Bowen Island Undercurrent January 26 2023

Hazardous conditions at service yard draw dismay

ALEX KURIAL Editor

A sobering report highlighting the decaying state of Bowen’s public works service yard was delivered earlier this week

BARGE BUSINESS: Homeowner Juan Ramos and residential designer Amy Adams admire the 1908 heritagehousewhichwasbargedintoTunstallBaylastweek Theefforttomovethehomewascomplexandrequired manyskilledpeople,butwasultimatelysuccessful Toseemorepicturesfrommovingday,andtofindoutmoreabout the long and storied history of the house, check out Pages 10-11 / Maureen Bowen photo

Cider House receives go-ahead

ALEX KURIAL

Editor

The lengthy saga over a lounge application at the Bowen Cider House looks to have finally reached a conclusion

There was frustration from both sides throughout the process as the Cider House and its supporters, along with neighbours concerned about the potential changes, frequently appeared before council and each other in a series of meetings and public consultations Last fall the previ-

ous municipal council endorsed the cidery’s liquor licence request for an indoor and outdoor lounge, but the case was reopened and a further public consultation period ordered by the current council following further neighbour complaints

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

The municipal site, off Carter Road behind the Mount Gardner Road gas station, is riddled with safety hazards that can be damaging to both humans and the environment It’s typically home to at least 10 full time public works department staff, but in its current condition is barely fit for occupancy or suitability to perform maintenance work

Director of engineering Patrick Graham detailed the issues to council during their Jan. 23 meeting, beginning with the on-site building staff work out of Chief among these is a rampant rat infestation, which has now seen the rodents take over much of the building Each day rat feces and urine needs to be cleaned off various work spaces and surfaces, and the rats also routinely chew through workers clothes and gear

The 65-year-old building has just one small room which serves as the lunchroom, breakroom, and office, along with lockers

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

“APPALLING AND EMBARRASSING” RATS, MOLD, LEAD AMONG ISSUES

Events

AllCouncilmeetingsareopen tothepublictoattendin personorelectronically, unlessnotedotherwise.

February 13, 2023

6:15 pm

RegularCouncilMeeting

BIFR recruiting volunteer first responders

BowenIslandFireRescueislookingforVolunteerFirstResponders

Thevolunteerfirstresponderassistswithprovidingemergency medicalcareinapre-hospitalsettingandprovidesassistancefor rescues

Werespondtonearly200callsayearandmostofthecallsweattend areformedicalassistanceWithourgrowingcommunity,weneed morehelptokeepupwiththedemandofmedicalcallsandbetter ensurethesafetyofourfriendsandneighbours

Trainingprovided

wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/volunteer-first-responder/

Invasive Species Action: Unwanted Pets

Unwantedpetsandplantscancauseseriousdamagetoourlocal ecosystemsManypetsreleasedinthewilddiebystarvation, predators,orvehicles.Survivorscanthreatennativespeciesby:taking overhabitat,introducingdisease,oreatingthemandtheireggs

Don’tletitloose!Findoutwhattodowithyourunwantedpetsonthe InvasiveSpeciesCouncilofBC’swebsite:

wwwbcinvasivesca/play-your-part/dont-let-it-loose/

Open House

8 Arbutus Bay Rd

Friday,January27,2023

1:00pm-3:00pm

@8ArbutusBayRd

Theapplicantsforarezoningapplicationfor8ArbutusBayRdand holdingapublicopenhousetosharetheirproposalwithneighbours ThisapplicationwasintroducedtoCouncilattheNovember28th, 2022meetingTheproposalistorezonetheir759ha(187acre) propertysothattheycancreateupto7residentiallotsTheproposal includesdedicatinga289ha(714acre)park

wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/8-arbutus-bay-rd/

Business Licence renewals due

Businesslicencerenewalnoticesweresentoutthefirstweekof January,2023RenewalpaymentsareduebyJanuary31,2023

Allshort-termrentalsonresidentialpropertieswillneedtosubmit theirSelf-AssesmentSafetyAudityandFireSafetyPlanbeforetheir licencecanberenewed

Questions?PleasecontactTessTaylor,BusinessLicence Inspector,byemailatttaylor@bimbccaorbyphoneat604-947-4255 ext245

wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/services/licences/

On-island composting facility update

CouncilpassedarecommendationatMonday’sRegularCouncil meetingonJanuary23,2023,approvingtheexpenditureof$5000for consultationwithGreenMountainTechnologiestofurtherinvestigate theEarthFlowsystem’ssuitabilityfortheOn-IslandCompostFacility TheannualvolumeofgreenwasteproducedbytheIslandisaboutto exceedtheannualcapacityoftheoriginalHotRotcompostsystem plannedforthefacilityThegrantfundingfortheoriginalplancanbe usedforthealternativesystem.

SeethestaffpresentationandstaffreporttoCouncilonthe On-islandCompostingFacilitywebpage

wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/on-island-composting-project/ ForotherCapitalProjectupdatessuchastheCommunityCentre Project,CoveBayWaterTreatmentPlant,SnugCoveWastewater TreatmentPlant,etc.seeourCaptialProjectspage:

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/capital-projects/

Service yard revamp estimated around $4 million; could be complete in 2024

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

There’s no kitchen facilities, the only running water comes from the bathroom sink, and there’s no laundry or drying space which leaves staff working in wet clothes Because of the tight space and lack of amenities, some of the work force has been using the room above the library as their daily base

“When I see these pictures and I read this report it’s like my God… The picture of the people sitting around the lunch room with their little plastic containers eating their lunch on top of each other with soggy clothing around that’s been eaten by rats, and there’s rat urine and feces on everything every day – this is really appalling and embarrassing,” said Coun. Judith Gedye

Things don’t get much better outside, starting with the building itself which has significant structural damage Staff could not take moss samples from the roof due to its instability. The structure also has unsafe levels of mold and lead paint both inside and outside.

