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New Hearth head arrives
JAMI SCHEFFER IS THE HEARTH’S NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
The matter first came to council in February. The publicly funded school––through the Powell River School Board––needs to move as their current location is no longer available and a donor, a Deep Bay resident, offered to buy Evergreen Hall for the school to use.
A new era quietly dawned at the Bowen Island Arts Council (the Hearth) earlier this month. The organization’s new executive director Jami Scheffer arrived April 1, marking the end of Jacqueline Massey’s long run heading up the organization. As a born and raised B.C.-er, Scheffer comes to Bowen by way of Invermere (a town with a population of just under 3,500 people near the Alberta border, though with thousands more people in the surroundings) where she was with Columbia Valley Arts Council for 15 years. Like her predecessor at the Bowen Island Arts Council, Schaeffer was the first paid executive director of Invermere organization. In the early 2000s, when the more than hundredyear-old Pynelogs Cultural Centre and Art Gallery got a half-a-million dollar makeover, the Columbia Valley Arts Council, until then always artist-run, hired its first yearround executive director. “Fifteen years of, you know, taking an arts organization from the grassroots level to a well-running business,” said Scheffer. Scheffer comes from a recreation and event planning background. She created the Invermere Music Festival, a live music series for the arts council, a Canada Day festival and was also the planner for the Wings Over the Rockies wildlife festival. “I tried a lot of events and programs and gallery shows and fundraising ideas over the years. So it was super fun,” she said. After Scheffer’s mother, who she was caring for, died last year and with her adult children living on the coast, the time was right to move on. “This job just kind of landed in my inbox and everything fell into place so easily,” said Scheffer. “It was kind of weird––it was like it was meant to be.” Scheffer’s son was finishing a degree in Ontario and his school shut down, so he moved to Bowen too (though he’ll soon be leaving for a job on the mainland).
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UNDERCURRENT PHOTO
BUILDING RESILIENCE: Anna Donnelly and Patrick Buchanan of Bowen Building Centre pause for the camera
between propane-fill ups Tuesday afternoon. While the building centre has been closed to the public for a few weeks (with the exception of propane, presto logs and pellets), it’s reopening Fridays between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m with strict physical distancing enforced. Only one person per family is allowed in the store so make a list in advance, bring your reading glasses and be organzied, said Donnelly (the owner) on Facebook. Donnelly said that if islanders email the building centre with requests, building centre staff can gather supplies and even sometimes do deliveries.
Council rejects IDLC application QUESTIONS AROUND LEGALITY OF TEMPORARY USE PERMITS BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
Bowen’s Island Discovery Learning Community (IDLC) won’t be moving to Deep Bay. Tuesday evening, council opted to reject the controversial appli-
cation for a temporary use permit to allow “school” as an allowable use for Evergreen Hall on Melmore Rd. The accompanying development variance permit application was also defeated. Council had been see-sawing on the matter for the past couple of months.
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OCP-02-2019 & RZ-03-2019 720 Gardner Lane Bowen Island Council is considering changes to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Land Use Bylaw at 720 Gardner Lane. This is an 8 hectare (20 acre) parcel located on Gardner Lane as shown on the map below.
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The applicant is hosting a virtual open house to provide information and receive input from the public regarding this application. All members of the public are invited to attend. The application allows for retreat centre zoning on the southeast portion of the lot, and would see a dedication of a 2 ha park on the western end of the lot. Proposed Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 498, 2019 would change the designation of the south-east portion of the lot to RC – Retreat Centre, and the western portion of the lot to P – Municipal Park.
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More information on contacting us Proposed Land Use Bylaw No. 499, 2019 would rezone the south- www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/contact-us east portion of the lot Rural Commercial 2 (Retreat Centre), rezone the western portion of the lot P1 – Passive Park, and Read our Island Page on page rezone the middle of the lot RR3(c) – to reduce the minimum lot 2 of the Undercurrent every size required to 1 hectare. week. This would allow for the future subdivision of two residential lots, currently permitted under the zoning. Bylaw No. 499 would also make minor amendments to the retreat centre regulations to restrict the amount of staff accommodation. The Virtual Public Open House will be held on
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www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ocp-02-2019-720-gardnerlane For information on the proposed bylaws, or for information on how to participate in the virtual open house, please contact Daniel Martin, Manager of Planning and Development, at 604-947-4255 or by email at dmartin@bimbc.ca
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ISLAND NEWS
Housing needs report paints stark picture BRONWYN BEAIRSTO Editor
The housing needs report presented at the regular council meeting Tuesday evening painted a stark picture of the on-island housing instability. “…[It’s] the most acute affordability issue I’ve seen,” said consultant Sophie Payne of Urbanics. Payne told council that 84 per cent of residents cannot afford to buy a new single-family home, and single-family homes are 90 per cent of the housing stock. No median-earning household can afford a market-rate home said Payne. People unable to afford to buy homes turn to rental, which puts more pressure on an already stressed rental stock, said the report. The study found low vacancy rates and high insecurity in the rental market––the report describes dozens of renters vying for a single vacancy. They found that people in retail on Bowen are mostly renters. “It’s clear that the local economy hinges on the rental market available for current or potential employees,” said Payne. She pointed out that nearly two-thirds of renters live on-island while nearly two-thirds of owners commute off. Lone-parent households face barriers in needing more rooms, especially if they have children of different genders, and (median) one-person households cannot afford any rental on Bowen. Competition between short-term rentals and long-term housing stock came to the fore. Landlords
