Bowen Island Undercurrent May 14 2020 by Bowen Island Undercurrent

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SILVER LININGS EDITION : finding hope during a pandemic

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Thursday, May 14, 2020 • 1

BRINGING YOU THE LATEST INFORMATION This special COVID edition comes to you thanks to funding from the B.I. Community Foundation

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Dorman Pt. joins Crippen METRO VANCOUVER PARKS BUYS THE THREE-ACRE PROPERTY BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

LORRAINE ASHDOWN PHOTO

ICE CREAM WEATHER: Nubi and her horse Rayne stopped at Coco West on Friday for a hit of refreshment. A stretch

of warm, sunny weather saw many islanders out and about last week.

As the story goes, in the early 1900s Jacob Dorman sold Dorman Point for a cow and a fish net. “I’ve never been able to figure out if he physically traded it for a cow and a fish net or he bought a cow and a fish net with the proceeds,” says Dorman’s great-grandson and local conservationist Adam Taylor. Whatever the price, it was nothing compared to the $2.7 million Metro Vancouver Regional Parks recently paid to add the three-acre property to Crippen Regional Park. That being said for Taylor, the parks service and many Bowen Islanders the piece of land is worth the money. The response to the news, which hit Facebook last week, was “uniformly positive,” said Bowen Island Municipality councillor Maureen Nicholson, who sits on the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Committee. “Which is terrific to see,” she said. Dorman Point has long been of interest to Regional Parks said Mike Redpath, Director of Regional Parks for Metro Vancouver. “It’s a very prominent waterfront landmark at the entrance of Snug Cove. It offers great views East to the lions, to Cypress and Horseshoe Bay and even to Point Grey,” said Redpath. “It’s unique habitat for us in our park system––it has a rock bluff waterfront, outcrops with mosses and ferns and wild flowers and of course there’s a small beach there, which is rare for the region.” “The acquisition was very consistent with our mandate to protect and connect people to the region’s significant ecosystems and protected areas,” said Redpath. Also of interest is that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans set up new marine refuges in Howe Sound in 2019, including around Dorman Point, to protect glass sponge reefs. It’s reef, among other features of Dorman Point that has Taylor excited––the Dorman Point glass sponge reef is within municipal boundaries, 235 metres off the point. CONTINUED ON P. 9.

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2 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

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Event Calendar May 14 2020 2:00 pm

SHORT TERM RENTALS OPEN HOUSE To implement the Short Term Rental Policy #19-05, Council is now considering amendment bylaws for the Land Use Bylaw, Business Licensing Bylaw and the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw. Join the virtual open house to learn more, ask questions and have your say! You will need to register ahead of time - for more details go to:

May 25 2020 6:15 pm Regular Council Meeting Municipal Hall is closed to the public. All meetings are on Zoom and open to the public.

HAP-01-2020 (1314 Miller Rd)

Virtual Meeting Thursday, May 21, 2020 7:00 - 8:00 PM

Finance Advisory Committee Meeting

Seeking Public Comment

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/voh You may also email your questions and feedback to: echow@bimbc.ca

Get help with Business Navigators

Regular Council Meeting 6:15 PM on Tuesday, May 25, 2020 Virtual Meeting PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

A Heritage Alteration Permit application has been submitted for 1314 Miller Road (shown on map) to vary the lot coverage and protect a heritage structure. The application is to extend an existing primary residence by 8.25 sq m (88.84 sq ft) and extend roof overhangs of an accessory building by 18.32 sq m (197.29 sq ft) which would increase the existing nonconforming building lot coverage to 1,063.02 sq m (5.9% of the lot size), while also protecting an existing heritage structure and providing public signage and views of the heritage structure.

Have questions about what ﬁnancial support programs are available to you? Unclear about your business options? Wondering what ‘open for business’ means now? Generously funded by the Bowen Island Community Foundation, the BIM Community Economic Development Committee is offering free, one-to-one consultations to local businesses to help navigate the wide range of government and community resources available during COVID-19.

STAY HOME

WASH YOUR HANDS

Right now, more than ever, as a small business owner, you need to make the best possible decisions to get you through this difﬁcult period. Get help today through the new Community Economic Sustainability Assistance Project.

Free FireSmart Workshop We are offering FREE virtual workshops to get Bowen Island residents familiar with and participating in the FireSmart program. Join us to learn what you can do to make your home and your island more resilient to wildﬁres. There’s lots of time for Q&A, so bring your questions!

Online via Zoom Meeting ID: 817 3544 7419 Password: 843282 Learn more about FireSmart:

Phone: Fax: Email:

Bowen Island Municipal Hall 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2

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

By letter to the mail drop-off box at municipal hall By mail to 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 By email to bim@bimbc.ca At the virtual meeting

To ensure a fair process, submissions cannot be accepted after the meeting has ended.

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ﬁre-smart

or contact Jennifer Pierce at jpierce@bimbc.ca for information on how to obtain a paper copy of the applications.

• • • •

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

General Enquiries

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/planning

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME:

FREE Virtual FireSmart Workshop with Bruce Blackwell

STAY 6 FEET APART

MORE INFORMATION AT MUNICIPAL HALL: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Municipal Hall is currently closed to the public. The applications may be viewed on the Municipal website at

Questions? Please contact Jennifer Rae Pierce, jpierce@bimbc.ca

Find us on Facebook CLOSED to the public until further notice May 14, 2020

Bowen Island Municipality

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Stop the spread of COVID-19

Business Navigators are now available to help our local economy thrive in a “new normal”. Schedule an appointment to speak to a Navigator for help and advice by emailing bowenbusinessnavigator@gmail.com with your questions.

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This edition brought to you in part by the B.I. Community Foundation

Thursday, May 14, 2020 • 3

Honour system flowers during COVID

Food available 24/7 at food bank

HOW ONE BOWEN BUSINESS KEPT THE DOORS OPEN WHILE KEEPING DISTANT

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Those entering the antechamber of the Bowen Island United Church will once again find food sitting on the wooden shelves. The Bowen Island Food Bank is changing up how it distributes food again. Organizers are putting out pre-filled bags of non-perishable food in the church lobby for islanders to pick up anonymously and as they need it. A list of contents accompanies each bag. The food bank is asking that patrons take the entire bag and not leave anything behind. “People using this new system must be prepared to follow instructions and take a whole bag unopened––repeat, unopened,” Clarke said in an email. The Wednesday and Saturday pickups or deliveries that came into effect as a COVID-prevention measure are continuing. One can request food (non-perishable, perishable or frozen) by filling the form in the foyer of the church or by calling Sue Clarke at 2364. Those requesting food are to note the number of people to feed, any allergies and a means of contact. When it comes to usage, the food bank has seen an overall decline. “We have seen a slight increase in new users due to job losses but a big decline overall,” said Clarke in an email. “So hoping this might help people who want to protect their anonymity.”

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Often these days, when islanders see Caroline Walker, a stricken look will come over their faces and they’ll start apologizing profusely. They’ll have forgotten to pay for their plants or flowers. When COVID hit, the Walker family was left wondering how to continue their Bowen Island Flower Shop business with physical distancing measures in the 500 square foot shop. One of their main sources of income, wedding season, disappeared and their other major source of income, nursery season, was underway. After running through their options, they landed on a very Bowen solution: the honour system. Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day, the door to the shop yard is unlocked and people can go in, two at a time, pick out what they want, bring it home and email a photo to the shop so that Walker or her daughter can invoice them. Throughout her 14 years running the shop, Walker has let trusted customers let themselves into the shop if they really needed something after hours––her worst fear was someone leaving the gate open so the deer could get in––but never on this scale. “We knew that we were taking somewhat of financial risk anyway because to stock the nursery costs us an arm and a leg,” said Walker. “Maybe nobody would come. Maybe people weren’t going to be as ethical as we hoped they would be. There were just so many little questions.”

BOWEN ISLAND FLOWER SHOP / FACEBOOK PHOTO

The Bowen Island Flower Shop’s courtyard is full of product for islanders to peruse and purchase. “In the end, we just said, let’s just give it a go and take a chance,” she said. “If we don’t do anything…we have lost it. And if we do take a chance and it works, then we get stay afloat.” And it worked. “Within, I would say two days of actually opening up the honor system and people realizing that we were still functioning in this way, people started coming and they’ve been super respectful.” Walker said that they also lucked out as they’d just made the shop’s website into an e-commerce site so people can also order online. But keeping the shop open also means an

Community Grants Bowen Island Municipality has a grants program to help fund not-for-proﬁt organizations that propose, through projects and/ or programs, to improve the well-being of the Bowen Island community as a whole. Grants are funded from the Municipality’s annual operating budget. 2020 Application deadline is 5:00 PM on Sunday, May 17, 2020

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/grants-for-the-community

2020 Property Tax

STOP

enormous amount of work––invoicing, pick-ups, deliveries, going to town. “What we could do with one and a half people before, we now need four people to do logistically,” said Walker. Before COVID hit, Walker had been winding down her work hours, heading into semi-retirement with her daughter Devon taking over the business. She’d been planning to travel to Greece for a retirement trip. Instead, she and her family are working seven days a week to keep the shop going. Walker said that another reason to keep the store open in some form was to support the growers so that those businesses in turn could stay afloat––though some folded in the early days of the pandemic as they didn’t have the staff to look after the product. But the suppliers pose another problem. Where once Walker could place an order and get 99 per cent of what she ordered, now she’s finding they’ve done well if they get 35 per cent of what they ordered. In that case, they’re scrambling, driving around to the little businesses in places like Langley, Abbotsford, Aldergrove and Chilliwack for supplies. “It’s a six hour return trip to go and get the product, plus the ferry, plus the gas. We can’t go in and then come back half empty. So we have to make it work,” she said. As for the people who’ve forgotten to pay, they usually remember. “I think anybody who hasn’t paid…it’s not been because they are trying to get away without paying. It’s because they just genuinely have forgotten,” said Walker. “And eventually, the majority of them will remember.” “We’re feeling incredibly grateful that we live in a community that we can actually keep going this way because I don’t think we could do this anywhere else,” she said.

