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LCC advocates for Ganges safety improvements

Robb Magley
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LCC advocates for Ganges safety improvements

Salt Spring’s newest governing body is tackling pedestrian safety in Ganges village — and will be asking the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) to help it make several “big moves” recommended by a just-released Active Transportation Network Plan. 

Under direction of the former transportation commission — and with the help of funding from a B.C. Active Transportation Network planning grant — Capital Regional District (CRD) senior transportation planner John Hicks and a team from both the CRD and the Watt Consulting Group have delivered a plan focused on making Ganges a more “walkable” community easily accessible by cycling. 

This is hardly the first transportation plan for Salt Spring, Hicks reminded Local Community Commission commissioners at their meeting Tuesday, July 18, pointing to one centred on Ganges in 2014 as well as a very recent MoTI study that focused on cycling safety between the island’s ferry terminals. But the commonalities between the studies, along with a seemingly refreshed interest on the part of MoTI to take action on the Salt Spring roads it controls, may present a new opportunity to increase safety and accessibility in the village. 

“Anything we do on Salt Spring, as I’m sure you’re acutely aware, requires a lot of collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation,” said Hicks. “And we’ve brought them through this whole process from day one; every piece of this plan has been walked through with them as we’ve advanced it. Every recommendation has been passed through them.”  

The plan identifies five so-called “big moves” that can be taken soon, if not right away — defined by planners as lower-cost, high-impact steps that would align not only with the MoTI cycling safety review but with Salt Spring Islanders’ concerns heard during the exhaustive community engagement process.  

And for their part, LCC members seemed eager to jump on as many of them as they could, as quickly as possible. Commissioners took action on the first — a recommendation to drop the posted speed limit through Ganges to 30 km/hr from the current limit of 50 — right after the presentation Wednesday, directing staff to draft a letter to MoTI indicating the LCC supported the change, and another to the CRD Board asking it to pass a similar recommendation and send that along to the ministry.  

The remaining “big moves” — redesigning of McPhillips Avenue to make it more pedestrian friendly, increasing off-street parking with a few proposed locations, a comprehensive land ownership survey to identify where MoTI land ends and private property begins throughout Ganges, and a pedestrian “island” as part of a traffic-calming redesign at the bottom of Ganges Hill — would take a little more time. But commissioners received the report — which included a cost estimate for all the “big moves,” just over $1.6 million — and asked staff to move forward with exploring funding opportunities for the design work that would enable construction grants, as well as to what extent MoTI might be willing to incorporate the recommendations into its existing plans. 

“[MoTI] see it as something very interesting, something new, that is potentially something which could be mirrored in other communities,” said Hicks. “I think there’s probably more of an appetite [there] than in the previous 10 years I’ve been working here on the island.” 

Beyond the five “big moves,” the full Active Transportation Network Plan and recommendations can be read here.

Gratitude from Dinny Corcoran’s family

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Gratitude from Dinny Corcoran’s family

The following is a letter to the Salt Spring community from Siobhan Corcoran and other family members from Australia.

The family of Dinny Corcoran would like to thank the community of Salt Spring Island for their support during this extremely sad time.

We can’t thank the locals enough for their involvement in the search for Dinny. We acknowledge the determined efforts of the Search and Rescue volunteers, especially Pete, for his help in finding Dinny. For their dedicated collaborative efforts we thank the Coast Guard, the RCMP, the RCMSAR and the Cormorant Search and Rescue helicopter.

To all those involved in locating his beloved dog Ninja and ensuring he was looked after, thank you. He is safe and happy in his new home with a close friend of Dinny’s on Vancouver Island.

To Greg, Liam, Jason and all the team at BWL Marine, thank you for the friendship and support you showed Dinny, which you have generously extended to his family during this time.

We received an outpouring of support and generous offers when we were having trouble finding accommodation on Salt Spring and have been overwhelmed by the kindness of this community. A huge thank you to Sandy and Jim for providing us with a home away from home and making us feel so welcome.

For the toy trucks lent to Dinny’s nephew, the beautiful flowers left on Dinny’s truck, the thoughtful gifts from strangers, the personal stories and kind words from everyone we’ve met over the past week, we are so grateful.

