An Anglican Priest, enthusiast of classical music, the symphony, local stage and New York City Broadway productions. Richard also loved power boating, great wine and travelling the world with his children and late wife, ‘partner in adventure’, Yvonne.
Yvonne met Richard 65 years ago when she was a parishioner at his first Church as ‘Priest in Charge’ in California. Together they spent years with their 4 children as Richard fulfilled a calling to parishes in Nicaragua and Guatemala; the most wonderful years for them both as they grew to love the Latin American culture and especially its people.
The family then moved to Manhattan where Richard spent 8 years at the head office of the Episcopal Church, until he and Yvonne moved to Toronto to what would end up being 30 years at Church House as Director of Personnel for the Anglican Church of Canada.
Richard and Yvonne loved their weekends at Lake Simcoe navigating the Ontario Locks, and their greatest joy … becoming Canadian Citizens.
After retirement, the familiarity of the West Coast, Salt Spring Island and All Saints by-the-Sea in Ganges was where they knew they wanted to call HOME. Boating … a home with ocean views, wonderful friendships, seafood, visits from friends, grown children, grand children, and great grand children became the main stay until Yvonne passed away and Richard moved to Vancouver to be closer to family.
Sadly, Richard has left us after a year in long term care in West Vancouver, but those who knew him well will remember his extraordinary ability as a ‘story teller’, sharing funny and heartfelt stories of people and travels from his ‘life well lived’.
A memorial service for Richard’s Celebration of Life will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver, April 2, 2022 10:30am-1:00pm.
As of 2022, Pender Islands Health Centre will have stable funding to keep operating after a referendum gave a resounding yes to fund its operations through property taxes.
A total of 791 people from both North and South Pender islands voted in favour and 142 against in the Nov. 20 referendum. With the referendum passed, the Capital Regional District (CRD) can now raise a maximum of $235,000 per year to fund the centre, which works out to an average of $95 extra per household based on the assessed value of a home being $530,000.
With yes votes amounting for 84 per cent in a referendum that saw 39 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots, board member with the Pender Islands Health Care Society Simone Marler said this is pretty clear support for moving to this form of funding. The society manages the health facility, as well as advocating, engaging with the community and seeking out and managing funding.
Pender Islands Health Care Society board members Howard Cummer, left, and Urs Boxler put up a banner advertising the referendum at the Health Centre. (Photo courtesy Simone Marler/Pender Islands Health Care Society)
Having a year-round healthcare facility funded in part by property taxes is a long way from where healthcare on the Penders began, “with a rowboat and a midwife named Mrs. Bennett, who travelled by her own muscle power from Mayne Island to welcome new lives to the island,” as the society’s Kathleen Lightman wrote in a history of the health centre.
Doctors first attended from neighbouring Salt Spring Island, many of whom would also row themselves over for emergency calls with rowboats that served as the islands’ first water ambulances. In the 1970s the Penders got their own resident physician, Dr. Homer Rogers, who practised from his home. Wanting to retire, Dr. Rogers and the community could only convince a physician to come to the island if they had a clinic.
The Bishop Coleman Memorial Health Care Centre opened in 1981, nine years after the Lions Club came together and formed the society to keep alive Bishop Michael Coleman’s dream for a health centre on Pender. After extensive community fundraising, getting grant funding and a land donation, the health centre opened in May and the Penders would from that point on never be without a resident doctor.
After a huge community effort for many years, the Pender Islands Health Centre opened on May 30, 1981. (Photo courtesy of Simone Marler/Pender Islands Health Care Society)
The centre started with a medical clinic, dentist office and other offices for healthcare providers. By 1989, an ambulance station was built beside the centre. In 1994, a new wing was opened to house home support and alternative therapies.
In 2008 the facility doubled in size, adding a new medical wing, urgent treatment room and renovations to the existing facility. The $1.4-million upgrade was funded by over $700,000 from the community, just under $600,000 in the form of a Capital Regional District (CRD) grant and $142,000 from Island Health.
Now housing over 20 health services, including a medical clinic, dentistry, massage therapy, optometry, homecare and pharmacy, the centre sees around 17,000 visits and appointments per year for a population of 2,300 residents.
Around 40 per cent of North and South Pender residents are over the age of 65, Marler noted, compared to 17 per cent for Canada.
“The complexity of care is much different here, older people need more complex care,” she said.
Care is also integrated at the health centre, Marler added, with visitors able to access the various services “just down the hallway” from one another.
