Bowen Island Undercurrent January 20 2022 by Bowen Island Undercurrent

2022 GOALS:

$1.50

Housing Action Committee outline priorities for the new year PAGE 3

inc. GST

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

FRIENDS OF THE TRAILS

VOL. 48 NO. 01

BIUndercurrent

January’s friend: Vanessa

BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com

PAGE 6

Bowen property assessments leap up

FOUR ISLAND PROPERTIES CRACK TOP 500 IN BC

ALEX KURIAL

Editor

CHARGE ME UP:

Bowen Island’s first public electric vehicle charging stations were installed on Tuesday. They’ll occupy a pair of spots directly bordering Bowen Island Trunk Road in the library parking lot, a location previously chosen through a public survey. For more information on the stations be sure to grab a copy of next week’s issue. Photo: Alex Kurial

Bowen Island is no stranger to the rise in provincial housing assessments this year. Estimates for 2022 were released earlier this month showing residential property values rose by double digits in every lower mainland municipality. On Bowen the final tally was a 25 per cent jump in assessed value. In 2021 the median value for an island home was assessed at $1,019,000. This year that’s up to $1,271,000. That means half of homes are valued above 2022’s number, and half below. “British Columbia’s real estate market remains highly active and that means most property owners can expect higher assessment values for 2022,” BC Assessment deputy assessor Bryan Murao said in a statement. “The widely reported heighted demand among homebuyers during the COVID-19 pandemic is reflected in the upward movement of property values across the province.” One important question on

people’s minds was whether increases in assessed value are directly tied to increases in property value. This isn’t necessarily the case. “It is important to understand that changes in property assessments do not automatically translate into a corresponding change in property taxes,” Murao added. “How your assessment changes relative to the average change in your community is what may affect your property taxes.” For Bowen, that generally means if your assessment was less than a 25 per cent increase, your property tax is likely to go down. If your value rose more than 25 per cent, it’s likely to go up. An assessed value equal or close to 25 per cent likely won’t result in any change. Other tax factors can affect a person’s final property tax change, however in most cases these examples should prove accurate, according to the assessment agency.

BOWEN ISLAND ROOFING ROOFING & REPAIRS

604-987-7663

Trade ticket certified #00012-RO-96

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

A2 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Development in hazardous areas: What do you think?

Events

Seeking Public Comment

January 20, 2022 7:00 pm Advisory Planning Commission BIM is considering regulating development in hazardous areas on Bowen Island by establishing a future Hazardous Areas Development Permit Area. The establishment of a new January 24, 2022 Development Permit Area would require an amendment to 6:15 pm Bowen Island Municipality Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002. Prior to Regular Council Meeting preparing a draft bylaw amendment, staff are actively seeking public input. January 26, 2022 7:00 pm Information and an online survey are available on Citizenlab or Public Information Sesson at Municipal Hall until January 23rd, 2022. Pesticide Use Control February 1, 2022 11:00 am Board of Variance Meeting

for BOV-20210355 (958 Spyglass) PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A Board of Variance application has been submitted for 958 Spyglass (shown on ﬁgure) to reduce the rear setback. Vehicle and pedestrian access to the property is along a side lot line on Spyglass Road, and the front lot line abuts Windjammer Road. The variance would facilitate the construction of an addition to an existing dwelling.

www.bowenisland.citizenlab.co Questions? Please contact Daniel Martin at 604-947-4255 or by email at dmartin@bimbc.ca.

We’re hiring: Community Recreation Programmer Bowen Island Municipality seeks a qualiﬁed permanent fulltime Community Recreation Programmer. Applications will be accepted until the position is ﬁlled.

Help stop COVID-19:

Get vaccinated - everyone 5 years and older is eligible.

Stay home if you’re sick

Wear a mask in indoor public spaces

For more information and to read the complete job description please go to: YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME: Written submissions may be delivered to Municipal Hall (contact information below).: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/jobs • In person • By mail • By fax • By email to planning@bimbc.ca To be included in the agenda which will be published ﬁve days prior to the meeting, please submit your written feedback seven calendar days prior to the meeting. Wednesday, January 26, 2022 To be included in the revised agenda to be published one day 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm prior to the meeting, please submit your written feedback two Online via Zoom days prior to the meeting. Written feedback provided after these deadlines will be Meeting ID: 839 9185 0360 included as on-table items during the meeting and published Passcode: 332854 subsequently. Verbal submissions may also be made to the Board at the Council is considering meeting.: adoption of a pesticide use 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 control bylaw. Learn more Online via Zoom about why, what is being regulated and how it might For instructions on how to participate, go to: apply to you at the public https://www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/board-of-variance information session. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to QUESTIONS? Please contact Amanda McCulley, Planner 1, at answer your questions and 604-947-4255 ext. 252 or by email at amcculley@bimbc.ca listen to your feedback.