Dinny moved to Canada from Australia in 2010 and had made it his home. He moved to Salt Spring in 2021 where he began the ambitious project of single handedly building on Clamshell Island. He was living his dream and loving his life. We are devastated that he is gone but will remember his adventurous spirit and carry him in our hearts always.

Fastpitch team earns fifth spot at provincials

Driftwood Staff
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Fastpitch team earns fifth spot at provincials

The Salt Spring Island Girls Fastpitch U17 team had an exciting experience at provincial playoffs in Maple Ridge on the July 7-9 weekend, coming home with fifth-place honours.

In the initial round-robin phase, Salt Spring won three of their four games to advance them to the top-eight gold bracket in the playoffs. Their one loss in the round robin was a close game and only by one run. 

According to head coach Bruce Dunbar, the girls started off the playoffs with a game against Enderby Storm, who they did beat in the round-robin game, but unfortunately could not win against the second time.

Salt Spring came back Sunday morning to face the New West Royals in a hard-fought battle to take another win, and ended in fifth place out of the 16 best teams in the province .

“The next game started right away against the West Kootenay Rebels,” said Dunbar. “They played a great game against one of the best teams and had the lead by four runs in the last inning. The Rebels, though, were hitting hard in their last at bat and scored the five runs they needed to take the win.”

Dunbar added: “These girls are very special to everyone who supports this team — and especially to me as their coach — as well as to this Salt Spring community. They played with heart and determination and never gave in and most certainly never gave up.”

Dunbar thanked community sponsors who made playing in the tournament possible, as well as coaches Lyall Ruehlen, Nigel Hopp and Ryan Hunwicks, and all the parents who came along.

“Most of all, thanks to the players who gave it their all in every game they played, at every practice they attended and their winning attitude on and off the diamond. We went to play a sport and represent our community, and we did that like true champions.”

Mental Wellness Initiative folks talk about being involved

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Mental Wellness Initiative folks talk about being involved

SUBMITTED BY THE MENTAL WELLNESS INITIATIVE

This is the second in a series of stories from Salt Spring Health Advancement Network’s Mental Wellness Initiative (MWI/Initiative), whose mission is “co-creating a community of caring and belonging.”

Bringing diverse voices together is one of the goals of MWI whose mission is to co-create a community of caring and belonging. Our first story from William McPherson highlighted Willie’s own journey and the impact that being involved in the Initiative has had on him personally. This time, we asked people involved in the Mental Wellness Initiative some questions; what follows are responses from individuals active in different aspects of the Initiative’s work in our community.

Why is working with the Mental Wellness Initiative important to you?

• The groups in the MWI that I have participated in have been exceptional experiences! I’m always pleasantly surprised when my name comes up because someone values my contribution and mentions me attached to some great idea! The check-ins we share have value and hold an important space for me to share and in turn listen. I feel relief and pleasure knowing that I am speaking with people who hold me in high regard. (Longtime traveller who settled on Salt Spring to find their place in the community. Discovered a passion for producing and broadcasting through Salt Spring radio CFSI and now CHIR. Has joined the Coalition and Communication groups since 2021. New mom and multifaceted job-holder.)

• When my daughter was homeless, I realized that it wasn’t up to me to keep her safe, nor could I. So, I prayed for her to be in the company of caring and kind people and now I strive to be that to others. I’m a Jesus follower and my life goal is to live as close to his example as I am able, which includes loving my neighbour, feeding the hungry, etc. (Ambassador, Peer Support Working Group member since 2022, healthcare background as nurse and director of long-term care. Lived experience supporting daughter who is now housed and not using and well.)

• My professional and personal experience with systems that support mental health influenced my desire to contribute. I believe that the health of any group, school or community can be gauged by how their most vulnerable are treated. Genuine compassion supports the health of everyone and I see this approach in the work of Mental Wellness Initiative where a culture of care drives the agenda, physically and metaphorically. The work of the MWI serves to connect our community. It’s a bridge to and for agencies and individuals supporting mental health efforts. (Member of the MWI Coalition and Communications Group since 2022 Island resident for 40 years. Member of several community non-profit boards, including Gulf Islands Families Together Society.)

