Home Blog Page 396

Safety service takes next step

Elizabeth Nolan
-
1
Safety service takes next step

A plan to establish a taxpayer-funded community safety service on Salt Spring passed through the first two levels of government necessary to start the process last Wednesday.

The Capital Regional District Board accepted a recommendation from the Electoral Areas Committee, which the committee had approved earlier that day, to give an establishing bylaw first, second and third reading. The recommendation also directs staff to prepare the alternative approval process to create the new tax requisition.

The bylaw will be sent to the provincial government next to ensure the CRD is acting within its authority. Salt Spring director Gary Holman reports he hopes their positive answer will come within four to six weeks in order to start the alternate approval process by early November.

Unless 10 per cent or more of Salt Spring voters register their opposition, the new service will begin in 2020 with a preliminary requisition of $35,000 and an eventual maximum requisition set at $65,000. The service is expected to cost the owner of an average-priced home around $10 per year at the maximum requisition rate.

“That’s less than a dollar per household per month, at the maximum, and what I’m proposing at first is around half of that,” Holman told the Driftwood. “It’s a fairly small requisition and it would be filling a fairly significant gap in our services.”

A staff report on the proposed service was presented to the Electoral Areas Committee on Sept. 11 by the CRD’s manager of legal services, Steven Carey. Carey described how Holman and Salt Spring senior staffers Karla Campbell and Dan Ovington had talked to community members and the RCMP about how the CRD could assist public safety concerns.

“Kind of the best thing we’ve come up with is to establish a fund through a service that can be used and administered by CRD staff, working with the electoral area director, to do contract for service-type arrangements with local non-profits [and] individuals, and potentially through the province with the RCMP for enhanced policing, to provide additional services,” Carey said.

Services could include things like additional police patrols on summer evenings, a Citizens on Patrol group, equipment like security cameras and radios, speed watches near schools and street outreach programs.

Carey said the CRD team had investigated whether services could be funded through the grant-in-aid program, but found that wouldn’t be appropriate for things like an enhanced policing agreement.

“That’s a multi-year, $5,000-a-year kind of program,” he said.

“Looking at some of the community safety services that exist, I think this will address some of the unique concerns of the community in that you’re going to have flexibility year to year as to what you do with your money, and you’re also going to be able to enter into multi-year service agreements, which you can’t really do with grants-in-aid,” Carey concluded.

Holman told the committee he wanted to start with less than the maximum requisition because the service would be new to the community and he is not proposing to establish a formal CRD commission to provide oversight if the service is approved. Instead, an advisory group would be formed with stakeholders such as the RCMP and Salt Spring Community Services to advise what the spending priorities should be.

For more on this story, see the Sept. 18, 2019 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Islanders turn out to support IWAV programs

Elizabeth Nolan
-
0
Islanders turn out to support IWAV programs

Community members once again pulled together to support and celebrate the work of Island Women Against Violence on Thursday, when the third annual $10,000 for Change fundraiser exceeded its goal to become the best one yet for the organization.

The event aims to raise at least $10,000 through sponsorships and tickets to the farm-to-table meal, which was hosted for the second year at Stowel Lake Farm, plus a silent auction and raffle. Organizers reported near the end of Thursday’s dinner the total was in fact approaching $18,000. This will support community programs and housing for women and their children fleeing abuse, as well as people who are experiencing poverty.

IWAV’s interim director Kisae Petersen reported Thursday the non-profit society now has 24 staff members working at five work sites on Salt Spring, which include the Transition House, second stage housing and the Croftonbrook affordable housing development.

“Over time we’ve really expanded the work that we do, the services that we’re able to do and the impact we’re able to have in our community,” Petersen said.

She described how IWAV’s programs are necessary to help women who are trying to escape violence and abuse. Women can find initial support through IWAV’s 24-hour crisis line and from there talk to staff, who can connect them with resources and help come up with a safety plan so they can leave their situation. The Transition House can provide a refuge for women in crisis for up to 30 days, and is staffed 24 hours a day. Food, accommodation, transportation and childcare are all provided.

IWAV is not given sufficient provincial funding, Peterson explained, to run all of its programs for women. The Transitions Thrift Store helps to boost operational funds. Community support through fundraisers like $10,000 for Change and other donations are also crucial.

