$ 25 (incl. GST) R&B for R+R RANDY’S READY 1 See nationals-bound For SOLID benefi t & JazzThingII Wednesday, jazz combo PAGE 22 APRIL 4, 2007 PAGE 14 47TH YEAR ISSUE 14
GULF ISLANDS
DriftwoodYOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 Easter Bunny Giveaway | 20 Islanders in Focus | 26
[email protected] www.gulfislands.net Trustees back Index
Arts ...... 13 Classifieds ...... 35 ballooning Editorials ...... 8
Ferry Schedules ...... 31 Health ...... 34 2007 budget Horoscope ...... 29 Growth blamed for 15 to the rising demands for Letters ...... 9 per cent tax increase services by the record num- Sports ...... 31 bers of people moving to the By SEAN MCINTYRE area.” TV Listings ...... 17 Driftwood Staff The 15 per cent increase What’s On...... 24 –––––––––––– forms the bulk of an Islands Trust representa- $818,000 spending increase. tives meeting on Gabriola It brings the Trust’s 2007/08 Island last week voted in operating budget to $5.5 -/24'!'% 15%34)/.3 favour of raising 15 per cent million. ASK !RLENE more funds from property Last year’s tax jump was taxes in hopes of addressing 10.83 per cent, with a fi ve chronic underfunding. per cent rise in 2005/06. “We’ve basically been When the Islands Trust ",/ treading water for the past was established to protect ed *"/ little while,” said Kim Ben- the Gulf Islands from ram- son, chair of the Islands pant, unplanned growth in Trust. “In a way, we are the 1970s, the province foot- addressing reality. ” ed 100 per cent of the bill. Weather The real problems, Ben- Today, that fi gure is less than son said, result from years three per cent. Clouds and showers of population growth, resi- As the Gulf Islands’ popu- today (Wednesday); dential developments and a lation has doubled since the periods of rain coinciding decrease in the Trust’s creation, so too has tomorrow, sun and amount of funds transferred the number of applications, clouds Friday and rain to the Trust from the prov- demands on bylaw enforce- on the weekend. Highs ince. ment and other staffing to 13 C; lows to 8 C. “In many ways this is a requirements, said Benson. EYE ON THE BALL: Jeff Pringle, centre, leads a Salt Spring run during last ‘catch-up’ budget,” Benson “We were at the point weekend’s junior boys tournament at Gulf Islands Secondary School. Story on Page 32. Photo by John Cameron Inserts said. “We are catching up TRUST BUDGET 3 • Thrifty Foods • Lifestyle Markets • Ganges Village Market • Home Hardware Licensing limbo leaves anglers on the hook • Rona • Pharmasave • Buckerfields • Field’s By SEAN MCINTYRE the amount of paperwork she and reasons Cheeseman now understands spokesperson, the government has Driftwood Staff her employees must fi ll out for each all too well. no plans to sweeten the pot for busi- Water water everywhere but not customer. Fresh water fishing licences ness owners inclined to supply fi sh- a fi shing licence in sight will be a “It’s almost a job in itself except it remain available at the Provincial ing licences. common refrain among anglers pass- just doesn’t pay,” she said. Government Agent’s Offi ce at 343 She recommends people plan ing through Salt Spring this summer A nearly constant demand for Lower Ganges Road. ahead if they foresee needing a as the island’s last tidal water licence licences between April and Septem- Tidal water licences are available licence. supplier calls it quits. ber means she has less time to com- on the Department of Fisheries and Online resources, she said, are “It would be nice if we could just plete the day-to-day tasks of operat- Oceans’ web site, www.pac.dfo- becoming more readily available and break even, but there’s no money ing the marina. mpo.gc.ca. boaters can keep up to date on the in it,” said Lesley Cheeseman, who “We were so busy that people were Cheeseman said she and her sum- latest fi shing advisories for different runs Salt Spring Marina next to Har- starting to get upset,” she said. mer staff will still be available to regions. bour’s End Marine and Moby’s. The Salt Spring Marina began sell- help people through the online regis- “This is the direction technology Last season, Cheeseman recouped ing licences in 2006 after Mouat’s tration process for an additional fee. is taking us,” Imbeau said. SANDRA SMITH one dollar for every licence sold, and the Chamber of Commerce According to Michelle Imbeau, a Contact Salt Spring Marina at 537- an unacceptable return considering stopped