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Celebrating Our New Local Radio Station – About to Go Live!
August 23, 2024: A small group (plus another well-behaved pup) gathered to learn all about our community radio CHiR.fm. President of the Gulf Islands Community Radio Society, Damian Inwood, was familiar to many of us as a regular ASK Salt Spring participant, interviewing our special guests after most gatherings. (Interested? Check out ASK Salt Spring Answered: https://chir.fm/answered.) Damian was joined by society Secretary Charley Miller and Treasurer David Crouch. We also owe thanks to facilitator Sheila Dobie and notetaker Julie Thomson for their invaluable contributions to this gathering. After a Territorial Acknowledgement by Damian, speaking of the power of Indigenous communities helping one another in…
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Welcoming Housing Expert Justine Starke and Exploring Options for More Local Rentals
August 16, 2024: Nineteen, and one very well-behaved pup, joined us for all or part of our ASK Salt Spring housing conversation with Southern Gulf Islands CRD Manager – and former Salt Spring Islands Trust Planner – Justine Starke. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began our conversation with our traditional question, asking Justine what “excites and delights” her. Recognizing that there were so many things that give her pleasure, she spoke briefly about her commitment to diversity, both in our community as well as in our environment. While housing concerns have been a large part of her focus as the CRD Manager for the Southern…
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Salt Spring Lovingly Welcomes MP Elizabeth May
July 26. 2024: Seventeen joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MP Elizabeth May and Ned Taylor, Member’s Assistant. In her Territorial Acknowledgement, she gratefully recognized the many First Nations who honoured and protected land, noting that borders between Canada and the US have challenged free passage, impacting century-old tribal relationships. Giving everyone a chance to introduce themselves, we learned that participants had come to this gathering with a variety of perspectives and interests. When asked what “excited and delighted” her, Elizabeth’s answer was immediate: Her new (still honeymooning after five years) husband John, who had also joined us. Adding to her…
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Salt Spring’s Community Services Team Discusses a Wide Range of Programs as well as Complex Challenges
July 19, 2024: Twenty joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming the members of the Island Community Services Team (https://saltspringcommunityservices.ca/contact-us/) that included Rob Grant, Executive Director; Jamie Ferguson, Food Programs Coordinator; Nikky Peers, Youth Program Coordinator and new Seniors’ Community Connector; Kyla Duncan, Clinical Director, and Rob Wiltzen, Operations and Communications Manager. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned from each what “excited and delighted” them with many answers focused on the wonders of summer and joys that included water sports, camping, time to romp with an energetic pup, and family time. Professionally, the team expressed pleasure working together meeting needs of those in our community. …
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Salt Spring’s Local Community Commission – Hurtling Forward Despite Hurdles
July 12, 2024: While a small gathering, our time together offered a fascinating exploration of governance issues with our special guest, Local Community Commission (LCC) Chair, Earl Rook, backed up by Local Commissioner Gayle Baker, also notetaker and report-writer. We began with our Territorial Acknowledgement during which Earl lamented all the First Nations sites that have been disturbed, hopeful that we are better-protecting these unique monuments of the centuries that Salt Spring served as an Indigenous homeland to so many bands. When asked what “excited and delighted” him by facilitator Grant Fredrickson, Earl replied that he was thrilled by the positive…
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ASK Salt Spring Bids a Sad Farewell to MLA Adam Olsen
July 5, 2024: Twenty-six joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Laura Parker, Outreach Coordinator, and to bid a sad farewell to MLA Adam Olsen who has decided not to run again. The clear message throughout our time together was our support for his decision to focus his attention on family and personal opportunities as well as heartfelt appreciation of the terrific job he has done representing us over the years. We began our conversation with Adam’s Territorial Acknowledgement , reminding us of the uniqueness of our islands and that it should be our privilege to belong to them rather than owning…
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Building Community Connections Through Sharing Meals, Grief, and Laughter. . .The Chuan Society Does This and More
June 28, 2024: Twenty-one gathered to welcome the Chuan Society to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. Special guests included chairperson Kajin Goh, council members Lauren Porter, Jenny McClean, and Stephen Carey, and Gabriel’s Kitchen team members Cheryl Roehlig, Kristin Norget, and Keith Delaney. After his Territorial Acknowledgment (suggesting that Land and People Honouring might be an added term), Kajin spoke of his “excitement and delight” with the “People Power” being created from small seeds. These seeds are continuously nurtured by the excitement, energy, and hard work of so many volunteers, many of who had joined us for this conversation. Working alongside a non-hierarchical Chuan…
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Learning About the Wonders of HomeSharing
June 21, 2024: A small group gathered to welcome Max Baron-Veale, Salt Spring’s Housing NOW Coordinator and to learn about HomeSharing. After Max’s moving Territorial Acknowledgement, we each took a few moments to introduce ourselves, most adding the Indigenous-like acknowledgement of our parents and roots. Max then told us what “excited and delighted” him. On his mind was his imminent departure for his first ever jujitsu competition. Clearly a gentle soul, he was a bit nonplussed by the combative aspects of his newfound sport. Professionally, he is very excited about the potential of HomeSharing on Salt Spring, anxious to further explore its as one…
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The One Year Anniversary of Salt Spring’s Local Community Commission: A Focus on Housing
June 14, 2024: While the gathering welcoming Local Community Commissioners (LCC) Chair Earl Rook and Electoral Director Gary Holman was small, those who participated expressed their appreciation for our housing-focused conversation. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, facilitator Grant Fredrickson asked our guests what “Excited and Delighted” them. Earl began by expressing pleasure that the long, dark days of winter have been replaced by our spring/summer weather. He also spoke briefly of his appreciation for the community support for the LCC, approaching the one-year anniversary of the swearing in of Salt Spring’s first Local Community Commissioners on June 20, 2023: Gary continued this theme…
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Local Businesses as Positive Social Change Agents? “Yes!” Says our New Chamber
June 14, 2024: Eleven (including the fun addition of Jason’s young ones) joined us at this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome our Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce’s new Executive Director, Matthew Quetton, and new President, Jason Roy-Allen. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Jason and Matthew told us a bit about themselves and what “excites and delights” them. Jason began by telling us that, a new arrival to Salt Spring, he and his wife own Hen and Hound Farm (complete with farm stand and B&B), the Brasserie (the old Fernwood Café), and, most recently, the Feast (the old House Piccolo). An experienced startup…