Bowen Island Undercurrent August 21 2015

FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2015 VOL. 42, NO. 30

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Meet two candidates

Former West Van mayor takes on Conservative John Weston for the Liberals

How I Got Here

Lack of rental housing makes it difficult for young families to fulfill their dreams

Bowfest adds Lumber Games

Timberjacks and jills prepare for a fun new competition as part of next Saturday’s event

Don’t set your clock by ferry schedule Number of late trips is on the rise MARTHA PERKINS EDITOR

After the municipality’s Kevin Toews pushed the button for the new solar-powered pedestrian crosswalk light near BICS, acting mayor Sue-Ellen Fast, RCMP Cpl. Paulo Arreaga and municipal staff members Sean Jackson, Mark Edmonds, Grant Miller and Paul Gaudet escorted a group of children across Bowen Trunk Road. Martha Perkins photo

Bowen gets its first traffic light MARTHA PERKINS EDITOR

Children on Bowen Island are learning a new safety skill — how to operate the island’s first traffic light.

On Tuesday morning, an energetic group of children took the solar-powered LED pedestrian crosswalk near BICS through its inaugural paces. Push the button, wait for the crosswalk’s yellow lights to start flashing, look both ways and then cross Bowen Trunk Road once all the cars have stopped.

Municipal staff, RCMP Cpl. Paulo Arreaga and acting mayor Sue-Ellen Fast joined them.

“This great little project will make this tricky, top-of-the-hill spot safer for Bowen school children and others at a crossing that is getting busier,” Fast says.

“When there’s a power outage on the island, the light will still work because it has its own power source and it fits nicely with Bowen’s focus on sustainability.”

The light is pedestrian activated. Drivers are legally obligated to stop for pedestrians but can proceed on their way once the pedes-

trians have reached their destination. (You don’t need to wait the full 15 seconds for the lights to stop flashing.)

RCMP Cpl. Paulo Arreaga says, “Drivers are often in a hurry to get into the ferry lineup when they are driving past the school. We are hoping that having a light in this location will help slow people down.”

The next time that portion of the road is paved, the speed bump will be removed.

ICBC’s Road Improvement program for municipalities will help pay for the project.

Bowfest After Party! The Bowen Pub

With Ginger 66 Saturday Aug 29th • 9:30pm - 1am

If you think the Queen of Capilano has been running behind schedule more often this summer, you’re right.

From August 1 to 16, the ferry between Horseshoe Bay and Bowen Island was on time for 60.4 per cent of the trips. During the same time period last year, it was on time 70.3 per cent, says Deborah Marshall, director of media relations for BC Ferries.

It had a much better on-time rate in July: 72.1 per cent. But that’s still off from July 2014 when the rate was 76.6 per cent.

This is the first summer that the Queen of Capilano is running with its extra vehicle capacity. After a long retrofit, she returned to work in May with an extra level of parking, one ramp on each side of the ferry.

Although recent statistics aren’t available, vehicle traffic in June was up 7.5 per cent while the number of foot passengers rose by 5.8 per cent that month.

More vehicles on the ferry translates into more time spent loading and unloading them.

Increased capacity and ridership haven’t been the only factor in the longer load-andunload performance.

BC Ferries added an additional summertime ferry to both its Langdale and Nanaimo routes. That means there are six ships competing for three berths at Horseshoe Bay, with the smaller Queen of Capilano often getting the short end of the waiting stick. continued PAGE 10

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→ COMPLETE FIRE

BAN IN EFFECT A N D WAT E R U S A G E R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S CONTINUE

Please visit www.bimbc.ca for more information.

→ COMMUNITY SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT

If you spot any biohazardous materials or syringes on public property (Bowen Island beaches included) please call Bowen Island Municipality at 604 947-4255. The Manager of Parks and Environment will ensure that the items are collected and disposed of in an appropriate manner.

→ ABANDONED VESSEL

SNUG COVE jSOUTHi DOCK

→ BOWEN ISLAND

M U N I C I PA L I T Y IS SEEKING YOUR INPUT

The owner of a 20’ Bayliner power vessel is currently in contravention of Bowen Island Municipality Wharf Services Bylaw No. 59, 2002. This vessel with hull identification #13K109225 is considered abandoned as it has been left unattended for longer than seven (7) days and the applicable moorage has not been paid.

Council will be considering a resolution at its September 14, 2015 meeting to create parking on Cardena Road to accommodate 10 – 12 parking spaces.

The work consists of infilling the ditch as per the attached drawing. The organic material removed from the area will be placed beyond the parking spaces and remediated as green space.

Please be advised that as attempts to locate the registered owner of this vessel have been unsuccessful, Bowen Island Municipality intends to remove this vessel from Snug Cove (South) Dock. To avoid this action the registered owner must come forward and pay all applicable moorage and fines prior to August 31, 2015.

Please contact Bowen Island Municipality Bylaw Services at 604 328-5499 with any pertinent information.

→ AT T E N T I O N A L L

K I N G E D WA R D B AY RESIDENTS: NOTICE OF A N N U A L WAT E R S Y S T E M I N F O R M AT I O N M E E T I N G

Please forward your comments and/or questions by email or mail to the address below by Friday, September 11, 2015. All comments will form part of the public record and will be considered by Council with regard to possible approval of this project. If approved by Council, work is anticipated to begin in late September.

For more information, please visit www.bimbc.ca.

Bowen Island Municipality 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, V0N 1G2 bim@bimbc.ca T: 604-947-4255 F: 604-947-0193

When: Thursday, August 27 at 5:30 pm Where: 1770 Emily Lane (Heth Residence) What: Overview of Budget, Drinking Water Report & Water System Operations

→ S N U G C O V E PAV I N G WEEK

→ BARKING ON BOWEN Barking dogs have become an issue and Municipal Council may have to enact new bylaws to restore peace and tranquility.

