Salt Spring News

Breaking: Canadian Forces Snowbird Jet Crashes Near Kamloops On Way to West Coast Fly Over - One Team Member Dies, 2nd with Serious Injuries

One Canadian Forces Snowbird jet that was to fly over Salt Spring Island this weekend in honour of honour Cpt. Kevin Hage, whose has family that live on the island, crashed enroute in Kamloops. UPDATED March 17th - 08:00 PM: One member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) was killed on Sunday May 17, 2020 and one other member injured in an accident involving a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CT-114 Tutor aircraft in the vicinity of Kamloops, British Columbia. Killed was Captain Jennifer Casey, the team’s Public Affairs Officer, originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Captain Richard MacDougall, one of the team’s coordinators and pilot of the aircraft, was injured and is being treated for his injuries. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds were deployed on Operation INSPIRATION, a cross-Canada tour to lift the spirits of Canadians and salute front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of the accident, the CF Snowbirds were taking off from the airport in Kamloop…

Salt Spring's Kyle Topping Signs Pro Hockey Deal

The San Jose Barracuda, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, and General Manager Joe Will announced that the club has signed forward Kyle Topping. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "Kyle is playmaking two-way centerman with a high hockey IQ and we're excited for him to join the organization," said Will. In a shortened 2019-20 season, Topping, 20, finished with 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists), 14 penalty minutes and a plus-six rating in 33 games with the Kelowna Rockets. Over a four-year career in the WHL, all with Kelowna, Topping finished with 196 points (71 goals, 125 assists), 177 penalty minutes and plus-41 rating in 226 games. The six-foot, 191-pound, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, native attended the Sharks Development Camp in 2019.

COVID-19: SD64 Schools Moving Toward Phase 3 Part-Time In Class Instruction

As you most likely have seen in the media or heard from your schools, the education sector is a key part of BC’s Restart Plan. Here in SD64, we have been working alongside the Ministry of Education and our neighbouring school districts to ensure that we are moving forward together and consistent with the expectations set out in BC’s plan. School districts across the province are moving toward increasing in-school services for students. Specifically, beginning June 1, learning in SD64 will look like this: Stage 3: Ministry of Education Return to Learning in Classrooms In-class learning for students in kindergarten to grade 5 on a part-time basis Access to in-class learning as needed for grades 6 to 12 on a part-time basis Remote and online learning continues to be available for students Families can help us plan for the change by completing the Voluntary Return to School Survey. Having an accurate idea of who will be coming to school and who will be staying c…

COVID-19: Salt Spring Island Launches “Stay Home Stay Safe” Campaign

Visitors asked to avoid visiting over the long weekend - “If you love Salt Spring, please refrain from visiting our island now.” With a sunny long holiday weekend looming, that’s the message from Salt Spring Island’s businesses, farms and essential services. The COVID-19 crisis means that Salt Spring essential services providers are concerned about the potential of a disruption in supply of essentials to our community with all goods arriving by limited ferry service to grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential service providers. The vast majority of the island’s other businesses are closed, and floatplanes have also temporarily cancelled regularly scheduled flights. BC Ferries has begun screening passengers for COVID-19 – refusing to all allow anyone who fails the screening process from boarding. Ferry service to Salt Spring has also been reduced, and the public has been requested to limit their ferry use to essential travel only. Provincial parks and other island …

COVID-19: All BC Parks and BC Parks on Salt Spring Island Closing

BC Parks is immediately closing all provincial parks in response to the widespread call for increased action to address COVID-19. This includes Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park, Ruckle Provincial Park, Mount Maxwell Provincial Park and Mount Erskine Provincial Park on Salt Spring Island. The closure responds to both the federal and provincial directives that people should stay close to home to reduce COVID-19 transmission risk. This temporary measure means people should not be going to provincial parks until further notice. “Because physical distancing works, it is critical that we take every action needed to restrict the spread of COVID-19. This applies to British Columbians and out-of-province visitors who were planning to visit or stay at our provincial parks. The message is clear: stay home, avoid travel, do not put yourself or others at risk,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “I understand and share the love people in British Co…

COVID-19: Vinyl Panels on Light Duty Salt Spring Island Buses - No Fare Collection - April 6th, 2020 - 12:05 PM