“As all of us know as islanders, housing can be a big barrier, especially for women leaving abusive partners,” Peterson said. “The housing crisis has a disproportionate impact on women who have few financial resources and are in immediate need of housing. As a result, IWAV has become the owner and developer of housing.”

The organization created second-stage housing for women in 2012 and took over operations of Croftonbrook affordable seniors’ housing in 2015. The organization is currently working on expanding housing at that site to meet other affordable housing needs.

The $10,000 for Change fundraiser is the brainchild of Chental Wilson and is supported by Wilco Construction, the company she runs with her sister Sharon and their husbands, brothers Trevor and Ian Wilson. Chental had initially offered to donate her services as a life coach to IWAV’s clients, but heard from the previous executive director that what they really needed first was safety, accommodation and food.

This year’s fundraiser offered several levels of sponsorship as well as individual tickets to the dinner by chef Haidee Hart. Wilson said the farm-to-table meal with B.C. wines is a winning combination for local contractors, many of whom are “foodies.” It’s also an excellent opportunity to support a good cause in their home community.

“I can’t turn anyone away who’s a woman in need, and that’s what this is,” Wilson said. “It’s just about making sure that door’s always open for the person who knocks at it.”

For more on this story, see the Sept. 18, 2019 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

First electric school bus envisioned

Gail Sjuberg
-
0
First electric school bus envisioned

The Gulf Islands School District could have its first all-electric school bus by next spring.

That was the hope shared at the launch of the Electric School Bus Feasibility Study at the Salt Spring Public Library on Friday afternoon.

Salt Spring Community Energy, a group tasked by School District 64 with doing a feasibility study on transitioning from diesel to electric school buses, released its preliminary report at the public event.

“In light of the climate emergency and our need to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as our need to provide a safer, healthier future for our children, the case for rapid electric school bus adoption is compelling,” states the study. 

“We identified the actual buses, the length of the routes, the size of the buses, the fuel consumption and maintenance costs, and we actually got some hard data on exactly what it looks like for our district,” explained project lead Kjell Liem at Friday’s launch.

School District 64 has 12 buses and a spare in its fleet serving Salt Spring, Galiano and Pender islands. A bus is retired and replaced every two years, the study found, and the next new bus should come on stream in 2020.

Richard Frost, the director of transportation and plant services for SD64, is enthusiastic about the idea of transitioning to electric buses, and has been working with the various stakeholders on the project.

“It’s a pretty exciting adventure to be at the beginning of,” he said. “It’s all fairly new and fresh and we are trying to get everything together and learn this process, and we will see what happens in the future.”

Benoit Morin, who is vice president of sales in Canada for Quebec-based Lion Electric Co., spoke at the event, praising the Salt Spring group’s “impressive” report. Morin was in B.C. to discuss how his company can connect with the government’s Clean BC program and to meet with BC Hydro reps. He was then able to add a Salt Spring visit to his itinerary. Lion has 300 electric school buses on the road, primarily in Quebec and California, which have logged five million miles to date.

“The timing is pretty perfect because your [provincial] government has a Clean BC program that will help you guys out,” said Morin.

SSCE also gathered information from other electric bus manufacturers.

Morin said it takes six hours to charge a bus with a 150-kilometre range, which is more than any Gulf Islands school bus travels in a day. Charging could even occur between the morning and afternoon runs.

While electric buses cost approximately 2.5 times the amount of a diesel bus — a 71-passenger Lion bus would be approximately $300,000, for example — the feasibility study determined that if the district’s fleet was all electric that annual savings of $50,000 would be realized in fuel and maintenance costs.

But economics are not the only consideration, the meeting noted.

“Yes we have to be fiscally responsible,” said Frost, “but for me personally the bigger picture is what we are going to be doing by lessening our carbon footprint. Back in the day, or even now, the thought is ‘Is it cheaper to run this or is it cheaper to run that?’ I think those days are gone. We need to change our ways and going electric is a great step forward in that.”

