DJ grooves Art of the Trio Stagecoach fundraiser Jazz concert with Larry Fuller, PAGE 11 John Lee + Kelby MacNayr PAGE 10 GULF ISLANDS Wednesday, May 17, 2017 — YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 57TH YEAR ISSUE 20 $ 25 1(incl. GST) BC ELECTION FIRE DISTRICT Fire board Adam Olsen aims for mutual elected respect Trustees air complaints Green MLA before confi dence Focus on governance BY GAIL SJUBERG DRIFTWOOD EDITOR fi rst priority Salt Spring’s new fi re board had some discord to extinguish at its BY ELIZABETH NOLAN first public gathering since last DRIFTWOOD STAFF month’s annual general meeting. Gulf Islands residents once again helped make On Monday night at the Unit- history by electing a progressive candidate to ed church, current board chair their riding, with Adam Olsen becoming the fi rst Mitch Forest was pressed by fel- member of the provincial Green party to win Saa- low trustees Howard Baker and nich North and the Islands on May 9. Rollie Cook to confirm his sup- At this time after the 2013 election, Saanich port of all board members, with North and the Islands candidates and constitu- some dirty laundry waved around ents endured a nail-biting two weeks while a in the process. recount took place to determine who had actu- “The chair has the power and ally won. This time there is no question, but like the mission to guide and shep- the rest of the province, Olsen will spend the herd the board, and as individuals next 10 days or so waiting to to see what the fi nal we have the responsibility and tally of votes will mean for the province of British should have the opportunity to Columbia. guide the chair,” said Cook. “I “A lot is riding on the results of a couple of rid- think . the board has to function ings, maybe two or three,” Olsen observed during as a team and we are all on the a phone interview on Thursday. “For me now it’s same team. I think we are looking about settling my life, and celebrating — because for team leadership.” we did have a very strong result.” Cook and Baker indicated they In a marked contrast to 2013’s three-way race felt Forest had been overly con- with the NDP’s elected candidate Gary Holman trolling as chair. and close second-place fi nisher Stephen Roberts Referring to the Improvement of the BC Liberals, the May 9 vote saw a decided District Manual that guides victory for Olsen. He came out nearly 3,700 votes operation of the fi re protection ahead of Holman this time. district, Baker said, “The chair Absentee votes are to be counted May 22 to does not have extraordinary 24, but current results give OlsenI 13,425already votes talked duties except what are granted (41.8 per cent), putting Holman into second Dan aboutwith this by the board or other than those 9,761 (30.3 per cent) and Roberts thirdlast with week...ad 8,654 to PHOTO BY JEN MACLELLAN that are spelled out in statute or (26.86 per cent). Independent candidate Jordan FLYING STRIPES: Tyger Staff ord performs on aerial silks as part of the Tsunami Circus in bylaw.” Templeman received 333 votes (1.03say per cent). troupe’s Beyond the Forest of Paradise show at SIMS over the weekend. ELECTION continued on 2 FIRE BOARD continued on 5 Christmas Sales continue. 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Driftwood YOUR COMMUNI T Y N EWSPAPER SIN C E 1960 Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines 2 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017 NEWSBEAT www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com GULF ISLANDS DRIFtwOOD GOVERNMENT Saanich and Islands MLA champions a united riding Olsen looks forward to While a “bricks and mortar” office at the Salt Spring Public Library. notion that Saanich and the Gulf Islands would most likely serve people best in a In terms of representing the needs of is a single unit — they are one — as our rejuvenating historic ties central location such as Sidney, Olsen is the Saanich Peninsula versus the Gulf elders would say, from time immemori- aware that more thought could be given Islands, and even between different al,” said Olsen, whose uncle Dave Elliot among region to hours and meeting times. He observed Gulf Islands communities, Olsen said Sr. recorded that history in the book that many Gulf Islanders go over to Sid- there are certainly unique community Saltwater People. BY ELIZABETH NOLAN ney/Saanich for medical appointments identities and concerns. Transporta- “Yes, the islands are unique, but for me, DRIFTWOOD STAFF and other matters, but said office hours tion, including ferry travel, and gen- what I love about this opportunity is per- With no government formed that can should make sense in regard to those eral affordability are some top issues for haps we can reconnect to Saanich in a way dole out funds it’s early days for MLA schedules, plus ferry times, etc. Gulf Islanders. the islands haven’t been in a long time . Adam Olsen to be setting up a constitu- “We need to be flexible with that,” But Olsen, a member of Tsartlip to make it one very powerful place. ency office, but the new member of the Olsen said. Nation, also sees his election as a posi- “When those pieces are working legislature for Saanich North and the He also plans to have regular and well tive step toward uniting a region that together, and we have the exchange of Islands is already thinking about how to publicized meeting times on Salt Spring was historically not divided but all terri- creativity and ideas like it always was in serve his geographically dispersed rid- and the other Gulf Islands, such as pre- tory of the WSANEC, or Saanich, people. history, the opportunity here is exciting ing equitably. vious NDP MLA Gary Holman instituted “We were always raised with the — so, so exciting.” I will help you design your dream home Olsen already receiving ample input Dennis Maguire OLSEN candidates, saying he was felt locally in Salt Spring’s Architect continued from 1 happy they had maintained incorporation question and Serving the Gulf Islands civil discourse through in talks about amalgamation with experience, imagination While some polls indi- the campaign and debate on the Saanich Peninsula. and professionalism cated another tight race this events. On the provincial level, he website: year, Olsen said he went into “It has been an honour to believes the divided vote will www.dmarchitect.ca the election feeling confi- get to know Gary and Ste- force parties to work with dent in his campaign, as the phen in 2013 and over the each other in ways they matrix of targets his team last four years. I was thrilled haven’t before — whether had set to gauge probable we were able to engage in the Greens help form a colla- success were consistently dialogue in a respectful way, tion government with either FREE HEARING TEST met and exceeded. just as democracy required. party or if the Liberals man- “For us, it was about con- And I’m excited to move for- age to gain a majority on We’re back again for tinuing doing what we were ward and work with them their own. doing. I think we knew we both in the future as very Saanich North and the Islands “A slim majority is slim, so Better Hearing Month! had to continue what we engaged members of the MLA Adam Olsen. no matter what the results were doing and we would be community.” are on May 24, there is a May 24th, 11am - 3pm successful,” he said. Olsen also praised Tem- NDP achieving the 44 seats requirement for all 87 mem- “I was encouraged and I pleman, who at age 21 had required to form a major- bers of the legislature to work at Country Grocer was confident, and I think the courage to take the ity government, pending together,” Olsen said. that was evident in the way theoretical lessons from recount results. “The fact is that our legis- we entered the last week of his political science classes Olsen has a personal poli- lature is made up of 87 indi- the campaign. And we just and try them out in the real cy of responding to constitu- viduals, and since the 1950s, continued the campaign world.