’s Gary Holman. After the Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary began by giving us some unfortunate budget news: Because our BC property assessments have increased far more than the CRD average, Salt Spring taxpayers will…

• Planning for Our Village’s Future

  March 4, 2022: Thirteen joined us via Zoom for this ASK Salt Spring gathering that welcomed the Chair of the Islands Trust Ganges Village Plan task force, Jenny MacClean. After her heartfelt Territorial Acknowledgment, she began by telling us why Ganges needs another plan despite several excellent ones in 1995 ( https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/salt-spring-island-ea-pdf/cedc/ganges_ocp_95.pdf?sfvrsn=2)and 2007 (https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/salt-spring-island-ea-pdf/cedc/ganges.pdf?sfvrsn=2).  The reasons supporting this…

• Some of the ABCs of an LCC

  February 25, 2025: Twenty-two attended this initial discussion about the possibilities and challenges of a Local Community Commission (LCC). After our Territorial Acknowledgement, CRD Director, Gary Holman, one of our three special guests, began this gathering by offering some basic information about what an LCC could and could not accomplish. During our two hours together, our…

• A Glimpse into Complex Islands Trust Decisions

  February 18, 2022: After a territorial acknowledgement, one of our two locally-elected Island Trust trustees, Laura Patrick, began by telling the 14 people who had gathered that housing is foremost in her mind. In her opinion, we need a wide spectrum of housing options for a diverse and healthy community. The housing options we need are…

• A Battle Between Bureaucracy and Humanity?

  February 11, 2022:Thirteen joined us on a lovely almost-spring day to engage with CRD Director Gary Holman on some of the issues that mean the most to us. After our First Nations Territorial Acknowledgement, we asked Gary to tell us what was on his mind. While housing concerns are paramount for him, he began by…