Bowen Island Undercurrent December 22 2022

/ Vancouver passenger ferry continues planning

The first sailing is still several years away, but planning is well underway for a future passenger ferry between Bowen Island and the mainland.

Greenline Ferries and its CEO Callum Campbell announced last month their intention to establish the service on routes from Vancouver to Bowen, and also Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast Campbell was on Bowen last week to provide local council with more information on the project

“They want reliable service at an affordable price,” answered Campbell to a question he posed to begin the presentation: what do people want in a transportation service? This concept will be especially appealing to Bowen Islanders after they saw a dozen or more BC ferries sailings cancelled December 18 due to staff shortages, the second time in just over two weeks that happened.

Campbell listed some other attributes his company is looking for in a ferry service, including the ships being green and clean. The plan is to have both vessels servicing the routes be fully electric, able to travel the longer 75 minute journey from downtown Vancouver to Gibsons and back on a 25 minute charge at the ferry terminal.

Norway’s MS Medstraum is the case study for this type of ship, a battery powered ferry that runs between the cities of Stavanger and Hommersåk

May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve. s

CHRISTMAS COLOURS: The Marina lawn is always a beautiful sight when lit up for Christmasparticularly after a fresh fall of snow There’s a good chance we could be in for a white Christmas here on Bowen given the recent snow blasts that have hit the island But either way, the decorations and spirit around town will make it a magical place Happy Holidays to everyone, and have a great NewYear too! / Alex Kurial photo

ALEX KURIAL Editor

First sailings could be in 2025

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The boat can fit 150 passengers and 20 bicycles Campbell went to see the transport in action earlier this year, and spoke to its quiet ride and lack of vibration.

Campbell says the goals of providing a passenger-only option are to present a faster trip – the Bowen to downtown voyage would take about 45 minutes – and to ultimately keep more vehicles off the road. He adds Greenline Ferries would be “resilient to labour shortages and energy swings,” given their battery powered status and smaller crew of about four It takes around 10 to 12 people to operate the Queen of Capilano, in comparison

The boat itself is just one part of the equation though – there’s also the terminals necessary to make the project work A necessity for selling the non-motorized angle to travellers will be their location in key transit hubs, such as the New York City Ferry or Water Emergency Transportation Authority in San Francisco

In Vancouver’s case, Campbell says this means he wants the downtown terminal in immediate proximity to either the Canada or Expo train lines to allow for ease of access to and from the ferry. A location for the Bowen terminal hasn’t been picked yet, though pro-

posed locations at the moment include Snug Cove or Seymour Bay.

Whether either of those berths are ultimately chosen, or somewhere else completely, Campbell stressed it will be crucial for the municipality to establish reliable public transportation to the terminal.

It’s still early days for the project with many details to work out, including the major hurdle of needing to raise what will be millions of dollars to operate the ships Ticket prices also need to be decided on.

Campbell says there’s promise in federal government grants aimed at promoting this kind of electric transport, including the Green Municipal Fund which could cover up to $350,000, given a 10 per cent contribution by the municipality. Carbon offsets are available too

The current timeline is to have the pair of ships ordered by the end of next year, construction of them (including specifics to meet the environmental requirements of Salish Sea weather) in 2024, and the beginning of passenger runs in 2025.

A public information session with Greenline Ferries is scheduled for January 18, 2023, from 5:30 to 8 pm, at the Bowen Island Public Library.

Bowen whale watcher spots J-Pod in Howe Sound

KEILI BARTLETT Coast Reporter

As Kathy Clarke sat at her desk on Dec 14, she happened to glance up from her computer and saw an unusual sight: the J-pod was making its way in Howe Sound.

Clarke, whose home on Bowen Island overlooks Collingwood Channel, the west side of Keats Island and up to Port Mellon, called for her husband and then grabbed her camera In Clarke’s 11 years on the island, she says they’ll see a blow, a couple of whales or pod of dolphins every once in a while But a pod of orcas? Not so much

“It was just one of those lucky days I reached for the camera and it had a full charge, my [tele-photo] lens was on the camera And I could just go out onto my deck and start snapping photos,” Clarke said. “That’s why I say everything lined up that day I’m buying a lotto ticket”

She posted her sighting and photos to the Howe Sound/Átl’ka7tsem Cetacean Sightings Group on Facebook so others could witness the whales too They were headed toward Pasley Island, and maybe out to the Strait of Georgia when she lost sight of them. Then, she made a report to

Ocean Wise’s WhaleReport.

