Bowen Island Undercurrent February 9 2023

Public consultation begins for proposed park at the Cape

METRO VANCOUVER HAS PLANNED 3 ENGAGEMENT PHASES THIS YEAR

ALEX KURIAL Editor

The public engagement process for the proposed Metro Vancouver park at Cape Roger Curtis is set to begin Friday.

The opening phase will run from Feb 10 to March 20 and involves in-person open houses along with online webinars People are also encouraged to fill out feedback forms or write emails with their thoughts on the proposal

“The purpose of the first phase of engagement is really just to begin the dialogue, share some information about the proposed park We want to hear people’s hopes and concerns and listen to those and ensure we’re able to respond to them,” said Jeffrey Fitzpatrick, Metro Vancouver’s division manager of parks design and development, during a visit to Bowen earlier this week.

Plans for a park on 97 hectares of Cape Roger Curtis land – currently consisting of 24 private lots – were first publicly announced in early August last year Metro Vancouver said they were working on purchasing the two dozen parcels for $40 million, a sale which is expected to be finalized later this Spring

Park offerings would include a trail network, picnic spaces, and lookout areas, as well as about 90 campsites for overnight stays

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Events

AllCouncilmeetingsareopen tothepublictoattendin personorelectronically, unlessnotedotherwise.

February 13, 2023

6:15 pm

RegularCouncilMeeting

We’re hiring

Recreational Clerk & Program Assistant

BIMhasavacancyforapermanent,full-timeRecreationClerk& ProgramAssistant,startingassoonaspossible.Thiscustomer-facing positionisbasedintheCommunityRecreationOffice,andworks closelywiththedynamicRecreationteamtosupportthedeliveryof engagingprogramsandeventstoourcommunity

Wewillacceptapplicationsuntilthepositionisfilled

Tofindoutmoreabouttheposition,salaryinformationandtoapply:

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/work-with-us

Sustainable Community Grants

Doyouneedsupportforaprojectthatincreasesclimateresiliency throughcommunityactionorenvironmentalprotection?

BIMisinvestinginclimateactionthroughtheSustainableCommunity GrantProgramManydifferenttypesofprojectsmaybesupported Pleaserefertothegrantcriteriafordetails,andbeinnovative!Weare acceptingapplicationsuntilApril14that4:30pm.

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/grants-for-the-community/

Submit your photos

We’relookingforsomefreshnewphotosofBowenIslandtofeature onourwebsite,socialmediaandprintmaterialssuchastheIsland PlanandAnnualReport.

Ifyou’dliketodonateyourphotosandseethemfeaturedonlineorin print,pleasegetintouchwithusInparticular,we’reinterestedin:

• iconicimagesofBowenIslandlandmarks

• communityevents

• imageryofthebeautifulnaturethatsurroundsus

wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/submit-photos/

Seeking Public Comment

1042MillerRoad

PositivelyFitGym

RegularCouncilMeeting

6:15pmonMonday,February13,2023

PROJECTDESCRIPTION:

ATemporaryUsePermit(TUP)andaDevelopmentVariancePermit (DVP)applicationhasbeensubmittedfor1042MillerRoad(shownon map)tocontinueoperatinganexistingfitnessstudio/gymnasiumas anaccessoryuseunderthe‘indoorentertainmentfacility’useandto varytherequiredoff-streetparkingrequirementsfromsixtotwo.

MOREINFORMATIONATMUNICIPALHALL:

FormoreinformationpleasecontactNatashaCheong,Island CommunityPlannerbyemailncheong@bimbccaorbyphoneat 604-947-4255ext.247 We’reopenbetween8:30amand4:30pm, MondaythroughFriday(excludingstatutoryholidays)

wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/planning

YOURCOMMENTSAREWELCOME:

WrittensubmissionsmaybedeliveredtoMunicipalHallby4:00pm onMonday,February13:

• Inperson

• Bymail

• Byfax

• Byemailtomayorandcouncil@bimbcca

Toensureafairprocess,writtensubmissionscannotbeaccepted after4:00pm

Verbalsubmissionscanbemadeatthemeetingat6:15pmon Monday,February13,inCouncilChambersatMunicipalHallor virtuallyviaZoom

wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/council-meetings

Multi-year Davies Orchard revitalization underway

ALEX KURIAL Editor

Passersby at Davies Orchard have likely noticed fencing has gone up around the site as restoration on the remaining heritage cottages begins.

Phase One, which consists of work on five cottages at the Crippen Regional Park site, will last until mid-2023 according to a recent release from Metro Vancouver “The cottages will be restored and upgraded to maintain their historic character while improving accessibility, functionality and resilience of the buildings over the long term”

“Work will include a combination of preservation and restoration techniquesrepairing and refinishing building interiors and exteriors, and removal of finishes and additions not consistent with the original character,” says the federation.