Public Information Session: Pesticide Use Control

Contact Bowen Island Municipality PAID ADVERTISEMENT January 20, 2022

Phone: Fax: Email: Website:

MORE INFORMATION: The application may be viewed online at https://www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/planning or at Municipal Hall between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays).

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

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A3

ISLAND NEWS

Four Bowen properties top $12 million in assessed value CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The District of Hope saw the biggest jump percentage wise in the lower mainland at 45, with median prices hopping from $428,000 to $620,000. The University Endowment Lands had the smallest increase at 11 per cent, however they were already by far the most expensive properties on the market. Median value went from $4,923,000 to $5,461,000 for 2022. Another sign houses are becoming more valuable on Bowen is the presence of four island homes in B.C.’s top 500 assessed values overall. It’s the first time Bowen has had this many on the list. Topping the count is a Lighthouse Lane address on the west side of the island. Built just last year, the five-bedroom, nine-bathroom house is worth $8.48 million. The nearly 10 acres of land, stretching from Cape Drive to the water, is worth another $5.3 million, bringing total property value to $13.78 million. This ranks 317 in the province. Bowen’s second most valuable property is the lone one not in the southern half of the island.

The Smugglers Cove Road home shares the trait of being on the waterfront though. The 1982 build, with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, is worth $6,356,000, while the more than 23 acres of land are assessed at $7,192,000. Together at $13,548,000 the property places 339 in B.C. The final two Bowen properties in the top 500 claim nearly all their assessment in land value. Number 419 in the province is a (relatively-speaking) modest three-bedroom, four-bathroom home built in 2008, worth $1,593,000. But the 100 acres it sits on is worth seven figures, at $10,898,000. The total assessed value of $12,491,000 is 87.25 per cent land. And coming in at 430 overall is the largest property size-wise on the list, at just more than 111 acres. Located along the south shore between Georgia Strait Drive and Fairweather Road, the land is now assessed at $9,248,000. Combined with a $3,148,000 home, built in 2004 and containing three bedrooms and three bathrooms, the property reaches a final tally of $12,396,000. For more on housing assessments see Page 8

Housing Action Committee reveals 2022 plan SECONDARY SUITES AND LOT SIZES AMONG POINTS OF EMPHASIS ALEX KURIAL

Editor

The Housing Action Committee outlined their work plan for the upcoming year at council last week, highlighting 10 areas of attention. One of these was a topic fresh in people’s minds: secondary suites. Earlier in the meeting council had rejected a rezoning application to allow secondary suites in Arbutus Ridge, citing water concerns in the King Edward Bay system. “At the committee of the whole we discussed the possibility of reducing the lot size for a secondary suite,” said Coun. Maureen Nicholson. She added the HAC will be conducting “more research into that and see if it actually makes sense to do so.” This would answer “how many more potential secondary suites could be yielded with dif-

ferent kinds of adjustments. Not saying whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing, but just looking at what the impact could be,” says Nicholson. Mayor Gary Ander wanted to know if more could be done to develop secondary suites on already existing properties. He added that “It seemed like we had a whole lot of empty buildings around that we weren’t utilizing.” Coun. Michael Kaile responded “I think there’s a whole lot of opportunities with the lots that we have to do more.” In terms of how many secondary suites Bowen actually has, manager of planning and development Daniel Martin says this is a tricky number to nail down. “We’ve had a number of people build on lots that allow a detached secondary suite, in essence they build the smaller unit first. In that case we track it as the house. But they’ve intentionally sized it as a detached secondary suite

The four blue dots represent the location of Bowen’s most valuable properties. Three can be found in the southwest of the island, while one is in the north. All of them are waterfront properties. Map: BC Assessment

thinking that they will in future build a larger dwelling,” he says. “And some of them have and some don’t and realize they prefer the smaller house. In that case it’s always a little challenging looking back at our records to determine how many were actually built.” The HAC also plans to closely track the progress of housing developments such as Grafton Lake’s affordable home ownership and Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing. Last summer BIRCH was denied funding by B.C.’s

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Community Housing Fund, and are now making their case to the federal Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Exploration of cluster and duplex zoning is also on the agenda for the new year, along with specific numbers of housing types (ie. affordable, accessible, diverse) the committee will plan to have available by a certain date. The HAC will also be looking for an area where cluster or duplex zoning could take place, and will be promoting the idea of larger attached homes in certain neighbourhoods.

