Local News | Salt Spring Exchange

Obituary: Roger Warren

Roger Stewart Warren was born in Epsom, Surrey, England, on the 16th of August 1941. He emigrated to Canada with his parents as a teenager and grew up in Ontario. In 1984 he moved to Salt Spring Island, BC, where he established Chickadee Pine, a handmade furniture business. He participated in the restoration of Mahon Hall, belonged to the Folk Music Club, and was active in the arts community. He also began sculpting, seeing the forms of birds and animals in collected pieces of wood. He retired on six forested acres at the south end of the island, where lived his final fifteen years in a sprawling house that he built and filled with his handmade furniture and carvings. He died on the 6th of March 2021 at Lady Minto Hospital on the island and will be missed by many, including two ex-wives, Maggie Warren in Ontario and Judi Underwood of Victoria, BC; his step daughter Cyndy Spiers of Newmarket, ON; his cousin Sue Rehill (husband Ken) of Parksville, BC, and their son Kevin Re…

Watch: New Film About Creating a Resilient Salt Spring Released Online

Salt Spring Solutions is a group of volunteers who care about protecting our incredible natural environment while ensuring we maintain a vibrant, diverse, and fair community for all. Like many, we care deeply about ensuring our island is resilient in the face of the many big challenges facing us in the 21st century. Yet in order to get there, we need to first talk about the sometimes big gap between what we think we are as a community - green, progressive, fair, and low-impact - and what the reality is. We made this short film, ‘Making A Stand in the Salish Sea’, to highlight some amazing local leaders and thinkers working on solutions, explore what’s standing in their way, and spur discussion and action. We want to invite us all to imagine new ways of thinking about how Salt Spring can be a beacon of hope and action, and ignite a collective fire to work together to create the solutions our community needs to become more equal, more just, and truly sustainable. We n…

ASK Salt Spring Everything You Need to Know About Electric Vehicles (EVs)

ASK Salt Spring welcomed Jim Standen, Salt Spring’s passionate and energetic electric vehicle (EV) expert, as well as lead of Transition Salt Spring’s Electric Vehicle Working Group. If you want to know anything about electric vehicles, Jim is your man. This was clearly illustrated by the information-filled and fascinating discussion in this ASK Salt Spring gathering. After our Territorial Acknowledgment, our learning about electric cars began. In general, we learned a lot about the reasons behind the rapid growth in electric car ownership, what one might want to know if considering an electric car, and everything that we wanted to know about charging stations. The rapid growth in electric car ownership: We began by asking if it was myth or truth that Salt Spring boasts the highest per capita EV ownership in North America. It is true - verified! BC has the highest ownership of EVs in North America. And, to the distress of the extremely-active and cheerf…

COVID-19: Province shifts to Phase 3: millions to book vaccine appointments online

All eligible adults in B.C. will soon be able to follow an easy, three-step process to register and book their vaccine appointments online, as the Province moves to Phase 3 of B.C.’s COVID-19 Immunization Plan ahead of schedule. “British Columbians faced the countless challenges of this past year with incredible courage,” said Premier John Horgan. “Today marks a major milestone in our fight against COVID-19, and we ask everyone to wait their turn and follow three steps to help put this pandemic behind us.” There are three easy steps to register to book your vaccine appointment: Register: First, register when it is your turn and get a confirmation code. Book: Book a vaccine appointment when you get an email, text or phone call telling you you are eligible to book, based on your age. Get vaccinated: Visit a vaccine clinic to get your vaccine dose. Starting at 8 a.m. (Pacific time), on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, people born in 1950 and earlier (71 and older), Indi…

COVID-19: Easter Weekend and Troubling Island Health Case Trends

As spring days bring beautiful weather and Easter weekend brings hope of new beginnings, we need to remind ourselves that COVID continues to be a real and present health risk in our community. The start of the COVID vaccination program has brought new hope for the end of the pandemic. However some troubling trends are developing in Island Health’s fight against COVID-19. All three variants of concern have now been identified in Island Health. The number of variant cases across Vancouver Island are increasing. Contact tracing has shown that the variant cases were brought to the Island Health region through non-essential travel to other areas of B.C. and beyond. Public health teams have also noted a significant jump in the number of close contacts for COVID cases. On Salt Spring, we have not had any major outbreaks since the start of the pandemic. However we have had, and continue to have, the ongoing presence of COVID in our community. The variants of concern are more transmi…

