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Climate Action Coaches available to help islanders lower their carbon Footprint

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Climate Action Coaches available to help islanders lower their carbon Footprint

By ANDREA PALFRAMAN

TRANSITION SALT SPRING

With 250 recommendations for actions we can take as islanders to address the climate crisis, the Salt Spring Island Climate Action Plan can be a bit of an overwhelming read.

Starting in October, Transition Salt Spring will be offering a helping hand to people who want to take action but may not know where to start. With funding support from the Salt Spring Foundation and VanCity, the new Climate Action Coach program was created to put the Plan into action. It will do this by helping islanders access the many rebate programs that reduce emissions and build our community’s resilience in the face of climate change. 

But first, let’s introduce you to our climate action coaches, Rob Lowrie and Maia Carolsfeld.

Maia recently finished her master’s degree in carbon management at the University of Edinburgh. She’s busy putting together communications materials that will introduce islanders to the new program and hopefully help deepen our personal commitments to climate action. 

“I am really excited to be able to take action with Transition Salt Spring as a climate action coach,” says Maia. “I feel that a lot of what can be done in a small community is reflective of what can be done on a global scale. And I think Salt Spring has all of the amazing pieces: this island is a really awesome example for communities everywhere.”

Since development of the climate action coach program got rolling in early August, Rob Lowrie has been busy reaching out to local business owners. “At this stage in my life, I’ve probably created a fairly large carbon footprint,” says Rob.  “I’m committed to working in earnest to work that off, by encouraging others to become more aware and take action — because it’s urgent. We have to address this now. And I feel I have some of the skills to contribute.”

Climate action coaches will offer one-stop shopping for resources available to islanders to reduce their carbon footprint at home and in their businesses. The idea behind the initiative is to provide a central place for islanders to learn about the many regional, provincial and federal programs available. These include rebates to retrofit their homes, add rainwater catchment systems, buy electric vehicles, and if Transition Salt Spring secures the funding, even incentives to change out wood stoves to more efficient models.  

“We act as navigators,” explains Rob, who has decades of experience as a broadcaster. “Often it’s hard for people to invest their time and attention into figuring out what’s even out there. We’re taking that off of their shoulders by helping them get information more quickly and in ways that are easier to understand. We hope this will inspire them to take that next step to actually make the changes they want to make.”

He adds: “One exciting part of the program is Transition’s new pilot rainwater catchment incentive that we are delivering with the proud support of the Capital Regional District and Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Alliance. Here, people can install eligible rainwater catchment systems on their property and get a rebate for a portion of the costs. After a brutal summer drought season, it’s a no-brainer that we should be investing in rooftop rainwater catchment to take the pressure off stressed aquifers.”

Transition Salt Spring is also building relationships with other incentive program managers like those offering significant rebates to install heat pumps. They are also even applying for funding to launch a wood stove upgrade rebate for Salt Springers. Emissions from fossil fuel-based home heating like oil and propane can be reduced 100 per cent by switching to heat pumps and switching out that 20-year-old wood stove for a more efficient, less polluting one that uses firewood more efficiently. 

The climate action coaches are collaborating with the managers of the Clean BC program with their library of incentives for everything from efficient double-pane windows, solar panels, and air sealing — all of which can reduce climate impacts and home-heating costs. 

Transition Salt Spring had a big-sized presence at this year’s fall fair, where islanders met and chatted with our climate action coaches and volunteers.

“Along with all kinds of information for people to take home,” says Rob, “we had a demonstration heat pump, along with a booth where people took photos as a Climate Action Super Hero. We were pretty excited to meet community members and share what we’re learning about all of the opportunities to decrease our environmental footprints and increase our savings.”

One challenge in dealing with such a massive problem as climate change is knowing where to start. Maia recommends the Lighter Footprint app, being developed with the support of VanCity and the BC Institute of Technology.

“It’s an exciting tool that gives you a more localized view of your carbon footprint, as opposed to other tools which tend to use national or international data.” 

A lot of these incentives focus on homeowners, but there are also options for renters within the Climate Action Coach program.

