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ArtSpring email address compromised

Robb Magley
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ArtSpring email address compromised

A security breach at Salt Spring’s largest community arts venue sent some email and e-transfer payments elsewhere, according to staff, as police urge the public to keep a careful eye out for suspicious messages.  

In a notice sent Tuesday evening, Sept. 2, ArtSpring executive and artistic director Howard Jang said the email address used for e-transfer payments “ead@artspring.ca” had been “targeted and compromised” in August, which resulted in communications — and some e-transfers — being fraudulently redirected. 

“We became aware of this over the long weekend,” wrote Jang, “and are currently working with authorities to secure our system.” 

Salt Spring RCMP Sgt. Clive Seabrook confirmed with the Driftwood that there was an active file received from ArtSpring, and from what was known so far it seemed staff had taken all the correct steps, such as monitoring emails and bank accounts for suspicious activity. 

“When something doesn’t look right, [people and organizations] need to report these incidents to their financial institutions and the police as soon as possible,” said Seabrook. “It is this type of due diligence that stops these types of things from happening and/or minimizes losses when they do occur.” 

The email in question has since been locked, according to Jang, who said anyone who sent an e-transfer during August — or who had received any suspicious email seemingly from ArtSpring asking to verify accounts or confirm information — should report it to ArtSpring administration by calling 250-537-2125. 

The breach does not affect the purchase process for tickets, memberships or donations facilitated through the organization’s website or at the centre’s box office, according to ArtSpring.  

Opinion: Are we ready for real representation in Victoria?

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Opinion: Are we ready for real representation in Victoria?

By JASON MOGUS

My family moved to Salt Spring 11 years ago, in part because of the incredible nature, but also because of the community, with its values of progressive action and social change. 

Having worked in national and international politics and advocacy, I was struck, however, by how this was such a solidly “Green Party island.” Of course not everyone here is a capital G Green, but the dominant political organizing work and leaders for the last decade are really pro-Green. 

Personally, I’ve never really found a political home with any of the parties. I’ve been a reluctant supporter of both the BC NDP and BC Greens at times, but I am feeling like it’s time for a change. 

There’s an important election next month in B.C. While most of our attention has been on the U.S. and federal drama, a number of factors are converging to make this what could be the most consequential provincial race in a long time. And what Salt Spring does matters.  

Adam Olsen isn’t running. I think he’s been a great MLA. I really like him and appreciate all he’s tried to do for our community, and of course it’s been rewarding to help advance reconciliation in a small way by having an Indigenous MLA. 

But at the end of two terms, it became clear that having an MLA from a party not only out of power but on the outer edges of it wasn’t helping us win material benefits for our community.

Whether it’s the Salish Sea cycling trail, affordable housing policies that Salt Spring is constantly exempt from, helping pay for expensive water treatment systems, or even something as simple as garbage cans in town, our community can seem stuck, and on its own. I talk to a lot of younger people who are frustrated to live in a place with such astounding creative capacity but where not much really happens to improve our facilities or solve obvious problems. 

We have these awesome MPs and MLAs who are great for a chat and to attend a community meeting or rally, but when it comes to the main purpose of government — making laws and accessing funds — are not able to deliver the goods. 

What would it look like for us to have an MLA who was part of a governing party, or maybe even a cabinet minister, who could more easily access the attention, resources, and yes, funding, of our provincial government? 

Sarah Riddell recently won the nomination for the BC NDP in this riding. I only recently met her, but have been very impressed so far. She’s a real go-getter with tons of capacity and energy. In addition to being a Central Saanich municipal councillor, she until recently worked at the Ministry of Health on challenging health files, is a highly engaged mom and even finds time to volunteer at a number of civic groups. 

She cares about the same things our community does: climate change, getting health care when and where we need it, addressing inequality and affordable housing for locals. She’s gotten real things done on Central Saanich council, and knows how to leverage her elected position to advance real action with real world results. She’s also of a younger generation who gets the interconnections between today’s tricky issues. 

