Salt Spring Exchange

Obituary: Michel Jutras

Michel Louis Jutras September 10, 1946–December 10, 2025 Michel Louis Jutras passed away on Dec. 10, 2025, at his home in Qualicum Beach, B.C. He was born Sept. 10, 1946, to Cyrille Jutras and Bernadette Lepage in Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover, Que. After attending seminary as a teenager, Michel ventured across Canada and discovered a taste for life out west. He later explored central Canada, the east coast and Central America, finding adventure both on land and at sea, before returning to B.C. in the late 1960s. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in anthropology and French literature from The University of British Columbia. Initially on track for an academic career, the call of the ocean proved irresistible. Michel spent the next 40 years fishing B.C. coastal waters while living in West Vancouver, Tsawwassen, Victoria and Salt Spring Island, where he settled in 1979. He moved to Qualicum Beach in early 2025. Michel was happiest on his boats — Blue…

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: Full Moon FEBRUARY 2026 (LEO)

Each Full Moon brings its own wisdom, teachings, and medicine through the lens of a particular archetype. The Full Moon will often bring something to fruition and illuminate things that have been hidden. Each month we experience a subtle shift as the Full Moon highlights specific archetypal themes, emotions, and feelings. For many, the Full Moon amplifies the way we interpret and experience both our inner world and the world around us. Happy Full Moon in Leo! Like a lantern in the dark illuminating a winter’s night, the Full Moon at 13° Leo shines light on our next steps on February 1st at 2:09 pm. Falling on Imbolc, the Snow Moon marks the midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Imbolc is the Gaelic cross quarter festival sacred to the saint and goddess Brigid that has long been considered a time of inspiration and hope, the harbinger of spring. The days are now growing visibly longer, as we consider the future and contemplate the seeds we’d like to pla…

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: FIRST Full Moon January 2026 (CANCER)

The first Full Moon of the year lights up the sky at 2:03 am (PT) on January 3rd at 13° Cancer. It reminds us of the importance of tending to our deepest roots and asking what truly nourishes us. We can use this first Full Moon of 2026 as a touchstone, a sanctuary that calls us back to what we belong to, so no matter how accelerated the next few years, we remember the way home. For those who have been wandering for a long time, this can be a homecoming - balm for the soul that nurtures and protects, that softens the rough edges and welcomes us back into the embrace of belonging. Welcome home, dear traveller. Cancer symbolism is intimately connected to the ocean, the waxing and waning of the tides moving from receptivity to emotional fullness and introspective retreat. The shifting internal ebbs and flows of our unconscious, as well as our connection to our greater human inheritance. Unfathomably deep, connected to ancestral memory, and the roots of the subconscious,…

2026 in a Nutshell from Danielle Blackwood

This year gives us reason for hope. Although every year brings its blessings and challenges, many wisdom traditions are heralding 2026 as a definitive step across an optimistic new threshold. Below you’ll find some of the highlights for the year ahead. In numerology, 2025 was a Universal Year 9 which brought completion, culmination, and closure. As a Universal Year 1, 2026 initiates a whole new nine-year cycle, indicating new beginnings and fresh starts. And while 2025 was also a deeply reflective Hermit Year, 2026 signals a Wheel of Fortune Year, auguring a turn of the tide and a time to embrace change, evolution, and movement. And if all of this isn’t enough, on February 17th the Lunar New Year ushers us out of the Year of the Wood Snake and into the Year of the Fire Horse for the first time in 60 years. Fire Horse Years are said to awaken passion, enthusiasm, energy and self-determination. In other words, Wood Snake to Fire Horse marks a momentous change from hid…

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon December 2025 (GEMINI)

Each Full Moon brings its own wisdom, teachings, and medicine through the lens of a particular archetype. The Full Moon will often bring something to fruition and illuminate things that have been hidden. Each month we experience a subtle shift as the Full Moon highlights specific archetypal themes, emotions, and feelings. For many, the Full Moon amplifies the way we interpret and experience both our inner world and the world around us. Happy Full Moon in Gemini! The last Full Moon of the year is a Supermoon arriving at 13° Gemini, shining across the cosmos on Thursday, December 4th at 3:14 pm. 2025 is a Universal Year 9 in numerology, bringing completion, culmination, healing, and closure, as we prepare the ground for a whole new cycle in 2026, which is a Universal 1 year. Universal 1 years indicate new beginnings, fresh starts, and initiation. So, approach this Full Moon with an eye to letting go of the past and beginning a whole new 10-year chapter with a clean slate.…

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon November 2025 (TAURUS)

