Home Blog Page 29

MLA Botterell presses for House decorum

Contributed Article
-
0
MLA Botterell presses for House decorum

The following is a letter sent to Hon. Raj Chouhan, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and filed with the Driftwood for publication.

By ROB BOTTERELL

MLA, SAANICH NORTH AND THE ISLANDS

I am writing to formally request that you use the full authority of the chair to preserve order and decorum in the Chamber, particularly regarding the increasing use of disrespectful and offensive language and behaviour unbecoming of elected members of the Legislative Assembly.

Our Legislative Assembly is guided by a safe workplace policy and a reconciliation action plan — documents developed through your office that represent our collective commitment to fostering safety, respect and inclusion. However, these commitments are only as strong as our willingness to uphold them.

There is also the significant issue regarding the lack of a code of conduct for Members of the Legislative Assembly. British Columbia is one of two outstanding jurisdictions in Canada without one, and it is unacceptable that in 2025 we lack this fundamental framework for accountability, integrity and respectful behaviour. MLAs hold one of the highest positions of power and responsibility in the province, representing over five million British Columbians. Our words and behaviour reflect on everyone, and we need to act accordingly.

The 2024 report of the Working Group on Parliamentary Culture recommends that “the Speaker, House Leaders and all Members of the Legislative Assembly work together to: establish clear and updated guidance, with cross-party support, on unacceptable and unprofessional behaviour in the Chamber, and re-state the guidance at the beginning of every parliamentary session, with House Leaders and caucuses playing an active role in enforcing these guidelines” (recommendation 14, page 21).

An increase in racist rhetoric is occurring on your watch and allowing such comments to stand without challenge — particularly in question period and through private members’ bills — continues to fuel anti-Indigenous, xenophobic and anti-inclusive sentiment both inside and beyond this Chamber. I recognize that being in the Chamber is a place of privilege and members enjoy a certain amount of latitude and must be allowed to voice legitimate criticisms. But this is not what we are experiencing; there are limitations, and we must hold ourselves to a higher standard.

The Working Group noted that the Speaker and the House Leaders carry a heavy burden in upholding the dignity of the House. As the Speaker, you have to strike a delicate balance in supporting order and decorum while not over-regulating and undermining a member’s ability to speak freely on behalf of constituents.

I ask that in your authority, as Speaker, you take clear and immediate action to enforce Standing Orders 9 and 40(2), particularly during question period regarding the use of disrespectful and offensive language, and misconduct. I also request that you begin the process to establish a formal code of conduct for the Members of the Legislative Assembly.

This House can never become a place where hate, intolerant views, harmful beliefs or discriminatory remarks are permitted for the sake of political theatre. As the Speaker you have the authority to provide clear and consistent rulings and prioritize a responsible path forward for all members.

I am requesting a meeting to discuss your response at your earliest convenience.

LCC gathers housing input

Robb Magley
-
0
LCC gathers housing input

A town hall on housing might not have generated rooster-level buzz on Salt Spring, but a smaller group of islanders nonetheless shared plenty of ideas at the Local Community Commission’s (LCC) facilitated community workshop held Thursday, Nov. 27.

From the roughly two dozen attendees came just as many suggestions to address the shortage of affordable housing on the island, as the LCC works to co-develop a new Integrated Housing Strategy and Action Plan.

Thursday night’s gathering at Gulf Islands Secondary School capped off two days of small-group meetings facilitated by CRD service delivery manager Justine Stark and consultant Urban Matters’ community health and wellness planner Isha Matous-Gibbs. 

Matous-Gibbs explained the process wasn’t being crafted from whole cloth, but was building upon decades of work already done by islanders. A study of that work suggested a jumping-off point of some shared values, she said — such as a desire to increase housing supply while preserving the environment, or incentivize affordable housing development while finding ways to optimize current housing stock.  

Specific ideas put forward Thursday night included promotion of shared and co-housing, creation of a “new Brinkworthy” affordable housing development and incentivizing redevelopment in Ganges, focusing on more — and perhaps, taller — residential buildings in such already dense neighbourhoods. 

