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Salt Spring’s Housing Council Changes Direction to Focus on Business-Built Worker Housing
September 15, 2023: Nine welcomed Robin Williams, new chair of the Housing Council, to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Robin began by telling us what excites and delights him: lovingly-renovating homes that others would demolish. He shared pictures of a home on Long Harbour with extremely-serious foundation issues. After a complete renovation, including an extensive seismic […]
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Completing that Food Security Circle with our Abattoir, Composting, and Root Projects
September 8, 2023: While the information we gained was rich, the turnout to welcome one of our newly-elected Local Community Commissioners (LCC), Brian Webster, was disappointing. After a heartfelt Territorial Acknowledgement, ending with appreciation for the inexplicable forgiveness by First Nations on this journey of reconciliation, we began our time together learning more about three of our most critical agricultural […]
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Island Pathways – Committed to Safer Walking and Cycling for Over Three Decades
September 1, 2023: Only seven came to welcome Island Pathways’ President, Bob MacKie, board member Margaretha Nordine, and Treasurer Luke Campbell of its Cycling Salt Spring committee. While the numbers were small, the conversation was rich, and all had the opportunity to participate. Our Territorial Acknowledgment morphed into a brief exploration of some of the events in our colonial history that set […]
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Roads 101: Welcoming MoTI and Emcon
August 25, 2023: Twenty joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Owen Page, our Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) Area Manager, and Andrew Gaetz, Emcon (our roads maintenance contractor) Operations Manager. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, both Andrew and Owen told us that they were thrilled to be with us and, according to Owen, this was the very best […]
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That Difficult Balance: Parking Impacts of Creating a Walkable, Cycle-able Ganges
August 18, 2023: Nine came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to discuss parking in Ganges. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, a participant expressed deep concern that the Ganges Active Transportation Network Plan (https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/crd-document-library/plans-reports/planning-development/salt-spring-island-active-transportation-network-plan.pdf), had been released without specifically reaching out to community members with mobility challenges to get their input. (This plan was presented to the Local Community Commission […]
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Ferries, Trains, Cars, Bicycles, and Pedestrians. . . .Transportation Hits the Headlines. . . Again!
August 11, 2023: Fourteen joined us at this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome CRD’s Gary Holman, our Electoral Director as well as a member of the Local Community Commission (LCC) 5 member team. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary began by speaking briefly about his pessimism regarding the reinstatement of the train between Victoria and Nanaimo along the […]
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MLA Adam Olsen Challenges Status Quo: Do MLAs Still Need to Sit Two Sword Lengths Apart?
August 4, 2023: Twenty-two joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MLA Adam Olsen, assistant Patricia Pearson, and intern Maya Achuthan. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam shared with us things that excite and delight him. He first told us of how delighted he is with the community office and how updated processes have improved its service and productivity. […]
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An Optimistic Chamber of Commerce Dives into Projects to Enhance Ganges Vitality
July 28, 2023: Only seven joined us this week to welcome Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce’s (https://www.saltspringchamber.com/) Operations Manager, Alexander Fischer-Jean to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. It was good news that throngs did not come hoping to see MP Elizabeth May and disappointed that she is, very wisely, prioritizing her health. Sometimes the best conversations take place […]
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Umbrella Society – Providing Shelter From the Storms of Addiction in Victoria and now Salt Spring!
July 21, 2023: Only ten gathered to welcome Umbrella Society’s (https://www.umbrellasociety.ca/) Rebecca Wakefield, Evan James, and Corey Burtini. While so many others would have also enjoyed what we learned and the rich conversation, those who came were very glad that they joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After offering our Territorial Acknowledgement, Evan began by speaking about Umbrella’s commitment to […]
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Housing, Water, Transportation. . . .CRD’s Gary Offers Some New Twists to On-Going Conversations
July 14, 2023: Ten joined us to welcome CRD’s Gary Holman at this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After his Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary spoke of the progress made in the first two Local Community Commission meetings, gradually adjusting to being one of five making decisions about the majority of Salt Spring CRD services but also appreciating being part of […]