Gulf Islands Driftwood | Newspaper serving the Gulf Islands since 1960

Water quality advisory issued for Highland/Fernwood area

News

Driftwood Staff

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July 11, 2025

Water quality advisory issued for Highland/Fernwood area

An unprecedented spike in manganese levels in the Highland/Fernwood Water Service Area has prompted the Capital Regional District (CRD) to issue a water quality advisory for the entire service area.

Infants’ consumption of the water is the biggest concern, explains a public service announcement from the CRD released on the afternoon of Friday, July 11.

“Due to the elevated levels of manganese, infants should not consume tap water or formula made with tap water. Bottled water should be used when preparing infant formula.

“As a precaution, it is recommended to avoid drinking discoloured water, or using discoloured water to prepare food or infant formula. Older children and adults are less sensitive to manganese than infants and Health Canada suggests that the health risk from manganese concentrations of less than 300 ppb is much lower for older children and adults.”

Boiling the water does not eliminate the health risk.

The CRD states that “manganese is a naturally occurring element that is present throughout the environment and can normally be found in many surface and groundwater sources. Frequently, as observed at Highland/Fernwood, episodes of high manganese concentrations can be a seasonal occurrence. Manganese is an essential nutrient and consuming a small amount of manganese is necessary to maintain overall health. Until recently, elevated levels of manganese in drinking water were not considered a health risk and were only viewed as an aesthetic concern. The latest science now associates high concentrations of manganese in drinking water with health issues in infants (birth to one year old). High levels of manganese can make water appear brown, purple or black at concentrations less than what Health Canada considers the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) in drinking water.

While Health Canada has set a MAC for manganese at 120 parts per billion (ppb) and an aesthetic objective of 20 ppb, the CRD says manganese concentrates are currently greater than 120 ppb in several parts of the Highland/Fernwood water distribution system.

“This is the first time that the Highland/Fernwood drinking water system has experienced such a high spike of manganese concentrations,” the advisory states. “The CRD will be monitoring closely manganese concentrations in the system and, in collaboration with Island Health, will determine when it is appropriate to rescind this water quality advisory.”

For health-related questions, contact Island Health Environmental Public Health Services at 250-519-3401 or Gateway_Office@island health.ca.

For updates, see crd.ca/alerts.

Photography show highlights Salt Spring tattooed on the body

Arts & Entertainment

Gail Sjuberg

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July 10, 2025

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Photography show highlights Salt Spring tattooed on the body

Several years ago now, Peter Allan was in the lineup at Thrifty Foods when he saw a person with a tattooed outline of Salt Spring Island on their neck.

“As I was standing there at the Thrifty’s I was thinking, ‘You know, I love Salt Spring. It’s been my home for 30 years. But what’s that about?’” he recalled in outlining the rationale for his first Ink+Skin+The Rock – Portraits of Salt Spring Island tattooed on the body photography exhibit held at Salt Spring Gallery in 2018.

Encountering that individual merged with an abiding fascination with tattoos to spark the idea for taking photographs of people with island-centric tattoos and having them provide statements about what the tattoos mean to them. Allan has now remounted and expanded on the 2018 show — called Ink+Skin+The Rock=Revisited — in the Salt Spring Public Library’s program room for the month of July, and is still very much interested in exploring why people choose the tattoo medium to immortalize their connections to the island.

As he wrote for the original Ink+Skin+The Rock show:

“I wanted to know more about their stories. I wanted to photograph them. Photography was a pursuit that I learned at my father’s knee. As a child, he and I would take photographs together and then develop and print them in our darkroom next to the furnace in our home. I returned to photography when our sons were born.”

Eighteen portraits are hanging in the library exhibit, which Allan said received great feedback at the July 4 opening event.

Jon Pulker, part of Peter Allan’s Ink+Skin+The Rock=Revisited exhibition.

Some stories behind the photographs relate to loss, not surprisingly. Liane Fidler has a Salt Spring outline on her calf, said Allan, and had tattoo artist Noah Mott add a swirl pointing at Mount Maxwell because that is where her brother John fell and died in 1988 at the age of 21.

