Bowen Island Undercurrent February 5 2016 by Bowen Island Undercurrent

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2016 VOL. 42, NO. 53

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Alligator lizards

Get to know your neighbours

Scooters for rent

Trust me

Does Bowen need another travel option?

A concert series you can trust to be great

Bowen girls run a top community campaign LOUISE LOIK EDITOR

Five girls in Grade five decided to take action and do something to help endangered species. Maya Tamblyn, Mei Mei Szeto, Myah Grundy, Grace Quarry and Eve Sentlinger gave their group a name, The Power of 5!, and immediately channelled some girl power into fundraising. By the time their work was done, they had become the fifth top Community Campaign in the world for the World Wildlife Fund. “We went online and researched the top 10 endangered animals,” says Myah. The team wanted to know which animals were facing the direst of circumstances, hoping that they could help turn things around. “The black rhinos have one male and three females left. If anything happens to that male, the species is done,” says Maya. The girls started out squeezing lemons, washing cups and making signs that would help sell the cold drinks. “That first sunny summer day, there was a lot of momentum and excitement as the jar of coins and bills began to fill,” says Jamie Woodall, Maya’s mom. The girls say that one of their customers gave them “a big donation,” but before he would give it to them, he wanted them to show him where the money was going. The girls had been collecting money in a jar, intent on sending it somehow to help the animals. The donor’s suggestion forced the girls to think more carefully about their plans. They went back to the deck, passed around a talking stick and with the guidance of a parent, they opened an account for donations within the WWF website. While the kids would have preferred making and selling stuff and not dealing with a website, they say it got them to figure out a plan of action. They point at each other and excitedly describe the events, all talking at the same time. “You made the posters.” “We jumped on bikes and scooters and got supplies.” “I directed cars to go to the lemonade stand,” says Myah. Other girls chime in. “We went door-to-door and sold cookies.” It’s clear the kids are proud of their efforts and the results. They raised almost $300 from cookies and lemonade. As they were making the money, they would invest it back into the effort to buy more supplies to keep their sales going. The fundraising efforts were strategically staged, working at

continued PAGE 3

Grace, Mei Mei, Eve, Myah and Maya researched endangered animals, made posters to explain their cause, and sold cookies, lemonade and other items to help protect the animals through the World Wildlife Fund. LOUISE LOIK photo

Local RCMP praised for arrest of suspects in Howe Sound crime spree LOUISE LOIK EDITOR

Bowen Island RCMP Const. Chris Coulter and Const. Cory Hendricks have been credited as being pivotal in arrests related to a string of robberies and break-ins on the water and along the shores of Howe Sound. “Bowen Island is a small detachment but what our officers accomplished while working along with the other police agencies resulted in a significant number of charges being laid,” said Staff Sgt. Brian Cumming, commander for the Sea to Sky, south zone. “Suspects were stealing dinghies from local docks, marinas and associated vessels and using them to target other vessels moored at

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marinas or anchored in False Creek and English Bay, as well as cabins on the islands of Howe Sound.” Jeremy Edward Donald Walker, 35, and Liam Eric Fell, 39, are facing a number of charges including possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm and ammunition, break-and-enter and obstructing a peace officer. Cumming, the son of the late Maggie Cumming who was well known on Bowen, said local RCMP officers executed searches and made the first arrest in a case that had begun last summer in Vancouver. “We made the first arrest,” acknowledges Coulter, but due to

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NEWS from

Municipal Hall MEETING CALENDAR February 9, 2016 2:00 PM

Ö H E R I TA G E W E E K :

F E B R U A R Y 15-21, 2016

As part of Heritage Week celebrations on Bowen Island, we are hosting a free Heritage BC webinar:

Snug Cove Improvements Working Group

February 9, 2016 7:15 PM Regular Council Meeting

February 12, 2016 9:30 PM Economic Development Committee

February 15, 2016 9:30 AM Committee of the Whole

February 15, 2016 1:00 PM Communications Team

February 15, 2016 7:00 PM Advisory Planning Committee All meetings are held in BIM Council Chambers unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016 7:00 PM Gallery at Artisan Square FREE This year’s Heritage Week theme is Distinctive Destinations: Experience Historic Places. The webinar will introduce the topic of heritage and cultural tourism - what it means, how it benefits us and best practices for developing and delivering experiences. Using examples from British Columbia, this webinar will introduce case studies and several valuable resources. The webinar is free, but registration is encouraged. To register, please email Stef Shortt, Committee Clerk, at sshortt@bimbc.ca, by February 12, 2016. Please use the subject line “Webinar Registration.”

Ö BC HYDRO WOOD

P O L E T E S T A N D T R E AT PROGRAM

BC Hydro plans to test and treat wooden power poles on Bowen Island between February 1 and February 29, 2016. As permitted under their approved Pest Management Plan, BC Hydro may apply wood preservatives to the poles to prevent decay from wood rot or structural damage from insects. Members of the public with concerns or questions about the wood pole test and treat program are encouraged to call BC Hydro directly. The contact for this program is Raymond Irving, BC Hydro Field Manager at 250-755-4798. Information about BC Hydro’s pole maintenance program including the wood preservatives to be used is available at: www.bchydro.com/safety-outages/stay-safe/safety-outside/treespower-lines/managing-weeds-insects/wood-pole-treatment.html

Co-sponsored by Bowen Heritage, Bowen Island Arts Council, Tourism Bowen and BIM Economic Development Committee.

Ö B O W E N C U LT U R A L P L A N The Bowen Island Arts Council (BIAC) has launched the Culture Plan Survey!

Public Participation in Flagging Areas of Concern

BIAC is the leading advisory organization to the Bowen Island Municipal Council for arts and cultural development. The survey will help inform the update and review of the Cultural Master Plan, as per Bylaw # 297 of the Bowen Island Municipality pertaining to arts and culture.

BC Hydro has provided metal pig-tail pins and orange flagging tape for the Bowen Island Municipality to distribute to the public. Please call 604-947-4255 to request your flagging materials. We encourage residents to use the pins to identify wells (registered and nonregistered), waterbodies or adjacent organic farms.

Your voice is important to us. Help shape the future of our creative community by responding to a short questionnaire at:

Bowen Island Municipality has been informed that the BC Hydro field crew will respect all flagged areas and will utilize treatment methods that are appropriate for the marked sensitive areas.

www.surveymonkey.com/r/bowenculture The survey is open until February 21, 2016. If you wish to fill out a paper copy of the survey, copies are available at Municipal Hall and the Gallery @ Artisan Square. For more information about this initiative please visit www.bowenculture.ca

Ö PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Ö SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT Bowen Island Municipality is seeking public input to determine a preferred relocation site for the toilet facility at Sandy Beach, Mannion Bay. Once the ideal location has been selected, the new outhouse structure will be installed and the current, worn-out public toilet facility will be decommissioned.

