FRIDAY JUNE 30, 2017 VOL. 42, NO. 24
$1
including GST
Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
Canada Day Happy 150th!
Reading list
Try picking up books on reconciliation for your summer reads
Cocoa West
Bowen institution celebrates 15 years
Teen who lost ticket left in Horseshoe Bay BEN BENGTSON CONTRIBUTOR
“The point is to help non-First Nations Canadians understand the history, the lands and the treaties,” MacRaild said about her presentation. She started facilitating that understanding by dispelling myths, such as the number of First Nations that have historically been part of the Gulf Islands “People think that the Aboriginal population in this region was thin. It wasn’t,” MacRaild said. “Anywhere from 30 per cent to 50 per cent of all Aboriginals in Canada lived in this region.” On Bowen Island itself, MacRaild pointed out that several First Nation groups, including Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, Sechelt, Lillooet, and possibly more, have claimed a territorial connection to Bowen.
A Bowen resident is frustrated that his teenage son had to catch the last ferry back to the island after allegedly not being allowed to board an earlier ferry in Horseshoe Bay because he couldn’t find his ticket. James Glave said his 13-year-old son was visibly “emotionally upset” when he missed his 7:50 p.m. sailing out of Horseshoe Bay last Sunday. Ramp workers told him he was too late to board the ferry after asking him to search the terminal for his lost ticket. “He had been through ticketing and was waiting where he was supposed to be, alongside berth one, as the ferry unloaded. When cued by ramp workers to load before the cars, he couldn’t find his boarding pass,” Glave explained. BC Ferries workers then told his son to search for his ticket while the cars boarded. According to Glave, his son spotted his ticket on the opposite side of the loading traffic. It had fallen from his pocket. After retrieving the ticket, he raced back but ramp workers said he was too late. “The gates were down, but the ramp had not yet lifted off the car deck,” Glave added. “He was worried and wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong, and the reality is he didn’t do anything wrong. Since sharing details of the incident on Facebook, Glave said he’d been contacted by several Bowen parents who said their teenage kids had faced similar situations. The Facebook post also caught the attention of Bowen Coun. Melanie Mason. “If you’d asked any single passenger on that ferry, ‘Do you mind being late one or two minutes so that we can let a teenage boy on?’ Nobody would have had an issue with that,” Mason said. BC Ferries may have just been following protocol, but she said it was unfortunate because they should have been more flexible at a time when many Bowen residents are being forced to make adjustments. “We’ve been dealing with a ferry that’s been running late for months and months, and we’re expected as a community to be flexible around that and kind of get on with it, and we build
continued PAGE 3
continued PAGE 3
Bernie, Sam and Lisa sell homegrown herbed sea salts at the summer’s first Farmer’s Market.
Meribeth Deen, photo
Presentation shows relationships between Gulf Islands, First Nations BEN BENGTSON CONTRIBUTOR
With various First Nation groups seeking an increased stake in various Gulf Islands due to historical territorial claims, Bowen is seeking input into how it can reasonably and thoughtfully contribute to the conversation. But before conversing, it might be best just to listen. That was the overall message of a presentation made to Bowen councillors and a handful of residents at a committee of the whole meeting Monday. For around an hour, Fiona MacRaild, an advisor on marine and First Nations issues from Islands Trust, gave an overview presentation that touched on the often unknown and overlooked roots of indigenous people and the Gulf Islands.
2 • FRIDAY JUNE 30 2017
WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
Meeting Calendar
Seeking Public Comment
Property taxes are due July 4, 2017
for TUP-01-2017 1441 Adams Rd
Property tax notices have been mailed to Bowen Island property owners. If you have not received your tax notice, please contact us as soon as possible at 604-947-4255 or bim@bimbc.ca.
July 5, 2017 1:00 pm Emergency Program Management Committee
A Temporary Use Permit application has been submitted for 1441 Adams Rd (shown on map) to permit assembly use. The length of this permit is one year to allow for one single-day event on a rural residential property.
To avoid paying late penalties, please note that the following are due by 4:30 pm on July 4, 2017: •
Property tax payments
July 7, 2017
•
Home Owner Grant applications
9:00 am
•
Property tax deferral application and/or renewal forms
Economic Development Committee
Did you know? If your property taxes are paid through your financial institution, you still have to claim your Home Owner Grant. You can complete your application online.