can often make more on short-term rentals so some renters are forced to move out for the summers, which adds to housing insecurity, says the report. Payne said that based on case studies in other communities, short-term rentals drive up the price for long-term rentals. The report noted that decision makers may need to clarify priorities between housing and tourism. A growing number of seniors and unsuitable housing for aging people was another focal point of the report and pointed to a need for more diverse housing. Urbanics provided a five-point strategic plan for addressing housing on-island, with the suggestion it be reviewed every five to 10 years (Payne noted that given the shifting situation with COVID-19, this is particularly prudent.) Among the recommendations are: increasing density in properties with municipal services (water and sewer), particularly in the cove––including encouraging converting garages or basements into rentable suites, adding storeys to buildings and replacing single-family with multi-family homes. Increasing entry-level housing for young families and housing for seniors (the two demographics projected to grow the most in coming years.) And enabling more discussions around new affordable housing developments. Councillors generally said that the report confirmed what they already knew. To see the entire plan visit: bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/219608
Floats their boat: USSC float homes win award BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor
Turns out, what’s on the outside counts too. The float homes in the Union Steamship Company Marina have been lauded as a unique solution to a widespread problem, staff housing, but they were recently recognized for a different reason. USSC built the homes using structural insulating foam panels (one-piece, pre-cut insulated panels). “So it’s the idea of using it on a straight from base with aluminum frame [instead of on a concrete base] that makes it unique,” says USSC owner Rondy Dike. The panels are from Delta-based Insulspan and the project recently won a building excellence award from the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA). The USSC float homes won first in the affordable homes category and runner-up in the single-family, small house under 900 square feet category. A press release from SIPA said that an independent panel of industry experts judge the building excellence awards. “Insulspan has long been known for its outstanding quality and affordability as well as its excellent sales and design support,” said Insulspan General
PHOTO COURTESY OF USSC
Manager, Stephen Munn in a press release. “We are honored to work with companies like Anthem Properties and Union Steamship Co. Resort on these two incredible projects.” (Insulspan won top honours in a separate project from Anthem Properties on the mainland). While there are two of the float homes sitting in the marina now, four more are planned. Dike says that USSC is waiting on their water lot lease so they can get financing to finish the four more expected homes.
UNDERCURRENT PHOTO
Elaine Loree sits beneath a tree adorned with dozens of hearts celebrating her birthday and 26 years at Cates Pharmacy. Wednesday was Elaine’s last day at the pharmacy as she’s retiring. How does she feel about all the love? Elaine said she’s overwhelmed. Happy birthday and retirement Elaine!!
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VIEWPOINT EDITORIAL
Just keep swimming This was a hard paper to put together. As the adrenaline fades and a physical distancing settles into normality, life seems at once quieter and more stressful. Motivation is hard to come by and frustration is frequent. Talking to people outside of work and my home feels almost like an unreasonable effort––what is there to talk about? At the same time, I miss them. I have a feeling I’m not the only one feeling this way. I don’t have answers, I’m (obviously) not a mental health professional (the Caring Circle has an excellent list of professionals on its website and we’ll work to bring you more stories with mental health information in coming weeks), but I can say you’re not alone. We have weeks, months, possibly years left of COVID-19-related measures, so we’re going to need to find creative and sustainable ways to look after ourselves and our neighbours. At the easiest this could mean picking up the recently mailed out phone book and calling people we haven’t talked to in a while. I know Zoom is the sexy new tool, but I have to say, whether I’m interviewing someone or talking to my family, I find there’s an intimacy to the phone that the constantly buffering connection of video conferencing can’t quite replicate. But it’s not just the easy stuff. In the housing needs report we can see how many people on Bowen are in tenuous housing situations and that was before the pandemic. Now many people are facing unemployment. There are federal, provincial and private programs to help citizens but people are statistics in these programs. Bowen’s strength (and at times weakness) is our passionate community. Now is when it needs to be our roaring strength, rooted in compassion, empathy and not judgement. Many leaders in the community have noted how many people have asked how they can help, so it seems we could be on the right track. Keep going.
On another note, last week we asked for help and so many of you have stepped up. Thank you. I don’t know if I can find more words beyond that––we’re grateful to be here and that you’ve sent letters, subscriptions, donations, ads to show you value this paper. We value you! On this note, the myriad of businesses on Bowen are facing challenges they couldn’t have predicted at the beginning of this year, so whether it be fashion, food, stationary, soap, or building supplies, check local before turning to the online juggernauts. Many businesses are still willing to set up appointments or do virtual tours.
These are tough times, be kind with others and be kind to yourselves. ––Bronwyn Beairsto, editor
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Exploring creative trail solutions: BITS DEAR EDITOR: Like all of our members, volunteers, friends & affiliates, we, The Bowen Island Trail Society, are experiencing the challenges of navigating these unprecedented times. The issues and safety of our trails are as important as ever, so our Board are continuing to meet — online, of course — to discuss ways to keep up the momentum of the Trail Society. We are exploring creative solutions to execute and implement our 2020 plan in a safe way, including our Mt. Gardner Navigation Project. We are also using
this time to focus on administration challenges, such as updating our online membership process, website, email access, etc. We are also actively looking for a Membership Volunteer Leader, and are asking the community to consider joining us to take the reins and organize our Membership. This volunteer will help to organize our membership pool and create a tactical membership plan. Please contact us if you can help out. We truly appreciate the value of our forests and trails as a place to find solace and reprieve, perhaps now more than ever. We ask that you – our community of
If you’re looking for someone to talk to These are stressful and overwhelming times for many of us. But we are lucky to have this community on Bowen Island and be here for one another. In that spirit, I am available by phone as a community
volunteer if anyone needs emotional support or help with anxiety management or simply another friend or caring heart in your circle. No cost. We are all connected and we are in this together. Call
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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.
