ASK Salt Spring

Only seven joined us this week to welcome Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce’s Operations Manager, Alexander Fischer-Jean to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. It was good news that throngs did not come hoping to see MP Elizabeth May and disappointed that she is, very wisely, prioritizing her health. Sometimes the best conversations take place when the atmosphere is at that casual level only possible with a very small group. So - while we do hope many more of you will come to welcome MLA Adam Olsen this Friday, August 4, we appreciated those who were there and everyone’s part in a rich conversation. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Alexander began by telling us about the Chamber’s commitment to revitalizing our village through projects (like the murals), events (like the recent Home and Garden Show), and support of programs (like the Ambassador Program.) When asked to tell us about things that excite and delight him, he immediately responded by sharing his joy that we see…

Only ten gathered to welcome Umbrella Society’s Rebecca Wakefield, Evan James, and Corey Burtini. While so many others would have also enjoyed what we learned and the rich conversation, those who came were very glad that they joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After offering our Territorial Acknowledgement, Evan began by speaking about Umbrella’s commitment to supporting those in all stages of addiction, sharing that he, also, was recovering, delighted to contribute to that journey of recovery of so many others. Currently the manager of Training and Education, his association with the Umbrella Society began as a client when a caring Umbrella Society support worker visited him at the hospital. Now offering that help to others, his pleasure derived from being part of the Umbrella team was clearly evident. Rebecca, also a recovering addict, spoke with love of her Umbrella Society role, including leading an eight-week-long in-person women’s support group for those in the …

Nine joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming some of the coordinators of our new Ambassador Program, David Norget, Karen Olsson, Grant Fredrickson, and Chamber Manager, Alexander Fischer-Jean. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we began by learning that this exciting new program is designed to transform Ganges into a friendlier space for all, forging those important connections that were damaged by our COVID isolation and fears. This new Ambassador Program illustrates those connections as it is a community partnership between: The Salt Spring Health Advancement Network (SSHAN) Mental Wellness Initiative The Salt Spring Community Health Society (SSCHS) The RCMP The Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce The Community Alliance’s ASK Salt Spring CRD’s Gary Holman, who is financially-supporting the initiation of this program through a $5,000 Grant-in-Aid As five of our guests were Ambassadors, we asked them Why? One began with a laugh: saying populari…

Although some could only join us for a short time, a total of fifteen gathered to welcome ASK Salt Spring’s special guests, Transition Salt Spring (TSS) Board Members Kelda Logan, Treasurer and Bryan Young, Chair, as well as Executive Director Darlene Gage. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, they began by reminding us that our climate crisis is the challenge of our lifetimes and that TSS is working hard to meet this challenge through partnerships, projects, and strategic governmental advocacy. Guided by the recommendations in the Salt Spring Climate Action Plan 2.0 released two years ago, TSS has been working hard to bring groups together to reach our local goals and also to analyze our success in reaching these goals. Their conclusions will be released this fall in the first Climate Action Report Card identifying successful progress on certain recommendations as well as areas with no progress. Interested? The promise was made that this report will be released at an ASK …

Twelve came to welcome CRD’s Gary Holman to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. In his Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary noted that the land back movement in BC is growing, and there are more examples of publicly-owned land either being given back or being co-managed by First Nations. He noted that First Nations co-management of CRD Regional Park lands are being discussed by the CRD Board, but Gary believes that some legislative hurdles may first have to be addressed. The CRD Board has offered an open invitation to First Nations to join its various committees, but this invitation has not yet been taken up to any significant degree. In Gary’s opinion, the CRD should also be placing some emphasis on equitable access to CRD services, for example, free recycling or regional district funding for affordable housing. Gary spoke briefly about the Alternate Approval Process (AAP or counter petition) that will soon be initiated on Salt Spring for the region-wide borrowing of up to $85 …

Eleven welcomed CRD Electoral Director, Gary Holman, to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary begins by telling us about three recent decisions by the CRD Board that have implications for Salt Spring. 1) Housing: Some of you may recall that there was a late proposal at the CRD Board to further increase the 2023 requisition by $85 million for regional affordable housing initiatives. The current CRD Regional Housing budget of $40 million - increased to $120 million through leveraged partnerships with BC Housing and CMHC - has all been committed. (This funding created 1,700-1,800 new units, about 350 of which are rented at current shelter-social assistance - rates. Croftonbrook received over $3 million from this fund.) While this late proposal was not approved, a compromise was reached - the CRD will be seeking approval to borrow $85 million for affordable housing. This funding would be used over a number of years to leverage as collabor…

Seventeen came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome MLA Adam Olsen. We were also pleased to welcome his staff, Laura Parker, Outreach Coordinator, and legislative assembly Interns Kayla Brent and Jacob Schoeber. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam spoke briefly about interns Jacob and Kayla, telling us that they are integral parts of the BC Green Caucus team, often participating in and contributing to highly confidential conversations. When we began by asking Adam what excites and delights him, he responded that there were only four days left in the Legislative session, beginning the longest break in the year. While he welcomes this time to focus on constituent issues, the transition brings a big change to his patterns, often including a loss - he loves his time in the Legislature. Adam spoke briefly about a comment, often repeated by political strategists, that the work in the legislature doesn’t matter because no one is paying any attention. He countered…

After our territorial Acknowledgement, we dove into a rich conversation about Workforce Housing, with no single special guest but all 18 of us offering differing levels of expertise, passion, and creative thinking. It was a rich conversation! We began by agreeing not to discuss Islands Trust bylaws and initiatives as Trustee Laura Patrick was disappointed not to be able to join us. While we also spoke with appreciation about the recently-released Salt Spring Solutions’ housing study, we also agreed to postpone a more detailed discussion until the ASK Salt Spring gathering May 26, 11-1, when Salt Spring Solutions Directors will join us as our special guests. To read the report, see. There appeared to be agreement that the strongest communities offer multiple levels of housing, pathways to success, that that allow progressive movement up the housing ladder that could include shelter-level housing, recreational vehicles, tiny homes, town houses, small stand-alone homes, and,…

