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Arts council survey results to guide future planning

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Arts council survey results to guide future planning

BY ELIZABETH NOLAN

Special to the Driftwood

Salt Spring’s community arts council has a better idea of how to direct its energies and resources in the future thanks to islanders who shared their input in a survey exercise this fall.

The council’s strategic planning committee recently shared the results of the public survey Salt Spring Arts held during October, along with conducting direct interviews with 15 community stakeholders. Executive director Yael Wand wants the community to know their messages have been received.

“We’ve heard you. We got incredible feedback from people, and this is going to directly feed into how we develop our priorities in the coming years,” Wand said, adding, “We want to ensure we’re utilizing our limited resources in the best way possible to serve this community through the arts.”

Results suggest Salt Spring Arts is doing many things well, but some improvements will be healthy for the organization’s future and sustainability. Strategic goals will likely involve attracting a younger demographic; continuing with family events and programs; producing more events that involve the entire community; and addressing inclusion, diversity and BIPOC issues.

“People are hungry for more diverse cultural offerings and access to diverse artists,” Wand observed.

Among the things people feel Salt Spring Arts does well, a majority of respondents agreed that it’s supporting local artists (their top choice) and producing relevant or engaging exhibitions. When asked what they most valued about the organization, respondents offered statements such as, “It has heart and soul about what is precious about Salt Spring,” and it “embodies all that is great about arts on the island.”

Board vice-chair Deborah Osborne, who also co-chairs the strategic planning committee, said many respondents were excited about the public-facing events that Salt Spring Arts presented or partnered in over the past year, such as the Summer Outdoor Concert Series, the Murals on Salt Spring Project and the On the Rise climate action festival. 

“They wished for more activities like those, and would love to see more public art, sculpture, dance, music, literary events and theatre,” Osborne noted.

Artcraft continues to be a beloved program: it is the number one way people engage with the arts council and the program respondents felt had most value. Participants likewise believe it’s important that Salt Spring Arts is a non-profit entity, and they support the arts council having its base of operations at Mahon Hall as a cultural hub and historic treasure.

In terms of things to work on going forward, respondents felt the arts council somewhat addresses the needs of children, youth and emerging artists at present, but they would like to see a bit more focus on these groups and also on diverse art forms in addition to the visual arts. Programs centred on digital, multi-media, film technologies, animation and interactive art might help engage this group.

Another concern the strategic planning committee highlighted is that “a handful of survey participants did not know about all the events, programs and activities Salt Spring Arts created, produced, or was involved in with other organizations — or indeed, what exactly Salt Spring Arts is all about.” Shining more light on the organization’s many initiatives will therefore be another goal going forward.

In addition to the valuable information collected from those who did respond, the gaps in participation also provide important data. The arts council now has a good idea of who is not being reached by its communications, and where more effort needs to be directed.

Many of the respondents were Salt Spring Arts members, indicating people who are already interested in the arts wanted to have a say. As well, respondent demographics largely reflect the island’s median age of 56, with 49 per cent in the 65+ age group. Fewer than seven per cent of survey participants were younger than 40 — reinforcing the notion that more should be done to reach and engage these groups in the future.

The arts council board and staff are now getting ready to take the research findings, alongside other sectoral and community data, and use them to develop strategic priorities and more great community arts programs in 2023 and beyond.

“People took so much time and care to answer the questions. It’s really evident and we’re so appreciative of that,” Wand said. “The responses really demonstrated how much people value the arts and artists in this community.”

Snow removal process creaks under heavy loads

Robb Magley
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Snow removal process creaks under heavy loads

As Salt Spring dug out from the latest weather wallop, not everyone had the same experience with snow removal — and many were unclear about who was meant to clear what areas.

The island-wide undertaking is complicated, often lengthy, and highly interdependent; and, given the reality that snowstorms on the islands are increasingly the norm rather than the exception, evolving. 

Right before this last storm kicked off, BC Hydro released a study that highlighted what many have already observed: winter storms over the holiday season are becoming more frequent, and increasingly severe. Over the past five years, the average number of B.C. electricity customers affected by a storm that fell between mid-December and mid-January has risen more than 500 per cent, compared to the previous five years. BC Hydro spokesperson Susie Rieder said the utility had been stepping up staff and line crews during the holidays in response, and increasing year-round vegetation management to identify problem areas and remove branches in advance of snowstorms.  