Earlier planned workshops included two for “Housing Providers/Operators [and] Service Providers,” a third titled “Employers and Economy” and a fourth focused on “People with Lived Experience.” Matous-Gibbs said that last had brought renters from a wide range of experiences living on Salt Spring, and had highlighted the challenges of “informal” housing solutions across the island.

Organizers said input and feedback gathered across both days of engagement will be used to generate a “long list” of action items; that will then be brought back to the LCC for its consideration in the new year.

Annual candlelit vigil set for victims of gender-based violence

Contributed Article
-
0
Annual candlelit vigil set for victims of gender-based violence

SUBMITTED BY THE CIRCLE

Islanders Working Against Violence (IWAV) and The Circle Education will once again co-host a community candle-lighting ceremony at the gazebo in Centennial Park on Saturday, Dec. 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Together, we will honour the women and girls killed by femicide in 2025 and renew our commitment to creating safety, justice and dignity for all.

Communities across Canada gather every Dec. 6 to honour the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. On this day, we remember the 14 women murdered at Montréal’s École Polytechnique in 1989, and all the other women, girls and gender-diverse people whose lives have been taken by gender-based violence.

Every 48 hours in Canada, a woman or girl is killed in an act of gender-based violence*. In 2024, 240 women and girls were murdered, a 54 per cent increase over pre-COVID levels, with 93 per cent of these homicides committed by a male intimate partner or family member of the victim. Forty-six per cent of victims were killed in rural or small-town communities, places much like the Southern Gulf Islands.

In 2024-25, IWAV provided safety, housing and support to hundreds of people across our region. The transition house, providing safe emergency housing for up to 30 days for women and children of all genders, supported over 50 women and children, and the organization answered 457 crisis calls.

The Circle Education delivers in- and after-school social-emotional learning programs to over 655 students in the school district. The programs focus on prevention by teaching youth to regulate emotions, communicate respectfully and build healthy relationships. 

Join the Dec. 6 Memorial (4:30 p.m. in Centennial Park) to remember, to grieve and to stand with survivors. Please bring a candle. All are welcome.

*Women and Gender Equality Canada statistics.

Students inspired by Career Week

Contributed Article
-
0
Students inspired by Career Week

SUBMITTED BY SD64

The Ministry of Education and Child Care proclaimed Nov. 24 to 28 as Career Week in British Columbia, highlighting the importance of career education and diverse pathways for students. Schools across the province joined in, and Sthe Gulf Islands School District (SD64) was no exception, hosting a variety of engaging activities throughout the week.

Elementary classrooms participated in a province-wide virtual panel titled “A Day in My Job,” where professionals shared what their workdays look like, along with fun and surprising facts about their careers. Our district also took part in an Indigenous Learning Day at Camosun College, deepening our knowledge and understanding of the various program options beyond graduation.

A major highlight was Career Spotlight Day at Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS). This event brought together GISS teachers, the Career Education team and guest speakers to engage with senior students in specialized courses. Subjects included Engineering, Law, Woodwork, and Fitness and Conditioning, offering hands-on activities and an open Q&A with professionals in the field. Students gained valuable insight into career pathways that aligned with the courses they had chosen.

Over lunch, GISS hosted a lively Career Fair in the Multi-Purpose Room, open to all students. More than 20 guests shared their experiences and answered questions about careers ranging from the Canadian Armed Forces to archaeology and even volunteering with Special Olympics. The event sparked curiosity and inspired conversations about future opportunities.

The success of Career Week — and especially Career Spotlight Day — was made possible through the support of the GISS Parent Advisory Council (PAC), the Career Education Society of B.C. and the dedication of staff and students. These collaborative efforts created meaningful experiences that connected students with their community and showcased the value of career education.

In December, 40 GISS students will take part in TechWorks at Camosun College, exploring careers in technology and engineering through hands-on activities with Junior Achievement BC and industry mentors. With GISS PAC support, 30 art students, including the GISS Art Club, will participate in a workshop at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. In October, career programs focused on healthcare careers, sending two groups of GISS students to the Health Programs at Camosun and eight students to one-day workshops with BC Children’s Hospital.

As SD64 looks ahead, the district remains committed to building on this momentum, ensuring students continue to explore diverse career pathways and prepare for bright futures.

