Local Listings

View More Ads

Latest Local News

Minister Rejects Trust Council’s Request For “Review” Of Islands Trust Act

By Frants Attorp Cool your heels and go back to the people. That’s the basic message Minister of Municipal Affairs Ravi Kahlon has sent to Trust Council, the political body of the Islands Trust, after its recent request that the Province conduct a full “review” of the Islands Trust Act—including the “preserve and protect” mandate which has restrained development on the Gulf Islands for the past 50 years. In an April 28th letter to Trust Council, which consists of all our 26 elected trustees, Minister Kahlon quashed any speculation that the Trust area, protected by the Islands Trust Act since 1974, can be governed much like any other part of the province. The Minister indicated the provincial government has other more pressing matters on its plate “during this time of extraordinary change and uncertainty,” and stated: “I am therefore not in a position to consider a review of the Islands Trust Act prior to the next general local elections.” This is definitely not what…
Read more about Minister Rejects Trust Council’s Request For “Review” Of Islands Trust Act

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes RJSSI in "Listening as a Path to Connection" on May 9

ASK Salt Spring Report: Listening as a Path to Connection This month’s Restorative Justice Dialogue Circle invited community members into a deep exploration of listening as a core skill for navigating conflict and bridging division. Together, we examined how restorative listening practices can strengthen relationships, support accountability, and contribute to more connected and resilient communities. The circle offered a space for reflection on what it means to truly listen—not to fix, debate, or correct—but to understand. With a focus on practical tools and relational insight, participants explored how listening can serve as an active, healing practice in times of tension or disconnection. Laura began the session by grounding the group with a land acknowledgment and the importance of listening and centering Indigenous voices as part of reconciliation. After introducing the circle team, the group was guided in setting shared agreements to create a space of care, respe…
Read more about ASK Salt Spring Welcomes RJSSI in "Listening as a Path to Connection" on May 9

What Bird Language Teaches Us About Listening to Ourselves

Birds as the Nervous System of The Forest What are Birds Communicating with Their Song? My friend and I recently started learning bird language. She said that she had come to think of bird language as the nervous system of the forest. The birds "alarm" when predators are nearby, they sing when they’re safe and happy, you can hear juveniles "begging" for food from their parents in the nest if you’re lucky… Side note: For those of you who have never learned about bird language, there are 5 types of communication: -contact calls: more simple vocalizations used to communicate with other birds especially within the same flock/family, such as knowing each others location -alarm: rapid vocalizations used to alert other birds of potential dangers such as predators -song: melodic and complex vocal expressions, used just because (e.g. at dawn), by male birds during the breeding season to attract mates, to defend territories, etc -territorial aggression: more inte…
Read more about What Bird Language Teaches Us About Listening to Ourselves

Streamlined Process Cuts Wait Times, Bringing More U.S. Nurses to B.C.

New streamlined credential recognition means nurses from the United States can now work in B.C. much quicker, with registrations taking only a few days, compared to the previous average as long as four months. “American health-care professionals are increasingly drawn to B.C. as a place that supports science, protects reproductive rights and takes care of people no matter how much money they have in their bank account,” said Premier David Eby. “That’s why I’m delighted to see that our new, fast-tracked credential recognition has cut registration time from months to just days and is bringing in new U.S. nurses to strengthen our public health system and deliver better care for British Columbians, faster.” Since launching the new, streamlined process, applications from the U.S.-trained nurses have increased by 127%. The BC College of Nurses and Midwives is leveraging common systems and exams to make the registration process more efficient. Nurses can now apply directly to th…
Read more about Streamlined Process Cuts Wait Times, Bringing More U.S. Nurses to B.C.

Province Helps Strengthen Indigenous Food Security, Sovereignty

More than 100 Indigenous-led projects are underway in communities throughout B.C., helping to strengthen local food security and food sovereignty with another round of funding set to open. “Working alongside Indigenous partners is crucial to growing and maintaining our province’s food systems and part of our government’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation,” said Harwinder Sandhu, parliamentary secretary for agriculture. “These Indigenous-led projects highlight how Indigenous knowledge supports increasing local food supply and food security, especially in rural and remote communities.” In 2023, the New Relationship Trust (NRT) launched the $30-milllion Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program and is supporting both on-reserve and off-reserve projects, such as revitalizing food harvesting and Indigenous agro-ecosystems, expanding production capacity, boosting local food processing and distribution, and growing commercial value-added enterprises. On Vancouver Is…
Read more about Province Helps Strengthen Indigenous Food Security, Sovereignty

