Home Blog Page 451

Walker’s Hook Road repairs scheduled for August

Gail Sjuberg
-
0
Walker’s Hook Road repairs scheduled for August

With repairs on Walker’s Hook Road scheduled to begin in the next two weeks, residents along the road would like to see further consultation between themselves and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to ensure the needs of the road are met.

The road, which was washed out at the end of January, was closed to traffic due to the unstable nature of the embankment. Nearly 100 mm of rainfall coming down over one weekend eroded the hillside, causing it to fall away from the road surface.

The repair work will focus on rebuilding the damaged road, improving drainage and reinforcing slide areas from further erosion, according to the ministry.

It is hoped that the work will be completed by early fall.

Walker’s Hook Road has washed out in the past, most recently in September 2016. The ministry-approved budget for the remedial repairs was $100,000. MOTI is not able to offer a final cost for the upcoming project. Staff are hoping to finalize the budget in August.

Deborah McGovern, who has lived on Walker’s Hook for 16 years, would like MOTI personnel to speak with people who are affected by the closure on the road before the repair work begins.

“Really the ideal would be that if the people who are doing the engineering and the repairs would talk to the local people. I think people have a good idea of what’s happening in their particular area,” she said. “If they just had a meeting, or phoned, or had a questionnaire or something and got some input from the locals it may save them spending an awful lot of money that is not going to help.”

The road is currently blocked off from the south side and reduced to single-lane traffic from the north for local access only. McGovern is concerned about the hazards caused by the road blocks. The barriers are made of concrete and stretch across the road, though McGovern said that unless drivers were already aware of the barriers there is a risk of either colliding with the barriers or going over the bank.

Since the closure, Walker’s Hook has been safer for pedestrians and children to play on, but it has left those living between the barriers relatively stranded. If other options were available, McGovern would be amenable to keeping it closed, but the road is the only way in or out of the properties in the area.

“The only option for not repairing it properly would be to requisition a whole bunch of land from somewhere else so we could have another road,” McGovern said. “That’s all private land, and obviously none of us want to have a road at the back of our properties anyway.”

MOTI plans to start work on the road in the next two weeks when the clay and subsoil is sufficiently dried. Throughout the closure, the ministry has been doing geotechnical work. According to an email, personnel hope that the work will help prevent future washouts.

For more on this story, see the July 25, 2018 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Spirit Point Dragons bring home bronze from Harrison

Contributed Article
-
0
Spirit Point Dragons bring home bronze from Harrison

By DONNA COCHRAN

At the Harrison Dragon Boat Regatta this past weekend, Salt Spring’s Spirit Point Dragons stood proudly on the podium to accept the bronze medal in the Division-C championship race.  It was a hard-fought win as the conditions on Harrison Lake were particularly challenging this year.

The regatta hosted 63 teams, 36 mixed and 27 women’s, paddling four races, a 200-metre opener and three 500-m races. The total time of the first two races determined each team’s placements for the semi-final and final races. There were many new teams this year, so the competition was stiff. Race organizers decided to create a new competitive championship a level above Division A to challenge the top-most competitive teams to race each other.  That meant that the A teams did not drift down into Div. B and C, taking medals from the top recreational teams.

Spirit Point Dragons’ combined race times of 1:01 in the 200-m and 2:54 in the 500-m placed us in the Division B/C semi-final. We placed a respectable fifth place (2:44.37), just squeaking past Fire Dragon (2:44.89). That time gave us a good shot at the medals in the Div.-C championship final. After a solid start, we held our own going head to head with the Grand Dragons, nosing them out for the bronze. The gold went to One Dragon (2:35), the silver to Fire Dragon (2:36) and the bronze to Spirit Point (2:42), ahead of Grand Dragons (2:43), Braggin Dragons (2:53) and Century Dragons (3:17).

Harrison Lake, known for its wind sports, is a both beautiful and challenging venue for dragon boat racing. The glacier-fed, freshwater lake is less buoyant than ocean salt water making paddlers work harder to maintain the glide.

The morning started off nice and smooth but the winds picked up steadily and were full-on in the afternoon presenting lots of excitement for teams and organizers. The race starter did a brilliant job getting six teams aligned and off the starting line for each race. Steersperson Tom McKeachie had to work extra hard to keep in our lane fighting the wind and swells from various boats nearby. Coach Mary Rowles kept the team’s spirits up with her steady beats of the drum and extra loud shouts of encouragement to be heard above the wind.

