Friday, January 30, 2015

FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015 VOL. 42, NO. 04

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Notes on LNG

Liquid Natural Gas and its relationship to climate change & sea life

Robbie Burns Day

Cultural Master Plan

Another great Bowen celebration

A Q&A on the upcoming update

Mayor re-opens conversation on NAPTEC Bowen remains the only island within Islands Trust to not adopt Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

From left: Dillon, Noah, Ella-Rose, Erin and Martha watch Reverend Shelagh MacKinnon during the Kirking of the Tartan ceremony at the Little Red Church. Piper Mike Chisholm brought some extra Scottish flare to the service.

Lorraine Ashdown, photo

Bowen to host Howe Sound Community Forum on Bowen in April MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

T

he Executive Director of the Future of Howe Sound Society, Ruth Simons, came to Bowen on Monday to discuss the Howe Sound Community Forum and urge council to accept the invitation to host the Forum this coming April. As municipal CAO Kathy Lalonde reminded council, each community that is a signatory to the Forum is supposed to host it, but Bowen has not done so, “in a very, very long time.”

The Howe Sound Community Forum, as Simons explained to council, was started in 2002 in response to the recognition that the

Howe Sound region was moving from a place of industrial activity to more recreation and tourism, and also, that there are many districts, communities and regional bodies (including First Nations) who play a role in managing the Sound. Simons added that a study conducted in the 1990s recommended that planning for Howe Sound be coordinated at the government and community level.

Simons continued to outline the status of just a few of the industrial projects which have been proposed in Howe Sound: The proposed waste to energy facility at Port Mellon on the Sunshine Coast, could be on hold a bit longer. continued, PAGE 9

This week’s council meeting started with a cheer for the current council by Nerys Poole, representing the Bowen Island Conservancy, for making time to discuss the Natural Areas Protection Tax Exemption Program (NAPTEC) yet again. Back in 2011, council approved (in principle) the program, which was set up and is administered by the Islands Trust. In 2013, Mayor Jack Adelaar stated his opposition to the program, saying it would cost the municipality money and affect Bowen’s tax base. On Monday, councilors reviewed the program and its feasibility on Bowen yet again, opening up the possibility for implementing it here.

The Islands Trust launched NAPTEC in 2005 in response to the fact that long-time land owners seemed to be subdividing, developing or logging their properties in order to keep up with the high taxes fuelled by the increasing value of their land. If someone decides to conserve a portion of his or her land through the program, that protected land is eligible for a 65% reduction in taxes.

“It was designed in the same vein as farm status, whereby, the way you are using your property is deemed a public benefit, so you are given a tax break,” says Kate Emmings, with the Islands Trust.

“The idea is also to protect rare and sensitive ecosystems, as well as rare species. A property with unique geological features or fresh water features might also be worthy of protection. If someone applies to conserve their land through NAPTEC, a representative from Islands Trust will come take a look and write a report which will be reviewed by the Islands Trust Council who will then decide if the property meets the criteria.” continued, PAGE 2

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New sign for Bowen at exits to Horseshoe Bay MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

The new signage on highway #1, heading East, for Bowen Island.

Bowen Island Economic Development Committee, photo

As of last week, people heading to Horseshoe Bay who’ve never heard of Bowen Island will know that that yet another island destination lies ahead – as Bowen Island was added to the highway sign listing the destinations of Gibsons and Nanaimo.

Bowen Island Economic Development Committee chair, Gordon Ganong, says that the sign will also help eliminate potentially dangerous confusion near the exit to Horseshoe Bay. “There were reports of nearaccidents because people didn’t know where they were headed, and changed lanes too quickly,” says Ganong.

He adds that a regional manager of economic development with the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, Lindsay Bisschop, played a critical role in getting the signage done.

“She was able to bring the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to the table,” says Ganong. “We at the EDC had a conference call with them, and from there, things moved forward.”

Full-time Utility Operator Position INAUGURAL MEETING THE Bowen Island Municipality seeks a qualified Utility Operator. OF Working in the Public Works Department, the successful applicant will be required to work on the maintenance, repair and operation of municipal water and sewer systems and facilities including the investigation and resolution of trouble calls and emergencies. The individual will also assist in labouring tasks associated with the maintenance of roads, docks, trails, parks and buildings.

Debating the merits of NAPTEC from PAGE 1 Emmings says that land owners will see the greatest benefits of this program if their property has a high assessed value, and if they put in a significant portion of their land into conservation.

“Unless there is something ecologically significant on the property, we are looking for a minimum of 2 hectares (roughly 5 acres),” says Emmings. “We have also seen people put as much as 20 hectares into conservation.”

In 2013, the Islands Trust and Metro Vancouver drafted a plan to activate the program on the islands that fall within the Metro Vancouver’s jurisdiction. Since then, both Bowyer Island and Passage Island have activated the program, and Bowen remains the only island within the Islands Trust that does not have NAPTEC. According to a municipal staff report dated August 31, 2012, the average Bowen Island property (valued at $519,000) would pay $1.66 extra in property taxes per NAPTEC covenant and that “the financial implications of NAPTEC will be more significant on Bowen Island than in other Islands

Trust areas.”

Mayor Skeels says that he brought the issue of NAPTEC forward this week as he was reminded of it by a post on the Bowen Island Forum, and was told that a simple resolution by council could see the program up and running on Bowen.

“I wanted to make the point that as far as a personal cost to taxpayers, it is very very low,” said Skeels in council.

Councillor Michael Kaile expressed concern about the shifting of burden from the land owner who is conserving land to everyone else.

“The amounts may be small,” said Kaile, “But we as a community are picking up the slack. And if this is going to happen, it needs to be administered. Who takes care of those costs?”

In the end of the conversation, council agreed to have a representative from Islands Trust come to Bowen to answer questions about NAPTEC. Mayor Skeels says he sees this visit as an opportunity to learn more about what the Trust gives to Bowen in return for the tax dollars (roughly $70 per household) that we send to Islands Trust.

BOWEN ISLAND MUNICIPALITY

Bowen Island Municipality BI03

Drinking Water and Persons who are Immunocompromised

The Provincial Health Officer advises all British Columbians with compromised immune systems (such as HIV, organ or bone transplants, chemotherapy or medications that suppress the immune system) to avoid drinking water from any surface water or ground water that is under the influence of surface water, unless it has been boiled, filtered ,distilled or treated with UV. Bowen Island and other areas in British Columbia use surface water sources (lakes, rivers, streams). This is not a general boil-water advisory for the general public, but rather is directed only at persons with compromised immune systems. If in doubt about your immune system status, please discuss this further with your physician.

For additional information refer to health file http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile56.stm or contact your physician directly.

WATER

2014-18 BOWEN ISLAND MUNICIPAL COUNCIL You are invited to attend the Inaugural Council Meeting, to be held:

The applicant should have considerable experience in the maintenance, repair and installation of water and sewer facilities and systems, or an equivalent st Monday, December 1 combination , 2014 of training and experience. Certification of BCWWA Small Water Systems is desirable; however, if the individual p.m. does not hold the certification, they must 7:15 be willing to complete it within the first six months of employment.

Location: Cates Hill Chapel, 661 Carter Road

UTILITY

This is a permanent full-time position working 35 hour/week. Days of work will include weekends and will interchange with the other Utility Operators. Additional work will be required outside of regular hours, including nights, to respond to emergencies.

The agenda for the Inaugural Meeting will be posted

Please submit your covering letter and resume via e-mail, fax or mail by on the Bowen Island Municipal website at www.bimbc.ca Friday, January 30, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. to:

the week prior to the event.

Christine Walker, Human Resources Manager Bowen Island Municipality We hope to see you there!

981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 FAX: 604-947-0193 EMAIL: hr@bimbc.ca WEBSITE: www.bimbc.ca

For information, call 604-947-4255

Spring and Summer Daycamp Leader Positions Available Bowen Island Community Recreation has full and part time positions available for Spring Break and Summer Staff. Positions include; but are not limited to, Daycamps, Specialty Camps, and Playcare. Hours per week and number of weeks will vary depending on the nature of the position.

