FRIDAY FEB 3, 2017
VOL. 43, NO. 05
$1
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More than putting out fires
2016 statistics from the Bowen Island Fire Department
Community Centre
Big picture
Thoughts on peacemaking, women’s rights and more
A progress update from the Municipal Steering Committee
Museum & Archives welcomes new curator It doesn’t have
to be so hard
Ideas for trail along Grafton Road MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
John Kerr lives on the west side of Grafton Road, just past Charlie’s Lane. He says he is supportive of the development of more trails on Bowen, but thinks the proposal to blast and widen the road where it turns sharply at Charlie’s Lane is too expensive, and too destructive. “It’s a city-style solution to a Bowen problem,” says Kerr, “My neighbours along this stretch of roadway agree that there could be better solutions for this problem, and we’re concerned about the plan just being rushed through. I understand that there is money available, but money will come out of Bowen’s coffers too.” continued P3
“Archivist in training” Cathy Bayly stands outside the Museum & Archives with new curator Ines Ortner. Meribeth Deen, photo
MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
If you don’t know Ines Ortner from your day to day Bowen life, you may know her as one of the curators behind the History of Bowen theatre exhibit at the Museum & Archives in 2008, or from the Wearable Art show at the Gallery at Artisan Square in 2014. Starting this past week, Ortner can now be found brainstorming and building exhibits at the Museum & Archives two days per week. Ortner has been working with local fashion historians Ivan Sayers and Claus Jankers on projects in the city for more than a decade. She also has a background in theatre, and in particular costume design. “I am a member of SMOC (Society for the Museum of
Original Costume),” says Ortner. “I give talks on fashion and costume there. Most recently, I gave a talk on punk fashion, it was really fun.” Ortner says both she and Cathy Bayly, a long-time employee of the Museum & Archives who is currently training to be the archivist, are looking forward to find new ways to harness community energy towards historical projects. “We have so many ideas, especially given this is both the 50th anniversary of the Museum & Archives and the 150th birthday of Canada,” says Ortner. “We are gearing up for an exhibit on how Bowen Celebrates. Included in that, we would like to have more about how different cultural groups on Bowen celebrate and express themselves in the exibhits throughout the year. Some things though, will likely stay the same, like the annual Teddy Bear exhibit. That’s here to stay.”
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John Kerr stands along Grafton Road by Charlie’s Lane. Meribeth Deen, photo
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2 • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3 2017
Meeting Calendar February 7, 2017 5:00 pm Advisory Design Panel
February 10, 2017 8:45 am Economic Development
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Employment opportunity Bowen Island Municipality seeks a Permanent Full-Time Utility Operator. The position will primarily be responsible for the operations and maintenance of the Municipality’s Utility Systems (water and sewer). Additional labour tasks may include roads maintenance and assisting other staff within the Municipality The position will require that the operator interacts in a courteous manner with the public. The Operator will be comfortable working outside under varying weather conditions, have the ability to work under supervision on a task-oriented basis, and hold a valid class 5 drivers license. Related experience will be considered an asset. Must be available to work on weekends.
Committee
A complete job description is available at www.bimbc.ca or at Municipal Hall.
February 14, 2017
Please submit your cover letter and resume by email or in person by Friday, February 24 2017 at 4:00 pm to:
9:00 am Community Grants Advisory Committee
February 14, 2017
All meetings are held in Council Chambers at Municipal Hall unless otherwise noted.
A Development Variance Permit application has been submitted for 211 Highland Trail (shown on map) to reduce the required front yard setback from the required 7.5 metres to 5.5 metres.
Your budget.
February 15, 2017 Recreation and Community
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Your Bowen.
Regular Council Meeting
Services Commission
for DVP-06-2017 (211 Highland Trail)
Christine Walker, Human Resources Manager Bowen Island Municipality 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 Telephone: 604-947-4255 E-mail: hr@bimbc.ca
7:15 pm
7:00 pm
Seeking Public Comment
We’d like your feedback on the draft 2017-2021 Financial Plan, which contains our proposed operating and capital budgets and the proposed tax increase for 2017. Ways you can get involved: • go to our website to read the draft Financial Plan and FAQs • Submit your own questions online or contact us directly
MORE INFORMATION AT MUNICIPAL HALL: The application may be viewed at Municipal Hall between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays) or on the Municipal website at www.bimbc.ca/planning.
• Join us on Monday, February 27 at 1:00 pm for a public open house
www.bimbc.ca/budget
Written submissions may be delivered to Municipal Hall (contact information below):
Community boat rack at Tunstall Beach
• • • •
In order to determine which water craft are actively being used for recreation, kayaks and canoes must be stored in the community-use storage racks and labelled with the owner’s name and telephone number.
In person By mail By fax By email to bim@bimbc.ca
Submissions may also be made to Mayor and Council at the meeting:
7:15 PM on Tuesday, February 14th 2017 in Council Chambers, Municipal Hall
Effective February 15, 2017, any self-propelled water craft left on the beach or in the racks unlabelled will be removed at the owner’s expense.
To ensure a fair process, submissions cannot be accepted once the meeting has ended.
Questions? Please contact Parks & Environment at 604-947-4255 or bim@bimbc.ca
Questions? Please contact Daniel Martin, Island Community Planner at 604-947-4255 or dmartin@bimbc.ca
General Enquiries
Contact Us
Phone: Fax: Email:
Bowen Island Municipal Hall 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2
604-947-4255 604-947-0193 bim@bimbc.ca
YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME:
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Bowen Island Municipality
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Need more information? Please contact Kristen Watson, Manager of Finance at 604-947-4255 or kwatson@bimbc.ca.
