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Water themes flow at concert

Elizabeth Nolan
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Water themes flow at concert

The Viva Chorale choir is exploring the multiple facets of one primal element during their upcoming concert called Water Circle, which is set for two shows at ArtSpring this weekend.

Running Saturday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m., the concert features special guest Anne Glover, an award-winning storyteller based in Victoria who has toured all around the world. The collaborative effort will see a varied program of songs interspersed with folk tales and contemporary stories related to water, along with some facts and figures and visual effects.

“This will be something very different than other concerts,” observed Viva Chorale director Caroni Young. “I think it will be a very moving experience.”

Glover agrees the opportunity for artistic collaboration and working with Viva Chorale and Young in particular has produced something special.

“I feel so honoured to be working with this group and having the carte blanche Caroni has given me to select the material,” Glover said. “I really admire her work and work of the choir. It’s very cool to be part of it.”

Musically speaking, Young promises the water theme has elicited some beautiful song selections. The choir is excited to perform Love of the Sea by Donna Rhodenizer, a composer living in Nova Scotia. Young and some of the group got to meet Rhodenizer and talk about the song with her while she was on tour last summer, which adds an extra level of connection.

“It’s nice to share from the east coast to the west coast as well,” Young noted.

Other highlights include Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Larry Nickel’s arrangement Stopping By Woods, which replicates the sound of snow falling in its orchestration, and a piece with voiced sound but no words by young Canadian composer Katerina Gimon. It speaks to water’s steam aspect via the fire that heats it up.

“There are some gorgeous melodies to do with water, but then we’re going to take the audience beyond the physical aspect. Originally I was thinking about the different aspects of water — snow, liquid, steam — but working with Anne it started to be more diverse than I was expecting,” Young explained, noting Glover’s knowledge of folk tales from around the world helped her expand upon the theme and bring it to new places.

The information Glover will be sharing in between songs and stories will feature interesting facts about water and where it is found, how it transforms and how it is everywhere all the time. She also explores how water enters human expression from our dreams to our art, and how humans, like water, live their lives in cycles.

While Young was moved by Glover’s contribution to expand upon the original theme and draw it out more fully, Glover in turn based her part of the program on what Young was doing musically. She researched water stories and came up with a shortlist of possibilities, and then refined that further after sitting with the choir while they rehearsed over two consecutive weekends.

“That’s when it went from an interesting idea to a really exciting reality,” Glover said.

Listening to Young work with the choir and speaking to some of the members afterward helped Glover choose which stories to include, as well as the angle she wanted to express in each choice. In some cases there is a very close pairing between a story being told and the lyrics of a song, although they are not directly related.

“It’s been a really exciting creative process,” Glover said. 

Some of the water-related stories she’s bringing to the program include a reworking of a Chinese folk tale about water ghosts who become spirits after drowning and are doomed to stay attached to a body of water until another human dies and can take their place. While that story has a darker, more serious tone, there’s also lighter anecdotes about an ancient Persian trickster character, and an African story about the sun and moon and their relationship with water when they lived on Earth.

In addition to folk tales, Glover will share contemporary true stories.

Glover has often enjoyed visiting the Gulf Islands schools in her storytelling role, but notes this program was put together for an adult audience in terms of its philosophical thought. She’s looking forward to sharing the show with the island’s arts-supportive community.

“It’s so fun to be working on Salt Spring. We all know Salt Spring’s a little bit of a special place, so I’m really excited,” Glover said.

Viva Chorale performs with accompanist Diana English.

Fred Heads ready for a great night at Fulford Hall

Contributed Article
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Fred Heads ready for a great night at Fulford Hall

The Salt Spring Folk Club is excited to present the enigmatic troubadour Fred Eaglesmith on Monday, Jan. 20 at Fulford Hall.

With 42 years on the road and 22 studio albums, Eaglesmith’s claim to fame is his undeniable gift for writing songs. His relentless touring in Canada, the U.S. and Europe has amassed a cult following of “Fred Heads” and his songs have been covered by some of the biggest names in music and earned him a Juno.

As press material explains, although Eaglesmith is a veteran of the music industry, he never operates within anyone’s boundaries and he sets a standard for independent artists everywhere.