This revitalization was supposed to start last year, but delayed since a contractor couldn’t be found. With this problem now solved the restoration and improved ease of access to the cottages can continue,

including accessible kitchens and ramp and handrail installations

Once these improvements are complete, Bowen Heritage will use Cottages 10 and 20 as their museum and office space, while Cottages 18 and 19 will be for overnight rentals. Cottage 14 will be enhanced into a space capable of hosting community events

Four cottages were demolished in 2018 after Metro Vancouver deemed them unfit for restoration Work was put on hold for years after this due to lack of funding, but the plan was reignited in 2021 through a $450,000 provincial grant from the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program, via their Unique Heritage Infrastructure stream

A fifth cottage which Metro Vancouver also said could not be restored was later knocked down, leaving the area with the remaining five standing today.

Phase Two work will begin in 2024 and focus on outdoor improvements, including a nature discovery and picnic area, and enhancements to parking, trails, and orchards No trees will be cut down during this phase The area will then reopen to the public sometime next year

Committeesareagreatwaytoengagewithcommunitymemberswith similarintereststoyoursandtogetyourvoiceheardby newlyelectedCouncil!

WhilesomeCommitteesmeetonlytoprovideadvice,othersalsoform subcommitteesanddohands-onwork Chooseagroupthatmatches yourinterest,capacity,passion,orexpertise–whetheritberecreation oreconomicdevelopment,transportationorheritage,housingorthe environment,thereareseveral BIMCommitteeslookingfornew members.

Checkoutthelistofgroupsandtimecommitmentforeach. bowenislandmunicipality.ca/join-a-committee-of-council/

The cottages in their current fenced off state (above, Alex Kurial photo), and an artist rendering of the future Davies Orchard (below, Metro Vancouver photo)

VIEWPOINTS A young boy and an“ingenieur”

ANTON VAN WALRAVEN

Contributor

From Friday to Saturday the wind had started to blow terribly, at Ouderkerk I remember it well. And all Saturday. You had to hold on to the gate on the dike to keep yourself upright It was wind force 10 [Beaufort].

And that Saturday, at 4 - 5 o ’clock in the afternoon, it was low tide, but the water was even higher than what was normal for high tide. And, it was low tide.

My father Cor said: “That will go wrong! If another tide comes on top of that, the water will flow right over the dikes” “

Ah Cor, you see it all very gloomy” [bystanders]

“You pay attention! If it keeps storming like this,” he said: “Then that is what will happen”

He was right He was totally right, my father

*Witness report by Piet Mourik from Ouderkerk, the Netherlands, 14 years old at the time.

That Saturday was January 31, 1953. That night into February 1, it was also king tide, while the north westerly winds of a hurricane force depression over the Orkney Island north of Scotland, pushed the water into to funnel shaped North Sea, pushing it higher and higher The dikes collapsed that night in many parts of the south western Netherlands

A large area was flooded. One hundred thousand lost their homes, and 1,836 people perished. Tens of thousands of (farm) animals lost their life. The damage to homes, buildings, infrastructure was immense.

Since 1937, Civil “ingenieur” Johan van Veen had been warning about the vulnerable long coast line of the south western Dutch islands,

the state of the dikes, and the risk poor condition of the flood defences posed. His versions of the Delta plan to protect the land from the risk of flooding were shelved by his superiors at the Executive Agency of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure

In an interview with Elsevier magazine, van Veen warned again, especially about central Holland, the area around the waterway ‘Hollandse IJssel’ , where millions of people lived. The magazine editor decided not to print, because they considered van Veen’s warnings alarmist.

Van Veen was forbidden by the Director General of the Executive Agency to speak up about the Delta plan and the poor state of flood defences at one point

On January 29, 1953, van Veen submitted his latest renditions

of his Delta plan to the Executive Agency of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure Again, it was ignored.

Then the storm hit

Weeks after the disaster, a start was made with the Delta works, a project to protect the south western Netherlands from flooding Van Veen was appointed Secretary of the newly formed State Commission, and his Delta plan was used as a blue print. The work would span over two decades.

In the Netherlands Johan van Veen is remembered as “Father of the Delta plan” and in England as “Master of floods”

*With a transcription from the Dutch documentary ‘Het water komt’ - ‘The water is coming’

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ON THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1953 NORTH SEA FLOOD, ON FEBRUARY 1, ANTON VAN WALRAVEN WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE HIS THOUGHTS ON THE DEVASTATING EVENT WHICH SHAPED DUTCH HISTORY

Park planning...

Dear Editor:

The proposal by Metro Parks to spend $40 million dollars of our property tax money to buy a portion of the remaining unsold lots at Cape Roger Curtis has started a discussion cycle of potential gains, as well as negative impacts across the island, and for good reason.

The national park proposal 15 years ago brought similar scenarios for concern; dogs off-leash, overrun ferries, bicycles traversing

Dear Editor,

Likely no one on Bowen has a final position re: camping in a new Metro Park at the Cape In that climate, information, suggestions, questions, etc , has more currency than conclusions

Here’s a suggestion Check a current Metro Park - with camping - to ascertain current practices, etc

narrow hazardous roads, trampling of our natural habitats, and countless strangers staring into our yards

Betty Morton’s letter (Feb 2 edition) keyed in on the risk of campers running out of bounds and (perhaps unknowingly) inflicting permanent damage to rare ecosystems at the Cape To suggest that there would be less impact on the surrounding natural landscapes at Crippen Regional Park is not really helpful; Dorman Point is accessible but not overused and supports an

For example, Metro protocols at current campsites require camp space be booked, has a fee structure, and precise rules re: alcohol, smoking, etc.