“First of all,” said Rob, “we can introduce you to a whole lot of other people who want to take climate action. And for people with modest incomes, we can point you to BC Hydro’s free energy saving kits that include many household measures you can take, whether it’s water-saving shower heads, kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators, or weather stripping: it’s all in the kit.”

Climate action coaches are also reaching out to local service providers and contractors both on and off the island to assemble a list of businesses that are available to help islanders reduce the juice and their footprints. Qualified contractors or installers are invited to contact Maia and Rob.

“One of the questions that comes up again and again in our outreach is, ‘What’s the point?’ says Maia. “People wonder why individual action is important when big companies are responsible for doing the most to change the climate. But, your own individual influence actually goes a lot farther than you think. 

“Climate change is a massive systemic problem. As with all systems, there’s a lot of little cogs. And so an individual is as much part of the system as the big players. I know that my influence impacts the people around me: what I choose to do influences the people that I speak with and influences my family, my friends, their acquaintances, and it ripples out from there. So I would say ‘Don’t underestimate your individual impact.’”

To contact Maia and Rob, send an email to climatecoach@transitionsaltspring.com. You can also register for our upcoming Climate Action Coach program kick-off webinar called All About Heat Pumps, delivered in collaboration with CleanBC, by going to https://bit.ly/3hpvBcX. 

One Cool Island is a regular series produced by Transition Salt Spring on how we can all respond to the climate crisis together. Andrea Palframan is a volunteer communications contributor for TSS. To support our work and read the Salt Spring Island Climate Action Plan, go to transitionsaltspring.com.  

Time to listen to real scientists and get vaccinated

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Time to listen to real scientists and get vaccinated

By MANDY SPOTTISWOODE

Driving through town last Monday I encountered the demonstration against vaccinations and masks.

As I was wearing my pro-vaccination button, I could not resist stopping to engage with the demonstrators and attempt to talk some reason into them. What a vain hope!  These people do not listen to reason and are bent on propagating their own crazy theories and alternate reality.

To deny any mainstream science and to call what is happening today in the world a giant conspiracy is total madness. Can you deny 675,000 dead in the U.S. alone and attribute those deaths to people with existing health conditions? Of course not, but according to them and their ilk these numbers have been cooked up by evil governments and big pharma in an attempt to sell us vaccines we don’t need. Every rational argument one can put to them is shouted down with crazy alternate theories that not only have no basis in science but also have no basis in reality.  

One of the arguments (and signs) that are currently popular is that vaccines don’t work. The “proof” of this is that even those vaccinated are ending up in hospital. Yes, yes, yes, that is true! No one ever said the vaccine was 100 per cent effective. Those fully vaccinated who are getting the virus are getting it from those who have been irresponsible enough to not get it. Or perhaps from children who cannot yet be jabbed, but who come from families who are unvaccinated. Those parents can then pass the infection on through their children, who often show no symptoms. So, yes, getting the jab does not make us 100 per cent safe, but it will likely prevent severe illness and death if we do get infected.

Those who refuse the vaccine may not be so lucky if they get infected. The news is full of stories about unvaccinated individuals who get COVID, and who just before they are intubated (and in some cases die) are begging others to get the jab. Of course, these stories must be fake news — right?

Look at the numbers (which they argue are invented). Most of those ending up in intensive care are unvaccinated. The strain on our wonderful health-care workers is due to these people. Those who protest outside hospitals, claiming the support of “health-care professionals” are the lowest of the low. Imagine being a nurse in intensive care and looking out of the hospital window at demonstrators denigrating what you have been doing for the last 18 months. One open letter purporting to be from such “professionals” likens the introduction of the vaccine passport to the early stages of the Holocaust, when rights and personal freedoms were being whittled away. To compare our politicians to the Nazis who murdered six million people is beyond reprehensible. And to denounce Dr. Anthony Fauci and our own Dr. Bonnie Henry as being fake scientists takes my breath away. 

I am not a scientist and don’t pretend to understand the science behind both the virus and the vaccine, but I choose to listen to accredited professionals, rather than those who may call themselves scientists and doctors, but whose credentials are suspect.  We have to believe someone, and I have chosen to trust our government and those who are advising them. And because we are lucky enough to live in a democracy, if we don’t like the way they have handled the pandemic we can vote them out come election time. I guess Justin Trudeau’s report card on his government’s handling of the pandemic will have been released this past Monday!

