Category: ASK Salt Spring Report

• Honest and Difficult Conversations About Housing with MLA Rob Botterell

  March 6 Seventeen gathered at this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MLA Rob Botterell. The afternoon timing (2:30-4:30) was intended to make it possible for those who cannot attend the 11-1 time slot to join the conversation, a change acknowledged by one participant as very helpful. The timing also allows Rob to get home to Pender…

• Will Salt Spring Be a Housing NOW Success Story?

  Ten jointed this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Adam Evanik of Housing NOW (https://www.sgicommunityresources.ca/housing-now-home/). After our Land Acknowledgement, we all introduced ourselves. While a few of us were relative newcomers (like 20 years), most in the room had lived on Salt Spring for many decades one even claiming an extra nine months, having been…

• Could Salt Spring Become a Habitat for Humanity Community?

  Twenty seven came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome members of the Habitat for Humanity (https://www.habitatvictoria.com/) team, Executive Director Carmen Rempel and HR/Family Services Manager Tiffany Gates. There was a sense of anticipation among the group, all curious to learn about opportunities for a Habitat for Humanity project on Salt Spring. Adding to…

• Exploring Community Wellbeing through Restorative Justice

  The group that came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome our Restorative Justice Team, Board Member Laura Dafoe, Volunteer Irina Verardo, and Coordinator Tina Simpson, was small. Possibly as the result of this relatively small circle, all had ample time to contribute and the resulting conversation was deep, sometimes difficult, and meaningful for…

• Welcoming MLA Rob Botterell to Discuss CleanBC, Old Growth, DRIPA, and. . . .

  Seventeen joined this late afternoon (4-6) ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MLA Rob Botterell. He offered a Land Acknowledgement, one of appreciation for the spectacular beauty of this part of the world and gratitude that we get to live here, reminding us of First Nations’ stewardship for the land we love.  After we all…

• Tenacious and Hardworking Partners Creating Pathways

  Ten joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Partners Creating Pathways (https://islandpathways.ca/committees/partners-creating-pathways/) team members Peter Meyer and Donald McLennan. After our Land Acknowledgment and an opportunity for participants to introduce themselves, Donald and Peter shared what “excited and delighted” them.  Donald began by sharing his delight that, after a lengthy period of hibernation, Partners…

• Local Community Commissioners Look Back on 2025 and Share Hopes for 2026

  Eight joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to hear from Gary Holman, Capital Regional District (CRD) Director, and Earl Rook, Chair of the CRD Local Community Commission (LCC), on accomplishments and challenges, looking back on 2025 and some of the hopes for 2026. Following Earl’s territorial acknowledgement, Gary and Earl distributed handouts to the participants…

• Restorative Justice: Building Resilience for Future Generations

  On Friday January 09, the Restorative Justice team welcomed young adults to join us in a conversation on how our community can aid in building resilience for our future generations. Extra special thanks to the youth that showed up! Our group started with a land acknowledgement, recognizing how we are lucky to be allowed to…

• An ASK Salt Spring 2025 Retrospective

  Designed to enhance community engagement, ASK Salt Spring weekly gatherings bring together diverse groups to discuss challenges and find solutions. While admittedly hard to believe, according to MP Elizabeth May, ASK Salt Spring is the only such weekly forum in Canada.  In 2025, ASK Salt Spring hosted 41 gatherings welcoming numerous guests from various levels…

• Connecting our Community Through Stories

  We are on holiday until January 9!  Please join us Friday, January 9,11-1, in the SIMS classroom next to the Boardroom, to welcome our Restorative Justice Team and continue the conversation about our youth, seeking to better understand their world as well as offering hope for their future. Hope you can join us.  And, until…