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trail ambassadors and advocates – continue to use the trails safely and mindfully during these times. While our trails remain open at this time, the public is reminded to maintain safe physical distances of at least two meters and choose low risk activities while using trails. And remember, the only thing you can catch from a smile is another smile. Let’s be kind and support each other out there. Connect with us at bowenislandtrailsociety@gmail.com Social: @bowenislandtrailsociety. Kim Ridgewell, on behalf of Bowen Island Trail Society Board
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EDITOR BronwynBeairsto editor@bowenisland undercurrent.com
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Thursday, April 16, 2020 • 5
Letter: consult essential services before ferry service changes The following letter from Artisan Office’s Heather Miller was addressed to the B.C. Minister of Transportaton Clare Trevana and Minister of Municipal Affairs Selina Robinson and shared with the Undercurrent. I am an essential service provider with concerns related to the provision of ferry services to my community – Bowen Island––and to other small coastal island communities. I would urge you to urgently establish consultation and decision-making processes re: essential ferry service provision which do not treat BC ferries as a spokesman for, or representative of, the interests of our communities. Our needs are not encompassed under the umbrella of being BC Ferries customers but the current process for decisions around ferry service treat that as a sufficient ground. It is not. BC Ferries cannot be allowed to make decisions about, or claim to represent, the essential service needs of small ferry-dependent communities in this unprecedented time. They should not be allowed to continue to dictate the terms of the conversation, to propose service cuts and changes unilaterally, or decide what essential service providers need. They are not qualified to make those determinations, and the consultative process in place, through the Ferry Advisory Committees, is not currently sufficient to represent us adequately. Those committees are appointed by BC Ferries, who has veto power on their members, they do not regularly report publicly (the most recent minutes or notes from meetings are from October of 2019) and the FACs are put in the position of having to respond to proposed changes and cuts on the fly, without the opportunity to prepare or gather data, and without mechanisms in place where these issues are publicly discussed
or even known in their communities until after the fact. BC Ferries regularly communicates proposed changes and their plans in conference calls with the FACs, calls that are completely undocumented and unrecorded, calls where BC Ferries has decided the terms, the agenda, the proposals they will make, and so on. Our very particular and vital interests are not shared, understood or appreciated by BC Ferries, or by the levels of government we have to speak through in order to even potentially be heard. The ferry corporation has a seat at the table of provincial government, and a voice, which our small communities do not have. I recognize that this situation has created pressures and problems for BC Ferries on a huge scale, and these deserve and need attention. However, it is not appropriate in this situation, where their own vital interests are so impacted, for BC Ferries to be allowed to continue to define or in any way represent the vital interests of small ferry dependent communities to government. Larger ferry dependent communities, such as the Sunshine Coast, and Vancouver Island, have direct representation through their MLAs and regional bodies that also can speak directly in the halls of power; our small communities do not have equivalent representation. Yet we face heightened challenges that deserve focused, informed attention. For instance: 1) Twent-five per cent of the Islands Trust population is over 65, compared to a provincial average of 15 per cent; these citizens need to be supported to shelter in place . 2) The islands face food security and price pressures for groceries and other goods/services not faced by larger communities; our islands depend on independent grocery stores without the purchasing power and market influ-
ence of large chains, and already pay higher freight costs; with forecasts of generally increasing grocery prices, reduced supply of fresh produce and other staples, chains like Walmart already preemptively buying up the whole of local harvests, and so on, rural/ island costs will increase. 3) Reduced ferry service drives freight costs higher, and potentially removes freight-carrying options; this is the sector in which I operate a business. Every extra hour added to our day by reduced ferry service will add 6 per cent to my daily operating costs, a new cost without accompanying revenue. Non-island carriers faced with driver costs and trucks sitting idle waiting for ferries will either raise their delivery prices, or stop serving our communities. For instance, the grocery services that come over to Bowen Island can easily utilize those driver hours and vehicles fully elsewhere. Our local pub has fought, by offering bulk food buying to the public, to keep a carrier coming to the island; will that carrier continue if they are faced with hours-long ferry waits? 4) Previous service reductions by BC Ferries have clearly shown, in the testimony of those impacted, that shift workers are those most adversely effected by reductions of service throughout the day, and that those shift workers are precisely the essential workers still travelling by ferry every day – nurses, medical and healthcare workers, warehouse staff. Are we going to put those people in the position of working a shift, in stressful, exhausting conditions, then make them wait hours for a ferry to get home? Or put them in the
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position where they cannot get to and from work in a day? 5) The islands have a unique, small scale business culture, truly part of the “unique amenities” identified in the Islands Trust Act, businesses that are key supports and drivers of these tight, caring communities. Goods and services are provided by owner-operator run businesses, hybrid and diversified businesses, and very small businesses, alongside many businesses dependent on seasonal/ tourist trade; this business sector is often outside the supports offered currently by government (not meeting the $50,000 annual payroll requirement to qualify for interest free loans eg). Local essential services are being provided by businesses like mine, who have lost considerable revenue, must still find the operating costs to continue, and have no external support. The islands, with their unique cultures and communities, are facing existential level threats to their homegrown business culture. We recently saw a service reduction across the ferry service which did not impact service levels to small island communities; however, this weekend service to the Southern Gulf Islands was cut, with BC Ferries presenting this to the media as a move intended to “accommodate the movement of essential goods to the islands and limited inter-island travel”. But BC Ferries has steadfastly refused to involve themselves in deter-
