July Smiles Hello

Aerial view of a Salt Spring Island waterfront home tucked into the forest above the ocean

Summer is here, and Canada Day on July 1st celebrates the season, right across the country. Many people
consider July, August, September to be the Pacific Northwest Coast’s premier months.

Canada Day offers many special events on Salt Spring and the Gulf Islands. If you love classic
cars, check out the gathering on Salt Spring. Pick up maps and find out about all the events offered in
July, by popping into the Visitors Centre in Ganges.

Forested Gulf Islands hills above a calm summer bay

Summer on the Islands

Long known as a serious artists community, make sure to check out Salt Spring’s studio tour, ArtCraft at
Mahon Hall, the galleries at ArtSpring, the galleries in Ganges. Along with feeding your soul with artistic
expression, there are seasonal menus at great restaurants (including wine tasting dinners at Hastings
House). The natural world of ocean, mountains, forests also offer their restorative powers…hiking/walking
trails, beaches, lakes, ponds, parks…kayaking discoveries…summer’s ease is with us.

Salt Spring and the Gulf Islands are in the middle of some of the best protected boating waters
in the world. The climate (known as cool Mediterranean) allows for vineyards, orchards, olive groves. Check
out the Farmers Markets and roadside stands. Enjoy the wineries, cideries. Catch a sunset and just “be”.

Clear water along a rocky, forested Salish Sea shoreline

The Real Estate Market

The real estate market on Salt Spring began to show improvement in May. The other Gulf Islands now begin
their activity. Low inventory (not a lot of choice for a buyer) continues, and prices show both reductions
and increases, while finally the buyer “hesitation dance” has eased. That buyer hesitation since 2022 was
always about uncertainty.

Each year, the uncertainty varied…late 2025 brought in the uncertainty of title. Would
indigenous title take precedence over fee simple/private ownership? Since May, buyers have returned and
sellers might become more active. The marketplace is not yet showing a definite pattern, but it does appear
to be showing a more positive rhythm. It may well be that 2026 will be characterized as a Fall Market
(August to January). Time to observe…

Aerial view of a Gulf Islands waterfront property with mountains and sailboats at anchor

Land Comes to the Fore

At the moment, undeveloped land sales and properties with only a cottage or studio are slower to find buyer
interest. People are seeking a home to move into, even if it requires renovations. More people are looking
to live on Salt Spring and the Gulf Islands…these are not just recreational purchasers anymore. Inventory in
land only or with a studio on site is also very low…as residential continues to thin out, land will come to
the fore.

Sailboat moored at a private dock in a sheltered Gulf Islands cove

Title, the Dollar, and a Thought on Change

Although the issue of indigenous or fee simple title has not yet been resolved (check into DRIPA…the U.N.
Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act for details), the concern over the continuing suppression in
value of the Canadian dollar could be the reason for the recent uptick in buyer desire to act. Preservation
of capital is a strong motivator. That might also be the reason for owners not listing.

Meantime, Summer invites us to pay attention to the beauty in place at this season. It’s a time
to be thoughtful about new discoveries…a time to ponder. 2026 appears to be one of those years that deliver
profound change (our Gutenberg moment)…AI and impacts, fusion as opposed to fission in energy options,
robotics, space exploration, political machinations, cyber security issues, and so forth. Every day seems to
show change. Ever more important to listen, to exercise our editing function, to always question, to allow
our periphery vision to keep us out of prepared information channels. Be attentive.

Summer is here. July smiles hello!

Li Read