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RANNEY, Beth

Driftwood Obituary
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RANNEY, Beth

Beth Ranney
18 October 1926 – 19 January 2022

Letabeth (Beth) was born in Ingersoll, Ontario, the oldest daughter with 3 younger brothers to Arthur & Grace Waring. Bethy, as her brothers called her, was one of those young women who chose to help the war effort by working in agriculture, having already completed her advanced music studies in piano. At the end of the war she married Paul Ranney, after he returned from the navy, and started her long career as a piano teacher.

Beth and Paul worked hard with a market gardening business in addition to their jobs, as well as caring for their 3 children. Over the years they transformed their old Salford house into a big comfortable home.

On retirement Beth and Paul moved to Salt Spring Island, where they fit right in with that active and creative community. Beth sang for the Salt Spring Singers and later with the Lost Chords choir. She was the accompanist for a vocal quartet and often played at events where a capable pianist was needed. Throughout her 36 years on Salt Spring Beth volunteered in many roles with OGIFA (supporting production of coffee from Omatepe Island in Nicaragua). She drove, packed groceries and answered phones for Salt Spring Seniors and threw many great parties for these groups.

Beth and Paul were adventurous & loved to travel. Beth organised house exchanges to Australia, Ireland & Italy. They went to Nicaragua, Africa and New Zealand. Visiting Australia 5 times to see their daughter Kathy, they explored wild natural places in preference to cities. Beth made 2 more trips to Australia after Paul was gone, the last in her 90s. She loved swimming in the ocean baths. Beth was strong minded, resourceful and intelligent, a great model for her children.

In her lifetime Beth has grown a lot of food and flowers, played many tunes and sang many songs. She is remembered by friends as a wonderful musician who generously shared her gift. She had great capacity for living life to the fullest and brought a pragmatic acceptance to all that life had to offer. Beth was a caring, considerate and generous person, always looking to help others without being asked. She was a wiz at crosswords and Sudokus, always had a book on the go or a pair of socks being knitted.

Beth is remembered with appreciation and affection by many piano students and missed by her friends at Meadowbrook where she has lived for the past 6 years. She will be greatly missed by her children Kathy and John, her 5 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Beth said at the end of her life “ don’t mourn me – be happy for me”. So we celebrate the full and good life she lived.

Update: Tsunami Advisory Cancelled along bC Coast

Emelie Peacock
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Update: Tsunami Advisory Cancelled along bC Coast

A tsunami advisory that was issued for parts of the B.C. coast near the Southern Gulf Islands and Salt Spring Saturday morning has been cancelled.

The advisory was cancelled as of 2:48 p.m. Saturday, just over six hours hours after it was issued for several zones of the B.C. coast yet not for the Gulf Islands. The advisory warned people to stay away from the shoreline and stay tuned for emergency alerts, after a volcanic eruption near the Tonga Islands Friday night.

Emergency Info BC stated that Zone E, where the Gulf Islands are located, was not subject to the tsunami warning. The warning was in effect for zones A, B, C and D. Zone D borders the Gulf Islands, but does not include them as a BC Government map shows. The zone encompasses the Juan De Fuca Strait from Jordan River to Greater Victoria, including the Saanich Peninsula.

A tsunami warning is active for zones A, B, C and D. The Gulf Islands are on the border with Zone D, but are within Zone E which is not included in the advisory.

Despite not being included in the advisory, Salt Spring Island Emergency Program (SSIEP) issued a notice 8:15 a.m. Saturday informing of the tsunami advisory for the region. “Due to the advisory, there is a possibility of strong localized currents in harbours and coastal areas,” yet “no significant inundation or damaging waves are expected” SSIEP stated.

SSIEP stated people should not go near the water and if they are on or near the water to “move out of the water, off the beach and away from harbours, marinas, breakwaters, bays and inlets.”

People should stay away for the duration of the advisory until the “all clear” announcement has been made, SSIEP added, estimating that the advisory would likely be in place for five to six hours.

As it was an advisory only, SSIEP said it was not necessary to evacuate.

The advisory came after an underwater volcano eruption near the Tonga Islands Saturday at 8:27 p.m. PST, which generated a tsunami and forced people on Tongatapu to flee from their homes. It was the second eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in two days.

SSIEP reminded people to sign up for the CRD’s emergency alert system online or by downloading the Alertable app or the Alertable skill for Amazon Alexa and Hey Google.

