Island View, Ep. 3: Sustainability on Gabriola, and Georgi Georgiev's Groundbreaking Bike Designs

In the latest episode of our weekly current affairs show, Lead Journalist Theresa O'Leary talks with Steven Earle from Sustainable Gabriola, an organization focused on environmental sustainability on Gabriola Island. Then we visit the Gabriola Museum for an event featuring Georgi Georgiev, one of the many Gabriola artists and entrepreneurs whose work is so important to the vitality and economy of the island.

Segments:

1:17 - 14-year old Sustainable Gabriola is collaborative in nature and was formed by citizens concerned about the environment. The group is behind public transit on Gabriola Island, affectionately known as the Gertie, and hopefully soon the bus will be going electric!

Earle says Sustainable Gabriola has identified a need to support people in adapting to the impacts of climate change. The group’s 12-12-12 program seeks to address the anxiety many feel around climate change by involving them in finding local solutions. Their focus going forward will be on equipping neighbourhoods to respond collectively in an emergency because, when disaster strikes our homes, we go next door. Being a good neighbour is now a survival tool.

28:45 - Gabriola Island has one of the highest percentages of working artists in Canada, and attracts many independent-minded innovators and entrepreneurs. Their work is crucial to our culture and economy -- and Georgi Georgiev is all three!

In this entertaining excerpt from last Sunday's "Telling Island Stories" event at the Gabriola Museum, Georgiev recounts how he came to live on the island, then went on to create the world’s fastest bicycle as well as bicycles for differently-abled individuals. His groundbreaking designs have empowered people of all abilities to experience the thrill of speed and freedom on wheels. He is joined by cyclists Sam Whittingham, a world record holder, and Daniel Wesley, a multi-gold medal Olympian, who also recount their triumphs and adventures on Georgi's wheels.

Watch for the complete recording of this "Telling Island Stories" event coming up soon.

Highlights:
- 🚌 Sustainable Gabriola is an organization focused on environmental sustainability on Gabriola Island.
- 🌍 The organization discusses various sustainability issues, including climate change, food, housing, and transportation.
- 🚍 The Gertie bus, an initiative of Sustainable Gabriola, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide transportation options for the community.
- ⚡ Sustainable Gabriola is working on initiatives to switch to electric buses and increase the installation of solar energy on the island
- 🚲 Georgi Georgiev is a local resident and inventor of groundbreaking bike designs.
- 🏆 Georgiev's designs have broken world records for speed and efficiency.
- 🌬️ The bikes are designed to be aerodynamic and energy-efficient, and have been sold all over the world.
- 🚴‍♂️ The bikes have been used by athletes, including world-record holder Sam Whittingham and multi-gold medal Olympian Daniel Wesley.
- 💥 Georgiev's bikes have been influential in the development of hand cycles and other bicycles for people with disabilities.

Life on Gabriola TV is generously sponsored by:

• The Gabriola Arts Council
• The Haven, Gabriola Island

Journalists: Theresa O'Leary, Marshal Fries