In the late 1990s, I was the principal of Fulford Elementary School in the south end.
One winter afternoon, at about 1:30, an unexpected storm blew in. This was more than a snowfall, it was a blizzard! Within minutes our power was gone (no phone, no water, no toilets flushing) and here we were with a couple of hundred kids and no food.
The buses attempted to get to us but the roads were impassable. We could actually watch the snow get deeper by the minute. We brought all the children into the library and closed the doors to retain heat and read stories to keep them calm but had no idea what we were going to do. A staff member volunteered to slog down to Patterson’s Store through knee-deep snow to try to spread the word to the parents that we were in trouble. Remember — this was the era before cellphones and few people had a four-wheel-drive!
The afternoon was getting on, dusk would soon be upon us and panic had set into my gut, when I heard a far-off noise. The rumble grew louder and louder and louder, so I went to the back door to investigate.
There, before my eyes, appeared Santa Claus and all his elves in the form of Bruce Patterson and an army of bundled-up men. When Bruce heard the trouble we were in, he immediately went into fire chief mode. He got on his emergency radio system and rounded up every guy in Fulford with a four-wheel-drive and the rescue team arrived to save the day!
We quickly divided kids up by neighbourhood and the flotilla of elves did their runs and delivered every child home safely.
And if anyone ever asks? I tell them there truly is a Santa Claus and he has many elves. I know. I met them in real life performing their magic!
Happy Holidays, and may 2025 bring you peace, hope and contentment.
Barb Aust,
Salt Spring
—————————————————————————————————-Pave paradise?
In his Dec. 11 guest column, Eric March claimed there are “no plans to double our population” or “pave paradise.” While that may not be the intent, the outcome could be just that.
Here are some of the recommendations guiding the official community plan (OCP) update: secondary suites and ADUs in all residential zones (with possible strata conversion if detached); conversion of larger acreages to bonus-density strata development in exchange for covenanted land; tiny home villages and tiny home mobile parks; additional dwellings per lot if size is restricted.
Implementation of these open-ended recommendations will require deletion of very specific growth limits in our OCP — to be replaced, no doubt, with vague, unquantified wording as in the draft Islands Trust Policy Statement: “Manage growth by directing residential and mixed-use development into appropriate locations.”
And how many new densities will go to the intended people given that housing agreements are out of favour and real estate prices keep rising? Upzoning private land is not the same as creating homes for islanders.
March’s assertion that there is a “strong anti-housing lobby” on the island is offensive as Trust supporters share his concerns, but want to avoid the destruction of wielding a density shotgun. If I don’t like pineapple pizza, does that mean I am anti-pizza?
Housing is a highly charged issue, and it’s easy to use emotive language to provoke a knee-jerk reaction. But let’s remember that zoning is the key to the vault and the main role of the Islands Trust is to resist the homogenizing trend sweeping the whole region.
The focus must shift to non-market housing such as co-ops, community land trusts and similar projects that guarantee long-term accommodation for target groups. Efforts should also be made to reclaim homes currently left empty or used for investment purposes. Simply calling something a “solution” does not make it thus.
FRANTS ATTORP,
Salt Spring
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Gratitude
I love recycling and it is such a delight when the young man who works at the Rainbow Road recycling depot sees me drive in and comes to carry my bucket filled with assorted recyclables, empties it and brings it back to my car.
Walking with the bucket is very difficult for me and I am extremely grateful and I give him a huge bunch of red roses. Thanks so much for your kindness.
Crofton-bound ferry passengers got front-row seats to a surprise marine rescue last week, as crew members from MV Quinsam diverted to assist a small vessel in distress.
A small dinghy had been fighting a losing battle with nearly 10-knot winds late Thursday evening, Dec. 19, and the single person aboard sent up flares for help, according to BC Ferries (BCF). The Canadian Coast Guard spotted those flares, ferry officials said, and relayed a request for assistance –– as MV Quinsam was right in the area, on its last run of the day from Salt Spring’s Vesuvius Bay.
Quinsam’s crew quickly spotted the distressed sailor and launched a rescue boat, ultimately towing them to shore, BC Ferries said; vessel tracking records indicate the ferry diverted a little less than a kilometre from its usual line to Crofton at about 10:40 p.m.
“Once ashore, our crew helped drain the rowboat,” according to a BCF statement, “and towed the individual back to their sailboat.”
BCF crews undergo “extensive” marine safety and emergency response training, said BCF senior communications advisor Shiryn Sayani, and rescues like this are good examples of how the ferry company partners with emergency services on the water.
“We are incredibly proud of the dedication and skill of our teams,” said Sayani, “and the vital role BC Ferries plays in supporting and safeguarding coastal communities.”
Even with the rescue, the final sailing of the day back to Salt Spring was delayed just 44 minutes, according to ferry officials, who noted it was the second marine rescue involving ferry crews that week, and among more than a dozen in 2024. The operator of a capsized boat near Tsawwassen was helped Monday, Dec. 16.
‘Tis the season, ‘tisn’t it? And what could make the holidays be even more festive than chowing down on some delicious nourishing grub? So loosen your belts a notch or two and get yourselves ready for some late but still great holiday recipes. Ready? Here goes.
LAST MINUTE
CHRISTMAS CAKE
All right, you should have started this two Octobers ago, but Christmas seemed so far away then. It’s not too late. You can start from scratch and mix together about 40 pounds of nuts, dried fruit, butter, sugar, eggs, flour and spices (a commercial cement mixer works really well and you can toss the family pooch in at the end to lick the inside clean). We prefer to buy a few prepackaged cakes at the local supermarket, remove the cellophane wrap, soak overnight in four jiggers of good Scotch whiskey, rewrap the next morning in your own unmarked Stretch ‘n Seal, and serve on Christmas Day. After two or three slices, who’s gonna care?