It was tough to count how many orcas were there, Clarke said, as they took turns diving underwater and out of sight. She estimates there were 10, but maybe more. And among the whales Clarke saw was one that appeared smaller than the rest.

Earlier this year, the newest member of the J-pod, J59, was born The female calf “was pretty rambunctious and looked pretty healthy,” when Gary Sutton, a research technician at Ocean Wise Whales Initiative, saw her in October during a survey for the Centre for Whale Research They came across J37 with her baby tucked behind her Hopefully, he said, there are more babies to join the 25-member pod.

Studying whales in winter

Prior to their sighting in Howe Sound, J-pod spent the previous week or so in the Puget Sound area (near Seattle) which is a pretty common location for them at this time of year, Sutton said While he was surprised they were suddenly in Howe Sound after being in Puget Sound for days on end, Sutton said he shouldn’t have been since orcas can travel more than 100 miles per day He’s happy to see them finding winter chinook and rolling as a big group, socializing continued on page

If you would still like to receive a charitable receipt for 2022, please go to bowenfoundation.com and give today.

“IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE LUCKY DAYS”

EDITORIAL

That’s a wrap!

Well Bowen, what a year it has been! I recently marked my first full Bowen rotation around the sun, which means - in the words of our former publisher Peter Kvarnstrom - I am 1/20 of the way to being able to voice an opinion on island matters Or, at least 1/20 of the way to a point where said opinion holds any weight, anyway While, in theory, coming here marked a move back to my hometown area of Vancouver, it has been fascinating experiencing everything that makes this island so different from the mainland. We are so close to the city, yet when I’m here I sometimes feel as if the mainland is a world away. I love the pace, I love the vibe, and most of all I love the people I’m so happy I’ve gotten to know so many of you, and I truly appreciate the support you’ve shown both myself and the Undercurrent since I arrived. This has taken place through too many ways to count, but certainly they include the incredible submissions each week, the willingness to provide story context to this island newcomer, and of course all of you who read the paper each week, in print or online It’s no exaggeration to say this paper could not function without such eager support, and I am very thankful for all the words of encouragement everyone has been so generous with

Not to repeat the obvious, but this pandemic has been a trying time for everybody, both physically and mentally. And as it clings along, I don’t believe there is anyone who will come through unscathed, myself included. Where you are makes a difference though, and I think we should consider ourselves lucky in our location in that regard. Pandemic politics were tearing apart the last place I lived, which is not something I’ve seen here Even if there are disagreements on what course to chart, these generally aren’t tensions I’ve seen spill out loudly into the public, and certainly not into the streets Instead, I see a very helpful community, always willing to aid somebody in need, or rally behind someone who needs help There are so many demons to fight in life, but a strong communal spirit makes that so much easier And I see that here on Bowen.

So while I may still carry the odd ‘big city’ gripe - would be cool to have a streetlight or two, or grab a snack from the store after 9 pm - these are more than fair tradeoffs for the way of life that Bowen has to offer This has been a great place to spend a year, and I hope to hang around with all of you for many more.

Happy Holidays everybody! We are taking a little break next week, so see you in the new year!

- Alex Kurial, Editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cheers to the Knick Knack Nook!

Dear Editor,

A festive thank-you to the hard-working volunteer elves of the Knick Knack Nook for their kind donation of over $1,100 to the Snug Cove House Society

The donation will go towards helping our volunteers with the ferry fare to pick

up Better Meals from the mainland so they can deliver the packaged pre-prepared meals to the homes of island seniors every two weeks a service carried out without pause since 1995.

And some of the donation will go towards the almost-completed planning for the society’s Snug Cove House retirement residence on Miller

Road, a dream that’s now getting close to reality

So thank you Nook elves, and a Merry Christmas to All!

- Graham Ritchie, for the board of Snug Cove House Society

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Yukon Ho!