Weeks of work will occur March 9 – 13th and from mid-June through late August.

The ideal candidates for these positions have previous experience working with groups of children, are enthusiastic and creative, able to work in a team environment, enjoy participating in a large variety of activities, have excellent communication skills, and are highly organized. Lifeguarding certification is an asset for some positions.

BI JOB

All applicants will be expected to participate in an interactive Group interview which will be held on Friday February 6th from 10:30am – 1:30pm in BICS GYM. Please submit your covering letter and resume via e-mail, fax or mail by noon on Wednesday February 4th , 2015 to: Christine Walker, Human Resources Manager Bowen Island Municipality 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 FAX: 604-947-0193 EMAIL: hr@bimbc.ca WEBSITE: www.bowencommunityrecreation.com

For information call 604-947-2216

FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015 • 3

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Conservation authorities seek Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) fact sheet If methane emissions have a strong direct information on illegally killed ALEJANDRO FRID impact on climate for only a few decades, does that mean that the overall climate deer on Bowen Island impact of natural gas is low?

SUBMISSION

KENT POPJES SUBMISSION

On or about Dec. 15, 2014 a deer was unlawfully killed and left to rot near ‘Mike’s Lorg trail’ off of Adams Road. The Conservation Officer investigated and determined the deer was killed with a cross bow which is a prohibited weapon when used for deer hunting on Bowen Island.

Deer hunting is very regulated on Bowen Island. Only long bow hunting on private land is permitted. The hunter must get written permission

from the landowner and provide the permission letter to the municipality to get a permit. Only 2 permits were issued last year on Bowen.

The deer was a frequent visitor to several private properties in the area and was locally known as ‘ole one horn’.

If you have any information that may lead to the person responsible for this crime or any other wildlife crime please call the Conservation Officer Service 24hr reporting line at 1-877952-7277.

EDC chair addresses Wakefield bankruptcy EDITOR

Bowen Island Economic Development Committee chair Gordon Ganong told council that, while there’s no remedy for the Bowen creditors who are facing major losses because Wakefield Construction has filed for creditor protection, the committee hopes that education can help these businesses navigate the situation.

“As Chair, I plan to include in the Feb EDC agenda that it organize educational sessions for Bowen businesses to provide skills training specifically regarding extension of credit, invoicing, collections and their legal rights in contractual arrangements,” Ganong

What is liquefied natural gas (LNG)?

Natural gas is a fossil fuel composed primarily of methane (85% or more) . Industry ‘liquefies’ natural gas into LNG to improve transport and storage efficiencies. The liquefaction process is very energyintensive and often fueled by natural gas. In BC there is an intention to increase the use of electricity from dams, such as Site C, for liquefaction.

What is the direct climate impact of natural gas relative to that of other fossil fuels?

told council. “The objective of this would be to help Bowen businesses to minimize their exposure in the future to incidents like the Wakefield one.”

Ganong added that a he hopes a bankruptcy professional could be made available to creditors to answer questions for a half-day session.

“Then all of them would be receiving the same information regarding their rights and options going forward with this bankruptcy,” said Ganong.

Wakefield Construction informed its employees on Bowen Island that it was going into receivership on January 9. The company owes more than $400,000 in unpaid invoices to Bowen Island businesses.

MERIBETH DEEN

On Friday, January 30, Bowen Islanders will have an opportunity to learn more about the proposed Woodfibre Liquid Natural Gas processing and export plant just across Howe Sound, in Squamish. The following is a version of a fact sheet I put together for Coastal First Nations navigate similar proposals. I hope you will find it informative.

The answer depends on time scale. Over one hundred years or more, natural gas has a lower direct impact on the climate than other fossil fuels. Over 20 years or less, natural gas has a stronger direct impact on climate change. The reasons are: • CO2 emissions produced during extraction, transport and consumption are lower for natural gas than for other fossil fuels. CO2 persists in the atmosphere for centuries, which is why natural gas has a lower direct impact on the climate over one hundred years or more.

• Of all fossil fuels, however, natural gas has the highest rate of methane emissions. Although the direct climate impact of methane lasts only a few decades, the global warming produced by methane over 20 years is 86 to 105 times greater than that produced by an equivalent mass of carbon dioxide (according to the three most recent estimates)

No, the overall climate impact of natural gas can be quite large. Sustained warming caused by methane over 20 years at a rate that is 86 to 105 times stronger than CO2 can contribute to “positive feedback loops,” which are indirect mechanisms in which relatively small temperature rises initiate other processes that accelerate further heat. For instance, warming in the Arctic and Subarctic already has reduced the area covered by summer sea ice and begun to melt permafrost.

Solar radiation that would have been reflected back to space by white sea ice is now absorbed by dark unfrozen ocean, and the melting permafrost releases greenhouse gases that had been stored frozen underground.

Both of these mechanisms exacerbate global warming. Due to these sorts of positive feedback loops, the short-term yet powerful warming associated with methane emissions make the overall climate impact of natural gas very significant. As climate scientist Robert W. Howarth emphasises, reducing methane emissions over the next 15-35 years is critical to avert severe runaway climate change disasters.

When does natural gas emit methane?

Methane emissions associated with natural gas are a by-product of field extraction and processing (upstream emissions), storage, long-distance transport, and distribution (downstream emissions).

Combustion of natural gas also emits methane (along with CO2, and other greenhouse gases), yet the extent of these emissions depends on efficiency of the technology being used to generate heat or electricity.

Do other fossil fuels emit methane during production, transport and combustion?

Yes. Natural gas, however, has a higher methane content and therefore is associated with a higher rate of methane emissions than other fossil fuels . continued, PAGE 9

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viewpoint

That sinking feeling Dear Editor,

Notwithstanding the potential sinking of the Annapolis in Halkett Bay, the actual sinking and beaching of sailboats during the past few weeks in Mannion Bay and another stray dock on the beach at the Cape, the January 16 Undercurrent gave us many good reasons to “buoy” our spirits, not the least of which is the wonderful Snug Cove Garden Gateway project.

Council’s unanimous approval for the “gateway” initiative, which won’t cost the Bowen taxpayers anything, was a nice way to start off their new term. Getting the Bowen Pub rezoning back on track was also nice to see. Hopefully good news on the library expansion is next.

My spirits were further buoyed by the First Credit Union’s tasteful “with thanks” display ad on Michael Kaile’s resignation as a FCU

director due to his election as a councillor.

Yes indeed, the community will benefit from his no nonsense business experience; analytical mind; communication skills and keen desire to progressively move our community forward in a sustainable manner. You can bank on that!

I suggest we set aside our annual concerns for the flu. We have another epidemic to worry about, in a most positive way, as it appears the Bowen Island Community Foundation’s Vital Conversations Summer 2014 workshop is causing an outbreak of enthusiasm and support for some wonderful, much needed initiatives in the community.

Here’s hoping the respectful discourse continues, perhaps while sitting at the proposed Snug Cove Garden Gateway!

Sincerely, Bruce Russell

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the paramedics (Jen and Bailey), the Fire Department members (Lloyd Harding, among others) and I believe Brian Biddlecomb was at the helm of the water taxi that who ferried me across Howe Sound at 5 a.m. on Boxing day. There were others as well, whose names I don’t have, but want to acknowledge. I had fallen and suffered a fractured hip, which they diagnosed correctly and treated most appropriately! The approach, care and professionalism was evident and most appreciated! Thank you all for your excellent care.

Sincerely, Thomas C Gibson MD

Thank you from the Black Sheep On behalf of The Black Sheep Morris Dancers I’d like to send out a huge thank you to the Bowen Pub, and the many, many people who came out to support our ‘2015 Get the Flock off the Rock’ fundraising celebration this past Saturday!

It was truly an epic event, with a varied mix of music and hijinks, and even a Spectacular Burlesque Show!

The Black Sheep have been a Bowen institution since the Dawn of the Century, and while we have performed in other parts of Canada, the US, and the UK, we are proud and honoured to call Bowen Island our home, and are delighted to be a part of what makes this island community such an amazing place!

In May we will return to the UK for the first time since 2009, and we are hugely grateful for the enthusiasm and support we receive from this community. Again, many thanks!