COVID-19

Now is not the time to travel for tourism or recreation. Non-essential travel increases the risk of spreading COVID-19 in our community. This long weekend, please stay close to home and avoid all non-essential travel.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Property tax notices will be mailed the last week of May, 2020. Property tax payments and home owner grants are due July 2, 2020. Due to COVID-19, Council has amended the penalty schedule on late payments. A penalty of 2% will be applied on July 3, 2020 to any unpaid taxes, and a further penalty of 8% will be applied on September 1, 2020 to any unpaid taxes. https://www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-taxes

General Enquiries

Phone: Fax: Email:

Bowen Island Municipal Hall 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2

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

Find us on Facebook CLOSED to the public until further notice

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4 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

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This edition brought to you in part by the B.I. Community Foundation

VIEWPOINT

EDITORIAL

Slivers of silver For the second time during this pandemic, the Undercurrent is being delivered to your mailbox (thank you postal workers!) The Community Foundation’s Resiliency Fund is funding the island-wide distribution of this paper to share local COVID information and they’re funding another in June. If there’s information you’d like to see included in the next COVID edition, please do let me know. Our thanks to the Community Foundation for making this initiative possible. On the topic of COVID, the island is in a holding pattern this week as we wait for the long weekend to pass and phase two of the province’s reopening strategy to start. While this week looks quite similar to the many before it, next week could be entirely different. I’ll be revamping our online “what’s open and what’s closed” story on our homepage (bowenislandundercurrent.com) as businesses announce how they’ll move forward. But this is also our silver linings edition (credit goes to my dad for calling me up with the idea). I had several conversations about this edition where people said something along the lines of “but you want happy stories!” I don’t think there’s a single story in this edition that’s not at least tinged with sadness or loss (even muni morsels). There’s a pall over the island that has yet to lift, even as we take extra-long walks in this beautiful spring weather. It’s in the hope that we find the silver linings. I think of the marine atlas, which ,though not COVID-related, addresses humanity’s other great emergency. The atlas roots itself not in what’s gone but what’s still here. I can’t imagine being one of the business navigators––managing your own life while taking on the problems of the small businesses that make up much of the heart and economy of the island. But they too are rolling up their sleeves. Times are uncertain––we wait to see what happens when restrictions lighten, how businesses manage the new reality, if we’ll get to see our friends this summer––but right now I feel a bit like I do when I’m coming out of a bad cold. Like I never quite realized how awful I felt until I was feeling just a little better. — Bronwyn Beairsto Editor

OPINIONEDITORIAL

Our B.C. testing strategy for COVID-19: adapting to our pandemic DR. BONNIE HENRY

Provincial Health Officer

Testing for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases is a core tenet of public health. It tells us the what, who and where of disease transmission, but we need to understand the limitations of testing to do this right. Many have asked and many continue to ask about who is getting tested for COVID-19 in B.C. and why we don’t just “test, test, test everyone.” What I can tell you is we adapted our testing approach as we learned more about the virus and the test, and as more tests became available, and we will continue to adapt as we progress through our pandemic response. Scientists at the BC Centre for Disease Control were some of the first in the world to develop a COVID-19 test - the “what” in our testing strategy. This test detects the genetic material of the virus in a sample (usually a swab taken from the back of the nose) from someone who is sick. It is used across Canada and around the world to determine if someone is infected. Initially, B.C.’s testing strategy was based on identifying the source of transmission to understand who was getting and spreading the virus to guide our response. That’s why we first focused on returning travellers, in combination with leveraging our annual

active influenza surveillance testing. This allowed us to put in place the necessary precautions, orders and restrictions we have today. As the pandemic progressed in B.C. and we had evidence of community transmission, we adapted our testing strategy to focus on those most vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19. We did this because we knew the “where” of transmission was now potentially “everywhere.” We also knew that many people with mild illness don’t need tests and can safely self-isolate and recover at home. So, we concentrated on the sickest patients, health-care workers, those in long-term care homes and those connected to an outbreak. This gave us an understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on hospitals and care homes. Of course, testing is not the only public health strategy. Step in step with testing is the contact tracing that our public health teams always do and will continue to do as we transition to Phase 2 in BC’s Restart Plan. This is vital to setting up a firewall around every case and breaking the chains of transmission. As our rate of new cases slowed into mid-April, we adapted our strategy again to broader community testing. This means anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 can now be tested. It’s still important to remember not everybody needs a test and the tests we have are not perfect.

If someone tests negative, it may mean they are too early in the illness for the test to detect it yet a false negative. When we have a small number of people who actually have COVID-19 in the population, the number of false positives can also be very high. That means we are telling people they are infected and maybe immune to COVID-19 when they aren’t. What’s next? Soon we will introduce a “serology” test that can tell us if someone has been infected with COVID-19 in the past and has developed antibodies to the virus. Once the serology test has been validated for accuracy, the test results will be used to get a better sense of where the virus has been and how to further prevent its spread as we move into the next phase of our pandemic. Understanding the limitations of the tests, our strategy has never been about just testing everyone, but rather using the tests we have to understand who is or has been infected, so we can best protect our families, health-care system and communities. Our strategy is working, even as we develop it further to meet our evolving needs. It is adapted to our pandemic experience that is helping all of us to hold the line and get through this storm. It will continue to support us as we move through the next phases of this challenging pandemic. Editor’s note: this was released to media May 12.

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 mail it to #102, 495 Government Rd., PO Box 130, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 or email editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com.

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.

#102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0 Phone: 604.947.2442 bowenislandundercurrent.com DEADLINE for all advertising and editorial: Tuesday, 4 p.m. Bowen Island Undercurrent Subscription Rates: Mailed 1 year subscription on Bowen Island: $55, including GST. Within Canada: $85 including GST

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National NewsMedia Council.

EDITOR BronwynBeairsto editor@bowenisland undercurrent.com

ADVERTISING Tracey Wait ads@bowenisland undercurrent.com

CARTOONIST Ron Woodall

PUBLISHER Peter Kvarnstrom publisher@bowenisland undercurrent.com

2011 CCNA

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2011

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.

This edition brought to you in part by the B.I. Community Foundation

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OPINION

Woodfibre doesn’t align with climate emergency ANTON VAN WALRAVEN

Contributor

Just yesterday at the dinner table, one of my family members brought up they had watched a climate change documentary and that it was “pretty depressing.” How to react? How do you respond as a 55+ year old human being whose generation is dominant in political power everywhere, and therefore, in a unique position - never before in human and earth’s history - to change course? Opting for encouragement, I responded: “Yes, it is depressing but we have a chance to keep climate change from becoming catastrophic by staying at 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming” to add, “What I personally also find very depressing is our provincial and federal governments still supporting the building of new fossil fuel plants, when they should only be approving and supporting renewable energy projects.” For once, we all agreed. The response of our municipal council has been to adopt a climate emergency and a climate action strategy. That is leadership! Thank you! With that strategy in place, the following matter was brought to council’s attention. Coming October 26, it will be five years since the company Woodfibre LNG received a Provincial approval for its proposed LNG fossil fuel processing and export plant here in Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound. The approval came in the form of a environmental assessment certificate, valid for five years. When a project has not “substantially started,” the proponent will need a certifiecate extension to continue. The company -points at delays but most of them are self-ino e . y d s l s d r n d t d f t h

flicted wounds. For the initially proposed Many governments have declared climate and since cancelled seawater cooling sys- emergencies last year. tem, the company refused to listen to local What the current COVID-19 emergency knowledge about herring spawn around the is showing us that governments have a lot Woodfibre Site. Currently the company is of power born out of their legal responsitrying to amend the certifbility to protect the safety of their icate again for a latest procitizens. Not applying this standard “What the posed temporary accomof due care to a climate change modation idea for the emergency by not taking timely current COVIDworkers needed during and sufficient preemptive action, construction. Again 19 emergency is is already creating hazardous situit ignored what it had ations resulting in injury and damshowing us that age. Not applying this standard of found: in 2015 Squamish already had a very low care is not only irresponsible, governments have due rental vacancy rate. Still, it is unlawful, but the federal and the company has recent- a lot of power born B.C. governments continue to look ly submitted a request to the other way supporting new fossil out of their legal fuel projects. the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EA Raises the question: how far are responsibility to Office). governments willing to go sell out Note that all of the protect the safety its citizens and next generations to delays were caused by win a next election? Both B.C. NDP the issues the EA Office of their citizens.” and B.C. Liberals received large should have required amounts of money in political condifferent solutions for –Anton van Walraven tributions from Woodfibre LNG. in 2015, it didn’t, and… And again the company was done couldn’t. The EA Office is a political favour: the extension a political instrument and the then gov- request was accepted although it was two ernment had decided the project had to go months late for the required nine-months through, no matter what. deadline. And so we have seen a barrage of arguAt one point, every government crosses a ments come by since why this LNG project line pushing their luck. Come 2021, here in should go ahead: it is a “transition fuel,” it our riding, we will see if the growing number is “clean,” it will help with air pollution in of young voters who want a livable future for China, it is too small to have an effect on cli- their children are going to stomach this fossil mate change, and it is a future provincial rev- attitude, or not. enue source (which is a curious claim seeing By the way, I had expected that the the amount of subsidies and tax exemption EA Office had already informed Bowen the LNG industry has been granted). None Municipal Council about Woodfibre LNG of the arguments has held up as the predict- extension request, as the Municipality took ed effects of climate change have become part in the technical working group for the reality and progressively more dangerous. project. Turns out it, the EA Office never did.

Thursday, May 14, 2020 • 5

Recognizing our essential and front-line workers

The third in a series of five people who will receive $100 in recognition of their essential work during the pandemic is Jenny Lee of Bowen Pet Supply

A few weeks ago we announced that an anonymous donor came forward with a proposition to recognize some of Bowen’s front-line and essential service workers. The idea is that people nominate those who are in the public sphere, continuing to do their jobs to keep our society functioning during the pandemic. Once a week for a total of five weeks (we’re on week three now) we’re drawing at name at random. This person will receive $100 to recognize their service to the community and society. (This money is coming from the donor, not the Undercurrent!) So far, we’ve received 82 nominations, but it’s not too late! There are two more weeks of this, so please send in your nominees to editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com. This week’s recognized person is Jenny Lee of Bowen Pet Supply. Thank you for your work Jenny! Bronwyn Beairsto, editor

UNDERCURRENT PHOTO

Chris Leigh of Leigh Automotive was recognized last week for his work during the pandemic.

We’re almost there but we need your help to get over the top. Please, give like your health depends on it, because it does!

DONATE NOW!

bowenhealthcentre.com/pledge-now/ info@bowenhealthcentre.com Bill Brown: 604-947-9012 Colleen O’Neil: 604-947-0232

Thanks to the generosity of your fellow Islanders, we’ve raised $4.2 million towards building a community health centre to improve your health security on Bowen. We still have $1.3 million to raise to reach $5.5 million and trigger a $500,000 challenge pledge to take us to our goal! It’s time for EVERYONE to donate what you can to bring healthcare close to home!

6 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

bowenislandundercurrent.com

This edition brought to you in part by the B.I. Community Foundation

ISLAND NEWS

Canada Day, Bowfest go virtual

BIM is reminding everyone to avoid non-essential travel SOPHIE IDSINGA

Bowen Island Municipality

With the long weekend approaching and warm weather in the forecast, Bowen Island Municipality is reminding people who want to visit Bowen Island that now is not the time. We are asking you to stay close to home and avoid non-essential travel such as for tourism and recreation. We also suggest islanders continue to limit community interactions and refrain from extending invitations to visitors. Like many other small communities, Bowen Island has extremely limited resources to serve our citi-

zens. Our local businesses and services have scaled down operation to serve our essential needs, in order to protect the personal health and safety of the citizens of our small community. We rely on our small businesses to support our residents, and they do not have the resources to support high volumes of visitors at this difficult time. As the province starts to reopen gradually, Bowen Island Municipality reminds visitors to stay close to home, and continue physical distancing and other measures a little bit longer. The Provincial Health Officer’s

recommendation to avoid non-essential travel still stands, and BC Ferries continues to advise against non-essential travel. “I know the temptation to celebrate and visit with friends and family is strong at this time of year,” said Mayor Gary Ander, “but we have to remain committed to keeping a safe physical distance from each other and keeping our social bubble small. This long weekend, we need to keep holding the line. Please stay close to home and avoid non-essential travel.” We hope you will make plans to visit us when our community is ready to host you again.

RCMP update: 37 calls for service in April CPL. ADAM KOEHLE

check the well being of friends or relatives.

Bowen Island RCMP

The Bowen Island RCMP responded to 37 calls for service in April of 2020: • 1 of those files was an abandoned sailboat found floating near Finisterre Island; • 1 of those files was a motorcycle collision that resulted in a fire; • 2 of those files were hang-up 911 calls; • 3 of those file were requests for the police to

During the current firearms amnesty, the Bowen Island RCMP would like to remind people NOT to turn in firearms at the detachment. If you have a firearm to relinquish, please call the non-emergency line, 604-9470516 and you will be given instructions on how to safely surrender your firearm. We will greet you in a very different manner if you arrive at the detachment holding a firearm than if you call ahead and arrange to have it picked up.