Beauty and power of music, poetry in novella by Diana Hayes

Contributed Article
-
0
Beauty and power of music, poetry in novella by Diana Hayes

BOOK REVIEW BY SANDI JOHNSON

Looking for Cornelius, a novella, is driven by the blood-borne need to know family.

Diana Hayes, Salt Spring Island poet and publisher of Raven Chapbooks, takes us on the journey, a cartography of genes. In her poem Fiddles and Fire, Hayes articulates the passion for family that drives the narrative of this story.

Deidre hAodha, a teacher of traditional Irish music, and her young pupil Éamon, a prodigy, journey from Montreal to the Cork County Council summer festival where Éamon will compete for a music scholarship. Both tragically orphaned, they’re searching for answers about family and belonging. Deidre’s quest is to unearth the story of her great-grandfather Cornelius hAodha, who disappeared in 1847 during the crisis of An Gorta Mór, the Great Famine.

“Nothing would keep her from learning the truth about her family of origin,” the author writes about Deidre.

Éamon searches for the means to follow his heart’s desire. He asks the lord of the fiddle to help him win a scholarship. Music moves through the body like a dancer moves weightless through air; music will make all things possible.

The novella, a discovery of worlds beyond the everyday, is accompanied by the beauty and power of music and poetry. Deidre felt the presence of Cornelius; she knew the scent of his Irish Flake tobacco; heard the music of his tin whistle. She heard his voice saying, listen for messages in song.

Impeccably researched, scenes are filled with details from various disciplines that locate the reader in the history and mythology of the place. We’re given maps, explicit direction. On the way to Cork take M8 to Dunkettle Interchange, twenty minutes further, over Belvelly Bridge is the way to Cork College.

It’s a story of mystery unfolding, dreams where everything begins. Deidre and Éamon dreamed of ancient places, dreamed of saints. She recalls Jacob’s dream of the ladder, the divine connection between heaven and earth.

There were unsettling stories and much mournful music.

Prayers offered, blessings to the goddess Áine for a long warm summer, they were accompanied by St. Brigid, St. Kevin, Little Nellie whose expression of love through her faith allowed her to withstand the unrelenting pain of her infirmities.

In their search for ancestors, Deidre and Éamon visited ancient sites on their way to Cork — Scully’s Cross, the Dromberg Circle, Druid’s Altar. They wanted to prepare their hearts, to connect with the ancients. As the sun set at the Druid’s Altar, they listened for messages from the Druids.

A glossary of Irish Gaelic words and phrases is provided. The way to Dromberg Circle —take N71 west to Ross Carberry, turn left onto R597. The sign is also written Cloch-Cheacall Agus Cairn, Irish Gaelic, the mother tongue for two orphans returning home.

The novella evokes natural and spiritual worlds. The waterfall is the best place to look for the invisible, to visit the Otherworld. The sacred hawthorn, Sceach Gheal, is considered a gateway between this world and the next. St. Kevin, the Irish St. Francis, heard the trees sing sweet songs to him. When Éamon victoriously played The Song of the Faeries, voices of spirits and whales that circled off Dingle peninsula were heard.

Not far along the N71 from Clonakilty they came to Skibbereen. In Skibbereen, near Abbeystrowry, Deidre met with her ancestry group and witnessed a dramatization of The Famine Story. Skibbereen, magnet of misery, the horrors of An Gorta Mór.

In Part Three, This is My Story-The Wake of Cornelius, the mystery unfolds. The writing is deft, poetic. The voice authentic, Cornelius is totally present.

On the cover we see an old man walking down a rocky path toward the horizon. Empty spaces fill with green. In Looking for Cornelius, photographer Diana Hayes, compelled to discover the cartography of genes, has searched for her great-grandfather.

It’s a story for readers interested in ancestry: poetry and music lovers, the Irish; people who like to lift a Guinness and jig.

Books are available at Salt Spring Books.

New Ganges-area crosswalk designs released

Robb Magley
-
2
New Ganges-area crosswalk designs released

Salt Spring Islanders have spoken, and now their feedback — about which of our crosswalks need to be made safer, sooner — has helped planners come up with functional designs for six island intersections.

And after multiple public engagement events, online polling and several on-the-ground data collection efforts, Watt Consulting Group’s Steve Martin told Salt Spring’s Local Community Commission (LCC) they were able to prioritize several intersections that kept coming up — and propose solutions for each that hopefully won’t break the bank. 