Fundraising for local family dog’s surgery hits halfway mark

Emelie Peacock
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Fundraising for local family dog’s surgery hits halfway mark

A Salt Spring mother is getting closer to her goal of providing life-saving veterinary care for her son’s dog Bella. 

A GoFundMe online fundraiser for the family’s three-year-old Shih-Poo has raised $6,088 of a $10,000 goal as of Jan. 13.

“I don’t usually receive help in my life so I am moved to tears,” Mandy Roy wrote about the support she’s received so far. 

Roy, a single mother who is in temporary housing with her son, said she is experiencing the island’s housing crisis directly. Finding an affordable pet-friendly home is proving next to impossible.

“Anything two-bedroom is about $2,000 to $2,500 and . . . the last six months, every single rental has been no pets,” she said. 

Roy stressed that Bella is a family member and “the centre of our universe,” but before she knew about her condition she contemplated having to give her up in order to find a home. This is a reality for many renters, who have to choose between surrendering their pet to secure housing or keeping their pet and becoming homeless. Putting her son through losing his dog is not something Roy said she can consider, “so I’m just literally stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Being told by a veterinarian that their dog likely has intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and may need between $7,000 and $10,000 worth of veterinary care affected Roy and her son deeply.

“We cried all the way home because of how disgusting the diagnosis is,” she said. “[My son] absolutely needs her and he can’t be without Bella, which puts me in a predicament.” 

For the time being, Bella is on strict bed rest and is taking anti-inflammatory medication. In a few weeks, Roy said, Bella will see a specialist and undergo testing that could include an MRI or a CT scan to understand which of her discs are impacted and what is happening to her spinal cord. 

Roy was told many don’t go through with surgery due to the cost, but this would leave Bella paralyzed in her hind legs, possibly incontinent and the condition may even lead to death. 

Since she started the GoFundMe page, Roy said some people have questioned her fundraising effort and the cost of care.

“It is difficult to have to tell my story over and over and over again and it’s embarrassing to ask for help and to have to reiterate to people that I’m not [lying],” she explained. “Discrediting people who are vulnerable really sucks, because it does put us in a place where we now have to be an open book for people to believe us.” 

Roy referenced a news story about a seven-year-old miniature pinscher with IVDD who was cared for by the SPCA to the tune of $9,440, to put the potential costs for Bella’s care into perspective. The $10,000 fundraising goal is meant to cover costs, including “CT scans, MRIs, surgery, anesthesia, fluids and after care.”

“The surgery has a very high rate of success and would promise to return her to a normal pain-free life,” Roy wrote. 

She is now over halfway to her goal with 73 people, including one anonymous donor giving $2,600, supporting the campaign. 

Go to the “For the love of Bella – spinal surgery for IVDD” GoFundMe page to donate.

GISS Dance Presents Always Home at ArtSpring

Driftwood Staff
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GISS Dance Presents Always Home at ArtSpring

GISS Dance is presenting its end-of-semester show of new choreography called Always Home at ArtSpring tonight (Wednesday) and Thursday.

“Student choreography is at the heart of the GISS Dance program where students’ voices ring loud and powerful,” says press material about the events. “In the show, audiences will be steered through a wide range of emotional pieces, ranging from mourning our past relationships to enjoying the spirit of each other’s company, to longing for a deeper connection and the deep fire of regret. Come and join these vibrant and energetic teens and enjoy the ride!”

The Jan. 12-13 shows, which begin at 7:30 p.m., are GISS Dance’s first live performances after a two-year absence because of the pandemic.

Advance tickets ($15) only are available through ArtSpring.

COVID protocols are in place, including proof of vaccination and masks required. Theatre is limited to 50 per cent of capacity.

Nostalgia leads to Ukraine preschool fundraiser

Contributed Article
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Nostalgia leads to Ukraine preschool fundraiser

By MARCIA JANSEN

Driftwood Contributor

Igor Darmokhid moved with his wife Oksana and daughter Ivanna from Ukraine to Canada in 2018. They found a home on Salt Spring Island, where Igor — a former distribution manager for Procter and Gamble — works shifts at Thrifty’s and Hastings House. But starting a new life isn’t always easy. One and a half years ago, when he was feeling nostalgic, he started painting. It led eventually to an online gallery where he sells his paintings. All the proceeds go to a preschool in a village in Ukraine.

