2015 April

Foot Passenger Reservation Pilot Announced

Beginning tomorrow, BC Ferries will be implementing a pilot project to allow free foot passenger reservations for customers travelling from Tsawwassen to any island serviced on the Tsawwassen-Southern Gulf Islands route. Walk-on passengers can now guarantee boarding on a sailing to Salt Spring, Galiano, Saturna, Pender or Mayne Islands. Pilot to run May 1 – September 7, 2015 Details of this reservations offering include: Reservations offered for Tsawwassen departures only, space is limited Full fare must be paid in advance by phoning BC Ferries Customer Call Centre or with BC Ferries Vacations Fares are non-refundable, but are transferable to another sailing No fee for reservations, no fee for changes Reservations can be made up to two hours prior to desired sailing Customers must check-in a minimum of 40 minutes prior to scheduled sailing time “BC Ferries has heard from walk-on passengers of this route that they would like the option of making a reservation…

Salt Spring Reads - Seasonings: Flavours of the Southern Gulf Islands

Salt Spring Reads is an online blend of book review and book club sharing the stories of books with Salt Spring Island roots, and to discuss them with the community. Andrea and David Spalding have had many adventures in their long lives together. They performed on stage, produced records, wrote books and traveled the world. Originally from England, they have called Pender home for many years. Perhaps one of their tastiest adventures, has been the creation of this gorgeous book. Like many Islanders, the Spaldings value wholesome, local food and a good glass of wine. They celebrate organically grown veggies and heritage fruits. They value farmers’ markets and small restaurants. So, together, they set off in search of the best the Gulf Islands have to offer. Along the way, Dave and Andrea interviewed chefs and farmers, entrepreneurs and brewers. They visited hidden coffee roasters and chocolate makers, they sampled wares at bakeries and cheese makers. They photographed barns…

Voting Results: 2015 Fire Protection District Trustee Election

Salt Spring Island Fire Protection District voters elected three new trustees today in a voting day that saw strong voter turn out. The new trustees will serve a three year term. Voters sought to elect trustees to address recent fire services challenges around the selection of a new fire hall location and design, results of the Walker Group report and recent public salary disclosures. Derek Hill (921 Votes), Mitchell Forest (878 Votes), Norbert Schlenker (877 Votes) all win seats at trustees. Maxine Leichter secured 506 votes while falling short of securing a position. Thank you to all the candidates for running for these important community service positions.

BC Ferries Seeks Input on Sailing Schedules

‘Customer Needs Assessment’ survey now open - BC Ferries is launching a survey today to better understand the service needs of Southern Gulf Islands customers. This survey is the first step in a nine-month process offering customers an opportunity to provide input on improving sailing schedules for the following routes: Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands (Salt Spring, Pender, Mayne, Galiano, Saturna) Swartz Bay – Southern Gulf Islands (Pender, Mayne, Galiano, Saturna) Southern Gulf Islands – Inter-Islands (Salt Spring, Pender, Mayne, Galiano, Saturna) As BC Ferries will be introducing two new Intermediate Class Ferries into service in this region in 2017, the opportunity exists to improve service and better align customer needs with sailing schedules, as well as balance seasonal service, capacity and demand with operating efficiencies. “The more information BC Ferries can gather on the travelling needs of our customers, the better informed we will be in devel…

Faces of Salt Spring: Jill Louise Campbell

Tamar Griggs has been photographing her island community, passionately drawn to the people, events and changes in our villages for over twenty years now. Through her camera she has documented the fleeting moments in our lives and ultimately recorded history. The Faces of Salt Spring exhibit will be a showing at ArtSpring in the coming months. Over 300 islanders are in this series of photography and interviews, and if you are not in it, you are bound to know someone who is. This weeks featured Face of Salt Spring is: Jill Louise Campbell, 2014 I was born in a small town by Lake Erie in the early morning mid-summer of 1951. I came here for a yoga weekend at the Salt Spring Centre in 1986 and we moved to Salt Spring Island with our family in 1990. The romantic ideals of living on this island became whispers that became so loud, I knew this was to be home. I was escaping from and running to myself. I experienced deep learning while living in France attending the Sorbo…