On Salt Spring, that new reality has strained existing snow removal processes. Like parking lots, many sidewalks in Ganges around businesses are privately owned, and responsibility for clearing them lies with the property owners. While there is no standard or bylaw concerning snow removal anywhere on the island, contractors hired by business owners were busy last week helping keep storefronts clear enough to operate. And while not every sidewalk and parking lot was tackled with the same attention to detail — snow windrows blocking accessible parking ramps and pedestrian walkways were a source of friction — businesses did their best to open as soon as they might be reached by customers, owners and employees. 

Despite a clear storefront, many of those walking to work found their routes to-and-from remained snow-covered. Roadside pathways within the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure rights-of-way fall among the responsibilities of the Capital Regional District (CRD) through its Salt Spring Island Transportation Commission. Since that commission doesn’t have any maintenance staff, it contracts with CRD parks and recreation staff to maintain them. Historically, that arrangement worked well enough to cover the limited number of snow events Salt Spring Island would face.  

But the past few years have been different. 

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve had some heavier snow for longer durations — and we had some complaints that roadside pathways haven’t been cleared,” said CRD parks and recreation manager Dan Ovington, noting particular concern with the path between Brinkworthy and Country Grocer. “Unfortunately, the only way for us to clear the pathways would be by hand, and we just don’t have the number of staff to do that.” 

Until and unless additional funding for staff can be brought into play, Salt Spring’s local commissions are stuck trying to solve the problem within their own budgets. The purchase of a new skid steer loader — the small heavy machine on wheels or tracks, often known by its most popular manufacturer, Bobcat — was coordinated this year between the parks and transportation commissions, splitting the purchase cost and setting up both services to use it on their respective infrastructures for maintenance, repair and snow clearing. Funding is now budgeted for 2023, and the Bobcat should enable parks staff to clear those pathways next winter. 

In the meantime, Ovington said limited parks staff meant they had to prioritize; the focus was on shovelling main sidewalks and entrances on its busy properties — the Rainbow Road pool, the SIMS multi-space and Portlock Park — and engaging a contractor to clear those parking lots. The latter has been a challenge, he said, because the CRD requires a specific level of insurance for contractors to remove snow — and in the past most on-island plow outfits couldn’t justify that extra cost for a rare snowfall event. 

“Last year we couldn’t find a contractor who had the proper insurance,” said Ovington. “This year, at the last minute, we did. Hopefully we’re able to use them again next year — and if they aren’t available, we would have the skid steer to do that as well.”  

Ovington said their already small staff was challenged further by the weather; with so many side roads remaining unplowed, in addition to taxing snow-clearing operations, a lack of qualified pool staff who could even make it in saw the pool closed all day last Tuesday, and forced it to close early on Wednesday.  

Side roads are part of Emcon’s snow-clearing duties, but aren’t the priority. Andrew Gaetz is Emcon’s operations manager for Area 1 — 3,380 kilometres of roadways from Chemainus to Victoria, including roads to Port Renfrew, Lake Cowichan and Sooke, and all roads on the six Southern Gulf Islands. For a weather event like this, Gaetz said, Salt Spring’s standard complement of on-island equipment — four trucks, a grader, and a backhoe constantly loading trucks with sand and salt — got an extra tri-axle dump truck just to haul more salt over from Vancouver Island. 

“We’ve had equipment out 24/7. Our crews have worked some insane hours this week,” said Gaetz. “It’s difficult for everybody to deal with, even us — to get a foot and a half of snow overnight, and then have to mechanically remove it off the road surface.” 

Emcon’s strategy is to triage; main and secondary roads first, including the ferry routes, so that essential services — and ferry crews — can make their way up and down the island. If the snow lets up, and they can keep up, they get into the rest of the bus routes. 

“And then there’s the big side road cleanup, which always takes a couple of days,” said Gaetz. “Our crew does a really good job of organizing themselves, making lists when they’re knocking off the side roads to make sure they hit every single one.” 

But, he said, the process gets set back when large amounts of snow fall in multiple waves — such as what happened last week. 

“If it starts snowing again on the main roads, then we have to go back and deal with that. When we get back-to-back storms, the mains get snow-covered, and then everything else gets snow-covered, and we’re basically back to square one.”  

Over the past week, according to Gaetz, Emcon’s road reporting hotline put an average of 200 messages a day into his inbox, covering issues ranging from fire and ambulance emergency needs to frustration over snow piled on shoulders making pedestrian travel treacherous. That last is something of a mechanical problem, he said; on narrow roadways like Salt Spring’s, there’s only so much paved surface to work with to keep the trucks — and their drivers — safe. 

“Our plows do go a little bit wider than our trucks,” said Gaetz. “But if they go too far, they’ll be in the ditch themselves.” 

