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GETTING THE VACCINE : What we know and what we don’t
Thursday, February 25, 2021 • A1
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 MINI ART GIANT SUCCESS
VOL. 47 NO. 08
BIUndercurrent
BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com
The Hearth’s Mini Art Show sets records PAGE 13
Surprise grant for Davies Orchard
METRO VANCOUVER PROJECT GETS $450,000 IN COVID RESPONSE FUNDING BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
REDress project on Bowen Island
UNDERCURRENT PHOTO
HONOURING, REMEMBERING, RAISING AWARENESS
Islanders may have noticed the striking sight of red dresses hanging around the island this past month (including Deep Bay and Grafton Road. The above photo is from the intersection of Cowan and Grafton Roads.) The dresses were hung in support of the REDress project – a visual reminder of the thousands of missing and
murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGTBQQIA people across Canada. Begun in 2011 by Métis artist Jamie Black, “the installation seeks to evoke a presence through the marking of absence.” The project began with Black installing dresses on the University of Winnipeg campus and has since been taken up across Canada and in the U.S., with Black’s encouragement, as communities have hung dresses in solidarity and to bring awareness MMIWG2S+. The 2019 National Inquiry into
MMIWG final report found “persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people,” and called for “transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country.” (Read the report at mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report.) The report has 231 calls for justice. CONTINUED ON P. 4
Davies Orchard Revitalization Project just got a revitalization itself. The project received $450,000 from a provincial COVID-19 response grant (the original ask was $1 million). Coun. Maureen Nicholson, who sits on the Metro Vancouver Parks committee, shared the news with Bowen Island Municipal Council at a Feb. 22 meeting. The grant was part of the province’s $100 million Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP) – the distribution of which was announced Monday morning. “[Monday] morning, I had a very excited conversation – excited on both ends – with Metro Parks, where they were thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, now what,’ and reviewing their budget, figuring out what the conversation would be with the metro parks committee, not all of whom are in support of the Davies Orchard Project,” said Nicholson. “But in cash injection $450,000 is bound to focus the mind.” Metro Vancouver created a revitalization plan for the orchard in 2018 but set it aside due to lack of funding, indicated Nicholson. There’s been little on-the-ground work done since Metro Vancouver demolished four orchard cottages in 2018. “To have received such a really significant contribution to that project is quite remarkable,” said Nicholson “And to be honest, I think, very unexpected, which says something about the value that the province is putting into recognizing the history, the community life.” Read more at bowenislandundercurrent.com.
Thinking of selling your luxury home? I have a 60 day solution. Call me at 604.338.3072 SHANA RICHMOND
SHANA@SHANARICHMOND.COM
604.338.3072
Events March 8, 2021 6:15 pm Regular Council Meeting
March 11, 2021 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm Virtual Public Open House All meetings are online via Zoom and
open to the public, unless noted otherwise.
bowenislandundercurrent.com
Is your house number visible? In an emergency, minutes matter. Fire, ambulance and police personnel need to quickly find your address.
The Rotary Club of Bowen Island sells blue and white reflective number signs for $35 plus $12 for a metal stake. Contact rotarynumber@gmail.com to order your house number sign.
Scholarship workshop for youth The Bowen Island Youth Centre is offering a free online Zoom-based session for students in grades 11 and 12 on scholarship research, application and writing. The panel comprising local youth Hudson Stiver, and community experts Ted Spear and Henry Campbell will cover topics such as where and how to find these scholarship opportunities, what you will need in terms of a resume and volunteer hours, what the donors are looking for, what you need for your scholarship binder and toolkit, and how to be prepared for upcoming deadlines. Register at
www.bowencommunityrecreation.com/
Stay home if you’re sick
Help us develop a Community Economic Plan for Bowen Bowen Island Municipality has just restarted work on a new Community Economic Development (CED) Plan that will help ensure an island economy that is diverse, sustainable, innovative, and serves the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors.
Clean your hands frequently 2 m or 6 feet
Keep a safe physical distance
Wear a mask in indoor public spaces
This project will examine short and long-term issues, needs, and opportunities to enhance existing and new businesses and associated employment complementary to objectives of the Official Community Plan.
604-947-4255 604-947-0193 bim@bimbc.ca
2:30 pm to 4:30 pm Bowen Island Council is considering a series of changes to the Land Use Bylaw. These changes are intended to better streamline and clarify definitions and regulations within the Bylaw. Among other things, these would amend definitions for height, grade, floor area, lot coverage, and lot line definitions. Changes would also occur to remove redundant definitions, and better refine items that may occur with setbacks to property lines. Council gave First Reading to Bylaw No. 528 to enact these changes at their December 14, 2020 meeting. The bylaw and staff reports can be viewed at www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/planning The Public Open House will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm via Zoom. Meeting ID: 840 6363 0567 Passcode: 783464 Questions? Inquiries regarding the proposed bylaws may be directed to Daniel Martin at 604-947-4255 or by email at dmartin@bimbc.ca.
Home Owner Grants Why wait for property tax time to claim your home owner grant to reduce your property tax bill? As of February 16, 2021 eligible homeowners can apply for their current year or their retroactive homeowner grants online at www.gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant Effective 2021 all home owner grant applications must be submitted directly to the B.C. provincial government through their secure online application. In fact, you can no longer apply through the municipality at all.
Tell your friends! We encourage all Bowen Island residents, businesses, and community members to have their say on the economic future of our community. Hop on board with sustainable, local economic development! Please go to our Citizenlab platform to participate.
You do still need to claim your Home Owner Grant before the tax due date, July 2, 2021 to avoid late fees. Not sure if you qualify for a Home Owner Grant? Learn more www.gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant or
call 1-888-355-2700 to speak to a live agent.
www.bowenisland.citizenlab.co
Contact Us Phone: Fax: Email:
Thursday, March 11, 2021
When you stand outside your house, is your house number visible? If you can’t see your house number, neither can we.
