Ralph Dennis Mahovlic
April 4, 1947 – February 2, 2020
Ralph was a solitary man who lived life on his own terms. He spent his life in various locations throughout BC but his heart was always on Salt Spring Island, the place of his birth. Ralph leaves behind brothers Peter and Don, sister Sandra as well as five nieces and nephews, all of whom will miss him dearly. As per Ralph’s request, there will be no service.
The deadline for Islands Trust area residents to provide feedback about the Trust’s proposed 2020-21 budget, which has a climate-action focus, is Sunday, Feb. 9.
The Trust would like to hear especially from more Salt Spring Island residents, especially since the online survey contains questions about support for the Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Alliance.
The $8,180,478 budget is based on the assumption the Islands Trust will maintain existing service levels and implement the following Islands Trust Council Strategic Plan climate-action initiatives:
• map the extent of eelgrass throughout the Trust Area
• develop a regional freshwater strategy
• review foreshore policies and bylaws, and develop a model policy
• develop climate change, demographic, and environmental indicator data sets
• test and develop the potential to broadcast public meetings
• develop and implement a climate change-focused stewardship education program
• continue the Policy Statement Amendment Project, which includes consideration of climate change related policies
• continue Coastal Douglas-fir protection by some local trust committees as part of their climate action mitigation work
The survey can be accessed at islandstrust.bc.ca/budget.
Representatives from the Lion Electric Co. brought an electric school bus to Salt Spring Island on Jan. 29 so that personnel from the Gulf Islands School District and others in the region could enjoy a test ride and have their questions answered by the company’s vice president of sales, Canada, Benoit Morin, and products specialist David Limoges. The company, which is based in Saint Jérôme, Que., has more than 300 buses on the road in North America, operating mainly in Québec and California.
More info: https://thelionelectric.com
And see the Driftwood story published last fall when the Salt Spring Community Energy group released its electric school bus feasibility study.
British Columbians have been invited to provide their opinions about a provincial trails strategy by participating in an online engagement process open through February.
The Provincial Trails Advisory Body, co-chaired by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development and the Outdoor Recreation Council, began a formal review of the trails strategy for B.C. in 2019.
The resulting draft strategy includes 20 action points plus two actions for implementation. These are to establish a provincial trails advisory body; and to “support existing local and regional trail committees or groups, and where not present encourage their establishment, so that they can assist implementation and continuous improvement of the trails strategy.”
The strategy considers all types of trails and users, from hiking paths to those suitable for horseback riders, cyclists, ATV vehicles and snowmobiles, as well as disabled users. Mixed-use commuter pathways are also part of the exercise.
The Salt Spring Parks and Recreation Commission is one of the main players building and maintaining trails on the island, often by negotiating access to designated rights-of-way. It can also receive trail dedications as part of subdivisions and makes its own land acquisitions. CRD trails overseen by PARC include the 15-kilometre Channel Ridge system, trails in Mouat, Duck Creek and Peter Arnell parks and connector trails to the provincial Mount Erskine and Mount Maxwell parks, among others.
According to data collected for PARC’s 2019-2029 strategic plan, trails are a key recreational asset with proven benefits to residents, the economy and the environment. In fact, trails get the highest use out of any PARC amenity.
Trail maintenance in all provincial parks on the island is provided by contract to the volunteer-run Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club. Newly elected president Charles Kahn said the group could be moving into more trail creation as well.
“I think we could do a lot more in terms of trail development,” Kahn said, noting a new system of sharing insurance in the southern Gulf Islands has allowed local trail groups to enter into agreements with private landowners.
Kahn said the Salt Spring Trail and Nature Club is currently working on an arrangement with a private landowner in the Mount Tuam/Musgrave Landing area that will link trails on Crown land and an ecological reserve. Some club members are also keen to create formal connections between trails on individual mountains, and lands that could be donated as future parks are also of interest.
