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25 YEARS OF IPS: How the school is celebrating a quarter century
Thursday, November 19, 2020 • A1
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LifeLabs offers appointments PHONE IN OR GO ONLINE TO BOOK TESTING APPOINTMENTS
BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
really want to push and make sure that everyone is doing as much as they can to secure any kind of attractant.” Attractants include garbage, bird feeders, any kind of fruit trees, said Bjarnason. “If this bear doesn’t find any food, it’s likely going to move on. And that’s our best case scenario.”
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, a winding queue emerges from Bowen Island Integrated Health’s (BIIH) clinic front. Masked islanders stand in six-foot intervals, in sleet or snow, rain or shine, waiting for their turns with the LifeLabs technician for blood or other medical testing. Now, LifeLabs and BIIH are hoping to do something about that lineup. LifeLabs launched appointment booking for its Bowen Island service this week. While appointment booking has been in place at mainland locations for some time, the mobile nature of Bowen’s service has limited its amenities until now. But with COVID-19 restrictions requiring outdoor waiting and the seasons changing, appointment booking gained importance. “To reduce lineups, wait times, and help keep as many people as possible out of the cold and rain, some of our locations will be temporarily operating as appointment centres,” said LifeLabs’ media relations. One can book an appointments for oneself or a family member online at lifelabs.com/select-a-province/?redirectTo=book-an-appointment or by calling 1-800-4317206. “Services will be escalated to accommodate customers who are elderly, vulnerable, or immunocompromised who require urgent tests when they arrive,” said the LifeLabs media relations. “If the facility has reached its max capacity for the day, we will offer the customer the option to book an appointment for another day.”
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UNDERCURRENT PHOTO
LifeLabs technician Aashima Parti visits Bowen Island every Tuesday and Thursday to conduct medical testing. Until this week, the service was drop-in only but now islanders can book appointments online or over the phone. See the full story on the right.
Secure attractants: bear sighted ISLANDERS REMINDED TO SECURE GARBAGE, BIRD FEEDERS, FRUIT AFTER BEAR SEEN ON BOWEN BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
Conservation officers are reminding Bowen Islanders to secure wildlife attractants following bear sightings
on-island in the past week. “This isn’t the first time that a bear has been on Bowen Island; they often swim across and are searching for food,” said Squamish conservation officer Jillian Bjarnason. “That’s why we
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Events November 23, 2020 6:15 pm Regular Council Meeting All meetings are online via Zoom and
open to the public, unless noted otherwise.
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Committees are established by Council to provide opportunities for public involvement in municipal matters. Committees are advisory in nature and function within the authority set out in their Terms of Reference or by Establishment Bylaw. When citizen representatives are appointed, they serve in a voluntary capacity and bring local knowledge, expertise and experience to specific areas of municipal concern. Committees support Council in other ways as well - through fostering the spirit of volunteerism in the community, extending the capability of Council and staff to take on additional tasks and inviting community input, commitment and support throughout the process. These committees have vacancies for new members: Advisory Design Panel, Advisory Planning Commission, Community Economic Development Committee, Environment and Climate Action Advisory Committee, Finance Advisory Committee, Heritage Commission, Housing Advisory Committee, Parks, Trails and Greenways Advisory Committee, Transportation Advisory Committee, and all the municipal water and sewer system local advisory committees.
Help slow the spread of COVID-19:
Stay home if you’re sick
Clean your hands frequently 2 m or 6 feet
Keep a safe physical distance
Wear a mask in indoor public spaces
www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/committees
Request for Volunteer Library Board members Bowen Island Municipality and Bowen Island Public Library are seeking applications from Bowen Island residents interested in joining the Bowen Island Public Library Board. We are seeking applications from members of the public with diverse skills and interests who are committed to the ideals of open and equitable access to information through public library service. Key duties of the Library Board are: • Setting the strategic direction and goals of the library. • Determining policy and rules for managing the provision of public library services and for regulating the use of the library facilities and programs by the public. • Appointing and reviewing performance of the Chief Librarian. • Preparing an annual operating budget to present to Council. • Reviewing the annual operating budget and monitoring revenue and expenditures through the year. • The Board meets 10 times per year on the third Thursday of the month. Interested individuals are asked to submit a one-page summary of their background, skills and expertise relative to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Please to respond in writing, via email, fax or regular mail, with the requested information by 4:00 pm on Friday, November 27, 2020: Hope Dallas, Corporate Officer Bowen Island Municipality 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 FAX: 604-947-0193 EMAIL: hdallas@bimbc.ca
www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/news/releases/ request-for-volunteer-library-board-members
Contact Us Phone: Fax: Email:
604-947-4255 604-947-0193 bim@bimbc.ca
We’re hiring: Fire Chief
Committees seeking members
Bowen Island Municipality is looking for a permanent full-time Fire Chief to join our team. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Fire Chief will administer, plan, direct and control all aspects of the Fire Department including the administration, fire suppression, fire prevention and rescue activities. In addition, the Fire Chief will abide by and implement applicable local, provincial and federal legislation and regulations. The successful applicant will: Have an excellent track-record as a fire fighter with demonstrated progressive leadership experience in a fire department setting. • Have deep knowledge and understanding of Provincial Fire regulations. • Have demonstrated excellence in organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, and a demonstrated success in working effectively with volunteers, staff and elected officials in a team environment. • Have capital project management experience. • Be able and willing to work both days and evenings any day of the week and be on call 24 hours a day unless the Deputy Chief or paid Duty Chief is available. • Live on Bowen Island full time. A critical role of this position will be to assist in the project management and delivery of the new $3.6 million Fire Hall and Emergency Operations Centre project.