Health benefits of switching from diesel to electric are another factor dissected. The report cites various studies in concluding that “Diesel buses generate significant air pollution through exhaust particulates, which impact all residents and visitors to the island and especially those vulnerable to the poor air quality. The public health costs arising from this air pollution and the resulting impact on taxes are important factors to be considered in any comparison of diesel and electric buses.”

The report can be accessed online at saltspringcommunityenergy.com.

Election race kicks off

Gail Sjuberg
-
0
Election race kicks off

With the federal election set for Monday, Oct. 21, Saanich-Gulf Islands candidates for the major political parties are ready to roll.

Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May is the riding’s incumbent, having served since winning the seat in 2011. So far she is being challenged by Ryan Windsor of the Liberal Party, David Busch of the Conservatives, Sabina Singh for the NDP and Ronald Broda for the People’s Party of Canada.

Windsor is the mayor of the District of Central Saanich, elected in 2014. He is taking an unpaid leave from that position to run for the Liberals. He has led the municipality’s climate leadership plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from transportation and buildings.

Singh is a single mother of two who has taught political science at post-secondary institutions, including the University of Victoria and Camosun College. She has worked with her community to push for electoral reform, protect drinking water and get justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Busch currently works as a lawyer, and has experience working as a critical care nurse. He has been the Conservative party’s nominee for a year. He has worked as a litigator throughout the province, and has volunteered politically since he was in high school, including for the Saanich-Gulf Islands Conservative Association and the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign.

Broda is a retired police officer who has worked with the Vancouver Police Department, the Saanich Police Department and with the Canada Border Services Agency, and currently works as a speaker and coach. He is a founding member of Stelly’s Community Arts Theatre Society and organizes the annual Westcoast Motorcycle Ride to Live in support of the Island Prostate Centre.

While campaign periods typically involve signs popping up across the islands, one party has pledged to not use the signs on public property in the Gulf Islands during the election. Busch’s campaign will be abstaining from the practice, and instead will only have signs displayed on private property during the campaign period.

“Campaign signs are simply out of sync with the unique ‘preserve and protect’ culture that makes the Gulf Islands a unique part of this riding. We have therefore decided not to place campaign signs on public property this election,” Busch said in a statement. “We will be advising the other political parties and asking them to follow our lead and not pollute the environment with campaign signs on Gulf Islands public spaces.”

Signs for the Green Party campaign are up at various locations on Salt Spring.

Candidates May, Singh, Busch and Broda made appearances at this past weekend’s Fall Fair. The official nomination period is open until Sept. 30, so more candidates may declare their candidacy in the coming weeks.

Voter registration can be completed online at the Elections Canada website.

The Salt Spring Forum will once again be hosting an all-candidates debate at the Gulf Islands Secondary School gymnasium on Wednesday, Oct. 16 starting at 3 p.m.

Old Boys roll to win in Carnarvon clover

Contributed Article
-
0
Old Boys roll to win in Carnarvon clover

By FRASER HOPE

DRIFTWOOD CONTRIBUTOR

Concerns voiced at the pre-season awards night and amplified further at the last practice were still palpably worrying the Old Boys as they faced their opening game of the season. 

Would those carrying various injuries break down under the pressure of competitive football unlike the fun stuff of summer? Would enough team members turn up at Fulford? Would anyone be left behind by BC Ferries overloads? Could coach Graham Tweddle find a winning formula with the highly strung prima donnas that make up the team?

In fact, last-minute text messages and cell phone calls utilizing the improved coverage at Fulford sent out the frantic call that ferry traffic was almost up to the junction. Hurry! Hurry! Needless to say, one Old Boy did not make the cut even before the first kick off. 

Prematch nerves were calmed as the team settled down in the exclusive state room kindly supplied by the BC Ferry Corporation for team transit for off-island fixtures by discussing a wide range of subjects, such as: Would the new Sunday gas station operating hours leave people stranded? Did Old Boys hope to aspire beyond the annual winning of  the league’s “most sporting team” award as voted by the other participating clubs? 

It was a blessing when the ref blew the whistle to start the season on a pitch so full of clover that the players were surprised there was no “natural” fertilizer to be seen. The grass was so lush it makes one wonder if Oak Bay is in a different climate zone from Salt Spring.  It was obvious that the Old Boys’ main tactic of close accurate passing would need a bit more oomph if the ball was intended to reach its target.

