Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This profile is for Maxine Leichter, who is a candidate running for 2015 Fire Board Trustee Election. Here's a bit about Maxine; My husband and I moved to Salt Spring in 2003, fulfilling a lifetime dream to live in the country, away from the big city. We spent the first few years building our off-grid house and getting to know Salt Spring. We enjoy being part of a small community where we meet friends every time we go to town. My passion for local government has resulted in my learning all I can about the various government entities on S…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This profile is for Mitchell Forest, who is a candidate running for 2015 Fire Board Trustee Election. Here's a bit about Mitchell; I purchased land on Salt Spring in 2002 and we built a home here with the plan of creating a homestead type existence. Farming and producing our own foods was our goal. It has taken hard work to get there and today we are pleased to be producing organically grown hops that are used by Salt Spring brewery as well as produce for ourselves. Each year we add to our crop selection, this year barley is sprouting nic…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This profile is for Derek Hill, who is a candidate running for 2015 Fire Board Trustee Election. Here's a bit about Derek; My wife Betsy and youngest daughter Jesse moved to Salt Spring from a small ski town in Quebec in 1994. Our other 6 children were working or at university and 3 of them were already out west. We built a house and cottage on Ganges Harbour and ran Anchorage Cove B&B for 10 years. I was a Captain at Air Canada and commuted to work via float plane till 2003. Our daughter Jesse went through the school system here. We have…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This profile is for Norbert Schlenker, who is a candidate running for 2015 Fire Board Trustee Election. Here's a bit about Norbert; I've lived on Salt Spring for 15 years. I'm a (mostly retired now) personal financial advisor and operate a computer refurbishing business here. I have served in many volunteer roles since coming to Salt Spring: treasurer and president of ArtSpring, president of the Stingrays summer swim team, treasurer of the Saltspring Island Sailing Club, member of the Advisory Planning Commission, and co-ordinator of the …

Salt Spring Island electoral area voting information for the 2014 elections. Here are all of your election candidates. You can learn all about each candidate by reviewing their profiles if they have provided one and vote in the online straw polls.       Capital Regional Director Candidates Garth Hendren Wayne McIntyre Islands Trust Trustee Candidates Peter Grove George Grams Vincent MacDonald (Profile not yet provided.) Christine Grimes School Board Trustee Candidates Ken Lee Nancy Macdonald Rob Pingle John Wakefield Neal Wilkinson Here are all the details you need for voting. In-person Voting Day Locations and Times Voting places will be open from 8am - 8pm on Saturday, November 15, 2014 to qualified electors at: Community Gospel Chapel, 147 Vesuvius Bay Road, Salt Spring Island, BC Fulford Elementary School (Gym), 203 South Ridge Road, Salt Spring Island, BC Salt Spring Island Public Library, 129 McPhillips Avenue, Salt…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This weeks featured local election people profile is: John Wakefield Here's a bit about John: Here’s a bit about John:
I was born and raised in the Lower Mainland. I have lived in five southwest BC municipalities and travelled extensively. I obtained my BA from Simon Fraser University and am a lifelong learner. I am a husband, father, brother, son and uncle. Professionally I am a small business owner, and volunteer as vice-chair of the Salt Spring Island Public Library. I have also served other island organizations such as ArtSpring, a…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This weeks featured local election people profile is: Christine Grimes Here's a bit about Christine: Part of my plan in becoming an RMT (Registered Massage Therapist) was to have a bifurcated career, because it is the kind of work that is physically very challenging to do full time and I have a degree from Emily Carr and wanted to be developing a creative practice with a sense of purpose. However, the vibrancy of this community grabbed my attention and supported my passion for environmental and social justice. It was the Save the Sa…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This weeks featured local election people profile is: Wayne McIntyre Here’s a bit about Wayne: I have a very diverse background but here's a little bit about me. I have been a single dad, successful in business both in a corporation and running my own .As a single dad I came to appreciate the role of communities in raising a family. This encouraged me to be active in all the communities I have lived in: coaching kid’s sports, volunteering on numerous committees and in the past as an elected politician in a small municipality. In my cou…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This weeks featured local election people profile is: Neal Wilkinson Here’s a bit about Neal: I live in the south end of Salt Spring Island with my beautiful wife and two young daughters (5 and 8) who attend Fulford Elementary. I am a furniture maker and have my workshop on our property, enjoying flexible hours with my own business so that I can remain involved in my daughter's day-to-day activities. What brought you to Salt Spring Island? My wife and I moved here 7 years ago, when our oldest daughter Sofiya was just a year old. …

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This weeks featured local election people profile is: Garth Hendren Here’s a bit about Garth: I am a long time educator, who has worked as a consultant for the past 15 years.  However there was a period in the nineties, when I worked in the film business, principally as a money man, read executive producer.  In the recent past I have been spending time in Khazahstan setting up kindergartens in the private sector.  There are common factors, children and teachers, but the cultural and educational differences are enormous.  Although the n…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This weeks featured local election people profile is: Rob Pingle Here’s a bit about Rob: I love the ability to get involved on this island. When we first moved here I was primary caregiver for our girls and had the opportunity to spend a lot of time at Salt Spring Elementary, especially the Early Learning for Families program, and the Tuesday Market in the Meadow. I enjoyed finding areas where I could volunteer my time like coordinating the Toy Library for Community Services, supervising at The Wall Rock Climbing Centre and chairing th…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This weeks featured local election people profile is: George Grams Here’s a bit about George: We share our north end farm with our two horses, our cat and with the considerable wildlife that inhabits the 6 acres of second growth woodland that we have set aside as their sanctuary. The farm needed work and we've built a barn, workshop, office and stables, moved and remodelled the house, restored the original farmhouse, built a riding ring and fenced. We milled much of our own timber on a sawmill I purchased for the process and then resol…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This weeks featured local election people profile is: Nancy Macdonald Here’s a bit about Nancy: I'm not sure I need to say much but here goes… I am a Salt Spring Islander in spite of my recent 8 years working in Saanich. I began my career as a French Immersion teacher at Salt Spring Elementary School in 1984, when the school had 400 kids. In 1989 I moved to GISS and became Vice Principal in 1991. In 1998 I was thrilled to become GISS Principal and enjoyed eight wonderful years building programs, working on school improvement and wor…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This weeks featured local election people profile is: Ken Lee Here’s a bit about Ken: I retired to Salt Spring from Ontario in 1991. Born in the UK and emigrated to Canada after graduating from Cambridge University in 1957. Served 2 years during National Service as RAF aircrew – stationed for a year in Winnipeg. Worked as a Geologist with Shell Canada in Alberta for 5 years. Secondary School Principal for 30 years in Ontario and at CFB Baden Soellingen in Germany. Father to 2 children and grandfather to 4 all living in BC What broug…

Community People Profiles for Elections is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island who are running for local office. Our People Profiles are short interviews, with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island and as they run their respective election campaigns. This weeks featured local election people profile is: Peter Grove Here’s a bit about Peter: I am a member of the SS Sailing Club, the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, Community Theatre, Salt Spring Island Conservancy, Artspring, Salt Spring Literacy, the Chamber of Commerce, the Salt Spring Forum, All Saints Anglican Church, the Community Economic Development Commission and am a POD, emergency leader. Last but not least, I am an Islands Trust Trustee, on the point of completing my first three year term, and on the eve of the election…