This is offered as a bit of data for deciding, not a decision.

Respectfully,

- Brian Hodgins

endangered Coastal Douglas-fir ecotype with Arbutus and moss covered bluffs

When the volunteer Weed Warrior group were removing Scotch Broom by hand pulling we made sure to replace the delicate, shallow dry soil and moss layer that could be destroyed in no time with more foot traffic, not to mention out of control wildfire

The public engagement process for

the proposed new Metro park has only just begun. I think we Islanders need to focus on protection and preservation of all natural landscapes with no camping as the preferred option.

Yours truly,

- Bill Granger

Sadly, our close friend John Overbye passed away on Saturday, February 4th, 2023 following a lengthy fight with asbestosis. He will be fondly remembered for the many good times he brought to those around him. His positivity was truly infectious. Even when things were rough, he always smiled. He was an old school craftsman when it came to carpentry with skill sets few others possess. He could be very serious about those matters close to his heart, such as carpentry, boating, motorcycling and food, but his priority was always the enjoyment and comfort of those he was sharing with, often putting his own needs last Even in his final days, despite great pain and discomfort, his priority was the welfare of those close to him, regretting his inability to carry out one more party for his upcoming birthday on February 12th In John’s honour and to counter his regret, a birthday party will proceed for him on Saturday, February 11th at the Legion from 1 - 5. It is a pot luck affair that everyone is welcome to drop in for a bit or stay longer to celebrate and share the good times we have all had with him

Hollyburn House has welcomed a new look.

We’ve updated our look with a fresh, new feel. Located in the heart of West Vancouver, our promise is to always deliver an elevated retirement living experience and we are excited to share our most recent enhancements.

With refreshed spaces and restaurant-style dining, there has never been a better time to discover Hollyburn House. Call to book a tour and ask about our personalized offers.

Open House: CRC, OCP, & OPA

JUDITH GEDYE

Bowen Island Municipality Councillor

My open house on February 4 had more neighbours than ever, including fellow councillor Tim Wake. Maybe it’s the tea and cookies. (I made sugar cookies and someone donated some extraordinary chocolate chip cookies), or chairs around card tables, or the tablecloth, or simply people wanting to talk, whatever, the atmosphere was friendly and the conversations were heartfelt and very interesting

The topics this month ranged from the creep of industrial activities in residential areas, the need for industrial zoning, our de facto industrial zone beside our fish hatchery in Crippen Park, what about community lands, the state of the public works yard as a contaminated site, wanting more information on the composting initiative, and updates on the proposed park at Cape Roger Curtis (CRC)

I commented about the limitations of the “public comment” time at council business meetings, and encouraged people to bring their concerns and ideas to the attention of council by letter or delegation. The Open House is like sending up a trial balloon but not a matter of record

CRC: Metro has published its “public engagement timeline” and February 3 it posted a “Chair Update” , with a one line mention that on February 10 “Engagement period begins for proposed new regional park on Bowen Island” There was no description of that launch, but in the past, if Davies Orchard is a precedent, Metro posted an online survey which was poorly advertised and replete with self-serving questions, so please pay attention

It is important to remember that Metro’s mandate, first and possibly only, is for “regional interests” and, in my opinion, it persistently fails at meaningful local engagement While it’s been a year since Metro started closed meeting discussions with Bowen council, four months since it first made public their park proposal for CRC, last week it delivered a 171 page rezoning application with an expectation it will have a decision by Fall, 2023 Our planners are reviewing that application for technical deficiencies, and to my knowledge, no one else has seen it As of this writing, it has not been provided to council

In addition, for the last month, there have been considerable efforts to find a date when Metro’s CAO & Park Manager can meet with Council on Bowen. Bowen Council wants the meeting to be open and on zoom, so, while the acoustics and microphones have not improved, there will be an attempt to have as much community involvement as we can accommodate It is unlikely there

will be much information to share about the application, or if there is, that anyone will have had time to understand and consider it

There was an inspiring, to me, description of a vision of the future of CRC with a strictly limited and protected camping experience but I don’t have space or recollection to do it justice. There are some great ideas amongst us That’s the bare bones of our discussions, but it has sparked more ideas

First question: How much does it cost to rent the BICS gym? And while we are all curious, there is a real and pressing problem of capacity Bowen recognized this from the moment of Metro’s announcement just before the election.

We have a long list of problems that need time and attention (in addition to money) – water treatment, sewage outfall & lack of building permits for the Cove, Westside & Eaglecliff waters systems, failing culverts, the public works yard, the Community Centre, composting, an OCP review, BC Ferries cancellations and overloads, tourism impacts across the island PLUS pressing macro issues of climate change, housing and ultimately, the sustainable capacity of any Gulf Island.

