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Road Maintenance 101
January 31, 2022: A large number of Salt Springers, totaling 29, came to ask their questions and learn from three managers of Emcon, our new roads maintenance contractor. As the first time in the memories of most that our roads maintenance contractor has come to Salt Spring to listen to concerns, there was heartfelt acknowledgment by all of the efforts Emcon is making to reach out to us. Many had specific concerns about their neighbourhood road, ranging from overfull gutters, icy curves, and fast-encroaching invasive species – especially gorse – to the request for information about when to expect their road…
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Just Another Plan? What is Unique About our Climate Action Plan?
January 29, 2021 Seventeen gathered via Zoom, welcoming some of the many authors of our soon-to-be-released Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2.0. We celebrated the completion of this audacious plan, taking thousand of hours of volunteer work researching and writing as well as outreach to over 2,000 members of our community, government officials, and a wide variety of local nonprofits. Darryl Martin (Chair) joined us as well as authors Simon Wheeler, Peter Lamb, and Jim Standen. We learned that the very best way to get a copy as soon as it is available (estimated to be within the next few weeks) is…
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Whatever is “Restorative Justice?” And, How Can it Help Address Safety for All in Our Community?
January 22, 2021: After a heartfelt territorial acknowledgment, 13 ASK Salt Spring participants welcomed Restorative Justice volunteers Darlene Gage and Laura Defoe. Also Zooming about with us was our new RCMP Sargent, Clive Seabrook. We all also welcomed his participation in our conversation. We began by learning about Restorative Justice (RJ) http://www.rjssi.org/and its exciting potential to help address the oft-discussed issues of safety in our community. Based on indigenous principles, RJ seeks a system of restoration rather than punishment. RJ volunteers work to restore a relationship between the responsible person (often seen in our culture as the “offender”) and the affected person (often viewed as the “victim.” We…
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Francis Bread – and Other Interesting Topics. . . Some Lessons Learned?
January 15, 2021: We were lucky enough to have both Islands Trustees as special guests at this ASK Salt Spring Zoom gathering, with Peter Grove joining fifteen of us for the entire time, and Laura Patrick joining us at about 12:30. While Francis Bread took the spotlight for much of the gathering, we also learned about Islands Trust challenges, logging, and housing restrictions and opportunities. After a heartfelt territorial acknowledgement, Peter began by sharing some of his thoughts and concerns. He expressed his horror with the events rocking our neighbor to the south and his deep, on-going concerns about COVID. These terrible dramas have forced us to recognize what…
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Will 2021 Bring Approval for a New Firehall, Safety for All in Our Parks, Ganges Hill Improvements?
January 8, 2021: Eleven participants welcomed CRD’s Gary Holman to an ASK Salt Spring Zoom gathering – the first in 2021. Gary began by confirming that the Salt Spring Island Transportation Commission is committed to getting a pedestrian pathway on the west (uphill) side of the Ganges Hill roadway. Hopes are that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) will repave and add bike lanes to the Ganges Hill portion of Fulford Ganges Road (from Seaview to Beddis) this summer. While we may not be ready to construct this pathway at the same time, plans are to proceed as quickly as possible. …
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Adam is Back – Bravely Diving Into Complex Issues like Health Care
December 4, 2020: Adam is Back – Bravely Diving Into Complex Issues like Health Care Fifteen joined the ASK Salt Spring Zoom gathering to welcome Adam back as our MLA. We had all missed him as he was forced into that candidate role again. Throughout the gathering, joy was repeatedly expressed that he can now get back to work to address those issues most important to us. He was pleased to introduce a new member of his team – Kate O’Conner – disappointed the she did not win in her riding but committed to providing her a wonderful experience serving our community. In the…
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Welcoming CRD’s Gary Holman to Discuss Issues as Well as Savouring Some Good News
November 13, 2020 Fourteen gathered at the Foxglove Nursery Greenhouse to welcome our CRD Director Gary Holman. With higher numbers this week, we needed both the speaker system as well as more seats, but, despite a bit of scurrying, all seemed pleased with the idyllic setting. After a participant’s heartfelt territorial acknowledgment, Gary began with some good news: the Capital Regional Hospital district, a group to which we contribute each year, has allocated $3 million towards Lady Minto emergency room expansion, a $10 million project. The Lady Minto Hospital Foundation has committed $4 million and plans to raise the additional $3…
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Offal and Effluent. . . Learning About all Things Mucky
October 30, 2020: Eight came to our first ever ASK Salt Spring in the idyllic Foxglove Nursery greenhouse to welcome Mary Richardson, Chair of the Liquid Waste Commission as well as passionate advocate of the proposed composting facility in the Burgoyne Valley. While the numbers were small, they allowed us to learn so much about one of our most important, if not sexy, subjects: waste. We learned about offal and effluent and, yes, it was a great conversation. (Thanks, Mary!) Mary began by offering kudos to Elizabeth White for her dedication and the many hours she and others had contributed to making the…
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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…