Sunday, Feb 28, 4-6 pm
Help slow the spread of COVID-19:
Virtual Public Open House Land Use Bylaw changes
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Thursday, February 25, 2021 • A3
The Doug fir falls BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor
After a last-ditch attempt to stay the felling of a 175 foot (ish) Douglas fir on the Miller Road fire hall lot, the tree crashed down at 11:45 a.m. Feb. 19. Late last year, BIM announced it had hired Liberty Contract Management to design and build the new fire hall (updated project cost estimated at $3.7 million). While earlier site clearing had left the tree in question – and previous BIM communications indicated attempts to design around the fir and a nearby cedar – BIM said earlier this month that Liberty had determined the trees need to come down. The trees were to be cut, “To accommodate site preparation and construction, additionally the location of the trees pose a safety risk to the building and are not in alignment with Fire Smart principles,” said a BIM staff report. Bowen Islanders Moira Greavan and Silvaine Zimmerman were at the fire hall site at 7:30 a.m. Thursday to protest the tree cutting. “Cutting down those two old trees (on top of all that was felled at Cape Roger Curtis, the golf course, and at Grafton Lake, and all the other developments I have witnessed while living here) will certainly have an impact on the muni’s “net zero” carbon goals,” Zimmerman wrote in a letter to the Undercurrent last week. “One which can in no way be made up for by planting a couple of saplings somewhere.” The age of the Douglas fir is unclear – estimates range from between 100 and 300 years old. After discussions with the fire chief and BIM CAO Liam Edwards, Greavan and Zimmerman conceded the loss of the tree mid-morning. “It’s not a decision we take lightly,” said Edwards Thursday morning. When making a decision like cutting down this tree, Edwards said there are considerations of the risk and consequences (and the consequence of such a tree falling
BRONWYN BEAIRSTO PHOTO
A 175 foot (ish) tall Douglas fir falls as the lot clearing for the new fire hall and emergency operations centre proceeds Feb. 18, 2021.
on the new fire hall and emergency operations centre would be great.) A petition Zimmerman circulated last week asking that BIM not cut down any more trees and that it enact a tree protection bylaw garnered more than 150 signatures by Thursday morning and prompted animated Facebook discussions. While this Douglas fir may be gone, Zimmerman hopes to save other island trees. “What we need to do is focus on having a comprehensive tree protection bylaw and the land alteration bylaw on Bowen,” said Zimmerman Thursday. “Otherwise this is just going to keep going.” “We are living in a climate crisis. We may have already stepped over the tipping point. How can we keep cutting
down those things that are actually storing carbon,” asked Zimmerman. “That has to be our priority right now.” The Doug fir log – or its pieces as it split apart when it fell – will for now remain on site as the municipality decides what to do with it. Coun. Rob Wynen mentioned at the Feb. 22 council meeting, the tree and the Facebook discussion it prompted. “I don’t think this was just about one tree being cut - I think it was a generalized feeling that people want us to really put a... higher emphasis on environmental considerations,” he said. “I just want to raise that forward.” (Wynen noted specifically development of the Community Lands in the Cove and the potential to lose forest cover through those projects.)
Getting the vaccine MORE DETAILS TO COME MONDAY, MARCH 1
AUDREY GRESCOE, BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Undercurrent
With mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics expected to start at the beginning of March, Bowen Islanders are wondering how their immunizations will work. Short answer? We know when and how but not necessarily where. Bowen Islanders 80 and older who receive home health-care support can generally expect vaccinations to be given in their homes beginning in early to mid-March. Those 80-year-old Islanders who are mobile can expect to receive a vaccination between March 15 and the end of March. But where to go has not been made clear. Bowen practitioners have been agitating for a clinic on the island, but so far there has been no official word about this. By Monday, March 1, detailed information about this vaccination plan will be available. There are three steps to the plan. First you register either by telephone (the number is not responding yet) or online. Then you will be contacted either by telephone or online to book an appointment. On your appointment day, you go to a clinic (so far, we don’t know where that will be for Bowen Islanders) where you check in and get your
shot. For the second dose, you will be notified by email, text or phone. There has been a report that postcards will be mailed to notify people when second shots will be given. Local Health Authorities are organizing immunization clinics in 172 B.C. communities. These widespread mass vaccination clinics will begin in April. The immunization of those over 80 is part of phase two of the province’s vaccination schedule. Phase two includes long-termcare facility staff, residents and essential visitors, as well as medical professionals, remote and isolated Indigenous community members, Indigenous people over 65 and vulnerable populations in certain congregated settings. Health-care workers now able to administer the vaccine will include dentists, paramedics, midwives, pharmacy technicians and retired nurses. They will be first in line for vaccinations. The general population vaccinations will begin in April, starting with those aged 79 to 75 and descending in five-year increments. Health authorities caution that having had a shot does not mean that people can disobey the advice about careful behaviour. Even those who are vaccinated can still be carriers. For more information visit gov.bc.ca/gov/ content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/vaccines#proof
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A4 • Thursday, February 25, 2021
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VIEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Compassion in a difficult time
DEAR EDITOR: Lately it’s been challenging to find the silver lining. So when someone in your community, who you don’t know well at all, offers you an amazing gift of kindness and compassion, I believe it to be a most beautiful thing – one that should be recognized amid all the chaos. We lost one of our beloved guinea pigs on the weekend; a rescued skinny pig, our little Sweet Pea. We had taken her to Bowen Vet earlier in the week. Dr. Midge treated her, and we all hoped she would get better. The next day, her condition declined, and we brought her back to Dr. Midge. She looked her over again and told us she needed more intensive care but understood that it would be difficult for us to spend much more money on her care. She said she wasn’t ready to give up on Sweet Pea and offered to treat her at home for the next few days just to give her a fighting chance. Because Sweet Pea had snuck into her heart, she offered to do this for us at no charge. Dr. Midge kept us posted throughout the night via email with photos and updates. Sadly, she called us Saturday morning to tell us that Sweet Pea had taken a turn, and passed away that morning. Her efforts towards helping our little creature were great. Thank you, Dr. Midge Ritchie, and your wonderful staff at Bowen Vet for trying to save our Little Sweet Pea and for the compassion you showed my daughter. We will never forget this kindness. We are so lucky to have you on Bowen to help all of us with our pets. Rebecca and Greenlee Lyne
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Concerning spraying
DEAR EDITOR: I refer to the BC Government notice on the back page of the Feb. 11 Undercurrent. Does anyone else share my concern about Victoria’s plan to spray our
island (or B.C. for that matter) with any or all of the substances listed in nine lines of their notice? I’m no chemist but even the names scare me. But I see that the project “agents” are from Calgary so that’s OK - they will be safely back home before our new rashes start to show from the ground water runoff. Surely our local government will have something to say about it. I, for one, would be prepared to volunteer my time to do some hand-weed-
ing of these noxious weeds so they could be corralled and disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner instead of allowing them to die and rot in place covered in whatever chemicals killed them and which will surely leach into our precious soil. Or perhaps we could get some government expert to come and convince us that all is well and safe - like they did to Erin Brockovich. Jerry Kaehne
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.