•
www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/jobs
We’re hiring: Utility Operator Bowen Island Municipality seeks a Permanent Full-Time Utility Operator to fill an existing position that has just become vacant. This position will primarily be responsible for the operations and maintenance of the Municipality’s Utility Systems (water and sewer). Additional labour tasks may include roads maintenance and assisting other staff within the Municipality. The Operator must be comfortable working outside under varying weather conditions and hold a valid class 5 driver’s license. Related experience will be considered an asset. This position is for 35 hours per week, including Saturday and Sundays, (two days off during weekdays to be determined). Submit your resume by 4:00 pm on Friday, November 20, 2020.
www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/jobs
Municipal Water Main Flushing Flushing of municipal water systems has started and will last for approximately 6 – 8 weeks. Most areas will be flushed Monday to Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, as crews rotate through each neighbourhood. This procedure is necessary to remove sediment that gradually deposits in pipes, and does not pose a health hazard. Daily updates, detailing which neighbourhood is being flushed, will be posted at:
www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/alerts Find us on Facebook
Bowen Island Municipal Hall 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2
Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday Closed statutory holidays November 19, 2020
Bowen Island Municipality
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Thursday, November 19, 2020 • A3
ISLAND NEWS Fines, hunting prohibition given for on-island poaching BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
A man has been fined $1,300 and prohibited from hunting for two years after pleading guilty to hunting out of season on Bowen Island and discharging a firearm in a no-shooting area. Richard Allan Chase fired a shotgun at a male deer from Finisterre Road, Bowen Island, the evening of Nov. 16, 2017, court heard earlier this month.
It was dark out and while there weren’t houses in the direction Chase shot, there were houses within 100 metres on the other side of the road, said Crown prosecutor Jim Cryder. A Crown witness driving down Finisterre Road that evening saw Chase’s car stop and then heard the shot of a firearm, said Cryder. Chase’s car then started moving again and the witness stopped their own vehicle where Chase’s had been, said Cryder. “Sure enough, there is an antlered mule deer, male, in the ditch thrashing around,”
said Cryder. The deer died before the RCMP arrived to seize the deer, he said. Deer hunting on Bowen is limited to bow hunting, said Cryder. He went on to say that in British Columbia, one cannot shoot from within 15 metres of a roadway with two lanes and one cannot shoot from within 100 metres of a building. The incident taking place at night time, when there was limited vision, was an aggravating factor said Cryder. Chase pled guilty to the two counts related to the Wildlife Act and was fined $50 for
Bowen RCMP stats for October
CPL. ADAM KOEHLE
Bowen Island RCMP
The Bowen Island RCMP responded to 51 calls for service in October of 2020; • 5 of those files were related to traffic complaints or enforcement; • 2 of those files were arrests of prohibited drivers; • 1 of those files was a collision; • 1 of those files was a roadblock; • 4 of those files were reports of thefts; • 1 of those files was a report of a buck with his antlers caught in a soccer net at BICS (he was safely removed from the net without injury). As the COVID numbers continue to increase, it is important that we all do our best to keep on top of the information being put out by the province and Vancouver Coastal Health. Failing to comply with the Provincial Health Officer’s order can result in fines for people hosting private or public events, business owners, or individuals.
CPL. ADAM KOEHLE PHOTO
This net caught more than a soccer ball.
More importantly, following the guidelines will help keep everyone safe as we head into the holiday season.
Our 100 years of Bowen and Union Steamships edition is in a couple of weeks! Send in memories, stories and photos by Nov. 30 - editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com.
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each count with a provision that he donate $1,200 to the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund. “I think the magnitude of the fines and contributions taken together on the two counts to which the accused has pled guilty do send a message to other people on Bowen Island or indeed elsewhere in the province who would hunt out of season, if I may put it that way, or discharge firearms in a place where they ought not to be doing so...” said Judge B. Dyer of the North Vancouver Provincial Court.
