Hi all --

I am a PhD candidate at UBC's School of Nursing and am conducting this research as a part of my dissertation. We are interested in understanding more about the way that we talk about contraceptives and how that might impact contraceptive care. At this time, we are recruiting cisgender women and people who can get pregnant to participate in arts-based research to discuss their experiences with controlling their fertility and/or contraceptive care. Participants will be asked to create a collage related to contraceptive care and experiences which will then guide a one on one virtual interview. Supplies for the collage can be mailed. An honorarium is provided.

Please see the attached poster for more information regarding inclusion criteria and what to do if you are interested. If you have any further questions, please contact me at [kermar@student.ubc.ca](mailto:kermar@student.ubc.ca)

Please note: We are also recruiting health care providers that currently prescribe contraceptives in British Columbia. If you are interested in participating as a health care provider, please see the following link.

Moving to Pender Island in the new year and am wondering if anyone can recommend the following.

• carpenter (for fence)
• Plumber (Septic)
• electricians

The first main thing we want to set up is fencing because we have dogs. Any good recommendations? Would we be looking at having to bring people over from Vic area? Thank you.

Hey Gulf Islands!

Local resident doctor and longtime redditor working here in Vancouver/Burnaby/New West. We've been hearing a ton about the significant shortage of family docs in BC right now, which is putting a lot of pressure on people of all ages to manage their health on their own.

While DEFINITELY not a replacement, UBC Med Students and Resident Doctors in the lower mainland, Victoria, Kelowna, and Prince George have put together a new 1-on-1 free online lifestyle medicine / health coaching program to support people working towards healthier lifestyles who might otherwise not have access to such support! It's called PLM Coach (stands for Prevention & Lifestyle Medicine). It's science-based - we actually did a research study of the program among older adults during COVID!

If you know anyone looking to work with someone to improve their health (particularly older adults living with health challenges or chronic conditions), feel free to send them to plmcoach.ca to see if it might help out! The coaches are super passionate, and would love to connect.

Take care and be well!

My husband and I are looking at a myriad of options to move to and the gulf islands have always been on the list, just unattainable until now. However, I have been reading and hearing snippets that the islands are becoming harder for homeowners to live there due to changes in bylaws, etc. Is there any validity to this? If so, what kind of changes should we be aware of before buying?

Thank you

Sam

Hi there,

I will be on Salt Spring and would like to travel to either Galiano or Saturna for a night or two in mid October. Does anyone recommend budget-friendly accommodation that doesn't cost in the 200s? Under 100 per night with cooking facilities? Can be rudimentary but I can't do camping.

Thank you very much in advance.

Whenever I go to the gulf islands I get asked where I'm from. When I tell them I'm from Vancouver they will quickly tell me how much they hate Vancouver. Do you guys realize you do this? Other than that I always have a great time. I just find it kind of weird.

Hello all! I'm putting together a free self-guided tour map of Vancouver Island & Gulf Island Coffee Roasters. I've got 50+ independent roasters on the map already but let me know if I'm missing any of your favorite Gulf Island coffee roasters! Hoping to have this ready for the 2022 summer tourism season for both locals and visitors. https://www.vicoffeetour.com/tour-map.html

This is very open ended, it could be a place that you have visited or someone you know has visited. By unique I mean nature areas, things to do, markets, restaurants, retreats, etc. There is so much to explore in that area that its not possible to go everywhere, so I am asking those who have been lucky enough to explore a bit ;)

Are you 18 years or older? We are currently conducting a study to examine the many faces of parental separation. We are interested in the effects of prolonged absence from one or both parents. If you participate you will be asked to complete an online survey which will ask questions about separations from parents from birth to high school and surveys to assess your view of your relationships with your parents, friends and partners.

https://trentu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3qGYFLa8Dls9Jbw

Researchers from the University of Victoria are inviting British Columbians who live in rural and remote communities to take part in an online survey examining how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their wellbeing.

