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Birch Logs

Looking for 8-10 Birch logs for decorative purposes during Summer months when we don’t use our fireplace. Prefer longer length about 24-26”. Text is good.

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Obituary: In Loving Memory of Chip Chipman

In Loving Memory of Chip Chipman Chip's wife Jan and his son Peter and daughter Heather want to share with you that Chip passed suddenly and peacefully in his bed in December. Although we were expecting it after his year of dealing with mesothelioma, the suddenness of his death was unexpected. We are so grateful that we were all by his side in his final moments. We thought we would have more time with him, but we are grateful that he no longer had to suffer all the pain and discomforts of his illness. He was the best husband, father, father-in-law (to James) and grandfather (to Liam and Samuel) we could have ever wished for. He was the oldest of eleven brothers and sisters whom he loved dearly and who all looked up to him. We have been receiving loving notes of condolences from all over the world from people whose lives were changed for the better because of Chip. He loved being with our family and our dear friends, playing his guitar, singing, hiking, bird watching, t…
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Buy BC Helps More Local Farmers, Processors Succeed

British Columbians will experience a wider variety of local food and beverage options as more farmers and small businesses get support through Buy BC. “British Columbians know the Buy BC logo represents local products that are produced and processed by people in their communities, from small family farms to innovative food producers,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “Buy BC is supporting the people who make up our province’s diverse agriculture and food industry so, together, we can continue to shine a light on many unique and delicious products produced here at home, while strengthening local food systems and economies.” Through the Buy BC Partnership Program, $2 million is available to support those eligible to participate in provincewide marketing projects to help boost awareness, demand, and sales of B.C. products. The funding will help additional local food and beverage companies and industry associations share their stories with more people aroun…
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  • - January 6, 2025

CRD/LCC Budget Town Hall Scheduled for January 9

The Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission (LCC) is holding a public town hall meeting on Thursday, January 9, at 5:00 in the SIMS Board Room. The focus of the town hall is to answer voter questions, and to elicit feedback, on the proposed 2025 CRD/LCC budget. The proposed “provisional” budget, approved by the LCC in September, will be given final approval by the LCC at a special meeting scheduled for January 30. The CRD Board will approve the final budget in its entirety in March. The January 9 town hall will provide one of the last public opportunities for Salt Spring voters to discuss the budget with their elected commissioners before the budget is set to be finalized. The CRD Board approved its provisional budget for 2025, including that of the SSI Local Community Commission (LCC), at its October 30 meeting. The provisional budget is prepared by CRD staff based on a number of factors, including inflation, negotiated wage and salary settlements and contractual obli…
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Linda's List for Dec. 29: Plan a Year Round Harvest; Seedy Saturdays

We are more than a week past the shortest day of the year, a turning point in the season I welcome as it means that days are getting longer. Although daylight is only about 3 minutes longer than it was on the 21st, the rate of change increases as we get closer to the spring equinox. By mid-January days will be noticeably longer by half an hour. With the continuing warmer than usual weather this month, hardy vegetables are still growing. Even my summer broccoli is continuing to put out new shoots and Chinese cabbage and other leafy greens are still growing slowly, replacing leaves chewed on by slugs earlier in the season. It has been so warm that I have not yet put down the final layer of mulch that would completely cover the top of the carrots and other root crops, but the bag of leaves is ready to hand to be able to quickly cover the beds as soon as there is forecast of below freezing temperatures. While doing yard work the other day, I wasn’t happy to see that buds were al…
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Local Trust Committee December Update, by Trustee Laura Patrick

This report relates to the business of the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee (LTC), which is made up of the two local trustees and an appointed chair. The LTC’s responsibilities include regulating the development and use of land within the Salt Spring Local Trust Area, which includes Salt Spring Island and more than 25 associated islands including Prevost, Secret, and Piers islands. Our next regular meeting will be on February 13th beginning at 9:30 AM at the Salt Spring Legion, Meaden Hall, 120 Blain Road. The agenda will be available on February 7th on the Islands Trust website. Office staff are available to help should you have questions about getting to our meetings or viewing them on-line. Please call 250-538-9144 or email ssiinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca for support. Please note that no in-person office is available on Salt Spring Island currently. Renovations will be commencing on a new office at 121 McPhillips Avenue, with intent to re-open to in-person service in Spring …
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Population Matters – Limiting Growth on Salt Spring