And finances: there is a budget cycle that needs to happen now and we need considerable public involvement in that process – how can we live within our means and what is reasonable in terms of what “ our means ” means?

In my opinion, the first thing Metro must understand is how unrealistic its timeline is It’s not just planning time, it’s organizing significant community information-sharing and opportunity for all of us to work through the complexities of camping in that space. Plus, how do we ensure the effective engagement of other levels of government, including First Nations, and corporations (BC Ferries & Translink), all with their own capacity issues

And what if we decide we need to update our Official Community Plan (OCP) before we embark on such a large and long-lasting project? An OCP review can take two to four years, and it’s not without an expense of time and money. Such a review should have been done earlier, would have been impossible during the worst of the pandemic, and may still be difficult, nevertheless, such a process would be a very helpful locally determined foundation for such a massive proposal Metro has advertised and got headlines, that they plan to have camping on Bowen That alone is a problem with poorly prepared visitors poised to explore our sanctuary. And there has been no backing down or slowing down of their timeline.

What will that mean on the ground? Who can predict? Let’s ask OPA

(*Editor’s Note: You can find the Sugar Cookie recipe mentioned earlier on Page 7)

Peter Ryan grabbed a well timed shot of this Bull Orca s u r f a c i n g to expel air right in front of his boat in Snug Cove last summer.

Sugar Cookies! - with Judi Gedye

Preheat oven to 350* & cover 3 cookie sheets with parchment cooking paper

1 Cup white sugar – first into the bottom of the mixer bowl )

1 Cup butter (room temp) Add to sugar & beat until light & fluffy (2 min on medium speed)

2 eggs ) Add these 3 ingredients to butter mixture and beat until fully mixed in

1 tsp vanilla extract ) NOTE: (start slowly to avoid splashing)

¼ tsp almond extract )

3 Cups flour ) Mix together and then add to egg/butter mix in 3 equal amounts

1 tsp baking powder ) Mix slowly when 1st adding dry ingredients to avoid clouds of flour

½ tsp salt ) Do not overmix When almost all combined pour onto floured surface and knead lightly until all the ingredients hold together Divide into 2 equal portions and form into disks with even sides (no large cracks) Wrap in waxed paper and chill for at least one hour and as much as 24 hours.

On a lightly floured surface roll each disk to about 1/8 – ¼ inch thickness – chopsticks on the sides as you roll help with consistent thickness so that they bake evenly. Cut into preferred shapes, re-rolling any extra dough until it’s all used Arrange shapes on prepared cookie sheets placing same sized pieces together on one sheet (larger on one, smaller on another) Bake until just starting to turn golden (about 10 minutes) Remove from the oven and immediately remove from the cookie sheets onto wire racks as they will continue to brown on the hot sheets (NOTE: a slightly browner shade is more “caramelized” and might be preferred, but watch closely to avoid burning)

ICING – 1 tsp cream of tartar

3 cups icing sugar

½ tsp lemon extract (optional)

2 drops (preferably gel) colour – if you only have liquid colour, use less lemon juice.

Up to 6 tablespoons lemon juice (added one T. at a time until wet enough to come out of a piping bag easily – but only with applied pressure, not running out on it’s own Test it on a spoon and it should slide off but not run off )

Mix all together well and spoon into a piping bag or rolled up paper cone with the end snipped off Cover each cookie with as much or as little icing as you like Depending on how much lemon juice you add, if dry enough, it could be an outline or edge, or if wetter it will spread and cover the surface Leave to dry about 1 hour and then pack into airtight tin – placing pieces of parchment paper (can be the same ones used in baking) between layers to avoid cookies sticking together

ALTERNATIVE ICING FLAVOUR: (use vanilla extract and milk instead of lemon)

Untethered - by Christie Stashyn

A mooring ball in grey deep bay

I bob and weave amongst the waves

My leash untethered far below

My chain escaped its concrete hold

At its mercy, now am I

Of wind and swell and moon and tide

Purposeless, adrift, unmoored

Algaed chains below unheard

Pulled away from pebbly beach

Thrust along the causeway ’ s reach

Striking rock and sucking sludge

Creatures refuge in the mud

Oblivious to my own pain

I try to stay the course in vain

To be what I was meant to be

Stay deeply rooted like a tree

So flighty vessels large and small

Need not fear the tide at all

Because they have the faith that I have gripped my hook to block so tight that I would rarely, barely sway until this fairly dreadful day.

The season of Love and Lament

BOWEN ARTIST BRINGING NEW SHOW TO TIR-NA-NOG IN FEBRUARY

ALEX KURIAL

Editor

Bronwyn Churcher will be taking the stage at a familiar venue when she performs at Tir-na-nOg later this month

But while it’s traditionally been her acting skills entertaining the Cates Hill crowd, on Feb 19 Churcher will be adding a new element to her appearance as she performs an evening of folk song and storytelling in her new show The Maiden’s Lament

“I’ve done plays there as an adult, but I’ve never performed my music there,” says Churcher of the Bowen theatre. “It always feels like a homecoming for me back there…. I’ve known Jack and Julie since I was 11. I’ve done theatre with them all through my adolescent years and love them dearly,” she says of her history with Tir-na-nOg and its operators growing up

And, appropriately for this time of year, love is the theme of the evening The Maiden’s Lament – named for Churcher’s first solo album which just released in December – combines performance, song, and stories as ‘The Bardesse’ (played by Churcher) guides the audience and shares music and tales she collects on her travels about time’s most enduring theme

“I like the fact this is around Valentine’s Day. We’re thinking about love, we’re thinking about the complications of love, the struggles of love Whether you’re in a relationship or not it’s still that time of year where we can go into that place and really explore love from how it’s been portrayed in songs for a really, really long time,” says Churcher.