“Zaryvyntsi is a small village, with about 600 residents, in the western part of Ukraine,” Darmokhid said. “It is the place where I grew up. I lived there with my grandmother until I was six before I moved to a big city. After that, I spent most of my summers there. It is, just like Salt Spring, a beautiful place.”

To cope with a new life, far from home, and the isolation of COVID-19, Igor took up painting. Victoria Olchowecki, a retired headteacher and artist with Ukrainian roots who lives on Salt Spring, took him under her wing.

“I wanted to start painting, but I didn’t know exactly what to paint,” said Darmokhid. “Victoria asked me to stay close to my heart. I was a bit homesick at the time, feeling nostalgic about the village I grew up in, so that’s why I started to paint scenes from Zaryvyntsi.”

One and a half years later, Darmokhid has made 36 paintings, not only featuring Zaryvyntsi but also Salt Spring Island.

“It was hard in the beginning. I wanted the paintings to be perfect. But Victoria told me if I wanted a painting to be perfect, I’d better take a picture,” he said with a smile. “So I’ve let that go and it is more relaxing to paint now. It helps me to deal with the stress of normal life. It is a kind of meditation for me, art therapy.”

When Darmokhid spoke with his English teacher Roger May Poh at the Salt Spring Literacy Centre about his paintings and his dream to do something for the preschool in the village where he grew up, they came up with the idea of a virtual gallery on Facebook. They called it Hope for Spring.

“You can’t compare a Canadian preschool with one in a rural community in Ukraine. The government’s budget for education largely goes to the big cities. With the money from the paintings I’ve sold so far, we bought books, educational games and toys, paint in different colours to decorate the school, a printer and even slides and a carousel for the school’s playground. With this project, I want to plant seeds, so these kids can grow and thrive and eventually have a better future.”

You can find Hope for Spring on Facebook. Or contact Igor Darmokhid via darmokhid.i@gmail.com.

Early Islands Trust budget feedback encouraged

Gail Sjuberg
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Early Islands Trust budget feedback encouraged

A member of the Saturna Island Residents Association is encouraging Trust Area residents to provide feedback about the 2022 Islands Trust budget before the Trust asks for feedback itself this year. 

Mairead Boland has created a two-question survey that models the Trust’s, but hopes public opinion can be provided far enough in advance to have some impact on the final budget. 

Boland said last November she became aware of the poor timing of the Islands Trust’s annual public feedback survey on the budget. 

“The survey is launched in late January, takes place over 10 days, survey results are provided to the Financial Planning Committee (FPC) in mid February and the budget is adopted by Trust Council approximately 10 working days later,” Boland explained. “How can this survey have any impact on the adopted budget, I asked myself?”

Boland wants to provide survey data to the FPC for its scheduled meeting on Jan. 19, not a month later and that much closer to the budget’s final adoption as is usually the case. 

The survey, which is done anonymously, simply asks which island the respondent is most connected to, and whether they support increasing taxes (and programs and services), decreasing taxes (and programs and services), or two “keep taxes the same” scenarios. 

“I’ve completely and utterly copied their format, the way they’ve asked the question, etc., so it can be completely compared to the previous three years now, if anybody’s curious to know what direction it’s heading in,” she said. 

“I would really like to get the survey as widely distributed as possible because I don’t want anyone to be able to say, ‘Oh, well, you know, you sent it to your friends. What could we expect?’”

The draft 2022/2023 budget is approximately $9.5 million, mainly supported by a property tax requisition that is proposed to be 5.16 per cent higher than last year. 

Boland also made a delegation to Trust Council on Dec. 1, 2021 when the draft budget was being discussed by trustees, suggesting that council use public feedback provided to them last February when drafting the current budget.

“The [2021] survey was unequivocally in favour of no increases to the budget, consistently across multiple questions,” said Boland. “A minority of 20 to 25 per cent wanted increased spending, a number halved from a high of 38 per cent in 2019.”

While the Trust usually asks for public input about its budget in February, it does also generally invite feedback at a budget@islandstrust.bc.ca email address.

The survey is available here.

For more information, email info4allourvoices@gmail.com.

Editorial: Make Public Surveys Meaningful

Driftwood Staff
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Editorial: Make Public Surveys Meaningful

Government bodies like to make a big deal about “public engagement” these days.