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FRIDAY FRIDAY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 3 3 2017 2017 •• 33
More talks lie ahead following LNG meeting and protest MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
More than 100 protestors, including seven Bowen Islanders gathered outside the Squamish Municipal Hall last Friday while local, regional, provincial and national representatives met inside to discuss Woodfibre LNG. Protest organizer and co-founder of My Sea to Sky, Tracey Saxby, said the meeting was important because it was the first time all the municipal leaders from around Howe
Sound were met with MLA Jordan Sturdy and North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson to enhance transparency around the Woodfibre Project. Byng Giraud, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Woodfibre, was also at the meeting. “We were invited to give a project update, but more importantly to talk about communications plans and communication tools moving forward to increase the level of transparency about all the environmental conditions,”
Council keeps dreams of Community Centre alive
Building could open by summer, 2019 CHRISTINE WALKER SUBMISSION
As the New Year rolled in, Bowen Island Municipal Council reaffirmed its commitment to the strategic priority of a Community Centre for Bowen Island. Council had already appointed a project management company, Pivotal, to move the initiative forward. In a briefing note to Council in November, project manager Samule Collins presented an overview of the project and timeline. The proposed civic building, based on analysis, research and work carried out by numerous committees and consultants over the years, includes community, recreational and performing arts spaces totaling approximately 9,000 square feet. Municipal offices, included to maximize operational and capital efficiencies, add another 5,400 square feet to the project. The public amenity, expected to cost approximately $10M, would be located on Area 3 of Lot 2 of municipal land (east of Bowen Island Community School). “We are very excited to be moving forward on this dream of our community,” said
Gary Ander, Councillor and Chair of the Community Centre Steering Committee. He says a financial strategy to raise funds, drawing on reserves, tapping into infrastructure funding from the federal and provincial governments and exploring other options is under development. “We are confident that we can develop a strategy that is realistic and feasible for Bowen Island.” Council has developed a framework for decision making to ensure due diligence at each step of the project. The process also includes opportunities for public engagement. In December, the Municipality issued a Request for Proposals for an architect to design the Community Centre. The competition, which closed January 17, has attracted strong interest. It is expected that the design development phase will take approximately two-and-half months. Construction could commence as early as one year later, with a new building opening in the summer of 2019. “We’ve got a long way to go, and a number of challenges ahead,” said Ander. “But we believe that it’s about time that the Bowen Island community gets what it so urgently needs and desires.”
Giraud told The Squamish Chief shortly after the meeting. Bowen Island Municipal Councillor Sue Ellen Fast attended the meeting, but says the meeting was scheduled at the very last minute so representatives from the various communities had little time to prepare. “We also had very little time to contribute our comments,” said Fast. “And we were not necessarily happy about that. But it looks like there will be a follow-up meeting next
The project, which according to preliminary designs would involve rock blasting and road widening, has an estimated cost of between $250,000 and $300,000. Kerr says that one idea he and his neighbours have discussed is to build a path through the woods below the road’s shoulder on the West side. “It’s steep,” says Kerr, pointing to the road allowance
marker on the far side of the road barrier where the road starts to curve,”but it’s possible, and there is enough room and that would eliminate the need to build in some kind of barrier between the path and the road.” Municipal planner Emma Chow says that an engineering firm has been already been hired to come up with designs for a multi-use path along the curving 400m stretch of Grafton Road. “We’ve told them we are
open to whatever innovative solutions they can come up with to create a multi-use path in that location,” says Chow. “But the time constraints are tight as we need to have a design ready within weeks if we are going to access TransLink funds that could potentially cover half of the costs.” Chow says that while there is no public consultation period for this project, the municipality is open to feedback and ideas.
With notes from The Squamish Chief
2016 statistics released for Bowen Island Fire Department MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
Members of the Bowen Island Fire Department were called to a total of 182 incidents in 2016. Only seven of these calls were fires. “Ninety percent of our calls are medical and most happen between 6pm and 6am,” says Fire Chief Ian Thompson. According to the annual incident report, the fire department was called in to help with 22 breathing incidents, 16 falls and 19 cases of chest pain. The report also states that Bowen firefighters provided assistance to 1 motor vehicle accident and 3 traffic injuries. “I’m pretty sure that two of the traffic injuries
were cycling accidents,” says Thompson. “And one was a case where someone fell at a crosswalk.” Thompson says that one of his biggest concerns remains downed power lines. This issue is referred to in the 27 public hazards that the department has dealt with in the past year. “These were all downed power lines,” he says. “Even though we’ve had some public education and outreach on this, I’m not sure everyone understands the danger here. Many people still think that if a power line is not sparking, it’s dead. That is not the case, and if people are using generators, it is possible that electricity is going back in to the lines.” Thompson urges people to call 911 immediately if they see a downed power line. “We’ve had crews babysit a line all night, just to make sure no one gets near it,” says Thompson. “But we have a direct line to BC Hydro so we can let them know exactly what’s down and where.” The Fire Department is also in the process of making two new hires. Thompson says that according to insurance underwriters, the department should have between 34 and 36 members, but the fire station can hold a maximum of 32. Right now, there are 27 members of the Bowen Island Fire Department, including Thompson.
Fire Chief Ian Thompson.
Residents concerned about path project on Grafton Road from PAGE 1
Saturday, and we may see the curtain come up so that the public can see what happens with the conditions on the Environmental Assessment. Hopefully, this represents a shift in transparency.” Councillor Melanie Mason will be attending next weekend’s follow-up meeting alongside Councillor Fast.
Debra Stringfellow, photo
Payments from Bowen increase on Islands Trust 2017 budget MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
The Islands Trust, a federation of government bodies responsible for preserving and protecting the environment in the Gulf Islands and on Bowen has recently released its annual budget of
$7.7 million. Bowen Island is the only member of the Trust that will see its payments increase. As explained in council last week, this increase comes because property values on all the other islands have decreased, while Bowen’s have increased.
If the Trust’s budget is approved, Bowen’s contribution will increase by about $30,000 to $253,000. The Islands Trust will receive public comments on the budget until February 10. To submit, visit www.islandstrust.bc.ca/budget.
From left: Members of the Bowen Island FC Under 12 team Christopher, Reese, Gareth and Jonah, chase the ball in their game against West Vancouver’s United on Saturday. Bowen won with a score of 7-1. Meribeth Deen, photo
• FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3 2017
viewpoint The Write Stuff. The Undercurrent encourages reader participation in your community newspaper. You must include your full name and a daytime phone number (for verification only). The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity, legality, brevity and taste. 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.