In her case, these songs are taken from the Celtic and English folk songs Churcher grew up with. Her parents were fans of Irish folk music, as was her grandfather who hailed from Wexford, Ireland. He told stories and played music for Churcher and the family from an early age, often accompanied by a bit of accordion for good measure

Churcher, along with her own vocals and backup vocals The theatre version of Maiden’s Lament will feature all of these instrumental offerings, as well as songs on the harmonium and a special violin performance

“I want to showcase the songs that are on this album, but I also want to create an evening that gives us the sense that we ’ ve all been going through the same things in lots of different ways over a long period of time,” says Churcher

“That’s why I love traditional and ballads so much, because the themes are so timeless and I think we can all relate to them I feel like since the beginning of time love has been explored through song and voice songs were used for healing and for lullabies and dancing and expressing emotion. And it’s still the same way, ” she says of her selections.

Churcher has been busy in Scotland, also enrolling in an apprenticeship program focusing on storytelling. This is another element she’ll be weaving into the show through traveller tales from Irish and Scottish lore. “I feel like stories just as much as song connect us with that past, when we used to gather around fires and tell each other stories They’re almost the same, it’s just melodies with the songs Ballads are essentially telling stories or narratives,” she says

This certainly isn’t Churcher’s first foray into Celtic music She was part of a Celtic folk band for four years starting in 2016. Her group had just finished a tour of Ireland and England when the pandemic broke out Churcher took the opportunity to return to Bowen, a place she says was key in guiding her through that difficult time “When Covid happened I just really needed to sing a lot of these songs to do my own connecting and healing I would wander through the forests in Bluewater just singing these songs when I took my dog for a walk… when we weren’t able to see each other and connect it was really healing,” she says.

“I still think back to that… we still maintained community and we still connected with each other,” says Churcher. “We could keep safe and protect each other knowing we had the space to do that, and we cared about each other and wanted to make it work”

Tir-na-nOg is the final stop on The Maiden’s Lament tour, which starts Feb 10 in Parksville Following shows in Victoria, Squamish, and Vancouver, it will be Bowen’s turn on Sunday, Feb 19 at 6 pm

“I’m super excited to come back and be finishing off my tour amongst friends and family,” she says

In March Churcher will head back to Europe for a tour in Germany before deciding where to take her musical tales next

Churcher has been based out of Scotland recently after spending time on Bowen during the pandemic She self-recorded her album in Edinburgh, featuring a variety of instruments including guitar, fiddle, and banjo

all played by

During this time Churcher also made her directorial debut at the helm of a production of Lysistrata in the summer of 2020. The outdoor play at Veterans Park was one of the few group creative outlets available due to pandemic restrictions, but served as a morale boost to all involved.

Jannica Honey photo

Katy Slany photo

IDLC welcomes Artist InThe Classroom

ALEX KURIAL

Editor

Island Discovery Learning Community welcomed an artist in residency to their classrooms this week

Rosa Quintana was the guest thanks to an Artist In The Classroom (AIC) grant through the Vancouverbased charity ArtStarts. AIC grants are meant to bring art to schools through unique and thought-provoking methods.

Saffron Gurney, art teacher at IDLC, explains ArtStarts “pairs artists and teachers in bringing curriculum to life in interesting and cross-curricular ways through the arts It might be a dance teacher helps us understand tectonic plate movement, and creates a dance with kids”

In this week’s experience, Agassiz-based artist Quintana brought her ‘Creating with Carbon’ experience to the school. Gurney met Quintana at a residency in Powell River last year, and knew immediately she wanted to bring her to Bowen.

“Her work was just so beautiful so we thought we ’ ve got to get her into our school… Her commitment to the environment was really appealing in terms of addressing local environmental sources for art making,” says Gurney.

Quintana has enjoyed a long career on British Columbia’s west coast, crafting art pieces for the past three decades. Some of her collaborative art partners during that time include Bill Reid and Ben Davidson. She’s also worked at the Vancouver Art Gallery, in the Vancouver Film Industry, and as an instructor at Emily Carr University and the Art Institute of Vancouver

All materials used in Creating with Carbon can be found naturally, from a special fire reduction

technique using a retort in a wood stove to make the carbon, to paint made from a combination of charcoal and seaweed cooked for days to turn it into a gel

“Nothing needs a store,” says Gurney “Through this activity it’s really connecting us to our environmental sources and bigger picture topics for the older kids. When we make something, what’s the footprint or impact we make?”

