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Editorial: All in a heap

Driftwood Staff
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Editorial: All in a heap

There are many levers local governments can pull to nudge human behaviour.

But the ones grabbed most eagerly — and admittedly effectively — have always been any that target our pocketbooks. The Capital Regional District (CRD) reached for those once it became clear the region’s only landfill was filling up faster than it could raise money to expand it. 

As part of a multi-year ongoing increase scheme, the CRD raised Hartland Landfill tipping fees again to $160 per tonne for general refuse; through its regulation bylaw, fines for some kinds of prohibited trash can now be as high as $2,000.

It’s all done in hopes thrifty customers will take the hint, perhaps reduce their consumption but certainly take advantage of low- to no-cost recycling and organics drop-off options. 

And it may be working. We’ve seen how popular island recycling depots are, and it seems as if everyone is growing something each summer thanks to all the backyard composting that’s done.

But for institutional customers, it’s another matter. There’s no free ride on Salt Spring for a business, park, clinic or school that’s producing recyclable or compostable waste; they either pay someone to sort their trash and someone else to take it away, or pay someone to take it all and sort it elsewhere. Staffing costs make that latter choice pretty attractive, which we imagine leaves haulers in a similar situation later: pay someone to sort, or risk penalty costs at the landfill.

Or, possibly, find somewhere cheaper to take it all. The Cowichan Valley Regional District accepts trash it sends to landfills in Washington State for a relative bargain of 33 cents per kilogram.

Notably, for residential trash it’s an unsettled matter as to whether raising tipping fees causes more households to dump illegally; in rural settings, the baseline of random bags found at the end of quiet roads is unmeasured, and it’s hard to tell who’s burying what in their backyards.

But marketplace forces are far more predictable. If the cost of something goes up, every operation will search for a lower cost supplier. Business is business. 

It may not be the environment-conscious plan we’d hope for. But if the CRD’s goal is simply to divert island trash to anywhere but Hartland, its strategy may be working. 

Viewpoint: Webster to run for EA job

Contributed Article
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Viewpoint: Webster to run for EA job

By BRIAN WEBSTER

While we’ve made progress over recent years, local government on Salt Spring still doesn’t serve our community as well as it should. I think we can fix this, so I’ll be running for Salt Spring Island Electoral Area (EA) director on the CRD board in October.

What’s wrong with our local government? It’s too uncoordinated. We have more agencies than we need and not enough action on important priorities like housing. We have too many disconnected elected bodies and not enough voice for community members such as renters, who aren’t allowed to vote in some of our elections.

If you elect me as EA director, I’ll work with other elected folks to try to change that. And I’ll bring to that work my experience, knowledge, energy and values.

I’ve been a Salt Spring resident, organic farmer and small business owner since 2011. Previously, I worked as a freelance writer, editor and communications consultant in Victoria. My experience includes seven years on Salt Spring’s PARC commission plus service on the boards of three local non-profits. I was elected to Salt Spring’s Local Community Commission (LCC) in 2023 and have served on it since then. All of this experience has increased my knowledge of our community and how local government works. 

As a farmer, I know the importance of hard work and teamwork. As an LCC commissioner, I do my homework and show up prepared, willing to question the status quo and push for positive change.

My values are simple. I believe in community and that we share responsibility for its wellbeing. I think we should be open and straightforward, even when it’s inconvenient, and I think value for money is local government’s top priority. I believe climate change is real and that we must work toward reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

If elected, I’ll focus on housing, completing major public projects like the Harbourwalk, fixing our LCC budget, bringing all local CRD services under the LCC and starting a discussion with our two large improvement districts on how we can work together in the future.

We need a “made on Salt Spring” housing office to push for housing that’s affordable and sensitive to our natural environment. We need a coordinated approach to major projects, including decisions on priorities and funding.

We need to fix the LCC budget to better take care of our public amenities. We haven’t maintained the financial reserves we need to repair and upgrade amenities like the failing Centennial Park and Grace Point boardwalks. If we don’t act soon, we’ll either face a huge bill in the future, or we’ll lose these amenities entirely.