How the group might benefit by a provincial trails strategy remains to be seen, but the draft document does speak to reducing liability concerns and creating a sustainable model for trail development and maintenance.
Feedback on the draft strategy will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 at https://engage.gov.bc.ca/govtogetherbc/consultation/trails-strategy-review/.
For more on this story, see the Feb. 5, 2020 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.
Responsibility, community service and a little extra cash are all good reasons to start a new enterprise.
Eleven-year-old Jason Mikanikian has been working with local businesses to earn a few bucks and learn a thing or two about running a business. He collects bottles from local cafes and restaurants twice per week, bringing them in to the recycling depot and saving the money. His enterprise has gotten him financial freedom and a learned sense of responsibility and stewardship that isn’t common with people his age.
So far, Mikanikian has saved enough since he started collecting bottles in September 2019 to buy himself a second-hand laptop, and is saving up for a second electronic purchase, this time a Nintendo Switch.
“There’s a lot of stuff that I wanted to get, but I never had enough money to do it. My mom told me about collecting cans and bottles,” he said. “We went to places around Ganges Alley to ask about cans and bottles. They let me and I started returning them.”
While being able to afford new gadgets is exciting, Mikanikian’s mom Susan Mikanikian said that the enterprise has also been teaching her son how to be more responsible with his money, and has brought him closer to the people in the community.
“I love that he’s financially independent, as opposed to asking me for everything all the time. He’s making his own choices and he understands the challenges and the work that we have to put in to earn money,” she said. “He’s improving his customer service skills, his financial skills and he actually shops less. He’s more careful with what he spends because now he has to earn it.”
Jason makes around $35 per week for his efforts, which include two pick-up days per week. He takes his collection to the Return-It centre on Tuesdays where the staff helps out.
When asked about how it feels to support himself financially, Jason replied “really good.”
“I really like this job because I’m making money and friends at the same time,” he added.
He hopes to expand his enterprise to more businesses on the island, and is offering pick-up service to private homes as well. Those interested in arranging a pick-up can contact Susan at susan@hajangus.com.
For more on this story, see the Feb. 5, 2020 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.
A regular contributor to monthly open mic poetry nights at the Salt Spring library has just birthed a book of poetry.
Called Rainbow Soul Food – Heart Opening Poetry, its poems have roots in Brent Talbot’s experiences with social justice activism beginning with time spent in the Occupy Calgary movement in 2011 and then the On to Ottawa SOS walk in 2012.
The launch event is at the Salt Spring Public Library’s program room on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Talbot, who is also known as “Space,” has lived on Salt Spring for six years and works as a gardener. He also volunteers at the Salt Spring Public Library and the Burgoyne Valley Community Garden.
Talbot credits living on the island with helping him create Rainbow Soul Food.
“Salt Spring brought it out of me,” he said.
The book is dedicated to his mother, who lives in Red Deer, Alta.
“She’s my inspiration.”
The Poetry Open Mic night on Thursday, Feb. 6 features winners and honourable mention entries in the library’s 60th anniversary poetry contest called Our Library in Poetic Life. It begins at 7 p.m.
The Ministry of Agriculture is proposing more residential flexibility for people living in the Agricultural Land Reserve and is seeking public feedback on the options.
As outlined in a policy intention paper released on Jan. 27, a small secondary residence could be available for farmworkers, family members or others as long as there is local government approval.
Previous rules established by the Agricultural Land Commission allowed a secondary dwelling for immediate family members only in manufactured homes, suites above an existing farm building or, in parts of the province, a second single-family dwelling.
Amendments to the legislation made by the NDP government in 2019 focused on protecting farmland from oversized homes such as those being constructed in Richmond, the dumping of waste materials and other non-farm uses. The resulting policy limited secondary housing possibilities to a manufactured home for an immediate family member, and only if constructed before February 2019.
