Bowen Island Undercurrent April 1 2021 by Bowen Island Undercurrent

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ALLIGATORS IN GRAFTON: Beaver control method proposed

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THURSDAY, APRIL 1 , 2021 A BOWEN MUNI INCORPORATED IN 1930?

VOL. 47 NO. 13

BIUndercurrent

BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com

Documents discovered in old jacket at Knick Nack Nook PAGE 12

Queen of Cap, Paddlewheeler? NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT PADDLEWHEEL PROPOSED FOR QUEEN OF CAPILANO

ANNALISE BARBER PHOTO

KIDS EDITION: Although Ten-month-old Kasper lives in Victoria, he likes to stay on top of the news and issues in his

Mom’s old home town of Bowen Island.

Zoom accidentally merges Bowen and Aus councils It was a council meeting like no other March 29 when Bowen Island councillors accidentally approved a highway route through a park…in Australia. A Zoom glitch merged the New South Wales-located Municipality of Bowen and Bowen Island Municipality council meetings, just as both were coming to critical votes.

Bowen Island Municipality councillors thought they were voting on a minor route adjustment for the cross-island multi-use path. Municipality of Bowen councillors were voting on a contentious proposal to build a six-lane highway through a public park. “I thought something might be

wrong when there were eight ‘I’s and six ‘nay’s,” said mayor of the Municipality of Bowen, Roger Curtis. “I thought it was just an echo.” Once Curtis declared the motion passed, no one could figure out who had the authority to undo the approval.

The Queen of Capilano’s next retrofit could indeed be retro. BC Ferries is considering adding a giant electricity-powered paddlewheel to the stern of Bowen’s ferry. Where the ship still has 20 years left in its lifespan, the pressure of reaching net zero carbon is mounting. A paddlewheel could provide a relatively cheap solution, says project lead Bob Service. “It’ll double the crossing time but cut our carbon emissions in half.” Service’s grandfather was a steamship navigator on the Yukon River in the 1930s and he grew up hearing stories of the boats. Inspired by this history and the practicalities of steam technology, Service has spent the past 30 years modernizing steam technology, including paddlewheels. Where on old boats wood or coal-fired furnaces created steam to pump engines that powered arms that would in turn pump the paddlewheel, Service has created a system to electrically power the pitman arms pumping the wheel. Power would come from a wind turbine added on top of the wheelhouse and solar panels lining the entire exterior of the ship starting three metres above sea level. “It’ll also be a tourist draw,” said Service. “People love paddlewheels.” When asked why a paddlewheel and not a battery, Service pointed to ongoing concern about how to power ferry batteries safely around seawater. “With this paddlewheel, the energy’s already there.” The current diesel engine would remain as backup, particularly for rough crossings, said Service.

CONTINUED ON P. 12

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A2 • Thursday, April 1, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Events

Seeking Public Comment

310 Salal Rd

1180 Miller Road

Reduction of side setback for new garage/workshop

Board of Variance Meeting via Zoom 1:00 PM on Tuesday, April 6, 2021

For DVP-11-2020

April 12, 2021 6:15 pm Regular Council Meeting

For BOV-2021-0034

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A Development Variance Permit application has been submitted for 310 Salal Road (shown below) to reduce the required setback from 7.5 metres to 3.0 metres.

All meetings are online via Zoom and

open to the public, unless noted otherwise.

The variance is to enable the construction of a garage/ workshop accessory building on an existing parking area. The reduction in the setback will enable the construction to maximize the existing cleared area.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

A Board of Variance application has been submitted for 1180 Miller Rd (shown on ﬁgure) to reduce front setback. Variance will facilitate a storage shed by the parking area for items that do not need to be carried up the hill to the house.

Help slow the spread of COVID-19:

MORE INFORMATION:

Stay home if you’re sick

The application may be viewed online at

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/planning or at Municipal

Hall between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays).

MORE INFORMATION AT MUNICIPAL HALL: The application may be viewed at Municipal Hall between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays) or on the municipal website at

Clean your hands frequently

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/planning TIMELINE:

2 m or 6 feett

For instructions on how to participate, go to:

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME: Written submissions may be delivered to Municipal Hall: In person, by mail, by fax or by email to bim@bimbc.ca Submissions may also be made to Mayor and Council at the meeting: 6:15 PM on Monday, April 12, 2021 Online via Zoom For instructions on how to submit comment, go to: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/council-meetings

Wear a mask in indoor public spaces

Questions? Please contact Daniel Martin, Manager of Planning & Development, at 604-947-4255 ext 230 or by email at dmartin@bimbc.ca

Contact Bowen Island Municipality ADVERTISEMENT April 1, 2021

Phone: Fax: Email: Website:

Written submissions are accepted up to April 2, 2021 and may be delivered to Municipal Hall (contact information below): • In person • By mail • By fax • By email to planning@bimbc.ca Verbal submissions may also be made to the Board at the meeting: 1:00 PM on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 Online via Zoom

Keep a safe physical distance

PAID

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME:

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

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

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday Closed statutory holidays

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/board-of-variance Questions? Please contact Emma Chow, Island Community Planner, at 604-947-4255 ext 247 or by email at echow@bimbc.ca

Spring Clean-UP 2021 April 19 to April 24

Buy your decal before April 13 at the General Store, then make your drop-off appointment by calling Bowen Waste at 604-947-4255.

www.bowenwastesolutions.com

Find us on Facebook Bowen Island Municipality

Subscribe to our mailing list bowenislandmunicipality.ca/subscribe

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Cape on Bowen chapter closes CONSERVATION OF WATERFRONT REMAINS A POSSIBILITY: CEO CANDY HO

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

The story of Cape Roger Curtis is a mire of hurt. But, its latest chapter closed quietly in February as Cape On Bowen CEO Candy Ho ended a master plan project that would have proposed increased density in exchange for increased public land and diverse housing. The plan, developed over the past couple of years, would have involved official community plan and land use bylaw amendments, moving the development from 32 tenacre estates to about 430 living units (estimated at 750 to 850 people) with more than half of the land dedicated as park space. No plan was submitted to the municipality. The project ended after a recent survey indicated that any kind of rezoning would be a contentious affair. (It recorded 39 per cent approval for the plan.) Ho and Cape on Bowen consultant John Dowler sat down with the Undercurrent in March (over Zoom) to discuss the decision to end the project.

