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New Water-Monitoring Program Could Save 1.5 billion Litres a Year

Homeowners and businesses in rural British Columbia will soon benefit from new water meters that will help small communities save water and increase resiliency during droughts, while lowering costs for people who use less water. “Drinking water is an incredibly precious resource,” said Brittny Anderson, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities. “Small and rural communities in B.C. face higher financial and management capacity challenges, and water metering helps communities identify leaks, conserve drinking water, and keep costs down for businesses and residents.” Nineteen small, rural and First Nations communities will benefit from nearly 15,000 new automated water meters that will be installed. Provincial funding will cover up to 100% of eligible costs. By helping communities have a better understanding of the amount of water that is used, this $50-million provincial investment could help save up to 1.5 billion litres of water each year. This is the…
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Salt Spring May 16: Elaine Alec Launches Second Book Coming of Age with Five-City B.C. Book Signing Tour

Acclaimed Indigenous author, speaker, and thought leader teɬkənitkʷ (Elaine Alec) releases her second book, Coming of Age: Overcoming Trauma to Achieve Self-Determination. To mark the release, Alec will embark on a five-city book signing tour across British Columbia beginning in Penticton, May 1, 2025. Each stop will feature a book reading, conversation with the author, book signing, and community gathering. Admission is free, and all are welcome. Book Tour Schedule: detailed event listings can be found here. Salt Spring Island – May 16 150 FULFORD-GANGES ROAD GANGES, BC, V8K 2T8 Time: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Penticton – May 1 Williams Lake – May 8 Victoria – May 15 Vancouver – June 5 (location TBA) Building on the teachings of her first book, Calling My Spirit Back, Alec’s latest work blends personal storytelling, community wisdom, and cultural insight to offer pathways to healing, empowerment, and Indigenous-led leadership. “At its core, Coming of Age …
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Obituary: Daulton (Doc) Paynter

Daulton (Doc) Paynter 1934 March 28 - 2025 May 2 We are very sad to announce the passing of Daulton (Doc) Paynter @ LMH on May 2, 2025, surrounded by his loving wife and family. Doc was a kind, gentle man who savoured & appreciated every moment of his full life. He loved his family and the people in this world from every race, country & situation and was passionate about caring for the planet. Born in Powell River, he had one brother & two sisters. He had a life-long love for B.C.’s wilderness, forests and coastline which resulted in his participation in many protests over the years to protect it. When he was 13, his obsession to fly an airplane spurred him to find a job to pay for lessons. With these hard-earned monies he would bike to the Vancouver airport to take flying lessons and eventually qualified for a solo flight. Later, while building houses, he lost one eye in an accident which ended his dream of flying, so he took up sailing. After a year at UBC he de…
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Local Trust Committee April Update

Local Trust Committee April Update, by Trustee Laura Patrick This report relates to the business of the Salt Spring Local Trust Committee (LTC), which is made up of the two local trustees and an appointed chair. The LTC’s responsibilities include regulating the development and use of land within the Salt Spring Local Trust Area, which includes Salt Spring Island and more than 25 associated islands including Prevost, Secret, and Piers islands. Our next regular meeting will be on May 8th beginning at 12:30 PM at the Salt Spring Legion, Meaden Hall, 120 Blain Road. The agenda will be available on May 2nd on the Islands Trust website. Office staff are available to help should you have questions about getting to our meetings or viewing them on-line. Please call 250-538-9144 or email ssiinfo@islandstrust.bc.ca for support. Please note that no in-person office is available on Salt Spring Island currently. Renovations will be commencing on a new office at 121 McPhillips Avenue, …
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B.C. Declares Provincial Day of Remembrance and Mourning for Victims of Tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival

The Province of British Columbia has declared Friday, May 2, 2025, an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025. Eleven people were killed and dozens more injured while celebrating Filipino culture and history in a senseless attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver. As people learn more about the victims, they are also learning that the victims’ loss is felt deeply across the province. This tragedy has had profound impact on the Filipino community in B.C. and many others in Vancouver and throughout the province. The day of remembrance and mourning is an opportunity for people in British Columbia to come together, grieve the loss of innocent lives and recognize the contributions the victims made to their communities and the province. It is also a time to offer comfort to all of those impacted, including those who have lost loved ones, those recovering and those who witn…
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Transition Salt Spring’s Repair Café Returns: A Celebration of Community and Sustainability