The deadline on manufactured homes was extended once to February 2020 and then again to Dec. 31, 2020. At the same time, the new residential options being considered reverse the hard-line stance. Options include garden suites and guest houses/carriage suites, as well as accommodation above an existing building, and manufactured homes. Also being considered is permitting a principal residence to be constructed in addition to a manufactured home that was formerly a principal residence.
In all cases, the secondary dwelling would no longer be restricted to immediate family members.
Salt Spring’s Agricultural 1 and 2 zones currently permit secondary suites and mobile homes in line with past ALC regulations. Updates to the official community plan and land use bylaw will be needed to reflect any change in ALR housing policy that arise from the provincial review.
Permitting secondary dwellings in ALR lands would be just a small step toward meeting a recognized community need, though, as islanders working to create a new Area Farm Plan for Salt Spring have observed.
“The shortage of farmworker housing on Salt Spring Island has been recognized for over a decade,” the working group on protection of small-scale agriculture states in its draft recommendations. “Adequate, compliant housing is prerequisite to increased agricultural production.”
Elizabeth White, who is involved in the project to update the 2008 Area Farm Plan, said farming needs to be supported wherever it is taking place on the island.
“The LTC should have a policy in place to allow farmworker housing on farms that is independent of zoning. If it met the criteria, it would’t matter if it was in the agricultural zone or not,” White said. “We need local government to be really clear on what their criteria is.”
Island trustee Laura Patrick said once the province finalizes its policy on ALR dwellings the Salt Spring LTC will no doubt be working to align with the provincial policy. More comprehensive work to address the issue will also be forthcoming as recommendations from the new Area Farm Plan are forwarded. But a newly approved LTC housing working group that Patrick is leading may be the best avenue for progress.
Patrick said farmworker housing will almost certainly be part of that planning project. She believes a broader vision is needed since agriculture and farming also exist outside of the ALR. If the official community plan supported having the types of housing farmers say they need, this could guide the LTC to support “non-adhering” housing applications that would need to go to the ALC for approval.
“Our OCP should reflect how we envision our community,” Patrick said. “We may rub up against other organizations like the Agricultural Land Commission but we shouldn’t constrain ourselves all the time. We should push for what’s best for the community.”
For more on this story, see the Feb. 5, 2020 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.
Salt Spring firefighters will be taking the long way up the 48 storeys of the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre on Feb. 23 in support of the BC Lung Association.
This will be the eighth year that the local squad has climbed the wall, competing with over 200 other firefighters from across the province. They make the 739-step climb while carrying over 22 kilograms of gear, including boots, pants, a lined coat, helmet, gloves and breathing apparatus, which will be both worn and used through the entire climb.
“Climb the Wall is a rare event in that it allows us to come together as a firefighting community to advocate for a cause that strikes close to home,” said firefighter Cameron Sweet.
Sweet will be joined by Krystal Capranos, David Demner and Brandi Sontag in their attempt to climb. As of Tuesday morning, they had already raised almost $900.
Firefighters are often exposed to harmful chemicals in air as they fight fires, so the BC Lung Association cause is a natural fit for them.
“While we take precautions and wear special gear to protect ourselves, each fire exposes us to a mix of toxins that can contribute to firefighters’ increased risk of respiratory disease and cancer,” Sweet said.
“For us, participating in the event has become both a meaningful tradition and a great team-building exercise. Besides that, it’s a great way to spend a Sunday!” he added.
The local crew has raised almost $16,000 in their previous years of participating in the event, which goes directly to the BC Lung Association.
Donations in support of the crew can be made by searching for the Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue team here.
By GAYLE BAKER
On Friday, 29 people came to ASK Salt Spring to express their concerns about our roads to three Emcon managers (our new roads maintenance contractor). Many had specific concerns ranging from overfull gutters, icy curves and fast-encroaching invasive species — especially gorse — to the request for information about when to expect their road to be cleared after a snowfall. The surprise takeaway was that Emcon managers know Salt Spring road challenges very, very well.
