Salt Spring Forum

Moriba Jah grew up in Venezuela and then joined the US Air Force, where he was tasked with guarding nuclear missiles in Montana. Inspired by conversations with the engineers and technicians maintaining the missiles, he began to study – a path that took him to a PhD in Aerospace Engineering. Dr. Jah then worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, where his job – as a “Spacecraft Navigator” – was to land rovers on Mars! Driven by his environmental concerns, Dr. Jah is now a Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and one of the world’s leading experts on space junk. He is an incredibly charismatic and dynamic speaker who can explain complex science in an entertaining and accessible way. Dr. Jah joins the Salt Spring Forum at the Gulf Islands Secondary School (Multipurpose Room) on Thursday, April 11 at 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM. He will be visiting Salt Spring Island en route to delivering a TED Talk in Vancouver. There are already 500,000 pieces of junk larger than one c…

How concerned should Canadians be about foreign interference in our upcoming federal election? Should Canada ban China’s Huawei 5G technology due to concerns over national security? Why is Canada selling arms abroad to countries like Saudi Arabia – and what would happen if we stop doing so? Join Richard Fadden, the former Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), on Thursday, April 4th at 7:30 PM at ArtSpring to understand the toughest issues facing Canadian national security. Richard Fadden was the National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from 2015 to 2016. Previously, he was the Deputy Minister of National Defence, the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Deputy Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and the President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Fadden has never been shy about speaking out regarding national security threats. In 2010, while still Director of CSIS, he warned that a num…

We live in a world where horrific human rights violations occur, like the recent mass shootings of 50 Muslim worshippers in two Christchurch mosques. This is a world where several countries sentence LGBTQ individuals to death, China has detained over a million Uyghur Muslims, and Canada arrests First Nations people for peacefully trying to protect their traditional lands. With many struggles happening worldwide, it is easy to believe that the international human rights movement is in jeopardy. The Salt Spring Forum's upcoming speaker - Harvard Human Rights Professor Kathryn Sikkink - argues that there is still evidence for hope. She joins the Forum in discussion on Wednesday, March 15th at 7:30 PM at ArtSpring. Sikkink is Professor of Human Rights Policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where she works on international norms and institutions, transnational advocacy networks, the impact of human rights law and policies, and transitional just…

From space tourism to settlements on Mars, what is humanity’s future in space? How dangerous is space travel to human health? What benefits do we obtain from space research? Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor returned to Earth from the International Space Station in December—after 197 days in space. On Friday, March 15th at 7:30 PM at ArtSpring, this accomplished engineer-physician-astronaut joins the Salt Spring Forum for a candid discussion about the opportunities, hazards, and health science of space travel, as well as the challenges facing women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Dr. Auñón-Chancellor was already working for NASA as a Flight Surgeon when she was selected to become an astronaut ten years ago. After extensive physical, psychological, flight, and survival training, she spent two months collecting meteorites on the Antarctic icecap. She also spent nine months working in Russia, supporting medical operations for the International Space Station. …

Did you know that one in two Canadians is expected to develop cancer during their lifetime, and one out of four Canadians is expected to die from the disease? In fact, cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, responsible for 30% of all deaths. At the same time, survival rates for cancer are increasing. This, combined with a growing and aging population, means that approximately 900,000 Canadians are living up to 10 years beyond their cancer diagnosis; others are living even longer. What causes cancer and how can we reduce the risk? What are the differences between types of cancers? What supports are available for those affected by cancer? How can ill-health from cancer be reduced and survival increased? Mary McBride – an epidemiologist, health services researcher, and Distinguished Scientist in Cancer Control Research at BC Cancer for nearly 40 years – joins the Salt Spring Forum for a wide-ranging discussion about cancer this coming Tuesday, February 19th at 7:…

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 complet…

Though this coming Saturday’s Salt Spring Forum guest speaker – UCLA Professor Miriam Golden – has fallen ill and is now unable to join the Forum in conversation, a timely new speaker will take her place. This Saturday, January 26th at 7:30 PM at ArtSpring, the Forum is thrilled to present Jonathan Manthorpe, a highly accomplished journalist and author of the new book The Claws of the Panda: Beijing’s Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada. Manthorpe will address the crisis in Canada-China relations, which – as daily news reports indicate – is a pressing issue. Manthorpe – a world-renowned journalist – is a highly informed guest who will lead this very topical discussion. Jonathan Manthorpe has been a foreign correspondent and international affairs columnist for over 40 years. After 10 years as a political correspondent for The Globe and Mail, Manthorpe worked as the European Bureau Chief for The Toronto Star. In the mid-1980s Manthorpe became European Cor…