There’s no end to carbon’s various uses, including medicine, food, and cleaning. It also has a major impact on the environment through its role in CO2. Quintana writes she wanted to address this element’s duality in her work

“Climate change and COVID-19 have compelled me to make art that is more accountable, and to create community understandings of the impacts of everyday actions,” says the artist

Quintana says her artistic methods, including her carbon-making method, locally grown food, and making ink from charcoal, serve as a timeless and personal approach to her craft

“These processes have been practiced around the world for thousands of years as methods of survival. From start to finish, the act of making charcoal from locally sourced organic matter, is my direct connection to the land,” says Quintana.

Students have been busy creating the materials, and their art pieces, all this week. IDLC families are invited for a drop-in paint session on Thursday, Feb. 9 from 3 to 4 pm, and then on Friday, Feb. 10 the public is welcome to attend a workshop from 9:30 to 11 am

Participants are encouraged to get creative with their paintings, while also considering the larger themes of carbon and our relationship with the environment

JointheBowenIsland FerryAdvisoryCommittee

BCFerriesisfortunatetobeabletoworkwith13FerryAdvisoryCommittees(FAC) locatedincommunitiesupanddownthecoastofBritishColumbia.Ferry AdvisoryCommitteesplayafundamentalroleinfacilitatinginformationsharing betweencommunitiesandBCFerries Thecommitteesprovideimportantadvice andinsightthathelpinformday-to-dayoperations,terminalandvessel improvements,schedulechanges,andotherinitiatives

8-12members

Committeesaremadeupof8-12 volunteersfromthecommunitythat representadiversegroupof ferryusers

2yearterms

Attheendofeach2yearterm,the membershipisreviewedincluding thepossibilityofstayingontheFAC foranewterm

WhodoFACmembersrepresent?

Ferry Advisory Committees represent diverse community perspectives, and provide a broad knowledge base that may include the voice of residents,families,localbusinesses,students,Indigenouscommunitiesand manyothers

Learnmoreandapplyformembership

Tofindouthowtobecomeamember,contactbowenfac@gmail.com

DEXTER

Dr. Midge’s pug had to come in last week for some routine bloodwork after experiencing seizures. We are waiting for the results to figure out how to help Dexter. Getting routine bloodwork done on your pet can help us catch conditions and start treatment before they can become a major issue.

IDLC students have been working with Rosa Quintana this week to create carbon-based artwork. / Submitted photos

MetroVancouver seeks approval for Cape Roger Curtis park by end of year

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The camping proposal has stirred plenty of conversation, and is an avenue Metro Vancouver has to pursue through the municipality (BIM). Overnight camping requires a Park designation, and the land is currently zoned Rural Residential. Metro Vancouver submitted a rezoning application to BIM in January to begin the process

“The overnight aspect of the park is an important one as a way to provide people with an opportunity to connect with this incredible landscape So it certainly is the intent to provide overnight access to the park,” says Fitzpatrick.

“But through the planning process that we’re just getting going with now, we’ll really get into exactly what that looks like,” he added. “It can be anything from a group camp, yurts, tent camping, but it’s intended as one part of that overall park experience”

Many practical questions have been posed about the park’s feasibility, particularly on the transportation front Currently only one road leads to the Cape, and no transit service extends that far There’s also the matter of thousands of park and camp-goers reaching Bowen in the first place, following a 2022 summer season that saw consistent ferry overloads to and from the island.

Fitzpatrick says Metro Vancouver will be looking at a variety of sustainable ways for people to reach the park, with early ideas including shuttles from the ferry or mainland, extended bus access, or even a greenway path (such as the Multi-Use Path) for people who want to walk there from the Cove

Further transportation methods which have also been suggested, but which Metro Vancouver say would require more intensive planning as they don’t yet exist, could be a passenger ferry to either the park or a more southern location on the island, or a second road to the Cape.

One area the park would have an advantage is the amount of infrastructure already in place, through a combination of past logging activity and anticipation of future residential development Several existing skid trails form a natural template for a trail network, and logged areas provide clear swaths for buildings and other park amenities such as campsites

Drilled wells and high speed internet cables are also present on the parcels to provide water and connectivity to the site “All the servicing that we need is here In some cases we would adapt that existing infrastructure, and in some cases we would maybe take it back a little bit and let the park be wild,” says Fitzpatrick

In addition to infrastructure, plenty of prior work has also been performed on the environmental front, explains natural resource management specialist Robyn Worcester.

“This area has been identified since the 1920s as important ecologically… So for 100 years people have known this site is special and unique in the region,” says Worcester “There’s been a ton of work on actually doing a lot of the ecological inventory and background information when they were planning to develop the site for building houses So there’s a lot of great background work from local naturalists and also professional biologists that have been out here for years looking at this site,” she adds.