Now 41 years old, the health centre is in need of upgrades to its generator, HVAC and septic systems, as well as major upgrades to bring the building up to code with accessible washrooms, fire codes and more. The society estimated fixing all of this would cost around $800,000 over the next five years.
The stable funding to be collected by the CRD starting next year will be used to operate the centre and free up donation and grant money for repairs and renewals, Marler said.
Funding for the health centre is multifaceted. Money from the B.C. government, through Island Health, goes to funding staff that work in the centre’s clinic, including a nurse practitioner, public health nurse, community health nurses, two full-time physicians as well as the space used by these practitioners. Grants from Island Health fund some lab services, as well as part-time mental health and community support workers. Some community programs are also funded by grants from taxes.
Missing from all of this is costs of operations, which were an estimated $400,000 in 2021. Even with around half of this offset by rental income and grants, a deficit of $215,000 remains.
In the past the centre relied on local support to the tune of around $30- to $40,000 and a whopping $750,000 raised for the 2008 revamp, Marler said. Yet with an aging building, costs are set to rise and the need for donations will be around $150,000 to $200,000 per year.
In 2020 the society began researching funding options. There was little to no appetite for provincial funding for operating the health centre, the society found, and capital funding via the CRD’s hospital district was not possible as the health centre is not a designated health facility, “mainly because the building does not meet current health facility building codes,” said Marler.
After looking at a variety of options to fund solutions to these challenges, the society decided a property tax levy was the best way to ensure funding was stable and long term, and the only way to get funding by 2022. Previously, the society said it relied on the generosity of islanders for funding yet “as important as these will continue to be, donations do not provide guaranteed income.”
Using a property tax levy to fund this service is something Saturna and Galiano islands have also done, in 2017 and 2014 respectively.
“Galiano’s and Saturna’s success on going on the tax roll also encouraged us,” the society wrote. “The other options would take years of discussion with no certainty of success.”
The society had a booth at the farmers market all summer where they heard concerns from residents about the long wait for a family doctor or nurse practitioner, as well as their concerns around limited times for lab services. These are both things the society is advocating for and looking at, Marler said, adding that in the case of attracting and retaining doctors, having the health centre in optimal shape is a key factor.
Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue (SSIFR) extinguished a fire in one unit of a fourplex on Maliview Drive on Thursday afternoon.
The department was dispatched to 257 Maliview Dr. at 11:57 a.m., and both Engine 1 and Tender 1 from the Ganges fire hall were on scene at 12:10 p.m.
“With efficient manpower on scene from a fast response, fire crews went offensive on the fire, sending an interior team inside the structure to extinguish the fire,” states a news release from SSIFR. “Crews were able to knock down the fire and contain it to the room and unit of origin and prevent any extension into the adjacent units.”
Three fire apparatus were used and 16 firefighters responded.
Hydro was also shut off to the area to allow crews to complete overhaul efforts.
Emergency Social Services personnel were called to provide services to the occupants who were displaced from the fire unit. SSIFR said all other occupants were able to return to their homes after a check of each unit was completed. The fire department was on scene for just over two hours.
SSIFR said the cause of the fire remains under investigation but it appears to be accidental.
Salt Spring RCMP responded to 886 calls in the third quarter of 2021 (July 1 – Sept. 30) and, as of Oct. 1, 2021, have responded to 2,263 calls for service thus far this year. Various investigations undertaken in this quarter include a child pornography distribution file, 31 assaults, 33 sex-related offences and nine weapons/firearms investigations. There were also multiple COVID-related reports, 36 motor vehicle incidents/collisions (MVIs) and 144 mental health/check well-being reports.
SSI RCMP issued 51 traffic tickets, gave 97 traffic warnings and conducted 340 foot patrols in Centennial Park and other areas; 65 bar walks were also performed and a dozen impaired drivers were taken off the road. Traffic enforcement was conducted all over Salt Spring Island but special attention was made to seatbelt use around Ganges, speed enforcement on Cusheon Lake Road and Long Harbour Road, as well as compliance of school and playground zones.
