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Anyone Want to Know More About CRD’s 2021 Budget?
October 23, 2020: Thirteen came to the Lions Hall – a one-timeASK Salt Spring location – to welcome Gary Holman to discuss the soon-to-be adopted 2021 CRD budget. While not as many as usual attended this ASK Salt Spring gathering, the blustery rain may account for some of this. Also, from an optimistic perspective, it is possible that very few Salt Springers have concerns about the proposed CRD budget with its 1% increase over 2020. After acknowledging living and working in the first nations land of the Coast Salish peoples, Gary walked us, step-by-step through, the proposed budget, including the budget process, COVID impacts,…
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Hope for the Housing Challenges and Solutions Project
October 16, 2021: With rain predicted, nine hearty Salt Springers gathered to welcome Islands Trustee, Laura Patrick, as our special guest in the United Church Meadow. Other than gusty winds that blew over a few of the unoccupied chairs, the weather was practically-perfect for our last Friday in the Meadow for this season. And it has been so good! Participants have clearly enjoyed our summer gatherings in the lovely Meadow – a welcome change from our spring of self-isolation and, for many, far too much Zooming about. We actually measured greater participation – average attendance has almost doubled during these summer…
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Persistence, Tenacity, and Dogged Determination: NDP Candidate Zeb King’s Formula for Success
October 9, 2021: Sixteen hardy folks braved the chilly winds on a rainy fall Saturday. They were well-rewarded, for they all got an opportunity to meet the NDP Candidate, Zeb King and ask him questions. Even though some freezing participants left before 1:00, it is safe to say that everyone left glad that they had met Zeb as well as all having a better understanding of why he wants to be our next MLA. The loud and clear message Zeb offered to us was of his commitment to both the climate and social justice as well as his tenacity, persistence, and…
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An Enthusiastic Welcome for Candidate Adam Olsen
October 2, 2021: Thirty-six enthusiastic Salt Springers gathered in the United Church Meadow to welcome candidate Adam Olsen. While his visit to us was much like so many other times he has joined us at ASK Salt Spring, the spattering of green Adam Olsen signs signaled a slight difference in this gathering. The plentiful applause and the evident appreciation for him clearly illustrated the appreciation for Adam that has grown considerably these past few years. Later in the gathering, Adam shared his initial concerns (and, yes, even trepidation) coming to Salt Spring where involvement is widespread, intelligence prevalent, and opinions abound. He credited ASK Salt…
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Our Housing Crisis: Integrated Solutions are Possible and Urgent
September 25, 2021: Surprisingly, the weather gods smiled upon us and the rain cleared, giving 10 participants another lovely – and at times even warm – day in the United Church Meadow. Islands Trust Local Trustee Laura Patrick began our gathering by speaking about her personal journey of Reconciliation. She then noted that she had spent the week participating virtually in the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) conference. While there were amazing moments, like listening to the keynote speech by Margaret Atwood, she admitted that she missed the energy and creativity that can happen when meeting together in person.…
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“Hewers of Wood; Drawers of Water:” Adam Asks Us To Start A Different Conversation
September 18, 2022: Twenty-three Salt Springers welcomed our MLA Adam Olsen to this gathering in the United Church Meadow. (Two others listened from a distance, but they never joined our circle nor our conversation.) While the air was smokey – a constant reminder of those in peril in the fires to the south – the rain gods held off to allow us to again gather in the lovely Meadow. Adam began by inviting us all to speak from our hearts when we begin our meetings with an acknowledgment of our unceded territory. We were assured that, if spoken from the heart,…
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A Year in Retrospect for ASK Salt Spring: October 4, 2019 – September 18, 2020
: September 20, 2020 Why: ASK Salt Spring was born from the clear frustrations experienced by too many when seeking answers to even simple questions. Our complex governance has resulted in confusion about who does what as well as too many areas of either overlap or duplication. ASK Salt Spring is an attempt to bridge silos by providing a consistent place Islanders can come to get the answers they need. While the heart of ASK Salt Spring is its weekly gatherings, the email option (ask@asksaltspring.com) is also heavily-used. Reports of weekly gatherings are posted in the Salt Spring Exchange as well as on the Community Alliance website,…
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Affordable Housing: Both Successes and Stumbling Blocks
September 11: 2022: Fifteen participated in this ASK Salt Spring gathering that welcomed special guest CRD Director, Gary Holman. (Three others listened outside the circle in the shade of the apple tree.) The focus of much of the conversation was upon affordable housing progress and the stumbling blocks impeding this progress. The discussion began with a question about the proposed CRD affordable housing on Drake Road, property donated by School District 64. We learned that, while BC Housing continues discussions with CRD about a project on a portion of that property, there has still not been a definitive decision that Gary can share.…
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Seeking Mental Health in Our Community – Beginning with Dignity and Tolerance for All
September 4, 2022: Fifteen participated in this ASK Salt Spring gathering on one of those perfect last days of summer in the United Church Meadow. Although all questions were welcomed, the focus of the conversation was upon mental health in our community. We were pleased to welcome health professional and co-chair of the Salt Spring Health Advancement Network (SSHAN), David Norget; President of the Salt Spring Community Health Society, Jennifer Williams; and Willie McPherson, of the Chu’an Society. David began the conversation by speaking briefly about himself and his involvement with SSHAN, a network of health professionals and health-related non-profits working together to address health issues challenging Salt…
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Up Close and Personal – Climate Actions for Everyone
August 28, 2022: Fifteen attended this ASK Salt Spring gathering on a perfect summer Friday to welcome Darryl Martin and Elisa Rathje, hard-working authors of our soon-to-be-released Climate Action Plan 2.0. Darryl, the chair of this audacious effort, began by acknowledging the many others (about 25) who have spent countless hours writing this plan of the action needed on Salt Spring to mitigate and adapt to the devastating effects of climate change. This plan has already been reviewed by most organizations to get their feedback, so the focus of the conversation at this ASK Salt Spring gathering was not upon governmental responsibility but upon what…