FRIDAY JULY 17, 2015 VOL. 42, NO. 25
$1
including GST
Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
Coping with drought
How Islanders are saving water, from the golf-course to the garden
Steamship Days 2015
Photos from last weekend’s festivities
Love blooms on Bowen
A “How I got here” story that starts with a wedding
Protesters gear up for a the boat ride to the north side of Bowyer Island where they waved banners and honked in unison to state their objection to the Woodfibre LNG project. Meribeth Deen, photo
Islanders head into Howe Sound New firehall location to honk in protest of LNG Plans provides equal insurance MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
Close to 40 boats, many from Bowen Island, blasted their horns in unison on North Side of Bowyer Island last weekend to protest the plans for the construction of a $1.7 billion dollar Liquid Natural Gas conversion facility at the former Woodfibre Pulp and Paper mill near Squamish. Bowen Islander and protest organizer, Anton Van Walraven says the event was planned to coincide with the flotilla traditionally organized by the Future of Howe Sound Society, but also, to come close to the release of the provincial Environmental Assessment results. This process, however, has been put on hold since the Squamish First Nation conducted its own environmental review of the project, and has made 26 conditions to be met before the project moves forward. “From our perspective, this is a good thing as it delays everything,” say Van Walraven. “It gives us more time to fight against the project.” Van Walraven spoke at a press conference in Horseshoe Bay prior to the flotilla, and was joined in expressing his concerns by Bowyer Island resident Eoin Finn. Finn mentioned that smoke from nearby forest fires nearly resulted in the protest being delayed, but in the end, these conditions highlighted the necessity of moving forward with it. “Climate change is here and now,” says Finn. “If Christie Clarke’s vision of exporting 80 million tonnes of LNG comes true, we will increase our emissions by 33 percent by 2020.” For Bowen Islander Peter Frinton, who attended the press conference and the flotilla, climate change is definitely an issue of concern with regards to this
project, but the development of British Columbia’s natural gas reserves in and of itself is not a bad thing. “Natural gas is the cleanest of all the fossil fuels, its better than coal and oil. I wish that we had access to it on Bowen, because it is cheaper than electricity and cleaner than wood,” says Frinton. “But when you are dealing with a non-renewable resource such as this one, it should be used wisely, and priced properly. We should be prioritizing local usage before we even consider exporting. Besides, we are not even looking at displacing coal and oil - this would just be an add-on in the countries where we plan to ship it to, and the deal that we’re making on this is just unprecedented and it is ridiculous to think we could know the value of this resource in 25 years.” The deal Frinton is referring to is one negotiated between the government of British Columbia and Petronas, the Malaysian company backing the Pacific Northwest LNG project near Prince Rupert. Provincial Finance Minister Mike de Jong says the project is estimated to create 4,500 construction jobs and could generate $9 billion in government revenues in a decade. A fair trade-off, he has said, for the part of the deal that would allow the company to seek $25 million a year or more in compensation should future governments raise income tax rates on LNG operations. The Green Party candidate for the West Vancouver - Sea to Sky - Sunshine Coast riding, Ken Melamed, was also present at the press conference and flotilla. He says that the deal with Petronas reflects the province’s desperation to keep its Liquid Natural Gas plans afloat. “These tax breaks can essentially be considered subsidies,” says Melamed.
continued PAGE 3
coverage for whole island MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
Lot #3 of Bowen’s municipal lands is relatively flat, and it is close to the RCMP and paramedics stations. These factors, plus the proximity to homes in Hood Point, led council to vote on this site as the latest location for a new firehall. The old firehall, on Grafton Road near Killarney Lake, was declared seismically unsound in 2002. In 2008, it was decided that instead of upgrading the Grafton road firehall, a new one should be built at a new location, a place where new, larger firetrucks could be housed. As of January 2014, council had decided upon Lot #1 of municipal lands as an ideal location for this project. Beside the public works lot across from the recycling depot, it was considered to be an easy site to develop, with easy access for firetrucks. Homeowners in Hood Point West raised objections to this chosen location, as it would have left their homes more than 8 kilometers from
the station - resulting in higher insurance rates. But following a site-survey of Lot #1, other issues were discovered. Site preparation measures such as necessary removal of organic matter, the building of retaining walls, and creation of an adequate amount of flat land on the site would cost between $600 and $900 thousand dollars. This led the municipality’s Firehall Steering Committee to look into other locations, and committee liason Alison Morse brought a new proposal to council on Monday evening. She asked for permission to go ahead with a site survey of Lot #3. Hood Point West resident Hugh Freeman is thoroughly pleased to hear that this lot is now being considered. “I just think that all homeowners on Bowen should be treated equally,” he says. With unanimous approval of this potential firehall location, Morse says the plan is to come back to council in September with further details about what trails exist there, the land’s topography, and what a firehall might look like if it were located there.
2 • FRIDAY JULY 17 2015
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→ COMPLETE FIRE BAN
IN EFFECT
NO Open Burning NO Camp Fires NO Beach Fires NO Fireworks NO BBQs
→ WAT E R U S A G E
R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S
The following recommendations apply for all Municipal Water Systems:
NO LAWN SPRINKLING NO CAR/BOAT WASHING NO DECK/POWER WASHING Please limit your water usage: Turn the tap off while brushing or washing Use the dishwasher only when full Use laundry machines sparingly Embrace the dusty look for your car Water garden by hand-held hose or containers Equip hoses with spring-loaded shutoff devices Collect rainwater Flush only when necessary
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Public Works department at 604-947-4255
→ AT T E N T I O N
P R I VAT E W E L L n U S E R S
Recently, Bowen Island Municipality has received reports of wells starting to run dry in the community. You can take steps to protect your water supply and to deal with a dry well. Below are some suggestions for private wellusers to avoid unpleasant surprises and have peace of mind: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
CONSTRUCTION IN SNUG COVE
June 30 - July 31, 2015 Installation of an oil-water separator Visit www.bimbc.ca for more information and construction updates.