July 10, 2017 7:15 pm
Questions? Please contact us or go to our website at:
www.bimbc.ca/content/property-taxes
Regular Council Meeting
July 12, 2017 8:45 am Fire Hall Facilities Steering Committee
7:00 pm Recreation and Community Services Commission
All meetings are held in Council Chambers at Municipal Hall unless
The proposed event is a motor show with an estimated 25 display cars, music and art. 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.
Written submissions may be delivered to Municipal Hall (contact information below): •
In person
•
By mail
•
By fax
•
By email to bim@bimbc.ca
Submissions may also be made to Mayor and Council at the meeting:
Monday, July 10 , 2017 7:15 pm Council Chambers, Municipal Hall 981 Artisan Lane th
To ensure a fair process, submissions cannot be accepted once the meeting has ended.
Questions? Please contact Emma Chow, Island Community Planner 1 at 604-947-4255 or echow@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
Dogs on main beaches in summer Summer is finally here! Which means that dogs are not allowed on Tunstall Beach, Sandy Beach and Bowen Bay Beach for the months of July and August. On the other beaches, please make sure your dog is under control at all times.
Find us on Facebook Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday, excluding statutory holidays
Bowen Island Municipality
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
July 12, 2017
Join our mailing list bimbc.ca
WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
FRIDAY FRIDAY JUNE JUNE 30 30 2017 2017 •= 33
First Nations want bigger presence on islands: MacRaild from PAGE 1
Bronwyn Churcher and Christian MacInnis are finishing up a bike trip in Paris and reflecting on Canada’s place in the world. photo supplied
Canadians well-liked abroad but still work to do Bronwyn Churcher & Christian MacInnis SUBMISSION
It's true that people have reacted positively to us being Canadians in the course of our travels. People seem to outwardly like Canadians and seem to have only good things to say about us as citizens – although maybe they're just being polite (they seem to think that we're pretty polite as well). We have been lucky to reap the benefits of this as young Canadians abroad; we have had only good experiences with everyone we've met along our journey. Part of it comes down to having an open mind to your experience, but when you are an outsider in a foreign place, without the comforts of home you so often take for granted, you begin to realize that our shared humanity extends across the imaginary political borders we have used to align our maps. In fact, the idea of nationality dissolves somewhat when you are comfortably sur-
rounded by people from all over the world in one place as we are as we write this from Paris, France, at the end of our bike trip. If we could improve one thing in Canada, it would be a solidifying of what it actually means to be Canadian. It's a complicated definition of national identity, but the collective citizenry needs to take a stand more often if we're going to abide by the national identity we enjoy projecting to the rest of the world and each other. There are hard line stances we need to take on environmental issues, coming to terms with our government's past and present treatment of indigenous peoples, and dealing with the poverty and inequality that still exists all over our country. It would serve us well this Canada Day to remember that we are far from a perfect country and that patriotism in and of itself isn't an identity. It's a big, beautiful world out there and we must remember that we're a part of it in both our local and international actions.
BC Ferries REGULAR SCHEDULE REGULAR SCHEDULE MayMay 18 15 to to Oct 9, 2017 In Effect October 13, 2014
Leave Snug Cove
^ 5:30 am** 5:30 am 6:30 am 6:30 am ** 7:30 am# 7:30 am 8:35 am 8:35 am 9:35 am # 9:35 am 10:35 am 10:35 am 11:40 am 11:40 am 12:45 pm 12:45 pm 3:10 pm 3:10 pm 4:15 pm 4:15 pm†† 5:15 pm 5:15 pm * 6:20 pm 6:20 pm 7:20 pm 7:20 pm** 8:15 pm # 8:15 pm# 9:10 pm 9:10 pm 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
VANCOUVER Horseshoe Bay
6:00am am 6:00 ** 7:00am am# 7:00 8:00 8:00am am 9:05 9:05am# am†† 10:05 10:05am am 11:05 am 11:05 am 12:10 pm 12:10 pm 2:35 pm 2:35 pm 3:45 pm 3:45 pm 4:45 pm 4:45pm pm 5:50 * 5:50pm pm 6:50 6:50pm pm 7:50 * 8:40 7:50pm pm#* 9:40 8:40pm pm# 9:40 pm
Leave Horseshoe Bay
▼
BOWEN ISLAND Snug Cove
Distance: 3 NAUTICAL MILES Crossing Time: 20 MINUTES
#*
DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS
SUNDAYS
# DAILY DAILY EXCEPT EXCEPT SATURDAYS SUNDAYS &
*
SUNDAYS
^ **
DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS & SAT, SUN & SUNDAYS MAY 19, JUL 1,