BC Transit is continuing to provide transportation services customers can rely on as we recognize people still need to get to work, including at healthcare facilities, or other activities such as weekly grocery shopping trips. BC Transit places the safety of our riders, staff, and communities as our top priority. The Province of BC and the Provincial Health Officer continue to lead the response to COVID-19, and BC Transit is taking their advice to identify and implement new measures to enhance safety throughout the BC Transit system. We want to assure you we are taking the Coronavirus COVID-19 situation seriously, and we are implementing plans based on advice from health experts. We have already implemented enhanced measures in response to COVID-19 including: Enhanced cleaning on buses and at BC Transit facilities Communication to staff and customers about physical distancing procedures Rear door loading (as available) Not collecting fares Limiting passen…

PARC Assumes Responsibility of Salt Spring Island United Church Meadow

The Capital Regional District’s (CRD) Salt Spring Island Parks and Recreation Commission (PARC) has assumed responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the Salt Spring United Church (SSUC) meadow located at 111 Hereford Avenue in Ganges. The church meadow has been accessible to the public as a “park” in the centre of town since the 1980s and the CRD looks forward to continuing this tradition through a license of occupation. In recent years the meadow has increasingly become a place where people are conducting themselves outside of the church’s intended use. With limited enforcement options and a desire to keep the space open for public use, the SSUC has requested that the CRD assume responsibility for this community space and thereby implement the ability to enforce CRD park bylaws. The CRD invites the public to continue the use and enjoyment of this green meadow space within the parameters of existing local CRD Community Parks Bylaw No. 3795. The meadow is acces…

COVID-19: Local Groups Organize to Manufacture Re-usable Face Shields and Isolation Gowns - April 3rd, 2020 - 5:17 PM

The Salt Spring Community Health Society (SSCHS) and the Salt Spring Chapter – Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice (SSC-RRDFP) are pleased to announce joint funding by the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation and Salt Spring Island Foundation to manufacture and distribute re-usable face shields and isolation gowns as well as alcohol sanitizer to on-island physicians and health care workers, first responders, and other highly exposed community workers. “This is an exciting example of how four local organizations can partner to work in the best interests of the community, and is the culmination of many, many hours spent by highly-skilled and creative professionals and volunteers to leverage the considerable open-source and maker movement,” said Jennifer Williams, President, SSCHS. This equipment will protect physicians in their community practices, their staff, as well as first responders and community workers who serve vulnerable populations, among others. This, in turn…

COVID-19: Salt Spring Farm and Business Response & Recovery Task Force - April 2nd, 2020 - 12:55 PM

Task Force Forms to Provide Resilient Local Planning to COVID-19 - To further support the Salt Spring community during COVID-19 a newly formed coordination team, the Business and Farm Response & Recovery Task Force, has come together representing key farm and business stakeholders. Its goal is to ensure island-wide coordination and address the significant current and anticipated impacts to Salt Spring Island as a result of COVID-19. Island residents require coordinated economic and community services support to respond to the unique local economic consequences of this crisis. Laura Patrick, Task Force Chair, and SSI Trustee, says the farm and business response action plan is underway, “Planning for recovery now, by collaborating, coordinating and instituting protective measures, will ensure that we are able to sustain and support our community through this crisis.” Anne Macey, co-facilitating work on the Agriculture Response Plan as part of this overall initiative, adds,“ Th…

COVID-19: Salt Spring Island Local Elected Officials Joint Message - March 29th, 2020 - 3:55 PM

We, your three locally elected officials (Gary Holman, CRD Electoral Area Director, and Peter Grove and Laura Patrick, Islands Trust Trustees) have settled into our work-from-home environments and are practicing social distancing. We are proud of how quickly our respective organizational staff have adapted, and how they are ensuring that the essential services you need are being maintained. We know that you care about your fellow islanders and that you are looking after your neighbours who may need assistance. We appreciate everyone who is following the directions of Dr. Bonny Henry and the Ministry of Health, and are staying home and practicing appropriate social distancing. We are so grateful to our local medical staff and essential service providers. Please understand they are counting on you to do your part to avoid getting infected and infecting others. It is crucial that we are 100% committed to Dr. Henry’s directives and guidance to ensure we do not overload our ver…

COVID-19: SD64 Letter from Superintendent Scott Benwell - March 26th, 2020 - 4:01 PM