TO REPORT FIRES OR WILDFIRES CALL 911
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
→ NOTICE OF
Check your water level, if you haven’t already Consider speaking to a qualified local water technician about installing a well depth monitor to notify you when your well reaches a lower-thannormal level Work with one of the local water companies or a group of neighbours to coordinate tanker truck deliveries or create communal pump and storage systems Consider purchasing a storage tank that will work in coordination with the natural recharge capacity of your well and will help to protect you from sudden water outages Remember that water quality and characteristics can be affected when the water table changes drastically, this may be a first indicator that water levels are low Talk to neighbours, especially if you are on a shared well or a shared aquifer, to agree on water conservation strategies and share updates on the level of the well Learn more tips about being “Wellsmart” at www.rdnwellsmart.ca or look in the Bowen Phone Book under “Water Systems” and speak to a qualified local water technician Go to www.bimbc.ca for more information
→ REQUEST FOR
MEMBERS ON THE FERRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Bowen Island Municipal Transportation Advisory Committee (BIMTAC) is seeking members of the public interested in serving on the BC Ferries Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC). The FAC is a sub-committee of BIMTAC that acts as an advisory committee to BC Ferries to represent the interests of Bowen residents and to bring forward local ferry service issues and concerns identified by residents of the community to BC Ferries. BIMTAC is particularly interested in receiving applications from students, seniors, commercial/economic interests and other community groups and organizations. To view the Terms of Reference for BC Ferries Ferry Advisory Committees please go to www.bimbc.ca. Please submit your application by Monday, July 27 at 4:30 pm via email, fax or regular mail to: Hope Dallas, Committee Clerk hdallas@bimbc.ca 604-947-4255 Bowen Island Municipality 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2
→ CONTRIBUTE TO A
CRIMEnFREE COMMUNITY
The Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers group is recruiting a volunteer representative from Bowen Island to serve on its board. The organization is a community service partnership between the RCMP, the media, and citizens to solve crimes in the Sea to Sky corridor. Board meetings for the registered non-profit group are held every five weeks, usually in Squamish or Whistler. More information about Crime Stoppers is posted at www.solvecrime.ca and www.facebook.com/ SeaToSkyCrimeStoppers. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers Board Secretary Jack Knight at jrknight63@gmail.com before July 31.
→ B O W E N B AY
WAT E R S Y S T E M A N N U A L I N F O R M AT I O N M E E T I N G
All Bowen Bay Residents Welcome! When: Thursday, July 30 at 5:30 pm Where: Malkin Creek Road Cul-de-sac (weather dependent, alternatively Municipal Hall, 981 Artisan Lane) What: Overview of Annual Budget, Water Reports & Operations
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Melamed: Fossil fuel investments hypocritical
FRIDAY JULY 17 2015 • 3
Entrepreneur sees opportunity in red tape MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
People steering ships of all sizes participated in Saturday’s flotilla. The dinghy used by Sam Knowles, Dan Dekker, and their sons Oscar and Milo was one of the smaller vessels in the fleet. Meribeth Deen, photo
In October 2013, the municipality’s Economic Development Committee recommended a number of changes be made to Bowen’s Land Use Bylaw (LUB) including the elimination of a clause that prohibits the rental of any motorized vehicles on Bowen. If this had happened, Ben Tamblyn’s first venture into the world of business on Bowen Island would likely have been a lot easier. However, that did not happen so the Tamblyn’s ambition to set up a scooter rental business will require patience and several thousand dollars worth of investment before it can get off the ground.
“After running several businesses in Indonesia, I’m used to dealing with bizarre red tape,” says Tamblyn, who moved back to Bowen with his family from Bali a year ago. “I used to see myself as an educator, but I’ve been increasingly turned-on to the idea of starting little innovative businesses – and I don’t want to commute. Launching an enterprise here is how I want to express myself, and my commitment to Bowen. And this is just my first idea.” Tamblyn says he had hoped to launch the business sooner, but as making the necessary change to the Land Use Bylaw will require five readings in council so he’s looking at a delay of 6 – 9 months.
continued PAGE 6
from PAGE 1 “And from our perspective [in the Green Party] exporting LNG or any new investments in fossil fuel dependence is hypocritical for any government that says it is in favor of cutting carbon emissions.” Melamed adds that in his extensive travel throughout the Sea to Sky and Howe Sound region, he has encountered widespread opposition to the Woodfibre project. “That is not to say there isn’t a diversity of opinion on this,” says Melamed. “There are still people willing to trade off the health of Howe Sound for the LNG promise, although we are calling it a false promise. Our sense, within the Green Party, is that the federal and provincial governments have almost intentionally created this sense of economic desperation that makes people feel like there is nowhere else to go. But we don’t have to put all of our eggs in this fossil fuel basket. Statistics show that job creation from renewables is 6 to 8 times better than fossil fuel related projects. We can’t trust the job numbers they’re giving us on these projects: we know that with Woodfibre in particular a lot of jobs and money will go offshore. We’re asking hard questions, but not getting hard answers.” While Woodfibre LNG is still hoping for regulatory approval for the project to come through by the end of the year, Anton Van Walraven says the next step for the Concerned Citizens of Bowen Island and other groups opposing the project is to come up with a comprehensive vision for the future of Howe Sound. “We need to create something that people can say yes to,” says Van Walraven.
STAGE 2 LAWN SPRINKLING REGULATIONS EFFECTIVE JULY 3, 2015
Ben Tamblyn beside the line of scooters near the ferry ramp. He plans to rent out fuel efficient 50 CC scooters on Bowen. Meribeth Deen, photo
Bowen Island Restaurants AT THE BOWEN ISLAND GOLF COURSE Monday - Wednesday 11:00-4:00 Thursday - Sunday 11:00-8:00
Call 604-947-4366 for more information
Bowen Island Pub
It’s hot. It’s dry.
Be water wise.
Increased water conservation measures now in effect. More at metrovancouver.org Residential lawn sprinkling is allowed 4 am to 9 am Even-numbered addresses Monday only Odd-numbered addresses Thursday only
Bowen Island Pub
Sun –Thurs 11:30am – 12:00am • Fri – Sat 11:30am – 1:00am
604-947-2782
Doc Morgan’s
Noon - close every day • 604-947-0808 Thurs. - Sun. 11:30 - 8:30 Monday Noon - 6:00 Wednesday 4:30 - 8:30
604-947-2997
The Ruddy Potato 996 Dorman Rd.
The Ruddy Kitchen 511 Sunset Rd.
