Ian Gartshore

I am moved. Actually, blown away.    Julia and I asked that people donate funds to plant fruit and nut trees, rather than to give us stuff (we are trying to downsize). Several people donated toward nut trees at the OUR Ecovillage, where our second ceremony and celebration occurred on July 7th. This picture shows us ceremoniously about to plant one of those trees. (Thank you to Michael Geselbracht for his proficient assistance!) About 40 people gave to a fruit-tree planting project in Uganda inspired by our marriage. Just over $2000 was sent. Over 10,000 fruit trees were planted!    Moses Ochole, who heads up the Young Leaders of Uganda , inspired well over 1000 children to plant these trees,  The movement started smaller. As more funds came through, though, it grew! While Julia and I were happily getting married (one ceremony in Nelson June 29th and one on July 7th) this region in central Uganda declared holidays in honour of our wedding and of these gifts of tree

I am honoured that my father and other family members were able to witness the weddings (yes, two!) of Julia Roberts and myself, June 29th in Nelson and July 7th at the OUR Ecovillage, near Shawnigan Lake. I especially love my Dad! Check out our ties. Nearly identical reds! But not as impressive are our smiles. Do we look happy together?  You betcha! Julia and I with Dad and Nancy. My brother David and sister Jennifer, obviously having a very good time with our Dad! On the far left are my brother Brian and his wife Heather. It's very hard to believe I conducted their wedding in 1986! More pics to come!

This post serves the purpose of thanking those who donated funds for fruit or nut trees to OUR Ecovillage or to Young Leaders Uganda. Thank you SO much for your donation! A receipt will be given to you if your contact information was left at the time of making the donation. You have just made a difference to the world.

What is one of the best ways to reduce Greenhouse Gases, improve local food reliance and improve local economies? Plant trees, especially ones that produce edible food or other valuable resources. As a wedding gift to Ian and Julia you and others can donate funds used to plan trees in either the non-profit eco-educational OUR Ecovillage near Shawnigan Lake (Vancouver Island) or to schools and communities in Uganda. OUR Ecovillage has a charitable arm that will issue you an income tax receipt. You can buy seedlings in $10 increments. These will be nut trees, part of creating their Zero Mile Eatery. They will care for the trees. To donate to this project do click on this nut symbol: 🌰 Trees in Uganda will help improve nutritional levels of school children with healthy fruit, a food they often lack. While your donation to Young Leaders Uganda (Yolou; www.youngleadersuganda.org ) will not give you a tax receipt it will provide far more trees per dollar and have a bigger imp

With 40 council candidates picking people is a daunting task!   Thankfully many of these candidates are excellent. With no reservation my top three picks are Erin Hemmens (which is why I am on her campaign team), Tyler Brown and Ben Geselbracht . Why them? Because: Erin is an amazing team builder. That would be enough reason to pick her on its own. But she is insightful, wise, caring, community-minded, an excellent listener who sees the strengths in others. And more, such as knowing how to work with difficult people. Tyler I do not know nearly as well, but what he brings in terms of the practical knowledge of how we can become a far better city is totally invaluable. He is young, smart, a team-player, insightful, a straight-shooter, able to hold people accountable, yet caring. Ben is a passionate community guy who knows how to improve our city where it counts. He cares about people, listens well, is a great team player, and has tons of wisdom. He would help us become

All three levels of government have contributed to these growing problems. 1. Federal: Cancellation of tax breaks for rental construction in the 1970’s. Cancellation of building affordable housing Allowing housing to become an investment (see more on this, below)  2. Provincial: Cancellation of building affordable housing Social assistance (including for disabled persons) has not kept up to the cost of housing. Not even close Until recently: a lack of building standards that reduce the cost of heating a home (poor insulation, single clear pane windows, drafty homes cost a lot more to heat) Lack of adequate assistance for relationships in distress leads to separations, spousal abuse, broken families, alcohol and drug abuse and homelessness The high cost of transportation dependent on owning cars Lack of illness-prevention strategies, leading to loss of income and a taxed health-care system 3. Municipal: The desire to accommodate the single occupancy motor vehicle drivin

You will undoubtedly know that I am unhappy with your decision to not fund the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange’s new facility. I understand that your legal counsel advised you that you cannot donate money to a non-profit entity that is competing with for-profit companies, and that if you could donate it would require a plebiscite. I can fully appreciate your desire to save the taxpayer’s money. You wish to be both responsible and legal. This is good and right. What I wish to now bring to your attention are the premises (assumptions) that appear to have led to your decision. I believe these premises have no basis in fact; hence (if I am correct) your decision is not the result of legal counsel nor is it the most responsible one. I will outline what I believe are your incorrect premises here and provide more detail later on. I appreciate that you are given a lot of reading to do. Premise #1: The other recyclers are accomplishing what the NRE had been doing. Even if they knew ho