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Watch: 'Abandoned Dreams' Documentary Features Local Work of the Dead Boat Disposal Society

Derelict and abandoned boats are one of the most frustrating and alarming issues faced by British Columbia’s coastal communities today. Reaching the end of their usable life cycle, with current disposal options being prohibitively expensive and no way to track ownership, old sail and powerboats are being left to rot on their moorings in public anchorages and bays in staggering numbers. Not only do these vessels clog up BC’s most prized destinations and waterways but they often end up drifting onto beaches and into public property—costing taxpayers and communities millions of dollars in damage and environmental clean-up each year. The Documentary After covering this issue in Pacific Yachting, we continued to monitor the problem and heard from many people in the boating community that this was a growing concern. In the fall of 2019, we were presented with an opportunity from Sportsman Channel Canada to share the story as a documentary. Abandoned Dreams looks into th…
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COVID-19: Salt Spring Seniors Can Begin Booking Immunizations Next Week

Island Health authority has revealed the locations of more than a dozen upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics in the region. Island Health says it will continue to update the list as changes are required. British Columbia will begin rolling out its COVID-19 mass vaccination program in full next week, and will allow seniors to begin booking their immunization appointments on March 8. Here is Island Health’s most up-to-date list of vaccine locations: Campbell River - Campbell River Community Centre (401 11 Ave) Comox - CFB Comox - Glacier Gardens Arena (1399 Military Row) Duncan - Cowichan Community Centre (2687 James St) Esquimalt - Archie Browning Sports Centre (1151 Esquimalt Rd) Langford - Eagle Ridge Arena (1089 Langford Pkwy) Nanaimo - Beban Park (2300 Bowen Rd) Nanaimo - Cedar Community Hall (2388 Cedar Rd) Port Alberni - Alberni Athletic Hall (3727 Roger St) Port Hardy - Port Hardy Health Unit (7070 Market St) Port McNeill - Port McNei…
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Watch the COVID Musical Chronicles: 01 - “Aqua Spinner” by IRTH

The Salt Spring Arts Council invited eight Salt Spring Island musical acts to historic Mahon Hall and asked them to perform one song to share with our community. Throughout March we’re releasing COVID Musical Chronicles, eight videos that remind us that music is a balm for hard times. These video Chronicles are also a call to get behind our local musicians – let’s make sure they know how much we love our incredible home-grown talent. Watch all the chronicles as they are released here on the Exchange at: saltspringexchange.com/covid-musical-chronicles Watch COVID Musical Chronicles 01: “Aqua Spinner” by IRTH, Marley IRedale and Jesse Thom https://youtu.be/wtb1-upxe9I Follow their work at irth.ca Thanks to Harley Dunn at Chasm Audio for doing sound and Sydney Woodward for the camera work. Video schedule: MAR 1 (Mon) - IRTH MAR 4 (Thur) - El Jose MAR 9 (Tue) - Renée Layla MAR 11 (Thur) - Fawkes & Hownd MAR 15 (Mon) - Suzanne Gay MAR 18 (Thur) - The Buck …
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BC Ferries Launches New Fare Options for Vancouver – Vancouver Island Routes

BC Ferries announced the launch of new fare options today on the three Metro Vancouver – Vancouver Island routes. These new fares will benefit customers travelling for essential purposes only and once it’s safe to resume non-essential travel, all customers will be able to take advantage of more fare choices. In addition to BC Ferries’ At Terminal and Reservation Only fares, customers currently travelling for essential purposes will immediately be able to take advantage of a new Saver fare and Prepaid fare. The Saver fare is BC Ferries’ most affordable fare and will be available on less busy sailings, while the Prepaid fare lets customers book and pay for their full travel in advance, saving time at terminal check-in. These new fare options are available for advanced purchase only. BC Ferries expects these additional fare options will reduce sailing waits at popular times, make better use of all sailings and help make the ferry system more efficient. “Our routes between Me…
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ASK Salt Spring with the Chamber’s New ED, Jesse Brown, and President, Darryl Martin

After an acknowledgment of the Coast Salish people upon whose occupied land this meeting took place, the 10 individuals joining this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcomed special guests: our Chamber’s new Executive Director, Jesse Brown, and President, Darryl Martin. At 11:00 the twelve of us launched into a varied and rich conversation. Darryl began by thanking ASK Salt Spring for the opportunity to join this gathering along with Jesse Brown, the Chamber’s newly hired Executive Director. He continued by acknowledging the damaging economic and social realities impacting Chamber businesses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Darryl identified three priorities of the Salt Spring’s Chamber of Commerce: Helping local enterprises address the impacts of COVID-19 shutdowns. Improving the vibe of Ganges and working towards the extension of the Harbourwalk. Revitalizing the Salt Spring Island Visitors’ Centre. We learned that these priorities were only a beginning and…
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Obituary: Bill Harkley

Captain William (Bill) Harkley passed away, peacefully, on his own terms at his home on Salt Spring Friday February 26, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Janice, his children Graham (Sharon) Harkley, his daughter Laureen Hooker, his son in law Ross Hooker, his stepson Pete ( Jamie) Shpak , 5 grandchildren Nick, Jenna, Grace, Evan, Kennedy, his sister Cathy (Les) Bayer and the mother of his children, Marilyn Harkley. Bill was born in Vancouver August 31, 1940. Flying was his career and his life. He started flying in the bush in Northern Ontario and was eventually hired by Pacific Western Airlines May 1, 1969. He flew on all continents, except Antarctica. On March 27, 1980 Bill confirmed to YVR control that Mt. Saint Helens had, indeed, erupted as the plane he was flying was right there. By the time Bill retired fully from the airlines in 2010, he had flown through the mergers of Pacific Western Airlines, Canadian Pacific Airlines, Wardair Canada, and Air Canada. He never thou…
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COVID-19: B.C. Moves to Phase 2 of Immunization Plan

More than 400,000 people in British Columbia will be immunized from March to early April as the Province moves into Phase 2 of the largest immunization rollout in B.C.’s history. “At every step of the way, we are putting the health and safety of British Columbians first,” said Premier John Horgan. “B.C. was one of the first provinces to lay out our vaccine plan, and now we’re moving to Phase 2 to reach even more of our seniors and Elders. We’re getting vaccine into arms as fast as we can given early supply delays from manufacturers, and we’re seeing it start to make a difference for people and their communities throughout our province.” Those in Phase 2 receiving their first vaccine dose in March and early April include: seniors and high-risk people residing in independent living and seniors’ supportive housing (including staff); home-care support clients and staff; Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) peoples born in or before 1956 (65 years and older); an…
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Obituary: Lawrence Edward (Ted) Aston

In the early evening of Friday February 26th, Lawrence Edward Aston (Ted) passed away peacefully at Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island. Six days short of his 93rd birthday. Ted was the youngest of 5 children of Lawrence Hubert Aston (Norwegian) and Jessie O’Brien (Irish). His 4 sisters, Joan, Jessie, Doreen and Betty all predeceased him. Ted was born in London on March 4th 1928 within the sound of the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow church making him a true Cockney. He first moved to Salt Spring in early 2011. After living here for 1 ½ years he had to leave while awaiting his immigration application. In July 2016 he returned as a Permanent Resident to live again with his son Mark, daughter in law, Holly, and granddaughters Raven (Jenna) and Carlie. In January 2020 he moved to Braehaven Assisted Living. As a teenager he enlisted in the British Army Medical Corps and after completing his training in Ireland he was sent to serve in northern Germany at the end of World War II…
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