604-947-0098
604-947-0665
9am – 7:30pm everyday
www.ruddypotato.com
Mon – Fri 7:30am – 3pm
Bowen Island Marina Pier Thurs - Sun 11am – 7pm www.shikabowen.com • contact: hello@shika.ca
Tuscany Restaurant
Tues – Sun 5pm – 8:30pm • Contact 604-947-0550 • www.tuscanypizza.com
4 • FRIDAY JULY 17 2015
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viewpoint 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.
The best Steamship Days yet
Here’s to another great race!
Dear Editor,
Dear Editor,
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in making this year’s Steamship Days the best yet. First I’d like to thank nature for the rain. It didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits but rather raised them as was evident by spontaneous outbreaks of dancing. Huge thanks go to the Union Steamship Company for their support throughout the year. The use of the field, marina and manpower are a cornerstone of Steamship Days. Thanks to the Bowen Island Marina for their successful ukulele BBQ sing along and wooden boat viewings. Thanks to the Heritage Folks (especially Rebecca Henderson) for serving their High Tea to an often packed house. Thanks to the Undercurrent for the four page spread. It was great! Thanks to our generous “corporate sponsors” like our First Credit Union, General Store, Knick Knack Knook, Royal Canadian Legion and the Bowen Island Municipality. Thanks to those who volunteered in March at the Outdoor Show in Vancouver and those in May at the fabulously fun fundraiser at the Legion (plus those who donated to its auction.) Thanks to Pat McCready for taking on the role of majordomo at the volunteer cottage seeing that everyone was fed and hydrated. Finally, special thanks to Mercia Sixta who’s tireless efforts on the USSC field from vendor coordination to the cardboard kayak race to garbage monitoring ensured that everything ran like clockwork. She has been my right hand, advisor and friend though many Steamship Days. Again, Thank-you m’lady. I’m sure I’ve missed someone as there are a number of folks who make Steamship Days happen. Like Judge Henley who walks into my office every year and hands me a check just because he loves it. I urge my fellow Islanders to come out and volunteer your time or support for such events. They are what make living here fun and offer a richly rewarding way of creating lasting Bowen friendships. Many Thanks, Alan Mills
The ‘Round Bowen Challenge kayak and paddle board race on Saturday June 27 was, by all reports, a great success. For 15 years, Bowen Island Sea Kayaking has organized the race but it wouldn’t have happened without a lot of help and support from other local businesses and the 66 participants. I would personally like to thank the Bowen Island sponsors, including The Bowen Island Marina, Ruddy Potato, and Bowen Island Pub. The race cannot be conducted without the watchful eye of safety boats stationed around the island, so the paddlers, and Bowen Island Sea Kayaking, are indebted to Stuart Ritchie, Rob Mackie, Barry Adams, Rick Hammer, Chris Oben, and David Smith (courtesy of Michael Segal’s boat). It was fantastic to meet paddlers from as far away as Vancouver Island, Washington State and even South Africa who came to participate in what has been dubbed ‘the longest single day race on the West Coast.’ There was a good showing of local talent too, including Bruce McTaggart, Andy Hoppenrath, Leo Frid, Michael Henrichsen, Sam Knowles and Dan Dekkers, Peter and Katrin Kearney, and Callie Brougham and Chole Borin. For the first time, we offered a half-island challenge, starting in Tunstall and finishing in the Cove. The counter-clockwise course, at 13km, was the shorter of the two directions, but the wind and waves on the south end made the shorter distance a memorable one for those who fought the swells. There was a lot of positive response to the half -island option and this will certainly become a mainstay of future races. Another first this year was to start the race in three separate waves so that all of the competitors would finish around the same time. Paddle boards and sea kayaks began, followed by surf skis and outriggers, and lastly, the half-island racers left their mark. This added to the complexity and challenge for the safety boats, and again, kudos and thanks for a job well done! The kayak race is renowned for its post-race salmon BBQ and Dan Parkin did not fail to meet expectations. Dan generously offers his services to provide muchneeded funds for the Bowen Island Museum and Archives and once again served up an amazing meal that continues to be the talk of the kayak race community. Thanks again to everyone for making this year’s ‘Round Bowen Challenge a great success! Brent O’Malley Bowen Island Sea Kayaking
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. B.C. Press Council. 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.
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Bowen Island makes a BIG! difference in the lives of youth
FRIDAY JULY 17 2015 • 5
Seizing an Alternative PAULINE LE BEL COMMUNITY CAULDRON
Hikers give a BIG! yahoo after climbing Mount Gardner to raise money for Covenant House Vancouver. Dear Editor, On July 4, Bowen Island Gives (BIG!) hosted its 4th annual BIG! hike and party, raising more than $5,000 to help at-risk and homeless youth at Covenant House Vancouver. More than 200 youth will receive life-changing support through street outreach, a drop-in centre, a residential crisis program, and long-term transitional housing apartments. Nearly 70 hikers, ranging from seven months old to older than 70, braved the dry, hot conditions to climb Mt Gardner. In the evening, local band Ginger 66 donated their time and incredibly fun talent to entertain 100 guests at the BIG! celebration party. Both the 9 km round-trip trail up Mt. Gardner, and the dance floor at Cates Hill Chapel were filled with love from a community passionate about helping youth in search a brighter future. On behalf of the youth, volunteers and staff at Covenant House Vancouver, and the Bowen Island
Gives! board, a BIG! thank you to everyone involved who helped make this fundraiser such a success: Ginger 66, Peter King & Bowen Island Bus, Cates Hill Chapel, Julie Cree & Artisan Eats, Tim Hausch, photographer Scott Slater, McTaggart Water, all of the wonderful shops and groups for helping to spread the word on-island and off, all of the dedicated volunteers who spent countless hours planning the festivities and facilitating the entire day and night, and the more than 100 participants and donors who provided their support! Together we are creating opportunities for positive change in youth’s lives. Thank you. Jessica Harman Development Officer – Corporate & Foundation Giving
An appeal to Bowen’s small boaters Dear Editor, I think it’s safe to say that “island dwellers” would comprise of a sizable number of boat owners, be it a large sailor or a small boat on a trailer. Frankly it amazes me how little our municipality achieves for the benefit of our boating community. Bowen has a well-maintained public library and fire department, organized public transportation, as well as a well-equipped public works (snow plows included). It maintains parks along with the many public walking trails and public toilets on our beaches. Yet absolutely no maintenance is provided to our only public boat launch at Tunstall Bay. The launch is so run down that a private family passenger vehicle cannot safely launch a boat there, for fear of damaging the vehicle’s undercarriage or getting caught in a rising tide. Is it fair to say the taxpaying small boat owner is not receiving fair treatment from our municipality in this regard? It appears the current and previous councils have never had a small boat owner as a member, who I am certain would have been an advocate of better launch maintenance.