Abbie Sherwood’s photo was in the original exhibit and a new one is also included this time. Her 2018 statement opened with: “It wasn’t my choice to move to Salt Spring. But things happen for a reason. For a long time, I didn’t know what that reason was. For a long time, I didn’t let Salt Spring show me what the reason was. My home is here, my rock is here, my family is here. That is the reason.”

In participating in the 2025 remount, “She wants to sum up what’s happened in the seven years and what the tattoo means to her today,” Allan said.

Allan also ended up getting a Salt Spring tattoo done by Mott, so a self-portrait is included in the exhibit, with a tattoo of a scene he sees from his and his wife Linda’s Fulford Harbour home.

“It’s Mount Maxwell and the light at the head of the harbour, and about a kayak length from there . . . we laid some of my mother’s ashes — and some of my wife’s father’s ashes are there — and it’s likely where Linda and I will have our ashes go. So part of my story about this tattoo — and we look at the light every day — is that connection to place, and that connection to where we go when it’s all over.”

Interestingly, Allan had lived on Salt Spring for a short time in November of 1986 when an event called An Interview With the Tattooed Lady was presented by a woman named Miki Troesch at the former Off Centre Stage performing arts space. It definitely helped forge love for his new home, and then five years later he ran into Troesch at a kayaking symposium in Port Townsend, recollecting the 1986 evening. (There he learned that the giant erupting phallus tattooed on her back had been removed and replaced with a phoenix rising.)

Allan, who is a Pemberton Holmes realtor and once owned a kayaking and cycling outlet in Fulford, has also studied art history and done sculpting in addition to fine art photography. He was a Salt Spring Gallery member for a time and His No Public House photo exhibit in 2014 explored the island’s lost pubs.

He feels privileged to practise art-making on Salt Spring Island.

“We get to live where we live. We get to do what we do. We get to carve out time to make art and that’s a privilege. To have the means and the time is not a given,” he said. “I don’t take that for granted at all.”

Allan’s exhibition is viewable in the library’s program room Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., whenever the room is not otherwise in use.

Fracas at Kanakas a hit again

Sports & Recreation

Driftwood Staff

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July 9, 2025

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Kanaka Skatepark was the place to be on Saturday, July 5 as the third Fracas at Kanakas (FAK) Skatepark saw more than 50 skateboarders compete for top spots and celebrate their sport with the community.

Event co-organizer Angelo Scaia of the Salt Spring Skatepark Society said skaters as young as eight to people in their 40s and of all skill levels participated. Most of the approximately 50 skaters were from Salt Spring Island, but some came from Victoria and the Lower Mainland too.

“It’s a good event for the community and this is really why we do it,” said Scaia. “We live in a small town and our community is everything to us here. It’s important to put these events on because that’s what you do in small towns, and I think when you encourage youth and physical activities, it’s a win-win.”

The Salt Spring Lions Club — a longtime supporter of the skate park — took care of the barbecue, with The Somethin’ Else DJs donating their time as well. Many volunteers and sponsors also contributed to the event. Proceeds from FAK T-shirt sales were donated to the Stqeeye’ Learning Society’s wetland restoration project at Xwaaqw’um.

Competition results were as follows:

Beginner class: First place, Ivy Spencer; second place, Nathan Silva; third place, Lachie Snowball.

Intermediate class: First place, Kieran Rowthorn; second place, Graham; third place, Hudson Oakes.

Advanced class: First place, Mike Rogers; second place, Darcy Tran; third place, Leo Powers.

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Some photos from the day taken for the Driftwood by Rob Lowrie . . . .

Katie Burke and Angelo Scaia of the Salt Spring Skatepark Society with Fracas at Kanakas T-shirts for sale. (Rob Lowrie photo)

Letters to the Editor: July 9th

Opinion

Contributed Article

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July 9, 2025

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A beautiful place

It’s so good to be home on the rock. All over this country people say to me: “Oh, you live on Salt Spring Island? It’s so great. What a beautiful place.”

Maybe we should all have to live in downtown Toronto or Vancouver for a week or two every year to help us appreciate the wisdom of the Islands Trust mandate and remember how lucky we are to have this beautiful place.

Bill Henderson,

Salt Spring

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Stephen Kelly will be missed

A community is the sum of its parts. What makes it tick are the contributions of all the people who serve in so many roles to keep our daily lives functioning smoothly. Stephen Kelly was one of those contributors.