HOMEMADE EGG NOG
A thick blend of milk, cream, eggs and nutmeg, this holiday drink has been known to harden arteries before you’ve even finished pouring it into a glass. We like to cut ours with rum so that it becomes more of a health food. Generally, everybody uses the same basic ingredients, but we have found that it’s how you combine the proportions that sets our ‘nog apart. We forego the milk and use straight whipping cream. (A spray can of Reddi-Wip can be used as a substitute if you are lacto-intolerant.) A block of maple fudge can be blended in for sweetening. Finally, sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg and serve chilled.
MINCEMEAT TARTS
Just when you think that you are so bloated that you couldn’t possibly stuff another piece of food in your mouth, these little suckers appear on the dinner table. Before you know it you’re over the edge and bent over double talking to Ralph on the big white porcelain bowl. Mmmmmm-mmmmm.
Basically, all you need is some pie-crust pastry and the usual suspects of dried fruit, nuts and spices for the filling. Add a little sugar, apple cider, and something called “beef suet” and you’re cookin’. Now the dictionary defines suet as “the hard fat about the kidneys and loins of cattle or sheep,” which is a concept too disgusting for even this food column. Don’t “suet” it. We have found that a half-dozen strips of beef jerky soaked overnight in decent Scotch works just fine. Bon appetit!
MULLED WINE
No need to mull this one over for too long. This is basically an excuse to warm your innards with an alcoholic beverage because your core temperature dropped too low as a result of your not having had the sense to come in out of the cold due to all the rum and egg nog you had previously consumed.
All you need is sugar, water, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, lemon peel and some really cheap Keg O’ Rotgut from any local Noname Winery. If you find yourself short on ingredients, skip the water.
TRADITIONAL WASSAIL BOWL
What do you get when you combine baked apples, sugar, spices and beaten eggs with beer and sherry? Something only the English could have thought up, but it might just be exactly what’s good for “wassaillin’” you. First, as is the usual British flair for all things cuisine, boil everything. Then add alcohol. It’s as simple as that. Serve in a silver heatproof punch bowl (a hubcap will do in a pinch) and float roasted apples on top. If you try bobbing for the apples, make sure you invite someone with CPR training.
BOILED FRUIT CAKE
We’ve got the Irish to thank for this concoction. Boil margarine and sugar in a case of Guinness Stout, and add the usual nuts, dried fruit, spices, eggs, flour and baking soda. You’re supposed to bake it for a couple of hours, wrap it in tin foil, and store for a few weeks to allow it to mellow. We figure you can save a lot in tin foil expenses if you just eat the batter right away and watch yourself mellow.
CHRISTMAS PLUM PUDDING
This one has everything but plums in it. This is one recipe that doesn’t require boiling; no, you steam the sucker for four to six hours (depending on the size of the mould) and serve hot with Spiced Hard Sauce. (Trust me, you don’t want to know what this is.)
CHRISTMAS STUFFING
Whether it’s turkey, chicken, duck, quail, Cornish game hen or Tofurkey, fair is foul and fowl is fare — providing you’ve packed the bird with stuffing. There are actual recipes for making the stuffing, but we just throw in everything that has slipped through the wire baskets in the freezer and congealed at the bottom. We’re talking bread slices, beans, blackberries, old pills, expired sea monkeys and that placenta you never quite figured out what you would do with it.
Nobody asked me, but those are probably more than enough mouth-watering recipes to get you through the holiday season. When in doubt, just marinate yourself in some nuts and dried fruit with your beverage of choice and let the spirit of Christmas wash over you. Nutmeg is optional.
Editor’s note: This holiday season gem first appeared in the Dec. 21, 1999 issue of the Salt Spring Thyme newsletter.
Concerns and complaints continue over non-permitted uses at Ganges Harbour, according to local Islands Trust staff, who say federal efforts at cleaning up derelict vessels from Salt Spring’s waters are being thwarted by quick-acting harbour users.
Appearing remotely before Salt Spring Island’s Local Trust Committee (LTC) for a regular report Thursday, Dec. 12, Islands Trust bylaw compliance and enforcement manager Warren Dingman told trustees bylaw enforcement staff have been working to document and enforce on vessels and structures swinging from non-permitted mooring buoys within the shoreline “S8” zone.
“And Transport Canada staff are doing regular visits to the harbour,” said Dingman, “to try to remove derelict boats and non-permitted floats.”
But those efforts are hampered, he said, by harbour users claiming abandoned vessels once they’ve been tagged for removal –– a necessary step by Transport Canada that has been seen by some as a signal to come aboard.
“This means that some of the vessels remain in the harbour,” said Dingman.
Another issue has been how much of Transport Canada’s limited budget is expended on the tipping fees for disposing of derelict vessels at various landfills. Dingman said they were working to connect with the regional district’s landfill operators to hopefully get some of those fees waived.
“I think Transport Canada staff are doing an excellent job doing regular patrols and work in Ganges Harbour to try to remove the non-permitted structures and the derelict boats,” said Dingman. “And regarding that, they really have the most authority; they’re working hard to clean up the harbour.”
Earlier this month, Salt Spring’s Local Community Commission (LCC) had directed a letter to the LTC, advising trustees of commissioners’ desire to include a discussion of “opportunities to collaborate” on potential management of private mooring buoys, long-term use and liveaboards in Salt Spring Island’s small craft harbours in the two bodies’ next joint meeting.
“I think it’s important to make sure a Salt Spring perspective is right at the forefront,” said LCC member Brian Webster Dec. 5. “Working collaboratively with the LTC on how we’re going to do it together, speaking with one voice to the regional process –– maybe have consensus in our community that can be a strong, clear voice.”