Best use of land

Ho maintains that the effort of the past couple of years was to see if they could “do better” with the land. “Only a small part, honestly, a small part of our objective was to potentially find a plan that is more interesting to a new investor,” she said. “Something that’s more interesting than 59 ten-acre estates. “The other major, major objective was to heal the wounds to come to an understanding with the island,” said Ho. Which is why, Ho says she feels huge relief after ending the project. “I don’t want to cause anxiety for the island,” she said. “The highest value of the survey for us was to really come to that understanding. Not just through conversation, anecdotes, but [through] something that is quantified and reliable,” she said. “That gives us the chance to be at peace. “We didn’t think 59 exclusive estates to just 59 families serves the land justice but if that’s what the majority of people feel good about, then we can stop feeling so terribly ashamed and guilty about those 59 estates. “Because in the past, we did not want to release them. We did not want to sell them. We wanted to do better with the land.”

The opposition

As it was a decade ago, the density asked in exchange for preserved land and diverse housing proved too much. Even among those who liked the idea of a village out at the Cape, the number of units seemed high said Dowler. “It echoes what we heard right from the start, is people didn’t want a lot of people living out there.” Ho noted that there were comments that the level of density next to the conserved land could endanger the conservation objective. The Tunstall Bay community also highlighted concern about traffic on Whitesails Drive. The once quiet dead-end road has seen the effects of people living at and visiting the Cape.

For Dowler, who campaigned against the Cape development a decade ago and against the docks, his priority was to preserve land. “So for me, I would still like to see some way to accomplish that,” said Dowler. “I was sort of privileged to have the chance to see how [the proposed unit] numbers were arrived at. So I was satisfied that it didn’t have to do with greed. It just had to do with the economics of land of that value.” “The total number [of units] required to make it work was too high because of infrastructure costs,” said Ho. “Land costs, out of the whole picture, was maybe 30 per cent of the economic equation.”

Waterfront preservation

The Cape on Bowen will release lots to market this summer, said Ho, but for now that won’t include the remaining 81.62 acres of waterfront. “[The shareholders] are giving me some time to work on the conservation,” said Ho. Inspired by the deal with the Bowen Island Conservancy in October, where an anonymous donor bought three waterfront lots for the conservancy, Ho is looking into eco gifting and tax benefit programs to conserve the waterfront. “There are just so many incentives right now in the world to try to facilitate this kind of…giving economic value to ecology, so that we have a chance of taking it out of real estate development.” Ho is looking for opportunities where land owners aren’t expected to simply give away land. She looks to giving economic value to ecology of near equal or greater value than residential, commercial or any kind of structural land development. “The world is still very much running with the economic realities and practicalities,” she said. “We can help landholders, land owners, make a case where they’re not the martyrs – the single party that’s giving up tens of millions of dollars to save planet Earth.” It’s not just the waterfront Ho hopes to protect. The shareholders have also agreed to register more enforceable protections on the land (covenants), said Ho. She made an environmental and land value case for voluntarily adding protections. “People choose to have a home here…for nature,” she said. “[Shareholders] know that they need to protect it better…Not just hope for it.” Ho has asked for a proposal from the environmental consultant for some effective and enforceable measures. But there is some need for haste to put protections in place before lands come to market. “Because our recent two sales saw a lot of clearing,” said Ho. However, what to protect and how is also a conundrum. The entire area is a mix of rare ecotypes and ecologically significant, said Dowler. “That was the challenge right from the beginning. It’s rare for Bowen, and it’s relatively rare for the whole region. So in a perfect world, the whole thing would be a park. “But we have gone into depth about why this isn’t a perfect world. “I think what this plan was trying to achieve was to have a representative sample

of all the various types of smaller eco types,” he said. “It’s a really good question as to whether 10 acre lot zoning in itself is going to protect all those eco types but that’s certainly the aspiration.”

After two years, what was learned?

The idea of doing public consultation before anything is submitted to council, for Dowler, was a positive aspect of this exercise. “The more the public can participate before anything is submitted, the better use there is of municipal time,” he said. “So you don’t put highly contentious projects through the whole process,” “The more chance people have to discuss the issues and learn from them,” he said. Another point, was the idea of paying market rate for land. “This idea that land that should be preserved for its environmental value has to be sold at a lower than market rate…seems to be a way of discouraging that practice,” said Dowler. “I think if we want to preserve land, we have to be willing to buy it at the market rate. I don’t think we can just expect people to always be gifting it...even though that’s great if they would.” Dowler also said he’d like to see the day where one could have developers and environmentalists in the same room. “It’s a little too easy to go to the barricades and just not understand each other,” he said. “Because if you don’t understand the other person’s needs, you don’t really have to consider their needs. “If you see each other as human beings, you realize, okay, it’s not us against each other. It’s us against this impending doom that we’re all facing.” “Scrapping between ourselves doesn’t make sense but also making decisions that nobody wants, wouldn’t have made sense. Like in this case, I think the conclusion is a good one,” said Dowler. “It was clear that the numbers were just not right for Bowen Islanders so don’t think that we’re upset about that. “What I valued about this process is there was a sincere effort to start a conversation, give as much information as clearly as possible over a long period of time. And I think that, if we can build on that, it’s going to have a better outcome for everybody.” The survey results report is available at envisionthecape.ca.

PHOTO CREDIT

Candy Ho and John Dowler in 2019.