COVID-19: With Cases Surging, Now Is Not the Time to Travel or Gather Indoors

Island Health is urging people to avoid the high-risk activities that have pushed COVID-19 cases to an all-time high throughout our region. With the upcoming long weekend and important religious holidays that normally bring friends and family together, Island Health is calling on everyone to closely follow the Orders and guidelines put in place by the Provincial Health Officer. We acknowledge the global pandemic continues to be an extremely challenging experience for so many and people are understandably experiencing COVID fatigue. However, with daily case counts at current levels and the growing prevalence of variants of concern on Vancouver Island, we cannot afford to let our guard down and undo the progress we have collectively made. Island Health’s Public Health team has noted some concerning trends recently, including: A significant increase in the number of close contacts to COVID-19 cases. This includes people reporting non-essential travel, large social ga…

Salt Spring RCMP Looking for Witnesses and To Identify Suspect(s) in Mischief

The Salt Spring RCMP is seeking witnesses after two vehicles were damaged on Northend Road, near Fairway Drive at St. Mary Lake in the early morning hours of March 28, 2021. For reasons that have yet to be determined, unknown suspect(s) decided to throw rocks at two parked cars. The rocks caused damage to the vehicles including breaking one of the windows. This senseless act was made more dangerous by the fact that both parked vehicles were occupied at the time. Witnesses in the area reported seeing a white Dodge Ram pick-up with dual rear wheels in the area at the time of the incident. Investigators are still trying to determine if the occupants of the Dodge truck are the suspects or simply witnesses to the incident says Salt Spring RCMP Detachment Commander Clive Seabrook What caused someone to do this is unknown. There are far better things to do on Salt Spring than throw rocks at cars! If you know anything about this incident please call the Salt Spring RCMP at …

COVID-19: Immunization Clinic Relocates to ArtSpring Centre

Effective Wednesday, April 7, 2021 all scheduled immunization appointments for Salt Spring Island will be held at the ArtSpring Centre (100 Jackson Avenue) on Salt Spring Island. People with appointments at the health unit on or after April 7the, 2021 will be informed of the shift to ArtSpring. Once fully operational, the clinic at ArtSpring will operate Sunday through Thursday, 8:30am – 4:30pm. Appointments are required and details will be confirmed with you when your appointment is booked. Please do not contact the ArtSpring Centre for information about registration or eligibility. This information can be found at islandhealth.ca/covid19vaccine

Savage Dog Attack Kills 6 Sheep and 1 Lamb on Falcon Farm

Note: Graphic images that might not be suitable for all ages are included in this story. A savage dog attack, which left one ewe dead and 5 mortally wounded, happened on Monday night this week on Musgrave Road. We heard dogs around 11:30 p.m. and rushed out to the sheep barn knowing that we had many young lambs, most less than a week old. We heard the dogs but could not see well in the dark or be sure of what they looked like. The sheep had bunched up in the yard and many were missing. The full extent of and the ferocity of the attack was not realized until the morning hours. One Ewe dead, many savaged so badly they could not get up, others torn beyond repair. All the wounded were assessed by the vet and euthanized humanely. One ewe remains in poor condition, her lamb gone, presumed eaten and she all bitten. We hope she might make it or the death toll will be up to 7 ewes. We now have 8 orphaned lambs. We since learned another neighbour had a sheep killed also that night.…

An Open Letter to our Community: Working Together on Forests and Forestry

On behalf of the board of directors of Transition Salt Spring, we write to all Salt Springers in response to the direct mail recently mailed to all islanders from the stoptheislandstrust.com initiative regarding forestry and forest protection on Salt Spring. We are concerned about its misleading statements, and would like to offer alternative approaches that if acted on could result in solutions that work for everyone and bring our community together in support of forests and foresters. First of all, there is a lot we agree on. Yes to strengthening the diversity of Salt Spring. We agree that we run the risk of becoming a wealthy-only enclave. A casual read of real estate flyers makes that clear. If we don’t include people at various income levels, the divide between those with and without means grows and we start to look like other countries like Mexico or the United States. We must implement policies that support on-island jobs, affordable housing, and discourage empt…

COVID-19: Three-Week Circuit Breaker Begins Now to Bend the Curve, Protect People

