$ 25 Harvest Time Gulf Islands 1(incl. GST) Photos, stories from the Salt Spring Fall Fair. INSIDE Real Esate INSIDE GULF ISLANDS Wednesday, September 30, 2009 — YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 49TH YEAR ISSUE 39 COMMUNITY SERVICES Society prepares for tough fi nancial period Donations decline by 40 per cent BY SEAN MCINTYRE DRIFTWOOD STAFF Tough times are predicted for the local Community Ser- vices Society, but its executive director is confi dent the orga- nization’s strengths will help it endure the economic storm. “We’ve got a difficult year coming up,” Rob Grant said during the society’s AGM on Thursday evening. “We are now going to feel the recession as there is some indication that this is our year to weather the economic downturn.” Most notable among the obstacles are the society’s loss PHOTO BY DERRICK LUNDY of a $24,000 provincial gaming HEAT UNDER THE HOOD: Salt Spring fi refi ghters battle a car fi re at a North End Road residence last Thursday. See details in a fi re report on grant and a 40 per cent decline Page A4. in public donations over the course of 2009. LIBRARY PROJECT “We’ve had four years of growth and this is going to be a different kind of year,” Grant said. Grant told participants at last Library receives $4.5 million in grants week’s AGM that he is open to entrepreneurial initiatives and Governments deliver on infrastructure funds Under the arrangement, the provincial and “fee-for-service work” in order federal governments will each contribute to increase revenue. Investigat- BY SEAN MCINTYRE mittee meeting later this week to work out “the $2,275,492. ing creative methods to raise DRIFTWOOD STAFF new numbers.” The contributions cover two-thirds of the revenue, he said, is always pre- The federal and provincial governments have At a meeting held just before Thursday’s project’s eligible costs of approximately $6.8 ferred to program cuts. awarded $4.5 million to the Salt Spring Island announcement, Crawley said, board members million. The society’s 2008 revenue Public Library Association for construction of a elected to wait another week for the federal gov- Architects provided preliminary sketches of was nearly $2.6 million. Dona- new library. ernment’s decision. the proposed two-storey, 12,000-square-foot tions and fundraising com- “This is great news,” said library board chair If the funds were not approved from the fed- library building at an August open house. bined with gaming grant fund- Tilly Crawley immediately after she heard the eral or provincial government, island taxpayers The new building would include an enhanced ing represent less than six per news last Thursday afternoon. “It’s like a bolt out would have been asked to support $7.3 million children’s section, exterior courtyard and meet- cent of the organization’s total of the blue, but it’s a very pleasant one.” in borrowing for the library project, Crawley ing space, program space, public seating and an revenue. The announcement means Salt Spring taxpay- said. enlarged computer area. Grant said the group is fortu- ers will be left with no more than $3 million in “We’ll probably need three [million dollars] If approved, it will be constructed in two phas- nate that none of its core fund- costs for the proposed new library on McPhillips but that is certainly a lot less than $7.3 million,” es on the current library site and an adjacent lot ing sources will be impacted Avenue if a late-fall referendum is approved for she said. at 125 McPhillips Avenue. by the series of recently that amount of borrowing. The library board applied for infrastructure fund- More information about the project is avail- announced provincial cuts. Crawley said she will convene a building com- ing under the Building Canada Fund in late spring. LIBRARY GRANT continued on A2 FINANCES continued on A2 LOWEST JOIN THE INSERTS INDEX BIRTHDAYNorth BASH! End MORTGAGE RATES! Fitness Ask Arlene! • Thriftys Arts ................................................................ 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Arlene 250-537-4090 email: [email protected] website: www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com www.northendfitness.ca 250-537-9736 Zen Master Wolfgang say: “Man who winterizes vehicle before first snowfallowfall The FISH U GRILL U VIEW less likely to be left out in the cold.” BRUNCH SAT & SUN 10 am – 4 pm pancakes & french toast eggs benedict & omelets SERVICE AND REPAIRS FOR ALL DOMESTIC & IMPORT CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS #3 - 290 Park Drive Below Dagwoods, behind car wash Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm 250-537-9221 537-5041 A2 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 | GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD CALL GAIL, SEAN OR AMY IF YOU STAR BARKS NEWSBEAT SEE NEWS HAPPENING 2505379933 Farm, Friends and Critter Supplies SENIORS HOUSING Pet Grooming! (cats and dogs) Abbeyfield annual meeting links “a happy customer” For appointment Mon.