-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
The Joys of Local Community Media
Twelve joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome our local media. Joining us were Colin How and Leslie Ash, new owners of the Salt Spring Exchange; Gail Sjuberg, Gulf Islands Driftwood editor; and Damian Inwood, President of our soon-to-be-live local radio station, CHiR.fm. After our Territorial Acknowledgement offered by Damian, we asked each of our guests what “excited and delighted” them. Damian began by giving us an update on CHiR.fm‘s progress going live. Currently, CHiR.fm has nearly completed its month long live test from its tower on Mt. Belcher. Broadcasting for 24 hour broadcasts, in five-hour repeating segments per day. The purpose of this four-week test is to make sure that…
-
Welcoming Copper Kettle/Wagon Wheel’s Cherie – a Local Heroine!
November 15 Nine joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Cherie Geauvreau, the heart and soul of the Copper Kettle/Wagon Wheel team. After offering a loving Penelakut greeting as our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began learning about the work of the Copper Kettle/Wagon Wheel Housing Society (https://saltspringexchange.com/2016/07/19/copper-kettle-cooks-for-a-community-cause/). When asked what “excited and delighted” her, Cherie did not pause: writing poetry gives her great joy, proud of the poetry book she published (https://abcbookworld.com/writer/geauvreau-cheri/). Also “excited and delighted” by connecting Salt Springers, she and her team have been serving those in need for nearly a quarter of a century. Since 2002 when Copper Kettle Community…
-
Trials and Triumphs of our Road Maintenance
November 8 Ten joined us to welcome Emcon Operations Manager Andrew Gaetz to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. As most Salt Springers know, Emcon (https://www.emconservices.ca/bc-contract-areas/) is our roads maintenance contractor. Andrew’s region includes all provincial roads from Chemainus in the north to Victoria, including Port Renfrew, Lake Cowichan, Sooke, and all roads on the six Southern Gulf Islands. With a ten-year contract that began in 2019, we learned that there may also be a five-year extension beyond 2029 to this contract. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Andrew spoke of his “delight and excitement” that winter is on its way with trucks…
-
Welcoming Penelakut Councillor Kurt to Discuss a Reconciled Salt Spring
November 1 Fourteen joined us for a conversation with Penelakut ((https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Penelkut&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8) Councillor Kurt Irwin, his uncles Ken and Chuck, and Archive volunteer managers Christina Marshall and Ceridwen Ross Collins. A unique and fun ASK Salt Spring, all seemed to enjoy a fascinating glimpse at our past as well as a future Salt Spring rich with First Nations partnerships. Kurt began by offering a heartfelt and very personal Territorial Acknowledgement sharing his rediscovery of his Indigenous roots. It all began almost exactly a decade ago when he offered an Indigenous funeral service for his Penelakut mother, Lil Sampson Irwin, on October…