Sincerely,

Here’s how.

To submit a letter to the editor, fax 604-947-0148 or mail it to #102, 495 Government Rd., PO Box 130, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 or email editor@ bowenislandundercurrent.com.

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Dear Editor,

The Write Stuff.

The Undercurrent encourages reader participation in your community newspaper. You must include your full name and a daytime phone number (for verification only). The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity, legality, brevity and taste.

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The Undercurrent is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 1-888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.

Your professionalism is appreciated!

Bob Doucet

Correction and apology I mistakenly signed Neil Boyd’s letter as Dr. Neil Boyd, even though he is not a Dr., and did not sign his letter in that way. My apologies for this misrepresentation.

Meribeth Deen, editor

Misinformation about the proposed pollinator garden project Dear Editor, Today is the final day that Metro Vancouver will welcome public comment on the proposed Killarney Meadows Garden—A Pollinator Initiative & Demonstration Garden. I’d like to thank all those who have taken the time to share their thoughts on the project—both for and against—with our regional government.

I’d also like to address some of the circulating misinformation and speculation—some of it unfortunately rather malicious—concerning the process to date.

In 2010, on the eve of the anniversary of the founding of Captain Jack Cates’ Terminal Farms, a small Bowen Agricultural Alliance working group #102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0 Phone: 604.947.2442 Fax: 604.947.0148 Deadline for all advertising and editorial: Monday, 4:00p.m. www.bowenislandundercurrent.com

began discussing the idea of some kind of outdoor education centre on Agricultural Land Reserve land in Crippen Regional Park.

Earlier that year we had taken the idea to an open-space meeting held at Bowen Island Community School and attended by about 40 people—representatives of a broad range of community organizations. The excitement in the room was palpable as speakers voiced support for the idea of creating something special in the meadows.

As is the case with almost all purely volunteer initiatives, the idea percolated for a few years as we tested it with a variety of people and worked on other projects. We considered several locations, and came back to the meadows again as the site that offered the best combination of beauty, agricultural

heritage, foot traffic, and proximity to all of the island’s learning centres.

After approaching Metro Vancouver, the landowner, and getting a positive initial reaction—as the idea met a number of its objectives—we commissioned a professional site assessment by Janine de la Salle, one of Canada’s leading professionals in the emerging field of planning and designing for food and agriculture.

De la Salle collaborated with an agrologist to create a comprehensive site assessment, a snapshot of barriers and opportunities. We also “walked the land” with local growers, sustainability and permaculture specialists, and farmers, looked at other similar projects, and consulted with Metro Vancouver biologists. continued, PAGE 5

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Pollinator garden proposal and process from PAGE 4 In May and June of 2013, we approached representatives of 21 community groups and organizations asking to sit down one-on-one and privately talk about the idea of an agricultural education centre in the meadows—two declined to meet with us. We asked those that met with us what they liked, didn’t like, and for suggestions and any opportunities for collaboration. Of those who met with us, all expressed support. We recorded their detailed feedback, their concerns and hopes.

We then held a half-day visioning session with a subset of this group in 2013. It was actually out of this meeting that the current native pollinator concept emerged.

Metro Vancouver parks staff did not feel they were ready to approach the community for feedback on the idea until they had a conditional green light from their Environment and Parks Committee. With that received last fall, Metro Vancouver set a date in early December for a community consultation and public comment period that

ends tonight.

Our team has worked hard for hundreds of volunteer hours on a proposal that clearly has enjoyed a great deal of interest and support, both from the community and Metro Vancouver. We have heard much thoughtful discussion around the idea and have tested and discarded many ideas, all the while in consultation with islanders.

Frankly, it’s been disheartening to read the sniping, speculation, and character attacks that have emerged on the Bowen Phorum, fired out from the relative safety of a computer keyboard.

This is the kind of behavior that we are all really trying to put behind us.

I hope the above detail provides useful context to those who assert that we didn’t make an effort to reach out to the community with this proposal.

Comments close tonight, Friday, January 30: email Metro Vancouver at Icentre@metrovancouver.org or call (604)224-5739.

Sincerely, Michelle (Elle) Pentz Glave , BAA President

Pushing the pollinator initiative: a response to last week’s letters Dear Editor, With all the respect I have for Neil Boyd, I find disappointing his manipulative decision regarding the Pollinator Initiative in Crippen Park, to refer copies of the proposal to faculty colleagues at Simon Fraser University, Dr Winston, an expert in pollination and Dr Gail Anderson, a forensic entomologist.

In doing so Boyd may want to prove that the academic expertise of his colleagues is of greater importance than the overwhelming rejection of the project in that area by a majority of Bowen Islanders. The named academics responded according to the knowledge of the science, but they do not know the area and they have not mastered the many reasons why such a project is inappropriate in “the meadows” of Crippen Park. Those many reasons were provided to Metro Vancouver and were well received.

To try and forcefully impose the BAA expectations of such a project to the community by the means of the professional comments of reputed academics and by degrading as “self-described local experts” the local people involved who have a down to earth

Dear Editor, In regard to the Pollinator Initiative letters in last week’s issue, I was appalled by Neil Boyd’s dismissal of views other than his own as “claims from self-described local experts,” a reference to Will Husby. Boyd’s attempt at character assassination is unworthy of our community.

Will Husby is the unofficial spokesperson for those objecting to the current proposed location for the Pollinator Initiative. He would rather see it located elsewhere and closer to the village. And here’s the rub. This “self-described local expert”, as mocked

by Boyd, has an MSc in entomology from Guelph University and for the last quarter century has made his living as the senior partner of EcoLeaders Interpretation, which is a planning consultancy specializing in interpretive and education planning for park systems, parks, museums, and nature centres across Canada and in the US. The BAA wants an interpretive and education site and that is exactly what Will does professionally. His clients include, but are not limited to, the National Capital Commission where he developed the interpretive Master Plan for Canada’s Capital Greenbelt (Ottawa). Other clients include Parks Canada (Prince Albert National Park), Rouge Park Alliance (Greater Toronto Area ), Rouge Park (now Rouge Park National Park Reserve), Alberta Parks: Fish Creek Provincial Park (Canada’s largest urban park, Calgary), Beaver Hills District (greater Edmonton area).

All of these interpretive plans, which Will designed, included the selection of interpretive sites based on location and the sensitivity of sites and features. Will is recognized throughout North America as a go to person when it comes to designing interpretative and educational sites in parks.

As well, he and his partner Sue Ellen Fast (a Bowen Island Municipal councillor), produced Nature Walks, a critically acclaimed 52 part, four year long TV series focused on public edu-

cation of the natural environment.

Consequently, Will Husby is eminently qualified to hold an opinion on the proposed location for the Pollinator Initiative Further, It is particularly disheartening that Boyd chose to emphasize his role as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bowen Island Foundation when he set about on his character assassination. The Bowen Island Foundation is full of fine people who do important work for our community. And I owe them a personal debt of gratitude. In the recent past they gave generous environmental bursaries to my son Geoffrey. But that notwithstanding, I think the Board should issue a written apology to Will because of the actions of one of its Board Members. You might even consider letting Will speak at one of your meetings on the subject. Will is, after all, one of Canada’s leading experts in this field.

I wrote to Dr. Winston this afternoon to express my concerns about misconceptions regarding this project.

His reply is, “Thanks for your message.

I can see there are strong opinions on many sides about what to do with that area, and I think I’ll leave it to all of you on Bowen to sort out. There are many good possibilities, including a pollinator focus, and what you choose in the end will depend on the values you want to promote. Mark” And there it is. What are the values we want to promote? Can we not debate issues and different points of view with dignity? Must we descend to diatribes worthy of Fox news? Can we not come together as a community? Or do we rip the community because of a lack of civility?

Oh, and as for the soccer field component of the debate, written about by Heather Prittie last week in this paper, I am and always have been a BICS soccer field supporter. So has Will Husby.

Sincerely, Joe Lewicki

understanding of that area, a rather biased use of fair play and of the democratic process.

Some years ago, it is such understanding and informed data recording of the natural habitat by local islanders that helped Dr Anderson in her research of a forensic case on Bowen Island.