It’s too easy to render such people faceless. It is always incumbent on us who benefit from such services to understand just how much the people who provide them really mean to us.

We remember Stephen over many years, relieving us of our unwanted materials for a small consideration and in doing so making our lives simpler, better. As we recall Stephen in those frequent short incursions into his world, he seemed quiet and reserved, so we made it our objective on every visit to lighten his day as he did ours. Our measure of success was a smile or offhand remark from him, indicating to us that those interactions meant something to him.

Now he has gone and we can’t pass Laurie’s facility near Country Grocer without reflecting on what Stephen meant to us, and how much his service to each of us brightened our days. We will miss him greatly. It won’t be the same without him.

Thank you, Stephen, and Godspeed.

Doug and Sue Macdonald,

Long Harbour Road

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Trust Council chair outlines next steps for Policy Statement

Islands Trust Council has been working on a much-needed update to the Policy Statement for years.

This Policy Statement is a requirement of the Islands Trust Act and it contains the policies that guide the Islands Trust’s work to preserve and protect the Islands Trust Area. It also guides the development of the regulatory land-use bylaws of local trust committees and Bowen Island Municipality.

At our recent Trust Council meeting on Salt Spring Island, Trust Council approved a plan for the next steps to advance the draft document. Under that plan, we will meet as Committee of the Whole on July 9 to review the draft with the aim of making any final changes and then, if we feel it is ready, we will advance it to first reading at a special meeting of Trust Council scheduled for July 29. It is important to understand that when Trust Council votes on first reading, we are not voting on a final approval of the Policy Statement. Following first reading, we will then undertake a six-month period of engagement inviting the public, Indigenous governing bodies, government partners and interest groups to provide their comments on the draft.

Then we will take all that feedback into consideration and will further refine the Policy Statement before moving toward our goal of final approval. This upcoming engagement period will provide lots of opportunity to share your thoughts and views, and we will provide more details on how you can participate once first reading is complete.

The Policy Statement contains the principles and policies that guide how the Islands Trust fulfils its preserve and protect mandate in cooperation with Indigenous governing bodies, the government of British Columbia, local governments, and the public. I know my colleagues on Islands Trust Council continue to be thoughtful and diligent in crafting a policy framework that will serve us well in the increasingly complex context in which we must work.

I encourage you to take the time to read the new draft for yourself, review the wealth of background material available on the Islands 2050 page of our website, and then share your comments and feedback with us in the months ahead. We look forward to hearing from you.

Read more here: islandstrust.bc.ca/programs/islands-2050.

LAURA PATRICK,

Chair, Islands Trust Council

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What we need

Regarding the proposed 50-unit affordable housing project on Kings Lane described in the June 11 Driftwood, my husband Tom and I live on Kings Lane and we are nothing but happy to read of this happening, as well as the increased lifting of the limit of doctors allowed.

We can’t think of anything we need more of on this island than affordable housing and doctors.

Linda James,

Salt Spring

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A local lexicon

As the winds of change sweep over the islands, a strange new vocabulary has emerged in local politics.

Following are 20 key expressions with new meanings:

1. “Healthy communities” – When protected islands are developed like any other area.

2. “Resilient communities” – When every lot has a cistern and a short-term vacation rental.

3. “Small minority” – The thousands of Salt Spring voters (62 per cent of total) who said no to incorporation and mass development in the 2017 referendum.

4. “Unique amenities” – Anything trustees say they are.

5. “Review the mandate” – Make it toothless.

6. “Density limits” – No longer relevant as the whole idea of carrying capacity is so old school!

7. “Build-out” – An environmentalist plot to require trustees to consider the future implications of their decisions.

8. “Integrated Solutions” – The silver bullet that will solve all housing and environmental problems without constraining development.

9. “Fear mongerers” – Anyone who thinks long term.

10. “NIMBYs” – People who feel stressed out after visiting Langford.

11. “Eco-radicals” – Anyone who supports the Trust’s preserve and protect mandate.

12. “Anti-housing” – Anyone who supports non-market housing.

13. “A balanced approach” – When trustees choose their own priorities.

