Lekwungen, METULIYE/Victoria, BC—Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area residents and property owners can attend the next local trust committee meeting, April 28, 9:30 a.m., from their homes. All they need is a phone or a computer with access to the internet.

In compliance with public health directives to limit public gatherings and maintain social distance, the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee will be conducting its next regular business meeting via Zoom, an electronic video and audio conferencing system, which can be accessed by anyone through the internet, or phone.

The Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee will conduct its meeting electronically. However, provincial law requires that a physical location be provided for the public to assemble. The Islands Trust Victoria Office at 1627 Fort Street, Victoria, BC, will serve as this location, but Islands Trust hopes that meeting attendees will stay home and attend the meeting electronically.

“As much as we would like to be doing business as usual, we can’t while we’re experiencing this current public health emergency,” said Peter Luckham, Chair of the Islands Trust Council. “We asked the provincial government for an exemption to the physical location requirement, but to date, it has not been granted. To comply with having a physical location open to the public, the Islands Trust Victoria office is designated for that purpose.”

On April 28, 2020 starting at 9:30 a.m., the public may join the Salt Spring Island Trust Committee meeting by:

• Calling: 855.703.8985 (Toll Free)
• Logging into: https://islandstrust.zoom.us/s/67544312685 The Webinar ID number is: 675 4431 2685

The Islands Trust Victoria Office provides sufficient space for social distancing. However, if the number of people attending the meeting in Victoria is too many to meet social distancing requirements, the meeting will be cancelled.

Until further notice, to protect the health and safety of trustees, Island Trust employees, and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, all Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee meetings will be held electronically and broadcast using Zoom.

On March 26, 2020, the BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General issued an order (M083), allowing local governments to conduct electronic meetings without a location for the public to gather. The Islands Trust was not included in the order.

The Islands Trust appreciates your understanding and assistance in these unprecedented times.