Bowen Island Undercurrent May 18 2023

BEAT ON THE STREET: Students from Island Discovery Learning Community were out canvassing the Cove on Wednesday morning, including the news crew of (L-R) Bowen Goodwin, William MacKenzie, Ione Edwards, Jaden Parker, and Jack Scott. The class was conducting streeters on some of today’s hot button issues The kids came well prepared with the right equipment, good questions, and of course plenty of confidence. Check out Page 8 to see the full IDLC news team.

/

Alex Kurial

New campsite at Apodaca Park

ALEX KURIAL

Editor

It’s not the local campsite everybody has been talking about, but

there’s a new spot to pitch your tent on Bowen Island – provided you arrive by the proper craft BC Parks recently finished construction of four tent pads in Apodaca Park, a 12-hectare provincial park on Bowen’s east coast The remote

campsite is meant to be accessed by marine travel only, and BC Parks says the pads are available on a firstcome-first-served basis for recreational paddlers such as kayakers, canoers, or paddleboarders

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Island artist honoured for community work

A Bowen Island artist is among the recipients of one of the province’s top community recognitions

Simon Daniel James, known also as Winadzi, was awarded the Community Award by the BC Achievement Foundation earlier this month The program, now in its 20th year, “recognizes extraordinary British Columbians who build better, stronger and more resilient communities” Twenty-one British Columbians were selected as this year ’ s award winners James joined them for the award ceremony Wednesday, May 10 at Government House in Victoria

James’ selection came in part for his contributions to community art Boweners are likely familiar with many of his pieces whether they know it or not This includes the totem pole at the Trunk Road entrance to Village Square A collaborative project with Shane Tweten, the pole commemorates the spirit of the flame

Another of the projects James has contributed to welcomes everyone who arrives on the island – the Snug Cove Gateway Mural Located along the lock block wall at the ferry terminal, Simon was one of the dozens of locals who left their mark on the legacy piece spearheaded by artists Di, Sarah Haxby, and Paula Love He painted a trio of whales, and his daughter pitched in too with some starfish

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

photo

ALEX KURIAL Editor

SIMON DANIEL JAMES IS A 2023 COMMUNITY AWARD RECIPIENT

Events

AllCouncilmeetingsareopen tothepublictoattendin personorelectronically,unless notedotherwise

May 23, 2023

6:15 pm

RegularCouncilMeeting

Community Grant Applications

BIMisacceptingCommunityGrantapplicationsuntil4:00pmon

Friday,June9,2023

TheCommunityGrantprogramassistsBowenIslandcommunity groupsandorganizationsthatbenefitBowenIslandresidents

wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/community-grants/

Fire Danger Rating

May18,2023

Cut Broom in Bloom

Scotchbroomtakesoverlargeswathsoflandbyoutcompetingnative species Plantsobstructsitelinesonroadwaysandcontainflammable oilswhichincreasefirerisk

Scotchbroomonyourproperty?Cutthemainstemclosetothe groundwhiletheplantisfloweringtopreventresprout Avoidsoil disturbancetopreventtheseedbankfromsprouting

wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/invasive-plant-species/

TheFireDangerRatingisMODERATE

Thismeans:

• Nobeachfires

• Campfiresonyourownprivatepropertyforcookingorwarmth only

• BBQsok

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/alerts/

SEEING FLASHING HAZARD LIGHTS BEHIND YOU?

Beach Spring Checklist

Ifyoukeepyourboatonthebeach,completethespringchecklistby June1,2023

Whoseboatisit?

• Yourboatisclearlylabelledwithyournameandphonenumber

Don’tbeabeachhog

• Nocollections.Onlyonesmallself-propelledboatperperson.

• Noabandonedhobbies (Ifyouhaven’tusedyourboatsince lockdown,makeroomforsomeoneelse!)

• Nobrokenboats,paddles,etc

Boatsthatareunlabeled,unseaworthy,ornotactivelybeingused mayberemovedafterJune1,2023.Ownerswillneedtopayrecover expenses

Questions?CallBylawServiceson604-947-4255ext2

Phone: 604-947-4255

Fax: 604-947-0193

Email: bim@bimbc.ca Website:

BowenIslandMunicipalHall 981ArtisanLane BowenIsland,BC V0N1G2

Hours:8:30am-4:30pm MondaytoFriday Closedstatutoryholidays

OnBowenIsland volunteerfirefightersuse theirpersonalvehiclesto gettotheFireHallto respondtoanemergency

Theyusetheirhazardlights toletyouknow

Pleasepulloverwhenit'ssafeandlet thempass Yieldingcouldsavesomeoneslife

IT'S A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER ON THEIR WAY TO A CALLOUT

BC Parks campsite makes Bowen the newest overnight stop along the Sea to Sky MarineTrail

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Apodaca Park is now the 10th campsite along the Sea to Sky Marine Trail, which runs from Horseshoe Bay to Squamish Campsites are hosted by BC Parks and Recreation Sites and Trails BC, with maintenance and other assistance provided by BC Marine Trails and the Sea Kayak Association of BC (SKABC). The latter group was integral in advocating for adding the Bowen campsite to the trail, first bringing the idea to BC Parks in 2019.

