NOTE: Since last week’s report was published, we have learned that the brief reference to Bill 44 was incorrect in two ways:

There is no advocacy underway on Salt Spring Island related to the Provincial Government’s Bill 44 that received Royal Assent in November 2023. This bill introduced a number of changes to the Local Government Act, including new zoning provisions related to small-scale, multi-unit housing.

The provisions of Bill 44 apply to the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee, with the exception of section 481.3 of the Local Government Act, which concerns zoning bylaws and small-scale, multi-family housing.

We appreciate your patience in helping us to get right!

Don’t forget to join us this Friday, August 28, 11-1, SIMS classroom to welcome Habitat for Humanity’s Carmen.

Twelve joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Melody Silva and Andria Scanlan to discuss youth leadership in our community. Andria of…

Salt Spring Island has been fortunate. We have watched communities elsewhere in British Columbia experience catastrophic wildfire: homes lost, people evacuated, businesses closed, lives disrupted. We have seen smoke drift across our own island from fires hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away. Yet Salt Spring itself has so far avoided the kind of large, destructive wildfire that can fundamentally change a community.

The question is not whether we should be frightened by that possibility. The question is what we choose to do with the time we have before it happens.

Our climate is changing. Summers are becoming hotter, and drought is placing increasing stress on our forests. Eventually, Salt Spring could experience that dangerous combination of prolonged drought, dry fuels, low humidity, high temperatures, strong winds and an ignition at exactly the wrong place and time. We cannot know when those conditions will align, but we can prepare for them. Read more about While We Still Have Time: Building a Wildfire-Resilient Salt Spring Island

Despite some light rains and cooler temperatures in July we continue to slip deeper into drought. As gardeners we must get creative in finding alternate water sources for our gardens. One of my favourite approaches is to find ways to use the same drop of water twice.The kitchen is an excellent source on "untapped" grey water. Keep a container in your sink at all times to catch water from hand washing, cleaning fruit & veggies, soaking dry beans, rinsing rice, grains any number of things, water used for cooking vegetables or leftover tea, you get the idea. An added bonus, this water contains nutrients that are beneficial for the garden.I keep two tubs in the kitchen one for washing dishes the other for rinsing, all of that water can be recycled into the garden.Two watering cans are kept near the door to keep my tubs empty for the next opportunity.I avoid using water with soap on my acid loving plants as it is alkaline and could create discontent with plants like Rhododendron.…

Part 3: Going to the Moon When we talk about climate change today, the challenge can feel overwhelming—too vast, too entrenched, too late. But history shows us something powerful: humanity has a long record of doing things we once thought impossible, especially when we work together. Perhaps that is what is stalling our conversations about climate solutions; it’s hard to talk about what seems “impossible.” We can’t properly envision what we don’t know. To inspire you, here are some examples of impossible feats that were accomplished by groups of humans in a relatively short amount of time. From the Moon to Instant Communication In the mid-20th century, landing on the moon seemed like science fiction. Yet in 1969, through shared vision, massive collaboration, and relentless innovation, humanity took that first step on lunar soil. What once seemed impossible became reality. Only a few decades later, we achieved another “impossible” feat: instant communication across …

A recent community survey has given Transition Salt Spring a clearer picture of how residents feel about wildfire risk on the island, and the results are both sobering and encouraging. The survey received 459 responses from residents across Salt Spring. Nearly 80 percent reported moderate to high concern about wildfire risk, and 81 percent are worried about hotter, drier summers ahead. Two-thirds of respondents expressed concern about the drying and loss of wetlands and how that is connected to wildfire risks. These concerns are motivating people to act. Eighty-five percent of respondents said they had already taken steps to reduce wildfire risk on their property, including clearing combustible materials, trimming vegetation, maintaining space around their homes, and reducing the buildup of dry fuel near structures. That's a meaningful number of neighbours already doing the work. Knowledge makes a real difference. Residents familiar with FireSmart principles, a pract…

