The Seven Stars Tai Chi Club operates out of a studio located in a cozy grove of cedars here on Salt Spring Island. In fact, it’s in my neighbourhood. After 12 years of yoga and yoga therapy, 3 years of sitting meditation, 4 years hunched over a computer, and 1 year of karate, I was looking for a fluid meditative practice that involved not sitting and that had a martial arts aspect. I felt incredibly fortunate to discover the Tai Chi Club literally right down the road. Not only has the teacher Osman Phillips been practicing and teaching for over 35 years, he also has students who have been practicing with him since he started teaching in Canada over 20 years ago. This will be my second year learning at Seven Stars, but things are slightly changing there. Rumi Kanesaka and Tim Hayes, two of Osman’s long-time students, who have developed their own expertise, are teaching classes. Thursdays Rumi, who has studied tai chi and qigong in China and elsewhere, teaches the Th…

Many of us live on Salt Spring in hopes of experiencing a bit of an oasis from the intensity of modern living. That can happen. And, pain and stressful challenges also happen-- in our private lives and throughout our community. In addition, we may carry a heavy awareness of the precarious condition of our planet. Our land, ocean, climate, politics, social issues, economics-- the whole jumble can leave us feeling subtly or severely hopeless about the present and the future. When we feel that way, we are not able to pro-actively do things that may contribute to positive change on any level: Hopelessness and action don't “wire and fire” together. So what can help us mobilize? We have to start somewhere. That somewhere begins with ourselves. Julie Andrews was on to something when she sang: “I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don’t feel so bad…” Julie is referring to personal resources: things that evoke a feeling of safety and promote a sense of well-being. I am g…

Today, I was in Country Grocer speaking with Cindy, who works in the Nutrition Department. She also advises pet owners about holistic external and internal products for their pets. With her knowledge, I found what I needed for my sweet old dog with gum disease. At the same time, a stack of 15% off discount vouchers for Country Grocer’s Paws & Whiskers Pet Pantry were on their way to Salt Spring’s SPCA. How are these two events related? The answer is good news for people who are considering pet adoption from the island’s SPCA. Salt Spring’s Country Grocer and the SPCA have joined forces. If you go to the SPCA and adopt a pet, you will receive 15% off your first purchase at the Paws & Whiskers Pet Pantry. So not only do you get to go home with a furry bundle of love, but you also receive a great deal on now much needed food and/or supplies. If you’re not yet a pet owner, then you probably haven’t peered into the Pet Pantry. It has a lot of options! From dog bo…

Watch as 84 solar panels are installed on the roof of the Gulf Islands Secondary School on Salt Spring Island, BC.

The Salt Spring Island Parks and Recreation Commission (PARC) will launch a new recreation software platform that will streamline services and provide more flexibility on December 7. PARC, along with multiple Recreation Centres in the region, have signed on with PerfectMind, an innovative registration software platform that will provide PARC users access to online registration 24/7. Submitting park use permits, registering for programs and booking facilities at the PARC office is currently limited to regular business hours of Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm. The new platform will allow residents to register for all PARC programs, swimming lessons, submit park use permits, book facilities and even renew pool passes online. “This new software will allow us to increase access to recreation opportunities while keeping costs down,” said CRD Director Wayne McIntyre. “The PARC office is only open during regular business hours creating barriers for those with busy schedules. We hope to …

One minute on the Facebook page for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice is a bitter-sweet experience. The page reveals stories and photos of families who have a child struggling with life-limiting conditions. And in any given moment, about 1,400 children in British Columbia are doing just that. It’s a truth that motivates many, from private donors to corporate sponsors. One of these sponsors is the Canucks for Kids Fund. That’s right―the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks answered the call for support shortly after the vision was born for North America’s first children’s hospice. And one of the ways that the team raises money for the fund is through the sales of Canucks Calendars, which are available at any BC Pharmasave. The calendar includes the official game schedule, a selection of great team photos, and some valuable coupons. Partial proceeds from the calendar sales are donated to the Canucks For Kids Fund. Moreover, each one includes an exclusive code that enters you and yo…

What are the needs of boys & young men (cis- trans- & non-binary inclusive) in our community and the ways to ensure these needs are addressed? This is the question being looked at by the Pass It On - Engaging Boys & Young Men Council comprised of men, young men & boys (cis- trans- & non-binary inclusive). We are looking for input from boys & young men 13-19 years in a 5-minute online survey regarding issues and needs relevant to them. Our community can help by encouraging boys and young men they know to fill this out. The survey can be found here. The project is being coordinated by David Norget through a contract with SWOVA Development & Research Society with grants from the Salt Spring Foundation and the Ministry of Justice (BC Civil Forfeiture) with additional generous sponsorship from Salt Spring Island Country Grocer. The Council is made up of various men, young men & boys from different parts of the community to advise on the project. “There is a great role for…