Author: Gayle Baker

• A Party in the Meadow to Welcome Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming and Staff

  June 2, 2023: The atmosphere at the ASK Salt Spring gathering in the Mouat’s Meadow (one time location) had a celebratory party atmosphere, markedly-different from our more serious times together each Friday. Energized by enthusiastic cyclists, led by the Island Pathways Cycling Group, there were toddlers and preschoolers on tiny bikes cavorting, smoothies, and a huge carrot cake…

• Are We Actually on the Verge of Crafting a Solution to our Housing Crisis?

  May 26, 2023: Thirty gathered to welcome Salt Spring Solutions board members, Elizabeth FitzZaland and Mairi Welman, for a discussion of their recently-released housing paper, Homes for Islanders — An Integrated Housing Solutions Framework for Salt Spring Island (https://www.saltspringsolutions.com/).  After their Territorial Acknowledgement, we were all asked: How many of you have read our report? A significant number had, in…

• Ten Local Community Commission Candidates: Ten Opinions and a Rich Conversation

  May 19, 2023: Thirty – including 10 Local Community Commission (LCC) candidates – came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to discuss LCC and CRD issues. Candidates who joined us were:  Gayle Baker, Kylie Coates, Ben Corno, David Courtney, Lloyd Cudmore, Nejmah Guermoudi, Eric G. Marsh, Jenny McClean, Earl Rook, and  Brian Webster. *** Ben and Jenny needed…

• Trash, Effluent, and Biosolids. . . Lots to Learn About this Dirty Topic

  May 12, 2023: Eleven welcomed CRD Electoral Director, Gary Holman, to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary begin by telling us about three recent decisions by the CRD Board that have implications for Salt Spring. 1) Housing: Some of you may recall that there was a late proposal at the CRD Board to further increase the…

• Adam Speaks With Us About Housing. . .Will Provincial Legislation Impact Salt Spring?

  May 5, 2023: Seventeen came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MLA Adam Olsen. We were also pleased to welcome his staff, Laura Parker, Outreach Coordinator, and legislative assembly Interns Kayla Brent and Jacob Schoeber. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam spoke briefly about interns Jacob and Kayla, telling us that they are integral parts of the…

• Workforce Housing. . . How Can we “Work as One to Get it Done?”

  April 28, 2023: After ourTerritorial Acknowledgement, we dove into a rich conversation about Workforce Housing, with no single special guest but all 18 of us offering differing levels of expertise, passion, and creative thinking. It was a rich conversation!  We began by agreeing not to discuss Islands Trust bylaws and initiatives as Trustee Laura Patrick was…

• So Adam, Why Doesn’t the Province Give Us Everything We Think We Deserve?

  April 21, 2023: Twelve gathered to welcome MLA Adam Olsen and William Kelly to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. In his Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam also spoke briefly of his joy with all the connections he observes at SIMS – the Saltspring Island Multi-Space, the former Middle School. He loves to see all the children activities and is excited by…

• Can We “Work as One and Get it Done?”

  April 14, 2023: Only nine joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming CRD’s Gary Holman. In response to my apologies for low numbers, Gary wryly responded that he would take this as an acknowledgement that CRD was, well. . . .quite perfect :). After our Territorial Acknowledgement, which concluded in Gary noting that he was hopeful for the…

• Navigating Challenges and Changes at Lady Minto Hospital with Courage and Enthusiasm

  March 17, 2023: A total of 15 joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering for all or part of the time to welcome , Erin Price-Lindstrom, recently replacing Sara Gogo, (now leading the Tofino hospital) as the Site Director of Lady Minto Hospital, (https://ladymintofoundation.com/news/the-road-ahead-lady-minto-hospitals-new-site-director-discusses-challenges-and-opportunities/). After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Erin spoke briefly of the challenges and opportunities in her multi-hat position,…

• Details of a Worrisome CRD Budget Increase of 5.6% that Could Soar to 7.6%. Why? Keep Reading. . . .

  March 10, 2023: Twelve Salt Springers joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome CRD Director Gary Holman. While participants could ask anything, the focus of our conversation was the CRD 2023 Budget. (For details, see below: CRD Requisition Summary 2023.) After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary spent a considerable time walking us through some of the most important details…