The necessary amenities to perform the function of the service yard are largely lacking as well. The garage is too small, sometimes only fitting half of the trucks and vehicles the crew works on. This exposes vehicles to the elements which reduces their lifespan, and also prevents on-site repairs on occasion, meaning they have to be taken off-island. There’s also no asphalt or gravel storage – these materials instead are stored at a site on Salal Road which adds

extra travel time to the work day.

There’s also many contamination issues around the service yard which threaten the surrounding environment Tests showed the soil and groundwater in the area exceed acceptable limits, likely due to inadequate salt storage said Graham There are also high arsenic levels in the yard. As a result the province has frozen any future building or development permits for the site, which will require an environmental assessment to lift.

Some design and environmental work started in 2021, but was put on pause last year when funds needed to be diverted to urgent infrastructure issues such as the Trunk Road storm sewer replacement

One of the fears Graham pointed out was the threat these hazards could pose to nearby Terminal Creek – and vice versa Flooding from Terminal Creek that washes into the service yard can cause damage and allow contaminants to leach into the surrounding area, and runoff from the yard can find its way into the creek Graham says there’s a need to “protect the site from Terminal Creek, and protect Terminal Creek from the site”

Other issues include slope stability to the south of the yard, which has given way on occasion, and the overall security of the space, which has suffered theft and trash dumping due to its lack of a perimeter fence

Given the situation, Graham proposed a plan to fix the service yard with a new work building and garage, along

with better storage systems The building would include a dedicated kitchen and lunch room which could also serve as a meeting area, locker room, laundry, and office A two-bay garage would be able to fully fit all the trucks staff operate and work on, and asphalt and gravel storage would reduce trips to the other side of the island. There’d also be drainage improvements along with fencing and a gate.

The cost won’t be cheap – construction of these facilities was estimated at just a shade under $4 million. But council was in agreement with Graham this is work which needs to be done While the big financial chunk would come in 2024 – and may well be changed if savings can be found – for now the members unanimously approved budgeting $190,000 in 2023 to resume environmental assessments and design planning necessary to allow work on the site to move forward. If all goes to plan, construction of the new building and garage could be complete by fall 2024.

Mayor Andrew Leonard didn’t mince words after the presentation. “I’m highly concerned that we have a building where a significant number of our staff is working out of that is infested with rodents and mold, has lead paint, doesn’t have washing facilities, and by all senses appears to be a health hazard,” he said.

“I think the onus is on us to deal with it, and I do need to express a bit of dismay that a 65-year-old building that we have staff working out of didn’t appear to be higher on our priority list,” added the mayor

The front of the 65 year old service yard building (above), along with an inside shot of the cramped space (left). Structural damage is just one of the many issues with the building, especially the stability of the roof A ceiling hole can be seen in the interior shot. Rats have fully infested the building as well (right), and routinely chew through workers clothes and defecate. / BIM photos

Crazy for

Well folks, that’s another Island Wide paper in the books, and once again we received a wide range of amazing submissions which you will find throughout these pages. They cover a diverse set of topics including housing (stats and on-the-ground reporting), art, mental health, and letters galore. Plus some photos too Thank you all for helping make this issue come together once again, and ensure it is full of awesome content!

This of course extends to my story and photo subjects as well (this week and every week) for being so generous and enthusiastic with your time I learn something new each time I talk with one of you, and getting out and engaging with the community on stories is by far the best part of my job

We hope you enjoy this issue, hopefully learn something new, and most importantly have fun reading And remember we are always open for submissions, Island Wide issue or not

So get out there and explore! If you have a favourite place to go, whether it’s inside or outside, don’t hesitate Because you never know what changes tomorrow may bring

- Alex Kurial, Editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

On behalf of the Food Bank at Bowen Island United Church I would like to thank all individuals and Island organizations for their generous support in 2022. This support keeps the doors open and is our only source of income

The Food Bank is well used on a 24/7 anonymous basis out of the Narthex or entryway to the Church and has to be replenished to some degree every day. So we are so very grateful for all

donations

However, with the greatest of respect I would like to add that we don’t accept household items, only non-perishable food items, unopened and currently dated. We are not a dumping ground for opened and partially used food or household items, much of which we have received recently resulting in valuable volunteer hours spent disposing of it!

So once again thank you Bowen Islanders so very much for supporting us, a much needed Island institution which has been in existence and growing for over 25 years For any questions please contact me at -2364, or at pottysue@shaw.ca

E-transfers welcome at biucfoodbank@gmail.com

Respectfully,

- Sue Clarke

or mail it to #102, 495 Government Rd., PO Box 130, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 or email editor@bowenislandundercurrent com.

Penelope Williams was joined by some furred and feathered friends to bid farewell to Christmas with this stunning sunset from Smugglers Cove earlier this month.

Cartoonists in the making

Kevin, Kev, Kevi, Husky as he is known to many friends, has been endlessly helpful and courteous through a long career with Metro Parks Thank you Kevin to you, Coleene and your family, best wishes for a long and happy retirement on Bowen!

and farewell to a friend

...