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how lucky we are to have a government in B.C. who shares most of our progressive values! For most of my 30 years in B.C. we’ve had premiers who mostly just cut services while giving handouts to corporations and the wealthy. I’ve loosely known Premier David Eby since his days as an activist in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and I’ve always respected his intellect and compassion. The NDP has for sure upset a lot of progressives as they hewed to the centre to remain in power in our diverse province, but at the end of the day they have done a lot of positive things. 

But perhaps most importantly, like in the U.S., France and many other places, we now have to unite and fight to stop the rise of the far right. Just last month the centre-right BC Liberals/BC United suspended their campaign to support the BC Conservatives. The BC Conservative leader doesn’t believe in climate change, but he does believe in a number of wacky conspiracies. He wants to take away freedoms like what kids can learn in school, who people can love, whether we continue to advance Indigenous rights and reconciliation and whether we can stop this world from burning. All that plus make drastic cuts to services and solutions we need. 

The stakes of this provincial election couldn’t be higher. If we vote for the protest party, if we split the left and allow a Conservative to win, we stand to lose, a lot. Just at the time when the world needs bold solutions, not more division and chaos. 

I wonder if Salt Spring is ready for some real change in the form of representation in Victoria. Besides getting an awesome local leader who might be able to access real power and funding, we would also do our part to stop the rise of the far right and their dangerous ideas. 

I hope you get a chance to meet Sarah Riddell and I hope more of us open our minds to a new approach. Most importantly, I hope you get out and vote on Oct. 19.

The writer works to support climate, biodiversity and justice campaigns in Canada and around the world.

Editorial: Fair is still the best darn thing

Driftwood Staff
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Editorial: Fair is still the best darn thing

Some traditions just never get old, even if they were initiated in the 19th century.

We’re talking, of course, about the Salt Spring Island Fall Fair, which was for many years (or possibly decades) held on the third weekend of September, until its switch to the second weekend in 2022. And with this year’s fair coming as early as possible in September and in blistering heat on Saturday, Sept. 7, there wasn’t a strong sense of autumn in the air.

However, what was the same as ever was the feeling that residents had emerged from a summer of semi-isolation and letting visitors dominate the island, coming from all corners to share their exhibits or take in their favourite events — from the zany zucchini races to the sheepdog demonstrations, from the pet parade to the tractor pull — to listening to fabulous local musicians, socializing in the beer garden or at the various non-profit and business booths. The number of food vendors was back to pre-Covid levels, with something for everyone’s tastes and desires, including the wildly popular offerings of the Pie Ladies’ of the Salt Spring Island Women’s Institute.

If one ever fears that we are becoming a community of retirees, the fair reminds us that young ones and families form a huge part of our spirit and energy.

Somehow, the same old thing always manages to be the best darn thing ever; but even then the fall fair committee of the Salt Spring Island Farmers’ Institute is always trying to find ways to improve the fair. Making it possible to register and pay for entries online is one positive change brought in this year; as was a project to ensure compostable materials were kept out of the waste stream, for example.

Congratulations must go as well to the Gulf Islands Horse Association for a fully revived two-day horse show in the ring they worked hard to rehabilitate, with support from the Farmers’ Institute and other partners.

Speaking of support, if you enjoyed the fair and want to ensure it can keep getting better, consider volunteering with the Farmers’ Institute in some capacity throughout the year, or for the fair itself next year.

It takes hundreds of volunteers to make the Salt Spring Fall Fair happen. With enough hearts and hands on deck, it really can keep getting better, while reminding us that we are still a strong and resilient, close and quirky rural community.

Lighter Living: Farm stands a valuable resource

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Lighter Living: Farm stands a valuable resource

Part of Transition Salt Spring’s Lighter Living Series

Supporting local food production has never been more important, and it’s easier and more enjoyable than ever. Explore the agricultural richness of Salt Spring Island through SSIFarmStands.com, a comprehensive portal featuring an interactive Google map highlighting over 200 farm stands across the island.

