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Islands Trust – Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee April 2024

This report summarizes the meeting highlights for the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee April 11 th meeting. For the official record and for more details, please refer to the minutes and/or view recordings of the meeting. At the April 11 th meeting the following decisions were made related to land use applications and referrals. We: - Amended and then approved a temporary use permit (SS-TUP-2023.2, 805 Vesuvius Bay Road) for a period of two years for the operation of five commercial guest accommodation units in the form of individual yurt structures. - Approved a Development Variance Permit (SS-DVP-2023.16, 131 Northern Way) to vary an interior side lot set back of 3 metres to 1.5 meters for the construction of a single-family dwelling. - Approved a Development Variance Permit (SS-DVP-2024.4, 541 Anna’s Drive) to vary the maximum height for a structure from 7.6 meters to 9.8 meters for the construction of a single-family dwelling. The following permit was approved b…
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CRD Reports on Grant Funding for the Electoral Areas

Every year the Capital Regional District (CRD) administers grants and funding for local projects ranging from local infrastructure, special community projects and support for arts and culture in the Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island, and Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Areas. In 2023, the CRD distributed $1.4 million of funding to 25 projects in these three Electoral Areas through the Government of Canada’s Community-Building Fund. “Investments in the Capital Regional District builds on our government’s commitment to support community projects and improve local services. Last year, the Canada Community-Building Fund supported green, clean growth solutions for improving water infrastructure and connecting residents to parks, services, jobs, and neighbours,” said the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “We will continue to support our partners by…
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Trustee Candidate - David Courtney - North Salt Spring Water District

The Water District posted a review of the Candidates Q & A from April 10th on their website. It was well done by the CAO, Manager and Moderator. Of course they brought forward questions. The Big One - what are the most serious issues for you; 1. Resolving the Pending $40 Million Law Suit with Channel Ridge. 2. That goes hand in hand with lifting the 10 year Moratorium on water hook ups. 3. Continue to address and localize the water leaks throughout the piping system to prevent upwards of a 20% water loss. 4. Campaign to ensure the recent $10Mil Grant that came unexpectedly from the Provincial Government is spent wisely. It would be an Honour to serve the ~1850 Ratepayers of the NSSWD, the current Board of Trustees and Staff. From my perspective over the last 2 years there's been 5 significant changes that place the Water District on a mission for positive change and effectiveness. Reminder - Don't forget to Vote - Polls close 2 May 2024. Thank you, David Co…
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The Signs Have Caused Quite a Stir for Local Residents

Signs. They are everywhere. You may have noticed a few more around Salt Spring recently. Artist Patrick McCallum's public art installation, which is on display as part of the Spring Art show now on at Mahon Hall themed and titled re:location involved McCallum placing several signs around the island with short messages like “They tried their best” and “Your choices”. The signs have caused a stir for local residents with critical comments on social media like “Road workers seem pretty annoyed taking these down all week! Would really be best to not make them look like street legal signs” and “At $400 a pop! Gimme a break! Art should at least be recognized as art, not some incomprehensible joke on the community. Of course public art is vital, sticking up a few daft signs affords the community absolutely nothing. It is precisely this kind of stunt that turns so many away from “art”. However the vast majority of comments were quite positive with comments like “i love that …
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SSI Adventure Enthusiast Aims to Break Three Guinness World Records

Adventure Enthusiast Aims to Break Three Guinness World Records with a Thrilling Electric Skateboard Journey Across Canada Salt Spring Island born native; Bradley Smith, an electric skateboard enthusiast with 8 years of experience, is gearing up to embark on an unprecedented adventure to challenge not one, but three Guinness World Records. His daring expedition, set to take place in June 2024, will cover a staggering 3500 km along the Trans Canada Trail, starting in Saskatoon and concluding in Victoria BC. The three Guinness World Records Bradley aims to break are: 1. **Longest Journey by an Electric Skateboard**: Covering 3500 km along the Trans Canada Trail, Bradley seeks to set a new standard for electric skateboard journeys. 2. **Longest Journey in a 24-Hour Period by an Electric Skateboard**: Pushing his limits further, Bradley will attempt to complete the longest journey within a single 24-hour period, showcasing the endurance and capabilities of electric skat…
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Where Water Runs