If you own a dog that barks at inappropriate times or for too long or during the night, you may fall afoul of our noise bylaw.

Other municipalities have strict limits on how many dogs can be in a home and how kennels must operate. Many don’t allow kennels at all. We don’t have these bylaws on Bowen yet. Our hope is that dog owners will take care of the problem themselves.

We’re asking those of you who have barking dogs: “Please stop disturbing your neighbours.”

If you have a problem with barking dogs and know who is responsible, please call Bylaw Services at 604-328-5499 or 604-947-4255. We will convey your concerns to the owners and make them aware that persistent barking dogs are not something neighbours have to live with.

Mayor Murray Skeels

September 15 – 22, 2015 (Weather Dependent) Bowen Island Trunk Road - From BC Ferries’ property to the top of the hill

by BICS and including Cardena Road to the Library Parking lot General Information

● ● ● ● ● ● ●

The Snug Cove paving project will help maintain and invest in Bowen Island’s existing infrastructure.

Work will take place over six week days.

This project will affect the entire community - please be patient and courteous.

There will always be two lanes of traffic open.

Trained traffic control persons will be on-hand during construction.

This project will be funded by the annual roads budget.

Parking along BI Trunk Road will be affected periodically throughout the project. Please observe the posted signage each day.

More detailed information will be emailed to the businesses in the Cove, distributed Island-wide via Canada Post, printed on the Island Page in the Undercurrent and posted to the BIM website www.bimbc.ca, Bowen Island Phorum and BIM Facebook page.

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John Weston: personal integrity and a party with a proven leadership record MARTHA PERKINS EDITOR

As a staunch advocate of the Conservative Party of Canada, John Weston also says that his track record shows he’s willing to be his own man.

The Conservative MP, who has held the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding for the Conservatives since 2008, points to the times he’s been willing to go against his party when either local issues trumped national ones or he felt strongly on the issue.

One was his yea vote on an NDP bill on derelict vessels because he knew people in his riding wanted something done. With the input of Bowen Islanders, he then drafted his own bill which would see people who abandoned their boats fined or jailed. The Private Member’s Bill died when the election was called, and he wants to fine-tune it before presenting it to his fellow parliamentarians again.

Another split with his party was over the Sliammon Treaty between Canada, BC and the Sliammon people of Powell River. “I believe in equality for all,” says Weston, who studied international rela-

tions at Harvard University and law at Osgoode Hall School. He voted against it because he says it allows Sliammon law to prevail over Canadian law in some circumstances.

He notes that of the 46 Private Member’s Bills passed during his tenure, two came from him and three more of his got to first reading.

Weston says he’s a green Tory, as evidenced through his support of the Pacific Salmon Foundation and funding of Department of Fisheries and Oceans labs in Vancouver.

“We believe the environment is the economy and they’re not in conflict with each other.”

On the Woodfibre LNG plant proposed for Squamish, Weston says he doesn’t support any specific project. Instead, “I support projects that add value to the economy and are subject to a science-based, independent, objective and stringent process.”

He compares that to the NDP who says no to such projects outright and the Liberals who “say we should export our natural resources but don’t support infrastructure that helps deliver those exports.”

“We need these types of projects to

generate revenue and jobs,” he says.

Able to speak Mandarin, he also is a founder of the Pan Pacific Law Corporation and Access Law Group as well as the Canadian Constitution Foundation “which fights for Canadians when governments threaten our constitution.”

He’s visited Iraq on a human rights mission and worked locally on funding on several fronts, including the turf field at BICS, the sewage plant and helping seniors.

“I love bringing people together and finding common ground and working with them to achieve great results in the most beautiful place in the world.”

In Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canadians have an experienced leader with a proven track record on a range of issues, including job creation and the economy, he says.

“What the people of Bowen Island will have to grapple with is, is it a popularity contest or do we want someone with recognized leadership experience internationally who can stand up to Vladimir Putin and make tough decisions,” he said in a telephone interview with the Undercurrent.

Compare Harper to NDP leader

Conservative John Weston is running for his third term as this riding’s Member of Parliament.

Tom Mulcair who, Weston says, would allow Canada to be split

apart by a 50-plus-one referendum vote in Quebec.

Pam Goldsmith-Jones: upholding Canadians values, protecting democracy MARTHA PERKINS EDITOR

Work is all about aligning who you are as a person with what you’re doing each day, says the woman who wants to go to work in Ottawa for the people of West VancouverSunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country.

Former West Vancouver mayor Pam Goldsmith-Jones is this riding’s Liberal candidate in the October 19 federal election.

“The expression of our values through the public realm is very important,” she says in a telephone interview. And that public realm is suffering under the Harper government, she says.

“I don’t think our democratic institutions are working properly….

We need to restore civility, respect, fairness and accessibility.”

She says that her strength is to work across differences. We get the farthest, she says, by challenging ourselves to say that we might not agree with another person’s viewpoint but we can see valid truths within those opposing views.

In the early weeks of her doorto-door campaigning, she says that, like her, “people are interested in change and they’re thinking of what it would be like.”

She also believes that the Liberals are “a voice for the environment.”

“The environment is a core value in our region. People are paying attention.”

One of those people is author and UBC anthropology professor Wade Davis. The Bowen Island resident has contributed to the Liberals’ environment plan and introduced Liberal leader Justin Trudeau when the plan was unveiled in Vancouver.