Spirit Point paddlers included Serena Mellen and Lorhainne Ekelund, the team’s masterful strokes who set the pace, Janet Bright, Donna Cochran, Lesley Grott, Mary Lou Cuddy, Wendy Eggertson, Robyn Huntley, Wendy McEachern, Carmelle Labelle, Susana Helgason, Melynda Okulitch, Rob Huber, Ann Marie Davidson, Shirley Julien, Sam Goddard, Lisa Coles, Lorenn Ekelund, Joni Devlin and Andrew Okulitch. 

The team was thrilled to welcome Sheila and Marit Christensen, who came to cheer us on from their new home in Abbotsford. The paddlers gave them a special paddles-up salute to show our gratitude.

New paddlers are always welcome. Contact coach Mary Rowles at onthewater181@gmail.com.

Salt Spring musician to release new video

Gail Sjuberg
-
0
Salt Spring musician to release new video

A local musician is releasing a new music video filmed on the island.

Musician Liv Wade was able to fund the production of the video after winning the ImagiNative music contest in the fall. Part of the $10,000 prize will also go towards recording new music. The contest is open each year to Indigenous artists from across Canada.

The video is for her new song called Mixed Blood, which is about her experience being Métis and from two different cultural heritages. It features two dancers from contrasting disciplines — traditional First Nations and ballet — who combine their traditions in new ways.

“I wanted to do something that showed two distinct ways of being in dance and how different we can be together while still working together,” Wade said. “I thought it was stunning to see them dance together, separate and have moments of coming together.”

The song is from Wade’s newest release, entitled Resilience. After being in a traumatic accident a few years ago, and losing her birth mother, she wrote the album as a way to help with her recovery. It was also written with Indigenous and Métis youth, particularly LGBTQ youth and those in the foster care system, in mind.

“Youth like that are more likely to take their own lives or have an absence of support or understanding,” she said. “A lot of the music that I write is in support of the next generation. As someone who is mixed blood, of both European and Indigenous descent, I wanted to get everybody on board.”

Wade wants people to have their own interpretation of her music. Dancers in the video were invited to express themselves in the way that they felt connection to the song.

“My hope is to write a song that everyone [will] connect to, whether you were Indigenous or not . . .,” Wade said. “The idea is that we really need to honour and respect our Indigenous people here and understand the culture to move forward and work together. We’re all here.”

Video filming was done on June 18, mainly in the Burgoyne Valley and on the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nation reserve on the island. Wade enlisted Powell River filmmaker Claudia Medina to help create the video. The dancers, Melissa Rodriguez and Randi Gardypie, are a former professional ballet dancer and a traditional powwow dancer respectively.

“I really wanted to support women in film because they’re often not supported the same way, just like in the music industry,” Wade said. 

Wade has also been supported by Slaight Music and received grants from the Canada Arts Council to support her music. She is currently working with producer and musician Jim Bryson on new music and is preparing for a west coast tour in the fall. As part of the ImagiNative music contest, her video will be featured in their annual film festival.

Resilience is available online at https://livewade.bandcamp.com/.

Library event celebrates islander’s first picture book

Elizabeth Nolan
-
0
Library event celebrates islander’s first picture book

Salt Spring author-illustrator Aidan Cassie will be at the public library this Saturday, July 28 to launch the debut release from her blossoming career in children’s fiction.

Meant especially for the three- to six-year-old crowd, Sterling, Best Dog Ever features winsome drawings and a charmingly original story that will delight adult readers as much as kids. Cassie’s first event as a published author will include a reading, plus a book give-away, kids’ crafts, bookmarks, stickers and cupcakes from 1 to 2 p.m. 

Cassie unofficially entered the publishing field in 2010 when she created an activity and colouring book as a fundraiser for Salt Spring’s Little Red Schoolhouse preschool, when her daughter Maia attended. After that she started working on book dummies and managed to get a New York agent on her first try with Sterling when she sent it out in 2015.

While picture book authors usually face a scenario of creating a story and then having no say about the accompanying artwork, Cassie is fortunate to be someone who does both parts. Her stories evolve from her images rather than the other way around.

