ASK Salt Spring

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Local Commissioners Gary and Gayle

September 20 A small group gathered to welcome Electoral Director/Local Community Commissioner (LCC), Gary Holman, as well as LCC member Gayle Baker. After a lovely Territorial Acknowledgement by notetaker Sheila Dobie, facilitator Grant Fredrickson asked guests what “excites and delights” them. While, with a wry smile, Gary said that he is simply not the “excited and delighted” type, he proceeded to congratulate the North Salt Spring Waterworks District (NSSWD) for its intention to relax the water moratorium to allow for some additional hookups in the area served by Mount Maxwell Lake. Gary acknowledged the staff and trustees of NSSWD for their diligence in gathering and analyzing needed data to make a prudent and scientific decisions concerning current and future water needs. It is estimated that this relaxation of the NSSWD moratorium could result in as many as 300 new hookups. While details are still needed, this is very, very good news, expected to provide water for im…

ASK Salt Spring Bids a Grateful Farewell to MLA Adam Olsen

September 13 Eighteen joined us for all or part of the time for this very special ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming Adam Olsen for his last time with us as our MLA. (Be sure, he is very likely to join us again in one of his future community roles!) We began with a Territorial Acknowledgement exploring the concept of reciprocity, a social norm of honest communication in which each can share their needs and is willing to meet the needs of the other person. This is often giving and getting something in return either immediately or in the future. Adam spoke of this as the core of most religions and its central importance to his culture, seeing our land intricately related, its people all relatives reciprocally supporting each other. Adam noted that, with the exception of Gary Holman when he was our MLA from 2013-2017, it was too easy for MLA’s to ignore our islands and focus on the more populated areas in their riding, forgetting that we are all related. Adam understands…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes RCMP's Clive Seabrook

Ten welcomed RCMP’s Sergeant Clive Seabrook to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Clive shared some of what “excites and delights” him. Personally, he was buoyed by his recent 20th wedding anniversary trip to Paris, a phenomenal city. Professionally, he is blessed by a career that continues to excite and intrigue him despite its challenges. After some recent gaps in staffing, he is pleased that the Salt Spring Island Detachment is at full strength, with eight officers including himself, a Corporal, six Constables, and two administrative public service employees who assist the officers with a lot of the administrative workflow and the public with services such as criminal record checks. Clive credits any success in the community to the hard work and dedication of the officers and staff at the Salt Spring detachment – we are blessed with a great team who are often called upon in very difficult circumstances. As many of us know, RCMP off…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes David Norget and His Mental Wellness Team

August 30 Ten gathered to welcome David Norget to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. While the group was small (great weather, long weekend, and ???), we laughed about all being family as everyone in this conversation was involved in building community through: - Mental Wellness Initiative - Gabriel’s Kitchen - Ambassador Program - Our local radio station, CHiR.fm - Community Services Food Bank - Salt Spring Community Health Society and - Your Local Community Commission United by the strong shared commitment to creating a community of care, our time together revealed a dedicated group of selfless individuals representing hardworking nonprofits (and local government) who see both the benefits and challenges of creating a community that welcomes all, even those who are different from us. David began our conversation with a Territorial Acknowledgement that, thanks to words from Adam Olsen in an interview he had with him, reminded us that, although care for our l…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Our Community Radio Station Team

August 23 A small group (plus another well-behaved pup) gathered to learn all about our community radio CHiR.fm. President of the Gulf Islands Community Radio Society, Damian Inwood, was familiar to many of us as a regular ASK Salt Spring participant, interviewing our special guests after most gatherings. (Interested? Check out ASK Salt Spring Answered Damian was joined by society Secretary Charley Miller and Treasurer David Crouch. We also owe thanks to facilitator Sheila Dobie and notetaker Julie Thomson for their invaluable contributions to this gathering. After a Territorial Acknowledgement by Damian, speaking of the power of Indigenous communities helping one another in troubled times, we learned a bit about the history of our new local radio station, CHiR.fm. The Gulf Islands Community Radio Society was formed in 2015 after the previous Salt Spring station, CFSI, had failed and had its licence revoked by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commissi…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Housing Expert Justine Starke

