Bowen Island Undercurrent April 3 2015

FRIDAY APRIL 3, 2015 VOL. 42, NO. 11

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Little builders

Photos from the latest fun at the IRLY

Bowen poetry

Jude Neale’s success... and Woodall’s “poet’s dilemma”

Howe Sound’s “tube worm”

You have more in common with this critter than you think

Realtor points to the numbers: It’s a seller’s market MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

April 12 - 18 is National Volunteer Week. At The Undercurrent, we are making April Volunteer month and will feature Bowen Island volunteers each week. Above are just a few of the volunteer drivers for Caring Circle. In 2014 these volunteers helped 36 fellow Bowen Islanders get to medical appointments in town.

Meribeth Deen, photo

Mayor Skeels stands with Burnaby’s Derek Corrigan against National Energy Board (NEB) and Kinder Morgan proposal MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

In a press release sent out by the City of Burnaby, the mayors of Burnaby, Vancouver, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Squamish and Bowen Island co-signed a statement of non-confidence in the existing National Energy Board (NEB) public hearing process.

The Mayors’ Declaration on Kinder Morgan Energy Process states that: It has become apparent that the NEB process does not constitute a ‘public hearing’ and is completely inadequate to assess

the health and safety risks of a proposed pipeline through major metropolitan areas, and the potential risks of shipping bitumen oil to Burnaby and through the Burrard Inlet, the Salish Sea and along the coastline of British Columbia.

Kinder Morgan is proposing a $5.4 billion expansion to the Trans Mountain pipeline, the only line that runs oil from Alberta to B.C.’s West Coast. The proposal includes expanding the Burnaby Mountain tank farm and the Westridge Marine Terminal in the Burrard Inlet, where tankers fill up on crude. If it goes through, the expanded pipeline will bring 890,000 barrels of crude oil per day to be shipped to the open ocean.

Looking at a chart tracking the sale of Bowen Island homes, month by month, between 2003 and the present, realtor Dee Elliot is hesitant to say that the island’s real estate market has recovered.

However, Elliott does say, she has a long list of potential home-buyers looking on Bowen Island, many of whom are disappointed with the number of homes currently on the market here.

“I’ve noticed that a lot of people are coming here for trial periods living on Bowen, to see if they can handle the commute and that sort of thing,” says Elliot. “That’s a new thing for sure.”

She points to the numbers to tell the story: by the end of March, 2014, realtors on Bowen had only sold five homes. This year, they’ve made 17 homes sales through MLS. Elliott adds that with only 44 homes currently on the market, buyers are complaining.

“People expect more availability,” she says. “We may see more come on the market in the next few months. Last year, by the end of spring there were more than 80 properties listed.”

Elliott says she also gets almost daily inquiries from people looking for places to rent on Bowen, but there is little availability, and she doesn’t have time to manage these calls anyhow.

“I am too busy dealing with buyers right now,” says Elliott.

With regards to the sellers, Elliott emphasizes that people can’t expect their home to sell for what it might have been worth in 2007, or for a price comparable homes for sale in Vancouver.

“What makes Bowen attractive is the fact that we are cheaper than Vancouver. If prices go up that’s over,” she says. “Aside from that, there is no obvious reason why homes on Bowen are selling. Interest rates are low, but they’ve been low for a long time.

But there’s also the other thing I heard someone say recently: I came to Bowen because it was the only place I could afford, now I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Maybe that is the reason we see the situation we have here, now.”

For more statistics on Bowen Island real estate, see page 10.

continued PAGE 2

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2 • FRIDAY APRIL 1 2015

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Bowen Island welcomes new RCMP corporal

Corporal Paulo Arreaga with his wife Lucia and daughter Maya.

Meribeth Deen, photo

MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

RCMP Cpl. Paulo Arreaga, transferred from North Vancouver, has been living and working on Bowen Island for three weeks now, and with several visits to the pub under his belt, he’s started getting in to know the local community.

Cpl. Arreaga grew up in North Vancouver and his first posting with the RCMP was in North Vancouver. However, he says he asked for a posting in a remote community because he wanted to try something that was out of his comfort zone. By the time Arreaga’s wish was fulfilled (with a transfer

to Boston Bar, north of Hope) he had already met his future wife (Lucia) in North Vancouver. He says that because of her, he returned to North Vancouver where he was promoted to Corporal in charge of the youth division.

Fortunately, Lucia shares her husbands taste for adventure so once married, Cpl. Arreaga asked for another transfer to a small community.

“In a small community, policing is all about being connected with people, sometimes that means you are connected with them at the hardest possible times, but I hope to connect with people before something happens,” says Arreaga. “That tends to make things a little easier when there’s an emergency.”

Help wanted on Bowen Island MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

With summer just around the corner many Bowen businesses are on the hunt for new employees. While many restaurant owners say they are just getting ready for the busy-season and willing to wait until university and high school students wrap up the school years, other businesses are finding themselves more pressed for time.

Oydis Nickle is looking for staff both at the Union Steamship Marina and at Doc Morgan’s. Since posting on Facebook about Doc’s re-opening and need for staff about two weeks ago, Nickle says that she’s found a chef and a few line-cooks, but still needs much more staff.

“I think our timing was good in terms of getting word out that we’re looking for people,” says Nickle.

“Responses to our posting have slowed down, but I’m sure when students start to look for work in a few weeks time they will pick up again. As for the marina jobs, we’re looking for two people, and I’m confident we’ll be able to fill those positions.”

Céline Boyer at Café Rustique recently advertised for a dishwasher, and says she has not found someone to fill the position yet, but is not worried.

“You do have to start preparing for summer ahead of time, you can’t wait until the end of May to start looking for people,” she says. “Usually, it is not a problem to get students to work entry-level positions. Finding qualified and experienced staff, that’s where the real challenge is. We’re fortunate to have those positions covered.”

Shika restaurant on the Pier is planning to re-open in May. Owner Mitsumi Kawai says she is actively looking for cooks and counter

servers to join her team.

“I’d say our needs are on the urgent side of things,” says Kawai. “So far I’ve heard mostly from high school students - which doesn’t really help me find someone who can work full-time as a cook starting in May.” Landscaping businesses are even more hard-pressed to find labour.

“We need to people to work now,” says Rosie Montgomery with Home Farm Gardens.

Montgomery says that with a starting wage of $15 an hour, she is pretty sure the pay for landscaping is better on Bowen than in the city, but she’s found it increasingly challenging to find employees over the past few years.

“I’m not sure what the reason for it is,” says Montgomery. “I increasingly see young people are living with their parents out of economic necessity, so I don’t think it’s a housing issue.

That said, we might be hiring someone we met at a conference in New Westminster, and part of the reason that is feasible is because we can provide housing at the farm [Endswell].”

Jen McIntyre, owner of Island Girls Garden and Design says that she would like to hire two full-time employees, and one part time employee, but has been so busy working herself she hasn’t had time to advertise.