However, the previous council did obtain the various permits from federal and provincial governments, which required a $25,000 gift to the Vancouver Aquarium, a total outlay of about $79,000. Nothing ever came after that money was spent. The whole launch project was scraped, possibly because former Mayor Adelaar was unable to run for a second term. I am appealing to council to take a positive approach to providing a proper safe public launch for small boats on trailers, as most other coastal islands have done. lf Undercurrent readers agree about the need for a launch upgrade, please make yourself known: phone and leave a voice message for Mayor Skeels and council at 604-947-4255; send an e-mail to mayor council at bim@bimbc.ca; send a letter to mayor and council a Bowen Island Municipality, 981 Artisan Lane, VON 1G0. Thank you for any and all support, Erwen Smith, small boater and taxpayer
“Everything is to be understood in terms of the way it is interwoven with the rest of the Universe,” wrote Alfred North Whitehead (1861 – 1947). He was challenging the basic assumptions of our modern, industrial world, which prefers to think of everything as separate. This was the most important message I heard in the classrooms of Pomona College, the location for the philosophy conference: Seizing an Alternative: Toward an Ecological Civilization. The more I listened, the more I came to see that indigenous peoples had been living and breathing Whitehead’s ideas for thousands of years. When they say: “All my relations,” they’re not talking about aunts and uncles, unless you consider aunts and uncles to represent every rock, every mountain, every tree, and thunderstorm. I found my way to the session on The Contributions of Indigenous People, where I met indigenous elders from Siberia, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Arizona, California, and Brazil. From their perspective, we are constituted by our relations, past, present and future. In every act, we are responsible to everyone and everything in our past, present, and future. How they see themselves emerges from the land, and the community. Coyote, a Kenneste/Maidu/Huchme Elder from California advised us “settlers” in the room to “not get into our canoes; follow your own guides. Our elders teach simplicity,” he said. Danny Blackgoat, traditional Diné from Arizona, expressed his discomfort with the word civilization because of course it implies something more grandiose and unnatural than people living on and with the land. Claudio Carvalhaes provided a moving experience. In theatrical fashion, he told the history of the Guarani of South America who dance in ritual for days, weeks, years, before they walk to The Land Without Evil. “I don’t start from thinking,” he said. “I don’t start from metaphysics. I start where it hurts. This is what colonialism has done to us – searching for who we truly are and where we belong.” Claudio, dressed at the beginning like a cool Brazilian dude, gradually undressed as he circled the room and took on the regalia of the Guarani. “The movement of the Earth must set the pace of our lives,” he said. “Perhaps the Guarani cosmology may be all we need. They hold the Land without Evil
On the calendar SATURDAY JULY 18 Tailgate Sales of fresh produce and fruit from local farms and gardens to you! At the BICS parking lot, 10am-sellout
SUNDAY JULY 19 Summer Rhapsody An afternoon of poetry and music showcasing local literary and musical talent. 4 p.m. at Tir-na-nOg Theatre
Pauline Le Bel is an award-winning novelist, Emmy-nominated screenwriter and the author of Becoming Intimate with the Earth.
UPCOMING
WEDNESDAY JULY 22
THURSDAY JULY 23
SATURDAY JULY 18
AA Meeting Collins Hall, 7:15 p.m.
Duplicate Bridge @ Bowen Court Call Irene @ 2955
Crippen park weed warriors - 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. We will meet by the bridge at the mouth of Davie’s Creek (at nearby picnic table in field). Everyone welcome. Tools and gloves provided. Dress for the weather and bring your water.
Martyn Joseph at Tirna-nOg Theatre
for all of us. The Guarani are calling us to dance, to walk, to keep moving.” It made one want to get up and dance and a few of us did. Through a translator, Almaz, a Kyrgyzstan Elder, shared the heart and soul of his culture, explaining how the hunt is part of the foundation of their spiritual life, both survival and art. They raise dogs and eagles who communicate with each other in the hunt. Every eagle feather has been given a name. Another Kyrgyzstan Elder, Kamil, sang an episode from the Manas, a centuries-old epic poem - an encyclopedia of the Kyrgyzstan cosmology that contains instructions on how to maintain balance in times of uncertainty and rapid change. He sat cross-legged on the floor and dropped into an animated trance-like state. At the end, the room was transformed and energized. Philosopher, John Cobb, Jr. who dreamed the conference into being calls climate change “both moral failure and opportunity. There are many things we should have done yesterday.” He wonders what business and finance would look like if the aim of creating a thriving ecosphere became the goal of the economy. Perhaps climate chaos will teach us how to relate to the Earth in a better way. Many theologians at the conference viewed the environmental crisis as a moral crisis in the same way as Pope Francis. Theodore Walker is an associate professor of Ethics and Society at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and I met him on the last evening. He explained the simplest and most truthful way to understand the theories of Alfred North Whitehead. “You realize that everything is in the process of becoming – including the stories we tell about our world,” he said. I told him about my challenge to take these teachings – some more opaque than others - and write a play for children. He had a great laugh and explained that “Whiteheadians” are only able to talk to each other, and if he had the skill to write a play for children he wouldn’t be teaching process theology. I returned home with an even deeper appreciation of the insights of western philosophy, the wisdom of indigenous peoples, motivation to get on with the play, and a large eagle feather from Kyrgyzstan. The feather’s name is chalgy kanat.
Bowen Island Rotary Fineen Davis presents on her recent volunteer work in Vanuatu 7:30pm, Collins Hall
SUNDAY JULY 26
SUNDAY JULY 26
Opening of : Drawn Story, An Illustrated Art Show by Karen Watson opens July 26 from 1-3pm at The Gallery@Artisan Square. Runs until August 16.
Day 1 of Bowen Island Yacht Club’s Learn 2 Sail program Race Days. Optimist, Laser, Laser 2 and any other twoperson dinghies can join. Second race day is on Sunday, August 30.
