Saturday, December 21, 2024
December 21, 2024
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Southern Gulf Islands news

Dec. 18 issue of the Driftwood in the mail

With the Canada Post strike now over, Driftwood subscribers can return to picking up papers in their mailboxes beginning with the Dec. 18 issue....

LTC fast-tracks Bittancourt project rezoning

Land use officials on Salt Spring are moving quickly to support a healthcare workforce housing project that organizers said could –– with a little...

Lack of mail service hampers nonprofit appeals

Salt Spring’s nonprofit community is keen to advise islanders that while the return of mail service might come too late for many Christmas parcels,...

Novel regulations for Indigenous-owned land advanced on Galiano

The Islands Trust’s Executive Committee (EC) is supporting one island’s small –– if arguably historic –– steps toward reconciliation within its own regulations, unanimously...

Salt Spring ‘living wage’ hits $26.25 per hour

If two points define a line, three may suggest a trend –– and on Salt Spring Island, one foundation’s latest analysis found the hourly...

Gulf Islands life

St. Mary’s Church gets heating upgrade

More than 130 years after its doors first opened, the St. Mary’s Church at Fulford is “pleasantly warm now,” thanks to a modern heat...

Sustainable gift giving: all the joy without the waste

Part of the Lighter Living initiative presented by Transition Salt Spring The holiday season is upon us — a time for joy, connection and, unfortunately,...

Matching donors boost cat rescue campaign

By JENNIFER MCMILLAN Founder, Cats of Salt Spring Rescue Society Support the Cats of Salt Spring Rescue Society’s fourth annual year-end Matching Fundraising Campaign and...

Dec. 6 memorial at Centennial Park

Dec. 6, 1989 was the day an armed man walked into an engineering class at I’École Polytechnique de Montréal and killed 14 women and...

Arts & Entertainment

Salt Spring Arts pays tribute to Yael Wand

SUBMITTED BY SALT SPRING ARTS As Salt Spring Arts (SSA) bids farewell to its executive director Yael Wand in 2025, her profound contributions to the...

Driftwood contest winning stories

Young writers in the Gulf Islands continue to make a Driftwood tradition meaningful with plenty of submissions to the annual holiday story writing contest...

Youth artwork adds to holiday cheer

Several students in teacher Melissa Houston's grades 4-5 class submitted artwork for the Driftwood's cover art contest, as seen below.

Photo of the Week

Subtitle

Helga and Michael Bagnell at this year’s Fulford Hall craft fair. The couple will welcome the community back to the hall on Christmas Day for the annual Fulford Hall Christmas Free-be-do. Everyone is invited to enjoy food, fellowship, music, gifts for kids and more fro 10 a.m. on. 

Photo by Rob Lowrie

Opinion

Editorial: Mail service missed

Driftwood staff are among those cheering a seeming end to the month-long postal strike that saw regular newspaper distribution operations disrupted. It’s not that no...

Ambitious $46.3-million water master plan needs more examination

By DOUG WAHLSTEN    Having abandoned its moratorium on new hook-ups to its water supply system, the North Salt Spring Waterworks District (NSSWD) has announced big...

Viewpoint: LCC could take ferries advocacy role

BY DAVID COURTNEY There’s been a lot of local consternation over BC Ferries (BCF) cancelling the ferry advisory committee (FAC) program in the 13 smaller...

Weather

Salt Spring Island
fog
4.2 ° C
4.2 °
3.8 °
97 %
2.6kmh
75 %
Sat
7 °
Sun
7 °
Mon
6 °
Tue
7 °
Wed
5 °

Obituaries

LAVENDER, Patricia Ann (nee Traynor)

Major Patricia Ann Lavender nee Traynor (Pat) passed away peacefully at Veterans Memorial Lodge in Victoria BC on December 3, 2024 at the age...

GENT, Fred Victor

Fred Victor Gent, long time resident of Salt Spring Island, passed away peacefully on September 29th. Survived by Grand-daughter Nicole Gent, daughter-in-law Deanna Jenkins, and...

More news

Island’s second EV fast charger spot revealed

Following on its installation of a 37-kW solar roof, Mid Island Co-op’s gas bar may also be first to bring an electric vehicle (EV)...

LCC supports the Hearth with grant

Salt Spring’s Local Community Commission (LCC) wrapped up 2024 with one last grant award at its Dec. 5 meeting, using its grants-in-aid program’s remaining...

Community shines in aid drive

BY JON COOKSEY Board Member, SSI Farmland Trust On behalf of the many people who stepped up to help with the emergency food drive for the...

Suspect arrested following theft of truck and trailer

Salt Spring and Sooke RCMP detachments have issued a media release regarding a truck and vehicle theft that occurred in their two communities last...

Officials respond to dropping of ferry committees

Fallout continues after last week’s surprise dissolution of BC Ferries’ longstanding ferry advisory committee (FAC) system, as local officials question whether the goal is...

Food and fund drive organized for Penelakut

Salt Spring is stepping up to assist its neighbours after an extended power outage led to a devastating loss of food stores on nearby...

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