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A Loving Welcome to MP Elizabeth May – Solutions for Challenging Times
February 28 Thirty-seven came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MP Elizabeth May and her new Constituency Coordinator, Aysha Emmerson. After her Territorial Acknowledgement, Elizabeth shared delight about her new granddaughter, Lily, born October 30, 2024. While already the loving grandmother of step-grandchildren, Elizabeth has been blown away by the love, delight, and adoration she feels for her daughter Cate’s baby. After we all had a chance to introduce ourselves, Elizabeth started our discussion of local, federal, and transnational issues by addressing the local concerns of one participant about derelict boats in Ganges Harbour as well as hazardous…
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Where Have All Salt Spring’s Birds Gone? Wildlife Experts Offer Solutions
February 21 Twenty joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering about the islands ecology and the challenges it faces. Organized and facilitated by Julie Thomson, an international conservation specialist (as well as just elected ASK Salt Spring Society Board member), we welcomed: After our Territorial Acknowledgement, each of our guests introduced themselves and their work, beginning with David, a film-maker, photographer, naturalist, and science educator. He told us about Nature Salt Spring (https://www.naturesaltspring.org/membership), a volunteer organization established four years ago to educate and inspire Salt Spring Islanders to better understand, appreciate, and protect our natural ecosystems through action and advocacy. He spoke about his European ancestry…
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Dealing Effectively With Conflict
February 14 Twenty-three plus a newborn (babies and dogs are always welcome!) joined the circle to welcome Restorative Justice volunteers Laura, Jessica, and Fig to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. Our time together was designed to develop competence to deal effectively with conflicts, moving in subsequent months to address divisive Salt Spring issues. After our Territorial Acknowledgment, we set the tone by reviewing five basic agreements: Given the large number of participants, Laura reminded us to “take space and make space.” In other words, take the time you need to express yourself while also leaving time for others to do so. In the first of a…
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Welcoming MLA Rob Botterell!
February 7 Twenty-two joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Rob Botterell for his first time with us as our MLA. He was accompanied by his able and welcoming constituency assistant, Theresa Coles. (Don’t fret if you missed this opportunity: Rob plans to be with us the first Friday of each month, 11-1, SIMS classroom next to the Boardroom.) After his Territorial Acknowledgement, Rob added how grateful he was to be with us today and to have the opportunity to carry on the great work of former MLA Adam Olsen. When asked what “excites and delights” him, he shared…
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Seeking Simple Solutions
January 31 In January, ASK Salt Spring has hosted some weighty conversations: Seeking a break and a bit of fun, after our Territorial Acknowledgment, we considered what simple projects could make Salt Spring life just a bit better. While you may have suggested totally-different ideas, our small group of problem-solvers offered these: 1) So, what do you mean by Family Game Centre? The idea began with a year ‘round ping pong table for all to enjoy. Soon the idea grew into an area with not only a ping pong table but also horseshoes and a bocci ball court. Where? While many ideas were kicked around, the…
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Education 101: Learning Lots About Our School District 64
January 24 Fifteen joined us for all or part of this conversation with the School District 64 team, guiding the education of not only our Salt Spring youth but also those of Galiano, Saturna, Mayne, and Pender Islands with 1,500 students, nine schools, and 350 employees. Joining us were: After our Territorial Acknowledgement, each of our guests told us a bit about what excites and delights them. As an English major, Jill intended to teach until she decided what to do with her life. She had never expected the joy and passion she would get from her love of teaching…
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A FireSmart Salt Spring
January 17 Nineteenjoined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming Fire Chief Jamie Holmes and acting Assistant Fire Chief Warren Nuyens. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned what “excited and delighted” our guests. Warren began by sharing his pleasure with his role interacting with our community on exciting fire prevention projects, including FireSmart and the high school Cadet Camp (http://www.cadetcamp.ca/). This Cadet Camp offers our seniors an opportunity to see some of the exciting parts of firefighting, even including trusting equipment enough to enter a smoke-filled room and rappelling down a three-story building. We later learned that this long-running program has…
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Restorative Justice: Difficult Conversations Face-to-Face, One Conversation at a Time
January 10 Twenty-two joined us to welcome the Restorative Justice team to facilitate explorations of our difficult conversations in a safe and productive space. This is the first of a series of such Restorative Justice/ASK Salt Spring conversations scheduled for the second Friday of each month, 11-1, in the SIMS classroom. Leading our conversation this week was Laura Dafoe. She was joined by two new and enthusiastic Restorative Justice volunteers, Emma and Fig. Sadly missing was program coordinator Jessica Terezakis who is supporting her family in a recent health challenge. While many of us know about the meaningful work done…
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Chuan Volunteers Celebrate Opening of The Hearth
Twenty joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming the Chuan Society. After a heartfelt Territorial Acknowledgement, we began our conversation by learning about the Chuan Society:https://www.facebook.com/chuansociety/. A recent ASK Salt Spring guest, you may want to reread that report: https://saltspringexchange.com/2024/07/03/ask-salt-spring-welcomes-the-chuan-society/). The Chuan Society was founded in 2017 to address access and equity barriers through collective action. “Chuan” is a corruption of the original Hul’qu’minum name for Mt. Tuam, a sacred space meaning “sweeping down to the sea.” While the original intent was to honour the island’s original place names, Chuan Councillors (similar to Board members but guided by collective agreements rather than hierarchic rules) have since…
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Learning Lots About Our Lady Minto Hospital and New ER
November 29 Twelve joined us for all or part of the time for this ASK Salt Spring gathering that welcomed Erin Price-Lindstrom, Site Director of Lady Minto Hospital (LMH). After Erin’s Territorial Acknowledgement, she was asked what “excited and delighted” her. Since it had been nearly two years since she last joined us in early 2023 (see https://saltspringexchange.com/2023/04/10/ask-salt-spring-with-the-new-site-director-of-lady-minto-hospital-erin-price-lindstrom/), she had lots to tell us: Erin spoke briefly about the professional route that brought her to her position as Site Director. She originally moved to Salt Spring with her husband and family in 2015 as a midwife, having served families in…