That joint session will come in early 2025. Meanwhile, on bylaw enforcement more broadly, Dingman reported Salt Spring had 202 files open as of December, down from 233 at this time last year. Over the course of the year, he said, a large number of non-permitted dwelling files were closed as directed by the LTC –– although per that direction, enforcement did not halt where there were concerns about health and safety, lack of proper sewage disposal or an excessive number of travel trailers on a property.
The greatest number of open files, according to the report, are still about short-term vacation rentals (STVRs), with trustees having directed staff to focus on operations without resident operators on the property. Of 71 current STVR-related files, just 25 involve such situations. The remainder, according to Dingman, are open due to contraventions of land use bylaw regulations, such as the use of accessory buildings for the STVR operation.
Editor’s note: The following is the second article in Connie Gibbs’ series about Salt Spring Island family physician recruitment and retention efforts. The first one is available to read here.
By CONNIE GIBBS
Recently another family physician on Salt Spring retired without a replacement. How to attract more family doctors to Salt Spring is a puzzle with many pieces. One piece is marked “residents.”
A resident is a new graduate from medical school who has completed all the required coursework to be a doctor. Residents that choose to be family doctors must complete a two-year Family Practice Residency Program. Residents spend two months of their required two-year residency rotation learning about the practice of rural family medicine. When the residency program is complete, family doctors have many options, including working exclusively in hospitals as hospitalists or surgical assistants, providing time-away coverage for family physicians (locum coverage), or setting up a family practice in a clinic.
Here is what a recent resident had to say about her experience at the health centre clinic and in the Lady Minto Hospital emergency department:
“It was a great experience! Having accommodation for when we come up to work on Salt Spring Island is helpful. The staff are nice and incredibly competent practitioners and the medicine I saw on Salt Spring was very interesting. I would definitely consider locuming on Salt Spring Island as a new staffperson.”
As the resident’s quote shows, the Salt Spring Island doctors working with the residents are part of the recruitment puzzle. Several of our newest and youngest doctors set up practice here on Salt Spring after serving their residency time here. Some questions residents might have in deciding where to put down roots could include:
What is the medical staff like that I will be working with? Does everyone get along? How much admin stuff do I have to handle? What kind of space will I be working in? What’s the housing situation like?
Many communities in B.C. are looking for family practice doctors. A Sept. 26, 2024 Cowichan Valley article on The Discourse website describes recruitment efforts in that community.
The community benefits when the residents come to learn about rural family medicine; they are our future. We have an opportunity to welcome them into our community professionally and socially and showcase our beautiful island.
The next article in the Salt Spring Island Physician Recruitment and Retention series will be about the Practice Ready Assessment and International Medical Graduate programs. Both programs provide an opportunity to attract new family doctors to our community.
With the Canada Post strike now over, Driftwood subscribers can return to picking up papers in their mailboxes beginning with the Dec. 18 issue.
A number of people reported having received today’s edition in their mailboxes this afternoon.
While Driftwood staff enjoyed seeing hundreds of people who subscribe to the paper via mail in our office during the four-week postal strike, we are also relieved to see a return to normal distribution methods — and front office desks free of paper stacks!
Local Canada Post personnel also accepted issues of the paper from Nov. 20 to Dec. 11 that were not picked up, so some subscribers will be receiving a bundle of “what they missed” from those weeks, in addition to the Dec. 18 paper. The Driftwood Extra free paper and flyers will also be mailed out this week.
We are extremely grateful to everyone for their patience and flexibility in dealing with the strike impacts when it came to getting the Driftwood paper and inserts out into the community, and to local post office staff who are now dealing with the backlog.
Canada Post’s regular services resumed on the morning of Dec. 17 following a Canada Industrial Relations Board ruling that found the Crown corporation and Canadian Union of Postal Workers are at an impasse in negotiations. A “time-out” has been issued until May 22, 2025, with an industrial inquiry commission tasked to find a potential solution by that time.
Another Driftwood note: The Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 papers are going to press early due to the holidays and will also be on newsstands a day earlier than usual, and possibly in mailboxes on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 as well.
Land use officials on Salt Spring are moving quickly to support a healthcare workforce housing project that organizers said could –– with a little help –– be ready for residents by fall 2025.
The island’s Local Trust Committee (LTC) has asked staff to prioritize a rezoning application from the Lady Minto Hospital Foundation (LMHF) for the former motel being renovated on Bittancourt Road, slated by the foundation since its 2022 purchase to house healthcare workers on Salt Spring.
LMHF board member Julian Clark brought the foundation’s proposal to the LTC’s meeting Thursday, Dec. 12, telling trustees that quick action on the October application was the best way for the LTC to show its support for the project. With construction permits in place and contractor tender processes complete, Clark said, the foundation has secured favourable construction financing –– conditional, he noted, on the property being rezoned from commercial to multi-family.
“And I would call it a downzoning,” said Clark, pointing to the building’s previous use as a motel involving 28 water connections and significant month-to-month turnover, rather than the planned 18 dwellings –– including studios and one- to three-bedroom units. “What we’re trying to do is ensure that we’re supporting the healthcare workers on our island.”
Clark reiterated a message from Lady Minto Hospital site director Erin Price Lindstrom, who recently described “heroic” efforts by local physicians and operational leadership to maintain services, particularly at the hospital’s emergency department. Price Lindstrom has said that Salt Spring’s lack of housing is the biggest deterrent to potential new staff moving here.
“Too often, qualified staff will apply, interview and be accepted,” said Clark, relaying Price Lindstrom’s comments, “only to go elsewhere.”
