A Salute Soccer A Salute to to Firefi ghers Youth teams busy. SEE PAGE 36 SEE PAGE 28, 29, 30, 31 Lyme disease Firefi ghters Island problem too. SEE PAGE 4 GULF ISLANDS $ 2525 Wednesday, October 3, 2007 — YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 47TH YEAR – ISSUE 40 1(incl.(in(inncl.clcl GST)GSGST)T) HOMELESSLESS EVICTION EVIC Homeless couple forced out of ‘camp’ Eviction prompts care workers to ask what’s next BY SEAN MCINTYRE DRIFTWOOD STAFF The eviction of a well-known Salt Spring Island homeless couple from their makeshift camp along Ganges Harbour highlights the lack of options for those who fall through the cracks. “It’s a personal problem and a societal problem. It’s your prob- lem, it’s my problem, it’s every- one’s problem and the ques- tion we have to ask ourselves is how to deal with it,” said RCMP Cpl. Kerry Howse, watching over as Capital Regional Dis- PHOTO BY DERRICK LUNDY trict inspectors cleared away two truckloads of debris from THE APPLE OF HIS EYE: Mike Lane feeds a Highland bull apples as visitors to Ruckle Farm take in one of the stops on Salt Spring’s annual Apple underneath the Ganges board- Festival last Sunday. walk off Lower Ganges Road on Thursday morning. ISLANDS TRUST Bylaw enforcement officers said they had been monitor- ing the situation based on a steady fl ow of complaints from neighbours and passing boat- Trust launches vacation-rental litigation ers since Tony and Marcie set up camp last winter. Case hoped to end debate that this is something that has been going on any details of the case when contacted Tuesday The CRD decided to clear for some time,” said Linda Adams, the Islands morning. out the site on Thursday after Trust’s chief administrative offi cer. “I’ve been getting calls like crazy and am bylaw enforcement officers BY SEAN MCINTYRE The Trust alleges that property owner Greg just going to pull in my wings until there is a became aware that Tony had DRIFTWOOD STAFF Simmonds has rented out his property to visitors decision,” he said. “I have no comment at this stored several hundred cedar The Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee for short-term stays ranging from a few days to point.” shingles under the boardwalk is taking the owner of Windrifters Cove to court several weeks since he purchased the property With most bylaw infractions, Adams said, for use as kindling over the to seek an injunction preventing him from using in 2002. roughly 90 per cent of people comply after winter months. the property for commercial guest accommoda- Adams said the Trust targetted Simmonds receiving an infraction notice from an enforce- “We don’t go out and look for tion. among other vacation-rental owners due to the ment offi cer. She said Simmonds ignored at least trouble,” said bylaw enforce- The Trust’s decision to initiate legal proceed- size and impact of his operation. two such notices that he was engaged in pro- ment officer Wolfgang Brun- ings stems from months of complaints voiced by The Windrifters Cove website advertises the hibited activity: the short-term rental of homes nwieser during an interview neighbours near the Scott Point Drive property property’s two homes as “the truly unique Gulf located in residential or rural zones as outlined from the site. “At this point it and evidence collected by bylaw investigators Islands oceanfront vacation rental property.” in Salt Spring’s Land-Use Bylaw No. 355. was becoming a fi re hazard and over the summer season. The fi ve-bedroom main house can be rented for “This is kind of the last resort for us,” Adams a health hazard. This whole “I guess it’s certainly legitimate to go where $4,500 per week during the high season. said, adding that a conviction could help send town could go up like that.” there have been a lot of complaints and this Simmonds said he fully intends to fi ght the is a situation where it is particularly apparent allegations in court, but refused to comment on VACATION RENTALS continued on 2 HOMELESS continued on 5 North End INSERTS INDEX Health ........................................... 16 Fitness -/24'!'%15%34)/.3 • Thriftys Arts .................................................. 21 Horoscope................................ 42 • Ganges Pharmasave ASK!RLENE Classifieds ................................ 38 ............................................. 9 • Mark’s Work Wearhouse Letters 537-5217 • Ganges Village Market Editorials .......................................8 Sports ............................................ 35 • Rona • Fields Ferry Schedules .................. 35 TV Listings .............................. 