To address rising COVID-19 case counts, protect people and communities and help break the chain of COVID-19 transmission, the provincial health officer is amending the provincial public health orders effective midnight tonight, March 30, 2021. “COVID-19 continues to create challenges for people and businesses throughout B.C., and we are grateful for the sacrifices people continue to make to keep one another safe,” said Premier John Horgan. “We know that the idea of more restrictions is not welcome news, but we are asking people to rise to the challenge with the confidence that vaccines mean better days are ahead. We are not out of the woods yet, but the provincial health officer’s orders, combined with our vaccines, give us the tools we need to move out of this pandemic together.” New and amended orders and guidelines are in effect through April 19, 2021, and include: For restaurants, bars and pubs, all food and liquor-serving premises must only provide take-out or d…

COVID-19: Vancouver Island School Districts and Coronavirus Response

The Vancouver Island region has been experiencing a higher number of coronavirus cases in the past few weeks, and many of these cases have reported higher numbers of social contacts and events while infectious. Accordingly, we are now seeing the number of children with coronavirus on the rise. This past few weeks may have been quiet as schools have been heading into or returning from spring break. However, all signs indicate that there will be significant numbers of exposures at schools in the weeks to come. As families prepare for children to return to school, please consider: If your child has even mild symptoms, do not attend school, make an appointment to get your child and any other symptomatic family members tested, especially if you have travelled during spring break. Call 1-844-901-8442 (daily 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.) to book an appointment for a COVID test. Remember: Hand washing, physical distancing and mask wearing are important measures to continue to…

ASK Salt Spring with Local Islands Trust Trustee Laura Patrick

This week’s ASK Salt Spring Zoom gathering welcomed one of the two Salt Spring Local Trustees for the Islands Trust, Laura Patrick. After a traditional Territorial Acknowledgment, we spoke with Laura for two hours on a variety of topics including the Trust Council meetings held virtually March 9-11, and Salt Spring Island long range planning projects. We heard from an islander who listened into all three days of the Trust Council meetings March 9-11. This participant explained that she was impressed by the thoughtful dialogue and commitment shown by all of the trustees to these special islands. She was also impressed with Laura’s respectful discussions in the various debates. A highlight of this past Trust Council meeting was the passing of the 2021/22 budget. This year’s budget contains a considerable increase in grant revenue that is being directed to federation-wide work related to species at risk and freshwater sustainability/watershed protection. Also included in the…

COVID-19: Province Hikes Fines to Further Enforce Public Safety

Fines for promoting and attending gatherings that contravene the provincial health officer’s (PHO) order just got more expensive. Effective immediately, an amendment to the Violation Ticket Administration and Fine Regulation raises the fine for promoting and for attending a non-compliant gathering or event from $230 to $575. The current fine for those who organize or host a prohibited event remains the same at $2,300. “Over the last several months, it’s become clear that for some, the risk of a $230 violation ticket isn’t enough to deter attendance at events that violate the PHO order,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “I am disappointed that a small minority of British Columbians continue to put their health and the health of others at risk by attending unsafe gatherings. This selfish behaviour needs to stop, and police and provincial enforcement authorities will be able to issue these new fines immediately.” A $230 fine will conti…

Watch the COVID Musical Chronicles: 08 - "Comeback" by Luke Wallace

The Salt Spring Arts Council invited eight Salt Spring Island musical acts to historic Mahon Hall and asked them to perform one song to share with our community. Throughout March we’re releasing COVID Musical Chronicles, eight videos that remind us that music is a balm for hard times. These video Chronicles are also a call to get behind our local musicians – let’s make sure they know how much we love our incredible home-grown talent. Watch all the chronicles as they are released here on the Exchange at: saltspringexchange.com/covid-musical-chronicles Watch the COVID Musical Chronicles: 08 - "Comeback" by Luke Wallace https://youtu.be/sEq1GhqAfkc Follow Luke Wallace at lukewallacemusic.com Thanks to Harley Dunn at Chasm Audio for doing sound and Sydney Woodward for the camera work.

The Brain Is Part of The Body – Let’s Include It in Our Healthcare System

We have been asking questions of the provincial government about their response to the growing mental health crisis in British Columbia. Every one of their responses have been framed with sincere condolences. Yet, urgent action is lacking. We have heard from numerous community advocates that the provincial programs to deliver a safe supply of pharmaceutical grade alternatives to poisonous illicit street drugs are not enough. We have heard that the province has not moved quickly enough to decriminalize people who possess a personal supply of illicit street drugs. For too long our friends, family and neighbours who struggle with mental health and addictions have faced relentless stigmatization and judgement instead of receiving the support and care they deserve. There are far too many stories of how our fellow citizens have been forced to overcome obstacles deeply entrenched in government institutions. Rather than receiving the medical treatment they need, people suff…

