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Pondering the Future of our Bus System with Brian and Gary
September 5 Nine joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Local Community Commissioners (LCC) Brian Webster and Gary Holman (also our Electoral Director). Aptly facilitated by Grant Fredrickson, comprehensive notes were taken by Julie Thomson – thanks, team! While they were open to any LCC questions, the main topic for discussion was to solicit feedback about the proposal to increase the taxation ceiling for our bus system. While this will not necessarily result in higher taxes for our transit system this year, this increase will give the LCC the ability to raise taxes for this service over the years…
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Reconciliation, Electoral Reform, and Advocacy for Salt Spring Issues. . . Welcoming MLA Rob Botterell
August 22 Thirteen came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MLA Rob Botterrell. As we prepared to begin, it was noted that a portion of last week’s report citing progress on Soule Creek may be aspirational but is simply incorrect. Apologies for the misinformation. . . bringing home the fact that you cannot believe everything you read. Rob began by offering his Acknowledgement by reading the last paragraph of the 800-page brief from the BC Supreme Court regarding Cowichan Tribes v. Canada (https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/08/19/Precedent-Setting-Cowichan-Tribes-v-Canada-Case/). On August 7, 2025, after proceedings lasting 513 days, this judgment recognized the title of…
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Welcoming Owen and Andrew for Salt Spring Roads 101
August 8 Sixteen joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming Andrew Gaetz, Emcon (our roads maintenance contractor) Operations Manager, and Owen Page, Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT) Area Manager. Owen’s MoTT responsibility includes Salt Spring and Saturna Islands as well as the entire CRD region from Point Renfrew south. Working closely with Emcon, his responsibilities include overseeing operations and maintenance of the provincial roads in his area. While in the information loop, large projects, like Ganges Hill, are managed by other departments. Emcon’s Andrew has a huge span of responsibility on Vancouver Island from Chemainus south and all the Gulf Islands.…
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We Can Do better for Our Seniors!
Fifteen joined us to welcome BC Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt and Communications Manager Jocelyne Lahaye to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After our Acknowledgement and a chance for all to introduce themselves, we learned what “excites and delights” Dan. He recalled with pleasure his first trip to Salt Spring on a cycling/camping trip to Ruckle Park in 1985. He savoured an Embe treat those many years ago – and had just enjoyed that guilty pleasure again before our gathering. If you want to know more about Dan, you may enjoy reading: https://www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca/about-the-advocate/). He is also delighted to be in a…
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Lovingly Welcoming MP Elizabeth May
Thirty joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to lovingly welcome MP Elizabeth May. She began our time together with an acknowledgement of her honour and gratitude to be working with First Nations whose sheer grit have given them the strength to survive past and ongoing colonial oppression. After going around the circle with introductions from participants, some with many decades of living on Salt Spring to our newest just married guests who have been here only two weeks, we asked Elizabeth what “excites and delights” her. For her, while politics is important, what excites her the most are her rich…
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Navigating Community Divides
July 11 Although the crowd was small, the welcome was enthusiastic for this week’s ASK Salt Spring guest, RCMP Sergeant Clive Seabrook. We began with his recognition and appreciation of the land on which we live and love, even though this joy is often tempered with a heavy heart, recognizing past injustices. With a smile, Clive told us that he is “excited and delighted” by. . . everything! He continues to love his work and his ability to make a difference. He is very proud of the work done every day by the police officers and staff at the Salt…
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“This is How Government Should Work!”
July 4 Eighteen joined us for this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming MLA Rob Botterell and his Constituency Advocate Deborah Bowman. During his Land Acknowledgement, Rob spoke of the honour he felt in collaborating on the good work of restoring, preserving, and protecting the land we so love. Although we may never restore it to the richness of past years, he is glad to be one of many working with First Nations to repair and regenerate our lands. Rob is “excited and delighted” with his summer so far, one of travel, meeting constituents, sailing, and attending local summer fairs throughout…
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A Lively Conversation with BC Ferries CEO/President Nicholas Jimenez
June 27: Twenty-ninejoined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcomeBC Ferries’CEO/President Nicolas Jimenez and Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing, Lindsay Matthews. Salt Springers came to learn and ask questions, including our elected officials as well many current and former ferry employees. Our guests received the full Salt Spring experience as Lindsay was slightly tardy due to the Ganges Hill construction as was Nicolas due to a mechanical issue on the Crofton Ferry. They both arrived with smiles on their faces, glad to be with us for this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After offering our Land Acknowledgement, Nicolas began by…
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Learning About Neurodivergence. Support, and Inclusion
June 20 Fourteen joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Amanda Myers of GIFTS, Gulf Islands Families Together Society, and Anna Vineyard of The Diverse Village. While different, with GIFTS (https://www.gulfislandgifts.com/) a charity serving Salt Spring families for over a quarter of a century and The Diverse Village (https://thediversevillage.ca/) a newly established nonprofit, they have partnered to fill significant gaps, bringing support, inclusion, and belonging to the neurodivergent ((https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23154-neurodivergent) children, youth, and adults of our community. Amanda offered a moving acknowledgement, sharing some of her Indigenous personal and family history while also reminding us that, in First Nations communities, this…
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Navigating Those Difficult Conversations With Family and Loved Ones
NOTE: This addition to the June 6 ASK Salt Spring Report requested by a participant: “When asked if he would be willing to seek a meeting with the Minister of Health that would also include Gary Holman to discuss the $50 million taken out of the Island Health budget for a new long term care facility on Salt Spring, Rob agreed to put it on his strategy list in September.” June 13: Nine joined us to welcome Laura Dafoe and Jessica Terezakis for thisRestorative Justice/ASK Salt Spring gathering to discuss what works (and does not work) when encountering divisive issues among…