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Finding Solutions for our Canada Goose Conundrum
Thirteen joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Samantha Hammond, CRD Goose Management Coordinator and Penelakut First Nations Ken Thomas of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Natural Resources to discuss our conundrum around the damage these intelligent, majestic, and family-focused Canada Geese are doing to our environment. After all had a chance to introduce themselves, revealing a surprisingly high level of expertise on this issue among our participants, Ken offered a blessing for our time together of building relationships and seeking collaborative solutions. Samatha shared that she was “excited and delighted” by the growing success of CRD’s Goose Management program and expressed…
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Welcoming Royal Roads University President to Talk About RRU Salt Spring
Fifteen came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Royal Roads University’s President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Philip Steenkamp. In his Territorial Acknowledgement, he spoke of the natural order of seasons in indigenous cultures with spring a time of reuniting, shellfish and greens gathering, and preparation for the coming season of salmon fishing. Reminding us how we can learn from their practices, he told us that the land-based curriculum of Royal Roads University (RRU) is rooted in these natural imperatives of our land and its seasons. We all had a chance to introduce ourselves, revealing that most had come to…
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Learning About Lookout’s New Drake and Dean Road Housing
Eleven came to this ASK Salt Spring conversation to welcome the Lookout Housing and Health Society (https://lookoutsociety.ca/) Team, Lee Fox, Director of Vancouver Island Operations and Corey Burtini, Manager of both Drake and Dean Road housing facilities. After our Land Acknowledgement and an opportunity for each of us to introduce ourselves, Lee and Corey began by telling us what “excited and delighted” them. Lee, a member of the Lookout team for over 15 years, began by telling us that she was gleefully anticipating the arrival of spring, looking forward to grounding herself in her garden, riding her motorcycle, and enjoying…
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Aging in Place on Salt Spring
Our Restorative Justice Team hosted the ASK Salt Spring conversation on the topic “Aging in Place on Salt Spring: Enhancing Senior Vitality.” Community members gathered to reflect on how Salt Spring could better support aging with dignity, safety, and connection. Our time together began with each of us taking deep, grounding breaths followed by a Land Acknowledgment that honored Elders as vital keepers of tradition, culture, and knowledge. We noted our emphasis on restorative, voluntary dialogue and a commitment to a healing and inclusive conversation. The circle’s purpose was clear: to celebrate what Salt Spring did well for older residents,…
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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 this evening, a welcome benefit after his busy week in the Legislature and his plentiful constituent activities. Rob began by acknowledging that we are meeting in the traditional territory of Coast Salish nations and that any discussion about land, housing, and wealth must be grounded…
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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 conceived, born, and raised here. Most in this seasoned group, however, knew very little, if anything, about Housing NOW. That was soon to change. . . . Like so many, Adam, a Salt Springer for about eight years, works a variety of jobs, including as…
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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 this air of excitement was the appreciation of a homecoming as Carmen had grown up on Salt Spring and many in the room shared decades old memories with her. After our Land Acknowledgement and a chance for all to introduce themselves, our guests shared their…
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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 all. We began with our Land Acknowledgement during which we were reminded that it was the practices of Indigenous Peoples all over the world that created the foundation for Restorative Justice, committed to bringing communities together through safe dialogue. We were then introduced to the…
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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 had an opportunity to introduce ourselves, Rob shared his “excitement and delight” that, after his car refused to go into drive as he was beginning to board the ferry for a full day of critical meetings, he was able to coast a bit and get…
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Our Fabulous FabLab!
Many of the ten who joined us to welcome Ryan Shepard of our Library’s FabLab to this ASK Salt Spring gathering were totally unfamiliar with his amazing work. They were glad that they joined us. We learned a lot about FabLabs – digital fabrication laboratories – (https://www.fablabs.io/). While they are in many libraries across Canada (not all) as well as other locations, like colleges, and all use 3-D printers, their offerings vary greatly. Our FabLab is unique in many ways. Among those special differences are: After our Land Acknowledgement and an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves, we learned a…