BC Ferries service to the Gulf Islands continues to be disrupted after an incident on the Queen of Cumberland on April 18.

The Queen of Cumberland has been removed from service to make necessary repairs after a davit malfunctioned during a training exercise. A replacement part has been sourced from Atlantic Canada, and the ship is expected to be back in service in mid-May, according to a BC Ferries press release.

Ferry services will be covered by other vessels in the fleet. The Mayne Queen and the Skeena Queen will be taking over the Queen of Cumberland route starting on May 2, and the Salish Raven will provide service to and from Tsawwassen on the weekends. The Quinitsa will continue servicing dangerous cargo sailings until the fleet is back up to full strength.

Travellers are advised to check up-to-date ferry schedules before making travel plans. The Skeena Queen will continue to make an extra Pender stop on Mondays through Fridays, for example, although the Friday timing is different.

The incident has created confusion for Gulf Islanders, making it difficult to get to and from their home islands, Vancouver Island and the mainland.

“We recognize many schedules have been disrupted and our first priority is to get people to their destinations as reliably as we can,” said the press release.

The replacement part for the damaged davit will be sent to B.C. shortly, and installed on the Queen of Cumberland as soon as possible. It will also require regulatory approval, some structural modifications to the ship, crew training and approval of the new crew  procedures before the ship is ready to sail again.

The modified schedules up to May 16 have been posted on the BC Ferries website, and passengers are asked to call 1-888-BCFERRY if they have any questions or concerns about their sailings. Further updates will be posted to the website as they become available.

New owners of a kayak rental and retail clothing business in Ganges are grappling with unexpected regulatory hurdles before renovation and repair work can continue.

Jason and Anna Watkin and their three children, Sarah, Olivia and Lucas, had started the family project of overhauling the former Island Escapades site and were hoping to launch their business called Beachside in time for the summer season. Their plans, which included community access to the beach, have been delayed for the indefinite future due to bylaw infractions in a development permit area.

As of Friday, the Watkins and Islands Trust staff agreed to start the development permit application process.

“We are doing all the things we need to do for permitting, and already have the people lined up — biologist, archaeologist, geologist, and all the other ‘ists,’” Jason Watkin reported.

Watkin is the Salt Spring founder and CEO of natural supplement company Purica. He said he was unaware site repair works would trigger the need for a development permit and supporting documents such as engineering, geotechnical and environmental reports.

A new retaining wall made of interlocking concrete slabs resembling stone that went onto the water side of the property is the source of the trouble. Watkin explained the work started as an emergency attempt to replace an existing sandstone retaining wall that he discovered had crumbled away while clearing out masses of invasive ivy. That situation, combined with the large holes left by the ivy’s huge root balls, put one corner of the building especially in jeopardy — that corner happens to be the closest to where Ganges creek enters the sea.

“I did not anticipate that I needed a wall. There was already a wall there — I was just replacing it,” said Watkin. “All I did was do something that needed to be done right now.”

Salt Spring trustee Peter Grove said he received plenty of emails last week from supporters of the Watkin family who decried the bylaw enforcement action that’s ground the project to a halt.

While many friends in the community have called for an expedited process, the Salt Spring planning office is facing an unprecedented number of applications, and other applicants would also like their development permits and rezoning applications processed quickly. The Local Trust Committee voted at their April meeting to ask the Islands Trust for additional staffing help.

Grove said permits typically take about three months to obtain, but the Watkin proposal has many complications.

“We can explore whether the permitting process could be expedited, but one must ask oneself if this is fair to those in the line up who have followed proper procedures and whose applications will consequently be delayed,” Grove said.

For more on this story, see the May 2, 2018 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

An algae species called Noctiluca scintillans is making a splash on coastal waters, with a thick orange slick that can resemble oil paint creating a striking contrast to the dark green sea.

Elysha Gordon, shellfish sanitation program coordinator for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, confirmed the event is due to the nontoxic species and not of the type that can cause shellfish poisoning, commonly known as red tide.

“I’ve been receiving photos for the last week or two from Salt Spring and other places,” Gordon said, noting blooms have been seen from Powell River to Maple Bay.

Plankton specialist Nicky Haigh, who is based in Salt Spring and Nanaimo, runs the Harmful Algae Monitoring Program for the B.C. salmon farming industry through her company Microthalassia.

Haigh explained the bright orange algae appears following the spring diatom bloom, because it feeds on the diatoms. The timing can shift but tends to happen near the end of April or beginning of May. The bloom is visible both during the day and at night.