Thursday, April 1, 2021 • A3

A brief history of Cape controversy

Tensions around use of the Cape began more than a decade ago when developers Don Ho (Candy’s father, who maintains a small non-controlling share of the development. Candy has no shares) and Edwin Lee bought Cape Roger Curtis. The previous owners of the more than 600 acre property had left the Cape as is and it acted like a public park, but after Don Ho and Lee bought it, they soon had development proposals in the works. The proposals went through several iterations and came to a head in the 2008 civic election. On the table was an official community plan bylaw amendment that had passed first reading. Don Ho had proposed to save the Cape’s waterfront for a public park, instead building a dense neighbourhood a little to the interior. Included in this neighbourhood would have been both single and multifamily housing and a retirement community. The problem was, the Official Community Plan only allowed for 224 units on the property and the developers wanted to build more than 500, saying that’s what needed to be done to make the project profitable. In the early days of the new council in April 2009, the first reading of the OCP amendment was rescinded. The master plan process had seen millions of dollars, years of work, and the 2008 financial crisis had hit, and so the developers reverted to what the land was already zoned for – 59 ten-acre lots. In its 2011 update, the OCP was amended to reflect the 59 lots at the Cape with the caveat that council would entertain further amendments to density in the area. A few years after the neighbourhood debate was laid to rest, tensions once again came to a head when waterfront property owners wanted to build docks on the cape shore. After a couple of (very long) docks were built out from Cape lots, sparking local outrage, council got involved, enacting bylaws to limit the length of docks and eventually banning them altogether at the Cape. The fifth and last dock allowed at the Cape began construction in August 2018, erected by Zuo Zongshen, a motorcycle-made billionaire. Between 2013 and 2015, the municipality repeatedly denied Zongshen building permits for a dock, as each time he came back with a revised design, the bylaw had changed to be increasingly prohibitive. So Zongshen sued the municipality to be able to build his dock and in August 2017 the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled in his favour. The possibility of a Cape rezoning reared its head during the 2018 municipal election when an accidentally released prospectus quoted two municipal candidates voicing support for the idea of an aging in place development out at the Cape. In 2019, Candy Ho became CEO of the Cape on Bowen (she was previously the executive officer) and launched a multiyear process of developing a master plan proposal for the remaining 35 lots of the Cape (now 32).

A4 • Thursday, April 1, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

VIEWPOINTS EDITORIAL

It’s been another really hard week. As the third wave keeps pushing COVID-19 cases, including variants, higher, restaurants have been forced to close indoor dining. All group indoor exercising has been halted. With vaccinations, we’re hopefully close to some sort of freedom, but we need to keep finding ways to support our local businesses. The @boweneats (Restaurants on Bowen) Facebook page has been sharing local menus and updates from Bowen eateries for those on Facebook. There was also devastating violence on the North Shore over the past week – the stabbings in Lynn Valley and the Masonic Temple fires. (See our sister paper’s incredible coverage: nsnews.com). One may wonder, why, in a time and week like this we’d proceed with April Fool’s jokes. Well, April Fool’s is one of my favourite days of the year. The opportunity to lean into absurdity and humour is something I cling to. But even I had trouble mustering ideas and enthusiasm. Yet, that’s when I think it’s most important to find small reasons to smile. –Bronwyn Beairsto, editor

CORRECTION:

Our March 25 page 1 article ‘cideryy proceeds’ stated the incorrect opening hours allowed under the TUP – the allowed opening hours were reduced to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. We apologize for the mistake.

There are better uses for IslandsTrust funds

DEAR EDITOR: In your March 25 edition, one of our Bowen Islands Trustees, Sue Ellen Fast listed all of the things the Islands Trust is providing for Bowen. It was half a page of feel-good nothings. Our current Municipal government is currently providing them now, or can provide them if needed. This year the trust increased our cost by another $8,000 to $311,000 per year, plus their travel and lodging costs to send our Island Trustees to their meetings. I think we could better use that $311,000 on Bowen to help build our new municipal building and fire hall. Rondy Dike

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

On efforts to free the two Michaels

DEAR EDITOR: I worked for five years in the faculty of law at City University in Hong Kong from 1989 to 1994 – just before the “return” of Hong Kong as a British colony to China. It was a time of great flux with democratic values enshrined too little too late but all sides interested in showing how advanced and forward-thinking they were. One project was the translation of decisions from the highest courts in China into English for publication in law journals to showcase the efforts of the courts in developing practices that would be valued by new trading partners. I worked on one decision where a man had been tortured to obtain a confession in a property crime – no violence, and if my memory is correct, it was a fraud – and after he had served a long sentence (10 or 15 years), his case had been reviewed, overturned and a new trial ordered because someone else had confessed to the crime. Pointedly, the reasons did not include that the confession was forced and therefore untrustworthy. At the time, the students and faculty were fascinated with the work coming out of Canada and what was then still a relatively new Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In part, perhaps, that was why I had been asked to work on this one decision. My impression was that the people wanting to publish the deci-

sion were very proud of the apparent fairness of the courts in offering a new trial but they were oblivious to the human rights concerning torture, an inordinately long prison sentence, the effect of more stress and effort and unknown results of a new trial for someone who for all intents was most likely not guilty in the first place and how a full pardon and apology, an admission of mistake and fault, was not in the repertoire. I think of this one experience with the courts of China when I imagine the horrors experienced by Michael Spavor and Michael Korvig. I personally have very little faith that the court system has improved to any extent or at all and believe that anyone travelling to or doing business in China needs to be hyper-aware of its totalitarian system. In addition, I applaud all diplomatic and political efforts to pressure China to change. The regime seems to really hate logical criticism! I encourage everyone to drop a quick note to Marc Garneau, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, to support and increase all efforts to obtain the release of the two Michaels. Someone gave me a great line this morning… if you don’t have pull, then push! Judi Gedye

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. 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.

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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.

bowenislandundercurrent.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

‘TUP bombs’of cidery and IDLC expose process flaws

DEAR EDITOR: At the March 22 Council meeting a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) was granted for the cidery on Laura Rd. We have now had two “TUP bombs” that have deeply divided Bowen neighbourhoods in the past year, first in the Deep Bay neighbourhood and now at Westside Road – Laura Road. It is time for the municipality to make significant improvements to what is currently a deeply flawed TUP process. We see two specific problems and propose solutions. Problem #1: There is no required consultation with neighbours prior to submitting the TUP application. If a TUP application is submitted for a property within a strata, a strata resolution is required prior to submission; but outside of a strata, within any other neighbourhood, there is no required consultation prior to submission. Is it any wonder that we see the reaction we do, when people learn of a significant proposed change in their neighbourhood with less than a month to respond? Proposed Solution: Take the TUPprocess flowchart on the municipal website; add one more box/arrow to what is there; label it “Consultation with Neighbours”; and add it to the start of the process. Problem #2: It has become obvious over the past couple of weeks that there was a large disconnect between what Rob Purdy and Christine Hardy have stated that they want to do at the cidery, and what was included, through consultation with planning staff, in the TUP application. Rob and Christine only want to operate Thursday to Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. But what was in the initial TUP application? 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Why would the TUP state that they are requesting six times as many hours as they actually will use? Rob and Christine plan to apply for rezoning, so likely only need a nine, at most 16-month, TUP. But what was requested in the TUP application? Three years. Why does the TUP request twice the length of time that they actually need? Rob and Christine have already defined and built the indoor retail space and out-

