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MLA Adam Olsen updates on the pandemic, emergency management and more

It has been a challenging year in British Columbia. The persistent COVID-19 pandemic and opioid crisis have required an unparalleled public health response. The heat dome, wildfires, and flooding are powerful examples of the demand climate change will put on our provincial and community infrastructure and public safety response. The confluence of these social and climate crises has taken the lives of loved ones and pushed our public systems and infrastructure to the brink of collapse. We are grateful for the courageous work of all the first responders, emergency management staff, local government leaders and staff and community volunteers this year. We are concerned about our individual and collective preparedness. We have asked several questions of the government about our emergency response, vulnerabilities of transportation infrastructure, and contingencies for food security. The provincial government is reviewing and updating the Emergency Program Act. The…
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Islanders invited to remember and commit to violence-free communities

On Monday, December 6, Salt Spring islanders are invited to gather online at 5 PM in memorial and solidarity of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada.  Like last year, the memorial - hosted by The Circle Salt Spring Education Society and Islanders Working Against Violence (IWAV) - will be a Zoom event that will be live-streamed online. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada was established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada to commemorate the 14 young women who were murdered by a gunman on December 6, 1989, at l’École Polytechnique in Montreal as a deliberate act of violence against women. More than 30 years have passed since the École Polytechnique massacre, and gender-based violence continues to be a real and horrific issue in the world, in Canada, and in our own community. Every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner (Statistics Canada 2019) and on any given night…
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ASK Salt Spring with Salt Spring Island Emergency Coordinator, Charles Nash on recent flooding and road conditions

Eighteen Salt Springers came to discuss our recent flood and our roads with Salt Spring Island Emergency Coordinator, Charles Nash, and four of our Transportation Commissioners. After a meaningful Territorial Acknowledgment, we asked Charles to begin by giving us some guidance about preparing for emergencies. The messages were loud and clear - and repeated in a variety of ways during our two hours together: We each have a responsibility to prepare ourselves for emergencies. Some of these preparations include having several Grab and Go bags ready (for home, car, work, and pets), having extra water accessible, and signing up for the application, Alertable. Our PODs are critically-important in addressing emergencies. They are able to successfully-alert and help neighbours by phone, email, notice boards, and even knocking on doors. Charles suggested we all make sure that we are connected to our neighborhood POD. If you cannot seem to identify one in your community, conta…
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New community poll rejects Islands Trust draft policy statement

The Islands Trust Draft Policy Statement should be deferred until the next municipal election mandate in Oct. 2022, say 85% of those surveyed in a recent poll. Another 69.3% say “scrap it” entirely. These were among the main findings from a new Southern Gulf Islands resident and business poll held over two weeks in November. Approximately 450 locals who joined a public website, via flyers, word of mouth and social media, were invited to complete the survey. The survey had a 42% response rate, representing 189 individuals of diverse ages from Salt Spring, Galiano, Mayne, Pender, and others. Strong opposition to the current draft stems from the belief the Islands Trust regional government used a top-down, secretive process to ram through the 51 new regulatory directives, everything from banning desalination despite chronic water shortages, prohibiting new docks in areas with poor ferry service, disallowing tiny homes during a housing crisis, limiting farming, retail options or…
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Obituary: Cliff Jones

Cliff was born May 6, 1940 in Vancouver and passed away on November 23, 2021, surrounded by loved ones. Cliff lived and worked on Salt Spring Island since 1970 (on and off) and his wife Shelley Nitikman still lives here. Cliff led an immense life that was always large, loud, and full of passion – a life that cannot be reduced to words. Fast cars, nautical adventures (and disasters), good food, fine wines, and music. Cliff was always moving and never stopped working, even to his last days. He drove taxi, ran a Jazz Club, was a carpenter, a teacher, sold wine, was a PR Director at the Vancouver Art Institute, and left a lasting legacy in the Canadian music Industry. Cliff met countless people; his family and friends were his deepest joy. Everyone felt his love and loyalty and probably has a unique (and likely crazy) story about Cliff. Cliff was predeceased by his parents and younger brother. He is survived by Shelley, her children and their families, by his brother Roy a…
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IWAV granted $18,500 from collective fundraising network of 100+ Women Who Care

Eighty-two members of the 100+ Women Who Care Salt Spring group gathered via Zoom on a rainy November 17th to hear compelling five-minute presentations from three worthy Island causes. An anonymous vote was cast in real time, revealing the charity of choice who will receive a $18,500 pooled collection is IWAV, or Islanders Working Against Violence. “Our staff are thrilled for this amazing contribution from women in our community to extend our outreach services and support for our second stage residents,” explains IWAV’s Executive Director Kisea Petersen. “These women have left intimate partner violence or other gender-based violence and look to IWAV to help them regain confidence, resiliency, and a healthier future for them and their children.” For almost 30 years IWAV has been providing safety and services for women experiencing violence, abuse, and poverty. With 28 staff and several volunteers, it operates multiple programs and facilities including a 24-hour crisis line…
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Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue attends structure fire at 257 Maliview Drive

At 11:57 on Thursday Nov. 25, 2021 Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue was dispatched to a residential structure fire at 257 Maliview Dr. At 12:10 PM, both Engine 1 and Tender 1 from the Ganges Firehall were on scene and found smoke coming from the bottom unit of a fourplex residential structure. With efficient manpower on scene from a fast response, fire crews went offensive on the fire, sending an interior team inside the structure to extinguish the fire. Crews were able to knock down the fire and contain it to the room, and unit, of origin and prevent any extension into the adjacent units. Hydro was shut off to the area to allow crews to complete their work. There was a total of three fire apparatus on scene and sixteen firefighters responded. Emergency Social Services were called to attend to provide services to the occupants that were displaced from the unit where the fire occurred. All other occupants were able to return to their units after a check of each unit was complet…
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Salt Spring RCMP Community Report - 2021, 3rd Quarter Statistics

Salt Spring RCMP responded to 886 calls in the 3rd quarter of 2021 (July 1 – September 30) and as of October 1, 2021, have responded to 2,263 calls for service thus far this year. Various investigations undertaken in this quarter include a child pornography distribution file, 31 assaults, 33 sex-related offences and 9 weapons/firearms investigations. There were also multiple COVID-related reports, 36 motor vehicle incidents/collisions (MVI’s) and 144 mental health/check well-being reports. SSI RCMP issued 51 traffic tickets, gave 97 traffic warnings and conducted 340 foot patrols in Centennial Park and other areas; 65 bar walks were also performed and a dozen impaired drivers were taken off the road. Traffic enforcement was conducted all over Salt Spring Island but special attention was made to seatbelt use around Ganges, speed enforcement on Cusheon Lake Road and Long Harbour Road, as well as compliance of school and playground zones. Some of the calls in the last few mo…
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