As I shook my head and walked away from the demonstrators, one of them started yelling in my face, saying that he had leprosy and was going to give it to me.  That pretty much sums up the kind of people taking part in these demos.  

Please, please, please . . . listen to the real scientists and get vaccinated.  It is only by everyone getting the jab that we are going to get back to a normal life, where masks and vaccine cards will no longer be needed.

If anyone would like one of my buttons, please let me know and I’ll be happy to get one to you: spottyonsaltspring@gmail.com.

The writer is a longtime Salt Spring Island resident.

SSNAP events open this weekend

Elizabeth Nolan
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SSNAP events open this weekend

Salt Spring Island is preparing to welcome the best in Canadian and Southern Gulf Islands art this month as the Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP) enters it fourth biennial season at historic Mahon Hall.

The finalists’ exhibition featuring submissions from across the country opens with a limited ticketed event on Friday, Sept. 24, and will be fully open to the public the following morning through to Monday, Oct. 25. Gulf Islands artists will be in the spotlight at the Parallel Art Show at ArtSpring, which also opens to the public on Sept. 25 and runs to Oct. 17.

SSNAP founding director Ron Crawford said organizers are looking forward to another strong exhibition, despite the climate of uncertainty around COVID risks and regulations.

“It’s been the most difficult SSNAP so far, but in a funny way I think that makes it the most important,” Crawford said. “I’m really glad we are doing it, that we are going to have a real show and didn’t delay it.”

After three successful editions so far, SSNAP is now firmly established as a national prize. Pre-COVID, Crawford said the plan was to improve the experience for locals and to keep building exposure across the nation. Some ambitions had to be dropped, but submissions to the prize increased by 40 per cent over 2019-20, including a large jump in the submissions from eastern Canada.

“That was in itself really rewarding for growing the prize,” Crawford said.

The increase also meant jurors had a great body of work from which to select the 52 finalists who will be vying for a prize. Finalists may be selected to win one of 10 awards at the end of the exhibition month — six selected by the jurors and four selected by public vote — with the top prize totalling $15,000 in cash plus a residency valued at $5,000.

The jury is another strong point to the 2021-22 offering. They are Judy Anderson, a University of Calgary Canadian Indigenous studio art associate professor who was the 2017-18 SSNAP winner; Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in K’jipuktuk/Halifax senior curator David Diviney; artist/curator/foundation creator Ydessa Hendeles; and Michelle Jacques, chief curator at the Remai Modern.

New this year is the position of a full-time gallery manager for the SSNAP exhibition. Curator, collector and artist Anthony Matthews will fill that role, as well as responsibility for hanging/installing the finalists’ exhibition.

“I’ve hung lots of shows but I didn’t choose the art this time — I’m not the curator,” he noted. “I’ve only seen the pieces in photographs, so I’ll be working to arrange it into an interesting, dynamic, creative installation. In terms of the art itself, I’m really excited.”

Matthews said the finalists include another round of strong painters, as well as artists working in diverse media, from beading to conceptual art and installations to photography.

This year, in another first, the People’s Choice Awards will go national. Every citizen in Canada over the age of 18 will get one opportunity to vote for their favourite artwork online or in person at the exhibition. The prize category additionally has a new sponsor in BMO.

SSNAP’s goal of showing the rest of Canada how strong locally produced art can be is largely manifested through the Parallel Art Show, which is going to the next level this year. Participating artists (who must live in the Southern Gulf Islands and have submitted to SSNAP 2021-22) were selected by jury for the first time. Also a first, SSNAP hired an independent exhibition manager who could lend her full focus to producing that show.

SSNAP’s usually festive gala events are being limited this year to mainly include artists and sponsors because of provincial restrictions on gatherings during COVID. The new BC Vaccine Card will be required to attend both those events and the regular exhibitions. (Note that this is a change from what was originally publicized.)