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

VIEWPOINTS EDITORIAL

I want YOU for Undercurrent’s next edition

ello readers, and thanks for picking up another copy of your island paper. We greatly appreciate the support each week and all the enthusiasm I’ve seen first-hand for the paper has been incredible. As some of you know December was very difficult personally for me and saw me off-island for the last half of the month. More on that another time, but for now a massive thank you to everyone who stepped up to get the paper out in my absence, especially our trusted cast of characters Tracey Wait, Martha Perkins, Bronwyn Beairsto, Ron Woodall and Peter Kvarnstrom. And to you the readers, all the messages and conversations I’ve had, whether it’s interviewing for a story, bringing me up to speed, or just saying hi on the street, have been a big help in navigating a new place in a brief timeframe. There is a lot going on here, and as I learn more I’m aiming to fill the pages with as much on-island content as possible. As you can see in the Undercurrent each week, reader contributions play a crucial role informing us what’s going on around the island. They also show the creative, adventurous and lighter side of Bowen through your photos, which capture many memorable island scenes. Next week, we have a special issue that will go out to every mailbox on Bowen. It’s a way to show what we deliver each week, and maybe even bring a few of you on board. It’s also your chance to have the whole

island as your audience if you submit a story or photo. Have something you think everyone should hear? Or want to show off that great photo you took? This is your soap box opportunity. Send your material to our main email, or AKurial@glaciermedia.ca, and there’s a good chance your piece will go island-wide. (Of course, you’re free to send material every other week too... But anything this week has a guaranteed maximum audience, and lightens the workload on your editor too.) Take care everyone, and talk to you next week! — Alex Kurial / Editor

On squirrels and cats...

Re: Bowen Wildlife, Jan. 6 Not only did I include cats as a crop pest (while there are many complaints about cats and their impact on wildlife and biodiversity they aren’t associated directly with crop damage) --- I also misidentified the evolution and source of Bowen’s squirrel problem. I received a couple of very nice corrections from Melissa Harrison informing me that black squirrels are not from England but originate in Eastern Canada. (She called them a “melanistic form of the eastern grey squirrel”.) She reminded me that our local native squirrel is the Douglas Squirrel, and that

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.

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we have flying squirrels as well. But, back to the subject of cats (I have a beloved cat at home). The pest survey that I was trying to introduce in the article includes a question about whether the respondent has had any experience with predators deterring rodents. That was an indirect reference to the role of cats hunting mice and rats. And, for more about that, I encourage both the lovers of cats and their detractors to read: The Lion in the Living Room, published by Simon and Schuster in 2017. Thank you!!!! - Susan Swift Bowen Island Food Resilience Society

National NewsMedia Council.

EDITOR Alex Kurial editor@bowenisland undercurrent.com

ADVERTISING Tracey Wait ads@bowenisland undercurrent.com

CARTOONIST Ron Woodall

PUBLISHER Peter Kvarnstrom publisher@bowenisland undercurrent.com 2011 CCNA

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2011

The Undercurrent is a member of the National NewsMedia Council of Canada, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please email editor@bowenislandundercurrent. com or call 604-947-2442. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the website at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A5

VIEWPOINTS

Residents seek bylaw exemption Bowen likes the snow Dear Mayor and Council, We are writing this letter to oppose the draft bylaw #560 2022, that will allow Bowen Island Municipality to immediately refuse building permits and connection to the Snug Cove Sewer System to all bare lots within the Snug Cove Sewer boundary. We are calling for an exemption for 16 properties developed and sold with approved sewer hook-up, (four of them on Rivendell Dr., with building permits requests submitted in Q4 2021), as well as an immediate upgrade to the sewer system. The fact is, there are three pre-existing, pre-approved residential developments affected: 1) Rivendell Drive 2) Elrond’s Court 3) Foxglove Lane All of them were fully serviced, pipes in the ground, and approved to be connected to the Snug Cove Sewer System, and they have just been declared ineligible for permits, while a new 30-unit residential building on Bowen Trunk Road was approved, a large building that will absorb much sewer capacity. While the latter will help with the island’s lower-cost housing needs, there was no debate, no public discussion of tradeoffs, no due process, despite the fact that the knowledge of Bowen’s weakened Sewer System was known by Council years ago. We have identified public, sewage reports supporting this information. Moreover, as Bowen Island grows as a community, many new and exciting large scale projects are being planned, which will provide services that the increasing population will need. For example, the Seniors Centre, The Heath Centre, the Community Centre. This also augurs for an immediate upgrade to the Snug Cove Sewer System, before any of these large scale future projects, such as the Community Centre,

are started. Furthermore, if this Draft Bylaw #560 2022 is ratified, the negative economic impact to Bowen Island would be great. Almost every one of the 16 property owners affected (all but two) is owned either by a prominent builder or contractor on Bowen Island. They employ many local workers, and purchase supplies such as building materials, gravel and concrete on Bowen Island. Stalling their projects puts the livelihood of many at risk. It also evaporates significant tax revenue for BIM. As of now the estimated value of these 16 bare-lot properties is approximately $10.5 million, but the new builds would increase their value to approximately $27 million, which would be an additional $66,000 of local tax revenue. Most of the 16 property owners, who bought their lots with sewer pipes installed, have borrowed monies to purchase these properties, and this Draft Bylaw #560 2022 would force them to hold these properties while interest on borrowings accumulate. Additionally, these property owners will have to put their personal lives on hold. Some of these people want to build their “Forever Home.” Another one, who is 25 years old, put his life savings into a lot at Foxglove Lane, so he could build a secure home for himself and a suite to rent to someone in need of housing. The couple at 894 Rivendell Dr. are building a home with a mother-in-law suite so the mother-inlaw, a 30+ year resident of Bowen suffering memory loss, has a safe place to move in with family. Most of these single houses or duplexes on these 16 properties will provide either the complete house or a secondary suite as a rental to help the Bowen Island Housing crisis. Bowen Island Municipality should cer-