Ranked prominently in Google searches for “Salt Spring Island Farm Stands” and related terms, the site not only provides detailed maps, it also offers information on other island attractions. Recently featured in the 2024 Salt Spring Island Accommodations Group’s Island Info Book, which is a widely distributed resource across hotels and B&Bs, it included a full-page ad and a QR code for direct access to the farm stands map website.

Since its launch just over a year ago, SSIFarmStands.com has rapidly gained popularity, accumulating over 125,000 views.

Farm stand owners on Salt Spring Island can register their stands for free on the sponsor-free and ad-free platform. Each registered stand appears as a pin on the interactive map, showcasing details such as the stand name, location, offerings description, up to 10 photos and contact information (if provided), including e-transfer details where applicable. The site also actively engages with the community through its social media presence on Facebook and Instagram, promptly responding to queries about specific farm stand locations and offerings.

Islanders and visitors alike can log on anytime and make all kinds of queries. “Which farm stands in the south end have fresh berries? ”“How can I find all the farm stands on Salt Spring?” or “Where’s the nearest stand selling lettuce to Ganges?” The @SSIFarmStands team will direct users to the interactive map for precise information.

For a seamless farm stand experience or to register your stand on Salt Spring Island, visit SSIFarmStands.com and start exploring fresh, local produce today.

To learn more about supporting local food producers, Transition Salt Spring invites you to sign up for free access to Lighter Living Salt Spring content at tinyurl.com/Lighter-Living. Discover low-effort actions that are good for you, our community and the planet.

Salt Spring Arts funding available

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Salt Spring Arts funding available

SUBMITTED BY SALT SPRING ARTS

Salt Spring Arts (SSA) is now accepting applications for its fall grants and awards programs.

Two categories are available to access funding support for cultural projects and professional development for visual artists.

Project Grants — Deadline: Oct. 31

Assisting groups and individuals in undertaking projects of cultural benefit to the community, SSA’s Project Grants have supported local initiatives for many years. Examples of previously funded projects include workshops, concerts and collaborative performances, fostering local innovation, creativity and experimentation in the arts. In spring 2024, Schuyler Witman was successful in her application for a Project Grant to help fund a theatre arts camp for kids. The camp explores myth, storytelling, dance, music, visual arts and more, learning new skills in the co-creation of a theatrical performance.

Susan Benson Fund for Visual Artists — Deadline: Oct. 31

SSA’s Susan Benson Fund was established by local artist Susan Benson to respond to her knowledge of the historical and continuing unique challenges faced by female visual artists. The limited-term donor-directed fund is available to visual artists living on Salt Spring Island who are committed to building their creative careers.

In the fall of 2023, local artist Alicja Swiatlon received the Susan Benson Fund award, supporting the purchase of specialized materials to help her create a new body of work to share with the community.

“(This opportunity) allowed me to purchase a roll of canvas to create a cohesive body of paintings that will be exhibited on Salt Spring Island,” said Swiatlon.

The SSA has been serving as Salt Spring Island’s non-profit arts council for over 55 years, building and nurturing the creative capacity of the community.

For more information and eligibility requirements for the two grant programs, visit saltspringarts.com.

Other Salt Spring Arts calls this season include Artcraft Winter artist registration (with a deadline of Oct. 31) and the 2025 Artist in Residence Application (Oct. 15 deadline).

Launch event set for Brian Day’s The Making

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Launch event set for Brian Day’s The Making

SUBMITTED BY SSI PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Salt Spring Island Public Library is proud to host an event that invites listeners to encounter the cosmos in a whole new way.

On Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. in the library’s program room, local poet Brian Day will read from his new groundbreaking epic poem The Making.

This masterful work intertwines the scientific history of the universe with myths, folktales and religious stories from around the world, creating a narrative that is both richly evocative and deeply layered.