A civil claim filed in July against the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation (PRHC) and BC Housing –– alleging the former failed to abide by terms of its lease, and the latter “facilitated, encouraged and supported” trespassing at the site of the former Seabreeze Inne –– is settled, according to Clark, after all parties went to meditation in late November. BC Housing confirmed Monday that a settlement had been reached “to the satisfaction of both parties,” but that the terms were confidential.
During the Dec. 12 meeting, Salt Spring’s Capital Regional District director Gary Holman called workforce housing a critical segment of the island’s housing market that’s been poorly addressed –– “because there’s no funding, per se, for worker housing,” he said. “It’s all aimed at affordable housing, so there is a gap.”
Clark told trustees LMHF and its general contractor believe that if the rezoning can be completed by the end of March, the project could be “up and ready for healthcare worker housing” by the fall.
“This is not necessarily intended for the doctors or the nurses, although it might be a good fit,” said Clark. “But when you think about what keeps that hospital running, I ask that you think about the folks that are working in food services, the folks that are working keeping the hospital clean, and the laundry, the technicians –– these are the folks who cannot afford housing on our island.”
“The bottom line is somewhat talking about risk management,” said local trustee Laura Patrick, noting that calculation turned on the likelihood that, once approved, LMHF might “flip” the property into condos instead of dedicated workforce housing.
“I’m pretty confident that’s a very low risk,” she continued. “And I think as an island that’s in such need, I would say ‘all systems go ahead.’ We need to work to meet their needs and take a little risk.”
Salt Spring’s other local trustee Jamie Harris emphatically agreed, noting he had lost his own on-island housing in recent months; indeed, with Harris still “zooming in” from off-island, fellow trustees had to begin the meeting with a resolution waiving the bylaw requiring trustees attend no more than two consecutive LTC meetings remotely.
“To get something [on Salt Spring] comparable to what I had would cost me over three times the rent I was paying,” said Harris, calling the decision to support moving things forward “cut and dried.”
“This has been going on for way too long,” said Harris. “Let’s speed it up.”
The LTC asked staff to draft the relevant bylaw to rezone the property and proceed with public notification requirements, as well as prepare for a public hearing and referral to the Trust’s Executive Committee early in the new year –– a schedule both staff and trustees admitted was ambitious.
“I’m for giving it a good old college try,” said Patrick.
After the meeting, Clark said LMHF was looking forward to the next steps and grateful for the LTC’s quick action.
“LMHF is appreciative that our local Islands Trust trustees are both supportive of the foundation’s affordable workforce housing project,” he said, “and willing to step up to help make it happen.”
As Salt Spring Arts (SSA) bids farewell to its executive director Yael Wand in 2025, her profound contributions to the organization and local arts community are celebrated.
In 2014, Wand joined the team with two decades of experience working as an artist and cultural coordinator, accepting the position as SSA’s first executive director (ED) in 2019. Her passion and dedication have left an indelible mark, building on the organization’s extensive history fostering creativity and supporting artists on Salt Spring Island. SSA flourished under Wand’s leadership, sustaining and creating accessible arts programs – many of which are free to the public – that continue to enrich the cultural fabric of our island.
“Yael came through the doors of Mahon Hall with incredible determination and has kept up that pace for 10 years,” said former Artcraft manager Richard Steel. “Her energy and expertise has seen Salt Spring Arts expand its programs, stature and professionalism in difficult circumstances and with limited budget and staffing. She has done great things for the arts council, and for Salt Spring.”
Wand’s tenure saw the launch of new initiatives such as the Summer Outdoor Concert Series, which has since grown into a beloved tradition for many, bringing community members and visitors together in a weekly celebration of live music. She also spearheaded the annual BC Family Day event, a free celebration for kids, families and caregivers to enjoy an afternoon of art-making, face painting and a dynamic performance.
“As our first ever ED, Yael has virtually invented her job as she went along,” said SSA board chair Julie Kemble. “Her numerous contributions to the growth and development of Salt Spring Arts can be seen everywhere. Her considerable skills extend far beyond her talent as an accomplished musician. In my role as board chair it’s been a delight to work with, and learn from her.”
Wand’s leadership has extended far beyond thoughtful programming, to developing and fostering meaningful partnerships in the community with local artists, professionals and businesses.
“It has been a distinct pleasure working with Yael for the last three years,” said Robert Steinbach, community relations manager at Country Grocer. “Her sense of purpose has always been palpable and her clarity of communication exemplary. We have explored so many options and consequently forged a strong and joyful working relationship which has been very rewarding for us over an extended period of time. We will miss her smile, humour and her dedication to the arts!”
Wand’s vision and commitment were also instrumental in shaping Salt Spring Arts’ first strategic plan, announced in 2023, which will continue to guide the organization for years to come.
As Wand embarks on her next chapter, her legacy of fostering artistic excellence and community engagement will continue to inspire Salt Spring Arts.
“Yael leaves big shoes to fill and she will be dearly missed,” said Julie Kemble. “However, we are happy to welcome our new ED, Jennifer Van de Pol, to the Salt Spring Arts team. Jennifer — an artist herself — brings excellent knowledge of the provincial arts scene. She also brings leadership and arts education experience from her time spent at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Salt Spring Arts looks forward to introducing her to our community.”
Young writers in the Gulf Islands continue to make a Driftwood tradition meaningful with plenty of submissions to the annual holiday story writing contest received this year.
Community members taking on the judging task — Victoria Olchowecki (coordinator), Joan Gage, Sheila McEachern, Fran McIninch and Donna McWhirter — determined the following winners, with stories of first- and second-place winners published in the Dec. 18 issue of the Driftwood newspaper and below this introductory story.