For more on this story, see the May 2, 2018 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

By RHONAN HEITZMANN

Special to the Driftwood

Chelsea Jones and Forest Jackson are both 32 years old and were born on Salt Spring.

The Jones family has been here since 1972. Chelsea and Forest became a couple 12 years ago.

Their oldest of six children is nine years old and the latest was just born on March 12. The family has been homeless since December when they decided to leave their rental in a duplex where Chelsea’s sister Heather Jones met her tragic end. It was impossible for the family to live in the site of such intense trauma. 

They were taken in temporarily by Chelsea’s sister Tammy Walker and Paul Large.

“Thank God I have my sister,” Chelsea said. 

The whole family then stayed in a room at the Sea Breeze Inne for two months, but had to leave because of the coming tourist season. They were recently taken in again by Tammy and Paul. There are now five adults and six children living in a three-bedroom house. They are all making it work for now, but it is not sustainable.

Chelsea and Forest have always been working. They have always been good tenants and have great references. Forest is now working as a manager at the Island Return-it Centre. Prior to the duplex where they had to leave, they had rented a house for six years.

“I have been renting since I was 17,” said Chelsea. “I have never had a problem until now.”

They have been checking the listings every day since December. They have checked with local rental agencies and have spread the word through their community of friends and family. They have posted a housing wanted ad. There is very little available to them and they have been denied consideration due to having a large family at least half a dozen times.

If anyone has a house that might suit this family but are concerned about water use, Salt Spring Water Co. will donate any water needed to cover any potential shortage.  Ideally this family needs a three-bedroom house and can afford to pay up to $1,600 per month.

They can be reached at ceajones@hotmail.com or 250-221-1524.

40-year Resident Senior Facing Homelessness

Janet Marshall, 71, has been an island resident for 40 years. She has always worked hard and contributed to the community over the years as a real estate agent, denturist assistant and deli owner.

“Remember Humperdinks at the front of Gasoline Alley?” she asked with a huge smile and twinkling eyes.

I do remember that deli, but I was just a boy then. We smiled at the fond memories and felt the bond that deep roots in a community bring, though we have not known each other personally.

Janet is now retired but still volunteers time at the Lady Minto Thrift Shop. Last December she had to sell her house that her parents had bought in 1985 in order to pay off the mortgage. She luckily found a place to rent from friends but only until May 31. After that she does not know what will happen. There are long waiting lists at Croftonbrook and Pioneer Village. She has spread the word among her friends and is actively looking but has problems with her computer so cannot view online listings. Ideally she would find a place with a bedroom large enough for her bed. She can afford rent up to $900 per month.

“I know so many people and have been here so long it feels like I was born here. I don’t think I could go somewhere else and not know anybody,” Janet said.

She can be reached at 250-537-5359.

This article is one of a series on the Salt Spring housing crisis undertaken by Rhonan Heitzmann of the Salt Spring Housing Council and in cooperation with the Copper Kettle Community Partnership. 

Highland Water Service Area users have been put on a boil water advisory.

Capital Regional District, in consultation with Island Health, stated in a 5 p.m. Monday press release that Highland Water district residents should boil their drinking water until further notice due to materials entering a water pipeline due to a pipeline break.

The advisory will be removed when Island Health is satisfied that the drinking water does not pose a health concern and issues an ‘ALL CLEAR’ notice, at which time the customers of the Highland Water Service Area will be notified as soon as possible.

During the boil water advisory, household tap water may be disinfected by boiling it vigorously for one minute.

For updates regarding this advisory, visit www.crd.bc.ca.

For more information on boil water advisories, visit www.viha.ca/boilwater

Dorothy Dickie (Armstrong)
1924 – 2018

Dorothy, 93, of Salt Spring Island, BC, passed away May 4th, 2018, with family at her side.
Dorothy was one of a set of twins, born in Long Beach, Calif, August 8, 1924. As a student she loved sports and excelled at track, volley ball, bowling, and tennis. She majored in Physical Education in college and graduated to become a physical education teacher, coach, and health instructor in Chowchilla, Calif in the high school, middle school, and elementary school systems until her retirement from teaching.
In 1975 she moved to Salt Spring Island, BC where she submerged herself in her yard and her love of gardening, watching deer, and feeding the hummingbirds. One of her favorite memories was rescuing and hand feeding an abandoned baby humming bird that she named “Twerp” and raising him to healthy adulthood when he was released. Each year Twerp would migrate back and visit her in her yard, calling out to her as he darted among the feeders, danced through the sprinklers, and perched in the beautiful flowers in her garden.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Kenneth Armstrong. She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Dickie Pellett, daughters Sylvia Ann Armstrong Key (husband Thomas) and Kathleen MacInnis, and her son, Dan Richard Armstrong (wife Lan), 8 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was a kind loving woman who impacted so many lives and will be terribly missed
No services will be held per her request.