August 16 Nineteen, and one very well-behaved pup, joined us for all or part of our ASK Salt Spring housing conversation with Southern Gulf Islands CRD Manager - and former Salt Spring Islands Trust Planner - Justine Starke. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began our conversation with our traditional question, asking Justine what “excites and delights” her. Recognizing that there were so many things that give her pleasure, she spoke briefly about her commitment to diversity, both in our community as well as in our environment. While housing concerns have been a large part of her focus as the CRD Manager for the Southern Gulf Islands, (Mayne, Galiano, Saturna, and the two Pender Islands), she also derives much pleasure encouraging systems to support the diversity and strength of our islands. Among those systems are better internet so that folks can connect easily while remaining in their island homes. She also mentioned her efforts to establish a transit system fo…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Local Commissioners Gary Holman and Gayle Baker

August 9 Nine came to welcome Electoral Director/Local Community Commissioner (LCC) Gary Holman and Local Commissioner Gayle Baker to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. Ably facilitated by Grant Fredrickson, after our Territorial Acknowledgment, he asked us each what “excited and delighted” us. Gary began by noting the “big hole” on Drake Road, a clear indication of the long-awaited progress on the BC Housing 32 supported housing units (plus an unexpected separate housing option of four affordable housing suites), expected to be completed in 2025. Gary is also very pleased that the CRD has approved inclusion of the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation’s health worker housing (at the former SeaBreeze Inne) into the Ganges Harbour Wastewater Treatment system . While the Foundation will have to pay for the infrastructure to get to the site, estimated at as much as $400,000, Gary indicated he will be supporting it with $100,000 in Community Works (“gas tax”) funding (as he has done for …

ASK Salt Spring Offers an Enthusiastic Welcome to MP Elizabeth May

Seventeen joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MP Elizabeth May and Ned Taylor, Member’s Assistant. In her Territorial Acknowledgement, she gratefully recognized the many First Nations who honoured and protected land, noting that borders between Canada and the US have challenged free passage, impacting century-old tribal relationships. Giving everyone a chance to introduce themselves, we learned that participants had come to this gathering with a variety of perspectives and interests. When asked what “excited and delighted” her, Elizabeth’s answer was immediate: Her new (still honeymooning after five years) husband John, who had also joined us. Adding to her delight was her daughter’s expected baby, dubbed HB, Halloween Baby. And, yes, she is delighted to be still alive, having suffered a serious stroke last year with, thankfully, no longterm damage. Elizabeth began by speaking about the publicity concerning her recent high security clearance. Carefully naviga…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes the Community Services Team

July 19 Twenty joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming the members of the Island Community Services Team (https://saltspringcommunityservices.ca/contact-us/) that included Rob Grant, Executive Director; Jamie Ferguson, Food Programs Coordinator; Nikky Peers, Youth Program Coordinator and new Seniors’ Community Connector; Kyla Duncan, Clinical Director, and Rob Wiltzen, Operations and Communications Manager. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned from each what “excited and delighted” them with many answers focused on the wonders of summer and joys that included water sports, camping, time to romp with an energetic pup, and family time. Professionally, the team expressed pleasure working together meeting needs of those in our community. While not chronological, our time together focused on two themes: The first was to learn about some of the many Community Services programs offered by this multi-faceted organization. Community Services provides service…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Local Community Commissioner Chair Earl Rook

July 12 While a small gathering, our time together offered a fascinating exploration of governance issues with our special guest, Local Community Commission (LCC) Chair, Earl Rook, backed up by Local Commissioner Gayle Baker, also notetaker and report-writer. We began with our Territorial Acknowledgement during which Earl lamented all the First Nations sites that have been disturbed, hopeful that we are better-protecting these unique monuments of the centuries that Salt Spring served as an Indigenous homeland to so many bands. When asked what “excited and delighted” him by facilitator Grant Fredrickson, Earl replied that he was thrilled by the positive forward motion of the LCC. He cited the conclusion of the LCC Strategic Plan which is expected to be released in August. He also spoke briefly about progress reviewing and revising the Five-Year Capital Plans for each of the services under the authority of the LCC, most notably a long, complicated, and outdated Transportati…

ASK Salt Spring Bids a Sad Farewell to MLA Adam Olsen

July 5 Twenty-six joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Laura Parker, Outreach Coordinator, and to bid a sad farewell to MLA Adam Olsen who has decided not to run again. The clear message throughout our time together was our support for his decision to focus his attention on family and personal opportunities as well as heartfelt appreciation of the terrific job he has done representing us over the years. We began our conversation with Adam’s Territorial Acknowledgement , reminding us of the uniqueness of our islands and that it should be our privilege to belong to them rather than owning or dominating them. When asked what “excites and delights “ him by facilitator Grant Fredrickson, Adam explained that he was thrilled to be able to speak openly about feelings that had been growing for him. At 48 with 16 years of elected service behind him, he began to think that it was time for him to move into his next phase. Not retiring - he has plenty of work yet to do! -…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes the Chuan Society