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon

by Danielle Blackwood Happy Full Moon in Scorpio! On Monday May 12 th at 9:56 am, the Full Moon in Scorpio invites us to enter a portal while gifting us visions of unseen depths. Watch for secrets revealed, hidden power dynamics exposed, and a meeting with the archetypal Shadow. But while this is a particularly potent Full Moon, it also brings its gifts. Although seeing what has been hidden can be disruptive to our worldview, once seen we cannot look away, and we may be called to reckon with ‘what is’ during this lunation. However, the medicine itself is often in the sting of the scorpion, a catalyst that begins a necessary release, so that healing can begin. And while this can play out in the outer world, it can just as easily be a cathartic inner process. And as tempting as it can be to put the blinders back on, Scorpio medicine teaches us that if we look unflinchingly at the truth of something, to sit with it, to hold it with equal measures of courage and compass…
Read more about Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon

Welcoming Rob Botterell – ASK Salt Spring

Welcoming Rob Botterell – ASK Salt Spring 2 May 2025 Twenty-three joined for all or part of this ASK Salt Spring discussion with MLA Rob Botterell. Changing things up a bit, Ron Cooke, the facilitator sitting in for Gayle Baker, asked Rob what concerns him. Rob answered that this week in the Legislature the government introduced legislation to streamline approvals for projects, the environmental assessment process, and infrastructure projects. Rob thought this wasn’t a bad thing, but as the “devil is in the details”, he is concerned that the Green Caucus will have sufficient time to thoroughly examine the legislation and ensure it is not an over-reach. With this said, Rob started the conversation with a territorial acknowledgment and his thoughts about the tragic events that occurred at the Lapu-Lapu Festival on April 26th. He reminded us that today is a day of mourning and wanted to express his heart-felt sympathies to the community impacted directly by the trag…
Read more about Welcoming Rob Botterell – ASK Salt Spring

New Water-Monitoring Program Could Save 1.5 billion Litres a Year

Homeowners and businesses in rural British Columbia will soon benefit from new water meters that will help small communities save water and increase resiliency during droughts, while lowering costs for people who use less water. “Drinking water is an incredibly precious resource,” said Brittny Anderson, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities. “Small and rural communities in B.C. face higher financial and management capacity challenges, and water metering helps communities identify leaks, conserve drinking water, and keep costs down for businesses and residents.” Nineteen small, rural and First Nations communities will benefit from nearly 15,000 new automated water meters that will be installed. Provincial funding will cover up to 100% of eligible costs. By helping communities have a better understanding of the amount of water that is used, this $50-million provincial investment could help save up to 1.5 billion litres of water each year. This is the…
Read more about New Water-Monitoring Program Could Save 1.5 billion Litres a Year

Salt Spring May 16: Elaine Alec Launches Second Book Coming of Age with Five-City B.C. Book Signing Tour

Acclaimed Indigenous author, speaker, and thought leader teɬkənitkʷ (Elaine Alec) releases her second book, Coming of Age: Overcoming Trauma to Achieve Self-Determination. To mark the release, Alec will embark on a five-city book signing tour across British Columbia beginning in Penticton, May 1, 2025. Each stop will feature a book reading, conversation with the author, book signing, and community gathering. Admission is free, and all are welcome. Book Tour Schedule: detailed event listings can be found here. Salt Spring Island – May 16 150 FULFORD-GANGES ROAD GANGES, BC, V8K 2T8 Time: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Penticton – May 1 Williams Lake – May 8 Victoria – May 15 Vancouver – June 5 (location TBA) Building on the teachings of her first book, Calling My Spirit Back, Alec’s latest work blends personal storytelling, community wisdom, and cultural insight to offer pathways to healing, empowerment, and Indigenous-led leadership. “At its core, Coming of Age …
Read more about Salt Spring May 16: Elaine Alec Launches Second Book Coming of Age with Five-City B.C. Book Signing Tour

Obituary: Daulton (Doc) Paynter

Daulton (Doc) Paynter 1934 March 28 - 2025 May 2 We are very sad to announce the passing of Daulton (Doc) Paynter @ LMH on May 2, 2025, surrounded by his loving wife and family. Doc was a kind, gentle man who savoured & appreciated every moment of his full life. He loved his family and the people in this world from every race, country & situation and was passionate about caring for the planet. Born in Powell River, he had one brother & two sisters. He had a life-long love for B.C.’s wilderness, forests and coastline which resulted in his participation in many protests over the years to protect it. When he was 13, his obsession to fly an airplane spurred him to find a job to pay for lessons. With these hard-earned monies he would bike to the Vancouver airport to take flying lessons and eventually qualified for a solo flight. Later, while building houses, he lost one eye in an accident which ended his dream of flying, so he took up sailing. After a year at UBC he de…
Read more about Obituary: Daulton (Doc) Paynter

View More Articles