Patricia Maud Barclay-Estrup
1935 – 2018
Patricia was born in Duncan on March 16th, 1935, 
the second child of Dorothy and Albert Norman Westwood.
  She died peacefully at Lady Minto Hospital in Ganges on May 1st, 2018, 
surrounded by family and friends.
  She was educated in Victoria at St. Ann’s Academy, later attending the 
University of British Columbia (and later Berkeley), where she met and married Paul 
Barclay-Estrup, subsequently a Professor Emeritus of Plant Ecology at 
Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Pat received her MA from Lakehead University in 1992. She raised her children with Paul in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where they lived for 26 years, before returning West in retirement. Once a protege of George Woodcock, Patricia was a published novelist 
(Buy Canadian, Simon and Schuster 1976) and well-known literary critic; 
her weekly CanLit column was syndicated across the country for more than 
fifteen years and she appeared frequently on the CBC and in Books in 
Canada. She often carried on lively correspondences with many of the 
prominent authors whose work she reviewed.
  In later years, she became politically active and worked 
enthusiastically for several campaigns, including those of David Orchard 
and Briony Penn.
  She was instrumental in helping to preserve the Creekside Rainforest 
and her name appears on the plaque by the little bridge in the park. Pat devoted the last years of her life to spiritual pursuits, touching the lives of many with her newsletter.
  She is predeceased by her husband Paul, brother Peter, and son-in-law Tenzing Tsewang.
She is survived by her daughter Kirsty, of Kitsilano, and her son John, 
of Salt Spring Island.
A service will be held June 20th at 10:30 am at the United Church at 111 Hereford Ave in Ganges, with reception to follow. An informal, outdoor celebration of life is TBA. If you’d like to donate in Pat’s name, you have a plethora of options. She loved many: the SSI United Church, Our Place (Victoria), Salt Spring Hospice, the Ancient Forest Alliance, David Suzuki Foundation, or Green Peace.

Doug received his boarding pass for his final flight home to take his place as the brightest star in the night sky. Doug’s, passing has left a gap that only memories can fill and he will be forever missed by his wife and best friend, Judy of 38 years; his daughters will always treasure their memories with their Dad, Corlyn (Carey) Decerni and Cheryl Spencer; their mother Jean Spencer; step-daughter Sherry (Shelldon) Anderson; grandchildren Marco & Carlo, Victoria & Genevieve were so special to him and he loved every minute he had to spend with them. Doug will be missed by his brothers and sisters Cal (Carol) Spencer, Ron Spencer (Sue), Julie Matthews and Sandra (Alex) DeBoeck; Sister and brothers in law Diane (Herb) Neuls, Barry (Mary) Russell, Garry Russell, Ross Russell. Doug will also be remembered by many special nieces and nephews. They always chuckle when they talk about how much he could eat and then go outside and run and play with them for hours. He always had encouraging and positive words for them and wasn’t afraid to say “I love you” accompanied by a big hug! His pride in his native heritage was profound and he loved sharing stories of his memories of the family living on a houseboat, fishing and logging before they moved to Saskatchewan when he was very young. He loved the prairies and never wanted to move back to B.C. He was a walking commercial with so many experiences from his trucking days and he was always encouraging people to travel Saskatchewan from North to South to see how beautiful and diverse it is. Next to family and friends, Doug’s value and joy was his career at Credit Union Central. He went to work every day with the attitude that he would make someone’s day better! His smile was contagious and he always had an encouraging word for everyone he met. He loved the cottage, fishing, golfing, old cars and going out in the boat. He was a very loyal friend and was always willing to help anyone in need whether it was friends, family, neighbors or total strangers.
When Doug’s life was altered with a stroke and later a diagnosis of cancer, he was extremely positive that he would overcome this challenge as he had overcome many others in his life. He faced each day with gratitude, faith and courage. We would like to thank Dr. Kazmi, Dr. Kahn, the Palliative Care Doctors and Nurses that were involved in this journey. A special thank you to all our friends and neighbors for their kindness and support. Thank you to Wade Bender for all your funny little texts to Doug and all the silly, off the wall projects you guys planned over coffee at the mall, and to Bev Bender for you thoughtfulness and encouragement.
As Doug wished there will be no formal funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Carmichael Outreach Inc. 1925 Osler Street, Regina, SK S4P 1W3, STARS Ambulance, 141 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary, AB T2E 8M7 or to the Palliative Care, 3rd floor, 4101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina, SK.
Family and friends are invited to sign the online obituary and tributes page at www.reginafuneralhome.ca. Arrangements entrusted to Regina Funeral Home and Cemetery (306) 789-8850.