Bowen Island Municipality is seeking proposals from suitably qualified consultants for Project Management Services to oversee design, construction and commissioning of the Main Fire Hall and Emergency Operations Centre. Copies of the Request for Proposal may be obtained from Bowen Island Municipality or on BC Bid at www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca

Ö COMMUNITY GRANTS find us on facebook:

A P P L I C AT I O N D E A D L I N E

Bowen Island Municipality

Applications for the 2016 Bowen Island Community Grants and Grant-in-Aid Program will be accepted until February 26, 2016.

join our mailing list:

Application forms and information about Evaluation Criteria, Community Grants/Grant-in-Aid Policy can be found at Municipal Hall or on our website at: www.bimbc.ca/content/community-grants-grants-aid

www.bimbc.ca

General Enquiries

This map shows two potential sites for the new toilet facility adjacent to Sandy Beach. Please send your preference of either Location 1 or Location 2 to Bonny Brokenshire, Manager of Parks and Environment at bbrokenshire@bimbc.ca by February 29, 2016.

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday, excluding statutory holidays

Phone: Fax: Email:

604-947-4255 604-947-0193 bim@bimbc.ca

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 2016 •= 3

Living with nature on Bowen Island BILLI GOWANS CONTRIBUTOR

As the weather begins to warm up, we start to think about nature as it seems to spring to life around us. A few mornings ago I saw this little guy on the stone steps of my garden, too cold yet to move out of harm’s way and waiting for the sun’s warmth to give him energy. You may have seen one in your backyard or on a rock wall and wondered what it was. Perhaps you guessed it was a lizard or perhaps a salamander. Some locals report seeing western skinks. In fact, this is a northern alligator lizard (Elgaria coerulea), which resembles a miniature alligator, from which it gets its name. Alligator lizards are a commonly occurring reptile in southern B.C. The vulnerable western skink is found in the Okanagan. Skinks are striped black, white and grey with a bright blue tail. Salamanders are approximately the same shape and size but are actually moist-skinned amphibians that need cool, wet living conditions, whereas, lizards prefer dry, warm habitats. The alligator lizard has short legs and a long body with a triangular head. It can grow to 20 centimetres from head to tail with an adult body averaging 10 cm in length. Adults are grey or tan with dark blotches, and their bellies are white to gray. The juveniles have a broad, bronze stripe on their side. A fold of skin on each side allows the body to expand with air, or distend when the lizard is full of food or pregnant. Home is typically a rocky outcrop, dry woodland, tall grass, a rocky stream bank or boulder beach; places where they can sun themselves but quickly take refuge if necessary. Lizards need sunny exposures with basking sites, usually on or under warm rocks.

Like other reptiles, they thermoregulate, the sun’s warmth providing energy for movement and metabolism. In your yard, lizards may be found in the garden, under boulders, in rock walls, under logs or even in the wood pile. Rocky areas are a favourite and they often share their habitat with garter snakes. Here, they eat insects such as beetles, caterpillars and grasshoppers, as well as spiders, snails, and millipedes. In winter, they hibernate in dens called hibernacula, which might be a mouse tunnel, under a log or a rock pile. They stay close to their dens year-round and are most active in the afternoon. Mating happens in spring, when males actively seek out females. This happens approximately every two years since females must restore body fat in alternate years. The young lizards develop inside the mother’s body, and in late summer, females give birth to four to six live young. Females will carry the young all summer to provide heat, humidity and protection. This restricts how much they can eat themselves and so they must bask in the sun more often. Alligator lizards are secretive and not frequently seen, with a first defense to run and hide. If caught, they often release a smelly musk and/or may drop their tail. The dropped tail is meant to distract potential predators but, over time, will grow back. Cats are a common predator, and you may have experienced the shock of a tail-less lizard brought in to the house. Other predators include hawks and other larger birds, snakes and small mammals. Where life is good, alligator lizards can live 10 or more years. Now, most are still tucked away for the winter in a deep rock crevice. Billi Gowans is an ecologist who lives on Bowen Island.

Northern alligator lizards face hazards as they cross roads in the spring or lie still on the road, looking like a stick or debris as they draw warmth from the pavement. Drivers have to use extra vigilance for reptiles and amphibians during late winter and early spring. BILLI GOWANS photo

Girls plan to organize more fundraisers from PAGE 1 the Sunday market in the cove, soliciting drivers and going door-to-door. They moved on to selling hot chocolate with the cookies and sewed items for sale. In spite of the fact the research turned up some tragic data on the state of wildlife in many places, this power group says that the information makes them feel more motivated to try to overcome the challenges.

“It feels like we have to keep doing more and more. . . . Like we can’t stop,” says Eve. The group is already thinking about what to do next as their next big fundraising drive. “It gives us hope that we can do something,” says Mei Mei. Grace nods. “I am hopeful that we can change things.” The girls all agree, that seeing all the variety of endangered species, it feels good to be doing something to help.

NEWS from

Municipal Hall Ö G A R D E N G AT E WAY P R O J E C T Construction on the Snug Cove Garden Gateway project is set to begin in early February 2016. The vision of the volunteer-driven Bowen Island Garden Gateway Initiative is to create a more welcoming experience at the ferry by creating a visually pleasing arrival to Bowen Island. This will be accomplished through the installation of a naturally appropriate raised garden rockery with seating in the area between the BC Ferries Washrooms and the Cenotaph on the south side of Government Road in Snug Cove. The initiative, led by Holly Graff, sponsored by Bowen Heritage and supported by BIM Council, has been funded through a Bowen Island Community Foundation Community Impact Grant, pledged donations and gifts-in-kind, and is endorsed by local business owners.