UPDATE: BC Ferries cancels numerous Friday morning sailings

Driftwood Staff
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UPDATE: BC Ferries cancels numerous Friday morning sailings

BC Ferries and the provincial government have a message for travellers: weather conditions are going to make the next several days pretty difficult. 

The warning issued Thursday afternoon was of a “strong” possibility of sailing cancellations throughout the BC Ferries system. By Thursday evening the corporation had confirmed it would cancel several early morning sailings, including all sailings leaving from Salt Spring. An original BC Ferries list did not include Fulford Harbour-Swartz Bay sailings.

Poor road conditions leading to terminals — as well as high winds and rough seas — are expected to impact ferry operations.  

The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness is also advising drivers in the south coast region “to avoid travel unless necessary from late Thursday evening into Saturday.”

Environment Canada has issued a “winter storm warning,” with hazardous winter conditions, including heavy snow and strong winds expected tonight, followed by freezing rain as temperatures warm up.

BC Ferries said it will automatically refund customers with bookings if a sailing is cancelled; if possible, customers who wish to cancel existing reservations should do so through their website BCFerries.com for the next few days, as customer service is experiencing large call volumes on their phone lines. 

Storm No. 2: More Snow, Less Travel 

Robb Magley
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Storm No. 2: More Snow, Less Travel 

Temperatures plunged, snow stacked up, and the Southern Gulf Islands turned white as the latest winter storm made getting around challenging.  

Islanders greeted more than 30-40 centimetres of cold, powdery snow by Tuesday morning, Dec. 20, after a hectic Monday that saw deteriorating conditions and a host of ferry warnings, cancellations, re-activations, and re-cancellations.  

On-island travel across Salt Spring brought drivers face-to-face with icy conditions and limited visibility, as well as significant snow that taxed plow and sand trucks. Salt Spring Transit buses had to cease operations 6:50 p.m. Monday, when officials said the icy road under the powder was causing concern and lack of stability. Incredibly, by 5:20 a.m. Tuesday one driver had dug out a bus and was running limited service on main roads; service gradually expanded over the course of the day and throughout Wednesday.

As the storm progressed, it became significantly harder to get to — or from — Salt Spring. Seaplanes faced reduced visibility and rougher seas Monday; Harbour Air reported only one of three flights from Salt Spring to Vancouver flew, and the first morning flight on that route Tuesday was cancelled before weather cleared. 

BC Ferries struggled with both weather and crewing issues; an early mechanical failure with the Quinitsa’s rescue boat knocked out the Vesuvius-Crofton route at 6 a.m. Monday morning. BC Ferries dispatched a pair of small water taxis for foot passengers by 8:30 a.m. as they sought a replacement rescue boat, eventually sourcing one; sadly, staffing began to come up short as crews headed to shifts faced their own weather-related delays. 

On Tuesday, only the 3:35 p.m. sailing from Crofton to Vesuvius departed, and about an hour behind schedule — after which BC Ferries issued a cancellation notice for the rest of the day’s sailings. While Fulford-Swartz Bay sailings ran generally as expected Monday, that route joined the Vesuvius-Croft one in cancelling early morning sailings Tuesday — and all Salish Eagle sailings between Tsawwassen and the Southern Gulf Islands were cancelled Tuesday afternoon. Various routes experienced cancellations continuing on Wednesday.

Environment Canada issued an Arctic outflow warning with wind chill values near -20 Celsius for Wednesday evening, and more snow forecast for overnight Thursday and Friday.

Christmas cover artwork shares joy

Driftwood Staff
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Christmas cover artwork shares joy

Art class students from Gulf Islands Secondary School traditionally submit pieces for the Christmas edition of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper each year. This year’s winner was Jane Holmes.

Below Jane’s piece are other entries submitted by GISS students.

Driftwood Christmas cover artwork contest winning piece by Grade 12 GISS student Jane Holmes.

Fernwood students create holiday season artwork

Driftwood Staff
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Fernwood students create holiday season artwork

This year several students from two classes at Fernwood Elementary School — Melissa Hingston’s Dorianna Chessa’s — submitted delightful artwork for the Driftwood’s annual Christmas cover art competition, as displayed below.

HOREL, Natalie Anne Jameski

Driftwood Obituary
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HOREL, Natalie Anne Jameski


February 1923 ~ November 2022.

Our beloved Mother, Natalie Anne Jameski Horel, a few months from her 100th birthday, passed away on November 25th in the Extended Care Unit of the Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island. She was born in February 1923 to Anna and Walter Jameski in the original Lady Minto Hospital. She was the eldest of 4 girls.

She is survived by daughters Cherri (Vaughn), Glynnis (Dave), Wendy (Roger), Tarri, son Michael (Sharon), 9 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren and her sister Bernice. She was preceded in death by our dad Chuck in 1998.