mining whether travelers are in fact “essential; they cannot present reduced service as supporting essential services when they won’t manage whether travelers are providing essential services. Such cuts, without any management, raise the spectre of truly essential services and workers being left behind to wait even longer while others continue to travel. Communities are best placed to identify essential service providers and essential workers, and designate them as needing assured or priority loading; communities are also best placed to identify what ferries and service they need to sustain themselves at this time. In an online town hall meeting Saturday, our Emergency Services Coordinator responded to a question about ferry service levels indicating that BC Ferries would respect essential service provisions but that there may well be reduced runs, allowing them to operate our route with only one shift – that would mean the loss of half of our current ferry schedule. With respect, I cannot see how essential services can be optimally maintained with a ferry schedule cut by half. I urge you to develop mechanisms to allow us, citizens, with particular, pressing local needs, in a situation of unprecedented need, to speak directly and unmediated to government about the ferry service we need, without the distorting mediation of BC Ferries, ––Heather Miller
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HEALTH CENTRE FOUNDATION TOWN HALL
How has the municipality responded to COVID-19? IN THE SECOND B.I. HEALTH CENTRE FOUNDATION COVID-19 Q&A, MAYOR GARY ANDER, COUN. MAUREEN NICHOLSON AND EMERGENCY PROGRAM COORDINATOR JENNIFER MCGOWAN ADDRESS ISLANDERS QUESTIONS
BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor
The following are highlights of Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation’s second COVID19 town hall Saturday morning. This one was about the municipal response to the pandemic. It featured Mayor Gary Ander, Coun. Maureen Nicholson and Emergency Program Coordinator Jennifer McGowan. Following provincial lead “Everything we do under this, COVID-19 and the pandemic, is absolutely governed by the province,” said Ander. “They are taking control of this situation.” He said he has weekly video conference updates from Patrick Weiler, MP for West VancouverSunshine Coast-Sea-to-Sky Country, and West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy. “These are mostly very high-level discussions,” said Ander. What’s up at BIM Ander said there’s a skeleton crew working inside the municipality and everyone else is working from home. All camps, going into the summer, are cancelled. All non-essential committee meetings are cancelled. Ander said he’d been trying to meet ferries over Easter weekendand at that point he’d mostly seen residents get off the ferry. Ander clarified that it is not in their municipal power to stop people who are not from here from coming to the island or to direct BC Ferries to stop people from coming or to direct Metro Vancouver Parks to close. Flatten the Curve Facebook group Coun. Maureen Nicholson talked about starting the Flatten the Curve Facebook group. “I think in part it was to help deal with my own anxiety about the situation and I thought this was a constructive thing to do,” said Nicholson. “It was focused on providing people with a place to offer help, or ask for help and also to share
SOPHIE IDSINGA/BIM PHOTO
BIM employees Helen Platts-Johnson and Jennifer Pierce were COVID rangers last weekend, educating people about physical distancing. Pierce was dressed as a (physically distant) slug. information,” said Nicholson. “So it has done that.” What’s up at the emergency operations centre “A lot of it is monitoring the situation,” said McGowan “There are almost daily directives and orders from the province that impact us and have implications for the municipality and so we need to respond to those.” She says they’re doing a lot of information dissemination to the public (regular EOC updates and YouTube messages from the mayor) and to the province as well. They’ve also been doing work on the municipal continuity side, moving everything online and to remote work. “Even the EOC itself is virtual, which isn’t something that we had necessarily specifically prepared for.” On physical distancing “I do know there have been complaints received to the municipality. So that obviously gives us an indication of some of the problems but I would say by and large, I’m really proud of and impressed with the people of Bowen Island,” said McGowan. McGowan encouraged every-
one to sign up for the municipal news email alerts for up-to-date municipal COVID-19 information. What about part-time residents? When asked about people visiting their second homes on Bowen, Ander said, “I don’t know if we can actually stop them from coming and using their private residences on Bowen Island, which they are paying taxes on. “I don’t see that as an issue. I see that as people coming off the ferry going to their cabins and staying there.” “Personally, I’d rather they stayed in Vancouver, but they are sort of islanders and as long as they behave themselves do the social distancing and that sort of thing. I would say that, you know, this is an evil that we’ll just sort of have to suck up.” McGowan added, “Dr. Bonnie Henry has repeatedly asked people not to travel to their second properties. Beyond that polite request, there’s not much the municipality can do to stop it.” “Non-resident property owners have every right to come here, but folks who are sensitive would pick a home and stay in that home and
not move around,” said Nicholson. She also pointed out the limited medical capacity of the island for those choosing where to reside. 911 dispatch changes McGowan said that the province has changed the 911 dispatch protocol as of April 1. “BC Ambulance has a graduated call system where blue is you could probably call 811 and…purple is immediately life threatening, something like a heart attack,” explained McGowan. So at this point first responders are being dispatched for purple calls and the odd red, where it’s immediately life-threatening or time critical and on technical calls. On whether or not to close Crippen “The parks committee and Metro board, they walk a really fine line when it comes to access to those parks,” said Nicholson. “There are people living in [other] communities and 450 square feet homes where their regional park is a really important part of their daily lives. “Here, Crippen is a really important part of many of our daily lives as well.
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“The parks committee is concerned with, as much as possible, giving people the option of following the advice of Dr. Bonnie Henry of getting out into nature and using it for exercise and stress relief,” she said. Food security When asked about food security McGowan said they’re looking at that as part of advanced planning and in the short-term looking to support local food service providers. BIM is also supporting the food bank by having a staff member shop for food for the bank once a week. Nicholson noted that the foodbank has a new system (requests for food sent to bowenislandunitedchurch@gmail.com and monetary donations sent to Sheila McCall at msmccall@telus. net). How many COVID-19 cases on Bowen? As for the eternal question–– how many COVID-19 cases on Bowen, McGowan said they’re not getting that information (Dr. Bonnie Henry released an op-ed last week about how COVID-19 is everywhere and releasing numbers of confirmed cases could give a false sense of security). “If there’s something you need to know, in terms of exposure, public health officials will let us know,” said McGowan. Coming up from BICHF: Saturday, 18 April 2020 at 10 a.m: Dr. Gayle Goldstein – RegisteredW Psychologist, Dr. Stephen Kiraly – Psychiatrist and Maureen Mackey– Psychiatric Nurse answer questions about What can we do to help manage stress and stay balanced? How can we help our children cope with extended confinement and feelings of anxiety? Access on Zoom at https://bit.ly/BIHCF-TH By telephone: 778-907-2071 Meeting ID: 635 941 026 Password: 745472. Calming and connecting exercises and Q&A with Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt, Psychologist and Doug Elliott, Counsellor next Wednesday, 22 April 2020, at 8:30 a.m.