During the first phase of construction, a section of the sidewalk will be cordoned off. Over six feet of pedestrian walkway will be retained. The beginning of the vehicle line-up for the ferry will be moved to above the Cenotaph mid-day to allow trucks and equipment easy access to the site. BIM will erect signage to direct pedestrian and vehicular traffic during these times. There will be a pause in construction after the first phase is completed to allow for the adjacent building wall to be finished. Installation of stone, soil and plantings will be accomplished during the second phase of construction of the Garden Gateway. BIM has retained the services of a Qualified Environmental Professional to ensure that all legislated provisions related to herons are adhered to during construction of the project. Any questions related to herons can be directed to the BIM Manager of Parks and Environment at 604-947-4255. For more information about the project plan, please visit the BIM website at www.bimbc.ca

General Enquiries Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday, excluding statutory holidays

Phone: Fax: Email:

604-947-4255 604-947-0193 bim@bimbc.ca

4 4 •= FRIDAY FRIDAY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 5 5 2016 2016

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viewpoint

Taking action There are people who talk about following a dream and there are people who pull up stakes and go do what they need to do. Bowen has its share of people who have taken their families and sailed distant seas, lived in far off, exotic lands, and others who have gone, on their own, simply to be of service. I received messages from two women this week who have shifted gears from a life of comfort here on Bowen to something much more open-ended. Kate Coffey is the subject of one profile, and Patti Descente of another. Kate is an investment advisor, but she does it on contract now. She stays here just long enough to fund her time working in spinal cord injury rehabilitation in Nepal or in micro-financing in Bangladesh. Patti is an ordained monk, and the money she receives, she gives back out, making her path quite a bit more tenuous. I think both their journeys will be of interest. You’ll see the pictures of more people donating time and raising money in these pages. That’s Bowen. What’s different this week is that we have a crime story, though less about crime and more about the behind-the-scenes story about our local officers who helped put an end to a spree of robberies around Howe Sound. I’ve put together a listing of fun things for special prices for Family Day, and Theresa Plowright has contributed a family travel story about volunteering with elephants. All this travel talk makes me yearn for some adventure. How about you? I hope you enjoy this week’s Undercurrent. Louise

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.

If it was broken, it had a good chance of getting fixed on Saturday in Snug Cove at the school. From bikes to computers to small appliances, half a dozen people showed up to share their expertise and to get broken things to work again. Far left, Phillip Bement was at the fair working along with his dad, Reed. Phillip made one kid happy by getting a toy robot working again. Top left, Matt HallamEames from Qmate Technologies serviced Rod Marsh’s dehumidifier, something that gets used a lot during this rainy season. Lower left, Richard Kemble has been fixing computers for years. He says he wants to help keep old computers working instead of having them get tossed away. Kemble was happy to try to fix software problems on phones or hardware on PCs.

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. National NewsMedia Council. The Undercurrent is a member of the National NewsMedia Council of Canada, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please email editor@ bowenislandundercurrent.com or call 604-947-2442. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the website at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

LOUISE LOIK photos

Fix it Fair saves the life of a toddler’s favourite robot Lots of thanks to Reed Bement and his son Philip for spending much time fixing my three-yearold grandson Isaac’s beloved robot at the Fix It Fair last Saturday. He and his robot were inseparable until it gave up the ghost, but

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. The undercurrent is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, art work and photographs. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

#102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0

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Phone: 604.947.2442 Fax: 604.947.0148 Deadline for all advertising and editorial: Monday, 4:00 p.m.

Louise Loik

due to the careful repair it came back to life. Isaac will be so happy when he gets it back. And thank you Kim Kasasian for organizing the event. Betty Dhont

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 2016 •= 5

What’s on your mind this week? Students and seniors are connecting with stories, sports and tea

Last year we celebrated the milestone of the Grandfriends program running for 20 years at Bowen Island Community School. This year the program is still running with events and activities taking place at Seniors Keeping Young as well as at BICS. What is a grandfriend? A grandfriend is someone 55+ who either lives on Bowen Island, or is a grandparent of a student at BICS. You do not have to be a grandparent to be a grandfriend, you just have to be interested in listening and sharing knowledge, stories, and participating in activities with youth who are usually kindergarten-Grade 7 (five-13-years-old). We are celebrating Heart Month with three upcoming grandfriends events in February: the traditional Grandfriends in the Classroom Valentine’s event, with healthy snacks and tea on Thursday, Feb. 11, 1:15-2:15 p.m. There will be elephant-themed arts and crafts activities, stories and snacks. The Grade 5 students of Division 5 host this fun, social opportunity. Students will be learning how to plan and host an event and look forward to inviting grandfriends at the school. Thanks to a partnership with Community Recreation, there is a new grandfriends event being planned for Saturday, Feb. 13, 1-2 p.m., called “Grandfriends in the Gym.” This program is free for all community members, especially grandfriends 55+. Bring your friends and family of all ages to enjoy the fun together, young and old. Parents must stay with their children to supervise them and are also invited to join in the fun. The BICS gym doors open at 12:45 p.m. and 1-1:30 p.m. fun activities in the gym may include pickle ball, ping pong and lawn bowling. Rebecca Lyne will be helping with activities and Marysia McGilvray will be assisting with the cafe area. The event will feature tea, healthy snacks, activities and socializing. On Monday, Feb. 22, 10-11 a.m. as part of the S.K.Y. program at Howarth Hall, the Grandfriends Story Exchange with the students of Division 2 will take place. Students in Grade 6 and 7 will share

SARAH HAXBY photo

what they have learned this year and listen to stories from everyone who attends S.K.Y. that day. S.K.Y. is open to any resident of Bowen Island age 55+. The Grandfriends program at BICS builds inter-generational connections in the community. Many youth living on Bowen do not have the opportunity to see their grandparents, and many seniors living on Bowen have limited opportunities to socialize

B.C. Family Day Monday, Feb. 8 Check out the special one-day rates and events close to Bowen West Vancouver West Vancouver Community Centre Concert with Will Stroet 10:30-11:30 a.m. Gymnastics drop-in 11:30-1:30 p.m. Free Swim 1-4 p.m. Free Skate 3-5 p.m. Craft and games in atrium between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. North Vancouver Ron Andrews Pool Family Day Public Swim 11:30 a.m.-3:30 pm John Braithwaite Community Centre Old Fashioned Family Picnic noon-2 p.m. Karen Magnussen Arena Free family skates 1-2:30 p.m., 3-4:30 p.m. Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre Family Day Skates at three public skate sessions (10-11:30 a.m., noon-1:30 p.m., 2-3:30 p.m.) Parkgate Community Centre Family Rock Climbing, Open Gym, Art Workshop 2-5 p.m.