“I’m relying on word of mouth at this point,” says McIntyre. “Spring is my really busy time, so university students don’t really work for me. Also, you have to train them then they leave at the end of the summer. I did hire students last summer, but it just doesn’t seem like they really need to work. I need someone with some maturity. I pay $15 an hour to start, and will go as high as $20… but it is really hard to find the right people.”

Mayors express lack of confidence in the NEB process relating to Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain proposal from PAGE 1 The letter from the mayors also questions whether the NEB panel is independent from the oil industry proponents. It criticizes the process for the fact that the evidence presented never ends up being cross-examined, and also states that the proponent has failed to answer a majority of questions submitted by municipalities and other intervenors.

Ultimately, the mayors ask for the current NEB process to be put on hold and for a new one, created in consultation with local government, First Nations, and citizens, to replace it.

No one at the NEB was available for com-

ment on the Mayors’ statements, but in a letter to the Burnaby NOW, NEB spokesperson Tara O’ Donovan said the board is “committed to a thorough and fair environmental assessment and regulatory review of the Trans Mountain Expansion project.”

“Our processes are fair and guided by legislation, including the National Energy Board Act,” O’ Donovan wrote. “The board has determined that this hearing is fair to all participants and meets the requirements of natural justice. The hearing includes an opportunity to file evidence, two opportunities to ask Trans Mountain written questions, opportunities for Aboriginal communities to

B O W E N I S L A N D M U N I C I PA L I T Y

BOWEN ISLAND MUNICIPALITY PARCEL TAX REVIEW PANEL HEARING 2014

Please be advised that the Parcel Tax Review Panel is scheduled to sit on:

provide oral Aboriginal traditional evidence and the option of both written argument and oral summary argument.”

Bowen Island Mayor Murray Skeels says that he has been following the erosion of the National Enery Board process since the hearings for the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project.

“There has been such a serious erosion in the quality of this process, I’m not sure why they even bother to have it at all,” says Skeels.

He says that because the mayors wanted the letter to be released prior to any public discussion on the matter, there was no formal meeting about it.

“I chatted with a few of the other mayors in passing at the Mayor’s Council and other gatherings,” said Skeels. “My one addition to this release is that I wanted it to be made clear that in this situation, I am speaking as mayor, but that does not mean I am speaking on behalf of council of the Municipality of Bowen Island.”

He adds that there will be a discussion on the matter at Bowen’s next council meeting, April 7.

Written with files from Jennifer Moreau at Burnaby NOW.

Drinking Water and Persons Who Are Immunocompromised

FRIDAY, APRIL 10 27 AT AT 10:00AM THURSDAY, MARCH 2:00PM LOCATION: COUNCIL CHAMBERS 981 ARTISAN LANE BOWEN ISLAND, BC The Parcel Tax Review Panel is a statutory municipal body that sits once a year to hear complaints from taxpayers regarding the validity of the parcel tax roll.

Per Section 205 of the Community Charter, a person may make a complaint to the parcel tax review panel on one or more of the following grounds: a) there is an error or omission respecting a name or address on the parcel tax roll; b) there is an error or omission respecting the inclusion of a parcel; c) there is an error or omission respecting the taxable area or the taxable frontage of a parcel; d) an exemption has been improperly allowed or disallowed.

Persons wishing to be heard are required to submit notice in writing at least 48 hours before the scheduled sitting of the panel. If no such written notice is received, the panel will not meet.

Written submissions should be directed to: Kristen Watson Manager of Finance Bowen Island Municipality 604-947-4255

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 604-947-4255

ADVERTISE WITH THE UNDERCURRENT contact ads@

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.

• 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, V0N 1G2 • TEL: 604-947-4255 • FAX: 604-947-0193 • • e-mail: bim@bimbc.ca • website: www.bimbc.ca •

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Man overboard from ferry prompts rescue response

FRIDAY APRIL 3 2015 • 3

LNG: This is bigger than Squamish, this is bigger than Howe Sound...

Bowen Islanders show support for members of the Squamish Nation MERIBETH DEEN

JANE SEYD

EDITOR

NORTH SHORE NEWS

Rescue crews from B.C. Ferries, the Coast Guard and Vancouver Police marine unit spent a frantic hour combing the waters off Cowan Point on Bowen Island Monday afternoon after a man jumped overboard from the Queen of Oak Bay ferry.

The ferry had left Horseshoe Bay heading to Nanaimo, and had been underway for about 15 minutes when several passengers saw a man jump from one of the vehicle decks as the ship passed the south end of Bowen Island.

The crew immediately stopped the ferry and called in the emergency to the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

The crew from the Queen of Oak Bay launched a rescue boat from the ferry, while another rescue boat was also launched from the nearby Queen of Cowichan.

The Coast Guard’s hovercraft and fast response boat from Sea Island and both North and West Vancouver auxiliary Coast Guard units also raced to the scene, along with tugboats and other boats in the area.

Cindy Burggraeve was a passenger on the Queen of Cowichan when the drama unfolded. “I saw everybody running towards the lifeboat,” she said. Burggraeve said everyone on board was told to watch the water for signs of the man.

Crew members in a rescue boat from the Queen of Oak Bay were the first to spot the man, sometime around 5 p.m. and pull him out of the water. He was unconscious at the time.

The man was quickly transferred to the Vancouver police boat, along with two Coast Guard rescue specialists, who continued CPR as the man was rushed to shore, transferred to an ambulance in Horseshoe Bay and rushed to Lions Gate Hospital.

B.C. Ferries cancelled the remaining sailings of the Queen of Oak Bay Monday evening, including two from Nanaimo and one from Horseshoe Bay. “Adrenaline runs high and there was some trauma felt (by crew members),” said Darin Guenette, public affairs manager for B.C. Ferries.

The victim — a 45 year-old man from Vancouver — was later transferred to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver where he died Tuesday morning.

A spokesman for the Nanaimo RCMP said the incident is considered a suicide and has been turned over to the coroner’s office.

Squamish Nation organizer Khelsilem Rivers at Sunday’s rally at Nexen Beach.

Pauline Le Bel, photo

A bus load of Bowen Islanders, as well as Islanders travelling in their own vehicles, travelled to Squamish to attend a rally organized by Skwomesh Action and My Sea to Sky to protest against the proposed expansion of the Fortis BC pipline and Woodfibre Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Export Facility. The rally was attended by people living in various communities around the Sound, and while they were told the purpose of the event was to let the Squamish Council know how people within the Nation feel about the project, the issue goes well beyond regional concerns.

Speaker Khelsilem Rivers, member of the Squamish Nation, told the crowd that the people have made it clear to their leadership that they do not want LNG in Howe Sound. He went on to explain the reasons why.

“I hear politicians say that Liquid Natural Gas ain’t as bad as diluted bitumen. They tell me it’s a different product, an oil spill and an LNG spill are two different things. It’s not as bad, they tell me. My response to that is if we continue to frack in BC and destroy indigenous lands, if we continue on this course emitting the carbon that we are emitting, then that only means destruction, that only means death for the human people. It only means seas will rise, droughts will increase, water will become more precious...”