Downtown business owners have issued a warning about a fraud involving gift certificates sold for significantly large dollar amounts to a person representing himself as “Evan.”

The gift certificates are purchased by a credit card that is eventually rejected as fraudulent, with the merchant then left short for the amount of the purchase. The purchaser manually enters the credit card number while appearing to be entering a PIN code.

On two occasions, fraudulently purchased gift certificates for the Salt Spring Inn and Hastings House were later advertised as “for sale” at bargain prices. Both incidents were reported to local RCMP.

Island businesses are cautioned to carefully oversee every credit card transaction to prevent further instances.

The B.C. NDP government hasn’t yet released details of its promised proportional representation referendum, but that doesn’t mean campaigning isn’t already underway.

Just ask Fraser Byers, the Grade 10 student who founded B.C. Youth for Proportional Representation (BCY4PR) earlier this year as an independent directed study course at Gulf Islands Secondary School.

Byers has been busy creating a website and social media accounts, reaching out to university groups and planning ways to encourage eligible B.C. youth to vote yes for electoral reform and to otherwise educate students and their families. On Saturday, the youth group hosted a pizza party at Creekside Community Recreation Centre in Vancouver. 

“I started it and now we have a larger team situated across the province,” he said. “We have more than 10 people fully committed.”

BCY4PR has representation at UBC, SFU, UNBC and UVic, and falls under the Make Every Vote Count Alliance umbrella made up of groups in favour of changing B.C.’s electoral system.

One of the big tasks will be finding a way to make it easier for university students to vote, due to the referendum’s use of a mail-in ballot when students don’t have a permanent address.

“There’s no point telling them to vote if they can’t vote,” said Byers.

Byers favours proportional representation because it gives more weight to each vote than the current first-past-the-post system, where candidates can win with substantially less than 50 per cent of the vote in a riding.

“It can end up that more than 50 per cent of people who vote actually have no impact in the final outcome, and that is really not that good for democracy.”

If people feel they will see representation from their preferred parties and candidates in the legislature, they would be more inclined to vote, he said.

Byers is pleased that the NDP government has set a 50 per cent plus one threshold for passing the referendum rather than the 60 per cent level in two previous B.C. referenda on the subject. He also hopes the question will be a general one rather than asking voters to choose a specific form of PR.

“People believe that proportional representation is complicated and when you get down to the details it is,” he said, “but to be fair, first past the post isn’t any simpler, when you think about strategic voting and how that all comes into play. It is pretty confusing as well and it is probably more confusing for people to think about voting strategically rather than just voting for the party they want to vote for the most.”

Byers said one of the no-side arguments is that PR would open the door to extremist fringe parties proliferating in the province.

“If I thought that PR would give the Nazi party power in B.C., I wouldn’t be doing this, and I don’t think anybody would.”

Setting a threshold of, say, five per cent popular support for a party to get a seat would eliminate that possibility, he said. 

Byers and his group see a “yes” vote in the fall as a “now or never” proposition.

“They’re saying this will likely be the last PR referendum, so youth won’t actually get a chance to vote on this issue likely again, so this is the time we need to do it.”

Byers said he is feeling optimistic about the chances of the referendum passing.

“I think it is looking really good and I think people should be confident in working for change,” he said.

He expressed thanks to Gulf Islands Secondary School staff for making it possible for him to work on the BCY4PR project as an independent study course.

By TIMOTHY HARVEY

The May 2 issue of the Driftwood marked the launch of a misinformation campaign against the cannabis industry (“LTC to check into marijuana on farmland”).

With so much Salt Spring farmland covered by Scotch broom and non-food crops, while a housing crisis demonstrates a need for economic vitality and upward mobility, it defies logic to oppose farming a valuable medicinal crop that stands to provide well-paying jobs and spinoff benefits to the community.