Still no MMIWG action plan CONTINUED FROM P. 1
Nearly two years later, the federal government has yet to release its promised action plan to respond to the report’s findings. Frequently REDress exhibits come with community events, panels and discussion of ongoing colonial violence but the Bowen-based dresses erupted organically. (See more information at jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/.) Sam Knowles put up a dress at the end of Cowan Road. “In this small, joint action I want to honour the memories of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and provoke awareness around the need for equality in attention to brutal and criminal acts to Indigenous communities,” she said. “Two of my sons and their girlfriends have helped re-hang the dress with me. Even these small interactions can provoke great emotion and conversation.” Bronwyn Beairsto 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 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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EDITOR Bronwyn Beairsto 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
SPECIAL THANK-YOU Audrey Grescoe
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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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Chip sale to come on the health centre lot DEAR EDITOR: Many islanders will have noticed the recent site preparation work for the new health centre on Miller Road next to the municipality’s site for the new fire hall. This marks a huge milestone for the community. After more than five years of planning, consultation, design, and permitting – and, of course, fundraising – we’ve begun actual site work for our health centre and plan to break ground in a few months. Thanks to the generosity of Bowen Island, better access to health care is becoming a reality. In clearing the health centre lot, our aim was to preserve as many trees as we could. As the work proceeded, we had a professional arborist on-site to make the call on the potential risks to our building and to the trees themselves – their
Trust’s time has passed
root systems and water supply – resulting from our building and infrastructure footprint. Everyone who worked on the site was dedicated to saving trees wherever they felt it could be done. It is a small site with extensive coverage required for the building footprint and requirements for parking, pedestrian and vehicular access and site services, and we were unable to safely retain the trees. Once construction is completed on the building, we will be able to proceed with landscaping to restore a natural beauty to the site. The health centre foundation is a charitable organization and is able to issue tax receipts for donations. Our thanks to local contractors and consultants who contributed time, labour and/or equipment for their generosity, expertise and hard work, including Randy Arnott of Twin Island
Extra Cove Bay costs hiked onto few connections DEAR EDITOR: Thank you for reporting on Council’s adopted property tax increase of 6.6 per cent plus parcel tax increases for water systems and for trying to untangle the complex financing proposed by BIM to pay for the water treatment plant. The electronic 2021 budget public engagement provided no Cove Bay Water System information until very late in January; you rightly point out the discrepancy between water connections to buildings and uses (some have one connection and are located on one taxation “parcel,” some have multiple connections on several “parcels”). The BIM website
PHOTO COURTESY OF BI HEALTH CENTRE FOUNDATION
Excavating, Shane Tweten of Greenscape Enterprises, and Daron Jennings of Bowen Island Properties. For their advice and direction helping us stay between the lines, thank you to Bonny Brokenshire, Patrick Graham and Paul Gaudet at the municipality. Thanks as well to Eddie Weismiller of J&E Backhoe, who is donating the use of a woodchipper to help deal with the debris. On Saturday, Feb. 26, the
shows different numbers of connections for Cove Bay Water System users, from 620 to 660. A $3.9 million provincial-federal grant for this project was received in March, 2017. BIM finalized the sale of part of Lot 2 of the Community Lands last year (for the new apartment building under construction). That $875,000 capital was not repaid to the surplus lands acquisition debt but rather set aside into a new land acquisition reserve. Present CBWS connections are charged a utility rate of $780 per year for up to 480 cubic meters of water, even if usage is minimal. This flat fee raises $500,000 annually for operation and contribution to a reserve fund. There is no conservation incentive to reduce potable water use for things like lawn watering or washing cars or boats. At a CBWS public information session September, 2019, staff indicated the borrowing required for the WTP would be a maximum of $2.533 million, with a 10 to 15 per cent contingency built in; the annual
wood chips will be available to the public by donation at our Lot 3 site on Miller Road. Thanks to Andy Rainsley at Bowenshire Stonework & Landscaping, who has volunteered to be there to help with loading— bring your own container and transport. We hope the chips from our site find good uses in the gardens of Bowen and they continue to nurture us all. Tim Rhodes President, Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation
costs to each connection would be $213 per connection. The flat-rate fee Parcel Tax for CBWS users is now proposed at $397 per connection. Part of the funds are coming from the land acquisition reserve, borrowing against funds that were collected from land sales of land not yet paid for. All of the combined Bowen Island municipal tax increases are not sustainable for homeowners, many retired and living on fixed incomes and pensions with a 0.5 to 1 per cent annual increase in income, if lucky. Parcel taxes especially are regressive, loading the same burden onto each property parcel regardless of the assessed value or size of parcel (and implied number of users). I hope that staff and Council are able to do better in future years. Long-term residents are sadly selling and leaving, and spiralling property taxes will not enable others to stay here. Bill Granger
Frazer ’s 2021 Sales to Date 1101 Lenora Road
1802 Emily Lane
1141 Lenora Road
Lot 3 Foxglove Lane
1296 Scarborough Road
Lot 11 Foxglove Lane
881 Russell Lane
1117 Miller Road
*sold as buyers’ agent
Thursday, February 25, 2021 • A5
*sold as buyers’ agent
FRAZER ELLIOTT Realtor®
604.910.3401