A4 • Thursday, November 19, 2020
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VIEWPOINTS LETTER TO THE EDITOR
We need‘education of the heart’ DEAR EDITOR: In the wake of the U.S. presidential election, the following question needs to be asked: why is it that nearly half the voting population of an entire nation cannot see the difference between a decent man who cares about people and a man with a lack of moral principle who cares only about himself? While we must always maintain everyone’s right to their views in a democracy, the answer to the question is, and remains, ignorance. The light at the end of that dark and long tunnel is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual education. And the most needed education of all, in the words of the Dalai Lama, is “the education of the heart,” as it is the most vitally important education for the creation of a better, wiser and happier world. The education of the heart is the fundamental education of empathy, caring and kindness that we receive from family, friends, mentors and teachers in all aspects of our lives. And our governments, in the service of the larger human family to which all of us belong, need to facilitate that process to the greatest extent possible. That kind of education is reflected right here in British Columbia, in the bright, compelling and world leading example of Dr. Bonnie Henry. It is an example that needs to be followed by all public servants throughout the world, not just in regard to dealing with the pandemic, but in dealing with every aspect of human affairs. There is still hope for the world, a world in which women everywhere must continue to rise up and play a vital, central role - women like Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C. provincial health officer, Sonia Furstenau,
leader of the B.C. Green Party, Bronwyn Beairsto, editor of the Bowen Island Undercurrent, Kamala Harris, the first woman and first Black U.S. vice-president elect, and Dr. Jill Biden, educator and soon to be U.S. first lady. As Donald Trump demonstrated conclusively throughout his presidency, when the heart is greatly lacking, the use of raw intelligence becomes an instrument for moronic, evil and destructive behaviour. As I write this letter on November 13, my daughter Laura has just informed me that today is World Kindness Day - a fitting day to express this message. As we reflect upon what has recently occurred south of the border and the vital lesson to be learned from it, let us be grateful as islanders that we are a community with its heart firmly in the right place, through the many projects, such as the Caring Circle, that reflect our care for one another. Let us be grateful that we are a community that staunchly supports democracy, through our island wide involvement in the creation and evolution of our community plan, and our healthy participation at the polls. Let us be grateful that we staunchly support the holistic education of community minded individuals, through the creation of progressive, leading -edge educational endeavours, such as Island Pacific School and the Island Discovery Learning Community, and through the pioneering work which led to the creation of the first community school in British Columbia. And finally, let us be grateful that we live in one of the finest communities, in one of the finest countries in the world. John Sbragia
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. Please limit to under 500 words. HERE’S HOW: To submit a letter to the editor, fax 604-947-0148 or mail it to #102, 495 Government Rd., PO Box 130, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 or email editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com.
Celebrate giving on Bowen Next week is one of my favourite editions of the year. It’s our annual giving on Bowen edition where we invite all islanders to share their stories of giving. In a year like this, kindness is something we must hold onto. I know that on this little island of 4,000 people, we have many, many stories of kindness. Stories of people giving when they have little, when they have a lot, when they are stressed to the bone and when they have time aplenty. This is a time to celebrate the good on our
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#102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0 Phone: 604.947.2442 Fax: 604.947.0148 bowenislandundercurrent.com DEADLINE for advertising Monday, 4 p.m. DEADLINE for editorial Tuesday 5 p.m. Bowen Island Undercurrent Subscription Rates: Mailed 1 year subscription on Bowen Island: $55, including GST. Within Canada: $85 including GST Newsstand (Single Copy) $1.50 per copy, including GST
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island, the help we offer one another and the hope we have for our future. We hope to bring many smiles to island faces next week. Next week is also our last island-wide mailout of the year. Submissions can be anywhere from 25 to 250 words or can just be a photo. Deadline is Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. If you have any questions or wish to contribute a story of giving, email editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com or call me at 604-314-3004. Bronwyn Beairsto, editor
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.
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Thursday, November 19, 2020 • A5
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dock, easement controversy eroding public’s rights
NEIGHBOURS WEIGH IN ON A DOCK APPLICATION FOR ECCLESTONE BEACH AND THE PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO ACCESS
DEAR EDITOR: We are writing to address the application for a residential private moorage on provincial Crown land, across Ecclestone Public Beach on Deep Bay, published in this paper on Oct. 22 and 29. We maintain that this application seeks to privatize public waterfront access to Ecclestone Public Beach, which has been visited by the neighbourhood and the public at large for close to 90 years. As it is the only south-facing low-bank public beach from Pebbly Beach to Miller’s Landing, locals have used it to launch kayaks and small boats (it remains one of the few safe pull-outs for kayakers caught in stormy conditions), to swim and enjoy its quiet beauty. This pocket beach is a vitally important asset to the neighbourhood and is accessed by a 21-meter-wide public right-of-way off David Road and Ecclestone Rroad. The private dock, if permitted to go ahead, would be built across public beach, which is illegal according to Bowen Land Use By-Law No. 466, amended and passed on Oct. 9, 2018 to read: “Any community dock, private moorage facility or group facility shall be located such that it will not: a) Physically divide a beach, b) Impede pedestrian access along the beach portion of the foreshore,