Family Art Workshop, Rock Climbing (four years and up), and Open Gym (all ages) Sport and rock climbing equipment provided. Wear closed toe shoes, and consider bringing a bike helmet from home for personal use (climbing helmets on-site are shared) Grouse Mountain Half-priced lift tickets and half-price general admission tickets for all B.C. residents. Squamish Britannia Mine Special event pricing: 50 per cent off admission Whistler B.C. residents get 50 per cent off full day lift tickets for skiing or snowboarding 50 per cent off lift tickets are only available at the ticket window. Present proof of residence. Whistler Olympic Park and Callaghan Country B.C. residents can receive 50 per cent off day tickets for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Discount only available on site/not available for online purchases. Discount applies to all customers (not only B.C. residents). Ziptrek Ecotours

Kids Zip Free. One free youth per one full paying adult. Valid for departures on Sunday, Feb. 7 and Monday, Feb. 8. The Adventure Group and Superfly Ziplines 50 per cent off all tours, must have B.C. ID. Whistler Museum Kiddies Apres all weekend, Feb 6-8, 3-6 p.m. daily. Activities include crafts, colouring, button making, scavenger hunts, lego, and more. Free hot chocolate. Event by donation. The Core Mom or Dad climb for free when they are with their kids. This will apply to one-hour guided climbing sessions or drop-in climbing visit and will be valid for the entire weekend, Feb. 6, 7 and 8. Vancouver Vancouver Giants Vancouver Giants play the Edmonton Oil Kings on Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. This annual event includes lots of family activities throughout the game at Pacific Coliseum. Vancouver Art Gallery Free admission for kids 12 and under, live music, tours and hands-on art making activities.

with youth, or to see their grandchildren. It’s an important skill to be able to socialize and empathize in an inter-generational context, and an important building block of having a healthy, friendly community. Sarah Haxby, Community School Co-ordinator 604 947-0389, shaxby@wvschools.ca

More than just a party: Wild West Whoop-Up builds community among parents Five years ago Ross and Suzanne Allan wanted to give back to their community and chose to donate funds to the new Gail Taylor Bursary Fund to support families wanting to send their kids to the Bowen Children’s Centre preschool. Along with the funds came a desire to celebrate with their community and so the Wild Child party was conceived. The party now has a new name, and a new theme, but the premise is the same: the Wild West WhoopUp, hosted by the Bowen Island Legion on Feb. 13, is all about providing Islanders, and parents in particular, with a great night out while raising money for the Bowen Children’s Centre (BCC)

Preschool bursary program. As a first-time organizer of this event, I have realized that there’s even more to the party: it’s about connecting with the parents of our kids’ peers, and if we plan on raising our kids here on Bowen, that connection will be decades long. Which explains why Ross Allan decided to fund this event long after his kids moved on from BCC, and why the lead organizer in this event, Dayna Purdy, is also someone whose kids have graduated from BCC. It’ll be four more years before both of my kids graduate from BCC, and I can only imagine that I won’t be ready to let go of the place when that happens. It’s

a special place, thanks to Ann Silbermann and the amazing teachers and daycare staff. For all of us who have been touched by the place, we can also thank all the parents who came before us, laying a groundwork of support for the preschool and daycare. So, if you’ve got kids at BCC, book a babysitter for Feb. 13. If your kids have graduated from BCC, book a babysitter for Feb. 13. If your kids might one day go to BCC, book the babysitter for Feb. 13. If you don’t have kids, come out and party anyway. Bowen Island, let’s have a great night out. Tickets are $15, available at Phoenix and BCC Daycare. Meribeth Deen

Nepal fundraiser was a hit!

Happy y a d h t Bir

I always worry whenever I organize a fundraiser, that no one will turn up and I’ll be like “Billy No Mates” at the Gallery, but I should not have worried so much. Bowen Island’s finest came out showing their full support for me and SIRC, and those who could not make it sent their love and support (and cheques too). I am so grateful to live in such a caring community. Everything went off a treat thanks to the marvelous team of volunteers who helped me: Bonnie Wright, Bowen Wright, Casey Wright, Brinley Wright, Ian Cameron, Kate Thomas-Peters, Heidi Kuhrt, Weldon Brake, Judi Gedye, Beverley Lindsey, Muriel Kerr, Jlonka Bally-Brown, Cathy Bruce and

the silent auction shopping crew in Bhaktapur, Nepal – Sangita, Nikita and Nistha Kayastha. The silent auction was a huge success, generating one-third of the funds raised. The raffle prize of a Nepali Dinner for Six was won by Marie Neys and the by-donation sale of the excess food from Saturday afternoon’s fundraiser at Bonnie Wright’s store sold out in an hour-and-a-half. All our hard work and team effort paid off. We raised a whopping CAD$3,685/Nr.300,000. I can’t thank you enough! It will make such a difference to patients in need at SIRC. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported me. Namaste. For more details see bowen2bangladesh.wordpress.com. Kate Coffey

Love, Tom, Sandra, Annie and Velli

6 •= FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 2016

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Up close and personal with rescued elephants

THERESA PLOWRIGHT CONTRIBUTOR

Boy, do I have a vacation idea for you. Thrilling experiences, delish buffets, beautiful surroundings, exotic but safe locale, the kids will love it… And don’t we all love elephants? Those ears, that trunk! But there is so much back story to this story… Let me start with a memory from 30 years ago that makes me cringe. Like so many travellers in Thailand, I went on a elephant ride. I was disturbed by the way our mahout (who controls the elephant) rapped the elephant’s head; little did I know that was the teeniest tip of an iceberg of animal suffering, beginning with “breaking the spirit of the elephant” – Google if you dare – and ending every night with each of the elephants (those most social of creatures) being chained up, miserably alone. How I’d like to picture that long-ago elephant living the good life in Elephant Nature Park: possible, because elephants live long. Some of rescued “ele’s” (“elle-ees”) at ENP worked in the timber trade in the ’80s; when that shut down, their owners still wanted their dollars, so the elephants were moved into tourist jobs. Every elephant at ENP has escaped a grim past. The amazing thing to me is that they give their trust to humans again. That’s the sad part out of the way. Now for the

Asian elephants are much smaller than African elephants, so when you’re close to one you really are very close indeed to those amazing intelligent faces. Visitors are told how important social relations are to elephants, but you can just open your eyes and watch: each young’un sticks close not just to his/her mother but to the “auntie” who is a constant protective presence. At ENP, the elephants form friendships and groups as they choose; the website says about new arrivals, “we let them join the herd and heal each other.” ENP has 250 acres and visitors can see small groups of elephants dotting the beautiful landscape. Some three dozen elephants live in this haven, one as old as 64. Doing our volunteer week, three teams of about 15 people each rotated through activities: chopping up ele food, scooping up elephant poop (surprisingly non-disgusting), and muddling our way through tasks such as building a fence. One day our team climbed into the back of a big truck and went off to cut corn. What slackers: hot day, long breaks, longer lunch, and a stop at a 7-11 for ice creams… But no matter, because our purpose was not to do the task; local Thai people could do it all, much more efficiently, and at a reasonable cost. Our job was to be the economic engine for Elephant Nature Park and I’m happy to have contributed.