Dear families of students in SD64: As we all know, the return to school after Spring Break this year is anything but normal. I want to reassure you that district staff have been working throughout the break, in partnership with provincial authorities, to ensure that public education continues to provide high quality learning and support services to our students, families, and communities. Like the communities we serve, the school district is resilient and ready to take on the challenges that lie before us in the coming weeks. Our responsibilities as a school district are numerous and I would like to share with you some of the things we are working on and some of the ways that we see our services continuing – services that will look and feel different for all of us. The BC Ministry of Education, with advice from the Provincial Health Officer, announced the suspension of in-class instruction to help stop the spread of Covid-19 and to ensure that our students and families…

COVID-19: Open Burning Restrictions Issued for Salt Spring Island - March 26th, 2020 - 2:02 PM

Open Burning Restrictions Issued for Salt Spring Island and All High Smoke Sensitivity Zones in British Columbia - As cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in BC continue to increase, the BC Centre for Dis- ease Control recommends implementing measures that help to reduce excess air pollution in populated airsheds across the province. There is strong evidence that exposure to air pollu- tion increases susceptibility to respiratory viral infections by decreasing immune function. This means that: Deterioration in air quality may lead to more COVID-19 infections overall Deterioration in air quality may lead to more cases of severe COVID-19 infections, adding further demand to our healthcare system, and Improvements to air quality may help to protect the whole population from COVID-19 and its potentially severe effects. Evidence suggests that air pollution from combustion sources is most strongly associated with increased risk of viral infection, particularl…

COVID-19: Southern Gulf Islands Leaders Say Pandemic is Threatening Our Fragile Communities - March 23rd, 2020 - 10:47 AM

The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening our fragile Southern Gulf Island communities. The surge of visitors coming to these islands to seek refuge from the pandemic, are potentially compromising the health and well-being of Gulf Islands residents on Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna islands, plus many smaller islands in this region. These rural island communities do not have the appropriate services and emergency resources to deal with an extra 100, 200 or 300 more people. Off-island visitors don’t know if they have been exposed to the virus – our islands cannot provide adequate support. “Today our Islands need to focus on the needs of residents, says Gary Holman, Salt Spring Island Electoral Area Director – “We need our Gulf Islands precious medical resources for our most vulnerable, especially for those who are immune compromised.” Dave Howe, Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area Director, representing Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Saturna islands, urges current visito…

COVID-19: SD64 Suspension Of In-Class Instruction - March 18th, 2020 - 12:06 PM

To the students, staff and families of Gulf Islands School District, Yesterday, the provincial government announced that, effective immediately, in-class instruction for B.C.’s K to 12 learners is suspended indefinitely. This temporary measure, to protect students, staff and the public against the spread of COVID-19, was made in consultation with school districts, stakeholders and the Ministry of Health, and under the direction of the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry. Minister of Education Rob Fleming made the following declarations: Districts will ensure continuity of educational services as provided for under the School Act. Final grades will be issued for all K to 12 students in British Columbia. All students who are eligible to graduate will graduate this year as expected. Although some graduation assessments will be postponed, students who are on track to graduate will do so. The Ministry of Education is working with post-secondary institutio…

COVID-19: BC Farmers’ Markets Guidance

BC Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM) will continue to monitor COVID-19, and update its member farmers’ markets across BC on this issue. We also encourage markets to be proactive and monitor this issue independently. As always, maintaining the health and safety of market organizers, vendors and shoppers is a top priority for all of us. BC Farmers’ Markets Context As our markets operate exclusively in British Columbia, BCAFM will take cues and guidance on COVID-19 from the most relevant sources including the Province of BC and the Federal Government of Canada. The vast majority of BCAFM member markets will launch the 2020 season beginning this May onwards, however, there are number of markets currently operating today during the shoulder season. Things are shifting day by day and we all need to be proactive now and prepare for what could be a more challenging farmers market season. Important Things to Know BC Farmers’ Markets are first and foremost food retail establis…

COVID-19: SD64 Superintendent to Families Regarding

Dear parents, caregivers, and families of Gulf Islands School District, With Spring Break upon us, I would like to take this opportunity to address concerns related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and procedures to help us all navigate this complex and rapidly changing situation. Yesterday, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak to be a global pandemic. Please know that School District 64 is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and is operating under the guidance and recommendation of our Provincial Health Office, the Ministries of Health and Education, and the Government of Canada. To assist school districts in ensuring the safety of students and staff, the following legislation provides direction and authority for action: Federal Government The Quarantine Act provides the authority for Border Services to screen travelers entering/returning to Canada and to impose quarantine as necessary. Provincial Government Th…