tainly address the failing Snug Cove Sewer System immediately, but it’s unjust to refuse building permits and sewer connections to these 3 residential developments, without warning, as it seems BIM had been preparing to enact this bylaw for some time. At present BIM has notified in writing only 4 parties who have applied for building permits. They have not even responded to the inquiries of some of the other property owners. We are asking that the Bowen Island Municipality make an exemption to Draft Bylaw #560 2022 for the 3 residential developments: 1) Rivendell Drive 2) Elrond’s Court 3) Foxglove Lane. If this exemption is not, in some form, granted, we will be seeking legal action. Thank you, 1) Bruce and Maggie Macdonald: Lot 3 & 4 Foxglove Lane 2) Charles Macdonald: Lot 5, Foxglove Lane 3) Dane Thompson: Lot 10, Foxglove Lane 4) Jay Kube: Lot 9, Foxglove Lane 5) Rebecca Ponce de Leon and Dyane Kirk (1116 Foxglove Lane) 6) Julian and Jesse Milsted and Alex Kirkpatrick : 889 Rivendell Drive 7) Katie Smith Milway and Mike Milway: 894 Rivendell Drive 8) Robert and Karis Clayton: 873 Rivendell Drive 9) Bowen Island Properties: 880 Rivendell Drive 10) Twin Island Excavating: 885 Rivendell Drive 11) Tasman Dansie and Scarlet Duntz: 929 Elrond’s Court 12) Marcel and Irene Maes: 919 Elrond’s Court 13) Twin Island Excavating: 913 Elrond’s Court 14) Twin Island Excavating: 915 Elrond’s Court 15) Lars Blomberg: 901 Rivendell Drive

Thanks to everyone who voted in our online poll. By a good margin it appears most Bowners were either pro-snow, or at least enjoyed it well enough even if their mobility was limited. This reporter would like to take the opportunity to thank the many neighbours, including Jon McNeill and Chris Leigh, along with tow truck driver Peter du Plessis, who helped him and his car escape the conditions on back-to-back Photo: Alex Kurial days. A valuable lesson that snow tires can only go so far!

A6 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, January 20, 2022

BITS presents: Friends of the Trail - with Vanessa Ramirez Jasso A BOWEN ISLAND TRAIL SOCIETY FEATURE HIGHLIGHTING A LOCAL TRAIL USER Hey! I’m Vanessa, a one-year-old resident of Bowen Island. I moved from the San Francisco Bay Area where I lived for 10 years, except for parts of the summer that I spent on Bowen. My whole childhood was spent in Aguascalientes, Mexico where I love spending quality time with family and friends chatting away and eating delicious Mexican food. During college, I discovered my love of running and hiking which I love to do. When I can, I enjoy spending time in my little loft art studio to explore linoleum printmaking techniques and make my own greeting cards. What is your favourite trail? There isn’t a trail on Bowen that I don’t enjoy hiking or running, so deciding on a favourite is not easy. However, there is a special place in my heart for the Grafton Lake loop. I started trail running around the same time the north part of the lake trail was being built. Several times on my runs I stumbled on the incredible excavator who little by little kept expanding the trail. Each summer I returned to Bowen to work as a camp counselor at Bow-Isle, I ran to Grafton and saw the progress being made. After I officially moved to Bowen in 2021, I was pleasantly surprised to find out the trail went around the lake. When I first ran the loop I was filled with so much joy, even though there was a stretch

of 200 meters that wasn’t complete and there was no bridge to cross the creek on the west side. To this day, going around this lake still feels so fresh and magical because there’s so much to see in every direction. And to be honest, it’s mostly flat ;) What is the most interesting person/ animal that you’ve come across out on trails? On Bowen, the most interesting animals I’ve seen are the Virginia Rail birds who hang out in the marsh at the Crippen Park Meadow. Sometimes when they call, they sound like they’re laughing and that really cracked me up the first time I heard them. What is your favourite post trail snack/treat? I don’t have favourite post trail snacks, but I do love a good drink from the Cove. During hot summer days, I love to treat myself to a Ginger Sunrise juice from the Snug. This juice is a mix of orange and carrot juice with ginger. The orange/ carrot juice combo reminds me a lot of Mexico and I find it so refreshing to drink especially after a run. In colder months, I will likely treat myself to a cup of hot cocoa from Cocoa West as it always hits the spot with its delicious flavour and warmth.