When July 1 and the last Saturday in August roll around, Bowfest field won’t see its usual crowds of islanders but that doesn’t mean Bowen’s staple summer events are cancelled outright––they’re just going to look a bit different. Canada Day and Bowfest are going virtual. For Canada Day, B.I. Community Recreation is working with Paul Whitecotton, video editor Annabelle Coon and local band Black Molly to bring celebrations into islanders’ homes, Bowen Island Municipality announced this week. Canada Day is usually a two-hour event with a live band or DJ, games for kids, food, crafts, face-painting, a community art project, reptiles, RCMP and Community Paramedic visits and the traditional “waterfall” from the fire department, said the release. Further Canada Day details will be in the Undercurrent and on the B.I. Community Recreation Facebook page. As for Bowfest, while the parade is on hold, the fun isn’t. Set for August 29, the Bowfest Organizing Committee says to “be ready to take part in some fun activities, contests and concerts in the safety of your own home, implementing physical distancing with any-

one who may not be part of your household.” “Bowfest would like to thank all the sponsors, partners, businesses, bands, organizations and participants who help make Bowfest such a wonderful, memorable, creative and heart-warming experience each year,” said a press release from the organization. “Bowen Island is an amazing community to be part of and coming together to celebrate is always a good time. “This year will be different and the Bowfest Organizing Committee hopes to keep the dream alive with some creative and fun opportunities for Bowen Islanders to express ourselves, stay connected (yet physically distanced) and make some great memories!” Updates on Bowfest plans will be shared through the Undercurrent and the Bowfest Facebook and Instagram pages. “If you have any ideas, want to be part of the organizing excitement or are just too impatient to wait to hear about all the fun, please feel free to email bowfestonbow-V en@gmail.com and someone will get back to you soon(ish) - Island time,” said the press release. Summer events that’ve been cancelled this year due to COVID include the Bowen Island Logger Sports Show and Dock Dance. A

We Miss You

Patient of the Week RIGGERS This very handsome boy looks very pleased with his fancy sparkly bandage. He came to Bowen Vet with a cut on his paw. He was an amazing patient and stayed still to allow us to clean his cut and bandage it all up. With a couple weeks of reduced exercise and staying out of the rain, he will be as good as new.

COVID HOURS:

Open - Tues, Thurs, Friday 9-5 and Saturdays 9-1 Closed - Wednesdays (except for food and prescription pick up) Closed - every other Saturday

To schedule appointments, please call

604.947.9247

or email reception@bowenvet.com

Paddleboards are standing by and kayaks are all lined up, ready for tours and overnight trips. By now, half a dozen teens would be on the dock - a first job for some or the ‘best job yet’ for others. Visitors from around the world would be booking online for kayak adventures along Bowen Island’s shore.

Be well. When it’s safe again, we will be here. Gift Certificates never expire and we are taking online bookings for dates after June 1, 2020. Optimistically yours, Brent O’Malley, Bowen Island Sea Kayaking

www.bowenislandkayaking.com

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MUNI MORSELS

Tax late penalty reduced, Cove sewage at capacity and revisiting Woodfibre BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor

The following are briefs from the May 11 regular council meeting: Taxes: While property taxes are still due July 2, islanders who will have difficulty paying will get a bit of a break. Council voted unanimously to reduce the property tax late penalty from 5 per cent to 2 per cent for those who pay after July 2 but before (or on) Aug. 31. The province announced back in April that it was giving commercial properties, classes 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, until Oct. 1 to pay their taxes without a late fee, so this bylaw will only affect resident class and farm class taxes. Last month BIM set the property tax increase at 4.7 per cent, a reduction from the previously proposed 7.6 per cent increase in light of the economic implications of COVID-19. The Islands Trust too adjusted its budget due to COVID-19––Bowen’s requistion dropped eight per cent (it had been set to drop five per cent). Morse clarified that islanders still need to file homeowner grant applications and deferral forms on time. Chief Financial Officer Raj Hayre said that he was aligning this move with other Metro Vancouver municipalities’ measures. Woodfibre: Woodfibre LNG is requesting a one-time extension of its provincial environmental assessment certificate (to expire Oct. 26) for its planned liquid natural gas export facility. The provincial Environmental Assessment Office invited Bonny Brokenshire, BIM’s manager of environment and former member of the Woodfibre working group, to review the application. BIM is asking for an extension on commenting on the application as it received the invitation late. (Brokenshire said it wasn’t until she caught that the technical working group was reconvening and inquired after it that she was invited to join officially on May 2. The province received the extension application March 24. A presentation from a My Sea to Sky representative earlier in the evening said that several other municipalities had been omitted from the invitation to comment.) While council voted to ask for the extension it also asked for Brokenshire to come back at the May 25 regular meeting with more detail so that she could incorporate council feedback into her review. Brokenshire said she only comments in her areas of expertise––more the biophysical aspects––and in terms of making sure that what proponents are asking is rational and reasonable.

Brokenshire’s report said that in 2015, after the province approved Woodfibre LNG, council expressed concern through resolution “that this project lacks adequate safeguards and represents a step toward the re-industrialization of Howe Sound.” It’s a 2020 thing: It seems even Bowen’s sewer system has had enough of this poop. Council is delaying plans for a comprehensive review of the properties designated village residential on Miller Rd. as the new director of engineering has found the Snug Cove Sewer System cannot accept additional density. “We know that we’re at or near capacity,” said interim chief administrative officer Dennis Back. Back said that Urban Systems is studying the system and is expected to come back in July with an analysis of whether or not there’s a problem and remedying options. Back said that the consultants are looking at short-term and long-term solutions. “We’re in a bit of a holding pattern until they do their further work and we get their report,” he said.

Bowen’s bus returns

TransLink confirmed last Friday evening that Bowen’s bus service––both weekday and weekend––is restored as of May 11. TransLink had announced earlier that day

Thursday, May 14, 2020 • 7

that it was rescinding previously announced layoffs and service reductions following news of the province’s restart plan.

Legion sponsoring Bowen talent show LYNNE ROEDDE HARTLE

Bowen Island Legion

Can you sing, dance, juggle, do magic tricks or do you have some other fun talent? Starting 7 p.m. Wednesday,May 20 and then every Wednesday until June 10, we will be taping your five-minute routine at the Legion or you can email us a video and short bio by Wednesday at 9 p.m. All contestants’ videos will be posted on the following Thursday and every week there-

Temporarily not allowed: Temporary Use Permits are (probably temporarily) on hold while the municipality looks to amend the island’s Official Community Plan to allow TUPs once again. Temporary use permits allow uses not normally allowed an area’s zoning. While BIM has long issued TUPs, recently residents pointed out when Island Discovery Learning Community applied for a TUP to set up in Deep Bay, that BIM doesn’t have a designated area for TUPs as required under the Local Government Act. While previous TUPs stand, BIM isn’t issuing new ones until this is sorted out. Mayor and council unanimously agreed that it plans to designate the entire island as an area in which TUPs may be issued but sent the matter out for comment from Islands Trust and the Advisory Planning Commission before a bylaw is drafted. A staff report from the manager of planning and development, Daniel Martin, said that designating the entire island is, to his belief, keeping in line with the intent of the 2011 OCP. Transiting: While council had been set to consider granting up to $15,000 for Bowen Island Transportation Society’s operation of an alternative bus service on Bowen, TransLink’s decision to return Bowen’s public bus service lightened the financial load. The society ran its on-island bus for only a week with an estimated expenditure of just over $2,600. TransLink ended Bowen’s bus service on May 2 as a cost-saving measure but returned it May 11 after discussions with the province.

after. The contest will run for four weeks with the grand finale June 10. There are no knock outs and this requires a minimum of six participants, so dare your friends and family to be the 2020 COVID Idol! No group entries are allowed unless you’re of the same bubble. Social distancing will be strictly followed at tapings: no audience, only one support person allowed to accompany performer. Please contact me for information, to book your time for a Wednesday taping or with your video and bio: rcl150info@gmail.com

Welcome back beloved Customers to another season of delicious harvest from Home Farm This year, due to social distancing, we will park our big red truck, Allison, on the road in front of the Bics Parking Lot on Saturdays between 9 and 11 - Please pull into the lot and we will have your previously placed order ready for you - This is also the time for our CSA Customers to pick up their weekly box of Produce As well, this year, we are adding a Mid Week food pickup - This will be at the top of the driveway to the Farm - 1461 Mt. Gardner Road - Your order will be waiting there for you on the Farm Table and will be very clearly marked To place an order please visit out Facebook page @ Home Farm Gardens Ltd. So - a lot of explaining but really this is as simple as - Go online Order your food for Wednesday or Saturday pickup - Drive up - Pickup your order - We wave and smile - You wave and smile - and we are all Safe and Happy! For a complete list of what we have on offer down here @ the Farm please visit us on Facebook @ Home Farm Gardens Ltd. We have lots of Eggs this year with 90 new hens joining our happy flock and our usual Pork Breakfast Sausages and Lamb Sausages - This year Chef Abby and Chef Justice will be creating delicious jams, cordials, breads and broths with ingredients from our Farm - Look to our Facebook page for updates From all of us @ Home Farm all the best to you and yours and Thank you for supporting your Local Farmers “Stay Calm, Be Brave, Wait for the Signs”

An Island run business for over 10 years

POSITIVELY HERE FOR YOU STRENGTH, CORE, & FLEXIBILITY Outdoor & Zoomed

PANDEMIC RESILIENT GROUP & PERSONALIZED COACHING When You Need It Most positivelyfit.ca

(604) 947-9601

8 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

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ISLAND NEWS

Navigators helping Bowen businesses BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

on Bowen Island

Reopening safely May 19. A global nomad's destination for unique fashion, tribal textiles, & ethnographic art. Until then contact Gail to shop 604-833-6893

MAISON SANSKAR IS ISLAND COMFORT

what are

2021

your ideas?

BCBUDGET CO N S U LTAT I O N Speak at a public hearing

Interpretative services are available.

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

The COVID resources can seem endless––the lists of government programs and help sites are everywhere. To help Bowen businesses cut through all the information and access provincial and federal grants, subsidies, loans and other programs, are Bowen’s brand new business navigators–– Rod Marsh and Vaune Kolber. Marsh and Kolber, both local business people, are respectively chair and vice-chair of the municipal Community Economic Development Committee (CEDC). Since the effects of the pandemic hit Bowen’s shores, the CEDC has held weekly business meetups to share information, check in with local businesses and discuss their challenges and adaptations. “But we thought the one thing that was maybe missing was a one on one opportunity for business owners to speak to somebody,” said Kolber. So they applied for and received funding from the Bowen Island Community Foundation’s Resiliency Fund for a onemonth pilot program. Business owners, who may not have been comfortable sharing their information or situation in the larger group chats, can speak to the navigators confidentially and for free, said Kolber. The service is open to any local business, down to the single-person contractors. Kolber has dealt with two businesses in the navigator capacity so far. “The businesses that I’ve been talking to have been aware of most of the things but not all of the resources and then also not sure about which ones to go to,” she said. “So I think that actually it’s been very useful.” Kolber and Marsh are also using this opportunity to gather information on where businesses are at and what other services they could benefit from. Ideas range from business mentorship to marketing strategies in the new reality to helping people pivot their businesses to offering help understanding financial models. These sorts of services would require hiring people with extensive business experience said Kolber, so part of the goal of this one-month pilot is to see if there is a need and what it might look like. “We’re also talking about in general what they’re feeling around reopening,” said Kolber. “With the government basical-

ly saying that it’s a soft opening as early as the middle of May [phase two of the provincial restart plan], now there’s some real hesitancy.” “There’s a lot of responsibility for businesses to ensure that their workers and their customers are safe,” said Kolber “And so there’s a lot of thinking through that ––Am I going to open? How am I going to open? Is it going to be full time, part time, how am I going to do this? At the same time, how long can I last without having customers?” Physical distancing requirements and the potential for fewer customers when they do open are of concern too said Kolber. “And also uncertainty about how it’s going to work with tourists coming to the island and how it’s all going to be managed,” she said. Kolber said some businesses are even considering whether they should even continue their businesses. “It’s going to be very interesting times coming up in this next month,” she said. Islanders can get in contact with Kolber and Marsh at bowenbusinessnavigator@gmail.com.