14. “Public engagement” – When trustees invite public input, then reject what they don’t agree with.

15. “Climate change mitigation” – A natural consequence of densification.

16. “Targeted housing update” – Transform the island as if housing is the only issue.

17. “Misinformation” – When political spin is challenged with facts and details.

18. “Rural character” – When there are no high-rises.

19. “Open and transparent” – When public business is conducted behind closed doors.

20. “Supported by four legal opinions” – Obtain the same opinion from the same lawyer four times.

FRANTS ATTORP,

Salt Spring

Editorial: Ferries course correction needed

Opinion

Driftwood Staff

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July 9, 2025

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Editorial: Ferries course correction needed

The ferry problems that might have been prevented by Salt Spring’s extinct Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC) are starting to stack up.

On the poorly received Route 6 homeporting issue, there is little doubt had a FAC still been in place — and, of course, had BC Ferries asked — it could have warned of the substantial community pushback waiting in the wings, should the ferry company follow through with abandoning its long practice of keeping a ferry in Vesuvius overnight. And seasoned FAC members — many with deep understandings of both maritime operations and island living — might even have workshopped a solution, heading off the imbroglio currently undermining public confidence in the ferry service.

Next it abruptly emerged that one in seven Salt Spring vehicle owners here may have to save up for a barge fund, just in case their electric car or truck (or school bus) needs a tow off island. It’s a policy shift BC Ferries made public only after denying a planned boarding — and again, a FAC consultation would likely have produced a solution to balance shipboard safety concerns with the reality of EV adoption on Salt Spring and other islands.

On Gabriola Island, that FAC responded to being summarily dismissed by re-forming, this time as a “Ferry Advocacy Committee,” to continue its work, as it were, unbidden — a path Salt Spring may wish to emulate. We hear Gabriola’s switch to the same Island Class vessels we expect at Vesuvius by 2027 has brought an unexpected routine there of puzzle-solving during loadings and other confounding problems — and we eagerly await communication on that matter from their “new” FAC.

Clearly, well-intentioned and problematic ferry initiatives are nothing new to islanders; when the first purpose-built Gulf Islands vessel started service to Salt Spring in 1963, Driftwood readers reported regular loading delays, despite its innovative (if short-lived) onboard vehicle turntable.

But in shifting from a panel-of-experts model to a more egalitarian “all feedback welcome” process, while BC Ferries could be commended for seeking to broaden its input sources, unforced errors like these should send new plans back to the drawing board, if not the wastebin.

Opinion: Strategies available to deal with lithium-ion batteries on ferries

Opinion

Contributed Article

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July 9, 2025

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Opinion: Strategies available to deal with lithium-ion batteries on ferries

The following letter was sent to BC Ferries and filed with the Driftwood for publication.

BY CAROLE EYLES

I am shocked and dismayed by the recent announcement that non-functioning electric vehicles will no longer be allowed on BC Ferries. I understand the concern about fires but this is not the way to deal with that concern.

The Canadian government has been promoting electric vehicles for many years in order to reduce carbon in the atmosphere and many of us have followed that advice as being based in science. We supported the government and put our money where we were told it would be most beneficial. A lot of us live on the Gulf Islands on the west coast of B.C. We are now being told if our car breaks down we cannot get it fixed. There are no dealerships based in the islands and few to no mechanics trained to repair these highly technologized vehicles. What are we supposed to do? Suddenly a very valuable and expensive vehicle is worthless.

I recently had to have my 2018 Ioniq EV towed off Salt Spring Island for repair. The issue was with a brake sensor. There was no issue with the battery but the car did need to be towed. Your current policy would have been a disaster for me.

In fact, your issue is not with electric cars but with lithium-ion batteries. And I would suggest that electric bikes are far more likely to cause a fire as their batteries are easily replaced by after-market and cheaper batteries that are less reliable. This is noted along with considerable advice on how to accommodate electric vehicles in a U.K. transport ministry document titled MGN 653 (M) Amendment 1 Electric Vehicles Onboard Passenger Roll-on-roll-off Ferries and in an American Bureau of Shipping document.