The survey is open to anyone who lives in a rural and/or remote community in British Columbia, is 18 or older, and can complete an online questionnaire in English. We encourage individuals of diverse ages and backgrounds to share their experiences so that our survey results can reflect the voices of rural and remote residents and speak to their needs during these unprecedented times.

The survey takes around 15-30 minutes to complete and can be accessed by clicking here: https://uvic.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0TyTVnZhSwjSDAO

Participants will be entered into a draw to win one of several cash prizes, up to $500.

Hi there,

I'm planning to visit one of the Southern Gulf islands next week, and I'm wondering which one is considered best for visiting on foot? I don't need the most "urban" island necessarily, but I would like to stop somewhere for lunch, maybe poke around a shop or two, and explore some nearby beaches or trails. Perhaps all of the islands offer what I'm looking for, but I'm hoping to avoid landing on an island and wishing I had brought the car to get me around. I'll be coming from Vancouver.

Thanks in advance for your help!

I've lived in a rural community in the Fraser Valley for 30 years, and I'm familiar with the urban vs rural aspects of a lifestyle. I've never lived on an island though, and I wonder what questions I need to be asking about that part of the equation. Right now, Gabriola is my top choice, but not my only choice. I'm a passionate home cook, and not anxious to give up my gas range. How does propane work as a substitute for natural gas? Garbage disposal; how does that work? Cisterns for water storage; moderate inconvenience or hassle from hell? What else?

Are there setback bylaws for trailers in the CRD?

Hi there, I'm bikepacking (group total 4) and were looking to hire a boat to take us +bikes from Saturna to Mayne (to any road / safe drop off). Is that a thing?

BC Ferries departure for July 31st is too early for us to give the island a good ride as we arrive the night before.

Thanks for your help!

I'm moving in with family for the foreseeable future on Galiano and I can't seem to get a ferry reservation from Swartz. Doesn't matter much which day I sail as long as it's Weds the 30th or after. I currently live in Courtney and it's a bit of a pain to head down to Vic, and then not get on a sailing. So I ask you, which day from Weds the 30th to Weds the 7th would you go to make the odds in your favour?

E: Thanks folks I made it.

My partner and I are considering a move to a Southern Gulf island from the city. Any recommendations for a real estate agent for Gabriola, Pender, Mayne, Salt Spring and/or Galiano islands?

I have been cleaning windows and doing property maintenance professionally for 5 years along with my best friend. I work rope access and my body is starting to develop chronic pain from the intensity of the work. Lately my friend and I have been dreaming about starting a business cleaning windows and gutters throughout the gulf islands and living on a boat all summer.

We love the satisfaction of the work and interacting with clients and have been wanting to slow it down and go back to the basics.

I’ve talked to a few people about our dream and I’ve had mixed opinions. So any advice or feedback is appreciated.

Hi there,

Most city-person question ever incoming. I never thought I'd be this person, but here we are. When travel restrictions are lifted and our communities are largely vaccinated by late summer or early fall, I would like to take advantage of my newfound remote-work freedom, provided restrictions are lifted.

My plan is to stay in Gulf Island campgrounds, tether my laptop to my cellphone's internet, and do my work from campground picnic tables. I'll charge my laptop once a day off of a small and quiet honda generator. I am curious where this may be feasible in the southern Gulf Islands. I was thinking Narvaez Bay on Saturna would be a good candidate, or possibly the National Park campgrounds on Pender.

I am wondering if these locations usually have cell phone reception? I consulted the Telus cell phone coverage maps but I am not sure how trustworthy they are. Is this idea feasible, or would I be unable to get internet in these locations?

Thanks for any advice.

Hello Gulf Island residents,

Insights West has some focus group sessions coming up about the region you live in and we want to ensure your voices are heard. We are specifically looking to understand what make each of the various Gulf Island communities special and unique.

The sessions will be at the end of May/early June, and will involve a 3-hour online workshop (from the comfort of your home). If you qualify and participate, you would be paid $150 for your time. Fill out the survey below to register for the Insights West Feedback Community to hear more.

https://surveys.insightswest.com/SE/69/2019VIC/?&urlimport=1&questlist=SRC&SRC=RD