-Sat. call Jessica 250-653-4871 ext 226 www.star-barks.ca funding with community needs Whole island urged action. In the past year, the needs to refl ect and address making some units available board has partnered with the the diverse physical, social only to persons for whom ICBC CLAIMS - to participate in Canada Mortgage and Hous- and emotional realities of housing would be otherwise planning for seniors ing Corporation to complete seniors. unaffordable. And Abbeyfi eld PERSONAL INJURY and update its needs and These complementary def- will also make rental housing demand study, hosted a sec- initions of accessibility will available to seniors — regard- • 25 years successfully representing injured persons project ond successful Lavender Tea be the centre of discussion at less of income — so that they • NO FEE until you collect BY BRUCE LOGAN at the building site, addressed this year’s AGM. The Abbey- can maintain their long-time • Free conÀ dential consultation SPECIAL TO THE DRIFTWOOD numerous requirements to fi eld board has committed to relationship to the island, This year’s Abbeyfi eld Annu- subdivide and rezone the participate in a joint due dili- their friends and its commu- PAUL B. JOYCE al General Meeting — set for property, expanded its wait gence process with BC Hous- nity. Barrister & Solicitor Fulford Hall’s OAP Room on list of potential residents and ing. BC Housing funding — Needless to say, shifting Monday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.— will recently, has been short listed though it will create the mate- the focus from affordable 250-537-4413 (24 hours) be a bit different than all of by BC Housing as a potential rial conditions for building an to accessible seniors’ hous- the rest. recipient for affordable hous- Abbeyfield — is exclusively ing is a bold and imminent Years of planning, orga- ing funds. focused on affordability. At step forward for Abbeyfield nizing and fundraising by Achieving each milestone the same time, the Board has on Salt Spring. It captures the IS YOUR WELL WATER SAFE TO DRINK? hundreds of volunteers have has sharpened the board’s listened to seniors, caregiv- opportunity to secure signifi - brought the society close to focus on the Abbeyfield ser- ers, neighbours and friends cant capital funding from BC achieving Ruby Alton’s vision vice model and highlighted about the need to incorpo- Housing and create a livable Contamination can occur without of an “Abbeyfield house for the complexity of creat- rate adequacy and availability and diverse community at the changes in colour or taste. old timers on the south end of ing truly accessible seniors’ provisions into the Abbeyfi eld top of a gentle hill in Fulford the island.” housing on Salt Spring. For service model. Village. $25.00 per test • Results in 24 hours It also marks an important some, accessibility has always The board’s hybrid approach Board members are keen Be Safe • Test Annually! turning point as the board meant affordability — a fi nan- means that Abbeyfi eld will be to hear how its members and engages a practical under- cial means test that favours more than simply affordable. the community view their standing of accessibility in those least able to pay. Others It will respect the socio-eco- approach. Mark your calen- today’s rental housing mar- link accessibility with avail- nomic diversity of seniors on dars now and plan on joining MBMB LABS LABS ket. ability — being able to choose Salt Spring while addressing the discussion so that Abbey- Marie and Stan Teitge’s gift to rent; to age-in-place in safe shared social, physical and fi eld can be a south-end com- 2062 Henry Avenue W. of land in Fulford Village has and clean housing. Still others emotional needs with com- munity resource built from Sidney, B.C. V8L 1Y5 656-1334 inspired board members to connect access to adequacy mon spaces and services. It many voices and by many move quickly from vision to — that accessible housing will level the playing fi eld by hands. FALL SPECIALS NOW IN EFFECT! Community Services faces fi nancial challenges FINANCES ern Gulf Islands Communi- shelter, food bank, recycling services. continued from A1 ty Services Society provides depot, and many other health Boodie Arnott, Phyllis Cole- islanders with health, social and family services. man, Cathy MacDonald, Caro- “On a positive note, the larg- assistance, housing, educa- In her annual message pub- lyn Mouat and Shawn Walton est funding blocks are very tion, transportation, recre- lished in the group’s 2008-09 were elected to the board by solid,” he said.