c) Limit or restrict public use of a beach...” In other words, this bylaw restricts docks, community or private, from physically impeding pedestrian access along a beach portion of the foreshore that limits or restricts public use of a beach. Until ten years ago, a public beach access sign was posted at the top of the access trail. However, over the past ten years, three different property owners adjacent to Ecclestone Beach have been working systemically to block the public from accessing the beach. First, the public beach sign was removed by private property owners and then a series of illegal structures were erected, including a kayak shed built partially on public access without a permit, and an extensive cement and rock wall below the high tide line. Both of these structures prohibit legal and safe beach access. For over three years, some of us have been lobbying the muni council, the manager of Environment and Parks Planning, the coordinator of Environment and Parks, as well as the advisory committee for Municipal Parks, Trails and Greenways to get the public beach sign resurrected. This act alone would have helped empower and restore the public access, but we have not yet been successful. A bit of background regarding this Ecclestone adjacent property and its various owners: in January
2018, there was a legal draft of an 2018, and his variance application easement agreement which was was granted without the easement drawn up by the then-owners to agreement as promised. More address several recently, over the last other structures six months, new ownwhich had been “Maintaining public ers have been relentbuilt over the less in exerting proaccess to our years on the publonged pressure on the lic right of way muni staff to support beloved beaches their own aspirations and was vetted by the muni planon Bowen Island to block public access ning department. to Ecclestone Beach. In exchange for is a worthy cause In April, the muni staff, the neighbourat the insistence of the that benefits hood supporting new owners, erected a their applications sign readeveryone, not only permanent for a variance ing “Ecclestone Beach and a covenant, Access Trail,” and then on Ecclestone thereby allowchanged the name Beach, but on ing all of the illeon BowMap accordgal structures to ingly to “Ecclestone all of our public remain intact, Coastal Viewpoint.” The they proposed to muni downgraded the beaches.” allow the pubstatus of the beach to lic to access the –Heather Hodson, “viewpoint” – unilatbeach at the boterally, without public tom of Ecclestone Gillian Darling, Mark consultation. This past Public Right of September, to further Edmonds and Ben Way. After the placate the growing list neighbourhood Labelle of demands, the muni gave their full staff ordered and erectcooperation in ed a new sign addition support of the that currently reads: variance and covenant, the munic- “Viewpoint Only, No Public Beach ipality did not follow through in Access.” And now there is a private support of the public interest as the dock application! negotiations were never completHad the municipality negotiated and still remain unaddressed. ed this permanent easement and The owner received unanimous insisted that parts of the kayak support from council in January shed and rock wall alterations
Places of Worship Welcome You BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH Now offering a youtube channel of reflections and hymn/songs with Reverend Lorraine Ashdown and Lynn Williams. youtubewatch?v=tejV7Y6jo
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be dismantled three years ago to accommodate safe access to the beach, none of these foreboding “Viewpoint Only/No Public Access” signs would have been posted and in all probability, the private dock application wouldn’t have seemed legally feasible. We contend no matter what reassignments the muni may have made on the maps and with the new signage this year, this beach is legally still a public beach accessible by a public road right of way. In conclusion, the muni should ask the province to deny this private dock application to the Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources Operations. All beaches in B.C. are public land and maintaining public access to our beloved beaches on Bowen Island is a worthy cause that benefits everyone, not only on Ecclestone Beach, but on all of our public beaches. This dock is not in the public interest. If you are opposed to this private dock application, please write to the municipality at: mayorandcouncil@bimbc.ca To the Province on the Comment Page for the Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources Operations online before November 27. Comments/nrs.gov. bc.ca/ application # 2412347. Heather Hodson, Gillian Darling, Mark Edmonds and Ben Labelle
5:20 am except Sundays 6:20 am 7:30 am 8:35 am 9:40 am 10:50 am 12:00 pm 1:10 pm 2:55 pm 4:00 pm except Wednesdays 5:10 pm 6:15 pm 7:25 pm Mon Wed Th Fri 7:26 pm Tue Sun 8:30 pm 9:30 pm 10:30 pm
5:50 am 6:50 am 8:00 am 9:05 am except Wednesdays 10:15 am 11:25 am 12:35 pm 2:20 pm 3:30 pm 4:35 pm 5:45 pm 6:50 pm 8:00 pm except Saturdays 9:00 pm 10:00 pm
Note: Schedules subject to change without notice: Please check BCFERRIES.COM Schedule changes on statutory holidays
A6 • Thursday, November 19, 2020
bowenislandundercurrent.com
Starting small with LifeLabs appointments CONTINUED FROM P. 1
While the pre-booking only allows for a few appointments a day for now, with the rest of the patrons drop-ins, as the technician familiarizes herself with the system, there’s the potential to adapt to Bowen’s demand. LifeLabs can see more than 30 people over a two-hour stint on Bowen (6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. though they start shutting things down by 8:20 a.m. to be able to process the samples). “We have found [the appointments] model has allowed us to serve more patients in a day,” said LifeLabs media relations. “[We] want to thank our customers for their patience and support as our teams continue to work diligently to support the communities in which we serve, and the health care system in response to this urgent public health care crisis,” Gregory Smith, co-owner of BIIH, has worked with LifeLabs for more than a year to improve
service on Bowen. “In the in the short-term, we weren’t able to push for more hours quite yet, because they didn’t have the stats of how many people were going and the different components of that but we were able to push for online bookings so that people don’t have to stand outside in the rain,” he said. Smith hopes that if LifeLabs sees the demand on Bowen, it’ll allow for longer hours on-island. Smith has seen the LifeLabs queue skirt around the stairs to Village Square, around First Credit Union all the way to the Beer and Wine Cellar. He recommends people be waiting by 6:30 a.m. to be guaranteed service. With online booking, that’s hopefully going to change. “This is a big push to try and say, ‘Okay, well, if you can’t see anything online that’s bookable, then it’s probably going to be at least nine or 10 people in front of you, so just be aware of that,” said Smith.