Under the mentorship of the Undercurrent’s very own Ron Woodall, the Bowen Recreation Inspiring Arts wrote and drew their own cartoon using Bowen-isms. This is a collaborative piece of all 16 art students. Woodall’s signature humour certainly shines through in the final product by these junior Ron’s, and we can truly think of no better teacher to inspire the next generation of island humourists! / Submitted by Sasha Buchanan

John Overbye, a great friend who is loyal, easy going, and an integral part of many motorcycle and boating adventures, both local and in far off lands, has left Bowen after being a resident for the past 29 years You have probably shared many laughs with him over a few drinks, or have been impressed by the work he has done on your homes, or both Trained as a shipwright, he excels at the timber framing style of carpentry. He has moved to Comox to join the rest of the Overbye family. We will miss having him so accessible, but look forward to seeing him on the other island

- Heather Mitchell and Randy Levine

1504 ADAMS ROAD $1,999,000 2 HOUSES ON ACREAGE

1832

900

Frost

Road V0N 1G1

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A5 Thursday, January 26, 2023

VIEWPOINTS Thank you...

A truism is that all that is good must end at some point As long time volunteer stewards of Crippen Regional Park we are sorry to note the retirement of Kevin Huskisson, for over 20 years the go-to person at Crippen Park for any weed warrior needs (cleaning up mountains of invasives pulled by volunteer and left in not-so-neat piles), Bowfest set up or (worse) clean up, always keeping the ball field area clean and accessible, friendly reminders that dogs are allowed off leash only in the off-leash area of the park, and a million other park operations needs on a daily basis Kevin also shared his time to serve as Captain on the Bowen Island volunteer Fire crew.

VIEWPOINTS

A different site, perhaps?

I’d like to respond to Terri Dewar’s proposal for a beach volleyball court on Sandy Beach I wonder if they had a chance to visit the beach this past December 27, between 9 to 10 in the morning, at the height of the recent record king tide (5.7 metres at Point Atkinson)?

Had they visited then, they would have found that a good deal of the proposed site (and Sandy Beach) was under a considerable amount of water, which unfortunately, makes Sandy Beach unsuitable for this project.

The reality is that king tides are becoming

Bad weather? No problem for these boys

more frequent and higher, particularly when accompanied by a storm surge, and a beach volleyball court on Sandy Beach will likely end up damaged or washed away when subjected to such a storm Due to climate change, this is not a matter of if, but when and how much higher will the water go

The idea of a beach volleyball court is a good one and I encourage Terri Dewar and the PTGAC to try and find a more suitable location.

Good luck!

The Bowen Island FC U-13 Boys pulled off a dramatic victory against visiting Killarney at the Bowen Island Community School on Jan. 21.

Despite the downpour, the home team (red jerseys) took a 5-2 lead in the second half. A slight lapse allowed their opposition to come back and tie things up however, setting up a frantic finish.

In the dying moments of the game Bowen grabbed one more goal for the 6-5 win after Liam Turnbull dribbled through the Killarney defenders and slid the ball into the net.

The Bowen Arrows now have 8 wins and 2 losses on the season. Their next game will be on the road against New Westminster on Saturday.

- Ivan Antoniw

Isaac Bowie Finch (Bowen) fends off a defender (above left) during Saturday’s rain-soaked game against Killarney. Bowen won 6-5. / Alex Kurial photos

It’s a great honour to have been recognized for my efforts and be included as a member of the prestigious Medallion Club for 2022 I am beyond grateful for all my clients, and for those who have referred me to their friends and family

Bowen butcher has long-term goals for market space

ALEX KURIAL

Editor

Erik Miller has been in charge of Meadowbrook Market for just four months now, but he’s wasted no time in envisioning a grand future for the butcher shop tucked into the side of Meadowbrook Farms.

“I really want people to recognize there’s a spot on Bowen Island for quality meats, and there’s a meaning and a purpose behind it It’s not just to feed you, ” says Miller while showing off the shop Naturally a customer comes to enquire about the best way to prepare duck confit, to which the chef has a delicious sounding answer prepared.

Miller, who has doubled as a caterer at many events around the island, arrived from Southern Ontario five years ago, where he honed his skill as a butcher He continued learning in Port Moody, but was surprised to find Bowen didn’t have a dedicated space for locally sourced meats.

So when the opportunity to take over at Meadowbrook Market arose, Miller jumped at the idea In addition to providing a butcher shop, its convenient location on 7.5 acres of farmland open up a whole world of possibilities to pursue

“We’re trying to build a reputable farm of rotating vegetables, and then using the animals on the property to build the soils

up and help the natural cycle continue,” says Miller, stressing the importance of regenerative farming practices “I’m not here to say I’m food for the grocery stores I’m here to say I’m food for what we can manage on this property You can literally see it, it’s an open book, you know what you ’ re getting, and that’s the most important part Because the food world is scary, and there’s a lot of things out there that just aren’t true practices.”

Miller says many people are turned off of meat due to the conditions of large scale factory farming, which he agrees are often cruel to the animals involved. “I believe there’s so much negativity toward the process – and it is a bad process if you look at it It’s because of the poor treatment of the animals And I don’t believe in that either I would rather never see any of that horrific stuff you see in those documentaries,” he says

But Miller says that’s not the case with a smaller scale, locally processed approach “If you bring in an animal here and you do all the butchery here, then at least you’re seeing the whole process and it’s being handled well and treated well.

“If I can go to a farm and say hey this is a cow named Betsy, Betsy’s going to be your dinner – yes there’s a connection of, Oh my God we’re going to eat Betsy. But there’s also the need to treat it with respect from start to finish Otherwise that animal died for no reason, ” he says

In addition to respecting the animals involved in our food choices, Miller explains non-factory foods are better for our diets as well. “It is a cheaper commodity (factory foods), but cheaper commodity means poorer diet. And that’s just the way our food system has gone – it’s how fast we can produce this, we don’t care about the cost. We’ll make it as viable and as fast and cheap as possible to feed people, and that’s ultimately what’s the downfall of anybody’s diet, or the reason why people become vegetarian or practice veganism,” says Miller

The market currently gets most of its products from off-island farms, which Miller picks up from the mainland every week or two This is another reason to stress food sustainability, he says, especially on Bowen. “It’s more important to try and have as much as we can on the island, and try to

have smaller purveyors of good quality food on the island, so then we’re not reliant on the ferry for absolutely everything when it comes to that,” he points out, noting last month’s slew of cancellations and also the stress the ferry ride puts on the animals. (It’s not currently possible to process animals on Bowen due to numerous regulations and abattoir issues.)