We need to break down Salt Spring’s local government siloes. Creating the LCC was a first step, but we must do more, starting with bringing the remaining CRD local services under the LCC and moving away from a single person making decisions such as the spending of gas tax funds.

To reduce fragmentation, increase democratic participation and improve access to funding, let’s talk with Salt Spring’s two large improvement districts on how we can work together for the benefit of our community.

We can’t do all of this in a day, but I know we can make progress over the next four years. I have the experience, knowledge, energy and values to achieve this. That’s why I’ll be asking for your vote as EA director in October 2026 local elections.

Canadian women adorned in Homage exhibit

Contributed Article
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Canadian women adorned in Homage exhibit

By MEGAN WARREN

For ArtSpring

Art lovers, you’re in for a treat! From May 8 to 22, celebrated gold and silversmith Donald A. Stuart brings his acclaimed exhibition, Homage, to the ArtSpring Gallery for the collection’s first and only planned appearance on the West Coast, brought to us by ArtSpring’s gallery curator Zoe Zafiris-Casey.

Coming to the island from Ontario, the display features 40 handmade necklaces, each meticulously designed as a tribute to a woman who has helped shape Canada. More sculpture than jewellery, these pieces capture the spirit of subjects ranging from the 11th century to the present day, accompanied by detailed biographies and hand-drawn portraits by Salt Spring’s own Susan Benson, who curated the exhibition.

Homage highlights Stuart’s extraordinary range as a multidisciplinary artist. Beyond his reputation in metalsmithing, Stuart famously founded the Pangnirtung Weaving Studio on Baffin Island in 1969, and that weaver’s sensibility for texture shines through in his choice of materials. For a piece honouring Kwanlin Dün elder and former Yukon commissioner Judy Gingell, Stuart incorporated gold nuggets, moose hair, mastodon ivory, glass beads and caribou antler to evoke the mountainous Yukon landscape against an aurora-streaked sky. In contrast, he honoured jazz legend Diana Krall with a bold collar crafted from antique piano keys and walnut with 14K gold inlay. While Benson’s background in theatrical set design helped her identify the characters and physical traits of the subjects — such as suggesting a high collar for ballerina Karen Kain’s elegant profile — Stuart’s technical mastery translates those identities into physical form.

Homage is rooted in what Benson calls a “mutual admiration society” between herself and Stuart. At first, Stuart considered making brooches, but Benson suggested that “you can say more with a necklace.” Since they started working on the idea over a decade ago, the stunning sculptures have appeared across eastern Canada and as far west as Yukon Territory, sometimes even returning to galleries by popular demand.

“I wouldn’t tell him this to his face, but he’s very clever,” said Benson. 

To complement the display, ArtSpring will host four special events. On May 8, enjoy a glass of wine and meet the team who made this exhibition possible at the opening reception. On May 10, dig into Homage’s history at the curator’s talk, where Stuart and Benson will discuss this exhibition and Stuart’s other works. Then, two exciting panel discussions link the display with women doing important work closer to home.

In Icons on May 14, Elizabeth May moderates a panel of three other women making waves in male-dominated fields: Dr. Shazhan Amed, clinical researcher and paediatric endocrinologist at BC Children’s Hospital; Brenna Corner, artistic director of Pacific Opera; and Natalie Telewiak, principal architect at MG Architecture. On May 21, Amazing Island Women spotlights women who make Salt Spring Island tick. Photographer and journalist Connie Kuhns moderates a conversation with Aletha Humphreys, former executive director of Greenwoods Eldercare; Alicia Herbert, executive director IWAV; Sue Newman, dramatist, dancer and teacher; and the Driftwood’s own editor, Gail Sjuberg. 

Benson hopes that everyone comes to hear and learn from these panels. She is no stranger to the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field. Now 84 years old, she started her career in the mid-1960s at the Vancouver Playhouse when set design was very much a man’s game. 

