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With a proposed residential development on Grace Islet in the news once again, a special forum has been organized on the topic.

This Sunday, May 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Salt Spring Public Library’s program room, representatives from the Penelakut, Saanich and Cowichan First Nations will speak, as well as archaeologist Darcy Mathews, a specialist in Coast Salish burial cairns.

The issue at hand is that a private landowner has been granted a site alteration permit by the B.C. Archaeology Branch to build a home over ancient burial cairns on the islet off Grace Point.

“Local First Nations have asked us to help them reach a Salt Spring audience to express their concerns,” explains a note from Salt Spring Islanders for Justice and Reconciliation and Salt Spring Islanders for Responsible Land Use.

“This islet is the last visible evidence of the Salish village of Shiyahwt. The rest has been either destroyed or covered by fill.”

“Coming to Salt Spring to speak is a big deal for the First Nations speakers, and says a lot about how important an issue this burial ground is to them.”

According to SSIRLU and SSIJR, an archaeological impact assessment of the property undertaken in 2007 confirmed two First Nations burial sites and as many as 15 burial cairns exist on Grace Islet.

Admission to Sunday’s event is by donation.

Content courtesy Gulf Islands Driftwood - Salt Spring and Gulf Islands community news since 1960

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I had an illuminating chat with George Harris from the Gulf Islands Film and Television School on Galiano Island this morning.

He told me how the school had decided to use the crowd-funding site Indiegogo for the first time to raise money for its new program called The Bully Files. The  goal was to raise $24,594 to enable 24 young people to attend the program so they could tell their stories about being bullied through the media of film.

After an inaugural spring break session of The Bully Files was held, the GIFTS folks knew there was much more work to be done on the subject.

“We don’t really know what’s going on [with these kids],” Harris said. “It’s just so easy to assume everything is fine. But these kids had some very powerful stories to tell and we thought ‘We need to do this again.’”

Many of the youth they want to reach, though, come from families who can’t afford the usual GIFTS tuition, room & board and travel costs of roughly $1,000. Where could those funds come from? Someone suggested the school try a crowd-funding platform, which led to its spot on Indiegogo.

With only 59 hours left in The Bully Files campaign, GIFTS had raised $4,636 of its $24,594 goal.

It’s not that Harris is unhappy with having raised almost $5,000 in a new way — and since he’s committed to matching that amount it means 10 or 11 youth will be able to attend the summer session. But he can’t help but notice the funds flowing with ease into the Crackstarter coffer on the same site in a matter of days. What’s Crackstarter, you ask? It’s an Indiegogo campaign trying to get $200,000 so the Gawker news website can purchase the video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford allegedly smoking crack.

While Harris can understand the media appeal of the Crackstarter trip, the creation of potentially groundbreaking films about the bullying phenomenon are also worthy of some airtime, he argues.

“Why aren’t we hearing about The Bully Files?” he asked.

Harris points out how getting mainstream press attention — whether through online, TV, radio or print media — is still crucial when it comes to getting one’s message out, even if the action component is centred on the Web.

I have to admit that we received a stock press release about The Bully Files campaign a few weeks ago and put it into the “if we need to fill some space” folder. But these days I rarely need to pull anything from that spot, and without another more personal prod to push a particular story further up the ladder of awareness, it’s not likely to make it into print.

I told Harris I would at least get something online and out today in an effort to direct more people to The Bully Files page on Indiegogo, to maybe pull in a few more bucks. I’ll be adding a little something to the pot, for sure, and hope some of you will too.

It’s tempting to drop some dough at the Crackstarter page too — because who doesn’t want to see that video, if it’s for real — but the latest on that campaign is that the purported video owners have vanished.

Political scandals and money: Easy come and easy go. Much less permanent than films that can make a real difference in a young person’s life.

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It might have taken Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis a little time before he let his first off-season domino fall but make no mistake — it’s a big one.

The Canucks fired head coach Alain Vigneault along with assistant coaches Rick Bowness and Newell Browne Wednesday after the club failed to make it out of the first round of the playoffs for the second time in as many years.

