Local Listings

View More Ads

Latest Local News

Here's the poop

As chair of the Capital Regional District (CRD) Liquid Waste Commission for the last few years, I’ve come to realize that there’s more to  flushing than meets the eye. It seems easy enough: just throw things down your toilet or sink and they magically disappear! Not so! It’s really important to pay attention to the rest of the story. Here on Salt Spring your drains either go to a septic tank or a sewer treatment plant. In both cases, what you put into the system matters a lot. Firstly, only poop, pee and toilet paper should go down the toilet. Please don’t throw wipes, hygiene products, condoms, cotton swabs, or dental floss down the drain. Even if it says flushable on the package, our systems can’t handle it! (The same goes for grease down the kitchen sink.) Secondly, only green cleaners should be used when they are going to enter the system, either septic or sewage.  (As a veterinarian and animal welfare consultant I encourage you to use only non-tested-on-animals pr…
Read more about Here's the poop

Islanders Working Against Violence breaks ground on Phase 3 of Croftonbrook Housing Project

Islanders Working Against Violence (IWAV) is pleased to announce that they have begun construction of our new housing at Croftonbrook. This will be a 34 unit apartment building that will provide housing for people who have low to moderate incomes. The mix of suites (studio to 3 bedrooms) will allow for different options for individuals, couples and small families. It will be ready for occupancy in Spring 2022. This project has been made possible through the generous support of our funders: CMHC, CRD, BC Housing, SSI Foundation, Victoria Foundation, Aqueduct Foundation and local donors. They celebrated by having a social distanced ground-breaking photoshoot with their amazing team: Project Manager: Janis Gauthier Architect: Robert Schindelka IWAV staff and contractors: Kisae Petersen, Rachel Bevington, Sarah Cordes, Charlie Barteaux, Brent Simpson IWAV Board/Development Team: Alicia Herbert, Sophia Jackson, Susan Dann Island West Coast Developments Ltd (IWCD…
Read more about Islanders Working Against Violence breaks ground on Phase 3 of Croftonbrook Housing Project

Island Health overdose awareness campaign aims to reach men who use drugs alone

Island Health has launched an awareness campaign for men who use drugs to help prevent overdose deaths and support men to break the silence about their drug use. “People use drugs for many, complex reasons, and often even the people closest to those who’ve overdosed didn’t know they were using,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “That’s why breaking down stigma about who uses drugs is so important. Let’s have open conversations that encourage people to break the silence and reach out for help.” Last year in the Island Health region, 263 people died from illicit drug toxicity. Of those people, 225 were men - and 126 of them were in a private residence when they overdosed. “We know that among those who die from toxic drug poisoning, men who use alone are at greatest risk,” said Dr. Richard Stanwick, Island Health’s Vice President, Population Health & Chief Medical Health Officer. “We want them to know their lives matter - and there are sup…
Read more about Island Health overdose awareness campaign aims to reach men who use drugs alone

Laughing Apple Farm Survey to gauge support for slower speed traffic on Beddis Road

This past week it was reported locally here on Salt Spring Island that a petition was sent to the B.C. Legislature seeking to return our private portion of Beddis Road road to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI). The petitioners want this section of road to be maintained at “highway standards” which means removal of the speed humps, and the speed limit signage, as well as perhaps some trees and hedgerows. This would make it a faster more urban-looking road, contrary to the heritage status of Beddis Road. Last week the petition was not accepted by the legislature because “it was out of order” and contained “many errors”. But we have a different vision for Beddis Road and several other secondary rural roads on Salt Spring Island (e.g. Cusheon Lake Road – also a heritage road). We have posted an informal survey at our farmstand at 900 Beddis Road to gauge the amount of community support for slower and more democratic heritage roads on Salt Spring – roa…
Read more about Laughing Apple Farm Survey to gauge support for slower speed traffic on Beddis Road