To Heather Prittie’s statement that the same people that oppose the Pollination Garden in the Meadows had opposed the school soccer field: this is not true as we were strong proponents of that project and are pleased to see it completed.

Finally to Michelle Pentz Glave’s submission: we are very much in favour of developing a Pollinator Initiative in an alternative area - perhaps the Bowfest field near the Davies Orchard area, which would make that project acceptable to all and very successful.

Sincerely yours André & Anne Chollat

We support the project, not the location Dear Editor,

The “so-called expert” deserves an apology

FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015 • 5

The Board of the Bowen Island Conservancy supports the idea of a pollinator garden on Bowen Island, and the initiative taken by the Bowen Agricultural Alliance (BAA) to create one for education and interpretative purposes. However, we oppose the location of this garden in the Killarney Meadow.

Why we oppose the proposed location:

We oppose the location in the Killarney Meadow because of our concerns over depletion of native pollinator habitat. The Killarney Meadow in its current state has a broad biodiversity of plants, which already support a large number of native pollinators. The proposed initiative will destroy the existing native pollinator environment and replace it with an artificial “native pollinator garden”. This is likely to lead to fewer nesting sites for bumble bees, solitary bees and wasps, and larval food plants for butterflies, moths and beetles. Removal of the salmonberry bushes in the meadow will deplete both hummingbird foraging and nesting habitat.

The Metro Vancouver Ecological Health Action Plan advocates for protection of native pollinator habitat. The proposed BAA plan, although very well intentioned in its goals, will unfortunately reduce this habitat.

With the current active uses in the meadow—the horse paddock and the off leash dog area—there has already been a significant reduction in the area’s natural habitat.

Any further reduction will affect the ability of some of the birdlife to forage for seeds, berries and insects.

We are also concerned about the impact this proposed garden and the consequent public traffic will have on the population of garter snakes, which are particularly abundant in the meadow. Garter snakes are important predators of slugs, insects and mice, and thus an important element in the meadow ecosystem.

Finally, the Killarney meadow is a very popular place for islanders and visitors alike, who enjoy the quiet and solitude that this place offers. The addition of a fenced garden site utilizing one third of the meadow with structures and more human activity will detract from this experience.

We encourage the BAA to consider alternate locations for their proposed pollinator garden, somewhere that will not cause any damage to existing natural pollinator habitat.

With kind regards, The Bowen Island Conservancy Board

Three reasons to build a pollinator garden - elsewhere To the Editor, We are writing to express our concern regarding the proposed “pollinator garden” for the Crippen Park Meadows. In our opinion, this is a commendable idea in the wrong location on Bowen Island. A few of our reasons for this follow: • Native pollinators will be displaced by the clearing and development of a demonstration garden.

These plants are already in place and provide valuable ecosystem services. Why displace them? If the intent is to educate about the importance of pollinators, why not put information kiosks about native pollinators in the area? There is no need to erect a demonstration garden for this function – it is already there!

• Displacement of the garter snake hibernaculum under the old foundation. One of the reasons many local garter snakes use this space to overwinter and breed because of its location – sunny, out of the way, and warm. If a demonstration garden is in the immediate vicinity – this will make this a less desirable location for the hibernaculum and negatively impact our native snake population. As well, this area is prime habitat for native rodents who provide

food for rapture populations. Who amongst us hasn’t enjoyed the site of an eagle or hawk soaring over the meadows in search of food?

• The visual impact of a large area with a tall fence to keep deer and other animals out of the garden will have negative impact on the visitor experience in the meadows. The fencing and other infrastructure is inconsistent with the reason why many people enjoy walking in the meadows – to experience the open space which is ideal for wildlife viewing and other simple pleasures.

The current discussion about the meadows reminds us of another proposal for the meadows (and surrounding area) in Crippen Park (around 1990): that of putting the Bowen Island Golf course there. The Golf Course is now a much loved Bowen Island institution that found its home near Seymour Bay. It didn’t belong in the Crippen Park meadows and neither does the proposed pollinator demonstration garden. Please find another location for the garden purposes and respect the existing uses of the meadows by leaving that space as it is for all to enjoy.

DG Blair, M.Sc. Blair Whitehead & Associates

6 • FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015

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Bowen Island’s Cultural Master Plan to be Updated

Pipes, haggis and a tradition alive and well on Bowen Island ROSS BRAGG SUBMISSION

A big thank you to all those Bowen Islanders who made Friday's Robbie Burns dinner at the Legion a big success. It was sea of plaid and smiles as we all paid tribute to Scotland's national poet.

Robbie Burns holds great meaning to me.

I grew up with a "fresh off the boat" Scottish mother who would often quote or recite lines of his poetry. She continued a tradition from her childhood where, on New Years Eve you brought a gift to the party of a song or poem. When I was a wee laddie, as she called me, I remember her giant New Years Eve dinners with up to 20 people. At midnight I would hear a rousing scotch fueled rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

For me Friday night was a great night to remember the great Robbie Burns and my

late mother, or Mum as we called her.

Thank you to Yvonne McSkimming and her kitchen helpers, Tess Taylor, Helen Wallwork, and Sarah Haxby. And to Shirley and David Wrinch, the servers for the evening. The haggis was great, as were the fixings.

I would also like to thank piper Joe McDonald who brought the house down with his skilled playing and his witty banter.

He did a great "Address to the Haggis" with help from the kilted Sarah Haxby.

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care, And dish them out their bill o' fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer Gie her a haggis! ----- Robbert Burns "Address to a Haggis"

JACQUELINE MASSEY SUBMISSION

An interview with Dave Pollard, Treasurer of the Bowen Island Arts Council. BIAC recently was given permission and direction from council to coordinate an update of the s Cultural Master Plan bylaw.

Dave, what is a Cultural Master Plan and why is ours being updated?

Many Canadian communities have such a plan.

It identifies the community’s artistic and cultural assets (resources, facilities, programs and skills), assesses how those assets meet the community’s needs, and makes recommendation on what might be done to address unmet needs. This enables better coordination of activities among Bowen’s artists and cultural organizations, and helps identify priorities for new projects and investments. Our plan hasn’t been updated since 2002, so it’s long overdue for an update.

Piper Joe McDonald.

Sophie Bragg, photo

This week in Undercurrent history MAUREEN SAWASY UNDERCURRENT HISTORIAN

25 years ago in the Undercurrent

In her column, “Island News”, Laura Cochrane commented on being singled out as being the mouthpiece for a “sinister group of elected officials” by what she described as a “newcomer to the island”. The controversy was surrounding the loop road and cove congestion. From Laura Cochrane’s column: It is the people, of long standing on the Island, who voted for, and back “our elected officials” to seek out and solve many of the problems that have evolved with the ever increasing number of new residents.

In many cases, the new residents are uninformed or misinformed on the background of our local politics and on-going problems. They are unaware that the same ‘minority group’ have spoken over and

over against any proposal that comes up. This group has been listened to and informed over and over again ad nauseum. They have caused costly and frustrating delays until Bowen Islanders, our elected officials and the GVRD are fed up. They are the “minority” and as such must ‘learn to live with (the wants of the majority) or leave’ – or at least try to cooperate.

5 years ago in the Undercurrent

“The BAA buzz – Agricultural Alliance is growing a new sense of togetherness” read the headline on the January 29, 2010 BI Undercurrent.

Inside, writer Martha Perkins sat down with founding member Stuart Cole to discuss the formation of the group and how it was to be “a broad-based umbrella that does not have any agenda other than bringing people with similar interests together, introducing them to one another, and helping to provide the tools to make everyone thrive.”

What will the Plan contain and how will it be developed?

As in 2002, we will start with Guiding Principles, which articulate why arts and culture are so important, and convey the shared beliefs of our community about the focus, current state, and deficiencies in current programs and resources, as determined by an extensive series of open focus groups, interviews and surveys of Bowen Islanders. This will help us identify the major plan Themes – the main objectives for our cultural programs and investments, and major streams of activity for cultural support organizations and the municipality to pursue over the next decade or so. From that, we can identify recommendations for action and strategies to follow. continued, PAGE 12

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Fretless: Strings to lift the spirit One year on Bowen Island PETER WRINCH SUBMISSION

I moved to Bowen exactly one year ago. I had been living in Gastown with my partner and our son for four years and in December 2013, we decided it was too urban so we packed up and moved to Bowen.