door patio space that they need. But what was in the TUP application? An allowance for three times as much space. This consistent ‘inflating’ of what is actually needed is damaging to the entire TUP process. It hurts the applicant because it raises additional, unnecessary concerns among neighbours who are trying to understand the issues raised by the application. It hurts neighbours who may be unnecessarily upset due to the inflated scope of the application. It hurts neighbourhoods who have unnecessary level of conflict imposed on them. And it hurts council and staff, who have to manage the unnecessary conflict that this inflated TUP creates. Solution: Request that the planning staff develop a TUP application that captures only what is needed and minimizes the impact on the neighbourhood. The repeated reference last night to the “misunderstanding” of what was being proposed was a clear indication of the large disconnect between the TUP application and what Rob and Christine actually wanted. It is the role of planning staff to advise applicants, to understand their needs and to work with the applicants and Council to craft a TUP that accurately reflects their needs. Last night we saw a failure to achieve this goal. Significant and unnecessary conflict in the Westside-Laura Road neighbourhood has been the result of this poorly crafted TUP. There was an attempt by council members during the meeting to correct this issue, but it was too little, too late; the council table is the wrong place to get these details right. It has been disturbing to many of us to see the harm done to two neighbourhoods during these two recent TUP processes. We can do better. Our neighbourhoods deserve better. Land use planning is challenging. But we all should be able to trust that we have a process that will create the best chance for a successful outcome for all parties in any planning decision. There are many challenges facing us on our island. Let’s ensure that we have good governance in place to guide us. Rosemary Knight and Bob Turner

Thursday, April 1, 2021 • A5

IslandsTrust a means of protecting Bowen’s fresh air DEAR EDITOR: Bowen Islanders will argue about pretty much anything but one thing we agree on is our love of Bowen Island’s natural beauty and strong community. It’s a big part of why most of us moved here and I believe the two are intricately interconnected. Just step outside and breathe that clean, clear air scented with fir, cedar and sea. No amount of money or technology can manufacture that invigorating air. It’s the natural product of a mostly intact temperate rainforest. Those of us who’ve lived on Bowen for more than 20 years have seen some big changes, including the shift to a municipality and an increasing pace of urbanization. I believe that we are now at a developmental crossroad where we need to decide how, exactly, we wish to experience our island and community as the population expands over time. If we choose to manage development on Bowen to prevent the kind of urban sprawl we see all over the Lower Mainland, then we need to actively structure our systems to protect the natural beauty before it is gone. Municipal government is an urban management institution with relatively short election cycles for council members whose governing priorities change, by and large, with the political and cultural times. By its very nature, it is not equipped to manage the sorts of ecosystem-level issues associated with protecting natural beauty. Then

we have regional government for managing issues beyond the scope of our small municipality. The Islands Trust fulfills this role, with a specific mandate to preserve and protect coastal islands. On the provincial level, we currently benefit enormously from the large swaths of Crown land on Bowen, but since that land may be sold or put up for tender, we can’t count on even much of Mount Gardener remaining undeveloped in the long term. The question we need to answer is whether we value Bowen’s natural beauty enough to make its preservation a priority—however we do that. Perhaps there is a better option than the Islands Trust, though I am not aware of it. Besides, there’s no legislative framework for leaving the Islands Trust, precisely to prevent short-term political interests from negatively impacting island integrity. Even if we could leave, I’ve seen no reliable evidence that it would end up being cheaper and it’s certainly not worth the loss of the ecosystem-sensitive services offered by the Islands Trust, not to mention the political strength inherent in allying with other islands in the Salish Sea. If we do make our beautiful island ecosystem a financial as well as an emotional priority, then maybe we would do well to focus on how best we can leverage the Islands Trust to help us build a vibrant, welcoming and sustainable community that celebrates our island paradise. Emily McCullum

Council proceedings in place to mitigate privilege

DEAR EDITOR: I watched the March 8 Council meeting during which Coun. Sue Ellen Fast presented recommendations from the Parks, Trails and Greenways Advisory Committee regarding the need to better protect Bowen’s coastal areas. I was appalled by the mayor’s comportment and disregard for council proceedings (bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/239433). Proceedings may seem cumbersome but they can serve to mitigate insidious exercise of privilege that disproportionately affects women in the political realm. However, I want to focus on the content of the PTGAC recommendation. The mayor’s rambling opening commentary attempted to dismiss the committee’s recommendations as irrelevant despite the recent egregious example at 1710 Cape Drive Development Variance Permit issue where damage to the 30m setback to the sea had already occurred before it came to council. From his comments, it appeared that the mayor is uninformed about PTGAC terms of reference and I considered his accusatory demea-

We're OPEN !

nour as disrespectful to the volunteers of the Committee and Coun. Fast who (unlike the mayor) was respectful, knowledgeable regarding the committee mandate, the 2019 Island Plan and the expressed concerns of the public. Yes Mr. Mayor, it is in reality URGENT to protect our coastal areas in the context of a climate crisis and the pressures of urban development on our island ecosystem. And appreciation to Coun. Rob Wynen for pointing out that Bowen’s decisions impact the greater environment that is the coastal greenway of Howe Sound. The mayor’s pejorative tone and lack of familiarity with council procedures, the terms of reference for the committee and the shortcomings of the current 30-metre coastal protection was more than disappointing. I encourage readers to watch for themselves: youtube.com/ watch?v=r3sspK2bO-Q at the 00:40:25 mark. This island needs and deserves inventive and enlightened leadership to navigate us through the challenges ahead. Betty Morton

picnic on USSC lawn patio or p Enjoy our heated p

Covid outdoor seating under tents with patio heaters. TAKE OUT for pickup or enjoy on picnic tables on USSC lawn.

A6 • Thursday, April 1, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

MUNI MORSELS

Regulating public spaces and space for the after school club BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor

The following is the rest of the coverage from the Bowen Island Municipality March 22 regular council meeting.

