Author: Gayle Baker

• Electric Vehicles 101

  January 24, 2022: Thirteen Salt Springers came to ask their questions on a stormy Friday morning. Topics discussed included:  The conversation began with an exploration of the creation of Salt Spring’s own “scrap-it” rebate program for those transitioning from fossil fuel-powered to electric vehicles. It was suggested that this program could be administered by Transition Salt…

• Ferries, Parking and – Again! – Potholes and Pathways

  . January 17, 2022: Ten guests attended this session.  It came up in conversation that that there was no clock repairperson on SSI.Peter Grove corrected  me and gave me a contact number for Mark’s Clock Works, 250-537-0957 Cars should park on an angle on Jackson Ave between the Coop gas and the auto parts.  Angle parking rather…

• CRD’s Gary Holman: Dangerous Pedestrian Lanes, Safety, and the Need for Mental Health Services

   December 13, 2019: Thirteen came to this session with Gary Holman. a good surprise as, originally, it had not even been scheduled (nor advertised) due to Thrifty’s need for the room for holiday preparations. Major topics of conversation included:  Our first guest lives at the corner of two major roads and is concerned about her responsibility…

• MLA Adam Olsen Addresses Live Aboards’ Fears and Safety Referendum Opposition

  December 6, 2019: Adam Olsen came to answer question and the room was full most of the time, with standing- room-only for brief portions. A total of 26 Salt Springers came to ask him questions. Main topics of the day were a brief focus on roads, the suggestion that Islands Trust should be reformed, concerns expressed…

• Exploring Pathways, Painting, and Potholes with CRD’s Gary Holman 

  November 29, 2019: Eight guests came to ask questions of Gary Holman at this eight session of ASK Salt Spring. Unlike last week when the theme of the day seemed to be roads, this week, the conversation ranged widely from roads and safety to a January solution for the homeless, the proposed laundromat and possible renovations of the…

• Roads, Roads, and More Roads: Salt Springers Worry About Road Safety

   November 22, 2019: Five individuals came to ask question at this, the seventh ASK Salt Spring session. Jessica Harkema, our Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer, was there the entire time, skillfully answering questions from her perspective as Executive Director of the Chamber as well as her life-long experience here as an involved resident.  The theme for the day explored…

• Logging, Development Permits, and Emergency Preparedness

   November 8, 2019: Although only three came to ask questions, there were a total of six Salt Springers who came to ASK Salt Spring during this session, marking the one-month anniversary of this initiative. Those who did not have a question stayed quite a while (one even stayed for the entire three hours) to see what ASK Salt…

• Trustee Laura Patrick Discusses Logging and Environmentally-Conscious Development

   November 15, 2019: Twelve came to ask questions during this session of ASK Salt Spring. While the record for this first six weeks of operation is 15 when Adam Olsen was there, 12 is a satisfying trend. As many stayed during much of the conversation, there was a period of over an hour when all seats around…

• MLA Adam Olsen Talks About Early Childhood Education, Health, and Affordable Housing

   November 1, 2019: Fifteen islanders came to ASK Salt Spring with a wide variety of questions. Some even came without questions, seeking only to see what ASK Salt Spring is all about and to listen to the questions of others. While at least five came specifically seeking to speak with Adam, most joined happily into the conversation while awaiting…

• Beaches in Need of Clean-Up, Laundromat Seeking Funds, and a Refugee Support Group

   October 25, 2019: Six islanders came, but only four had questions. The other two came briefly to see what we were doing, saying that they would be back another Friday.  The Legion is applying for a license to allow them to more easily welcome non-members. This application has taken some time to go through Islands…