Ages 5-7: First place, Sofia Névé Langer, Storm and the Magic Mouse; Second place, Henry Russell-Jones, Sharkie’s Christmas; honourable mention, Yuawi Flores Dolotallas.
Age 8: First place, Ambrosia Chan, Amelia’s Blustery Christmas; second place, Woodson Howard, Journey for the Sno Scroll; honourable mention, Emmi Johnson, Lulu’s Christmas Adventure.
Age 9: First place, Nova Brown, The Christmas Adventure; second place, Willow Kilpatrick, Santa Won’t Take a Bath; honourable mention, Fern Cardinal, Rudolph’s Origin Story; Evanna Bantel, A Christmas Mystery.
Age 10: First place, Piper Proudfoot, The Elf’s Best Christmas; second place, Nathan Silva, Crab Catastrophe; honourable mention, Annie Deas, Santarella; Zavy Van Ommen, Santa and the Storks.
Ages 11-12: First place, Inara Demich, Aida’s Winter Wish; second place, Luka Skotecky, Santa’s Lost Sleigh; honourable mention, Cyrus Butler-Cole, The Winter’s Gift; Lizzy Phillips, Christmas Wish for Peace; Clara Palmer Bazdresch, Claire’s Totally Normal Night in Paris.
Winner of the student cover art contest is Semiah Charlson. Artwork from members of Melissa Hingston’s grades 4-5 class at Fernwood Elementary School is also included in the story pages and on our website.
Charleson, and first- and second-place story winners can pick up vouchers for gift certificates to Salt Spring Books at the Driftwood office at 241 Fulford-Ganges Rd. as of Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Vouchers must be taken to the bookstore by Jan. 31, 2025 to be exchanged for gift certificates.
Thank you to Salt Spring Books for once again participating as a much-valued contest sponsor, and to our contest judges as well.
Once there was a kitten named Storm. He lived with his uncle Sam, who was big and cuddly. He also lived with his mother Suki, who was a bit skittish and a good hunter.
Storm was also skittish and he had a silkey gray coat. Storm was looking forward to Christmas because he really wanted cuddles with his owner Sofia, who seemed to always be at school.
One day, Storm saw Suki chasing a mouse and then he noticed that something was peculiar about it. It was different. This mouse was a special mouse called the Christmas mouse. It helped the elves to make all the presents and to wrap them. Also, the mouse helped the reindeer to fly just with a touch of magic.
Finally Suki caught the Christmas mouse. She was so proud of herself that she showed it to Storm and Sam and tried to show it to her owners Sofia and Sonia, who were nowhere to be found. Suki guessed that they were at school and at work, but she was wrong! They were actually on a hike.
Suki was about to kill the mouse, when Storm meowed, “Wait!”
Suki pawsed. (A little kitty joke!) Storm realized that this was the MAGIC MOUSE! If Suki killed the mouse, Christmas would never come. Luckily, Suki realized that this was a girl mouse.
Dear reader, I know you may not understand, but in this story, cats don’t like the taste of girl mice.
Then Suki let go of the mouse! Quickly the mouse scurried away from Suki and Storm.
Unfortunately, Suki did not let go of the mouse in time. The mouse scurried as fast as its little chubby legs could carry it. Unfortunately, the mouse would not make it on time. The elves, Santa and the reindeer were worried about her! The Christmas mouse was stuck on Salt Spring Island! Christmas would be delayed!
Then Storm had an idea, but there was one problem. Storm didn’t know how to get to the ferry. Storm asked his mom and uncle how to get to the ferry, so they told him.
The mouse would take over on the journey to the North Pole. With the mouse on his back to guide him Storm could get there in time! Storm luckily had brought a piece of paper and a pencil and a bottle so he wrote a note to Santa, saying, “Don’t worry Santa, I’ve got your mouse. I’ll bring her to the North Pole.” Storm rolled it up and put it in the bottle and corked the bottle. And he threw it in the ocean.
With the same magic as he did to the reindeer, the mouse tapped Storm on the tips of his ears so her could fly.
Storm said, “What was that for?”
The Christmas mouse said, “So you could fly!”
So Storm flew wobbly at first but then he got better and better. Before they knew it, they were at the North Pole! Storm saved CHRISTMAS!
Once upon a time, Sharkie went outside and he played in the snow.
Then he went deep deep into the forest where his mother forbade him to go. There he met wolves! And he ran away, but then the wolves caught up and he was feeling brave.
And then he used sharky cybertronic and summoned a magical butterfly that told him what to use (like superpowers) and then the magic butterfly summoned a snake. And the snake summoned a parrot and the parrot used bright beak, which scared the wolves away.
And then the snake, the parrot and the butterfly went home with Sharkie. And they all played outside and had a Merry Christmas with Sharkie’s mother, but they didn’t go too far because they didn’t want to encounter the wolves again.
And then they opened all their presents and drank hot cocoa.
They were happy Santa Claus came and gave them lots of advent treats and gifts. All the presents were cute, cool and pretty.
Once upon a time there was a fox named Amelia (that’s me), who lived with her family in a forest beside New York City. They were very poor and knew that there would not be anything under the tree this year.
I stepped out of our den and saw that it was a very blustery day. The wind was blowing snow everywhere! I saw a white coat of snow on the ground. I looked to the side and saw the twinkling lights of New York City. I went back into our den. I woke up our mom and sisters Ellie, Ava and Cecelia (but we call her Cece).
I asked mom if we could all go down to the river. She said yes. When we got to the river, I noticed that Ellie was missing! I watched my sisters playing on the ice. I told my sisters that it was time to go.
