Salt Spring Island

Ann Turner is the financial and budget manager of the University of
British Columbia Library.

Nestled close against the eastern shoreline of Vancouver Island, Salt
Spring is the largest of British Columbia’s southern Gulf Islands and
home to some 10,000 permanent residents. It is also a very popular
destination for many times that number of visitors every year. This book
is for them.

The authors are “transplanted” islanders—peple who chose Salt
Spring as their own place to be after visiting it. Both are proprietors
in the hospitality industry, but respectful and protective of the quiet
island lifestyle. In this guide, liberally illustrated with
black-and-white photographs, they share their own discoveries about Salt
Spring’s history, natural features, and culture, and provide
information for visitors seeking accommodation and recreation there.

Salt Spring’s reputation as an art colony attracts many. Artists and
artisans, writers, and musicians find it a congenial place to live and
create. Some (such as Robert Bateman, Toni Onley, and Valdy) are known
internationally; others ply their crafts for the local and tourist
markets. Fourteen profiles of these folk, based on personal interviews,
illustrate the diversity of their talents and their views on island
life.

Descriptions of Salt Spring’s many recreational opportunities include
cycling, kayaking, camping, fishing, bird-watching, and seasonal
mushroom gathering. Accommodation on the island is small-scale, mostly
bed-and-breakfasts; the guide provides detailed information about 19 of
these, as well as five small waterfront resorts and a hostel. The author
has personally inspected them and interviewed their hosts. Information
includes: host names and address; telephone and fax numbers; e-mail
address; number of units available; rates (1998 peak season); a
description of the features and ambience; comments from previous guests;
and a specialty recipe of the house. An index of people and places
completes the guide.

Visitors and potential visitors will find this guide an enjoyable,
easy-to-consult aid in choosing their Salt Spring destination and
enriching their stay.