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Hope in a time of terror I wonder how many of you walked into work, or tried to tackle your to-do list on Monday morning and felt, like I did, that tackling the banalities of daily life seemed absurd and ridiculous. If it wasn’t already obvious, the new U.S. Administration’s immigration policy made it clear: ignorance will drive decision-making. Look to Texas and Quebec, and it seems obvious that there are some people out their happy to follow the government’s lead. While it is easy to be sucked into despair, the points of hope are unmistakable. Not only are people taking to the streets (and airports) throughout the United States and around the world, OUR leaders (and I point specifically to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and
Ron is still in Mexico so we’ve decided to rerun some of those golden oldies. The national sport of Bowen Island is determining how long other people have lived here. There is great prestige associated with prolonged hunkering down on the rock.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, although of course there are many others) have stated their commitment to inclusion and diversity, as well as accepting refugees who are being turned away from the United States. As Bowen Islanders, we can feel proud of the fact that we have collectively raised $40,000 to bring a
Syrian family to Canada. Shemden Ali came here, and settled in Burnaby four years ago. Now, he is awaiting the arrival of three brothers, one of whom will come with his wife and three young children. The Bowen 30-30 group recently received news that one of the brothers, Ibrahim Ali, has received his travel documents and should be
in Canada in the next four to eight weeks. He will stay with his brother upon arrival, and already has a job lined up. It is unclear when the rest of the family will arrive, but if it is not possible to find a place for the family to live (of particular concern is Churki, who is traveling with his wife Malika and their three young children) they have a temporary home
here on Bowen, with Emily and David McCullum. This opening, of our hearts, homes and our wallets is a natural response for many of us. I hope, and believe, the inclination will only deepen as we move through this bizarre and terrifying time. editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
March to positivity with ‘our own worst enemies’ A women’s marcher reflects on the importance of walking with she the people Dear Editor, Shock was a widespread emotion among many people I know following the United States election. Personally though, I wasn’t surprised. I knew that Donald Trump was tapping into sentiments running deep and strong in the world right now, and I had predicted this outcome. In one of the conversations that I had with my mom after the election she said, “I just don’t understand how all these women could have voted for him!” I couldn’t answer at the time, but I could not stop looking for an answer in the following weeks. When I saw that women all over were gathering together to protest against the outcome of the election and to stand up for women’s rights, I started asking myself, how do all those women who voted for Trump feel? I figured each one of them must feel divided in some way, knowing deep down that the March was so clearly necessary. Then it hit me: as women we are often our own worst enemy. We’ve been taught all our lives that we are worth less than men in so many different respects, and we come to accept this thinking as the norm.
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And then, even when a golden opportunity comes into the hands of women where they can actually make a difference ... they choose not to. Yes, we live in the modern age. Yes, we have made progress in many aspects. Yes, women can accomplish pretty much whatever they set their mind to ... but the truth is that many of us still don’t believe we are worth it. It comes down to this: men don’t really have to work hard to be “superior,” us women enable that automatically. All of this thinking really got me frustrated, mainly with myself, because I realized I was not doing enough to change things myself. Plus, I really wanted to talk about these issues with other women in my community. So I decided to open a new group, just for women, to share stories, to ask, to educate and be educated, to be there for each other. Facebook itself was starting to drag me down in an emotional sense, so I figured that if I was going to start a group, I’d better find something uplifting. I decided to start posting about inspirational women on a daily basis. This is also part of my per-
sonal journey as it allows me to gain more knowledge about the many women who have done great things and who I don’t know enough about. Through the conversations and stories that have been shared on this group, I feel that I have gained confidence in myself, as well as a sense of shared positivity and openness. All I can say as a final thought to this whole process is that nothing is “too small” and nothing is “stupid” or “worthless” when it comes to making a positive change. And in fact, starting small with our friends and family and community is the only way to make a true influence in this world. I’m so happy that I got a chance to understand this, and this leaves me very hopeful regarding our future and our kids’ future. As women, not only do we need to stop underestimating ourselves but we also have to support one another. Thanks to all the women who have joined me in this group so far, and thank you to all the men and women who participated in the Women’s March on Bowen Island. Sincerely, Noa Neuer
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FRIDAY FRIDAY FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 3 3 2017 2017 •= 55
Be curious, be changed, be personal
We are not an island CHRIS CORRIGAN CONTRIBUTOR
Last week we were out in Tofino hosting a three-day leadership workshop on dialogue with sixty people, most of whom were from the Port Alberni and west coast area. In the room were leaders from Hupacasath, Toquaht, Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tseshaht and Tlaoquiaht First Nations and councillors from Ucluelet, Tofino and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Additionally there were citizens, non-profit workers, community foundation staff, scientists and small business people in the room. It was the kind of gathering that everyone is always saying "has to happen." The west coast of Vancouver Island, from Port Alberni to Clayoquot Sound is a region full of difference, conflict and surprising consensus. British Columbians remember the “War in the Woods” in the late 1980s that stopped industrial logging practices in the Sound. But little is known about the way the communities began to rebuild after forestry and fishing declined. The important role of First Nations, both in treaty and outside that process has meant that a steady relationship has flowed to seek collective benefit for all those who live and work in the region, in an economy that is still rooted in the land and sea and diversified too. Reaching across differences has been at the root of everything that has worked.
The inability to transcend division has been at the root of everything that has failed. The last 30 years has not been easy in Clayoquot Sound. It has seen astonishing levels of collaboration, but also deep despair, massive change and, every so often, violent backlash. Even as we speak there is a deep division between Port Alberni citizens over the renaming of a street and a school that was named for an early 20th century politician who was overtly racist in his pursuit of residential school policy and Asian exclusion. Citizens are divided over the renaming, with First Nations and Japanese people making the argument that such a person no longer deserves to be honoured. And the backlash has been terrifying and personal for some, including incidents of violence and threat. It’s no surprise that we need to learn to work together across difference these days, and that those differences are full of the energy of separation. We are seeing this at every scale, from the global to the personal, and as a practitioner of dialogue for strategy and community building, it’s obvious to me that the cost of this division is alienation, dehumanization and ultimately violence. Sitting with leaders at the coalface of reconciliation and justice this week, I learned a few things about what it takes to create a community (or region or country) that can transcend differences.