What do you think the MWI makes possible that wouldn’t otherwise be so?

• There is still a touch of inclusionary diversity left here, which, when we encourage each other to work together for all . . . all can still come back from where we are currently heading and benefit from. (Lived experience consultant in the fields of drug addiction, crime, dual-directional broken family structures and homelessness. Frequent visitor to Salt Spring for many years and permanent resident for six years. With the MWI Coalition and Communication Group since the beginning.)

• I think this work is one of many ways that will help to create a healthy community on the island of Salt Spring. I believe what we are doing will help people have a better sense that they are cared for and will help to bridge some of the divides between people groups that live here. (Member of MWI Peer Support Working Group since 2022. Board member with Salt Spring Community Alliance. Volunteer with Harvest Food Bank. Neighbourhood co-captain for Emergency Services POD Network, pastor with Canadian National Baptist Convention.)

• Given our crumbling social, environmental and economic systems, a grassroots effort like the MWI is filling increasing gaps in our community — around services like mental health support, peer support and counselling, safer drug access and response to overdoses, along with advocacy to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable in our community continue to be heard, acknowledged and responded to. (In leadership positions with several nonprofits on Salt Spring Island, and on the board of several others.) 

If we embrace the belief that the way forward is together, then is one measure of our success as a community how we take care of each other? In a future story we ask the question: What does it mean to have a healthy community?

To get involved with the Mental Wellness Initiative on Salt Spring, people can contact David Norget at davidnorget@gmail.com or William McPherson at willieonsaltspring@gmail.com.

There are several ways to support the initiative with a donation. Tax receipts can be issued upon request.

• Cash – contact David Norget (davidnorget@gmail.com) or Martha Taylor (marthataylor02@gmail.com).

• Cheque – payable to Salt Spring Community Health Society mailing address: 181 Booth Canal Rd., Salt Spring Island, B.C., V8K 2N2 (Please specify “SSHAN – Mental Wellness Initiative” on your cheque).

• E-transfer – donations@saltspringcommunityhealth.ca (Please specify “SSHAN – Mental Wellness Initiative” in the message section of your transfer).

• Online – CanadaHelps.org. Search for Salt Spring Community Health Society and please specify “SSHAN – Mental Wellness Initiative” in the note section. During the month of June through CanadaHelps, every $1 donated gives the MWI the chance to win $20,000. The more that’s donated, the greater the chances of our winning (canadahelps.org/en/givingchallenge/).

• For any significant (>$25,000) donation of securities (publicly traded stocks and bonds), there is a possibility of avoiding paying capital gains tax by contributing to a flow-through fund through the Salt Spring Island Foundation (SSIF). Please talk to us to discuss further details. (Great thanks go to the SSIF for this option.)

We currently have two angel funders each willing to donate up to $5,000 each = $10,000 that, if matched by community donations, will equal $20,000 in donated funding!

The Mental Wellness Initiative thanks our past and present sponsors — Island Health Community Wellness, SSIF, Capital Regional District Grants-in-aid — as well as the many organizations and community members who have contributed their time to our efforts. We also thank Harlan’s Chocolates and Salt Spring Coffee for contributing chocolate and coffee to support our community appeal!

Summer Outdoor Concert Series kicks off July 27

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Summer Outdoor Concert Series kicks off July 27

SUBMITTED BY SALT SPRING ARTS

The first concert of the five-week-long 2023 Summer Outdoor Concert Series begins with a splashy season opener on Thursday, July 27.

Salt Spring Arts is excited to present the fourth edition of the free concert series in conjunction with marquee presenters Salt Spring Country Grocer and Island Savings, a division of First West Credit Union. The events run from 6 to 8 p.m. in Centennial Park, overlooking Ganges Harbour.

The Cowichan Tzinquaw Dancers will be taking the stage at 6 p.m. on July 27 to kick off the concert series with their dynamic performance. The Tzinquaw Dancers are an intergenerational dance troupe, honouring the traditional Quw’utsun dance and songs from the Cowichan Valley. Formed in the early 1960s, they embody and empower cultural identity and the Hul’qumi’num language, through the large and elaborate dances that have been taught to them by their Elders.

