THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER. If you purchased tickets, please hang on to them because as the Salt Spring Forum will be rescheduling the event ASAP. If the new date does not work you, we will refund your tickets then. Do stay tuned!

From the lack of affordable housing, to the high cost of living, to tensions over logging, industrial zoning, and land conservation, Salt Spring faces many challenges. Can we manage the costs and benefits of development and tourism? Can we build an economically thriving and environmentally sustainable community?

Join the Salt Spring Forum this Friday, February 8th at 7:30 PM at ArtSpring for a discussion about thriving and sustainable small communities with Josie Osborne, the Mayor of the District of Tofino, who was recently re-elected to a third term.

A self-described ‘community builder,’ Osborne grew up on Vancouver Island immersed in her parents’ small businesses and mentored in community service by them.

After completing university, Osborne moved to Tofino to pursue a career in marine biology and environmental education. Fifteen years later, she became a small business owner. She also chaired the board of Tofino’s destination marketing organization, Tourism Tofino.

As mayor of a progressive rural municipality, Osborne’s primary interests are governance, civic engagement and communication. In addition to her mayoral duties, Osborne currently chairs the board of the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) while also serving on the BC Clean Growth and Climate Action Advisory Council.

Small communities with tourist economies like Salt Spring Island and Tofino face many challenges and opportunities. What lessons can Salt Spring and Tofino learn from each other?

Join the conversation with Mayor Osborne for a unique comparative perspective on small community governance, tourism, sustainable development, small businesses, and more!

Tickets: ArtSpring – 250-537-2102 and http://www.tickets.artspring.ca – & Salt Spring Books. $15 – 2019 Forum Members; $20 General Public. Students & low-income residents contact forum@saltspringforum.com.

*This event is sponsored by Country Grocer