The Salt Spring App began with a simple question “How could businesses on the island promote themselves and the island to a larger audience?” The answer came wrapped in a small internet icon with its feet firmly established on Salt Spring Island.
After numerous brainstorming sessions between the founding companies, Salt Spring Coffee, Salt Spring Soapworks, Salt Spring Air, Salt Spring Cheese, Hastings House, Mouats, Pegasus Gallery and the Salt Spring Exchange, lots of creative input and various excellent, not so excellent, and downright unusual ideas, the decision was made to embrace the smart phone social media market and build a Salt Spring App, once we gave the idea a little funding, a lot of support, vast amounts of data and an internet icon that said "Hello Salt Spring" the project took on a life of its own.
The main goal was to make sure that we captured as much of the Island as possible and to do that it had to be free for every business to use and free for people to download. Needless to say, it was not free to build, but the founding companies believed strongly in the project and joined together to cover the cost.
Designed to give everyone with a smart phone, or the internet, easy access to information on all that the island has to offer, the app will have detailed categories including where to stay, what to eat, entertainment and shopping, as well as activities and events, information on the markets and live performances. There will also be practical information available such as maps, guided tours, ferry and flight times and local weather.
Wherever the user is located, whether on the island, planning to visit the island or simply making plans for a future trip, it’s nice to know that they can have a little bit of Salt Spring Island in the palm of their hand, simply by pressing that HelloSaltSpring icon with its electronic roots leading all the way back to Salt Spring Island.
The beta version has been well received and the founding companies have already started to include the app in their summer marketing plans. There will be a QR code available shortly for easy scanning and a website to complement the app. If you’re interested in being part of this initiative, we’re still signing on participating members. Sign up at for your free entry at saltspringapp.ca to be part of the fun.