Gillis has been in the hot seat to make a bold organizational move ever since the Canucks were dropped 4-0 by the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference quarterfinals and now that he’s finally committed to letting go of Vigneault and opening the door for a new head coach — there are still plenty of unanswered questions about the direction his team is headed.

It isn’t going be a simple task replacing the man who took the Canucks to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, won two Presidents’ Trophies and had the most wins out of any head coach in franchise history, but there are some intriguing options available.

Depending on which route the Canucks plan to take, former Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff could be a great fit for the team with an impressive resume boasting over 500 wins, a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, a Jack Adams Award and 15 seasons as the bench boss in Buffalo.

If the Canucks decide on a complete rebuild then Toronto Marlies’ current head coach Dallas Eakins could be the perfect guy to spearhead the next generation in Vancouver. The 46-year-old is as competitive as they come and will likely attract the attention of many teams once the off-season is fully underway.

Another option could be Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Tom Renney, a respected veteran coach who already has a feel for Vancouver after coaching the Canucks for just over a season from 1996 to 1997. Renney might not be the most glamorous choice but he has a steady hand and has earned respect with every team he’s coached.

There’s certainly no shortage of potential candidates for the Canucks, but before they can even entertain the thought of a new head coach, they have to decide what is going to happen to the rest of the team and if it’s just going to be another fill-in-the-gaps year or a total franchise facelift.

Gillis has to finally address the Roberto Luongo albatross once and for all and ship him out of town wherever he needs to go and for whatever minuscule return the Canucks are sure to get for him at this point. Daniel and Henrik Sedin also have to be held accountable for their lack of physical play and inability to dominate with their cycle game when it counts.

Keith Ballard and David Booth need to be either bought out or traded while Gillis should seriously consider Alex Edler’s future with the club after a disappointing season and his brand new six-year, $30-million deal kicking in next season.

Though it’s safe to say Vigneault’s firing was the right move by Gillis at this time, it doesn’t even scratch the surface of off-season issues that need to be addressed. It will take time and patience to see which way the Canucks will be heading come summer, but with such high expectations in a city that rarely forgives and forgets — Gillis could be next if he drops the ball.

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CRAIG, NORAH
May 28, 1916 – May 2, 2013
Our amazing Mom, Gramma, GG passed away in Lady Minto Hospital on Saltspring Island after a brief battle with cancer. She will be missed by everyone who’s life she touched. A celebration of life will be held at the O.A.P. hall in Fulford Harbour on Saltspring Island from 2pm till 4pm May 27, 2013. In lieu of fl owers a donation to the S.P.C.A. would make Norah smile. A special thank you to the staff at Lady Minto Hospital and Beacon Community Services.

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While the end of some businesses in downtown Ganges has proven a sad loss for entrepreneurs and their customers, the shift has also provided the space for other islanders to try new ventures.

Filling in the final piece left vacant by Mark’s Work Wearhouse in the Creek House centre, Gaiama Yoga offers an entire wellness program guided by Tomaya Rohrer and Nicola Aichele. The couple moved to Salt Spring about a year ago after a year of travel in Asia and four years in Penticton, on the hunt for a nature-filled environment that would nourish themselves and their family.

Rohrer’s early career as a carpenter and floor-layer in Switzerland provided the skills for beautiful hand-made touches in the new studio space. He is also an avid athlete who has provided sports massage for Iron Man triathletes. Aichele has been teaching fitness for 25 years and now specializes in energy healing and plant-based nutrition. Both are yoga teachers with a focus on holistic wellness.

• Helping people feel good in another way is the mission of the new Saltspring Clothing Company in Grace Point Square. Store owner Niki Smith has launched the business with the aim of providing affordable fair trade clothes in natural fibres for women and girls of all sizes, with plans to expand to men’s clothing later on. The store will be based on the Blue Sky Clothing line out of North Vancouver, which is designed by Smith’s friend Marilyn Robinson.

Smith and her husband Neale moved to Salt Spring from the Sunshine Coast and have each started new business ventures (his Precise Painting and Plaster company has moved from its already successful base).

A grand opening event will be held the last weekend in June.