The problem needs to be resolved, but I would suggest that investigating and promoting appropriate fire suppression strategies for all lithium-ion batteries would be a much wiser approach. We all have fire extinguishers in our homes and many also carry them in combustion engine vehicles, which are actually several times more likely to catch fire than electric ones.

How hard can it be for a ferry, sitting in water, to have access to enough water to extinguish a lithium-ion fire? This is the most efficient strategy listed by the above-noted agencies.

EV factories are not bursting into flames. Neither are lithium battery manufacturers. There clearly are strategies that can be used on ferries. Please take the proactive, positive approach and help us all live safer lives rather than condemning those of us who followed government advice and happen to live on islands.

Zachary Stevenson returns with new nostalgic show

Arts & Entertainment

Contributed Article

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July 9, 2025

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Zachary Stevenson returns with new nostalgic show

By KIRSTEN BOLTON

For ArtSpring

Back by popular demand, acclaimed musical chameleon Zachary Stevenson returns to ArtSpring on Friday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. with Dead Ringer, a one-night-only concert that blends music, storytelling and nostalgia into pure magic.

Stevenson wowed sold-out Salt Spring audiences last season in The Buddy Holly Story, and now he’s back—not just as Buddy, but as Hank Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Phil Ochs and more. In this intimate new show, he shares the behind-the-scenes journey of the artists he portrays and how he became one of Canada’s most sought-after musical tribute performers.

Described by the Victoria Times Colonist as a “dead ringer for dead singers,” Stevenson is more than a voice match. He seems to channel the soul, swagger and spirit of the icons he inhabits. The Chicago Tribune called him “a bravura performer” and declared, “If you don’t like him, you don’t like much of anybody.”

Dead Ringer is more than a greatest hits tribute. It’s a heartfelt and often hilarious glimpse into a performer’s life spent dancing between the lines of tribute and transformation. Expect classic tunes, vivid impersonations and a few surprises along the way.

Stevenson’s career spans stages from the Commodore Ballroom to Chicago’s Jeff Awards (which he won for his Buddy Holly role), and festivals like Folk Alliance and the Ottawa Blues Festival. He’s played with legends, led his own bands and raised over $10,000 for Doctors Without Borders through music sales.

Now he brings it all to ArtSpring’s stage, just in time to support the annual Treasure Fair, ArtSpring’s beloved fundraiser supporting year-round arts programming.

Whether you grew up on rockabilly, folk or vintage country, or you simply love a great showman, this concert promises to be one of the feel-good highlights of the summer.

Tickets — $35 adult, $5 youth — are available through the ArtSpring box office or website. Angel Tickets ($15) are available on 20 seats, first come, first served.

‘Safety bears’ ride with local RCMP

Island Life

Robb Magley

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July 9, 2025

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Salt Spring police welcomed a critical equipment resupply this week, as the island’s RCMP detachment took delivery of a fuzzy front-line communication tool meant to help children exposed to traumatic incidents.

The Crime Stoppers “Safety Bears” ride along with detachment members ready for any child who might interact with police, according to RCMP Cpl. Steve Davidson, who met Central Vancouver Island (CVI) Crime Stoppers president Brian Cornborough Thursday, July 3. Cornborough delivered the bears as the last stop in a multi-community tour, supplying several RCMP detachments with allotments of stuffed animals as far away as Tofino.

“We use them all the time,” said Davidson. “For children who might be present at calls, or sometimes are involved as passengers in motor vehicles.”

Cornborough said the bears are purchased in bulk — “700 at a time,” he chuckled — through donations to the all-volunteer organization.

“A couple of years ago, some of the members at the detachment in Nanaimo approached us for financing to buy these bears,” said Cornborough. “So that’s what we did. And that’s what we do, we raise money — and we get rid of it just as fast.”

Cornborough said in addition to the bears, CVI Crime Stoppers had raised money to pay a year’s wages for a security person to be on the street in Nanaimo to help out, bought two-way radios for police volunteers in Port Alberni and donated funding to victim’s services in Oceanside. Between a shredding event and donations through life estates, he said, they have “a little money to spend” and were happy to finance bears for another year. Davidson said detachment members were happy to receive them as well.

“We carry these bears in all of our police cars,” said Davidson. “They’re a means of comfort, and it leaves a positive impression of the police on children.”