DEAR EDITOR: Re: John Sbragia’s letter to the editor in your Feb. 11 edition. John and many other folks deserve a big thank you for all their efforts in caring for our island’s well-being. However, we're no longer a child and we voted for a municipality two decades ago. The "good old days" of the 1970's and ’80's are long gone. The Islands Trust has extracted more than $4 million from us so far (since 2000), and is set to take more than $300,000 this year. The Trust’s annual requisition is based on a formula setting the annual tax on Bowen Island – there is no appeal process to this tax, which goes into “general revenues” of the Trust, with no specific undertaking or commitments to us. The draft budget shows the Trust is adding 4.87 per cent increase to Bowen Island, making the new total $317,517 due to it this year. These are taxes on top of all the other taxes we pay year after year, for municipal services. In its new budget, the Trust wants to add another four staff members [Editor’s note: two of these positions are grant-funded, temporary positions], to an already over staffed bureaucracy. In the Trust budget last year of $8 million dollars, $5 million was for staff wages [Editor’s note: much of the staff budget is in planning services, which Bowen does not pay into]. They are like a ship without a rudder and we're paying for it. Pay for it we will, because this requisition appearing on our property tax notices every year is bound to increase as our property prices increase in relationship to the other properties in the Trust area. That is how the formula works. In my opinion, council and hard-working staff at the muni do most of everything the Trust says it does. Where were they when the residents of Manion Bay needed help getting the derelict boats out of the bay? The homeowners and the muni staff did all the great work and in doing so, set an example for all coastal communities in Canada to follow. That $317,517 could go a long way in helping fund many projects that we need, like a new health centre, a new community centre and housing for young families who want to work and live on Bowen. There's so much more those funds go to help our island, so, again, thanks for the good efforts of those who have put so much into the Trust, but it's time to move on and have a better usage of our tax dollars. Tom Edwards
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A6 • Thursday, February 25, 2021
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‘Infectious as well’: practising kindness KAMI KANETSUKA
Contributor
I had wanted to write an article about kindness for some weeks when I heard that Feb. 17 is Random Acts of Kindness day and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer, suggested it be a week, saying “Kindness is infectious as
well.” Dr. Henry is well-known for her mantra “Be kind, be calm, be safe,” when she gives us current COVID information. For some of us it may have become a little irritating with the difficult news but it certainly feels like there is a great need for kindness. The Dalai Lama has always said “Kindness is my religion,” and he is full of compassion. Jacinda Ardern, on the day that she was sworn in as Prime Minister of New Zealand, said to an interviewer who asked her what she wanted to change, “I want the government to bring kindness back.” If we could truly take this surge of kindness to heart and practise random acts of kindness all the time, it would be
balm for healing some of the difficult situations we face. For those who have been forced to spend extended time with one another during this pandemic, often stress has caused random acts of unkindness or even violence. Remember help is always there if needed. This is no time for secrets. Sadly, I started to write this the day they started felling trees in the area of the proposed fire hall. I live just across the road and was in the middle of a guided meditation when I heard the sound of the chainsaw and then a loud thud. The guide was saying “be witness to life around you, listen to the sounds.” The recording was made in a meditation hut and the sounds of birds singing could be heard outside at the same time as I could hear the tree falling. The shock went right through my body and I felt strong feelings of grief and sadness. Nature has been solace for me in these difficult times, and this desecration was so close to home. As I started writing I brought my mind to the many acts of kindness I have received here on Bowen this past year. Fresh baked bread has been brought to me and meals have been delivered to the door. Small repairs have been made in my house and I have been driven to places I need to go. On the day of Random Acts of Kindness, a pot of narcissus and a card was handed to me. I wondered how kind I am and as I went out to see how many trees had come down, I had a strange feeling of acceptance of things that I cannot change. I was sad but not angry. I wondered if this was a way of being kind to myself too. My final wish is that not one unnecessary tree be taken down. Kindness to all living things, especially nature is necessary for the health of our planet. And perhaps one lesson to learn, as well as offering acts of kindness to others, we need to be kind to ourselves for the sake of our health.
Muni Morsels
CIDER AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CED plan – Work is (again) under way on the community economic development plan. BIM received $100,000 from the Rural Dividend Fund in 2019 to create a long-term economic vision for the municipality and completed a phase one report but paused the project when COVID-19 hit. BIM has recently hired Hill+Knowlton Strategies to coordinate and create the plan. “The project will examine short and long-term issues, needs, and opportunities to enhance existing and new businesses and associated employment,” said a BIM press release. Since the first phase was done before COVID-19, the new consultants will see if the themes of the previous report have changed since the pandemic hit, indicated BIM’s communications coordinator Sophie Idsinga. Local engagement is set to start Feb. 25 at bowenisland. citizenlab.com and include social media, email, ferry and other components. Completion is scheduled for September. BIM will also be hiring part-time consultation ambassadors to spread the word about the project. Cidery TUP – One of two cideries looking to start up on Bowen came to Bowen Island Municipal Council for a temporary use permit Feb. 22. Rob Purdy and Christine Hardie now own what was known as Riley’s Orchard and its 1,200 apple trees (with hundreds of varieties). The threeyear TUP is to temporarily allow “cidery” as a use of the land and will require at least 25 per cent of the apples used in the cider to come from the property. As the property is part of the rural residential two zone, which allows agricultural use and therefore the growth, processing and sale of crops, the TUP is needed to allow for apples from off-site to be added to the cider mix. The three years of the TUP are to test the viability of such a business before going through an entire rezoning, indicated Purdy and BIM staff. Council unanimously voted to give notice that it would consider the TUP for the 620 Laura Road property at its March 22 meeting and mail notice to all properties within 300 metres of said property. Budget – Council adopted the five-year financial plan (the budget) with Coun. Alison Morse opposed. This means there will be a 6.6 per cent property tax increase in 2021.
bowenislandundercurrent.com
Thursday, February 25, 2021 • A7
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Most people use potting soil and this works well. However, since I have learned about the importance of having biology in my soil, I don’t like to use store-bought potting soil that is sterile. Most potting soil also contains something like vermiculite or perlite which I prefer not to have in my garden. They are added to help the soil hold water.
