There are more than ten thousand human residents on Salt Spring Island, several thousand sheep and a substantial deer population. Every now and then, a bear is spotted, usually on the south side of the island near Ruckle Park, and there are intermittent reports of a cougar being seen, sometimes close to Ganges. It is thought that bears and cougars swim across Sansum Narrows from Vancouver Island.

Nearby Galiano Island is longer but thinly populated with only about a thousand residents. Galiano, Mayne and Pender Islands (North & South) are closer to Vancouver and the mainland than Salt Spring Island. Prevost Island is located between Salt Spring and Active Pass, which separates Galiano and Mayne Islands. There are also numerous smaller islands throughout the Southern Gulf Islands.

Salt Spring Island has long been known as a very unique place in British Columbia. For the population, there are a very large number of artists, sculptors and musicians living on the island. The community got together and raised funds to build Art Spring — a brand new community hall. Many well known musicians, both local and from afar, have performed here already. Even the bars have a pretty good showing of local talent performing there.