MERIBETH DEEN Bowen Islander / Northern bound

Dear Bowen Island,

One morning 12.5 years ago, Ross and I biked from East Vancouver to Granville Island and hopped onto Mike Shannon’s water taxi. I sat in the very front seat with a coffee until we hit a big wave head-on. The paper cup flew from my hand and hit the dash, splashing coffee all over both of us Upon arrival in Snug Cove, we cycled up Trunk Road. We ignored “No Cycling” signs on the Killarney Lake trails (sorry) and made our way to Endswell Farm I fell in love, instantly.

This place is so much more than a quaint, fairytale community to me now. I’ve met its ugly bits and cut my fingers on its rough edges After encountering these realities, some people leave Bowen with a sort of, “so-long, suckers,” kind of attitude Not me, my attachment is far from fleeting: I’m already planning my next visit “home”

Moving to Whitehorse presents some immediate and challenging adjustments for our family (bitter cold, darkness and grizzly bears, to name a few) but the relief of one full-time working parent now free from the epic commute can not be understated (Ross) - not to mention the relief of the other parent on-island trying to get work done (me).

We’re welcoming a life with access to a community centre and a swimming pool, as well as a gymnastics club that gets to stay standing after Saturday practices; but I’ll be missing the ability to write up IOU’s at the General Store and impromptu kid parties in erupting in our house while I hide out in the bathtub I’ll miss the sight of snow on the North Shore mountains, the smell of the forest, and really, so much more

I offer myself one piece of consolation when I start to get all weepy about leaving: everything changes, whether you want it to or not - so you may as well embrace opportunity when it comes your way. I’ll let you know how that goes… and we’ll be looking forward to your visits.

Keep taking care of each other,

Love: - Meribeth + Ross, Shah, Frankie

Winter Solstice

From

- Alex

one Undercurrent editor to another, thank you Meribeth for all you’ve done for the paper over the years, from expertly guiding it, to always sending interesting stories about what’s happening around the island, and to helping me with advice and background info too We will miss having you around, but wish you all the luck as you start a new chapter up in the Yukon. Don’t forget to check in from time to time, and of course, submissions on life in the North are always welcome. Safe travels!

Bowen Roastery burned but not broken

A NEAR DISASTROUS INCIDENT THIS FALL COULD HAVE FINISHED THE COMPANY – BUT A DETERMINED OWNER HAS THE BOWEN ISLAND ROASTING COMPANY BACK IN BUSINESS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

ALEX KURIAL Editor

It’s a cold, snowy morning in late December – perfect weather for a hot beverage – and Chiara Perin is busy tending to the coffee beans at her Snug Cove roastery “You have to listen to the coffee,” she says, describing the intricate process which unlocks the flavour of green coffee beans In a small space near the ferry dock, Perin curates the beans which are then sold by her company, Bowen Island Roasting

It’s work she has carried on for a few years now, after taking over the company from former owner Gino Rutigliano “I’m Italian and I really liked his recipes that he had,” says Perin, noting that she enjoys how he leaned toward producing a more Northern Italian styled coffee Perin hails from just outside Venice, and is a fan of the nuttier and sweeter taste the region’s coffee is known for “When he was leaving I almost felt that it was an obligation to keep the coffee here on Bowen. I liked the product, I know many people liked it,” says Perin, who had worked with Rutigliano in the Bowen Island Espresso Hut before moving into an ownership role when he left the island.

Bowen Island Roasting Company survived the pandemic, though unfortunately the Espresso Hut did not. Perin’s transition to a full focus on roasting has proved popular though – her product is sold in the General Store, at the Ruddy, and delivered to many individual customers on the island. While she enjoyed operating the café, Perin says she finds the roasting work fulfilling, adding she had a big head

start taking over a product people had already come to enjoy.

But after managing to resiliently ride out the last two years, an October incident almost erased all of Perin’s hard work. A routine roast session in the middle of the month became a nightmare experience when Perin went to turn on the roastery’s after burner. Not only was it not working, it had been extremely damaged.

Perin went outside to find the main controller valve, along with other parts of the equipment’s machinery, badly smashed and unable to function. Without a working after burner, the roastery would spew smoke into the air, which isn’t allowed.

“I didn’t think I would survive this,” said Perin.