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Now I start all my early plants as seedlings. The other plants that I like to start as seedlings are the ones that take a long time to grow or the ones that I just want to eat as early as possible. For me these are basil, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash. As well, I’ll often plant some of these directly into the soil once it is warm enough, just in case we
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Most windowsills produce seedlings that stretch toward the sun and become leggy. Since a strong seedling produces a strong plant, leggy seedlings are not a good way to start. You need a strong reliable light source. I can’t emphasize this enough. Weak light = weak seedlings. LED grow-lights are now available. They are powerful and efficient and don’t generate much heat.
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It used to be that I planted all my seeds directly into the garden but I soon discovered I lost way too many to hungry birds first thing in the spring. The cheeky towhee would join me as soon as I ventured into the garden and start tossing my straw everywhere searching for seeds. I can’t resist sowing a few seeds for the towhee each spring. Once there is more food readily available, the birds aren’t so intent on finding every seed.
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FROM CUTTINGS, THE B.I. GARDEN CLUB NEWSLETTER So, I am experimenting with using my own garden soil for raising seedlings. Soil for seedlings needs to be not too wet and not too cold. Several days before starting, I bring in a bucket of soil for warming up to household temperature. I choose soil from the better areas of my garden. The soil needs to have enough organic matter, so it is light and not compacted. If there are bugs, I pick them out and leave them in the garden.
week so it gets used to the outdoors. Begin by putting it outside for an hour in a sheltered location. Each day gradually add longer time and less shelter. What do you do when your plant is all ready for transplanting and you have a bad cold spell? This happened last year for me, so I decided to plant two of my squash plants anyway and see what happened. They survived but didn’t grow any bigger. It surprised me that they weren’t in anyway negatively affected by the cold. I assume they were busy establishing their roots and were hence ready to take off when the weather warmed. When it was finally warm enough, I planted my other seedlings. The seedlings that I had planted earlier took off and grew really quickly, the others took awhile to grow and produced fruit later than my cold weather plantings. So this year, as long as we have passed the danger of frost, I am going to plant all my seedlings as soon as they have five true leaves. You can still plant cold tolerant seedlings outside before last frost, if you cover them.
TIMING AND HARDENING OFF
It’s difficult to choose the absolute best time to start and to transplant. The goal is to have your seedlings ready to go outside as soon as the weather is favourable. Start by consulting your seed package. West Coast Seeds has a seed- starting chart for this area: westcoastseeds.com/pages/regional-planting-charts. The first two apparent leaves that come up are called cotyledon. They are not actually leaves but the power-pack from the seed that feeds the plant until it gets its own leaves and can photosynthesize. When a seedling has five true leaves it is happy to be transplanted. But first it is very important to harden it off for five days to a
To see more from the Bowen Island Garden Club’s monthly newsletter Cuttings, visit bowenislandgardenclub.ca/newsletter.
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A10 • Thursday, February 25, 2021
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Residential & Commercial Construction Challenging Engineering Installations Formworkk & Architectural Concrete Site Prep p & Servicing
B.C. doubling rebates for some homeheating, energy upgrades
for an electrical service upgrade when switching from a fossil fuel heating system to a heat pump; and • A $3,000 rebate on an interest-free loan when switching from a fossil fuel heating system to a high-efficiency heat pump and accessing the CleanBC low-interest financing program. Applicants must pre-register for a promo code by March 31, 2021, and complete their upgrades by June 30, 2021, to participate. People who want to switch from fossil fuel-based heating to more energy-efficient heat pumps also have access to low-interest financing as part of CleanBC. Depending on the type and efficiency of heat pump chosen by homeowners, the loans have interest rates as low as 0% over a five-year repayment period. The double rebate offer is being matched for the low-interest financing program for a limited time. Homeowners will automatically receive a $3,000 rebate on their loan for an eligible heat pump installed before June 30, 2021, without the need to register for a promo code. For double the rebate offer details, including specifics on how to apply, visit: betterhomesbc.ca/rebates/cleanbc-double-rebate. To learn more about the new low-interest financing program, visit:betterhomesbc.ca/ rebates/financing/
PRE-REGISTER BEFORE MARCH 31 CHRIS CAMPBELL
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The B.C. government says it’s doubling CleanBC Better Homes retrofit rebates for select home-heating and energy-efficiency upgrades. Select residential rebates to switch to high-efficiency heating equipment have increased as follows until June 30, 2021: • Double the rebate from $3,000 to $6,000 when switching from a fossil fuel heating system to a high-efficiency heat pump; • Double the rebate from $1,000 to $2,000 when switching from a fossil fuel water heater to a heat pump water heater; • Double the rebate from $500 to $1,000
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bowenislandundercurrent.com says Matt. “No problem, after radiation, chemotherapy and…” his girlfriend Moira Steward chips in. “No problem,” reiterates Matt. “But it’s a little different this time.”
DAYNA WOODMAN PHOTO
Local volunteer firefighter and a Bowen-raised kid Matt Laudrum is facing brain cancer with the support of many islanders.
