r/saltspringisland

As it says, I moved from Edmonton to SSI just over five months ago. My parents have been out here for 16 years and I wanted to be closer as they are getting older and was done with the winters in Edmonton. I love cycling and look forward to doing it outdoors almost year round. I found a local builder on the island who built a tiny home for me designed by my dad and I. I started that process in September of last year, building started in January and I moved into it in May. Sold up and donated all my excess stuff in Edmonton and drove out here with Monte (cat). Everything so far has been great.

It was cheaper to use movers for what I was bringing than drive a U-Haul and tow the car behind, so that was nice. My observations biking all over SSI and Vancouver Island are as follows and of course just my opinion on what I’ve seen.

No one stops at stops signs, I do not think I have seen a car come to a full stop once. I have done under 1000km in the car and over 5500km on the bike since I arrived. Way more big packs of road bikers out here, I’m on a gravel bike and they are way more obnoxious in groups. On their own however, they have been great and I have had some nice chats. Salt Spring has made me a stronger biker because of all the elevation change so biking on Vancouver Island is a breeze. I bike to Sidney, Sannichton and Victoria regularly from Fulford Bay and to Duncan, Chemainus, Ladysmith and Nanaimo from Vesuvius Bay. The ferries for the most part have been good and quite reasonable as a foot passenger with the experience card. I love supporting the local breweries and there are a lot in the places I’ve mentioned albeit spaced much farther apart with the exception of Victoria whereas in Edmonton had about 17 in a 10 -20 km radius. Craft beer in stores is actually cheaper out here, which was a nice surprise.

Cost of living was not what I expected, as everyone on Reddit always says how much more everything is, but that has not been my experience. Groceries on the island are more, but not overly so and on Vancouver Island it is very comparable to what I was paying in Edmonton. What surprised me is how much cheaper utilities and insurance are. For better car insurance plan here including registration was 1000 less for the year than Alberta (you guys are getting screwed on home & auto), I am renting on a piece of property and have my tiny home parked in it and that has also been reasonable. When I factor in property taxes, insurance and utility costs I was paying, especially in the winter months in Edmonton, I won’t be paying much more in rent.

I decided not to work and take the time to explore everything and enjoy settling in. Again all I heard on Reddit was how hard it is to find a job, but when I got here and got talking to locals they told me the opposite and based on my work history I should have no problem. I have made choices in my life such as never getting married or having kids that allows me at 45 to never have to work full time ever again if I don’t want to. I did just get a job last week at the first place I applied to for 3-4 days a week so that is taken care of.

All in all, I am enjoying being closer to the folks (we are on opposite ends of the island). I miss my friends back home but have no regrets and am looking forward to what comes next.

If you got this far, thank you for taking the time to read.

The Trustees we elect will shape the future of housing on Saltspring.

Currently, there are no affordable housing starts. The most advanced project, Kings Lane, is still working to secure funding and is years from completion. The project was launched in 2016. It represents five per cent of the overall need.

The IT Housing Needs Assessment says Saltspring needs 821 homes by 2030. Four years from now. It’s not adding up.

And at least one candidate, Gary Holman, claims affordable housing with housing agreements (rent geared to income) like Kings Lane, is the only type of housing that should be developed.

While non-market housing is an essential part of the housing continuum, making it the only part excludes those in our community whose incomes make them ineligible. This includes many working professionals or seniors wanting or needing to downsize. This intermediate cohort, often referred to as ‘the missing middle’ are excluded from the housing discussion.

What appears less understood is that regulating housing development to one specific framework does satisfy the vocal minority who oppose housing development in general.

Over regulation of housing is as problematic as under regulated.

We need to elect candidates who understand it’s about finding the right balance, one that responds to the needs of all residents. Housing that allows young people a pathway to secure housing, rented or owned, that doesn’t force them to move when their incomes improve; particularly when there is no housing for them to move to.

We also need housing that allows seniors to stay in their community, where they are not forced to leave because there is no smaller scale, manageable housing for them.

Concerns for these members of our community are currently absent from the conversation.

OK. Discuss.