She explained that several generations of disease brought over by Europeans, the Indian Act, the Douglas Treaties and the destructive legacy imparted through Canada’s residential school system have reduced First Nations numbers significantly. “With this small amount of First Nations, we have a moral obligation to talk about the racial oppression we’ve put them through,” MacRaild said. “We have socially segregated our First Nations. How many First Nations on Bowen?” She suggested that Canada is slowly in the process of doling out justice for wrongs committed in the past against the country’s First Nations populations. But how should Bowen Island go ahead with prioritizing the wishes of First Nations around the Gulf Islands? “There is no ambiguity in this statement: First Nations want to be on the islands so badly and sometimes it’s as simple as not having enough money for a ferry,” MacRaild said. Because Bowen is a municipality, it doesn’t
require ministerial approval for its official community plan or bylaws, MacRaild said, which could mean, for example, that the municipality wouldn’t be compelled to make an official acknowledgment that Bowen is on land historically claimed by First Nations. But she argued silence on this issue was what hurts the most and she encouraged council to look into starting a dialogue with neighbouring First Nations. MacRaild said the near-future could be an era of compensation – trying to right past wrongs through re-examining land use, providing reciprocity and, perhaps just as importantly, taking the time to listen to First Nations groups and considering their concerns. “As you consider this, look in the future for very thoughtful, very intelligent First Nations sitting in the room talking about how you make your day to day land-use decisions,” MacRaild said. “It can be done from different perspectives down the road.”
Residents encouraged to give feedback to ferry advisory committee from PAGE 1 that into our lives. We’re expected as a community to adapt when things don’t go as planned. However, when the shoe’s on the other foot it doesn’t always happen.” Mason, who’s a member of Bowen’s ferry advisory committee, said the committee recently discussed these kinds of issues at a recent meeting. “How do we deal with community complaints and follow that up with BC Ferries?” she said. “What we really want to encourage the Bowen community to do is when we have issues like this is to follow up directly with BC Ferries, either by phone or the website, and also follow-up with BIMTAC (Bowen Island Municipal Transportation Advisory Committee) at bimtac@bimbc.ca, and that way we can also make sure it’s followed up.”
Mason added that BC Ferries has got much better at responding to queries, complaints or questions from customers. “BC Ferries is much more responsive to these kinds of complaints. James Glave has already received some response back from BC Ferries, so it’s really encouraging,” she said. On Monday, Glave received a phone call from BC Ferries customer relations line in Victoria after writing the company a message through its online feedback form. Glave said the representative told him they take incidents like this seriously. “She says they are going to get to the bottom of it, and find out exactly what happened, and why. I think this is an encouraging and decent initial response, and I thanked her for the call,” Glave said.
Places of Worship Welcome You BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH Rev. Shelagh MacKinnon
Service and Sunday School: 10:30 a.m. Collins Hall Bookings: Helen Wallwork Minister of Music: Lynn Williams
FOOD BANK DROP-OFF
BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH Minister: Bill Absolom Pastor Clinton Neal www.bowencommunitychurch.org 1070 Miller 1070 Road Miller604-947-0384 Road Service 10:30 Service a.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. 10:30 School a.m.
AUG 4, SEPT 1 & † 13 OCT
ST. GERARD’S CATHOLIC CHURCH ST. GERARD’SROMAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
†
604-988-6304 Administration Office: 604-682-6774
THE WEDNESDAY SAILINGS WILL BE REPLACED THEDANGEROUS WEDNESDAY BY SAILINGS WILL CARGO SAILINGS. BE REPLACED NO OTHER BY DANGEROUS PASSENGERS CARGO SAILINGS. NO OTHER PERMITTED.
PASSENGERS PERMITTED.
Mass: 10:30 Sunday a.m. Priest: James Comey Mass:Father 10:30 a.m.
CATES HILL CHAPEL www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260
(661 Carter Rd.)
10:00 a.m. Worship • Sunday School: Tots to Teens Phil James Adkins B. Krohn Pastor: Dr.
4 4 •= FRIDAY FRIDAY JUNE JUNE 30 30 2017 2017
WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
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.
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.