‘It’s pretty amazing this island’ BOWEN ISLANDERS STEP UP TO HELP LOCAL MAN WHO HAS BRAIN CANCER
BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor
Matt Laudrum jokes that he’s got the hair texture of his dreams. All it took was chemotherapy and
radiation therapy to get there. The 36-year-old, born and raised on Bowen (his parents are Sandi and Ernie Laudrum), was diagnosed with astrocytoma glioma, brain cancer, in January 2017. “And I beat it – no problem,”
Really, where Matt wants to be these days is in the cab of his excavator. Georg Helenius introduced the then fresh-out-of-high school Matt to the trade more than 15 years ago and Matt never looked back. He worked on the Sea to Sky Highway construction and the Port Mann Bridge project before joining his current company Twin Island Excavation, which is working on subdivisions at Cowan Point. “My favourite place to be is in my machine,” says Matt. “But I’m not allowed to work right now.” Just as COVID-19 was taking root in B.C. in March 2020, an MRI showed that Matt’s tumour was back. Because of the size and placement of the tumour, it’s inoperable. The first round of cancer in 2017, doctors treated with radiation and IV and oral chemotherapy. It was an experience Matt calls a blessing in disguise. “It made me a better
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Thursday, February 25, 2021 • A11
person,” he says. “It made me who I want to be.” When the cancer came back in 2020, the oral medication (sent in the mail because of COVID-19) didn’t work. So now Matt needs harsh IV chemotherapy every four weeks. “His struggle’s gotten a lot harder because it is back and it always is harder the second time round,” says Moira. (She and Matt started dating near the beginning of his rediagnosis.) “They’re hoping to get it under control enough so that it doesn’t keep growing.” Matt and his twin brother, Mike, were raised on Bowen, attending BICS and West Vancouver Secondary School. After leaving the island for a decade to work on the mainland, Matt returned to Bowen nine years ago and the twins bought a house together and now serve on the volunteer fire department together. (Matt has since sold his part of the house to Mike.) Matt loves being a part of Bowen Island Fire Rescue but the cancer has too affected that. “I’m not allowed to go on any calls,” he says. There’s also the challenge of
COVID-19 – navigating a deadly pandemic while having a weakened immune system – but even there, there’s a bright side. “COVID is bad but it made it easier for me because everyone has to stay inside,” laughs Matt. As Matt’s not allowed to work, local fundraising giant Basia Lieske has set up a GoFundMe for him (gofundme.com/f/help-mattlaudrum-fight-brian-cancer). “That community support has actually been fundamental,” says Moira. “It has been so appreciated.” The fund has raised $22,000 so far and has a $60,000 goal. “It’s pretty amazing, this island,” says Matt. Matt has also had support from SwimBowen, Cates Hill Chapel and the Community Foundation’s Helping Hands fund. The islander offers thanks to everyone who has supported him – from Lieske, to the GoFundMe contributors, to the local organizations with support funds. “This, this community is amazing,” says Matt. “They’ve all come together.” “I just love my life over here.”
Don't be disappointed ~ Book your Bowen Contractor for spring or summer now. C 4.854" w X 3" h
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A12 • Thursday, February 25, 2021
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A love letter from B.I. Football Club Next month’s Hearth exhibit is from the kids: Primary Colours ANDREA BASTIN
Bowen Island Football Club
Spring is surely upon us. Longer days surely mean that we can get back on the pitch to work on some safe, phase one soccer! We have no idea what is ahead in terms of return to play instructions but know that we are constantly checking in and having conversations with other clubs to determine what the best, safest way to stay on the field is. In spite of the hardship, the B.I. Football Club (BIFC) has so much to be grateful for. And so, in the spirit of February, this is a love letter, from the club president, to those who have ensured BIFC was able to provide all that it did this year. As a club, we rallied the support of our membership, local organizations and community partners in order to maintain our ability to change programming on a dime, whenever a new public health announcement came out. For a while, it felt like we were altering plans weekly. By “we,” I mean Morgan Quarry and Dayna Purdy, respectively BIFC’s general manager and club coordinator extraordinaire. Morgan and Dayna were tireless, putting forward remarkable ingenuity when it came to adjusting programming to fit the needs of the community. There isn’t a sufficient word count that can express the BIFC’s gratitude to the leadership these two demonstrated this year. A genuine, heartfelt thank you from the BIFC board to you both. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the role that BIFC’s board of directors played in the success of the club this year. I know that I could not have endured the sheer volume of strategic thinking required this year without a dedicated board of directors who attended last-minute meetings and provided thoughtful guidance throughout the year. Thank you! As it happens from time to time, some of
our board members are moving on after years of dedicated service; Julian (Barrera) – we are looking at you! You have dedicated your time, expertise and historical knowledge of the club year after year after year. You are going to be missed. We’re not even clear what it means to lose you, but know that you’ve left a prevailing legacy that will not soon be forgotten. Deidre (Farah), in your many BIFC roles as coach, board member and technical director, your support of BIFC was above and beyond, every day. Melodie (Shannon), your feedback and input into the governance direction that the board starting leaning towards was impeccable and valued. You’ve given a ton of time to the club, and thankfully your coaching and managing skills are sticking around for a while longer. We also want to acknowledge the incredible generosity of the Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation (supported by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund, Community Foundations of Canada and the Bowen Island Community Foundation.) We could not have done it without the generous grant support that this local organization provided. Sheree, thank you for picking up the phone to answer questions and support us through the grant process. And last (but certainly not least) we could not have done it without the support of our Bowen Island Community Recreation partner and our incredibly dedicated and talented coaches. We’re not done yet! We have a pandemic friendly spring session to roll out, and beyond Morgan and Dayna’s work, this is entirely due to the commitment of BIFC coaches. Thank you. We did it, we’re doing it, with all of this and more. We are asking for all club members to please join us for our AGM (another Zoom meeting!) on March 3 at 7 p.m. If you are interested in learning more about the club and would like to get involved, please email info@bowenfc.com for info as well as a link to join our AGM. Prizes to be had, critical information to be shared!
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
FOOD BANK DROP-OFF
Masses are live streamed everyday. Times posted at holyrosarycathedral.org Contact Angela Powell 604-947-2515
www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260 (661 Carter Rd.)
Now offering worship services via Zoom. A link available on website.
Pastor: Phil Adkins
Every Bowen Island Community School student has been invited to submit one piece of Bowen-themed curiosity-inspired artwork to go into an art show at the gallery in the Cove, hosted by The Hearth, and also to have their artwork featured on art cards that will be sold online on a print-on-demand basis. The BICS PAC (Parent Advisory Council) is running the online sale of student art cards (and notebooks) as a school fundraiser. Stay tuned for more information on how to order. One example of what you will see at the exhibit is artwork created by a class that was inspired to find their own stories in nature and the written word. Students went out into the forest and created environmental artworks using found-on-the-ground natural materials. Each eco-art composition was photographed and then left in place to naturally decompose and remain part of the landscape. Students wrote short stories to go with each of their artworks as part of their thoughtful exploration of ideas inspired by the book and their personal connections to Bowen Island. The Hearth Gallery is hosting the ‘Primary Colours: Art from the Kids on the Rock’ art exhibit at the gallery
SAM ADKINS PHOTO
Dalia in the forest creating a nature-based art work that goes with her Grandfather Tree story. Dalia’s Grandfather Tree story: “This is Grandfather Tree. It is the oldest tree on Bowen Island. It is over 100 years old and is huge. Lots of other trees and ferns grow around it. It is near the ocean. In the summer it is so pretty. It never looks bad. If you stand in the right spot on a sunny day, it feels like you are standing in a spotlight.” and online March 25 to April 12. Visit Thehearth.ca for more information about hours and to access the show online. Mark your calendars for a new art exhibit you won’t want to miss. This large, bright and inclusive multi-media art show will showcase youthful creativity. This new annual art show features artworks and stories from the talented and diverse group of elementary school-aged kids at BICS and their CurioStories Bowen-inspired art and stories. CurioStories is a year-long inquiry-based learning project that is fueled by student curiosity and learning experiences that explore our connections to place, self and others.