After years of avoiding the issue, Salt Spring Solutions (SSS) has finally come down firmly against quantified growth restrictions in our Official Community Plan (OCP), calling them “antiquated theoretical calculations.” It is more evidence of their urban approach and relentless push for urban development. In response to my Exchange article called “Salt Spring’s Population Bomb,” they claimed my reference to the projected 17,000 build-out population “misrepresents the origin and meaning of the number,” and suggested the zoning cap in our OCP is not based on “an ecological assessment.” But the Ecosystem Health Report I cited, authored by Dr. David Rapport, an internationally-recognized ecologist and by Dr. Luisa Maffi, was commissioned by the Trust specifically for the 2008 OCP. The report repeatedly refers to population and build-out (when all lots are developed), and warns “we are already at or past build-out for maintaining healthy ecosystems.” In a recent email, Rappor…
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New Measures in Place Will Boost Home Construction

New actions are being implemented to help more people find affordable homes in the communities where they live and work. “Everyone should be able to afford a home in their chosen community, but high home costs and real estate speculators are making that a challenge,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance. “We are working to ensure there are more affordable homes available for people, whether they’re renting or buying, through measures like the B.C. home-flipping tax and property transfer tax exemptions.” Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the B.C. home-flipping tax will be in place to discourage investors from buying housing to turn a quick profit. People who sell their home within two years of buying will be subject to the tax, unless they qualify for an exemption, such as divorce, job loss or change in household membership. It is expected approximately 4,000 properties will be subject to the tax in 2025. All revenue from the tax will go directly into strengthening housing prog…
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  • - December 20, 2024

Defusing the Population Bomb: Moving Beyond Old Calculations

Mr. Attorp's opinion piece raises important questions about Salt Spring Island's future development and planning tools. First, let's address the confusion around the 17,000 population figure. Mr. Attorp links this number to environmental studies, suggesting Salt Spring is 'already at or past build-out for maintaining healthy ecosystems.' However, this misrepresents the origin and meaning of this number - it was simply a mathematical calculation done during the 2008 OCP process to estimate potential residents if all existing lots were developed, not an ecological assessment. The OCP and zoning are designed to be flexible tools that can evolve with community needs. While environmental protection remains crucial under the Islands Trust mandate, planning approaches have advanced significantly since 2008. Treating a build-out calculation as 'the main braking mechanism' for protecting the island misunderstands its purpose. It's time to move past using theoretical build-out calc…
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The Driftwood Newspaper is Just One of Salt Spring’s Businesses Acutely Impacted by the Canada Post Strike

A peek into our office at 241 Fulford-Ganges Road these days proves the point, as every available surface is covered in piles of newspapers for our mail subscribers! Papers usually come from the press in Coquitlam on Tuesday night sorted in bundles for rural route carriers, clustered in postal code groupings. “People who have been coming in for a couple of weeks are now trained to just recite their postal code as soon as they walk in the door,” laughs publisher Nancy Johnson. Staff then locate the appropriate stack containing papers with that postal code and retrieve the person’s paper from the pile. Sometimes it’s easy to find a paper. Sometimes it’s not, especially in cases where the postal code just can’t be found on any of the sheets of paper! As well, the postal code groupings have not been 100% consistent from week to week, so knowing where a paper was found last week isn’t necessarily useful. “We really appreciate people taking the time to come into the office to…
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Should Elected LCC Commissioners Assume the Role of Advocating for Improvements with BC Ferries?

Patrons of Route 6 Vesuvius Bay - Crofton In June of 2021 a small group of individuals came together and formed an ad hoc advocacy group to campaign for improved service and infrastructure for Vesuvius Bay and Crofton. It wasn’t so much that BC Ferries had neglected us, it was more like they had completely abandoned us with the introduction of the MV Quinitsa. This after concerned warnings from regular Patrons and most importantly the Commercial Operators who provide our essential goods and services. What unfolded was an unmitigated disaster. BC Ferries Mgt refused to listen to their FAC, their Patrons but more importantly the employees who were deployed on the service and live in our Community. December 21, 2024 marks the 3rd Anniversary of the Petition - “The Fix for Route Six”, 2257 signatories strong, which is still active. It was encouraging to have the support and signatures of some Members of the Ferry Advisory Committee. In April of 2022 MLA Adam Olsen invited …
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