When we got home, I told our mom that Ellie was missing. Mom went out to look and came home two hours later . . . without Ellie. She said that we could not leave the house because she didn’t want us to go missing too.
That night, I woke up and really missed my sister, so I went out to look for her (even though my mom told me not to). It was very dark. I was very worried because it was also very cold. I had to get home before mom could find out I was missing.
The next day mom went out again to look for Ellie. She told us to stay (she didn’t know I snuck out the night before).
While I waited, I saw a little mouse. It looked as cold as an ice cube! I asked if it wanted to come in and warm up in our den. It came in and sat by the crackling fire with me. It asked where my mom was, and I said she was out looking for my sister.
Then the mouse said, “Oh, I saw her in the forest behind a tree!”
I asked if the mouse could take me to my sister. The mouse said yes and showed me the way.
I was so happy when I saw Ellie that I gave her a big hug. When we got home, we sat by the cozy fire. We were all so happy to be back together!
We noticed that, in the end, all we needed was a family — not toys or gifts! When mom found out that I snuck away to look for Ellie, she wasn’t mad at all — she was relieved.
To celebrate, mom offered us all hot chocolate — even the mouse. We had our best Christmas ever!
Once upon a time, snowflakes were falling in the town of Ganges. Everything was peaceful until . . . Will was driving home when he heard his dad say, “Something important.”
“What, Dad?” Will asked.
“Um, just something about work, Will,” his Dad answered. Then Will heard his dad say, “Snow Scroll.” Will did a search on the internet and found out . . .
1. The Sno Scroll was a famous artifact.
2. Will had spelled it wrong – Snow should be Sno!
So the next day, Will got to work. He snatched his dad’s toolbox and hid it in his backpack. Then, he hid up by the old broken fence. He grabbed some wood and started sawing, nailing and putting on some old wheels he’d found by the fence. Soon, he had made an invention. It was a sleigh that he called the “Board Bus.” He wasn’t exactly sure where the Sno Scroll was, but he was still determined to find it.
Will ZOOMED down the road, crossed straight over Lower Ganges, raced over a cliff and then landed on the salty ice. On his way, he came across a snowmobile wreck. Then he met his friend Charlotte from 5th grade. She was looking for the Sno Scroll too, so they joined forces together.
Will and Charlotte continued together on their journey. Little did they know that right behind them was . . . a gigantic black bear! And he was MAD!
They zoomed away, but hit a bump that sent Charlotte flying off the back of the sled. She landed in a snowbank. Luckily she was okay! Then she got up and ran back to the sled and noticed a small jagged hole in the boards of the sleigh. Suddenly, the hole opened up to reveal a piece of snow-white paper. It suddenly occurred to them that it was THE SNO SCROLL! Will jumped up and down. Charlotte just stood there with her mouth gaping open like a goldfish.
They raced excitedly to Will’s house. Then Will knocked on the door and when his mom opened it, she shouted, “Frank! Will’s come home!”
But Will was not ready for the hugs . . . yet. First, he wanted to know why his parents were talking about the Sno Scroll. Second, he wanted to know who his parents really were. They exchanged nervous looks.
Then Will’s mom answered, “Will, your dad is a famous archeologist, and I am an undercover police agent. Your dad has been trying to find something called the Sno Scroll, and when he finds it, I will protect it.”
Then Will showed his parents the Sno Scroll and said, “I think you’ve been looking for this.”
The next day, Will and Charlotte’s faces were on the front page of the Driftwood. They got the reward for finding the missing artifact. Plus, Will got lots of new toys to play with on Christmas morning.
THE CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE
By Nova Brown
First Place, Age 9 Category
Christmas was Kevin’s favourite day of the year. Every Christmas morning he would run downstairs at 5:01 so that he would get the first cinnamon bun before his brothers and sisters woke up.
But this Christmas was different. Kevin woke up at nine! He never woke up that late on Christmas.
When he got downstairs there were no cinnamon buns and no presents. This was not possible, he thought, maybe it was Christmas Eve. But no, it was Christmas.
Just then, his brothers Samuel and Dustin and his sisters Cyndi and Eve came downstairs. They had the exact same reaction as Kevin.
“Is Christmas cancelled?” asked Cyndi.
Mom and Dad came down, and they didn’t act like anything was wrong. It was silent until Cyndi interrupted, “Is Christmas ruined?”
“No,” said Mom. She took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry, kids, but this Christmas is just not for us.”
She looked very sad and said, “I don’t know what happened. I kept trying to make the cinnamon buns but they weren’t working.”
Then Dad said, “I know this Christmas was not how you hoped, but we can always try to make it better, right?”
Kevin got an idea and he shouted, “LET’S BAKE CINNAMON BUNS TOGETHER!” The whole family ran into the kitchen screaming, “HOORAY!”
After they put the buns in the oven, Kevin told his siblings to come to his room for a meeting. They had to figure out how to save Christmas! They hurried to get their boots and jackets on and ran out the door, even though they did not know where they were going. As they were walking, Eve found a map named “How to Bring Christmas Back.” She had found what they needed, a way to save Christmas!
They didn’t have much time before the day was over so they quickly followed the map, over hills, through six-feet-deep snow, and then Cyndi shouted, “Look at that house!”
She pointed at the little cabin up on the hill and they all sprinted for the cabin. They knocked, and a fat old man with a white beard and a little elf at his side opened the door.
Cyndi exclaimed, “SANTA!”
The old man said, “How did you find me?”
“There was a map in our back yard and we followed it,” said Eve.
“Ho ho ho, you found the right man. Let’s not waste a second, it’s almost dawn,” said Santa.
Quickly, they all got to work making toys and thingamabobs. When they were done, Santa said, “Now I need to deliver the presents.”