This includes the establishment of several protective covenants for the site’s various ecological features, such as the ocean, creek, rocky bluffs, and wetlands “I’m super excited because I get to – hopefully – now find other important sites and locate spots where there may be things that people haven’t noticed, whether it’s certain birds nesting or bats roosting,” says Worcester

She especially notes the approximate 800metre stretch of dry coastal bluff waterfront containing a variety of trees and vegetation on the eight lots bordering Bowen’s south shore. This type of landform makes up less than one per cent of British Columbia’s total area, and in most cases is privately owned.

“There’s very little that’s protected. So this site is hugely important to protecting the coastal dry ecosystem,” says Worcester, noting the diversity of trees including Arbutus, Shore Pine, and Maritime Junipers “Those rocky bluff areas are all identified and that’s a hugely important aspect of the biodiversity of this site that we’d be protecting if it becomes a regional park”

She adds the park would be designed using a combination of the Regional Parks Plan for the planning side, and the Natural Resource Management Framework for envi-

ronmental stewardship and protection.

Fitzpatrick says he hopes residents will look to the island’s existing example as a basis for the proposed park “We’ve managed Crippen Regional Park for decades and that balance of protecting natural systems and connecting people to nature is something that we found really great success for across the region, but especially with Bowen residents.”

“We work closely on so many fronts on the stewardship and usage of the park, and it’s really a well loved amenity. Typically we find as we work our way through the planning processes there’s all sorts of issues we need to listen to and learn about but ultimately preserving natural ecosystems and working collaboratively in a good way with people on those is something we ’ ve had a lot of success

in, and that would be the aim with this landscape as well,” says Fitzpatrick

Phase One of the public consultation process will include two open houses on Bowen in March, both at the Bowen Island Community School. The first will take place Saturday, March 4 from 10 am to 2 pm, and the second on Wednesday, March 8 from 4 to 7:30 pm

A pair of webinars are also scheduled, on Thursday, March 9 from 5 to 7 pm, and Friday, March 10 from 10 am to Noon.

Metro Vancouver has two further engagement phases planned following the March 20 close of Phase One Phase Two is expected sometime in the Spring or Summer, with the final Phase Three set for Fall. They are hoping to have a park plan approved before the end of the year

The ferry to Nanaimo can be seen in the distance from the southern shores of Cape Roger Curtis, a view which Metro Vancouver hopes will one day form the backdrop to a new regional park on Bowen Island. Resilient trees are also beginning to regroup and regrow close to the shoreline / Alex Kurial photos

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Thursday, February 9

Game Night! At the Bowen Library

5 to 7:30 pm. Drop in for all ages, family-friendly games, including cards & board games Bring your own games too

Friday, February 10

Dinner at the Legion

The Legion will be serving Chinese food from Horseshoe Bay. Doors at 5:30 pm, dinner at 6:30.

Saturday, February 11

Near Death Experience

A conversation with Paul Fast At Collins Hall at 3 pm

Saturday, February 11

Overnight Sensation comedy show with Deborah Kimmett

Tir-na-nOg Theatre at 3 pm (evening show sold out). If you need a good laugh then join Deborah Kimmett from CBC Debaters and Second City for her new show Overnight Sensation. Don’t miss one of Canada’s funniest comics, get your tickets at www kimmett ca/event

Sunday, February 12

Book Donation Day at the Library

Friends of the Library accepting donations of clean, good condition used books and DVDs 10:30 am to bins full

Monday, February 13

Rotary Speaker Series

Lieven Callewaert on A Healthy Life Means a Healthy Community and Planet: The Resilience Institute Lieven focuses on the collaborative capacity and strategy that enables leaders and organizations to realize what cannot be done in isolation. Artisan Square at 7:30 pm.

Monday, February 13

Shari Ulrich’s ‘Trust Me’ Series

James Keelaghan performs at Tir-na-nOg 7:30 pm Find all the details including ticket information on Page 16

Thursday, February 16

Bowfest Meeting

Come help plan this year ’ s festival. 7 pm at BICS.

February 17, 18, 24, 25

The Winter’s Tale

Bard on the Rock presentation At Cates Hill Chapel, doors at 7 pm and performance begins at 7:15 Tickets $25 by cash or cheque at Cates Pharmacy Look forward to seeing you there!

Saturday, February 18

Fix-It Fair at BICS

Come bring your broken things to the talented Fix-It Fairies Clothes, electronics, and more From Noon to 3 pm

Wednesday, February 22

Getting to Know Dementia Workshop

1 to 3 pm at the Bowen Library. Register for this free workshop where you’ll learn basic information about dementia and support services available. Pre-registration is required; to register, please call the First Link® Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033. This is a Bowen Library Supported program, presented by Alzheimer Society of BC

TUESDAYS

February 21 & 28

Paint Starry Night

Join the fun of creating Vincent Van Gogh’ classic masterpiece Starry Night! No experience necessary! 1:30 to 3:30 pm For details marieneys.com or marie@marieneys.com

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

Tuesdaysfrom1to2pm.AgingwithGrace.Easyyogaformobility, flexibility, strength, balance and stress reduction for Body and Mind $15 e-transfer or cash Drop in welcome 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