The new goal-kick rule came into immediate effect as goalkeeper Richard Steel and the back defensive core were forced back into their own penalty area in trying to overcome a high offensive line by Castaways. Things were looking ominous, but a quick breakout using a more traditional long ball saw Mark Aston with assists from Rainer Funk and Ronaldo Barreto gave Old Boys an early lead.

Virtually straight from the centre circle, Castaways responded with a goal that happened as the Old Boys were still congratulating themselves on their own first goal.

By the 15-minute mark, the Old Boys had sussed that Castaways may be big and speedy but not fit, so using their well-honed skills the Old Boys easily moved the ball into scoring position. From one such sweeping move, Mike McCormick set up Barreto outside the box where a lashed shot hit the underside of the bar to regain the lead.  Who is Barreto, you ask? Is he the surprise signing hinted at in a pre-season press meeting?

Old Boys were in cruise control as David Toynbee, set free by Aston and McCormick, nutmegged the goalkeeper to take a commanding 3-1.

But with only one sub, Old Boys began to show early season lack of stamina and Dennis Shaw after off-season knee surgery commendably called regularly for substitution so as to not impair the efficiency of the defence. Suddenly they were bolstered by the appearance of the “Malahat Cavalry” in the person of Scott Howe, who had missed the Fulford ferry, ready to increase the pressure on the home side. Howe was obviously desperate to reply to Tweddle’s implied reprimand of “You only had one thing to do . . . .” with a sterling effort in the second half.

Whether it was overconfidence or lactic acid build-up in the legs (but more probably in the brain), a defensive mix-up allowed a Castaways big cannon to narrow the score to 3-2. A certain amount of anxiety, fear or inevitability could be sensed in the Old Boys as they fought to retain the dominance of the first half as a resurgent Castaways pressed for the equalizer. 

Gradually, however, the Old Boys regained composure with a fourth goal from Aston to more or less seal the victory. The only note of interest was a throw-in infringement where Shaw, famous throughout the league for his long throw-ins, reminiscent of Rory Delap of Stoke City, was called for lifting his leg (maybe I should edit this statement) much to his consternation and the amusement of his teammates.  “The heavy load of the waistline can cause an involuntary lifting of the non-supporting leg.” – Third Principle of Levers, Archimedes 3 BCE.

The final whistle gave Old Boys a well-deserved victory in the clover of Carnarvon Park, but caution was the main topic of post-game conversations around the cooler.

Winter is coming north of the wall and as the fields get muddier and the cold Siberian winds of Finlayson, Lochside and Tyndall parks all bring a sense of anxiety to the team dressing room. For the next few games our “ringer” Ronald Barreto and his representative would make no firm commitment to the team as California and Florida were beckoning. 

But a win is a win and Old Boys are tied for the imaginary first place in the SVICSA league, the league with no standings.

Old Boys now face Cordova Bay 48s next Sunday, Sept. 22 at 10:30 a.m. on an island at a place yet to be decided.

Viewpoint: AAP math causes concern

Contributed Article
-
0
Viewpoint: AAP math causes concern

By PAUL R. MARCANO

Alternative approval processes, when used as a form of referenda, have two main problems. Spoiler alert, it’s the math!

A) Everyone eligible need not participate and is presumed to vote yes unless some extra effort is made by individuals to publicly declare their no vote.

This in itself, presumes undeclared assent and for no voters, it violates the sanctity of one’s privacy and anonymity when casting a democratic vote.

B) Yet, the math is more concerning, with the 10 per cent threshold needed to defeat these AAPs being based on reaching 10 per cent of 100 per cent of the total eligible property votes on the island!

As an example of real-world turnout; one of the worst we saw recently in an actual property tax referendum was for the $8.4-million North Salt Spring Waterworks District St. Mary Lake treatment plant, which drew out a dismal yes vote of 359 versus 310 no votes out of a pool of close to 2,600 eligible property owners in 2015. This represented a ridiculous 26 per cent turnout with barely 14 per cent of property owners voting yes for what is now an increasing March water parcel tax of over $700 a year for the next 20 years!