The exhibition month will include noon-time artist talks by 10 SSNAP and Parallel Art Show finalists, and an evening talk by the SSNAP jurors is also planned.

Details on the upcoming events will be posted to saltspringartprize.ca.

Elizabeth May re-elected in Saanich-Gulf Islands

Driftwood Staff
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Elizabeth May re-elected in Saanich-Gulf Islands

Incumbent Green MP Elizabeth May has won her fourth straight federal election campaign in the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding.

Preliminary results with just over half of 236 polls reporting as of 9:40 p.m. on Monday night had May leading the vote count with 38 per cent of the popular vote (8,486 votes). She was followed by Conservative candidate David Busch and the NDP’s Sabina Singh virtually tied  for second spot with 20 per cent, Liberal candidate Sherri Moore-Arbour at 18 per cent, People’s party candidate David Hilderman at four per cent and Dock Currie of the Communist party with less than one per cent. 

While all votes had not been counted as of Monday evening, May’s support had dropped from all three of her previous victories and votes were clearly spread among the other main parties as they were not in recent elections. May received 48.8 per cent of the popular vote in 2019; 54.4 per cent in 2015 and 46.3 per cent in 2011.

A Liberal minority government has been elected and, while all votes had not been counted, including thousands of mail-in ballots, the seat count was virtually the same as it had been in the election held two years earlier. Liberals were leading or elected in 156 seats (157 in 2019), the Conservatives were at 121 (121 in 2019), the Bloc Quebecois at 32 as they were in 2019, the NDP at 27 (24 in 2019), and the Green party had two seats (down from three in 2019).

Some 27,201 people are estimated to have voted in advance polls in the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding, up from 25,185 in 2019. That eight per cent increase was significantly less than the 18.46 per cent hike seen across the nation in advance poll voting. 

Check this site for updates to this preliminary story.

BC Transit provides free Fall Fair service

Driftwood Staff
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BC Transit provides free Fall Fair service

BC Transit and the Capital Regional District will provide free shuttle bus service for the Salt Spring Island Fall Fair this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18-19.

Shuttles will run frequently between the Salt Spring Island Visitor Information Centre at 121 Lower Ganges Rd. to the fairgrounds at Salt Spring Island Farmers’ Institute on Rainbow Road from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. The BC Transit service was negotiated after the usual bus provider — School District 64 — advised the Fall Fair committee it could not provide buses and drivers this year.

Customers are reminded that face coverings are mandatory for all BC Transit riders, in alignment with provincial health orders.

Fair-goers should also know that cash is required to pay the admission fees to the fair grounds. Cost is as follows:

• Adults — $10 (one day); $13 for a two-day pass.

Seniors can show their Care card to get a $1 discount per day

• Youth 7 to 17 — $5; $6 for a two-day pass

Children 6 and under are admitted free.

Salt Spring Island Farmers’ Institute members and 4-H members are also admitted free when they show membership cards at the ticket booths.

Local COVID rate keeps rising

Driftwood Staff
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Local COVID rate keeps rising

The most recent data released by the BC Centre for Disease Control indicates 13 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Salt Spring and the other Gulf Islands between Sept. 5 and 11.

That is up from seven new cases reported on the islands in the previous week.

Click on the chart above to see the full view.

For an indication of the average daily case rate of new cases for Salt Spring Island and for Pender, Galiano, Mayne and Saturna islands combined (for Sept. 7-13), see this BCCDC chart. Hover over the relevant area to get the number.

Finding Home: Frontline Workers Affected By Housing Shortage

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Finding Home: Frontline Workers Affected By Housing Shortage

By AINA YASUÉ

Salt Spring Solutions

Cindy Orser works at a transition home, one of the many anti-violence and safe housing programs provided by Islanders Working Against Violence (IWAV), assisting women who are experiencing intimate partner violence. The transition home shelters women for a 30-day transition period while finding a safe place for them to settle into. However, it has become increasingly difficult to find housing for the clients. 

“Our job is to help women get out of difficult situations,” she says. “Trying to find them housing is next to impossible.”