providing the service for Department of Fisheries and Oceans 5810 for more information. Salt Spring ‘dares’ to keep children drug free By SEAN MCINTYRE “They know what this was readily available. knowing about drugs and gram. Parents and teachers Driftwood Staff stuff is. Kids grow up fast He remembers being alcohol, but a lack of back- created DARE in response to saltspringhomefi nder.com When Bruce Dow asks these days,” he said. offered his first cigarette ground needed to make the the rising number of younger 537-5515 SALT SPRING REALTY students in grades four and “There is a drug problem when he was only 11 years right decisions. crack and cocaine users in fi ve if they’ve heard about in the middle school and kids old. To keep children informed, Los Angeles during the early crystal meth, he’s no longer are aware of the issues.” The idea that Salt Spring’s Dow, an auxiliary officer 1980s. surprised when every last kid Drugs on Salt Spring are isolation protects children with the Salt Spring RCMP, “The ‘just say no’ approach in the class lifts up a hand. nothing new. from drugs, he said, is noth- makes regular appearances doesn’t work,” he said. The same thing goes for When Dow attended ing more than a myth. in island schools where he “Kids are too smart for alcohol, marijuana, cocaine school on the island more In Dow’s experience, the leads DARE, the Drug Abuse and solvents. than 20 years ago, marijuana problem isn’t so much kids Resistance Education pro- DARE PROGRAM 2 “There are still a lot of one-eyed monsters out at night. Who isn’t looking after your lights?” GANGES AUTO MARINE SERVICE AND REPAIRS FOR ALL DOMESTIC & IMPORT CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS #3 - 290 Park Drive Below Dagwoods, behind car wash Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm 537-9221
2 ▲ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007 NEWSBEAT GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD DARE PROGRAM 77%34 7).$$ From Page 1 , 7"" Ê ° that, they ask questions. We want to Spring’s community-based drug and #USTOM &LOORING give kids the knowledge they need to “We want to give alcohol counsellor, Carolyn Flam 3PECIALIZING IN CUSTOM 7IDE 0LANK make the right choices.” kids the has spent a lot of her time talking #LEAR $OUGLAS &IR Dow’s task comes at a time when to island students. Everyone caught s "RAND NAME mOORING AVAILABLE the RCMP, teachers and parents are knowledge they using drugs on school property gets s /VER (ARDWOOD 3OFTWOOD SPECIES IN STOCK trying hard to keep children away need to make the the mandatory visit with Flam. from a whole new breed of drugs. right choices.” The only way to learn what £nääÈÈÇÓÓÇx Use of crystal meth on Salt Spring impact today’s lectures, surveys xÊÊ£ä£nÊ V >`Ê*>ÀÊ,>`]Ê-`iÞ]Ê is nowhere near what it is on Van- — Auxiliary and questionnaires are having is couver Island or in the Lower Main- RCMP Const. to monitor the children as they land, although charges involving the become adults. +POJTMPDBM*OWFTUNFOU inexpensive and highly addictive Bruce Dow “That involves following them "EWJTPSZ4FSWJDFIBT drug have been seen at the island’s closely as they grow up,” she said. BOFNQIBTJTPOUIF courthouse. ligence networks, keep an ear to the Flam has found some students IJHIFTURVBMJUZ “What we are fi nding is that there ground and keep pushing for more are informed about drugs because QSPGFTTJPOBMBEWJDF seems to be a rise in the number of resources. of friends and families, while others BOETFSWJDFBMPOHXJUI youth at risk in the 12- to 15-year “We’re not just going to let it hap- have little clue about what is avail- range,” said Sgt. Danny Willis of the able or the potential consequences. JOUFHSBUFEXFBMUI pen,” he said. “If anybody has inside Salt Spring Island RCMP. “Recently information, they can feel free to tell Unfortunately, she added, both NBOBHFNFOU they’ve been out and about and are us about it.” groups are equally at risk of devel- on the fringes of getting into trouble. The DARE program’s benefits oping addiction problems. 1SPUFDUJOH If that’s not addressed it’s likely to be are difficult to measure, although “We’ve got to find a middle a larger problem.” educating a younger generation is ground,” she said. BOEHSPXJOH The RCMP’s response is to tar- believed to decrease addiction rates. “What I’m trying to do is make ZPVSXFBMUI get drug traffi ckers, develop intel- Since taking on the role as Salt contact.”