6 • FRIDAY JULY 17 2015
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RCMP will notify residents in How I got here: Rebecca Smith case of wildfire evacuation A romantic Bowen wedding helped seal the deal PAULO ARREAGA SUBMISSION
In case of any emergency, the RCMP’s role is to ensure public safety and protect lives and property. We work closely with different agencies, such as the fire department, emergency health services, and the Bowen Island Municipality when it comes to implementing the community’s emergency plan. One of the key roles of RCMP during wildfires will be to notify residents during evacuations. This may be accomplished through knocking on doors and alerting citizens.
Residents should be prepared to evacuate when instructed to do so. The decision to evacuate is not made lightly; evacuations are made when people are in danger. Anyone choosing to disregard an evacuation order must be aware that they might not be rescued later and they remain at their own peril. Prepare a grab and go bag with emergency supplies (food, clothing, medications, important papers, etc.), have an emergency plan on how you will communicate with household members, and identify friends and family who would allow you to stay with them during the evacuation.
Scooter rental business in the works from PAGE 3 Tamblyn will also need to pay the municipality $3,600 in order to re-zone his property on Miller Road, so that he can run the business from there. “On the bright side, I think that these challenges are probably the reason someone has not already set a business like this up already,” says
Tamblyn. “And if we can jump through the hoops, it seems they will likely close behind us and that will be to our advantage.” Tamblyn says that he is eager to chat with anyone else who may be pursuing a similar idea, and if anyone is interested in contacting him they can do so by emailing ben@zoomzoombowen.com
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Rebecca and Brandon Smith on their wedding day at Xenia on Bowen Island.
Vasgen Degirmentas, photo
MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
For Rebecca Smith and her husband Brandon, Bowen Island launched their married life and the rest followed, shortly after. The wedding took place under the Opa tree at Xenia, three years ago this week. “We wanted the wedding to be entirely local, so that really helped us get to know the community in a new way,” says Smith, who goes on to rhyme off a long list of local businesses and individuals who made their wedding day magical. Rebecca and Brandon had looked in to moving to Bowen before their wedding, but with two small kids, were deterred by all the cliff-side properties. After the wedding, Rebecca said she scoured Craigslist constantly looking for the right rental property. When, a year later, one finally popped up that looked suitable, she says she booked a viewing right away. “The owners saw that we were a good fit, so it worked out,” she says. However, as they were preparing to move, Rebecca and Brandon were also waiting for the official diagnosis of autism to be handed to their younger son, Ari. “The week before we moved I went to a big autism
conference with my brother,” says Rebecca. “We were sitting in the audience, listening to story after story of people who struggled to travel into the city in order to get their kids treatments that were not available in smaller communities. We were moving to Bowen from West Vancouver... away from all the accessible therapy options for Ari. But we’d already made the decision that we wanted something different for him.” Rebecca says that they wanted to slow down, and to focus on spending time with Ari instead of focusing on treatment. Ari was two at the time of the move, and following his diagnosis, started a program of parent-centred therapy. Rebecca also started a routine of taking him into the city for various programs once per week. She says his progress in the past two years reassures her that they made the right decision. “He still doesn’t speak, but he knows a lot of words and shows a strong interest in language. He is toilet trained. And he is much more regulated, emotionally, than he used to be. Ari loves hanging out in the backyard, walking in the forest and going to the beach... he’s even made a few friends.” She adds that it is unlikely her husband will ever manage to get her off of this rock, but it doesn’t seem like he’s eager to leave either.
New procedures lead to high survival rate of hatchery fry MARTHA PERKINS CONTRIBUTOR
After being given the best start in life possible, it’s now up to fate to see how many salmon return to the waters of Bowen Island in the next few years. In late April, volunteers with the Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club released 99,000 chum fry into the island’s creeks, followed by 19,750 coho fry a month later. The tiny fish — the chum fry weighed 1.2 grams each; the coho weighed 2.5 grams — had been carefully nurtured since their arrival from the Tenderfoot Hatchery last winter. It was the first year that the seven volunteers had been trained in new procedures in incubation, ponding, rearing and release, set out by the Fisheries and Oceans Community Involvement Program Best Management Practices. As well, biosecurity measures were implemented to ensure the release of only healthy fry. Each volunteer dedicated one day a week to hatchery responsibilities and, as a result, there was a very low mortality rate of approximately one per cent. The coho benefitted from warming water in the final three weeks of hatchery rearing, increasing their
feeding rate and size. They will smolt in the spring of 2016, move to the ocean and return in the fall of 2017. The chum fry smolted within three or four days and moved to the ocean, expected to return in the fall of 2018. In the meantime, club members continue to enhance their skills and knowledge. Three volunteers completed the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation streamkeeping course in late June, adding to the club’s capacity to monitor the health of Bowen waterways and evaluate returning salmon spawners. “Several streamkeepers are monitoring coho fry in our creeks during this current dry period. At this time there is sufficient water flow to support coho, cutthroat trout, and other aquatic species but, if dry conditions persist into August, smaller creeks such as Grafton and Davies may completely dry up,” says Club president Tim Pardee. “We’re all hoping for rain! “ The fry were released as follows: Terminal Creek/Lagoon: 58,300 chum; 7,750 coho Killarney Lake and Creek: 4,000 coho Explosives Creek: 30,000 chum; 5,000 coho Davies Creek: 10,000 chum; 1,000 coho
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FRIDAY JULY 17 2015 • 7
How we’re saving every drop Tips and tidbits from around the island, three months into a dry-spell MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
Our fingers were crossed, and while we may have danced in it, what fell from the sky last weekend was in fact just a sprinkle – according to the Grafton Lake water guage, a mere 2.5 mm of rain fell on Bowen Island on Saturday and Sunday. This brings the total amount of rainfall since the end of April to just 1.13cm, and by no means spells an end to our 3 month dry spell. For fire chief Ian Thompson, last weekend’s rain brought no relief, just a false sense of security for some islanders. “There have been a few people who have started lighting things up, thinking that because it’s a bit damp it is okay to do so,” says Thompson. “But that little bit of rain really doesn’t change things.” Personally, as someone dependent on a shallow well for water I experienced a brief moment of relief and allowed myself a non-military style shower. But the sun’s back out and so is our water regimen: short (and fewer) showers, the kid bathes in a bucket (he seems to like this better than the indoor bath, actually), fewer flushes of the toilet, and a few loads of laundry per week at the Union Steamship. On one of these recent laundry ventures, Dorothy Dyke told me I’m not the only one heading to the Cove to do the wash in order to save on water: the laundry mat has been particularly busy this summer. And while the marina has been reminding boaters that there are water restrictions on Bowen, Dyke says they can’t deny people who want to rinse their salty gear and decks. Same goes for people relying on wells who come down and fill up 5 litre jugs of water from the taps at the Marina. “It’s not that this is the first dry summer we’ve had,” says Dyke. “It just happens to be the earliest it’s been so dry.” With this in mind… The Undercurrent has been looking into the water situation and water-saving tips on various parts of the island.