Chris Corrigan recommends working together to avoid a division that could lead to alienation, dehumanization, and violence. photo supplied First, we must be courageous enough to meet each other. When we refuse to meet each other we exacerbate difference and division. We need to actually encounter each other with curiosity, which seems impossible in a world of judgment. But ask yourself, if you are not willing to sit down and listen to someone whose views are odious to you, why should they be expected to do the same? Second, we must be willing to be changed by what we hear in dialogue. In a post-truth world, facts don’t matter, rational persuasion
is simply a way for declaring your opposition to another person. If you are really committed to learning from others and living in a community, you should only engage in these kinds of conversations if you're willing to be changed by them. It doesn't matter if the other person is willing to be changed. But if you enter into them defensive and righteous about your nonnegotiatables, no matter how well or poorly thought through they are, you must accord your conversation partner the same courtesy to be intransigent and
We can solve our seniors’ care crisis Decade of underfunding results in unattended call bells
According to B.C.’s Seniors Advocate, more than 90 per cent of the province’s residential care homes are not funded to meet government’s current minimum staffing guideline. It’s a shocking statistic, and it’s up from 82 per cent a year ago. This staffing crisis in our seniors’ care homes has been building for years. But if you aren’t a resident, a family member, or a care worker, you may not have seen the warning signs firsthand. Staff rushed off their feet. Call bells ringing, but unattended. Seniors waiting for assistance in hallways, their beds, or the dining room. Most are fragile. All are vulnerable. And many don’t
have a relative or friend who can visit often enough to provide the comfort and human contact any one of us would expect to be there for us when we need it most. Without urgent action to ensure there are enough staff on shift, many seniors will continue to wait. Their loved ones will continue to worry. And care staff will continue to have the highest on-the-job injuries in the province. How did we get here? The answer lies in more than a decade of underfunding. And it’s been compounded by extensive privatization, and the ability of private operators to contract out services and flip those contracts at will. In the process, entire staff teams are
fired to make way for new subcontractors that may, or may not, rehire them and at a lower wage. This practice destabilizes care, while driving down workers’ wages to boost the bottom line. What’s needed now is immediate action on funding, and a commitment to tackle systemic issues going forward. First, government must bring all facilities up to the province’s current minimum staffing guideline. And it must ensure new funds have strong accountability measures that guarantee additional resources go to frontline staffing, not profits or administration. Next, government needs to determine the level of staff-
ing hours actually required to deliver safe, quality care and legislation to enforce that standard. And finally, the ongoing problem of contracting out and contract flipping by for-profit operators must be addressed. If we’re serious about delivering the timely, dignified care seniors rely on, we need proper funding, the strongest possible standards, and measures to deal with repeated contract flipping in the private sector. How we treat our seniors is a reflection of the kind of society we want to live in. Let’s do the right thing. Jennifer Whiteside, Secretary-Business Manager Hospital Employees’ Union
defensive. The only way to disrupt that is to ask another person for specific stories about things that you are curious about and that may potentially change you or your thinking. Consequently, personal stories matter. It is worth asking people to describe important markers of quality in their life. I am working with friends in the United States to help them host conversations with Trump supporters. The strategy we are designing is to sit together and look at what measure-
ments we all use to gauge how well things are going: health costs? wages? community safety? It doesn’t matter what the metrics are. Agreeing together what to look for and then talking about how these things change helps to see how effective leaders are or how devastating policies can be. Personal stories hold our attention. External facts and data become battlegrounds for debates that are a waste of time. Ask for people to tell you things about themselves that will open your mind. The key to living in a deeply conflicted society is not always to look for common ground, but to understand and respect differences. However if we are intransigent and self-righteous about our own view of the world and our difference with others, we create a community in which intransigence and self-righteousness is permitted as a way of being. That leaves us hopeless and stuck. Rather, do things that help understand difference while staying in the relationship. Leadership means being the first to act. To reach out across a massive divide and make contact with people that are so easy to demonize is difficult and frightening. I’m watching with awe as my friends in Port Alberni do that, and as my friends and colleagues around the USA bravely attempt to disrupt the division that now threatens to tear their country apart. Peacemaking is never easy, and it requires courage and leadership. But if you let fear scare you away from it, peace will never be in reach.
A fond farewell to our outgoing brain trust chairperson Dear Editor, I admire, appreciate and thank our outgoing Economic Development Committee Chairperson, Gordon Ganong, and his entire committee for their dedication and accomplishments during their reign since the inception of this “brain trust” group. As a community, we have a great deal to be thankful for. Few would argue, without a strong economic engine, our community train will not go very far ... so I wish our new committee well. Bruce Russell
Thanks for the support Dear felIow Bowen Islanders, I would like to express thanks for the many gestures of sympathy and support we have received on the passing of Bob Adams. We are immensely appreciative of the thoughtfulness and kindness shown to us. Patricia Adams and family
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Centre welcomes new practitioner New year brings new
The Bowen Island Wellness Centre has welcomed practitioner Heidi Mather to their team. Mather is an acupuncturist and registered nutritionist, qualified in London, U.K., with six years of clinical experience. Since moving to Bowen with her family in the fall of 2015, Mather has been meeting regularly with Catherine Shaw, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, for study sessions. The two enjoy working together to find the best solutions in clinic. “Depending on how a situation presents itself, I think either along the lines of Chinese medicine energetics or in terms of nutrients and organ system pathology,” says Mather. “It is exciting for Catherine and I to be working so closely with one another and brainstorm the linkages between the East and West. Drawing from the best of both nutritional perspectives offers exponential possibilities for effective treatment.” When asked how she works, Mather says that she considers herself a health detective. “My biggest skill is being a puzzle-solver, and human health is certainly one of the most complex puzzles I know. I would say my gift lies in tying together seemingly separate issues. That is why I spend
number, beginnings DIANA ZWANENBURG CONTRIBUTOR
This lunar new year brings us the energy inherit in the number 1 (2+0+1+7=10 1+0=1 ). This energy is all about new beginnings and planting seeds for that we wish to create and experience in the next nine years. If you are wondering why you have been feeling more like reassessing everything in your life more than actually taking action steps, it’s because we are still experiencing the last bit of 2016 (2+0+1+6=9) energy, which held the energy of the number nine. Life works in cycles of nine, so the number nine represents endings. Look back at 2016 and be grateful for all its teachings and take that to recreate yourself on the next grandest vision of who you want to be in 2017. February will be a very busy month where many things in a global and personal level will be reassessed and taken into a new plane of existence. Wishing you a fantastic 2017, the year of new beginnings. Diana Zwanenburg is from the Bowen Island Naturopathic and Acupuncture Clinic.