June 28 Twenty-one gathered to welcome the Chuan Society to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. Special guests included chairperson Kajin Goh, council members Lauren Porter, Jenny McClean, and Stephen Carey, and Gabriel’s Kitchen team members Cheryl Roehlig, Kristin Norget, and Keith Delaney. After his Territorial Acknowledgment (suggesting that Land and People Honouring might be an added term), Kajin spoke of his “excitement and delight” with the “People Power” being created from small seeds. These seeds are continuously nurtured by the excitement, energy, and hard work of so many volunteers, many of who had joined us for this conversation. Working alongside a non-hierarchical Chuan Council of nine are many optimistic volunteers working on multiple projects through our community. So, tell us a bit about the Chuan Society (https://www.facebook.com/chuansociety/). Originating as a citizen journalism project — the Chuan Chronicle — the Chuan Society was formed in 2017 in response…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Max, Our HomeShare Coordinator

June 21 A small group gathered to welcome Max Baron-Veale, Salt Spring’s Housing NOW Coordinator and to learn about HomeSharing. After Max’s moving Territorial Acknowledgement, we each took a few moments to introduce ourselves, most adding the Indigenous-like acknowledgement of our parents and roots. Max then told us what “excited and delighted” him. On his mind was his imminent departure for his first ever jujitsu competition. Clearly a gentle soul, he was a bit nonplussed by the combative aspects of his newfound sport. Professionally, he is very excited about the potential of HomeSharing on Salt Spring, anxious to further explore its as one of many needed solutions to our housing crisis. And, yes, he almost forgot to tell us: He will become a father in August! Housing NOW (https://www.sgicommunityresources.ca/housing-now-home/) began as a project of the Southern Gulf Islands Resource Centre, initially largely-funded by their Economic Sustainability Commission. Expansion o…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Two Local Commissioners, Earl and Gary

June 14: While the gathering welcoming Local Community Commissioners (LCC) Chair Earl Rook and Electoral Director Gary Holman was small, those who participated expressed their appreciation for our housing-focused conversation. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, facilitator Grant Fredrickson asked our guests what “Excited and Delighted” them. Earl began by expressing pleasure that the long, dark days of winter have been replaced by our spring/summer weather. He also spoke briefly of his appreciation for the community support for the LCC, approaching the one-year anniversary of the swearing in of Salt Spring’s first Local Community Commissioners on June 20, 2023: - Chair Earl Rook: erook@crd.bc.ca, - Ben Corno : bcorno@crd.bc.ca, - Brian Webster: bwebster@crd.bc.ca, - Gayle Baker: gbaker@crd.bc.ca, and - Gary Holman, also our Electoral Director: directorssi@crd.bc.ca.) Gary continued this theme of support for the LCC by noting that its one-year anniversary had …

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes the Chamber

June 14 Eleven (including the fun addition of Jason’s young ones) joined us at this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome our Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce’s new Executive Director, Matthew Quetton, and new President, Jason Roy-Allen. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Jason and Matthew told us a bit about themselves and what “excites and delights" them. Jason began by telling us that, a new arrival to Salt Spring, he and his wife own Hen and Hound Farm (complete with farm stand and B&B), the Brasserie (the old Fernwood Café), and, most recently, the Feast (the old House Piccolo). An experienced startup entrepreneur, he places community - people living with people - high on his list of priorities. He is “excited and delighted” by the new direction the Chamber is taking, fueled by its new Directors, new values, and new ideas. Characterizing the former Chamber as struggling to find priorities and value to the business community, he believes it had been struggling lar…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Restorative Justice

May 31 Nine joined us to welcome Laura Dafoe, a Restorative Justice volunteer, to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. We were especially glad to welcome Laura as she was unexpectedly filling in at the last moment for Restorative Justice Program Coordinator, Jessica Terazakis, who was ill. Although she had not planned to be our special guest this week, Laura led us on a rich journey of learning about Restorative Justice, saying that she was glad to do so in appreciation of all the good things ASK Salt Spring does for our community and for the opportunity to tell us about Restorative Justice. During her Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned that Restorative Justice is a way of looking at the world based upon Indigenous principles. When addressing conflict, Restorative Justice focuses on adhering to the five R values: - Relationship, - Respect, - Responsibility, - Repair, and - Reintegration. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/crime-…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes the Islands Trust