Cornborough said CVI Crime Stoppers covers nearly a dozen municipalities and larger rural areas, working in “small meaningful ways” to reduce crime within those communities — and, he said, the organization’s small board would welcome participation from Salt Spring.

“We would like to have someone here, for sure, just helping us make sure little things like this get done,” said Cornborough. “If anybody wants to volunteer to give us some of their time, please reach out to president@cvicrimestoppers.com.”

Crime Stoppers welcomes anonymous tips about crime at 1-800-222-8477; for more information visit cvicrimestoppers.com.

THOMPSON, Elizabeth Margaret Florence (Betty)

Obituaries

Driftwood Obituary

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July 9, 2025

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THOMPSON, Elizabeth Margaret Florence (Betty)

Betty (Elizabeth Margaret Florence Thompson) was born on the family farm May 18, 1937, and grew up in Kipling, Saskatchewan. She was very proud of her “prairie roots”. After completing High School in Kipling, she continued her piano training and obtained her Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto degree.

Three years at the University of Saskatchewan resulted in a Bachelor of Arts degree and, in September 1961, her marriage to Lynn Thompson. After several moves (Wolseley SK, Kenora ON, Cranbrook BC), the couple, now with 4 children, settled in Yorkton, SK. They stayed there until 1996 when Lynn and Betty moved to Salt Spring Island, BC. They made one last move to Duncan in 2020.

Betty earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 1992 while working as Executive Director for the newly formed Yorkton Big Brothers and Big Sisters agency. She volunteered for over 20 years with Girl Guides of Canada as a leader and Provincial Music Advisor. She was a peer counsellor for Seniors, a member of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, a church board member, and volunteer librarian.

Music was a constant in Betty’s life. For many years she taught piano lessons and accompanied young people in music festivals and for ballet lessons. She sang in the church choir and played piano and organ for church services. She learned guitar and ukelele, and, for a short while – the trombone in an adult beginner band. She loved folk festivals, music and theatre events, and dancing in the kitchen.

She had a firm spiritual foundation and was a lifelong member of the United Church. Betty held a deep respect for all faiths and spiritual traditions. She had a strong sense of social justice and participated in events and causes related to the environment, LGBTQ2S+ rights, and Indigenous rights.

She was kind and compassionate, creative, and had a playful sense of humour. She enjoyed learning, reading, gardening, being out in nature, and having meaningful conversations with others. She gave the best hugs.

Betty passed away peacefully with her family by her side on June 14, 2025. Predeceased by her sister Lillian and brother Larry, Betty is survived by husband Lynn, children Kim, Sean (Rachelle), Jan (Jaro), Kerri (David) and grandsons Ben, Sam, and Cole.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 26 at 2pm at Salt Spring United Church. The service will also be livestreamed at youtube.com/@unitedchurchlive5309/streams.

Donations can be made in her name to one of the many charities she supported. A few suggestions – Canadian Cancer Society, Indian Residential School Support Society, QMUNITY, Stephen Lewis Foundation, David Suzuki Foundation.

ROBERTSON, Rita Lillian

Obituaries

Driftwood Obituary

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July 9, 2025

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Rita Lillian Robertson, 94, of Salt Spring Island, passed away peacefully at Greenwoods Eldercare on June 22, 2025. Born on August 25, 1930 at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Rita grew up in a loving family. Her father Harry Wheeler was a ship’s carpenter and tugboat captain who worked for the Gulf of Georgia Towing Company. Her mother Gertrude Wheeler was a full-time mother and homemaker. Sister Donna was five years her junior and brother Alan ten years her junior. Rita was a wonderful older sister and inseparable companion to her cousin Ruthie, who lived nearby. Rita had a rich connection to the city. She was a true Vancouverite.

After finishing her years at Templeton High School in 1948, Rita continued her studies at secretarial school. In 1950 she set off with a girlfriend by train to Hamilton, Ontario, where she worked for a year at Westinghouse Electric. She then returned to B.C. and applied for a secretarial job at F. Drexel Co., an industrial supply firm. A handsome young rogue, spying her in the front office, phoned down to his office manager. “Hire this one, Dunc,” he said. And Dunc did. An office romance followed and on Christmas Day 1951, in front of her entire family, the love of her life, Alan Robertson, proposed to his “sweet Reet.”