GOSLING SEASON: Jewal Maxwell sent in this snap of her son watching goslings on the Causeway.

HONOUR SYSTEM IS IN EFFECT 10-5 daily. And THANK YOU BOWEN FOR BEING SO AMAZING THAT WE CAN DO THIS HERE! 604-947-2278 bowenislandflowershop@shaw.ca

The Watering Can offers sustainable products and refills, with an emphasis on Canadian companies. All of our household and personal products are made of natural ingredients, are biodegradable, and are produced without any animal testing.

ONLINE SHOP at thewateringcansupply.com FREE PICKUP FOR ISLANDERS

Additional participation options will be available in June. For full details or to register visit our website or call the Parliamentary Committees Office.

EMERGENCY TACO KITS & EARNEST ICE CREAM DOUBLE PINTS We’ve created taco kits that are all prepped and ready to go - you’ll just need to warm the fresh corn tortillas, heat the already cooked portioned protein, add the toppings and enjoy! WE ALSO HAVE DOUBLE PINTS OF EARNEST ICE CREAM!

Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services

bcleg.ca/FGSbudget Toll-free in BC 1.877.428.8337

We will be delivering to your doorstep - no pickups - to maintain social distancing. We’re taking orders for delivery every Tuesday & Friday. Deadline for orders is MIDNIGHT the day BEFORE delivery. Deliveries will start leaving Branch at 4:00pm ORDER ONLINE @ WWW.BRANCHONBOWEN.COM

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Dorman Point not ready for public access: Metro

CONTINUED FROM P.1

Taylor sees the potential for educational and conservation activities, depending on Metro’s interest. “A webcam would be an amazing piece of educational outreach, both something nearer to shore like just a typical rocky reef habitat [or] if there was a way to run a cable out onto the sponge reef itself,” said Taylor. “It would be pretty special.” “It’s a great opportunity and it’s a fabulous property,” said Taylor. Regional Parks bought the property as part of its land acquisition strategy. Nicholson said that boosting the land acquisition budget has been a focus of the Regional Parks Committee of late. “Over the past two years or so, we worked towards and committee was successful in convincing the [Metro Vancouver] board that it would be a good thing,” said Nicholson. “The usage of the regional parks is growing exponentially,” said Nicholson. “I think as more and more people in the region live in smaller homes with limited outdoor space, so the importance of the parks gets greater.” The annual land acquisition fund is $11 million and it’s Regional Parks’ practice to pay market rate for properties Redpath told the Undercurrent. Part of the acquisition process was looking for potential park land that was extraordinary or filled a gap in the park inventory, said Nicholson. “Dorman point was both extraordinary and filled a gap.” Nicholson also noted that there was concern that if the Crippen-adjacent property was sold privately, public access to the area would be lost. But if islanders were planning a hike to the new public space, they’ll be met with disappointment. Dorman Point isn’t ready for public access said Redpath and the property is currently fenced off. “We’re working on a management plan to create safe public access to the site,” said Redpath. “We decided to secure it right now, the former owner had some structures on the site that need to be cleaned up.” While there’s no deadline as to when the point will be publicly accessible, Redpath said Regional Parks is committed to having public access and hope to be working on construction of the trail later in the summer.

Thursday, May 14, 2020 • 9

mer or maybe look a bit like It's beginning to sound a bit like Sum trictions being lifted we Summer. With the recent Covid19 res ard opening our patios. have decided to go very cautiously tow out by the BC Restaurant We will be following the guidelines laid eprint for opening in and Food services Associations "Blu first official day of new restaurant dining". June 1st will be the please visit our website for hours and new patio dining options, details. tinue to offer take-out Between now and June 1st we will con s and market days on menu and pastries from Artisan Eat continue to offer takeout Saturday and Sundays. The Snug will June 1st. Tuscany will sandwiches, pastries and drinks till day to Saturday Our team continue to do take out Pizza Wednes encouragement received deeply appreciates the support and en Island. from this amazing community of Bow THANK YOU BOWEN

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSIE

Ellie the miniature donkey was 29 when she died at Endswell Farm last month. Ellie was the matriarch of her little donkey crew and has been a favourite of island children for decades.

IntroducIng: the alderwood Farm Food apothecary

Ellie of Endswell dies ROSIE MONTGOMERY

Home Farm

It is with great sadness and deep affection that we at the Farm announce that our little Ellie the miniature donkey born Aug. 15, 1990, has crossed the Rainbow Bridge to be with those who loved her best and have gone before, both human and equine. She died April 7. Ellie aka Wagons West Elliott was purchased by Buck and Nicolette McIntosh from the Elliott’s Donkey Farm, owned by Gordon and Pat Elliott. The Donkey Farm is adjacent to Endswell Farm and so on May 31, 2001 Ellie was walked down the lane to Endswell where she lived and was loved for the rest of her charmed life. Many people came to know

and love Ellie over her long life, including Pat Buchanan and his family, who caretook Endswell for many years. Ellie was a very approachable little donkey, being a miniature. Her size and curious nature made her especially dear to children. She was well known by generations of Bowen Island children who have visited Endswell Farm over the years either in school groups or with their parents. For the past 10 years Ellie has lived with her companions Sonny and Fredo, also miniature donkeys from the Elliotts’ farm. They were an entertaining trio with Ellie being very much the matriarch. They obviously miss her bossy presence, as do we. Adios Ellie. You were a dear little donkey and we love you and miss you.

A strongg communityy needs strongg immunityy! As food Apothecarists we understand the alchemy of preparing healing foods, so let us nourish you. To support the health and wellbeing of our Bowen Island community throughout this challenging time, we are offering a new selection of items to nourish and strengthen the immune system, calm our nerves and lift our spirits. These nutritionally boosted food offerings are packed full of healing herbs and essential vitamins and minerals, all specifically chosen to strengthen immunity and fortify the body. And, of course, we use our Alderwood “alchemy” to make them all taste delicious! Visit our facebook page for more details, including ingredients and health benefits of our new creations, extended menu, pricing, ordering and pick-up details. Let’s all join together in making this a truly wonderful, safe and healthy summer season here on our beautiful Island!

With Love and Good Health The Alderwood Farm Team

order line: 604 947 9434 or through facebook message.

10 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

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946 Spyglass Road • New Listing • $1,025,000

WEATHER

Did April’s weather create drought conditions? ANDRÉ CHOLLAT

Contributor

A flexible, functional and fantastic Bowen Island family home. Four or five bedrooms, with lots of options for offices and recreation rooms spread over three floors – ideal for working from home. Featuring an expansive master bedroom, plenty of storage spaces, a large garage, outdoor dining-room, sundecks and a hot tub looking out into a beautiful, private forest. Well cared-for inside and out. Directly on the bus route, and the quickest of walks down to Crayola Beach. Specializing in BOWEN ISLAND and HOWE SOUND

FRAZER ELLIOTT REALTOR®

604.910.3401 felliottbowen@gmail.com www.bowenhomes.ca

NEW LISTING

Humidity and daily temperature must be considered together to determine a drought condition for the natural environment; precipitation alone or the lack of them, may not be the main reason of such a condition. Low average temperature, day and night, will allow plants to tolerate relatively dry soil conditions; up to 5C, plants are in vegetative mode with no evaporation, they will require a minimum amount of water from the soil. However local conditions of light and sandy soil, shallow ground on rocky formation, limited soil autonomy in pots and containers (as in raised beds) do not conform to the same measures, humidity being altered rapidly within the amount of soil available and by the density and quality of that soil (loamy versus organic top soil). Such conditions vary also even more in exposed areas of sheltered and sunny South and Southwest embankments, as well as windy Northern and Northeastern exposures. Heat and cold variations between day and night modify the relative humidity of those areas, potential drought will be present, whatever the normality elsewhere. Summer droughts, as we know them, are the result of climate change, with higher overall temperatures during periods of several weeks, without any precipitation at all to refill the underground water table depleted naturally or by abusive use of the water reserves. However, here again, the temperatures and precipitations must be considered together within the time involved (summer and fall) for

the relation and the consequences they have with nature. Species used to moderate temperature variations and regular rainy conditions such as Red cedar (Thuya plicata), Hemlocks (Tsuga Canadensis), large leaf Maple (Acer grandifolia), Arbutus (Arbutus Menziesi), Salal (Gaultheria Shallon) are being stressed to their survival limit and a number will disappear in more exposed locations. Comparing the data of the past 25 years, similar conditions for April occurred 4 times in 1998, 2004, 2016, 2020, regarding their monthly precipitations. Both 2016 and 2020 had 10 rainy days in April: 39.8 mm in 2016, 33.8mm in 2020. Yet a major difference separates those two years: their temperatures. In 2016 the average maximum for the month was 17 C, with extremes of 28.8 C. average low temperature of 8.6 C with extreme low of 4.8 C; while in 2020 the average maximum was 14.2 C and average low of 5.7 C with extreme low of 0.7 C. In 2020, April was a relatively cold month with 10 days of precipitation, after a cold month of March with 91mm of precipitation. As a consequence this year everything is still green and healthy at the start of the blooming season; moderate temperature and precipitation will probably help the pollination of most of our fruit trees. Rain in May will be the decisive factor of a potential early drought on Bowen Island. André and Anne Franc de Ferrière have recorded rainfall on Bowen since 1992. André trained as a horticulturist in France. For 32 years André worked with Radio Canada informing about plants and related topics.

Reminder: stage one water conservation measures started May 1 across all municipal water systems. This means watering your lawn a maximum of three times a week, washing cars and boats only with spring-loaded shut-off nozzles and top ups only for filling pools, hot tubs, fountains or ponds.

1117 Lenora

$1,099,000

On the Lenora Loop in Deep Bay is this 3 bedroom/2 bath family friendly home with a view over Deep Bay, Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky mountains. Fully fenced for privacy with lots of room to garden and play both inside and out. Partially covered BBQ deck plus Hot Tub for all year round use and enjoyment. Plus - Semi detached two bedroom/1 Bath suite is perfect as a centrally located B&B or in law suite. From a nearby trail, it is a one block walk to the beach, and also a quick walk to the trail across the Lagoon to the Ferry and the amenities of Snug Cove.

Stay safe. Bank from home.

To help keep our members and employees safe, we are encouraging members to take advantage of our remote banking options. REMOTE BANKING Online Banking

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1544 Tunstall Blvd.

$815,000

Family living is perfect in this 3 bedroom 2 bath home in Tunstall Bay. Large family room downstairs with some added unfinished space waiting for your creative ideas. Just under a 1/4 acre of flat useable land with fenced in garden area and greenhouse backing onto the forested greenery of Explosives Creek and ravine. Short walk to Tunstall Bay beach with the option to be a member of TB Community Assocation with clubhouse, swimming pool dock and tennis c pool, courts. cour On the school and municipal transit route. TOP PRODUCING REALTOR on Bowen Island since 2009 President’s Club 2015, 2017 & 2018 for Top 1% of Realtors in the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver

604.612.7798

12 years

bowenhomes.ca

Download the app.

Set up telephone banking, call us at 1-800-393-6733.

• Check account activity • Pay bills • Manage payees

We have also set up a ‘live chat’ on our website to help members online during business hours.

NEED HELP? We can help you with any of these remote banking options, just give us a call. To support this shift in the way we serve you we are temporarily reducing branch hours and increasing the number of people we have available to answer your calls.