Places of Worship Welcome You

Queen of Capilano Ferry Schedule to March 31, 2022

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 7:40pm Except SAT 8:55 pm " - 8:30 pm 10:00 pm " - 9:30 pm 11:00pm " -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 8:20 pm Except SAT 9:30pm " - 9:00 pm 10:30pm " - 10:00 pm

Please check bcferries.com for Saturday evening changes to January 15, 22, and 29 sailings Note: Schedules subject to change without notice:

Schedule changes on statutory holidays

BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH E v l M

www.biuc.ca | 1122 Miller Road

FOOD BANK

Sunday Worship 10:30 am Rev. Lorraine Ashdown

DROP-OFF

ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Sunday Mass at 9.30

Contact Angela Powell 604-947-2515

CATES HILL CHAPEL

www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260

(661 Carter Rd.)

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

Pastor: Phil Adkins

SHIRAT HAYAM (Song of the Sea) BOWEN’S JEWISH COMMUNITY Shabbat Gatherings ~ Holidays Contact aryana.rayne@gmail.com

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A7

Squamish Constellation Festival is tuning up for a comeback Province‘looking at extending’ B.C. vaccine card past January STEVEN CHUA

Squamish Chief

Hopefully, the third time will be a charm. After COVID-19 restrictions led to the cancellations of both the 2020 and 2021 Squamish Constellation Festivals, organizers are ready to give it yet another go. On Jan. 18, festival backers Patricia Heintzman, Tamara Stanners and Kirsten Andrews presented a progress report to council on their plans for the 2022 summer event. “As we all know, COVID took us by surprise, and we had to put the brakes on the festival at that time,” said Stanners. “And we thought that we could move that festival and all the planning that we had done for 2020, and just, honestly, pick it up, move it a year, and put it into 2021, and, as we all know, that wasn’t a possibility. So all the planning we did for 2020 and 2021 was wiped out, and we had to start from the drawing board.”

She noted many producers and vendors had to leave the business, which was devastating. The festival’s ambitions this time around is to make a comeback — with Sarah McLachlan headlining — and to grow the daily attendance beyond 6,000 people per day. “And that really is not our ultimate goal, because it’s not necessarily where we become sustainable, but I think it is a realistic goal, given we’re sort of back at ground zero because of the setbacks that COVID [has] handed us,” Heintzman said. For the festival to become financially sustainable, organizers said, it would have to grow beyond 7,500 people per day. There’s also the goal of increasing the talent budget to attract bigger name artists, and to increase the number of bands to 40, up from 33, they said. “That’s ultimately how we grow the brand, grow the buzz about the festival and present those opportunities for emerging artists,” Heintzman said, noting

organizers want the festival to also be an incubator for lesser-known talent. Andrews said that the festival has received a sizeable grant from the province, as well as from FACTOR Canada, a federal non-profit that promotes Canadian musicians. “The live music industry has been the hardest hit of all industries in the country,” Andrews said. He adds the money will go to artists, crews and others who work in the industry. This year, the festival will be seeking to add camping for up to 700 tents and 150 vans. Organizers said it is intended to be for quiet family camping. There will also be shuttles for the neighbourhood surrounding the festival, Vancouver and Whistler. Heintzman said plans are underway to have early bird ticket sales available in February. They hope to have the full lineup of musicians announced by late March or early April. Themulti-dayConstellation Festival debuted in the summer of 2019 with acts from

across the country playing to a crowd of thousands at Hendrickson Field. Some of the biggest names at that event were Jessie Reyez, The Halluci Nation [Known then as A Tribe Called Red], Bahamas and Serena Ryder, who were among the 33 bands who played at the event. Art installations, food vendors, as well as what organizers dubbed “B.C.’s first weed garden” were other highlights. The general demographics of the 2019 event were university-educated 28 to 49-year-olds with an average household income between $60,000 and $125,000. Organizers also touted themselves as the province’s largest zero-waste festival, saying that they were able to divert 94 per cent of waste away from the landfill. This was done by creating a zero-waste and plastics policy that prioritized compostable and reusable cups, cutlery and plates. No single-use straws, bags, cups or bottles were on site, they said.

TYLER ORTON

Business in Vancouver

The decision to extend B.C.’s vaccine card program past its Jan. 31 expiration date is “still under discussion,” according to the province’s top doctor. The vaccine certificates, which are required to enter discretionary venues such as restaurants or cinemas, were introduced in September as COVID-19 cases were sloping upward amid the Delta variant wave. At that time, provincial authorities slated a Jan. 31, 2022, end date with the possibility of extending it past the end of this month. Since then, the Omicron variant has sent cases surging to all-time records in B.C. as well as other jurisdictions across the globe. “I want to find that balance of supporting businesses to stay open, supporting people to be in an environment that is as safe as possible. And it has

been very effective,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said during a Tuesday briefing. “We are looking at extending it to be able to support businesses and support people, and having confidence in going to theatres and restaurants and gyms in the future.” She added provincial authorities have “not yet made the final decision on whether it’s being extended.” The Omicron variant is associated with milder symptoms than the Delta variant, but is considered to be far more transmissible and prone to more breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated people. But health officials have observed that those milder symptoms are also typically found among those who have already been vaccinated against COVID-19, leaving a greater proportion of unvaccinated British Columbians hospitalized due to the virus. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Community grows here