Islanders left assured that Emcon is listening and gained a better understanding of the challenges they face to address our road maintenance issues.
They also learned what we can do to help:
Have you ever shovelled your driveway only to find that the snowplow has buried the end of your driveway? Tip: Snowplows push the snow to the right. When shovelling, place your snow on the right side of your driveway to avoid getting it pushed back on to your driveway.
Did you know that the culverts under our driveways are our responsibility? (They should have a diameter of 16 inches and be buried eight inches.) While Emcon will occasionally work to clear a driveway culvert, they will only do so when its malfunction threatens our roads. As one guest noted, when Emcon spends its time clearing our driveway culverts, they are not doing the other work we need them to do.
When cars are parked along our narrow, residential roads, it is almost impossible to clear them. Neighbours need to work together to make sure their roads are accessible to snowplows if they want their roads cleared in a timely manner. When cars are illegally parked in Ganges, the challenge is the same: these areas simply cannot be cleared.
Clearing drainage ditches is an enormous job for Emcon, and one that they take very seriously. The problem is: What can they do with the often-contaminated debris cleared from our ditches? With no dump sites available, Emcon is forced to leave the debris near the newly cleared ditch. And, guess what happens when it rains next? Emcon does not have a solution to this dilemma. Can we, as a community, locate an accessible dump spot for the ditch-clearing debris?
Invasive species — especially gorse — are proliferating along our ditches. While a volunteer group works tirelessly to battle this encroachment, the solution is not simple. A partnership, initiated by Emcon, between those at the provincial level addressing this and our local volunteers, will be pursued.
The question was asked: If Salt Springers continue to report road maintenance concerns, will Encom get overwhelmed and stop listening? Their strong message was: Keep the reports coming (1-866-353-3136). They are listening. When a concern is received, it is logged and discussed to assess its priority in the daunting work plan Emcon has undertaken.
Additionally, roads-related concerns brought to ASK Salt Spring are referred to Emcon every week and, when appropriate, sent to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
As the first time in a very long time that our roads maintenance contractor has reached out to listen to our concerns, there was heartfelt acknowledgment to Emcon managers for this effort.
Salt Springers . . . we do have a voice — as well as a responsibility — to effectively address our road maintenance concerns.
Acquiring affordable, warm, safe housing on Salt Spring has never been easy, or at least not for many years.
But the lack of rental housing of any kind has become close to impossible for many.
In recent years, pressure has been brought to bear on government bodies to “do something” to make the situation more tenable, as more and more people leave the island and establish themselves in other communities where housing is less of a challenge.
Making it legal for property owners to rent out what are now called “seasonal cottages” was an obvious option for the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee to explore. A number of these dwellings already form part of the non-legal rental stock. Legalizing cottages on some 400 lots — in areas without known water quality or quantity problems plus a few other considerations — was the reasonable idea that resulted through proposed Bylaw 512.
What was not reasonable was a stipulation in the bylaw that cottages on those lots could not be used for bed and breakfast rental. If a full-time rental was allowed through Bylaw 512, the right to use the building for short-term rental was lost. While the logic behind such a concept is not ridiculous, it would absolutely not be fair to take away the option for B&B use on those properties.
It is unlikely that a large number of accommodation units will result from the bylaw — only a dozen cottage owners who responded to a survey said they would rent out or build a new cottage for rentals if it became legal — but even if a few are added to the mix, that will at least make the process worthwhile.
Throwing the bylaw out completely would be a major waste of resources and do nothing to improve housing stock. On the other hand, if wrapped up on schedule, cottage rentals could be legalized within just a few months.
The public hearing is part of the legislative process, but does not mean the end of that process. Changes to the bylaw can still be made before third reading, based on the feedback received.
With opinion overwhelmingly against the prohibition of B&Bs in the cottages zone but in favour of opening up rental stock in general, the path forward should be clear: the LTC should rescind the B&B stipulation but approve the bylaw as soon as possible.
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