604.947.2022

106-996 Dorman Rd

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Stay connected. See our website for up-to-date information on our response to COVID-19

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Swim Bowen shifts to plan C MARY LETSON AND TEAM

SwimBowen

Like most things in the current COVID universe, everything is harder, or takes longer or ultimately doesn’t work as you had hoped (or at all). SwimBowen’s plan for a virtual swim event encapsulates all three of the aforementioned challenges. It turns out, after much planning, we r are unable to secure insurance for a virtual swim. No insurance equals no event. So. Plan C. To our wouldbe 2020 registrants, there will be no registration this year. w Instead, we encourage you to dig deep this summer and set yourself a goal and complete it on your own schedule. It doesn’t have to be a swim. Maybe it’s a hike, a run, paddle boarding, or perhaps kayaking. Or hey, maybe it’s a combination. (Stay tuned, yours truly may announce her own multi-sport, personal f challenge.). You get the idea. Anything that gets you outside, enjoying our spectacular outdoors all while keeping e you fit. And remember, safety é first with all your training! 2 Send us your story! What is your inspiration, challenge, training approach? Send us your personal challenge along with photos to swimbowensociety@gmail. com or share on our social

media feeds. The first five submissions receive a stylish SwimBowen cap. In August we will award complimentary registration for SwimBowen 2021 to the top three submitted stories! Thank you to our amazing sponsors who are supporting us this year despite our COVID cancellation! Lastly, we are working on a new website (www.swimbowen.com) and installing e-commerce to allow our SwimBowen enthusiasts, family and friends to donate if so moved. Stay tuned, there’s a new website coming soon. Until our new site is up and running, you may support the Cancer Care Fund the old fashioned way and mail a cheque to the SwimBowen Society, 725 Arbutus Place, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2. The SwimBowen Society’s Cancer Care Fund (www. swimbowen.com/cancercare-fund/) is hard at work. To date we have gifted an incredible $23,500 to Bowen Island residents enduring the full-time job of cancer treatment. Recipients have been beyond grateful. Together, our “greatest little event in paradise” along with your generosity have made a meaningful impact, lifting people’s lives during the hardest time of all. How amazing is that?

Thursday, May 14, 2020 • 11

SPRING & SUMMER NEW ARRIVALS TRIBAL Inizio Cotton Country Cut Loose Neon Buddha Liverpool Jeans Parsley & Sage Sandwich Putorti and more…

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12 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

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Bowen Island Properties LP HOUSING NEEDS REPORT SHOWS BOWEN IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. GOOD NEWS! Last month Urbanics Consultants presented the results of sale price for a home on Bowen Island was over $900,000 and its report on Bowen’s housing needs to Bowen Island Munici- the median building price per square foot was $448? pal Council. The contrast between what is available, and what WD: Yes and no. people here can afford, demonstrates what consultant Sophie “Yes”—because long before we started building here, in Payne called “the most acute affordability crisis” she’s seen. my pre-immigration life I had the opportunity to experience While such a crisis is not good many islands and island-like tFo news, Wolfgang Duntz from communities in Europe. Many Bowen Island Properties sees such places, especially when in the report as a positive sign and relative proximity to metropolHOUSING NEEDS REPORT milestone. Meribeth Deen interitan areas, have a long history viewed him to find out more. as refuges for the wealthy and the ultra-wealthy. If the island MD: What did you find leaves it simply to the market, most surprising about this rethen Bowen Island will inevitport? ably become such a refuge. 2020 Bowen Island, BC WD: If you look at this reAnd “No”—because there port as a collective expression are also many islands and isof Bowen Island, I’d say it is a land-like communities that reflection of how mature this have turned into lovable and community has become. Havinspiring places of arts and culing been here for so long, I’ve ture, health and healing, and become used to the idea that the hospitality. perceived reality of this place Because of that, we have Prepared by Urbanics Consultants Ltd. Suite 1207- 409 Granville St Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2 does not match what is really always had a vision for what happening. Islanders have long Bowen could become: namely, lived in a bubble based on the a community with a focus on Cover of the report available on the Municipality’s website idea of not only “preserving attracting attracts guests rather and protecting the natural environment,” but also preserving than just tourists. Guests come to a place for something more the status quo. That may be an appealing idea, but ultimately than what casual tourists are content with. Guests come to exit is an illusion, and a damaging one. It’s like wanting your perience something special, children to remain children. Things change, and if you love a be it of a culinary, artistic, Bowen could become place you may need to maintain your love and appreciation by cultural, or even spiritual a community with a accepting that changes are part of life. We don’t know when nature—not to forget the focus on attracting guests it happened, but broad fields of healing and rather than just tourists. This report is a reflection of this report makes it personal development. First how mature the Bowen Island clear that the bub- encouraging steps have been made with the creation of the community has become. ble has popped. Island Pacific School, Rivendell Retreat, Tir-na-nOg Theatre Our community School, and Cates Hill Chapel (with its varied community is starting to acknowledge that things have changed here on uses)—all within the Cates Hill neighbourhood—and many Bowen as much as they have in the world around us. It may be other organizations on the island. that the island is getting close to the moment when islanders Bowen Island has succeeded in attracting people with an are willing and motivated to address this new reality. interest in intellectual and cultural pursuits, and has created a community of people with a high-level of education who earn MD: When you started building here on Bowen in the a decent income. It has built a base of arts, culture, education, 1990s…could you have envisioned a future when the median and health care—these things feed off one another and through

”

“

Oﬃce Phone: 604-947-0099 www.bowenislandproperties.ca PAID ADVERTISEMENT

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Thursday, May 14, 2020 • 13

Since 1988, building communities where people love to live

them a community can create a solid base of jobs—many of them quite interesting jobs. This is also a strong foundation on which to grow a broad level of social and economic diversity. MD: One could read this report and come away thinking that Bowen Island was doing better, in many ways, than Vancouver and BC in general: more Bowen households earn more than $100,000 per year, and fewer earn less than $60,000 per year; we have a higher level of housing suitability than elsewhere in the province, and a high rate of home ownership.…Why the fuss? WD: As someone who has an income in the upper end of that range and has to do business here, I need to tell you— your life becomes very challenging without the people around you who make much less than $100,000 per year. Without the people who clean The health of a community gutters, fight fires, cannot be measured by income build homes, realone. Communities also need move garbage, fix variety, which depends upon leaking roofs, teach housing that is affordable. in the schools, and offer music lessons—your life is the pits. The health of a community cannot be measured by income alone; communities also need variety, which depends upon housing that is affordable. Without it, you may as well throw the education system, transportation system, operations of sewer and water systems, municipal government and so-on out the window. The fundamental elements of a good, healthy society require affordability.

“

MD: What aspects of this report are mostly in line with Bowen Island Properties’ vision for the future? WD: Our hearts are no longer in building single-family detached homes. Bowen Island still has an abundance of space where single-family homes can be built, but Bowen Island Properties’ focus will be on attached and multi-unit buildings, of which a large portion will be rental and aﬀordable rental housing. Environmentally and socially responsible construction and development comes with a fairly high cost per square foot. To get those costs down you need to share the number of uses or the number of users. We wouldn’t be surprised if most of what will be built in the future will be 50% rental, but it needs to be built so rents can be aﬀordable. If that can be done, we predict that what has happened in much of Europe for many generations will also happen here: as the saying goes over there, “smart money will rent.” Facing such a choice, many people will prefer to rent and be free from the burdens of high

mortgages and maintenance in favour of stable long-term rental units. Lower financial burdens result in a higher quality of life, provided that attractive rental alternatives exist. The real problem is not the cost of housing itself, but the absence of decent and affordable alternatives—and that is purely the result of political decisions. MD: Over the years, there have been plenty of groups who have analyzed the housing situation here on Bowen, and written reports urging change. What makes this one stand out? WD: Without the political will to transform those wellmeant statements into reality, nothing will ever change. There’s nothing new here. The “same book” (so to speak) was written 10, 15, 25, 50, and even 100 years ago. I think the difference now is that people are starting to realize that things have got out of control and need to change. Too many of us have seen neighbours we love leave because they can’t afford to remain here, and we are questioning whether it is worth it to maintain the status quo. Life is too short to always be stretched to the limit. It seems surreal for anyone who lives in Canada to worry about a place to live. From our perspective as developers, we will wait and see and hope for how our upcoming applications for rezoning will be received by Bowen Island Properties’ the Municipality and the public at large. focus will be on attached and The challenge now is multi-unit buildings, of which figuring out how to a large portion will be rental get these plans built, and affordable rental housing. and how to make them affordable. The craftspeople building our homes are not rich; they depend on what they make in their jobs to sustain their lives here. They need to charge what it takes to have a life at a time when construction costs are getting to the point of no longer being sustainable. That’s another story for another day. To wrap it up, I am very hopeful that Bowen Islanders will prove smart enough to figure out how to create a diverse housing stock that includes more affordable housing. Bowen Islanders are marvellous, and that gives me hope. — Meribeth Deen

Oﬃce Phone: 604-947-0099 www.bowenislandproperties.ca PAID ADVERTISEMENT

”

14 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

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SILVER LININGS O Corona!

Finding thanks in COVID-19

O Corona!

On the first Tuesday of every month, I meet (now by video) with an astounding group of Bowen women to discuss issues that affect our island and community. The breadth of backgrounds is truly impressive, including in architecture, business, cultural history, education, healthcare, law, motherhood, non-profit, publishing, and real estate. All these accomplished women are driven by a love of our special community. Last week the question we pondered was “Why should we be grateful for COVID-19?” The mere posing of the question seemed, at first, shocking. Grateful?!?! What could there possibly be positive in a global pandemic cutting short the lives of so many and upending our very way of existence? But, as women tend to do, we are discovering many opportunities emerging from this forced shift in our world. The immediate switch to virtual communications has impacted how we do business and how we socialize. The dinosaur managers of our cubicle farm offices are seeing that we really can work from home and be productive. And who hasn’t had an international zoom-cocktail with friends that we haven’t perhaps seen in years? Thank you Covid-19. With our grandchildren separated from their regular routines and playmates, we have an opportunity to step in and help them tap into their developing talents and interests. Ask your little artist to help by illustrating a new book or poem; get your budding engineer to design a transportation vehicle of the future; work with that imaginary friend to create a game. Thank you Covid-19. Social distancing has given us time to train a new puppy and to appreciate the joy of a home garden. Thank you Covid-19. The pandemic has brought our scientists to the forefront of policy making. We’re learning to listen to the smartest people in the room again. Thank you Covid-19.

