Community People Profiles is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island. Our People Profiles are short interviews with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island. This Weeks Featured Local People Profile is: David Wood David Wood, market vendor, farmer, cheesemaker, foodie and island ambassador. Born in Scotland, educated in England, and a businessman in Toronto, from 1984-90 he  founded three speciality food stores in the toniest areas of Toronto, before arriving on the Island and sharing his passion for cheese. In his office on the Salt Spring Cheese farm with goats bleating in the background we asked him our favourite five short questions. Q. What brought you to Salt Spring Island. A. Lady Luck, Serendipity, the high school, hospital and liquor store. Q. What one thing about Salt Spring…

Community People Profiles is a series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic Gulf Island. Our People Profiles are short interviews with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island. This Weeks Featured Local People Profile is Gary Quiring Gary Quiring, describes himself as being raised on Salt Spring Island by blue collar hippies. Once his hippie raising was complete he left the island to pursue his passion for music, which led to a career in show business for almost 20 years. Before he decided to escape the Rat Race and returned to Salt Spring Island to raise a family and assist the family business. We caught up with him at the Saltspring Soapworks downtown to ask him our favourite five short questions. Q. What brought you to Salt Spring Island. A. My Parents moved us here from the mainland to become hippies i…

Community People Profiles is a new series on the Salt Spring Exchange featuring local personalities on our dynamic local island community. Our People Profiles are short interviews with one answer questions to share with you a little about what each of the people we will feature are thinking about as they go about their lives living on Salt Spring Island. John Cade, Island Resident, family man and local business owner. An Islander for over 20 years, with Salt Spring roots going back to the 60's. Over the years John has done many things on the Island; Owned The Vesuvius Store, started a bus transit company and of course since 2000 his the real estate business at Pemberton holmes. We caught up with him at his office downtown to ask him our favourite five short questions. Q. What brought you to Salt Spring Island. A. My parents bought property in the 60’s. I spent my summers here so it was like coming home. The decision to buy the Vesuvius Store and move the family here was …

Dear Neighbours, It’s hard to believe close to a year has passed since our new Library building opened its doors. Since then, giant steps have been taken toward making our library what we always hoped it would be—the heart of our community. Adequate and well lit display space for the entire collection, local artwork throughout the building, an outstanding children’s collection, a program room heavily used both for library events and by other community groups, all this and so much more. It’s all there because of remarkably dedicated volunteers past and present, because of knowledgeable Chief Librarians, current and previous, and because the taxpayers of Salt Spring overwhelmingly voted to provide the funds needed to match federal and provincial grants. Also, and certainly not to be forgotten, are all the donors who for some years have generously supported a wide variety of the Library’s past “enhancement” and “enrichment” initiatives. But with another year comes another…

On Monday, September 16th, I watched extensive television coverage of the natural disasters associated with flooding both in Mexico and in Colorado. And, of course, that coverage brought the recent flooding in Southern Alberta back to mind. I next went off to that evening’s Fire Board meeting where our elected Trustees took the next steps necessary for holding a referendum on funding a new Fire Hall/Emergency Operations Centre. There’s been a great deal of “sound and fury” about that Hall. But, as currently designed and for about a dollar a week for the average home owner, a building that will meet Salt Spring’s needs for the next fifty years seems like the biggest bargain in town. With such a Hall, we would be as prepared as we could be for any emergency, be it fire, flood or earthquake. The plans have now been finalized, and a cost of $5,000,000 to the community established. The use of the project manager system will maximize the amount of construction work down by the…

Thank you to Samantha Walrafen and everyone who organized and participated in last night's candlelight vigil for crash victim Kilaya Singh, her family, van driver Darren Linnell and all of the first responders who served those affected. It was a beautiful evening to honour the loss of this child, for the Singh family to know they are supported here on Salt Spring Island and for all those impacted by this accident. On online donation fund has now also been setup for van driver Darren Linnell whom has also been deeply impacted by the accident. Consider donating to help Darren. Donations for both the Singh Family and Darren Linnell can also be made at Island Savings. Online donations are still also being accepted for the Singh Family. Here are some photos from the evening.

