OMG – Did you hear what is happening on Galiano?

Attention all Salt Spring Islanders – did you hear what is happening on Galiano?

No?

Then scroll down for the grim details.

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Answer – I have absolutely no idea what is going on on Galiano…and I’m guessing as you scrolled down, you also had no idea….

And even though Galiano is just a stone’s throw (OK…a fairly long stone’s throw) from Salt Spring, I would bet that 95%+ of Salt Spring Islanders have absolutely no idea what is happening over there now, or what has happened over the past year, or 20 years for that matter.

I would also bet the average  Salt Spring Islander couldn’t tell you how many people live on Galiano, who any of their elected representatives are, or how many stores, restaurants or resorts there are.

And yet, we are rather constantly reminded that Galiano is part of the Islands Trust, and that, as a result, Salt Spring and Galiano therefore have much in common…

Nonsense!

Each of the 13 Islands Trust Areas are their own separate communities, each with their own flavours, sense of identities, quirks, foibles, characters and politics. We are about as alike as saying Vancouver is like Montreal, or an apple is like a tomato, or that Hillary is like Donald. Cities, fruits and politicians are not alike.

What we do have in common is we all live on islands which the Province clumped together  in a geographical area rather arbitrarily (given the number of BC islands which are not included in the Trust Area) and designated as a quasi-Provincial Park.

So, the next time you hear some say something about how we have much in common with the other islands (apart from being an island) ask yourself the following question – “Do I have any idea of what is happening on ___________ Island?” (insert any one of the 483+ islands within the Islands Trust Area.)

I’ve always believed your honest answer is always the best answer.