The March 31 letter to the Islands Trust by Farmers’ Institute president Bruce Marshall contains the sort of knee-jerk reactionary thinking that prevented legalization during the 20th century and would now impose a local cannabis prohibition on Salt Spring farmland, depriving the community of a magnificent opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the cannabis industry.

The Driftwood article failed to mention that progressive cannabis producers are champions of low-till living soils, organic compost teas and bulk organic soil amendments (which contrary to Tony Threfall’s assertion, need not all be imported). The reality is that producing this fast-growing, oxygen-exuding plant allows cultivators to target a net-zero carbon footprint while improving soil conditions.

Those driving the conversation from the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee (George Grams) and Farmers Institute (Marshall, Threfall) describe worst-case industry practices that are unlikely ever to characterize Salt Spring. Every sector of agriculture has extremes of poor practice such as heavily medicated feedlots and Roundup Ready crops, but we don’t ban farming meat and vegetables locally due to poor practices elsewhere. Rather, we express our island values in our methods of cultivation, and earn our reputation honestly.

Market forces will dictate that local producers compete with a superior product, just as Salt Spring lamb competes with feedlot beef. With the Canadian market to be dominated by a handful of high-volume marijuana producers, Salt Spring’s main contribution will come from “micro-cultivation” licensees, a program being implemented by Health Canada in response to public consultation. Micro-cultivators will target niche markets with value-added “craft” products, including organic cannabis, which currently enjoys an average 33 per cent price premium over conventional marijuana.

In years to come, Gulf Islands communities have an unprecedented opportunity to share the benefits of participating in a diversified cannabis economy. We owe it to ourselves to protect our collective opportunity from the fear tactics of hold-out prohibitionists.

As a small-scale goat and duck farmer, I am a big supporter of the Farmers’ Institute. But the “reefer madness” expressed by its leadership serves only to rile up opposition to the family-sustaining farming of plant medicine. Especially as the housing crisis highlights social inequalities, we must be vigilant against those who campaign against the greater good. Creating a more just society means placing faith in our island cannabis farmers to demonstrate leadership and responsible practices.

Above all, we must protect the status of marijuana as a valued agricultural crop. History has granted us an opportunity to exercise newfound freedom as farmers: we have earned the right not to allow prohibitionists to take this freedom away.

The writer works for Better Cannabis Genetics on Salt Spring.

Anyone who’s been in business on Salt Spring Island knows what a terrifying prospect it can be.

Between dealing with a summer crush and a winter drought, trying to figure out what government body to go to for services, transportation challenges and a spate of less-than-rock-solid commercial buildings, any number of pitfalls await the island business owner, whether new to the game or seasoned.

It would be easy to criticize the new owners of Island Escapades, which has been renamed Beachside, for not acquiring a development permit from the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee before undertaking shoreline stabilization work. But as Jason Watkin has stated, the work arose due to an emergency situation that could have put the Beachside building in jeopardy if nothing was done to replace a crumbling retaining wall. Under those circumstances, heading off to a government office might not be one’s first thought.

That said, this situation is a stark and valuable reminder to others that development permits are required for just about any activity in Ganges village, on shorelines or around lakes and streams, among other areas. It should not be a surprise to anyone that local government approval is required to undertake changes in accordance with the island’s official community plan. And it would be reckless to throw out development permit requirements just because everyone is eager to see a new business get off the ground.

At the same time, it would be unfortunate if something that could be done to facilitate the permit approval was not done. This is especially the case because of the emergency nature of the work required. Perhaps some applicants in the Islands Trust queue could voluntarily allow the Beachside permit jump ahead of them in the line.

Perhaps a contract planner could be hired by the Watkins as occurs in more complicated Trust applications. Perhaps another spot could be used to at least ensure the kayaking part of the business continues.

Of primary concern in this case is the jobs that will be lost if this business does not open this summer, and the overall community benefit that Beachside will provide, as did its predecessor.

When an independent island business can be supported, everybody wins.

By HUGH GREENWOOD and RUTH PEPIN

In March of 2017, it was announced that funding for a Salt Spring housing project was available from the CRD Regional Housing First Program, BC Housing and Island Health.

Island Women Against Violence then received approval from the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee (the “LTC”) to build 20 new units for low-to-moderate income seniors (Phase 2 of Croftonbrook).

In October, IWAV submitted a rezoning application to the LTC to place 34 additional units into a Phase-3 development at Croftonbrook. IWAV proposed “mixed-model” housing that would include families, the chronic homeless, persons with social issues (e.g. addiction, mental health, etc.) needing housing prior to receiving social services. IWAV received first reading of the bylaw.