Memorial service arrangements for Lt. Travis Guedes of Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue and IAFF Local 4467. Brother Travis Guedes , 35, was diagnosed with Brain Cancer in November, 2012. Unfortunately, after a courageous battle with the illness, he passed away on Wednesday, April 17, 2013. Travis was in the fire service for 9 years. He was a dedicated firefighter and loving husband and father. He is survived by his wife, Sandy, and two daughters, Abigail, 8, and Haylee, 6. We invite you to attend the memorial service which will take place on Sunday April 28th at 1:00pm at 232 Rainbow Road (GISS), Salt Spring Island. There will be a reception immediately following the service at 351 Rainbow Rd (FARMER’S INSTITUTE). Road Closure Notice On Sunday April 28, 2013, Rainbow Rd. will be closed to traffic between GISS and Lower Ganges Rd. The path marked in the map below is closed during the funeral procession for deceased firefighter Lt. Travis Guedes. We recommend that …

Is it a transition or a trend? Shaw TV's Sucheta Singh investigates why multiple businesses on Saltspring Island are closing their doors. Either way, this is the message out there in the world right now about our community. This needs to change.

Fourteen-year old alto saxophone player Daniel Hunter is the winner of the 2013 Salt Spring Concert Band Solo Competition and will be guest soloist in the upcoming SSCB concert ‘Music for the Heart and Soul’ on April 27th. Daniel is a Grade 9 student at GISS, and also a member of the Gulf Island School of Performing Arts. Playing alto sax since the age of eight, Daniel developed his musical skills under the guidance of Wendy Milton of Island Winds Studio. Bruce Smith is currently his music teacher at GISS and his mentor with GISPA. Daniel is a multi-talented student who also plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and drums. He is a singer and composer, and regularly plays in the Salt Spring Concert Band, the Swing Shift Big Band, and in his own alternative rock group ‘ The Resistance.’ The group recently released a CD ‘Dive’, and Daniel has also released a short album of electronic music. For his solo in the concert, Daniel will be playing the jazz classic ‘Harlem Noc…

The view of Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island from one of Salt Spring Air's deHavilland DHC-2 Beavers. On April 1st, Salt Spring Air did a memorial fly-over of the visitors centre on Salt Spring Island for the late Jack Fraser. Edited by Eric Peterson ( ewpeterson.com ) Specials thanks to pilot Harold ( saltspringair.com )

We wanted to share some important news about recent changes here at the Salt Spring Exchange. Suzanne Little, who has tirelessly supported and helped grow the Exchange into what is today, is onto her next challenge and is no longer actively working on the service. Suzanne moderated the list early in the morning, late at night, on holidays and even rink side at her son's hockey games so islanders could buy roosters, find lost goats, alpacas, cats and dogs. She helped guide the early days of the Exchange, helped people trade manure for hot stone massages, posted forest fire alerts, helped write stories, published videos and photos and helped innumerable people promote and grow their local businesses. Suzanne is an invaluable member of this community and brought all that passion and focus to her work here on the Exchange. We hope she isn't going anywhere, she's agreed to stay on as advisor for a time, continuing to put her communications and journalism expertise to work for the…

Tzeporah Berman has played an instrumental role in designing environmental procurement policies for some of the largest corporations in the world as well as creating industry and environmental collaborations to protect forests and change forestry practices. She is the former Executive Director and Co-founder of PowerUp Canada and Co-founder and Campaign Director of ForestEthics. Last year she was appointed by the Premier of British Columbia, Canada, to the Green Energy Task Force to design recommendations for the development of renewable energy in the region. Berman was one of the experts in Leonardo Di Caprio’s environmental documentary 11th Hour, was one of six Canadian nominees for the Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, has been profiled as “50 Visionaries Changing the World” in Utne Reader, and was honored by inclusion into the BC Royal Museum permanent exhibit of “150 people who have changed the face of British Columbia.” Her first book, published by Knopf, i…

It's never been easier, or less expensive to help Salt Spring get to know you and your business. Advertising on the Exchange is easy, fast and you can measure the results. An average of four thousand people a day, 7 days a week use the Exchange. Over 15,000 different people a month. Make sure they all see what you have to offer. We're open 7 days a week to respond to advertising requests. Try it today. Here are the Available Ad Formats and Pricing

Ready to get started? Fill out this form for a quick response:

Chantal Hébert is national affairs columnist with the Toronto Star as well as a guest columnist for Le Devoir. She is well known for being a member of the “At Issue Panel” on CBC television’s The National. In French Kiss: Stephen Harper’s Blind Date with Quebec, Chantal Hébert argues that the Canadian federation died on January 23, 2006, when Mr. Harper first became prime minister. Please join us for a community discussion of Canadian politics with Chantal Hébert on Friday, October 26, at 7:30 PM at ArtSpring. Tickets are $20 ($15 for Salt Spring Forum members) and available now at the ArtSpring box office, Salt Spring Books, and on-line at the ArtSpring website. Buy your ticket now to avoid disappointment!

Amazing day to celebrate the pride of all the beautiful people of Salt Spring in all their colours.

Stunning time lapse video of the Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour Velo Village bike ferry from ewpeterson.com.