When we arrived on the island, we knew all of two people. When we told people we were moving to Bowen, there were generally two reactions: 1. That is amazing, but won’t you feel lonely?

2. That is amazing, but what about the commute?

Socially, the last year has been wonderful. I have met more people on Bowen than I ever did in the city. It seems like every weekend, we have had someone at our house for dinner, or have visited someone’s else charming Bowen house. The friendships feel different than city friendships. The bonds feel stronger: the type of bonds formed by sharing something or living through something.

During the summer, my son and I spent endless days swimming and enjoying all the beaches that Bowen has to offer. We would often see people we knew (or were getting to know) enjoying the warm summer waters. This September our son started kindergarten at BICS and has a whole group of young friends that he plays in the forest with during recess and lunch. Our new daughter has also started going to Mother Goose and other community offered classes.

To leave my house in Miller’s Landing at 7:45 in the morning and to be sitting at my desk in Gastown by 8:45 was an incredible part of living here.

The Fretless play at Tir-Na-Nog theatre on February 8.

LORRAINE ASHDOWN SUBMISSION

A fine winter blahs buster is heading this way. On Sunday, February 8 at 3 p.m., The Fretless will grace the stage at Tir Na Nog Theatre to raise spirits and delight fans of celtic and folk melodies.

The Fretless is composed of four musicians on stringed instruments. This includes three fiddles and a cello. Winners of the Canadian Music Awards 2012 and 2014 Instrumental Album of the Year, the

2014 Canadian Folk Awards Instrumental Album of the Year and the 2012 Canadian Folk Awards, Instrumental Group of the Year, this ensemble is not to be missed. Their energy, pulse and sheer joy stirs the audience into a joyful state and there is no escaping their contagious joie de vivre.

Tickets are twenty dollars and available at the door or through calling Lorraine Ashdown at 778-6882061. This is guaranteed to be a sold out show so please reserve early and don’t be disappointed. You can learn more about The Fretless at www.thefretless.com.

Municipal hall open for business

MELANIE MASON SUBMISSION

Councillors Sue-Ellen Fast, Maureen Nicholson and Melanie Mason have scheduled office hours at the Bowen Island Municipal Hall.

Starting this week, feel free to drop in during councillor open office hours: Councillor Sue Ellen Fast: Thursdays 1-4 p.m. Councillor Melanie Mason: Mondays 10 a.m - noon (excluding Mondays morning council meetings.)

Councillor Maureen Nicholson: Tuesdays 9:30-11 a.m.

To make an appointment with the mayor and other councillors, email them directly.

All email addresses are available on the BIM website.

One of the main places I built community on Bowen was on Mike Shannon’s English Bay Launch water taxi. The 8 a.m. run to Coal Harbour was huge part of making life on Bowen sustainable for me. To leave my house in Miller’s Landing at 7:45 in the morning and to be sitting at my desk in Gastown by 8:45 was an incredible part of living here. I often thought of those poor saps stuck in bumper to bumper traffic coming in from Langley while I was cruising under the Lions Gate Bridge surrounded by my new friends and neighbours.

Mike has been running English Bay Launch with little or no support from the municipality for almost half a decade. He has tried to figure out a way to make the service more financially viable. This year he finally got the municipality to agree to link to his website from the municipal website.

With the MLU period for the Queen of Capilano approaching, I thought that supporting the water taxi would be a perfect way for BC Ferries to avoid the car overloads and that it would provide the small subsidy that Mike needed to finally get the ridership he needed to make the business sustainable. In the age of climate change, the idea of getting up to 50 people out of their cars and straight downtown seemed like a no-brainer to me.

One night in September, after getting off the Water Taxi, I saw Murray Skeels campaigning for Mayor in the ferry line-up. I approached him and asked him what he thought of supporting the water taxi with a small subsidy - his response was that it was not possible to run a water taxi in the winter, so it was a nonstarter. I told him Mike had done it the previous year (and as far as I knew for the past few years). He seemed unconvinced. I thought about pulling out my receipts from the winter and then thought the better of it.

Living here for a year, I have started to wonder why their isn’t more municipal support for a sustainable water taxi that carries Bowen Islanders downtown. Part of the answer is certainly the fact that there are currently two water taxi companies offering very different services. Would it not make more sense to combine these services so that both the lucrative ambulance contract and the needs of daily and late night commuters could be covered?

This is a beautiful island. I am very happy to call it home. My small family loves the community, the bonfires, the hiking, the ocean swimming, and the amazing amenities. Living here we touch nature so much more deeply than those living in the City. We are uniquely positioned to support new modes of transportation that encourage people to get out of their vehicles and onto their feet and into their community. A sustainable passenger ferry is one of these new modes. I hope one day our beautiful island will support it.

Dee Elliott

Frazer Elliott

D ELLIOT 604.612.7798 Bowen Island.

Living It, Loving It.

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Dee is very pleased to announce that her son Fr Frazer azer Elliott has obtained his rreal eal estate license and has joined her office working exclusively on Bowen Island.

Our family moved to Bowen Island when Frazer was 2 years old. He attended BI preschool, B.I.Community School, and then commuted to Rockridge and West Vancouver High Schools. Frazer obtained his BA from the University of Victoria and then a BEd from UBC. After teaching in Australia for a couple of years, Frazer and his wife Janina have just moved back to Bowen where they have chosen to call home for this next chapter of their lives together.

www.bowenhomes.ca info@bowenhomes.ca

8 • FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015

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Bee talk at Café Rustique A gift they’re hoping won’t be used SUSANNE MARTIN SUBMISSION

For gardeners and farmers, enlisting the help of bees, even wild bees, can have a large impact. A study in northern Alberta, for example, found that canola farmers who’d left one third of their land as unmanaged habitat within bee flight of their crop made more than double the profit of their counterparts who farmed 100 percent of the land.

That was what bee biologist Mark Winston told me about a year ago, when I was working on an article about pollination and wanted to know about wild bees.

He had agreed to meet me for coffee and shared stories from his book Bee Time: Lessons From the Hive. Dedicated to “valuing nature,” the chapter he quoted from confirms that improved wild bee habitat can lead to increased yields for crops that require pollination.

I believe this and similar sentiments will resonate strongly with residents of Bowen Island, where Winston will read on Tuesday, February 3, at 8 p.m. at Rustique Bistro. A special dinner, starting at 6 p.m. will feature honey-inspired dishes, no reservations are required.

He takes his knowledge from working with bees and beekeepers and applies it to the plight of humans.

Winston’s book has been greeted with much enthusiasm, especially at a time when there’s a buzz about beekeeping, which has become both difficult and expensive due to the Colony Collapse Disorder that decimated managed honeybee colonies by one third annually since 2006. Winston, who presents his insights in accessible, well-written prose, doesn't only look at bees. He takes his knowledge from working with bees and beekeepers and applies it to the plight of humans.

"There are powerful lessons to be learned from bees about how we humans can better understand our place in nature, engage the people and events surrounding us with greater focus and clarity, interact more effectively in our relationships and communities, and open ourselves to a deeper understanding of who we are as individuals, communities and a species,” Winston says.

Bee Time: Lessons From the Hive will be available at the event, courtesy of Phoenix on Bowen.

ALPINE FIREWOOD R001963403 BI03

The Bowen Island Legion helped Bowen Court kick-off heart and stroke month (February) early, with the gift of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Nairn Knipe (left) hands the AED to Renate Williams.