Rita and Alan were married at St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Kitsilano on May 15, 1952. Alan’s work soon took them north to Prince George, and there they began their new life together. They returned to Vancouver in 1954 with their firstborn, Christine, and subsequently had two more children, Gordon and Kathleen. Rita created a loving home life for her family and a welcome place for the neighbourhood children to gather. She loved children. She loved sewing clothes for her kids, including grad dresses and wedding dresses for her daughters. In 1962 the family moved to West Vancouver, where Rita volunteered as a Girl Guide leader and as a member of the St. Stephen’s Anglican Altar Guild. When her children flew the nest, Rita took a job with Dundarave Bakery, eventually advancing to position of manager.

Upon Alan’s retirement in 1990, he and Rita moved to Salt Spring Island where they were warmly embraced by the parish of All Saints by-the-Sea Anglican Church. Here, Rita’s spirit of giving blossomed. From day one she was a vital member of the All Saints’ Altar Guild. She was a weekly auxiliary “Tea Lady” for Lady Minto Hospital’s Extended Care for over thirty years. For many years both Rita and Alan volunteered as drivers for the Meals on Wheels program. Together they joined the Salt Spring Island Scottish Country Dance Club. For several years, Rita coordinated the registrations for participants far and wide when the club hosted their biannual Spring Fling. Of all things Scottish, Rita and Alan were champions! They warmly welcomed friends to their annual Robbie Burns party, with Rita making a host of Scottish delicacies to share. Rita was an integral part of the Ometepe fair trade coffee organization, and an active member of the Trail and Nature Club. If ever a group needed someone to take on a task, Rita’s hand went up! She was devoted to her dear friends on Salt Spring Island. For many years she enjoyed socializing with a group of Chemainus theatregoers, Remembrance Day soup lunches, Tea Team sandwich-making, and quilting with friends.

Rita and Alan enjoyed retirement on Salt Spring and beyond. Their adventurous spirits and curiosity about the world led them to take many wonderful trips: Britain, Europe, Cuba, Mexico, the US, and across Canada. As for vacations with their kids, they typically headed to the great outdoors for memorable camping trips each summer. Rita and Alan had their camping systems finely tuned and made it seem easy.

For the past four years, Rita found a home and a place of incredible love at Greenwoods Eldercare. In May of 2021, she and Alan moved there as both of their needs warranted. Sadly, Rita’s beloved Alan passed away in April of 2022. A love of more than 70 years transcends loss, and Rita managed to handle his passing by keeping him very much alive and present in her mind and in her heart. Rita maintained a positive, happy, calm and relaxed presence in Greenwoods that brought joy to the aides and nurses, to the team of Salt Spring Embrace, and to her visitors. Thank you to all the staff at Greenwoods who treated Rita as if she was their own mother, with tremendous respect, focused attention, and great love. Thank you to Brandy and her dedicated Salt Spring Embrace team of caregivers for loving Mom and bringing their special brand of tender care to her on a daily basis. Special thanks to Marjie and Brock Radford, who for many years loved not only Rita but her entire family in tangible and non-tangible ways.

Our lives are richer for having known Rita Robertson and having shared in her joy and love of life. She is predeceased by her husband, Gordon Alan Robertson; her mother, Gertrude Evelyn Wheeler; her father, Harry James Wheeler; her sister, Donna Arlene Garvin; her cousin and best friend, Ruth Evelyn Wenn; her grandson, David Edmond Hall; and her great-granddaughter, Mila Kate Russell. This wonderful sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother is survived by her brother Alan Wheeler (Diane); daughter Christine Hall (Ron); son Gordon Robertson; daughter Kathleen Stockner (Todd); grandchildren Alexander Hall (Andria), Kimberley Hall, Stephanie Schollen (Erin), Hannah Stockner, Simon Stockner, Nathalie Robertson; and great-grandchildren Isla Hall, Miranda Schollen, Noah Hall, John Schollen, Liam Russell and Penn Robertson.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints by-the- Sea Anglican Church on Saturday, August 23 at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Greenwoods Eldercare Society in Rita’s memory.