I was one of four Salt Spring Islanders entrusted by voters in 2023 to serve as commissioners on the inaugural Local Community Commission (LCC). Salt Spring now has an effective 5-member local government body, hearing citizen concerns, advocating for community interests, and making local decisions in open public meetings on Salt Spring, for Salt Spring. For a new organization taking on a broad range of challenging issues, the first LCC has been remarkably successful. However, much work remains to be done and so I am seeking a second term as one of your LCC commissioners in the October 17 election.

While the creation of the LCC was a major step forward in bringing more accessible, transparent, and democratic local governance to Salt Spring it remains an unfinished project. The initial establishment bylaw, in its delegation of authorities to the LCC, seized upon the more obvious responsibilities, the “low hanging fruit”, …

When our young tenant appeared unaware of her right to vote in our October 17 civic election I took it as a lack of awareness, which was confusing. She’s an intelligent, informed, thirty-something woman, the granddaughter of a former federal cabinet minister.

I soon learned it wasn’t that she lacked an understanding of her rights, on the contrary, it was a lack of interest. She explained that young people in her friends’ group, particularly those who rent, feel a profound disconnect with the powers that be.

“It feels like a bunch of power-hungry boomers who don’t care…no efforts are being made to engage my community of [young] people, they’re not paying attention…they don’t want to improve the lives of young people in our community, it’s boomers fighting amongst themselves to preserve and protect their privilege,” she said. “If you’re not lucky enough to find housing, Saltspring just kicks you out”.

The stress and uncertainty that comes with…

I'll go first. This is my first time running for public office and campaigning has been an education. It's also brought a lot of conversations with people who care deeply about this island.

We all know the Salt Spring rumour mill runs fast. I've even heard I dropped out of the race. I'm still here! Before you make up your mind about any of us read what each candidate has posted, ask questions and if you can sit down with them. Most things look different across a table. Whoever wins we're still neighbours after October 17.

I came to Salt Spring 24 years ago (2002) to learn about ecological construction. My son was born here and this is where I've built my work, my family and my life.

I'm a licensed builder and architectural designer with thirty years' experience from drawings and permits to construction and finishing. More than twenty years of that work has been here dealing with the practical reali…

Submitted by Transition Salt Spring

Advance voting is already starting for the October 17 local election, yet we keep hearing from people who are uncertain about what they are voting for. They have a sense of what a School Trustee does, but are unclear about what exactly LCC Commissioners, CRD Area Director, and Islands Trust trustees all do. That’s why we’ve put together a voters guide that lays it all out.

For those who already know how local governance works, please consider sharing it with your circles to make sure everyone on Salt Spring knows what’s at stake in this election. It might encourage greater voter turnout on October 17 (as well as at Advance Voting Days October 7 and 14), and it’s just a good thing for people to be informed about.

Salt Spring has an unusual local government setup, with several separate bodies each handling different things. If you want to build something, for example, you get a building permit from the CRD, …

Local elections can be puzzling for newcomers, most of whom chose Salt Spring because it’s a different sort of place, but they aren’t clear on exactly why that is and how the place works.

I define newcomers, in terms of Indigenous peoples, as everyone who came after those who claim ancient roots. My paternal line has been in North America since 1636, but I’m still a newcomer on the continent.

Growing up in a small town, I learned that anyone who’d lived there less that 25 years was still considered new. I also learned, from watching as a kid, that it took five to seven years for the newest newcomers to start to understand how the place worked and how to fit in. These notions have been confirmed in my 24 years of calling Salt Spring home.

What matters most regarding the island and its needs? These come to the fore in local elections, First and overall – and everyone agrees with this – Salt Spring is unique That’s a good part of why we’re all here…