“What personal, social, and ecological mechanisms do we have to develop tolerance and trust on the way to resilience”, was one of many questions generated at a Feb. 13 conversation about community resilience and well-being at the Island of Peace Yoga Studio on North Road and Ross.

About 12 community members accepted the invitation by Teresa Beers and Sandra Thomson of the Sustainable Gabriola Community Resilience and Well-being subcommittee to discuss such questions as: what is community well-being, how can a community ensure all people are included, welcomed, and encouraged to participate, how does a community develop safety nets for its members, how do we foster mentorship and encourage intergenerational relationships, do we need to give up our own well-being for that of the community, what does it take to become part of the community, and many others.

Participants responded with a number of answers and even more questions. Many suggested that the size of what attendee Hendrick de Wilde called the “gift economy”, and what Nancy Crozier called the “Gabriola Insurance Program” of volunteers and donations for various causes, was part of what makes Gabriola a healthy community. The ability to connect with the natural environment, the direct access to political representatives, the protection provided to the environment by the Islands Trust, the size and isolation due to the ferry commute of the community, and the need to know one’s neighbours due to the many power outages on the island were also suggested as strengths for the community.

Participants noted that young people usually have to leave the island in order to find opportunities for education and employment, that businesses are usually aware that it isn’t productive to undercut each other in a small community, and that it is helpful to have a diversity of skill sets to live here.

Participants thought that the island newspapers were helpful in making it possible for Gabriolans to communicate with each other.

It was suggested that just paying one’s taxes does not make one a part of the community.

Some thought that those with wealth are more likely to be “heard” on Gabriola than those who have less money but are active and involved in the community.

Beers and Thomson said they would post all the questions generated on the Sustainable Gabriola website (sustainablegabriola.ca). They said that there will be opportunities to continue the conversation, and Tim Bruns, of Island of Peace Yoga, offered his studio as a meeting space.