• Coming up next month, the installation of a Mount Maxwell Coffee kiosk outside Mahon Hall from June 15 to Sept. 15 is the product of a deal with the Salt Spring Arts Council. The proposal is hoped to draw more traffic into ArtCraft and will give home roasters John and Lara Gossett a semi-permanent sales base (to be constructed in a shipping container).

Gossett joked he’s probably most excited by the excuse to buy a proper espresso machine — but fans of the business will be seriously happy about the chance for even more service options.

Other recent changes to the Ganges business scene include the transition of Salon Shalom to Quench Salon at 111 Rainbow Rd.; the return of Jana Roerick of Jana’s Bake Shop fame with a new pie shop in Gasoline Alley; the move of Tim O’Connor and John Dolman’s Island Star Video to directly across McPhillips Avenue from their TJ Beans coffee shop; and the potential offered by the double unit they left behind at Creek House — now under renovation with prospects for two new tenants.

The former Bruce’s Kitchen restaurant space has also been filled through a new venture by Bryan Dubien and chef Jonathan Duquette. The Gathering opened last week.

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RUMSEY, Arthur George
April 25, 1921 – May 11, 2013

Art passed away peacefully, on Saturday, May 11, 2013 with family by his side.

Survived by wife Lou, daughters Sue (Don) Michiel, Judy (Joe) Battista, Pam (Paul) Hinton, and Debbie (Wayne) Derksen as well as grandchildren Jason (Christie), Spencer (Dawn), Mike (Suzanne), Donato (Angela), Andrew (Chelsey), Simon, Jeremy (Michelle), Sabrina (Dan), and Caroline (Steve) and great grandchildren Nate, Jack, Aria, Morgan and Maxwell.

He was predeceased by parents Lionel and Violet, brothers Jack and Roy, and daughter Wendy.

Art served as a member of the Canadian Militia during World War II in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. It was during that time that he met and married his wife of more than 65 years, Lou.

Art worked with BC Telephone Company in Vancouver for many years and then was transferred to Salt Spring Island in 1970. It was a dream come true for he and Lou, and they enjoyed many happy years together there. Dad especially loved his garden, stained glass projects, woodworking, and his art classes.

People who knew him remember him as kind, gentle, reliable, extremely honest (sometimes more than necessary!), and always loyal.  His cheerfulness and “unique” sense of humour will never be forgotten.

The family would like to thank the very kind and caring staff at West Vancouver Care Centre, Dad’s “home” for the last year.

A private family service will be held at a later date.
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Marjorie Joan Dowsley

Dowsley, Marjorie Joan, (nee Thatcher) born November 15th, 1930 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, passed away suddenly May 09, 2013 on Salt Spring Island.

Joan is prededeased by her brother Ross and Clarke. She leaves to mourn, her loving and devoted husband Donald, sons Gordon and John, daughter Alexandra, brother Ronald, daughters in-law Lynn and Shauna, granddaughter Jennifer, grandsons Christopher, Michael, Stephen, Patrick, Thomas, great grandsons Carter, Colton and Gavin.

Joan cherished Salt Spring and loved having family and friends visit and enjoy their botanical paradise. We will always remember her passion for life, learning, gardening and sense of humour.

Forever in our hearts, Joan loved and was loved by her family and friends, and will be so dearly missed. No service by request, in lieu of flowers, a donation could be made to the charity of your choice.

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Elizabeth Agnes Emily Bongie
28 September 1930 – 18 May 2013