More than banning camping

Council unanimously passed first reading of a sweeping bylaw regulating public spaces on Bowen Island. The bylaw came out of a January direction to staff “to develop a bylaw to restrict camping or and/or the creation of encampments on public places.” While it has long been the assumption of Bowen Islanders that camping isn’t allowed on-island, it’s not specifically addressed in bylaws, BIM CAO Liam Edwards told the Undercurrent back in January. The bylaw has provisions for people experiencing homelessness, limiting temporary shelters to between 7 p.m. of one day and 9 a.m. of the next and that they not be “located on or within any structure, right of way, access road, Access Area, street, sidewalk, municipal playground, bike park, skateboard park, disc golf course, playscape, or 10 metres of any structure or building.” The bylaw also gives the municipality authority to remove and dispose of items or shelters remaining as of 9 a.m. However, the bylaw goes a lot further than restricting camping. The bylaw requires one acquire a permit for activities such as: destroying, altering or damaging vegetation or structures; smoking and vaping; organized sports (more than 10 people on a regular basis) or organized activities (pre-planned with more than 20 people and limits general public access to a public place); concerts, meetings, performances, assemblies or other formal or informal gatherings; posting, painting or affixing ads, bills, posters, pictures; setting off fireworks and lighting any fire. (The list is much longer and available on the meeting agenda.) While there was general support for the bylaw, just how much regulation is appropriate was up for discussion. “It looks good to me,” said Coun. Sue Ellen Fast, “coming from a parks management background and a little bit of enforcement and education around managing people

in parks.” Fast noted that there may need to be tweaks here and there. Coun. David Hocking was generally in favour but wondered if requiring a permit to hang an event notice in the cove was a bit extreme. “Maybe that is over the top. It’s an extra step for someone that wants to advertise an event or concert, that sort of thing,” said interim manager of bylaw services Bonny Brokenshire. “But it would [be] a conversation. And it does leave some discretion to the departmental manager who issues the permits.” Mayor Gary Ander agreed that the bylaw is “sort of overreaching” but spoke in favour. “It’s better to have too much than not enough. It’s about the enforcement.” “I really do think it goes beyond what we were looking for,” said Coun. Maureen Nicholson. “The direction from council was to deal with camping and erecting shelters and public spaces. This goes way past that. “I think that putting something in place that requires... enforcement that isn’t going to happen is not a wise strategy.” BIM CAO Liam Edwards said he saw this bylaw more as a housekeeping measure to bring BIM in line with other municipalities’ public spaces regulations. “When [staff ] started talking about it, it was recognition that there was a lot of work that was wanting to be done around the use of public spaces that had never been gotten to. “When looking into it and researching other municipal bylaws around regulating public spaces and the use of public spaces, this is a very standard suite of authority and regulations and that most if not all municipalities have.” “I would argue that these are just tools and whether we use these tools or not, they are in place because there’s people have had to use them in the past,” said Ander. “That’s all. “I think the more the better.” Fast agreed. “I like the idea of having bylaws…you can always not enforce parts of it, can set a bylaw enforcement policy that prioritizes this, that and the other. “It’s not necessarily like you have to enforce every one of them to the same degree.” Brokenshire said that over her 10 years working in bylaw, what’s listed in the bylaw are all issues they’ve in her tenure. “We’ve had no tools to deal with them,” she said. “We’re not

Queen of Capilano Ferry Schedule October 13 to May 15 2021 DEPART BOWEN ISLAND DEPART HORSESHOE BAY 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

going to go out when kids are making daisy chains [but] someone goes and cuts the flowers all down in the garden gateway, then we have a tool.” Council passed first reading and it now goes to public consultation.

A space for the after school club

After nearly a decade of work, plans for a designated after school space could be nearing fruition. Bowen Children’s Centre representatives presented council with plans for a modular building on the Bowen Island Community School property for its after school club. “This is one of the most used programs that the Bowen Children’s Centre offers,” said Andrea Bastin, who heads up the after school club. “We have been successfully renting space at Bowen Island Community School for years but we have really outgrown the space.” “Offering programming for up to 60 families, so we have 40 - 42 children a day, in a space that doesn’t belong to you is pretty difficult,” said BCC’s executive director Ann Silberman. “We have one cupboard to hold materials and everything else has to be brought in every day.” COVID-19 has put further limitations on the use of BICS rooms. Since 2012, BCC has been working toward a designated space, Silberman told council and have considered many options. “But really, after school care, and before school care, has to be at the school. “To our delight and surprise, SD 45 welcomed us with open arms,” said Silberman. “They have before and after school care at every school in their West Van District.” The project is contingent on grant funding, for which BCC hopes to apply in coming months. Following funding and signing with a builder, the mod could be built within a few months. Silberman also stressed the need for this kind of care to council. “[That] the population of the after school club has gone up so much points to the fact that usually…two partners in the family need to work,” said Silberman. “Gone are the days when most families had the privilege of having one person stay at home.”

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

ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Masses are live streamed everyday. Times posted at holyrosarycathedral.org Contact Angela Powell 604-947-2515

CATES HILL CHAPEL

www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260 (661 Carter Rd.)

Now offering worship services via Zoom. A link available on website.

Pastor: Phil Adkins

bowenislandundercurrent.com

B.I. HEALTH CENTRE FOUNDATION

Bringing healthcare close to home

PROJECT PROGRESSES DESPITE A YEAR OF PANDEMIC

TIM RHODES

Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation

Thanks to you, we’re bringing healthcare close to home! Despite the pandemic that has brought grief and stress to so many, 2020 was a year of substantial progress for the Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation (BIHCF) and 2021 promises to be just as successful. To date, approximately 450 donors (30 per cent of Bowen households) have voiced support through their pocketbooks for constructing a purpose-built, community-owned health centre on the island. This level of backing has given us the confidence to announce that the project is a “go.” We are convinced that residents will continue to help with the remaining financial assistance needed to assure we can open a mortgage-free facility, where all future revenue can be poured back into the operations and in providing needed health services on island. We are already making progress on the 10,500 square foot facility, currently scheduled to open in 2023: We have applied for a development •

permit and anticipate receiving approval in March or April. • We have a preliminary estimate from a cost consultant indicating that our budget is appropriate to the project. We have issued an open Expression • of Interest for Construction Management or Services Construction Management Services and Construction and have a shortlist of three very qualified candidates. We have cleared the site on Miller • Road with many of the services donated. Our architect is proceeding to final • design and drawings necessary for a building permit and competitive pricing. Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of this year. We are in the process of applying • to join the Cove Bay District Water System and the Snug Cove Sewer System. Our work began in 2015 with a Health Needs Survey that identified how significantly our lack of accessible healthcare services is affecting residents. Overcoming many challenges since then, our commitment to changing these health outcomes remains strong.