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Bear sighting calls appreciated CONTINUED FROM P.1
Anyone who has an encounter with the bear or who is concerned about its behaviour should call the conservation officer 24-hour reporting line, 1-877952-7277. Encounters can include a bear accessing garbage container, or compost or if they’re seeing close by to residences. “Just any kind of sighting or reports of it being food conditioned, that’s really behavior that we want to avoid,” said Bjarnason. Conservation officers would also like to hear of any general sightings of the bear for now as they’ve only heard of a couple of sighting so far. “And [then] we can understand where the bear is and what kind of behavior it’s showing,” said Bjarnason.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
BIRCH update coming up Hi again Bowen Island, It’s us, BIRCH, or more formally, Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing. It’s been too long since we last talked. We are remedying that by providing an update to the community on BIRCH’s progress, current project status, and where we’re headed next. Given the current health situation, we have decided the best and safest way to do this is by hosting an online community update event on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. To register, please visit: birchupdate. eventbrite.ca. You can also find this link on our website and Facebook page. At this event we will reveal for the first time what the building will look like, a breakdown of unit types, and projected rent levels. Boni Madison Architects, our development consultants CitySpaces and BIRCH exec-
utive director Robyn Fenton will be available afterwards to answer questions. The next major milestone for the BIRCH project will be applying for BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund intake in January 2021. In support of this application, we are asking Bowen Island community members to write a letter of support for this project. We appreciate that you are all busy (especially at this time of year) so we’ve prepared a letter template that is available for download from www.birchousing.org. Please (pretty please) send your support letters by Dec 31,2020 to: info@birchousing.org. Thank you so very much, and we look forward to seeing you Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. Robyn Fenton, Executive director, BIRCH
A fall supper thank you
It was a bright, crisp weekend. The volunteers, cooks, shoppers , poster makers and more had ticked everything off their lists. The gates were open at the Legion parking lot, and you drove in. Thank you beloved Bowen Community for supporting our annual fall supper. Although it was in a slightly different format this year, we had a sold out event over the two days. When people drove up, we handed them their meal, and off they went home to enjoy it with family and friends. We are so grateful to the community for your support. We want to make sure that we continue to do the
work we do in the community and in particular, over this coming winter, as there will be many of our friends and neighbours experiencing challenges due to loneliness and separation. Your support for the work we do is very meaningful and important to us. It is our hope and prayer that next year, we will be back in a large, noisy room with friends and family enjoying good visits, good food and good Spirit. Yet, Fall Supper, “Covid style” served us well and that is because of all of you. Thank you. Bless you. Stay warm and stay well. Rev. Lorraine Ashdown, Minister, Bowen Island United Church
Supporter of the ARTS Bowen Island Pub
Make cheques payable to B.I. Christmas Hamper Fund mail to PO Box 19 Bowen Island TAX RECEIPTS WILL BE PROVIDED Infformatiion: Lind da Pfeiiff (9625)), Janiice Skeells (952 24), Pernille Nielsen (2210), or Ian Thompson (329-8097)
p
Bowen Drive Bowen Island Island Christmas Hamper Drive
Is currently looking for 4 Cooks Location: 479 Bowen Island, Trunk Road, Bowen Island, BC, V0N 1G0 Terms of Employment: Permanent, Full-Time, Part-Time, Shift, Weekend, Morning, Day, Night & Evening Salary: $15.00/hour + Benefits Start Date: ASAP Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years Education: No degree, certificate or diploma Please contact for job description How to Apply: In Person or mail: At above location By Email: bowenpub@gmail.com
Annual General Meeting Virtual The Hearth (Bowen Island Arts Council) Sunday November 29th at 3 pm Review our past year of Arts on Bowen Financial Update Plans for our future Pre-registration required Submit any questions/comments and interest to participate in the AGM: executivedirector@thehearth.ca Links to AGM documents & Zoom invite will be sent via email
THE TIGHT CONTEST FOR WEST VANCOUVER-SEA TO SKY CONCLUDES, VALERIOTE CONCEDES JENNIFER THUNCHER/STEVEN CHUA
Squamish Chief
The BC Liberals have maintained their dynasty in the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding by just a sliver. MLA Jordan Sturdy has kept his narrow lead in the judicial recount, cementing him as the representative for the Squamish area. Sturdy took 9,249 votes — 37.54% of the vote — in the recount, giving him a microscopically bigger lead of 60 ballots. Previously, his lead was 41 ballots. The results were announced on Nov. 17. Previously, on election night, Green candidate Jeremy Valeriote was ahead with 7,019 votes and he was projected to win the riding against Sturdy’s 6,415 ballots. However, as mail-in ballots started to be counted, Valeriote’s lead dimmed, and, in a major upset, Sturdy overtook the Green candidate. Ultimately, Valeriote took 9,189, amounting to 37.30% of the vote. Third place went to NDP candidate Keith Murdoch, who trailed with 6,197 votes — 25.16% of all votes cast. Valeriote was quick to concede and offered his congratulations to Sturdy. “I’d like to offer my congratulations to Jordan Sturdy,” Valeriote said in a news release. “I am very grateful to all those who cast a ballot for me and supported my cam-
paign, which experienced unprecedented momentum. I am very much looking forward to continuing to build the Green vote in this riding over the next four years.” In the release, Green party leader Sonia Furstenau expressed disappointment with the results, but commended Valeriote’s efforts. “He ran an extraordinary campaign,” she said. “I am proud of his efforts to share our vision with his community and the work of all his campaign team. “I know that Jeremy will continue to work hard in the community and that support for him will keep building. Jeremy nearly won the seat for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky with less than four weeks of campaigning. In the next election, I fully expect to see BC Greens elected in this riding and in many others.” Sturdy’s win is a close call for the BC Liberals, which have dominated the riding since 1991. The incumbent MLA has held a seat here since 2013 and won his last election in 2017 by a comfortable margin. The previous time the province went to the ballot box, Sturdy took 43% of the vote with 10,449 votes. The 2017 Green candidate, Dana Taylor took about 28% of the vote with about 6,947 cast in his favour. Coming in third was NDP candidate Michelle Livaja, who amassed about 27% of the vote with 6,532 ballots.