A highlight is elephant bath time in the river: if you’re lucky, you’ll get to throw buckets of water on happy animals. fun experience of visiting Elephant Nature Park, which is about an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai in northwest Thailand. Thailand is a very easy destination to visit these days, whether you’re travelling with kids, or traveling solo when you’re 60-plus. Most visitors find their way to Chiang Mai; flights are many, sleeper trains are comfortable, and even the bus ain’t bad. A visit to Elephant Nature Park starts at a pretty air-conditioned office in Chiang Mai, where guests board comfortable minivans, each with a host and an informative video. Visitors can do day trips or stay overnight; even better is the week-long volunteer program. Every visitor gets a good chance to see and learn about elephants, and can enjoy feeding the elephants from the walkway at the rustic open-air lodge. A highlight is elephant bath time in the river: if you’re lucky, you’ll get to throw buckets of water on happy animals. During our visit, elephant Navann was a baby who loved to play with an old basket in the river: you haven’t lived “cute” until you’ve seen a baby elephant play. Five babies have now been born in the park.

I’m also happy to have even breathed the same air as ENP’s dedicated and fearless founder, Lek Chailert: “fearless” because elephants in Thailand are often owned by people of power and influence who don’t take kindly to someone messing with their business model. Lek has also rescued several hundred canines who live in a happy dog world at ENP, but that’s another story. She’s rescued water buffalo too – I’m pretty sure that if you told her about Bowen’s unwanted skunks, she’d think seriously about taking them. Visitors stay in comfortable accommodations with private bathrooms, and the food is a vegetarian feast three times a day: 20-foot-long tables of one dish after another. Those who aren’t vegetarian may not even notice the non-meatiness. Cost is a reasonable $475 (Canadian) a week, all in; if you volunteer with the dogs, cost is even less and you’ll still have plenty of elephant exposure. The open-air lodge is a cool place to hang out (yes, there’s WiFi), and the skywalk overlooking the river is a quieter spot to watch the sunset, or maybe see elephants getting river baths.

BOARD MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES The Bowen Island Community Foundation is passionate about the Bowen Island community. We manage philanthropy on Bowen Island creating a capacity for the betterment of the island community. The Foundation seeks to appoint 2 new board members at its AGM on April 21, 2016, for a minimum 2 year term. We are looking for Bowen Island residents wanting to contribute to our strategic community organization. To apply, please send a confidential personal application to info@bowenfoundation.com by March 15th. The application should outline your: (i) interest in being on the Foundation board; (ii) relevant skills and knowledge; and (iii) relevant professional and community volunteer experience. A comprehensive background on the work of the Foundation may be found on our website here: http://bowenfoundation.com/

If you have any questions please contact Soren Hammerberg, Chair at info@bowenfoundation.com or (604) 374-2255

Mary Letson says real change will last you a lifetime. photo supplied

Wellness is a process, not an event MARY LETSON CONTRIBUTOR

When I experience a regular, healthy fitness regime blossom in someone where there was none before I’m like a Jack Russell terrier sniffing out the precise thread of events leading to this sustained eureka. Nail this why and what and I can pass this onto others and share the inspiration. Alas, finding that specific thread of success is quite frankly illusive. Or if I can indeed identify the source, it is often uniquely specific to that particular person. What works for you doesn’t necessarily work for others. Extrinsic motivators tend to be our first line of action to change our behaviour. Our

consumer culture convinces us that making a purchase equates with changing a habit: buy the sneakers and new exercise machine and therefore we will exercise. More stuff on its own (sadly) doesn’t build a good habit. Don’t get me wrong – I love a new pair of sneakers! But in the deepest, darkest West Coast winter, it’s not what gets me out the door. Real change can’t be purchased, is harder to find, but will last you a lifetime. Find a collection of healthy habits that light you up. For the next month, give yourself a “tasting menu” of activity: outside, inside, group, individual, spin class, pilates, running, yoga, dance. Bowen Island’s options are endless.

Our week finished with a five-star feast, and entertainment included adorable – no other word – Thai kids doing traditional dances. You’ll be hard put to find a negative review of ENP at TripAdvisor: most are incandescent. It’s a virtuous circle: visitors are the economic engine, and ENP serves as a model of non-exploitive and yet financially sustainable tourism. Hopefully, nearby businesses selling elephant rides will see that perhaps there’s a different way to please tourists, not based on cruelty. And every visitor at ENP is a change maker: someone who’ll never support other forms of elephant tourism. Volunteer vacations can fall into pitfalls:

When something resonates for you, specifically acknowledge the sense of wellness and reward yourself with the no-guilt permission to carve away this time for yourself every week. Commit to this for at least eight weeks. Determination is an endurance sport all on its own requiring inspiration, drive, and desire to make it happen over and over again until you can’t live with that good habit. So get ready to roll up your sleeves, allow yourself room for mistakes, and know that it’s a process not an event. Your unique approach to wellness is waiting for you. Mary Letson is the owner of Positively Fit.

well-meaning visitors might be taking away local jobs, or even encouraging false orphanages. I felt happy that at Elephant Nature Park I was making a contribution, and it wasn’t shovelling the poop, or chopping up the food. Rather, my team’s dollars were keeping this beautiful place in operation. Lek has dreams of buying more land and helping more animals… Like I said, a virtuous circle. And a huge amount of fun. Plus, can you imagine the school projects your kids could do? See info and videos at elephantnaturepark.org. Also check Elephant Nature Park on Facebook for daily posts and videos.

Bowen Island Conservancy

LEARN ABOUT THE 2015 UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

Our 2016 Speaker Series continues with a presentation by Merran Smith, Executive Director, Clean Energy Canada, and a fellow at Simon Fraser University. Merran is a member of the B.C. government’s Climate Leadership Team, and the City of Vancouver’s Renewable Action team. Prior to her work on climate and energy, she spent over a decade on forest conservation and was called the ‘environmental architect’ of the Great Bear Rainforest conservation agreement. Merran will talk about the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. This session promises to be very interesting and informative and we hope that you will be able to join us. • When: Saturday, 13th February at 2:00 pm • Where: Collins Hall, 1122 Miller Road More information about this presentation is available at bowenislandconservancy.org. Refreshments will be served. We hope that you’ll be able to join us; everyone is welcome.