Keep checking vch.ca/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine for eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination and for Bowen clinic dates. Currently, Bowen Islanders born in 1951 or earlier and Indigenous people born in 2003 or earlier are eligible to call 1-877-587-5767 to book an appointment.

Thursday, April 1, 2021 • A7

Welcome back beloved Customers to another season of delicious local harvest from Home Farm W e a r e o f f t o a f ly in g s t art w i t h th e g r ee nh ou s e f i l l in g up w i th y o ur f a v o u r i t e g r ee n s a n d th e Ma rk et Gard e n s h o w i n g s i g n s o f g ar l ic a n d s p ri n g ka l e w hi l e se e di n g of be et s and c ar ro t s an d pe as an d mu c h m or e c a r r i e s o n a p a c eW e a r e o n c e a g a i n o ff e r i n g C S A ( Comm uni t y S u p por t e d A gr i c ul t u r e ) M em b e r s h i p s i n t h e f o r m o f a we e k ly b o x o f o ur 1 0 0% B o w e n o r g ani cal ly gr o w n p r o d uc e . P l e a s e c on t a c t : J a r e d a t de epm o unta in ma gic @ya hoo .co m 9 1 79 57 - 1 3 7 6 o r R o s i e a t r o s i e @ h o m ef a r m . c a 6 0 4 - 9 4 7 - 6 9 9 5 t o r es e r ve y our w e e k l y s u b s c r i p t i on . T h i s ye a r w e a r e o f f e r i n g 2 2 w e e k s o f F a r m F r es h Pr o d uc e b e gi nn i n g M a y 15 a nd en di n g O ct o b er 9 We ha ve lo ts an d l o t s o f Far m F r es h E g gs as usua l t hi s y ea r a n d a l so o u r P o r k B reak fa s t S au sa ge a n d L a mb S au s a ge c ont a c t Ro s i e t o p la c e a n o r d e r.

F o r a c o m pl e t e l i s t o f w h a t w e h a ve t o o f f e r a t t h e F a r m a n d f o r u pd a t e s p l ea se v i s it o u r F B p ag e a t H o me F a r m G a rd en s L td F r o m a l l o f u s H om e F a r mT h a n k y o u f o r y o ur s u p po r t i ng L o ca l F a rmer s " S ta y S a fe a n d B e Ki n d "

We are excited to finally share with you that BVS has sold and is now owned by Dr. Midge Ritchie in partnership with the National Veterinary Associates! We look forward to sharing this exciting new chapter with you, thanks for your ongoing support! -BVS Team

REGULAR HOURS Tuesday to Friday 9- 5 Saturday 9- 1 Closed Sunday and Monday

To schedule appointments, please call

604.947.9247

or email reception@bowenvet.com

A8 • Thursday, April 1, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Lending a helping hoof: equine facilitated wellness ELLEN WHITE LAUNCHED PRESENT MOMENTS EQUINE FACILITATED LEARNING LAST YEAR ON BOWEN ISLAND

MERIBETH DEEN

Contributor

“When I’m with my horses I can just be me,” says Ellen White. “When I look back at my childhood, they were my saviour. I was at the stables every week. They got me through school and my teen years.” Ellen moved to Canada from the UK in 2005 and then to Bowen in 2008. “My husband and I wanted to give our daughters a community to grow up in,” she says. “Much like what I experienced growing up in the U.K.” Horses had always been a part of Ellen’s life and they re-entered her life when she started a bookkeeping business and Home Farm Garden became a client. “I found myself hooked on horses, yet again,” she says. A few years ago, Ellen started looking for a career shift. She realized how much horses had given to her and decided she wanted to share that experience with others. When she found out about Equine Facilitated Wellness, and the fact that there are certification programs available in Canada, it seemed like the perfect fit. “The philosophy of working with horses

Spring Clean-Up will continue to follow our new format. Decals will be available for sale at the Snug Cove General Store from April 4 to April 13 ONLY.

Drop off will be done by appointment ONLY. Once you have picked up your decal, you can call Bowen Waste Solutions @ 604-947-2255 to book an appointment. The final day for booking appointments will be Friday, April 16 at 3:00 PM. A limited number of appointments will be made available.

as partners rather than tools really matched my personal philosophy,” says Ellen. There’s no date that marks the official beginnings of this kind of work but its proponents point to ancient Greek writings about the benefits of riding to back up the field’s deep roots. In short, Equine Facilitated Wellness incorporates horses into the therapeutic process. Ellen’s business, Present Moments Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL), launched in 2020 and is currently based out of Evergreen Stables on Westside Road. “As adults, we have dreams and promises to ourselves that have a tendency to get put on hold,” says Ellen. “Combining life coaching with working with the horses enables us to see ourselves through their eyes. Horses mirror our behaviour whether we realize it or not. Horses work from their bodies and teach us how to get back into our bodies. We need to listen to what our bodies are telling us. Then we can implicitly learn rather than listen to the stories in our head.” She adds that adults often come to her simply because they just need time to stop and breathe. “When you stop and take an hour for yourself after a very long time of not doing that, things come up,” says Ellen. “Horses

KIRSTEN DEGNER PHOTO

Life coach Ellen White with her assistant, Henry.

help bring things up. I coach them through whatever it is they need help with.” Ellen offers life coaching with the horses but also wellness work with teens and kids. “This work does not offer an instant fix; you have to put the work in,” says Ellen. “More importantly, you have to want to make changes. I hold the space for you and the horse to work and if you really want it, beautiful things can happen.” Ellen will be offering workshops now the

SPRING CLEAN-UP 2O21 Fees Small Load: $25

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste and Paint Recycling

Spring Clean-up Days

NOT Accepted:

May 1, 2021 • 9:30 am - 3:00 pm @Bowen Island Recycling Depot No fees to drop off hazardous waste or paint. Limit for all products is 10 containers per visit.