Right now Meadowbrook Farms has sheep and chickens, but Miller hopes to one day see pigs, ducks, and hens join the flock And a hobby cow too

“Having a counter that is small enough, but maintainable with fresh pork, fresh beef, lamb (when it’s in season), chickens, eggs, duck every now and then,” is the chef’s goal for the indoor space He’d also like to source animals from other Bowen farms when possible

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Erik Miller is always comfortable behind the counter in his workspace at Meadowbrook Market / Alex Kurial photo

30% OFF ALL CLOTHES & BAGS FOR THE REST OF JAN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

The ultimate vision is a long-term one, but Miller says it starts with awareness that there’s a space on the island tackling regenerative farming practices head-on, a value he believes is shared by many on the island.

“Everything marries well into this concept of having good products either grown or sourced on property… and just putting out good food. And for the west side of the island. Away from the Cove where you don’t have to travel 15-20 minutes from the end of your road at Bluewater,” says Miller “The more people that recognize that we’re here is better for us and better for the

island, because that solidifies the change that we can start to make from this property, and spreading out to other people on the island who have the same systems and the same beliefs it’s a bigger picture than Meadowbrook Market”

Miller is also working on sharing his vision through a partnership with Bowen Recreation where he invites people to the market for butchery classes After a sucessful class last year, he already has a pair of evenings lined up this winter - whole pig processing on Jan. 26, and a sausage making course in February.

Bowen’s Top Producing REALTOR® for 2021 & 2022*

*based on reported MLS sales

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This Tunstall Bay rancher takes advantage of one of Bowen’s best west-side views. Look out across Tunstall Bay and towards Worlcombe Is. and Vancouver Island beyond – and soak up those world-class sunsets. Primed for year-round outdoor entertaining, with over 1,300 sf of sunny deck and patio space. Inside features a sunken family room, open plan LR/DR/Kitchen, and three bedrooms – well maintained and updated.

241 Shore Lane$1,398,000

This low-bank waterfront building lot looks south across the entrance of Seymour Bay, and is just a quick walk up to the pro shop and first tee at the Bowen Island Golf Course. Featuring a beautiful coastal peninsula, a cozy cove, and that famous south side all day sunshine. Sewer and utilities to the lot line, and an easy build. This property also comes with garage stall and storage already built, and a mooring buoy off the shore.

904 - 908 Connolly Road -

$2,675,000

Settled within a quiet neighbourhood, this three acre property is a perfect opportunity for hobby farmers, horse riders, or those looking for total privacy while still being close to Snug Cove. The main house is 3 or 4 bedrooms – all wrapped by huge sundecks that promise plenty of outdoor fun. A pool bordered by a grapevine arbor and a pond complete with waterfall round out the upper portion of the lot. Down the driveway is a 2 bedroom guest suite that sits above 12 mini-storage locker rooms – all overlooking a fullyfenced, ~1ac horse pasture complete with 2 stable barn.

‘Eat Local’is the motto for Erik Miller and Meadowbrook Market / Alex Kurial photo

Top 10% of Realtors in the Rea Estate Board of Greater Vancouver

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Tunstall Bay welcomes 114-year-old heritage home

THE SCHIPLO RESIDENCE WAS TRANSPORTED BY BARGE TO BOWEN ISLAND LAST FRIDAY, JANUARY 20

house Later, their son, an employee at BC Electric Railway Company, and his wife lived there

It was his love of heritage houses and an opportunity to save a piece of history that led Juan Ramos to rescue a quaint, Craftsman-style house and have it barged to Bowen Island.

The 114-year-old house, known as the Schiplo Residence, was located in North Vancouver before making the journey Nickel Bros, a company that has moved houses throughout the Pacific Northwest for more than 60 years, lifted and transported the house to its new location on Tunstall Boulevard on the morning of Jan. 20.

“I hate waste and it is a big thrill for me when I’m able to reuse something that was going to be discarded,” said Ramos, who has also saved two historical buildings in Hawaii from being torn down.

The house is on the City of North Vancouver Heritage Register, which lists buildings with significant heritage value

It is described as a smaller house, tall and narrow, with a front veranda featuring latheturned columns and decorative brackets

The house was constructed by carpenter William Elder in 1908, a time of growth and prosperity that gave North Vancouver the nickname the “Ambitious City” Back then, a young married couple, with the husband working at the nearby Shipyards, could easily afford to purchase a new house to raise their family.

Retired stonemason Herman Louis Schiplo and his wife, Isobel, bought the

Two months ago, Ramos acquired the development permits to put the heritage house on his lot It was a long process because the property has many environmental challenges, including three streams and a dense forest But Ramos and his residential designer, Amy Adams, persisted as they worked closely with environmental specialist, Micaele Florendo

He is now looking forward to restoring the interior and plans to build a glassed-in porch at the rear of the house.

“I saw the lot on Tunstall Boulevard as the only land I could afford and thought it would be a challenge and a thrill to find a solution. I bought the land with the idea that I wanted it to be a site of a recycled heritage house, Ramos said, adding he plans for most of the property to remain untouched – the forest at his doorstep.