Chasing TransLink grant will come at a high price Dear Editor, The June 16 Undercurrent reported that the municipality application to TransLink for a grant of $160,000 for a paved bike path close to Charlie's Lane had been approved. What the article did not say was that the municipality has to match that figure making the total cost of the project $320,000. The plan advocates using that money to blast the rock wall and remove trees on the east side of Grafton Road so that the road can be moved over to accommodate a mere 150-metre section of paved pathway. This section is considered to be the first stage of developing a paved pathway through the middle of the island, which would cost millions in the next years. One very approximate estimate from someone who knows is $6 million. I am not an expert on Bowen municipal finances, but it seems hard to believe that the municipality is considering matching the grant to fund this very short section of paved pathway at a time when they are planning to build a $10-million community centre and are having a referendum to ask residents if they can borrow $3 million to build a new fire hall. What is of more concern is the potential commitment of millions of additional tax dollars to the future completion of an over ambitious and unnecessary paved pathway project. John Kerr
Recalling privilege of living in Canada Dear Editor, We are a nation of immigrants. The first settlers established cultures lasting 10,000 and more years by learning to survive on what nature provided. This was only possible by developing skills of profound observation and oral transmission of knowledge. Then the presence of humans had no affect on the balance of nature. Around 400 years ago, immigrants came from other shores and brought with them tools and knowledge to harness nature’s energy in greater measure. To the point that we now have the power to seriously disturb the natural equilibrium. This is a global phenomenon, not just a Canadian one. This preamble may be perceived as an odd introduction but the 150th birthday of Canada gives me special pause for reflection. I am an immigrant, too. I came to Vancouver 20-years-old, on Aug. 12, 1961. That night the Berlin Wall went up and my birthland was even more cut off. In 1945, my family had become refugees. We had survived the war. Three years later we could join our father after he was released as a prisoner of war. As the tensions between the West and the East heated up West Germany introduced the military draft in 1956. After my family had bled profusely in two world wars, my parents decided to send my brother and me away before the draft could take effect. “We are no longer cannon fodder,” I can still hear my father say. I had 48 hours between my high school final exams and the draft taking effect. Within that time frame I left the country legally. Once in Canada, relatives made my entry easy. Four years of study leading towards an architectural degree at UBC followed. I met leading artists, writers and musicians. I found a great variety of work in the summers as a logger, gardener, professional clown and waiter on the CPR passenger trains between Vancouver
#102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0 Phone: 604.947.2442 Fax: 604.947.0148 Deadline for all advertising and editorial: Monday, 4:00p.m. www.bowenislandundercurrent.com
and Winnipeg, to mention a few. In my spare time I explored the nearby mountains and glaciers and sailed the surrounding waters. Trips to the Chilcotin and the Okanagan valleys made me wonder at the adventures of the settlers of all ages. The natural grandeur of Canada unfolded for me in the Rockies. While our train snaked through the spiral tunnel above Golden I marveled at that engineering feat. I loved watching the oceans of wheat fields in the rising sunlight while the train raced east through the prairies. I met the people of the world as passengers, immigrants and visitors alike. In those early years, the protests against the Vietnam War and the emergence of the drug culture changed society. Billboards began to show the word “ecology.” In 1965, I interrupted my studies to go back to Germany to marry Marianne, the girl I left behind. That November we arrived by freighter in Montreal with our car on board and set out to drive across the land and marveled at its vastness and changing landscapes. We were delighted by the helpfulness of many people along our way. I was coming home and proud to show it to my new wife. In 1967 we were expecting a child and I wanted it to have a Canadian father. The application proceedings for citizenship required an interview by a judge in the presence of two sponsors. After hearing my reasons for coming to Canada, I was asked where I would be in a military conflict between Canada and Germany. I said I would be a medic in a Canadian uniform but I would not kill. “Welcome to Canada”, the judge said and shook my hand. I swore the Oath of Allegiance and received my certificate of naturalization on June 20, 10 days before Canada’s 100th birthday. This took place 50 years ago this month, and to celebrate this anniversary I decided to participate in a citizenship ceremony once more. It took place
last week in the Bill Reid Gallery for 30 new Canadians from 17 countries. The venue and mood were festive, the speeches upbeat, including one from a Metis leader. It was the end of a long journey for most. Faces told the joy of having received a great gift. Alone after the ceremony, I looked back at my years in Canada, years as a Canadian, years of privilege. I saw my life with a loving partner, my caring children and my boisterous grandchildren. I saw friendships and communities around me evolve and change or disappear. I saw political battles, achievements and the promotion of a humane society. I saw Canada’s varying role in the world. I saw laws functioning and the rights and freedoms protected in a new constitution. I saw economic opportunities but I also saw hardships, losses and the increasing estrangement from the love and understanding for the land. The rising presence of opportunists from near and far and increasing foreign ownership endangers what I call the Canadian Spirit, the gift of generosity expressed in the words: “Ah, just pass it on." It embodies pioneering spirit and co-operation. I hope this will always be the norm in our dealings with each other, in our struggle to overcome prejudices and wrongs of the past. In these turbulent times, I see Canada today is a country with a stable government, an inclusive attitude toward minorities, grappling with rapid changes in societal behaviour, global commerce, climate change and its consequences and its determination to maintain its character as “peacemaker." Let us always keep it so. Now, in the autumn years of my life, I can only say with gratitude how privileged I am to be a Canadian citizen. Cheers, Canada, on your 150th birthday! Hans-Christian Behm