Paints and stains Approximately 5 garbage bags

Medium Load: $50

Flammable Liquids Or container says Keep Away From Open Flame or Spark

Approximately 10 garbage bags

• •

Large LEVEL Load: $100

Drop off of materials will be inside the BIRD yard from Monday, April 19 to Saturday, April 24 ONLY.

Liquids only Paint thinners, other solvents, camp fuels or liquid adhesives with the flammable symbol Max container size: Kerosene 9L Other liquids 10L

Pesticides

The contents of a level pick-up truck load

Mattress or Appliance: $35

•

Consumer pesticides with the poisonous (skull & crossbones) symbol AND “Pest Control Product” registration number (REG #12345 PCP ACT) Max container size: 10L

Gasoline

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca

Wastte Solluttions www.bowenwastesolutions.com

days are lighter and dryer, allowing people the opportunity to dip their toes into this work before committing to one-on-one sessions. One can contact Ellen at presentmomentself@gmail.com or visit her website at presentmomentself.blogspot.com for more information on workshops, coaching, and wellness sessions. Or call 604-764-9275 to chat for more information.

•

Products that cannot be identified

•

Products that are leaking or improperly sealed

•

Empty containers

•

Commercial, industrial, or agricultural products

•

Cosmetics, health and beauty aids

•

Insect repellants, disinfectants, and pet products

•

Diesel, propane, and butane fuels

•

Caulking tubes

•

Fertilizer

Used oil & automotive products Burnaby Ecco Center 4855 Still Creek Drive 604-294-7972 For items not found on this list, please call BC Recycling Hotline 604-732-925

Per mattress or appliance

• In approved ULC containers only Max container size: 20L

PLEASE NOTE: • 1 Decal per household only • Non-complying loads are subject to refusal

Questions?

Please call Bowen Waste Solutions

604-947-2255

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Get to know your neighbour

Next up at the museum: Bowen Blankets

NEXT UP IN OUR NEW Q&A SERIES: LAURA KOCH

KATHRYN GAITENS

Bowen Island Museum and Archives

Objects store memories and stories; these stories connect us to the past. The spring exhibit “Bowen Blankets” is available for viewing at the Bowen Island Museum and Archives and Bowen Library from April 15 through May 15. This intimate and unique textile collection on display presents blankets from the 1860s through 2000s. These blankets tell stories of our history, sometimes the stories are familiar and intimate, while others play a less personal utilitarian role. Textiles with their embedded stories are everywhere in our lives. Each blanket is unique. Blankets reflect and express personal, community and commercial values. Can you imagine the time, place and user of each blanket? In the collection both handmade and pre-Second World War commercial manufacturing are represented. It’s interesting to see that only a narrow range of textiles were used to make these blankets, wool, cotton, satin, felt and small portions of synthetic fibres. The early commercial manufactured blankets include a Union Steamship blanket of wool and embroidery, as well as a Union Steamship blanket of cotton jacquard floral patterns in pink or green with white. These blankets were used at Bowen Inn, and Steamship cottages (1920-1956). The wool blanket was used at

Thursday, April 1, 2021 • A9

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOWEN ISLAND MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

Strachan Lodge (1920 -1956). Other blankets on view feature handmade examples. The quilt from the Bowen Island Community Church reflects the community and life on Bowen. It was made for a church fundraiser and donated to the museum collections by the winner, Barbara Weismiller (1994). The Button Blanket, handmade by Rosa Helenius, Bowen’s revered Post Mistress, for her son Robert. Rosa was born in Masset, Haidi Gwaii. Her grandfather was one of the founding members of the Native Brotherhood of British Columbia. You can learn about Rosa at the Archives (1996). The handspun settler blanket from Ontario, of multiple patterns in red, blue and white was brought to Bowen Island by an early family (1860). On display at the Bowen Library is a quilt by Foxglove Fibre Arts, a Bowen based organization, for a collaborative fundraising project. It is a community loan quilt courtesy of Mary Leigh, the raffle winner. The process and shared experience present a beautiful example of collective community culture. “Bowen Blankets” a Bowen Island Museum and Archives exhibit in partnership with the Bowen Library runs from April 15 – May 15. Bowen Island Museum and Archives is open from Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Whether you're zooming or grooving pandemic style, we're still here to help get the word out for you or your organization.

This week’s randomly selected Bowen Islander for our Q&A column: Laura Koch When did you come to Bowen? 1991 How did you come to be on Bowen? My boyfriend was building a house at Hood Point and he wanted someone to come over to help him, so I said I would. So we moved into a cottage on Hood Point and we started to build the log home. Where on Bowen do you live? I live over on Queen Charlotte Heights now. I love it. And I’ve remarried and I have a really nice home and a garden. And we have lots of birds here. We have a cat and a dog. I have a really nice husband. And my kids have grown up. Fill the ferry lineup gap or don’t fill the gap? We don’t go on the ferry that much but, of course, we’re encouraged [to fill]. They want people to not extend the lineup too far. So we do as much as we can to comply with the instructions. What’s your favourite Bowen story? Being a Bowen Islander, I’ve always loved doing watercolour, art and photography. And I think that there are a lot of really talented artists on the island and there’s been a lot of support for artists here. There have been great strides over the years. The new gallery here is just beautiful. And I think that’s a really good thing

for Bowen Island. What do Bowen Islanders have in common? I think they’re opinionated and they respect each other’s opinions. I do think that we appreciate our environment here and we really do not want it to be degraded any more than it has to be. We really want to see that it prospers despite the growth in population and the pressure from Metro Vancouver and I think that we can do that as long as we stick together. What’s your favourite COVID-19 balm or activity? I feed the birds and the birds are always here to entertain me and my husband. We’re always thinking about the garden. Thinking about what trails we want to explore and just trying to keep things simple and enjoy the hummingbirds and stay out of the way of the other human population. It seems to be working!

excellence from the ground up PAVING:

interlock block, flagstone, slate, concrete products.

Listings are always free in our weekly community calendar. Please email your listing to Bronwyn by Tuesday 5 p.m. for that week's edition. editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thank you!

STONEWORK:

retaining walls, steps, stone cladding, pillars.

CONCRETE:

retaining walls, walkways, steps, driveways.

CARPENTRY:

decks, steps, fences, retaining walls, pergolas, sheds & outbuildings.

WATER FEATURES: ponds, waterfalls, fountains.

