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Obituary: Valerie Pitman

Valerie Joyce Pitman February 15, 1932 - July 7, 2025 Valeria Pitman peacefully passed at the Circle of Life, Dundas, Ontario, on Monday July 7, 2025, in her 94th year. Valerie was born in England to Alice Poole and Sidney Lelliott, February 15, 1932, and grew up in Scotland. She would eventually meet the love of her life and wed husband, Lewis William Pitman (predeceased 2021), in England. They emigrated to Canada after the war and settled in Aurora, Ontario, then Hamilton, Ontario. They welcomed three wonderful children Nancy-Jo, Andrew (Ramona), and Matthew Pitman. Valerie adored her grand children, Adrian (Vanessa) Murchison, Stephanie (Carlos Lostanaw-Lavin), and Laura (Harrison Hennick) as well as her great- grandchildren, Isabela, Alejandra, Benni, Harper, and Noah. Valerie graduated with honors in ECE at Seneca College and worked at McMaster Daycare for many years. She was highly skilled in knitting, weaving, quilting, Tai Chi, as well as organic gardening. V…
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Salt Spring Arts Announces 6th Annual Summer Outdoor Concert Series

Free Weekly Concerts in Centennial Park | Thursdays, July 17 – August 21 | 6–8 PM Our island's non-profit arts council, Salt Spring Arts, is thrilled to announce the performer lineup for the 2025 Summer Outdoor Concert Series (SOCS), returning to Centennial Park every Thursday evening from July 17 to August 21. The much-anticipated annual series invites residents and visitors alike to gather in the heart of Ganges for six evenings of exceptional live music — all free and open to the public. Each concert runs from 6 to 8pm and features a touring headline act supported by a local opener. With a picturesque harbour backdrop and a welcoming all-ages atmosphere, the series promises another unforgettable season of community celebration and musical discovery. The 2025 SOCS lineup includes an exciting blend of established artists and rising talent, spanning genres from flamenco fusion and traditional West African rhythms to indie pop and alt-folk: July 17 – MelĂłn JimĂ©ne…
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Welcoming MLA Rob Botterell

July 4 Eighteen joined us for this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming MLA Rob Botterell and his Constituency Advocate Deborah Bowman. During his Land Acknowledgement, Rob spoke of the honour he felt in collaborating on the good work of restoring, preserving, and protecting the land we so love. Although we may never restore it to the richness of past years, he is glad to be one of many working with First Nations to repair and regenerate our lands. Rob is “excited and delighted” with his summer so far, one of travel, meeting constituents, sailing, and attending local summer fairs throughout the riding and province including the Pride parade in Victoria. Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform: Rob spent quite a bit of this ASK Sat Spring time focusing on his work this summer as a committee member of the Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform (SCDER). He started off by prefacing that these were wonderful and exciting times to be discussing e…
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Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon (Capricorn)

Each Full Moon brings its own wisdom, teachings, and medicine through the lens of a particular archetype. The Full Moon often brings something to fruition and illuminates what has been hidden. Each month we experience a subtle shift as the Full Moon highlights specific themes, emotions, and feelings. For many, the Full Moon amplifies the way we interpret and experience both our inner world and the world around us. Happy Full Moon in Capricorn! As we lean into the ripeness of summer, the moon swells to full on July 10th at 18° Capricorn (1:37 pm PT). While this lunation is known by several cultural names such as The Buck Moon or the Mead Moon, the medicine of this Capricorn Full Moon teaches us the wisdom, beauty and responsibility of inhabiting a physical body in the earthly realm. However, Capricorn also reminds us that it's the fleeting nature of life that makes it all the more precious. And while this Full Moon may carry a reflective, contemplative divine pathos tha…
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BC Ferries Decision Reflects Decades of Housing Policy Failures

I recently attended an Ask Salt Spring meeting where Nicolas Jimenez, CEO of BC Ferries, was the guest speaker. During the meeting, he discussed BC Ferries' recent business decision to home port the Crofton/Vesuvius ferry to the Crofton side—a decision that sparked heated debate among local government officials and BC Ferries employees in attendance. The Local Trust Committee and Islands Trust officials demanded that BC Ferries consult with local government before making decisions that impact Salt Spring residents. While I don't wish to undermine the legitimate concerns raised by BC Ferries employees, I believe we need to examine the root causes behind this decision. Mr. Jimenez clearly stated that one of the primary factors was the cost of living on Salt Spring and the lack of affordable housing for BC Ferries employees. He cited that the average home price on Salt Spring was $1.2 million, while homes in the Crofton catchment area cost roughly half that amount—providing …
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Not More Tourists, Just Better Tourism: A Conversation With SGITP

