People in B.C. can remotely access court registry services through new online service. Summary - The virtual counter connects court registry staff to people anywhere in B.C. through videoconference or by phone for assistance with Provincial and Supreme Court processes. - Expert court services staff can answer questions and share a range of resources and court forms - The online service is part of the Province’s work to modernize and transform B.C.’s court systems to meet the needs of people in B.C. __________ People can receive free, convenient help and advice navigating the court system from anywhere in the province with the launch of the new virtual-counter service. The virtual counter connects people with court registry staff remotely by video or phone for help with general inquiries, court forms and other topics related to Provincial and Supreme Court processes. “Navigating the justice system can be challenging, especially for people who face barriers ac…

Summary The Order of British Columbia celebrates outstanding achievement, excellence or distinction benefiting the people of British Columbia and beyond The Medal of Good Citizenship recognizes selfless, voluntary service in one’s community Nominations will be open for these honours until April 7, 2026 __________ To celebrate service excellence, the Province invites the public to nominate outstanding individuals for the Province’s two highest honours: the Order of British Columbia and the Medal of Good Citizenship. The Order of British Columbia The Order of British Columbia represents the highest form of recognition the Province can extend to its people. The order recognizes outstanding achievement, excellence or distinction by a former or current B.C. resident whose contributions benefit the province and elsewhere. “This is a chance to celebrate excellence at every level – provincial, national and international – by lifting up the British Columbians whose work…

December 6 Memorial in Centennial Park IWAV and The Circle Education will once again co-host a community candle-lighting ceremony at the Gazebo in Centennial Park (4.30 pm) on December 6th, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Together, we will honour the women and girls killed by femicide in 2025 and renew our commitment to creating safety, justice, and dignity for all. Communities across Canada gather every December 6th to honour the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. On this day, we remember the 14 women murdered at Montréal’s École Polytechnique in 1989, and all the other women, girls and gender-diverse people whose lives have been taken by gender-based violence. Gender-Based Violence Remains a National Emergency Every 48 hours in Canada, a woman or girl is killed in an act of gender-based violence*. In 2024, 240 women and girls were murdered, a 54% increase over pre-COVID levels. 93% of these hom…

The Province is introducing proposed amendments to the Mental Health Act to strengthen and protect mental-health care in B.C. and improve supports for people who suffer from severe, overlapping mental-health and substance-use challenges. “When someone is so unwell they can’t make decisions about their own safety, we have a responsibility to step in with compassion and care,” said Premier David Eby. “By strengthening involuntary care and protecting the people who deliver it, we’re taking an important step to support vulnerable patients, help their families, and build a more responsive mental-health system where no one falls through the cracks.” If passed, the Province will update the act by removing Section 31(1) and replacing it with a more modern and clearer liability-protection provision. For more than 40 years, Section 31(1) has offered limited legal protection for front-line health-care workers who provide treatment to involuntary patients, under direction by psychiat…

The Point-In-Time Homeless count was repeated on Salt Spring Island in 2025, showing a welcome hiatus in the trend of the last several counts of radically rising numbers. Importantly, however, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the 2025 count still far exceeds available shelter accommodation on Salt Spring, leaving the portion of unsheltered homeless on the island disproportionately larger than other areas of the province in the BC wide count. The 2023 count was 137 individuals, down from an all time high in the previous count of 2023 of 165, and falling below the 2021 level of 143. The majority of the counted individuals on Salt spring (64%) were between the ages of 25 and 54 with a rising proportion considered unsheltered (66% from 64% in previous count).

