Health & Wellness

Minister’s statement on Midwives Day

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, has issued the following statement in recognition of Midwives Day, May 5, 2024: "On this day, we honour the invaluable role midwives play in our health-care system and the exceptional care they provide to growing families throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the post-partum period. “Midwives play a crucial role in our health-care system. They deliver more than 25% of all babies born annually in B.C., and provide personalized, holistic care to families throughout the province, including those in rural, remote and First Nations communities. This means families can count on effective and culturally safe care throughout pregnancy, as well as during and after childbirth. “To better support midwives and help grow the profession, a three-year agreement was ratified between the Province and the Midwives Association of British Columbia last year, retroactive to April 2022. This agreement provides midwives with long-term support for their career a…

Young Adult Mental Health Unit established at Royal Jubilee Hospital

Victoria — A new Young Adult Mental Health Unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital is providing specialized and age-appropriate care for young adults experiencing acute mental health challenges. In response to a growing number of younger people experiencing significant mental health episodes needing hospital-based care, Island Health began to reconfigure an existing general psychiatry unit that served all ages to focus on specialized mental health care for youth. The reconfigured, 16 bed unit opened November 20, 2023, in a phased manner which allowed existing patients to complete their hospital stays. “There’s nothing more important than helping young people recover and rebuild after a mental health challenge or crisis,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “This new unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital will help ensure we provide integrated, holistic services that meet the needs of young adults on Vancouver Island. This is one more tool we are using to ens…

Salt Spring Island celebrates International Women's Day

Salt Spring Island celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD). This year’s IWD theme is Inspire Inclusion. Leading up to IWD on Friday, March 8th, here are some opportunities to learn about how we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all inspire inclusion. Like every year, women are well represented at The Salt Spring Film Festival (March 1-3 at the Gulf Islands Secondary School). There’s no shortage of films about women, plus more than 50 percent of the films are directed or co-directed by women and twelve of the twenty film guests are female. Opening night stars Aitamaako'Tamisskapi Natosi Before The Sun. An intimate and thrilling profile of Logan Red Crow, a young Siksika woman in the golden plains of Blackfoot Territory, as she prepares for one of the most dangerous horse races in the world: the Indian Relay. On March 7th, The Salt Spring Island Public Library hosts, in collaboration with the Canadian Federation of University Women, the screening of “The Ma…

Salt Spring Island Women's Institute donate over $12,000 to local, provincial, national and international groups

February is Women’s Institute Month, and in honour of the birthday of our founder, Adelaide Hunter Hoodless, the Salt Spring Island Women’s Institute (also known as the “Pie Ladies”) is pleased to announce our annual 2023/2024 donations. We are a group of only twenty-four members, but with the enthusiastic help of fourteen community women, we were able to make and sell nearly 750 pies at the 2023 Fall Fair and Apple Festival. The wonderful support we get from the community when we sell our pies plus donations from Salt Spring Island gardeners, farmers and grocery stores help keep our costs down so that we can give more money away. This year, we are donating over $12,000 to local, provincial, national and international groups. We have made nearly 12,000 pies since 2001 and have given away over $10,000 in the past ten years, an outstanding amount for a group that has historically had fewer than twenty members. We make all of our pies by hand and from scratch. The Women’s…

Lady Minto Hospital Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric A.F. Jacobsen as Executive Director

Eric is a seasoned leader with a proven track record of success in managing multi-disciplinary teams across sectors. With a background in healthcare research and technology development, Eric brings a unique perspective to the foundation that is grounded in evidence-based decision-making, industry best practices, and positive social impact. Eric has spent his career in change-making positions with a focus on building resilient relationships with diverse stakeholders. From conducting hundreds of hours of interviews with vulnerably housed residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to leading consulting teams for some of the world’s largest sustainable energy companies, he has consistently managed change for organizations, expanding opportunities and impact with a keen eye for feasibility. “The Foundation is fortunate to have Eric join as our new Executive Director. His experience and leadership will be invaluable in guiding the Foundation through its ongoing service to the c…

ASK Salt Spring with North Salt Spring Waterworks District (NSSWD) Chief Administrative Officer, Mark Boysen, and Board Chair, Brian Pyper

Ten joined this ASK Salt Spring conversation with North Salt Spring Waterworks District (NSSWD) Chief Administrative Officer, Mark Boysen, and Board Chair, Brian Pyper. The first time representatives of this important water district have joined us as our special guests, questions flew, creating a rich conversation. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, Mark and Brian began by telling us a bit about themselves. Brian is an environmental statistician bringing his 25 years of analytical experience to NSSWD’s important decisions. Planning to run for another term in the upcoming Trustee election before its AGM on Thursday, May 2, 2024, he hopes to continue his commitment to making decisions based on science as well as supporting both staff and ratepayers. Mark began managing NSSWD in March 2023 and is delighted to be here! Living on Salt Spring, he had been commuting to the Cowichan Valley Regional District where he was General Manager of Operations, overseeing 37 sewer and w…