Vancouver-based soul singer/songwriter Mikey Jose is the first headlining act of the season, with a familiar yet novel sound that has been turning heads internationally. Drawing comparisons to soulful heavy hitters like Stevie Wonder and Leon Bridges, Jose carves his own lane that blends generational sounds while injecting his own fresh take on growing up in modern times. Jose and his band Bungalow have performed sold-out shows in Vancouver’s biggest venues and international music festivals.

For more information about the concert series, visit www.saltspringarts.com/socs.

Beddis water users must boil again 

Robb Magley
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Beddis water users must boil again 

For the second time in a week, Salt Spring residents connected to the Beddis Water System were told to boil their drinking water until further notice, due to another break in one of the main water lines Wednesday, July 19. 

Five days after an all-clear message was issued from Island Health pertaining to the previous break and nearly week-long boil-water advisory, many users reported a drop in pressure Wednesday morning shortly before the new advisory was issued around 9 a.m. 

Notwithstanding the name, the Beddis Water System serves properties on several roads besides Beddis, and indeed some located on Beddis Road do not get their water from the eponymous provider. The notice from the Capital Regional District (CRD), who administer the water system, included its customers on Beddis, Cusheon Lake Road (east of Stewart Road), Stewart Road, Creekside Drive, Hillview Place, Cusheon Place, Lionel Crescent, Miles Avenue., Wildwood Drive and Samuel Crescent — and all are advised to boil their water before drinking until further notice. 

The CRD issued the first boil water advisory Monday morning, July 10; the all-clear notice — indicating Island Health was satisfied the water posed no health concern — came Friday, July 14. 

The most recent advisory was issued in consultation with Island Health, according to the CRD, who suggest household tap water be boiled vigorously for at least one minute and cooled before drinking.  

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

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

In Response: Aim is to diversify, not increase, population

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In Response: Aim is to diversify, not increase, population

BY LAURA PATRICK

Salt Spring Local Trust Committee member

I wish my world as an elected official, charged with making land-use decisions, was as exciting and powerful as one prolific Driftwood opinion pages writer imagines it to be (Frants Attorp, July 12 “More Than Meets the Eye” Viewpoint).

If I had the power and ability to “control the outcome,” circumstances would be very different for many island workers seeking a place to call home.

As if the Trust policy statements, official community plans (OCPs), land use bylaws (LUBs) and the rules found in the Local Government Act and Community Charter aren’t mind boggling enough, layer on a complex federated form of governance that exists nowhere else in the world, and it’s a pretty easy task to blame, criticize and leap to false conclusions, and an equally impossible task to “control the outcome.”

Here are the facts: 

Salt Spring has experienced a steady growth for decades. The 2009 housing needs assessment that came out one year after the OCP was last updated accurately forecasted the growth, and pointed out that while the year over year growth is not large, over time it is. The report identified the need for long-term planning for not only housing but for all forms of housing-related infrastructure and services. The report described the sub-standard conditions of the Salt Spring Island secondary rental market that consists mostly of illegal forms of housing. 

The demographics making up the growth rate are narrowing. They consist primarily of people who can afford to purchase a single-family home costing on average $1.3 million. I am not advocating that we increase the growth rate, but rather that we act to diversify that growth. We need to expand the options of housing types on the island to appeal to a broader range of demographics.

This is the challenge for the upcoming OCP/LUB review. Our staff are working hard to kick this review off on solid ground. I always say it is vitally important to linger in the project definition phase. In this phase, we collect and analyze data and design community engagement processes to ensure that all voices will be heard. During this phase we are also developing an Indigenous relations approach. So stay tuned, you will have lots of opportunities to shape this review and affect the outcome.

Who makes up a healthy island community? What kind of housing do they need? Are the bylaws driving that kind of housing? And absolutely, this all must and can be done better in support of the Islands Trust mandate.

Salt Spring Pride Festival Welcome: You are Needed

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Salt Spring Pride Festival Welcome: You are Needed

BY ROBERT BIRCH

He/Him

Festival Programming Volunteer,

Diverse and Inclusive Salt Spring Island

South of our border, the Human Rights Campaign has declared a state of emergency.