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Thursday, April 16, 2020 • 7
Muni Morsels: tax and turf Turf tidings
BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor
The following are briefs from the April 12 council meeting: Council passed a revised five-year financial plan (budget) Monday evening. Council had asked staff to revise the budget given the dire economic conditions businesses and individuals are suffering due to COVID19. The new budget sees a 4.8 per cent property tax increase over last year––or $111 for the average house assessed at just under $1.1 million. The previous iteration of the budget called for a 7.6 per cent increase. The budget reduction comes from three areas: council strategic initiatives ($50,000), cutting vacant positions in finance and planning ($50,000) and the 2.2 per cent CPI wage increase for staff and council ($55,000). Coun. Michael Kaile noted that the property tax increase is paired with a $179 parcel tax increase for waste, due to the recently renegotiated contract with Bowen Waste Solutions, and that is an additional burden to taxpayers. Paired with the capital spending and the four year projections that are certain to change, Kaile said that he couldn’t support the budget given the current crisis. Coun. Alison Morse said she’s pleased to see the reduction but still has several concerns with the underlying budget, particularly in reserve contributions, and wouldn’t be supporting it. Coun. Maureen Nicholson said she would support the budget but wondered about an expanded deferral program. BIM’s chief financial officer Raj Hayre said that’s all under provincial jurisdiction. The budget passed with Morse and Kaile against. A press release from the municipality said that there are no layoffs being considered at this time, though some staff have been redeployed to do other work in this time. While Ander had previously said BIM had layed off a couple of staff, they weren’t permanent full-time or part-time staff.
Whatever next fills the turf field at Bowen Island Community School, it won’t be crumb rubber. The once-contentious field currently has an organic coconut-husk filling, the filling compromise reached in the community a decade ago amid concerns surrounding turf toxicity. After a decade of heavy use, the field needs replacing but coconut husk is no longer recommended in the region as it breaks down easily, creating an undesirably compact surface, and has required a bi-annual refilling to a cost of $10,000 to $13,000, according to BIM’s manager of recreation and community services Shauna Jennings. Of the four options presented to council (crumb rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, ethylene propylene diene monomer and sticking with coconut husk) crumb rubber is the cheapest and perhaps the most environmentally friendly as it’s made of recycled materials, said Jennings. However, several letters to council, including one from Bowen Island Football Club, urged against the use of crumb rubber due to health concerns. Jennings noted that there studies surrounding the health effects of crumb rubber are inconclusive and not peer reviewed. It remains the industry standard and is used in North Vancouver’s facilities. Wynen, Kaile and Ander voiced support for crumb rubber while Fast, Morse and Nicholson leaned toward organic or thermoplastic elastomer (a food-grade plastic). Wynen, who works for the North Vancouver Recreation Commission, noted just how standard crumb rubber is and the cost savings and urged for that option. Fast noted that with the onset of COVID19 she’s ever more attuned to health concerns and Nicholson and Morse noted that they hadn’t received a single letter in favour of crumb rubber. Council voted four to three to proceed with tender with the use of organic or TPE infill in the turf field replacement project. With the fillings requested, the project is estimated at about $290,000.
In Loving Memory MANGO In loving memory of Mango… born and raised on Bowen Island, he lived with his human family and a variety of furry brothers and sisters through his nearly 2 decades of life. He was recently at Bowen Vet being treated for hyperthyroidism. He is deeply missed by his favourite human, Annie who is studying veterinary medicine in Australia.
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Do you have an idea to help Bowen Islanders feel less isolated during COVID-19? Small grants. Beautiful ideas.
‘It feels right’
$50 to $500 grants to bring your project to life. Funds can cover materials, technology platforms, honorariums, advertising... whatever you need to help your neighbourhood, your group, the community at large.
CONTINUED FROM P. 1
“It feels right. It feels like I’m at the right place at the right time,” said Scheffer. Despite the pandemic, as an outdoors person, Scheffer is getting a taste of Bowen life. She’s been SUP boarding in Bowen Bay, mountain biking and exploring the trail systems with her dog Roscoe. When it comes to Hearth operations, Scheffer is just starting to meet with people (virtually, of course). “I don’t want to come in and change everything because that’s not who I am,” said Scheffer. “But I definitely have 15 years of experience and will maybe use some of that to maybe revise things a little bit or freshen things up a little bit or try some new things.” In the meantime, Scheffer is looking for recommendations as to where to have her hair cut as soon as the pandemic lets up.