Something significant has been quietly growing along with the trees on the slopes of Hwmetʼutsum (Mt. Maxwell) for the past four years — and it just took a big step forward. The Climate Adaptation Research Lab, known to most people on Salt Spring simply as CARL, has officially registered as an independent Society. The CARL team is greatly appreciative for the support and collaboration from Transition Salt Spring and North Salt Spring Water Works, two organizations which helped catalyze this growth of CARL. Starting in 2021, the Maxwell Creek Watershed Project (not yet known as CARL) stemmed from a pressing question arising from the community: what is the true condition of the forests above Maxwell Lake, and how vulnerable are they to fire? These questions are important for those who rely on the water from Maxwell Lake, which is nearly half of the residents on Salt Spring. It is also a question on the minds of communities across our region. Leading the science is Dr. Ruth…

Students at Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) are asking a simple but important question: Why is food waste leaving campus in a truck labelled as garbage destined for Washington state when it could be returned to the soil as compost here on Salt Spring Island? Compost transforms food scraps and organic waste into a rich resource that builds healthy soil, supports gardens, reduces methane emissions from landfills, and closes the loop between food and food production. With gardens on campus and a strong desire to reduce harmful environmental impacts, GISS students believe much of what is currently thrown away could instead be incorporated into a more sustainable school system. As School District 64 publicly expresses a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, students are calling for school waste systems that fully reflect those values in practice. As part of Youth in Action: Building a Sustainable GISS, members of the GISS Earth Club, led by Grade 12…

Over the last few years, at the heart of Transition Salt Spring’s Lighter Living initiatives have been led by four women: Deborah Miller (77 yrs), Andria (57 yrs), Grace (27 yrs), and Melody (17 yrs) whose leadership spans generations and initiatives across the community. Together, they help guide a growing network of hands-on, people-powered programs, from Toy and Clothing Swaps to Lighter Living initiatives, green rebates as well as a range of student-led events at Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) including a school-wide recycling and compost initiative. Perhaps the most well known of these activities are the Repair Cafés. Their work is practical and grounded, but also quietly transformative, creating space for skills to be shared, waste to be reduced, and community connections to deepen. For Deborah, repair is simply how things were always done. You fixed what you had, you made things last, and you didn’t think twice about it. It wasn’t a moral issue, it just did…

Earth Club Rising: GISS Students Turning Waste Into Action Prepared by Transition Salt Spring’s Lighter Living Initiative Trash talks! What we throw away speaks volumes about us as individuals and as a society. That’s why, on Tuesday, April 21, Earth Club students at Gulf Islands Secondary School piled high a day’s worth of school garbage, right inside the main doors. The students have the full support of school administration, all of whom have been listening to high school students advocating for a compost and recycling program for years, which is consistent with the BC Ministry of Education’s 2010 Sustainable School Best Practices Guide which advocates for school wide recycling and composting systems​​. Despite this, options for responsible disposal don’t exist. The only bins available at GISS might as well be labelled Landfill. With assistance from the custodial staff, students collected and sorted through one day’s collection from all the “garbage bins” in the sch…

Thirteen joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Samantha Hammond, CRD Goose Management Coordinator and Penelakut First Nations Ken Thomas of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Natural Resources to discuss our conundrum around the damage these intelligent, majestic, and family-focused Canada Geese are doing to our environment. After all had a chance to introduce themselves, revealing a surprisingly high level of expertise on this issue among our participants, Ken offered a blessing for our time together of building relationships and seeking collaborative solutions. Samatha shared that she was “excited and delighted” by the growing success of CRD’s Goose Management program and expressed her joy that she could be with us to better understand Salt Spring’s unique issues. She also shared her delight as well as trepidation about her daughter’s imminent departure for Greece. Ken acknowledged his appreciation of this opportunity to speak about our wildlife, with hope that we …

Let’s Talk Climate: Power, Privilege and the Planet Part 2: Structural Inequity Conversations about climate change often stall, even among people who share a deep concern for the planet. The silence doesn’t come from apathy; it comes from the weight and complexity of the problem itself. At its core, climate change is not just an environmental issue but a structural and systemic one, shaped by politics, economics, and entrenched power. This makes talking about it so hard; we feel frustration, guilt, and a sense of helplessness. The Complexity of Structural Causes Unlike issues with clear culprits and solutions, climate change emerges from the very systems that organize modern life. Energy grids built on fossil fuels, global supply chains that rely on cheap shipping, agricultural practices dependent on deforestation and industrial fertilizers; all of these structures are deeply embedded in how societies function. Most of us benefit from them in some way, even as they co…