In an interview with the Squamish Chief, Goldsmith-Jones outlined her position on the proposed LNG plant in the district: “I have five essential conditions for the project: 1. A transparent, independent science-based review… and that ensures local citizens of the integrity of the process, including protection of the ecosystem. 2.

Emissions generated by the plant fit within a national green house gas emissions framework. So that requires admitting climate change is an issue and that we need to put a price on carbon. 3. Local communities and First Nations are consulted properly. I find the Squamish Nation’s recent publication of its conditions to be a big part of that. 4.

That the economic benefits including job creation aren’t just token and aren’t just temporary. 5. That land and water safety standards are world-class and that has to be, obviously, clearly defined to the public.”

Goldsmith-Jones has a Master’s

degree in Canadian politics and government and recently added an Executive MBA in Aboriginal Leadership and Business from Simon Fraser University to her resume. It hadn’t been her intention to enroll but, after she was asked to speak to the class, she wanted to take the conversation further. “I had unfinished business with wanting to take my experience in the public realm and run it through the business lens.”

Successful economies produce successful social systems that are good for everyone, she says.

This one-thing-led-to-an-unexpected-other-thing tendency was also in play when she homeschooled her three children when they were living on Gabriola Island. It started out as a six-week plan but “it turned out to be such a wonderful experience it turned into six years.”

When her children approached high school age, the family returned to West Van so they could enroll at Rockridge. “Our house has provided a place to stay over for an entire generation of Bowen kids,” she says with a laugh.

Her family has been in West Vancouver since 1906.

She also says that the Liberal party captures the aspirations of Canadians, whose potential is being untapped and marginalized.

Liberal Pam Goldsmith-Jones is the former mayor of West Vancouver. Claudette Carracedo photo “Canada governs best from the middle,” she says. “It’s important that people aren’t cynical about the role of government. Canada represents an ideal that we all progress together.”

Here in the riding, she says vot-

ers have excellent choices in all the candidates. “I have utmost respect for the people I’m running against.

I hope people get to know me and that my experience and track record can be put to use.”

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viewpoint

Krohn family reflects on their five years on Bowen Island

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.

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.

Our first morning on Bowen in August 2010 was sunny. We stumbled out of bed and drifted jet-lagged down to the Cove, colliding with the bewildering procession of Bowfest.

I can only imagine what the kids thought, what they had to process aeroplaning in from Africa to be greeted by this foreign but friendly world.

Only after we settled did it emerge that they had been imagining living on an island the likes of a cartoon, one small hump of land, a coconut tree and a lonely family marooned.

It turned out, for them especially as all children on Bowen grow to know, that this village loves its little people.

Their world rapidly grew to include adults as best friends, conversation partners on the things that really matter; trees, deer, rope-swings and the tide at Cape Roger.

As the old adage goes, the smaller the village the bigger your world. Our one son still thinks Bowen is Canada.

It does not need to be stated that we have loved our time on Bowen.

We will cherish it for the rest of our lives. This rock has carved out a place in our hearts. In the heat of Africa, when we close our eyes we will see the green and feel the touch on our skin of the cool mist caressing the contours of Mt Gardner. And we will imagine the waters, skies and towering peaks in the Howe Sound. What a place to live on God’s earth!

We give our thanks to you all for accepting us, for loving us and caring for all of us. Most especially the

Medical clinic says thanks

After five years on Bowen Island, James and Corli Krohn, with their children Miléna, Rauen, Zeb, Belén and Zac, are returning to South Africa. Lorraine Ashdown photo community of Cates Hill Chapel who bore with us in all our failings and cared for us ahead of our coming, and whom we know, will continue to care for us long after our going.

The Krohns

Note: James and Corli, with their children Miléna, Rauen, Zeb, Belén and Zac, are returning to South Africa to start a Christian Study Centre near the University of Cape Town.

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All Advertising and news copy content are copyright of the Undercurrent Newspaper. All editorial content submitted to the Undercurrent becomes the property of the publication.

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On behalf of the Community Medical Clinic Society of Bowen Island, I would like to express our gratitude and admiration to two members of our board who recently stepped down at our AGM. Bud Massender (our local pharmacist) was one of the founding members of our “group” before we became a board and, without his tenacity, we would not have accomplished very much of anything, given how busy we all were and are. But Bud applied for non-profit status, worked on our goals and objectives, chaired countless meetings and never gave up on his dream to build a health centre on Bowen.

When many of us on the board got distracted with other duties and obligations, Bud made sure we were meeting regularly to build on the work that was already done. Our first visit to the clinic on Gabriola Island in 2013 inspired many of us to create an equally amazing amenity on Bowen and Bud continued to remind us of what their small community accomplished. Bud is busy with some major life changes but will continue to be one of our most important cheerleaders for improved medical services on Bowen.

Jaye Routledge came into Caring Circle one day to see if there was any way she could offer her extensive expertise in the health sector.

Initially she worked on the Caring Circle board, helping us in particular with our organizational structure.

She then extended her offers of support to the Medical Clinic Board (our future health centre!). In a very short period of time and perhaps to Jaye’s surprise, she took charge of much of the organizational work around the medical clinic board. She organized meetings, developed the agendas, and was at every meeting encouraging us to get things done. Her new and very demanding job in North Vancouver with the Division of Family Practice has taken her away from health advocacy work on Bowen, but she will always be in the background, offering her support where she can.

Without these two community activists, we would not have achieved as much as we have in gathering information about health needs on Bowen.

They were both instrumental in developing the health survey that we hope you are all working on this summer to inform our work around building a health centre. (http://fluidsurveys. com/s/Bowen-health/) The board and the community would like to thank you both for keeping this dream alive.