Performing solo and with his various bands he is now carrying on with his musical wife Tif Ginn. Ginn is described as a gutsy, amazing singer and a transcendent songwriter who has spent most of her life touring and playing music. Her impressive, sultry vocals and glorious harmonies with Eaglesmith along with her multiple instrument additions to the show will have audience members in awe.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. with doors at 6:15. Catering is by Three Blind Mice. Advance tickets are at Salt Spring Books.

MacGregor, Bryon Richard

Driftwood Obituary
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MacGregor, Bryon Richard

Bryon Richard MacGregor
November 9, 1946 – January 6, 2020.

Bryon was a gentle soul who chose Salt Spring Island as his home, and made many close friends here. He died peacefully in the company of his brothers Robert and Glenn and his very good friends Dave and Betty Kempling.

Bryon is predeceased by his father John Gordon and mother Mary and survived by his brothers Robert (Kathy), Glenn (John), and Alan. He lived with cancer for 15 years, although it was painful and limited his options he was not one to complain, and lived as fully and as long as he could. He particularly was attached to his home, insisting in living there in spite of challenges of doing so.
Bryon moved to Salt Spring in 1974. It is difficult to say whether he adopted Salt Spring Island or the Island adopted him. He proved to be a loyal and generous friend and spontaneously helped a number of people. Bryon had a number of passions including food, music, performance cars and his Scot’s heritage. A particularly proud moment for him was being selected as one of the torch bearers for the 1988 Winter Olympics. He was a voracious reader, frequently surprising people with his extensive knowledge on a broad range of subjects. He was patriotic Canadian who deeply cared that the sacrifices and accomplishments of Canadian military personnel be properly recognized and honoured.

Food was a passion for Bryon with BBQ and Peking Duck being two particular favourites. Also, a good coffee in the company of friends, another favourite. Those who knew Bryon are familiar with his invitation: “Let’s go have lunch”. Food was also a profession for him. He worked for BC Ferries for 29 years, much of that time in food services, rising to the level of Chief Steward. Bryon was deeply involved as a member of the 78th Fraser Highlanders, achieving the level of Lieutenant, with a special highlight of his the Clan Fraser International Gathering in Scotland in 1997. Another major interest of his was hot cars and racing. Bryon competed in drag racing and marshalling in circuit racing in Edmonton.  He was very proud of cars that he owned, especially his Hemi Roadrunner and Eagle Talon, which he kept in meticulous condition.
Special thanks to Dr. Peter Verheul and the staff of the Lady Minto Hospital, and the nursing staff and volunteers of the Greenwoods Eldercare Society. The passion and caring they provided were impressive and comforting to Bryon’s friends and family.

A intimate internment ceremony took place at Ganges Community Cemetery January 10th and a celebration of life will be held this Spring. Further  details will be communicated for all who knew Bryon and wish to attend. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the BC Cancer Foundation, the Lady Minto Hospital, or the Greenwoods Eldercare Society.

MLA Olsen floats liveaboard meeting

Gail Sjuberg
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MLA Olsen floats liveaboard meeting

Work is underway to address issues connected to floating homes and boats in Ganges Harbour. 

December saw multiple meetings in which people living in Ganges Harbour addressed politicians, stating their concerns over regulations and enforcement on the water. Water-based communities have faced regulatory challenges for years since multiple agencies and governments share varying levels of jurisdiction on the water and foreshore areas. 

People living on the water attended both an ASK Salt Spring meeting and MLA Adam Olsen’s community meeting before the holidays to discuss their concerns about agencies enforcing regulations and possibly seizing vessels. 

“There were high tensions around some of the rumours that Transport Canada was going to come and enforce,” Olsen said. “I told them I would follow up with Transport Canada and find out what their intentions were. [Transport Canada] made it clear to me that they had no intentions and that there are various levels of government that are involved. From the federal government’s perspective, it is the right of a boater to find safe harbour, to anchor and the moor.”

Since the issue is multi-faceted and involves various levels of government, Olsen has committed to organizing a meeting with all those involved with the harbour to come to a consensus on the issue.