Transition Salt Spring is gearing up for another impactful event as the Spring Repair Café makes its triumphant return on Sunday, May 4th. Held at Meaden Hall (120 Blain Rd., downstairs at the Legion) from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, this event promises to be the largest Repair Café yet, embodying the essence of community, sustainability, and skill-sharing. Over 40 local volunteer experts will converge to breathe new life into broken belongings, spanning from general household repairs and small electrical appliances to intricate tasks like micro-electronics, knitwear darning, and knife sharpening. The event will also feature a dedicated team from Island Pathways providing tune-ups and repairs for both conventional and e-bikes, reflecting the island’s commitment to pedal-powered mobility. In a nod to innovation, volunteers from the Salt Spring Island Public Library’s Fab Lab will showcase creative solutions, including 3D printing for fabricating replacement parts—a blend of mod…
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Elizabeth May Re-elected and Mark Carney's Liberals Secure Minority Government

Canada's 2025 federal election concluded with Mark Carney's Liberal Party securing a minority government, marking their fourth consecutive term. Simultaneously, Elizabeth May, co-leader of the Green Party, was re-elected in the Saanich–Gulf Islands riding. May, a long-standing advocate for environmental issues and democratic reform, secured her seat once again, reinforcing her commitment to the constituents of Saanich–Gulf Islands. Her victory ensures that the Green Party maintains representation in Parliament, albeit limited.​ Nationally, the Liberals, under Carney's leadership, won 168 seats, falling short of the 172 needed for a majority in the 343-seat House of Commons. This outcome necessitates collaboration with other parties to pass legislation and maintain confidence in the House. ​ Carney's campaign emphasized economic stability and a firm stance on national sovereignty, resonating with voters amid escalating tensions with the United States. U.S. President Don…
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Getting to Know our New MLA Rob Botterell

Before welcoming MLA Rob Botterell to ASK Salt Spring this Friday, May 2, 11-1, SIMS classroom, we thought it would be fun to learn more about what “excites and delights” him personally as well as professionally.    Rob grew up in Oak Bay, playing the alto saxophone in the high-school band and spending much of his free time sailing. When he graduated from high school in 1973, he headed off to UBC to study Economics and Political Science, eventually also receiving his MBA there. Idyllic as his childhood may sound, he recalls with a chuckle telling his lawyer mother when he left for college that he would never return to Victoria and never become a lawyer, both predictions which turned out to be untrue.  With his MBA and a keen interest in economics, Rob spent the early decades of his career working for TD Bank and was quickly promoted to Comptroller. During those years, he worked in Vancouver and lived on Bowen Island with his wife, now celebrating 45 years together.…
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More, Better Home-Care Supports Coming for B.C. Seniors

Seniors in B.C. will have better supports to age at home in their community with expanded and improved services as part of a five-year agreement with United Way BC for popular programs, such as Better at Home. “We are deeply committed to helping seniors remain in their own homes and in the communities they are a part of,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Through the programs and services delivered by United Way BC, older adults are able to stay healthier, be more active and better connected to their communities. By expanding these services, we’re helping more seniors throughout our province live more independent lives.” The Province is investing $304 million over five years in United Way BC to deliver and expand community-based seniors’ services. These services will be delivered by non-profit agencies throughout the province to help seniors live more independently. Community-based seniors’ services include non-medical home supports and programming that help older …
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Seasonal Transit Changes on Salt Spring Island

SALT SPRING ISLAND – BC Transit and the Capital Regional District are announcing seasonal changes to the transit system, effective May 3, 2025. This spring service change includes an increase in Saturday service on route 2 Fulford Harbour to meet the first ferry of the day and re-introduce seasonal southbound service along Cusheon Lake Road and Stewart Road on select trips. Changes are being made to Route 3 Vesuvius and Route 4 Long Harbour to better align with ferry schedules. Check with the most recent Rider’s Guide for updated schedules. We encourage our customers to use the Transit App, Google Transit or any other app of their choice for real-time bus tracking and planning your next transit journey. For more information on trip planning, fares and to sign up for customer alerts, please visit bctransit.com/salt-spring-island.
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