Bowen Bridge

After a three year absence, duplicate bridge has returned to Bowen! New members are welcome We meet from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at Bowen Court on Wednesdays, starting February 1 Fee is $5 per person per session Your place at the table must be arranged - by email - no later than 6 pm on the Monday before To make your booking or to seek more information, please email bowcates@yahoo ca We look forward to seeing you

THURSDAYS

February 23 & March 2

Into to Acrylic Painting

Learn how to paint in a stress free, fun environment. 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. No experience necessary. Small class size. Contact Marie@marieneys.com or MarieNeys.com

Thursday Art Group

We meet every Thursday at Collins Hall (9:30 to 11:30am) to paint, sketch, draw, etc If you want to connect with other like minded creatives...join the fun! $30 per month - which covers Hall rental and other club costs We also hold workshops and will have an Art Sale in May. Contact Marie@ marieneys.com or shannonrondeau@shaw.ca

Breath & Workspace @ Sweat The Technique Studio

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

SATURDAYS

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

Dr. Danièle Behn Smith

Deputy Provincial Health Officer, Indigenous Health

Vaccinationhelpspreventserious illnessandhospitalization.Designed immune

Joints on Bowen

ROB WYNEN Contributor

With a large senior demographic on-island it is not surprising to run into so many residents who have either had or are seriously thinking of joint replacement, the bony type that is

The increased prevalence of replacing old, tired and painful joints, primarily hips and knees, has grown at a staggering pace The wait for a replacement can be significant Working with knee and hip replacement clients was much less common pre 90s than today

Surgery to graft tissues onto existing damaged joint surfaces are not nearly done as frequently today as they were in the past. The go to is joint replacement these days. The vast improvements in surgical techniques, improved mechanical joint technology and joint lifespan have many people opting for a joint replacement

Treatments to prepare and rehabilitate clients for a joint replacement have also changed over the years I worked with my first joint replacement client in the late 90s I remember the size of his knee following the replacement It was the size of a large mellon, he was in the hospital for five days and basically spent the next five weeks resting in a bed. By the time I started working with him the joint was very stiff, his muscles surrounding the knee were very weak and the recovery was painful and long I don’t think he ever regained full range of motion in the knee

It is a very different picture today Many people begin a pre-surgery exercise program so that when surgery happens their muscle mass has not completely diminished This results in better surgical outcomes and makes the recovery process much more complete

Surgery is less invasive and you can forget about the five days in bed. I had a Bowen client remark they were stunned that she was asked to stand after a hip replacement almost the minute she got out of surgery The progressive return to normal activity is encouraged and physical treatment begins almost immediately

Exercises that focus on rebuilding muscles surrounding the joint, regaining range of motion and creating the ideal conditions for bone tissue to meld into the prosthetic joint are the main areas of focus Recovery will take several months and usually involves the guidance of a physiotherapist, kinesiologist or exercise physiologist

While joint replacements are very common these days, one should not forget this is a very big surgery not to be taken lightly If you are experiencing serious joint issues, get it checked out. See if you may be a candidate and don’t wait too long as a two year wait from diagnosis to treatment is not unusual.

f s s , pediatricvaccinesdeliver asmallerdose theadultdose. Theyaretested andsafe.

e than

Lauded singer-songwriter next‘Trust Me’guest

SHARI ULRICH Contributor

Being a recording artist is often a balancing act of respect and envy And I confess feeling a high level of both for James Keelaghan and his well-earned success as world travelled songwriter

Book your child's COVID-19 vaccine today. gov.bc.ca/vaccineforkids

I’ve known James since 1977 when we rode on a school bus together with the likes of Bruce Cockburn, Mimi Fariña & Stan Rogers along with a whole tribe of folkies en route to Faro Yukon for the Farrago Folk Festival James had quite the mullet in those days, but he also had the undeniable compelling great gift as a singer and songwriter right out of the gate that has garnered him faithful friends and audiences wherever he goes

The most respected and lauded music journalists have labeled James Keelaghan Canada’s finest singer-songwriter

He will be accompanied in this concert by the ubiquitous bassist David Woodhead

His life-long passion for history often finds its way into his songs, fusing his insatiable appetite for finding the next unique storyline with brilliantly defined craftsmanship and artistic vision. This has been part of the bedrock of his success, earning James his well-deserved share of nominations and awards (including Junos and CFMA’s) and acclaim from Australia to Scandinavia to Ireland and all points in between James is one of most distinctive and readily identifiable voices of, not only the Canadian scene, but as a member of the international singer-songwriter community

How lucky are we that Bowen Island is one of his stops! Next Monday – Feb 13, at 7:30 pm Tickets are $25 (cash) at Phoenix Books, and on-line at trustme-Keelaghan eventbrite.ca.

And if you feel compelled at the last minute, make your way to the ever-welcoming Tir-na-nOg!

The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risks. That’s why my children are vaccinated.”

Rob Wynen and Louise McIntosh working out at the new Joint Replacement program at Bowen Integrated Health. / Submitted photo

Haig Farris alertly snapped this Sea Lion mid-bite during lunchtime at Fairweather. A cruising Eagle was also at the other end of the photographer’s lens,“ready to oppose campers”he quipped / Haig Farris photos