Some of the calls in the last few months include the following:
July
SSI RCMP responded to an adult female screaming she was going to kill her parents; members apprehended the female and transported her to Lady Minto Hospital for assessment
Two impaired drivers were taken off the road within 10 minutes at an impaired check stop
Police were called by a male who was trespassing on someone’s property; the trespassing male alleged he was assaulted when he was confronted and pushed by the land-owner; the situation was mediated and no charges were laid
Police received a report of a naked male walking along Fulford-Ganges Road. Assistance was given and the male was directed to put his clothes on
Police were advised of a local adult male taking pictures of female youths at St Mary Lake; the male was identified and directions given to him to stay away from youths and St. Mary Lake
A missing male was located in Ruckle Park with the assistance of BC Parks staff; other missing persons were located throughout the quarter by SSI Search & Rescue and SSI RCMP
A female was apprehended by police at the request of a local agency because of mental instability; the female was transported to Lady Minto Hospital for assessment
A physical fight between two females resulted in injuries to one female and a charge of assault to the other
A break & enter occurred at a local business where entry was gained through a window and alcohol consumed inside; inquiries are still underway
August
Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute where an assault occurred; police attended and separated both parties
SSI RCMP were requested to conduct a check on the condition of two (2) children after a family law concern; both children were happy and well-cared for when seen by police
Police responded to a MVI where the driver fled the scene prior to RCMP arrival; a violation ticket was issued for fail to remain at the scene of an accident
Multiple calls were received one day concerning loose dogs harassing livestock; the dogs were located and returned to the owner but both the livestock owners and the dog owners were advised of the BC Livestock Act
Police received a report of a glass door of a local business being smashed; the matter is still under investigation
SSI RCMP are investigating five deliberately set fires in the McPhillips Avenue area; the arsonist(s) are still being sought
Police responded to a domestic dispute where a male and female were separated for the night for safety purposes
An adult male was arrested for sexual assault, sexual interference and other charges after an incident at the local skate park; the male is no longer on Salt Spring Island
Police responded to a report of a male threatening people with a gun in downtown Ganges; the male was taken into custody in a high-risk take-down and the replica firearm seized. Charges will be recommended to Crown
A female was arrested after refusing to leave a local business after stating she didn’t have to wear a mask on their property as per the Public Health Order; the female was subsequently arrested for obstruction, removed from the premises and issued violation tickets
After a domestic dispute, police were called to assist with a female who tried to cut her throat with a large knife; the female was taken to Lady Minto Hospital for treatment and further assessment
A local SSI RCMP officer was assaulted downtown when a female purposely extinguished her lit cigarette on an officer’s arm; the female was arrested for obstruction and assault
SSI RCMP were called to assist bylaw officers who were told by a person breaking the law that she was a “sovereign citizen” and not subject to Canadian law. Police attended and the female left the park immediately
September
SSI RCMP were called to an over-turned canoe on St. Mary Lake with people not wearing lifejackets; thankfully, no drowning took place
A suicidal male who wanted to be shot by SSI RCMP (“suicide by cop”) was apprehended without violence and transported to Lady Minto Hospital for assessment
Police were advised of a consensual fight between two persons who were arguing over a parking space at a local grocery store; no charges were laid and the situation was mediated
Police were called for some improperly disposed-of feces at a local property; warnings were issued
Three individuals requested emergency assistance due to their camping in Musgrave Landing area during a downpour; SSI RCMP requested SSI Search & Rescue to attend and when they did, two of the people refused to leave with responders
SSI RCMP were advised of a farmstand theft; members attended and after identifying and speaking with the accused, the items were returned and no charges laid
SSI RCMP want to remind all SSI residents and visitors that the unsafe discharging of firearms is illegal; shooting at drones flying overtop of people’s property should not be done. Even if the drone is hit, falling bullets can seriously injure people who are hundreds of metres away.
A man who was the public face of the Driftwood newspaper for more than 20 years died a day shy of his 65th birthday last week.
Derrick Lundy’s death on Nov. 13, only a month after being diagnosed with multiple organ cancer, has saddened so many in the community, including numerous past and present Driftwood employees who were privileged to work with him at some point between 1989 and 2011.
As former Driftwood publisher Peter McCully commented online last week, it was always a treat to see what images Derrick would bring to us each week. For practically all of my tenure with Derrick at the Driftwood, the first person to see his photos and choose which ones would be printed was his wife (and later ex-wife but always good friend) Susan Lundy. Even after I became the editor, Susan continued to do the paper’s layout for a number of years. She and Derrick were a brilliant team, and did some of the Driftwood’s best work in the glory years of print.
One of the first photos Susan would have seen one week in 2004 featured longtime islander Rita Dods clearly giving “the finger” to the photographer. Our beloved Rita had organized a special dinner for several couples who had been married for many decades. They had gathered at the Catholic Church hall, and Rita had arranged for Derrick to come and take a photo at dinner time. At about 8 o’clock that night, my phone rang at home and it was Rita wondering where the hell Derrick was. It turned out he had fallen asleep on the couch, so he quickly beetled over to the hall. After absorbing Rita’s wrath he of course got the photo for that week’s issue.