** CERTIFIED LIVE ROOF INSTALLATION ** ** SMALL LOADS DELIVERED **

778.899.0720 www.creative-landscapes.ca

A10 • Thursday, April 1, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Your Community

MARKETPLACE bowenislandundercurrent.com

Call or email to place your ad, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

604-444-3000 • 604-653-7851 classiﬁeds@van.net

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT SPROTTSHAW.COM

SUDOKU

BC WIDE CLASSIFIEDS INDUSTRIAL/ COMMERCIAL

ANSWERS

INTEGRITY POST FRAME BUILDINGS since 2008. Built with concrete posts. Barns, shops, riding arenas, machine sheds and more. adam.s@integritybuilt.com 1-250-351-5374. www.integritybuilt.com

MOVING

2 Guys With A Truck Moving & Storage 604-628-7136

@BowUndercurrent @BowUndercurrent

@bowenislandundercurrent.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS FLU SHOTS FOR OUR PATIENTS

To advertise please call 604-947-2442 or email ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 1, 2021 • A11

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ONGOING MARCH 25  APRIL 12

Primary Colours Art Show The Hearth Thursday-Monday 11 am-4 pm BICS youths’ art works

APRIL 1  30

April 30x30 Outside Challenge 2021 We’re challenging you to get outside for a minimum of 30 minutes every day in April. You can run, walk, hike, bike, golf, paddle, swim heck you can rollerskate or chop firewood if you want. Sign up by emailing: bowenislandtrailsociety@gmail.

com to get your April 30 X 30 Outside Challenge tracking sheet

* THURSDAY, APRIL 1

TOTI Presents: A Day of Fools YouTube and Zoom Webinar 7:30 pm “We’re bringing back the court jesters, the commedia characters and the class clown for a special night of tomfoolery.” Komera Canada Zoom event Zoom 7:30 pm See website for invite: komeracanada.ca Bowen Bunny is coming

Watch for all of the places that the Bowen easter bunny visits (in photos) on the Bowen Island Community Recreation Facebook page

FRIDAY, APRIL 2

B.I. United Church drivethrough dinner fundraiser Legion 4:30 pm start Yvonne McSkimming will be cooking up a beautiful Ham and Scalloped potato dinner.

SUNDAY, APRIL 4

Outdoor Meditation Circle

Meet at undercover area at entrance to Crippen park in the Cove 11 am “There is a guided part ( in the gentle tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh) and a silent part. Dress warmly because we meet regardless of the weather. Please wear a mask.” No cost. More information: lisa.shatzky@gmail. com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7

Storytime with Aubin Live on Zoom from the Bowen Island Public Library 10:30-11:00 am Register at bipl.link/storytime

MONDAY, APRIL 12

Regular Council meeting Zoom 6:15 pm

SUNDAY, MAY 4

TOTI Presents: A New Hope by William Shakespeare YouTube and Zoom Webinar 7:30 pm What if the bard had written Star Wars? A Star Wars Day special And, why cook in pandemic when there’s Bowen take-out eats and drinks for every day of the week! Support our local restaurants!

BOWEN HOME SERVICES love the life you live Window Blinds On Bowen

BOWEN ISLAND SPECIALISTS! QUALITY SERVICE GUARANTEED! Keep Calm and Call Econo

778-995-1902

604.980.3333

991 West First Street, North Vancouver, BC www.economovingandstorage.com

BOWEN TOWING

NEW CONSTRUCTION RENOVATIONS RESTORATION ADDITIONS

Old or unwanted vehicles

SECONDARY STRUCTURES

removed for $200.

UNIQUE OUTDOOR SPACES SUB CONTRACT WORK

BUILT GREEN BC BUILDER

Call

604-341-6351

WWW.WHITEHART.CA ADDRESS 302-566 ARTISAN LANE BOWEN ISLAND, BC PHONE 1 (778) 999-3434

Landscape Lighting Irrigation

Seascape Bruce Culver

Office: 604-947-9686

Cell: 604-329-3045

Licensed Electrical Contractor 778.266.6465 www.bowenislandelectrical.com

A12 • Thursday, April 1, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

All of those stories continued from p. 1... APRIL FOOL’S! Sorry. We needed a laugh this week.

READERS’ PHOTOS

Three women out for a leisurely swim Saturday morning. –Anne Boa

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 Group Hikes Individual Walks Socialization

778 898 5950 |

Cat Care

Home Visits Litter Maintenance Playtime

www.barkpetcare.ca

GALLERY CURATOR Part-time Permanent role – up to 80 hours per month (some weekends/evenings) Are you interested in building your professional experience in the world of arts & culture? Do you enjoy working with volunteer teams, thinking outside the box and stretching your creative mind? Do you have experience working with a non-profit arts organization? Are you energetic, independent and resourceful? Working with the Executive Director, the Program & Membership Coordinator and the volunteer team, this role will continue with the branding of our Gallery as the cultural hub of Bowen Island by overseeing the coordination of the Hearth Gallery’s curatorial program.

The Beavers of Killarney Lake: “It was great to read up and learn more about the beavers on Bowen Island by Alan

Whitehead (March 25 edition). We live on the north end of Killarney Lake and have seen their construction projects and daily habits for years. We can often hear their loud slapping tail sounds early in the morning as they dive from the surface into their underwater caverns. Several years ago I paddled over to one of their beaver made islands and set up a camera. We got over 100 photos, most at night. Here are some up close day shots of the beavers we share the lake with.” –Rob Wynen

The Gallery Manager is responsible for the management of the Hearth Gallery, including curating shows, managing the gift shop and promotion and publicity. Please visit our website for the full job posting at www.thehearth.ca To apply, please send a cover letter explaining what you could bring to this role, along with a resume and references - as a single PDF document to: hello@thehearthartsonbowen.ca Deadline for applications is Thursday April 15th at 5 pm.

“I took this photo [March 14] from the waiting room at Horshshoe Bay. Prime Douglas-fir and Western Red Cedar logs loaded on the Queen of Capilano, gone from Bowen forever. Worth as veneer or timber logs - approx. $20,000. Worth as habitat and carbon sequestration - priceless.” –Bill Granger

A couple of months ago Adele Turner sent in this lovely shot of Donna Buchanan on her e-trike.

Delivered to your mailbox every week for $55 per year ($85 to off island addresses) 604-947-2442 ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thank you for your support of local journalism now and always.