Tamar Griggs: Faces of Salt Spring - Burgoyne Montage

For over 20 years Tamar has been photographing her island community, passionately drawn to the people, events and changes in our villages. Through her camera she has documented the fleeting moments in our lives and ultimately recorded history. Over 400 islanders are in this show, and if you are not in it, you are bound to know someone. There also will be a collection of stories by islanders, so you can get a glimpse of the people behind the images. People have passed on, children have grown up, and some of us are getting white hair! We are an eclectic, passionate group of people living on a glorious island we call home. Come and see what we have been up to these past 20 years. You will be delighted and entertained. It will inspire your own stories. You're invited! - A celebration of community - Tamar Griggs Photo Exhibit: Faces of Salt Spring - Opening Party, Sunday April 26, 2015 from 6 - 8 pm at ArtSpring. Donations gladly received at the door. Show runs from April 2…

Shop Local Salt Spring Island

The Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce is proud to present our new Shop Local program! All of our members have the opportunity to participate in this great initiative that will support their businesses and create positive community spirit! Locally-owned businesses return about 80% of each dollar to their community. And each dollar spent at a local business will return up to five times that amount within our community through taxes, employees’ wages, and purchases of materials, supplies and services at other independent businesses. By staying on-island and purchasing groceries, clothing, services, building supplies and professional services you are supporting your neighbours, friends and their families and creating a sustainable Salt Spring Island. This initiative is brought to you by the 300+ members of the Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce, serving the community since 1948. Thank you for Shopping Local, Salt Spring Island. Community, Jobs, Environment

Incorporation Salt Spring Island - Province to Fund Study

VICTORIA – The Government of British Columbia is providing $120,000 in funding towards an incorporation study for Salt Spring Island. The study will incorporate two distinct areas of work - preparation of a comparative analysis of current governance with municipal governance; and public engagement and consultation on the comparative scenarios. In making the announcement today, Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, said the incorporation study will provide residents with the necessary facts and information to compare options and become fully informed about incorporation. The incorporation study follows a provincially funded Salt Spring Island governance study which indicated there was sufficient community interest to warrant looking at incorporation. The governance study revealed community feedback concerning several matters that could be addressed through municipal incorporation, including more representation and local decision- making, bet…

March Traffic on BC Ferries Up 5% Over Last Year

Year over year comparison shows vehicle and passenger traffic increases. Traffic is up on BC Ferries over the same period last year, with March showing increases of over 5 per cent for vehicles and nearly 4 per cent for passengers. In March 2015, BC Ferries welcomed an additional 51,937 passengers and 29,861 vehicles compared to March 2014. February was even better with increases of over 10 per cent for passengers and nearly 11 per cent for vehicles. “These numbers are very positive and we are optimistic we’ll have an outstanding summer for traffic on BC Ferries this year,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ President & CEO. “Indications are that lower gas prices and a weaker Canadian dollar will combine to increase traffic this summer. We are also optimistic for the future with annual preliminary price caps set at or below inflation at 1.9 per cent from 2016 to 2020.” Tourism is rebounding from the economic downturn and it is expected to be a busy tourist season in B.C. Tra…

Faces of Salt Spring: Róisín Taylor Gill

Tamar Griggs has been photographing her island community, passionately drawn to the people, events and changes in our villages for over twenty years now. Through her camera she has documented the fleeting moments in our lives and ultimately recorded history. The Faces of Salt Spring exhibit will be a showing at ArtSpring in the coming months. Over 300 islanders are in this series of photography and interviews, and if you are not in it, you are bound to know someone who is. This weeks featured Face of Salt Spring is: Róisín Taylor Gill, 2014 I was born September 7th, 2010 in Santa Cruz, California. I came here because of Ya Ya and Baba mostly. I am not in school so I am learning mostly at home. I am learning not to cry when I don’t need to. Actually, I learned to pump on the swing, to write and spell my name, Róisín, baking, and making beds like Jeanne-Marie (Herman) does. I am learning: don’t touch food when Mom and Dad are baking. I help cook, but not when I am sick. …

Tamar Griggs: Faces of Salt Spring - Ganges Montage

For over 20 years Tamar has been photographing her island community, passionately drawn to the people, events and changes in our villages. Through her camera she has documented the fleeting moments in our lives and ultimately recorded history. Over 400 islanders are in this show, and if you are not in it, you are bound to know someone. There also will be a collection of stories by islanders, so you can get a glimpse of the people behind the images. People have passed on, children have grown up, and some of us are getting white hair! We are an eclectic, passionate group of people living on a glorious island we call home. Come and see what we have been up to these past 20 years. You will be delighted and entertained. It will inspire your own stories. You're invited! - A celebration of community - Tamar Griggs Photo Exhibit: Faces of Salt Spring - Opening Party, Sunday April 26, 2015 from 6 - 8 pm at ArtSpring. Donations gladly received at the door. Show runs from April 2…