The community, anticipating a project that would provide housing for seniors, some of whom have experienced homelessness, was surprised by the open-ended scope of this new stage.

The proposal for Phase 3 raised questions.

Who will be housed? What criteria are being used to identify the target population and select the new residents? What is being done to ensure that the new residents are positioned to successfully integrate into an existing community? When problems arise, who will manage them?

What about density? There are already a total of 129 units in Croftonbrook, Cottonwood, Roscommon, Pioneer Village and Heritage Place, as well as 10 private homes along Corbett Road. Phases 2 and 3 would add an additional 54 units in Croftonbrook. This high level of density deviates from the kind of growth appropriate for this island.

Are there access issues? Island roads are under the purview of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Corbett is a secondary, single-lane road that was not designed to handle heavy traffic. Corbett Road serves Cottonwood, Croftonbrook and upper Roscommon, the private residences and commercial operations along this road. It is the only exit/entry for vehicles and pedestrians. Corbett Road intersects with Crofton Road, which is the sole access to Lady Minto Hospital.

What about water, sewer and physical infrastructure? Does this proposal have the potential to exceed prudent limits? The Islands Trust mandate is to preserve and protect. They regulate, monitor and oversee the natural systems in this fragile environment. We expect them to live up to that mandate.

Our attempts to get solid answers to these questions highlighted a new problem, namely, a piecemeal approach to social planning. There is no template against which our island can measure potential solutions to housing or other social challenges. There is no authority responsible for ensuring all known issues are discussed and properly managed from an island perspective.

We must look ahead to the long-term livability of our island and its people. Without advanced social planning we are setting ourselves up for failure.

To ensure the long-term success of this project, and other well-intentioned developments, they must be subject to comprehensive social planning, including sustainable funding, appropriate maintenance and sufficient human services.

Without adequate forethought, criteria and structure, we simply create more difficult problems. There are solutions but they don’t happen by accident.

What are we looking for? We want the same care and attention given to social planning as is given to water management. Islanders must be responsible for making decisions about our future.

The engineering problems connected with such a development will have engineering solutions and, even though they may be costly, they can be dealt with. Social interactions are complex and there are no formulas to solve them.

Quality of life is our touch-stone. That is what we pride ourselves on, why we live here, why we volunteer and why we stay. As a community we have solved difficult problems. We should not walk away from this one just because it is challenging.

The problem isn’t simply the Phase 3 development in Croftonbrook. The problem is expecting the LTC to approve any project in the absence of comprehensive planning.

Assimilating homeless and special needs islanders poses problems for any community, particularly when the scale of the project is as ambitious as IWAV’s. In the absence of an integrated, inter-agency approach to ask the questions and seek the answers to the many multi-jurisdictional challenges that will surely arise, we need the Islands Trust to play a role that we recognize is somewhat outside the conventional land-use planning arena. We ask that the LTC promote public dialogue and discussion through one or more forums where all stakeholders can feel heard. Participants should include the Islands Trust, CRD, BC Housing, Community Services, IWAV, current residents of Croftonbrook, Cottonwood and Roscommon, and our MLA. 

At the forthcoming LTC meeting on May 10, as a condition of moving forward with the IWAV rezoning application we ask that trustees please take the necessary steps to make such an event a reality. This public discussion and analysis should precede and inform any further reading of the rezoning application.

Ruth Pepin is president of Roscommon Strata Corporation and has had a long career in social work. Hugh Greenwood is president of Cottonwood Close Strata Corporation and is a retired geologist and former UBC professor.

SUBMITTED BY SS SNEAKERS  

Salt Springers were busy in many places and running disciplines this past weekend. On Saturday, 274 runners gathered at Mount Tzouhalem near Duncan in the second of six events in the Vancouver Trail Running Series. This event sponsors three races: a 13-km race involving 750 metres of climbing, a seven-km race involving 360 metres of climbing and a kids’ event.

Two Salt Spring Sneakers entered the 13-km event. Janice Dickie finished in 1:57:10, finishing fifth of 20 in her women’s 50-59 age group, 24th of all 76 women and 70th of all runners enrolled. Jeanne Cameron Leeson, in what was likely her first official trail run, finished in 2:25:31, 19th of 21 in her 40-49 age group, 62nd woman and 123rd overall. After finishing, she was quoted as saying, “Woo, hoo! That was fun!” Her daughter subsequently ran in the children’s run.

