Author: Gayle Baker

• A Preview of our Soon-to-be-Released Climate Action Plan

   July 24, 2022: Fifteen gathered in the United Church Meadow on a comfortably-cool summer day last Friday. While all questions were welcomed, the conversation was focused on our soon-to-be-released Climate Action Plan 2.0 (CAP). Darryl Martin, the chair of the huge volunteer-driven effort, led the conversation. He had able back-up from Bryan Young, lead writer and…

• The Tricky Issue of Bylaw Enforcement: Trustee Laura Patrick Shares her Perspective 

  July 17, 2022: Last Friday, 13 attended the ASK Salt Spring gathering under the apple tree in the United Church Meadow, welcoming Islands Trustee Laura Patrick. Laura’s comments were her own and not representing the Local Trust Committee. The discussion began with a question about regulating Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVRs). Laura believes that chairing the Local Trust Committees on Saturna and…

• Roads, Cycling Lanes, and our Market: Gary Holman Helps Us Navigate Complex Issues 

  July 10, 2022: A total of 18 participants joined us in the United Church Meadow for this week’s ASK Salt Spring gathering on a lovely summer Friday. While one guest had to leave almost immediately after learning that our special guest, Gary Holman, would be late arriving due to a conflict, others seemed content to begin with an…

• Cyclists Brave the Rain to Ask Adam for Safe Cycling Lanes

   July 3, 2022: Thirty folks braved the cool, breezy summer rains to gather at Portlock Picnic Pavilion to welcome our special guest, MLA Adam Olsen. Nine of them were avid cyclists who had just ridden from Fulford, an annual ride celebrating Kip Nash’s birthday, a former Salt Spring coach who was well supported by our community…

• Learning Lots from Emcon, our Roads Maintenance Managers

   June 26, 2022: Fifteen came to the United Church Meadow on a lovely summer day to welcome our Chamber’s Jessica Harkema as well as Emcon managers Andrew Gaetz and Lisa Herschmiller as our guests. We began with a brief summary of Emcon’s responsibilities as well as those roads-related services for which they have no responsibility. Some…

• Learning About our Soon-to-be-Released Climate Action Plan

   June 19, 2022: Fifteen gathered in the lovely United Church Meadow to welcome our special guest, Darryl Martin, Chair of the soon-to-be-released Climate Action Plan 2.0. Despite the focus on climate action, the first question requested an update about concerns raised last week about the Land Bank Society. There is some enthusiasm for an expanded role…

• Welcoming Gary Holman to our Socially-Distanced Gathering – in the Rain! 

  June 12, 2022: Thirteen came on this cool, rainy day, a pretty remarkable turnout in light of the weather and change of location to Portlock Picnic Pavilion. Gary joined us at noon, and, although one could interpret some of the concerns as critical, everyone appreciated that he had come to teach us, listen, and work with…

• Zooming With Adam: Safety and Health for Now and a Better Normal for the Future

   May 1, 2022: Fourteen joined us for this Zoom session with Adam Olsen as our special guest. We began our discussion with a question about logging, Specifically, to encourage expansion of Islands Trust authority over logging on private land, should letters requesting this continue to be sent to Minister Selina Robinson?  After answering in the affirmative,…

• Zooming About With Gary Holman in a Self-Isolating Community

  April 10, 2022: Thirteen Salt Springers came to this Zoom session of ASK Salt Spring to get some information from special guest, Gary Holman. The first 40 minutes was spent – once again – addressing road concerns. While some time was spent on logistics (When is the Transportation Commission going to meet again?) the focus of the discussion…

• MLA Adam Olsen: His Wisdom, Vision, and Optimism

  February 7, 2022: Our MLA, Adam Olsen, was the guest this week. The 16 Salt Springers who came had plenty of time to ask questions on a wide variety of issues as he arrived 45 minutes before scheduled (10:15) and stayed until slightly after 1:00. The conversation began with BC’s Speculation and Vacancy Tax, and, interestingly, as some…