Natalie grew up during the Great Depression, attended the old Divide School in the Cranberry and graduated from high school in Ganges. After graduation she trained as a nurse at St Joseph’s Hospital in Victoria, later going on to obtain a specialty in Surgical Nursing at St Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. Looking for adventure after the war, she joined TransCanada Airlines as a stewardess, based in Toronto.

She and our Dad Chuck Horel were married in September 1949 at Niagara Falls, Ontario. They lived in various places in Alberta and BC before returning to Salt Spring in 1956 and settling permanently.

Natalie was the ultimate mother, grandmother and friend. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and hosting the many gatherings of family and friends. She was loved by all who knew her, opening her heart and home to all, first on the farm at Cusheon Lake and later at Beaver Point. She was known to host entire families, pensioners and others needing a place to stay. She was happy to include friends’ children who needed to spend time on a farm and frequently included them in family travel and vacations. She helped many a pensioner who lived in cabins along Cusheon Lake Road to maintain their independence as long as possible.

She was an avid gardener and her homes were graced with beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. Natalie was also an accomplished seamstress and knitter and the family benefited greatly from her skills. She wasn’t afraid to try her hand at demolition, carpentry, furniture repair or anything else that was needed by her or others. She was a beautiful soul.

We wish to thank her care providers who helped her remain in her home and lately provided additional care during her time in Extended Care. Special thanks to Diane, Marina and Josie, Barb for her van service, and the hospice volunteers for their vigil during mom’s last few nights. We would also like to thank Dr. Magda Leon and the staff of the Extended Care Unit of Lady Minto Hospital for her care this past year.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Any donations in her name may be made to Lady Minto Hospital Foundation for the Extended Care Unit, or to the charity of your choice.

MEYER, Bernardus Gerardus (Ben)

Driftwood Obituary
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MEYER, Bernardus Gerardus (Ben)


February 28 , 1925  –  December 5 , 2022.


Ben was taken to Lady Minto Hospital on November 27, 2022 for final palliative care.  It was also his 70th wedding anniversary with the love of his life, Nel.


In addition to his wife Nel, Ben is survived by his sons Eric (Barb) and Norman (Tori), grandchildren Melissa (Mike), Logan (Megan) and Devin (Stacy), and greatgrandchildren, Nahlia , Teyven, Zarin and Hallie. He also leaves behind family in The Netherlands and the Okanagan.


Ben was predeceased by his father, Ben, in 1929 when Ben was just 4 ½ yeas old, and his mother, Nel in 1996, 6 weeks after her 100th birthday.


After his father passed, Ben was much loved by his mother, her sisters and a friend of his father, who taught him to sail when he was 8 years old. Ben continued to enjoy sailing until arthritis made him stop at age 87.  He passed on his love of the water to his own family.
During WW2, Ben became involved with the resistance in Amsterdam. His group was betrayed and he had to go into hiding. After a year he could not stand staying hidden any longer. Outside he noticed a bicycle, hopped on it and went for a ride. He was caught when the German soldiers closed down both sides of the street. All men between 18 and 40 were put aside to be transported to labor camps in Germany. While they were marching, a commotion occurred at the end of column, which distracted all the soldiers. Ben instantly took advantage of the opportunity, threw the bicycle to the man next to him, and stepped out of the line. He saw a woman watching, took her arm and said “walk“. They walked for a very long time without further conversation until Ben was able to catch a ferry to complete his escape. He then went back into hiding until the end of the war. In June 1945 he joined the Canadian army in The Netherlands until his unit was taken over by the restored Dutch army.


In 1957 Ben emigrated with Nel and Eric to Canada. The family spent nine months in Vancouver, then they settled in Fort St John in northern BC and the adventure began. Norman came in 1959 and Ben worked hard to build a small shack into a house for his family.  Ben enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing, skidooing and sailing. He helped to create a ski hill, and later a sailing club and a table tennis club. In 1982 Ben and Nel retired to Salt Spring Island, where once again Ben did most of the building of their new home. He loved being able to sail almost all year round, and enjoy his garden.


Our heartfelt thanks go out to all the dedicated homecare workers, Israel Cohen, Maureen the foot nurse, and the patient paramedics whose efforts allowed Ben to stay at home, being tended to by Nel, until almost the very end.  Thanks also go to the nurses and doctors at LMH, Cathy and Dr. Gorenson, and the staff at Haywards Funeral Services for their care and compassion during Ben’s final days and after his passing.


The family will be together later this summer to spread Ben’s remains.