Bowen Islander Robb Schultz says that while he is unsure of the accuracy of what Rivers’ was saying, he thought this brought another angle to the discussions of LNG in Howe Sound.

“And I think it was good that we were there, the organizers seemed buoyed by the presence of all the people that came from different communities around the Sound.”

Cleaning The Site The Woodfibre site is being cleaned to meet modern industrial standards. Soil contaminated by 100 years of industrial use has already been remediated, and to improve fish habitat, approximately 4,900 m3 of historic wood waste has been removed from Howe Sound.

Environmental Stewardship

Maximizing Green Space

I M P O R TA N T TO YO U. I M P O R TA N T TO U S .

We have designed our project to minimize its impact on native vegetation. We will use already cleared space whenever we can and, at the end of the project’s life, we will replace any vegetation we have removed.

Meet Lara Taylor. She has dedicated her career to reducing the environmental effects associated with development projects.

Protecting The Local Habitat Before we touch anything on the site, we will identify important habitat areas to ensure they are protected.

We will also create a Green Zone around Mill Creek, and remove thousands of creosote-coated piles to help improve fish habitat.

As the project’s independent environmental consultant, it is important to Lara that Woodfibre LNG is among the cleanest LNG plants in the world. She works with the Woodfibre LNG project team and regulatory agencies to uphold the highest standards for environmental protection and long-term monitoring. Lara also uses community input to help shape the project to ensure it fits with the local environment and the local community.

Reducing Emissions

Building a project that’s right for Squamish, and right for BC. That’s our number one priority. woodfibrelng.ca

By using electricity to power our project, Woodfibre LNG will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 80 per cent, making ours one of the cleanest LNG facilities in the world.

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Congratulations to Holly Graff

viewpoint

EDITORIAL

Inching toward progress... maybe

MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

Of course not everyone agrees but, the idea comes up rather frequently that what makes Bowen so special is not simply its rural charm, but also the fact that we are just a hop, skip and a ferry-ride away from Vancouver.

There are moments when I don’t agree with this sentiment either. Usually, those moments occur when I am inching along Taylor Way watching a long line of other cars continue to inch over the Lion’s Gate Bridge.

Which brings us to the stark reality of the fact that whether or not we choose to be, Bowen Islanders are intimately connected to a city ranked as number 20 on the list of the world’s most congested cities.

And while it is so easy to gripe about the cost of a ferry trip, I think it is worthwhile to look at the big picture of our transportation woes. If I had a choice, I would take public transit on every trip I take to the

Dear Editor,

city. But that’s not realistic, because my trips tend to be about running errands in all corners, hauling multiple children and then transporting goods, which are sometimes very heavy (a door, recently) back to Bowen.

So there I am stuck in traffic missing the days I spent on my bicycle. And at that moment, I am really just wishing we had a better, more comprehensive system of public transportation system in the hopes that more people would make use of it. Because I am an optimist (sort of) I actually think that they would - maybe not all of them, but I do believe every car off the road is a good thing.

Is the Mayors’ Plan the magic bullet that will releive my angst? There’s no guarantee... but as far as I can tell, it is the only plan we’ve got, and working together with other communities to pool resources and attempt to solve this huge problem seems to me a better road to travel than standing as a lone voice in the wilderness yelling about our problems. We may live on an island, but I’m not sure we can afford to think like one.

After listening at a “visioning” workshop a few years back, Holly Graff set to work with James Tuer and Wyn Nielsen to come up with the Garden Gateway Project idea. She needed a charity as a sponsor in her appeal for funding to the Bowen Island Community Foundation, and asked Bowen Heritage if we were interested. We liked the idea and joined her list of supporters. She has been to council a few times and worked her way through some new pathways with our bureaucracy, got donations, volunteers and other in-kind contributions such that she has almost doubled the value of the project. Now, this week she has been given a prize by the Association of Landscape Architects of BC for her community spirit and her concept.

Congratulations Holly! A little more icing for your cake, and some sparkles! We have drawings of the Garden Gateway Project on the front page of our website for your interest and pleasure. www.bowenheritage.org Judi Gedye

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FRIDAY APRIL 3 2015 • 5

The hope of Howe Sound, part two

The Pollinator Garden Dear Editor, Given Metro Vancouver’s decision to not move forward with our proposed pollinator demonstration garden and agriculture education center in Killarney Meadows, we wanted to take a moment to thank those who, over several years, donated considerable time, money, energy and expertise to the project.

Metro Vancouver Parks staff have conveyed to us that they will not entertain other locations on Crippen Park lands, so we have withdrawn our proposal.

Huge thanks to all who participated in our engagement process and one-on-one exploratory meetings, and attended our visioning workshop. Thanks also to the many who provided technical assistance and also those who generously donated funds for our professional site assessment.

Finally, I want to recognize our working group, members of which donated dozens of evenings and weekends to this vision.

We would be happy to share our materials with anyone who would like to grab the baton and pursue this concept in another location on private land.

Sincerely Michelle Pentz Glave Bowen Agricultural Alliance/Killarney Meadows Garden Working Group

Betty Morton, photo

Celebrating the CRC docks decision Dear Editor, I congratulate our Municipal Council for passing a clear resolution that tells the province that Bowen Island does not want the building of any more docks at Cape Roger Curtis. The resolution passed in a four-three decision thanks to councilors Maureen Nicholson, Melanie Mason, Sue Ellen Fast and Mayor Murray Skeels.

The resolution reflects a message from Bowen Islanders which has been loud and clear as over 1,385 people have signed a petition opposing the CRC docks. I encourage our council to keep listening to the people and upholding our strong democratic tradition on the island.

In a beleaguered world where democracy is being eroded by plutocracy (“rule by the wealthy”), our long term struggle on Bowen Island has always been the self-determined journey that the will of the people must prevail. That democratic reality is built into the DNA of our community plan and the community which created it, and the only way forward is to keep spreading those democratic principles into every aspect of our way of life. It is only in doing so that we can continue to create a true model for the rest of Canada.

John Sbragia Bowen Island

This week in Undercurrent history parking. He had been watching a mid-morning ferry sailing. The parking lane was full, the ferry lane was full, and a car came down the through lane, parked, and the driver went inside a store for a cup of coffee or something. Cars enroute to the Cove had either to wait patiently until the illegally parked automobile was moved or pull over into the lane of oncoming disembarking ferry traffic. This is only April, and already the daytime traffic congestion in Cove is unbelievable

MAUREEN SAWASY UNDERCURRENT HISTORIAN

Undercurrent cartoon from 25 years ago

15 years ago in the Undercurrent •

It was 15 years ago that Colleen O’Neil debuted in an unusual production commissioned by the B.C. Nurses Union called, Hurl, Hemorrhage, Heal, the Nurses’ Musical.

Meant to be an informal way to dramatize the lives, hopes and hardships of nurses the production would be touring to various locations in the lower mainland throughout April.