Lighter Living is a Transition Salt Spring Initiative Lighter living doesn’t mean sacrifice. It’s about making thoughtful choices, small, practical actions that add up to meaningful change. And those changes grow even more powerful when we share them with our neighbours. Here on Salt Spring Island, we often take pride in being a progressive, environmentally conscious community. But the truth is, we’re not doing nearly enough to meet the climate action targets set out in our 2021 Climate Action Plan 2.0. There’s more to do and a greater opportunity for impact and success when we do it together. The way we move, eat, shop, repair, and relax all shape our impact on the planet. These everyday decisions and choices influence the health of our community and the ecosystems we depend on. Most of us want the same things: clean air and water, thriving forests, birdsong, pollinators, and resilient local food systems. Protecting what we love means stepping forward not perfectly, b…

Take Advantage of FREE Resources: Water Catchment Makes Sense! Transition Salt Spring's Lighter Living Initiative. Increased seasonal climate change has exacerbated water shortages in our region. Winter rainfall often falls in heavy, intense storms rather than the gentle, all-day drizzles we remember. As a result, much of the winter rainfall runs off into the ocean instead of soaking into our forests and water table. The wet season is becoming wetter, and the dry season is growing drier. However, there are ways to adapt, and support to do so! Consider installing a rainwater catchment system, and harness this increased seasonal rainfall to secure a reliable water source for the summer months. Whether you choose a pond or a cistern, capturing rainwater is a powerful way to protect our freshwater resources without compromising on your water needs in the summer. Rainwater harvesting systems are often associated with garden irrigation and watering plants, but even if you’r…

Part 1: Psychology I’d like to discuss the sound of silence. Climate silence. It’s been creeping into newspapers, social media, government spaces, and our own homes. Do you hear it too? Despite the growing urgency of the climate crisis, conversations about climate change seem more infrequent than they used to be. Perhaps it’s because we have lost the art of conversation, preferring instead to join a camp and deride the “other side.” But more than this, I think discussions about climate change are often avoided or minimized because they make us very, very uncomfortable. Even among people who accept the science and acknowledge the threat (99.9% of the scientists in the world agree), there’s a strange silence that surrounds the topic. But why? Why is it so uncomfortable to talk about something that affects everyone, everywhere (apart from the fact that the conversation is a complete and total bummer)? The answer in part lies not just in politics or misinformation, but deep wi…

PRESS RELEASE – January 16, 2026 North Salt Spring Waterworks District Approves Tender for Maxwell Lake Water Treatment Plant Following the completion of the detailed design and tendering processes, the North Salt SpringWaterworks District (NSSWD) Board has approved Hazelwood Construction Services Inc. to construct the new Maxwell Lake Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) water treatment plant. The final construction cost for the plant is approved for $16.6 million and construction will be initiated this spring with proposed completion of the project by spring 2027. The cost is an increase from the $14.6 million Class A estimate and in response NSSWD developed a funding strategy that delays planned capital projects and maximizes the existing capital reserve funds. No new parcel taxes or toll increases will be used within the funding strategy. The new Maxwell Lake water treatment plant is required by Island Health to meet water quality directives. Transitioning to a DAF filt…

By Transition Salt Spring – Lighter Living Initiative Transition Salt Spring encourages Islanders to rethink gift-giving this season by choosing experiences over things. Entertainment and shared moments often create longer-lasting memories than material items — and they support our local arts community at the same time. Here are some ways to give connection, joy and time together this holiday. Sustainable Gift Ideas: Entertainment gifts involve experiences that bring people together. Shared moments are often more cherished and longer-lasting than material items. Theatre – Salt Spring has an amazing local theatre with a terrific upcoming winter program. Whether it’s dance, music, drama or comedy, Artspring has it all. Gift tickets or a gift certificate for a memorable time together. Movies – For the film lovers on your list, The Fritz Cinema is a perfect gift. Their popcorn is famous. Jazz, Blues, Country Music – The Legion Branch 92 hosts live music year ro…

