Home Blog Page 82

KNOTH, Thomas

Driftwood Obituary
-
0
KNOTH, Thomas

 Our beloved Thomas was ripped out of our lives on February 1, by an aggressive cancer that swept through him in 11 short days. He had been happy and healthy up until then, working hard on our property, creating walking trails to be able to enjoy the land into old age. He was living his best life in his workshop, creating beautiful furniture and discovering the joy of lathe work and building fine pieces from wood he had collected. 

Thomas was bigger than life, full of ideas and projects, still waiting to be done. He leaves behind his long time life companions, Katharine, Christel and Ron,as well as his two children, Andreas and Janina, and grandchildren, Makena, Caeden , Amanda and Ryan. 

Thomas and Christel fell in love with Salt Spring Island, and the whole family moved to the farm on North Beach Rd from Germany in 1982, to fulfill Thomas and his father’s dream of living a life on the land, with nature and fishing in the beauty of Canada. 

Thomas and Christel and the children very proudly received their Canadian citizenship at the earliest date possible. 

After some years of living between Wallace Island and the farm, Thomas, Ron, Christel and Katharine , “the Big Four”, some called us, lived and worked together on the farm until 2017, when we all moved to a smaller property. Our lives were full of working the farm, making sausages,growing organic vegetables for local stores, raising chickens, all sorts of ventures, as well as our painting business, Karris Painting. 

Thomas touched the lives of a lot of people on the island, he and Ron building a variety of custom pieces for so many people over the years. 

Fishing was one of his many pleasures, so many happy days spent on our own boats in local waters, and many wonderful trips up to Haida Gwai and most recently his favourite place, Kyuquat. 

He will be profoundly missed by all of us that loved him, he has left a huge gaping hole in our home and our hearts. 

Clothing recycling service suspended

Gail Sjuberg
-
0
Clothing recycling service suspended

Salt Spring’s two social enterprise thrift stores are reaching out for community support after learning that Diabetes Canada will no longer be coming to the island to pick up the stores’ clothing discards.

Transitions Thrift Store and the Lady Minto Hospital Auxiliary (LMHA) Thrift Shop were informed at the beginning of January — as was the Salt Spring Recycle Depot, which has hosted a Diabetes Canada bin for clothing recycling since 2016 — that Feb. 24 would be the final monthly visit by the organization’s five-ton truck.

According to LMHA volunteer Lou Stevens, up to 2,000 pounds of clothing, purses, shoes and fabrics were taken from their store each month by Diabetes Canada. Funds raised at the shop benefit the island’s hospital and other healthcare programs.

“We’re stuck,” she said, “and as of now, we don’t have a solution for our rejects. If we have to truck it off the island, it’s going to be an expense that we have just not budgeted for.”

The same is true for Transitions, which supports Islanders Working Against Violence programs like the Transition House serving women and children. Store manager Alli Gaines is also concerned about how their discards will be handled, as well as the financial impact.

“If we have to pay to throw it out, it’s taking away from the work that we’re able to do in the community,” she said.

In light of the problem, both Transitions and LMHA Thrift Shop personnel are asking people to be more selective in what they donate, and to not be rude or abusive when items are rejected. (See sidebar for specific LMHA donation requirements.)

“Basically it’s just bring stuff clean, usable, and we would be very, very grateful,” said Stevens.

People will also have to be prepared to wait while donations are checked to ensure they can be sold.

Gaines added that for Transitions, sometimes the issue is not lack of donation quality, but sheer volume, especially if they already have a large number of a specific kind of item and no room to store or display them.

Gaines said the diabetes group paid a certain amount of money per pound of clothing collected. She said Transitions would be fine with that part of the deal being dropped as long as the pick-up continued.

While Diabetes Canada picked up directly from the LMHA Thrift Shop, Gaines said Transitions relied on taking their discards to the Recycle Depot for storage in between pick-up dates.

Depot manager Peter Grant said he hopes to find an alternative to the Diabetes Canada bin service, so the change should be viewed as a “suspension” of service, which occurred during the pandemic as well, but it may not be possible.

Diabetes Canada personnel told Salt Spring groups that it was just not financially viable to continue the service. Grant said the same would be true if the depot took on transporting the material off-island to agencies that will accept it.

LMHA Thrift Shop Donation Guidelines

To help reduce the amount of items that Lady Minto Hospital Auxiliary will need to pay to dispose of after Feb. 24, the store volunteers ask that:

• all donations be in good, sellable condition, so without rips, stains, missing buttons, broken zippers, etc.;

• all donations, including footwear, be clean, as LMHA has no washing facilities;

• donations ideally be brought in boxes, and separated into children’s and adult clothing items.