The tucked away location of the after burner outside makes it less likely such significant damage was caused by accident Perin alerted the local RCMP –vandalism was theorized but no answers have been found yet Her only recourse was to file an insurance claim, which fortunately processed well ahead of schedule Perin’s quote was approved in two months, and just four days ago she was back at the gears producing fresh bags of coffee

It was just in time to make Christmas deliveries to the local stores, though Perin regrets she won’t be able to make her usual individual deliveries during the holiday season. She hopes to make up for it in the new year – coffee will still be a necessity come the cold months of January and February after all.

Perin thanks all the customers who have stuck with her, not only during her recent unexpected pause, but during the pandemic as well. She wants them to know the coffee is going to keep flowing – the roastery just hit a little bump in the road.

If you think the coffee from Bowen Island Roasting Company is devilishly good, that’s because owner Chiara Perin has help from Satan himself - the name given to her trusty partner and roasting machine (above). Perin’s operation hit a serious snag when her after burner was damaged this fall. But a newly fixed piece of equipment (below) means her coffee is now flowing to Bowen Island once again. / Alex Kurial photos

Snug Cove sewer bylaw will return to council after Ombuds investigation

ALEX KURIAL Editor

The flexibility of Snug Cove’s sewage bylaw is settocomebackfordiscussionfollowinginvolvement from the Office of the Ombudsperson

Earlier this year it was determined the Snug Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) would need nearly $2 million in fixes, following a series of overflows and unexpectedly reaching capacity. All future hookups to the sewage system were paused indefinitely.

A payment method was worked out to cover the repairs in the form of a cost-sharing plan between properties in the Snug Cove Local Service Area (44%) and those on the rest of the island (56%). The money would be collected through parcel taxes.

This approach would use general revenue sources, which drew questions from early on Historically on Bowen, sewage work performed in Local Service Areas (LSA) is funded through LSA reserve funds

One of these voices was Bowen’s former public works superintendent and engineering and operations director Brad Hawthorn Through letters and appearances before council starting when the topic came up for discussion, Hawthorn explained that a shared cost recovery plan wasn’t permitted under the Snug Cove sewage bylaw, nor any LSA bylaw on the island

Under current LSA bylaws, such work needs to be funded by the LSA Sewer Reserve In Snug Cove’s case, this totalled about $53,000 Chief administrative officer Liam Edwards countered by saying “Municipalities can use

general revenue at its sole discretion for local area services whenever it deems appropriate,” reasoning that “capacity that was once there (WWTP) was given away to projects that were deemed to be strategically important to the island, but there was never any funding identified to fill in that capacity that was given away ”

The CAO also reasoned that cost sharing was appropriatesinceSnugCovehasmostofthebusinesses and amenities on the island, and therefore work done in that area benefits all of Bowen

The points made by Hawthorn and others were acknowledged once new chief financial officer Kristen Watson arrived In response she amended the initial plan of a full island cost share to the eventual split that was enacted, agreeing with Edwards that some costs should be borne outside of the Snug Cove LSA because of its unique status.

Watson also proposed an amendment to the sewage bylaw to allow for greater borrowing leeway in the future for projects seen as benefitting the whole island. Ultimately this wasn’t pursued however, and the cost split adopted as part of May’s budget.

Hawthorn resolved to pursue the matter though, and wrote to the Office of the Ombudsperson with his evidence that the decision violated the sewage bylaw “The reason I thought it was important to take it up with the Ombuds Office was that I strongly believed that the municipality was contradicting its own bylaws, as well as the Community Charter,” says Hawthorn

An investigation was opened during the summer, and by fall the department determined the cost sharing method did indeed run contrary to the existing bylaw

“The municipality indicated that they had obtained legal advice regarding the apparent inconsistency The lawyers suggested that the cost-sharing structure could be interpreted as compliant with the governing bylaw in a technical sense, and an amendment may not be necessary, ” read a letter from Ombuds officer Pei-Shing Wang to Hawthorn in October

“While lawyers may provide a comprehensive analysis on whether the cost-sharing structure may be considered compliant, most residents do not have the technical expertise to do so. It may enhance public communication if the governing bylaw is amended to be consistent with the cost-sharing structure at the first glance,” Wang’s letter continued.