Editor
Advertising
Cartoonist
Publisher
Meribeth Deen
Maureen Sawasy
Ron Woodall
Peter Kvarnstrom
Bowen Island Undercurrent Subscription Rates: Mailed 1 year subscription on Bowen Island: $45, including GST. Within Canada: $65 including GST Newsstand (Single Copy)$1 per copy, including GST
editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com
pkvarnstrom@glaciermedia.com
2011 CCNA
CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2011
WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
FRIDAY FRIDAY JUNE JUNE 30 30 2017 2017 •= 55
Read up on reconciliation this summer Pauline Le Bel COLUMNIST
Happy birthday, Canada! Let’s celebrate by reading books written by and about the people who lived on and cared for this land for thousands of years before our ancestors arrived. The first step on the path to reconciliation is to learn about our true history with indigenous peoples. Why not take some books along as you bask in the sun, on your patio, or on the beach this summer? Books that educate, challenge, enlighten, entertain, and help us work through the challenges we have inherited. Here are my recommendations for your summer reading: A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada, by John Ralston Saul, 2009. Written by a non-indigenous writer and thinker, this book offers an original and transformative
vision of Canada, a new way of understanding our history with indigenous peoples. Saul convincingly shows us how the Canadian values we cherish: egalitarianism, individual and group rights and obligations, reconciliation, fairness, inclusion, and minority rights, do not come out of an English or French heritage but “the Aboriginal roots of Canadian civilization.” The most important history lesson I ever received. It left me feeling a tremendous awe for the foundation of our country and more hopeful for its future. Islands of Decolonial Love, by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, 2013. At 148 pages, this book is perfect for taking to the beach, as well as for opening hearts and minds to the messy and important work of reconciliation. This evocative collection of short
It just does.” Bonus: You can go on the publisher’s website and hear the author reading some of the stories.
Pauline Le Bel stories and songs demonstrates how the most important tool for decolonizing is storytelling, one of the oldest forms of resistance, survival and thriving. And Simpson’s storytelling is honest, heartbreaking and compassionate. “Right off the bat let’s just admit we’re both from places that have been f***ed up through no fault of our own in a thousand different ways for seven different generations and that takes a toll on how we treat each other.
Memory Serves, by Lee Maracle, 2015. This remarkable book is a collection of oratories delivered and performed by a renowned Coast Salish teacher and writer of fiction and non-fiction. Any book by Lee Maracle is worth reading, and this one is my favourite. Her masterpiece. Maracle shows us another way to be, to think, to know. “Memory is powerful,” she writes. “When we forget, we fail to learn.” This book transformed my way of reading as I allowed myself to be woven into the threads of her ancient tales. Coming from an oral storytelling tradition, she writes in a circular, poetic fashion, the way storytelling happened in the Longhouses. I suggest you read some of the passages out loud and imagine yourself in the Longhouse, sitting by the fire, listening to a great storyteller. Indian Horse, a novel by
Richard Wagamese, 2012. Wagamese, an Ojibwe, was one of Canada’s most beloved writers and teachers. Wagamese gives us a compelling description of life in Indian residential school and one boy’s salvation through hockey. The harsh truths are told with humour, and he leaves the reader with an uplifting ending. I actually learned to love hockey again. I recommend any book by Wagamese. There are many of his powerful books at the Bowen Library, including Medicine Walk. First Nations 101: Tons of Stuff You Need to Know about First Nations People, by Lynda Gray, 2016. Enlightening, and necessary information by a member of the Tsimshian Nation who lives in Vancouver, told with the hallmark humour of indigenous storytelling. Everything you need to know about First Nations ceremony, literature, music, the Indian Act, treaties, protocol, taxes, and justice. I enjoyed this book so much I have invited Lynda to come to
Bowen and give a reading and Q&A as part of a Knowing Our Place event in the fall. The Bowen Island Library has ordered a whole stack of wonderful books written by Indigenous authors. Go visit your favourite library and check them out. The next Knowing Our Place event takes place on Canada Day, July 1. As part of the celebrations at Crippen Park, Chris Corrigan and I will set up a Kissing Booth. Just kidding. We will be sitting at a Reconciliation Booth. We invite you to join us and talk about why reconciliation matters to you. We’re all learning how to do this together. Pauline Le Bel is the author of Becoming Intimate with the Earth. Her poetry book, They Ask Me Why I Sing So Loud, will be launched on July 30th at Rustique Bistro, and her non-fiction book, Whale in the Door: Re-Imagining Howe Sound, will be launched at The Gallery at Artisan Square on October 1st.