As a taxpayer, I simply point this out to illustrate how sorely stacked the odds are when an Alternative Approval Process presumes 100 per cent eligible voter participation. Voter turnout is rarely even close to that 100 per cent threshold and, indeed, substantially less for these mid-term tax proposals we often see floated.

Think about the task at hand: to defeat a property tax proposal when the total yes vote is automatically pre-inflated to presume that all eligible property owners are participating in the vote. It is simply never the case, yet it remains the legal bar that any no vote effort is up against. Incidentally, it is made far worse in unincorporated districts like ours because no minimum quorum of votes is even required.

In my opinion, the threshold for defeating an APP is completely unrealistic, making AAPs the most mathematically unfair advantage a politician can utilize to add money to the tax requisition, and they know it, despite claiming they are an expedient form of a referendum or cost the price of yet another “cup of coffee.” I personally find any politician or organization’s use of these AAPs unconscionable for the obvious reasons I have pointed out. They are clearly stealthy and grossly miscalculate a vast pool of undeclared yes votes, many of whom are property owners who never vote anyway or are non-resident on the island to participate after Labour Day.

The answer? Meh. I typically encourage people to make the extra effort to declare their no vote whenever these AAPs crop up, just on principle because they are so transparently unfair and are typically based on poorly designed tax proposals with questionable parameters to contain the expenditure once it is on the tax requisition.

Watch for the next one!

Editorial: Traction and action

Driftwood Staff
-
0
Editorial: Traction and action

This week the world rallies for the planet with climate action events initiated by youth leaders such as Greta Thunberg.

Salt Spring Island is among communities mobilizing to address the climate crisis, with a Climate Strike Rally set for Centennial Park this Saturday. Organizers hope that participants will come away from the event both inspired and with information they need about how to effect positive change.

In the meantime, the Salt Spring Community Energy group, School District 64 and others are working towards making a tangible difference in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Last Friday SSCE delivered its Electric School Bus Feasibility Study at a public event, outlining infrastructure needs, initial costs and health benefits of ditching diesel school buses in favour of cutting-edge electric ones.

As SD64’s director of transportation and plant services Richard Frost indicated, the days of making decisions solely based on capital outlay considerations are over. If the world is to have any hope of reaching GHG-reduction targets, transitioning from diesel to electric buses, for school and public transit systems, is a no-brainer.

The district’s 12 buses consume 40,213 litres of diesel fuel per year with mileage of about 3.5 kilometres per litre or 10 miles per gallon. Annual maintenance costs are factored in at 18 cents per kilometre.

While a specific provincial government program to fund electric school-bus purchases has not yet been revealed, the SSCE report indicates the Ministry of Education is expected to start funding some electric school buses in the 2020-21 school year. The government’s much-touted Clean BC program has embraced zero-emission public transit buses, and will hopefully give specific targets for school buses as well.

Provincial government subsidies are possible under the Specialty Use Vehicle Incentive Program, but a corresponding program does not exist at the federal level — yet it should.

Even if governments have not yet announced major funding commitments for electric school buses, SD64 may well make the leap for its first bus purchase. It would likely find strong community support in the form of donations, which receive charitable tax receipts through its Gulf Islands Educational Trust. Supporting the concept and pressing for government subsidies to purchase electric school buses is one action with a lot of impact islanders can take following a week of focus on climate change.

Brackett Springs hits new snag

Elizabeth Nolan
-
0
Brackett Springs hits new snag

The long-suffering Brackett Springs affordable housing project on Rainbow Road has had another indication of trouble, with notice placed on title regarding building bylaw infractions.

The Capital Regional District’s Electoral Areas Committee approved a request from chief building inspector Robert Gutierrez to take action during a hearing held on July 10, following the expiration of multiple building permits and failure of property owner Salt Spring Land Bank Society to adequately respond.

A report from Gutierrez outlined the need to place notice on the land title for 584 Rainbow Road “to notify potential buyers of building deficiencies, the concerns of the CRD Building Inspector, and to reduce the liability of the CRD.”

“Due to work carried out prior to inspection, it may be necessary to have the notice remain on title in perpetuity, as complete inspection of the work may not be possible,” the report adds.

Land Bank Society representatives did not attend the hearing.

