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Salt Spring Celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Salt Spring Library

Salt Spring Island Library celebrated 60 years in the community with a 60's themed gala last night with local community members. Staff, board members and CRD staff along with community supports gathered to enjoy music by Doug and the Thugs and to hear about the library history and in particular some of the history and stories of all the work that went into creating the library in its current form McPhillips Avenue. The new library has become a significant community hub as well as library resource space. The library is also home to the Salt Spring Archives. History of the Salt Spring Library In the early 1930s, an actress named Mrs. A. J. Smith opened a pay lending library upstairs in Mouat’s Store. This little library was open several days a week and provided its services at minimal cost. Later, a group of islanders organised a book-lending facility that circulated a collection of books among its members. One of the first books from this collection is in the Salt Spring A…
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Local Trust Committee Approves the Meadowlane Project

The Local Trust Committee has unanimously approved Bylaw 515 that establishes the zoning required for our planned Meadowlane facility at 154 Kings Lane in Ganges. At the same meeting, the LTC granted approval of the Development Permit for the facility and voiced support for the project “…as a valuable addition to the affordable housing and community infrastructure of the island.” Meadowlane is a 75,000 square foot building at the site of the existing Saltspring Island Health Centre on Kings Lane. The medical clinic, so important to our community, will remain in place and operate unchanged, throughout and after the construction of the Meadowlane residential and community hub complex. The Salt Spring Community Hub is a much-needed facility on the island and will become the new home of the Salt Spring Seniors Services Society. In addition to the arts and crafts space, small library, lounges and boardroom, the Community Hub will provide affordable meeting and multi-function s…
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Defendants Cite Lack of Evidence In Response to Civil Forfeiture of Salt Spring Property Linked to Alleged Stock Fraud

The BC Civil Forfeiture Office has filed a lawsuit seeking to seize a Salt Spring Island property allegedly linked to a large international stock fraud. The lawsuit filed December 11th, 2019 in BC Supreme Court alleges the property located at 391 Baker Road on Salt Spring Island is the proceeds of crime and was used to launder money. The defendants have now submitted responses to the civil claim citing lack of evidence to substantiate the allegation. "The defendant Skye Lee does not have any proprietary or financial interest in the property. As such, the defendant states that this action should be discontinued against him. The defendant has no knowledge of the alleged unlawful scheme referred to in the Notice of Civil Claim. The defendant has not and is not connected to such unlawful scheme and was not a beneficiary of the alleged Unlawful Scheme. Mr. Lee pleads that he has no interest in the property and that the herein action should be discontinued against him and/or di…
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Screening of "The Gender Lady: The Fabulous Dr. May Cohen" for International Women’s Day

Every March 8th, people around the world celebrate International Women's Day. An opportunity to acknowledge women’s achievements throughout history and across nations, the day is also a focal point in the movement for women's rights and gender equity. This year, local celebrations include a special screening of The Gender Lady: The Fabulous Dr. May Cohen. For over 60 years, Dr. Cohen advocated powerfully in Canada and internationally for women physicians’ advancement within the medical profession and is widely recognized for her many contributions to women’s health, sexuality, abortion choice, and human rights. Numerous medical awards bear her name. Two Canadian colleagues of May Cohen, family physicians, and gender equity advocates Cheryl Levitt and Barbara Lent created the documentary “to share May’s remarkable accomplishments, to make them visible, and to offer the film as a tool to help promote gender equity, reproductive rights, and equity for women physicians.” Acco…
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Obituary: Madaleine Patricia Jordan

Madaleine Patricia Jordan passed peacefully on January 17th, 2020 in Victoria, surrounded by loving family. Madaleine suffered a long battle with Alzheimer’s and spent her last years under the wonderful care of the Oak Bay Lodge staff in Victoria. Madaleine was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on April 13th, 1937. Within her life, Madaleine went to secretarial school, lived in New York City, engaged in major social and political movements, and took a once in a lifetime backpacking trip around the world. She became a nurse, lived on both of Canadas’ coasts and eventually made a home living close to family on Salt Spring Island. Salt Spring provided friendships and a real sense of community while being close to nature. Madaleine will be greatly missed by: her daughter Beth (nee Macdonald) and her husband Colin Drummond, her sister Susan (nee Jordan) and her husband Doug Chaffee, and step sister Marsha Francis. Her granddaughters and their partners: Katie (nee Proctor) and…
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Obituary: Sharon Hawke