The Province is encouraging rabbit owners in the mid-Vancouver Island area to take extra care after several wild rabbits were found dead in Cedar, showing symptoms of rabbit hemorrhagic disease. The disease has not yet been confirmed as the cause of death in these rabbits, but testing is underway and results are pending. In past years, rabbit hemorrhagic disease has been detected in feral, commercial and pet rabbits in Parksville, the Comox Valley, Nanaimo, Richmond, Delta and Vancouver. The disease is a highly contagious and often deadly disease that affects only rabbits. Symptoms can include fever, lethargy, respiratory distress, bleeding from the nose or mouth or sudden death. The virus spreads through direct contact between rabbits and indirectly through contaminated bedding, food, water, cages, clothing, footwear and vehicle tires. The disease does not pose a risk to people or other animals, including cats and dogs. However, rabbit hemorrhagic disease can be carri…

Date: Oct 25, 2025 IWAV Norton Road Acquisition Fund is Accepting Donations to Expand Affordable Housing Salt Spring Island, BC — Islanders Working Against Violence (IWAV) is pleased to announce that in partnership with the Salt Spring Island Foundation, efforts have begun to raise the funds needed to complete the purchase of 210 Norton Road by January 12, 2026. This 11.8-acre property at 210 Norton Rd has an existing 2500 square foot house, established orchard and garden, and is already zoned for 26 units of affordable housing. The Norton Road Acquisition Fund has already received some significant contributions, and IWAV already has over half the required funds to reach this goal. “We are now on a push to raise $500,000 by December 12th to ensure we are on a solid path to success”, said Alicia Herbert, IWAV Executive Director, “A $40,000, donation within the first few days of our campaign confirmed that there is heart in this community behind our efforts!” Norton Roa…

September 19 While the group was small, the enthusiasm was high to welcome Hands Across the Water organizers Orcas Islander Natalie Zohar and Salt Springer Pam Tarr to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. We began with Pam’s Land Acknowledgement during which she expressed her humility and gratitude to be able to live on this stolen land, hoping that we can learn to sustain it by getting closer and closer to First Nations’ wisdom. After all got to introduce themselves, we learned what “excited and delighted” our special guests. Natalie began by telling us of the events of the night before: She and her family had been hoping to sail to Salt Spring on their home, a 40’ Cheoy Lee, on its first excursion away from the dock in their four years owning her. Despite a flurry of preparations, late the day before their planned departure they decided that this journey was premature. As soon as fellow islanders heard that they would not be sailing to Salt Spring and needed a Plan B, offer…

The performance schedule has just been released for the fourth annual Convergence Festival happening this Friday September 26 from 2-10:30 p.m in the Creekside parking lot (outside The Mateada). It’s a free festival to bring Salt Springers together, so please come on down and enjoy some amazing music. To whet your appetite, below is the scoop on the exciting slate of Convergence artists, six of which are local, with the headliners coming over from Alberta. In addition, local journalist and music fan David Minkow has put together a Spotify playlist called Convergence Festival 2025 featuring many of this year’s performers, and he will be drawing from that on his Connections radio program on Tuesday from 5-6 p.m. on Salt Spring’s community radio station CHIR-FM (107.9). 9:15 p.m. Reuben and the Bullhorn Singers, a dynamic collaboration between renowned indie-folk outfit Reuben and the Dark and traditional powwow champions The Bullhorn Singers, headline the Convergence Fest…

Last weekend, Salt Spring Islanders and our neighbours from across the U.S. gathered for Hands Across the Water—a three-day celebration that reminded us of what’s possible when we choose connection over division. Guests travelled from many parts of the United States, though the kinship with Orcas Island shone especially bright. Together, we ate, danced, laughed, and shared ideas about how to face the future side by side. It was more than a party. While national headlines often portray Canada–U.S. relations through the lens of conflict—trade disputes, politics, and division—the lived experience here was the opposite. When communities only hear stories of tension, it breeds fear, mistrust, and a sense of “us versus them.” Events like Hands Across the Water help undo that harm by showing that ordinary people on both sides of the border are eager to cooperate, support one another, and find joy together. The weekend began Friday with more than two dozen U.S. bo…