WANT TO GROW THAT SEED OF AN IDEA FOR BOWEN? Your Community Foundation is here to help! Community Impact Grants deadline is Feb 15th Your idea should help make Bowen better in the areas of: Seniors, Social Health & Well-Being, Environment & Parks, Education & Youth, Arts & Culture

bowenfoundation.com/community-impact-fund/

Patient of the Week LOKI Meet Loki! This sweet girl paid a visit to an emergency clinic and most recently to us for a recheck. She presented for coughing and difﬁcultly breathing. She was diagnosed with pneumonia. Loki has been improving and we look forward to her next visit at the clinic!

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 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Assessed values in some North Shore neighbourhoods up 40% JANE SEYD

North Shore News

High demand for real estate combined with lack of homes for sale has made for a hot pandemic market on the North Shore, which sale prices and assessed values in some neighbourhoods up substantially more than the average in 2022. In North Vancouver, for instance, while an “average” single family home was up 22 per cent in assessed value this year, an average assessment in

Westlynn Terrace, bordering Lynn Canyon, was up almost 45 per cent, jumping from approximately $1.3 million to over $1.9 million, according to data provided by Landcor Data Corp., which analyzed information from BC Assessment. Homes on the Deep Cove waterfront were also up about 45 per cent in assessed value, rising from an average of $2.5 million last year to $3.7 million this year. Homes in Grousewoods, at the very top of North Vancouver, were also up over 40 per

cent in value, according to Landcor data, going from an average value of $1.6 million last year to just under $2.3 million this year. Single-family homes in many other areas of North Vancouver also showed increases in average assessed value of over 30 per cent this year. Those included Blueridge, Boundary, Calverhall, Queensbur y, Kilmer, Upper Lonsdale and Westview – all clocking in at increases of between 31 and 34 per cent in average assessed values. “The last two years, we’ve had the biggest sales years that we’ve had in over a 10-year period. And it’s all local buying,” said Realtor Calvin Angell, Lindberg of Hasman & Associates in West Vancouver. Tony Rossetti of Re/Max Rossetti Realty in North

Vancouver said a combination of factors has created a particularly hot market, including rock-bottom interest rates, and “maybe fear that interest rates are going to go up.” In West Vancouver, where the inventory of homes is slightly better, homes in neighbourhoods like Caulfeild, Cedardale, Queens Av e n u e , Eagleridge, Gleneagles, and Sunset Beach have all seen average assessments shoot up by over 30 per cent this year. Sales and assessed values of waterfront homes in both North and West Vancouver are up this year. Homes on the Dollarton, Deep Cove and Cove Cliff waterfront are up in assessed value between 31 and 37 per cent, according to Landcor. Even homes among more remote Indian Arm addresses are up an

average of 38 per cent. In some cases, people who have retained well-paying jobs through the pandemic and are spending more time working from home have decided to put their money into the home they’ve always wanted, said Lindberg. Other buyers are finding creative ways to make purchasing possible. “Homes with basement suites are in strong demand,” said Rossetti. So are homes close to amenities “so perhaps you don’t have to have the second car.” “Lynn Valley’s been incredibly strong in the past year.” The low number of homes for sale compared to normal years has been a double-edged sword. For sellers, it’s meant soaring prices. But it’s also made many would-be sellers reluctant to list at all, said

Lindberg and Rossetti. “People say ‘Where are we going to go?’” said Lindberg. “In my 30-some years of selling real estate in the North Shore, I’ve never seen this. The last time I looked, there were 78 homes in all of North Vancouver on the market for sale,” he said. And the situation doesn’t show much sign of easing. As of December, the “benchmark” sale price of a detached home in North Vancouver was just under $2 million while a “benchmark” home in West Vancouver was selling for $3.2 million, according to statistics from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Lindberg said he looked at 10 recent sales at in North Vancouver and “every one I randomly picked sold for over the assessed value.”

The Top Ten valued properties in B.C. (according to BC Assessments) A map showing increases in real estate values in West Vancouver by neighbourhood. Data provided by Landcor Data Corp. Map: Birgit Brunner / Glacier Media

1) 3085 Point Grey Road, Vancouver (Kitsilano) - $73,147,000 2) 4707 Belmont Avenue, Vancouver (Point Grey) - $64,600,000 3)JamesIsland,GulfIslandsRural(InnerIslands)-$54,716,000 4) 4743 Belmont Avenue, Vancouver (Point Grey) - $40,913,000 5) 4719 Belmont Avenue, Vancouver (Point Grey) - $39,912,000