Heidi Mather, a nutritionist and acupunturist, has joined the team at the Bowen Island Wellness Centre. photo supplied 90 minutes during my initial consultation finding all the facts, and then another three days putting together a client plan. I allow myself time to get to the heart of the matter, to digest the ideas, and to do the necessary research. There is no one-size-fits all solution,” says Mather, who adds that she also considers education to be an important component of her work. “I feel it is my responsibility to communicate ideas to
my clients in a way that makes sense to them, so that they can make informed choices. Effective action requires understanding. As a nutritionist, I prefer to focus on what is an ‘appropriate’ food choice as opposed to what is ‘healthy.’ What that means changes over time, as any individual client changes.” Heidi Mather is currently offering nutritional consultations and will offer acupunc-
ture consultations later in the year once her B.C. registration is completed. You can contact her through the Bowen Island Wellness Centre. Through the Bowen Island Wellness Centre, you can access traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, physiotherapy and nutrition services. Content supplied by the Bowen Island Wellness Centre.
Gladys Lee poses with a lion dancer at a recent Chinese New Year celebration at Park Royal. photo Paul McGrath
Complementary cancer care with conventional care RABIA WILCOX
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 2017 Community Impact Grants 2017 Knick Knack Nook Environmental and Social Sustainability Grants At the Bowen Island Community Foundation AGM on April 28, 2017, the Foundation will award $30,000 in 2017 Community Impact Grants for projects to beneUit Bowen Island and its residents, and the Knick Knack Nook will award up to $10,000 in grants for environmental sustainability initiatives and up to $10,000 in grants for social sustainability initiatives. Applications for both grant programs are due on February 13th Eligible applicants must email a short (500 words max) proposal to the Foundation by February 13, 2017 at 5pm. How to get more information • For the Community Impact Grants, take a look at the complete application package on the Foundation’s home page: www.bowenfoundation.com • For the Knick Knack Nook Small Grants Program, go to www.knickknacknook.org/small-grants-program for full details.
CONTRIBUTOR
Many people living with cancer seek complementary support alongside their conventional treatments. Why? Complementary therapies can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life by decreasing toxicity and side effects, strengthening the immune system, and supporting the body’s healing ability. By treating the whole person – the mind, body, and spirit – and considering the environment in which we live, we become empowered to make healthier decisions, and reduce anxieties that often begin to rule our lives from the shock of a cancer diagnosis. I am visiting Bowen Island for the winter, and work with the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre team in Ottawa, as a care co-ordinator, program facilitator and Conscious Living coach. I have witnessed how complementary care alongside conventional treatment (chemotherapy, radiation and surgery) can be so helpful. The OICC team consists of regulated health-care practitioners: medical doctors,
RABIA WILCOX
nurses, naturopaths, physiotherapists, psychiatrists, nutritionists, acupuncturist, massage therapists, yoga therapists, psychotherapist, and mindfulness/meditation coaches. In my upcoming talk the topics I plan to discuss are: an integrative and healthy lifestyle through nutrition, exercise, and the environment; stress management (reducing fear and anxiety); and caring for the caregivers. Join me for an evening talk titled A Cancer Diagnosis? at Rivendell Retreat Centre on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 7–8:30 p.m. Suggested donation $20. Everyone welcome. Registration required. Please contact me at rabiawilcox524@gmail.com.
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Seniors care short-staffed, advocate says
BRENT RICHTER
NORTH SHORE NEWS
Not one of the seven publicly subsidized seniors care homes on the North Shore is meeting the provincial guidelines for staffing of nurses and support workers. B.C. seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie released her annual tally on Wednesday showing only 10 per cent of all public care homes in the province were meeting the guideline of 3.36 hours of staff time per patient per day for direct care like bathing and hygiene or help with eating and social interaction. The report also compiles incidents that put seniors at risk like disease outbreaks, abuse or neglect, missing or wandering persons, medication errors, falls resulting in injuries, and aggression between persons in care. Kiwanis Care Centre in the Seymour area ranked closest to the provincial staffing guidelines at 3.29 hours, however, with 22 cases of aggression, it exceeded the provincial average by about 7.5 times. (In 2016, the Kiwanis manager said the facility has a very low threshold for what it considers aggression and only one of those cases resulted in an injury). Evergreen House at Lions Gate Hospital posted 3.26 hours, although it did exceed
provincial averages for injuries, wandering seniors and medication errors. The Lynn Valley Care Centre has 3.08 hours of funded care time per patient per day and did not exceed provincial averages for any reportable incidents. Cedarview Lodge in Lynn Valley had 2.99 hours per patient per day and none of the reported incidents exceeded the provincial averages. In West Vancouver, Inglewood Care Centre on Sentinel Hill posted 2.78 hours of care. It also had almost three times the cases of falls/adverse events resulting in injuries compared to the rest of the province, as well as slightly higher incidences of outbreaks, wandering seniors, aggression, and other injuries. The Capilano Care Centre is funded for 2.73 direct care hours and had higher than average incidences of falls resulting in injuries, wandering seniors, aggression between residents and other injuries, according to the report. West Vancouver Care Centre had the lowest recorded hours of patient care time at 2.31 hours, but had fewer than the average cases of all reportable incidents. Mackenzie is calling on the province to increase funding and bring in stringent monitoring of care hours. “Not getting enough hours of care has potentially serious
file photo Mike Wakefield
impacts on seniors who are living in these environments,” Mackenzie said in a statement. “It can mean they are not being taken to the bathroom when they need to, they may not be getting fed properly, meaning they don’t receive proper nutrition, and the list goes on.” The B.C. Hospital Employees Union secretary-business manager Jennifer Whiteside said the report is shocking.