10 years ago in the Undercurrent •

25 years ago in the Undercurrent •

•

At a GVRD Board Meeting, Bowen resident Judi Gedye, reported that the board discussed the plans for recycling and specifically a deinking plant, with concerns about pollution.

They discussed tanker traffic in Burrard Inlet and listened to a presentation by Bob Bossin concerning the potential tragedy of an accident for the environment and economics of the area. A moratorium on increased tanker traffic with the ultimate goal of reduction of traffic in the area was discussed.

A local resident called The Undercurrent office to report that Bowen Island is probably the only place in Canada that allows triple

The front page headline from the April 1, 2005 edition of The Undercurrent read, “BC Ferries purchases Cape Roger Curtis; plans a mega-terminal.” The article was written by newcomer to the Undercurrent team at the time, J.O. King.

PAULINE LE BEL COMMUNITY CAULDRON

We’re on a bus – the trusty Peter King at the wheel – going to Squamish to stand with the Skwomesh Action group to protect our home. We’re travelling down one of the most picturesque highways on the planet, The Sea to Sky Highway, 25 Bowen Islanders who want to keep the “natural” in supernatural B.C. We’ve been fired up by the smooth talk of provincial salesmen telling us the Woodfibre LNG plant and super tankers would be good for Bowen. We’re missing most of the great scenery because of the pouring rain, but our spirits are not dampened. We’ll join 500 others – from Bowen, Lion’s Bay, West Vancouver, and Squamish, all residents of this beautiful inlet who want to keep it that way.

I move around on the bus to find out why people are willing to get wet and cold. They don’t look like radicals, just regular folk who care deeply. They range in age from 11 (Simon) to 83 (Paul), from newcomers to oldtimers like Bonny and Robb Schultz who came to Bowen in 1972. “We have to step up,” says Bonny; Robb decided to step up when he heard Eoin Finn express his grave concerns about an LNG export facility in Howe Sound. “I saw a problem, and it was more imminent that I thought. Bowen is a real jewel. We need to protect it. The LNG plan is a real threat to the future – a betrayal to our children.”

Ann Ramsay, not anyone’s idea of a radical, believes this is a non-partisan issue.

“Everyone should be concerned. We should be abiding by the safety rules.” Ann is referring to SIGTTO, the world authority on LNG siting, which states that the busy, narrow waterway of Howe Sound is no place for LNG. “This is something I absolutely have to do – rain or shine,” says Allie Drake. “It’s one thing we can do to make an impression.” Dr. Leah Cline is quite naturally concerned with the health aspects. “The health of our Sound – our home – is intimately connected with our own health.” She won’t support something that will threaten the health of the Sound.

Kim Kasasian wants to be counted and hopes the numbers will be big. “All the reasons for not doing this have been clearly stated. A recent David Suzuki Foundation report on Natural Capital (the services nature provides for free) indicates that the services provided by Howe Sound would amount to more than $800 million dollars a year.” Paul Fast wants to “play his part to stop the giveaway of our natural resources.”

Chris Corrigan’s on the bus “because this is a local and important action of reconciliation and support for those that host us on this land. We’re being invited to come and be helpful by showing up. The importance of reconciliation is that we can do more together than separately.”

Jack Resels moved to Bowen just three weeks ago; he’s on the bus because of the future. “I think about future generations and how great for them to have what we have now – clean water, clean air, seals and whales and no tankers – all the beauty that attracted us here.”

Brent O’Malley wants to support the ongoing revitalization of Howe Sound and stop the possible return to industrialization. “I have a vested interest,” he admits.

“I own the kayak shop.” When I mention the possibility of the need for what Naomi Klein calls “Blockadia” - to physically stop the tankers from entering the Sound - Brent tells me he has 40 kayaks – 20 singles and 20 doubles – enough to get 60 people out into the Sound.

Betty Morton wants to “partner with the First Nations to protect Howe Sound – my playground for 40 years.” Peter Williamson is interested in “sending a message to Christy Clark that this is a bad idea.” Gillian Darling shakes her head: “I can’t imagine why anyone would want to desecrate Howe Sound with an LNG export terminal.” Martin Clarke is “fed up with this nonsense. After years spent reclaiming the Sound, it looks like they want to return to industrialization.”

Anton van Walraven is here “to connect with the Squamish and show government we are one on this issue.”

We’re here. In Squamish. We get off the bus, stand in silence, our heads tilted to admire the beauty at the top of our inlet - Shannon Falls, the Squamish Chief.

We’re here to support Joyce Williams and the others who organized this event.

Her love for her home – our home - brought us here. Her words brought us here: “God forbid our land should be totally devastated and the children ask: “What did you do to stop it?”

In part 3, we will look at other partners involved in the protection of Howe Sound.

Pauline Le Bel is the author of Becoming Intimate with the Earth, published by Collins Foundation Press

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Busy little hands at the building centre Well the weather was good, but it wouldn’t have mattered as little hands were busy pounding nails, and filling planter boxes with lovely miniature pansies on Saturday morning at Irly Bird. Twenty families ate hot dogs grilled by Anna and constructed beautiful planter boxes with help from Lena and a parent. Irly you did it again – welcomed Spring and even arranged for the Easter Bunny to leave bags of chocolate eggs early to the delight of the kids!!

Thank you Lena, Pat and Anna. You out- did yourselves as usual!!

Ann Silberman and Sarah Haxby

photos by Naomi Takahata and Sophie Bragg

BOWEN BULLETIN BOARD SLEEK 30-FT SLOOP

RELIABLE VERL900 FOR SALE

BY OWNER

$16,000 OBO

Fully Equipped, New main and jib, Like-new 13HP Volvo Engine, GPS, Radar, Depth Sounder, Winch, Dinghy & more.

Photos at http://miellyttava.wix.com/bomillia

Info Call Peter 1 (250) 507-3257

LANCE’S RECYCLING

I’ll pick up your recycling and deliver to BIRC for $25/load Kindling $20/box at Building Centre

CALL 947-2430

MOVEMENT GLOBAL DESIGN INC Movement Global, seeks a dynamic individual to manage the store at Artisan Square.

Ideally this individual enjoys working independently, is efficient, organized, has experience with retail clothing sales and excellent customer service skills.

Must be reliable, responsible, and computer savvy.

This position would suit a self-starter who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment.

Please send a cover letter and resume to movementglobal@gmail.com For further information see careers section www.movementglobal.com

Notice for Bowen Heritage Preservation Society AGM and Heritage Basics workshop to follow.

Sunday, April 19, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., at Evergreen Hall, 464 Melmore Road.

The workshop is free for members and $10 for non-members.

If you’re planning to attend the workshop, please email bowenheritage@gmail.com.

Old Orchard Grill

(new restaurant in Snug Cove)

is looking for full and part-time staff.