Refreshments will be served

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Scooter rentals proposed LOUISE LOIK EDITOR

Canadian singer/songwriter Lynn Miles will perform on Bowen Feb. 14. photo supplied

Concert series kicks off with Lynn Miles SHARI ULRICH CONTRIBUTOR

I think it may have been the Ottawa Folk Festival about 20 years ago where I first heard and fell for the music of Lynn Miles. Her reputation as a songwriter had preceded her so I was already a little star struck before we started our workshop. But when her turn came to sing a song I immediately understood what the buzz was about. She sang and played with an uncommon compelling mix of strength and vulnerability, and I was in awe of her lyrics and craftsmanship. She also had a wicked sense of humour. Simply said, Lynn Miles is one of Canada’s most accomplished singer/songwriters. With 12 albums to her credit, the winner of multiple Canadian Folk Music awards (2011 English Songwriter of the Year), and a 2003 Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Solo Album of the Year, time has simply served to season those remarkable qualities. When I had the chance to bring Lynn to Bowen Island for the Trust Me series, it was an unqualified “yes!” So on Feb. 14 we invite all the lovers, sweethearts and lonely hearts of Bowen Island to Tir-na-nOg Theatre at 7:30 p.m. for a very special night of songs by this Juno Award-winning artist. Tickets are $25 and available at Phoenix (with cash or cheque). I urge you to get your tickets soon. And know that if your plans change, and you are unable to find someone to take your tickets just contact me at info@estherrecords.ca or 0606 before the day of the show and I will refund your money. If need be, you can also call Phoenix at 2793 and ask them to hold your tickets at the door. Future Trust Me concerts are Cara Luft and JD Edwards on April 3, the Fretless on April 10, and Linda McRae & Thad Beckman on Sept. 2. If you’d like to be notified about upcoming concerts just send your email address to me at the above address. Shari Ulrich is a musician and concert promoter who is hosting the Trust Me series.

A new business may be rolling onto Bowen to provide another way for tourists and locals to get around the island. Jamie Woodall knows the scooter rental business well. She was living with her family in Bali for six months, catering to tourists who wanted to explore the island on limited-speed motorcycles. Bowen, she feels, could benefit from the same kind of service. On Tuesday night, the municipality held an open house to present the information about the application for bylaw amendment that would allow for limited-speed motorcycles. Woodall says her plan would be to start with four 4-stroke/49CC maximum power, scaling up to 20 vehicles as demand grows. “This could support sustainable economic growth on island, and solve many of the transportation issues for visitors and residents alike.” Woodall would like to amend Land Use Bylaw 3.3.5 to allow the rental of “limited speed motorcycles,” which she feels would be in keeping with the Official Community Plan, which recognizes tourism as an integral part of the island economy. “Given our limited bus schedule and routes, in addition to the fact that there is currently no taxi service on island, accessibility is an issue. Limited-speed scooter rentals on Bowen Island will increase accessibility to the island’s many accommodations.” Woodall has talked to owners of various vacation rentals on Bowen about her idea and she says that the majority are

Jamie Woodall thinks Bowen tourists and residents would benefit from having a scooter rental business on the island, with some scooters delivered to vacation rental properties for short-term use. supplied photo highly supportive. While the OCP states an objective for island guests to arrive without cars, “we still do not have a solution for those guests during their stay. A rental business where scooters could be delivered directly to the B&Bs would solve part of this problem in a sustainable way.” Woodall says people may feel resistant to what they think will be a bunch of loud motorcycles roaring around the island, but she wants people to know that she came to Bowen to live in a peaceful

Leave Snug Cove

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VANCOUVER Horseshoe Bay

Distance: 3 NAUTICAL MILES Crossing Time: 20 MINUTES

Gallery @ Artisan Square

Annual Fundraising Event

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DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS † THE WEDNESDAY SAILINGS WILL BE REPLACED BY DANGEROUS CARGO SAILINGS. NO OTHER PASSENGERS PERMITTED.

of downtown Vancouver. Any concern about needing special driving skills, she says, is unfounded; otherwise they wouldn’t be renting from an intense traffic area downtown. “After meeting with the Transportation and the Economic Development Committees, and communicating with Bowen Island Tourism and many accommodation owners, we are confident that this is a good idea in keeping with island OCP objectives.”

Mini-Gala

REGULAR SCHEDULE BC Ferries REGULAR SCHEDULE December 30, 2015 March13, 31, 2016 In Effect May 15 to to October 2014

BOWEN ISLAND Snug Cove

and quiet environment. “The vehicles are low emission and are quiet.” She says some people are suggesting that instead of scooters, she should be renting electric bikes. “There’s been nothing to stop people before now from renting electric bikes on the island and no one has done it. There’s a reason. There’s still a level of fitness needed to get up the hills, they are fine on the flats, but Bowen is hilly.” She also says scooters are rented from the busiest part

e Liv

y art &P

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19

n tio Auc

Featuring the hilarious

David Cameron Marc Gawthrop

$20 per person

as Auctioneer

providing musical entertainment

Purchase tickets online at biac.ca or at the Gallery

Doors open: 6:30 pm Auction begins: 7:30 pm

Exhibit Open: February 5 - 21, 2016 Friday - Sunday, noon - 4 pm

featuring more than 50 mini-masterpieces created and generously donated by local artists

Special thanks to our sponsors and supporters!

8 •= FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 2016

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Coffey finds inspiration helping overseas

,-&)!- $%& $&.!# +- !-" '& #/- (*# %&)LOUISE LOIK EDITOR

Kate Coffey would come back from a trek in Nepal and people would tell her she was glowing, her fire lit from within. Then one morning she woke up wondering why she didn’t just stay in Nepal. Her work, as an investment advisor paid the bills, “but,” she says, “my soul needed more. I would work 10-hour-days and still go and do volunteer work.” In 2013 she decided it was time to give up the comfortable life she knew to live the life that kept that inner fire burning. It was time to move to Nepal. Coffey knew two retired doctors who were working in Nepal. They introduced Coffey to the work that was happening with the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre located 1.5 hours east of Kathmandu in the Saanga foothills. Coffey says they handed her a portfolio of projects to consider as a project. For the next five months, Coffey would live and breathe everything to do with spinal cord rehabilitation. “In Nepal, people with spinal injuries are often just left to die.” She was trying to figure out what she could do, having had no experience with this nature of work when a man with a serious spinal injury presented an idea. He wanted people to see how much he was still able to enjoy life and how much he could accomplish in spite of his injuries. Coffey had an idea. Remembering the Rick Hansen tour, she thought that maybe she could help spread the word in Nepal the way Hansen had in Canada. They contacted Hansen and his team handed over all the information they had on the details of the Canadian effort. The information was like gold for Coffey. The injured man set out from his home in the foothills of the Himalayas and made his way to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. “The roads in Nepal were