“Certainly I go at it art first. I would have gone into illustration if I couldn’t have done both,” Cassie said.

For her debut book Cassie created a lovable character in Sterling, a silver-coloured dachshund or wiener dog. As the story goes, Sterling has always wanted a home, but no home has ever wanted him. So when he sees a sign on the side of the Butlery Cutlery Company advertising free “shipping to homes around the world,” he sends himself to a family and sets out to be the most terrific fork ever. Having a canine fork doesn’t exactly work out for them, but everyone soon realizes that what they really need is a dog.

The idea of unconditional love was important to her as someone who comes from a family with a great deal of perfectionism baked in, and her desire not to pass on pressures around talent or success to her daughter (who is now in middle school).

“I want her knowing it is just herself she is loved for,” Cassie explained.

Cassie and her family recently spent a year in Provence, which is where she finished her illustrations for Sterling. She’s now completing the cover art for her second book, with expected publication in 2019, and has started writing her third. As she observed, learning to juggle a number of books that are all in different stages will be a major part of her learning path this year.

In addition to Saturday’s launch, Cassie will be exploring the world of author visits with readings of Sterling, Best Dog Ever at Salt Spring schools this fall.

“I can’t wait to read it to full classrooms of kids and doing drawing with them. So that’s an exciting part of the coming year, between doing books,” Cassie said. 

For more on this story, see the July 25, 2018 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Viewpoint: Cedar Lane water battle not over

Contributed Article
-
0
Viewpoint: Cedar Lane water battle not over

By CEDAR LANE AND AREA RESIDENTS

We residents of Cedar Lane and surrounding neighbours found the Lakeside Dreams July Aqua story on the ever-contentious The Cottages on Bullock Lake quite disturbing — like rubbing salt in a wound.

Everyone on Salt Spring Island must, by now, be aware of our small (two wells, 37 residences) Cedar Lane water district’s long, ongoing fight to save our aquifer (plus the wells of up to 165 neighbours on Thomas, Mansell and parts of Upper Ganges and Robinson roads) from imminent failure if more pressure is put on it. Hence our resistance to The Cottages since, by their own engineer’s report, our aquifer serves their 50 cottages.

“They had a successful summer” in 2017 (but our wells suffered historic lows after they opened) and that, according to Platform Properties’ spokesman, has “washed away the negative residue.” How wrong!

According to the article, “housekeeping is cleaning between 10 and 15 cottages every day.” Whereas Platform’s spokesman elates in this busyness, we (who practise extreme water conservation measures) cringe at the thought of all those extra loads of laundry, toilet flushes and other domestic water-consuming activities. How much water are they using? We shudder . . . .

So they’ve hired up to eight local people . . . now that really contributes to Salt Spring’s employment numbers! Not quite the boom to local employment that was touted at Platform’s open house a few years ago. 

And little cards are put out asking guests to respect and limit their water use (as does almost every motel/hotel in North America). Do the guests read these while they enjoy their soaker tubs?

It is very nice that the property manager’s daughter had her wedding reception at Fulford Hall. Doesn’t that just prove there is absolutely no need for Platform Properties to even consider a water-consuming 6,000-square-foot community amenity building? Our island is already adequately provided for with halls, meeting and reception venues.

Finally, Platform Properties’ Kyle Shury states that their long-term goal will be to sell the cottages. This strikes us as both sad and wrong: do the prospective buyers know of the dispute between the neighbouring 200 or so full-time residences and The Cottages over water use rights? Probably not.

The spokesman may avow he feels “positive vibes,” but not from us . . . the battle is far from over!

And a note to the Capital Regional District and the Islands Trust: you got duped. The Cottages is not the Lakeridge camp of the 1960s, where kids slept in sleeping bags and took their dirty clothes back home at season’s end. It is not a few cabins inhabited by remittance men or flower children of the 1970s, living low off the land. The Cottages is a full-blown, 50-unit, full-time gated subdivision. Platform Properties had no intention of a seasonal tourist resort (it’s not their business — that’s what their spokesman said). You got hoodwinked; and now, the delicate aquifer — and our community — are at risk.

But, as we said, the battle has just begun.