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6) 2815 Point Grey Road, Vancouver (Kitsilano) - $38,267,000 7) 8030 Alpine Way, Whistler (Alpine Meadows) - $35,819,000 8) 4773 Belmont Avenue, Vancouver (Point Grey) - $35,078,000 9) 4749 Belmont Avenue, Vancouver (Point Grey) - $33,959,000 10) 4857BelmontAvenue,Vancouver(PointGrey)-$33,910,000

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A9

North Vancouver heritage homes move outta town EARLY 1900S HOMES HEADED FOR BOWEN AND LOPEZ ISLANDS BRENT RICHTER

North Shore News

Think of it as retiring to quieter island comwhen munity you reach a certain age and city living is no longer for you – except it’s the house that we’re talking about. Late Saturday night, contracgingerly tors loaded up two North Vancouver heritage homes and moved them to barges to ferry them to their new permanent locations on Lopez Island in the San Juans and Bowen Island. The Cook and Schiplo residences from 424 and 428 East

Third St. were built in 1927 and 1908, respectively. But in 2020, Cascadia Green Developments purchased the lots with plans redevelto op them into a mixed-use commercial/residential project. When North Shore Heritage v i c e -p re s i d e n t Jennifer Clay saw the lots up for redevelopment, she and group’s the members went to work lobbying City of North Vancouver council and Cascadia to find a way to incorporate the homes into their plans. When that didn’t work, they alerted Nickel Bros, the go-to con-

tractor for prepping a salvageable house to be moved, finding a buyer and handling the daunting logistics of getting it there. Cascadia agreed to let the homes go free of charge. “At Cascadia G r e e n Developments, we are committed to providing accessible homes, from our rent-to-own plan, live work studios and relocating houses whenever possible. Moving these three homes is an ideal fit for our company’s vision,” said Cascadia founder Farzad Mazarei,” in a press release. To facilitate the move, the city had

North Vancouver’s 1927 Cook Residence is loaded for its journey to Lopez Island in Washington State. Photo: Jennifer Clay / North Shore Heritage

to temporarily close down Third Street, St. Patricks Avenue and East Esplanade, allowing the Nickel Bros. crew to slowly pull the houses down to Seaspan’s dock, while support crews removed hydro and telephone wires to give the oversized loads safe clearance. By early morning, they’d reached the barges and left the inlet. (A much newer 2014 duplex from between the two was also carted away.) It was exciting to see the process play out, but heritage advocates always have mixed feelings when an old-timer leaves town. They pre-

fer to see them stay in place and, when that’s not possible, have them moved elsewhere in the same community, Clay said. “It’s kind of a win, right? At least they’re safe. They’re not going to be staying in North Vancouver but they’re also not going to landfill,” she said, adding that to rebuild the same today houses would require the lumber of about 200 trees. “The greenest building is the house that’s already built.” In the city’s heritage register, the Cook Residence is described as a modest bungalow demon-

strating the late of persistence the Craftsman style, which was predomthe inant style of home before the First World War. feaHeritage tures include “a jerkin-headed front-gable roof, twin-coursed shingle cladding, decorative triangular eave brackets and triple assembly windows with decorative muntins in the upper sash.” With its tall narrow and proportions, the Schiplo Residence was done more in the Victorian style. It was built on spec by a carpenter with an eye for ornamentation, including lathe-

A last look at the three houses (including a newer duplex in the middle) before their move. Photo: Jennifer Clay / North Shore Heritage

Contractors from Nickel Bros move North Vancouver’s 1908 Schiplo Residence to a waiting barge bound for Bowen Island. Photo: Sarah Green / Cascadia Development

turned veranda columns with intricate scroll-cut brackets. “They’re getting extremely well constructed houses, made of first-growth wood. Not the same kind of shortcuts that a modern builder would probably take. Rock solid materials,” Clay said. “There’s no reason why it wouldn’t last another 100 years.” Apart from their distinct style and craftsmanship, there’s something else that draws people to heritage homes, Clay said. The new owner of the Cook residence has been eager to know more about its heritage value and the histo-

ry of its previous inhabitants. Both the Cook and Schiplo homes were lived in by the families of labourers who worked in the shipyards on the North Vancouver waterfront. “The house has been lived in and loved by many families before. And yes, it’s intangible, but the history is there,” Clay said. Clay said she would like to see developers be more proactive with finding new owners for heritage homes before they’re demolished and helping to pay to cover the cost of moving them, as relocation tends to be cheaper than demolition, she said.

The Cook Residence begins its long, slow move south of the border. Photo: Jennifer Clay / North Shore Heritage

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR THURSDAY, JANUARY 20

Library Champions (New Immigrants Helping Other New Immigrants) 6:30 pm Online Info Session via Zoom. Learn about Library Champions and how to help others in the community. This is a program for folks who are permanent-residents (but not Canadian citizens), to help gain volunteer work experience, make connections, and help other new immigrants learn about the resources available to them via libraries and beyond. Find out more at librarychampions.ca and register for the Zoom info session at: tinyurl.com/3trx6v2d

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22

Bowen Island Horse Owners and Riders Association AGM 6-8 pm Join us for our virtual AGM this Saturday! Meet/catch-up with like minded folks on the island, and partake in planning for the exciting year ahead for BIHORA!