Relocating a building, rather than building a new one from scratch, has perks such as being less expensive and saving waste from the landfill. The design features, such as intricate stained-glass windows and solid wood floors, make heritage homes truly unique

The Schiplo house, now in place at 1455 Tunstall Boulevard, sits on blocks waiting to be lowered onto a new cement foundation. Within a year or two, when the house has settled into its surroundings, perhaps with an added garden and fruit trees, the plan is for it to look like it has always been a part of the neighborhood.

MAUREEN BOWEN Contributor

The Schiplo house arrived at Tunstall Boulevard on the morning of January 20. / Maureen Bowen photos

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

January 22-28

Family Literacy Week at Bowen Library

Find out more about this week’s library programs and resources to nurture literacy (and numeracy!) from a young age onward, by going to bipl.link/FLW

Thursday, January 26

Babytime at Bowen Library

11:30 am to Noon (12 pm) Join us for a special Family Literacy Week Babytime ”Make it Count!” numbers edition! Babytime is a free, 1/2 hr drop-in program of songs, books, and rhymes for babies 0-18 months and their caregivers

Thursday, January 26

Game Night! At the Bowen Library

Drop in for all ages, family-friendly games, including cards & board games, Chess, Uno, Snakes & Ladders, Scrabble, Boggle, puzzles, Keva blocks, Lego, Jenga, Yahtzee, Catan, Monopoly, and more!

Feel free to also bring your own games Bring family or friends, or drop in and make new friends here Future dates: Feb 9 & 23, and Mar 9, 5 to 7:30 pm

Friday, January 27

Dinner at the Legion

It’s Palestinian night! Christophe Langlois, with Park and Charmaine Heffelfinger, will be making Qidreh from Hebron in the West Bank Doors open starting at 5:30 pm Dinner at 6:30 pm $13 for members, $15 for non-members

Saturday, January 28

BIHORA AGM

Bowen Island Horse Owners and Riders Association is hosting their annual general meeting from 2 to 4 pm at the Bowen Cider House at 1125 Grafton Road Everybody is welcome to attend!

Saturday, January 28

Crafternoon Collages at Bowen Library

is welcome to join us at Artisan Square at 7:30 pm

TUESDAYS

Drop in and join us in making art and word collages! We’ll have old magazines, books, and craft supplies for you to create a picture or word-based masterpiece All-ages program, organized by the Teen Advisory Group (TAG)

2:30 to 3:30 pm

Saturday, January 28

Bingo Bash at Doc Morgan’s

Doc’s is hosting an evening of fun with the Unstoppable Mz Conni Smudge. The evening of entertainment begins at 6:30 pm and tickets are $15. Mz. Conni returns to Doc’s the next morning for a Recovery Brunch on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 11 am.

Sunday, January 29

French Connections: Fun and friendly conversation practice in French

1 pm at the Bowen Island Library. Drop in and join us to practice your French, and get to know other French speakers on Bowen Island! Focus is on beginner and intermediate speakers, but all levels welcome Future dates: Feb 12, Mar 5, 19, Apr 2, 16, 30

Thursday, February 2

Black History Month Film Night at Bowen Library

Join us for a screening “Summer of Soul” directed by Questlove Drop in, no registration required. Film starts promptly at 6 pm, and runs 118 minutes Rated PG (Ontario). Summer of Soul is a documentary music film about the Harlem Cultural Festival.

Saturday, February 4

Judi Gedye Open House

3 to 4 pm at Collins Hall. Come by to chat with Coun. Judith Gedye and others, and enjoy some baked goods too

Monday, February 13

Rotary Speaker Series

Lieven Callewaert on A Healthy Life Means a Healthy Community and Planet: The Resilience Institute Everyone

Community Lunches at the Legion

2nd and 4th Tuesday’s of every month from 11:30 am to 1 pm Adult only, drop-in event $10 for a full lunch

Yoga at Collins Hall

Tuesdays from 1 to 2 pm. All levels of experience welcome... Chair to Standing. $15 drop in. Email jackie.minns@gmail.com or call 604-220-9092

WEDNESDAYS

Storytime at Bowen Library

10:30 to 11 am. A free drop-in program of stories and songs for 2 to 4 year-olds and their caregivers! Runs every Wednesday to March 8

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

Jan 19 & 26, 9:30 to 11:30 am (Collins Hall) - join the Thursday Art Group (TAG) We meet to create in Acrylics, Oils, Watercolour, pencils and more if you want to connect with other like minded creatives join the fun! $30 per month helps pay for Hall rental and other club costs We also host workshops and other events Contact Shannonrondeau@shaw ca or marie@marieneys com

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

SCOUT

This

her leg that her owner noticed after a

Thankfully we were able to get her in right away. Early treatment like this can help prevent infections. We wish Scout a speedy recovery.

BITS hoping to make trails in 2023

ALEX KURIAL

Editor

The Bowen Island Trail Society is – quite literally – planning for a trailblazing year ahead.

The volunteer organization operating on Mount Gardner enjoyed a strong recovery last year after the pandemic put a halt to many activities. Main events included a strong turnout of 100 participants for the annual 30x30 challenge in April, and a significant push on the mission to place signs along mountain trails.

BITS member Kim Ridgewell says this year – in addition to those activities – the group will be bringing back one of the most requested outings: trail building and restoration days These involve trail cleanup, signage posting, and putting ‘blazes’ up – the orange diamonds you see on the trails which help guide hikers on their path

These day activities were largely put on pause recently, but due to membership demand the decision was made to start the restoration days up again.

“We’re really dedicated to community trail stewardship, and trying to get as many folks out on the trails as possible so we’re performing low-impact building and maintaining, and trying to improve navigation and signage,” says Ridgewell.