Donations may be brought in clear plastic bags, but filled only half full to make it easier for volunteers to carry them. Black garbage bags should not be used, as they are not recyclable.

People are also asked to phone the store at 250-537-0634, if possible, before bringing in donations, to ensure there is room for them to be stored that day.

The shop is generally able to accept donations Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

AND . . . please don’t be rude to the volunteers!

Bolduc presents great jazz masters

Contributed Article
-
0
Bolduc presents great jazz masters

By KIRSTEN BOLTON

FOR ARTSPRING

February is indeed the month of jazz at ArtSpring, as another Canadian jazz legend and his talented ensemble of musicians come to present a brand-new program honouring some of the best jazz musicians of our time: Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and a few other favourites. 

With over 40 years’ experience in the music industry, Rémi Bolduc is a highly accomplished and respected jazz saxophonist and educator. He serves as an associate professor in the jazz department at McGill University in Montreal, where he has remained a highly active figure on the music scene since his arrival in 1982.

Bolduc and his ensemble perform at ArtSpring on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Bolduc has produced 11 jazz albums, featuring collaborations with esteemed musicians such as Kenny Werner, Marc Johnson, Ben Monder and Jerry Bergonzi. He has also designed three saxophone models for the Expression company, each of which bears his name. 

While Bolduc’s talent and expertise have earned him a dedicated following, with audiences captivated by his dazzling virtuosity and mature musical style, he remains committed to actively participating in educational initiatives and workshops to foster the next generation of jazz musicians.

Joining Bolduc are master jazz pianist Taurey Butler, Dave Laing on drums and Swedish-born Ira Coleman on double bass.

If you love the classic masters of jazz, these genre-defining grooves are expecting you for an exceptional evening. Discover or revisit the unforgettable beat, snap, rhythm and joy of the blue note.

Thank you to John Moore for sponsoring this performance.

Tickets are $35 for adults, $5 for youth and $15 for Theatre Angel Program tickets (on request) at the box office or online.

Analysis finds island taxpayers ‘subsidize’ development permits

Robb Magley
-
2
Analysis finds island taxpayers ‘subsidize’ development permits

Growth within the Gulf Islands does not –– by a wide margin –– pay its own way, according to an ongoing analysis. 

Despite four- and five-figure fees, the shortfall between what the Islands Trust charges for development applications and what it spends to process them pencils out to show applicants paying less than 10 per cent of costs –– with the remainder carried by the general taxpayer, according to the most recent reporting from planning services staff.  

The latest analysis, returned by the still-underway Trust Council-initiated Fees Review Project, examined a three-month period last year –– April through June –– using timesheet data to find how much staff time was spent processing development applications. Some 32 per cent of all available working hours that quarter were spent on applications, the project found, totalling almost 3,300 hours between planners and planning administrative staff. 

The estimated cost of those hours was just over $112,000, according to the report, building that figure from average wages for those varying staff –– and during the same three-month period, application fee revenue was less than $10,000. 

“It appears that the Islands Trust is continuing to effectively subsidize applications, financially, to a certain degree,” said Lasqueti Island trustee and Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee (LTC) chair Tim Peterson Wednesday, Feb. 5, addressing fellow vice-chairs on the Trust’s Executive Committee. 

Peterson and trustees serving on Salt Spring’s LTC had passed a resolution back in December 2024 –– after results from the first phase of the analysis were received in September –– requesting the broader Islands Trust Council prioritize a review of planning services, in part to improve the imbalance in planning cost recovery. 

“Fundamentally, that’s something we need to fix,” said Peterson. “I think applicants should be paying the cost of their applications, and not the general taxpayers.” 

While the notion of a tenfold increase in development permit fees might raise eyebrows, Gabriola Island trustee Tobi Elliott suggested the Executive Committee consider advising Trust Council to put the issue to the people, so to speak –– by adding it to a public engagement survey being planned for future budgets. Support for raising fees might gain traction, she said, if ratepayers recognize that putting the cost of permits onto applicants –– getting that money “back” –– could very well result in lowering the tax levy about one percentage point for each $100,000 recovered.  

“I think if the public were aware of how much applications are being subsidized, that’s going to be a conversation,” said Elliott. “We’re going to get feedback on that.” 