Welcome to the world of 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride 2023. You are needed. From the lesbians and gays who’ve “been there, done that,” to queer kids who struggle to make eye contact in an age of screens; to allies who helped get the gender-neutral signs on bathroom doors only to have them ripped down last month at the Salt Spring library; and most especially to those for whom this will be their first Pride ever! You and your chosen family are the most welcome. It is because of your queer joy that a team of nearly 75 volunteers have come out of their pandemic-ravaged silos to remember that magical healing feeling of connection and belonging.

Why do all these amazing organizers and volunteers spend thousands of hours throwing Salt Spring’s biggest party (and second most financially lucrative event) of the year? Because we’re a messy rainbow of creative, opinionated people who care. Because we’re hurting too. 

Trans and queer folx are hurting worldwide from relentless, daily attacks. Many pay with blood, others with their lives. Our mental health is negatively impacted by the cost of living, lack of services, lack of allies — all rooted in lack of support from parents, educators, politicians and communities. Per capita, our suicide rates are off the charts, especially for our youth. For most, we survive knowing we are hated for who we are, and what we represent. Why? In the early 1970s, one of the five identified factors of homophobia was jealousy. We are reviled for our freedom from society’s stifling box of normativity. Marriage rights, economic class or gender status do not guarantee our collective safety.

Fascism’s playbook needs scapegoats. Control Indigenous lands and women’s bodies, murder people of colour, banish the queers and ban the books. It’s all happening faster than our heads can spin. Trans and queer people, however, play a pivotal, necessarily destabilizing role against the bloated prophets of war and gladiator culture. This is why lawmakers in the States introduced 525 anti-LGBTQ bills and have signed 70 into law so far in 2023, twice the number of similar bills in 2022.

Despite feeling overwhelmed by endless disasters, seemingly too exhausted to do the hard work of stopping the propaganda of denial; corporate-colonized greed seemingly greater than our efforts to do an about-face on the real crises of our times, hand in hand we march on. Despite Russia using “decadent western queers” as their ideological pretext to war, their orgy of violence spawned by a decade full of divisive fake news about trans people in social media, we must stand together. Despite hate-mongering politicians spreading their virus of lies, gleefully jumping into bed with fanatical religious leaders, we choose love, kindness and service. In Canada, we do not get a pass. We have but a bit more lead time to get organized to ally with the most adversely affected.

We need each other. We will not be defined by the haters. We’re not their victims. We’re proud and loud survivors. Let your truth mirror ours, our joy mirror yours. Together, we are this beautiful. Pride means dressing up and dancing to affirm life itself — our collective rights, responsibilities, our privileges to share. This is our first four-day Pride Festival and we’re inviting all islanders to invite your off-island friends to come camp, dance in the streets, then dance some more at the Farmers’ Institute. Let’s join together to reaffirm all that is good in our world: people who help people who recognize nature thrives in diversity.

This year our island youth will be leading the parade. Let them know we are proud of them; that we joyously and unequivocally have their backs.

Viewpoint: Ganges Bypass a worthy project

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Viewpoint: Ganges Bypass a worthy project

By MIKE STACEY

Running the “Ganges Gauntlet” last Saturday morning I was reminded of David Courtney’s campaign to lower the speed limit in town. At the time, I was unable to reach 30 km/hr, never mind exceed it.

This was caused by the brilliantly choreographed ballet wherein one pedestrian wanders onto a crosswalk, then when he is about half way across, the next one heads out into traffic, followed by another, and another, ad infinitum.

Jaywalkers run interference. Friends often stop in the middle for a hug. Somehow the whole operation is synchronized in such a fashion so as to ensure that all crosswalks are screwed up at once, causing traffic to back up so far that the Vesuvius ferry cannot unload, forcing the crew to take all the cars on board back to Crofton.

At the Rainbow Road stop sign, impatient drivers have been known to sell their car, as is, where is, and walk away. Others have died of starvation or old age.

I also question David’s concern about excessive speed, as he himself has been repeatedly clocked travelling in excess of 500 miles an hour, though admittedly not through town on a Saturday morning. As a retired airline pilot, David is well aware that when a big ugly storm looms ahead and you can’t go through, you must go around. I believe the same applies here.