INFORMATION AND APPLICATION:
https://bowenfoundation.com/responsive-neighbourhoodsmall-grants/
Have questions? Contact Lisa at the Bowen Island Community Foundation: lisa.wrinch@bowenfoundation.com ALL PROJECTS MUST ADHERE TO PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIREMENTS OF SOCIAL/PHYSICAL DISTANCING
PHOTO AND CAPTION COURTESY OF THE HEARTH
Jami Scheffer, one of Bowen’s newest residents, has arrived at the Gallery @ Cove Commons to assume the role of Executive Director of the Hearth. We encourage everyone to send out their warmest Bowen welcome to Jami. She can be reached at executivedirector@thehearth.ca
your community
8 • Thursday, April 16, 2020
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It’s business as ‘unusual’at the Hearth Arts and culture play a vital role in helping us stay connected and to make sense of the new world we are stepping into and the one we are leaving behind. Planning and supporting arts and cultural programming during these uncertain times presents challenges. As creative beings, we meet those challenges with innovations and a positive outlook. The Hearth’s new executive director, Jami Scheffer, has arrived on Bowen and settled in with her dog, Roscoe. You might see her through the window at the gallery office these days as she gets acquainted with all things Arts Council. We wish Jami a very warm welcome and give praise to the search committee for finding the right person to lead the arts council into this new age and bright future. And we say a fond farewell to outgoing executive director, Jacqueline Massey. It feels very strange not to be able to connect in person and celebrate her many years of dedication and leadership. We look forward to the days when we can gather again and celebrate with our wonderful creative community. The Hearth acknowledges the valuable contributions that our dedicated volunteers make to the operation of our gallery and programs. Normally, we would have a party to celebrate during national volunteer week, but due to physical distancing, we will come up with other creative ways to honour our volunteers. As you are aware, the Gallery @ Cove Commons is closed to the public until further notice and previously scheduled programming has been cancelled or post-
poned. While we miss the physical connection to our beautiful gallery, the exterior is being transformed! A huge shout out to the municipality and Bowenshire Landscaping for the work being done to make the exterior space accessible, functional and beautiful. Thank you. The current exhibition, Forests of the Coast, paintings and light boxes by Jean Bradbury will be available as a virtual tour in the very near future. There will also be an interview with the artist available soon with a link on the Hearth websiteandsocialmedia. Artworks are being sold (Congratulations Jean!) even though the gallery is closed to the public and the exhibition dates have been extended. Arrangements can be made to view the works by contacting Curator Emilie Kaplun, at curator@thehearth.ca. Proper protocol as outlined by the health authorities will be strictly maintained. Calls for entry have gone out for the 2021 exhibition season at the Gallery @ Cove Commons as well as the open call for the Saving Sea to Sky Exhibit. Information and applications are available on the Hearth website. More online content will be on offer in the near future as we work together to support and nurture arts and culture in our community and beyond. The Hearth sponsors groups and organizations so that they may offer the quality performances we are blessed with on Bowen. Members of the Hearth can also take advantage of the benefit of sponsorship of their events, which includes liability insurance ($25 fee required), enhanced publicity and ticket sales, both online and at the Gallery @ Cove Commons. For more information about sponsorship and becoming a member of the Hearth, please contact pro-
KATHLEEN AINSCOUGH PHOTO
Jean Bradbury’s show launched just before the Gallery closed due to COVID-19. Soon, a virtual tour will be available. grams@thehearth.ca. If you have been a member in the past, we would love to have you back. How are you filling your creative well? Are you teaching or learning online? Have you transformed your kitchen table into a creative space? We welcome you to share your creative content on our facebook and instagram pages. Tag us @bowenislandartscouncil or email programs@thehearth.ca to be included in our weekly update. Let’s stay in (virtual) touch Many artists are facing loss of income as public spaces and galleries close and events are cancelled or postponed. The federal government is putting in place emergency benefits to help those who do not qualify for
Places of Worship Welcome You BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH
FOOD BANK DROP-OFF
ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Masses are live streamed every day. Times posted at holyrosarycathedral.org
Administration Office: 604-682-6774
CATES HILL CHAPEL
www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260 (661 Carter Rd.)
Now offering worship services via Zoom. A link available on website.
Pastor: Phil Adkins
CHECK FOR SERVICE NOTICES
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BOWEN ISLAND Snug Cove 5:20 am* 6:20 am 7:30 am 8:35 am 9:40 am 10:50 am 12:00 pm 1:10 pm 2:55 pm 4:00 pm< 5:10 pm 6:15 pm 7:25 pm> 8:30 pm 9:30 pm 10:30 pm
VANCOUVER Horseshoe Bay 5:50 am 6:50 am 8:00 am 9:05 am< 10:15 am 11:25 am 12:35 pm 2:20 pm 3:30 pm 4:35 pm 5:45 pm 6:50 pm 8:00 pm> 9:00 pm 10:00 pm
Leave Horseshoe Bay
Now offering a youtube channel of reflections and hymn/songs with Reverend Lorraine Ashdown and Lynn Williams. youtubewatch?v=tejV7Y6jo
Employment Insurance. Information is available at Canada.ca for this emergency funding. Other COVID-19 resources are available for artists and arts organization through BC Alliance for Arts and Culture, BC Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts. Arts and culture help create a healthier, more resilient community enhancing a sense of identity and belonging. We are honored to play a lead role in forwarding arts and culture on Bowen Island. We invite you to visit the KATHLEEN AINSCOUGH PHOTO website at thehearth.ca for One of Jean Bradbury’s artworks at the Gallery more information.
Schedule in Effect: April 1, 2020 to May 13, 2020
Leave Snug Cove
KATHLEEN AINSCOUGH
Bowen Island Arts Council (the Hearth)
Crossing Time: 20 minutes Distance: 3 nautical miles Note: This is a non-reservable route * exCepT SuN aND apr 10 < exCepT WeD are (DC) > exCepT SaT † DC WeDNeSDay SailiNgS Will be replaCeD by DaNgerouS Cargo SailiNgS. No oTher paSSeNgerS permiTTeD.
bowenislandundercurrent.com
Thursday, April 16, 2020 • 9
ISOLATION DIARIES
Fourteen days in quarantine WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RETURN FROM MEXICO DURING A PANDEMIC AND THE WIFI ISN’T WORKING?