“It certainly puts some figures to what our members tell us every day about the crisis in staffing that is out there in the long-term care sector,” Whiteside said. The seniors care system has been underfunded and plagued by privatization and contract flipping for a decade, Whiteside added. “Care homes are bought and sold like real estate,” she said. The province’s guidelines
should be the minimum, Whiteside said, and they should be enforced by legislation. “Having guidelines is not enough. If 90 per cent of the care facilities in the province are not providing a basic minimum standard that’s been identified by the ministry of health, then something is very wrong in the system,” she said. In a statement, the province’s parliamentary secretary for
seniors Darryl Plecas welcomed the report and pledged to improve support for seniors. “Last year, B.C. spent $2.9 billion on home and community care, an increase of over $1.3 billion from 2001,” the statement read. “The standard we are most focused on is having care providers deliver high-quality care at whatever level is most appropriate for an individual resident.”
Proposed Amendment to the Environmental Assessment Certificate for the Woodfibre LNG Project Invitation to Comment The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) invites the public to comment on an application for an amendment to the Environmental Assessment Certificate (EAC) granted to Woodfibre LNG Limited (Certificate Holder) on October 26, 2015, for the construction and operation of the Woodfibre LNG Project (Project).
The intention of seeking public comments is to ensure that all potential effects – environmental, economic, social, heritage and health – that might result from the proposed amendment are identified for consideration as part of the assessment process. All comments within the scope of the application for amendment will be considered as part of EAO’s review.
The Project is located approximately 7 km west-southwest of Squamish, British Columbia, involves construction and operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility on the previous Woodfibre Pulp and Paper Mill site, which would have a storage capacity of 250,000 m3 and would produce 2.1 million tonnes per year of LNG.
EAO accepts public comments through the following ways:
The Certificate Holder is proposing the following design changes:
BY ONLINE FORM: eao.gov.bc.ca/pcp/index.html BY MAIL: Michael Shepard, Project Assessment Manager Environmental Assessment Office | PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9V1
• Changing from seawater cooling to air cooling of the plant;
BY FAX: Fax: 250-387-0230
• Upgrading an existing intake on Mill Creek rather than constructing a new intake; and,
An electronic copy of the Certificate Holder’s EAC Amendment Application is available at:
• Short-term use of water from Woodfibre Creek during construction.
EAO website: http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/html/deploy/epic_project_home_408.html
The proposed changes would require an amendment to the EAC under British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Act. The purpose of the amendment is to enable the Project to proceed with these proposed changes. There are 30 days for the submission of comments by the public in relation to the EAC Amendment Application, from February 9, 2017, until March 11, 2017. During this period, the public is invited to submit concerns regarding new or additional potential effects that might result from the proposed amendment.
Certificate Holder website: woodfibrelng.ca NOTE: All submissions received by EAO during the comment period in relation to the proposed Project are considered public and will be posted to the EAO website.
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Bowen Island Conservancy Learn about the Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region Initiative The first event in our 2017 Speaker Series will feature Ruth Simons, Executive Director of the Future of Howe Sound Society. Ruth chairs the Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region Initiative, and will explain how a UNESCO Biosphere Region can help achieve our common goals for protection of Howe Sound for future generations. This session will be interesting and informative. We hope that you’ll join us. • When: Saturday, 4th February at 2:00 pm • Where: Multipurpose Room, Bowen Island Community School, 1041 Mount Gardner Road More information about this presentation is available at bowenislandconservancy.org.
Refreshments will be served
Places of Worship Welcome You BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH Rev. Shelagh MacKinnon
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Service and Sunday School: 10:30 a.m. Collins Hall Bookings: Helen Wallwork Minister of Music: Lynn Williams
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BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH www.bowencommunitychurch.org Pastor Clinton Neal 1070 1070 Miller Road 604-947-0384 604-947-0441 Service 10:30Service a.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. 10:30 School a.m.
ST. GERARD’S CATHOLIC CHURCH ST. GERARD’SROMAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Mass: 10:30 Sunday a.m. Priest: James Comey Mass:Father 10:30 a.m.
604-988-6304 Administration Office: 604-682-6774
Bowen Island Community School co-chair Caroline Parker shares some of the students’ work with West Vancouver School District Superintendent Chris Kennedy. photo Meribeth Deen
Superintendent cites housing affordability as struggle for West Vancouver Schools MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
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10:00 a.m. Worship • Sunday School: Tots to Teens Phil James Adkins B. Krohn Pastor: Dr.
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West Vancouver School District superintendent Chris Kennedy spoke to parents at Bowen Island Community School last week about what makes the school unique, and what lies ahead now that B.C. teachers have won the right to negotiate class size and composition. On the last point, Kennedy said that the win means there is money to hire 17 new teachers inside the district, but the lack of housing affordability could make it challenging to find people to fill those positions. One thing that makes BICS unique, said Kennedy, is that class size remains basically the same between kindergarten and Grade 7. “You have about 40 kids in K and you have about 40 kids in Grade 7, and its almost the same all the way through. And that’s unlike any other elementary school in the district, because in the other schools its small in K and high in 7 which we see largely as economics and house-pricing,” said Kennedy who called the situation on Bowen a more “traditional” school dynamic than the rest of the district, where families move in as their kids get older. There are currently 335 students at BICS, and roughly 7,200 students in the whole district, said Kennedy. There are roughly 500 international students (400 of them in high school), and 1,400 students who live outside the district. “The closer you get to Taylor Way, a school like Westcott elementary for example, has 25-30 per cent of students who don’t live in the school district,” said Kennedy. “We’re reliant on that, in the school district. We would have closed five or six schools by now if we didn’t have those students. The number of young people within our school district has continued to decline, again, an economics affordability issue, but that has been back-
filled by students coming from elsewhere.” Bowen and Lions Bay stand out as different in this regard. However, enrollment in the public school in Lions Bay (which goes until Grade 3) is currently half of what it was eight years ago. BICS, he said, has benefited from having on-island principles and more on-island staff in recent years. “Having Scott [Slater] and having Jennifer [Pardee] before I think that really helps in building a sense of community,” he said. “I’m here less. In some ways, the district doesn’t have to pay as much attention because there’s an on-island principle and you probably ask him questions in the grocery store. So, having an on-island principle and on-island staff really helps, and that hasn’t always been the case.” He says this is another way BICS stands out within the district. Out of the $50 million awarded to B.C. teachers from their lawsuit with the government, Kennedy says the West Vancouver School District will get $600,000, or enough for sixteen or 17 new teachers. “There’s been no teaching jobs forever, now we’ve got 1,100 across the province,” said Kennedy. “It makes people like me nervous because all of our teachers who can’t afford to live in our district are getting poached by the communities they live in. So every counselor, or ELL teacher of teacher-librarian that lives in North Van or Burnaby or Surrey right now is getting a phone call saying, wouldn’t you like to work where you live? Because they are in the same boat we are, trying to hire people.” The job postings for teaching positions in the West Vancouver School District will come down at the end of this week. Kennedy says that given Bowen’s affordability in comparison to the rest of the district, it seems to be a more attractive option for teachers.
