FRIDAY JULY 10, 2015 VOL. 42, NO. 24
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Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
Steamship Days
Take a trip to Bowen Island’s past in annual celebration of the Happy Isle
Molly Quarry on TeamBC
13-year-old says Bowen’s co-ed approach helped make her a better player
Ocean swimming
Course gives children and adults the skills they need before diving in
No open flames allowed That means no barbecues or firecrackers. And it might be a good time to quit smoking... MARTHA PERKINS CONTRIBUTOR
Many people woke up on Sunday thinking that the night skies had left a light on. As smoke from nearby forest fires dropped over the Howe Sound, an eerie yellow glow heightened everyone’s awareness of our own fire risks. Pauulet Hohn took this photo from Hood Point West looking out towards Gambier.
Bowenians go against the tide in referendum MARTHA PERKINS CONTRIBUTOR
While everyone else in the Lower Mainland ponders why so many people voted No in the transit referendum, the opposite question is being asked here: why did so many Bowen Islanders go against the tide and vote Yes? Bowen Island topped the charts for the Yes side, with 62 per cent agreeing to the proposed 0.5 per cent surcharge on the provincial sales tax to pay for an expanded transit system and 38 per cent voting no — practically the reverse of the total tally. David Hocking, who used to work with the David Suzuki Foundation before becoming divisional manager of corporate communications at Metro Vancouver, attributes part of it to islanders’ progressive views on environmental issues. “We need to swing people from cars to transit,” he says. “The highest porportion of greenhouse gas emissions in the region come from transportation. If we want to address climate change, we need to address transit.” As well, most islanders’ dealings with Translink’s services on Bowen have been positive. “We get great local service from great local people… so we have a higher level of trust.” The No side tapped into people’s anger and frustration with Translink. SFU profes-
sor Richard Smith, who’s been an advocate of Peter King’s express bus for commuters, says that islanders’ dealings with BC Ferries make them better able to separate their anger and frustration with the corporation from their awareness that they rely heavily on its services. “Who isn’t mad at BC Ferries,” he asks, adding that few people would vote against measures to enhance it. “You can be angry at the bureaucracy but still understand the value of the service,” he says. Mayor Murray Skeels, who lobbied for a Yes vote, is proud of islanders’ support for better public transportation. He says he stressed the economic benefits of funding the $7.5 billions’ worth of projects through the sales tax, noting that not only Vancouverites would therefore be contributing. And with the province and federal governments each chipping in a third, “the return on investment was a no brainer.” Asked why so many islanders voted yes, he laughed and said, “we live on Bowen Island because we really hate traffic.” More seriously, he noted the high level of civic engagement on Bowen. “We have the highest level of education than any area in the Lower Mainland. We have a grasp on public policy and it’s not as tough a crowd to talk to.” PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13
Police looking for man who might have been involved with illegal beach bonfire The Bowen Island RCMP is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who is suspected of being involved with an illegal bonfire on the beach at Cape Roger Curtis. On the morning of June 20, three people were seen leaving the beach in a boat very quickly. They left behind a fire burning in a large hollow stump that was under a nearby tree. A vigilant resident reported the fire, which was quelled by the Bowen Island Fire Department. “No doubt a serious incident was averted,” The RCMP says Cpl. Paulo Arreaga. is seeking Since a fire ban was the public’s in effect, the persons help in involved were in viola- identifying tion of several sections this man. in the Wildfire Act and of the Bowen Island Bylaw 41. The RCMP has issued a photo of an unidentified male who is a suspect in the fire. If you can identify this male please call Cpl. Paulo Arreaga at 604-947-0516. Bowen Island RCMP file 2015-313.
A car’s hot muffler parked over dry grass. A flag billowing in the wind above a barbecue, getting a little too close to the flame. An aluminum pop can thrown into the ditch, getting hotter and hotter under the noonday sun. A spark from a chainsaw. These are the things causing much anxiety for Bowen Island Fire Chief Ian Thompson as he deals with risks inherent with the increasingly tinder-dry conditions. On Wednesday morning, the municipality issued a ban on all open flames including barbecues, campfires, tiki torches and firecrackers. (Details page 3.) If Thompson had his druthers, he’d even go as far as banning cigarettes. “Everyone’s just on edge,” he said after a series of meetings all this week. “This is unprecedented.” If a fire starts, it will probably be caused by someone making a stupid mistake or not realizing how their behaviour constitutes a fire risk. “It’s all about prevention,” Thompson says. “The public has to be a complete part of it.” Contractors and anyone else who works with potential sources of heat — such as welders and chainsaw operators — must have a water supply and fire extinguisher handy, shut down by noon and be on alert for smoke an hour after their work stops. This is very early in the season for the fire department to have to be worrying about such dry conditions. Fires in nearby jurisdictions, such as Sechelt and Pemberton, have clouded the region’s skies with smoke, making the risks a little too real for everyone. The municipality is working with various emergency services and levels of government to come up with an emergency evacuation plan in case there’s a large fire on Bowen. Until now, most of the concerns had been what to do if there’s an earthquake. Now the focus is on how to get people off the island quickly. BC Ferries has said it will do what it can should an evacuation be necessary and other water taxi services are being lined up. Right now, there is no formal system in place to notify people that they need to evacuate. The municipality is relying on websites, social media and the islanders’ ability — not to mention the sound of sirens — to spread news quickly. Thompson says they’re in the process of re-invigorating its NERPs — Neighbourhood Emergency Resource People — program which sees volunteers in each neighbourhood responsible for spearheading communication. If people spot a fire they are asked to call 911. There is a grab-and-go checklist of things you should have on hand in case of an emergency evacuation on page 3.