While the Ombuds office doesn’t enforce laws itself, decisions they make are highly influential on establishing best practices for municipalities. Wang called the municipality to inform them of his office’s view, which Edwards says came as a surprise to him But the CAO said he’s supportive of the department’s suggestion “to ensure that the bylaws are in alignment with the financing methodology that we use, ” and the amendment matter will be brought forward to council in the new year

“Given that the municipality has agreed to take the steps necessary to resolve the issue identified during my investigation, I intend to end my investigation and close our file,” concluded Wang in the letter

The exact steps for this upcoming bylaw amendment aren’t fully clear Hawthorn suggests written notice to all affected properties is required, along with the opportunity for a counter petition “It’s a little bit interesting because there is no wording in the

Community Charter that talks about how to amend establishment bylaws after they have been established under the requirements of the Community Charter,” he explains

“This is the big issue for me and a number of other people, is that there’s a whole process to establish and get community buy-in and counter petition for establishing those bylaws, but there’s a lack of any words about how to amend them… In my opinion, whatever the requirements were to set up an establishment bylaw, those same requirements should also be applicable to amending that bylaw,” says Hawthorn on what he thinks should happen next

Edwards says he’s not sure if the required move rises to such a level of consultation, but is still reviewing a final plan to bring forth to council “From a legal perspective, we ’ re within our legal authority to do what we did But from a transparency and openness perspective, it’s hard for somebody to see where that authority exists We want to do a better job at communicating with the community here, and we want to make sure that people understand the rationale for the decisions that are made,” adds Edwards

Mayor Andrew Leonard also commented on the issue “In the new year, I’ll be looking for a council resolution to have a formal legal analysis done, for public release, that incorporates the municipality’s initial legal opinion with what we ’ ve received from the ombudsperson I know that we council, community, and staff would like more clarity to guide us towards informed policymaking that will serve both current and future residents,” says Leonard

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

from all of us at

Bowen Island Properties

SHORTBREAD

I like them because they aren’t too sweet My Mom always made shortbread at Christmas time and she would either put a green or red candied cherry on the top, or my favourite were the ones with an almond on top I have put my twist on my shortbread and like them with chopped pecans.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees: 3/4 cup softened butter; 1/2 cup cornstarch; 1/2 cup icing sugar; 1 cup flour; 1/2 cup almond flour (optional); finely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional but highly recommended)

Sift all dry ingredients and to butter Mix on low speed in mixer until incorporated. Then you will need to kneaded the dough by hand to make the dough Use either parchment paper or cling wrap and form the dough into a long roll about 1 1/2”diameter Pop it into the fridge to set for about 5 minutes

Take it out of the fridge and unwrap. Pour the chopped nuts along the side of the dough and roll it to coat evenly all around Cut into 1/3” slices, place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes. I like them just brown on the bottom and let them cool on a wire rack.

I have no idea how long they keep as they do not last long at my house! Cheers!

- Nancy Lee

Peanut butter and jam. Ferries and being on time. Some things are just better together.

Like the Bowen Island Community Foundation and Bowen Islanders. Together we do a lot of really good things.

But we need your help. We can’t do it alone!

Please give today at bowenfoundation.com

Warmth

- Karen Wallace

November’s most expensive home sales on Bowen

EACH HOUSE SOLD TOPPED THE $1 MILLION MARK

ALEX KURIAL Editor

The island’s three most expensive home sales last month were determined by default – they were the only three sales of the month But that didn’t mean this trio didn’t fetch nice prices, all joining the seven figure club

high sale of November was on the west side of the island, at 494 Braewood Place

three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in the Sealeigh Park neighbourhood went for

$1 475 million, down a little from the $1 585 million ask after spending 50 days on the market

The sizeable 3,298 square foot property was built in 1996, and sits on 0 3 acres of land It features ocean and mountain views, as well as an open concept design with high ceilings The outside is billed as boasting “Mediterranean flair” with palm trees, grapes, figs, pears, and plums A short walk to the beach is also among the selling points

Hopping over to the other side of the island, it was 239 David Road which had the next highest mark at $1.39 million. The two-storey home (plus basement) is 3,510 square feet with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. It took a little while to find the right buyer match, but after 149 days on the market – and a reduction from the original $1 598 million asking price – the deal was closed in late November

The Millers Landing property is 55 years old, on a half-acre lot Hopefully the new owners have a green thumb, as the

yard is described as a “gardener’s delight” with roses, rhododendrons, and sundecks Bedrooms are spaced throughout the house, with two on the main floor and one each in the loft and basement Staying warm during the snow and cold will be no problem either – the house has two fireplaces to cozy up in front of

And finally, it’s a short trip up to 1325 Hillcrest Road – aka ‘The Hollow’ – for the final sale of the month This 1 ½ storey, two-bedroom, two-bath home sold for $1 175 million after 52 days of being listed Like the other homes on this list, the final sale was down from the initial ask, which in this case was $1.299 million.