}ÀV i 3TEWART 2D District’s conduct .FFU+POJ(BOEFSUPO 3ALT 3PRING "# INFO AGRICHEMCA code more strict than ,°ÊÊ>`iÀÌÊ Ê * ÊÊ>ÞÌV> ÛiÃÌiÌÊ`ÛÃÀÊ>`Ê>V>Ê*>iÀ Ê SOIL PLANT WATER TESTING WWWAGRICHEMCA xÎÇ£Èx{ÊÊÊÊÊ new bill requires +ÕiÃÌöÊÊÊi>Ê°>`iÀÌJL«V`°V ÜÜÜ°}>`iÀÌ°V School District 64 is ahead that the codes must comply Áʺ "Ê L>ÀÊÀÕ`iÊÃÞL®»ÊÃÊ>ÊÀi}ÃÌiÀi`ÊÌÀ>`i>ÀÊvÊ >ÊvÊ ÌÀi>]ÊÕÃi`ÊÕ`iÀÊViVi°Êº iÃLÌÌÊ ÕÀûÊ>`ʺ "Ê " - Ê7/ ,Ê/ -/ of other provincial districts: with the Safe School Strat- iÃLÌÌÊ ÕÀÃÊ`Û>ViÊ*À}À>»Ê>ÀiÊÀi}ÃÌiÀi`ÊÌÀ>`i>ÀÃÊvÊ "Ê iÃLÌÌÊ ÕÀÃÊ À«À>ÌÊÌi`]ÊÕÃi`ÊÕ`iÀÊViVi° the district’s current code of egy introduced in March *UST ONE CALL FOR SAMPLING ANALYSIS conduct is stricter than those 2004. AND REPORTING ALL WITHIN A WEEK proposed in new legislation Hopkins said the district Get the job done. last week by the Ministry of welcomed the legislation, Watch for our #OLIFORMS s METALS s NUTRIENTS s ARSENIC s FLUORIDE Education. since it has already recog- Stihl fl yer with “In our district, we actu- nized the need for a code of Spring Savings ally have stricter standards conduct. xÎn£Ç£Ó than the new legislation “We are now working on requires,” said district super- strengthening our under- intendent Jeff Hopkins. standing and use of restor- “We require all of our ative practices in our student Dr. James Buchan schools to review their codes discipline procedures and Medical School Awards of conduct regularly, to pro- to address ways that we can duce a report on violence further enhance students’ Under a trust under the will of Dr. James Buchan, prevention activities and sense of belonging in our provision is made for annual awards to former students programs each year, and to schools, which is the key of Gulf Islands Secondary School who are attending ensure that codes of conduct element, according to most an accredited medical school on a full time basis. The are developed in consulta- of the research literature, in trustee may review a variety of criteria including: tion with students, staff and preventing violence, harass- • Academic excellence parents.” ment and vandalism. It also HARBOURS END MARINE & EQUIPMENT • Financial need or 122 Upper Ganges Rd. at Mon. - Fri. 8:30am - 5pm Although codes of conduct helps reduce levels of self- • Leadership qualities and school/community are not new, Bill 22 states harm behaviours.” the head of Ganges Harbour Saturdays 8:30am-1pm 537-4202 involvement. This award may be renewable in subsequent years, Tide Tables should the student wish to re-apply. The value of the AT FULFORD HARBOUR awards may vary. Your sewing store with a choice! Pacific Standard Time – measured in feet sponsored by Harbours End Marine & Equipment Ltd. APRIL 07 02:45 2.7 8.9 Dr. James Buchan New, used & industrial 04 00:33 2.1 6.9 SA 06:43 2.9 9.5 Post-Secondary School Awards: $ WE 06:07 3.0 9.8 14:37 0.7 2.3 as low as 188 12:56 1.0 3.3 23:23 3.1 10.2 In the event that there are excess funds after the making 20:24 2.9 9.5 of the awards mentioned above, further provision is 08 3:55 2.8 9.2 made for annual awards to graduates of Gulf Islands 05 01:12 2.3 7.5 SU 06:44 2.9 9.5 TH 06:20 3.0 9.8 15:20 0.7 2.3 Secondary School who are enrolled in a full time 13:26 0.8 2.6 program at university or college. 