There’s also plans for a trail

ambassador program this year, where members will pick a trail and help out with basic work along it, as well as letting the group know of more majors issues which need addressing. The ambassador will also get to help guide people who have further questions about the specific route

A whole new trail is on the horizon this year, which BITS recently finished blazing and clearing The Denis Lynn Trail – named in honour of the former Rotary president and longtime steward of the Mount Gardner trails – will be dedicated later this year Ridgewell says it’s only fitting the man who served as an inspiration for BITS is recognized. Work is underway on a plaque honouring Lynn which will be posted at the end of the trail.

Regular favourite events will be returning too of course, including the 30x30 in two months, trail cleanup days with Pickles and Peanut (‘unofficial mascots’ of BITS’), the annual Scavenger Trail Race, and partnership in the Handloggers Half Marathon Ridgewell adds there will be a special fundraiser event this summer, and to stay tuned for details

Because Mount Gardner is fully accessible from the ferry via the island’s trail network, its many trails receive plenty of visitors each year. Ridgewell says even this month it has been heavily trafficked. She has a few tips for those tackling the trails, espe-

cially those seeking the summit.

“The importance of staying on trail and on track,” is perhaps the most important tip “It helps to mitigate environmental impact, and it helps to keep folks safe when they’re on the trail,” says Ridgewell.

“The idea of leave no trace is more than just don’t leave your garbage on the trail That’s the obvious one, but it’s also about not impacting the rest of the ecology that’s happening on the mountains,” she adds

Along with a positive attitude, there’s some practical items needed to enjoy the mountain. “You’d think water is obvious, but you’d be surprised how many folks underestimate the height,” says Ridgewell. She advises a few litres, especially if you are heading to the top

“If it’s not a beautiful, bright, hot and sunny day, making sure you have the correct footwear on… if it’s rainy you’ll be walking through creeks and water and snow at this time of year for sure So appropriate footwear I always bring layers. You might start out at the bottom when it’s a hot day, but when you get up to the top there might be some wind… you’re heading into the backcountry and you need to be prepared,” says Ridgewell.

Hats are also highly recommended, “to keep your noggin safe,” she adds, noting good headwear protects from both the elements and ticks and bugs

“And the most important thing is to

make sure someone knows where you ’ re going. Letting people know what trail you ’ re hiking up, doing the research beforehand,” says Ridgewell An interactive map of the trails can be found and downloaded on the BITS website, and Tourism Bowen has hard copies at their Snug Cove headquarters

Most importantly this sort of planning keeps hikers safe, but the trails and others too People who get lost can end up damaging areas outside of the trails by mistake, and if rescue teams are needed they can be put at

risk as well. This is also why BITS has been pushing hard on the sign installation front recently.

Ridgewell says several local organizations and people make the group ’ s work possible, including the Bowen Rotary and Bowen Island Community Foundation They’re hoping that with their continued support, and some more members, BITS will be able to fully conquer the trails of Mount Gardner, and perhaps even begin to explore new trails on the island, such as Fairy Fen and Radar Hill

The new Denis LynnTrail is now open for exploring. A plaque honouring Lynn and his work on Mount Gardner’s trails will be dedicated later this year. / BITS photo

Mini ArtWorks & Gala begins

MATHILDE ROHR

Cultural Connector / The Hearth Gallery

The Hearth 2023 season will start with the 19th edition of its annual fundraiser: Mini Art Works and Gala! Each year, local artists and a few from away donate small original artworks made on 8”x8” canvases or mounted in 8”x10” frames generously donated by Opus Framing and Art Supplies

From January 27 to February 18, this very popular event will once again bring together established and emerging artists as well as art collectors and art aficionados More than 80 artists replied to the call out this year and kindly donated their masterpieces to the arts organization. The Hearth thanks all the participating artists for their enthusiasm, support, and generous donations A large variety of paintings, but also some mixed media pieces and sculptures are waiting to be discovered and to make their way towards Bowen homes

Not only is this the most significant fundraiser of the year for the Bowen Island Arts Council, but it is also an event not to be missed for art collectors. Indeed, it showcases such a variety of styles, techniques and talents that you will most likely find artworks to add to your collection or to start your first one!

For three weeks, each artwork will be for sale through a silent auction. The bids will start on the first day of the exhibition and will end on February 18 with a final live auction during the Mini Gala, which after a two-year break finally returns! So, drop by the gallery to see, bid and up-bid on your favorite artworks

All bidding starts at $75, an incredible deal for mini masterpieces from much-celebrated artists, up-and-coming new talents, and art makers

This year, the Hearth’s visual arts committee is preparing a Mini Gala around the theme of polka dots A promising and fun evening not to be missed! So, let yourself be inspired by this circle pattern and polka dot yourself or come dressed like the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

The final event will start at 6:30 pm on February 18 with refreshments, appetizers, live entertainment, photo booth, red carpet, and tons of fun! Tickets will be available for purchase at the Hearth and online starting on January 27 for the price of $20.

The Mini Art Works Exhibit at the Hearth runs from January 27 to February 18, with a Mini Gala on the final evening from 6:30 to 9:30pm with bar service, appetizers, DJ Yeshe and auctioneer $20 tickets for sale at the Hearth or online: www.thehearthartsonbowen.ca

Cidery agreements reached over two rounds of public consultation

FROM PAGE 1

CONTINUED

During Monday’s council meeting it was up to the members to decide if they were comfortable with the conditions negotiated in a Good Neighbour Agreement (GNA) earlier this month. The document – similar to existing ones between the Legion or Bowen Lodge and their respective communities – lays out additional terms a business must observe on top of existing provincial or municipal laws, such as special event times and frequency.

