Community People Profiles is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island.

This weeks featured local people profile is: Gary Utter

Here’s a little about Gary;

My passion for the Pharmasave brand is obvious, I served on the Pharmasave Regional Board for over 12 years, and also served on the National Board for over 6 years. Even greater than Gary's passion for Pharmasave and serving customers, is his passion for family. When I am not at work (or sometimes when I am) you will find me spending time with my daughter and wife.

What brought you to Salt Spring Island?

I originally came to Salt Spring as a teenager when my parents purchased Booth Bay Resort in 1980.

What one thing about Salt Spring would you tell someone who has never visited the island?

I would tell them to prepare to stay longer than their original plan because, for some people, there is a magnetic-like force that causes them to want to move here on a permanent basis.

If you had a magic Salt Spring wand, what island thing would you change?

I would wave a magic wand and have BC ferry fares decreased to affordable levels. More visitors would come to the island and this would help ensure that the Island’s population and businesses would not be compromised as the cost of this vital transportation link increases.

Which well known person, living or dead, do you think would be a good addition to the island?

I think that Robin Williams would be an excellent addition to Salt Spring. I can’t help but think that he would be a fascinating person to sit down and have a conversation with over coffee. Everyone on the Island could benefit from laughing more! If I had to choose a second person I would probably go with Wayne Gretzky because I am a sports and hockey fanatic and, who is a bigger Canadian sports icon than “The Great One”? He also just seems like a nice guy who would fit in well here!

Is there a special project, business or initiative you are working on that islanders should know about?

It is all about community, what I can do for the community as a business and as an individual and how we can all contribute to keep Salt Spring an amazing place.

Is there a really good interview question we should have asked you?

I would ask me what I like about managing the two Pharmasave stores on Salt Spring.

How would you have answered your question?

My answer is that I love the “people” part of my job. I am constantly amazed by the quality of people (both customers and staff) who I have had the fortune to meet during the last 17 years of being part of a family business on Salt Spring.