21:19 3.0 9.8 09 00:30 3.1 10.2 0.7 The Trustee may review the same criteria for both 06 01:55 2.5 8.2 MO 16:11 2.3 FR 06:33 3.0 9.8 awards. Final deadline for applications (letter, resume, 13:59 0.7 2.3 10 01:30 3.2 10.5 transcripts of marks, letters of reference and income 22:19 3.0 9.8 TU 17:10 0.8 2.6 information) is May 10, 2007 to the Counselling Offi ce at GISS. SAWYER SEWING CENTRE DDDDD DDDDD 3400 Douglas • 1-888-229-2266 DEAN SAWYER www.sawyersewing.com
NANAIMO (Departure Bay)
SEAPLANES Our Islands. Our World. We’re all about the Islands • 6 scheduled fl ights daily between Ganges and Vancouver Airport For scheduled fl ight info call SEAIR • Newest, fastest and quietest Seaplane TERMINAL AT fl eet in Canada VANCOUVER GANGES INT’L AIRPORT • Free parking and free shuttle bus to 1-800-447-3247 HARBOR main YVR terminal and bus exchange SALT SPRING • Frequent fl yer discount or visit our website at ISLAND • Charter fl ights available to other destinations, including USA. seairseaplanes.com BOOK YOUR FLIGHT ON-LINE (Ganges Vancouver)
GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD NEWSBEAT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007 ▲ 3 Car-share petition Advertising gains momentum Deadlines By SEAN MCINTYRE units, something affordable Driftwood Staff housing advocates are not Affordable housing pro- inclined to do considering Please note the Driftwood offi ce ponents are overjoyed at the the demand for such units. popularity of a petition ask- “Out of the fi rst 50 people ing the Islands Trust to lower who signed up for the wait- will be closed its parking requirements for ing list, only eight people had a project on Rainbow Road. cars,” Gauthier said. “Those Good Friday April 6 “The whole thing suddenly who did have cars were will- took off,” said Janis Gauthi- ing to give them up.” er, one of the Murakami Gar- Builders are ready to pro- FOR THE DRIFTWOOD dens housing project’s coor- ceed on plans that include WEDNESDAY APRIL 11 ISSUE dinators. “I think it shows space for 12 vehicles on site people have finally recog- and an additional six located Display deadline: Thursday Apr. 5, 4pm nized the need for affordable nearby. housing on the island.” Gauthier said some spaces FOR TGIF As of Monday, 250 signa- will be devoted to a car-shar- tures had been collected. ing program. That would FRIDAY APRIL6 ISSUE: Preliminary work to con- allow residents to keep Display deadline: Monday, April 2 4pm vert the abandoned fi sh plant expenses associated with property at 167 Rainbow car ownership down, yet still Classifi ed deadline: Tuesday April 3, 4pm Road into 27 units of low- have access to a vehicle for income housing began ear- trips beyond Ganges. '5,&