Elizabeth (‘Bettye’) passed away at the age of 82 in Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island. She is survived by Larry, her husband of 54 years, her son Chris (Ishita), her brother William (Joan), and many cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins. Born in Victoria, the daughter of William and Alice Bryson, Bettye did her undergraduate studies at Vic College and UBC, winning upon graduation in 1951 the coveted Governor General’s Gold Medal. In the following years, she pursued doctoral studies at the University of Illinois and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, receiving her PhD in Classics in 1956. On her return to British Columbia, she was appointed the first woman tenure-track member of the Department of Classics at UBC where she taught until her retirement in 1992. The award of a Master Teaching prize was but one sign of the high esteem in which she was held by students and colleagues alike. In addition to her contributions to the teaching of Greek and Latin language, literature, and mythology, Bettye was a pioneering contributor to both the Medieval and the Women’s Studies programmes on campus. Over the course of her career, her scholarly and teaching interests ranged widely, from an early concentration on Greek paleography to an evolving focus on the spiritual lives of women in antiquity, well evidenced in her translation of the Life and Regimen of the Blessed and Holy Syncletica. Widely travelled, most notably in her retirement years, she and Larry eventually moved from Vancouver to Salt Spring, where she had spent many happy summers as a child. Gardening, reading, and embroidery filled her days and even in the midst of increasing health difficulties she held true to the words of Julian of Norwich, one of her favourite medieval woman mystics: “All Shall Be Well, And All Shall Be Well, And All Manner Of Thing Shall Be Well.”

The family wishes to thank Dr. James Franklin White, the Home & Community Care nurses of Salt Spring, and the nursing staff at Lady Minto Hospital for their unstinting care and assistance. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation or to a charity of choice are welcomed. A private memorial will be scheduled at a later date.
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A Salt Spring-focused film meant to inspire kids to choose creativity over drug use will have its Canadian premiere on Wednesday, May 29 at The Fritz. 

The screening of Harpooned Soul – The Jade Bell Story will launch a fundraising campaign for a special project of the non-profit Jade’s KIDS Foundation. Salty Rock Studios will be a local music recording studio and mentorship program — something Bell says he wishes he had access to as a youth.

“With much filmed on Salt Spring Island, and a cast of many local students and musicians, [the film] is the tragic yet inspiring story of one man’s quest to find meaning in life after overdosing from a ‘speedball’ injection of heroin and cocaine mixed with alcohol as a young man lost in the abyss of his youth,” explains a press release.

“With the loss of so many physical functions, yet with a mind completely intact, it seemed the harder the challenges became in Jade’s life the more determined he became to overcome them.”

Bell, who is blind, mute and bound to a wheelchair, has addressed more than 200,000 youth in Canada through presentations in schools, theatres and prisons, in hopes that they make smarter choices than he made.

He is an accomplished poet, songwriter and music producer. Harpooned Soul’s powerful soundtrack entitled Black Candy was recorded at Randy Bachman’s studio with young Salt Springers, working together with artists such as Isaac Slade from the band The Fray, Bill Henderson, Aaron Trory, Jarret Holmes, Sara Brudner, Sabrina Aven, Paul Gil and many more.

Next Wednesday’s screening begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets, at $10, can be purchased in advance at Salt Spring Books or Morningside Organic Bakery, Cafe and Bookstore in Fulford, or at the door.

Charitable tax donations may also be made by contacting Bell directly at Harpoonedsoul@gmail.com or visiting www.Jadeskids.org.

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Salt Spring’s BCSPCA branch is gearing up for its annual campaign to find homes for some of the shelter’s long-term residents.

“We have cats in care that have been here too long,” said branch manager Sean Hogan. “Long lengths of stay are not beneficial to animals in shelters.”

Between May 24 and 26, the local animal shelter will join branches across the province as part of the End the Wait campaign. While typical fees are $95 for adult cats and $120 for kittens, cats, kittens and rabbits can be adopted from a local shelter for half the normal adoption fee during the campaign.

The Salt Spring branch has 15 cats ranging in age from two to 14 years available for adoption.

“In our branch, we have a group of cats that have been with us for an average of 75 days,” Hogan said. “We hope to end the wait for these cats who have been waiting for a loving home by offering a reduced adoption fee.”

Hogan notes that normal adoption counselling and matching takes place to ensure that the animals go to good homes.

The longest in-care cat, Quadra, has been at the shelter for 140 days.

“It’s much too long for an animal to wait for a positive outcome,” Hogan said.

The BCSPCA’s open house will be held on Sunday, May 26 between noon and 3 p.m.

For more information, contact the local branch at 250-537-2123 or saltspring@spca.bc.ca.

Content courtesy Gulf Islands Driftwood - Salt Spring and Gulf Islands community news since 1960