Cyndi said, “But yesterday was Christmas.”
Santa said, ”Oh, I almost forgot, we need to go back in time.No problem, I have a solution.” He had a potion that would reset the clock to Christmas morning!
As soon as he drank the potion, Kevin woke up in his bed. His clock said 5:01. He ran downstairs and to his surprise there were cinnamon buns and presents. It had worked! It was the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER.
Santa had never had a bath, and, oh . . . he needed one BADLY!
The reindeer had gone on strike because of his ferocious smell and even the skunk ran from his putrid odour.
It was Christmas Eve and with the reindeer on strike the elves were in distress. How will they get millions of presents to all four corners of the globe? There was no choice. IT WAS TIME FOR SANTA TO TAKE A BATH.
How to get Santa in a bath was a different story altogether. After a lot of brainstorming, this is what the elves came up with:
1. Persuasion
2. Bribing
3. Trickery
4. Head-butting (by the reindeer)
Persuasion
“Oh, Santa, you are so dirty,” said Gordon the Decorator Elf as Santa walked through the front door. “Why not take a warm cozy bath tonight before you leave to go o the four corners of the globe? Wouldn’t that be nice and relaxin?”
To that, Santa just put on more layers of clothes, just like every year ever since he was two years old!
Bribing
“Dear Santa, if you go into the tub I’ll give you 300 Christmas cookies and 20 glasses of milk,” said Mrs. Claus.
“300 chocolate chip sugar cookies and 20 glasses of cold milk. Yum!” thought Santa.
It was his favourite! But he was no galoot. He knew this was bribery.
Plus, Santa was scare of water and things in it.
Trickery
The elves were getting desperate. They decided it was time for the trap.
As Santa walked through the toy factory’s big doors, he slipped on a banana peel, triggering an alarm.
“Huh, that’s odd,” he thought, as he was getting up. He walked over to turn off the alarm and set of a trip wire that made a net fall, wrap him up and roll him across the floor where he hit a bottle of peppermint tea that flew through the air and hit the lever of a toy grabber, making it grab Santa and swinging him over to the tub. If Santa hadn’t grabbed the coat rack in time it would be Santa’s bath time! But it wasn’t.
Head Butts (By the Reindeer)
The elves by now were so frantic they were ripping out their hair. They knew it was time for the reindeer . . . .
Now the reindeer, as everyone knows, are a clumsy lot, and as they inspected the bathroom for good head-butting areas, Prancer dropped his candy cane in the tub. They all watched as it sizzled away like a bath bomb and it left behind a wonderful smell of candy cane.
Once all the reindeer were hidden, the elves left to get Santa so the reindeer could head-butt him in. Except, when they opened the door and Santa smelled the candy cane in the bath he jumped in before the reindeer could even have time to think about head-butting him. Finally, after hours, Santa declared he was never getting out!
P.S. They never did get him out of the tub. So if you see a bath tub instead of a sleigh in the sky, you know it was that Christmas! There were cinnamon buns and presents. It had worked! It was the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER.
In a tree in the woods there lived an elf named Wilber. Wilber loved Christmas, but he always thought it was too cold. This year Wilber was prepared. He had been knitting a snow suit all year. He also had lots of hot cocoa, hot apple cider, and lots of firewood.
“Yawn,” said Wilber as he woke up and walked down the stairs to start making breakfast. He looked out the window and it was snowing.
“Yay!” said Wilber, and he ran to put on his snowsuit before racing out the door.
That day, he built a snowman and an igloo. He even made caramel snow to eat! By the end of the day, he was so tired he went straight to bed without even eating any cookies.
The next morning, Wilber woke up feeling unusually cold. It was not like yesterday; it was much colder.
He gasped! “The Snow Witch was back.”
In a flash he had all the elves gathered in the great oak tree.
“What is the meaning of this?” said Bartholamew the Third.
“The Snow Witch is back!” someone in the crowd cried.
“What?” yelled Bartholamew. “We must flee the forest immediately. Everyone pack your bags! We’re going to the North Pole to get Santa.”
The journey to the North Pole was long and cold. By the time they arrived, all the elves were freezing and some even suffering from frostbite. Luckily, Ms. Claus greeted them with hot chocolate. Once they were all warmed up, they walked down the hall to Santa’s room.
“Hello,” Wilber called. “Is anyone there?”
“Hoho little elf!” a voice boomed. Wilber turned, and standing right in front of him was Santa Claus.
“Santa, I need your help!” Wilber exclaimed. “The Snow Witch is taking over the woods!”
“Ho no,” said Santa, “We must act quickly before it’s too late!”
They all hopped into Santa’s sleigh and flew to the oak forest. Once they arrived, standing there was the Snow Witch. Santa hopped out of the sleigh and marched right up to the Snow Witch, who said, “What is the meaning of this? I want to cancel Christmas for everyone in the world, starting with this forest!”
“No,” yelled Santa, “you cannot do that. I won’t let you! I will banish you to the land of the evil.” And with a wave of his hat the Snow Witch disappeared into thin air.
“Well, now I must be off, but before I go, I have a present for you.” He dropped a little box into Wilber’s hand and then he disappeared into the night. When Wilber opened the box, he found something truly magical — a Christmas miracle. An iPhone 17!
Whoosh — the wind blew while Santa flew through the air, up in the clear midnight blue sky.
Suddenly the engine stopped, the sleigh plummeting in a nosedive into the snow with a poof. Everything went black.
The next thing Santa knew, he was underground, in a jail. He heard a familiar voice and then he saw it: the red shell of a crab.
“Jerald, what are you doing?” Santa asked.
“Trapping you in jail so I can steal your sleigh to get back to the Hawaiian ocean,” said Jerald the crab.