Never too young to remember December 6th

On December 6th, 1989, the day that fourteen young women at l’École Polytechnique in Montreal were killed by a gunman as a deliberate act of violence against women, Quinn Mulherin (21, she/they*) wasn’t born yet. She learned about the tragedy years later when she attended the memorial as part of The Circle Education’s Pass it On Program. Unbeknownst to her, it gave direction to her future life path; choosing Gender Studies as a way to shape her professional career and as an advocate for equal rights and opportunities for women. The December 6th Memorial was Quinn’s introduction to what happened in Montreal, and gender-based violence in general. “All the Pass it on Girls attended the memorial that year, it was super cold, and I remember there was a large turnout from the community. I did a bit of my own research and it definitely triggered my interest in gender equality and advocacy”, says Mulherin who is in her fourth year of the Women and Gender Studies program at UVIC. …

ASK Salt Spring on all things local emergency management with Corey Anderson, Jolette Schenk and John Wakefield

While only 10 joined this ASK Salt Spring conversation about our preparedness for emergencies, we learned so much! Led by John Wakefield, Emergency Management Lead, Salt Spring Island, he was joined by Jolette Schenk, CRD Electoral Area Emergency Services Coordinator and Corey Anderson, Manager, Emergency Programs, both of whom had come from Victoria to join us. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, John spoke briefly about accelerating challenges from climate-related weather emergencies. While things may seem to be much the same, it is John’s observation that on Salt Spring, much like the rest of the world, record heat domes, drought, and storms are ramping up awareness and concern. We learned that virtually all of Ganges - as far inland as the Library - are in a tsunami hazard zone. After recognizing our vulnerability as an island, John reminded us that there are simple, concrete things we can do to prepare. These include: Sign up for Alertable, free and available…

ASK Salt Spring with David Norget from the Mental Wellness Initiative discussing mental health resources on the island

Fourteen joined us (in addition to toddler Benjamin) for all or part of this ASK Salt Spring conversation with the enthusiastic team of volunteers committed to enhancing mental wellness in our community. Led by David Norget, a number of Mental Wellness Initiative volunteers joined us. Some of these volunteers are recruiting professional counsellors for Reach Out Salt Spring, others are overseeing the expanded Peer Support programs, and others are Ambassadors, walking Ganges spreading connection and care throughout our village. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, we learned a bit about the Mental Wellness Initiative as well as its programs. This Mental Wellness Initiative emerged from the Salt Spring Health Advancement Network (SSHAN), a monthly gathering of local organizations/community members focused on health and well-being in our community. Fueled by its strong relationships with its charitable partner, Salt Spring Community Health Society, the Mental Wellness Initiat…

Transition Salt Spring and BC Climate Emergency Campaign unveil climate action report cards and call for urgent collective action

In the wake of an unprecedented summer of wildfires and drought, Transition Salt Spring and the BC Climate Emergency Campaign are teaming up to present a crucial webinar, "Ready or Not: Facing the Climate Challenges Ahead." Scheduled for November 28th at 6:30 PM, this event is not just a webinar – it's a rallying cry for our community to unite and take charge in the fight against climate change. Climate Report Cards Unveil Hard Truths: Local and Provincial Insights Recent climate action report cards independently released by Transition Salt Spring and the BC Climate Emergency Campaign have delivered a stark reality check – our efforts to combat the climate crisis are falling short. The unveiling of critical points of the assessments during the webinar will provide a firsthand look at the challenges we face on Salt Spring Island and throughout the province. A Diverse Coalition Calls for a Real BC Climate Emergency Plan The BC Climate Emergency Campaign boasts a line-…

$10,000 donation from 100 Men Who Care Salt Spring to Tree Frog Daycare

100 Men Who Care Salt Spring Island are happy to announce that Tree Frog DayCare is now the happy recipient of a donation of $10,500. In our latest meeting, held October 11 at Woodley's lounge in Harbour House Hotel, Tree Frog edged past Salt Spring Hospice Society and Viva Chorale! to win the award and on October 30 we visited them to present their prize. 100 Men Who Care Salt Spring Island is just one of approximately 400 chapters in North America, a supportive and encouraging group of people who care about their communities. Locally we have given over $120,000 to Salt Spring Island charities since 2018. Three times a year, we meet for an evening to learn about the great work being done by three registered Salt Spring charities. After the presentations, the members vote on their favourite, and the winning candidate gets a $100 donation from each member. Members then get a tax receipt for their charitable donation. It’s THAT Simple! No fees. No dues. No pressure. Just…