Positions available include:

• Cooks • Servers • Dishwashers Email resumes to chantal@oldorchardgrill.ca

Gallery @ Artisan Square Presents “WEARABLE ART” Featuring magnificent creations By over 20 artists from Bowen and the mainland 27 Mar - 18 Apr Reception: Fri, 27 Mar 7-9pm Dress Code: Over the Top

I cut grass.

Plus many other services.

One easy call:

Jaime Ogden

h 604-947-0383 c 778-868-1471

OIL PAINTED PORTRAITS 9” x 12” $150.00

ALAN BLAIR WILL PAINT A LIMITED NUMBER OF PORTRAITS IN OIL

@ $150

ea.

No obligation to buy.

Contact Alan at 947-0211

or on his website adblair.com

Randall Brannon Brothers Yip,

CA

ACCOUNTING, TAX, CONSULTING Tel: 604 -817-9536 Email: randallyip@shaw.ca

roofing& sheet metal

Call Mike at

778-829-2516

Bowen Island Sea Kayaking opens Saturday April 4 and is open every day until the end of October. Come out for a paddle!

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FRIDAY APRIL 3 2015 • 7

A Legless Feather Dancer on the Rocks

A tube worm in Howe Sound.

Adam Taylor, photo

DENIS LYNN

2015 METRO VANCOUVER

TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT PLEBISCITE

CONTRIBUTOR

The “feathery” animal pictured is Serpula columbiana, also called a fan worm or calcareous tube-worm.

These creatures reach sexual maturity in less than a year, and during mating season, the adults release sperm and eggs into the sea where fertilization takes place. The larvae spend several months in the plankton, feeding and growing, before dropping to the bottom to settle on rocks and dock pilings. There they begin to construct their tubes.

If you happen to see the Serpula on a dock piling, Bowen Island’s Government dock, for example, its hard tube-shell will extend outwards like a straw.

If you see them on a rock, the vertical tubes will be flattened by the wave action. On a calm day you can see these tubes, and if the worms are feeding the fans will be out. Once the tide goes out, the worms withdraw into tube.

The shafts of the “feathers” are technically called “radioles.” Small vibratile organelles on the surface of these radioles, called cilia, create feeding currents, filtering phytoplankton, zooplankton, and detritus from the sea water, and trapping it in mucus in the feeding funnel. (We humans have cilia on the cells in our windpipes, they trap particles of dirt and debris, transporting them from the lungs to the throat and eventually stomach to be digested or excreted.) The cilia then transport the trapped food to the mouth.

The fan worm can rapidly withdraw its feathery crown when a predator, such as a starfish or fish passes by, and then can slowly extend its crown by pumping blood back into the radioles – so the radioles are also considered branchiae or gills as they help to oxygenate this worm’s blood.

Elections BC is administering the vote-by-mail plebiscite from March 16 to May 29, 2015.

You can vote if you are:

■ A Canadian citizen ■ 18 years of age or older, on or before May 29, 2015 ■ A resident of B.C. for at least six months, on or before May 29, 2015 ■ Registered to vote in B.C. ■ Living in Metro Vancouver You can ask for a voting package to be mailed to you by calling 1-800- 661-8683 or online at elections.bc.ca /ovr. You can ask for a voting package until midnight on Friday, May 15, 2015.

Elections BC must receive your completed ballot package before 8 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2015.

Visit elections.bc.ca or call 1-800-661-8683 for more information.

ele c tio n s . b c .c a

1- 8 0 0 - 6 61- 8 6 8 3

8 • FRIDAY APRIL 1 2015

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Sun Run training diaries: Part #3 STEF SHORTT

CONTRIBUTOR

Bowen Island Sun Runners stretch it out in front of the BICS playground.

Stef Shortt, photo

InHabit

Somatic Centre

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

Chiropractor

Dr. Tracy Leach, D.C.

595B Artisan Lane Tues. & Fri. Call for an appointment

(778) 828-5681

HEALTH & WELLNESS Dr. Utah Zandy 604-947-9830

BODY VITALITY MASSAGE THERAPY

M.D.

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

Horseshoe Bay 604-921-8522 www.bowenislanddental.com

TEXT: 604-653-9755

OPEN 7 days a week!

Dr. Susanne Schloegl

Dr. Gloria Chao

Alternate Fridays 10am - 4:30pm

604-947-9755 EXT #1

MARY MCDONAGH RMT

604-947-9986

Artisan Square 604-947-0734

BOWEN ISLAND MASSAGE THERAPY @ #597 Wellness Centre & #595 next door!!

CALL FOR APPOINTMENT OPEN TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS

www.leachchiro.com

Family Dentist

I knew what she was going to say.

She was going to say what they always say: eat breakfast. Ugh. Eating breakfast within thirty minutes of waking up is like downing a box of saltine crackers after running a 10K. Not that I would know what running a 10K is like, but I can imagine it would be a similarly unpleasant sensation: food acting as an object perched obstinately on your tongue not knowing where it is supposed to go next, or why.

If God had wanted us to eat breakfast, I thought to myself, She wouldn’t have invented coffee!

But she didn’t start with the predictable glories of the morning meal. Ellie MacKay, everyone’s favourite dietician and nutritionist, gave the third presentation to our Sun Run Training Group. (I don’t know about you, but I can name at least seven strange items of produce that are now my kids’ faves thanks to Ellie Mackay and her Fruit and Vegetable program at BICS, the most notable of which being raw fennel).

Ellie was geared up and ready to talk to us about nutrition and how important it is for our running success.

And she was fun. She started with iron – surprise!

“What food has the highest iron content?” she asked as an opener to our willing group. The usual suspects were shouted out.

“Spinach!” Cried the vegetarians.

“Bone-in-rib-eye!” Cried the meat-lovers.

But no.

“Pumpkin seeds top the iron-rich list of non-animal products,” Ellie confided with a coy smile. “But the number one is oysters.”

Oh, yes! I looked down at my new, pink shoes fondly and remembered feeding my fellow-runner and driver Oysters Rockefellar from my greasy hand as we drove through downtown Vancouver on our running shoe shopping mission, and felt vindicated.

We’d thought we were being so naughty, but in reality, our vices are virtues and we’ve been superathletes all along.

If oysters win, so could their partners in crime.

“Wine!” I shouted, clearly over-excited.

Apparently, there isn’t any iron in wine.

Why do we sun run trainers need iron?

“Because low-iron staAt entrance to Artisan Square Suite #597 tus is a common condition in new runners who CATHERINE SHAW are building new muscles Dr. Traditional Chinese and stressing their bodMedicine/Acupuncturist ies,” Ellie told us.

Ellie spoke next of ❦ vitamin D – another

Naturopathic Physician 596 B. Artisan Square

604-730-1174 Natural Family Medicine

HARMONY SHIRE RMT ROBYN IZARD RMT ALICIA HOPPENRATH RMT designation pending

778-996-5911

Celebrating 27 years Community Healthcare

Now 7 days a week!