terrible, it was amazing.” Coffey says that it was so important for people to see what a person with a spinal injury could do. “It still stands as one of the best things I’ve done,” says Coffey, proud to have helped work on the logistics and promotions. “We got so much exposure. The BBC came out and the Nepali news.” Coffey’s plan was to work in Canada on contract to get enough money to go away – go and stay away for six months and then come back and work again. Coffee, with her financial background decided she would like to get involved in micro-financing and headed to Bangladesh, where the founder of the first micro-financing project had been initiated. She headed to Bangladesh, and was there when the earthquakes hit Kathmandu. “It was all hands on deck,” says Coffey. She went back to the spinal cord centre and found that it was still functioning. It had gone from seven beds, up to 170 immediately after the quake. “We taught police and military first aid,” says Coffey. “But people in the hospital were terrified. We had to get them out.” They set up a make-shift treatment area where the patients felt less vulnerable, and the staff and volunteers spread out over the devastated region. Coffey says they were able to provide a lot of services to the injured in Nepal, finding the injured and bringing them for free treatment, which could last for months. Coffey has pictures from Kathmandu of both the devastation and the moments of hope, in photos and etched into her memory. The beds needed at the centre hit a peak during the earthquake but have dropped back down to 120. “We were very close to the epicenter of the quake,” says Coffey. “Any old brick buildings crumbled. The buildings made from cement and rebar stood.” She says that the local people, “know they can’t count

on government to help them out.” She was amazed by how quickly and efficiently people mobilized. “Kids were helping out too.” While there was minimal damage at SIRC, the demands to get people calm and get out to hospitals to teach them how to manage spinal injuries was at an all time high. Coffey has raised $1 million since the earthquakes and ran a successful event on Bowen last weekend, raising $3,500 with a Power Point presentation, food and an auction. She is planning to stay connected to SIRC, but now is looking forward to working in Bangladesh.

Teen gave up her wages to help

Bowen Wright was working part-time after school at a local restaurant when it occurred to her that her wages could go to something that would have some positive impact in the world. Bowen, a typical teen who enjoys school and sports showed that she also sees the bigger picture. As part of a Grade 10 project at Rockridge secondary, she considered what she could do to help and decided to spread some joy to the injured kids at the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre. “I saved my wages so that I could buy a package of things for each kid at the centre.” Bowen bought “lots of toys, colouring books and markers, as well as putty and other treats for the kids.” Her mentor, Kate Coffey, who has been volunteering in Nepal at the centre, says that many of the children who have sustained spinal injuries are the caregivers in their families. “One teen girl is a caregiver herself to her father, and she particularly loved the stickers. A young man in a wheelchair enjoyed working with the putty.” The treats took their minds off the challenge of their situation.

Kate Coffey inspires others, like Bowen Wright, to reach out to developing countries and offer support. Bowen came to Coffey’s fundraiser at the Gallery over the weekend. LOUISE LOIK photo

Getting stronger every day: Patients and families attend physiotherapy at the Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Centre. SIRC photo

Local area police departments banded together to make arrests from PAGE 1

technicalities, the judge allowed the suspect to go free. Between the first and second arrests, another dozen break-ins occurred. Last July, police began hearing about breakins to homes and boats around the Greater Vancouver area. By the middle of January, 13 homes and 29 vessels had been broken into, and 21 vessels were stolen. Bowen Island RCMP, North Vancouver RCMP, West Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Police and Squamish RCMP banded together to stop the sea-faring thieves. “On Nov. 8 and 15, Boyer Island had breakins and Passage Island was hit on Dec. 5 and 6,” says Cumming. “It was a horrible, dark, stormy night when Cory (Const. Hendricks), went over to Boyer. He had a (police) dog from the North Vancouver RCMP and they were out there searching in the dark ’til 2 a.m.”

One suspect slept on a boat overnight and then came back to shore in the morning. Cummings said it was in the darkness in a wind and rainstorm that Hendricks “found a place that had been broken into,” and then found Fell, “who Cory brought back to the mainland.” Coulter says his partner Hendricks put a lot of effort into that arrest. Bowen RCMP detachment has jurisdiction over Boyer and Passage Island. “There were quite a few offences on Passage, a dozen on Boyer and one on Bowen,” said Cumming. On Jan. 6, it was Bowen’s turn with a break-in at a shed in Union Bay, just west of Seymour Bay, in Cowan Point. The local detachment collected significant evidence from that site and following leads that took him back to a Vancouver hotel, Coulter executed a search that turned up the stolen goods in a hotel room in Vancouver. The stolen items hadn’t been easy to sell due to the spe-

cialized uses of marine equipment or chainsaws from island properties. Police believe the suspects used stolen dinghies, or tenders, that large boats use to get from offshore moorages to land. They used the dinghies to get to the waterfront vacation properties for a looting spree. Firearms and ammunition were seized, but the staff sergeant says that the suspects have no history of violent offences. “They went to unoccupied boats and seasonal residences,” said Coulter. Most of the stolen goods were still in the hotel room when Coulter got the search warrant. Police have been able to return most of the property to owners and still have some items like a trumpet, a chainsaw, and binoculars that are waiting to be claimed. “There were handguns and firearms but they had come from the boats and homes and didn’t belong to the men,” said Coulter. Coulter said that one of the firearms belonged

to a man on Boyer who had forgotten that he’d had it. He told the police the gun was for a deer cull on the island. “He felt terrible about it getting stolen, and didn’t have any criminal record,” said Coulter. Cumming says that there will not be charges against the original owners of the illegal firearms. Cumming is pleased with the outcome of the collaboration with our local officers. “What happened with the Bowen RCMP working together with neighbouring agencies, and sharing information resulted in a significant accomplishment.” In total, there were 21 reported incidents involving vessel thefts and vessel recoveries, 29 reported incidents involving vessel break-andenters, 13 reported incidents involving residential break-ins to property on Bowyer, Passage and Bowen islands. Stolen property included boats, machinery and tools, liquor and food, electronics, marine-related clothing, and navigational and safety gear.

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 2016 •= 9

Little Austin Cooper wanted a peek at the plant pots and seeds as his parents, Alexis and Lee, explored the tables at the seed sale held by the local agricultural society. LOIUSE LOIK photo Sarah Haxby saved seeds from her garden to share with other gardeners who came to a seed exchange in Snug Cove over the weekend. She shares ideas on what grows best in a variety of conditions. LOUISE LOIK photo

Gardeners get a head start on the growing season LOUISE LOIK

Gardeners who were selling seeds, like Jeni Redekopp, were also offering advice for growing food and flowers here on Bowen.