We will be seeking folks to help with our committees, including Youth Representatives, Events and Fundraising. The brief Agenda is as follows: 6-6:30pm -- “socially distant socializing”. Join us with your snacks and beverages in-hand to catch up with like-minded folks! 6:30-7:30pm -- AGM. As part of the discussion about ideas for next year, Brenda Addison-Jones will be presenting on Working Equitation. 7:30-8pm -- Special Speaker. Tina Colter will be presenting and discussing equine chiropractic medicine. Call/text Kristina Calli at 778-899-0078 for the meeting link.

JANUARY 2330

Family Literacy Week Come play Book Bingo at the Library and see how many different kinds of books you can read this month. We’ll post your Bingo successes on our Wall of Fame! Print at home and find other literacy activities at: bipl.link/FLW

MONDAY, JANUARY 24

Bowen Island Municipal Council 4 pm - Committee of the Whole 6:15 pm - Regular Council Meeting Both meetings will be streamed live on the BIM Youtube page. Please contact the municipality if you wish to speak or enter a written submission. Rotary Club Speaker Series 7:30 pm Rotary Club speaker Gloria Staudt on Rotary’s Peace Scholarships. See www.bowenrotary.com for Zoom information.

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The Hearth Gallery will be closed We will reopen on February 4 with the Mini Artworks Exhibition and Auction. Learn More: www.hearthartsonbowen.ca

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Thursday, January 20, 2022

Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health update on staffing levels Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and Fraser Health are experiencing staffing challenges due to the current Omicron variant, seasonal illnesses, recent snow days and the COVID-19 global pandemic. Health care workers have been on the front lines of care throughout the pandem-

ic now for two years and are experiencing exhaustion and the same illness as the rest of the population. Sustaining full staffing continues to be a challenge across the region and makes it difficult to maintain the high levels of health care services in some rural communities, surgical capacity and

specialized programs. VCH and Fraser Health maintain comprehensive business continuity plans and continually monitor, evaluate and respond to staffing challenges, as appropriate. While there are no longer-term impacts to service delivery at this time, over the past several months, tem-

porary measures have been adopted to address immediate requirements, as needed. To date, VCH has had to postpone 154 non-urgent elective surgeries over the past month due to a reduction in operating rooms. Staffing impacts have also had a pronounced effect on rural and

remote sites, as these facilities and programs frequently operate with smaller teams. Staffing challenges are similar for smaller teams offering specialized services. Fraser Health has rescheduled 128 non-urgent elective surgeries in the last four weeks and changes to case mix that are shared weekly in the provincial update. Fraser Health has seen a small number of home support visits rescheduled due to staffing challenges. We monitor daily, and make changes to adjust for the services required to minimize service disruptions to our patients and clients. While Fraser Health is seeing staffing challenges, we are able to manage. COVID-19 vaccines are our best line of defense against the virus, including the Omicron variant, offering good protection from serious illness and hospitalization. By following provincial public health guidelines and getting vaccinated, the public is supporting the healthcare system and frontline staff who remain committed to delivering safe and quality care to those who need it.

VCH and Fraser Health testing sites continue to record a significant demand for COVID19 testing services. To preserve testing capacity for those at higher risk of COVID-19 and for those who live or work in higher risk settings, testing is not required for those who have mild symptoms and are fully vaccinated. If sick, stay at home and away from others until you feel well enough to return to regular activities. Those with no symptoms of COVID-19 do not need a test. VCH and Fraser Health deeply appreciate and commend the commitment of health care workers, who have been doing an exemplary job under extremely challenging conditions. Do not delay accessing urgent or emergency care, as needed, and get to know your health care options to use your ER wisely. Both health authorities also appreciate the patience, support and understanding of the public when accessing health care services, as teams that deliver these supports may be managing staffing challenges.

A grey, drizzly Tuesday provided plenty of opportunity to check Bowen waters for wildlife. At the marina a swan was investigating beneath the surface, and across island on the west side a trio of seals popped their heads up to see how things were going. Photos: Alex Kurial (swan), Simone Kurial (seals)

New vaccines may be available soon CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

While the province is in the midst of a booster dose campaign, the vaccine card is meant to confirm whether someone is considered fully vaccinated. The province defines that as someone who has received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Most COVID-19 vaccines administered in B.C. fall under the mRNA (messenger RNA) category — products delivered in Canada by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc.

Henry said during Tuesday’s briefing that for those who’ve decided they’re not interested in mRNA vaccines, she’s hopeful the Novavax and Medicago vaccines would get the green light from Health Canada in the coming weeks. “It is not going to be available to help you through this wave. But it is an additional option that will be coming, we hope, in the near future,” she said.