TREAD LIGHTLY
KAMI KANETSUKA
Contributor
Nothing too much had changed in San Miguel, where I had been for the last while. Few restaurants remained open and meeting places were closed, but the sun shone and people still sat in the Jardin, the main square. Things changed when I reached Mexico City airport. It was like entering a surreal film, all airport workers wore masks. On arrival at Vancouver, my friend picked me up, handed me a face mask, and I sat in the back seat as far away from her as possible and she drove me straight home. She let me off with the groceries I had requested, I shut my door and didn’t leave my premises for 14 days. After an extended stay away from Bowen, I normally have a little routine to reconnect. I go for a walk each day, check out the grocery stores and generally see as many friends as possible. I also become aware that my place has too much stuff and start finding things for the Knick, Knack Nook. But this time the most difficult thing to contend with was that I had no wi-fi. I felt like my lifeline to the world and the friends I had just left behind had been cut off. My Facebook addiction hit me badly. The first couple of days I paced around the place, like a tiger who had just been put into a cage. It was too cold for time in the garden and there wasn’t much to see yet. CBC became my constant companion but I often had to turn it off due to the continuous COVID-19 reports. Then became a long wait to get hold of Telus. Eventually I found out that the new modem they had sent me six months before actually had the wrong plug. Miraculously it had worked when it was initially set up. I was told a technician would come to the island five days later and bring a new modem, giving me installation instructions through a video call from his van. He could not enter my house. Unable to access video on my phone, I worried about how this could happen. With advice from a friend who asked if I had my old modem, I started to search and at 2:30 a.m. I find the modem -- the old plug works, Halleluja. I cancel the tech but at 8:30 a.m. he calls to say he is on his way with a new modem. He insists on leaving it on my porch. I spend the next two days glued to the internet connecting with friends and family near and far. I realize social isolation would have been so much harder before internet. A trusty friend asks me for my shopping list and gets the important things I forgot from my first list. Out of the blue, a young Bowenian mother emails me saying, “Are you on Bowen. I have been baking bread and would you like a loaf.” I quickly respond “yes.” That evening a delicious loaf arrives on my porch. Another lovely habit I have in the spring is to pick nettles, which I think of as a dietary cleanse. Unable to hitch to where the nettles are while the two-metre distance applies, I bemoan this to a very dear young man, whom I call my Bowen grandson. A few days later he calls and says, “There’s a bag of nettles on your porch.” SATURDAY, APRIL 18 at 10:00 AM As I talk to him in the living room, he says, “Well come to Keeping ourselves, our families and children the window then, I’m still outside.” We have a lovely conversation through the window. balanced in the time of COVID-19 I am not getting enough exercise, despite free exercise and dance programs on YouTube and Zoom. I seem to be eating Dr. Gayle Goldstein – Registered Psychologist up a storm and wonder if I will get plump, with so much sitDr. Stephen Kiraly – Psychiatrist ting at the computer. Maureen Mackey– Psychiatric Nurse On warm days I pick weeds in the garden and have discovered that young dandelion leaves and bittercress are really nutritious. I add them to the soups that I make almost every day, putting everything that has been stored into them -Virtual Q&A forum on the BIHCF Zoom channel* including dried beans that have been there for years. I am not planning to go off island unless I have to. After 24 • Computer: https://bit.ly/BIHCF-TH years here, I realize that this little piece of earth is very much part of my history. • Smartphone: Zoom Cloud Meeting app Bowen people who have partners and children here, how • Telephone: 778-907-2071 fortunate you are. I ponder when I can hug my friends again or even be close • Meeting ID: 635 941 026 enough to look them in the eyes. As I ride the waves with my emotions, I know that I can walk in the forest, get off trail • Password: 745472 and hug a few trees. I realize quarantine wasn’t too bad. Perhaps my little garEmail your questions in advance to den saved my sanity. Now even walking to my mailbox takes townhall@bowenhealthcentre.com on new meaning. At first it was a little strange going into the General Store You’ll be able to ask questions during the town hall or the Ruddy Potato. Listen in, bring your questions, and help our All in all I am constantly reminded how lucky we are to be living on this island. community come together at a difficult time Please everyone keep your social distances until we are SATURDAY at 10 AM out of the woods. I long for the days when we can get back to hugging. And Please arrive 5 minutes early please don’t come too near to that woman hugging a tree.
We truly appreciate the value of our forests and trails as a place to find solace and reprieve, perhaps now more than ever. We ask that you—our community of trail ambassadors and advocates— continue to use the trails safely and mindfully during these times. While our trails remain open, the public is reminded to maintain safe physical distances of at least two metres and choose low risk activities while using trails. And remember, the only thing you can catch from a smile is another smile. Let’s be kind and support each other out there.
Connect with us online @ bowenislandtrailsociety
Connie Wright Originals & Squirrel in the Cove We miss you! We’re available by appointment in person and virtually! We can deliver!
Call Caro at (604) 816-0830 • Call Connie at (604) 290-5313 Find us on facebook and instagram. squirrelonbowen • conniewrightoriginals Gift certificates available
Saturday, April 18, 10:00 AM
COVID-19 TOWN HALL
*Please be sure you have downloaded Zoom (at zoom.us) or the Zoom app to access the call
Are you keeping an isolation diary? Would you like to share a segment with the Undercurrent? Email editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com.
Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G1
info@bowenhealthcentre.com
Also hosted on the BOWEN ISLAND Health Centre Foundation Zoom channel Coping with anxiety and social isolation Therapeutic Q&A sessions with
Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt - Psychologist Doug Elliott -Counsellor WEDNESDAY, 8:30 AM APRIL 22, & 29 Computer: bit.ly/CopingwithAnxiety2 Smartphone: Zoom Cloud Meeting app Telephone: 778-907-2071 Meeting ID: 394 834 632 Password:
185226
www.bowenhealthcentre.com
10 • THURSDAY APRIL 16. 2020
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Appointments Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, 9am - 5pm ECG and HOLTER monitoring Artisan Square
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604-376-9801 www.CarolynNesbitt.com
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HOLISTIC COUNSELLING Brooke Evans, MSW, RSW 604-781-3987
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Thursday, April 16, 2020 • 11 LEN GILDAY
Inside the Actor’s Quarantine BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor
A night out on the town may be out of the question but a night at the theatre isn’t. Bowen’s Theatre on the Isle group (TOTI) is bringing islanders a different kind of stage. Every Monday evening at 7:30 p.m., the society is presenting “Inside the Actor’s Quarantine,” live readings of short plays over the video conferencing platform Zoom. Last week was The Real
PHOTO
Scarborough cherry blossoms .