“Even now, when I say I design sets, people will say to me, ‘Oh, you do the clothes,’” she said. “No, I do both. Don’t box me into one area, just because you don’t think women can do the architectural work.” 

Not only can Benson do the architectural work of set design, but she is officially one of the most accomplished designers in Canada. She was appointed into the Order of Canada in 2019, which is already a major accomplishment. Then, this year, she received a surprise phone call from the Governor General’s office: she has been selected for a 2026 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. 

“I actually cried when he told me, because I didn’t expect it,” she said. “Honestly, I’m at the end of my career now. You get to a point when you’re older when you think people have forgotten you. That’s it. Forget it. Then suddenly, you get an award like this. It is very special.”

Homage will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May 8 to 22. Visitors are invited to wear their finest jewellery to join in this celebration of Canada’s most glorious women. 

ArtSpring would like to thank Janet Halliwell, Sandra Heath, Seth Berkowitz Photography and Susan Benson for generously supporting this exhibition.

Homage Events

Opening Reception: Friday, May 8, 5 to 7 p.m.

Curator’s Talk: Sunday, May 10, 1 p.m.

Icons Panel Discussion: Thursday, May 14, 1 p.m.

Amazing Island Women Panel Discussion: Thursday, May 21, 1 p.m.

GISS student earns Team BC nationals spot

Contributed Article
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GISS student earns Team BC nationals spot



Submitted by GISS TRADES PROGRAM

Grade 12 Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) welding student Antoine Gonzalez will compete with Team BC at the 2026 National Skills Canada Competition in Toronto from May 28 to 30. 

Gonzalez earned his spot on Team BC after winning a gold medal at the prestigious Skills Canada Provincial Championships in Abbotsford on Wednesday, April 15. To gain a seat at the provincial championships, Gonzalez first took home the gold medal at the Skills Canada South Island Regional Competition at Camosun College in March. 

Gonzalez has been working towards his welding certificate since discovering the trade in metalwork class at GISS in Grade 11. He began his apprenticeship locally at Island Marine Construction on Salt Spring while he completed Grade 11 and 12 courses at GISS and set himself up to move to Victoria in August 2025 for the seven-month dual credit Welding Foundation program at Camosun College. 

Dual credit students are sponsored for tuition by their high school and gain high school course credits as well as the college program credentials. According to his instructors at Camosun, Gonzalez had a “strong technical foundation.” As well, they highlighted his “responsiveness to coaching and growing confidence.” His hard work paid off and he quickly rose to the top of his welding class, which resulted in competing at the regional Skills Canada event. 

Kevin Huebert, Corey Johnson and the team at Island Marine Construction have sponsored at least 10 GISS students for work experience or apprenticeship over the past 10 years. Huebert’s patience and skill have been passed on to all these students, most still working as welders locally or elsewhere in B.C. The trades community on Salt Spring has stepped up and supported the Youth Work in Trades programs for over 20 years, allowing young workers to enter the workforce with strong mentors and opportunity. GISS students consistently complete trades training at the top of their classes. 

Gonzalez’s apprenticeship at Island Marine Construction and the excellent instructors at Camosun College prepared him very well for the regional and provincial competitions. In a five-hour period, he followed a complex blueprint and assembled a steel box structure with multiple design features. The competitors were even granted an extra 30 minutes as the judges recognized the complexity of the task! Gonzalez was on the ferry returning to Salt Spring when he heard his name announced for the gold medal through the live broadcast from the Abbotsford Tradex. 

Gonzalez missed the evening award ceremony at Skills Canada provincials because it would have meant spending another expensive night in a Vancouver hotel. He is determined to be there for the medal ceremony at Skills Canada Nationals and has a strong chance of being back on the podium.

Event registration will be paid for by GISS Career Programs funding for trades training, but the flights and accommodation for five nights in Toronto add up quickly. The goal is to raise $15,000 to pay for Gonzalez, his mom, his welding mentor, who will coach him through the three-day welding competition and a staff member from GISS to attend. Watch for upcoming local fundraisers for the GISS Welding “A Team.” 