With many new pipeline projects stalled & existing ones running at capacity, oil patch producers are turning increasingly to rail to transport their product. How safe is this? Should we be concerned? What about ferries and floatplanes? Ferry accidents claim thousands of lives in other countries, but not in Canada. Floatplanes are one of the most dangerous forms of transportation in the world, but not here. Why is this? When you think about it, Salt Spring Islanders rely on federally-regulated transportation every single day. Kathy Fox, Chair of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), joins the Salt Spring Forum for a wide-ranging conversation about transportation safety on Sunday, November 11th at 7:30 PM at ArtSpring. The TSB investigates accidents and makes recommendations relating to marine, pipeline, rail and air safety. Fox began her career as an air traffic controller in Quebec. She then moved to Air Traffic Services Headquarters in Ottawa, assumi…

The “us versus them” rhetoric increasingly employed by politicians is endangering human rights around the world. What are some of the major human rights struggles of our times, and what we can do about them? Payam Akhavan – renowned human rights scholar, former UN prosecutor at The Hague, and 2017 CBC Massey Lecturer – has experienced the grim realities of genocide throughout his life. He joins the Salt Spring Forum for a powerful conversation about international human rights. A Professor of International Law at McGill University and a Member of the International Court of Arbitration, Akhavan previously taught at the universities of Yale, Toronto, Oxford, and Paris. He served with the UN in conflict zones around the world, including Bosnia, Cambodia, Guatemala, Rwanda, and Timor Leste, and as legal counsel in cases before the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the European Court of Human Rights, the Supreme Court of Canada, and the Suprem…

In the lead up to the provincial referendum in British Columbia on proportional representation (happening now), the Salt Spring Forum hosted University of British Columbia Professor Max Cameron, a world-leading expert on democratic theory and electoral design. Professor Cameron teaches comparative politics, constitutionalism, and democratization at UBC, where he also directs the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions. His research focuses on comparative democratization, constitutions, and the role of wisdom and judgment in politics. Professor Cameron is the author, most recently, of Political Institutions and Practical Wisdom (Oxford University Press, 2018). Professor Cameron appears frequently in the media on issues such as electoral reform, campaign financing, and political ethics. His advice on democratic institutions and electoral reform is frequently sought out by governments, including with regards to the questions in the BC referendum. To understand mor…

What drives a person to scale the most dangerous routes up the world’s highest mountains? Find out with Doug Scott, one of the most famous mountaineers of all, with over 40 ascents of major peaks in the Himalayas and around the world. The Salt Spring Forum hosts a very special evening with Doug Scott on Tuesday, October 23rd at 7:00 PM at ArtSpring, which will begin with a slideshow about his first ascent of the Southwest Face of Mt. Everest. In addition to pioneering the Southwest Face, Doug Scott and his climbing partner Dougal Haston were the first British climbers to reach Mt. Everest’s summit. They were also the first mountaineers to survive a bivouac above 28,000 feet without oxygen. After a short intermission, the evening will transition to a Forum-style Q&A discussion about mountaineering as well as Scott’s incredible humanitarian work in Nepal following the devastating 2015 earthquakes through his non-profit organization Community Action Nepal (CANEPAL). …

Humans have long grappled with the topic of war and peace. Yet war, although still with us, causes fewer deaths today than it ever did before. Is the global order undergoing a power shift? Through what means did the United States become the single superpower, and is that power waning? Is China the next global hegemon? Is Russia resurgent? What about regional rivalries, such as between India and Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia and Iran? And what about new forms of domination, such as the manipulation of social media? Please join Professor T.V. Paul of McGill University in a discussion of these and other pressing issues on Friday, October 12th at 7:30 PM at ArtSpring. Professor Paul is one of the world’s leading experts on international security, with a particular focus on Asia. His latest book is Restraining Great Powers: Soft Balancing from Empires to the Global Era (Yale University Press, 2018). Professor Paul is the founding director of the McGill University – Universi…

What is the future of Canada’s oil sands? How will shifts in US energy and environmental policies affect Canada’s fossil fuel industries and our economy as a whole? What is really happening with NAFTA? Has globalization left Canadian workers behind? Join Jeff Rubin, a world-leading economist and energy expert, in conversation on Friday, October 5th at 7:30 PM at the Gulf Islands Secondary School. Jeff Rubin was the Chief Economist at CIBC World Markets for twenty years. He specializes in energy and climate change and their impact on the Canadian and global economies. A bestselling author, Rubin’s first book was Why Your World Is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller. He has also written The End of Growth and The Carbon Bubble. Rubin is a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), an independent, non-partisan think-tank with global perspective. He is the recent author of the CIGI report An Ironic Outcome: The United States — Even under Tru…