Submitted by Janelle Holmes, Lynda Wilcox, Florence Schreiner, Jane Squier, Ralph Dom, Marianne & Fred Hobbs, Cathy Lenihan, Gail Carruthers, Chris Healy, Barry Larsen, Candace Cole, David Norget, Daniel van Koughnett, Angela Fleagel, Christine Arnet, Nadene McCoy, Albert Wilke, Osman Phillips, Eliane Silverman, Eddy Westcott and Ewen Carruthers.

Editorial: Control your dogs

Driftwood Staff
-
0
Editorial: Control your dogs

A dog may be considered man’s best friend, but livestock owners may not concur.

In recent months, several Salt Spring farmers have reported that sheep and lambs have been killed or injured by maurading dogs. CRD animal control officer Wolfgang Brunnwieser confirmed this week that no deaths have been reported since the issue was publicized, but said 2018 has seen a big increase in the number of sheep killed by dogs over more recent years.

Newer island residents or visitors might assume living in a rural area means dogs can enjoy extra freedom when compared to an urban environment. In fact the opposite is true. For wildlife and livestock, being chased and attacked by a dog is a horrific fate, and Salt Spring has both wildlife and livestock in spades.

Longtime local farmer Sandy Robley detailed in last week’s Driftwood the emotional toll experienced by farmers whose animals are attacked, as well as what the animals are forced to endure. That’s on top of the financial losses farmers must absorb, and extra costs required to further protect their animals.

Salt Spring has a vast agricultural land base and numerous sheep. According to the 2017 Agricultural Land Use Inventory for Salt Spring Island, some 6,214 hectares (15,350 acres) are designated for farm activity and almost 200 farms are in operation. The inventory also counted some 560 “animal equivalent units” of sheep. Farms are spread throughout the island, so vulnerable animals could be located just about anywhere.

Owning a dog is a serious responsibility, and following the laws of any jurisdiction is critical. Those include licensing the dogs with local authorities — in our case the Capital Regional District — and keeping them under control at all times while off one’s own property.

While farmers are allowed to shoot dogs caught chasing their livestock, it is obviously not the most desirable outcome, and certainly one that is preventable if a dog’s owner is responsible.

Anyone who sees dogs running loose in any neighbourhood is advised to call the animal control office at 250-537-9414, take a photo, if possible, and record the date and time of the sighting.

Suffering by dogs, livestock and farmers can be prevented if everyone does their part.

STAM, Kelly

Driftwood Obituary
-
0
STAM, Kelly

Kelly Stam
Aug 16, 1957 – July 11, 2018

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Kelly (Kilabuk) Stam (Mingeriak) on July 11, 2018 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, after a lengthy battle dealing with complications from surgery and lung disease.

She is survived by her loving husband of 38 years, Rudy;son,Nathaniel; daughter, Asya; grandson, Isaiah, and many other family members on Baffin Island.

Kelly will be remembered for her loving smile and contagious laughter. She was a kind, compassionate, generous and selfless woman. Her family and friends were her purpose in life, and she was deeply and dearly loved and will be missed forever.

A celebration of life will be held on August 4, 2018 from 2 – 4 pm. For more details please email asyastam@hotmail.com.

“Rejoice in the fact that I am happy,
remember that I will always love you and smile because one day we shall meet again”.
~ Aakuluk Kilabuk, Rest in Peace

HEATH, Alan Thomas

Driftwood Obituary
-
0
HEATH, Alan Thomas

Alan Thomas Heath
Feb 14, 1927 – July 16, 2018

At the age of 91 a life well lived has come to an end. Alan’s life journey began on February 14, 1927 in Melbourne, England and ended July 16, 2018.

He was predeceased by his parents John and Margaret, and brothers Derek and Don. Just one year ago Alan lost his beloved wife Dorothy.

Alan’s legendary attention to detail and perfectionist nature led to a career as an aircraft machinist…first with Rolls Royce in Britain and subsequently Standard Aero Engine in Winnipeg, where he rose to inspector and quality control. He later relocated to Richmond, BC where he shared his extensive career skills with Okanagan Helicopters.
Upon retirement Alan and Dorothy moved to Salt Spring Island, where they cultivated very close friendships as well as a bountiful garden!

Left with treasured memories of the intrepid traveler, adventurous foodie, puzzle master, talented precise woodworker and machinist,are his son Craig (Julia), grandsons Curtis (Tanya) and Brent, great grand daughter Kayla and sister-in-law Beryl.
Special thanks to Dr. Crichton and Greenwoods Elder care.