Reflecting on the origins of The Making, Day shared, “I wondered if there might be a way to tell the story of the universe in a way that combined the wonders of science with the imaginative appeal of traditional stories.”

This ambitious vision took over a decade to bring to life, culminating in a work that pairs each phase of the universe’s evolution with a corresponding story, drawing from Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Greek myths and international folktales.

The work has garnered high praise from literary figures. Salt Spring poet Murray Reiss describes The Making as “dazzling” with “fierce and precise” language, while Kittredge Cherry praises the way Day’s lyrical poetry “transcends heaven and earth.”

Day is a familiar face in the community, hosting the Salt Spring Public Library’s Poetry Open Mic and engaging young minds through storytelling in local schools. He is an accomplished poet with four previous books to his name and is the winner of the E.J. Pratt Medal for Poetry.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Day’s rich reading voice as he shares highlights from his extraordinary synthesis of science, history and poetic imagination.

Refreshments will be served, and The Making will be available for $25 cash.

For more information on Day and his work and for sample readings from The Making, visit briandaypoetry.com.

School bus caution urged

Robb Magley
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School bus caution urged

With students back in school and school buses back on Salt Spring’s roads, officials are reminding island drivers to be on the lookout for both. 

An expansion of service this year includes new routes reaching previously unserved communities, district officials said, including one for students residing at Salt Spring Commons, where a bus route up Charlesworth Road to Bishop’s Walk seems to have caught some in the neighbourhood of Charlesworth and Cudmore roads by surprise. 

“We’ve had a few issues with motorists speeding down the hill and being surprised by the bus coming up around a few of the curves,” said Gulf Islands School District director of operations Colin Whyte, “resulting in a near miss or two.” 

Whyte said bus drivers exercise a great deal of caution going around those corners, as the lines of sight there can be short — and he urges other drivers to do the same, especially during school bus operating hours. 

“We’re hoping to minimize the chances of an incident,” he said, “and want to continue to be able to serve the students at the Commons.” 

Additional expanded service includes a new route up Collins Road, Whyte said, turning around at Mount Erskine Drive. 

In addition to caution on corners, B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act requires drivers to come to a complete stop when approaching a stationary school bus with its red lights flashing — including traffic from both directions, according to provincial officials.

Bus service in most Salt Spring neighbourhoods begins with the first students picked up shortly before 8 a.m.; afternoon buses generally run from 3:30 to 5 p.m. 

Doobie Brothers concert on tap

Driftwood Staff
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Doobie Brothers concert on tap

The Doobie Brothers Experience — described as “the industry leading substitute for The Doobie Brothers band” — is coming to entertain a Salt Spring audience at ArtSpring on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The group presents all the band’s hits from 1970 to 1975, featuring the look-a-likes of Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons with vocal similarities, accurate instrumental work, soaring harmonies and top-flight performances.

“One of the most ‘game-changing’ song catalogues in the history of rock n’ roll is performed to perfection before your eyes and ears,” states press material about the show. “Most every rock enthusiast knows the words to China Grove or Long Train Runnin’, and those who truly love rock can sing along when Black Water, Dark Eyed Cajun Woman or Jesus Is Just Alright come up in the playlist.”

With more than 235 years of collective professional experience among the musicians, “their performances are as close to the real deal as you’ll ever get.”

Band members are Henry Locke on lead vocals and lead guitar; Terry Sheldrake, lead vocals and guitar; Claudio Fantinato, alto/tenor sax, guitar and percussion; Ron McKee on bass guitar and vocals; Malcolm Grier, piano, organ and vocals; and Gerry Pool on drums and vocals.

The Doobie Brothers Experience: 1970 to 1975 concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available through ArtSpring, online or through the box office.

Viewpoint: Traffic problem needs to be addressed

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Viewpoint: Traffic problem needs to be addressed

By MYNA LEE JOHNSTONE

This is a warning to the Salt Spring Local Community Commission, Islands Trust trustees and every islander.