The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and tanker project was stopped in its tracks when the Federal Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, finding that the constitutional obligation of meaningful consultation had not been fulfilled. The Tsleil-Waututh live on Burrard Inlet, directly across from the pipeline’s terminus. They have, by far, been the most effective opponents of the TransMountain project. Reuben George is the Manager of The Sacred Trust, the organization created by the Tsleil-Waututh to stop the project. He is also the grandson of Chief Dan George, the legendary actor, poet and author. Please join Reuben George, his son Cedar, and 600 Salt Spring Island youth this Thursday, September 27th at 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM in the Gulf Islands Secondary School gym for an incredibly timely and powerful discussion about resurgence, reconciliation, leadership and environmental protection. This event is being held during school hours so that all G…

With a provincial referendum on proportional representation happening this fall, how much do we really know about democracy? This Friday, September 21st at 7:30 PM at the Gulf Islands Secondary School, the Salt Spring Forum is excited to host Professor Max Cameron – a world-leading expert on democratic theory and electoral design – to help us understand the key issues. Professor Cameron appears frequently in the media on issues such as electoral reform, campaign financing, and political ethics. His advice on democratic institutions and electoral reform is frequently sought out by governments, including with regards to the questions in the referendum this fall. Professor Cameron teaches comparative politics, constitutionalism, and democratization at UBC, where he also directs the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions. His research focuses on comparative democratization, constitutions, and the role of wisdom and judgment in politics. Professor Cameron is the au…

The European Union (EU) was created to ensure peace and stability in Europe. Today, Europe faces some truly deep challenges—of migration, populism, Brexit, and Trump. Will the EU dissolve, and what would this mean for the rest of the world? Is Europe turning its back on migrants? Are far-right parties gaining power across Europe? How is Trump affecting the EU? Dr. Fraser Cameron, a former British diplomat and EU official, joins the Salt Spring Forum on Monday, August 27th at 7:30 PM at Bullock Lake Farm in a wide-ranging discussion about Europe, its challenges, and the current state of world politics. Dr. Cameron is currently the Director of the EU-Asia Centre in Brussels, a think-tank that promotes closer relations between Europe and Asia. He appears frequently on the BBC and other global media. Dr. Cameron received his PhD in international relations from Cambridge University. From 1975‑89, he was a member of the British Diplomatic Service, serving mainly in West G…

The brain is one of our most important organs, yet we know very little about how it develops and functions. In fact, scientists once believed that after childhood the brain was fixed. It turns out that nothing could be further from the truth! Did you know that every time you learn a new fact or skill you change your brain? How do early experiences shape our brains—and affect our health and happiness later in life? How do factors such as stress, poverty and drugs shape brain development, and are these changes in our brains passed on to our children? Can we recover from brain injury or disease? To help us navigate the fascinating world of neuroscience, Dr. Bryan Kolb – one of Canada’s most distinguished brain specialists – joins us in discussion on Sunday, August 5th at 7:30 PM at Beaver Point Hall. Bryan Kolb is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, an Officer of the Order of Canada and…

No-one was prepared for the closest election outcome in British Columbia history, on May 9, 2017. The BC Liberals had emerged with just two seats more than the BC NDP, leaving the decision—as to who would form the government—to three Green Party MLAs. What led to Christy Clark's downfall, to the NDP forming government and the Green Party holding the balance of power? Richard Zussman is co-author of the new national best-seller A Matter of Confidence, which tells the inside story of the political battle for BC. He joins the Salt Spring Forum on Friday, June 15th at 7:30 PM at ArtSpring for a candid conversation about exactly what happened, why, and what the future of BC politics holds. Richard Zussman was the Provincial Affairs reporter for CBC BC until he was fired for writing A Matter of Confidence. He now works for Global BC. Are you interested in how politics really works? Do you want to hear the inside story about how very hard Christy Clark fought to keep he…

Comedy brings people together and, through laughter, helps us more easily explore difficult topics. Comedy can empower and it can be a tool for social justice. For the final event of the school year, the Salt Spring Forum is excited to partner with the GISS Student Council to present a speaker who will do all this - inspire, engage, empower both students and adults alike, and make us laugh. Vancouver-based comedian, author, playwright and voice actor Charlie Demers joins the Salt Spring Forum in conversation on Monday, June 11th at 10 AM at the Gulf Islands Secondary School in the Multipurpose Room. This special event is dedicated to the memory of Arthur Black – humourist, author, former CBC Radio host and treasured Salt Spring community member. Charlie Demers is a regular on CBC radio's The Debaters and a star of the Emmy-winning children's animated Netflix program Beat Bugs, based on the music of The Beatles. His recent comedy album Fatherland was nominated …