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A lighter shade of green at the golf course MARTHA PERKINS EDITOR
If the drought continues, brown may become the new green at the Bowen Island Golf Club. “A lighter shade of green is okay,” the club’s vice-president, Bruce Russell. With its water reserves dipping to the halfway point, the golf course will be focusing on keeping the tees and greens vibrant while reducing efforts on the fairways. The club starts the summer with a 10.8 million gallon reserve of rainwater that it collects over the winter. The reservoir has enough water to meet the nine-hole golf course’s needs for 120 days of “non-appreciable” rain. Sixty days into the golfing season and the capacity is now at 45 to 50 per cent so the club will pull back on watering the fairways until it rains again. “We’re like a squirrel — we gather the nuts in times of plenty and save it for times like this,” Russell says. Saturday’s rain, alas, did not count as “appreciable.”
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Donations, input welcome for Trails Guide BOWEN ISLAND ROTARY SUBMISSION
All Bowen Islanders will have received a copy of the Bowen Island Trails Guide in their mailboxes on Thursday of last week. This mail-out, including the cost of the brochures, has been covered by a generous gift from Knick Knack Nook via the Bowen Island Community Foundation to the Rotary Club of Bowen Island. The Rotary Club, with the able technical support of Rob Wall, produced the Guide, which was published in May and has been available at the Visitors’ Centre in Snug Cove, plus several other outlets. Any Bowen Islanders who would like further copies of the guide are asked to make a donation via the donation box available at the various outlets: The Visitors’ Centre, Union Steamship Marina, Ruddy Potato and The Snug. These donations go towards our Mount Gardner Trails Project plus future publications of the Trails Guide. You will also find the guide descriptions and maps online at www.bowentrails.ca. By the way, if you have any comments or edits that would be helpful for our next edition, please contact Hilary Butler at butlersonbowen@gmail.com. The Rotary Club would like to acknowledge our financial sponsors: RW Studio, First Credit Union, Grafton Lake Lands and Print Advantage, and now Knick Knack Nook! We are very grateful to you all.
BIYC hosts new Fun Regatta for young sailors BIYC
Water saving tips - from page 7
Don’t let your plants get lazy Aaron Colin taking a break from his work as a gardener at David and Aubin Van Berkel’s garden.
Martha Perkins, photo
MARTHA PERKINS Plants are designed to be able to dig deep into the soil to find water. But if they get accustomed to being watered every day, they’ll get lazy, says Aaron Colin, the groundskeeper at David and Aubin Van Berkel’s property, where they have 2.5 acres of garden filled with vegetables, ornamentals and fruit trees. Lazy plants will get even more stressed out during a drought if their daily fix of water dries up. “Its root structure is no longer looking for water down below.” That’s why he suggests that instead of watering the
garden often — say once a day — you water deeply. “Give the plant a good drink of water,” he says. “Wait a couple of days then water again.” It’s best to water in the morning before sunrise because the soil absorbs it more. It’s better to water at night instead of the middle of the day, but it’s not optimal because the soil still contains latent heat. Every year he collects about 40,000 litres of rain water, which usually lasts him until August. This year it was gone by June. “I won’t say I’m freaking out but I’m hoping for rain.”
SUBMISSION
Small sailboat owners are invited to take part in a new regatta off the shores of Tunstall Bay. Optimist, Laser, Laser 2 and any other two-person dinghies can join members of the Bowen Island Yacht Club’s Learn 2 Sail program and compete in the two race days, Sunday, July 26 and Sunday, August 30. The BIYC says the regatta’s goal is to allow sailors to consolidate skills learned and enjoy friendly competition. The focus will be on learning basic racing skills and strategies, for sailors of all abilities. The BIYC has 21 spots available for its members. Registration is $20 per sailor. If you are interested in a BIYC boat charter it’s $20 for Optimist or Laser and $30 for a Laser 2. Register at www.biyc.bc.ca July 26 schedule: 11am: Skippers Meeting by the Boathouse ramp 11:30am: Launch all boats 12: First Race 3:30pm: Last Race 4pm: De-rig and cleanup 5pm: Awards
Try the “drip method” for watering Wayne Tatlow and Joanne Perrault in the fruitful gardens of Black Cat Farm holding the drip hose used to water garden beds and berries.
Meribeth Deen, photo
BC Ferries REGULAR SCHEDULE REGULAR SCHEDULE March 14 to October 12, In Effect May 15 to October 13,2015 2014
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BOWEN ISLAND Snug Cove
Leave Snug Cove
6:00 am * 6:00 am 7:00 am* 7:00 am * 8:00 am 8:00 am 9:05 am††# 9:05 am# 10:05 am 10:05 am 11:05 am 11:05 am 12:10 pm 12:10 pm 2:35 pm 2:35 pm 3:45 pm 3:45 pm 4:45 pm 4:45 pm 5:50 pm 5:50 pm* 6:50 pm 7:50 pm 6:50 pm * 8:40 pm 7:50 pm^# 9:40 pm 8:40 pm# 9:40 pm
Distance: 3 NAUTICAL MILES Crossing Time: 20 MINUTES
Leave Horseshoe Bay
5:30 am** 5:30 am 6:30 am** 6:30 am 7:30 am** 7:30 am 8:35 am * 8:35 am 9:35 am## 9:35 am 10:35 am 10:35 am 11:40 am 11:40 am 12:45 pm 12:45 pm 3:10 pm pm 4:15 pm pm†† 5:15 pm pm 6:20 pm pm* 7:20 pm 7:20 pm^* 8:15 pm 8:15 pm## 9:10 pm 9:10 pm 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
VANCOUVER Horseshoe Bay
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DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS # DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAYS SUNDAYS DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS & DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAYS & SATURDAYS SUNDAYS DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SAT, SUN & SAT,19, SUN MAY JUL&1, MAY 18,SEPT JULY1 1, AUG 4, & AUGOCT 3, SEP 13 7 & OCT 12
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† THE WEDNESDAY THE WEDNESDAY SAILINGS WILL SAILINGS WILL BE BE REPLACED REPLACED BY BY DANGEROUS DANGEROUS CARGO SAILINGS. CARGO SAILINGS. NO OTHER NO OTHER PASSENGERS PASSENGERS PERMITTED. PERMITTED.