When I attended the first Convergence Festival in 2022, it felt destined to become a local SSI institution. This was before I moved here, but the free festival’s small-island community feel and top-notch production seemed a perfect fit for Salt Spring. That’s why it seemed such a shame when I heard this winter that the mastermind behind it all, Tommy Van Deursen, was living off island and the status of Convergence 2025 was iffy at best. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. “When I saw Convergence last year, I thought, ‘this is the real deal,’” recalls musician Mary Kastle, who had moved to SSI in 2022. She was wowed by the good vibes, inclusive ethos and professionalism of a nice stage with proper lights, good sound and a receptive audience. “Those are the kinds of gigs that we all aspire to,” Mary says. “It reminded me of something that I wanted to see more of.” So, that’s how it came to be that Tommy, who was living in East Vancouver, receive…

Dedicated teams on both sides of the border have been hard at work on creating the upcoming Hands Across the Water event since May, which will include many fun events for both visiting Americans and Salt Springers: concerts, tastings, soccer game, harbour cruises and much more. And it’ll be an important boost to the Salt Spring economy in the shoulder season when tourism is tapering off. But the real purpose of the event runs much deeper: improving our regional resilience in shaky times. “From the beginning we’ve been working on setting up ‘sistering’ conversations between people and organizations on Salt Spring and their counterparts on Orcas.” Chamber of Commerce President Jason Roy-Allen recalls. “And there will be a number of sidebar conversations between our museums and historical societies, our community foundations, our churches and individuals who want to share knowledge and culture. But the centrepiece is our conversations about regional resilience.” Tho…

September 19–21, 2025 | Salt Spring Island, BC & Orcas Islands, WA Salt Spring Island, BC — This September, the waters between Canada and the United States will transform into a bridge of friendship as Hands Across the Water sets sail—a first-of-its-kind, cross-border celebration of community, culture, and connection between Salt Spring Island and the Orcas Islands. From September 19–21, 2025, more than 100 boats from Orcas Island will make the journey to Ganges Harbour, escorted by Canadian vessels, for a weekend of shared experiences, cultural exchange, and island hospitality. The festivities will begin in dramatic fashion: a symbolic meeting, where Canadian and American vessels will raft up for a ceremonial “handshake across the water”—a gesture of unity, goodwill, and reconciliation. Media will be on hand to capture this historic moment before the flotilla continues together into Salt Spring’s welcoming harbour. The seed for Hands Across the Water was planted on th…

Local RCMP executed multiple search warrants August 14th in connection with a drug trafficking investigation underway on the island. The operation, conducted with support from Island District RCMP, led to the seizure of what police describe as a “significant quantity” of illicit drugs, suspected cocaine, along with other items consistent with drug trafficking. According to Salt Spring RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Clive Seabrook, the action reflects a broader effort to keep harmful substances out of the community and reduce the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. “We want to ensure the community is aware of our proactive steps towards targeting those individuals who prey on the vulnerability of others and by removing drugs off the street,” said Seabrook. No arrests have been announced at this time. RCMP say the case remains active and a formal report has been forwarded to Crown Counsel for review and potential criminal charges. RCMP Encouraging Public Tips …

Salt Spring Island has long flourished as a hub for regenerative agriculture. Now, the island is about to grow into an immersive education destination with the official launch of the Root to Bloom Centre. Root to Bloom evolves the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust’s popular learning series into a full fledged regenerative foodways education centre. More than just a series of workshops, it’s a seasonally grounded, community-powered learning hub that offers locals and visitors a chance to deepen their understanding of how we grow food, steward Indigenous lands, and build climate resilience: from the ground up. “We’re excited to be working in partnership with Royal Roads University, who are undertaking a community-informed strategic planning and community engagement process to inform program and service design and delivery at the SSI campus, located at the Bloom Castle by the Sea on Beddis Beach,” says Farmland Trust executive director Andrea Palframan. Salt Spring Farm…

The Province is urging people in British Columbia to conserve water over the coming weeks as forecasts suggest much of the province will experience elevated drought conditions. “Saving water and responding to drought is a shared responsibility, and we know that early action can make a big difference, especially when we work together,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “The Province is doing our part to ensure communities and farmers are prepared, and we are working with large water users to reduce their water use. This is especially critical in high-risk watersheds that support fish populations or are at risk of long-term harm.” Voluntary reduction and water-conservation measures and changes in weather, including significant rainfall, can play a critical role in maintaining stream flows. In some B.C. communities, residential water use makes up as much as 70% of total use during the summer months, which is why even small changes at home …