“Where water runs, make it walk”. The sun warms us briefly as silvery clouds pass above, and a lively conversation continues between watershed restoration experts on Mount Maxwell. We have traveled up the mountain today with a mission: finalize an ecological restoration method in Rippon Creek. Our goals are clear - slow the water’s velocity, reduce erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. That morning, we had hiked along Rippon Creek and found a section where the water had dug itself so deep into the earth that I could disappear from view by ducking in the gulley and hiding among the previously buried tree roots. This a sign of the problem we have been witnessing throughout the watershed: excessive erosion. Some erosion is to be expected in all streams. It is even a necessary ecosystem function. But because of a history of wetland drainage for agriculture, road building and intensive forestry, a series of small creeks and groundwater flows in the Maxwell Creek Watershed have b…
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Mortgage Brokers Looking to Work with Upcoming Budget Measures to Support Home Ownership in British Columbia

The Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association - British Columbia (CMBA-BC) is encouraged by measures announced in today’s Federal Budget that will support opportunities for home ownership in British Columbia, and across Canada. CMBA-BC is committed to working with both levels of government and financial regulators to support housing affordability and home ownership for more British Columbians. “We welcome last week’s initial announcement by Minister Freeland to take introductory measures to support first-time homebuyers and those seeking to enter the housing market”, said Marci Deane, CMBA-BC President. “While these are encouraging steps, we know that further policy changes will be needed in order to more broadly help British Columbians who feel priced out and ignored by policymakers.” On April 11th Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced a series of measures further clarified in today’s 2024 Federal Budget that aim to make home ownership more accessible for Canadians. T…
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ASK Salt Spring Welcomes Two Local Community Commissioners

April 12- Ten welcomed two of your Local Community Commissioners, Ben Corno and Gayle Baker, to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. While the numbers were small, the conversation was rich, masterfully facilitated by Ron Cooke. We began with a Territorial Acknowledgement from Ben, introducing himself in the Indigenous way of also recognizing his parents. When asked what excites and delights us, Gayle responded that she was delighted to be happily home after an amazing trip that began in Brazil and ended in Rome. She spoke briefly about her satisfaction with small projects that are moving along toward completion, like the new bus shelter next to the Visitors’ Center, a proposed ICBC study of our Ganges crosswalks, the soon-to-be-released prioritization of our top road safety concerns, and the recent award of a grant to complete the Merchant Mews pathway. She expressed her determination not to focus upon the areas in which she sees herself failing, like moving swiftly toward soluti…
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Obituary: Gerard Noel Bourdin

Bourdin, Gerard Noel December 14, 1935-April 12, 2024 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gerry. Born in in Laurier, Manitoba, the youngest of 11 children, his early farm life was dominated by his Dad’s sawmill business. At a tender young age he was charged with duties such as driving a team of horses pulling loads of lumber on sleds from the sawmill back to the farm. The family eventually moved to Vancouver, where Gerry attended Gladstone High School and was a star football player on the Gladiator team. Gerry quit school in the 11th grade to help his family financially, but not before meeting his future wife, Barbara. They were married on September, 16 1955. A few years later, with great joy, they welcomed their daughter and son. Always a hard worker, Gerry helped his Dad, Leonard, on the weekends building houses, during the week he began his plumbing apprenticeship and attended night school to complete his certification. Four years later, at …
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Salt Spring Conservation Project: Crowdfunding Campaign Goal - $1.2M

Your donation will be doubled through a generous match. You can help preserve a threatened ecosystem and its species. BC Parks Foundation, in collaboration with a group of conservation-minded Salt Spring Island residents, is working to purchase and protect 31.2 acres of land on the south end of Salt Spring Island. You can be a part of ensuring this rare, pristine, mature coastal Douglas fir habitat is preserved forever. Thanks to these passionate individuals and a generous grant from the Salt Spring Island Foundation, we’ve already raised $350,000. We need to raise the remaining funds by May 15—please donate today! “The chance to save for posterity a large parcel of coastal Douglas fir forest and a wetland is an opportunity not to be missed. Close to 10% of the parcel is one of the most precious wildlife habitats on Salt Spring—a wetland with a boggy meadow, year-round swamps and ponds....In the face of hotter, drier summers and relentless development, the Lumley property…
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