Take pride in Canada’s inclusive education system Mai Yasue SUBMISSION
Colleen Gibney-Treleaven and her mom, Janis, following the presentation of her Masterworks project, Purple: The Process of Telling Someone’s Story. Colleen’s time at IPS was supported by the Smooth Stones Foundation. photo submitted
Student celebrates LGBTQ immigrants to Canada Meribeth Deen EDITOR
Social progress does not come without struggle and hard work. This is something Colleen Gibney-Treleaven, a recent graduate of Island Pacific School, knows already. For her Grade 9 Masterworks Project, GibneyTreleaven told the story of her grandmothers and the work they did on behalf of all LGBTQ immigrants to Canada. Colleen’s grandmothers, Chris Morrissey and Bridget Coll, fell in love in a convent in Albany, N.Y. They went on to live and work in Chile, until political circumstances forced them to leave. Chris was Canadian, so they came here. At the time, however, there was
no recognition of same-sex couples in the Canadian Immigration Act. Morrissey and Coll founded an organization called Legit, to help other same-sex couples navigate the Canadian immigration process and worked for years to get the Canadian government to recognize same-sex couples immigrating to Canada as a family. In the year 2000, they also started an organization called Rainbow Refugee to help people fleeing persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status. Colleen’s Masterworks project started as a tribute to her grandmother, Bridget, at her memorial in 2016. Her other grandmother, Chris, still lives and works in Vancouver.
I am proud of our imperfect but decent public school system. It is an education system that aims not necessarily for excellence, but for equity and inclusion. In Canada, instead of sheltering children in relatively like-minded ethnically or socioeconomically homogeneous elite private schools, parents of high socioeconomic status still choose to send their children to public school. As a result, in Canada, 93 per cent of children go through the public education system. It is because fundamentally most Canadian parents still believe in the value of diversity and the value of forcing our children (and ourselves) to rub-shoulders and learn to work effectively with different types of people, even if it causes some discomfort. When I observe the remarkably little amount of time Canadian children appear to spend on “schoolwork”, (in comparison to all other countries I have visited) I am always surprised to see Canada near the top of global literacy and math scores. Canadian schools achieve these high rankings, not necessarily by bringing the top up (even higher), but rather from bringing up the bottom and working to support the least privileged in the classroom.
An inclusive education system that aims to help all kids, regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, ability, gender and mother tongue is truly something to be proud of. There are numerous benefits to society of such a school system. First, it promotes social mobility. Outside of the Nordic countries, Canada still has the highest social mobility rates in the world. Here, because of the public education system, the children of immigrants, can attend and even succeed in university and attain highly skilled job. Second, it enables important critical thinking skills such as the capacity to hold contradictory perspectives, or
to listen to another person’s perspective and learn how to fold these new perspectives into your own world view. Such skills can help individuals participate more effectively in civil society within our diverse country and may also help to buffer some of the rampant and socially accepted bigotry that we see in most parts of the world. Our school system is far from perfect, and it needs continual engagement from society and political will to ensure that it maintains these values of inclusion, but it is also important to acknowledge the tremendous value of our public education system, so that it is clear what is at stake.
The Dancehall Years Joan
Haggerty
s and Book tore x i n S Phoe rina e at hips Ma l b a l s avai eam Now nion St U $ The 23.95
6 6 •= FRIDAY FRIDAY JUNE JUNE 30 30 2017 2017
WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
On the calendar THURSDAY, JULY 6 Join Cocoa West in Artisan Square as it celebrates 15 years in business with a chocolate fundraiser supporting the Bowen Island Community Foundation. Tickets: $75. 7-9 p.m. SATURDAY, JULY 8 Logger’s Show at Veteran’s Park starting at 8 a.m. This year’s Bowfest parade is set for Aug. 26 and is going with a 1980s theme. Check out the Bowfest Facebook page for more info. photo supplied
SUNDAY, JULY 9 Steamship Days Big Band event on the dock. SATURDAY, JULY 15 Farmer’s Market at Bowen Island Community School, 10 a.m.12 p.m.