“There is little use from the public’s perspective on the politicians all pointing their fingers at each other,” he said. “In order for us to be able to capture the attention of whatever level of government we’re talking to . . . [we need to show] that we’re all working together.”

The Islands Trust does have multiple zoning areas in the harbour, none of which have dwelling units as permitted uses. However, local trustee Laura Patrick acknowledged that any zone in the Trust area can be rezoned. 

“Rezoning can happen anywhere,” she said. “I think this meeting is the first place to start, because it’s complicated. You’ve got the Harbour Authority, you’ve got the feds, the province, us, the marinas. It starts to get very complex, and we need to get everybody together and talk about a desire to move in that direction.”

For Patrick, non-legal housing on the water is part of the island’s broader accommodation challenge. She explained that any future housing work by local government should include liveaboards as part of its purview.Patrick would also like to ensure any regulations set up concerning liveaboards are applied to all harbours in the area, not just in Ganges Harbour. 

Olsen said constituents were planning to attend federal MP Elizabeth May’s Jan. 17 town hall meeting to discuss the issue. In the meantime, Olsen will be reaching out to other levels of government in the coming weeks to organize a meeting with all involved.

“I think one of the most frustrating things from the public’s perspective is when they hear the politicians that they elect to the government to represent them saying ‘it’s not our responsibility, it’s somebody else’s responsibility,’” he said. “A group of elected officials are much stronger at getting the attention of whatever level of government is responsible.” 

For more on this story, see the Jan. 8, 2020 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Festival of Trees marred by Copper Kettle theft

Gail Sjuberg
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Festival of Trees marred by Copper Kettle theft

One tree at this year’s Festival of Trees was the victim of a Grinch-like crime over the holidays. 

The Copper Kettle Community Partnership group’s tree was chosen the winner by organizers, although the amount of donations under the tree was less than it could have been. Overnight between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, donations by the tree were stolen, including the group’s kettle, which was to be filled with monetary donations. 

“In all of 17 years this is the first time that something like this has happened,” said Copper Kettle administrator Cherie Geauvreau. “Somebody came and took all of the donations and the kettle. They left three jars of Ragu and tea . . . All of the stuff underneath [the table] and on top was gone, including the kettle.”

Since the theft, more donations came in to the tree, which on Friday had food, blankets, sleeping pads and other necessities piled around it. Geauvreau said that the donations were a testament to the generosity of islanders. 

“It’s wonderful. We all have so much to give, and we realize it only once or twice per year,” she said. “We have so much to give. It’s all going to go to people on Salt Spring.”

Though she was disappointed about the theft, Geauvreau said  there was not much her group or anyone else would be able to do about it. 

“They have to go through three or four days of video, and even after that, what do we do about it?” Geauvreau said. “If somebody needs something that badly on Christmas Day, they can go for it.”

The Copper Kettle tree was the only one affected by the theft. 

 

GISS spins hip hop into Robin Hood

Elizabeth Nolan
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GISS spins hip hop into Robin Hood

Any tale about the widening gulf between rich and poor and the uprising of a disenfranchised group against a corrupt power structure has a certain timeless appeal.

The formula could be expressed as forest bandits robbing members of the ruling class and redistributing their wealth to those in need during 12th century England, or it could be youth using their gift for rhymes and beats to rise above ghettoization in 1970s urban America. It could even be a classic kung fu movie fable. 

Gulf Islands Secondary School’s senior acting class has brought elements from all three scenarios to their unique retelling of Robin Hood, which busts onto the ArtSpring stage for two shows beginning tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 8. The bandits’ lair is not in the forest but on a rooftop base on the corner of Sherwood Park and Nottingham streets. With vivid costuming, original rap songs and choreography, this update of a classic promises to offer spectacular entertainment with a message.

The specific interests of this year’s senior acting class helped decide which play they would produce and which themes they would incorporate in their interpretation.

“I think this group in particular had a desire to do something fun and fantastic,” said Kahlila Ball, who plays the title character. “We read through a few different shows and when we settled on this it was a very unanimous ‘Yes, we want to do this.’”

Tex Simon noted the class was discussing doing The Outsiders at one point, but also thought about source works like Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451.