This brings us to that elusive yellow brick road, that mysterious will o’ the wisp spoken of in hushed tones for decades: the Ganges Bypass. (GASP!) The route laid out millennia ago is to extend Atkins Road off into the bush, connecting with Reid Road off Charlesworth, then continuing to join Fulford-Ganges Road at the top of the hill.

This ain’t gonna happen any time soon, but what if it could be punched through only as far as Charlesworth? This would complete the “two routes.” It would also make life easier when the new fire hall gets built. In a pinch I suppose, for the time being, the road could be built only as far as Drake Road, but this would constitute a half-ass bypass.

I would hereby like to inform David that speed limits are “small potatoes,” unworthy of his considerable energy. I would like to see him studying the bypass issue, then with sharp stick in hand, poke the appropriate bureaucratic bears to get things moving. It would be a long process and get the locals all stirred up — always fun to do!

Success in this endeavour would mean eternal gratitude to David from the local citizens. We may be talking bronze statue here.

The writer has lived and worked on Salt Spring Island for many decades.

Mobile health clinic boosted by donations

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Mobile health clinic boosted by donations

BY KIRSTEN BOLTON

For 100+ Women Who Care Salt Spring

After three compelling presentations, including from the Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust and Gulf Islands Secondary School Rowing Program, the Salt Spring Community Health Society was declared the winner during 100+ Women Who Care’s most recent meeting.

The society was awarded a collected total of $15,600 to go towards the purchase of an electric cargo van that will be converted into a mobile health clinic — a “doctor’s office on wheels,” as Martha Taylor, vice president of the society, calls it.

“This marks an important step towards addressing accessibility to primary health care and mental health services on Salt Spring, where now 50 per cent of people report not having a family doctor or are falling through the cracks,” she said.

The health society formed a steering committee in the fall of 2017 from a group of residents drawn together out of concern for the chronic shortage of doctors on Salt Spring. It became an incorporated B.C. society in 2018 and a registered charity later that year. In order to ascertain how the society could best serve the community, it conducted a health needs assessment. The number-one concern among residents was the lack of timely access to mental health services.

The vision for the society’s mobile health clinic is that it will be staffed by primary health care providers, such as a physician or nurse practitioner, and a registered nurse — each with mental health training — and one or more peer support workers or clinical social workers. This is to ensure patients have access to a team trained to provide inclusive, trauma-informed and culturally appropriate care.

“We believe a mobile health unit that treats and refers cases before they become urgent will have a positive effect on the caseloads of existing physicians and hospital staff,” said health society president Jennifer Williams. “We also believe a mobile clinic can attract primary health care and mental health outreach providers who are drawn to this model of health care and may relocate here.”

The society is partnering with the Salt Spring Health Advancement Network to carry on its Mental Wellness Initiative, which is a community-led program focused on expanding peer support programs and includes the recently launched Ambassador Program. The program involves the RCMP, Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce and Salt Spring Community Alliance with volunteer support peers making themselves visible and available to anyone who looks like they could use a hand.

Mobile units are proving successful and are part of a growing North American trend. There are currently 26 operating across the country, with eight in B.C. Salt Spring’s mobile health van will be the first 100 per cent electric van in Canada.

The timeline for ordering and receiving e-vehicles is currently two to three years, and including the cost of converting and installing the necessary equipment, the budget is projected to be approximately $275,000. However, a recent donation by a generous community member has allowed the society to put a deposit on an in-stock Ford E-Transit van. In addition to the 100+ Women’s donation, the society has a grant from the Salt Spring Island Foundation and a Capital Regional District Grant-in-Aid commitment. The society is accepting donations from interested community members.

“On behalf of the board of the Salt Spring Community Health Society, I’d like to express our gratitude to the 100+ Women Who Care members’ financial support for our plan to bring an electric mobile health clinic to the island. This is a significant step forward for us,” said Williams.

The 100 Women Who Care initiative was launched in 2006 as a simple, efficient and effective collective fundraising model for charities. One hundred (or more) women each contribute $100 and vote for one of three nominated charities three times a year. The Salt Spring branch was founded in November 2018 and has raised over $228,000 for now 14 causes.

The nominations deadline for the next 100+ Women Who Care meeting will be in October.

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