The society received Islands Trust approval for a multi-family project with up to 10 affordable rental dwellings in 2010. Housing was to be based on recycled houses and trailers that were donated by their previous owners and moved from other lots. None of the seven homes moved onto the property so far have been renovated to the point of occupancy.

According to the staff report, 20 building permits were issued on the property since June 15, 2010, all of which have expired. CRD Building Inspection staff have actively tried to secure compliance since January 2016. The EAC  denied a similar request for notice on title made by building inspection in 2017 to give the society and its founder Neddy Harris three months to come up with an action plan.

The action plan was not received. A building inspector site visit conducted in June 2019 revealed that one of the buildings appeared to be illegally occupied and most of the other buildings appeared derelict. It was also noted that more construction debris and garbage had accumulated since the previous site visit.

“To date, no further communication has been received from the owner nor have new building permit applications been received,” the July staff report states.

The 3.1-hectare (7.7-acre) property was listed for sale in October 2018 for $1.5 million, although the listing was not renewed when it expired after three months. Harris told the Driftwood at the time that mortgage holder Vancity had requested the property sale. The original funders/supporters to sign on to the project had also pulled out due to lack of progress. They include BC Housing, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the CRD’s Regional Housing Trust Fund.

Harris told the Driftwood through email this week that she is putting together a plan to revitalize the project but was not ready to share that plan yet.

Good Company launches Time Piece rock musical

Elizabeth Nolan
-
0
Good Company launches Time Piece rock musical

Salt Spring’s musical theatre scene is experiencing a bumper crop of activity this season, with Good Company’s all-new rock opera Time Piece opening at ArtSpring this Friday, Sept. 13.

Brought to audiences by the people who created Peter on the Brink, Time Piece is described as a “thematic rock concert” featuring a wide variety of music from artists such as Pink Floyd, Sting, Barenaked Ladies, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Cyndi Lauper, Neil Young and more. The show includes 23 feature songs, original choreography and an original script by writer/director Suzanne Rouger to tie it all together.

This is the third show created by the Good Company Theatre Group, which is co-produced by Rouger and musical director Karen Arney, and promises to be their most extravagant yet. There are 19 cast members and a large band, with many of the musicians playing multiple instruments.

It’s been three years since Good Company’s last production Grand Illusion, and the period involved much grief for the group. Rouger’s husband Pierre fell ill and then died after a sudden diagnosis of brain cancer. He had been very involved in the past two productions, doing sets and lighting and many of the troupe were close with him. Arney and her son Ben, who are both part of the core performer group, were actually living with the Rougers at the time. Bruce Grey plays bass in the upcoming show, and had provided his support to Pierre as a kinesiologist.

While the script that Rouger wrote through that period is not autobiographical, it is dedicated to Pierre and infused with some deeper human concerns.

“Thematically the idea is that as we go through life we can get distracted or tempted by many things that take us away from what’s really important to our souls,” Rouger explained. “The more we focus on what the soul really wants, the more successful the human experience will be.”

Rouger added her concept is like a medieval morality play with its “everyman” type characters facing common human dilemmas and consequences.

“But it’s not as harsh as a morality play — it’s much gentler,” she promised, noting many of the parts are comedic roles.

Lead characters Elle and Guy are among a group of souls that undergo four incarnations in very different periods. Elle gets unmoored from time and tries to get things right with help from an angelic choir, musical spirit guides and Father Time. The script was workshopped and rewritten to better suit the specific cast members as they joined in.

Shyla-Rae Lloyd Walters stars as Elle, a natural progression for a very strong vocal talent who made her debut in Peter on the Brink, and has since appeared in several community theatre productions to impressive effect. Dustin Van Wyck is her counterpart. He’s newer to the theatre scene but has already made lasting impressions with his roles as young Scrooge in the 2018 production of Christmas With Scrooge, and a small but noticeable part in Arsenic and Old Lace this past spring.

Live music is the heart of any Good Company production, with the songs selected mainly from the classic rock songbook and performed in rock show style: from memory, without written sheet music. Arney reported all the musicians can “lift” their parts by ear. Many of them also double as actors with speaking parts. Suzanne’s son Marcel is playing two instruments and acting, plus doing vocal coaching to help singers perform rock style rather than for choir.