Each Full Moon brings its own wisdom, teachings, and medicine through the lens of a particular archetype. The Full Moon will often bring something to fruition and illuminate things that have been hidden. Each month we experience a subtle shift as the Full Moon highlights specific archetypal themes, emotions, and feelings. For many, the Full Moon amplifies the way we interpret and experience both our inner world and the world around us. Happy Full Moon in Taurus! This month the Full Moon arrives at 13° Taurus, illuminating the sky on Wednesday November 5th at 5:19 am. As with every Full Moon, the Sun is in the opposite sign, highlighting a sacred polarity that plays out in the collective as well as in our personal lives. Astronomical or ‘true’ Samhain occurs within the engagement range of this Full Moon - November 6th at 8:04 pm - this is the exact mathematical midpoint between autumn equinox and the winter solstice, and a powerful moment for magic. During this time…

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon September 2025 (ARIES)

Each Full Moon brings its own wisdom, teachings, and medicine through the lens of a particular archetype. The Full Moon will often bring something to fruition and illuminate things that have been hidden. Each month we experience a subtle shift as the Full Moon highlights specific archetypal themes, emotions, and feelings. For many, the Full Moon amplifies the way we interpret and experience both our inner world and the world around us. Happy Full Moon in Aries! This month the Moon is full at 14° Aries, lighting up the sky on October 6 th at 8:48 pm. This lunation brings an official end to a particularly eventful eclipse season. Many of us have come to a crossroad in some area of our life, depending on where these recent eclipses landed in our chart. Some have reached turning points that have offered more questions than answers. As Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, this Full Moon is an invitation to begin again. To wrap up an old chapter and prepare to write a new story…

Community Invitation: Honouring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Fernwood Dock

Tomorrow (Tuesday, September 30) from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Fernwood Dock, the community of Salt Spring Island is invited to gather with Elders and members of the Spune’luxutth (Penelakut) Tribe to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Penelakut Chief Ch uh’ keen n uh’kwaut Jack and her husband Guy have already raised their hands to thank the children who took part in a walk on Monday, expressing appreciation for their remembering. Chief Jack said she looks forward to seeing everyone at the dock for Tuesday’s gathering.

Organizer Kurt Irwin, Councilor of the Penelakut Tribe, together with the Coastal Blood Singers, will host the event. Kurt has confirmed that the Penálaxeth’ boat will arrive carrying up to 20 Elders, and that there will be multiple speakers throughout the afternoon. Jason Roy Allen, Chamber of Commerce President and owner of Feast restaurant, has been involve…

Waterfront Gift Brings Opportunity — 1.5 Acres Donated for Salt Spring Community Park

Salt Spring will soon welcome a new community park thanks to the donation of about 1.5 acres of waterfront land near Fulford. The property includes open viewpoints, a pocket of beach, and rare direct ocean access — exactly the kind of shoreline connection identified as a priority in the island’s 2019 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan. The land comes as a gift from the family of the late Ruth Baldwin, who lived on the property until her passing in 2009. Her family shared that she cared deeply for the place and would have been delighted to know it will now be enjoyed as a public park. A covenant will be added to the title to ensure the land remains protected for community use into the future. Local representatives with the Capital Regional District (CRD) described the donation as a rare chance to protect shoreline for public benefit at a time when waterfront properties are increasingly scarce. They noted that the new park will safeguard both access and natural beauty for …

Birds Spared for Now — What the Ostrich Cull Pause Means for Our Community

Why Salt Spring should be paying attention. Canada's Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on September 24, 2025, halting a federal order to cull more than 400 ostriches at a Kootenay farm after an H5N1 avian influenza outbreak. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) insists that depopulation is essential to stop the virus, while the farm argues that no birds have died since January and that survivors should be retested. The ruling brought a wave of relief to many across the province. Supporters who had camped outside the farm for weeks felt hope that the ostriches might be spared, and the pause also drew attention to the enormous emotional strain placed on families working day and night to protect their animals. For Salt Spring, the story feels closer than it might seem. Avian influenza has already been detected in the region, including a backyard flock in Saanichton last year, and the lessons of the ostrich case speak directly to our island’s small farms and hous…

Friendship Across Borders in Uncertain Times

Last weekend, Salt Spring Islanders and our neighbours from across the U.S. gathered for Hands Across the Water—a three-day celebration that reminded us of what’s possible when we choose connection over division. Guests travelled from many parts of the United States, though the kinship with Orcas Island shone especially bright. Together, we ate, danced, laughed, and shared ideas about how to face the future side by side. It was more than a party. While national headlines often portray Canada–U.S. relations through the lens of conflict—trade disputes, politics, and division—the lived experience here was the opposite. When communities only hear stories of tension, it breeds fear, mistrust, and a sense of “us versus them.” Events like Hands Across the Water help undo that harm by showing that ordinary people on both sides of the border are eager to cooperate, support one another, and find joy together. The weekend began Friday with more than two dozen U.S. bo…