Colleen O’Neil Board Member at Large Community Medical Clinic Society of Bowen Island Bruce Wallace, Paul Stratford, Susan Howe, Maureen Mackey, Gail Eyssen, Tim Rhodes, Dr. Sue Schloegl

#102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0 Phone: 604.947.2442 Fax: 604.947.0148 Deadline for all advertising and editorial: Monday, 4:00p.m. www.bowenislandundercurrent.com

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FRIDAY AUGUST 21 2015 • 5

How I Got Here: Melanie Mason

Wanting to move here is one thing; finding a place to live is quite another MARTHA PERKINS EDITOR

Ottawa. The Caribbean. London.

Zurich. Bowen Island.

Melanie Mason’s hop-skip-and-ajump route to Bowen Island included a last-minute sprint that almost didn’t happen because of the island’s shortage of rental accommodation.

The Undercurrent’s interview with the first-time Bowen Island municipal councillor started off as a story for our series on the problems that are arising because there aren’t enough places for people to rent. Up until a month ago, she was the only council member who was a renter, and she was well aware of the challenges that young families like hers are facing.

However, as it became obvious that her personal reasons for caring about the issue were intrinsically linked to her How I Got Here, the two stories have become one.

Mason grew up in Ottawa and found life taking an unexpected route when she got her high school diploma on a tall ship. She fell in love with sailing and ending up working at the Moorings, a charter company in the Caribbean.

She returned to Ontario to get her degree in geography from Queen’s University and, because there aren’t many jobs for geography majors, returned to university to specialize in mapping. As luck would have it, she got a job mapping the coral reef in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

That’s where she met her husband, who’s British.

They decided to move to London, England where Mason got a job doing map-based spatial analysis of

the Thames for the Port of London Authority and, later, an environmental project in Cambridge.

Her pregnancy coincided with her husband’s job offer as a bridge engineer based in Zurich, so it was off to Switzerland. Both of their daughters were born there.

But Mason wanted the girls to grow up in Canada and they chose British Columbia because it was new to both of them.

They first settled in North Vancouver. She was pushing her youngest daughter’s stroller up Lonsdale Avenue when one too many “Sorry we’re full” buses passed by. That night, she said to her husband, “This is not why we moved to BC.” They took a day trip to Bowen Island and said, “Wow.” This is what they imagined living in BC to be like. They immediately decided to move here and, with real estate prices making ownership out of the question, started looking for a place to rent.

Their requirements were relatively simple: because of the cost of commuting, they couldn’t afford a second car, which meant their house needed to be either on a bus route or within walking distance of Snug Cove. It had to have at least two bedrooms and be less than $2,000 a month, including utilities.

Simple requirements, yes; easy to fulfill, hardly.

There was one other criteria: a space in preschool for their fouryear-old daughter.

They went to Bowen Island Children’s Centre. Executive director Ann Silberman knew it would be a challenge to find a place to

rent so she suggested that instead of asking them to pay for registration, she’d put their name in for a spot.

For four months they spent weekends searching for a place to rent. Cost, size and suitability all came into play. Finally, at the end of August two years ago, they found a two-bedroom apartment. But when Mason phoned Silberman with the good news, Silberman said that when she hadn’t heard back from them, she’d given the space to someone else. Mason started to cry.

Silberman said, “Don’t worry, we’ll make room.

“The whole reason I’m on this island is that people want to help you make it work,” Mason says, forever grateful for Silberman’s to-therescue efforts.

That was two years ago. Last year, Mason and her husband decided it was time to become home owners.

A new search began.

Finding an affordable place to buy in their price range was as difficult as finding a place to rent. They knew something would have to give.

That thing was space. Last month the family of four moved into their newly purchased one-bedroom 780 sq. ft. cottage.

“We knew we could never get the full Bowen wish list so we made a compromise on space,” she says.

“Ours is not a sob story but it is challenging.”

Tackling the issue of affordable housing, both for people who own and people who rent, is something she wants to take on, along with the shortage of childcare and transportation options. She knows housing affordability is a long-standing issue, and there have been lots of

Melanie Mason’s difficulties finding a place to rent, and own, on Bowen Island speak to the larger issue of a lack of diverse housing here. Martha Perkins photo reports and studies, but she wants to see what the municipality can do to help. The new planner, Daniel Martin, has a background in affordable housing and there may be ways to work with private developers to increase rental housing stock.

Mason says that many people think that increasing density on Bowen Island will lead to the island becoming more like West Vancouver. She argues that it’s the lack of housing diversity that will

cause that to happen. If more isn’t done to make sure that families like hers can afford to live here, Bowen will become a homogeneous society where only those who have money inhabit its mountains.

“Bowen will change if we don’t keep our diverse community,” she says. “If we don’t have affordable housing for daycare teachers, music teachers, store staff, they will have to leave. Who will make Bowen tick?”

What it means to be Citizen of the Year Dear Editor, A week before the Citizen of the Year was due to be announced, I came into our shared kitchen greeted by the smell of blueberry pancakes and a lively debate over potential nominees: How can there be only one citizen of the year, and what does it take to truly qualify one nominee over another?

Living in a small community is a new experience for me. I moved to Bowen for my summer position at the Bowen Island Museum and Archives, and have found that the short distance across Howe Sound translates to a startling cultural difference from Mainland to island life.

In the city, even when community engagement is recognized, it often hangs unnoticed on the periphery. Volunteer work is too often pursued for the wrong reasons: a required number of hours dictated by a school program, a young person trying to boost their CV, a city-

The person who gets the award is a symbol of all those who contribute: Lois Meyers-Carter. dweller struggling to find meaning in life beyond the mundane demands of a desk job. It is something that people often fit into their

lives, instead of integrating it into their way of life. On the island, the community relies on the initiative and support of its members, and it is integral to the Island’s culture.