If anything, that three-month analysis likely underestimates staff hours, according to the September report to Trust Council. Included was staff time spent specifically on processing applications and administrative tasks associated with applications; not included was time spent responding to enquiries, training, paid leave, time spent in meetings or time spent addressing bylaw enforcement and compliance.

There are limits to what can be concluded, staff noted; for example, application fees are often received over a longer time frame –– as milestones are achieved in the processing of applications –– and some older applications may still have been open and having work done on them, possibly first submitted months or years earlier.  

Islands Trust staff are “actively gathering data” for the second phase of the analysis, chief administrative officer Rueben Bronee told the committee Wednesday. The next iteration for the analysis, according to planning staff reporting, will track paid time based on application type. 

That batch of findings will be presented at the next Trust Council meeting, which begins Tuesday, March 11 in Nanaimo. During that session, among other agenda items, trustees are expected to finalize the Trust’s $11-million 2025/26 budget.  

The End of Preserve and Protect: A Short History

Contributed Article
-
1
The End of Preserve and Protect: A Short History

By RONALD WRIGHT

For 50 years the Islands Trust has worked to protect our spectacular yet vulnerable islands from mass development. This has been no easy task, as the Gulf Islands are not only one of Canada’s greatest natural treasures, they may also be the very last, except parks, to survive unspoiled so near big cities and airports. Without the Trust’s protection under B.C. law, these islands’ fragile ecology would have been overwhelmed decades ago.

News reports late last year told of uproar and discipline problems on Trust Council, our governing body of 26 trustees (two from each main island). In November, the council pulled many hours of video-recorded meetings from its website. It seems a deep rift has opened — between trustees who support the mandate they are sworn to uphold, and those trying to undermine it — during a major rewrite of the Trust Policy Statement (TPS). The TPS is a crucial document that controls how the Islands Trust Act is applied on the ground, setting standards that each island’s official community plan (OCP) and land use bylaw must meet.

It is no coincidence that, at the same time as this TPS upheaval, Salt Spring’s trustees are also engaged in major zoning and land-use changes to our OCP, which they call merely “a targeted update” for affordable housing. But like their failed Bylaw 530, the zoning changes they have in mind would unleash private development, do nothing to ensure affordability, and may well be unlawful under the existing TPS. Hence the haste to change both policy and plan before their term runs out next year.

First some background. Fifty years ago, B.C.’s population was 2.4 million, less than half what it is now. Yet our endless real-estate scramble was already underway by the late 1960s. Provincial governments of both right and left became worried about the islands’ fate. One of the most alarming examples was Magic Lake Estates: 1,200 half-acre lots on North Pender, which had fewer than 500 residents at the time.i

In 1973, the province set up an all-party standing committee to visit the islands, consult with residents, and seek a lasting solution. The committee identified subdivisions and over-development as “the priority concern.” The Gulf Islands, they reported, “are too important to the people of Canada to be left open to exploitation by real-estate developers and speculators.”ii

In 1974, the Islands Trust Act was passed unanimously with its famous mandate to “preserve and protect” the islands’ “unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the trust area and of British Columbia generally.”iii

But it wasn’t long before speculators, developers, logging firms and tourism investors fought back. The early 1980s saw a push to abolish the Trust altogether.iv Foes of the Islands Trust Act tried to sow confusion over the wording of its mandate. What exactly was protected? Did “environment” mean only the natural environment, and what were “unique amenities”?

So in 1986, Trust Council and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs published Position Paper Number 1, giving specific examples and definitions that left no room for doubt about what is preserved and protected: “approximately 500 islands and the extensive coastline and sheltered waters; diverse and unusual natural features, vegetation and wildlife; almost continuous tree cover; a unique water supply situation [with] heavy reliance on groundwater sources.”v

Fresh water is scarce on small islands in salt seas. Their only water for drinking and farming is what falls on them. How much of it stays on these hilly islands instead of running to the sea depends above all on woodlands. Woods are the keepers of water, and unbroken older forest with a thick spongy floor keeps it best. Human disturbance must therefore be restricted.

The paper also defined what is meant by the “benefit” for Trust residents and the province: “A benefit must be sustained and long-term, and must not be at the expense of the amenities or environment of the islands.”vi

On “unique amenities” the Trust Act‘s wording was sure-footed and precise: the Oxford English Dictionary defines unique as “one of a kind” or “unparalleled.” Unique amenities are, by definition, things not found elsewhere.

Only the province holds the power to change that mandate.

Yet in September 2023 — after an unknown number of trustees held a secret in-camera meeting — Trust Council made this announcement: “Trust Council’s view is that unique amenities are broad-ranging and may include issues such as, but not limited to, housing, livelihoods, infrastructure and tourism.”vii In short, an open-ended list of things that are not unique at all.