Out of the GNA discussions staff developed suggestions for several of the contended topics. Total capacity numbers were reduced to 150 total, with a maximum of 75 on the outdoor lounge – down from the original 265 limit

Hours of operation were proposed as 10 am to 8 pm Sunday to Thursday, and 10 am to 9 pm Friday and Saturday. Liquor licence hours were suggested as 9 am to 10 pm Sunday to Thursday, and 9 am to 11 pm Friday and Saturday. The reason for the slightly longer licencing hours, despite the fact the cidery usually won’t be open then, is to allow for alcohol service during special events when they may be operating outside normal business hours

Like other venues on the island, the GNA offers the cidery the opportunity for 10 special events a year, each of which require municipal approval.

The Jan. 23 meeting once again began with several public comments on the issue, including members of the cidery themselves voicing their support “This has been a very long, exhaustive, and sometimes acrimonious process, ” said Cider House operator Alastair Johnstone, though he did note some positives: “we have met many neighbours we did not know, and concerns have been aired that we may not have considered,”

“A GNA has been formulated. While not perfect for either our business or some of the neighbours, it is a workable and living document,” added Johnstone

Bad Behaviour

An act of weekend vandalism at Bowen Island Community School left the field in a damaged state come Sunday morning RCMP were notified of the incident and it will be seen if the culprit is determined, or whether it can be discovered what kind of vehicle they drove onto the field

With soccer games scheduled for the day, parents did rally for a temporary fix though A group got together to rake and smooth the field into a playable state, allowing not only Bowen kids to take the field but also making sure a visiting team did not make the trip to the island in vain.

Following this a new angle presented itself as a delegation dubbing itself Bowen Cider House Neighbours, led by John Dumbrille and Stefan Klopp gave a data-driven presentation on why they felt capacity numbers should be lower than the requested amount, citing stats from other cideries in the province The delegation stated they were in favour of the cidery’s lounge application as a whole, but felt capacity should be in the 80-100 person range rather than the 150 suggested in the GNA

Island planner Natasha Cheong presented council with the results of the second public consultation process, including the Jan 11 GNA public meeting attended by around two dozen people Resolutions were generally found on many of the sticking points such as noise, parking capacity, and operating hours As pointed out by the evening’s delegation however, a gap remained on views toward in-person capacity

Along with the GNA public meeting another mailout took place within a 300 metre radius of the Cider House Eleven houses wrote back letters of support and eight homes asked for more restrictions, mainly regarding capacity Outside the 300 metre zone, 17 letters of support were received for the cidery Coun. Sue Ellen Fast – one of two councillors to vote against endorsing the lounge application initially – wasn’t swayed by the suggestions developed during the second round of public consultation. “I think this is an event facility, not a farm On the one hand it’s being framed as farm-totable but what it looks like is an event facility primarily,” she said.

“I think having an event facility that is in the middle of the island in our quiet rural neighbourhood… it’s going to be very difficult to maintain our rural character. I think the scale is wrong, ” said Fast.

In an attempt to limit capacity Fast moved a motion that total capacity be capped at 60 people with outdoor capacity at a maximum of 20. The motion found no support among

fellow councillors however and failed.

Overall councillors thought the recent round of discussions had yielded fair results “I feel what we’re doing here is speculating on how much noise and disruption there’s going to be It’s never actually happened there,” said Coun. Tim Wake, noting the Noise Control Bylaw will be in effect

“We don’t have the incidents that everyone ’ s describing in terms of 150 people just breaking loose and going berserk,” said Coun. Judith Gedye

Regarding the GNA, Gedye said “I don’t think that everybody’s happy, but I don’t think that’s necessarily the test I think we ’ ve covered as many of the possible concerns that it’s humanly possible at this point to cover ”

Coun. John Saunders says he doesn’t believe the cidery will be at capacity every day. “Having run a business similar to this I think the owners would be ecstatic if they could get 75 people at any one time in there, never mind 150,” he said.

“We’re all talking about perceptions and what we think may or may not happen. I think this is a pretty appropriate approach that is being taken here,” said Saunders

A vote to endorse the new rules passed 6-1, with Fast in opposition. A subsequent vote to extend operating hours –at the request of the cidery – passed 5-2 with Fast and Mayor Andrew Leonard opposed.

The operating hours will now be Sunday to Thursday from 9 am to 9 pm, with the outdoor lounge closing at 8 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 10 pm, with the outdoor lounge closing at 9 pm. The Cider House indicated this will allow greater flexibility for offering a breakfast and dinner service.

The only remaining loose ends include water and septic checks by Vancouver Coastal Health, and the results of a proposed lighting amendment introduced by Fast, similar to the municipal Dark Skies Bylaw. The latter point will return to the next council as not enough was known about the specifics of the bylaw.

- Jeb Gutelius photo

Strengthening Our Best Selves course begins next month

COLLEEN O’NEIL Program Director / Caring Circle

‘My hope is that people gain confidence in counting on themselves,” explains course creator Maureen Mackey.

Do you sometimes get stuck in your brain as you deal with pressure? How is your stress level these days? We are all dealing with multiple uncertainties: inflation and paying bills, managing our Covid risk, ambiguous and scary world events, difficult everyday decisions, and more. Our individual worlds have shifted and it’s often hard to manage our everyday lives, let alone figure out how to move forward with intention.