The volume of traffic and congestion in and through Ganges this summer is now intolerable  and dangerous. It has to be dealt with. It will only get worse with each coming year.

By noon on many days, all of the parking lots and spaces are full, while roads  are full of vehicles trying to pass through, or with drivers circling about looking for parking. 

When I was a Salt Spring transportation commissioner we noted the difficulties in Ganges and of course other parts of the island. We had delegations come pleading for crosswalks. One commissioner submitted a thorough study of problems for persons with mobility  issues, including no sidewalk space and misplaced crosswalks. We had entire neighbourhoods asking to get the speed reduced in their area. I did a petition to have the speed reduced through Ganges and on up to Atkins Road. This is a high-density area for seniors and includes our hospital  area.

My conclusion is that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been absolutely delinquent in addressing all this.

Yes, finally this spring, a short bit of road through  Ganges  was reduced to a 30 km/h speed limit, but after Rainbow Road the drivers can escalate all the way up past Atkins Road. 

Not only are pedestrians complaining about the speed but drivers trying to turn out onto the main road are having long waits because of the volume of traffic and speed. For persons living along the route and in Ganges, the noise and fumes are a daily health hazard.

So what can be done about this?

Several years ago, a park and ride system was proposed. This would require shuttle services. Country Grocer is providing a shuttle vehicle picking up customers to shop and bringing them home.

A very active rideshare app with drivers signing in with destinations and times  would help. 

I believe a community-run fleet of vans, with some even electric powered, going about the island would be the ideal. This could be initially set up with financing  from many organizations. 

We know from the Capital Regional District Active Transportation Network Plan study that in 2017, only 1.7 per cent of islanders cycled, 0.7 per cent used transit, six per cent walked and 88 per cent drove or were passengers in a car. The average household does 5.15 trips per day and individuals 3.5. That makes for a lot of traffic. There are over 11,000 registered vehicles here.

An Uber-style local system could happen. Possibilities and solutions exist. It will take much community goodwill and care to attend to this.

The island could become a popular role model for other places talking about sustainability and having an environmental mandate.

The writer is a former Salt Spring Island Transportation Commission member and advocate for active, safer and healthier transportation.

Stingrays strike at provincial championships  

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Stingrays strike at provincial championships  

By WILLIAM RITHALER

Stingrays Coaching Team 

The Salt Spring Stingrays Summer Swim Team wrapped up their busy season with the BCSSA Provincial Championships, held at the University of British Columbia Aquatic Centre from Aug. 15-18.

Every swimmer worked incredibly hard to qualify for this meet, and the results across the board reflected the effort put into training throughout the May to August season to compete at the provincial level. 

The Stingrays had 13 provincial qualifiers this year, with seven swimmers between the ages of nine and 17 years attending the provincial event. 

Those who qualified by swimming at several regular season meets and the Vancouver Island Regional Meet on Aug. 2-4 but were unable to attend, were: Cecilia Cabello-Maclean, Mackenzie Slack and Violet Penner — all in the girls OCAT 1 200 freestyle relay, Zoe Sanchez-Wickland in the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle, James Penner and Liam Walsh as alternates. Congratulations to these team members! 

The provincial championship wrap-up and results are as follows: 

Jade Marshall (Div. 2) had a terrific weekend, starting out her 50 backstroke with a time of 44.33 and a 15th place seeding. By the end of the day, she had cut off nearly two seconds, swimming a 42.81 in her B final, improving her standing to 11th place in the province.  

Matthias Woodley finished prelims in the 100 breaststroke seeded 13th. He showed a lot of resilience in his final, pushing through adversity and dropping 2.39 seconds from his preliminary swim, improving to 11th place, with a personal best time of 1:15.34. In the boys (Div. 7) 200 IM, Matthias had an awesome finals swim, dropping 2.9 seconds from his preliminary time and finishing in 11th place. 