Charitable donations to support the trip can be made to the SD64 Gulf Islands – attention: Skills Canada Welding Competition. People are invited to contact Shari Hambrook, GISS Youth Work in Trades teacher, with inquiries at shambrook@sd64.org.

Ruckle Heritage Farm Day on Sunday

Driftwood Staff
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Ruckle Heritage Farm Day on Sunday

One of Salt Spring’s favourite annual events is taking place right on schedule, with Ruckle Heritage Farm Day on Sunday, May 3. 

Running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the free event features all kinds of demonstrations, adorable farm animals plus various vendors, displays and demonstrations. 

People can learn how soap is made, butter is churned and how blacksmiths ply their trade. Sheep herding and shearing demonstrations are always a big hit, and kids of all ages can try their hand at log sawing and nail hammering, and enjoy the fish pond game or getting their face painted. 

Live music comes courtesy Marianne Grittani, Valdy and Rose Birney. 

Everything is free of charge except for food, drinks and gift items. Some food vendors take credit cards but bringing cash is recommended. 

As Ruckle Farm is a working farm, no dogs are allowed on site. 

People can also call Abey Scaglione at 250-526-0096 or email abey@ruckleheritagefarm.com with any questions about the event.

Singers choose favourites for spring concert

Gail Sjuberg
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Singers choose favourites for spring concert

Salt Spring Singers members have sung a raft of songs in the community choir’s 50-plus years of entertaining island audiences.

So when the choir’s new director, Adam Dyjach, took up his position in January, he thought he would ask current members what some of their favourites had been in past years and craft a concert program from that list. 

“I got an overwhelming response from them, which I thought was a really good sign,” he said.

It gave him an idea of what kind of music his new group likes to sing and created the basis for this weekend’s Sounds of Salt Spring Singers concerts at All Saints church on Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 3 at 2:30 p.m.

Audiences will hear John Rutter’s For the Beauty of the Earth, Dirait-on by Morten Lauridsen, John Lennon’s All You Need is Love and Cole Porter’s Just One of Those Things, among others. A brand new song composed by choir alto Bronwen Duncan called Late Day Sun will make its debut.

Doing a retrospective program is also “kind of a nod to the choir’s former members and directors and the things that they’ve done over the years,” Dyjach said.

While it’s difficult to choose just one from the program as his own favourite, Dyjach said it would probably be The Ground by Ola Gjeilo. 

“Anything composed by him is stunning, in my opinion, but one of the reasons why it’s my favourite is that the melody from this piece comes from another one of his larger works called the Sunrise Mass, and I had the pleasure of singing that work with the Newcombe Singers last term in Victoria. It’s just a really, really beautiful piece.”

Dyjach has done a lot of singing over the years, beginning with church choirs as a youngster. He has a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Victoria where he studied with Benjamin Butterfield and has performed as a tenor soloist and choir member with various ensembles on Vancouver Island and the mainland, as well as Salt Spring’s own Bach on the Rock.

He directs music at Fairfield United Church, leads the Westwind Singers ensemble and teaches music from his own studio and through the Canadian College of the Performing Arts. He is president of the Victoria chapter for the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

After past Singers director Don Conley announced his retirement in effect at the end of the 2024/25 season, one of the choir’s board members asked Dyjach if he had ever considered directing. He said he was definitely interested in challenging himself and expanding his musical skills. Knowing the Singers director position was coming available, Dyjach added conducting lessons to his voice sessions with Edette Gagné and also took a conducting fellowship through the Newcombe Singers with its director Kathryn Whitney.

Dyjach is loving his new gig so far. 

“To be up there directing and having 40 people looking to you and following you, it’s a pretty incredible thing,” he said. “And I think we have a lot of fun in our rehearsals. We definitely get some work done too, but we do have a lot of fun. I think that’s important.”