LETHAL DRUGS ARE out there
Find out how you can save a life. Every day, people are losing their lives to overdoses in BC. These deaths are preventable. Many illegal drugs, including party drugs, have been found to contain deadly fentanyl. And even more toxic carfentanil is now being detected in BC. Not using drugs is the best defence — using alone is the greatest risk. If you use drugs or know someone who does, help is available. Learn about treatment, and where to find naloxone and overdose prevention sites in your area by calling 8-1-1 or visiting www.gov.bc.ca/overdose. Your knowledge, compassion and action can save a life.
Bowen residents get sprayed by the fire department at the end of last year’s Canada Day celebration. photo supplied
Bowen Canada Day events ready to kick off with a blast Snakes, community art, popcorn, potato sack races, community sprinkler and tug-o-wars may not spell “C-A-N-A-D-A” to the rest of the country anymore, but on this rock it does. Each year, the Bowen Island Community Recreation Department puts on a family-friendly Canada Day party that brings back these faithful Bowen traditions for old and new alike to enjoy. Attendance at Canada Day where we get soaked and pet snakes are as much a rite of passage as participating in the Bowfest parade, buying $1 books at the Booksale or winning a cake at the Christmas Craft Fair. All good times and not to be missed! Festivities: Noon Welcome and acknowledgments by Coun. Gary
Bowen Island
Ander followed by singing “O Canada!” to kick off the event. 12:05 – 1:15 p.m. Cove Blues Band plays on The main stage; Take part in the community art project; Family-friendly games; Playcare for the wee ones; Childrens’ crafts; Concessions; Water bottle refilling stations; Meet the reptiles; Art in the park. 1:30 p.m. 150th Celebration - Bowen’s first Human Maple Leaf. 1:45 p.m. Cake! 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. Afternoon activities continue. 2:45 p.m. Get wet! Thanks to our event spon-
sors: Canadian Heritage, Bowen Island Municipality and Metro Vancouver. Thanks to our generous, community-minded donors: Bowen Island Pub, Bowen Building Centre, Opus, McTaggart, Westcoast Society for the Protection, and Conservation of Reptiles and Sky Hawk Air Media. Thanks to our community partners: Bowen Island Volunteer Fire Department, BC Ambulance Service, RCMP, Emergency Social Services, Bowen Island Arts Council. If you are interested in getting involved in future Canada Days, please contact the Community Rec office at 604-947-2216 or come see us (below BICS). Celebrate Canada’s 150th on Bowen Island, Saturday, July 1, from noon to 3 p.m. in Crippen Park. It’s free – and sure to be memorable.
Eco-Alliance
Annual General Meeting July 9, (Sun.) at Collins Hall at 2:00 PM
Guest Speaker: Mayor Murray Skeels “Paradigm Shift – How attitudes toward development on Bowen have changed and what it means for public policy”
Everyone is Welcome! Learn more at gov.bc.ca/overdose
Carry a Naloxone Kit
Call 9-1-1
#stopoverdose
Members at the AGM will consider a special resolution to amend the bylaws of the Eco-Alliance in accordance with the new BC Societies Act
www.ecoalliance.ca
WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
FRIDAY JUNE 30 2017 • 7
BOWEN BULLETIN BOARD The Gallery @ Artisan Square Presents
TREK TO
EVEREST
Life Coastal
BASE CAMP
Artworks by Kathleen Ainscough, Marie Neys and Liz Watson
15 Oct - 1 Nov A few places left
Call Ellen Direct:
778-960-0967
(604) 349-6745 bowendogranch.com
June 14 - July 16
timfromnepal@yahoo.co.uk
LANCE’S RECYCLING
I’ll pick up your recycling and deliver to BIRC for $25/load Kindling $20/box at Building Centre CALL 947-2430
604.349.7402 info@bowenconcrete.ca FOR ALL YOUR
CONCRETE NEEDS We Dig it, Form it, Mix it, Pump it
Your Community
MARKETPLACE Or call to place your ad at
604-630-3300
Email: classifieds@van.net
BC WIDE CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS ADVERTISING POLICIES
All advertising published in this newspaper is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to buyers at the advertised prices. Advertisers are aware of these conditions. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading, is never knowingly accepted. If any reader encounters non-compliance with these standards we ask that you inform the Publisher of this newspaper and The Advertising Standards Council of B.C. OMISSION AND ERROR: The publishers do not guarantee the insertion of a particular advertisement on a specified date, or at all, although every effort will be made to meet the wishes of the advertisers. Further, the publishers do not accept liability for any loss of damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of an advertisement beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred. Any corrections of changes will be made in the next available issue. The Bowen Island Undercurrent will be responsible for only one incorrect insertion with liability limited to that portion of the advertisement affected by the error. Request for adjustments or corrections on charges must be made within 30 days of the ad’s expiration. For best results please check your ad for accuracy the first day it appears. Refunds made only after 7 business days notice!