Prepared by Transition Salt Spring’s Lighter Living Initiative Holiday traditions matter and this year, more families are looking for ways to celebrate that are creative, meaningful, affordable, and low-waste. A perfect place to start? A reusable advent calendar and home made Christmas Crackers. Reusable advent calendars are a wonderful, eco-friendly alternative to disposable versions filled with single-use plastics. They can be refilled year after year, becoming beloved family treasures. Many are made from natural or organic materials, and they’re endlessly customizable. Even better, making your own doesn’t require craft skills or a big budget. Here are simple, low-impact DIY ideas anyone can try: Easy DIY Reusable Advent Calendars ● 24 brown paper bags decorated and pegged to a string ● 24 toilet paper rolls painted or wrapped, with tissue-paper “doors” ● 24 reused envelopes, decorated and hung on a branch, string, or ribbon ● 24 small jars with decorated lids ● …

How to Restore Forests, Wildflowers, and the Birds and the Bees in the Southern Gulf Islands Herbivory—the eating of plants by animals—is usually a healthy part of the web of life. But when herbivore populations like deer, goats, or sheep soar without natural checks and balances, they can reshape—and even collapse—entire ecosystems. Across the Gulf Islands, with few predators and limited hunting, deer and other grazers have browsed away the forest understory. The soft-leaved wildflowers and shrubs are gone, leaving only the tough survivors: sword fern, salal, nettle, and moss beneath aging conifers. Without shelter, seeds, or fruit, birds and pollinators have declined. This ecological collapse is well studied, and each island has its own twist on the same story. Deer densities range from deer-free islets to over two deer per hectare on heavily browsed islands. On Mayne, surveys suggest 0.5–2 deer/ha—ten times what’s considered sustainable for forest and songbird recov…

Mount Erskine is one of Salt Spring Island’s most popular hiking areas, offering kilometres of trails that climb though Coastal Douglas-fir forests and meander past moss-covered rocky outcrops. At its summit, 440 metres above sea level, hikers are rewarded with sweeping views to the south and west over Vancouver Island and the busy Crofton–Vesuvius ferry route. But few visitors realize that this park might not exist without the efforts of the Salt Spring Island Conservancy. Until 2005, the 100-acre parcel including the summit was privately owned. Following an intensive fundraising campaign, the Conservancy secured the land for future generations. The purchase was a creative partnership between the Conservancy (60%), the Nature Conservancy of Canada (20%), and the Province of BC (20%). This purchase made it possible to combine this land with an adjoining 165-acre tract, creating the provincial park enjoyed by so many today.   The park also links to other pro…

The Salt Spring Island Conservancy is celebrating 30 years of grassroots efforts to protect the island’s natural heritage. Since 1995, it has worked to acquire and manage ecologically valuable land, support landowners in becoming good stewards of their own land, and provide public outreach programs. Seven dedicated women shaped the Conservancy’s early years. They established the SSIC as a registered charitable organization and held the first board meeting on January 13, 1995. Their first campaign was to protect the old-growth forest on the Mill Farm, along Musgrave Road, a process that took two years. By 1997, the Conservancy had raised $192,000 for the CRD’s purchase of the land, was engaged in 16 other projects, and had launched its own publication, The Acorn. During this period, the SSIC became the first conservancy in BC permitted to hold a conservation covenant on private land. Conservation covenants enable landowners to protect important ecological features on their la…

Part of Transition Salt Spring’s Lighter Living Initiative Every celebration is an opportunity to tread more lightly on the planet! From birthdays and weddings to casual weekend gatherings, the way we host events can have a real impact on our environment. With a few simple choices, parties can be both joyful and climate-conscious. Lighter Living offers practical tips to help you reduce waste and emissions—without sacrificing fun or festivity. 1.Choose a Sustainable Venue Opt for outdoor venues close to your guests to minimize travel emissions. Ensure the venue has recycling facilities, and confirm with Return It Salt Spring or the Salt Spring Recycling Depot how your waste should be pre-sorted. 2.Go Paperless Send electronic invitations (e-vites) instead of traditional paper invites to save resources and reduce waste. 3. Encourage Sustainable Travel Provide information on public transportation options, car-sharing, or carpooling, recruit some young people to…