An open conversation with Jamie Sterling, Executive Director of the Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership (SGITP)—a community-driven organization working to create regenerative tourism in the Gulf Islands. For those who have ever wondered where SGITP came from, how it's funded, or what the organization actually does for the communities it serves, we have answers! Q: How did the Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership (SGITP) get started? SGITP was born from a grassroots need across the Gulf Islands. In the early 2010s, a group of islanders (some with summer-based businesses) began a conversation about how to sustain economic activity year-round. Galiano, Pender, Saturna, Mayne, and Salt Spring are all experiencing the same seasonal pattern: a surge of visitors in the summer followed by a steep drop-off in the colder months. During peak season, communities and businesses are often stretched to their limits. But once summer ends, tourism slows dramatically, le…
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Mindful Miles: How to Travel with Intention and Impact

Presented by: Transition Salt Spring’s Lighter Living Program. At Lighter Living, our mission is to empower individuals with practical actions, ranging from simple, low-effort changes to those requiring more time, money, or planning. Making these small changes can effectively reduce the ecological and carbon footprint of leisure and recreation. These shifts can build momentum towards greater impact quickly, without implying scarcity or sacrifice. One common question I get this time of year is about summer travel plans. While I don’t have any exotic travel plans myself, I understand that many people do. Families, friends, and dream destinations are important to many of us. Living sustainably doesn't mean eliminating travel or air travel entirely—it's about making mindful choices. Sustainable travel isn’t about grand gestures or striving for perfection—it’s about intention. It’s a mindset that influences how we plan our holidays, what we pack, how we get to our destin…
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A Lively Conversation with BC Ferries CEO/President Nicholas Jimenez

June 27: Twenty-nine joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome BC Ferries’ CEO/President Nicolas Jimenez and Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing, Lindsay Matthews. Salt Springers came to learn and ask questions, including our elected officials as well many current and former ferry employees. Our guests received the full Salt Spring experience as Lindsay was slightly tardy due to the Ganges Hill construction as was Nicolas due to a mechanical issue on the Crofton Ferry. They both arrived with smiles on their faces, glad to be with us for this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After offering our Land Acknowledgement, Nicolas began by telling us that BC Ferries is a huge system and that many decisions address systemwide concerns. While win/win solutions are always sought, there are times when the best solution for the entire network is not the best for one of the components of this network. The first question referenced the recent dissolution of the Ferry Adv…
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Youth Resiliency at The Core Youth Centre Gets a Boost

June 25, 2025 Salt Spring Island youth are getting more supports for mental health and substance abuse prevention with an expanded program area at Island Community Services. A recent awarding of an Island Health Youth Resiliency Grant will allow the agency to bolster the harm reduction component of the Youth Centre at The Core into a key program area. The Youth Centre is a central program within the youth services at Island Community Services, providing a safe and supportive place for youth aged 11-18 after school from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at The Core Building at 134 McPhillips Avenue in Ganges. The program is available for drop-in with no registration or appointment necessary. It serves free and at-cost food and features planned program activities. “The Child and Youth Mental Health team has included a position focused on substance use counselling for many years,” explains Kyla Duncan, Clinical Director at Island Community Services. “This will strengthen and formaliz…
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Islands Trust Policy Statement - Next Steps

By Laura Patrick, Chair, Islands Trust Council Islands Trust Council has been working on a much-needed update to the Policy Statement for years. This Policy Statement is a requirement of the Islands Trust Act and it contains the policies that guide the Islands Trust’s work to preserve and protect the Islands Trust Area. It also guides the development of the regulatory land-use bylaws of local trust committees and Bowen Island Municipality. At our recent Trust Council meeting on Salt Spring Island, Trust Council approved a plan for the next steps to advance the draft document. Under that plan, we will meet as Committee of the Whole on July 9 to review the draft with the aim of making any final changes and then, if we feel it is ready, we will advance it to first reading at a special meeting of Trust Council scheduled for July 29. It is important to understand that when Trust Council votes on first reading, we are not voting on a final approval of the Policy Statement. Fol…
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