Two other bonuses are that he gets to commute to practices each Tuesday with his good friend and accompanist James Yi and to spend more time with other friends he has made on Salt Spring Island over the years, like Anke Smeele, who billeted Dyjach several years ago when he had his first guest soloist position with Bach on the Rock under former director Michael Jarvis.

Tickets for the Saturday-Sunday concerts are available in advance through ArtSpring or at the door. 

ST. LAWRENCE, Desmond

Driftwood Obituary
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ST. LAWRENCE, Desmond

November 7, 1928 – March 24, 2026

Desmond St. Lawrence was born in Winnipeg Manitoba to British parents, Harry St. Lawrence and Effie St. Lawrence (nee Worthington). Growing up, Des attended the local United Church. He belonged to the Boys Brigade where he made many lifelong friends and was part of the church youth group where his love of music and dancing really took off. He participated in growing award-winning gladiolas with his father right in their front yard on McDermot Ave. He was a compost making fella, an interest which began in his early years, and enjoyed the results of these efforts wherever he lived, growing various indoor plants in straight compost. Some plants grew two stories high in this potent substance.

Desmond met the love of his life while at University, a lovely Interior Design student, Ruth Adele McGregor (‘Del). Once finished their studies, they married in April 1957, and Des spent 55 years with his “Peach Blossom” until her passing in 2011. Shortly after their marriage, they moved into a home on Community Row in Charleswood, Winnipeg. Here he enjoyed a favourite hobby of growing Rex begonias in a greenhouse he built. Their first child, Roy, came along in 1964 followed shortly by twins Sterling and Keith in 1965. Des indulged his love for dogs by acquiring his first full size dachshund named Bip. Many treasured four-legged creatures were dearly loved and cared for by Des and ‘Del, including shitzus Sunny and Cher, and Egyptian hound, Cleo. Des was well known to neighbours and passers-by during walks with these companions in all of the communities where he spent time. Many of these interactions resulted in lifelong friendships.

Des’ early work life included mowing grass for the city of Winnipeg with a reel mower, a job he spoke about as being “not really his thing”! He went on to get his first Architecture job at Blankstein Russel in Winnipeg. As his career moved on, he started a firm with a partner, known as Herman and St. Lawrence. Desmond also had the opportunity to travel to Ghana to work on schools there for a brief time. Later in his career, Des worked for the Province of Manitoba Public Schools division. Dad spent many days on road trips with us showing us the secret places in schools, boiler rooms, maintenance areas, crawl spaces, and roofs.

Des’ interests were many and varied. He had a keen interest in vehicles of all kinds, leading to a collection of favourite models, publications and pictures. He enjoyed music and dancing or just tapping his foot to live or recorded dixieland, jazz and dancehall tunes. Even when his hearing and vision began to fail, you could tell the rhythm was still part of him. These were the times when a good cocktail, a Manhattan of course, and a tasty snack, likely chocolate, made the moment all the more enjoyable.

Living on Salt Spring Island was a dream made real when Des and ‘Del moved there during the winter-to-remember of December 1996. Luckily, they brought their shovel with them in their motor home from Manitoba! On the island, Des and ‘Del continued their weekly library visits and perusing the bookstores for their favourite topics and added weekly visits to the market tours around the island’s many beautiful shorelines, hunting for treasures. Des and ‘Del travelled back to Manitoba by motor home and made it for the birth of their first grandchild. The couple also made trips across the country to Quebec and Ontario for visits with Sterling, Gina, Keith and Savita.

There are many thanks to give to all of the kind people who continued to care for Des in later years. Dear friends and neighbours, especially Reanne Kanne, David and Betty Kempling, Ann Heeley-Ray, and caregivers at Saltspring Embrace, Better at Home Island Community Services, and Greenwoods Personal Care Home. We are so grateful to you all who treated him like family, his chosen family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30pm on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Meadon Hall (located in the lower level of the Salt Spring Island Legion, 120 Blain Rd).

Memorial donations in honour of Desmond may be made directly to the Greenwoods Eldercare Society, 133 Blain Road, Salt Spring Island, BC, V8K 1Z9.