Inspector Hound, this week was Alan Ayckbourn’s Mother Figure, a story of isolation and need for human connection (according to a quick Google search). What’s coming up? Check TOTI’s Facebook page for updates. It’s a tune-in or miss it event––they’re not publishing recordings of the readings. The Zoom access is posted every Monday at 7 p.m. on TOTI’s Facebook Page.If you miss this week’s, don’t worry, there’s always next week’s play.
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FICTION CORNER Editor’s note: the following the first in a series of segments from Island Pacific School student Hannah Florendo’s short story continuation of Peter Pan.
Gwennie goes to Neverland HANNAH FLORENDO
Contributor
Gwennie couldn’t sleep. She had felt someone watching her for the past half hour, but she knew the room was empty. She decided to do what she always did when she couldn’t sleep and climbed out of her bed to sit in the window seat and count the stars. As she tiptoed past her older brother’s bed, she could just make out the carved wooden bed end with his name in swirly letters—James––surrounded by fairies and magical beasts. In the top left corner there was an elf maiden held captive by a fearsome pirate, and across from her a boy with slightly pointed ears, a pixie, and a sword was speeding to her rescue. Peter Pan of Neverland. Gwennie smiled. Each Goldenstar child had one—her, James and little Annie-Marie who was only two. Ever since she could remember her parents had entertained her and her siblings with tales of the half-fae hero of the world where children never grow up. A
floor board beneath her feet twinged and creaked and James turned over in his sleep. Gwennie froze. She did not want to wake James and Annie, for she knew her parents would find out and be unhappy in the morning. Once she made it to the thick drapes that covered the window-seat, she pulled them back and gasped. A boy stood outside. He appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen and had tousled red hair, tanned skin, a green tunic, leather belt, brown leggings, surprised green eyes, and a knife in its sheath. A small gust of wind buffeted him and Gwennie almost shrieked. He wasn’t standing—he was floating. The wind had picked up some of his hair, and for an instant Gwennie had seen. Slightly pointed ears peeked out behind his curls. Gwennie cranked open the window. “I think you had better some in.” she said. To be continued...
BIM PHOTO
BIM closed Snug Cove Wharf to everyone except emergency vessels and those with long-term moorage agreements in COVID-19 prevention measure.
IDLC now looking for other solutions CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The offer was accepted on the condition that IDLC receive the necessary permitting. The project faced loud opposition from immediate neighbours of the former Union Steamship Company property but in-turn loud broader community support. The opposition camp noted safety issues for children walking along Melmore Rd., concern about an increase of traffic and noise in the neighbourhood, concern for property values, and took issue with the use of a temporary use permit rather than a rezoning application. It was the TUP that did it. A household that’s an immediate neighbour of Evergreen Hall hired a lawyer who sent a letter to BIM asserting that issuing a TUP would not be in compliance with the Local Government Act as the act says that TUPs may only be issued in designated areas and the island’s Official Community Plan doesn’t make an explicit designation. A staff report from Daniel Martin, manager of planning and development says that the lawyer may be right. “While Bowen’s OCP has been in place since adoption in 2010, and many temporary use permits have been issued in that period, there is no area designated for their use in the OCP,” said Martin. Council had previously deferred decision of whether or not to issue the TUP, looking for IDLC and the neighbourhood to come together and work out their differences. (They did not.) Most of council voiced reluctance to vote against the proposal but noted the ferocity of the opposition. “There is a blockade here, that’s not going to change,” said Mayor Gary Ander. Council rejected the TUP and DVP (Councillors Rob Wynen and David Hocking against) and asked staff to come forward with an amendment to the OCP that would once
again allow them to issue temporary use permits. There was another temporary use permit for a Miller Rd. building set to be considered Tuesday evening that was deferred. Martin clarified to the Undercurrent that the existing temporary use permits on Bowen (the cannabis shop and the antique car show) “are lawful unless and until a Court otherwise were to rule by setting them aside. If renewals of those two permits are being considered, any legal technicality will have been corrected.”
What comes next for IDLC? The Undercurrent checked in with IDLC’s founder and principal Allan Saugstad. “IDLC does not have any back up plans right now,” said Saugstad over email. “It has proved next to impossible to find a space suitable for us, even though all we need is a space with three large rooms. “One of those could even be a two-car garage!” Saugstad said in a phone conversation that at a bare bones minimum, IDLC could rent Collins’ Hall and have a class at someone’s house. “But it’s the idea is, what we love, of course, is when we’re all together.” “So at this point we’re pretty despondent that what we’ll end up having to do is kind of a makeshift [school]––it’ll be like camping–– until we find a permanent home,” he said. “It’s disheartening that during this process it became clear to the municipal council that IDLC is a truly valuable asset to our community, something every one of them attested to, yet they have been unable to give us any options or help.” Saugstad says he’s hoping someone in the community will be able to step up with a solution for IDLC.
Helping seniors stay safe. Be a part of it. Call 2-1-1 or visit bc211.ca Safe Seniors, Strong Communities is a new program that matches people who want to help seniors get the groceries and medications they need and stay socially connected through virtual visits with seniors in their local community. Funded by the government in partnership with bc211 and the Better at Home Program. If you can help, or if you need help call 2-1-1 or visit bc211.ca today.
www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca
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