Meribeth Deen, photo

The Question Webb TANIA WEBB

SUBMISSION

Bowen Island - Do you have any quirky queries that you want the answer to, but just don't know who to ask? Let me catch your anonymous questions and seek out the answer in this fun and new column for the Undercurrent! Send in your questions about life, drama, dating, science, animals, nutrition, or even mechanics or gardening... basically anything, and I will seek out the answer from a Bowen Island

Specialist. Why? Well, our little island community has a plethora of expertise, and many of us share in the belief that this would be a fun-tastic way to highlight our Bowen talents - who needs the big city specialists? Not us!! I aim to seek out the answers to your interesting questions by interviewing a Bowen expert each week. So, please send your anonymous questions big/small, sane/crazy, sensitive/bold, and let me see if I can get that solved for you! Please send your questions to editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

3rd Annual IPS Fundraising Dinner dinner. The Bowen Island Legion will be transformed into a “dhaba”, or roadside restaurant, and the Bailey’s will be serving up an array of Indian specialties.

Most of the recipes being used were gathered durOn January 31, head to the legion to be transporting their extended stay in South India in 2009, where ed to the land of swaying coconuts, water buffalo, they spent seven months collecting and filming reciand blazing sun. Well, almost... pes from home cooks in the city of Cochin, in the That evening, Rob and Laurel Bailey are putting on state of Kerala. their third Island Pacific School annual fundraising For the last two years, Rob and Laurel have volunteered to whip up a multi-course meal for 80 or so people, along with adult volunteers for the bar and IPS student Dr. Robert Wilson Ph.D., volunteers to help serve.

This is different food experienced registered psychologist, will provide from what you might services in Horseshoe Bay beginning January 2015. expect when you go out to an Indian restaurant in Vancouver. Almost all of the restaurant food here is North Indian, and South Indian home-style dishes are much different, with an emphasis on coconut, fish, and legumes.

This event sells out every year, so you are advised to not show up late! All proceeds go to IPS. Tickets to the dinner are 25 dollars, and can be purchased in advance from Barb at IPS directly, or take your chances at the door. Door open at 5:15, and dinner will For an appointment please call: be served at 6PM. Beer 604-831-7792 and wine is available for $5 For additional information visit my website at

ROB BAILEY

SUBMISSION

604-725-2869

Best price onALPINE bone dry firewood for the month of February www.alpinefirewood.com

Announcement of Psychological Services

Services will include counselling for:

Anxiety Depression Grief Marital problems Work and lifestyle distress Also available is a unique proactive five-session series for couples titled

“Building Relationship Resilience.”

www.rfwilsonpsychologist.com

FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015 • 9

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LNG 101 - Salmon and Hot Seawater don’t mix EOIN FINN SUBMISSION

For all of us, and for the First Nations in particular, is there anything in BC more sacred and iconic than salmon? The wild kind, that is. Nature’s amazing bounty - salmon is one of the planet’s four great food fish species that have sustained coastal and riverine communities for millennia.

The development of LNG plants on our coast should be of major concern to everyone in BC. If these developments follow easier and cheaper design options of using seawater to cool the liquefaction process, millions of juvenile salmon will be at risk. The invisible culprit? Elevated ocean water temperatures caused by the release of massive amounts of unnaturally warm, chlorinated, virtually dead seawater back into the marine environment.

Most of BC’s proposed LNG plants plan to use seawater cooling systems. It is the cheapest option. But with this we risk a mismanagement scenario on the Pacific coast akin to the CORDELL WYNNE R001964754 BI03

Announcement:

The Bowen Island Film Society, now inactive, is pleased to announce that following a selection process, its equipment and assets have been transferred to the Bowen Island Arts Council which is now the steward of these community resources. The Film Society wishes to thank its members, the Bowen Island Municipality, Collins Hall, Tim Moynahan. James Tocher, David Cameron, Reed and the numerous community members who contributed time, money and resources to bring high quality film programming to Bowen Island for many years. Installation of the equipment at the Gallery at Artisan Sq. is now complete thanks to volunteers Reed Bement and John Jerman. Watch for new initiatives from BIAC as they integrate these new assets into their activities.

The Bowen Island Film Society thanks you for your support of the arts on our island.

Cordell Wynne, president BIFF BOWEN ISLAND ARTS COUNCIL R001963401 Gallery @ Artisan Square Presents BI03 Fundraising Exhibit & Auction

ala

i-G n i M l a Annu

BIAC

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Gala event features Graham Ritchie, Masterful Auctioneer Marc Gawthrop, Entertainer Extraordinaire Doors open at 7 p.m. Auction begins at 7:30 pm Tickets: $15. Available from Phoenix, the Gallery or online

Exhibit runs from February 6 - 22 Featuring mini-masterpieces by more than 60 local artists Sponsored by:

OPUS

BOWEN ISLAND ARTS Call for Volunteer Members for theCOUNCIL Steering Committee of the R001963402 Cultural Master Plan (CMP) BI03 BIM Council has authorized the Bowen Island Arts Council to proceed with the review and update of the CMP a bylaw of the municipality. BIAC will conduct a public process and update the plan, originally written in 2002. BIAC is seeking members for the Steering Committee of the CMP Update. The role of the committee will be to oversee the development and production of the CMP, to provide input and guidance and to engage and help coordinate a public consultation process. The committee may select a professional facilitator to aid with this work. The time commitment is estimated at approximately 40 hours in total including 10 – 12 meetings over a 12 – 18 month period. Dave Pollard, Treasurer of BIAC, has agreed to chair the committee. We are seeking 6 – 9 members, representatives of the following communities:

BIAC

* arts * recreation * tourism * education

* healing, health & wellness * heritage/historians * business

* First Nations * youth * environmental/nature * community at large

If you are interested in participating, please submit a letter stating your interest to Jacqueline Massey, Executive Director, BIAC, at admin@biac.ca, or BIAC, Box 211, Bowen Island, BC, V0N 1G0, no later than Wednesday, February 18. Please include your background and a rationale as to why you would like to sit on the committee.

Atlantic cod debacle. We have lessons to learn from other jurisdictions.

Until 2010, the 21 power generation plants along California’s coastline pulled in nearly 17 billion gallons of seawater each day in a practice called “once-through” cooling. This is where ocean water is used as a kind of radiator fluid to help cool the gas-turbine and nuclear power plants generating 40 percent of California’s electricity.

But this “once-through” cooling practice has killed billions of fish eggs, larvae and other marine life. Eighty square miles of California’s coastal habitat was affected on a daily basis.

The Ocean Unit of the California Water Resources Control Board estimated that once-through cooling systems used in their coastal power plants killed 2.6 million fish, 19 billion fish larvae, and 57 seals, sea lions and sea turtles every year. This depletion of the ocean food chain has continued for decades.

In once-through systems, these organisms are sucked into the water intakes, gassed with chlorine and barbecued in the cooling towers. Their corpses are then expelled back into the ocean to decay and deplete life-giving oxygen in the water column. Scientists, environmentalists, First Nations and fishers all agree - once-through cooling systems are seriously damaging to coastal ecosystems, especially in bays and estuaries,

which are critical nursery habitats for fish. According to the California Energy Commission, once-through cooling represents “the single greatest and unaddressed environmental issue associated with power plant operation in the state”.

A prominent marine biologist puts it like this: “Seawater is not just water. It is actually a community of living organisms, some of which spend their whole lives in that water. They… produce eggs and larvae that grow up in that water.”

New cooling regulations were adopted by California’s Water Resources Control board in 2010. By 2015, 19 coastal power plants will stop using once-through cooling, and start using a modern cooling alternative.

You may ask– how does this concern BC? The answer: most of BC’s 18 proposed oceanside LNG plants plan to use to use cheaper, destructive once-through seawater cooling to cool the gas to a liquid state. In their use of cooling systems, LNG plants and power generation plants are quite similar.

The “Kitimat LNG” 24 MTPA plant in Kitimat/Douglas Channel would suck in millions of tonnes of fresh water from the Kitimat River and discharge it, warm and chlorinated, into Kitimat Arm. The WCC (Exxon) plant in Prince Rupert’s Tuck Cove may use either air-cooling or seawater-cooling. continued, PAGE 12

Understanding LNG and climate change Next forum will move from PAGE 3

LNG affect marine biodiversity?

The BC government is promoting massive extraction and export of LNG as a “green” solution to climate change. What is their logic?