Thursday, November 19, 2020 • A7
RSVP: REGISTER ASAP HTTPS://GIVERGY.CA/IPS25YEARCYBERSOIREE/
You're invited...
A CYBER SOIRÉE DINE ORDER IN FOR YOUR VIRTUAL VIEWING PARTY The virtual soiree starts at 6:30pm sharp, so order your meals, gather in your bubble and prepare to wine, dine and sit back to enjoy the show!
REUNITE ALUMNI, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS Let’s go, let’s go, let’s rock and roll to celebrate the last 25 years of IPS!
CONTRIBUTE SPONSORSHIPS, AUCTIONS & DONATIONS This party will be kickstarting our Bridge to the Future $250,000 Anniversary Fund, empowering IPS to thrive for the next 25 years!
CELEBRATE ENTERTAINMENT, HISTORY & POSSIBILITIES Barney Bentall, John Stiver, Adam Woodall, Teun Schut, Buff Allan, Kelly & Gibson and more will be weaving the memories of the last 25 years with the possibilites of the next 25 years.
REUNION AFTER PARTY JOIN US IN THE CUSTOM BUILT VIRTUAL IPS MANSION: HTTPS://WWW.KUMOSPACE.COM/
BONU
S EVE
NT !
An opportunity to celebrate in dedicated party rooms for students, alumni, family, guests and staff.
Bridge to the Future #LetsGoLetsGoLetsRockandRoll! #IPSMiddleSchool #IPS25YearCyberSoiree #IPSTurns25 #IslandPacificSchool
FOR MORE INFO VISIT WWW.ISLANDPACIFIC.ORG
ISLAND PACIFIC SCHOOL CELEBRATING
25
YEARS
Sturdy wins judicial recount
bowenislandundercurrent.com
A8 • Thursday, November 19, 2020
bowenislandundercurrent.com
A new era at the Ruddy WE TALK TO TONY DAVIS AND DREW JAMES, NEW OWNERS OF ONE OF BOWEN’S BIGGEST EMPLOYERS
BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor
While he’s never owned a grocery store before, new Ruddy Potato co-proprietor Tony Davis grew up in one. Davis’ parents owned and lived above a grocery store in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. “As a child, I’d be in the store all the time, sitting on the counter and singing to the customers and things,” he laughed, “I don’t know what I did…I was pretty young.” While islanders probably won’t find Davis singing to customers at the Ruddy Potato, they’ll see the fruits of decades of business and industry experience from Davis and his two partners. In August, Summer Equinox Fine Foods Inc. purchased the Village Square grocery, Sunset Rd. commissary and trade name. Davis, who also owns Bowen Island Beer and Wine Cellar, is majority owner. (Davis owns the Cellar alone whereas the Ruddy business is a partnership). One of Davis’ business partners is Drew James, the day-to-day manager of the Ruddy Potato. James, a former chief financial officer of a hospitality group in Vancouver, and Davis met some 30 years ago when Davis had just moved to Canada and James had just moved to B.C. from out east. Davis owned an insurance agency in Vancouver and James was the accountant for a transportation company Davis insured. The two struck up a friendship and have done business together for years. For James, the move from hospitality to the Ruddy Potato isn’t as big as one might think – both come down to customer service, he said. The new manager describes the transition from Daniel Heald’s ownership as relatively seamless. “It’s been a well-managed business,” said James. “So it’s made things relatively easy for me to step into it, because everything was in place.”
Buying in a pandemic
Of course, business in 2020 isn’t like busi-
ness in other years. “The deal [to purchase the Ruddy] certainly went on hold for a while,” said Davis. “We didn’t want to go and take on a business whereby all of a sudden there was no cash flow and we ended up with a white elephant.” But of course, grocery stores are essential services and the financial piece remained fairly robust in those first few months, said Davis. It gave them the confidence to complete the deal. They’ve continued the COVID-19 protocols put into place under Heald, while also moving to a mandatory mask policy and a traffic light system that’s in place at both the Ruddy and the Beer and Wine Cellar. “We still live in fear of someone getting sick and then we’ve got to close a store and do, obviously, a cleaning, and make sure that there’s no possibility of more transmission,” said Davis. With the high volumes of holiday season around the corner, the Ruddy is reinforcing its regulations and protocols.