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Ready, set, learn at BICS Bowen Island Community School (BICS) is preparing to host its free annual Ready, Set Learn early learning event on Saturday, Feb. 18. Families with children three- to five-years-old are invited to enjoy a morning filled with music, story, play and movement. Parents and children will take part in play-based activities, while exploring early learning opportunities, services and resources available in the community. New to this year’s event will be a Making Movement Matter station where families can explore fundamental movement skills together. The experienced team at Bowen Island Community Recreation will be leading this exciting station and providing important information to families about physical literacy. Like early literacy and numeracy, which develop a literary and numerical vocabulary, physical literacy develops a ‘movement vocabulary’ of fundamental movement skills for growing three to five year old healthy bodies. Movement isn’t a break from learning, it is learning for the developing child and lack of movement can have detrimental effects on human development. Physical inactivity can contribute to poor cognitive development, low academic achievement, poor socialization, and lessened development of community. Ageappropriate, regular physical activity teaches children how to move, behave and connect with others in a way that promotes agency and self-reg-
ulated behavior. (Sources: Canadian Sport For Life, S. Lundvall 2015, and West Vancouver Schools Building a Movement Vocabulary presentation, 2016.) “This program is a community initiative, funded by the British Columbia Ministry of Education, to give families or caregivers and their three- to five-year-old children access to resources and information about how to support a young child’s early learning and development prior to entering formal schooling,” explains Community School Coordinator Sarah Haxby. “It also helps build positive connections between families, the school and our local community organizations.” The Ready, Set, Learn event includes: ■ A complimentary early learning family resource kit ■ Activity and information stations for parents and children. ■ Nutrition and health information and an opportunity to talk one on one with Vancouver Coastal Health representatives. ■ Meet community representatives such as your local RCMP, Volunteer Fire Department, Public Library, and more! ■ Sit in an RCMP cruiser, fire truck or see the inside of an ambulance. ■ A story, music circle and a healthy snack. ■ A chance to talk to local program and resource providers. ■ A new fundamental movement skills station. ■ An opportunity for parents of three to five year olds to socialize.
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The heart of education: A Valentine’s message ALLAN SAUGSTAD CONTRIBUTOR
A dad and his son at last year’s Ready, Set, Learn event. photo supplied The Bowen Island Ready, Set, Learn, (RSL) event takes place from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in the BICS primary wing. Doors open at 9:45 a.m., so that activities can start promptly at 10 a.m. There is no need to pre-register; we look forward
to seeing moms, dads, grandparents and caregivers with their three to five year olds at the event! For more information about RSL on Bowen Island, contact Community School Coordinator Sarah Haxby, shaxby@wvschools.ca, 604 947-0389.
It was 15 years ago that my first child turned five. From the moment she was born, I was completely in love, and that love propelled me to look deep into her eyes any time I needed to figure out what she needed, connecting to the attachment between us. For her first five years we instinctively kept her emotionally safe, allowing her to choose which environments and situations made her feel comfortable. Right from day one, we threw the parenting books away. Our love was enough. When she was five, I could clearly see the beautiful and indomitable spirit within her, an unbridled energy and passion for life and learning of all kinds. Everything she did was straight from her heart. I decided, along with a group of like-minded parents, to create an educational paradigm where this spirit could stay alive. This meant going to class only part-time to preserve the close family connection and so she could have time to pursue passions of her own. This also meant being in a cosy, small, quiet space with only 12 maximum in a class, where you leave your shoes at the door, where you work in a familiar living room or kitchen, where you always feel calm and safe just being yourself, because people there love and celebrate you for who you are, always. This meant a place where attendance is always optional, where kids help design classes with the teacher, and where parents are always welcome, every day, and are in fact, an integral part of the fabric of the program. This is the heart of what we do at Island Discovery. It’s a very happy place full of laughter every day. Every child has a voice. It is self-evident to us, watching these kids grow up, that when your heart is connected to your learning journey, when learning comes from within, it is rich, deep, powerful, and enduring. Kindergarten registration is already open. You can come by for an individual meeting by appointment. There are only a few select spots left. There may be openings in other grades as well, from K to 9, although these are also limited. We will also be having a Kindergarten orientation meeting on Feb. 7 at 9:30 a.m. This is a chance to visit the current K/1 class and teacher, talk more with me, and meet other interested and current families too. Hope to see you there!