I was reminded of that story after his littlest brother Amos Lundy mentioned Derrick’s unique “sense of time” at the candlelight memorial for Derrick in Rotary Park last Wednesday evening.
“There was Salt Spring Time and then there was Derrick Time,” he said, among other expressions of endearment.
It’s true that Derrick could be easily sidetracked by anything that might arise, like helping friends or strangers at a moment’s notice, while on his way to take a photo or return to the Driftwood office. But if something went amiss he would always overcompensate with the next assignment or in some other way.
As our highly recognized and approachable “man on the street” Derrick was also often the first to hear about potential stories.
Derrick had a magical ability to bring out the best in the people he photographed; to put people at ease and win over even the most reluctant or uncomfortable subject. As both a photographer and a person, he made everyone he interacted with feel seen, heard and valued. It is such a rare rare gift.
In 2009, as Derrick approached the 20-year anniversary of taking photos for the Driftwood, Susan suggested we do a retrospective of his work. The result was a 28-page compilation of some of his best photos, including the many provincial and national award winners. A few of his photos are on this page, but we have also created a digital version of the publication for people to enjoy: to either be reminded of Derrick’s legacy as a photographer and chronicler of our island during those years, or to see it for the first time if you are a newer island resident. You can view it on our gulfislandsdriftwood.com website as a link to this story or under our Publications tab.
Derrick’s multi-branched family has understandably received so much love and support from the community during his brief illness and then death. We too send our condolences to everyone in Derrick’s family, from his long-time partner Sandra Smith, ex-wife Susan Lundy and all of the collective children, stepchildren, grandchildren and a great grandchild, his mother Lynn Lundy, surviving brothers, extended family and many people whose lives he touched in his and Sandra’s second home of Sayulita, Mexico, and around the world.
The first part of Jeffrey Renn’s one-man play At Your Service gathered many fans over its two-year journey at ArtSpring. Performed several times — initially as a rough cut at the end of a creative residency — the play saw additions and fine-tuning each time. (Its fourth run in October included a full 15 minutes of new material). Ardent fans attended each production knowing that they’d find something new, and word-of-mouth recommendations for this sparkling show were exciting to hear.
If you’re anything like the team at ArtSpring you’ll be eagerly looking forward to the next instalment, here for three nights starting Nov. 30. Renn picks up the story of Robert Service’s youth in the countryside of Scotland, and the early influences that ignited his passion for language and adventure.
Jeffrey Renn was set on the path of adapting Service’s autobiography, Ploughman of the Moon, by actor and mentor Douglas Campbell, with whom he worked over 20 years ago. Handing poetry-loving Renn a copy and uttering, “I think there’s something in here for you,” Campbell provided the initial spark which led to the play’s creation. While studying for his masters in directing at UVic, Renn wrote the first half hour, and was again encouraged to keep going by his professor. And the final push came from Cicela Månsson here at ArtSpring, who supported the play’s development with creative residencies and programming in our ArtSpring Presents seasons.
Renn is particularly interested in the grand adventure of Service’s life, a life that at times seems too good to be true. The man who left office work in Scotland to be a cowboy in the Yukon, who was in turn a spy, an actor alongside Marlene Dietrich, and who lived out his life on the French Riviera, makes for an alluring character to chronicle. Luckily for us Renn sees this fantastic life as a seven-play span — and we can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
ArtSpring Presents At Your Service – The Life & Yarns of Robert Service Part 2 runs Tuesday, Nov. 30 to Thursday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m.
Please note, as per the current public health order proof of full vaccination is required for everyone age 12+ attending this event. Patrons age 19+ are also required to show a piece of valid government photo ID. Masks must be worn at all times while at ArtSpring for those aged five and older.
This is a difficult letter to write, so please try to hear what I’m trying to say.
As we are all well aware, housing on Salt Spring is a multi-cause mess: Our failed national housing policy has allowed nests to be commodified into nest-eggs, prioritizing profits over people. Our unique local governance structure is nearly impossible to navigate, turning aside many well-intentioned community members trying to build affordable housing. Our water moratorium not only chokes new builds but has also led to the gentrification of marginal properties that have water. And sky-high demand has driven house prices off the charts, leaving many unable to buy.
