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Learning the Tools to Address Conflict Effectively

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: 1) Honour each individual’s opportunity to speak when holding the talking piece. 2) Speak and listen with respect. 3) Speak and listen from the heart. 4) Take the time you need while also being mindful of the need for others to have time. 5) Honour confidentiality: Share the learning, not the details or personal information. 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 fir…
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Cycling Without Age on Salt Spring

Many of us may fondly remember riding a bicycle for the first time, this is when we may have experienced our first feelings of freedom as children. While contributing to our physical well being, being out in the open on a bike also connects us to our environment in ways very few other things do. That connection whether experienced through riding a bike or walking is vital for our well being and its absence in older disabled people is deeply missed. WIth this in mind, Island Pathways recently purchased an electric trishaw with funding generously offered by the Salt Spring Foundation to start a Cycling Without Age branch on the island. Cycling Without Age (CWA) was founded in Denmark in 2012 to offer elderly citizens an opportunity to get out safely on rides. By 2020, this initiative was so popular that it had expanded into 50 countries, serving over 1.5 million people worldwide including children and many with reduced mobility. To offer this service, CWA uses a trishaw, a …
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Emergency Shelter Status Clarified

February 14, 2025 - Island Community Services (ICS) is clarifying key facts around the operation of the Emergency Shelter based at their main office location at 268 Fulford-Ganges Road on Salt Spring Island today. The shelter was never closed, despite postings to the contrary. People should be wary of any postings publishing details of the Emergency Shelter that are not from Island Community Services. The shelter is open 24/7/365 and available for people who are experiencing homelessness and need a place to stay indoors. The Emergency Shelter is funded by BC Housing and is a minimal -barrier shelter to ensure the most vulnerable people are served. ICS will never publish details of the people being served by the shelter, including gender or number of individuals at any time. The shelter is always open and accessible to those who need it and is a well known resource for those in need and with all community partners including RCMP, Island Health, Emergency Services, th…
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The Fritz Cinema Continues to Reel in Audiences

I was so excited last winter to see my first movie at The Fritz. I had been driving past the cinema and its chalkboard listing of upcoming films for years as a visitor, and it seemed impossibly quaint in an era of multiplexes, IMAX and home streaming. So, a couple weeks after moving to SSI, I went by myself to see “Poor Things.” I wasn’t sure where the entrance was and didn’t realize the concession stand would shut down at showtime, yet that all felt part of the homegrown charm, along with the local ads and photos that ran before the previews of upcoming films. But best of all, was the realization that I could regularly see first-rate, first-run movies on the big screen while living on a small island. I was instantly hooked on The Fritz experience and went back the following week for “The Color Purple” and continue to go whenever I can. I often hear grumbles that Salt Spring isn’t what it used to be, that changing demographics have made the island less quirky and uniqu…
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Cellist Tours Islands to Fundraise for Orcas

Clara "the Sidewalk Cellist" has called Vancouver home for most of her life, though she spent several years living on Salt Spring, and two years (during the pandemic somewhat stuck) in Cambodia. As many readers know, growing up in this part of the world instills a reverence for nature, a passion for protecting it, and she feels now more than ever we must all raise our voices to ensure the survival of this incredible coastal ecosystem. Clara once considered a career in politics, but decided she would rather sing about the causes than recite speeches. In September of last year she released her fourth full-length album titled “Pacific Rain” - the title track inspired by our beautiful, wild coastline. This March she will tour across the islands, share this music with local communities, and raise funds for the Georgia Strait Alliance. Many of Clara's compositions swim through and around themes of vulnerability, mortality, reverence for nature, humility, compassion, hope, r…
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First Repair Cafe of the Year is a Huge Success

Transition Salt Spring’s Repair Cafe a Huge Success Submitted by: Transition Salt Spring’s Climate Coach Transition Salt Spring’s Climate Action Coach hosted their first “rethink waste” event of the year on Saturday. The Repair Cafe defied the snow and cold with resounding success! Nearly 120 community members braved the weather to have their cherished items repaired—typewriters, sewing machines, lamps, toasters, guitar straps, torn leather jackets, and ripped pants were among the 100+ items expertly handled. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our dedicated volunteer fixers and organizing committee for orchestrating yet another memorable event. However, the Repair Cafe transcends mere item repair; it's about fostering community, sharing stories and skills, and reclaiming our sense of possibility through collective action. While not every item found was fixed, the collective effort underscores our capacity for impactful change through small steps together. Our excep…
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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 his pleasure that 2025 will bring us the opportunity to work on shared issues, commitment to successfully address issues, and joy with the melting snow - allowing him to be with us today without worrying about driving in treacherous snow. The first question from a participant acknowledged appreciation of his first newsletter. (Want to receive this bi-weekly newsletter? ) She asked about the results of the…
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Linda's List for Feb. 8: Starting Seeds, Dormant Sprays

Despite the nuisance of dealing with snow over the last week or two around the coast, the storms have been very good for vegetables in the garden (and for the shoots of garlic and spring flower bulbs that are up). Snow insulates plants, keeping them warmer than the air temperatures above, so the deeper the snow, the better the protection. When the snow melts, you might see broken or bent plants and cold damaged leaves, but don’t be tempted to clean up the garden: leave everything alone! Root crops should be fine if they were protected by a good mulch before the snow further insulated the beds. Chard, spinach, hardy lettuce plants can look pretty bad, especially if leaves were frozen to the ground, but they usually grow back from the roots to provide a much earlier and larger harvest than you could hope to achieve with spring seedlings. Kale can have all the leaves broken off by deep snow, yet after a few weeks of spring warmth, new leaves sprout all along the stems. Give cabbag…
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Obituary: Thomas Knoth

Thomas Knoth December 20, 1949, to February 1, 2025 Our beloved Thomas was ripped out of our lives on February 1st, by an aggressive cancer that swept through him in 11 short days. He had been happy and healthy up until then, working hard on our property, creating walking trails to be able to enjoy the land into old age. He was living his best life in his workshop, creating beautiful furniture and discovering the joy of lathe work and building fine pieces from wood he had collected. Thomas was bigger than life, full of ideas and projects, still waiting to be done. He leaves behind his long time life companions, Katharine, Christel and Ron, as well as his two children, Andreas and Janina, and grandchildren, Makena, Caeden, Amanda and Ryan. Thomas and Christel fell in love with Salt Spring Island, and the whole family moved to the farm on North Beach Rd from Germany in 1982, to fulfill Thomas and his father’s dream of living a life on the land, with nature and fishing in…
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Seeking Simple Salt Spring Solutions

January 31 In January, ASK Salt Spring has hosted some weighty conversations: - Difficult conversations guided by Restorative Justice, - FireSmarting our homes, and - Complex School District 64 decisions 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) Family Game Centre, 2) A Dinner Activity Club, 3) Easy Opening of Those Annoying Pill and Food Containers, and 4) Visitor Funding for Salt Spring Services and Infrastructure? 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 eventual consensus was that Centennial Park was by far the best l…
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