“I think this incorporates both those things by having a political message behind it that we were looking for, and also having the same kind of style that we were looking for in The Outsiders,” he said. 

The connection between kung fu and hip hop includes artists like the Wu Tang Clan members, who were inspired and uplifted by movie legends. That mythology has been extended through projects like The Get Down, a Netflix series set in The Bronx of the 1970s during the clash between disco and hip hop. That series has provided inspiration to the GISS students along with martial arts movies like Kung Fu Hustle. 

The students feel there is a natural link between those worlds of stylized battles, as well as an analogue to a modern world run by corrupt billionaires. 

Essentially the play is about the importance of community and the way people can form strong units of chosen family, without having to be actually related to one another. These are themes the students find easy to express, since the members of the ensemble each have much to contribute to the whole.

Robin Hood opens at 7:30 each night, with tickets available through ArtSpring. The class will be accepting nonperishable food items and toiletry donations for families in need at the show. Partial proceeds will also go towards the purchase of Thrifty Foods Smile Cards.

For more on this story, see the Jan. 8, 2020 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Cornelia Krikke shares transformative tales

Elizabeth Nolan
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Cornelia Krikke shares transformative tales

Salt Spring wellness coach Cornelia Krikke is making an impact with a new book called Inspired Perspectives, which has become a number-one Amazon bestseller in the categories of dance, poetry and conceptual art, and reached the top-five list in four additional genres.

Now local readers will have the opportunity to engage with the author directly at a book launch event set for Friday, Jan. 17 at the library. The collection of poetry and prose about “tales of transformation” intends to provide a path for readers to possibly recover their own inner vision.

“So often the way we see things is defined by the limits of our perception,” Krikke observed. “We all get stuck. We often don’t use available tools to shift our perspective.”

Krikke’s creative and wellness coaching work arrived through her own transformation. She is an MBA who left the corporate world after finding her lifestyle was impacting her health in the form of an autoimmune disorder. Many of the people she coaches now are undergoing the same type of experience, in which they’ve reached a wall in their work careers that is negatively impacting their health. Finding their individual means of creative expression, whatever that may be, is a large part of getting themselves back to health and happiness.

The Inspired Perspectives book also fosters personal transformation but in a less directed fashion. Krikke invites readers to explore the world in a playful manner through the example of written tales, with the hope that everyone can broaden their vision for deeper understanding of themselves and others. 

The tales in Inspired Perspectives are divided into three sections. There are lighter tales that prompt active play and moments of joy; stories that illustrate how a changed perspective offered a breakthrough for someone; and those of “numinous experience” that recount more mysterious moments. 

The book launch, which runs from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., will be an interactive event rather than just a reading. Krikke will have time for questions and answers and will also provide the opportunity for more engagement in small groups for those who wish to participate. 

Inspired Perspectives is available locally at Salt Spring Books and Old Salty.

For more on this story, see the Jan. 8, 2020 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Run raises food bank funds

Contributed Article
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Run raises food bank funds

BY Marcia Jansen

DRIFTWOOD contributor

The annual Salt Spring Sneakers Prediction Run raised a record amount of money for the local food bank.

 The running group started the late December run tradition in 2009, raising $160 at the time. This year the Sneakers raised $1,000 for the Salt Spring Food Bank, $300 more than last year’s prediction run. That brings the total raised through 11 years of prediction running to $5,595.  

Unlike most competitions, the winner of this running event is not the one who finishes fastest but the one who finishes closest to the time they predicted when they registered for the race. Watches are not allowed and the course is kept secret by organizer Lynn Thompson until the night before the run.

Twenty-nine runners and walkers completed the two, five or 10-kilometre course near Walker Hook. Mike Thompson proved that speed was not necessary, as he walked the five kilometres and completed the course within 12 seconds of his predicted time. And even with doubling that difference to make it equivalent to a 10-K time, Thompson edged out Candice Seagull, who finished within 26 seconds of her estimated time. 

This year’s winner of the “Predictionally Challenged event” was Gillian McConnell, who was delighted with her trophy.

Viewpoint: Lively dialogue continues

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Viewpoint: Lively dialogue continues

 By GAYLE BAKER

The Oct. 16, 2019 Driftwood editorial stated “. . . the new ASK Salt Spring initiative of the Salt Spring Community Alliance is a rather brilliant effort . . . (to) fill gaps in service and make the community a better place for all of us.”