Salt Spring Laundromat Has a New Home

Good news! The Wagon Wheel Housing Society is happy to announce that they have signed the lease for the Community Laundromat initiative. The home for the Laundromat is 162 – 150 Fulford-Ganges Road. We would like to thank the property management and owners of Creekside, who have been very supportive and helpful. The Laundromat is a non-profit, community oriented (social enterprise) one at that. It will also be a soap exchange - a place where you can bring your empty soap, shampoo and cleaning product bottles and refill them with green products at a great price. The completed project will also include a wheelchair accessible shower. Salt Spring has not had public laundry services since February 2016! THAT’S 4 YEARS FOLKS!! The Wagon Wheel society has spent much time and energy into looking at a variety of options, including off-grid and mobile alternatives, and we are now confident that this will be the best and most practical solution to meet our community’s needs. …

Salt Spring Celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the Salt Spring Library

Salt Spring Island Library celebrated 60 years in the community with a 60's themed gala last night with local community members. Staff, board members and CRD staff along with community supports gathered to enjoy music by Doug and the Thugs and to hear about the library history and in particular some of the history and stories of all the work that went into creating the library in its current form McPhillips Avenue. The new library has become a significant community hub as well as library resource space. The library is also home to the Salt Spring Archives. History of the Salt Spring Library In the early 1930s, an actress named Mrs. A. J. Smith opened a pay lending library upstairs in Mouat’s Store. This little library was open several days a week and provided its services at minimal cost. Later, a group of islanders organised a book-lending facility that circulated a collection of books among its members. One of the first books from this collection is in the Salt Spring A…

Defendants Cite Lack of Evidence In Response to Civil Forfeiture of Salt Spring Property Linked to Alleged Stock Fraud

The BC Civil Forfeiture Office has filed a lawsuit seeking to seize a Salt Spring Island property allegedly linked to a large international stock fraud. The lawsuit filed December 11th, 2019 in BC Supreme Court alleges the property located at 391 Baker Road on Salt Spring Island is the proceeds of crime and was used to launder money. The defendants have now submitted responses to the civil claim citing lack of evidence to substantiate the allegation. "The defendant Skye Lee does not have any proprietary or financial interest in the property. As such, the defendant states that this action should be discontinued against him. The defendant has no knowledge of the alleged unlawful scheme referred to in the Notice of Civil Claim. The defendant has not and is not connected to such unlawful scheme and was not a beneficiary of the alleged Unlawful Scheme. Mr. Lee pleads that he has no interest in the property and that the herein action should be discontinued against him and/or di…

Salt Spring Foundation Aims to Strengthen Local Charities

For 36 years the Salt Spring Island Foundation has been supporting the charities that make our island a caring community. Thanks to many generous donors, over 550 grants have been awarded to over 85 local charitable organizations, totalling over $3.3 million. Foundation grants have supported many areas of need and many types of projects and programs, from capital improvements to services and events that engage and assist community members. Other grants have funded projects that aim to strengthen the organizations themselves and help them to better fulfill their mission. This year the Foundation will be putting even more emphasis on strengthening our charities, committing $25,000 to projects that aim to build the capacity of qualified local non-profits. Of that amount, $15,000 will be awarded during the spring grants cycle. Examples of capacity-building activities could include strategic planning, technology upgrades, operational improvements, board development, improvin…

Abandon Proposed Bylaw 512 - It Isn't Part of the Housing Solution

At the January 28th Public Hearing for Bylaw 512, several members of the public criticized the bylaw as ineffective at achieving its stated goal of increasing the supply of long-term, rental housing. Representatives from Salt Spring Solutions spoke-up in opposition to the current iteration of Bylaw 512. They believe the bylaw is too limited and onerous to make any real impact, and that Trust resources should be redirected to other housing work. They noted that the recommendations they had submitted to improve the effectiveness of Bylaw 512 in October 2019 had not been integrated. In fact, few of the housing solutions requested by a coalition of island groups that includes Salt Spring Solutions, the Chamber of Commerce, Transition Salt Spring and the Housing Council have been made it onto any of the Islands Trust actions plans or project lists. About 150 people rallied in front of the Islands Trust Office on November 22, 2019 in support of housing solutions and over 900 re…