SHARON HAWKE July 3, 1954 – February 14, 2020 Sharon always wanted to be a farmer. One of five daughters born to Reginald and Hellen Hawke in Sweetsburg, Quebec, she grew up in Ottawa and Thornhill, Ontario. From an early age she exhibited an adventurous spirit, a strong work ethic, and a love of animals and nature, working alongside her Uncle Stuart on his Quebec farm at every opportunity. After earning a degree in Agriculture from the University of Guelph, she went prospecting in the Yukon where she met Gene Drzymala, the man with whom she would spend the rest of her life. Together, they travelled Mexico and Central America, drove across Canada annually to visit family, and built a love-filled life on 10 beautiful acres near Fulford Harbour, Salt Spring Island. Alternating summers between boating extensively in British Columbia’s and Alaska’s coastal waters and farming at home, Sharon and Gene lived a life of their own choosing for 40 happy years. Eight grandchildren and…
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Bulk Carrier 'Freighters' Idling Around Salt Spring - Initiative to Reduce Ocean Acidification

Bulk carriers around Salt Spring Island, or also called freighters, are not resting silently when at anchor. Large on-board diesel generators produce massive amounts of greenhouse gases, even if these ships are not moving and their main engine is not turned on. A new report submitted to the Salt Spring Island Climate Action Council estimates that a single bulk carrier produces about 10 tonnes of CO2 and other greenhouse gases per day. Consider how this may cancel out many of our local community efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. For example, one single day of one bulk carrier idling at anchor equals: 10 years of recycling by a family of three; Sacrificing one annual return flight Vancouver-London for 10 years; Driving an electrical vehicle instead of a standard vehicle for 5 years. But climate heating is not the only issue. CO2 and other gases such as NO2 or SO2 are highly reactive when they come in contact with water and they form an acidic solution. In ra…
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Starting Seeds... or Not; Sweet Potato Update

As February ticks along without serious weather on the horizon, gardeners are getting antsy to plant something. I used to start onion and leek seeds indoors in early February, but have shifted to starting them in early March, with excellent results: the roots are as big as ever and I have fewer weeks babysitting tiny plants. Other things to sow by early March include tomatoes, peppers, celery and celeriac. I always start 2 plants of zucchini the first week of March, too. Although that is too early to start other squash or cucumbers, I keep the early zuccs growing rapidly in ever larger pots and haul them out to my unheated greenhouse during the day (it is usually too cool to leave them in the greenhouse at night). The result is a first squash harvest around mid-May. I also start my first batch of peas indoors in early March and, if I am low on cauliflower or cabbages for spring harvest, I start some of those indoors too. I will have to start early cauliflower this year, because…
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Find Out Who Won the 2020 Country Grocer Valentine's Photo Contest!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Country Grocer Valentine's 'Show Us Your Love' photo contest! Country Grocer has generously donated prizes again this year and select winners will receive: One 'Grand Prize' of a $175 Dinner for Two at House Piccolo Restaurant; Two 'Runners Up' $50 Country Grocer Gift Cards Prizes and all Entrants Win a 10% Discount Voucher at Country Grocer Salt Spring Island (Voucher is redeemable in store until March 4th, 2020) Winners were selected by random draw live at Country Grocer Salt Spring Island. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who sent in amazing photos of their love. Check out all the photos and scroll to the bottom to find out if you won! …
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Salt Spring Foundation Aims to Strengthen Local Charities

For 36 years the Salt Spring Island Foundation has been supporting the charities that make our island a caring community. Thanks to many generous donors, over 550 grants have been awarded to over 85 local charitable organizations, totalling over $3.3 million. Foundation grants have supported many areas of need and many types of projects and programs, from capital improvements to services and events that engage and assist community members. Other grants have funded projects that aim to strengthen the organizations themselves and help them to better fulfill their mission. This year the Foundation will be putting even more emphasis on strengthening our charities, committing $25,000 to projects that aim to build the capacity of qualified local non-profits. Of that amount, $15,000 will be awarded during the spring grants cycle. Examples of capacity-building activities could include strategic planning, technology upgrades, operational improvements, board development, improvin…
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