Welcome to the inaugural edition of our community newsletter – North Saanich Currents (NSC) – a quarterly publication dedicated to nurturing community connections and well-being, promoting sustainable environmental practices, and respectfully working toward (re)conciliation.
The NSC team comprises DNS residents who volunteer our time and expertise to create this newsletter for the community. NSC is launching as an online quarterly publication. Depending on the feedback from residents, however, we will explore an environmentally friendly print option.
The website comprises articles written by North Saanich residents on a broad range of topics, and useful Community Resources pages that draw together information into one place, including volunteer opportunities, emergencies, farm shops and markets, recreational facilities, and parks & trails. We will keep adding to these lists and will also add interactive maps shortly. Please feel free to submit additional entries to us for inclusion in these resource lists at NSC.Community@proton.me.
North Saanich Currents has been made possible by the fantastic design and technology work by Lina Kastl and the superb team of Geeks on the Beach; the generous donation of the seed money by Diana Chown; and the contributors to this edition of the newsletter. Special thanks to Allen Jones and Linda Spiller of Metchosin Muse, who patiently answered our many questions at the conceptual stage of this project.
We are thankful to the many friends, neighbours, and partners who kept up a steady flow of thoughtful suggestions, snacks, and hot beverages, during the countless volunteer hours of work by the NSC team. Finally, we are thankful to you, our reader, for supporting this community initiative.
If you have ideas for a story, a piece of art, or would like to volunteer for North Saanich Currents, please write to us at NSC.Community@proton.me
Happy reading!
NSC Team
by Jillian Buriak
One of the most well-known beautiful native plants of southern Vancouver Island is the flowering red currant (Ribes sanguineum, W̱IW̱Q,IȽĆ in SENĆOŦEN). This bush bursts into flower in early March with brilliant red-to-pink blossoms, which are then accompanied by the unfolding bright green maple-shaped leaves soon afterwards.
by S. Chandler
In early September I sat down with Tina-Fraser Baynes over coffee to talk about her long and remarkable career in the organic food movement…
by Bernadette Greene
Legendary blues pianist David Vest will be joined by drummer Damian Graham and bassist Ryan Tandy for an evening of Jazz Vespers at St. John’s United Church on November 2 at 7:00 p.m. Well-respected as a blues and boogie-woogie player, Vest is equally comfortable playing jazz and country blues ballads…
by Meenal Shrivastava
Award winning local author Tracey Lindberg’s new book, The Cree Word for Love: Sâkihitowin (Harper Collins), was released in September 2025 and is available to order from your favourite bookstore or library…
by Jo Doman
In the 1960s, a small group of residents, passionate about horses started a riding club with the first lessons on a fallen log with a blanket thrown over and a saddle on top…
by Tabatha Golat
For nearly forty years, the Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation (SPHHF) has been part of the fabric of our community…
by Gary Searing
Harvesting a crop of fruit or vegetables is incredibly satisfying and does not need to stop there…
by Sean McNeill
Not long ago, the halls at 1720 McTavish Road were quiet…
by Jillian Buriak
What a beautiful area we live in. What I have found when exploring North Saanich…
End of content
End of content