I had the recent privilege to speak to Lois Meyers-Carter, who received the Citizen of the Year Award with her husband Ross in 2007. In her words, the Citizen of the Year needs to be understood as a “representative of all those who also volunteered their time.”

“The person who gets the award is really a symbol,” Lois says, “and that person represents all those people that contribute.”

Many people actually submitted nominations for groups, not individuals, who dedicate so much of their time to community service. The recent fire at Hood Point calls the volunteer firefighters to mind, but the Caring Circle, BIRD, Garden Club, and many others have given hours of time and care. “Stick with the individual as a represen-

tative of all efforts,” Lois advised.

There are so many groups, and the award should be given with the understanding that this one award is really a sum of many.

Lois spoke from her experience petitioning for the public library on Bowen. While it was a lengthy “stepby-step process,” she says, “I don’t remember the steps but I remember how long it took and how many people it took.” She humbly insists that it was through “a long list of efforts” and “the power and concern of the Friends of the Library” that truly provided the project’s impetus.

“Bowen Island has been so lucky to have volunteers do so many things,” Lois says, “and they get no reward.” So many important projects can be traced back to volunteers or exceptional individuals on the island, including toll-free phone service, a larger gym at the school, and public transportation. Lois also reminds us that the Archives consistently relies on members of the

community – not only as we continue to build our history, but as we reflect back on archival material and reach out when in need of clarification.

Part of the importance of the award is asking questions. The Citizen of the Year causes an annual stir, wherein people begin to contemplate and discuss the many individuals that they value in their community and why they are so valued.

When the votes are in and the name is announced, this should not close off the discussion. It is an award that recognizes only one, among so many islanders, who go above and beyond to serve their community.

Sincerely, Kathryn Ney N.B. We have recently received news that Lois has broken her hip and is in hospital recovering from surgery. On behalf of the Bowen Island Museum and community, we would like to wish her a speedy recovery.

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The sum of its many parts Bowfest isn’t just one thing, especially this year when Logger Show are added to the list of much-loved favourite events

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Cody Bentall, Kaid Sander, and Frank Seaberly watch as Gary Anderson practises his double-handed axe-thorwing technique in Anderson’s backyard. Anderson is organizing Bowfest’s Logger Show. Martha Perkins photos

SASHA BUCHANAN BOWFEST

Bowfest is a festival to celebrate all things Bowen. Which means that it may mean many different things to many different people. Is Bowfest a country fair in which kids race slugs and spend endless hours nurturing and watering obscenely large vegetables?

Is Bowfest about the costumes, floats, and candy throwing of the parade? Or how about a live music venue, highlighting our local talent, while we dance on the shores of Crippen Park as the sun sets?

What about this year’s Logger Show and competitions? Surely Bowfest is about the games, entertainment, tradition and community?

The answer is a resounding YES to all these questions — and to the countless other examples that readers are no doubt thinking to themselves. This article will explore how four very different Bowentines are preparing for Bowfest 2015.

Ten-year-old Amelia Sorrentino’s dreams of successfully growing the largest zucchini at this year’s Country Fair were nearly ruined when disaster struck late last week: a deer jumped the garden fence and ravaged the zucchini right down to the root. Just when things looked their worst, Grandpa Pat (Buchanan) discovered a rough mammoth marrow in his own patch that had somehow escaped picking. Good luck to you Amelia in the judging.

Lena Simms, general manager of the Bowen Island Building Centre and numerous winner of best-inshow float for Bowfest’s parade, has

As happy as he was with his bull’s-eye, Kaid Sander knows many more practice throws are needed before the competition. spent the last few weeks gathering material for this year’s float creation. This year the BBC float will be made from 100 per cent recycled goods — “No new material” Lena says.

The Building Centre has a long tradition of a Bowfest Eve floatmaking party, where all the staff and their families come together to construct some truly unique and eye-catching creations (which also means they are there late for work if you need some last-minute supplies for your own float).

In true Bowen volunteer-com-

Cody Bentall has a newfound respect for the men who felled trees using crosscut saws after he took a turn at one end of the saw. Gary Anderson was at the other end while Kaid Sander added ballast.

mittee-and-entertainment-business fashion, the stage line-up was short an act. Luckily the very gracious members of Taunting Mabel stepped up to the plate to fill that gap!

Vocalist and percussionist Janice MacLean is spending the next week polishing off the high-octane scales her band is know for. They’re working on songs that will, as Janice proclaims, “make all the Mythical Creatures come out of their hiding and dance, dance, dance”.

Get ready Bowen for one of our local bands to dazzle you with “new

country, rock, blues and originals that will stay in your heads and in your hearts!” Thank you Taunting Mabel for doing bowfest such a solid favour.

Unique to Bowfest 2015, Gary Anderson has organized a Logger Show and competition. Working together with Twin Island, Metro Blasting, Black Bear, J&E Backhoe, Frank Seaberly and many more, Gary and the rest of the contestants have been busy sharpening saws and practising their axe throwing skills, not to mention digging holes for the climbing poles to be placed.

This old-time community event has really brought the community together and is sure to wow the audience.

There is place for everyone at Bowfest and, as we get closer and closer to the big day, our community members continue their individual preparations from vegetable growing to axe throwing. Whether you are six or 96, Bowfest has something for you.

It is a wonderful event that brings our community together as we say goodbye to another summer.