May 24 Nineteen joined the ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Islands Trust Planner Jason Youmans, and Trustee Laura Patrick to provide an overview and answer questions about two important Local Trust Committee land use planning initiatives: the Complete Communities Assessment; and updates of the Official Community Plan (OCP) and Land Use Bylaws (LUB). During her Territorial Acknowledgment, Laura spoke briefly about her own personal journey learning about reconciliation and referenced Culturally Connected as a good resource. (You can learn more about Culturally Connected and reconciliation here: (https://www.culturallyconnected.ca/). When asked what “excites and delights” him, Jason told us that, personally, he loves the return of the sun and, professionally, he is enthusiastic about being involved in local Islands Trust projects that hold the promise of addressing longstanding Salt Spring issues using environmentally sustainable principles. Laura spoke of her joy …

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Two of Your Local Community Commissioners (LCC)

This ASK Salt Spring gathering welcomed CRD Local Community Commissioners (LCC) Brian Webster and Gayle Baker. After his Territorial Acknowledgement, Brian, wearing his apple-farming hat, leapt fearlessly into the currently raging spongy moth spraying controversy. Brian brought science into the discussion, warning us against letting fear and assumptions overwhelm science-based conclusions. We learned that the spongy moth, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymantria_dispar) is, in the first phase of its life cycle, an invasive leaf-eating caterpillar that defoliates trees. Trees that are already stressed due to climate change and other challenges, can die from this defoliation. While all deciduous trees are at risk, of particular concern are our rare and precious Garry Oaks (https://ohgarryoaksociety.org/what-is-a-garry-oak/). In addition to the ecological threat to Garry Oaks, a spongy moth infestation brings serious financial consequences to local farmers as this caterpilla…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes our Fire Folks

April 26 A total of 13 joined us to welcome Fire Trustee Chair, Rollie Cook, and Chief Administrative Officer, Rodney Dieleman, to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. While the numbers were not large, the conversation was lively and rich. After our Territorial Acknowledgment, we asked our guests what excited and delighted them. Rodney spoke briefly about his joy living on Salt Spring and all the new opportunities awaiting him. Having just purchased a boat, he is looking forward to exploring our coast and learning entirely new ways of fishing. A world quite different from the rivers of his former home, he is looking forward to new adventures. Rollie, dashing to be with us from his sheep-raising and planting duties, shared his joy with our lovely spring. He also shared his great pleasure that, just that day, construction on the new firehall had begun. After seven years of planning, he is over the moon that the on-the-ground work for our new firehall is finally underway. Expe…

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Owen Page, our MoTi Area Manager

April 19 Fifteen joined us for all or part of our time together at this ASK Salt Spring gathering that welcomed our Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) Area Manager Owen Page. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we asked Owen what excites and delights him. Personally, he was looking forward to watching a great basketball playoff while enjoying a beer that evening. Professionally, he loves spending time in the communities for which he is responsible, always listening, learning, and seeking the best use of the resources he has been allocated. Later ,when asked if the number of Salt Spring emails were a bit overwhelming, he responded a resounding No. He appreciates hearing our suggestions. He is able to address some. Others he routes to the correct managers, keeping track and advocating for them, as appropriate. When asked to detail his area of responsibility, we learned that, although the Gulf Islands are split between three Area Managers, leaving Owen …

ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Two Local Community Commissioners

April 12- Ten welcomed two of your Local Community Commissioners, Ben Corno and Gayle Baker, to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. While the numbers were small, the conversation was rich, masterfully facilitated by Ron Cooke. We began with a Territorial Acknowledgement from Ben, introducing himself in the Indigenous way of also recognizing his parents. When asked what excites and delights us, Gayle responded that she was delighted to be happily home after an amazing trip that began in Brazil and ended in Rome. She spoke briefly about her satisfaction with small projects that are moving along toward completion, like the new bus shelter next to the Visitors’ Center, a proposed ICBC study of our Ganges crosswalks, the soon-to-be-released prioritization of our top road safety concerns, and the recent award of a grant to complete the Merchant Mews pathway. She expressed her determination not to focus upon the areas in which she sees herself failing, like moving swiftly toward soluti…