Reinforcing organic mandate
The Ruddy Potato is known for organic and health food, an aspect Davis said they hope to strengthen. “[Continuing] to focus on the real whole foods, organic foods, wherever possible and local wherever possible,” he said. The new owners are hoping to improve the supply chain and feature more consistent accessibility of product, rather than being well-stocked at the beginning of the week and sparser toward the end of the week, said Davis. They’re also looking at using the Ruddy kitchen on Sunset Road to generate more food. When it comes to product, Davis has brought in a sort of ringer. His other partner is Yves Farges. Farges is too second generation in the food business – his parents started a fine food company in 1957, importing foods from around the world. That foundational experience drew Farges into building his own business of importing specialty foods, Qualifirst, which has grown into a country-wide wholesaler. “He is quite a profound name in the in the
PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY DAVIS
New Ruddy Potato owner Tony Davis spent his early years in a grocery store his parents, George and Kathleen Davis (pictured above in about 1960), owned.
bowenislandundercurrent.com
Thursday, November 19, 2020 • A9
Who are the new owners of the Ruddy Potato? business,” said Davis. “We’re lucky, the Ruddy’s got the Bowen connection, and obviously is based on Bowen, and we want to maintain and strengthen the tradition of the store by partnering with someone who’s very much an institution in his own right.” “Our plan is to develop some more products that are high-quality and yet, we plan on being able to provide them at a better cost because we’ve got the ability to go directly, in some cases, to suppliers rather than using wholesale distributors,” said Davis.
placed the Ruddy Potato as the second largest employer on the island after Doc Morgan’s/Union Steamship Company. “We’re aware that there are a lot of people from the island that we employ and we want to make sure that we can continue to provide them with good, interesting and challenging careers and obviously we want to develop and grow the business accordingly,” said Davis.
Fate of the deli
The Ruddy deli that was suspended at the beginning of the pandemic could make a comeback but it’s difficult with the geography of the store as it is now, said Davis. “We’re trying to make some physical changes in the store. We’ve hired a consultant to help us organize it better, so that the flow is better.” “To make the shopping experience a little more user-friendly without taking away from [the Ruddy’s] uniqueness,” said James. “It’s got a bit of a rustic barn, very Bowen-ish-type feel to it. [That’s ] kind of sacred. We don’t want that
PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY DAVIS
Tony Davis (left) and Drew James (right) bought the Ruddy back in August.
to change or go away.” “Once we’ve [made the physical changes]…we will attempt to bring the deli back in some sort of capacity,” said Davis. “We’re not there yet.” “A lot of people come into the store, they just want to buy a coffee and a pastry or something, and if they’re preventing people from coming in to purchase groceries,
then that can be kind of a conflict,” he said. In the long term, the new owners are looking toward online purchasing and having the capacity to ship unique Bowen Island products off-island. Bowen Island Municipality’s 2019 Community Economic Development phase one report
Trust Council Meeting Dec. 1-3
Islands Trust works to preserve and protect over 450 islands in the Salish Sea through land use planning, a land conservancy, and public education programs. Four times a year, trustees from across the Islands Trust Area meet to decide about matters concerning the whole region. Please join us. Learn how you can watch or participate in the Town Hall portion of the online (zoom) meeting: islandstrust.bc.ca NEW this quarter - both Delegations and Town Hall are offered in an evening session, so more community members can access the discussion and contribute ideas - Dec. 1 at 7 pm
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While James is a mainlander, Davis and his wife moved to Bowen nearly a decade ago. They had long lived on the North Shore and would come over for weekends or a wander. “But as we used to explore more and more on the island, we got to really like the atmosphere here,” said Davis. The couple bought out at Cowan Pt. in 2011 and in 2017, after selling the insurance business, bought the Beer and Wine Cellar. But while plans for the Ruddy are exciting, Davis hasn’t had an easy few months. His wife, Noreen, died just days before the sale closed. “It’s been a bit of a difficult time for me,” he said. From delivering groceries with his father decades ago to the
Bowen businessman of today, Davis still holds onto some of those early lessons. “I saw the service that [my father] provided, and how he created some specialty products,” said Davis. The elder grocer used to boil his own hams and developed quite a following. “So I can see how the specialty products [can be used to] create an awareness of the store, then driving people to the store and then obviously selling them more products. “The service that [my father] provided was above and beyond, I think, and that’s what we want to do. We want to improve and become the local brand,” said Davis, acknowledging too Snug Cove General Store. “It’s understood that we’ve both got to have our own identities, I think.” “Our plan is to become very community based and provide some really high service,” said Davis. “We’re not the type of people who are just purely interested in profit,” he said. “We recognize that it is a community store and we have a sense of responsibility and we want to maintain that and be good community citizens.”
Patient of the Week PERCY During a recent visit for a wellness and vaccine appointment, Percy arrived sporting a ‘birds be safe’ collar covering, designed to help keep birds safe from outdoor hunters like Percy. It makes him more visible to birds, therefore allowing outdoor cats and birds to coincide happily. (birdsbesafe.com)
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Thursday, November 19, 2020 • A11
COMMUNITY CALENDAR SATURDAY NOV. 21
Winter market Little Red Church 10 a.m.-noon “Make the weekends merrier with fresh produce, jams, sweets, baked goods, handcrafted items and more from your favourite local farmers and artisans” Wear a mask.