James Goldfarb RMT Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon 604-288-2860 Jenni Griffiths RMT Tue, Wed, Thur 604-240-6485 www.bodyvitaliy.ca

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

604-376-9801 www.CarolynNesbitt.com

MARY MCDONAGH RMT, DCH Registered Massage Therapist

❦

SANDY LOGAN Registered Physiotherapist

❦

COURTNEY MORRIS R.Ac, DCH Acupuncturist / Homeopath

Life Labs Tue @ Dr. Schloegl Thur @ Dr. Zandy 6:45am - 8:45am

For routine lab tests.

Specialized tests & children may be referred to the mainland.

blind side. Milk, fatty fish… Why do we need foods containing vitamin D? Cancer prevention, strong bones, and “cognitive decline.” So apparently, the cray-cray is a common condition in new runners, too. That fits. I know at least one new runner who went so crazy that she agreed to write a bi-weekly journal for the local paper.

When you are training for the Big Run (that is 10K, ahem), it is not a protein versus carbs situation, but rather, a protein after carbs one.

Finally, she got to the question that many of us ponder in ferry line-ups when our phones have died or when we’re on hold with Telus – the ageold question: protein or carbs? Old school says that carbs give you the energy you need to burn, but what about muscle building? The great news is that the amino acids versus alkaline dilemma is not an either/or, but rather a before and after. When you are training for the Big Run (that is 10K, ahem), it is not a protein versus carbs situation, but rather, a protein after carbs one. Carbs before your run, to give you that fantastic energy that is going to propel you through the streets of Bowen Island on a rainy, Saturday morning (especially if you have run out of coffee) and protein after your run. It’s recovery nutrition. Boosting the glycogen storage in your muscles.

Repairing the microscopic damage.

Carbs before, protein after. Easy peasy. It felt like the answer to the question of the universe.

The run we did that week was harrowing on paper: 10 minutes run, 15 minutes, 20 and then 10 again (with 1 minute walks between). Then, to finish, what the Sun Run Training Schedule doesn’t say: hugs, lots of cheering and a ridiculous amount of high-fiving.

The first ten minutes of running was like scaling Mt. Everest carrying your children’s back-packs in addition to your own. The last ten were like coasting down a water slide – one of the steep ones that only the Dads go on - whoosh. We even sprinted the last minute, all the while shouting about booking hotels for our big trip downtown on April 19th!

I have never run for 20 minutes straight in my life. It helped that Sharon Slugget was by my side the entire time, checking in on breath, on movement, and on pain. It helped that Jo Quarry was on my other side, talking about drinking tequila with Nancy Greene and beating her in a ski-race on Mount Washington. But they were still my legs. It was still my ass. It was still my poor, sad-sack, bunged-up hip flexor chugging around this muddy island for – yes, do the math - 55 minutes plus some!

Oh yeah, and I gave Ellie a call to check my facts – apparently, we do have to eat breakfast.

Blast!

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

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

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

FOOD BANK DROP-OFF

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

ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Mass: 10:30 a.m. Priest: Father James Comey

604-988-6304

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

(661 Carter Rd.)

10:00 a.m. Worship • Sunday School: Tots to Teens Pastor: Dr. James B. Krohn

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FRIDAY APRIL 3 2015 • 9

Who helps the helpers?

Innovative program hopes to make PTSD therapy easily accessible to first responders MARTHA PERKINS GLACIER MEDIA

Flashbacks that keep looping in an endless parade of memories best forgotten. Paralyzing anxiety. The black cloud of depression that leads to suicidal thoughts, self-medicating behaviour, family strife, feelings of helplessness and isolation. Death, at the extreme.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a devastating affliction that, left untreated, can have tragic results.

PTSD is much on the minds of firefighters throughout the Lower Mainland. On March 30, a funeral was held for a Surrey firefighter who had suffered from PTSD. It is estimated that more than 30 per cent of firefighters — as opposed to eight per cent of the general public — have PTSD, something that, until recently, they have not liked to talk about.

“In the fire service, we’re ‘manly men’ and ‘tough women’ and we largely keep our feelings inside,” says Vancouver firefighter Nils Gorseth, the executive director of the Vancouver Firefighters’ Charitable Society. “We have thought we’re not the ones who need help; we’re the ones who help other people.”.

Helping people exposes all first responders — firefighters, police and paramedics — to horrific experiences. While others can look away, they’re the ones who retrieve the bodies from burned-out buildings, extricate people from mangled cars, respond to suicides, murders, spousal abuse, and more. Sometimes it’s not the actual event they have trouble coping with; it’s the cumulative after-effect of dealing with so much tragedy.

But, as overwhelming as the symptoms feel, there is a cure.

“The real tragedy is that we are not reaching everyone who would benefit from the treatments that work,” says Dr. Christine Korol, a Vancouver psychologist who’s spearheading an innovative project that will make a proven PTSD therapy program easily accessible online.

... the more events you have in your life — and first responders see trauma after trauma — the risk of getting PTSD increases.

“Not everyone [who has suffered a trauma] goes on to have PTSD,” says Dr. Korol. “Many recover from a single event spontaneously. However, the more events you have in your life — and first responders see trauma after trauma — the risk of getting PTSD increases. Eventually, anyone is vulnerable.”

Gorseth’s organization is supporting Dr. Korol’s efforts to make PTSD therapy available to first responders across the province.

The Kelty Online Therapy Service at Vancouver Coastal Health is named in honour of the project’s founding donor, the Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation, which has raised $7 million for men-

tal health projects since the Vancouver teenager took his own life in 2001. It will use video, animation, and interactive tools that anyone can access at any time, choosing from topics such as depression, anxiety, pain, grief, panic, insomnia and addiction. When there’s a referral from a doctor, psychologist or therapist, they also get the support of a certified psychotherapist.

“Self-help is like trying to learn judo from a book,” Dr. Korol says of the program’s prime effectiveness when a therapist is involved.

“The therapist guides you through it.”

The Kelty service is based on a cognitive behaviour treatment program that has an 87 per cent success rate in helping people recover from PTSD. It will cost $70,000 to get the program up and running; additional funding will be necessary to ensure that there are enough therapists available for everyone who is referred to higher care through the program. Currently, no funding is in place for a first responderspecific PTSD module with focused content, important because of the intensity of their experiences.

Colin Thompson is a retired Vancouver firefighter. Last September, while attending the Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Colorado Springs as part of the Vancouver firefighter union’s honour guard, he vowed to do something to make sure that every first responder can get the counselling he or she needs. This August, he’s going to ride his bike the 2,000 kilometres from Vancouver to the Colorado memorial in hopes of raising at least $10,000 for the Kelty project’s PTSD module.

“Fortunately, at this point in my life I seem to have dealt [with stress] okay but I’ve worked with others who were not so lucky,” he says. “Where do we go when we need help? Who do we reach for and what services are available for us?”

That’s the $70,000 question. While peer-based critical incident stress management programs exist to attempt to defuse critical incident stressors before they lead to PTSD, this amounts to necessary “first-aid” for mental trauma, says Gorseth. “Surgery”, analogous to professional ongoing care provided by mental health professionals, is elusive. There is a solution, in the Kelty PTSD Program.