No new initiatives are taken without first surveying the public, which is as it should be. But going through the process of gathering input and then ignoring the results is disrespectful to the public and makes the effort truly meaningless.

This is painfully the case with the Islands Trust and its annual budget consultation process. Each year the Trust dutifully asks its constituents for feedback on its proposed budget for the coming year. A survey asks people if they are willing to pay higher taxes for more services, want them to stay the same (with some variation in what is paid for) or want to see lower taxes and reduced services.

As Saturna Island resident Mairead Boland pointed out in a delegation to Trust Council in December, the timing of the Trust’s survey makes no sense. Public input is requested mere weeks before a final budget is adopted. Reversing the train at that point just isn’t going to happen, which has been soundly proven by the lack of responsiveness to survey results in the past few years. Boland asked council to take the results of last February’s survey and apply it to this year’s budget, which has a proposed 5.19 per cent property tax increase. Only 20.34 per cent of 941 respondents wanted increased taxes and services; 50.24 per cent wanted taxes kept the same; 20.1 per cent wanted decreased taxes and services; and 9.32 per cent didn’t know.

Since council did not jump on that suggestion, Boland has given Islands Trust property owners and residents an opportunity to express their wishes earlier than usual by posting a survey that uses the same wording as the Trust’s. A link is available in our story on page 2 and on our website.

The irony of criticizing the Trust for budget handling is that the Trust bureaucracy and Islands Trust Council members spend a huge amount of time on budget preparation and negotiation in a highly transparent and public format. Cases are made for proposed new programs and expenses, and are usually thoroughly debated before being voted on.

If the Islands Trust, or any other government body, isn’t willing or able to act on its public surveys, then they should probably not bother with them or, ideally, should survey the public much earlier in the process and be committed to heeding the results in some measure.

Michael O’Connor’s astrology column for the week beginning Jan. 14, 2022

Contributed Article
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Michael O’Connor’s astrology column for the week beginning Jan. 14, 2022

By MICHAEL O’CONNOR

SUNSTAR ASTROLOGY

Mercury turns retrograde today, January 14, at 6:41 am EST (3:41 am PST). It joins Venus and Uranus. A retrograde planet is a common occurrence in Astrology. It does produce both psychological and eventful effects, yet these can be subtle to measure. Still it remains that they generally lead us to review, reflect, revise, reconsider… according to the planet in question and the sign it is in. Mercury Rx in Aquarius is one of its better positions. However, this is generally true but not always specifically. Positively, it tends to have a mind-opening effect. Because Uranus is ruled by Aquarius, it is influenced as well and because Uranus is in the sign ruled by Venus which is also retrograde, in Capricorn, all 3 of the retrograde planets are more intimately involved. Yet, Mercury is also in direct square to Uranus and this aspect indicates the energies of each are at cross purposes and the resolution tends to be a hard-won, character building process. The outer manifestation will likely prove confrontational between the mainstream narrative and that of alternative perspectives. 

What is significant about Mercury Retrograde this year is that it actually occurs 4 times, or at least the start of 4! Usually, we experience 3 Mercury Retrograde cycles, consisting of approximately 3-weeks. The 3-week duration remains but there are 4 starts and the same can be said about 2023 which begins while Mercury is Rx. Here are the dates for 2022: January 14 – February 3, May 10 – June 3, September 10 – October 2 and December 29 – January 19, 2023. 

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

As eager as you are to take an ambitious, early lead, you also may feel happy to take time out. Such inner conflict is not uncommon, but it tends to cause frustration. However, you are determined to cash in on prior efforts made and may feel that this is not the time to retreat, even if you feel like doing so. Focus on the prize to lift your spirits.

Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)

Your sights are set on the future. You have been pushing quite strongly for some months now. The complexity of our times is on your mind and it may be challenging to feel as confident as you like. You are willing to take a philosophical approach in some regards, yet your ambitions are running strong. Make a list of your allies and assets to boost your confidence levels.

Gemini (May 21 – Jun 21)

Mercury Retrograde could contribute to feeling a little lost for a while. This can be interpreted as a sign to slow down both literally and regarding expectations. The security you yearn to feel now may be transcendental such as having faith in a higher power. You are willing to be there and strong for others but you want the same in return.