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FRIDAY AUGUST 21 2015 • 7

Kids: sign up for Rotary Run For Rwanda and get free Bowfest ticket HILARY BUTLER R O TA RY R U N F O R RWA N D A

Hey kids! This has been the best summer ever, and it’s not over yet!

Bowfest promises to be fantastic this year, and the Rotary Run for Rwanda is on just before the parade.

If you are nine or under and sign up really soon, you will get a free Bowfest ticket, which means more spending money for the day! Your registration for the run costs only $10 and if you like, one of your parents gets to run or walk the 1.5K with you. They can use your run as a warm-up for the 5K and 10K run later.

It all starts at 8:30 on the ferry dock. At the end of the run you get a great medal, then fruit and muffins to reward you for all that hard work; what’s more, the first boy and the first girl home win a great prize, and at the prize giving at 10:15, you may win a draw prize as well. What a great deal!

If you are a really good runner, you could do the 5k or 10k run with your parents or friends or on

your own. You won’t get lost because there are people to guide you along the way. The long runs and the 5K walk start as soon as the kids’ run is done at 9am.

So hurry off to Phoenix or First Credit Union and hand in your registration forms, or your parents can do it online if they don’t have time, at www.rotaryrunforrwanda.com.

You can pick up your Komera bib with your number on it on Friday, August 28 between 4 and 7pm at the Rotary Run for Rwanda tent on the Library lawn.

That way you avoid the crowds on Saturday morning before the run starts.

If by any chance, you forget to get your registration done before Saturday, you can do it at the last moment, but then you probably won’t get the free Bowfest ticket! By the way, you and your parents can buy advance tickets to Bowfest on Friday afternoon and on Saturday morning before the run. That saves standing in line at the gates later on.

See you on August 29! By the way, the Library lawn is the best spot for watching the parade, and you’ll be right there at the right time!

Find Yourself at Bowfest

The 1.5K kids race starts at 8:30 at the ferry dock on August 29.File

DOG DAYS of SUMMER

was a howling success!!!

UNION STEAMSHIP CO. MARINA

on on behalf of DOG DAYS of SUMMER would like to thank all our volunteers & the businesses that donated prices to this event. We broke last years’ record in raising money for

BC GUIDE DOG SERVICES.

A & big round of applause to our pur SPONSORS! A new element at Bowfest is 40 years of BICS nostalgia...

BICS has toooo many old photos but it doesn’t want to throw them out without giving past students a chance to take these bits of nostalgia home.

All former BICS students are invited to ‘Find Yourself’ in the thousands of photos and take copies home. The photos will also be at BICS at the start of the school year and at the Bowen Grows Feast on September 25 in the BICS gym.

Summer Kayak Camp Flexible for you, Fun for your kids!

Full days (9:30 3:30pm) of games, skill-building, fresh air & adventure for kids 8-12. Choose 2, 3 or 5-days -whatever works best for your family.

LAST WEEK OF CAMP 2015!

Starts Monday, August 24th

5 Days: $359 M,W.F: $235 or T, TH: $159

Call now to register kids 8-12

604-947-9266 or register at bowenislandkayaking.com

8 • FRIDAY AUGUST 21 2015

Setting sail!

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

The Bowen Island Yacht Club’s Learn 2 Sail introduces a new generation of mariners to the joy of harnessing the wind. Emily Hauner photos Mait Davis finished second in the Optimist Red Fleet at Sail West, Sail Canada’s Western regional regatta, and third overall, representing the North Shore Sailing Team at West Vancouver Yacht Club. Mait grew up sailing with Bowen Island Yacht Club’s Learn 2 Sail and, at age 14, is racing competitively with NSST. Here he accepts his award from coach Rob Douglas, Comox Bay Sailing Club.

Submitted photo

These kids’ faces say it all: sailing is fun.

Fun Regatta will wrap up BIYC’s summer program KATHERINE GISH B I YA C H T C L U B

On August 30, the Bowen Island Yacht Club will be hosting its second Fun Regatta of the season at Tunstall Bay. It’s a chance for sailors to consolidate their skills while enjoying some healthy competition.

The focus will be on learning basic racing

skills and strategies, for sailors of all abilities, in a variety of dinghy fleets (Optimist, Laser, Laser 2, and any other two-person dinghy).

All BIYC 2015 sailors and members (minimum age eight with sufficient skill to sail independently) are invited to charter one of BIYC’s 18 boats.

All other sailors are invited to bring their own small sailboats.

BC Ferries REGULAR SCHEDULE REGULAR SCHEDULE March 12, In Effect14 Mayto15October to October 13,2015 2014

▼

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

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

Distance: 3 NAUTICAL MILES Crossing Time: 20 MINUTES ^

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

#

*

*

**

**

††

THE THE WEDNESDAY 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.

Fun Regatta Schedule: 1100: Skippers meeting by the boathouse ramp 1130: Launch all boats 1200: First Race 1530: Last Race 1600: De-rig and cleanup 1700: Awards

45

$

Following the Regatta at 5pm is the Learn 2 Sail end-of-summer barbeque and awards presentation. BIYC hopes to see many of our L2S summer sailors and their families!

Details to follow.

If you don’t want to miss a week of the island’s news, people and events, subscribe to the Undercurrent today. It’s only $45 to get the paper delivered to your mailbox every Friday for an entire year.

Name:

Address: Phone:

Cheque

Credit card:

Clip this out and drop it by the Undercurrent office or mail it to Box 130, Bowen Island, VON 1G0. Price is for on-island subscriptions only.

Off-island annual rate is $65.

Don’t forget that a complete ban on all outdoor flames, including barbecues and fireworks, is in place on Bowen Island.

Go to BIMBC. ca for details.

