Re: “Vintage setting offers new start,” Jan. 19.

I was shocked and insulted to see the term “typical half-stoned islander” used in the article about a Saltspring Island property.

Had such a derogatory term been used to describe a specific ethnic group or any other collective, it would almost certainly have been disallowed by the editors, but somehow it continues to be acceptable to apply it to us and perpetuate the myth that such people form the majority on these islands (as implied by use of the adjective “typical”), which is far from true.

Like all other areas of B.C., our islands certainly have their share of “stoners,” but the vast majority of islanders are hard-working farmers, tradespeople, retailers and professionals (one of whom is currently nominated for an Oscar) along with a vibrant community of musicians, artists and artisans for which Saltspring is justly famous, plus a large group of active retirees who happily volunteer to the community the wealth of skills and talents they’ve acquired over a lifetime. I venture to suggest these people are much closer to being your “typical islanders,” if there really is any such thing.

I hope that in future, writers and editors will exercise a little more caution and avoid repeating any such inappropriate, inaccurate and insulting comments they may come across in the course of their research.

Ann Jessey

Saltspring Island

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