COVID-19: BC Ferries Union 'Deeply Disappointed' Members Aren't Included in First Release of Extra Vaccine

BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union Executive Director, Jack Bruckman, has released a statement to union members and media regarding vaccination timing for BC Ferries Union members. "Prior to today’s public announcement, Government informed us that Ferry Workers will not be included in the first release of extra COVID-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca), and that this was a decision of the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Henry. On this call we were also told other transportation workers will not be included (e.g. BC Transit, Translink, Inland Ferries, etc.) at this time." The release goes on to say that Union President Graeme Johnston has expressed his deep disappointment to the Provincial Government, stating "it seems wrong that our members’ diligence and efforts to minimize COVID-19 outbreaks would be used to support delaying our vaccine priority relative to other businesses and sectors that are receiving vaccination supplies because of their seemingly poorer Occupational Health and S…

BC Ferries and First Peoples' Cultural Council Announce Name of New Salish-Class Vessel and Call for Artists

In recognition of the Coast Salish as the traditional stewards and original mariners of the Salish Sea, BC Ferries has named its new Salish-Class ferry Salish Heron. BC Ferries will honour the Salish Heron name with Coast Salish artwork on the exterior and interior of the vessel, and is partnering with the First Peoples' Cultural Council once again to facilitate the commission of an original design from a B.C. Coast Salish artist. Salish Heron is the fourth Salish-Class vessel to join BC Ferries’ fleet and will sail in the Southern Gulf Islands starting in 2022. Salish Orca, Salish Eagle, and Salish Raven entered service in 2017, sailing between Comox and Powell River and in the Southern Gulf Islands. BC Ferries held a public naming contest for the Salish-Class ferries in 2015. Salish Heron was among the shortlisted names because it reflects both the West Coast travel experience and the culture of British Columbia. A Call to Coast Salish artists is now open to invite expr…

COVID-19: Temporary Closure of Black Sheep Books Due to COVID-19 Exposure

Black Sheep Books has been closed temporarily. One of our staff has tested positive for COVID-19. The Ministry of Health has been in contact with and advised all our staff and those directly affected. We have been, and are following all their suggested protocol. After asking the numerous health officials I’ve spoken with over the last 2 days, they were of the opinion that anyone who was in the store from Thursday, March 18th, 2021 onward, (the infectious period prior to symptoms), are not considered at risk if they wore masks, maintained a 6 foot separation and did not have more than 15 minutes of open face to face contact with staff. If you were in the store during those times, and have questions or concerns, please contact your health care provider as to how you need to proceed. Despite the Ministry advising me that we did not have to do anything else above quarantine, do a deep cleanse to the store, and close for a couple days, we will remain closed until we feel it i…

Watch the COVID Musical Chronicles: 07 - "Water" by Trisha Spire

The Salt Spring Arts Council invited eight Salt Spring Island musical acts to historic Mahon Hall and asked them to perform one song to share with our community. Throughout March we’re releasing COVID Musical Chronicles, eight videos that remind us that music is a balm for hard times. These video Chronicles are also a call to get behind our local musicians – let’s make sure they know how much we love our incredible home-grown talent. Watch all the chronicles as they are released here on the Exchange at: saltspringexchange.com/covid-musical-chronicles Watch the COVID Musical Chronicles: 07 - "Water" by Trisha Spire https://youtu.be/23sLK1BVuLw Follow Trisha Spire at trishaspiremusic.com Thanks to Harley Dunn at Chasm Audio for doing sound and Sydney Woodward for the camera work.

2021 Saturday Market in the Park Opening Plan Now Includes Non-food Vendors

Our "Make It, Bake It, Grow It" Saturday Market in the Park begins on April 3rd, 2021 from 9AM - 4PM with limited capacity. Operating with safety protocols in place, the market will offer farm produce, prepared foods and non-food items that meet safety standards set by the Provincial Health Officer. Artisan vendors are now permitted under the March 18, 2021 Provincial Health Orders. The market will follow the provincial health guidelines for vendors concerning food prep and selling of high risk and low risk foods. "This is really big news! It is with so much excitement and my absolute pleasure to inform you that as of March 18, 2021 updated Public Health Orders have confirmed that all Vendors are being welcomed back to this season's market. This is a great way to kick off a new market season!" - Dawn Larden, Salt Spring Market in the Park Coordinator The Capital Regional District SSI Market in the Park website will be updated later this morning to reflect the change. …