People Profile – Elections: Maxine Leichter

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. 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 and as they run their respective election campaigns. This profile is for Maxine Leichter, who is a candidate running for 2015 Fire Board Trustee Election. Here's a bit about Maxine; My husband and I moved to Salt Spring in 2003, fulfilling a lifetime dream to live in the country, away from the big city. We spent the first few years building our off-grid house and getting to know Salt Spring. We enjoy being part of a small community where we meet friends every time we go to town. My passion for local government has resulted in my learning all I can about the various government entities on S…

People Profile – Elections: Mitchell Forest

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. 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 and as they run their respective election campaigns. This profile is for Mitchell Forest, who is a candidate running for 2015 Fire Board Trustee Election. Here's a bit about Mitchell; I purchased land on Salt Spring in 2002 and we built a home here with the plan of creating a homestead type existence. Farming and producing our own foods was our goal. It has taken hard work to get there and today we are pleased to be producing organically grown hops that are used by Salt Spring brewery as well as produce for ourselves. Each year we add to our crop selection, this year barley is sprouting nic…

People Profile – Elections: Derek Hill

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. 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 and as they run their respective election campaigns. This profile is for Derek Hill, who is a candidate running for 2015 Fire Board Trustee Election. Here's a bit about Derek; My wife Betsy and youngest daughter Jesse moved to Salt Spring from a small ski town in Quebec in 1994. Our other 6 children were working or at university and 3 of them were already out west. We built a house and cottage on Ganges Harbour and ran Anchorage Cove B&B for 10 years. I was a Captain at Air Canada and commuted to work via float plane till 2003. Our daughter Jesse went through the school system here. We have…

Vesuvius Terminal Trestle Repairs - Vehicle Length Restrictions

Please be advised that during April 17 to April 20, BC Ferries will be carrying out necessary repairs to the trestle at Vesuvius Terminal on Salt Spring Island. These repairs will require a portion of the trestle to be blocked off allowing for removal and replacement of the trestle decking and support beams. This project will require a temporary restriction to the following vehicle types while the work is taking place: • Any single combination vehicles over 10m or 30ft • Any vehicles pulling a trailer with either the tow vehicle or trailer exceeding 10m or 30ft Vehicles that exceed these temporary restrictions are asked to travel using the Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour route, or if possible travel on alternate dates. There will be no impact to our scheduled sailings and the majority of this repair project is taking place over the weekend to lessen the impact on our commercial customers. Please follow the direction of staff to ensure safe and efficient movement a…

Faces of Salt Spring: Robert Bateman

Tamar Griggs has been photographing her island community, passionately drawn to the people, events and changes in our villages for over twenty years now. Through her camera she has documented the fleeting moments in our lives and ultimately recorded history. The Faces of Salt Spring exhibit will be a showing at ArtSpring in the coming months. Over 300 islanders are in this series of photography and interviews, and if you are not in it, you are bound to know someone who is. This weeks featured Face of Salt Spring is: Robert Bateman, 2007 I was born in Toronto, Ontario. In the summer of 1979 I was zodiaking with Bristol Foster on the west side of Vancouver Island. It was a fabulous BC high and I fell in love with the feel of the whole West Coast experience. I asked Bristol, if I wanted to live in BC, where should I go, and he immediately said Salt Spring Island knowing we’d like to live near a school and a hospital and be near an airport yet have nature all around us. We…

People Profile - Elections: Norbert Schlenker

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. 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 and as they run their respective election campaigns. This profile is for Norbert Schlenker, who is a candidate running for 2015 Fire Board Trustee Election. Here's a bit about Norbert; I've lived on Salt Spring for 15 years. I'm a (mostly retired now) personal financial advisor and operate a computer refurbishing business here. I have served in many volunteer roles since coming to Salt Spring: treasurer and president of ArtSpring, president of the Stingrays summer swim team, treasurer of the Saltspring Island Sailing Club, member of the Advisory Planning Commission, and co-ordinator of the …