To express condolences, share memories and photos, please visit: www.sandsduncan.ca

Sands of Duncan, 250-746-5212.

MACAULAY, James (Jay) Franklin

Driftwood Obituary
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MACAULAY, James (Jay) Franklin

June 26,1944 – April 20, 2026

Jay was born in Birkenhead, England. He came to Canada in 1964 on a scholarship to McGill where he received his BEng. He then went to UWO where he earned his MBA. He met the love of his life, Anne Dawson, in Montreal where they were married in 1972. By then he had had enough of eastern Canadian winters, so the two of them migrated to Vancouver in 1973. There they welcomed their two children Brian and Jane. Jay was involved in several business ventures in Vancouver before retiring to Salt Spring Island.

On Salt Spring he indulged his interests in many facets of island life, as a tennis, golf and pickle ball player, as a volunteer, and, of course, as a worker with his beloved tractors, chain saws, etc., on his property. He and Anne became snow birds driving to Mazatlán, Mexico, for over fifteen years, where he pursued his love of sports and warm weather. He and Anne made many good friends in both places, and were fortunate to travel widely with them.

We are devastated by his loss, but grateful for his warm, easy-going manner, his steady presence, his English wit and his love and generosity which touched many people. He leaves his family: his wife, Anne, son Brian (Lauren) and grandson, Seamus, daughter, Jane and granddaughter, Dani.

LOVE, Janet Anne

Driftwood Obituary
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LOVE, Janet Anne

May 8, 1966 – April 6, 2026

Janet Anne Love, aged 59, passed away on April 6, 2026, in Victoria, BC.

Born on May 8, 1966, in Vancouver, Janet lived a life defined by determination, intelligence, and deep involvement in her community. She owned and operated Studio 103 Hair Salon, served as President of the Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce, and went on to teach psychology at UVIC, while pursuing her doctorate. In recent years, she could often be found on a coffee shop patio in Cook Street Village, reading a book.

Janet is lovingly remembered by her children, Jimmy (Laura), Stephen (Katie), Kaiti (Aaron) and Danielle (Sam), as well as her step daughters Jesse and Casey and her many grandchildren.

Although she had been ill, her passing still comes as a shock to those who loved her.

She will be remembered for her strong presence, her genuine laugh, and her unwavering love for her children and grandchildren.

She was an incredible, though sometimes complicated, person who made a lasting impression on those around her.

A memorial will be held at 1:30pm on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Lion’s Club of Salt Spring Island.

SOWDEN, Thea Bernice

Driftwood Obituary
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SOWDEN, Thea Bernice

October 05, 1923 – April 14 ,2026

Born in Britannia Beach BC, Thea was the last of the four Curnow sisters. She was predeceased by her husband Peter Jennings Sowden.

Thea leaves behind her son Derek (Andrea), daughter Jennifer (Jack) and nieces Linda (Ernie), Janet (Heinrich) and Gayle McMynn; nephews Gordon (Holly) and Colin Vader; grandson Tobyn (Katrina), grandaughter Daphne (Cory) and four great grandsons.

Thea went back to school in her forties and obtained a Bachelor of Education degree in Calgary and taught for most of her career in Victoria, B.C. Thea was ever curious and had many interests. She had a jewellers license, a ham radio operator’s ticket and scuba diving ticket. Thea and Peter were avid boaters and enjoyed their vintage Rolls Royce. Thea loved her garden and enjoyed watching baseball and tennis. Always up for an adventure, Peter and Thea started the largest asparagus farm on Vancouver Island. Thea had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and had a memory for details, which always left you feeling that you were important to her. She remembered what you planted in your garden and all the projects you had on the go. Thea championed your life.

The family would like to thank all the people that looked after Thea over the years on Salt Spring Island. Especially Dr. Reznick, the staff at Lady Minto extended care, Janet Raynor, Sylvia Walters, Trisha Mumford, Sandi Tibault, Trevor Haddow, Linda and Ernie Pallot and Gayle McMynn.

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