Martin said among dozens of comments received at various events, the “absolute top” complaint was around vehicles speeding through areas with high pedestrian traffic and poor visibility of crosswalks — leaving walkers feeling unsafe when trying to use them. 

It’s an issue exacerbated, he said, by the number of vulnerable users on the island that might need a little more time to get across a road. Martin said flashing lights at crosswalks were consistently found effective in helping pedestrians feel “safe and seen” when crossing traffic, as were better pavement markings and flashing lights.

“There were just a lot of safety concerns out there with sight lines and high speeds,” he said. “There are a lot of residents using these crosswalks at all times of the day.”

The intersection of Lower Ganges and Upper Ganges roads topped the list, as high speeds and the failure of drivers to yield to pedestrians in intersections prompted multiple complaints — borne out, Martin said, by their in-person site review. While a roundabout was the “top recommendation” — both from the consulting team and the public who responded — the study was limited to crosswalks, so the consultants produced a design incorporating relocating the crossing to the pedestrian-preferred east side, adding better signage and striping, putting in flashing lights and creating a pedestrian refuge island halfway across.

“The pedestrian refuge island was pretty well-received during the open house,” said Martin. “It allows pedestrians to cross one half of the road at a time, and they stand within a kind of protected curb area before crossing the next half.”

Next on the list were Lower Ganges and Atkins roads, where the north-south trail along Atkins produced a lot of pedestrian volume; Lower Ganges at Blain Road, where conflict between vehicles and people crossing for the grocery store produced safety concerns; Fulford-Ganges Road at the Canco and the parking lot across the street, where 47 per cent of Saturday Market visitors exiting the park simply wandered across toward the Pharmasave/Creekhouse/Salt Spring Coffee parking lot after shopping; Lower Ganges at the Purvis Lane and Hereford Avenue intersection; and Lower Ganges at Village Terrace.

“Our speed study was done right beside that [Village Terrace] crosswalk, and we found that 95 per cent of people were going faster than the speed limit,” said Martin. “They’re going fast there.”

Not included in this study was Fulford-Ganges at Seaview Avenue, where a crosswalk was added as part of the larger road project uphill and reportedly may be targeted by the province for further improvement. Also not “in scope” was the intersection of Lower Ganges and Fulford-Ganges roads — already identified as a priority by both the 2022 Salt Spring Island Cycling Safety Strategy and the 2023 Active Transportation Network Plan.

Cost estimates for each of the intersection improvements are still being put together, Martin said, pending some feedback from both the CRD and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, after which he expected the full analysis would be back to the LCC by the beginning of January.

And while the notion of specifically securing funding for the crosswalks was still a ways off — there may be help from the ministry or ICBC, according to staff, as some or all are added to capital planning in 2027 — the sense from the consultant was that the projects were, at least, aligned with provincial goals.

“The idea has been to make these projects as feasible as possible for the ministry, while also improving safety for all the users here,” said Martin. “My general take from our meeting was very positive with the ministry, and that they’re happy to see some improvements going forward.”

“Civilization comes to Salt Spring,” quipped LCC member and CRD director Gary Holman. “Possibly.”

Fresh take on Goldberg Variations at next ArtSpring concert

Contributed Article
-
0
Fresh take on Goldberg Variations at next ArtSpring concert

Classical music lovers are in for a rare treat as the Pacific Baroque Orchestra (PBO), the acclaimed “house band” of Early Music Vancouver, presents a bold orchestral adaptation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 2:30 p.m. as part of the ArtSpring Presents series.

While Baroque fans may have experienced this piece in its traditional form as a solo keyboard piece — such as Sarah Hagen’s moving performance during the 2024/2025 ArtSpring Presents season – PBO’s version, directed by the internationally renowned keyboardist Alexander Weimann, approaches the composition from an entirely new direction.

Weimann has meticulously transformed the solo work into a radiant ensemble experience, breathing fresh colour into Bach’s score with a chamber arrangement that includes the violin, viola, oboe, bassoon, cello, flute and harpsichord. Weimann notes that this process was “supremely rewarding,” allowing him to “place myself in Bach’s mind, imagining how he himself might have orchestrated the work for strings, winds and harpsichord.”