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon SEPTEMBER 2025 (Pisces)

Each Full Moon brings its own wisdom, teachings, and medicine through the lens of a particular archetype. The Full Moon will often bring something to fruition and illuminate things that have been hidden. Each month we experience a subtle shift as the Full Moon highlights specific archetypal themes, emotions, and feelings. For many, the Full Moon amplifies the way we interpret and experience both our inner world and the world around us. Happy Full Moon in Pisces! This month’s Full Moon in Pisces (September 7th) is accompanied by a potent lunar eclipse that can deliver accelerated change as well as an interweaving of endings and new beginnings. Something may be revealed which can bring necessary release so a new story can begin. Watch for plot twists, synchronicity and intuitive hits. With Saturn in the final degree of Pisces, a significant chapter closes and puts paid to old karmic debts. We may find ourselves feeling more emotional or nostalgic, and our dreams can ca…

RCMP Seize Suspected Cocaine in Salt Spring Drug Trafficking Investigation

Local RCMP executed multiple search warrants August 14th in connection with a drug trafficking investigation underway on the island. The operation, conducted with support from Island District RCMP, led to the seizure of what police describe as a “significant quantity” of illicit drugs, suspected cocaine, along with other items consistent with drug trafficking. According to Salt Spring RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Clive Seabrook, the action reflects a broader effort to keep harmful substances out of the community and reduce the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. “We want to ensure the community is aware of our proactive steps towards targeting those individuals who prey on the vulnerability of others and by removing drugs off the street,” said Seabrook. No arrests have been announced at this time. RCMP say the case remains active and a formal report has been forwarded to Crown Counsel for review and potential criminal charges. RCMP Encouraging Public Tips …

Help the Hancocks Heal From Serious Car Accident

Dear family, friends and community. We are saddened to share that Allan, Taryn and their daughter, Sage were involved in a very serious car accident on Saturday night, Aug 2/25. All three are alive, but were immediately transferred to the Trauma unit of the Victoria General Hospital where they remain. What was to be a fun, family weekend in Lake Cowichan with extended family and their son Ezra quickly changed when a Eastbound vehicle crossed into their lane causing a head on collision. This accident has turned their world upside down. All three are receiving critical care, and their recovery will require extended hospital stays, medical treatments and rehabilitation. The Hancock family is facing a long recovery, with no known Discharge plans at this time. We have launched this GoFundMe to help cover living expenses and any ongoing care needs while they navigate this difficult time. Your donations, big or small, will ease their financial burden and help them f…

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon August 2025 (Aquarius)

Each Full Moon brings its own wisdom, teachings, and medicine through the lens of a particular archetype. The Full Moon often brings something to fruition and illuminates what has been hidden. Each month we experience a subtle shift as the Full Moon highlights specific themes, emotions, and feelings. For many, the Full Moon amplifies the way we interpret and experience both our inner world and the world around us. The influence of the Full Moon is typically felt three days before and three days after the exact date. Happy Full Moon in Aquarius! Although we still have over a month left of summer, twilight now falls a little earlier each night, reminding us that harvest has already begun. The Full Moon at 17° Aquarius on August 9th (12:55 am PT) illuminates the sky, bringing themes of freedom, authenticity, individuality, revelation, self-discovery and sudden insight. And because there is so much going on astrologically in conjunction with this complicated and dynamic Fu…

Notice: Cycle of Life Tour is coming to Salt Spring Island - July 19-20

The annual Cycle of Life Tour, is happening on July 19-20 and will see 100 riders cycling from Victoria, through the Cowichan Valley, over to Salt Spring Island and back to Victoria. On Saturday, July 19, the cyclists will be on the 2:20 p.m. ferry from Crofton – Vesuvius Bay and will be riding two different routes to their overnight venue on Rainbow Rd., arriving by 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, July 20, cyclists will leave the venue on Rainbow Rd. at 8:00 a.m. and will ride to the Fulford ferry terminal (two different routes) where they will catch the 11:10 a.m. ferry to Swartz Bay. There will also be a few support vehicles on the road with the riders on both days. This fundraising event supports Vancouver Island hospices and Salt Spring Island Hospice. Riders are from up and down the island and have raised more than $285,000 to date in support of compassionate end-of-life care. We are grateful for the continued support of residents and businesses on Salt Spring Island and we…