Two other Salt Springers entered the seven-km short course. Stephen Craig finished that course in 50 minutes and 20 seconds for third place of 11 runners in his 40-49 age group, 10th of 40 males and 14th of 134 total racers. John-Philip Ritson crossed the finish line in 52:29, earning a second of six in his 50-59 age group, 15th of 40 men and 29th of 134 runners.

On Sunday, Salt Spring was represented by eight runners in the BMO Half Marathon in Vancouver. Although the course was predominantly downhill, which usually produces faster times, rising temperatures appeared to slow competitors.

Sneaker affiliate Janine Fernandes-Hayden was the first Salt Springer to cross the finish line in 1:45:42, earning a 13th place of 561 runners in her 45-49 age group, 227th of 5,173 women and 828 of 9,235 runners overall. She was one of three Salt Springers who managed to improve their pace as the race progressed.  Marcia Jansen was the second Sneaker to finish in a time of 1:50:59, earning a 26th place in the same age group, 422nd woman and 1,363rd finisher overall.

Sneaker affiliate Duncan Elsey was the third Sneaker to finish. His time of 1:52:04 was 25 seconds faster than his time in this race last year. This time earned him 83rd place of 482 in his 45-49 age group, 996th of 4,062 males and 1462nd place overall. The fourth Salt Springer to finish was Lynn Steiner in a time of 1:53:05, her second fastest of five previous performances in this event. This time earned her a 14th place of 281 in her 55-59 age group, 515th woman and 1,588th overall. She also managed to quicken her pace through the race, a sign of an experienced runner.

She was followed by Karen Madro, who finished in 1:57:53, having four previous faster finishes of six previous performances on this course. This time earned her a 22nd place in the same age group, 720th woman and 2,044th place overall.

The sixth Salt Springer to finish was Sneaker Marion Young. Her time of 1:58:07 was considerably off her best time for this event and other half marathons she has run. It did earn her a 23rd place (top 10 per cent) of 281 in her 60-64 age group, 732nd woman and 2,066th overall. 

Lara Coelho was the next Salt Springer to finish. Her time of 2:28:23 was seven minutes off her best time at this distance at Banff last year, but earned her a 637th place of 985 in her 25-29 age group, 2,805th woman and 5,591st overall.

Mandy Upshall finished in 2:46:27, earning a 451st of 985 in her 35-39 age group, 3,583rd woman and 6,712th overall. She managed to improve her pace over the course of the race despite her inexperience with the distance.

Since 2016, Galiano Island Community School has played host to a hive of honey bees, part of the Bee Cause program that provides observation hives to schools and community centres across North America.

Galiano’s program is run by Colleen Doty, who applied for a Bee Cause grant when she was working with the Galiano Island Food program. Doty volunteers to both keep the bees and teach the kids.

“I think it really connects children with ecology and our connections with nature. We are linked and it’s really important for the kids to learn from the bees as well,” she said. “There’s so much fear around little insects that sting, so this has been a great way to teach kids that bees don’t want to sting you. They’re very gentle and they’re just really lovely.”

The Bee Cause program is a charitable organization based in Savannah, Georgia dedicated to teaching kids about honeybees. Its goal is to put 1,000 hives all over North America. So far the group has provided over 300 hives, according to its website.

When the program started, Doty was a new beekeeper. She has had support from a local mentor, the community and the school since the beginning of the project. Though the hive is in the school library, it is available to community members of all ages interested in learning about bees.

“In previous years we’ve had the daycare and Strong Start program, which is like preschool. Those kids came in to see it,” she said. “It’s open to whoever. I’ve let people know and the public out there who aren’t necessarily connected to the school community that I’m available to show the bees if they want.”

For more on this story, see the May 9, 2018 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Salt Spring Island Middle School’s Tsunami Circus will present their year-end show called Beyond Your Wildest Dreams at the middle school gym this weekend.

The group has been putting the show together since October. It follows a series of dreams and waking moments in a teenager’s life on Salt Spring Island, and includes clowning, juggling, aerial work, unicycling and other circus skills.

“They’re athletes,” Wightman said. “They’ve been training for this for eight months. If you put eight months and a minimum 10 hours per week into kids, they’re going to come up with something spectacular.”

SIMS is one of the only schools in the country to offer a circus program. There are a few private circus schools in places like Quebec, but since they’re private the tuitions are much more expensive.