ASK Salt Spring with CRD Director Gary Holman and Local Commissioners Brian Webster, Earl Rook, and Gayle Baker

Ten gathered for a conversation with our Electoral Director, Gary Holman, and Local Commissioners Brian Webster, Earl Rook, and Gayle Baker. After our Territorial Acknowledgement, a participant began by asking what was actually happening with reconciliation on Salt Spring. We learned from Gary that local governments are legally obligated to consult with First Nations on projects and initiatives. There have been a number of local opportunities for engagement, recently including the North Ganges Transportation Project on Rainbow and Lower Ganges Roads and the under-discussion Islands Trust Bylaw 530 proposing to legalize accessory dwelling units. First Nations engagement will also be undertaken regarding our proposed HarbourWalk. Gary reminded us that First Nations are being barraged by requests for engagement and are have very limited capacity to address all requests for collaboration. He also noted that the BC courts have recently been acknowledging First Nations’ rights in …

Hundreds attend Transition Salt Spring’s first Slow Down Salt Spring clothing swap event

Over 550 people participated in Transition Salt Spring’s first Slow Down Salt Spring event on Saturday, and over 900 kilos of clothing was saved from the landfills!! By reducing our consumption and changing our lifestyles to reuse, fix or trade many of the daily items we use, our carbon footprints go down, and we can all slow down in bit in our mad race to have more new things. Fashion accounts for between 8 - 10% of global carbon dioxide output, which is greater than international flights and shipping combined (BBC, 2022., Ont. Govt., 2023). Around two-thirds of our clothes are made from synthetic fibres, making fashion responsible for a fifth of the 300 million tons of plastic that’s produced on a global scale, contributing to the release of chemicals that harm our water sources and ecosystems. Canadians dump 500 million kilograms of textiles in landfill every year, or 37 kg per person (BBC 2022., Global News, 2023). Between the chemicals, the large water suppl…

ASK Salt Spring invited Transition Salt Spring to present on the Salt Spring Island Climate Action Report 2023: A Wake-Up Call for Our Community

In our recent Ask Salt Spring gathering, 16 community members welcomed Transition Salt Spring (TSS) volunteers Bryan Young (Chair) and Mary Ackenhusen, who shared their findings on the Salt Spring Island Climate Action Report Card 2023/24. Their insights shed light on our community's critical challenges regarding climate change. Mary Ackenhusen began by welcoming everyone and setting the stage by reminding us of the significant groundwork TSS laid between 2019 and 2021 with the Climate Action Plan 2.0 (CAP). Mary underscored the importance of more than just having a plan; it's about putting it into practice and assessing its real impact. Bryan Young took a moment for a Territorial Acknowledgment, recognizing that Truth and Reconciliation Day serves as a reminder to learn more about the land we've settled on. He encouraged everyone to explore the rich history of the Indigenous Peoples of these lands and waters, pointing to the resources for people of settler ancestry on th…

Charting a climate course: Salt Spring Island's Report Card 2023 unveiled

End Climate Delay July 2022, Photo credit: Alex Harris Salt Spring Island, just like the rest of the world, has not been immune to this year's climate crises. We've endured intense summer droughts, watched as wildfires spread across BC and Canada, and sat under days of smoky skies. The question is: Are we up for the future climate challenges heading our way? We are witnessing more prolonged droughts, water shortages, dangerous storms, increased forest fire risks, devastating heat waves, flooding and more. Between 2019 and 2021, Transition Salt Spring (TSS) rolled out the Climate Action Plan 2.0 (CAP), packed with 250 actions to address the urgent climate challenge. The primary objective? Reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% before 2030 and prepare our community for the impacts of climate change. Fast forward to 2023, and we find ourselves at a pivotal moment and faced with the question: are we ready for the challenges ahead? Enter the Climate Action Report Ca…

Gulf Islands Secondary School starts the year with Consent Awareness Week

Gulf Islands Secondary School has partnered with The Circle Education, IWAV and Salt Spring Community Services for its first-ever Consent Awareness Week. Consent is vital to many aspects of life, and is essential for young people to form healthy, respectful relationships. Responding to calls from students, GISS dedicated its first Health and Wellness Day of the new school year to consent. “We are supporting the ‘High School Too’ Movement, which advocates for policy, protocol, and education change so that all high school students understand that consent comes first,” explains GISS vice-principal Stacy Mitchell. Research shows that 15% of girls and 9% of boys between the ages of 14 to 21 have had a sexual act forced upon them by a peer (Taylor et al., 2019). Moreover, in a school climate survey, many 2SLGBTQIA+ students (58%) identified being sexually harassed in the past year and 13% reported that this harassment occurred often or frequently (Kosciw et al., 2020). Lang…