The extreme vulnerability of the homeless and the cost of this to our society as a whole has been highlighted by the virus. Organizations and governments have always had the solutions to this travesty...now they are accelerating their plans. Thank you Covid-19. We’re grateful that we all know how to wash our hands now. Thank you Covid-19. We’ve learned that we all have to work together to take care of us all. On this tiny blue marble planet, there is no “us” or “them.” Thank you Covid-19. The virus found its victims most easily in our senior care homes, underscoring the critical need for the extension of universal health care standards to these care facilities. Everyone is now acutely aware of the need for change. Thank you Covid-19. We’ve come to realize who our essential workers truly are: immigrants who harvest our food, elder care providers, grocery store workers, meat packers, delivery personnel. Going forward, let’s do more than just say ‘thank you.’ Let’s be sure they are paid with at least a basic guaranteed income for taking care of us all. Thank you Covid-19. None of this is to take lightly or forget the losses many have endured – beloved family, friends, financial security, mental distress. All have suffered, thanks to COVID-19. It would be easy for these opportunities and lessons to fade away when we return to “normal.” We have a chance to make permanent changes in our lives, our community, and the world. We can be grateful to Covid-19 for shining a light on some of the dark corners of our society we have been slow to address. And we can be grateful to Covid-19 for giving us the time to appreciate the little – but extremely important – things in life. Sheree Johnson

One silver lining my wife, Kirsten, and I have found are the free Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals that are shown on YouTube every week (for 48 hours) while the theatres are closed. We have a “date night” every Saturday and we watch the latest one released together. We

didn’t travel by ferry to Vancouver that often to catch large theatrical productions when the theatres were open, so this is a convenient occasion to enjoy some events that have passed us by during not-as-strange moments in time. Martin Kelly

Those who look through microscopes at your tiny powerful self tell us you resemble a crown. They’ve given you a Latin name befitting your regal presence. Your dominion is global. Your ability to colonize breathtaking. Literally. In your honour the world is shut down We have settled into a Great Pause. May your reign be short-lived yet long enough to let us reflect on what really matters. Pauline Le Bel

ANN-MARIE DELAWSKY PHOTO

NWHAT TO DO WHILE IN ISOLATION: Ann-Marie Delawsky sent in this photo of her haul after a garbage clean along Adams Rd./Sunset Rd. To Mt. Gardner. “Along Adams specifically just past Alderwood Farm there were 11 golf balls randomly found in the ditch and roadside, interesting since the golf course is not in the area,” said Delawsky. “Random single medical gloves, plastic cigar tips, plastic take-out coffee lids and a heap of road reflectors.”

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 3:10 pm 4:15 pm< 5:20 pm 6:30 pm 7:45 pm> 8:50 pm 9:50 pm 10:50 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 2:35 pm 3:45 pm 4:50 pm 5:55 pm 7:10 pm 8:20 pm> 9:20 pm 10:20 pm

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Now offering a youtube channel of reflections and hymn/songs with Reverend Lorraine Ashdown and Lynn Williams. youtubewatch?v=tejV7Y6jo

Schedule in Effect: May 14, 2020 to June 22, 2020

Leave Snug Cove

Over the past months, islanders have rallied as islanders do in an emergency. Many businesses remain closed as they await provincial guidance and many islanders are unemployed as the economic devastation from the virus settles in. And yet, islanders are also rediscovering what’s important to them.They’re finding ways to connect and ways to hope for a better future.

Crossing Time: 20 minutes Distance: 3 nautical miles Note: This is a non-reservable route * exCepT SuN aND May 18 < exCepT WeD are (DC) > exCepT SaT † DC WeDNeSDay SailiNgS Will be replaCeD by DaNgerouS Cargo SailiNgS. No oTher paSSeNgerS perMiTTeD.

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We look forward to serving our community safely and effectively as we maintain COVID measures to protect us all. Stay safe and healthy Bowen Island, we are all in this together!

16 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

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SILVER LININGS

Changing the definition of enough

Today in the woods I saw two beautiful young people with sticks in hand exploring what their imaginations and the tools of the forest had to offer. Immediately, I was transported back to my own many happy hours spent grubbing in the dirt, building forts and damming streams and studying rocks and bugs. I was filled with joy that these children, too, should have such an opportunity that is increasingly rare in our rapidly urbanizing world. And seeing them reminded me of how many more people I have noticed out enjoying our wide green Bowen environment since this pandemic began. I thought I knew everyone in this neighbourhood, having lived here for 20-something years, but the other day, I met a lovely woman who has lived nearby for 15 years. Our paths had never crossed until the pandemic kept us home.

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Home. I’ve realized how much running around I do that isn’t actually necessary. Life has acquired a slightly calmer rhythm that is beguiling. I’ve realized that my definition of enough can and should change. So many of us have suffered and are suffering significant hardship as we struggle through this pandemic. And we are told that a resurgence of COVID-19 is likely. Clearly, something needs to change. As stores begin to open again, I’m wondering about how we can separate the belief in constant economic growth from the concepts of happiness and economic well-being. Is it really a good idea to keep biggering and biggering, as Dr. Seuss would say? Perhaps now is the time to seriously think about changing our approach. Emily Erickson McCullum

Growing support for food initiatives BIFS TAKES OVER OPERATING FORMER GRAFTON GARDENS

SUSAN SWIFT

Bowen Island FoodResilience Society

As a member of the Bowen Island FoodResilience Society (BIFS), I was overjoyed to learn on Mother’s Day that we were awarded a Community Resiliency Fund Grant by the Bowen Island Community Foundation with the support of Bowen Island Municipality. We had been focused on developing a proposal for engaging more people and expanding agricultural activity on Bowen Island when the pandemic hit. This grant arrives just in time for us to get some vegetables into production this summer, to help with food needs on the island. While no one welcomes the virus, the upheaval it has caused has had a number of interesting side effects. Turning our attention to what is essential, like food, is one. As many of us have learned, a functioning food supply system is critical to our survival and peace of mind. Timing is everything. While BIFS was weighing how best to help with food insecurity among island residents, we were presented with two opportunities at once: the creation of the resiliency fund and an invitation to use a portion of the Agricultural Land Reserve near Grafton Lake. Formerly operated as Grafton Garden, the property is part of John Reid’s conservation development project, “The Grafton Lake Lands.” According to John, it was always meant to be a garden that benefits the broader Bowen Island community and future residents of the development equally. This summer, we are cultivating about one quarter of an acre in an effort to support the food bank and any individuals who may need supplemental food assistance. Economic projections suggest that food prices will increase,

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN SWIFT

Jackie Bradley, a member of Bowen Island FoodResilience, got to work planting potatoes as soon as the Grafton Agricultural Commons Project received funding. making it even tougher on families whose income has been reduced. Having access to land and grant support now means we will have potatoes and squash to harvest this fall. The Grafton Agricultural Commons Project will address two aspects of community resiliency, the challenge of food security and the isolation that physical distancing has made worse. While focusing on food production, we will also be inviting others in the community to join the project – as soon as we have our COVID safety protocols in place . “This is truly a silver lining,” says Rabia Wilcox, another BIFS member. “We find ourselves in the right place at the right time, ready to help the community and ourselves learn more about regenerative practices and what it means to be resilient.” Look for announcements in upcoming Undercurrent issues and on social media. For more information on how you can get involved, please write to BIFS at: hellobifs@ gmail.com

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Ode to my garden MARY LETSON

Contributor

It’s hard to know what makes a garden special. As an enthusiastic amateur with a recreational love of gardening, I rely on how a garden makes me feel. They say that when memory fades, you may not remember the exact details of a conversation or experience, but you will likely remember how it made you feel. I figure it’s the same with a good garden. Some are perhaps perfect in their layout, structure and specimen selection, like for instance Butchart Gardens. A sort of Cirque de Soleil of gardens, Butchart is a stunning spectacle of horticultural drama. But what makes it truly memorable is sharing this experience as I have done with my Mom on numerous occasions for our annual Mother’s Day get away. We stroll the myriad of pathways surrounded by the hum of foreign languages and oceans of colour and variety that leave us gobsmacked. What I remember most from these visits is the joy of sharing it with Mom, both us awestruck with the Butchart spectacle, giddy and giggling at the Disney Land level of floral entertainment and the army like organization required to pull it off. Tucked seamlessly, almost secretly into a residential neighbourhood, Victoria’s Abkhazi Garden is the antithesis of Butchart Gardens. The story of the garden is as important as the garden itself and spans the heartache of two world wars, includes a deposed Russian prince, POW camps and culminates in late-bloomer lovers coming together to build this garden. Inexplicably, their story quietly reveals itself in the towering rhododendrons, the grove of scented azaleas and the gnarled cypress curling down the rock out crops. Not a single tulip spectacle to be seen, but my senses are mesmerized and my heart is full. Vancouver’s VanDusen Gardens found its way into my heart during a difficult time in life.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY LETSON

Sheila Letson gazing up at the monster rhodos at Abkhazi, May 2017. My friend, her daughter and I took to meeting there regularly to stroll, connect and bask in the acres of orchestrated beauty. Our meandering conversation could easily float between the stunning rhythm of blossoms and texture to gently untangling life’s agonizing heartaches. Initiated when life was hard, my friend and I continue this ritual in various gardens with same restorative affect. Here on Bowen Island the van Berckels’ garden grows its own kind of stupendous wonderful. Their garden’s botanical bliss is created in part by a Tuscan style sloped landscape where the eye follows the strength and promise of their orchard, punctuated here and there with various garden outbursts to finally settle on the ponds below that nurture their own aquatic flora and fauna. It all tumbles together with a kind of old-world charm and west coast wildness that leaves me inspired, restored and somehow curious. Even in the dead of winter the van Berckel’s garden hums with enchantment as I’ve experienced during their annual winter solstice celebration where revelers stand in the orchard sipping homemade spiked cider to pay tribute to the Goddess of the Harvest. There is a magic in this garden, a sense of freedom and playful possibility that is rare and I adore. I settle in my own garden digging, dreaming, or best of all, not thinking at all. I kneel in the dirt with a singular focus of helping something grow and this brings me an unrivaled sense of peace that is especially appreciated this Spring 2020.

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Thursday, May 14, 2020 • 17

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18 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

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SILVER LININGS

Finding new ways to share art: the Hearth The Hearth is adapting programming and events and embracing new technologies while doing so, under the Phase 2 guidelines of the BC Restart Plan recently announced by BC Premier John Horgan. While specific timelines for each phase have not been provided yet, the guidelines give us framework for what conditions we might expect for the future of arts and cultural programming. We are hopeful and optimistic that we will be able to gather for cultural programming as a community as soon as it is safe to do so. The Gallery @ Cove Commons will reopen soon, while following the new protocols of the Phase 2 plan, which suggests cultural spaces can reopen from mid-May onwards. In the meantime, private viewings of the current exhibition Forests of the Coast by Jean Bradbury can be arranged by appointment. Email the curator, Emilie Kaplun at curator@thehearth.ca Artists in our Midst is a new program through the Hearth offering interviews, virtual gallery and studio visits and promotion of creative projects as a way to support our hard working artists who have been deeply affected by the closure of performance spaces, galleries and cancellation of cultural events. Beginning this new series was a virtual tour of the current exhibition and interview with the artist, Jean Bradbury. Our next virtual offering featured a 15-day creative challenge by artist Tracy McLachlan ––a Panthera Big Cat Sanctuary fundraiser. Currently in the works, we will offer a live online artist talk and discussion with Paul Deggan followed by another session

From businesses

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HEARTH

The Hearth is featuring pastel drawings inspired by The Spirit of Bowen Woods during COVID-19 by Paul Deggan. The feature is part of Artists in our Midst. featuring a virtual studio tour with his wife and skilled potter, Babette. Their son Tristan, who is an accomplished videographer and artist, will film the sessions. Since 2002, the Deggan family has lived on Bowen Island for part of the year. The summers for the last 40 years were spent in France. This year, it’s a little different (as it is for everyone) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Lock down” has inspired a new excitement for the Bowen woods in spring and a new body of work The Spirit of Place. Some of you may have spotted Paul sketching by the lakeside or in the trails with his signature Tilly Hat and plein air kit. With his many years of creating and teaching,

Paul is a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration. This will be a fun and interactive session and may inspire more. We invite community members to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and follow us on social media to stay connected to the exciting projects that are in the works in the art scene on Bowen. Artists are encouraged to reach out to the Hearth if they would like to be featured by contacting creative@thehearth.ca. There are also two opportunities for artists to exhibit at the gallery for upcoming exhibitions. Visit thehearth.ca for more info. Kathleen Ainscough On behalf of the Hearth

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I have been able to work on the back end of my business and have really enjoyed helping my clients one on one either browsing my website or store virtually and hearing how thrilled they are to

wear their Movement eco fashion pieces now proven to fill our mission statement for 15 years while sheltering in place in this pandemic. Amrita Sondhi Movement Global

Kelly Miller, Bowen Island Tattoo Shop

COVID connections Last week, the Undercurrent featured the Hearth’s interview with Tracy McLachlan who completed a 15-day fundraiser for a big cat sanctuary in South Africa. Katherine Gish saw the story and got in touch with Tracy to see if she could buy the piece of work pictured in the paper. “I made a donation and now it’s here,” said Katherine. She’s giving it to her husband Phil for Father’s Day to remind him of their trip to Africa.