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FRIDAY AUGUST 21 2015 • 9

Adin Brenner soars to new heights on trampoline MARTHA PERKINS EDITOR

Adin Brenner was in kindergarten when he enrolled in the Bowen Island Gymnastics Club.

A decade later, he’s a BC champion in both artistic and trampoline gymnastics and, this December, he’ll be part of Team Canada at the World Age Group Championships in Denmark.

To help him soar, his family has started a crowdfunding campaign to help cover some of the $20,000 it will take to compete there.

“One day I hope to be top in the world,” he says in his campaign’s video. “I do it because it’s fun but I’m determined to get somewhere despite my diabetes.”

Diabetic since the age of two, Adin is accustomed to having to be focused and disciplined to overcome challenges. Two weeks into his campaign, he’d already raised $8,850.

Adin and his family now live on Gabriola Island where they have a large trampoline in the backyard so Adin can fit in extra practices without having to take a ferry. On school days — he’s about to enter Grade 9 at Nanaimo & District Secondary School — he trains four hours every day as he maintains a B average.

“With each year his passion and

Adin Brenner has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for his Team Canada trip to Denmark. Terry Sue photos@medianorth.com

accomplishments in the sport grow, as do his financial requirements,” writes his mother Mara in an email. “Adin is on track to be the best in the world but this is a youthful sport and this is the first year that he needs to travel a lot to make that dream a reality.”

The crowdfunding campaign is to help pay for year-round training, all of the meet registration fees, coaching fees, hotel, travel- including international flights, and required training camps, plus a team BC and a Team Canada uniform.

You can find out more about his campaign at http://www.gofundme. com/f74vyh4vvw.

Want to reach the hundreds of people who will attend Bowfest?

Advertise in the Undercurrent’s special section in next week’s paper. Call Maureen Sawasy at 604-947-2442 to book your space by Monday at noon.

Molly Quarry picked for FC elite REX program MARTHA PERKINS EDITOR

It’s not often that a teenager willingly gives up a week’s holiday, but Molly Quarry couldn’t help but say yes when she was invited to a training camp run by players on Team Canada’s women’s soccer team.

The 13-year-old Bowen Islander

had just enjoyed a hugely successful weekend playing for Team BC in the Pacific Challenge Series in mid-July. She was team captain for the final game, in which she played every minute, and then picked for the Game of Distinction.

She was supposed to vacation with her family in Ontario after that, but had a quick change of

plans after she got a call from the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite REX (Regional Excel Centre) Program.

She was one of only five girls born in 2002 who was invited to join its week-long camp at SFU. REX maintains a standardized national curriculum for female players U-13 to U-18, feeding into Canada Soccer’s Women’s National EXCEL Program.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Join BEARS on Bowen The Bowen Emergency Amateur Radio Service, or BEARS, is looking for new members.

BEARS provide emergency communications when land lines/cellphone systems and internet service fail during disasters.

The two stations in Bowen’s volunteer fire halls use HF, VHF and UHF communications equipment and can provide the means to communicate around Bowen, British Columbia and other countries through a global amateur network. It’s also a great emergency asset when you’re out and away exploring the “super natural” province we live in.

Obtaining your amateur radio licence will require seven consecutive Saturday mornings starting in January (dates and times TBA) at the North Shore Amateur Radio Club (www.nsarc.ca). We’re always practising and you’re welcome to help with projects and start training early.

For more information contact Bruce Steele at VA7BFH@gmail.com or call 604-947-9473.

As their pre-season gets underway, Quest University’s women’s soccer team spent a long weekend on Bowen Island, setting up base at Camp Bow Isle and practising at the BICS turf field. The mini training camp doubled as a team-building get-away for the Squamish-based players. Martha Perkins photo

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10 • FRIDAY AUGUST 21 2015

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Cardena Road parking proposal too dangerous: neighbour MARTHA PERKINS EDITOR

New parking spaces near the entrance to Crippen Park would be “a tragedy waiting to happen,” says a nearby property owner.

“My major concern is safety,” says Duncan Phillips, who lives on Union Road near the Cardena intersection. “It’s a very busy junction that is extremely congested when the ferry arrives and also on weekends…. It’s a crazy idea.”

He says he’s already witnessed several near misses as people use the area to pick up ferry passengers.

The municipality is seeking public input on the possible creation of 10 to 12 new parking spaces next to the existing park sign. The parking area would be created by infilling a ditch.

It’s one of the ideas that’s been floated about to help ease parking congestion in the Cove.

Phillips says he would rather see park-and-ride commuter spaces created in the surplus lands, with perhaps a shuttle bus to transport people to the ferry.

In his letter to council he says, “It is high time that council move to address this problem once and for all, rather than adopting yet another inadequate, danger-

Shelagh MacKinnon, the president of the Bowen Island Rotary Club, above, shares a laugh, and a welcome, at the club’s potluck dinner at the home of Jeannie and John Magee. Joining her on the porch overlooking the Howe Sound were fellow club members Jen McGowan, Robert Ballantyne, Piers Hayes and Hilary and Robin Butler. At right, Jeannie Magee offers appetizers to Diana Kaile and Elizabeth Hammerberg. The club meets on Thursday nights at Collins Hall; all are welcome.

Martha Perkins photos

ous, environmentally destructive, Band-aid solution that continues to burden Cardena Drive and adjacent streets with the problems created by inadequate ferry marshalling.”

He suggests the following: • Make Snug Point “localaccess-only” from the entrance to Crippen Park (immediately adjacent to the information centre).

• Using the existing library parking areas, provide for, and enforce, 2-hour parking for library patrons and 4-hour parking for Crippen Park access.