To offset daunting mortgage payments, many have taken their secondary or basement suites off the traditional rental market, opting for more lucrative nightly vacation rentals. As a result, the bulk of de-facto workforce accommodation on Salt Spring has been displaced by over 500 nightly vacation rentals. People previously inhabiting those suites have been bumped to more and more marginal housing. Many workers have moved away, shuttering businesses, and many who have stayed are resorting to creative vagabonding and boondocking: in forests and tents, vans and boats, mouldy trailers and leaky RVs.
In the midst of all this, as executive director of the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, I suggested we put in an offer to purchase the Seabreeze Inne. Here’s why:
I believe that some housing is better than no housing.
The shelter was only ever a temporary arrangement agreed to by the Seabreeze owner. He gave Salt Spring Island Community Services the first right to buy the property to keep the shelter open, but SSICS was unable to secure sufficient partnerships or funding to buy it. BC Housing has been clear that they will not purchase the Seabreeze, choosing instead to develop purpose-built supportive housing on Drake Road. This sealed the shelter’s fate and the result became a scramble for BC Housing and Community Services to rehouse the people currently sheltering in the Seabreeze.
We stepped in with an offer only AFTER the Community Services offer fell through. Rumours that the groups are in competition are false. We were cheering for Community Services to buy this property. But once that deal fell through, our option was to let it sell to a tourist operator or try to save it to create rental housing.
We are working with BC Housing, Community Services, elected officials, local agencies and housing advocates to help address the need to transition their clients to appropriate housing. We have extended our potential possession date in order to have more time to help find solutions. To this end, Kisae Peterson and I agreed to a housing committee meeting on Dec. 3 where all relevant groups will convene.
We believe the Seabreeze’s highest and best use is not as a motel but as a multi-unit community housing asset. While the potential of 14-16 new residential rental units feels like a drop in the bucket, they are essential to helping fill the hospital’s 31 staff vacancies. Lady Minto is open 24/7 to serve us all when we need them. Let’s be here for them when they need us.
Salt Spring’s Parks and Recreation Commission gave some shape to the Rainbow Road site master plan with decisions made at its meeting last week.
Results of a fall public survey that attracted a high rate of interest with 664 complete and 300 incomplete responses were presented by parks and recreation manager Dan Ovington, who told commission members the plan now was to create three conceptual designs for further public and stakeholder response.
When asked what they would like to see in any future expansion of facilities at the Rainbow Road site, survey respondents selected the following top 10 options:
1. Multi-purpose sports facility (gym)
2. Ice arena
3. Sauna
4. Leisure / therapy pool
5. Lazy river
6. Steam room
7. Climbing wall
8. Playground
9. Water slide
10. Covered multi-sport court
Commission members talked about several possibilities and passed a motion that would direct including a leisure pool in a revised master plan, but stressed that did not mean the commission necessarily planned to advance that project.
“I am not advocating for this as something that needs to happen today,” said commission member Brian Webster in making the motion.
But it was noted that developing a business case for a leisure/therapy pool as well as a fitness facility at the Rainbow Road site is included in PARC’s 10-year strategic plan that was adopted in June of 2019.
Salt Spring CRD director Gary Holman also pointed out that PARC has $8 million earmarked in its five-year capital plan for a pool expansion.
“I think there might be a more higher priority for the community than a leisure pool . . . But I don’t oppose it being part of the capital plan or [Webster’s] motion that it should be included in the plans for Rainbow Road.”
Commission member Colin Walde put forth an argument to include a covered multi-sport court on the property so that inclement weather doesn’t halt practice times for youth soccer players.
Walde, a soccer coach, said between 300 and 350 players need a covered place to practice during winter months when fields become unusable due to wet weather and with school gym space at a premium or unavailable as it is now due to school board policy around COVID.
“We are lucky if we can get 45 minutes per team per week,” he said.
Sean Norgard, another commission member, asked if an ice rink would be incorporated in any site plan.
Webster shared that in-depth discussions about an arena had occurred when the last strategic plan was being developed.
“It was just not financially viable, so the 2007 strategic plan simply staked out that position that it was not appropriate for Salt Spring Island,” said Webster.
Commissioner John Gauld raised the possibility of the tennis and pickleball courts now at Portlock Park being relocated to Rainbow Road, which could free up space to add baseball fields at Portlock. The commission has not been able to secure land on Salt Spring for that purpose despite sincere efforts to do so for more than 10 years.
The Rainbow Road recreation site property is 3.16 hectares (7.82 acres) in size, with most of the area currently undeveloped.