JASMINE GISH PHOTO

There’s also a personal connection–– “Tracy was Jasmine’s pre-school teacher and is such a special person,” said Katherine.

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Thursday, May 14, 2020 • 19

How COVID-19 saved my husband

EMILY VAN LIDTH DE JEUDE

Contributor

This is going to be a vulnerable story. Telling you what’s happening now means telling you what happened before this and that part was horrible. I lost my husband. Not his life––thank goodness––but I lost his heart to the point where we haven’t been wearing our wedding rings for most of 10 years. Nearly 25 years ago I met Markus. Our friend Chloe introduced us because she said we were so similarly strange. Actually she coerced me to go meet him; I tried to refuse. But off we went to the bus station in Vancouver, where the bus from Victoria pulled in and I sat complaining about the stupidity of a blind date while watching the passengers get off the bus. One of them stepped off, his head turned away from where we were sitting; his blonde hair tumbling over his brown leather jacket.I wanted to meet him before I saw his face. I wanted to meet him before I knew he was Markus. He walked over and shyly shook my hand, eyes lowered behind blonde lashes. It wasn’t until a minute later that he braved a glance at my face; I saw his gentle green-blue-hazel eyes and fell in love forever. I knew in that first moment that he would be my friend for the rest of my life. We traveled and explored and talked about everything interesting and zany in the world. Our Chloe was right: we were perfectly matched in our apparent weirdness. After four years together, we got married, left the city and moved to the house I grew up in on this beautiful island I love. And Markus loved it too. He began telecommuting two days a week and commuted to the city on the other three. Less than a year later we conceived our first child. Our kids’ early years were idyllic. There were times Markus couldn’t telecommute but mostly he managed to make it home in time to

eat dinner with his children and any distance that might have grown between us all during the week was mended on the weekend. We had such a rich and wonderful life, full of music sessions and parties, family adventures and fun. We thought we were doing really well for ourselves. By our 10th wedding anniversary I realized something was very wrong. I realized it had been years since we’d had a good conversation. I realized Markus had begun disappearing, both physically and mentally. He would take the 4:30 p.m. ferry home and instead of walking straight to his waiting family, arriving by about 5:30 p.m., he’d arrive at 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.. Often I worried something terrible had befallen him until I became used to it. He was usually just walking on the docks. When he was home he was usually drinking. Beer and whiskey in the evenings; coffee you could stand on all day. On weekends he’d sleep in until 10 a.m. and wake with such a raging headache that he was incapacitated all weekend. I begged him to quit all the addictions and he did. He’s a good and loving husband and wanted to do well by his children. We quit drinking together and it seemed so easy (not to mention a huge financial advantage!) But we couldn’t connect anymore. When we did talk he was often bitter; unhappy with who I was and unsatisfied with life. He was uninterested in our home and family, despite going through the motions of participation. Don’t bother trying to diagnose. I tried that. And when I realized his memory was disappearing, we involved the doctors. Sometimes he forgot important life events; sometimes he forgot what happened two minutes earlier. Constantly, he just couldn’t get moving. He drove off the ferry at about one quarter the speed of the other cars and it took him at least a minute to get up to speed. Despite being one of the cleverest, most interesting people I

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY VAN LIDTH DE JEUDE

In 2003, Markus rescued a sinking derelict boat from the Government dock with dreams of restoring it. He’s finally found a bit of time to work on it again. knew, his brain seemed awash with confusion. He said he lived in his “empty box.” I noted that our problems began soon after we moved to this island and asked him many times if he’d like to move back to Victoria; if maybe being nearer his parents would help, or in the city he had lived in before me. He had no interest. In anything. At my behest, he asked the doctor about his symptoms, underwent various tests including a CT scan. No cause of this misery was found. For more than 10 years now, if I ask him what he thinks or feels, his answer is “I don’t know.” We’ve fought many times because this is so unbelievable to me. I wish I had been more gentle with him. Then came this pandemic. Markus was reluctant to work from home because trekking into town is his routine––one of the few things that’s normal to him. But he had to stay home, so he did. And the miracle happened. We didn’t get COVID; we just self-isolated and eventually he even received a pay-cut from work. These aren’t supposed to be miracle-inducing events. But here we are isolating and I have my husband back. He wakes

up every day around seven or eight and commutes one minute to work in the office of our home. Then he makes me breakfast and brings it to me in bed. I make him lunch and we sit on the porch and look out at the world together. Sometimes we walk down the hill to get the mail and we look at all that changes along the trail, on the way. We talk about everything. For the first time in 20 years, I can say he’s my best friend again. I feel supported by his love, again. He has ideas. He has opinions. And he smiles. And now we know: it wasn’t addiction or lack of love, or depression or even illness that took my husband away from me. Those were all symptoms of lack of sleep. We know that sleep deprivation causes many terrible symptoms, including most of those experienced by Markus over the past couple of decades. He now sleeps eight to 10 hours a night, and his symptoms are gone. But just in case this wasn’t enough to convince me we’d found the root of the problem, we ended up going back to the mainland recently. We woke up at 6:40 a.m. and drove in for a day of shopping –– our first masked and gloved isolation shop. He drove off the ferry at the same

speed as all the other traffic, and was helpful and thoughtful about our shopping. It was wonderful to feel in connection again - living life together for the first time in so many years. But he hadn’t slept well the night before, and by the time we returned home in the late afternoon, he was exhausted. He walked around like a zombie. He couldn’t understand what our evening plans with the children were and my heart broke a little to see him so weak. It took him two days to return to the old normal. Two days to get my husband back again from one night of bad sleep. Never again. Sure, we’ll go to town again and there will be sleepless nights. But this rift in our marriage this long, slow tumbling off the cliff of mental wellness and family connection - this can’t happen again. The life we were living - that so many of us have been living for so long - this can’t go on. We can’t do it. Our supposed future security isn’t worth the loss of our present life as we trudge along the conveyor belt of our society’s life-plan. By whatever means necessary, we’re going to have to stop this conveyor belt and build a new and better normal that affords us the fulfillment of a simple basic need: sleep. As much as food and shelter, we need sleep and somehow our whole culture needs to build that into our expectations. The pandemic situation is giving us impetus to develop new ways of working and socializing, and as an added bonus, we’re already getting more sleep. I love this train that we’re on. Let’s keep it going. *Note* I never write about other people’s struggles without their permission. Markus has read and approves of this sharing of his story. We both hope it brings some clarity to a world where most of us have been pushing ourselves too hard and maybe we can use this isolation time as a new beginning. This story was orgiinally published at rickshawunschooling.blogspot. com.

The Bowen Island Conser vanc y Presents

A n o n l i n e b o o k l a u n c h c e l e b r at i o n

Exploring Bowen’s Marine World: A Marine Atlas of Nexwlélexwem/Bowen Island by

Len Gilday, Will Husby, and Bob Turner

Sunday, May 24, 7:00–7:45 PM We will be using Zoom To get an invitation to the Zoom meeting, email Susan Munro at susanmunro@shaw.ca.

20 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

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This edition brought to you in part by the B.I. Community Foundation

It’s here: dive into Bowen’s own marine atlas BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor

“Environmental recovery will not be a return to what was–– that’s now gone,” reads one of the opening pages of Bowen Island Conservancy’s Exploring Bowen’s Marine World: A Marine Atlas of Nexwlelexwem/Bowen Island. “With hard work we can learn about what we still have and support a resilient ecosystem that can absorb predicted disturbances and maintain ecological function.” “That comes from something [local ecologist] Alejandro Frid said to us early in the genesis of [the project],” said Will Husby, one of the atlas’ three authors. “And that sets us apart from books that talk nostalgically about what was or tell you that everything’s going to hell in a handbasket,” said Husby. “There’s a lot of hope and optimism in Howe Sound because things are changing for the good and we’re watching that happen.” The newly released guide to Bowen’s marine environment covers everything plankton to nearshore forests to salmon to glass sponge reefs to whales and dolphins. The endeavour was more than a year in the making from the authors: naturalist and interpreter Will Husby, geographer, filmmaker and former mayor Bob Turner and filmmaker, photographer and storyteller Len Gilday. Editor Susan Munro rounded off the core team. With a total budget of $18,000, the marine atlas got support from the Bowen Island Community

To the delight of the authors, Island Pacific School students read and reviewed a draft of the atlas. Foundation, the Sitka Foundation and some private donations from islanders. “It was wonderful to see that dream realized so perfectly,” said Munro. “I did love just seeing all these little bits and pieces of information and knowledge come together in something that is story,” said Turner. “A really picture-rich story.” The hundreds of photographs over the 54 pages not only come from the archives of the three shut-

ter-friendly authors but community members as well––such as Mary Le Patourel who has long observed and photographed the birds of the cove. “The thing that we did early on was we agreed that we weren’t going to do a writing project and slap photos and diagrams at the end,” said Husby, who is also the book’s graphic designer. “We built the chapters with the pictures and the text.” Personal stories and observations from islanders occupy sidebars––like the story of Adam Taylor’s

LEN GILDAY PHOTO

father and uncle filling the bathtub with herring to freeze on cookie sheets and use as bait. Red “storm warning” sidebars note foreseeable hazards, like sea level rise, ocean acidification and more local threats like abandoned boats. Green “lighthouse” sidebars note projects and observations of local interest. The authors based the work not only on their own areas of expertise and interest (Turner naturally wrote the whales chapter) but did several workshops with the community,

gathering information and insight. “What got us excited is that this wasn’t some summary of what’s out there in the literature,” said Turner. “This is this stuff is being pulled together really for the first time because it’s coming out of the community.” “We worked hard throughout this to anchor it in on Bowen Island,” said Gilday. “Because it’s easy to go adrift and follow the whales out to sea and never come back.” While there’s a lot of broad information (for example that eelgrass meadows are biodiversity hotspots), the authors ground each chapter in the relevance to Bowen (eelgrass meadows are found in some of Bowen’s popular moorage areas –– Mannion, Bowen and Tunstall Bays, which have lost many of their original eel grass beds). The Hornby Island Marine Conservation Atlas provided the model for the Bowen iteration, which the team in turn hopes will inspire neighbouring islands to pursue similar projects. “Every page is just so rich with detail. And it’s up to date, which is fun,” said Gilday. “It’s so immediately relevant to our life and how we spend our time here,” said Munro. “It’s going to be it’s going to be a great resource for families and children and schools and anybody interested in the marine world for years to come,” said Gilday. The marine atlas crew is holding a virtual celebration and launch on Zoom May 24 at 7 p.m. Islanders can buy physical atlases at Phoenix.

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MAY IS MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH

CanSURE would like to remind drivers to be on the alert and to share the road with motorcyclists.

Preparing for a multi-day mo otorcycle e trip Careful preparation is the key to having a successful mootorcycle trip, especially if you plan to spend several days on the roadd. Here’s what youu should do before you embark.

INSPECT YOUR BIKE

Make sure your motorcycle is running smoothly beforee you hit the road. The last thing you want is for it to break down when you’re far from home. Pay close attention to the tires, brakes, suspension, headlighhts and ﬂuid levelss. If this is your ﬁrst ride of the season, get your motorcyccle inspected by a professional to make sure it’s in good condition.