• Reduce, not increase, the number of parking spaces in Snug Cove, and by using a small portion of the surplus lands, create a commuter “park’n’ride” facility. (The walking distance from such a facility to the ferry dock in Snug Cove is approximately equal to the walking distance from the BC Ferries parking lot in Horseshoe Bay to berth A there.

• Revisit the earlier plan that proposed a traffic roundabout at the junction of Cardena and Bowen Trunk Road and relocating the drop-off/pick-up area as a new lane on the North side of Bowen Trunk Road People have until September 11 to send their comments, for or against, to the municipality.

Blackberry jelly stand raises $105 for CAWES

Ferry goes in for repair from page 1 There’s also been a problem with the right angle drive unit, which is slated to be fixed overnight on Saturday.* “We know customers are concerned and we are as well,” says Marshall.

BC Ferries will be releasing its first-quarter results on Friday and will talk over the results with Bowen Island’s ferry advisory committee in the fall. * After the last run on Saturday night, the Queen of Capilano will head to the Vancouver shipyards for overnight repair. BC Ferries is bringing the Bowen Queen over for the first two Sunday morning runs so there is no disruption in service.

I‘d like to thank the many residents of Miller’s Landing who supported my daughter Quinn’s blackberry jelly stand. She raised $105 which she was very happy to take to the Credit Union and donate to CAWES. We recently adopted a cat from our local shelter, the Pasadena Humane Society in California. Quinn is very happy to support CAWES here on Bowen Island.

Joy Painter

On the Calendar The Glass Menagerie August 20, 21 and 22 7:30pm Tir Na Nog Starring Frazer Elliott, Bronwyn Churcher, Andrew Cameron and Jackie Minns.

Show times and tickets at bowenglassmenagerie. brownpapertickets.com and Phoenix.

Vanishing: Impressions of our Vanishing Coastal Legacy Opens August 19 Opening night: August 21 7 to 9pm Gallery @ Artisan Square Exhibit features the work of distinguished local artists Marc Baur, Georgina Farah and Janet Esseiva.

Rotary Club August 20 Collins Hall, 7:30pm No charge, all are welcome Finding the Art within our Summer Photos August 21 1pm Arts Pacific Gallery. Artisan Square Free demonstration by Marie Neys Tailgate Market August 22 BICS parking lot Local producers share bounty of their garden from 10am until they sell out Bowen In Transition August 23 Potluck 5 to 7pm Whole-group meeting: 7pm

Please RSVP to carolmackinnon@gmail. com Community Lunch August 25 11:30am to 1pm Legion $5: adult event Rotary Club August 27 Collins Hall, 7:30pm No charge, all are welcome Rotary Run For Rwanda August 29 8:30am Ferry dock 10k and 5k run, a 5k walk and a 1.5k kids’ run Register at RotaryRunForRwanda.com

Bowfest August 29 Parade theme is Mythical Creatures From Around the World Country Fair competitions in youth and adult categories Scottish Country Dancing Bowfest.org Tailgate Market August 29 BICS parking lot Local producers share bounty of their garden from 10am until they sell out BIYC Fun Regatta August 30 11am to 5pm Tunstall Bay For a variety of two-person dinghy fleets. Go to BIYC.bc.ca for details or to charter a BIYC boat.

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FRIDAY AUGUST 21 2015 • 11

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A green Lush life

Local producers help beauty company live up to its ethics when it comes to what food it puts on the table MARTHA PERKINS EDITOR

Lush built its international reputation by creating handmade beauty products with fresh ingredients that weren’t tested on animals.

So when Lush’s communications team was planning a three-day retreat on Bowen Island, it wanted to put its ethos where its mouth was. It asked its caterers, the Snug Café, to design a vegetarian menu that sourced as many organic and locally grown products as possible.

A few extra challenges were thrown in: since not all of the 48 people who attended what Lush called Brand Camp were vegetarian, the menu had to satisfy meat eaters who might be worried they were about to endure three days of salads while also satis-

fying those people who were vegan, gluten-free and lactose free (plus one person with a poppyseed allergy.)

No problem, said the Snug’s Joan Hayes who, along with Steph Boggan and Christian Perroni, turned out seven meals (plus two snacks a day) that earned rave reviews.

“We are being spoiled rotten,” Jennie Ridler said after a lunch of summer harvest tortilla soup, lentil and walnut loaf, beet, apple and celery salad, strawberries with goat cheese, freshly baked Snug cookies and gluten-free banana bread.

Ridler, who’s vegan, is the manager of internal communications for the UK-founded company. “The standard of food is out of this world,” she says.

“Joan really embraced it and ran with it.”

Run, Hayes did, all over Bowen

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Jennie Ridler and Seema Dhillon of Lush, left, praised the culinary efforts of the Snug Cafe’s catering team: Steph Boggan, Joan Hayes and Christian Perroni. More photos of the Lush retreat at Bowen Island Lodge are online at BowenIslandUndercurrent.com Martha Perkins photo Island: organic bread from Artisan Eats; tomatoes from Dave McIntosh; celery, kale, chard and relishes from Black Cat Farms; baby carrots and zucchini from Home Farm Gardens, eggs from Alderwood Farm; and jams from Foxglove Farm. She also got fruits from Discovery Organics and organic coffee from JJ Bean.

The whole visit has been special for the staff, who came from New York, Montreal, Chicago and

Denver. Harkening back to the camp days of their youth, they boarded an old-fashioned school bus which brought them over on the ferry to Bowen Island Lodge. They started their day with a hike, went on a scavenger hunt, had a karaoke night and simply soaked in the views of Mannion Bay and the Coastal Mountains. The only thing missing was S’mores by the campfires since campfires are currently banned.