Cancer (Jun 22 – Jul 22)

The pressure cooker on relationship fronts continues to blow steam. Mercury Rx will lead you to deepen your research. The goal is to break free of fixed or rigid perspectives. The impulse to charge ahead is there, but so too is the need to be tactical and diplomatic. All the while, the cauldron of change continues to transform you inside and out.

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 23)

A focus on health, lifestyle and security are all woven into the plot now. Mercury turning retrograde will put you on best behaviour to keep the peace on relationship fronts. Circumstances are pushing you to give more these days but some people may be hard to please. Deepening your spiritual awareness may feel more necessary than usual. 

Virgo (Aug 24 – Sep 22)

A creative mood prevails. Finding the time to dive deeper into creative projects is the biggest hurdle. Your powers of critical thinking and ability to think-out-of-the-box will increase while Mercury is Rx. This could prove to be an excellent time to dive into those interests that require more detailed attention and an innovative approach.

Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

A lot of time and attention is directed to the home front of late. Family matters involving power politics and time management are featured. Health matters continue to play a central role and feeling as confident as you would like to may be a challenge. Patience is a keyword and may also be true regarding financial matters.

Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

Many thoughts and ideas are on your mind and you want to communicate them too. Doing so, however, could prove a little more challenging while Mercury is in reverse. Positively, it will activate constructively critical analysis to identify where changes and improvements are needed. A slow but sure approach will probably work best now.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

You are in a practical mood. Financial matters are weighing in strongly. Fortunately, your confidence levels are rising along with a driving determination to enter new territory. The time is right to take a few risks and to take some pioneering leads and initiatives. Even Mercury, although Rx, is well positioned to pull for the team!

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Whatever lack of focus you may have been experiencing, that is no longer the case. You may still be contending with demands on your time and attention and on a variety of fronts. Yet, your powers of concentration are supporting you to be able to manage. The key to your success now stands to include frequent mini-breaks.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 19)

You are probably extra happy to lay low and behind the scenes as 2022 gets going. Mercury Retrograde in your sign will actually serve to sharpen your focus, at least initially, yet things could get a bit blurry towards the end of the month. Meanwhile a lingering rebellious mood, which can also be described as a push for freedom, is present but you may wonder if you are banking on wishful thinking.

Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20)                

A strong sense of individuality is percolating within. It includes or requires steadily changing perspectives and interpretations of reality. Positively, you have noticed a progressive shift over the past few months. If not, you could feel stuck or maybe you are comfortable in your habitual patterns, and perhaps both. Jupiter in Pisces invites expansion and increase.

Local government wants Southern Gulf Islanders’ opinions on transportation

Emelie Peacock
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Local government wants Southern Gulf Islanders’ opinions on transportation

The Capital Regional District (CRD) is holding Zoom sessions for residents of the Southern Gulf Islands this month to get their opinions on active, public and water transportation in and between their communities. 

In Q&A sessions to be held between Jan. 17 and 28, the CRD is trying to find out what the demand is for transportation on and between the Southern Gulf Islands: Galiano, Mayne, Saturna and North and South Pender islands. Residents’ feedback will be included in a transportation integration plan, which will also propose future improvements to “walking and cycling networks integrated with proposals for public transit and passenger ferry services to complement other travel.” 

The first round of public engagement in 2021 found a general dissatisfaction with transportation across the islands. Residents were unhappy with the active transportation options, as well as public and water transportation. Most people take BC Ferries and drive their private vehicles, the report found, followed by walking and riding as passengers of private vehicles. Improving walking and cycling infrastructure and connections, especially for safety reasons, was a high priority for respondents. 

People also emphasized the need for better public transport, especially for seniors and people who have mobility issues, and rather than a bus service they pointed out car stops, ride sharing and taxi service as preferred options. Making water transportation connect well with other modes of transportation, lining it up with school schedules, making day trips possible and making it affordable were also key takeaways from the fall engagement sessions. 

Over half of those who shared their opinions with the CRD in the fall were between the ages of 55 and 74. Only four per cent of those who took part were age 24 or under.  

Formulating the transportation integration plan is part of the CRD’s efforts to create a new function for the regional district. This function would be to support better mobility on and between Galiano, Mayne, Saturna and North and South Pender islands as well as possible links to Salt Spring and Sidney. Some of what the CRD could do, it stated, is fund community buses, help facilitate improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure, and other transportation alternatives for travel between the islands. The Southern Gulf Islands Community Economic Sustainability Commission (CESC) asked the CRD board to create a transportation commission in 2018 to do this kind of work.   