Cindy’s landlords are selling their condo and moving back into the cabin that she has been renting her on Salt Spring. She is paying more than 70 per cent of her income on rent and utilities. Cindy and her elderly mother were stressed about moving out due to the competitive housing market. 

“The housing crisis has affected my sleep. It’s amazing how many months of stress it takes up. To think about where to go, how to get there. At this age, moving is not that easy,” she says.

Cindy and her mother eventually found a place to move to in October, although it will cost more, leaving Cindy with only a couple of hundred dollars left each month for food and personal necessities. It’s her second year on the waitlist for social housing yet, she says, “you basically have to be homeless to get in.” And even then, it’s not enough. “Many people who come to the shelter live in their cars. We’re getting so many calls about women who are on the streets, and lots of seniors who don’t have places to live. There is no place for them here.” 

Issues of homelessness and abuse are interconnected. As Cindy observes at her work, homelessness can leave people vulnerable, finding themselves in dangerous situations which can lead to abuse. Many people end up moving from one transition home to another, never finding stability, or eventually, sadly, returning to the place from which they fled. The challenges are especially hard on young mothers, who must constantly re-organize logistics to be able to continue to work and keep their kids in school.  

“It’s very stressful and disappointing to send them to another shelter. The main thing is they just need a place to live. They need a room, a bathroom and a little place to cook.” 

Cindy said that the need for housing is greater than ever, specifically pointing out frontline workers. “There has to be more housing. Or there has to be more people willing to rent out their spaces long-term. But it seems there’s no incentives for landlords to do that,” she says. “Why don’t we think our frontline workers are important, that they need a place to live? They work so hard. They work all day long, all week. And that money isn’t enough to give them a place to live? Something is definitely wrong here.”

The above piece is the fifth in a series of profiles of islanders who are impacted by the lack of affordable housing, compiled and written by Aina Yasué of the Salt Spring Solutions community group.

mARR, David

Driftwood Obituary
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mARR, David

David Marr

David Marr, loving father to Isobel Basi, step-father to Sarein Basi-Primeau, brother to Ken, uncle to Kevin (Olivia) and Kassy and a friend to all whose lives he touched, passed away on the morning of Tuesday, September 14 at the age of 68 after his courageous battle with cancer.  He was pre-deceased by his granny Helen McNeil, mother Isobel, father Spencer, and sister Sandra Cooper.

“The mountains are calling and I must go”
~ (Muir).

David was a man of few words but expressed his heart and soul through his painting and raising his daughter. His love of nature took him on endless adventurous hikes and camping trips; there were always stories to share upon his return. His greatest joys were sharing nature with his daughter and taking deep pride in all of her successes. 
David, we will miss you but we take comfort in the thought that your spirit is at peace now and you are climbing a mountain.

The family would like to express our appreciation to everyone involved with his care, particularly Dr. Forghani, at Victoria General Hospital and the Victoria Hospice in his final weeks.

There will be a private family service at David’s request. In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity whose mandate is to conserve and protect nature.

Fox event runs with one-week option

Driftwood Staff
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Fox event runs with one-week option

The 41st annual Terry Fox Run will be virtual again this year, with islanders invited to run, walk or bike or otherwise raise funds for the cause from Sept. 19 (National Terry Fox Day) to Sept. 26. 

Many local groups are already planning their “event.” The Salt Spring Sneakers will be dedicating their usual Saturday run to Terry Fox. Noel Back has already been receiving donations and is looking forward to a strenuous hike with his father ames on the significant day.

Helen Hinchliff and Angie Trarup will be running and raising funds amongst their friends in Brinkworthy again this year. Last year, they raised $1,140, contributing to the overall $7,000 that the Salt Spring Terry Fox site raised, the most ever in recent years and during COVID.

“It is really hard to organize a ‘non-event’ two years in a row and I have been having a really hard time building momentum and motivation. However, I am persevering this year in honour of my mother who overcame uterine cancer last year and then this year received treatment for breast cancer,” said run organizer Janine Fernandes-Hayden. “If there is a deep reason for you to persevere and ‘do your own thing’ for Terry, I hope that you will.”