“Write in sand the evil done to you.
Chisel in stone the good things done to you.”
~ Guido Gezelle

MENZIES, Beverly Joyce

Driftwood Obituary
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MENZIES, Beverly Joyce

July 16, 1932 ~ December 7, 2022.

With great sadness we want to share the passing of Beverly Joyce Menzies at 90 years of age.
Born July 16, 1932 in Vancouver, to her parents Stafford and Beatrix Stavert.
Passed December 7, 2022 at the Sidney All Care Facility in Sidney, BC where she spent her last years.
Bev was married to the love of her life John on July 21,1951 and were together 66 wonderful years.
They started their life together in the Cowichan Valley and had their sons Allen and Michael. Shortly after they moved to West Vancouver they had their son Steven, adopted their daughter Suzette and had their last son Ian. They lived in West Vancouver for a number of years, then onto Galiano Island and finally 46 years on Saltspring Island.
Bev was predecessed by her husband John and her eldest son Allan (Margarite).
Lovingly remembered by her son Michael (Valerie), daughter Suzette (Paddy), son Steven (Laura), and son Ian (Denise). By her grandchildren, Jeremy (Danielle), Kyle (Brooke), Chelsea, Russel (Nichole), Michelle, Carson, Jennifer (Ian), Brian (Leah), and Stacey. Her great-grandchildren Cooper, Bronwyn, Reilly, Colton, Wyatt, Casey, Brooklyn, Lucas, Morgan, Rowan, Evan, and Bailey.
Bev did a great job raising a very busy family. She also balanced life beside John in their many ventures. Including catering in Honeymoon Bay, driving for the boys paper routes in West Vancouver, building and managing a resort on Galiano Island and working on John’s numerous home builds, boat restorations, water taxis and endless projects.
Bev and John finally found time to spend the winter months in Palm Springs, where Bev enjoyed the sunshine, swimming, playing shuffle board, golfing and meeting many “snow birds” through the years.
A special thank you to Sidney All Staff for their care and kindness and Dr. Pawlik for assisting Mom in her last years.
There will be no service by request of the family.
First Memorial Funeral Services
1155 Fort St.
Victoria, BC, V8V 3K9

Viewpoint: Ferries progress proves advocacy still effective

Contributed Article
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Viewpoint: Ferries progress proves advocacy still effective

By DAVID COURTNEY

PATRONS OF ROUTE 6

Gary Holman, our 30-year veteran of local and B.C. politics and recently re-elected CRD director, appears to be amazed at what fellow ratepayers and guests to our community can achieve when we come together as one (“Island’s ferry committee on right track” letter, Dec. 7 Driftwood).

We, the patrons of Route 6, have advocated with passion and persistence since Dec. 22, 2021 for better ferry service and infrastructure on Route 6. Sadly, this has been done without the director’s vociferous support and that of others within his camp.

Released on Sept 30, 2022, BC Ferries’ Performance Term 6 (PT6) submission to the BC Ferries Commissioner included a new two-ferry service for Route 6, along with new terminals at Vesuvius Bay and Crofton targeted for completion by the fall of 2026. This came about through the absolute dogged persistence of a few like-minded patrons who regularly use the route and simply have had enough of the situation on the Vesuvius Bay-Crofton crossing. The current support of 2,216 fellow petitioners and climbing at Change.org is what keeps the campaign alive and well.

It was another good week when we learned that the finalizing of Crofton terminal upgrades, Concept 2 with slight modifications, is well underway. As well, BC Ferries is supposed to hear on Dec. 22 from those shipyards that intend on quoting for the construction of the four Island Class vessels to be built between now and 2026.

What’s next? Continued campaigning to ensure the funding is approved by the BC Ferries Commissioner for the improvements contained in the PT6 submission. In the very near future we intend to conduct an ad hoc survey of the residents and patrons of Route 4 Fulford Harbour to Swartz Bay. We will collate the results and submit them as a comment to BC Ferries’ PT6 prior to the March 31, 2023 deadline for public comment.

Finally as we close out the year 2022, it’s been a great year for advocating. Advocating and persistence still works within our community to affect positive change.

We would be remiss if we didn’t extend our sincerest gratitude to the following supporters: MLA Adam Olsen, past North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring and now the new Mayor Rob Douglas and council of the Municipality of North Cowichan, the chairs of the Chambers of Commerce of Chemainus, Duncan, Ladysmith and Salt Spring Island, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming, BC Ferries board chair Joy MacPhail and BC Ferries vice president of community engagement and strategy Brian Anderson.

The most important ingredient was our fellow petitioners/supporters, who came together as one. Now that was remarkable and sincerely appreciated.

Happy holidays, everyone!

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