The 58-year old house is the smallest of the trio at 1,123 square feet, and on 0.25 acres of land. “Bowen cottage meets Italian sophistication” reads the pitch There’s a particular emphasis on warmth in the home, including heated floors, a heat pump, and wood burning stove This focus extends outside too, where a barrel sauna and pair of heated cabins await those venturing out into the cold

Note* Dates are based off the day of reported sale

November’s top selling house - 494 Braewood Place - offers a lush garden with exotic trees and plants / Zealty.ca photo

The outdoor barrel sauna at 1325 Hillcrest Road will do a good job keeping its occupants warm in the winter months / Zealty.ca photo

Former BC Ferries vessel mysteriously moored in Howe Sound

SOPHIE WOODROOFFE Coast Reporter

One of BC Ferries’ original vessels Queen of Tsawwassen is earning a notorious reputation these days: rusted marine mystery of Howe Sound

Nearby residents have observed the 98-metre (320 ft ) steelhulled former car and passenger ferry swinging wide from its mooring in Andy’s Bay, near Mariner’s Rest, off Gambier Island since early November, after being towed down Georgia Strait, according to one resident

The 5,972 gross-tonnage vessel is moored in close proximity to a glass sponge reef, federally-protected from fishing activities

Area F director Kate-Louise Stamford, who is also a Gambier Island resident, told Coast Reporter there is “nothing definite” about ownership. “There have certainly been complaints and I continue to follow up, ” she said in a Dec 13 email

“As with earlier instances of derelict ferries moored in Howe Sound, if they are not in the way of navigation, actively leaking, or an immediate danger to people, then it can be a challenge to get them removed,” said Stamford She has directed people to report concerns to the Canadian Coast Guard

In an email to Coast Reporter, the Canadian Coast Guard said it’s aware of the vessel, and confirmed it’s the former Queen of Tsawwassen but no recent reports have been received The Coast Guard has not inspected the vessel, and said it would respond to reports of pollution.

The responsibility of vessels “lies with the registered owner, ” said the federal agency, and under the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, owners are prohibited from allowing a vessel to become a wreck by failing to maintain it

Croman Corporation, an aerial services company with a helicopter fleet, based in White City, OR, is listed as the owner on Transport Canada’s vessel registration query system, however, the company said in a Dec 12 email “it was sold last month,” through Iron Planet, an online marketplace for heavy equipment

It was kept at Bonwick Island in the Broughton Archipelago, and most inventory was sold within the last three months, according to a Croman spokesperson

Sales data from Iron Planet show the winning bid for the vessel, now named Inlet Explorer and listed as a barge moored in Campbell River, was made in September for $180,000. The B.C.-based bidder is unnamed.

Jordan Elliot, president of the joint venture Avix and Marine Recycling Corporation, which is establishing a shipbreaking site at Hillside Industrial Park in Port Mellon, said the company has no connection to the vessel

Heavy-lift company Helifor, which also operates a fleet of helicopters, is listed by nauticapedia as the owner from 2012 to 2017 According to BC Ferries’ spokesperson Deborah Marshall, Helifor purchased the vessel in 2008

In 2013 Inlet Explorer was sighted in Toba Inlet where it was used as part of a logging camp

A spokesperson with Mirax Lumber Products, which owns Avalon dryland log sort in Port Mellon, said the company is aware of the Inlet Explorer but it was not purchased by the company and isn’t headed for the log sort.

In a sales advertisement supplied to Coast Reporter by Croman, the vessel is promoted as “available for the LNG project,” and has been repurposed as housing quarters, with 50 state rooms built on the passenger deck, along with common seating areas, washrooms, showers and laundry facilities, as well as a foosball table It also has a desalination plant

and “ a contained waste system.”