Yet we can use specific knowledge and concrete mental health tools to better manage our daily lives and to shape our best futures

To that end, volunteer Maureen Mackey, RN, who has a professional background in psychiatric nursing, adult education, and course design, is offering a free “Strengthening Our Best Selves” course with the support of Caring Circle Previously delivered as “Tough Times Toolkit” in response to the impact of the pandemic upon mental health, the name change reflects actively choosing how to move forward with strength and confidence

This course is not therapy or counselling, or for people in crisis or with acute needs Rather, it is an educational initiative providing a learning opportunity--and what could be more valuable than making your life a little better? As described by a previous participant: “You have created something of great value for ‘regular folk’ and their communities”

Each of the four classes is highly structured, consisting of instructor presentations of the course material, discussion, and homework that incorporates the topics and tools of the week, all working toward building your personalized resilience plan. The homework applies the class material and skills. Emails between classes help keep the learning on track. Participants can do as little or as much work between classes as preferred and what is realistic for their own personal development. There are no exams or essays!

This course is delivered entirely by Zoom and starts soon. Choose from Monday evening classes, 6:30 to 8:30 pm or Friday midday classes, 11:00 am to 1 pm. Monday classes will be held on Feb 6, 13, 27, and March 6 Friday classes will be held on Feb 10, 17, 24, and March 3 All you need is your computer or device equipped with audio and webcam and a private learning spot with a closed door behind you

A previous participant said, “I truly like the virtual platform The way you facilitate the course allows personal connections to be made, and your management of course materials online is very good. At the same time we are each in our own personal space, which I think adds to the comfort level of sharing”

The topics covered are: growth mindset, stress and the brain, emotional intelligence and regulation, thinking about your thinking, culminating with your personal resilience building plan.

A safe environment is guaranteed and confidentiality is a priority. Each class is limited to five to eight participants aged 25 and up, Bowen Islanders only.

The previously named Tough Times Toolkit has already been completed by 22 Bowen Islanders and this will be the fourth offering Feedback on the anonymous course evaluations is overwhelmingly positive - 100 per cent of participants recommend it!

Said one participant: I enjoyed how easy and simple the course was. It was easy to understand and was not overwhelming or overly complicated. I didn’t feel pressure and looked forward to the course without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by the material It was a nice break in the week and an opportunity to connect with like minded people”

Another comment:

“Excellent instructor who struck the correct balance between humour and seriousness, individual feedback and moving the class forward, a personal touch with remaining the instructor Maureen’s careful listening followed by caring feedback was eye opening for all of us ”

In addition to her professional background, Maureen has personal experience: “I have had my own struggles with mental health and many of my friends on Bowen know about that The tools in this course are evidence-based and

work for me I believe that this course provides an opportunity to focus deliberately on improving the quality of our everyday lives,” says Mackey.

Curious or interested? Contact myself, Colleen O’Neil, Program Director of Caring Circle, at 604 947-9100 or info@caringcircle.ca for more information.

Course instructor Maureen Mackey and Cappy out for a sunny stroll / Submitted photo

Relatively stable, balanced, and sluggish

SLIGHTLY FAVOURING BUYERS

March 2022 marked the end of historic low interest rates as the Bank of Canada raised the rate .05 per cent, followed by with seven more increases, and yesterday announcing an eighth increase of 0.25 per cent bringing the rate to 4.50. Economists expect this to be the last rate hike in 2023 but are downgrading earlier predictions of significant decreases by the end of the year. The Bank of Canada media release stated, “Governing Council expects to hold the policy rate at its current level while it assesses the impact of the cumulative interest rate increases”

The effects of the rate hikes began to register in the Bowen real estate market midyear after the Year-over-Year (YoY)* Average Sale Price reached a record high of $1,900,394 in April 2022, declining -15 3 per cent over the year to $1,609,496 at the end of December, finishing the year at -6 8 per cent YoY

Record highs which stand today were set in 2012 and 2013 for Number of Days on Market and Inventory Levels 2021 set records for YoY Number of and Dollar Volume of Sales and 2022 followed this trend by setting records for YoY Median Sale Price at $1,592,000 in June (down to $1,425,000 by December), YoY MLS® Home Price Index reaching $1,540,567 in September (down to $1,537,917 by December), and a record for MLS® HPI in a month of $1,674,100 in May 2022 (down to $1437,700 by December).

There were no sales registered on MLS for December 2022, joining only 3 other months of zero sales over the past decade: April 2019, February 2019, and January 2014 Because of the small number of sales monthly – the highest on record was 10 sales in March 2022

the YoY MLS® HPI tends to be the most reliable indicator of the market on Bowen. It was down -0 2 per cent from the record high in September Days on Market, YoY and monthly, also remained low during through December. These statistics indicate the market on Bowen is relatively stable, balanced for buyers and sellers, and expected to remain sluggish due to interest rates and uncertainty in the economy.

* YoY represents 12 months of activity

YoY Sales vs New Listings

Many thanks for supporting food resilience on Bowen Island.

For more information on BIFS, visit https://wwwbowenfoodresilience.ca

HOME FARM CSA 2023

Sign up today at www.homefarm.ca

CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) offers local families a chance to support regional agriculture, connect with local farmers, invest in the environment and guarantee themselves a share of fresh, organically grown Bowen Island produce at a fair price The Home Farm CSA program is the perfect way to experience the freshest seasonal produce by bringing your local farm right into your kitchen.

YOUR HOME FARM CSA 2023 MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES:

20 weekly Harvest Boxes filled with seasonal and organically grown produce from Home Farm Gardens From May 27 - October 7, Harvest Boxes can be picked up weekly at the Bowen Island Farmers Market at BICS on Saturdays between 10am-12pm. Sign up today at ww.homefarm.ca

WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE HOME FARM CSA:

"The Home Farm CSA is the best thing on island. Fresh produce and eggs each week all summer long is such a treat. Hard to go back to buying produce from the grocery store."

"We really enjoyed supporting a local farm and eating as if it was from our own garden without all the work! Thank you for all you ' ve done for our family."