MERIBETH DEEN When he set out to build his dream home and farm, Wayne Tatlow wanted to be as “green” as possible. He says water conservation was definitely a part of his plan. “I wanted to use the grey-water from my house to feed my apple trees or whatever else needed watering, but the health authorities said ‘no’,” says Tatlow. “Next, I thought I could maybe use rainwater to feed the toilets, but again, the health authorities said it was not allowed because someone might drink from the tank.” The water-saving solution Tatlow has chosen, for now, involves a drip irrigation system for his extensive vegetable gardens. He says got the equipment necessary for this system at a plumbing store in Cloverdale. For his strawberries, which have been on the system for two years now, a half-inch pipe narrows into a quarter-inch pipe which narrows into a special head that feeds each plant individually. Tatlow says he turns on the water valve for about two minutes
each morning for the plants, and that’s all they need. (Each head releases four litres of water per hour.) Last year Tatlow says he spent two hours every day watering his garden beds. Now, with the drip irrigation system in place, he simply turns the valve on either early in the morning or late in the evening and leaves the drip running for about an hour. “I had two rhubarb plants in one bed that looked like they were completely dead but two weeks after I put this system in place, they came back to life,” he says. “Also it’s much better for the delicate lettuces, and for zucchinis and summer squash because you can avoid getting their leaves wet.” Tatlow adds that he would like to get a rainwater collection set up at his place but, in the meantime, has helped other islanders with such systems for their homes. “More and more people are doing it but incentives instead of roadblocks would really be helpful,” he says, noting that the District of Nanaimo offers an incentive of up to $750 for people who install rainwater harvesting systems on their properties.
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FRIDAY JULY 17 2015 • 9
Martyn Joseph in concert – trust me!
Greta Smith and Betty Dhont are accepting original paintings, lithographs, etching and sculptures as well as ceramics and other items of interest for the 3rd annual Out of the Attic Show. Artwork from living Bowen Island artists will not be accepted for the October show and sale which provides collectors an opportunity to sell works of art that they may no longer have room for or perhaps no longer love. If you have something you are interested in submitting, please contact Betty Dhont at 604-802-9237 or blushrambler@shaw.ca or Greta Smith at 604-947-0853, email:gretasmith@shaw.ca
Family drama for all to see Andrew Cameron joins his parents on stage for The Glass Menagerie
The only family drama going on in the Cameron household this summer will be on stage: David Cameron and Jackie Minns are joined by son Andrew for The Glass Menagerie August 13 to 22 at Tir Na Nog. KINGBABY PRODUCTIONS SUBMISSION
If you go into the acting profession, it is a good idea to marry sensibly. And by that I mean to find someone who has a steady paying job. However, if you follow your heart and not your brain and end up marrying that sassy girl with the endless curls who danced beside you in that dinner theatre show you were in 30 years ago, then your only hope for a comfortable retirement lies in your offspring landing one of those big money jobs: a doctor, a lawyer or better yet, a plumber. However, if your child, despite all evidence to the contrary, decides that acting is a good way to make his living, then the only thing left to do is… put on a show! Jackie Minns and David Cameron with their company, Kingbaby Productions, have been creating live theatre on Bowen to enthusiastic audiences for 20 years
and with their son Andrew, home from theatre school in Toronto for the summer, they saw an opportunity to do a production that they could all play together in. The play is Tennessee Williams’ classic tale of family tribulation, The Glass Menagerie and mother Amanda and her son Tom will be played by real-life mother and son, Jackie and Andrew. Directed by David Cameron, the cast is perfectly completed with Bronwyn Churcher as daughter Laura and Frazer Elliott as The Gentleman Caller. The family theme extends, as well, to the music as brother and sister team Nicolas Belluk and Liliana Belluk-Orlikow support the drama with their violin and cello. The Glass Menagerie will run August 13-22 at the Tir Na Nog theatre. Show times and tickets are available at bowenglassmenagerie.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets will also be available at Phoenix.
SHARI ULRICH SUBMISSION
Occasionally an artist crosses my path who changes how I think about what makes a great performer and affirms the importance of music in our culture. Such was the case with Martyn Joseph when his reputation spurred me to go see him in Courtenay BC several years ago. Though it was a small venue that night he put on a show as if it was in a 3,000-seat theatre. His jaw-dropping guitar playing with its unique percussive style, his powerful voice, and his compelling songwriting all made for a tremendous live music experience Though comparisons seem inappropriate for such an original artist, he has been called “The Welsh Springsteen”, but there are also shades of John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews. He has long been a favourite of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival as well as festivals all over the world. There is a versatility to Martyn’s music that is hard to categorize. Many have tried, resulting in labels such as Folk, Rock, Soul, Folk Funk and Americana; all of which somehow miss the mark. But sometimes music doesn’t need a defining genre and with the ability to articulate a sense of the bigger picture, Martyn’s music and social commentary manage to empower and speak for many. His songs are pictures, and stories, emotions all put to music and delivered by a master craftsman. We are very fortunate that Martyn loves to play on Bowen Island and the tickets for the July 22 concert have been selling fast — with many coming from all over the lower mainland for the opportunity to hear him as he is not performing a show in Vancouver on this tour. So Tir-na-nog will fill quickly with Martyn Joseph fans and you might want to take the opportunity to become a new one while you can! I have been pondering a “Trust Me” series. I LOVE bringing the exceptional music of my peers to Bowen to share their gifts with my community. That might mean someone you haven’t heard of, and I’d like to build it so you could indeed “trust me” that this is a show you shouldn’t miss. Consider this the first in the “Trust Me” series! Note, all funds go to the artist(s) after rent to the wonderful Tir-na-nog Theatre. Wed. July 22 at 7:30pm (doors at 7:00pm). Tickets are $25 at Phoenix. (604) 947-2793
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Burgers, a band and a great evening for Snug Cove House
Bowen is going to the dogs BASIA LIESKE SUBMISSION
Dog Days of Summer returns to the USSC Marina lawn on August 9. It’s a full day of tail-wagging fun including contests, prizes, exhibits, refreshment and dog-themed entertainment. Events include a dog parade, bobbing for wieners, flyball races over a 51-foot course, dog demonstrations
and contests for a number of highly sought-after titles including bestdressed dog and best dog trick. All proceeds are donated to BC Guide Dog Services, which is dedicated to improving the availability and level of service for the visually impaired and children with autism. It’s free for spectators and $5 for dogs participating in the contests. No pre-registration is required. Just show up at the registration desk at 11a. on August 9 with your dog.
