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Nature Conservancy successfully completes fundraising drive for Reginald Hill acquisition

January 31 marked the end of the fundraising drive to support the conservation of Reginald Hill. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is grateful to the many Salt Spring Islanders who donated to the project over the past few months. Local contributions helped make the fundraising drive a success. Thank you to everyone who contributed! NCC will continue to work through the process of completing the conservation acquisition of the property over the next few months. “This land is not yet held by NCC – there is still more work to be done to transfer the lands into conservation. We look forward to providing an update in the spring when the acquisition phase of the project is completed,” said Steven Godfrey, West Coast Program Director for the Nature Conservancy of Canada. “In the meantime, we ask people to continue to respect the private properties of the family and the neighbours.” NCC’s first priority after acquiring Reginald Hill will be to develop a conservation manag…
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2023 Country Grocer Valentine’s Day 'Island of Love' Photo Contest

Join Country Grocer and the Salt Spring Exchange in celebrating Love on Salt Spring Island for Valentine's Day! Enter our ‘Island of Love' photo contest for a chance to win one of three wonderful prizes to help you celebrate your love. To enter the contest, all you have to do is upload a photo of you and your sweetheart(s) using the form below. Show us your love! Check out last year's entries for inspiration and check out the entries for this year's contest as they are posted below. Whether you’re young and ecstatically in love, or in your 90's with a twinkle in your eye whenever you see each other, whether you’ve taken your “flirt” down a few notches over the years or you’ve taken your flirt up a few notches, share it with your community! Country Grocer has generously donated prizes again this year and you now have a chance to win: One 'Grand Prize' of a Dinner for Two with cider pairing at Salt Spring Wild Cider A reservation has already been made for you o…
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Global electric vehicle demand - will the grid break?

As we come to the close of 2022, the EV world is on firing on all cylinders (silly way to say it - right ?). Locally, we on Salt Spring recently reported a year-over-year growth rate of 40% in passenger EV ownership from 272 in 2020 to 380 in 2021 (about 5% of passenger vehicles). Our ownership number would be much higher, but issues such as global supply chain issues and a much greater post-pandemic sales surge have caused EV wait lists of up to 2 years (some dealers I am in contact with will no longer take wait lists beyond 2 years). Is this a temporary flash in the pan/pet rock event ? No. An article I read this week discusses the fact that 99% of folks that have chosen to drive EV have stated they will never purchase an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle again. This is a global shift in the way we drive, supported by the new driving experience, reduced cost of ownership, little required maintenance, purchase incentives and government regulations banning the future …
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ASK Salt Spring with cycling advocates Bob MacKie, Luke Campbell, and Simon Rompre

Thirteen joined this ASK Salt Spring conversation about cycling led by enthusiasts Bob MacKie, Luke Campbell, and Simon Rompre. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, each of our special guests told us a bit about themselves and their passion for cycling. All are members of Islands Pathways’ Cycling Salt Spring Committee. They are also members of the Salish Sea Trail Network Working Group, an advocacy group also comprised of MLA Adam Olsen, a representative for Elizabeth May, CRD’s Gary Holman, Islands Trust staff, a Transportation Commissioner, and, whenever possible, a Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI). representative. Luke, Bob, and Simon are also involved in a number of other groups advocating for safer cycling on Salt Spring. Simon began by telling us that he has been cycling on Salt Spring for over 30 years. Among the many reasons he has cycled daily for decades are: Health: Simon has noticed the health benefits and wishes that our aging populatio…
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ASK Salt Spring welcomes the Chamber HarbourWalk Committee to learn more about the next steps in the Ganges Harbour boardwalk project

Twenty-one came to this ASK Salt Spring weekly gathering to welcome HarbourWalk enthusiasts Bruce Cameron, Darryl Martin, Kaeli Yarwood, and Robin Willians. They are also core members of the newly-formed Chamber HarbourWalk Committee. (Other members of this committee are Wayne Tepper and Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce President, Dayle Murray.) After our Territorial Acknowledgement, they began by offering us some history and foundational information about our long-awaited HarbourWalk. Darryl began by telling us briefly of his ten-year involvement, both as Chair of the Community Economic Development (now Sustainability) Commission and, more recently, as Chamber President. He spoke briefly about his disappointment that CRD has prioritized other initiatives over the HarbourWalk, resulting in delaying the progress of this important project for many years. It is Darryl’s conclusion, from both his Chamber as well as community perspective, that now is the time is to move forward wi…
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Obituary: Arthur Ralph Munneke

Arthur Ralph Munneke: 1950 – 2022 It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of our beloved father and grandfather Arthur Munneke. Art passed away in July, at the age of 72, after a short but courageous battle with Aplastic Anemia. He was surrounded in love by his children and grandchildren as he took his final breaths. As per his wishes, an intimate burial and celebration of life was held shortly after. Art was born in Barrhead, Alberta on May 20th, 1950, to Joanne and Ali Munneke, who had just arrived from the Netherlands. He spent his early childhood on a farm with his siblings, Jim, Pat, and Anne. Art fell in love with Geraldine Camping, and in 1976 they visited Salt Spring Island for the weekend, and stayed. They bought a log cabin on Reynolds road, and raised their 3 children, Hanna, Christopher and Simon. Art was generous with his time, both in work and play. He loved a good project, and a great conversation, to which he added lots of laughter and…
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Opinion: Good changes to our bylaw enforcement system are afoot

With a new team of Trustees committed to the wellbeing of our Gulf Island communities, good changes are afoot for our Trust-wide Bylaw Enforcement System. For the first time there is a cohort of Trustees in office with direct experience of unfair and overly-draconian enforcement practices. Some of these Trustees entered the political fray specifically to address this significant problem with governance. A historic motion is on the table for the upcoming March Trust Council meeting (the quarterly meeting of all Trustees from all the islands). The motion is to suspend bylaw enforcement pending a review, provide those who are enforced against the democratic right to appeal to a neutral body, and for the Trust to adopt unbiased and equitable enforcement practices. Imagine a restorative enforcement model aimed at building community and restoring balance and respect…rather than the current punitive retributive model which breeds fear, evokes trauma responses, induces secretive …
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BC Ferries cancels all remaining Crofton-Vesuvius ferries for Monday, January 23rd, 2023

BC Ferries Service notice for Crofton - Salt Spring Island (Vesuvius Bay) for Saturday, January 23rd issued at 2:11 pm As BC Ferries has been unsuccessful in securing the required number of crew on the Quinitsa, the following sailings for today, January 23, between Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island) and Crofton have been cancelled: Cancelled Sailings today, Monday, January 23: 3:00 pm departing Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island) 3:35 pm departing Crofton 4:15 pm departing Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island) 4:50 pm departing Crofton 5:30 pm departing Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island) 6:05 pm departing Crofton 6:45 pm departing Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island) 7:55 pm departing Crofton 8:30 pm departing Vesuvius bay (Salt Spring Island) 9:00 pm departing Crofton 9:30 pm departing Vesuvius Bay (Salt Spring Island) 10:00 pm departing Crofton Earlier sailings on this route are expected to proceed as scheduled. A 10 person water taxi has been sourced and will…
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