The BC government has focused on the fact that CO2 emissions from natural gas are lower than for other fossil fuels, and that methane emissions last relatively short periods of time in the atmosphere. Their argument for LNG as a “climate solution,” however, is flawed because it fails to account for the tremendous warming potential of methane over 20-year periods, and how such warming might contribute to runaway climate change.

Also, as climate scientist and MLA Andrew Weaver points out, the BC government has not accounted for the large amounts of natural gas required to fuel large-scale liquefaction and that increase the climate impacts of LNG .

How do methane emissions from PAUL HOOSEN R001964745 BI03

Not decreasing emissions from fossil fuels, LNG included, may indirectly impacts marine biodiversity. Among other impacts, warming increases susceptibility to disease for salmon and other species and—by altering the timing of migration and the quality of spawning habitat—can increase prespawning mortality. The consequences of warming and ocean acidification extend beyond salmon to many other species, including shellfish, herring, eulachon, seaweed and groundfish.

What about other fossil fuels?

LNG is not the lone climate concern.

Ultimately, all fossil fuels need to be phased out concurrently to avoid the worst of climate disasters and associated impacts on marine biodiversity.

Alejandro Frid is a conservation ecologist and the science coordinator for the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance

Hooson, Dorothy Eleanor January 1, 1921-January 19, 2015

Eleanor ”Elle” Hooson (nee Goodwin) died peacefully at Hollyburn House, West Vancouver, on January 19, 2015, at the age of 94. Eleanor was pre-deceased in 2001 by her loving husband of 55 years, Bill. She is survived by daughter, Jan Constantinescu, son, Paul Hooson (Jude Neale), grandchildren, Mark Messcu (Katy), Lora Genaille (Darryl), Jeremy Neale, Katie Neale (Geoff Tintinger), and great-grandchildren, William Messcu, and Eva Messcu.

HOOSEN

A graduate R.N. from Vancouver General Hospital and Public Health Nurse from U.B.C., Eleanor worked for the Provincial Government Clinic at V.G.H. She was a member of the V.G.H. School of Nursing Alumni Association, the U.B.C. Public Health Alumni, and the International P.E.O. Sisterhood.

Eleanor and Bill lived in Victoria, B.C. for 25 years, followed by Kingston, Ontario (Queens University), and Whistler, B.C., before retiring to West Vancouver in 1984. Eleanor was devoted to her deeply cherished family, and to her many, treasured friends.

A Remembering gathering will take place at the West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre, 695 21st Street, West Vancouver, Marine Room, on Saturday, February 7, from 1-3 PM. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Therapeutic Clown Program, B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation, Vancouver, B.C.

forward on assessing cumulative impact of proposed projects in Howe Sound from PAGE 1

The proposed gravel mine at McNab Creek has yet to file a formal application to the Environmental Assessment Office, but in response to the 1,200 questions raised during the first public comment period.

Burnco Rock Products has since expanded the size of the proposed operation, and moved it closer to residential areas.

Simons also mentioned the proposed Woodfibre liquid natural gas processing and export facility, proposed just outside of Squamish.

“The Environmental Assessment office responded to our call to provide more information, to more communities in Howe Sound that will be impacted by this project,” says Simons. “This is why there will be an open house on the project on Bowen Island this Friday.”

Following Simons’ presentation, council voted unanimously to take on the task of hosting the forum in April. As there will up to 80 delegates from the Howe Sound region at the Forum, the venue is likely to be Cates Hill Chapel. Simons mentioned that one of the most significant accomplishments of the most recent Howe Sound Forum, is that the province of British Columbia agreed to step up and work towards conducting a cumulative effects assessment of all the projects proposed for Howe Sound, and Squamish Nation is interested in moving forward with Marine Use planning. This work will move forward in April’s forum.

Want to advertise in The Undercurrent?

For guaranteed placement of your ad, please get in touch ONE WEEK prior to the publication date of the paper you are hoping your ad appears in.

(Papers are always published on Fridays.)

Send your inquiries to: ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com THANK YOU! Undercurrent Staff: Maureen Sawasy & Meribeth Deen

10 • FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015

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On the calendar

LNG and impacts to salmon

FRIDAY JANUARY 30

Legion Dinner Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner starts at 6:30

from PAGE 9 In contrast, to reduce damage to the salmon-rich Skeena and Naas rivers near Prince Rupert, the 20 MTPA Petronas “Northwest LNG” plant is instead proposing air cooling for the plant. That change came after much pressure from First Nations, commercial fishermen and environmentalists.

The controversial 2.4 MTPA (and potentially much larger ) Woodfibre LNG plant in Howe Sound plans to spew some 17,000 tonnes (3.8 million gallons) of hot, chlorinated seawater every hour into the Sound. The plant is directly in the path of the recovering Cheakamus/ Squamish salmon run in Howe Sound. The potential for again destroying this run should be of great concern– Howe Sound is only now recovering from the marine dead-zone it became over the last century.

Our Federal and Provincial governments do not have a clear and principled commitment to safeguarding marine ecosystems and BC’s iconic wild salmon resource. We need to adopt our Premier’s “world-leading practices” for cooling systems and enforce more robust regulatory oversight, else these LNG plants will utilize the cheapest option - with “invisible” consequences slipping under the radar. There are alternatives to cooking the environment with waste heat from industrial activity.

Eoin Finn is a seasonal resident of Bowyer Island in Howe Sound, a retired partner of a major accounting firm, and holds Ph.D. (Physical Chemistry) and MBA (International Business) degrees.

Places of Worship Welcome You BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH Rev. Shelagh MacKinnon

FOOD BANK

Service and Sunday School: 10:30 a.m.

Collins Hall Bookings: Helen Wallwork Minister of Music: Lynn Williams

DROP-OFF

CHURCH

Woodfibre LNG Open House and Invitation to Comment 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at BICS

SATURDAY JANUARY 31

Hotdogs and Hammers Free early learning activity for children 3 - 8 IRLY Bird, 11a.m. - 1 p.m.

24 spots available, register at bowencommunityrec. com or 947-2216

(661 Carter Rd.)

10:00 a.m. Worship • Sunday School: Tots to Teens Pastor: Dr. James B. Krohn BOWEN ISLAND HOUSE ACCOUN R002949193 BI03

REGULAR SCHEDULE BC Ferries REGULAR SCHEDULE January 5 to 31, In Effect May 15 March to October 13,2015 2014

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5:30 am** 5:30 am 6:30 am** 6:30 am 7:30 am** 7:30 am 8:30 am * 8:35 am 9:30 am 9:35 am 10:30 am# 10:35 am 11:30 am 11:40 am 12:30 pm 12:45pm^ pm 1:30 3:10 pm 3:00 pm 4:15 pm 4:00 pm†† 5:15 pm 5:00 pm* 6:20 pm 6:00 pm 7:20 pm 7:00 pm** 8:15 pm # 8:00 pm# 9:10 pm 9:00 pm 10:05 pm 10:00 pm

VANCOUVER Horseshoe Bay 6:00 am 6:00 am 7:00 am** 7:00 am 8:00 am * 8:00 am 9:00 am† 9:05 am# † 10:00 am 10:05 am 11:00 am 11:05 am 12:00 pm 12:10 pm 1:30 pm^ 2:35 pm 2:25 pm 3:45 pm 4:45 pm 3:30 pm 5:50 pm 4:30 pm * 6:50 pm 5:30 pm 7:50 pm 6:30 pm * 8:40 pm 7:30 pm*# 9:40 pm 8:30 pm# 9:30 pm

*

Leave Horseshoe Bay

Leave Snug Cove

BOWEN ISLAND Snug Cove

Distance: 3 NAUTICAL MILES Crossing Time: 20 MINUTES

FERRY

daily except saturdays # DAILY EXCEPT daily except SUNDAYS suNdays

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DAILY EXCEPT daily except SATURDAYS & saturdays SUNDAYS & suNdays

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DAILY EXCEPT daily except SAT, SUN sat, suN && MAYFeb. 19, JUL 9 1, AUG 4, SEPT 1 & OCT† 13 tHe WedNesday sailiNGs Will be replaced by daNGerOus THE WEDNESDAY carGO sailiNGs. SAILINGS WILL NOREPLACED OtHer BE passeNGers BY DANGEROUS perMitted.