If the CRD gets community support for its plans, a bylaw will be proposed this year to set up the service. A referendum will then be held as part of the October 2022 general election, for voters to decide on whether to establish the service. 

Q&A’s are being held on Jan. 17, 18, 27 and 28 with registration in advance needed for the sessions which will take place on videoconferencing system Zoom. Visit getinvolved.crd.bc.ca/sgi-transportation to register.

A survey is also open to gather feedback on the CRD’s plans.

Trustee Laura Patrick Reports To Community As 2022 Kicks Off

Contributed Article
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Trustee Laura Patrick Reports To Community As 2022 Kicks Off

BY LAURA PATRICK

Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee member

Here we are kicking off 2022 and we’re still battling with COVID-19. Last year delivered a plethora of mind-boggling experiences like heat domes and atmospheric rivers. Our cooperative community spirit has been tested, but continues to be our biggest strength.

Your input into local government decision-making is very important to me, so I’d like to update you on some of the matters before us and how you can have a say.

On Salt Spring Island, it’s the local trust committee (locally elected trustees Peter Grove and myself, and the appointed chair Peter Luckham, trustee from Thetis) that regulates land use and development.

The local trust committee (LTC) makes decisions on applications it receives for changes in land use permissions, such as development variances (e.g., lot line setbacks or building heights), rezonings (e.g., change in use or density) or development permits (e.g., work within ecologically sensitive areas or hazardous areas). You can find information about the current applications on the Islands Trust website at islandstrust.bc.ca. An update report on the status of current applications is provided as a regular item (#7.4) in every month’s LTC agenda. You can find the latest report in the agenda package for the upcoming Jan. 18 meeting.

The LTC is also proactive on several fronts. I hope you received the post card in your mail or saw the posters around town last month inviting you to participate in a public survey about the Ganges Village Area Plan. More focused engagement activities are coming this year and you can find the project page at islandstrust.bc.ca/ganges-village-area-plan/. We are recruiting additional citizen volunteer task force members to provide advice and guiding hands. If you would like to join the group please send an email to ssiinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca to express your interest.

The Housing Action Program is being guided by another citizen volunteer task force. Its objectives are to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of new housing on Salt Spring, including its ecological, climatic and socioeconomic dimensions. The Salt Spring community is made up of residents of all abilities, incomes, lifestyles, livelihoods and household types. We need a spectrum of housing types to ensure a healthy and diverse community. The LTC is working on priority actions designed to address urgent housing needs, such as using accessory dwellings (e.g., cottages, secondary suites in principle dwellings and secondary suites in accessory buildings) to alleviate the dire need for rental accommodation. We will be seeking public input on this and other housing options in the coming months and invite your input.

The Protection of the Coastal Douglas Fir and Associated Ecosystem Project, through the contributions of a science working group, has developed a powerful mapping tool that brings together several layers of information about contiguous forests, sensitive ecosystems, protected areas and groundwater recharge potential. There are opportunities to use this tool to explore different management scenarios that can help us make informed choices when it comes to prioritizing areas for protection. The LTC is working with Salt Spring Fire Rescue to see if the use of development permit area tools is an effective approach to help mitigate wildfire risk. Pending budget approval, a fire ecology risk analysis will be conducted along with facilitating a round-table discussion, with diverse and knowledgeable representation. The outcome will inform the development of management practices, stewardship and education programs and compliance mechanisms.

Through the Water Sustainability Project, groundwater recharge mapping is being completed as well as a watershed stewardship and protection plan for the island. Funding and coordination of the Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Alliance is also maintained under this project.

You can find more information about these initiatives on the Islands Trust website.

As one of your two elected trustees, I want you to know that I value your input. Every time I engage with a resident or business owner I learn something about what makes our community tick and why it is so resilient. Please feel free to reach out to me via email at lpatrick@islandstrust.bc.ca.

One of the easiest ways to keep up to date on what we’re working on is to subscribe on the Islands Trust website. Make sure to select the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee to receive notifications. Also there are several important matters occurring at the regional federation Trust Council level. Stay tuned for a separate report on this.

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