Memorial contributions can be made to Salt Spring Island Conservancy.

STEAGER, Peter William

Driftwood Obituary
-
0

Peter William Steager
May 29, 1936 – July 15, 2018

Beloved husband of Linda Steager, loving father of Tabitha and Joshua, and grandfather to Colt Nash Steager.

Peter was a renaissance man in an age of specialists. He had a deep interest and broad knowledge of many topics and loved to learn – he was the man you wanted on your Trivial Pursuit team and who you looked to for answers about obscure facts before the Internet was ever a thing. He held an MA in zoology and PhD anthropology, both from the University of California Berkeley. Peter had an abiding love for nature and loved hiking and walking along the ocean. He had a strong rapport with animals, from many family cats and dogs to hummingbirds and insects. He loved to cook and entertain, winning several chili cook-offs and mastering cuisines from around the world. He also loved to talk – you could count on him to hold an interesting, engaging conversation with anyone he met. He expressed his keen sense of humour not only in conversation but in his writing, particularly through his animal investigators in his Kokanee Crime Club mystery. In addition to his creative writing abilities, he also had a vast artistic imagination and drawing abilities, drawing cartoon animals and imaginary beasts for his children growing up and continuing to create new characters for his grandson. Peter was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather and friend and will be keenly missed.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life
at Salt Spring Seniors September 15, 2018,  11:30am- 2:00 pm.

Croftonbrook expansion project sees forward action

Elizabeth Nolan
-
0
Croftonbrook expansion project sees forward action

The first stage of a two-part housing development expansion at the Croftonbrook complex moved forward on Thursday with several resolutions passed by the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee.

Trustees voted Thursday to forward a development permit application required for a 20-unit building on to the Advisory Planning Commission and the Agricultural Advisory Planning Commission for review and comment, and asked applicants Island Women Against violence to supply reports on lighting and stormwater design, plus a landscaping bond.

Two new buildings will potentially bring 54 new units to the Croftonbrook property, which now has 20 units in town homes for seniors and people with disabilities. The first two-storey building is planned for a portion of the Croftonbrook property that is zoned for residential use. The second building will require rezoning of a portion that is currently zoned for agriculture, and is also in the LTC’s application stream.

Of the 74 units planned in total, 34 will be designated affordable housing under the Salt Spring LTC definition, which means units will be reserved for people of low to moderate incomes and rent will be capped at 30 per cent of household income.

Eighteen units are targeted at people who have experienced homelessness, an outcome that is strongly supported by local groups working on issues of housing and poverty.

The project has garnered much interest and feedback in its early stages, with numerous  items of correspondence both supporting and opposing the plans received by the Local Trust Committee over the past year. Wednesday’s information session and public hearing also attracted a large crowd with around 55-60 members of the public in attendance. A large contingent of neighbours participated, many of whom had questions about about the mixed social housing model.

“Those of us living in Roscommon are concerned about later on. Can you assure us there will be supervision if there are issues with the homeless people with drugs, fighting and noise?” asked one person.

The Capital Regional District’s Regional Housing First program is a funding partner for the project. CRD housing manager John Reilly explained there is no specific mandate to take in or rehabilitate people with addiction problems.

The program is “a commitment to housing people who have experienced homelessness, period,” he said.

Project coordinators said that partners at Island Heath will be providing support for mental health and other issues, but the tenants will be selected according to their ability to live independently and there will be no supervisor living on site. The applicants further explained there is no plan to fill the new units with people from other parts of the regional district. Only people who have lived on Salt Spring for at least one year will be eligible to live there. 

Meeting participants also expressed concern with the proposed increase in density, both in general and because of limited water supply. A question was raised as to whether the project could go ahead with fewer units.

Project consultant Janis Gauthier explained that given the island’s severe housing crisis, IWAV had chosen to aim for the maximum number of units permitted in affordable housing and density rules under Salt Spring’s official community plan.

“We just really want to house as many Salt Springers as possible,” Gauthier said. 

Island Health has approved the source supply for the water system that will serve the two new buildings. The health authority must still issue a construction permit for the system. Without their assurance of adequate water supply, neither phase will go ahead.

For more on this story, see the July 18, 2018 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

1...450451452...610Page 451 of 610