ALWAYS PLAN YOUR ROUTE AND LET T OTHERS KNOW WHAT IT IS

Hitting the open road without a plan is spontaneous butt also reckless. Ann itinerary helps you manage your time and ensure you caan reach each destination before nigghtfall. You should also book your accom mmodations in advance since hotels and campgrounds can ﬁll up fast, especiallyy during the summ mer.

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22 • Thursday, May 14, 2020

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Bowen Island Community

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Call to place your ad:

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Transport Canada - Receiver of Wreck

No Name - Hughes 31’ sailboat License BC5044702, Located in Howe Sound has been found and recovered. If you are the owner(s), or have any information about the owner(s), contact Transport Canada before 30 days from the date of the posted notice, at npppac-ppnpac@tc.gc.ca or 604-775-8867 and reference file W2020-501580.

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B.C.’s COVID-19 recovery rate hits record high 78.2%: May 13 update GLEN KORSTROM

Business in Vancouver

As the number of new cases of COVID-19 stays low, and the number of people who have recovered from the virus increases, British Columbia’s recovery rate keeps rising. On May 13, the rate stood at more than 78.2%: 1,859 recoveries out of 2,376 people infected. That is a record high since the first case was discovered in January. Just four days ago, the rate climbed above the 70% barrier for the first time, and was 71.2%. The increasing rate is important as a gauge to determine how successful the province has been in helping patients overcome the virus. B.C.’s provincial health officer Bonnie Henry on May 13 said that there were only 16 new cases in the past 24 hours. There are 59 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the province, down four from yesterday. The hospitalizations include 14

people who are in intensive care units. Health Minister Adrian Dix said that more hospital procedures are being done, meaning that there are fewer empty hospital beds. B.C. hospitals are now approximately 66.6% occupied, with 3,700 empty beds, Dix said. Pre-pandemic, hospitals were about 103% occupied, including people in hallways. Dix said May 7 that the government would start reaching out to patients to see if they are ready and willing to have surgeries performed. The government would also start screening these patients and putting in place plans to conduct those surgeries. He said that he expected to start conducting these surgeries on May 18, increasing surgery capacity during the next four weeks to what Dix considers to be a level near what it was pre-pandemic. One person has died from the virus in the past 24 hours, making the province’s death toll from the disease 132. The breakdown of cases so far by health region are: 877 in

Thursday, May 14, 2020 • 23

Vancouver Coastal Health (up three in the past day); 1,137 in Fraser Health (up 13 in the past day); 125 in Island Health (no new cases in the past day); 180 in Interior Health (no new cases in the past day); and 57 in Northern Health (no new cases in the past day).There remain 20 seniors’ facilities that have outbreaks. That includes 15 homes and five acute-care units. So far, the pandemic has infected 299 residents of seniors’ homes in B.C., and 190 workers at those homes. Henry urged individuals and business owners to think about their own circumstances when deciding what protective measures to take, instead of thinking about a blanket rule. “I understand that lots of people really want clear rules that apply to everybody but the reality is that our path forward is individual based on our own unique circumstances,” she said. “That goes for businesses as well.” Large stores, and department stores, for example, “can have more than 50 people if they can maintain enough space between people so that there isn’t congregating and crowding.”

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SILVER LININGS Creating a better world We live in difficult times, where humanity must not only deal with the ravages of the coronavirus, but with environmental degradation and many injustices throughout the world. Yet, the light within the human spirit endures. Within the cycles of darkness and light in the evolution of human civilization, I believe the darkness that now surrounds us is the midwife to humanity’s light being reborn in the renewed and gradual creation of a more caring and loving world. It is putting us back in touch with our own humanity and what truly matters - the love that we have for our families and friends, for every facet of our earth and of our lives. Whatever our differences, we are always connected to each other and to the rest of nature. Beyond the veil of separation our minds have created, we are part of one family,

one spirit, and one living entity. Therefore, to care for others is to care for ourselves, to care for ourselves is to care for others, and to care for the earth is to care for all of us. Beyond our wounds, our weaknesses and the graveyards of cynicism, all of humanity’s growing pains eventually lead to one place. The end point of our individual and collective evolution is our surrender and service to love. The surrender and service to love that we now witness in our frontline workers - and that is required from each of us - is not only the path to ending this pandemic, but to creating the better world we all seek. Our service to love is the compelling reality at the centre of our lives, and the extent to which we meet that overriding, vital responsibility is up to each of us. John Sbragia

The whole school connects on Wednesdays: BICS What life thrives in the waters around Finister re Island? What magnificent things can children make with their imaginations using household items? How can we stay connected to our community and deepen our connections to this place? Can 320 children dance together during times of remote learning? These are some of the questions we are wondering about as BICS begins WholeSchool Wednesdays. At the time of publishing, we are in week six of remote learning for students and families. We know that this is a trying time for many of our families and so we are trying to be as creative and responsive as possible in what learning opportunities we offer. To that end, last week we launched “WholeSchool Wednesdays”. These are days when every child from kindergarten through to grade seven learns about the same topic. We offer several learning opportunities that involve varying levels of parent/guardian support as we know with parents working from home many children need to be quite independent in engaging in learning. The initiative is intended to create new collaborations for families with students in multiple grades working together (possibly even with preschool-aged children too) with flexible, guided opportunities that develop essential skills in all levels of curriculum. Our first Whole-School Wednesday was intentionally low-tech. We heard from many families that their children were getting a lot of screen time, even if much of that time was educational. We started with our school focus of place-based learning by providing lessons that took students to natural environments - be it their backyard or the beach (for some Bowen families, their backyard is the beach!) - where they could learn in and from the environment together. Many thanks to our local community volunteer experts that helped to support this initiative and special thanks to Bob Turner for filming our introductory film of the plethora of life around Finisterre Island! Our second Whole-School Wednesday is about making something magnificent! From Kindergarten to Grade 12, students learn to engage in the design process, whether that be designing something that lives in the imagination, or is an actual physical item, such as researching how to build a better birdhouse

Phase two of the province’s restart strategy is expected in mid-May (we’re currently in phase one). Included in phase two is (from the Province of B.C. website): Restoration of health services; re-scheduling elective surgery; medically related services: dentistry, physiotherapy, registered massage therapy, and chiropractors; physical therapy, speech therapy, and similar services; retail sector; hair salons, barbers, and other personal service establishments; in-person counselling; restaurants, cafes, and pubs (with sufficient distancing measures); museums, art galleries, and libraries; office-based worksites; recreation and sports; parks, beaches, and outdoor spaces; and child care.

Current hours of just some local essential services are: Snug Cove General Store: Monday to Friday - noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Email: scgs@telus. net and phone 604-947-9619. Ruddy Potato: Open 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. except for on Mondays and Thursdays when they close at 6 p.m. Enter through the cafe

door. Cates Pharmacy: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Phone 604-947-0766; email cates@medicinecentre.com; www. medicinecentre.com; fax: 604-947-0736. Bowen Island Recycling Depot: Hours: Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Bowen Fuels: Regular hours: Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bowen Island Post Office: reduced hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on weekends. Bowen Building Centre: Will be open to the public on Fridays 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Please check www.bowenislandundercurrent.com for further business hours and to double check these ones as hours could change in the coming week. If you hear of businesses changing their hours or operating procedures, please also let us know: email editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com. If you’re not an internet person but need information, my number is 604-314-3004. Bronwyn Beairsto, editor

COMMUNITY CALENDAR MONDAY MAY 18

Inside the Actor’s Quarantine 7:30 pm Check Facebook page for details of this week’s play reading from Theatre on the Isle

TUESDAY MAY 19

Coping with anxiety and social isolation Calming and connecting exercises and Q&A with Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt, psychologist, and Doug Elliott, Counsellor 8:30 am “https://us02web.zoom.us/j/394834632… Meeting ID: 394 834 632 Password: 185226 Telephone: 778 907 2071”

WEDNESDAY MAY 20

Livestream class with the Well 10-11 a.m. $10. Book at thewellonbowen. com/schedule or via the MindBody app! Legion talent show See more information on page 7 PHOTO CREDIT

Nature journalling and learning at the beach is one of the many ways BICS students are participating in Whole-School Wednesdays. for a certain type of bird or a bat house, or wherever the students’ inquiries lead them. Students are guided through the design process with the goals of helping them recognize the importance of creativity, developing resilience, and having fun. It’s hard to believe that there aren’t actually that many more Wednesdays left this school year but we will also use Wednesdays for students to learn about and practice our spring concert/dance. With the support of Kelly Konno, students will be participating in a remote dance which we hope to share with families. We have tried to pivot swiftly to offering a rich, adaptive remote learning model, and we continue to tweak things as we go in response to feedback from families. For more information on Whole-School Wednesdays and our school, families can visit our website: westvancouverschools.ca/ bics-elementary/. Sarah Haxby and Scott Slater Bowen Island Community School

Creating a stronger connection to customers A stronger connection to our customers who have continued to support Alderwood Farm. We have always been grateful that our customer base in the shop consists more of local Bowen Islanders than the seasonal tourist population which has created new lev-

Businesses update

els of friendship. This has allowed for both understanding and patience especially apparent during this unusual situation and for us at Alderwood Farm has created a deeper appreciation of the unique community that is Bowen Island. Alderwood Farm

THURSDAY MAY 21

Short term rentals virtual open house 7-8 p.m. Find out more and preregister: http://ow.ly/e29950zEvfX. Email echow@ bimbc.ca

FRIDAY MAY 22

Introduction to Tao Hands on Zoom 7-8:30 p.m. Call 604-312-1661 for the link

SUNDAY MAY 24

Marine Atlas Celebration and launch on Zoom. Stay tuned for more details.

WEDNESDAY MAY 27

Caring Circle virtual AGM 7-8 p.m. Join on your computer: bit. ly/3cf3RmA or on your smartphone bit. ly/3cf3RmA.

FICTION CORNER Editor’s note: the following the third 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

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A few minutes later, just as Gwennie was starting to fall asleep, Peter came back. “What are you all doing in bed?” he asked. “I have come back to take you to Neverland. I am very sorry I forgot to give you the pixie dust the first time. I just couldn’t believe I had new friends to bring to Neverland and play and adventure with. Please forgive me, I really didn’t mean to.” Gwennie, who was the only one still up, put a finger to her lips and motioned him to sit on her bed. “James may not want to come again,” she whispered. “But I will do my best to convince him. Surely, he will regret it if he doesn’t come. Wait on the window-seat and I will wake him and Annie up. “James,” Gwennie murmured. “Peter’s back, and he is willing to take us to Neverland now. We shall have to be quick and quiet.” “Tell him to go away.” James said angrily. “If he’s going to leave abruptly, then pretend it was all a mistake, he can buzz off. Permanently.” “James,” Gwennie scolded. “I’m sure you will regret not coming. You’ve wanted to go to Neverland for years, so swallow your

pride, apologize—properly!—and come with us. Think of it this way,” she said. “If you don’t come, you’re going to have to be the one to tell Mama and Papa where we are.” James caved. “Fine,” he said. Then he turned to Peter. “I am sorry for being rude.” he said. And then he paused. “So, where’s this pixie, and how will we get dust from her?” he asked. “I don’t know where Tink is,” said Peter, alarmed. “But if I shake her over your head, her golden dust will rain down and all you have to do is think of one happy thought, then you can fly.” “Tink?” said Gwennie. “Is that what your pixie’s name is?” “Yes,” Peter replied. “Although she’s a fairy. Male fairies are called pixies and females are called fairies. And,” he added thoughtfully. “Her full name’s Tinkerbell. I should look for her so we can leave. Tink? Tinkerbell? Where are you?” A small chiming sound that sounded like a thousand tiny bells being rung came from Annie’s tightly closed fist. Annie laughed and shook her hand up and down vigorously. More chiming came from her fingers and a small glowing light began to squeeze through her fingers. To be continued...