Grace Cole (OCAT 1, Div. 3) raced hard for two individual medals on the weekend. In the OCAT 1 girls’ 50 free, she started out seeded second with a time of 33.25 seconds.  In preliminaries, she swam a time of 33.55, maintaining her second place standing. In the final, Grace stepped it up for an awesome time of 32.43, dropping.82 seconds for a gold medal!  In the 100 IM, she maintained her fifth place standing throughout, dropping 1.22 seconds for a personal best time of 1:22.43. In the 50 backstroke, she was seeded third, dropping a total of 1.28 seconds, securing a silver medal in the final. Lastly, she placed fifth in 100 free, finishing in the top five in all four of her individual events.  

Elyse Walsh had the opportunity this weekend to swim in three events, with the 50 fly being a wildcard swim. This means she was a designated alternate who had to be ready in case another swimmer was needed. Elyse received that opportunity, so she got a bonus swim on top of the two she had qualified in. Elyse placed in the top 20 of both her 50 fly and 100 freestyle swims. I am most proud of the effort and positive attitude she displayed throughout the weekend. In the 100 back, her effort in the preliminaries and in qualifying for the A final resulted in a sixth place finish, a huge accomplishment.   

Pasley Hayden had a very exciting weekend with many firsts.  It was her first provincial swim meet. In the Div. 4 girls 200 IM, she dropped 3.12 seconds from prelims to finals, swimming a best time by nearly a second and placing 12th. The highlight of her weekend was the 100 breaststroke, however. At the start of the day, Pasley was seeded in eighth place with a time of 1:27.96. After preliminaries, she had improved to sixth place with a best time of 1:26.49. In her first A final ever at provincials, Pasley had another incredible swim, with a personal best time of 1:25.5 and a further improved fifth-place finish. 

Keegan Otsubo-Papp placed 12th in the boys (Div. 7) 50 freestyle. He dropped 26 seconds from preliminaries to finals. Keegan also had a terrific 100 backstroke. Finishing preliminaries in 11th place, he dominated the B final, winning by a significant stretch and dropping 3.19 seconds from preliminaries to finals for a ninth-place finish. On top of all this, he achieved a personal best in this gritty swim. Finally, his 100 freestyle resulted in a 14th-place finish. 

Druehn Pinney placed sixth in the boys OCAT 2 50 fly, in what was a very tight A final (only one second separating the top nine swimmers). In the 100 freestyle, he placed ninth, winning his B final by a comfortable margin. He also placed ninth in 50 freestyle. The highlight of Druehn’s weekend was in his favourite event, the 100 backstroke, where he placed third in a very exciting final that was full of excitement and emotion. Achieving top-10 finishes in every event is not an easy feat, especially in the OCAT division where every swimmer trains year-round.  This is a new field for Druehn and his commitment to sport is notable. 

Three Stingrays also competed in Vancouver Island Regional Mixed Relays. A regional relay is a mixed event where boys and girls swim together as a team comprised of four members in their division from the entire Vancouver Island region, thus representing their Vancouver Island team. 

In the OCAT 1 regional freestyle relay, Grace swam an exceptional anchor leg of 33.04 seconds to move her team from third to second place. Their combined efforts earned them a silver medal.  

In the Div. 7 Mixed Medley Relay, Keegan swam a speedy backstroke entry leg of 30.88 seconds. His effort and focus contributed to the team’s third place finish and bronze medals for all. 

In the OCAT 2 Mixed Medley Relay, Druehn’s backstroke leg led his team to a third-place finish in what would prove to be a very close final, and bronze medals for all.  

On behalf of the coaching team, I would like to express my pride in these athletes and my opportunity to coach them throughout the season, and particularly to see them achieving personal goals at the regional and provincial swim meets, representing not only themselves but their teammates.  I would personally like to congratulate each and every team member this year for their perseverance and effort, and thank them for the opportunity to play a part in their success. 

Go Stingrays! 

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