In a further announcement last year, Trust Council claimed they had consulted “all previous legal opinions” on the meaning of the Trust Act.viii But later admittedthey didn’t even have the 1986 Position Paper Number 1 in their “deliberations.”ix An odd legal precedent to ignore, especially since a 2021 expert report had drawn Trust Council’s attention to the Paper’s importance.x

These goings-on raised such alarm that 34 former trustees sent an open letter to the provincial government and the Trust last May. “This expansion and interpretation of ‘unique amenities’ has the potential of influencing or compromising environmental policies,” they wrote. “The Trust is limited to regulating land use in order to preserve and protect the natural environment and rural character of the Trust Area.”xi

On Oct. 16, 2024 — only three days before the provincial election — Trust Council wrote its own letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs. This repeated the old falsehood that unique amenities are “undefined,” and formally asked for a full “review of the Islands Trust’s mandate, governance and structure . . . similar in scope to the work . . . that led to the creation of the Islands Trust 50 years ago.” xii

Given the enormity of this request, one would expect Trust Council to pause its own chaotic efforts until the province replies. But no. The TPS drafting continues in meetings “of the whole” held every month.

And despite its disciplinary woes — or maybe because of them — Trust Council is planning to scrap the Trust’s clear “Standards of Conduct,” the first item of which states: “the chief functions of a trustee are to serve the public, advocate the Trust mandate, and adhere to the Trust Policy.”xiii 

The new wording they plan to adopt instead makes no mention of the Trust’s mandate whatsoever.

The writer is a Salt Spring resident and author of several non-fiction and fiction works, including Time Among the Maya, Stolen Continents, A Scientific Romance and A Short History of Progress, his 2004 Massey Lecture.

– i https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/north-pender-island-lta-2021-census-profile/ [Stats Can] N. Pender has about 2,500 today. See also The Islands Trust Story by Peter Lamb, 2009:3

– ii Lamb, 2009:4

– iii Islands Trust Act “Object” (mandate) 1974.

– iv Lamb 2009:11

– v Position Paper No.1, Islands Trust, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, November 1986:4.

– vi Position Paper No.1, 1986:5

– vii Islands Trust Council Statement, Sept. 26, 2023

– viii Islands Trust Council Statement, Jan. 18, 2024

– ix Chair Judith Gedye quoted in Times Colonist by Frants Attorp, May 16, 2024: https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comment-different-ideas-about-unique-amenities-in-the-gulf-islands-8754219

– x The Islands Trust Object: Past, Present, and Future Discussion Paper presented at March 2021 Trust Council Meeting, page 5, Section 1.4.

– xi Former trustees’ letter see: May 22, 2024, p.4 Gulf Islands Driftwood in full.

– xii Trust chair to Minister Anne Kang Oct. 16, 2024, p.1-4

– xiii Standards of Conduct p.1, Item 1.1.1.


Editorial: Exercise choice in response to madness

Driftwood Staff
-
0
Editorial: Exercise choice in response to madness

We would really rather not talk about the madness and upheaval emanating from the dissolving democracy to the south of us.

We would much rather focus on what’s happening close to home, or perhaps within our provincial riding, as illuminated by our new MLA Rob Botterell in this week’s paper, or the broader Islands Trust area, of which we are an integral part.

But saying and doing nothing in response to threats of annexation and economic punishment is not really an option for our community or any other in Canada.

Canada’s elected political leaders are to be applauded for working to break down interprovincial trade barriers that have been criticized for so long. They and other groups are also seeking other ways to mitigate the impacts of not only tariffs but the general instability that has erupted in the U.S. since Jan. 20.

Canadian individuals, business, labour and not-for-profit groups have commenced action as well, with “buy Canadian” promotions enthusiastically launched. A cheat-sheet-sized list of food products with Canadian companies to patronize and American counterparts to avoid has been widely circulated, for instance, and the madeinca.ca website is a more fulsome resource to explore. Locally, both Salt Spring Thrifty Foods and Country Grocer stores have implemented labelling of Canadian products, which is much appreciated by customers. It’s also heartening to see how much Canadian-grown produce can be bought in February.

Buying local and second-hand is another way to express displeasure with American tactics while benefiting business owners, nonprofit organizations and producers across many industries, keeping money circulating locally.

Will such actions make a tangible difference to Canada’s prospects or create a message that might be heard across the border? If enough people participate nationwide, perhaps.