Greenwoods raffle winner is sitting pretty

Photo: Greenwoods resident Bill Hogg (seated) reads the winning ticket name, Bonnie MacPhail at the bench raffle draw on September 11th. Behind (left to right) are Robert Steinbach from Country Grocer, sponsor of the bench; Wayne Glover, Vice Chair of the Greenwoods Eldercare board; Mel Ferrabee, Chair of the Greenwoods Family and Resident Council; and Brenda James from the Family Council. We have a winner! Monday, September 11th was the festive draw ceremony for this year’s bench raffle at Greenwoods, and the prize went to Bonnie MacPhail of Brinkworthy Place on Salt Spring. Greenwoods resident Bill Hogg drew the name from the tickets sold this year. Bill is going to be celebrating his 100th birthday later this year. The annual fundraising raffle of a beautiful garden bench to benefit Greenwoods Eldercare has become a celebrated tradition on Salt Spring, now in its twenty-fifth year. The 2023 garden bench was once again created by island artisan Luke Hart-Weller of Coppe…

Community fundraising effort comes together to bring Quw’utsun elders back home

The Stqeeye’ Learning Society is thrilled to announce Mi tse’ t’akw’ (Coming Home), a once-in-a-generation fund-raising campaign that will bring Quw’utsun (Cowichan) elders back to their traditional territory in Xwaaqw’um (Burgoyne Bay) for the first time in 150 years. The community of Salt Spring Island is already coming together to support Stqeeye’s acquisition of an extraordinary 10-acre property adjacent to Xwaaqw’um that is uniquely suited as a home base to expand their on-going wetlands restoration work, their P’hwulhp (Garry Oak) restoration project, and their Youth on the Land program, which reconnects youth with the land in a process that heals both, at a time when both are in distress. The total goal of the campaign is $1,929,000, including just under $1 million for the land, and the rest to fund renovations, develop the land and launch an associated social enterprise. Foundations and private donors have already stepped up with $500,000 in funding, providing a g…

What does it mean to have community wellness?

What does it mean to have community wellness? How would we know? What would be the signs?

So often in our society, we respond to problems. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it does however mean we tend to react to problem situations rather than looking deeper to what the problem situations are a symptom of, and attending to what is needed to address the roots of these issues or challenges.

You have perhaps heard us speak to the Mental Wellness Initiative (MWI) investing in strengthening community responsiveness (being ‘response-able’) to community health and wellness needs. These include the willingness to come together, to include those impacted by health decisions (lived or living experience), to invest in healthy relationship building, all while making decisions in the best interests of the community.

The MWI is in service to the health and wellness potential of the community and not simply to remedy singul…

Being prepared for emergencies and the risks we face

The recent tragic wildfire events in British Columbia and beyond have caused us to pause and empathize with the tragic loss of life, property, the environment, and the displacement of many people. This has left many of us pondering whether we are adequately prepared here on Salt Spring Island. What actions can we take to enhance our resilience in the face of the various hazards we confront? Emergency management, encompassing mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery, is a collective responsibility. From individuals and households to neighbourhoods, businesses, agencies, and the government, our shared goal is to collaborate effectively. A foundation of emergency planning lies in an "all-hazards approach," signifying our readiness to address any potential hazards that may arise. (Ex. Wildfires, wind, earthquakes, floods). On Salt Spring Island, our many first response agencies, such as Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue, Salt Spring Ground Search and Rescue, Roya…

State of Emergency declared over wildfires by Premier and Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness

Premier David Eby and Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, have released the following statement about the current wildfire situation: “This year, we are facing the worst wildfire season ever in British Columbia. Over the past 24 hours, the situation has evolved rapidly and we are in for an extremely challenging situation in the days ahead. There are numerous fires across the province threatening communities. Thousands of people are under evacuation orders, and tens of thousands more are on evacuation alert. “Given these fast-moving conditions, the Province of British Columbia is declaring a provincial state of emergency, under the authority of the Emergency Program Act, to ensure we are in a position to rapidly access any tools we need to support communities as the situation evolves. “At this time, we’re grateful that people are mostly following our call to not travel to certain areas and to stay out of the way of emergency crews so they …