The vessel must be moved by tugboat because the original engines, while still in place, “ are not used,” said the advertisement

A spokesperson with Woodfibre LNG in Squamish told Coast Reporter the vessel has “ no association,” with their project

Inlet Explorer has a storied history It was the first ferry built for the British Columbia Ferry Corporation, alongside sister ship, Queen of Sidney the two ferries in the corporation’s Sidney Class

Their first voyage took them from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay on June 15, 1960 In the 1970s and early 1980s Queen of Tsawwassen also serviced Route 3, between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale. And between Saltery Bay and Earls Cove in the late 1990s, according to a Canadian public transportation discussion site

Laid down in 1959 and completed in 1960 by the Burrard Dry Dock shipbuilding company in North Vancouver, the vessel, which has a car capacity of 138, was kept in use by BC Ferries until 2007

The Queen of Sidney was retired in 2000 and sits at a shipyard in Mission, B C and has been used as a filming location, including for the X-Files television series

Rising waters in the Fraser River have elevated concerns the Queen of Sidney and other “abandoned” ferries and ships could potentially break free of their moorings.

SCRD director Stamford said “it would be worth BC Ferries revisiting their policy of selling off old ferries without regards to their long-term impact on local communities”

As for its current location, Transport Canada said it is “not aware of regulations prohibiting anchoring in Andy’s Bay off Gambier Island”

- With files from Lindsay William-Ross, Vancouver Is Awesome

J-Pod doesn’t often come so close to Bowen; important to report

Usually, the most common sightings of orcas on the Sunshine Coast are Bigg’s killer whales (also known as transients). The Southern Resident Killer Whales can often be identified by their sheer group size, Sutton said, as they typically travel in larger numbers Some of the southern residents can be further identified by what’s called an open saddle patch, a black mark that extends into the white patch on the whale As for differentiating between the three pods the J, L and K pods Sutton refers to the online catalog of photos gathered by the Centre for Whale Research on the San Juan Islands, an effort that’s been going on since the mid-70s

It’s not completely abnormal for the J-pod to be seen in Howe Sound, Sutton said, since they’ll get close to it, especially during winter months It is interesting to see them right around the islands In the summer, the J-pod has a “pretty predictable travel pattern” as they move up through the Gulf Islands toward the mouth of the Fraser River (and even further up into Vancouver Harbour) as they follow the salmon run.

The southern resident killer whales were hit hard in the ‘70s, when about 30 per cent of the population was captured and moved to marine parks Sutton said the younger animals were especially targeted, leaving a “big gaping hole in the

population that they’ve had a hard time recovering from” There was also historic overfishing on the coast, affecting the salmon runs the whales rely on as there are fewer fish and the average size of fish has decreased.

But in December and the winter months, the orcas are feeding on the chinook salmon that in turn feed on baitfish, and there’s a lot of baitfish in Howe Sound, Sutton said. That’s likely what’s bringing them toward the area, “which is certainly a good sign… If the whales are there, they’re following something they’re following food.”

Since around 2013, these orcas have been spending less time near the Strait of Georgia in the summer, instead opting for the western entrance of the Juan de Fuca Strait, but more time here in the winter This is a trend a new Ocean Wise Whale Initiative pilot project will begin studying in the next month or so, examining the wintering habits of whales in the Salish Sea from the Sunshine Coast to Cowichan Bay Sutton said they hope to collaborate with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to collect prey samples and fecal samples to determine what the whales are feeding on, particularly in winter what is bringing them here.

What about the humpbacks?

The winter pilot project will also study humpback whales Sutton’s colleague Tasli Shaw has been tracking humpback whales in the Salish Sea since 2012. In her decade of

research, Shaw’s count of humpbacks went

26 individuals to 801 including a record number of calves spotted this year.

“There’s just been this explosion of humpbacks coming back since historic exploitation, and it’s an amazing thing to see, ” Sutton said.