So, after two months welcoming islanders each Friday at the Thrifty Florist Shop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., is that optimism warranted? 

Quite honestly, it has been far better than anticipated. Over 100 islanders have come to the eight Friday sessions, most to ask questions but some to simply participate in the lively conversations. 

And they also enjoyed the camaraderie, a cup of coffee and some cookies.  

Islanders have learned who to contact for dangerous trees, what is happening concerning logging on private land, where to donate winter clothes, who has jurisdiction of our beaches . . . and the list goes on. 

They have made connections, like the four seniors’ service volunteers who met one Friday and now work together, the housing and homeless advocates who have forged new working relationships, and the laundromat folks who find a treasure of helpful connections at ASK Salt Spring each week. 

The dialogue has been lively, often including as many as 16 islanders, and ranging from safety, our live-aboard community, the environment, our forests and waters, housing, and roads, roads and roads again. 

And, already there has been some action addressing concerns: 

• Every road-related comment brought to ASK Salt Spring is forwarded to local Emcon manager Andrew Gaetz within three days. Maintenance issues are addressed, and ministry issues are given to the appropriate individual. Want to ask Andrew about your road maintenance pet peeve? He will be at ASK Salt Spring from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31 at the Thrifty Foods florist shop.

• ASK Salt Spring helped Wagon Wheel Housing Society volunteers identify some potential funds for our laundromat and submit a promising application. 

• Roads are scheduled to be repainted this spring. 

• And, this list goes on. Who knows what 2020 will bring? 

MLA Adam Olsen said, “I am grateful to participate each month knowing that my colleagues from the CRD and Islands Trust are also available to engage in these important conversations.”

Isn’t it about time you participated as well? 

Adam will be at the Thrifty Florist Shop the first Friday of every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., CRD director Gary Holman on the second Friday, Islands Trust trustee Laura Patrick the third Friday, and Jessica Harkema, Chamber of Commerce executive director, will be there on the fourth Friday. 

Our hope for the New Year?

Address concerns about our roads. How hard can it be to get safety painting? 

Stay tuned every Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Editorial: Flip flop

Driftwood Staff
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Editorial: Flip flop

Receipt of property assessment notices from BC Assessment in January usually prompts a couple of simple questions.

Will one’s assessment go up or go down? Is the change in line with one’s neighbourhood or recent real estate activity? 

An active real estate market for a couple of years saw Gulf Islands values rise quite dramatically, and particularly on Salt Spring. This year’s assessed values reflect the market moderation that started occurring last year. 

What is curious about the Salt Spring numbers on 2020 notices is a dramatic change in how the land and improvements sections are valued, after the opposite change was implemented and defended by BC Assessment just one year ago. Last year residential property owners saw their buildings suddenly devalued and their land values bumped sky high. This year BC Assessment did a complete about face on the 2019 policy. 

When questioned about the phenomenon in 2019, the agency’s response was that land on Salt Spring had been undervalued in the past, so it was time for some catch-up. This year BC Assessment states it reversed its policy because property owners expressed concerns about what had occurred the year before. 

As BC Assessment personnel told the Driftwood for a story in this week’s paper, the land/improvement value split doesn’t really matter. It’s the total number that counts. That may be true. However, such dramatic swings in policy from one year to the next on what should be a fairly straightforward matter calls into question the credibility of an agency that speaks with such authority about the value of land and improvements in the province and our region.

One could say it doesn’t matter what number BC Assessment comes up with for a particular property, and for many people it is probably irrelevant. It doesn’t always affect a sale price, for example. And a rising or falling assessment does not mean one’s property taxes will go up or down by the same percentage since local governments set their budgets independently. But if one’s property value goes up substantially more than the “average” increase, then that property owner could be in for an unpleasant surprise when the tax bill arrives later in the year. 

Anyone feeling their property assessment or the land/improvement split isn’t ringing true can make their case to an assessor by phone or email, and file a formal appeal, if necessary.

BC Assessment has proven it does change its mind; if not this year then maybe the next.

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