rifttooofc Serving the islands that make beautiful British Columbia beautiful. SEVENTEENTH YEAR NO. 3 GANGES, i BRITISH COLUMBIA WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1976 $7.00 PER YEAR IN CANADA, J20c COPY. He is a keen bowler at Ganges Historical FERRY SERVICES Society for Salt Spring? FACE CHANGES B.C. Historical Society has bran- Changes are looming in the Commerce has been concerned ches in many communities through islands ferry services. with the government's policy on the province. With the introduction of three minor vessels. New minister hay Gulf Islands are no exception and new, and large ferry vessels this not yet announced his thoughts the Islands Branch of the society summer, a switching about of in this direction. Vessels serving extends through the Fenders, available ships is expected. the islands, the Salt Spring Mayne, Galiano and Saturna. The The Sechelt Queen is expected Queen, Vesuvius Queen and society does not extend its activi- to move northwards and operate Pender Queen are no longer ties to Salt spring Island. on the Powell River run, from capable of handling a full load hi recent years many island Comox. She has been the staple and wharves at Vesuvius and pioneers have died after long lives traveller between Long Har- Crofton are also unable to carry in the islands. Their memoirs and bour, Otter Bay, Village Bay, large vehicles. The Chamber of their memories have been perpet- Sturdies Bay and Tsawwassen, Commerce is hoping for a uated on die Outer Islands. That for several years. statement of the ferry future in was not die case on Salt Spring When the Sechelt Queen came terms of these' routes. Island. into the islands she took over Interested readers are urged to from the Queen of the Islands, call or to write to Driftwood, Box the ship built for the Islands- 250, Ganges, VOS1EO, in an effort Tsawwassen run in the early Room for to establish a historical society on 1960's. The Queen of the Is- the largest of the Gulf Islands. lands has been sailing between "Fulford and Swartz Bay during Artists If sufficient interest is forthcom- George Card is a keen bowler at balls like any other keen bowler. ing a society will be launched here. the last many weeks while minor Leisure Lanes. And, of course, so is The picture is of particular interest vessels were undergoing their every bowler at the Salt Spring this week as the CNIB campaign is annual refit. At home ? bowling alleys. Only difference is still in high gear. Donations to the Seen coming to the Islands- that George is unable to see the Institute may be left at the Bank of mainland run is the Queen of The Community Arts Council FENDER SITE pins. He is blind. But George is not Montreal, in Ganges. Or mailed. Esquimalt, with the Queen of is proposing a Summer School of the man to be beaten by little Salt Spring Lions Club, through Sidney serving Pender and oth- the Arts, July 19 to August 6. problems like that. Here he is, Phil Sawford, is directing the er islands during the summer It is necessary that they estab- FOR SCHOOL right, set up to start rolling the campaign. months. lish accommodation as an initial Sechelt has a capacity of 80 step towards the school. cars. Esquimalt carries 130. A request is being made of Salt NOT FIRM New facilities at Village Bay Spring residents to determine if Is subscription paid up ? have been seen as a terminal any people are willing to board prospective students. Anyone New site for Pender Island If subscribers check their expired in January, 1976. A centre for all islands traffic. Ferry management has made no willing to provide this accom- School has not been firmed up copy of Driftwood, they can tell final "7" shows it is paid up modation is invited to reply to yet. at a glance whether the sub- until January, 1977. reference to any possibility of feeding Miners Bay from all the Community Arts Council, scription is paid up. Thus, if the label shows, Box 682, Ganges. Percolation tests have not been "April 0-9-8-7-", it is not due other islands, with a shunt completed in the vicinity of the The address label shows a again until April, 1977. On the new school location, said Don service to Tsawwassen. month, such as "Jan.", follow- other hand, "June 9-8-7-6-5-" The two new ferries a-building Fairweather last week. ed by one or more numerals, as would show that it has not been Taxi Service Boundaries have to be confirm- in Vancouver and Victoria will "Jan. 9-8-7-6" paid since last summer and have capacity for 360 cars, ed. If the final numeral is 6, or should have been cancelled. Out Once preliminaries are com- almost twice the number carried lower, the subscription