Queen of Capilano Ferry Schedule October 13 to May 15 2021 DEPART BOWEN ISLAND DEPART HORSESHOE BAY
ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
CATES HILL CHAPEL
SARAH HAXBY
Bowen Island Community School
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
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Thursday, February 25, 2021 • A13
Record breaking mini art show THE MOST MONEY FOR A SINGLE MINI ART WORK, THE MOST OVERALL MONEY RAISED – IT WAS A GOOD WEEKEND FOR THE HEARTH
BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor
After the dust settled – and after a couple of polite but fierce socially distanced bidding wars – the Hearth’s mini art show raised a record-breaking $15,885. A perennial favourite event, the mini art show sees local artists donating small artworks to be auctioned off as a fundraiser for the arts council. Usually, there’s a show-capping gala and auction, which obviously couldn’t happen
KATHLEEN AINSCOUGH PHOTO
Mike Arthur at the warming station set up for mini art works bidders.
this year. Instead, the Hearth held a socially distanced pick-up event Saturday where islanders came down to the gallery and placed their last-minute silent auction bids. And islanders raised more money than ever for the arts organization, even without the gala ticket and bar sales of regular years. “In other words, the auction was a huge success,” says Jami Scheffer, executive director at The Hearth. Scheffer offers a number of reasons for the success, including a strong Hearth team, locals wanting to support the event and the Hearth and the quality of a record-breaking number of artworks. “I certainly was so impressed with the quality and the medium mix,” says Scheffer. (This was her first mini art show, having joined the Hearth last spring.) “There was something for everyone.” More than 80 artists donated works to the show. “Maybe during these weird times, people have got more space in their heads to express themselves creatively,” she muses.
Bowen businesses up for Small Business BC Awards
The nomination and voting deadline for Small Business Awards BC is coming up March 7. “The awards recognize the contributions and achievements of BC small business owners,” the website says. (See smallbusinessbc.ca/awards/nominees to vote). Voting rules include: one vote per person, per nominee, per category. (So you can vote for your favourite business in every category they’re nominated in). As well, votes are normalized based on population. (So small towns can have a fighting chance against big towns). One can vote right up until 11:59 p.m. March 7. After voting closes, the top five businesses in each category move onto the next round, which includes a 10-minute pitch to judges. Ten Bowen Island businesses are nomi-
nated for awards in five categories.
For best community impact: The Village Baker Positively Fit Catching Stars Gallery Bowen Island Pub Nectar Yoga Bowen Island Integrated Health The Watering Can Supply Bowen Pet Supply
For best innovation:
KATHLEEN AINSCOUGH PHOTO
Denise Pugash with her prize - “Of the Earth and Of the Sky” by Monti Blackwell.
for $1,000. (Scheffer believes the previous record was in the $800 range.) “It was great,” says Scheffer. “And a great group, a great team that pulled it all off.” Scheffer also adds that Hearth memberships are on sale – see
more at thehearthartsonbowen.ca. Next up at the Hearth, opening Feb. 25 is “You are Here,” a travelling show put on by the North Shore Culture Compass, which created a local art calendar for 2021.
Special Event! Islands 2050: Virtual Open House March 3, 7–9 p.m. Islands Trust wants to hear your views about updating the Policy Statement. Register at: islandstrust.bc.ca/islands2050
Nectar Yoga
For best solopreneur: The Soup Fairy The Watering Can Supply Zoom Zoom Bowen
For premier’s people’s choice: Nectar Yoga Bowen Island Integrated Health
For best immigrant entrepreneur: Bowen Pet Supply
About the Shaw outage last week After the Feb. 17 Shaw outage on Bowen Island, that saw islanders without internet for about an hour, folks on the Bowen Island Everything Else Facebook group, wondered if the outage may have affected internet speeds. Here’s what Chethan Lakshman, Shaw’s vice president of external affairs, had to say: “We are currently not seeing disruption of service in Bowen Island. While some
There were a number of new artists to the show this year, notes Scheffer. For example, Sue Rickett. “She hasn’t painted in a very long time but she’s a very, very accomplished painter,” says Scheffer. “She accepted the challenge…and now she’s back into it again. She said that’s all I needed was that push.” “I think this was a kickstart as well for people who have been maybe too affected by their emotions,” says Scheffer, “and now they feel like the door is open and their creativity is flowing.” Islanders also showed up in droves (a relative term not literal as this is still a pandemic) to see and bid on the art works. “I think people were just biting to get out and get in somewhere and feel part of something bigger than them,” says Scheffer. “The whole three weeks the show was up, it was a constant flow of people.” About 65 people acquired art works, including two bidders who took home eight art works each. This year also saw the highest-ever bid for a painting, says Scheffer. Monti Blackwell’s “Of the Earth and Of the Sky” sold
customers in Bowen Island experienced a disruption to their services last Wednesday due to a damaged fibre line, that damage was quickly repaired, and services in the area were restored within hours. Of course, if customers are still experiencing issues with their services, we encourage them to reach out to us online or by phone to speak with a care agent who can help resolve any problems or concerns.”