Gorseth thinks first responders will respond to Dr. Korol’s approach for five reasons: it can be customized to address first responders’ unique experiences; initially, it can be done remotely from home or work; it’s private, which may help to drive participation from the stoic first responder community, and; first responders, who often work five days on, three days off, can fit it around their timetables.

The VFCS is committing itself to supporting the Kelty program to help all first responders in BC, not just firefighters. “We are all in this together. Police, fire, ambulance — it makes no difference; we are a unique family, bound by our shared experiences,” says Gorseth.

Tax-deductible donations to Thompson’s FundAid campaign will flow directly to the VFCS’s commitment to supporting PTSD treatment. Donations can be made atwww.FundAid.ca

REGULAR SCHEDULE BC Ferries REGULAR SCHEDULE April 1 to May 5, 2015 In Effect May 15 to October 13, 2014

▼

BOWEN ISLAND Snug Cove

Sunday, April 19, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., at Evergreen Hall, 464 Melmore Road.

The workshop is free for members and $10 for non-members.

If you’re planning to attend the workshop, please email bowenheritage@gmail.com.

Leave Snug Cove

Notice for Bowen Heritage Preservation Society AGM and Heritage Basics workshop to follow.

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

Leave Horseshoe Bay

Look out Bowen Island, its almost baseball season.

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 12:45 pm 1:30 pm^ 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 10:05pm pm 10:00 pm

VANCOUVER Horseshoe Bay

Distance: 3 NAUTICAL MILES Crossing Time: 20 MINUTES *

DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS # DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAYS SUNDAYS

#

**

DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS & SATURDAYS SUNDAYS & SUNDAYS

** **

DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SAT, SUN SAT, SUN && MAY 19, JUL FEB. 93 1, APRIL AUG 4, SEPT 1 & OCT† 13 THE WEDNESDAY SAILINGS WILL BE REPLACED

BY DANGEROUS THE WEDNESDAY CARGO SAILINGS. SAILINGS WILL NO OTHER BE REPLACED PASSENGERS BY DANGEROUS PERMITTED. CARGO SAILINGS. NO OTHER PASSENGERS ^Wed to Fri PERMITTED. ONLY

†

One of the tragedies of PTSD is that there are ways to cure it. Dr. Christine Korol is working on a cognitive behaviour therapy program that will be easily accessible online.

Rob Newell photo

DEPARTS SUN to THURS FRI & SAT SNUG COVE 11:15PM 12:15AM HORSESHOE BAY 11:30PM 12:30AM

OPERATING 7 DAYS A WEEK

Proudly Celebrating Over 36 Years of Trusted Transport for Bowen Island & Howe Sound Telephone: 604-947-2243 Cellular: 604-250-2630 24 Hour Service Special Event Cruises PRIVATE CHARTERS AVAILABLE ANYTIME

email: cormorantmarine@telus.net web: cormorantwatertaxi.com

604-947-2243

Since 1978

“Good night sweet prince ….

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

This is a photo of Charlie and Gordon almost 16 years ago, when he was a new pup - Charlie was afraid Gordie couldn’t do the hike back home - so he put him in his backpack for the return trip.

Gordie grew into a strong hearty enthusiastic explorer, who loved his daily hikes - whether around Kilarney, up Dorman, or through the meadow, it didn’t matter. Such was his nature, so easy going, accepting, and loving of all he encountered. Gordie died on Friday March 27th. It was a peaceful beautiful passing. It was his time.

He had a very full life and travelled with us whenever possible - from the Caravan Farm Theatre, to the Blyth Festival in Ontario, to Theatre Calgary - to appearing with Michael and I in a production at the Belfry Theatre in Victoria - and stealing the show!

Some of you may remember him when he was“3rd runner up”for Dog of The Year in 2003! No small feat on an island of amazing dogs! Ed Sanders, who nominated him had this to say“ Gordon is a Zen dog. He is within the moment. He instinctively knows his individual space in the universe and totally accepts it - and what’s more, this brings him great happiness”And happiness is what he brought our family and all who knew him. He was the unabashed favourite of the grandkids.

He was simply the best. He taught me so much about life and love.

And death and dying.

Thank for for gracing our lives with your presence Gordon.

Good bye my loving and loyal friend … Susan

10 • FRIDAY APRIL 1 2015

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On the calendar FRIDAY APRIL 3 Legion Dinner Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner starts at 6:30 Jazz and Prime Rib at the Bowen Island Pub 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

SATURDAY APRIL 4 Easter with Horses 1 - 3 p.m. in the Meadow Everyone welcome Youth Open Gym: 6 - 8:30 p.m. at BICS

SUNDAY APRIL 5 Wild Food Tour Register by calling 604-947-9563 MONDAY APRIL 6 Seniors Keeping Young (SKY) Easter Monday - No program!

TUESDAY APRIL 7 AA Meeting Collins Hall 7:15 p.m.

New poem by Jude Neale chosen to grace bus walls

April 16 AGORA Forum Converstation on Doctor Assisted Suicide Starting at 7 p.m. at the Gallery at Artisan Square April 17 Future of God - Part 2 Bowen Island Yoga April 18 Municipal Special Waste Drop-Off Day Bowen Island Recycling Depot 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Purchase receipts per-load at the General Store or Municipal Hall. Payments will not be accepted onsite.

April 19 Bowen Heritage AGM and Heritage Basics workshop to follow.

12:30 to 3:30 p.m., at Evergreen Hall, 464 Melmore Road.

The workshop is free for members and $10 for nonmembers. If you’re planning to attend the workshop, please email bowenheritage@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 8 Knitting Circle 2 - 5 p.m. Bowen Court - All levels welcome!

April 24 “Beyond the Edge” photographs by Emmett Sparling and Tristan Deggan Gallery at Artisan Square, opening at 5:30 p.m.

THURSDAY APRIL 9 Duplicate Bridge @ Bowen Court Call Irene @ 2955

April 25 Wild Food Tour Register by calling 604-947-9563

Free hearing tests, hearing aid cleaning and checks Caring Circle. Call 604-281-3691

April 26 Wild Food Tour Register by calling 604-947-9563

Ladies Golf League opening day Best Ball followed by coffee party Call Susan Alexander for more info 604-947-2247

UPCOMING

MAY 14 Free hearing tests, hearing aid cleaning and checks Caring Circle. Call 604-281-3691

April 11 10-4 PM, Becoming Intimate with the Earth workshop with Pauline Le Bel, Rivendell Retreat Centre.

Information and registration: www.bowenislandyoga. com or 778-986-3669

Forage for food, medicine and to find your home Rhiannon picking stinging nettle.

Stinging nettle is one of the first greens to come back each spring, and is a powerful nutritive with high levels of vitamins and minerals. We use it for tea, broth, pesto, smoothies, braised greens and lasagna.

We also freeze it for use during the following winter.

MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

Congratulations to Bowen Island poet Jude Neale for having her poem, Emptiness in The Garden, chosen to grace the walls of buses in the Channel Islands, UK. Neale submitted the poem to the Guernsey International Poetry Competition for 2014, and she will also be reading the poem (which is about her daughter leaving home) at the Guernsey Literary Festival.

It was also announced this week that Neale’s book A Quiet Coming of Light, has been short listed for the League of Canadian Poets Pat Lowther Memorial Award.

Emptiness In The Garden

Your sheets are pulled back to reveal the small impression you left for me to guard.

Your head laid here full of dreams.

I walk with disbelief around the path that you had worn so thick with your parting Towels capture your scent the way moss fills chinks

Becoming Intimate with the Earth BOWEN ISLAND YOGA SUBMISSION

The Bowen Island Yoga Studio is thrilled to be offering Pauline Le Bel’s Becoming Intimate with the Earth workshop. Pauline, a long time resident of Bowen, a masterful storyteller, an award-winning novelist, and Emmy-nominated screenwriter, has presented these workshops in Victoria and Vancouver. They are based on Pauline’s book of the same name, published by Collins Foundation Press in 2013 and praised by the scientific and ecological communities. Michael Dowd, author of Thank God for Evolution, reviewed the book as “Science-rich, artful, soul-nourishing.” Janaia Donaldson of Peak Moment TV said: “Becoming Intimate with the Earth is soul food.”

Bowen’s Chris Corrigan wrote: “Becoming Intimate with the Earth is an elder’s gift of wisdom, guiding our hearts to a deeper relationship with each other, with our communities and with the universe that birthed us into being.” He added: “There are very few people I know who practice intimacy with the earth as wholeheartedly as Pauline Le Bel. There are many who will illuminate your understanding of the crises we face as a species… But there are few who have created their daily practice around healing, and a celebration of a personal connection with the earth.”

In her book, Pauline explores the old cultural stories that have led to a disconnect from our planetary home. She unwraps the new stories – scientific, economic, political and spiritual – that present a more positive and earthy way to be in the world, and offer hope in these challenging times. The book also includes Intimacy Practices and Guides that lead to the transformation and healing of our relationship with the Earth.

On Saturday, April 11th, you are invited to come to Rivendell Retreat Centre to immerse yourself in Earth’s beauty and generosity and to deeply experience how you are intimate with the Earth. Pauline’s workshops are playful, interactive and nourishing. For more information and to register: www.bowenislandyoga.com

A few statistics on the Bowen real estate market

Emily van Lidth de Jeude, photo

from PAGE 1 EMILY VAN LIDTH DE JEUDE SUBMISSION

This morning as I stood blanching nettle leaves, pressing them into clumps for the freezer, and plopping them onto a tray, I discovered a small cooked ladybug. “I'm so sorry,” I said, and lifted her into the compost. Despite all my careful picking and cleaning, I had still missed her – and killed her. It was this moment that reminded me of the connectivity of all things.

Insect sacrifices aren't unique to wild foods, as evidenced by the aphids and flies I find nestled into store-bought greens in winter. But this feels different.

I picked this at home. I picked it surrounded by the

buzzing of flies and other pollinators, by the dusting of alder and maple pollen on the air, by the wind and rain still in the soil. I picked various flowers and greens for salad, as well, some fresh green licorice fern for tea, and mostly... I did this with my daughter, at her request.

Foraging is about food; it's about nutrition and medicine. But it's also very much about home. It's about developing an understanding of and deep relationship with the land we live on, and with our community.

I love sharing this joy. So this weekend and at the end of April I'll be leading wild food tours again.

Please register by calling me at home: 604-947-9563

The following statistics have been pulled together by Frazer Elliott, who would like to add that the numbers are constantly shifting: • • • • • •

547 - the (approximate) average length of time that houses which have sold on Bowen have been on the market $270,100 - the lowest price for a home on Bowen so far this year $2,212,500 - the highest price for a home sold on Bowen so far this year 10 - the number of homes on Bowen that sold this year for less than $700,000 2 - the number of home on Bowen that sold this year for more than $1,000,000 $640,000 - the median selling price for a home on Bowen in 2015

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FRIDAY APRIL 3 2015 • 11

12 • FRIDAY APRIL 1 2015

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Saving the heritage cottages, that’s our reason for being

The Davies Orchard Heritage Cottages digitally re-worked by artist Kevin Lanthier. www.kevinlanthier.com

support of, and to bring attention to, Bowen Heritage’s aims to restore the cottages. The single apple tree in the image refers SUBMISSION to the hope of the orchard being restored for the enjoyment of the people of Bowen Island and visitors alike.

The above image was created by Vancouver-based artBuilt in the 1920s, the Davies’ Orchard cottages have overist Kevin Lanthier (www.kevinlanthier.com) as part of his looked Snug Cove for almost a century. Thousands of people Vancouver Specials series, which depicts various parts of the have used them to access all that Bowen has to offer. Cottages lower mainland. Separate photographs were taken of each were a common feature of the landscape around the lower of these Davies Orchard cottages, which were then digitally mainland before the 1950s, but the popularity of private cars extracted and recombined with other photos to create this and the development of highways meant that people travelled hyper-real composite image. The artist created the image in further afield for their vacations. Our cottages were neglected as interest in them waned. They were purchased as part of Crippen Park in the eighties, and in 1989, .com when GVRD decided they did not want to be landlords, the cottages were threatened Get exclusive access to the best offers in the city with demolition. Bowen Heritage grew out

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of islanders’ desire to see the cottages saved. The area now constitutes the only surviving precinct of that vintage of summer cottages in the region.

The cottages earned a reprieve, but Metro has not had the capacity to maintain or restore the cottages, and some have been slowly turning to compost. Bowen Heritage and Metro Vancouver have managed to restore five of the cottages, but without control of management and no formal heritage designation, it has been a struggle to capture funding or secure permission to use them. They remain vulnerable to demolition as their condition deteriorates. With no heritage protection, there is no legal reason to prevent Metro from deciding that they should be demolished for safety or economic reasons.

On the other hand, if we could get the cottages designated, and agree on a sustainable, community-based vision for the cottages, the Davies Orchard could blossom into the gem it really is. With beautiful views and space for games and gardens, the Orchard could become a significant feature in the Cove, for both visitors and islanders alike.

To this end, Bowen Heritage is hosting a “Heritage Basics” workshop at their AGM delivered by Dr. Karen Dearlove of Heritage BC, designed for communities who would like to adopt values-based management to conserve heritage and what’s more, leverage those cultural assets for economic growth. Participants will gain an understanding of what is values-centered heritage conservation, including benefits, challenges, opportunities and possible next steps for our community.

Karen assures us that NO heritage background is necessary. If you are interested in helping the cottages, or interested in the benefits of heritage for economic development, please do come along: Sunday, April 19, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., at Evergreen Hall, 464 Melmore Road. The workshop is free for members and $10 for non-members. If you’re planning to attend, please email bowenheritage@gmail.com.

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