19 • Peter Jansen • Merit What’s On................................. 25 ",/ • Lifestyle Market *"/ email: [email protected] website: www.gulfislands.net Does your car need to RE-TIRE for the winter? SANDRA SMITH We offer competitive tire pricing, mounting, balancing, and alignment 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 saltspringhomefi nder.com 537-5515 SALT SPRING REALTY 2 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2007 | GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD CALL GAIL, SEAN OR CHRIS IF YOU TYPES OF INSURANCE NEWSBEAT SEE NEWS HAPPENING - 250-537-9933 • Life Insurance LOCAL GOVERNMENT • Critical Illness Insurance • Disability Insurance • Group Benefit packages • Health & Welfare Trusts Province discovers it’s easy Call for more information MAFALDA Hoogerdyk [email protected] 537-1730 Grace Point Square to be green on Salt Spring Island honoured award application form based, discouraging waste ÀiÊÞÕÊÛ}ÊÊVi] were: “This award belongs disposal. vÀÊÞÕÀÊÛiÃÌiÌö with $25,000 award • Development and • The island’s OCP, !RETHEYTAXEFFICIENT implementation of a com- described as “one of the BY GAIL SJUBERG to the whole >Ê>ÊÌÀÕÃÌi`ÊV>Ê*ÀviÃÃ> prehensive community most progressive in B.C.,” is DRIFTWOOD EDITOR energy strategy, including being reviewed to strength- A field of environmen- a review of regulatory tools community, which en climate change and >ÀÌÊ°Ê}iÀ`Þ]Ê * tally friendly local govern- available in electoral areas other sustainability mea- )NVESTMENT!DVISOR ment initiatives has earned for improving energy per- sures, such as an affordable ,VÞÊ> > Salt Spring Island one of formance. has a longstanding housing strategy, densifi ca- !DMINISTRATIVE!SSISTANT seven provincial Green City • Securing provincial tion of island villages and xÎÇ£ÇÎä Awards. funding for a public transit and active greenspace protection. '2!#%0/).4315!2% Premier Gordon Camp- system to be implemented • Salt Spring has pur- MHOOGERDYK BERKSHIRECA bell made the presentation in 2008. chased over 4,000 acres for at the Union of B.C. Munici- • Development of a pedes- commitment to public greenspace since palities convention in Van- trian and cycling infrastruc- 1996, which now exceeds its When you think SEWING...think Sawyers! couver last Wednesday. ture plan for the upper Gan- OCP target of 15 per cent of “This award belongs to the ges village area to be funded sustainability.” the island. THINK...of a 54 yr. old local family business whole community, which has by federal gas tax transfers. • Construction of a new THINK...of the huge choice with 5 major brands: Elna, Pfaff , a longstanding and active • Completion of 160 units GARY HOLMAN, recreation centre and pur- Janome, Baby Lock SINGER commitment to sustainabil- of seniors and affordable CRD director chase of land for a new and now ity,” said Gary Holman, Salt housing since 2001. Salt library within the Ganges THINK...commercial machines, new and used, ironing presses Spring’s director on the Capi- Spring is one of the first districts. Progressive water area to keep the village com- ... tal Regional District (CRD) communities in the CRD to and sewage rate structures pact. THINK convenient repair pickup at Salt Spring Dry Cleaners board, in a press release. “It receive funding under the to encourage water conser- • Development of an area THINK...only 20 minutes from Sidney also demonstrates that our new Regional Housing Trust vation. The B.C. Building farm and food security plan and unique form of governance Fund. Code requirement for low several community gardens. When you think Sawyers ... on Salt Spring can meet the • Establishment of an fl ush toilets was initiated in Holman said he would con- there is a lot to think about! challenges of growth while island water council to coor- CRD electoral areas by Salt fer with trustees Peter Lamb respecting the fragile envi- dinate various agencies in Spring. and George Ehring on the best SAWYERSSAWAW SEWING CENTRE ronment of the island.” protecting water supplies, • Composting of septage use of the $25,000 award. 34003 Douglas • 1-888-229-2266 DEANDEAN SAWYER SAWYER www.sawyersewing.comw While an original press including development of and sewage sludge (at Bur- “We’ll try to get the big- release noted the CRD was drinking watershed man- goyne Bay liquid waste site) gest bank for the buck,” he receiving the $25,000 award agement and groundwater and water reclamation at said, adding that islanders Power and for its work on the Salt monitoring plans. Construc- Ganges sewer plant. CRD is are welcome to make sug- Spring Offi cial Community tion of an aeration system the only regional district in gestions for its use. Performance Plan (OCP) — which didn’t for St. Mary Lake to improve B.C. funding recycling pro- The Green City Awards make sense since the OCP water quality. grams solely from landfill commits up to $500,000 in falls under Islands Trust • Upgrading of two sewage tipping fees. Salt Spring is cash awards to recognize MS 250 CHAINSAW jurisdiction — a later release treatment plants and con- the only community in the leadership and action in a 18” bar $ 95 clarifi ed the award details. structing new water treat- CRD where garbage col- range of environmental sus- 439 Items included on the ment facilities for six water lection is entirely user pay- tainability initiatives.