Islands Trust Council Notice of 2021 Islands Trust Council Public Meeting Dates March 9–11 Online/ by phone
June 8–10 Online/ by phone
Sept 21–23 In-person, Nanaimo
Nov 30–Dec 2 In-person, Victoria
Meeting details are subject to change. Visit islandstrust.bc.ca. Posted at Islands Trust office locations: Victoria Office 200–1627 Fort St ! 250-405-5151
Northern Office 700 North Rd, Gabriola Island ! 250-247-2063
" information@islandstrust.bc.ca
Salt Spring Office 1–500 Lower Ganges Rd ! 250-537-9144
A14 • Thursday, February 25, 2021
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Get to know your neighbour
for us, because in Michael’s business we were always here a few years, there a few years. So it’s pretty special for us.
NEXT UP IN OUR NEW Q&A SERIES: DIANA KAILE
A few weeks ago we launched our new Q&A “Get to know your Bowen Island neighbours” series with randomly selected Undercurrent subscribers. Seventh up is Diana Kaile
FILE PHOTO
When did you come to Bowen? Fifteen years ago. And what is important about this number is it’s the first time we’ve ever lived so long in one place. It’s a record
How did you come to live on Bowen? So we visited friends who have a home on Old Eagle Cliff Road. They invited us for lunch. I was helping her in the kitchen, Michael was having a drink on the deck with our friend. I helped Betty take the lunch out onto the deck and I looked at the view and I fell in love. And I just thought, the peace and quiet, and I turned to Michael and I said ‘What about Bowen?’ Years before we had a connection because we used to sail and we’d always bring our boats in and anchor in Deep Bay. And
Thursday, February 25, 2021 • A15
then over the years, I collected Sue Clarke’s pottery and it travelled around the world with us. And I feel it’s now come back to its final resting place. Where on Bowen do you live? We live on Hummingbird Lane, which is aptly named as we are home to several families of hummingbirds. Fill the ferry lineup gap or don’t fill in the gap? I do both. If I get to the corner there and the traffic goes up the hill, I take a left. If there’s not much traffic, I take a right. I do both. But I’m not naughty! I don’t turn right if the cars are all the way up the hill. What’s your favourite Bowen fact? When people leave Horseshoe
Bay on the ferry and they say ‘20 minutes to sanity.’ What’s a Bowen Islander? I think a Bowen Islander is a person who can find more positives about the ferry than negatives. And what’s your favourite COVID19 balm or activity? Walking every day because it connects me with nature and feeds my soul. But as important is my daily yoga practice because that brings me peace and calm and helps me to cope during these demanding times. And brings increased flexibility and energizes me for the day. So that’s what really got me through COVID. And my husband of course being in my bubble.
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live the life you love To reserve a spot on this page, contact us at 604-947-2442 or ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com
Licensed Electrical Contractor 778.266.6465 www.bowenislandelectrical.com
A16 • Thursday, February 25, 2021
C A L E N D A R
ONGOING FEB. 25MARCH 22
You Are Here Art Show The Hearth Thursday-Monday 11 am-4 pm Original art works from the North Shore Culture Compass 2021 You Are Here Calendar. More information: thehearthartsonbowen.ca
THURSDAY FEB. 25
Rotary Club talk: Tim Pardee Zoom 7:30 pm Tim Pardee from
bowenislandundercurrent.com Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club talks the Terminal Creek Hatchery. More information at bowenrotary.com
SUNDAY FEB. 28
Teen centre presents the Scholarship Session: finding dollars for scholars Zoom 4-6 pm "Learn how to access free money to help you get your postsecondary education under
way. Bowen teens and parents are invited." Register for free bowencommunityrecreation. com. For more info: jstiver@ bimbc.ca
WEDNESDAY MARCH 3
Virtual open house: Islands 2050 Policy Statement amendment project Online 7-9 pm Trustees and staff will co-host an overview of the Islands 2050 project and provide
time for questions. Register: islandstrust.bc.ca/trust-council/ projects/islands-2050/ BI Football Club AGM 7 p.m., Zoom. More details p. 12
THURSDAY MARCH 4
TOTI presents: Bard on the Broadband "Live on ye olde YouTube" 7:30 pm A "variety-style evening" featuring "snippets of the Bard's greatest hits - as well as some beloved contemporary tidbits inspired by his works." More information
TUESDAY MARCH 9
Introducing Metro Vancouver's Clean Air Plan - how we can reach 45% emission reductions by 2030?:
Metro Van webinar 10:30-11:30 am Part of Climate Action in Metro Vancouver webinar series - get more info/ register bit.ly/2Mov52i Islands Trust Council Online 9 am See more information: islandstrust.bc.ca/ media/350906/2021-05_it_tc_ march-trust-council-announced_ nr_final.pdf Islands Trust evening delegations and town hall session Online 7-9 pm
WEDNESDAY MARCH 10
Islands Trust Council Online 9 am
THURSDAY MARCH 11
Islands Trust Council Online 9 am
Book your complimentary meet & greet and first walk or drop in. Rates are $25 for group hikes and start at $15 for drop-ins. Dog Walking
Cat Care
Group Hikes Individual Walks Socialization
778 898 5950 |
Home Visits Litter Maintenance Playtime
www.barkpetcare.ca
HOME FOR RENT
SearchBC TrainBC WorkBC A good job makes all the difference, especially now. As BC’s economy recovers, WorkBC can help you find your place – explore new opportunities, upgrade your skills, or train for a new career.
Oceanfront 2 bedroom house in Eaglecliff area. Lots of steps (not suitable for children). Looking for single person or couple. No pets. 2200 per month. Tony 1-403-269-3505 before 11 am.
DEPARTS SUN to THURS FRI & SA. ed SNUG COVE 11:15PM ns suspend5AM ru HORSESHOE BAY 12:30AM muter m o c d n a ight Afternoon Commuter Runs S Late n
Mon - Fri Horseshoe Bay - Snug Cove
We’re still here for essential services such as ambulance transport and we’re here for your private charter needs. Please feel free to call us with your questions as we chart these waters together.
Proudly Celebrating 42 Years of Trusted Transport for Bowen Island & Howe Sound Telephone: 604-947-2243 Cellular: 604-250-2630 Tug & Barge services Special Event Cruises PRIVATE CHARTERS AVAILABLE ANYTIME
WorkBC.ca/FindYourPlace
email: cormorantmarine@telus.net web: cormorantwatertaxi.com
604-947-2243
Since 1978