Wightman had the idea for the program after an Australian high school circus group came through for a visit. With a background in yoga and aerials, Wightman was inspired to create the program and has been putting on shows for the last three years with a team of six coaches.

“I’m so grateful to have this team of people. I feel like a family. I completely love them,” she said.

The circus program is an extracurricular activity at the school. Students who sign up are required to learn how to juggle on their own and go through an application process. Once in the program, they are encouraged to take on an aspect of circus performance they love. Wightman explained that in addition to learning circus skills like juggling and contortion, the students gain camaraderie, support and confidence.

“What it pulls out of each individual is always surprising. You’re guaranteed that there will be some massive change in each of these kids’ lives and you never know what it will be,” she said.

For more on this story, see the May 9, 2018 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

David Wisdom will bring his two major creative spheres together for a unique show at Fault Line Projects this month, where a photo exhibition opening this Friday will have the ultimate background music.

The host of CBC Radio’s much-loved alternative music programs Nightlines and RadioSonic has focused on photography and multimedia arts since retiring from radio in 2007. His upcoming show In the Way: Photographs of a Lost World will include between 40 and 50 images. Most of them have never been printed before, although Wisdom has shared many in his signature “slide shows” — a format he perfected with collections of images set to music in a series of sold-out special events at the Vancouver Art Gallery and the PuSh Festival.

“These are pictures I just personally wanted to see, because they’re pictures I’ve always liked,” Wisdom said.

The show’s title refers to the fact the photos contain things that may no longer be around, perhaps because they were in the way of progress or in the way of nature. Ephemeral events are also represented, including some works from an ongoing series of British people sitting on benches.

“So it’s not all doom and gloom — there’s some encouraging pictures as well,” Wisdom said.

People visiting the gallery will also experience a linked project, in the form of a soundtrack that Wisdom curated from his own music collection. He put together the setlist that will be playing on rotation throughout the show period after a suggestion by gallery owners Nigel Harrison and Amy Jones.

“I had never done that before, but I thought it was a good idea,” Wisdom said. “But I decided to make it a real project, not just a bunch of songs I liked.”

For more on this story, see the May 9, 2018 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Local emergency teams recovered the body of a woman from Ganges Harbour near Centennial Dock on Saturday.

A strong police presence was noticeable in Ganges village on Monday as BC Coroners Service personnel investigated the area.

According to an RCMP press release, Salt Spring RCMP officers responded to a report of a body in the water, which had been spotted by a tourist on May 5. When officers arrived, Salt Spring Island Fire-Rescue crew members were on scene and had removed the deceased woman from the water.

Salt Spring Fire Chief Arjuna George said that firefighters received the call around 3:30 p.m. Staff on duty at the main fire hall were able to respond quickly.

The RCMP’s initial investigation indicated that the woman’s death was not criminal in nature and the file was turned over to the BC Coroners Service.

BC Coroners Service confirmed Tuesday that an investigation is in its early days and will be ongoing. The deceased woman is believed to have been in her 30s. No name has been released.

Previous reports from off-island media outlets incorrectly stated the location as being Fulford Harbour.

The boil water advisory for Highland Water Service Area users has been resolved.

The advisory was put in effect on May 7 by the Capital Regional District, in consultation with Island Health. Highland Water district residents were advised to boil their drinking water due to materials entering a water pipeline due to a pipeline break.

For updates regarding this advisory, visit www.crd.bc.ca.

For more information on boil water advisories, visit www.viha.ca/boilwater

BC Ferries says the Queen of Cumberland will be back in service by Friday, May 18, making holiday travel to the Gulf Islands a less daunting prospect for the upcoming Victoria Day long weekend. 

A press release issued Thursday states that with Queen of Cumberland repair work progressing as planned, the vessel will return to service on the Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Islands route. Regular Southern Gulf Islands schedules as published on bcferries.com will be effective for the long weekend, and customers can plan their travel accordingly.

The vessel was removed from service last month due to a malfunction with a rescue boat davit. The piece of equipment that raises and lowers the rescue boat is being replaced and the vessel will be recertified prior to returning to service. 

Various other ships helped cover the Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Islands route in the meantime, which led to some lack of coverage on the Tsawwassen-Gulf Islands route and chaos due to scheduling changes. 

“We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced as a result of the temporary service that has been in place,” BC Ferries told customers. 

For traffic updates or more information, follow @BCFerries on Twitter, visit the website or call toll free at 1-888-BCFERRY (223-3779).