Islands Trust. Aimee McGowan & Victoria Postlethwaite, Blue Carbon Researchers, and Nikki Wright, Eelgrass Conservationist, presenting. More information: https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/ document/229502. To register: https://bit.ly/3lPzjNK
BIRCH Community uptdate Zoom 7 pm Update on project status and funding, Building design and energy efficiency targets, Unit types and rent projections, Q & A. More info: birchupdate.eventbrite. ca
MONDAY NOV. 23
WEDNESDAY NOV. 25
Drive-through dinner at the Legion Legion 4:30 p.m. to sold out Roasted chicken, green beens, lemon potato and lemon bars. All dinners by donation. Cash or cheques are welcome.
Regular Council Meeting Zoom 6:15 pm
TUESDAY NOV. 24
Eelgrass: A climate hero Zoom 6:30-8 p.m. Hosted by
Bowen Island Family Flu Clinic Family Place (lower level BCC) 9 a.m.-2 p.m. All clinics are appointment-only for children and families book at nspublichealth. janeapp.com
FRIDAY NOV. 27
SATURDAY NOV. 28
MONDAY NOV. 30
IPS Cyber Soiree 6:30 p.m. See more information p. 12
SUNDAY NOV 29
Hearth Annual General Meeting Zoom 3 pm “Review our past year of Arts on Bowen; Financial Update; Plans for our future Preregistration required, Submit any questions/comments and interest to participate in the AGM: executivedirector@thehearth. ca”
Vancouver Coastal Health virtual open board forum, Sea to Sky, Sunshine & Central Coasts Online 6:30-8:30 p.m. Virtual meeting to join conversation with VCH board and for them to hear from the public. RSVP eepurl.com/ hdvt4b Submit to the calendar: editor@ bowenislandundercurrent.com.
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A12 • Thursday, November 19, 2020
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ISLAND PACIFIC SCHOOL
The faces of the first Island Pacific School class back in 1995. Alumni from across the two and a half decades have contributed to the celebrations coming up Nov. 28.
Innovating to celebrate: IPS throws a giant (virtual) party as it turns 25 BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor
From the 14-student class of 25 years ago to the bustling rooms of the International Baccalaureate-accredited school of today, Island Pacific School has come a long way. Bowen’s independent middle school had grand plans to celebrate its quarter centennial, capped with a gala, but COVID-19 dashed them away. But, as founder Ted Spear would say, they found a way to “solve the problem.” On Nov. 28, the school is holding a cyber soiree – a 25th anniversary bash and fundraising gala rolled into one. “We had no game book or anything but a great team,” says head of school Scott Herrington. The yearly gala is a key fundraiser for financial aid bursaries for students who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend IPS. The independent school gives more bursaries
per capita than any other school in Canada, says IPS director of development and alumni engagement Julia McCaig. And yet, the pandemic has prompted the school to distribute even more financial aid than usual as families experience COVID-19’s economic effects. When this school year started, it looked unlikely that big parties would return by June 2021, so virtual was the only way to go. “This year, we also have a very ambitious plan about the future,” says Herrington. “We’re really at the juncture of 25 years history. We’re looking at the next 25 years.” “I want to be invited back in 2045,” he says, “and know that this was a moment in time, we were in the middle of a pandemic, [and] the school boldly looked to the future and did things in a way that would ensure their ongoing success.” The school is launching a Bridge to the Future program, a pool of funds to invest
in educational excellence and financial aid. “We’re not striving to be bigger,” says Herrington. “but we’re definitely striving to be better. “And this fundraising campaign that we are doing through this virtual soiree, is really about that future.” IPS has hired a professional production company to produce the soiree, an evening of live and pre-recorded segments with Herrington hosting from the Carter Road building. From the history of the school and its philosophical groundings to reflections from IPS alumni spread across the world to Bowen musicians and acts, to looking toward the next quarter century, this isn’t your Saturday night Zoom chat. There’s an online auction launching the week before and a special live auction over the 60-to-75-minute event. And there will be interactive IPS trivia using Kahoot!. “We encourage people to make a donation
but it’s free,” says Herrington. “Everyone’s welcome to come and enjoy a great night of entertainment.” Then there’s the“after party,” a social event in a custom-built virtual mansion where participants can stroll around, in and out of conversations and rooms. That’s not the end of the 25th anniversary celebrations however. McCaig and board chair Elizabeth Wooding spent the past year creating a commemorative coffee table book. “Together we have interviewed in excess of 50 alumni students, staff and families, and see the impact this four-year program has had on every single one of them,” McCaig wrote in an email. “Many, some alumni in their late 20s now, speak about what they do today, being informed by the grounding they received while at IPS.” Find more information about the celebrations at islandpacific.org.
LIGHT UP BOWEN
December 6th - all lights will be on! CANDY CANE GARDENS Reindeer FOREST NORTH POLE FUN & GAMES SNOWMEN WE CALL IT PLAID NATIVITY SNOW STORM STARRY FOREST RED TRUCK TREE FARM THE NUTCRACKER Gingerbread cottagE family place festival of trees THE HEARTH WINTER GREENS WALL OF LIGHTS & SANTA TRAIN USSC GIANT CHRISTMAS TREE
. . . and more!
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