Focusing on economic impacts leaves much mayhem and cruelty unaddressed. But making different choices about whose goods and services we purchase is the easiest and most immediate way to make a statement at a time when silence and apathy is not a reasonable option.

Viewpoint: For the love of a kennel

Contributed Article
-
0
Viewpoint: For the love of a kennel

By JAIME HALAN-HARRIS &

JACKSON HALAN-HARRIS

There’s no doubt that our island community benefits from a kennel.

We, Jaime and Jackson, of Salty Dog Retreat Kennel and Rescue, thank the community for your continuing support. We appreciate you sharing thoughts and concerns with us. There are some things we’d like to bring to your attention.

Back on Dec. 20, 2023, the truth was reported in the Driftwood: The Dec. 14 meeting of the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee (LTC) agreed with passionate public opinion in support of a kennel, advising Salty Dog Retreats to submit a land use planning application.

There have been many challenges in recent months. Our lawyer John Davies is consulting with Islands Trust staff to prepare yet a fifth application. We’re informed that every applicant has the right to have their application heard and decided by the LTC. Since Dec. 20, 2023, however, we’ve spent $15,000 on four applications, which we feel have all been rebuffed without due process.

Consider this. Since July 2024, we have been providing free accommodation and free retraining for 26 rescue dogs received by Salty Dog from community members who cannot continue to care for their dogs; 22 of these dogs have been successfully re-homed. It makes us very happy when we’re able to find homes for sweet rescues who deserve and thrive in loving care.

We would welcome your assistance. To help cover our costs, you can sign up to sponsor a rescue for a small monthly amount. These are dogs that, if turned over to the authorities, would likely be euthanized. We’ve not been accepting new rescues since last July. Dogs in crisis — due to an owner’s emergency — are a frequent occurrence, for which we accept rescue calls for pickup 24/7. Salt Spring depends upon our volunteer community resources.

We ask you to please clear your minds of the negative gossip you may have heard. Without police or Residential Tenancy Branch assistance, it took us months to clear our property of unwanted tenants. A very difficult process.

We would very much appreciate letters of support to the LTC for their Feb. 13 and March 20 meetings. Please contact us for further information; you can also get on our mailing list.

Simply put, our island community deserves a kennel. We’ve done our best to continue providing an essential service to dogs and their owners. We love our dogs and give them the best care. I’m happy to tell you that recently a group of university students volunteered to help clean portions of our property, and it’s made a big difference. They’ll come back to help some more.

Also, we are exploring a process of seeking status as a registered charity to facilitate greater community support. Together, we can continue to have loving canine care on our beautiful island.

SugarBeat releases new CD

Gail Sjuberg
-
0
SugarBeat releases new CD

Editor’s note: This story references a Feb. 14 musical event at Mateada, but it has been cancelled due to illness.

One of Salt Spring’s favourite bands has released its first CD — called Roots — and is inviting the island to celebrate with them on Valentine’s Day.

SugarBeat is comprised of Greg Pauker on guitar and vocals; Sarah Dawn Morris on vocals and percussion; Dave Roland on bass and vocals; and Mike Stefancsik on drums and percussion.

Roots showcases the veteran performers’ talents in songwriting and musicianship.

“I’ve been pretty proud of what we’ve come up with, and it’s got some catchy tunes,” said Pauker, who is also known internationally for his sound engineering and design work.

It was after Pauker returned to Salt Spring in 2020 after six years of working in Atlanta, Ga. that SugarBeat was formed, although some members have performed with others for years in various incarnations, from Salt, to Beat and the Sneaks, The Party Band and Sea Biscuit.

It didn’t take long for Pauker, Morris and Stefancsik, plus original bass player Bob Delion, to think about creating an album of R&B-infused original songs. Roots consists of three songs written by Morris, three by Pauker and one by Delion.

“And the one thing we really like to do is capture it all with all of us playing together,” said Pauker, explaining that they recorded multiple takes of each song and then agreed on the best one, rather than recording parts and putting them together later.

The band considered putting the album on vinyl, or a USB stick to accommodate the higher-definition files created, but in the end went with a CD as it’s the most universally accessible format.

People attending this Friday night’s event at Mateada will receive a copy of the CD with their tickets, which cost $40 per person or $60 for a couple. (Tickets are available through mateadaguayaki.com or at Windsor Plywood.)

For the Mateada gig, the band will be joined by guest saxophonist Alan Ett, a multi-talented musician and producer from Los Angeles who recently moved to the island. Claire Lawrence did the sax work on Roots.