Obituary: Carol Fowles

Carol Fowles passed away in Royal Jubilee Hospital on Friday, April 23rd, 2021 at the age of 67. She died peacefully with her daughters by her side. Carol is survived and dearly missed by her husband Noel; her daughters and sons-in-law Kathyrn, Autumn, Roland, and Colin; her grand children Annabelle and Jamie; and her brother and brother-in-law Bruce and Franco. Born in Scarborough, Ontario to Jim and Inez Armstrong, Carol also lived in New Brunswick and Fort McMurray, before settling on Salt Spring Island in 1980. She was a realtor for over 20 years, active in the Lions Club, running Pioneer Village and serving as club president; and a Salty Sweaters fitness instructor. Carol was an avid marathon walker, enjoyed gardening, and made a mean caesar salad and cheesecake! We will all miss her gorgeous smile. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no service will take place at this time. If you wish to donate in her memory, you are invited to direct your generosity to the BC Alzheim…
Read more about Obituary: Carol Fowles

ASK Salt Spring with BC Transit Planner Ericka Amador

Ten gathered for this ASK Salt Spring Zoom gathering to welcome BC Transit Planner Ericka Amador. She is the lead for Salt Spring’s year-long analysis of our current system designed to result in recommendations for our bus system’s future. Since August of last year, Ericka has been meeting every month with a team from Salt Spring, including Gary Holman and Gayle (as Chair of the Transportation Commission), to get their feedback about this study. The timing of. Ericka’s visit is especially-relevant as the community engagement portion of this study is currently underway. If you have not already completed the survey, you have until May 6 to add your opinions to this important study. So far, about 300 Salt Springers have responded. While Ericka is pleased, we can do better, Salt Spring! After a heartfelt Territorial Acknowledgment, Ericka began by sharing something that “excites and delights” her: While she is so very aware of the tragedies and challenges of our pandemic, s…
Read more about ASK Salt Spring with BC Transit Planner Ericka Amador

Salt Spring RCMP Community Report - 2021, 1st Quarter Statistics

Salt Spring RCMP responded to 646 calls from January 1 2021 – March 31 2021, including, but not limited to, 5 child pornography investigations, 8 sexual assaults, 139 mental health complaints, various traffic violations and multiple COVID-19 complaints. 305 Foot Patrols in Ganges and Centennial Park and 85 Licenced Premises Checks were conducted during this period. Salt Spring RCMP are asking residents to be mindful of online and social media safety: naked pictures or videos sent to an individual or a website can immediately be placed on the internet for all to see, or for sex-based extortion (“sex-tortion”) by the recipient. Threats to post sexual photos/videos to all the contacts on a person’s Facebook page have been made to Salt Spring Island residents. Also, numerous online scams have been reported to Salt Spring RCMP of animals purchased over the internet and monies paid, but the animals are never sent. Police encourage residents to remain aware of fraudsters and online…
Read more about Salt Spring RCMP Community Report - 2021, 1st Quarter Statistics

Nearly 500 British Columbians lost to toxic illicit drugs in first three months of 2021

As the province’s public health emergency regarding substance related harms enters its sixth year, the BC Coroners Service reports that toxic illicit drugs have claimed the lives of 158 British Columbians in March 2021. This raises the total number of deaths in the province for the year to 498. “Once again, we are reminded of the incredible toll that the toxic drug emergency is having on communities throughout our province,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner, BC Coroners Service. “The illicit drug supply in British Columbia is volatile and unpredictable, and anyone using a substance from this unregulated market is vulnerable to serious injury or death.” The 158 deaths represent a 41% increase over the 112 deaths recorded in March 2020 and ties the previous high for March established in 2018. For the third consecutive month, more than five British Columbians lost their lives to illicit drugs every day, and the yearly total to date surpassed the previous high of 401 deat…
Read more about Nearly 500 British Columbians lost to toxic illicit drugs in first three months of 2021

View More Articles