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon (Capricorn)

Each Full Moon brings its own wisdom, teachings, and medicine through the lens of a particular archetype. The Full Moon often brings something to fruition and illuminates what has been hidden. Each month we experience a subtle shift as the Full Moon highlights specific themes, emotions, and feelings. For many, the Full Moon amplifies the way we interpret and experience both our inner world and the world around us. Happy Full Moon in Capricorn! As we lean into the ripeness of summer, the moon swells to full on July 10th at 18° Capricorn (1:37 pm PT). While this lunation is known by several cultural names such as The Buck Moon or the Mead Moon, the medicine of this Capricorn Full Moon teaches us the wisdom, beauty and responsibility of inhabiting a physical body in the earthly realm. However, Capricorn also reminds us that it's the fleeting nature of life that makes it all the more precious. And while this Full Moon may carry a reflective, contemplative divine pathos tha…

Salt Spring Island Marks Transformative Indigenous Peoples Weekend with Ceremony, Culture, and Calls for Land Back

Salt Spring Island | June 23, 2025 — This past weekend, Salt Spring Island was transformed by three days of deep listening, joyful celebration, and cultural resurgence as the second annual Indigenous Peoples Weekend returned to the Southern Gulf Islands. With events unfolding across Salt Spring Island the gathering offered both honour and momentum for Indigenous sovereignty, art, and presence on these traditional lands. A Weekend Rooted in Ceremony and Story The weekend opened on Friday with the raising of a ceremonial teepee on the ArtSpring lawn—an act rich in symbolism, care, and cultural significance. Elders, allies, and islanders gathered to offer prayers and intentions for the days ahead. Later, community members came together for a potluck meal on the United Church Meadow—an intergenerational feast that honoured Elders and created a space for relationships to deepen over shared food and conversation. Throughout the weekend, dozens of events…

With Fire Threatening Coastal Forests, Salt Spring Tests Its Emergency Response

👉Link to Salt Spring Island Fire Exposure Map With wildfire season arriving early and fiercely across BC, Salt Spring Island is taking preparedness to the next level. A blaze near Port Alberni—now spanning more than 23 hectares and suspected to be human-caused—has put island communities across the coast on high alert, even if they're not in the immediate path. Here on Salt Spring, the response is proactive. On Tuesday, June 10, emergency teams will conduct a full-scale wildfire evacuation drill known as “Smoke Show.” The scenario? A fast-moving fire that forces an urgent evacuation. The goal? To prepare responders—and the public—for what a real emergency might look and feel like. While the public is asked to steer clear of key roadways during the evening exercise, this isn’t just an internal test. “Smoke Show” is also a message to the wider community: emergency preparedness is everyone's responsibility, especially during a season where conditions can change fa…

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon (Sagittarius)

This Full Moon Each Full Moon brings its own wisdom, teachings, and medicine through the lens of a particular archetype. The Full Moon often brings something to fruition and illuminates what has been hidden. Each month we experience a subtle shift as the Full Moon highlights specific themes, emotions, feelings. For many, the Full Moon amplifies the way we interpret and experience both our inner world and the world around us. Happy Full Moon in Sagittarius! “You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.” J.R. R. Tolkien Echoing the words of Tolkien, the Full Moon at 20° Sagittarius on June 11 th (12:44 am PT) may herald a significant turning point, a lantern in the dark that illuminates a path that leads the way to a new and meaningful quest that rekindles our spark and renews our faith. Sagittarius is the Truth Teller, the Seeker of the Mysteries. The itinerant philosopher. It is the visionary that …

Astrology by Danielle Blackwood: This Full Moon (Scorpio)

by Danielle Blackwood Happy Full Moon in Scorpio! On Monday May 12 th at 9:56 am, the Full Moon in Scorpio invites us to enter a portal while gifting us visions of unseen depths. Watch for secrets revealed, hidden power dynamics exposed, and a meeting with the archetypal Shadow. But while this is a particularly potent Full Moon, it also brings its gifts. Although seeing what has been hidden can be disruptive to our worldview, once seen we cannot look away, and we may be called to reckon with ‘what is’ during this lunation. However, the medicine itself is often in the sting of the scorpion, a catalyst that begins a necessary release, so that healing can begin. And while this can play out in the outer world, it can just as easily be a cathartic inner process. And as tempting as it can be to put the blinders back on, Scorpio medicine teaches us that if we look unflinchingly at the truth of something, to sit with it, to hold it with equal measures of courage and compass…

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