The evening will feature a presentation set of songs on Roots, and then a set of uptempo music that will get everyone dancing.

Pauker and Stefancsik have high praise for their bandmates.

Not only is Morris a great songwriter, they said, but she consistently gives her all to whatever she takes on.

“She just brings it home every time,” said Stefancsik, “whether at rehearsals or live shows. Whenever she’s behind the mic it’s all feeling and power. The only way I think she can perform is to put all her heart and emotion into her song.”

With such a long history of playing together, Pauker and Stefancsik communicate easily on stage.

“Let’s just say that I can always tell when he’s having a good night,” laughed Stefancsik, who was a touring musician as a younger man.

While bass player Delion is no longer part of the band, one of his songs is on Roots, and Pauker and Stefancsik love it. As a sort of celebration of Canada, it’s particularly timely, they said. Delion is set to sing the song at the Mateada event.

Doors open at Mateada at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14, with music starting at 8 p.m.

Saturna parcel funds raised

Robb Magley
-
0
Saturna parcel funds raised

Hundreds of acres of undeveloped waterfront land on Saturna Island will stay that way, according to the BC Parks Foundation, which announced the final half million dollars needed to purchase the property was raised in one month. 

A campaign launched to protect the land was successful, according to foundation CEO Andy Day, through the dedication of the original landowner’s family, the generosity of individual donors and the commitment of several conservation partners.  

“This is about the power of community,” said Day. “From small donors to major contributors, each and every person played a part in protecting this place forever.” 

At over 300 acres in total, the project is among the largest recent conservation projects for private waterfront in the Gulf Islands. The parcel at the southeasternmost tip of Saturna Island borders the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, and boasts three kilometres of coastline, extensive marine ecosystems, old-growth trees and Garry oak meadows. 

Day said that after major contributions from Wilson 5 Foundation, and Environment and Climate Change Canada, a “final push” of $500,000 was needed to get across the finish line, noting gifts from the BC Marine Parks Forever Society, Ilka and Allen Olsen, and the Bloom Alter Ego Trust. 

“It shows what we can accomplish when we come together around the things we value,” said Day. 

The property supports several at-risk species, according to the foundation, including the blue-listed northern red-legged frog and great blue heron. It lies within the coastal Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone, among the rarest — and, according to the foundation, least protected –– ecosystems in British Columbia, supporting threatened plants as well. Organizers have said species found there include the slender popcornflower, purple sanicle, and the endangered white meconella and Lindley’s false silverpuffs. 

The project received strong support from the Saturna Island Marine Research and Education Society (SIMRES), which in addition to making its own financial contribution played a key role in community outreach and raising awareness about the campaign. 

“SIMRES supports the purchase by the BC Parks Foundation,” said SIMRES president Maureen Welton, “and is very pleased that this special Saturna property will be undeveloped and preserved as a conservation area in perpetuity.” 

Next steps will involve working with the community, First Nations and conservation partners to develop a management plan that safeguards the parcel’s sensitive ecosystems while allowing for “safe and responsible light recreational use.” 

“We all know about climate and species loss and the problems we face these days,” said Day. “Protecting a place like this is a gift that keeps giving for wildlife and people now and far into the future.”

Luckham resigns as Trust chair

Driftwood Staff
-
0
Luckham resigns as Trust chair

Among all the possible elections that may be held in March, at least one is now a certainty: the Islands Trust Council will vote in a new chair at the start of its next meeting Tuesday, March 11. 

Current chair Peter Luckham announced Tuesday, Feb. 11 that he would be stepping down from both that leadership position and as chair of the Trust’s Executive Committee effective March 11. 

“After careful consideration and for personal reasons, I have decided to step down as chair,” said Luckham via a press release Tuesday, adding it had been an honour to help guide the work of the Islands Trust. “I extend my thanks to all trustees who have worked with me to represent their communities and advance the preserve and protect mandate.” 

Luckham will continue to serve as a trustee for the Thetis Island Local Trust Area , where he was first elected in 2005; he has chaired Trust Council since 2014, acting as the body’s primary spokesperson. 

Trustees will elect their new chair from among current Trust Council members, and a review of Executive Committee member appointments to Local Trust Committees (LTCs) will begin “within a few days of the election,” according to the press release. Most LTCs are comprised of three trustees –– two elected every four years, and a chair appointed from the Executive Committee.  

“I look forward to continuing to collaborate with trustees and staff through the balance of this term of office,” said Luckham, “and wish my successor all the best.” 

1...818283...609Page 82 of 609