This alone sets PBO’s reimagining of Bach’s masterpiece apart. However, Weimann also went one step further by weaving into the composition Trio Sonata No. 4 in C Major by Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, the 18th-century harpsichord prodigy and student of Bach’s for whom the Goldberg Variations are named. The inclusion of this piece, which was long misattributed to Bach himself, imbues PBO’s Goldberg Variations with poignant historical context.

Goldberg Variations is a storied composition with a shrouded history. Though Bach composed over 1,000 musical pieces, Goldberg Variations is one of only about 17 that were published during his lifetime. According to Bach’s first biographer, Johann Nikolaus Forkel, Bach wrote the Variations for a then 14-year-old Goldberg to play to soothe Count Keyserling, his insomniac employer, to sleep. According to the Berliner Philharmoniker, nobody knows where Forkel got this information, and Bach historian Christoph Wolff argues that the story is untrue. Still, it is widely believed that Goldberg was the first to perform the composition.

Early Music Vancouver embraces a “historically informed performance” approach to early music, incorporating styles, conventions and period instruments from each piece’s historical context. PBO consistently performs innovative and exciting renditions of “early music for modern ears” under Weimann, who has been praised for his versatility, “often playing harpsichord with his left hand while conducting with his right.” With such a powerhouse ensemble, next week’s performance promises to invigorate seasoned listeners and newcomers alike with a fresh perspective on this iconic work.

Tickets are available through the ArtSpring website or the box office.

CRD renewing Gulf Islands recycling depot contracts

Robb Magley
-
0
CRD renewing Gulf Islands recycling depot contracts

No-bid contracts for Gulf Islanders’ recycling services will reach well into seven figures over five years, according to Capital Regional District (CRD) officials, who said continuing that work with existing nonprofits is still the best bang for taxpayers’ bucks.

New agreements set to be approved by the CRD board will re-secure residential recycling services on several islands until the end of 2029 — and Pender, Galiano and Salt Spring Island’s totals will top a threshold-triggering half million dollars over the life of the new contracts. 

The CRD’s commitment to the depot on Pender Island next year will total $143,220, according to the new contracts, $152,213 on Galiano Island and $411,578 on Salt Spring, a 2026 total of over $700,000 between the three islands — representing more than $3.3 million over the next five years. 

Recycle BC provides the CRD with funding to contract depot collection services, in these cases with the Pender Island Recycling Society, the Galiano Island Recycling Resources Society and Island Community Services on Salt Spring.

Each depot’s contract includes an annual inflation adjustment of two per cent, according to contract documents, and requires they be open, staffed and receiving recycling a minimum of 10 hours per week.

The cost per tonne is substantially higher than in most of the CRD, said Russ Smith, senior manager of environmental research management for the district, due to economies of scale not available on the islands. The CRD has partnered with community groups to provide recycling for more than 30 years, according to staff; the most recent agreements expired at the end of 2024, and were extended as negotiations with each depot continued.

Given the specialized nature — and ferry-bound location — of the work, CRD staff concluded putting the service out to bid probably wouldn’t discover any new provider that could maintain the service any better — or less expensively. 

Salt Spring Island CRD director Gary Holman told the Environmental Services Committee Wednesday, Nov. 19 that staff had indicated the long-standing arrangements were sound, and that he agreed there wasn’t likely to be any advantage to a competitive bidding process.

“Depots in rural areas are also the best way to deliver the service, versus a blue-box type of approach,” said Holman. “And the range of materials received by our depots is broader, for example flexible plastics and styrofoam.”

Total funding for the depots on Saturna Island and Mayne Island each fell below the $500,000 total contract amount threshold that required explicit CRD board approval, according to staff.

Library’s FabLab delivers 3D-printed accessibility

Robb Magley
-
0
Library’s FabLab delivers 3D-printed accessibility

The 3D printers at Salt Spring’s public library are humming along with fresh purpose, according to staff, as the fabulous FabLab has expanded its programming into fabricating assistive devices — free of charge, and even delivered. 

From playing card holders to writing supports and pill pack openers — and even some 3D-printed prosthetics — the FabLab has begun taking orders from community members in person, over the phone and through a new “menu” of available devices published on its website. 