CARGO SAILINGS. NO OTHER ^Wed & Mar. PASSENGERS 5-6,PERMITTED. 12-13, 19-20 & 26-27 ONly

†

Knitting Circle 1 - 4 p.m. Bowen Court - All levels welcome!

THURSDAY JANUARY 29

Duplicate Bridge @ Bowen Court Call Irene @ 2955

Bowen Nature Club Potluck and AGM 5 - 9 p.m., 602 Collins Lane contact 947-9562 Entomologist Will Husby speaks about our local insects and their involvement in our ecosystems Suitable for all ages

Seed exchange and garden planning workshop Starting at noon in the BICS multi-purpose room

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1

Bowen Island Legion Super Bowl Party Doors open at 2 p.m. game starts at 3:30 p.m.

Half time games and prizes

MONDAY FEBRUARY 2

Seniors Keeping Young Exercises start at 9 a.m., Bowen Court Everyone welcome

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3

AA Meeting Collins Hall 7:15 p.m.

FEBRUARY 8

The Fretless In concert at Tir-na-nog at 3 p.m.

Tickets $20 at the door or through Lorraine Ashdown, call Lorraine Ashdown at 778-688-2061 FEBRUARY 14 Bowen Island pre-school registration 10 a.m. - Noon, Children’s Centre

FEBRUARY 19, 20, 21

Shakespeare’s Cymbeline Directed by Graham Ritchie 7:15 Cates Hill Chapel Tickets $20 from the library

FEBRUARY 8

AGORA Forum discussing Education 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Gallery at Artisan Square

BOWEN ISLAND HOUSE ACCOUN R001964635 BI03

HEALTH & WELLNESS

604-988-6304

CATES HILL CHAPEL www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4

UPCOMING

Pastor Clinton Neal 1070 Miller Road 604-947-0384 Service 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m.

Mass: 10:30 a.m. Priest: Father James Comey

Biologist Mark Winston, author of Bee Time: Lessons from the Hive, talks at Rustique Bistro starting at 8 p.m.

A special honey-inspired meal starts at 6 p.m.

No reservation required

Youth Open Gym 6 - 8:30 p.m at BICS

BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH

ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

TUESDAY CONTINUED

Dr. Dana Barton

Naturopathic Physician 596 B. Artisan Square

604-730-1174 Natural Family Medicine

Dr. Gloria Chao Family Dentist

Artisan Square 604-947-0734 Alternate Fridays 10am - 4:30pm Horseshoe Bay 604-921-8522 www.bowenislanddental.com

DiD you know you can aDvErtisE in this spacE for as littlE as

10

$ /wEEk.

Email Maureen for more information ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Dr. Utah Zandy 604-947-9830 CALL FOR APPOINTMENT OPEN TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS

Psychologist Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt PhD, R.Psych #1484

604-376-9801 www.CarolynNesbitt.com

Registered Massage Therapist

Body Vitality Massage therapy

M.D.

Now 7 days a week!

Open Mon.Wed. Thurs. Fri. Call for an appointment Artisan Square

James Goldfarb RMT Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon 604-288-2860

604-947-9986

InHabit

Somatic Centre

566 Artisan Square Somatic Patterning Massage Craniosacral Therapy Ball Rolling Classes T’ai Chi Chih (778) 952-3757 Breathe Move Touch

Dr. Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncturist

❦ MARY MCDONAGH

HEALTH

Dr. Susanne Schloegl

CATHERINE SHAW

Jenni Griffiths RMT Tue, Wed, Thur 604-240-6485 www.bodyvitaliy.ca

RMT, DCH

(Available Mondays through Fridays)

❦ SANDY LOGAN Registered Physiotherapist

❦ ROBYN IZARD RMT

Registered Massage Therapist (Available Thursdays through Sundays)

❦ COuRTNEY MORRIS R.Ac, DCH

Contact

BLOOD TESTS, URINE TESTS OR ECGS

Maureen to advertise in this space.

EVERY THURSDAY DR. ZANDY’S OFFICE

ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

6:45 - 9:00 A.M.

604-947-2442

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

FRIDAY January 30 2015 • 11

12 • FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2015

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

Community comes together to give “stuff” a second life EMILY VAN LIDTH DE JEUDE CONTRIBUTOR

Eager to check out the Fix-It-Fair as much as to escape the Saturday morning downpour, I ducked into Collins Hall. The familiar smell of coffee and treats pulled me toward the kitchen, where I found some of the core members of Bowen in Transition.

Kim Kasasian, who spearheaded the Fix-It-Fair, beamed with enthusiasm: “My intention for the day is to get people to get things fixed, and maybe to learn to fix things, but the real thing is to break through that idea that you just dump it in the garbage and go and buy a new one. I thought that people liked to dump things in the garbage, and what I’m seeing is, I’m wrong! They’re thrilled to have the handle of the measuring cup put back on, and the leg of the footstool fixed.”

Indeed, the hall was filled, as much with the invited fixers as with those looking for knowledge and repairs, and just interested people lending a hand.

Councillor Melanie Mason barely made it across the room with her Europeanwired globe before Charles Rudd took an interest, and explained to her how she could replace the British plug with a North American one, herself. He never intended to share that bit of expertise; he was just checking out the Fix-It-Fair, and the opportunity to help presented itself.

Kim was delighted with the camaraderie in the room. Indeed, there were many small gatherings of people, all interested in the opportunity to learn and share experiences, whether over sock darning, mending, or furniture, electronic or mechanical repair. The communal atmosphere was pretty wonderful.

As Reed and Philip Bement sat reassembling Karen Heath’s busted Dust Buster, Reed talked about his vision for an open workspace for youth: “You know what a hacker space is – the idea is it’s a place where kids could go to work on their projects, maybe with a mentor sitting around to help them.” This is just an early whisper of a change I see coming to Bowen, nudged gently along by the Bowen In Transition group. Back in the kitchen, Jacqueline Massey point out, “part of it will actually help inform people about what a skilled community we have, so that we can actually have an inventory of all these fantastic skills and resources that are available on Bowen.”

That inventory is beginning, already. BIT has created the Bowen Green Guide, at http://bowengreenguide.com/ It looks like a fabulous step in a very positive direction.

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Bowen’s Cultural Master Plan from PAGE 6 To articulate this clearly to readers and users, the Plan will likely also include a Future State Story of what artistic and cultural life on Bowen Island will be like if the Plan is effectively implemented, a model of our critical assets now vs then, and a continuous learning component to help us amend the Plan each year as circumstances change, and assess our progress.

The Steering Committee overseeing the Plan will, we expect, consist of a cross-section of Bowen Islanders in the arts, recreation, tourism, education, municipal government, economic development, heritage, healing arts, First Nations, and youth and seniors, as well as members of the community at large (the “consumers” of art and cultural “products”). We have just put out an invitation to the public to be part of this Steering Committee. We hope to involve a significant percentage of Bowen Islanders through our focus groups, interviews and surveys, to ensure all views are GLACIER COMMUNITY PROMO considered before makR003965159 ing recommendations.

L781 Finally, the Plan report will be reviewed by the community, the Steering Committee, the Bowen Island Arts Council, and the Municipality, before it becomes, like the 2002 Plan, a municipal bylaw.

We expect the process to take approximately 12 – 18 months.

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The Black Sheep Morris dancers are returning to their roots! This rag-tag crew of island folk who love to dance and play are performing in England.

But they need your help. They have started a crowdfunding campaign to help raise $8,000 to pay for travel costs.

They’ve even thrown in some perks.

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To give Bowen Island two sheep-free weeks, go to FundAid.ca/ blacksheep to make a donation.

Who will be charged with implementing the recommendations?

The Bowen Island Arts Council will have primary responsibility for administering and/or overseeing implementation of the recommendations, and will report annually to Council on its progress.

How can citizens get involved or find out more?

The invitation to join the Steering Committee can be found in this week’s Undercurrent.

For more information about the Plan, readers can contact me (dave. pollard@gmail.com, or BIAC’s Executive Director Jacqueline Massey (admin@biac.ca or 947-2454).