CANADA BENEFIT GROUP Attention British Columbia residents: Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888-5112250 or www.canada benefit.ca/free-assessment
COMING EVENTS
4K" IA@9)L 5$ *AMRA:7L 57 %)9F0) G.IP ')7IFM/ !F7NF)&
EF7-A/ ? Q,O !DSBG. 6 ? 4.A8 ;H38 'M5AI:A7 'F9IFMA9 ')7IM) HG". '588)M>:A9 %M:1)< CA72 #7$5= J.T 6(.;H4"6 ? ,-8= +"2..
ANSWERS
Hot Spot For Sale
604.630.3300
FOR SALE - MISC SAWMILLS from only $4,397 Make money & save money with your own band mill - Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info & DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT 1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT STEEL BUILDING SALE “MEGA MADNESS SALE!” 20X23 $5,780 25X25 $6,312. 30X31 $8,175. 33X35 $9,407. One End Wall Included. Check www.pioneersteel.ca for more prices. Pioneer Steel 1-855-212-7036
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FREE PROFIT CENTERS Incredible cash generators. Setting up limited number of dealers across Canada. On a first come - first in basis. Don’t miss out! Full details call now 1-866-668-6629. Website www.tcvend.com
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get the online training you need from an employer trusted program.Visit:CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-athome career today!
LEGAL SERVICES CRIMINAL RECORD? Why suffer Employment/Licensing loss? Travel/Business opportunities? Be embarrassed? Think: Criminal Pardon. US Entry Waiver. Record Purge. File Destruction. Free Consultation 1-800-347-2540, accesslegalresearchinc.net
INDUSTRIAL/ COMMERCIAL STAGE COACH INN & Strip Mall - Duchess, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, July 20 in Lethbridge. 16 room hotel, separate reception & manager’s residence and 4 Bay Commercial Strip Mall. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; Brokerage: All West Realty Ltd.; rbauction.com/realestate
Phone Hours: Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Office Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
SUDOKU
HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT SPROTTSHAW.COM
8 • FRIDAY JUNE 30 2017
WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
IN THE
R0011427935
HEALTH & WELLNESS Dr. Susanne Schloegl
BOWEN ISLAND
MASSAGE THERAPY
604-947-9755 EXT #1
M.D.
Open
Mon. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Artisan Square
604-947-9986 Bowen Island Chiropractic
Dr. Tracy Leach, D.C. Certified provider of Active Release Techniques Artisan Square Tues. & Fri.
778-828-5681
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. Dana Barton
Naturopathic Physician 596 B. Artisan Square
604-730-1174 Natural Family Medicine
Dr. Gloria Chao Family Dentist
Artisan Square 604-947-0734 Alternate Fridays 10am - 4:30pm Horseshoe Bay 604-921-8522 www.bowenislanddental.com
Dr. Utah Zandy 604-947-9830 CALL FOR APPOINTMENT OPEN TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS
Online Booking: https://birchwellness.janeapp.com/
@ Artisan Square Suite #597 Wellness Centre Suite #595A Next Door
Dr. Alea Bell, ND
MARY MCDONAGH RMT
Located in Artisan Square
Naturopathic Doctor
778-891-0370
Courtney Morris, R.Ac
Registered Acupuncturist, Homeopath, Doula
604-338-5001
Mary Coleman MSW, RSW Compassion minded counseling
778-233-4425
Call us at
FREE
Hearing Testing On Bowen Island @ Caring Circle West Vancouver
CATHERINE SHAW Dr. Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncturist
❦
MARY MCDONAGH
HARMONY SHIRE RMT
RMT, DCH Registered Massage Therapist
ALICIA HOPPENRATH RMT
SANDY LOGAN
Celebrating 29 years
Community Healthcare
NexGen Hearing Psychologist 604-281-3691
At entrance to Artisan Square Suite #597
Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt PhD, R.Psych #1484
604-376-9801 www.CarolynNesbitt.com
❦
Registered Physiotherapist
❦
HEIDI MATHER
Acupuncturist Registered Nutritionist
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.