Nominate a Citizen of the Year BI MUSEUM & ARCHIVES SUBMISSION
Members of the Snug Cove House Ukelele band sang up a storm adding to the revellry that was Steamship Days 2015. Meribeth Deen, photo
GRAHAM RITCHIE SUBMISSION
The volunteers of the Snug Cove House Society flipped and served burgers and cooling drinks to 225 Steamship Days revellers last Friday, kicking off the festival to the steamship-era tunes of the World Famous Snug Cove House Ukulele Band. The society’s directors were joined this year by BBQ ace Mayor Murray Skeels and expert food-preparers
Betty Dhont and Sue Ritchie. Thanks to them and to Brian and the General Store for the buns, the Little Red Church for providing one of the BBQs and of course to Norma Dallas for once again loaning us her busy dock for the evening. Snug Cove House is preparing for a Fall marketing launch of nine building lots on its Miller Road land. Selling these lots will raise half the money needed to create its planned supportive residence for seniors.
Bowen Island runs on the heart and soul of the incredible people who live here, and could not accomplish what we do without their hard work, dedication, and love for the community. We believe that these Islanders who work so tirelessly deserve to be acknowledged for everything that they have done and continue to do. Back in the 1970s, the Chamber of Commerce came up with the brilliant idea of recognizing Islanders who have made significant contributions to the community with their time and service. While many remarkable and highly deserving residents were nominated, it was Ellen Dorman who became the first to win the Citizen of the Year award in 1978. The award consisted of a plaque and a featured position in the Bowfest Parade. Upon hearing this, she said, “I don’t think I will have time as I am At entrance to Artisan Square cooking Suite #597 chicken
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for everyone to eat at the Festival.” In August of 1989, fellow award winner Walter Neilson had a similar reaction, saying, “Please don’t glamorize this thing.” Their statements perfectly portray the typical modesty and ever-helpful devotion of a Bowen resident. For the years of 2013 and 2014, no award was given out. However, this July 2015, we want to bring back this award to acknowledge and honour the hard work of local Islanders who continue to help the community thrive. The Bowen Island Chamber of Commerce recognizes outstanding achievements by individuals who have consistently donated their time to ensuring the success of events and occasions on Bowen Island. This person is seen as an integral part of the community, having played a leading role through dedicated involvement in multiple community concerns. Since we have reinstated this annual reward, we highly encourage you to send in your nominations, as we would love to recognize those who have demonstrated strong leadership and have had a positive impact on the community. Each nomination requires a brief description outlining the reasons for the nomination. Please include your name and the nominee name, which you can email us at bihistorians@ telus.net or by mail to Bowen Island Museum & Archives, 1014 Miller Road, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0. The Citizen of the Year committee requests that all nominations are sub-
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Steamship Days 2015
A celebration of Bowen Island, past and present
Arts and Culture scavenger hunt in the Sea to Sky Region BOWEN ISLAND ARTS COUNCIL SUBMISSION
Terence Mckeowen admires a 1937 Packard on display on the Union Steamship lawn.
From now until September 8th, Sea to Sky visitors will be encouraged to participate in the first-ever Sea to Sky Arts Council online scavenger hunt to promote the new Sea to Sky Arts Council website, www.seatoskyarts. ca. This collaborative project is being headed up by members of five individual arts councils who represent five Sea to Sky communities: Lions Bay, Bowen Island, Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton. By simply using each of the five Arts Council’s websites as resources to answer questions about arts and culture events in the corridor, participants will become eligible to win prizes from each of the five participating communities. The winner will be chosen by a random draw on September 9th, 2015. The Bowen Island Arts Council is pleased to join its neighbours as a member of Sea-to-Sky Arts. “We are excited about the prospect of promoting the corridor as an enticing destination for visitors to the West Coast,” commented BIAC president, Carol Cram. “This is a rich area, where the expression of arts abound in a diversity of forms and styles.” As the only island community in the Sea-to-Sky Arts Council, Bowen offers visitors a unique opportunity to unwind and sail over to a haven featuring arts, culture and nature. In a national study, Bowen was found to be
one of the most artistic municipalities in Canada. The island offers an enticing range of festivals and special events to engage in, attractions, galleries and studios to visit, gorgeous accommodations in which to stay and scrumptious eateries in which to dine. All of this is situated in the serenity and beauty of our island paradise. It’s a place to nurture both the soul and body. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our home in the Salish Sea. Participants in the Scavenger Hunt will have to correctly answer two questions from each of the five Arts Council’s websites in order to be eligible for the prizes. One prize will be awarded from each of the five participating Arts Councils. The scavenger hunt is live now and will run through to September 3rd. More information can be found online at www.seatoskyarts.ca, and at each of the participating Arts Council’s websites.
RESOURCES Bowen Island Arts Council: biac.ca Lions Bay Arts Council: lionsbayartscouncil.org Squamish Arts Council: squamishartscouncil.com Whistler Arts Council: artswhistler.com Pemberton Arts Council: pembertonartscouncil.com
22 e! y l Ju dl in a de Ellen, Lilly, Isobel and Oceana try on animal hats.
Working on the engine of the SS Master.
Get soccer balls into the hands of children in Syrian refugee camps! Michel Ibrahim has until July 22 to raise enough money to pay the custom fees on a shipment of donated soccer equipment destined for Syrian children living in refugee camps in Lebanan. He’s offering several perks to donors including a free haircut at his West Vancouver Barber Shop, registration in an August 9 soccer workshop and an extensive soccer camp for an entire team of young players. To contribute, go to
Tyler paddles his team’s cardboard kayak to victory.
Martha Perkins, photos
/fc4syria