“It’s a huge undertaking for people who are wearing several caps,” Rouger noted.

Rosita Larrain, director of the RainWood Dance Studio, is splitting duty between acting, dancing and choreographing the show. She said it’s been “super fun” to work on an original show and interpret the creator’s vision into movement.

“I’m appreciative of the willingness of the cast, even from people who have never done dance before. That’s really encouraging. I’m excited about the show,” Larrain said.

Add a complex set, marvellous costumes and a full program of sound effects that Arney has programmed into her keyboard, and Time Piece promises to be an epic stage event with truly operatic trappings.

“It’s a very complicated show. There are very few scenes where you just sit and listen to a lot of dialogue,” Arney said.

Time Piece runs Sept. 13-14 and Sept. 18-21 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available through ArtSpring.

As part of the dedication to Pierre Rouger, Good Company has also partnered with Country Grocer to have a contest for $10 tickets for the opening weekend shows. All of the proceeds from the contest will go to Dawn Tarrabain and Cindy Skrivanek, two former Country Grocer employees who are now struggling with health issues. See the Good Company Theater Group Facebook page for details.

Proposed safety service explained by CRD director

Contributed Article
-
0
Proposed safety service explained by CRD director

By GARY HOLMAN

SSI CRD DIRECTOR

A recent increase in vandalism and civil disorder in Ganges village prompted a series of meetings organized by the Chamber of Commerce, United Church and others. As a result of these meetings and discussions with agencies like the RCMP, Community Services, PARC, the library and Copper Kettle, I’ve supported small grants in aid and requisition increases to fund some additional supports for the disadvantaged in our community and CRD-related staffing. 

There are gaps in existing security and support services, primarily the responsibility of senior governments. The local RCMP have been unable to acquire additional officers (an issue raised in our recent incorporation debate). Outreach and support services for the homeless and those with mental health and addiction challenges are also limited. Other communities (e.g., Cowichan Regional District) are helping address these gaps with targeted local funding. We can do the same here by establishing a new CRD service. Affordable housing is also a crucial issue that non-profits, the CRD and Islands Trust are already working on diligently. 

Approval Process

Any new CRD service requires voter approval of an “establishment bylaw” defining its purpose and maximum tax requisition. Based on community and stakeholder meetings over recent months, I’ve worked with CRD staff to develop a bylaw that allows modest funding to “assist, administer, promote, organize, implement and monitor community safety initiatives and programs on Salt Spring.” This bylaw, now on the CRD website, will be given third reading by the CRD Board this week and referred to the province for review, after which formal public notification for two weeks (e.g., in the Driftwood) is required. An alternate approval process (a so-called “counter petition,” costing much less than a referendum and used to approve our public transit service) will give voters 30 days, likely from early November to early December, to register their opposition. There will be at least one public meeting in October, so voters will have plenty of time to make an informed decision.

Possible Activities Funded by the Service

The proposed bylaw allows a range of possible activities that could be funded in 2020. I propose an initial requisition of about half of the maximum allowed (i.e., about 40 cents per average assessed residential property per month) to gain experience with, and refine priorities for the service. As with any CRD service, the CRD director, based on advice from stakeholders and the public, recommends budgets to the CRD Board for final approval. Any security initiatives (e.g., support for a volunteer Citizens on Patrol or other crime-prevention activities) would be administered by the RCMP. The service could also fund additional RCMP officers (their auxiliary program is being reviewed), although I believe other community-based measures would be more cost-effective. 

The outreach component of the service would involve advice from and funding partnerships with local organizations that provide supports for the most vulnerable in our community. The Chamber of Commerce and local businesses will provide advice on Ganges village issues, but the service is funded and applies island-wide. A committee that evolved out of community and stakeholder meetings already involves the RCMP and other service groups, and could provide ongoing advice on funding priorities.

Summary

Without this new service, the CRD can only provide very marginal support for organizations primarily responsible for the safety and wellbeing of all members of our community. Voters will ultimately decide and will have ample time and information to make an informed choice. As always, if you have questions about this proposed new service, or any other CRD issues, contact me at 250-538-4307 or directorssi@crd.bc.ca.   

  

1...395396397...610Page 396 of 610