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The mystery by the creek: Solved! EMILY VAN LIDTH DE JEUDE CONTRIBUTOR
On a nearly sunny January afternoon, a group of Wild Art kids and I stumbled upon something we’d never seen before: About 20 little round, calciferous half-spheres, deposited a few metres away from Killarney Creek. Not exactly uniform but
almost, the little things were approximately eight millimetres in diameter, and seemed similar to sand dollar skeletons. They looked a little like covered buttons. However, when we broke one open, the inside appeared to be solid, comprised of pinkish calcium carbonate. As for other clues in the area, the half-spheres were found on a bit of pristine forest floor, surrounded by
needles and cones, about a metre or so above the floodlevel of the creek. The only other item of note in the area was the claw of a signal crayfish. We puzzled about it for quite a while, and took a few home to research. The most obvious thing to do was to consult Sue Ellen Fast and Will Husby, who are extremely knowledgeable about freshwater ecosystems, particularly Killarney Creek,
Wild Art participants play and explore in their forest village. Beatrice, Norah, and Sydney enjoy Wild Art in the photo top right. photos Emily van Lidth de Jeude
which they live very close to. I took some of the little half-spheres by their house and Will had a good look. Will has easily cleared up some previous Wild Art mysteries, such as the identification of our local signal crayfish, freshwater sponges and freshwater fingernail clams. However, on examining these little half-spheres, he was stumped. So off to the local Facebook forum, where I could easily post a photo of our mysterious find, and get some responses. I also personally emailed the photo to a few other knowledgeable locals and the curator of marine invertebrates at the Beaty Museum. Understandably, most people looking at the photo thought they looked like mushrooms or seeds. However Sue Ellen had done a vinegar test and confirmed they were indeed calcium carbonate, so mushrooms or seeds seemed out of the question. Other suggestions ranged from urchins to discarded candies or drugs, fossilized berries, concretions from garbage left in the park, or tiny geodes. We all see through the lens of our own experience. And then, unexpectedly,
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the answer appeared in my email. Will had come through, after all, having followed a hunch, based on my finding of a crayfish claw nearby. What we have found are gastroliths! Will says, “They are found in freshwater crayfish (and) are part of a system for conserving calcium used in making their exoskeletons.” He speculates that they were part of an otter’s poop, which was left on the creek bank before being eroded by rain and leaving only the gastroliths behind. Andrew Hosie of the Western Australian Museum explains on his blog (1) that “the calcium provides strength to the exoskeleton so that it can support the animal’s body, give the claws their pinching power and to protect it from predators. As crayfish (indeed all crustaceans) grow bigger, they must periodically shed the exoskeleton and form a new
one. To start a new exoskeleton from scratch would require large amounts of new calcium. The hormones that drive moulting (referred to as ecdysis) trigger calcium carbonate to be removed from the exoskeleton and starts forming a pair of these gastroliths in the stomach. After the crayfish has moulted, the gastroliths are reabsorbed and used in the strengthening of the new exoskeleton. Only freshwater crustaceans form gastroliths because unlike seawater freshwater has very little dissolved calcium salts, so in an effort to retain calcium, crayfish form these little gastroliths, or even eat the old exoskeleton.” He also tells us that “pharmaceutical companies are actively researching the use of gastroliths to treat osteoporosis-related conditions.” Isn’t it wonderful how one mysterious discovery can bring people together and open our minds?
These look like mushrooms but they are definitely not mushrooms. photo Emily van Lidth de Jeude
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On the calendar
FEBRUARY 9 Bowfest AGM, Doc Morgan’s Lower Dining Room. 7 p.m.
FEBRUARY 7 Open House at Island Discover School, 9:30 am, children welcome FEBRUARY 7-8
Bowen Island Trail Society Inaugural Meeting, 1751 Olivia Terrace, 7 p.m., RSVP aliciahoppenrath@shaw.ca
The Impact of Parental Anxiety on Children. Call Colleen O’Neil
FEBRUARY 18
to register 604-947-9100
Ready Set Learn at BICS, activities start at 10 a.m.
DISCOVER
US
Wednesday February 8, 6-8pm
SCIENCE FAIR
tour the projects For further info please call: 604 947 9311 or visit us at
islandpacific.org/events
HEALTH & WELLNESS Dr. Susanne Schloegl
NexGen Hearing
Open Mon.Wed. Thurs. Fri. Now accepting Bowen patients. Artisan Square
604-281-3691
M.D.
604-947-9986 Bowen Island Chiropractic
Dr. Tracy Leach, D.C.
Bowen Island Naturopathic & Acupuncture Clinic #201 - 566 Artisan Square
Certified provider of Active Release Techniques
Natural health solutions for the whole family
Artisan Square Tues. & Fri.
draleabell@gmail.com
Courtney Morris, R.Ac
778-828-5681
604-338-5001
www.drtracyleach.ca
BODY VITALITY MASSAGE THERAPY James Goldfarb RMT BC#05279 Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon Call 604-288-2860 text 250-726-8080 www.bodyvitality.ca
Dr. Alea Bell, ND Naturopathic Doctor
778-891-0370
Registered Acupuncturist, Doula, Homeopath
courtneykmorris@gmail.com
Dr. Utah Zandy 604-947-9830 CALL FOR APPOINTMENT OPEN TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS
Call us at
FREE
Hearing Testing On Bowen Island @ Caring Circle West Vancouver
Dr. Dana Barton
Naturopathic Physician 596 B. Artisan Square
604-730-1174 Natural Family Medicine
Mary Coleman
Dr. Gloria Chao
778-233-4425
Artisan Square 604-947-0734
MSW, RSW
Docs on the Bay and Bowen Island Compassion minded counselling to grow wellbeing in the midst of serious illness, loss and grief.
Family Dentist
Alternate Fridays 10am - 4:30pm Horseshoe Bay 604-921-8522 www.bowenislanddental.com
BOWEN ISLAND
MASSAGE THERAPY
604-947-9755 EXT #1 At entrance to Artisan Square Suite #597
CATHERINE SHAW Dr. Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncturist
@ Artisan Square Suite #597 Wellness Centre Suite #595A Next Door
❦
MARY MCDONAGH RMT
RMT, DCH Registered Massage Therapist
HARMONY SHIRE RMT
SANDY LOGAN
ALICIA HOPPENRATH RMT
MARY MCDONAGH
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HEIDI MATHER
Acupuncturist Registered Nutritionist
Psychologist Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt PhD, R.Psych #1484
604-376-9801 www.CarolynNesbitt.com
Celebrating 29 years
Community Healthcare
Life Labs Tue @ Dr. Schloegl Thur @ Dr. Zandy 6:45am - 8:45am
For routine lab tests. Specialized tests & children may be referred to the mainland.