About Us
Positively Forward is a collaboration of islanders researching and advocating for improved local governance on Salt Spring Island.
We acknowledge with deep appreciation that we live, work and play on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples who have stewarded these lands and surrounding waters for thousands of years and from whom we seek to learn.
We believe that the independence of Island Trust land use planning decisions from CRD service decisions is vital for ecosystem protection and for the preservation of our rural community.
We also believe that it is possible to achieve improvements within this unique governance model.
Our Roots and Mission
Back in 2017, Positively NO led a successful grassroots campaign that resulted in 61.9% of Salt Spring voters saying NO to incorporation. During that challenging referendum campaign Positively NO developed community credibility and a formidable research capability.
Post referendum, we adopted a new name — Positively Forward — and began to research and advocate for an elected Local Community Commission (LCC). Our advocacy and research helped achieve a YES outcome when, in the October 2022 referendum, the formation of an LCC was approved by 61.3% of Salt Spring voters.
The successes of the 2017 and 2022 referenda underlie and bolster Positively Forward’s ongoing governance research and advocacy for the LCC and for the Islands Trust based on our mission:
To undertake research and advocacy that advance improved governance on Salt Spring Island and uphold the separation of land use planning authority of the Islands Trust from the delivery of other services.
Today, the Salt Spring community and the ecosystems of which we are a part are under pressure from many directions — global, national, regional and local. The need for improved local governance, and strong and sound leadership by our elected officials, has never been more urgent.
Many islanders are contributing to the Positively Forward organization and website, including:
Jean Gelwicks
Peter Lamb
Maxine Leichter
Patricia Lockie
Donald McLennan
Susan Paynter
Murray Reiss
Ruth Tarasoff
Michael Wall
Elizabeth White