The specific link to direct Terry Fox donations towards the Salt Spring Island site is:  http://www.terryfox.ca/terryfoxrun/SaltSpringIsland. Participants and donors are asked to the cut and paste the link, and specify “SSI Site 100,” including in the field labelled ”credit a community run.”  

For more information, contact event organizer Fernandes-Hayden at janinefernandeshayden@gmail.com or 250-537-8314.

Vaccine card debate raises fascinating issues

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Vaccine card debate raises fascinating issues

By BEN SUTTON

I read the recent Driftwood website article about demonstrators against vaccine passports with interest.

While the possibility of vaccine passports has been discussed publicly I was surprised that the B.C. government made the politically risky move of introducing them. Inevitably there is controversy surrounding such a restriction of personal freedom. I am certainly not surprised that there are people in our community that take exception to the idea. Any debate concerning this issue should be against a backdrop of the data and reasoning behind it.

Vaccine Effectiveness

There is substantial evidence from B.C., the rest of Canada and other countries (in particular recent data from the U.K.) showing that vaccines are highly effective at reducing COVID infections and more significantly in preventing hospitalization and death. This is true even for the Delta variant, which is seemingly about eight times more contagious than earlier strains of the virus.

As we know, in excess of 75 per cent of cases in B.C. are among the unvaccinated who now represent the minority of adults. It is certainly true, however, that there are a substantial number of cases of infection among vaccinated people. This is hardly surprising given that the vaccines are about 85 per cent effective and vaccinated individuals represent the vast majority of adults.

Public Health Measures

The key issue from a public health perspective is the strain on the health-care system, which stems from the level of infection in the community as a whole. We could, for example, accept that people will continue to die at some rate as a result of this virus, but no one wants a situation where hospitals become unavailable for treatment for any range of accidents or other conditions. No one wants to see people left to die in the street.

There was also the prospect of eliminating the virus by reducing the transmission rate through vaccination and public health measures, but this looks unlikely at this point. Early in the pandemic I think nearly everyone accepted that we needed to limit exposure in public places and multiple business were closed as a result. This caused very significant harm to those business and their employees to the point where the survival of these businesses is threatened.

Legislative Choices

The fourth wave is very much upon us and some of the same choices have to be made again. So consider the options going forward as seen by the B.C. government:

1. Keep cinemas, restaurants and the other public venues open to all and see a steep increase in case load and filling hospitals.

2. Close these venues to all as was done earlier in the pandemic and consign many to bankruptcy or ongoing government handouts.

3. Restrict non-vaccinated people from accessing these venues and allow them to continue business while preventing an exponential increase in COVID cases.

None of these options seem particularly palatable. The question is what is the right thing to do? On the one hand, option 3 seems patently unfair to people who choose not to be vaccinated.

One must remember, however, that in the last year when most people were not vaccinated none of us were allowed to access various public venues. So in that sense nothing has changed.

Personal Freedom

Personal freedom is not something to be taken away lightly and it is a basic right. The basic rule for providing this right is that you have the freedom to do what you want providing it does not harm others.

What are the potential harms in this case? It seems they may be as follows: a). Runaway COVID case loads that impinge on broad access to public health b). Added cost to the taxpayer to treat the resulting patients c). Killing off your old but vaccinated grandmother and by extension others.

I recognize a number of people demonstrating on Salt Spring recently and I certainly don’t feel they are unreasonable people and I do understand the personal choice issue. The idea of forcibly vaccinating people seems abhorrent and these measures might feel the same. I think a reasoned public debate is the best path forward. The last thing we want is polarized anger like we have seem south of the border.

Certainly any debate must be founded on the facts backed up by actual data. The data on infection rates, vaccine efficacy and side effects are all out there. If you don’t believe it as many don’t then you must believe our public health officer is a crook along with all the public health experts globally. Also as an aside, please don’t tell me mRNA vaccines are going to change my DNA. I seem to remember learning in high school in the early 1970s that DNA makes mRNA, which makes protein, not the other way round. Amazingly this fact has stood the test of time.

This is an important issue. Please share your thoughts on the issues and the reasoning behind your thoughts.

The writer has been a Salt Spring resident for 20 years.

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