“You were once my loyal apprentice,” said Santa with a sigh. “Besides, my reindeer will never cooperate with you.”
“Well, I bribed them with shortbread carrot cake. And Christmas will never happen, hahahaha!” cackled Jerald. “Crabs, prepare the sleigh! We will be leaving shortly.”
The forty red-shells skittered to the sleigh, packing it with food. Then without a sound, a penguin appeared in the shadows.
“Psst, Santa, I heard your apprentice’s plan, so I snuck away on your sleigh last minute,” said Penguin. “I came here to save you.”
He opened the jail door. Santa and Penguin crept along the cave wall. The crabs didn’t see them because they were too busy packing the sleigh. Then without a sound, Santa used his magic to lift the crabs out of the sleigh and hopped in with Penguin and took off through the small gap in the underground ceiling, into the midnight sky.
Penguin was delighted because he had never flown before. The stars twinkled as they flew through the sky to deliver presents to the houses. The only light was from the full moon.
As if no time had gone by at all, the sleigh was empty of presents. They had all been delivered.
Just as they were turning west towards Hawaii for their after-Christmas beach day, Santa turned back toward the crabs.
As they arrived at the cave, the crabs were surprised to see the sleigh.
Santa stood up.
“We’re on our way to Hawaii, why don’t you come with us?” said Santa.
Within minutes, Santa and Penguin were lounging in hammocks, drinking from fresh coconuts under the palm trees, while the crabs were making sandcastles in the morning sun.
Kelemi, his little sister Abeba and their grandma Aida had just arrived in Paris where the twinkling of Christmas lights welcomed them into the festively decorated city.
They had flown there from their home town in Ethiopia, a place where no one except them celebrated Christmas, a holiday their family would spend travelling to different countries and learning about how they celebrated Christmas there.
Christmas had always been their favourite time of year, until Kelemi and Abeba’s parents died one year ago. This loss brought the deepest grief Kelemi and Abeba had ever felt. How would they ever love Christmas again if they wouldn’t have their parents to share it with?
But Aida had hope that this trip to Paris would heal an emptiness that had grown in all their hearts, or at least help to fill it. Paris was bustling and all the taxi cabs were full.
“Well, our first stop is only three blocks away, why don’t we just walk?” said Aida. “Fine,” said the siblings.
Warmth grew in Kelemi’s heart as he took in the festive excitement surrounding him in the glittering streets of Paris.
“Look, it’s Le Musee d’Orsay!” Kelemi said excitedly. He loved art and had always dreamed of seeing this museum.
“Let’s go inside, Grandma!” Kelemi said.
“Tickets first, Kelemi!” Aida reminded him.
“Yeah, chill Kelemi, it’s just a boring museum,” said Abeba unenthused.
“Maybe to you!” said Kelemi, annoyed.
When they arrived at the museum they looked in awe at the impressionistic art displayed everywhere. Even Abeba was astounded. Kelemi stopped to look at a huge statue of four women of different ethnicities holding up the world. As Kelemi gazed up at the statue he thought of how much his mum would have loved to see it. He sighed and wiped the streaming tears off his cheek.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” said a girl standing next to him.
“Yes it is. What’s your name,” asked Kelemi.
“Je m’appelle Ember, what’s your’s?”
“Kelemi,” he said, wondering if this girl and him would become friends.
“Where are you from?” asked Ember.
“Me, my sister and my grandma are from Ethiopia,” Kelemi replied.
“What are you doing for Christmas,” asked Ember.
“Not much,” said Kelemi.
“You could come to my house for Christmas dinner, my mum’s a great cook!” said Ember excitedly.
“That sounds wonderful! My grandma loves cooking!” Kelemi said.
So Kelemi, Aida and Abeba stayed with Ember, her mom and sister, and shared delicious food and laughter around the fire.
After the wonderful meal they all stepped out into the moonlit garden to look at the night sky. The stars were like jewels embroidered on a black silk.
“I wish Mum and Dad were here to see this,” said Kelemi and as he spoke a star shot across the midnight sky, just for him at that moment.
Aida knew that her Christmas wish had been granted, and like that great statue the two families held each other up.
It was a snowy Christmas Eve. Santa was delivering presents to the last neighbourhood.
He was getting tired and a little forgetful. He parked his sleigh on one roof then unhitched one reindeer and rode it to the other houses roofs and delivered the presents that way. Then he flew to the North pole on Comet the reindeer’s back.
The next day he realized he forgot his sleigh on that rooftop with his other reindeer. Meanwhile people found it and pulled it down and put it in the history museum.
Santa went to get Comet to ride to the sleigh, but Comet was too tired from last night’s trip. Instead, he takes his old truck and drives to Inuvik where he takes a plane to Victoria. Then he drove to Vancouver and he found his sleigh in the history museum.
He dresses up as an old man. He gets a cane and walks into the history museum. There are two security guards but he doesn’t have a museum pass, so the security guards say, “No, you’re not allowed in.”
Then he climbs up the side of the museum and he goes to the roof. He opens the attic door and he climbs through the attic and down the stairs past the Employees Only sign and he finds the sleigh but no reindeer. He realizes they went to animal control.
So, then he puts his sleigh into his truck and drives to the animal control centre. He sees Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph.
He talks to the guy and says, “Those are my reindeer. They really like sleighs, so that’s why they were on the roof.”
The animal control officer said he was not allowed to have them.
At night, Santa sneaks them out and connects them to the sleigh. He flies back to the North Pole. When he comes back, the reindeer are so excited to be home.
He disconnects them and puts them in their stables. He gets the elves to shine his sleigh, and he sits back in front of his fire and eats cookies and milk.