EDITOR

The Bowen Island Agricultural Society held an information session and a seed exchange for hobby farmers and anyone wanting to grow their own food and flowers. Part of the event, held at the community

LOUISE LOIK photo

school, BICS, was a talk on Hugelkulture, a garden design meant for perma culture crops. Experienced gardeners were on hand to share their thoughts and advice about local growing conditions and the plants best suited to each neighbourhood. Though early in the season, the event drew a good-sized turnout, filling the multi-purpose room.

Can’t ﬁnd your dream home on Bowen?

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We have the experience, we know the landscape, we can help! Ask about our:

Home Farm Gardens is now hiring for the 2016 Spring Season. We are accepting applications for Crew Managers and Landscapers Please send resume to rosie@homefarm.ca or contact Rosie @

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www.firstcu.ca | 604.947.2022

We look forward to hearing from you.

10 •= FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 2016

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Bowen woman helps out in Malawi

LOUISE LOIK EDITOR

A woman who has devoted decades as a volunteer here on Bowen Island and on the Downtown Eastside is now putting her energy into helping a small village in Malawi, Africa – one of the poorest countries in the world. Patti DeSante is now laying the groundwork for a fundraising event on Bowen Island on Feb. 20 on World Day of Social Justice so that she can rent a house in Nkhata Bay that becomes a “Dreamspace for women in the bay area that expands their options in day-to-day living.” DeSante says that the space will develop according to the needs that arise, hoping that ultimately it will become self-sustaining through the businesses that develop in the space. “It will be a hub of creative activity, entrepreneurial education, social activism and nourishment led by African women. Malawian women will be hired to lead and facilitate this process,” she says. Because DeSante is not part of any National Governmental Organization, she has no funding other than what she can personally generate. “I am down to my last $50,” she says. “As an ordained Zen Buddhist chaplain, the money I bring in goes right back out to the people.” She has attempted a number of fundraisers in Vancouver with no success. “January is a bad time, and Vancouver is a hard place with lots of competition. Undaunted, she is determined to

see her project through. “I have done a lot of projects with youth and fashion and resourcing African diaspora led youth. I have the tools to be of service in Malawi.” Her vision is that when a woman walks into the space DeSante will set up, she will feel welcome, at home, and “supported with food cooking over the charcoal grills, local art on the walls, Malawian music playing on the speakers and kids can play in a creative well-resourced learning environment sourced from Africa.” DeSante knows how to mentor. She created Skylight, a learning support centre for youth on Bowen; she’s worked with street kids om the Downtown Eastside. “I was working in the kitchen and this one young woman was so efficient, so dependable. I asked her how she learned to cook so well. She told me in a rough kind of way that her mother was a prostitute and that she’d had to cook for herself from the time she was four.” DeSante took the young woman under her wing, hiring her as a cook while working on getting her the support she needed to create a self-supporting career. DeSante says that the young woman received a scholarship, went to cooking school, “and now she’s a chef,” says DeSante with pride. In Africa, her plan is to simply hold open doors, “and offering the various tools I have accumulated over my life time to amp up the voices of these powerful women of Nkhata Bay. I am not going there to lead. I am going there to listen

Patti DeSante is hoping the Bowen Island community will support the work she is planning to do in Malawi to help the women in Nkhata Bay thrive economically and personally. LOUISE LOIK photo to the culture and language of the Tonga people.” The ambitious woman is also hoping to set up a Chitenje textile trading business that will become a source of income “that will ulti-

mately provide markets for the disappearing indigenous textiles and raise the capital to power up the women’s and youth dreams fully.” DeSante says that she has learned a lot during her time in Malawi,

and she is not concerned about giving up the comforts of Bowen. “My journey to Malawi has shown that these people have a lot to teach us in the West. Their spirit and smiles shine despite how little they have.”

The library’s not just for books TINA NIELSEN CONTRIBUTOR

Some of you may have heard that the library is planning an expansion to our building in partnership with the Bowen Island Arts Council. We call it the Annex/Gallery Project, or the Culture Corner, and more information about it can be found at annexgalleryproject. com. As we have been working on plans and fundraising for the expansion, I have put a lot of thought into why we want the annex. I don’t mean what we would use it for, but why do we need it? We are not planning to fill the annex with more books, which is historically what libraries do – so then why do we need the space? Because libraries are about more than books. Libraries are about enriching people’s lives by connecting them to ideas, information, knowledge and resources. They are a kind of sanctuary available to everyone to use and share. Libraries provide space that is neither home, nor work nor private business – one of the few public indoor spaces that doesn’t require a ticket to get in or the purchase of goods to

justify being there. I believe that the “why” for our library is to provide a place for connections between humans; and that despite all the wonders that technology provides for us, human beings have a fundamental need to connect face to face. So how does this reflect back to our annex/gallery project? The annex will be a multipurpose space for studying, tutoring, small business meetings, children’s and adult programs, community events, webinars, lectures and generally “hanging out.” It will be a space that provides opportunities for people to connect, to learn, and to share. We are simply providing the resources – space, tables, chairs, computers, WiFi – to allow the community to connect with each other and with the world of ideas. I look forward to keeping the community updated on our progress, but if you’d like more information about the Annex/Gallery Project, about our partnership with the BIAC, or you would like to support the project, please go to annexgalleryproject.com. Tina is the chief librarian at the Bowen Island Library.

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5 2016 • 11

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Mother and daughter, Kim and April Sear, have worked together to make life easier for seniors on the island. April has been generous with her volunteer time over the years, helping out at a variety of events on the island. GRAHAM RITCHIE photo

Busy volunteer passes the torch GRAHAM RITCHIE CONTRIBUTOR

Judge reserves decision on zoning docks bylaw The hearing of the petition by Shu Lin Dong and Zhen Wang, seeking orders to set aside Bowen Island Municipality’s Zoning Docks Bylaw No. 381, concluded Tuesday (Feb. 2) in B.C. Supreme Court after

two days of hearings. Judgment was reserved until an undisclosed date. The bylaw prohibits dock construction along the coastline of Cape Roger Curtis.

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After 12 years of volunteering with Seniors on Bowen, April Sear is retiring. April, helped by her daughter Kim in recent years, has been running the Snug Cove House Society’s pre-prepared meals delivery service. Every second week, after April discussed menu options with her clients, she would place the frozen food orders and then drive out to Burnaby to pick up the meals from the Better Meals company.

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to help people,” says April, “but it’s finally time to call it a day.” The Snug Cove House Society, the group planning a supportive seniors’ residence on the island, has been running the service since the society’s beginnings 20 years ago. April’s predecessor at the job was Marilyn Harris, and the two of them leave behind a legacy of hundreds of grateful islanders. Though April is resigning, the Society will continue to help those in need with their meals.

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