And if there’s something islanders need but don’t see there, staff at the FabLab will go looking for it. FabLab administrator Ryan Shepard said creators worldwide are designing new devices every day for virtually any disability or challenge, and uploading and sharing their plans so anyone with a printer can make them.

“A lot of our devices right now are around helping with grip strength,” said Shepard. “We’ve got typing aids, devices that help people write. We’re just three years into having the FabLab, and I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of how we can help the community.”

Over those years, Shepard said, islanders have gradually discovered ways to use the printers. Thanks to funding from the Wilding Foundation, all printing materials are provided at no cost, he said, and right away there were kids making toys and hobbyists making home decor. Next came parts; Shepard said they’ve memorably kept a few appliances with out-of-production parts from landfills by 3D printing the missing pieces.

What eventually became the FabLab’s assistive device offering “clicked” in part thanks to a woman who asked librarians whether they had games to check out for visually impaired people — and they didn’t have much, Shepard said.

“The request was from a woman for her mother,” said Shepard. “As we were talking she said her mother liked Scrabble, and we said, ‘Hold on, let’s look online — maybe we can make you something!’”

Moments later the FabLab had an open-source Braille-and-raised-letter version of the game in its work queue. Shepard said the team had noticed there was a huge online movement of people designing assistive devices for anyone to access. 

“It was kind of a great moment,” he said. “This is exactly what we want the program to be — for people to be able to come in and say they need something, and we’ll just make it.”

The turnaround time from ordering something online to it being finished is about two weeks, he said, and they’re still well within their capacity to take on more. Islanders can choose to pick up the items or, if it’s easier for them, they can be delivered — much as a book might — through the library’s existing Visiting Library Services program.

“We have volunteers that will bring our books to people bound to home, and pick up and return ones they’ve finished,” said Shepard. “These devices can go out the same way — anywhere on Salt Spring Island, in about 14 days it’ll appear on your doorstep.”

For information about the program, to see a sample list of assistive devices available or to place an order, visit saltspring.bc.libraries.coop/programs/fablab/fablab-accessibility-support.

Dec. 3 is the International Day of Persons With Disabilities.

Editorial: Support IWAV’s Norton Road purchase

Driftwood Staff
-
0
Editorial: Support IWAV’s Norton Road purchase

One reason affordable housing hasn’t been built to scale on Salt Spring — as elsewhere — is simply that it isn’t easy to do.

Several stars must align and keep twinkling for projects to get off the ground and be successful, as the Islanders Working Against Violence (IWAV) group knows from past experience.

But the Norton Road affordable housing project being proposed by IWAV now has a big head start and just needs community support to get it over the first hurdle, which is to complete the property purchase. Through the Salt Spring Island Foundation (SSIF), IWAV needs to raise $300,000 by mid-December to be assured of closing the deal in mid-January. A $400,000 SSIF contribution is contingent on the rest of the funds needed being in place by then. The foundation will provide charitable tax receipts for all amounts over $25.

For people who like to receive a good or service in exchange for their donation, an online auction is underway from Nov. 26 to Dec. 5, with all kinds of donated treasures and experiences available.

There are numerous excellent causes to donate funds to before the end of the year and the last day for 2025 charitable donations arrives, but IWAV’s Norton Road purchase is one with a hard deadline and an unfortunate outcome if it’s not met. With zoning for 26 affordable housing units on the 11.8-acre property located near Ganges, plus an existing 2,500-square-foot home, orchard, garden and water sources, the potential to make a positive difference in many people’s lives is huge.

The connection between secure housing and safety for women and children is well established, and IWAV has worked in the field for more than 30 years. In 2024 alone, more than 65 women and children used IWAV’s transition house and second-stage housing; 150 received counselling and related support services; the 24-hour crisis line answered 457 calls. IWAV’s development of some 54 new affordable housing units at Croftonbrook (added to the existing 20) has ensured secure housing for people of all genders and ages.

People often ask themselves what they can do to make a tangible difference in the lives of community members. One answer is to donate to the Norton Road acquisition fund before the middle of December, bid on an auction item by Dec. 5, or help spread the word. See iwav.org for how to contribute.

1...282930...608Page 29 of 608