Twelve gathered to welcome MLA Adam Olsen and William Kelly to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. In his Territorial Acknowledgement, Adam also spoke briefly of his joy with all the connections he observes at SIMS - the Saltspring Island Multi-Space, the former Middle School. He loves to see all the children activities and is excited by all the different groups sharing space - and making those invaluable connections. Speaking of invaluable connections, Adam told us a bit about his visit with Green Party MLA colleague Sonia Furstenau to Red Fish Healing Centre, offering co-located mental health and addiction programs. Seemingly such a natural combination of support programs, remarkably, it is the first of these co-located programs in North America. Despite the obvious advantages of these co-located programs, Adam noted that centralization of services does at times require one to leave the nurturing of one’s own community for a more distant location. This led to a brief conver…

Only nine joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming CRD’s Gary Holman. In response to my apologies for low numbers, Gary wryly responded that he would take this as an acknowledgement that CRD was, well. . . .quite perfect :). After our Territorial Acknowledgement, which concluded in Gary noting that he was hopeful for the trend of reverting management of large tracts of Crown land to First Nations, we asked him what excited and delighted him. While he would not go so far as characterizing it as delight, it was clear that the just-concluded Fulford Water District meeting was on his mind. We learned that this CRD-managed water district (one of five area-specific water districts and two sewage treatment plants managed by CRD) had just received a report analyzing this system and recommending a replacement strategy. The report identified replacing the supply line from Weston Lake as a top priority, since a break in that line would impact the entire water system. Concerne…

A total of 15 joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering for all or part of the time to welcome, Erin Price-Lindstrom, recently replacing Sara Gogo, (now leading the Tofino hospital) as the Site Director of Lady Minto Hospital. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Erin spoke briefly of the challenges and opportunities in her multi-hat position, stretching to include, the operational oversight of our hospital, the outer Gulf Islands, and ensuring critical liaison with Island Health initiatives. Beginning with her first day, in September 2022, this position has been marked by change as well as the recognition that her leadership through much more change ahead is needed. Erin described the strength of Lady Minto being the dedicated team of interdisciplinary staff who have continued to navigate many challenges through the pandemic and, more recently, through health-care worker staffing challenges that are occurring locally and across the country. Such challenges inspire a system-wi…

Twelve Salt Springers joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome CRD Director Gary Holman. While participants could ask anything, the focus of our conversation was the CRD 2023 Budget. (For details, see below: CRD Requisition Summary 2023.) After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Gary spent a considerable time walking us through some of the most important details of the $7.6 million dollar Salt Spring 2023 tax requisition (excluding fees for some services such as transit, and also data for area-specific water and sewer utilities). Provisionally approved in September 2022, the final budget - with some increases in the intervening months - is slated for approval at the March 15 CRD Board meeting. There appeared to be general agreement that no one was pleased with this year’s 5.6% increase, the largest since Gary was elected in 2018. We learned that the provisional budget proposed a 3.5% increase (the average requisition increase over the previous four-year term), but s…

A record-breaking 56 gathered for ASK Salt Spring at our one-time location - the Ganges Firehall. And, what a welcome we had from Fire Trustees, Firefighters, and staff - even including a never-empty pot of coffee and a huge and delicious cake shouting Welcome ASK Salt Spring in its icing. (Thanks, Nancy!) Of course, so many came because not only was MLA Adam Olsen our special guest, but Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General (and Deputy Premier) Mike Farnworth, joined us as well. Participants expressed their opinions and asked for answers on a variety of public safety issues, including policing, illicit drugs, and emergency preparedness. And, yes, there were many, many concerns and questions about our roads and ferries. (As these road and ferry questions could also be addressed by Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, it is hoped that he will also soon join an ASK Salt Spring gathering.) After our Territorial Acknowledgment, a Fire Trustee …

Thirty-two gathered on this lovely springlike Friday to welcome Lookout Society’s CEO Shayne Williams and Lee King, Vancouver Island Director of Operations. The enthusiasm was high as those committed to providing better local housing and support services gathered to welcome Shayne and Lee, enthusiastic new partners in this challenging journey. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned what fuels both Shayne and Lee: that commitment to help others on their journey towards wellness. We also learned a lot about the Lookout Society. While new to many of us, Lookout Society has been housing shelter-less folks since 1971. Initially focused upon older street men who could not be accommodated by youth programs, the number of beds offered by Lookout Society increased rapidly to its current level of 325 year ‘round beds in nine shelters. Soon recognizing that emergency beds are only a bandaid solution, by 1978, Lookout began its first long-term supportive housing program. B…

Only seven joined this ASK Salt Spring conversation - which was good as it indicated that we did a pretty good job letting folks know that our special guest for this week, MLA Adam Olsen, was not able to join us. Those who came seemed pleased with the BYOC concept: Bring Your Own Conversation. As a result, topics were somewhat random, and the conversation meandered to unexpected spots. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, the first question concerned the HarbourWalk. A CRD project, a HarbourWalk Steering Committee, reporting to the PARC Commission, recently approved the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the design and community consultation of our long-awaited HarbourWalk. At this meeting, this committee also approved including the design and consultation for a pathway along the harbourside of Lower Ganges Road in the RFP. Expected by late January, it was unclear when this RFP will be tendered. This delay was a concern to a few participants who were familiar …