Is it just us, or have a few news stories published in recent weeks had a similar flavour to our April 1 front-page gondola article?
In case you missed it, that piece announced “Gondola system planned for island” and detailed a fully funded ready-to-roll project linking Ganges, Vesuvius and Fulford Harbour via use of enclosed eight-passenger aerial cabins. It was a joke, but some people have told us they thought it was a great idea.
Since then we’ve heard about a comprehensive healing and arts centre proposed by a nonprofit for Musgrave Road, extension of a Rogers Communications Mount Bruce cell tower to 55 metres in height and, in today’s issue of the paper, mention of round-abouts to improve pedestrian and traffic safety in Ganges, and plans for an ice rink to be set up on the island. All true!
According to our research, documented attempts to secure a place to skate on Salt Spring reach back to 1974. Then in 1995, much like the current proponents, a nonprofit society was formed specifically for the purpose of creating an ice arena. While a location for today’s portable facility must still be found, this effort, theoretically requiring no taxpayer funding, feels like it could hit the net.
Roundabouts — the clear choice by consultants for improving safety at the intersections of Fulford-Ganges and Lower Ganges roads (by Centennial Park) and at Upper and Lower Ganges roads — are also in the long-wished-for-but-deemed-impossible category of community amenity.
But in both the ice rink and roundabout cases, it’s appropriate to bring out the “never say never” adage. Who would have thought the Salt Spring fire department could ever acquire a ladder truck, as recently announced — or a new fire hall, for that matter?
And speaking of getting things done, islanders have been absolute rock stars in this year’s Let’s Pick It Up, Salt Spring! campaign. There’s still another week left in April and time to choose a road or beach on the island to make trash free. (See page 12 in this week’s paper for details on how to help.)
Who knows, if that level of energy can be harnessed, maybe we’d be able to get a roundabout by the soon-to-be old fire hall within five years. If not, it will make a good April Fool’s Day headline in 2037, the next time April 1 falls on Driftwood’s Wednesday publication day.