is due. of date subscriptions are not by the largest ships in the fleet Is closed on pleted, the board will acquire The final figure refers to the acceptable to the Post Office fcr the eight-acre property and start at the present time. year of expiry. A final "6" special second class mailing Salt Spring Island Chamber of looking for water. indicates that the subscription rates. Salt Spring Taxi service on Salt Spring Island has been closed off. Eliminate Trust urges Regional Board Chairman Bill's Taxi Ltd. announced last week that the costs of operation of The Islands Trust .should be plans could be prepared in detail the business have reached the plan, and there would be an end to the Islands Trust in reaching that point where it is no longer profit- dissolved and its functions taken by the regional districts. At the end the funding. decision. over entirely by the regional dis- of the year, charges Campbell, the able. The costs of fuel and wages He has two reasons for his Both applicants had subsequently have squeezed him out of business, tricts, contends Chairman Jim work would be all done within his presented him with information Campbell of the Capital Regional opposition to the Trust, said the Bill Simpkins told the Salt Spring District. chairman. that led him to believe that the Island Chamber of Commerce. On a matter of principle, he (Turn to Page Sixteen) • Mr. and Mrs. Simpkins took over The islands are not fragile areas BOARD DOES believes that the people of the in need of protection, he contends, the taxi operation about a year ago. and the Trust is spending a vast islands are being put down by the Hardest hit will be pensioners and NOT WISH legislation which makes provision NEW ROUTE other islanders without cars. amount of money to accomplish for the Trust. what the regional districts could do "Other parts of British Columbia with a fraction of the money. TO PAY are capable of local government," Mr. Campbell called a meeting of he said, "but the savages in the TO VICTORIA Trust hears the regional districts within the Gulf Islands School District Gulf Islands are not capable and Islands Trust area last week and has instructed its solicitors to have to have a Trust." 9 invited opinions on his analysis of advise a Victoria firm of archi- He cited Maple Bay, Yellow FROM FERRY Visitors fee the islands administration. tects that it does not wish to pay Point, Pender Harbour, the East Islanders have a new route to Chairman of the Capital Regional a bill for several thousand Kootenay s.... all administered by Victoria. District, Mr. Campbell is also the dollars. local government although very The British Columbia Transit Proposal director from the Outer Islands and The board has disputed an attractive areas. Services, government-owned bus a Saturna Island farmer and land- account with Sagar and Marsh- "Yet the island savages are not service, has established a bus Islands Trust presented a brief to owner in the islands. all since the extensions to Gulf capable and have to have three connection between Victoria and the British Columbia Commission The Islands Trust is preparing a Islands Secondary School and trustees to tell them what to do." Swartz Bay. of Inquiry on Property Assessment quarter-million dollar budget this Salt Spring Elementary School On the more practical side, the Island travellers who arrive at and Taxation last week. year, he told Driftwood. If that were undertaken several years chairman of the regional district Swartz Bay by 9.15 in the morning The Commission was interested money were allocated to regional ago. recalled the two by-laws which are able to take a Transit bus into and receptive, reports Marc districts in which there are islands The action was taken following were passed by the regional board Victoria at 9.20am. The bus reach- Holmes, of Salt Spring Island, still without community plans, the legal advice. in respect of rezoning for property es downtown Victoria an hour later. vice-chairman of the Trust. He adjacent to the B.C. Telephone Saturday service is a half-hour spent an hour and a half discussing exchange at Ganges and the prop- later and there is no service on the brief with the Commission. Death of former Island Baker erty next to the B.C. Hydro on Sundays or holidays. Following the presentation, one Rainbow Road. In the evening the bus leaves member of the Commission was Former operator of the Salt Spring He was separated from his family, The regional district had decided Victoria at 5.30 and arrives at reported to have suggested a Island bakery, Oldrich Luzon is who were still in Europe and that the proposed land use was Swartz Bay at 6.45 pm.