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…

Oh, the achy muscles, the nasal drip, headache, sore throat, fever, and fatigue. And the children who suffer from earaches, nausea, and vomiting. Most of us are familiar with the flu blues. Despite our best efforts to keep our families healthy, the flu still gets into our schools, workplaces, and homes. Each year, many flu viruses go around, and they are constantly changing. Lynn Vanderwekken, a pharmacy manager at Pharmasave, commented that the 2016‒2017 flu vaccine has been updated to better match the viruses. Virus strains are predicted based on viruses that circulated in the Southern Hemisphere’s 2016 winter. The2016‒2017 Northern Hemisphere’s vaccine protects against three different viruses as was recommended by the World Health Organization: Influenza A/California (H1N1); Influenza A/Hong Kong (H3N2); and Influenza B/Brisbane. Although the statistics are different in Canada due to a less dense population, stats show that in the United States, every year 300,000 p…

Hundreds of thousands of people across Canada are expected to participate in the Annual Terry Fox Run on Sunday, September 18th, a fundraising event taking place in over 800 communities nation-wide that continue to embody the indomitable spirit of Terry Fox. Salt Spring Island will live up to doing things a bit differently by holding its event on Sunday September 25, 2016. Terry’s Marathon of Hope in 1980 heralded a new age in fundraising. Terry was an innovator, raising funds for a disease that was still referred to in whispers while attempting to run across Canada, an athletic feat few able-bodied athletes would even consider. He ran with his artificial leg exposed, he talked about his experience with cancer; he gave hope to those suffering from the disease. Terry’s grassroots approach was a direct reflection of who he was – and Canadians embraced him with an intensity rarely seen before. There is no doubt that Terry’s example of courage and perseverance lives on to…

This summer, Blackburn Lake Nature Reserve was the place for families to get their “Vitamin N”! Family Days are geared toward families who want to participate in games, open activities, and self-directed discovery in a natural setting. A number of themes and learning topics have been covered so far this summer. From bats, the Great Blue Heron, and the Northern Red-Legged Frog―which are all species at risk―to the plants and animals at Blackburn Lake. The Western Painted Turtle inhabits numerous lakes on Salt Spring Island, including Cusheon Lake. It’s hoped that eventually they’ll move into the protected habitat at Blackburn Lake Nature Reserve. If you spot cages on lake shores, these cages are for protecting turtle nesting sites throughout the summer and winter and into the spring. Coordinators Cathy Lenihan and Charlotte Bowman are excited to be offering one final Family Day this summer. Youngsters are encouraged to bring their adult(s) on Sunday, August 28, to learn …

On the evening of Thursday, August 18, about 130 islanders gathered at the end of a sweltering hot day to discuss Salt Spring Island’s water supplies. A panel of experts was invited to attend the event, Tackling Drought, by the Salt Spring Island Water Preservation Society who presented the event to start a community discussion about options. Panelists addressed topics related to their expertise, answered questions that had been presented to them weeks before, and fielded questions from the audience. Moderator Jean Brouard brought a healthy dose of humour. Don Hodgins, Co-chair of Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Authority Technical Working Group, presented first. His presentation was scientific and technical with one shocking statistic: of the amount of water that can be withdrawn from St. Mary Lake, 65% is lost to evaporation. Human use is less than one third, and the remainder is used for maintenance of Duck Creek’s ecology. Ron Stepaniuk, the Manager of Nort…