The annual Cycle of Life Tour, is happening on July 19-20 and will see 100 riders cycling from Victoria, through the Cowichan Valley, over to Salt Spring Island and back to Victoria. On Saturday, July 19, the cyclists will be on the 2:20 p.m. ferry from Crofton – Vesuvius Bay and will be riding two different routes to their overnight venue on Rainbow Rd., arriving by 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, July 20, cyclists will leave the venue on Rainbow Rd. at 8:00 a.m. and will ride to the Fulford ferry terminal (two different routes) where they will catch the 11:10 a.m. ferry to Swartz Bay. There will also be a few support vehicles on the road with the riders on both days. This fundraising event supports Vancouver Island hospices and Salt Spring Island Hospice. Riders are from up and down the island and have raised more than $285,000 to date in support of compassionate end-of-life care. We are grateful for the continued support of residents and businesses on Salt Spring Island and we…

Employers and workers are reminded that on Sunday, June 1, 2025, B.C.’s general minimum wage increases from $17.40 to $17.85 an hour. The 2.6% increase on June 1 also applies to minimum-wage rates for resident caretakers, live-in home-support workers, live-in camp leaders and app-based delivery and ride-hail services workers. The minimum agricultural piece rates for hand harvesters will increase by 2.6% on Dec. 31, 2025. The Dec. 31 annual increase to the minimum piece rates ensures crop producers will not need to adjust wages in the middle of the harvesting season. Government has made regular, gradual increases to the minimum wage to provide certainty for workers and predictability for businesses. This is the fourth year of the government's ongoing commitment to tie annual minimum-wage increases to inflation. In February 2024, government amended the Employment Standards Act so annual increases to minimum rates happen automatically, based on the previous year’s aver…

Homeowners and businesses in rural British Columbia will soon benefit from new water meters that will help small communities save water and increase resiliency during droughts, while lowering costs for people who use less water. “Drinking water is an incredibly precious resource,” said Brittny Anderson, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities. “Small and rural communities in B.C. face higher financial and management capacity challenges, and water metering helps communities identify leaks, conserve drinking water, and keep costs down for businesses and residents.” Nineteen small, rural and First Nations communities will benefit from nearly 15,000 new automated water meters that will be installed. Provincial funding will cover up to 100% of eligible costs. By helping communities have a better understanding of the amount of water that is used, this $50-million provincial investment could help save up to 1.5 billion litres of water each year. This is the…

The Province of British Columbia has declared Friday, May 2, 2025, an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025. Eleven people were killed and dozens more injured while celebrating Filipino culture and history in a senseless attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver. As people learn more about the victims, they are also learning that the victims’ loss is felt deeply across the province. This tragedy has had profound impact on the Filipino community in B.C. and many others in Vancouver and throughout the province. The day of remembrance and mourning is an opportunity for people in British Columbia to come together, grieve the loss of innocent lives and recognize the contributions the victims made to their communities and the province. It is also a time to offer comfort to all of those impacted, including those who have lost loved ones, those recovering and those who witn…

The Capital Regional District (CRD) Board has approved an amendment to CRD Electoral Area Water Conservation Bylaw No. 4492, which regulates water use for local services providing drinking water in the Southern Gulf Islands, Salt Spring Island, and Juan de Fuca Electoral Areas. The changes to Bylaw No. 4492 will come into effect May 1, 2025. Over the past several years, seasonal droughts have increasingly stressed source water supplies in our smaller local services, making water conservation measures for local services more critical. Bylaw No. 4492, adopted in 2023, has been amended to include a fourth water conservation stage intended to restrict outdoor and residential indoor water use as much as possible at times of severe water shortage. Water use restrictions in any stage do not apply to nurseries, farms, turf farms or tree farms. Water Restrictions under Stage 4 are as follows: - All outdoor use of Water is prohibited; and - Residential indoor use of Water is re…