Humpbacks are “ a huge success story,” Sutton said, as they were hunted extensively and eradicated from the area before trickling back in the 1990s

It’s important to report Clarke’s was the only report to WhaleReport about the J-pod in Howe Sound on Dec 14. Sutton said such reports are important, especially in the winter months when fewer people are on the water and researchers don’t know where the whales are traveling to There’s an immediate and longterm benefit in reporting whale sightings

“It’s not just important for citing data information, and hopefully using that information down the road to influence things like critical habitat and fisheries management,” Sutton said. For this sighting, he pointed out how close the orcas were to ferry routes. “When you submit your sighting using the WhaleReport app, these notifications get sent to the shipping traffic in the area, various freighters, letting them know that the animals are there, so they can exercise extra caution when operating around them”

from

Kathy Clarke spotted members of the J-pod in Howe Sound on December 14 from her Bowen Island home. / Kathy Clarke photo

Happy Hanukkah!

MORE OR LESS

The Lands File Number for this application is 2412583 & 2412584. Comments concerning this application should be directed to the Project Manager at 200-10428 153rd Street, Surrey, BC V3R 1E1. Comments will be received by the Ministry of Forests Lands Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development until January 26, 2023. Ministry of Forests Lands Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development may not consider comments received after this date. Please visit the Applications, Comments & Reasons for Decision website at https://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information.

Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. For information, contact Information Access Operations at the Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services in Victoria at: www.gov.bc.ca/citz/iao/

Despite a chilly evening there was no stopping the beginning of Hanukkah on Sunday night. Matthew van der Giessen led people in song and prayer as the eight day Jewish festival got underway As the sun set, van der Giessen lit the first candle on the driftwood Menorah, whose uniqueness has attracted attention on and off Bowen. A new candle will be lit each night until Hanukkah concludes the evening of December 26. / Alex Kurial photos

your community

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31

UK New Years Eve at the Legion 2 pm $20. A 19+ event Pub quiz, music, free appies and a toast at 5 pm

New Years Eve at the Bowen Island Pub Ring in 2023 with the Good Vibrations. Tickets $20, contact bowenpub@gmail.com for info and reservations. Reservations in at 7:30 pm, general admission at 9 pm.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1

Polar Bear Plunge

Taking place at Bowen Bay Beach Plunge is at 2 pm sharp!

TO JANUARY 2

Teddy Bear Gala at the Museum Museum & Archives holiday exhibit Outside exhibit is on display until January 2, 2023

TUESDAYS

Yoga at Collins Hall Tuesdays from 1 to 2 pm All levels of experience welcome

Counting Birds

MICAELE FLORENDO Contributor / Birder

The National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count is planned for January 2, 2023 We welcome both experienced and novice birders to walk the trails, search from vehicles, even count from kayaks to count birds over much of the island and the surrounding shores If you prefer to count from your home, and it lies within a count circle, you are welcome to submit your birdlist from your

Chair to Standing $15 drop in Email jackie minns@gmail com or call 604-220-9092

THURSDAYS

Breath & Workspace @ Sweat The Technique Studio

Join this beginner movement class created to rebalance and prep the body for more active mobility. 6 pm.

Pre-register weekly at sweatthetechniquestudio.com

Thursday Art Group

Each week at Collins Hall, 9:30 to 11:30 am For enquiries please reach out to Marie@marieneys com or shannonrondeau@shaw ca

SATURDAYS

Men’s Mobility Circuit Class @ 9 am, Mobility Skills Class (All Levels) @ 10:15 am - Sweat The Technique Studio. Pre-register weekly at sweatthetechniquestudio com

Tunstall Bay Ocean Plunge

Saturdays at 11:45 am Free community activity. Register at Sweatthetechniquestudio.com

back yard feeder Hopefully the weather this year is substantially better than the snowstorm of last year!

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) started in 1900 and is the longest running citizen science project in North America. Data collected through these counts has provided invaluable information to understand the population features of North America’s birds.

It is an early-winter bird census, where thousands of volunteers across the U S , Canada, and many countries in the Western Hemisphere go out over a 24-hour period on one calendar day to count birds; volunteers count every bird they see or hear

all day through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter So, it’s not just a species tally—it’s a tally of all birds counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day! If you’re interested in reviewing some of the historical data, it’s available online at https://www.audubon.org/conservation/where-have-all-birds-gone

As there is a specific methodology to the Christmas Bird Count, if you’d like to participate, feel free to contact me at 604-838-2321 or by email at mmaddison@hotmail com If you will be on the mainland, Marja de Jong Westman (mdjw@telus.net / 604-8031677) can connect you to a count circle