Commissioners and staff also spent quite a bit of time at their Nov. 16 meeting discussing where a new parks and rec maintenance yard should be located. While current department staff stated they preferred the current spot on a Kanaka Road lot owned by the CRD, the commission decided putting the facility on part of the connecting Rainbow Road property was more viable. One of a few reasons cited was that a rezoning from the Islands Trust would not be needed if the Rainbow site is chosen.
“It seems selling Kanaka Road would make sense,” suggested Holman. “It would give the commission some additional funds for its parkland acquisition fund.”
No injuries resulted after a Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft collided with a sailboat in Ganges Harbour Monday night.
The hovercraft Siyay had been tasked at 5:45 p.m. with transporting advanced life support paramedics to Ganges Harbour to pick up and transfer a patient from Lady Minto Hospital to Vancouver. The transfer was deemed a high priority one, the BC Emergency Health Services confirmed, yet an air ambulance could not be dispatched due to “weather trending downward and daylight failing.”
As the Siyay entered the harbour at eight knots it made its way around the area where a number of sailboats normally anchor.
“Unfortunately one unlit sailboat was anchored outside of the common anchorage area and was not picked up on the Siyay’s radar,” a statement from the Canadian Coast Guard reads.
The hovercraft captain performed an emergency maneuver to avoid hitting the sailboat, yet the starboard side of the hovercraft hit the bowsprit of the sailboat. A bowsprit, the Coast Guard explained, is a spar extending from the bow of a sailboat.
No one was aboard the sailboat at the time of the collision, and no one on the hovercraft was hurt. The hovercraft’s crew consists of a captain, first officer and five rescue divers, as well as the ambulance personnel on board Monday.
However, a man who lives in a nearby vessel told the Driftwood that the struck vessel did have a light on its bow.
Son Mandolin said he and his girlfriend are still in shock after coming close to being struck by the hovercraft.
“They missed me and my girlfriend by about 10 feet,” he said.
Mandolin said the hovercraft was caught in a web of nearby boats after “nailing” the sailboat.
“It was like bumper boats, to be honest.”
Mandolin was interviewed by Coast Guard investigators on Wednesday and provided video footage taken after the collision to them.
He said it wasn’t surprising that the crew did not see the sailboat’s light because of the spray resulting from the speed of the hovercraft, which he estimates at between 10 and 20 knots.
Ganges resident Bill Earle said he witnessed ambulance attendants transfer an older man from an ambulance onto the hovercraft with help from Coast Guard personnel at about 8:30 p.m. while out walking his dog.
The crew was able to transport the patient to hospital in Vancouver via a Coast Guard base in Richmond. The patient was stable during the trip, the ambulance service confirmed.
Coast Guard officials are trying to locate the owner of the sailboat. They are also assessing damage to the hovercraft but are still ready to respond to any search and rescue incidents that come up from the vessel’s station.
While helicopters are used in cases of urgent medevac situations, BC Emergency Health Services stated that marine ambulances, hovercraft and land ambulance on ferries are other options.
The Coast Guard stated that they are involved on a regular basis with medevacs in situations with challenging terrain or in cases where responding by water is faster or easier.
The 28.5-metre-long, 12-metre-wide Siyay is one of four hovercraft the Coast Guard operates across Canada. Able to travel at speeds up to 50 knots, hovercraft can also travel over “land, water, mudflats, shallow water, ice and other surfaces,” allowing them to access areas difficult to reach by land.
“Coast Guard’s hovercraft are often used to reach people in distress on beaches and in areas where our land-based first response partners cannot get to quickly or easily,” the Coast Guard stated.
Hovercraft crews respond to around 300 search and rescue calls per year.
The Salt Spring Island Fire Protection District (SSIFPD), the body which oversees the island’s fire department, has a number of new faces on its board.
Rollie Cook became the fire board’s new chair after Per Svendsen stepped down from the role at the district’s annual general meeting held Nov. 22. Cook has been a trustee since 2017.
“[Svendsen] has done an admirable job stepping into the breach when things were not so smooth. I think Per deserves a great deal of respect and our thanks,” Cook said, upon taking on the role of chair.
Also stepping away from the board at the end of his term is Howard Holzapfel. Since June, Wynona Cook had filled a trustee seat that was due to expire this year.
The three vacant seats were filled by acclamation after a call for trustee nominations ended Oct. 22, with results announced on Monday night. Wynona Cook returns to the board, together with new trustees Robert Oliver and Elizabeth Zook. All three are set to serve three-year terms.
They join existing trustees Rollie Cook, Andreas Gedeon, Mary Lynn Hetherington and John Wakefield.