Visitors to the campsite land at a small beach on the far east side of the park, where Optimist Creek meets Howe Sound. To reach the tent pads, paddlers ascend a short path to a looped trail, with the four campsites located to the right overlooking Howe Sound. The left path leads to a compostable pit toilet BC Parks says they’re planning to add a storage rack at the site for kayaks later this summer

The organization adds they’re asking travellers to remain on the looped campsite trail while visiting, and not to wander the nearby bluffs to avoid trampling sensitive vegetation. Campfires aren’t allowed in the park

While the campsites are now in use, their creation came as news to much of the island, including the municipality. “It came as a surprise to staff and many people on Bowen that all of a sudden there are four

tent pads and a pit toilet at that park, where before there was none We were surprised that we had not been informed or engaged by BC Parks or their partners, ” said chief administrative officer Liam Edwards during council last week

Edwards acknowledged that since the park is provincial land none of the groups, including BC Parks, had any obligation to inform the municipality, and that “the park plan for Apodaca has always considered the notion of camping in that park” But the CAO added common practice is to discuss projects like this with the host community.

“They believed with the park size, being small, and the location, being very remote and boat-access only, that they didn’t need to inform or engage with any of the neighbouring properties or the municipality,” said Edwards, noting BC Parks also explained “the timing of this happening, coinciding with the larger regional park initiative (Cape Roger Curtis), was unfortunate, and they recognize that makes things challenging.”

There’s no running water or other facilities beyond the tent pads and pit toilet on location. Anyone planning on visiting the Apodaca Park campsite is advised to come prepared, both due to the lack of amenities and potentially challenging marine conditions

The new Apodaca Park campsite being used by marine-travelling campers in mid-May / Alex Kurial photos

A few weeks ago I wrote about a pair of Ma Murray nominations the Undercurrent had received for overall Newspaper Excellence and best Sports Photo On May 4 we were thrilled to sit back and watch as our little paper was awarded a Bronze medal for placing third in all of British Columbia and Yukon in our circulation category for the former category, which measures the weekly physical product as a whole Our friendly competitors (big shout out to Quesnel Cariboo Observer and Revelstoke Review on their wins!) all operate out of bigger towns and cities, and (knowing from experience) certainly have bigger newsrooms so for our efforts each week to stand so highly among them was an incredibly rewarding feeling. This is an achievement past Undercurrent Editors and staff have accomplished during this paper ’ s long and storied history, and I’m very happy to have continued their inspiring work.

As for the Sports Photo, the judges had plenty of kind words for ‘Wood Cutting With A Smile’... and even a Gold medal too! I’d like to thank our enthusiastic Logger Sports athlete (see below) for making this possible - your zest for competition is what made this possible As many of you know I will always be a sports reporter at heart, and I get very excited when the opportunity to rekindle this love comes around Being told you had the best sports shot on the west coast just makes it all the cooler!

And while I truly cannot say it enough, thanks to Tracey, Ron, and Matt for being an amazing and uplifting group of teammates And to the community for your support each week, because otherwise who are we writing for anyway? And where would we get so many of our great stories!

Hope you enjoy this week’s Island-Wide issue!

- Alex Kurial, Editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A Shiny Day at the Office Vital Conversations Lottery Spots

(AKA WE’VE SAVED YOU A SEAT, BUT NEED TO KNOW IF YOU’RE COMING)

On June 3, 2023 the Bowen Island Community Foundation is holding an event help to define Bowen Island’s community priorities for the next three years This event is called “Vital Conversations”

When something is identified as a priority at Vital Conversations, it means that money will be spent to help address it The total amount of funding available varies year over year, but hundreds of thousands of dollars will be spent based on the priorities that the community identifies on June 3.

Unfortunately, not every Bowen Islander will be able to attend the limited capacity event. However, there are a set

number of spots available to the public that will be assigned based on a lottery draw If you would like to submit your name, please email info@bowenfoundation com with the subject “lottery” by Wednesday, May 24

By participating in the Vital Conversations, you can help influence our community’s funding priorities

- Holly Graff, Past BICF Chair

THE WRITE STUFF. The Undercurrent encourages reader participation in your community newspaper. You must include your full name and a daytime phone number (for verification only) The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity, legality, brevity and taste Please limit to under 500 words. HERE’S HOW: To submit a letter to the editor, fax 604-947-0148 or mail it to #102, 495 Bowen Island Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 or email editor@bowenislandundercurrent com

VIEWPOINTS What’s up at Camp Bowen?

Curious community members who have noticed our blind and DeafBlind students around the island want to know: “why are there suddenly so many blind people around Bowen?”

Part of the answer is that our in-person activities were suspended during the pandemic From 2020 to early 2022, you likely only saw Camp Bowen staff, many of whom now live on-island.

The other part of the answer can be found tucked away on quiet Snug Point

Purpose built by countless donations of time and materials in 1962 and formerly operated by CNIB, the Bowen Lodge is once again home to programming for blind, low vision, and DeafBlind Canadians, now under the leadership of the Canadian Organization of the Blind and DeafBlind’s Camp Bowen Division.

The grassroots charity was founded by Camp Bowen alumni to continue the vision of the lodge’s founders to offer independent living skills in the off-months and summer camps in the summers, services needed now more than ever by blind and DeafBlind Canadians The organization is currently renting the facility, which has blindness-specific features and is protected by zoning and a section 219 covenant for

exactly these types of programs. It is the only protected facility of its kind left in Canada

In September 2022, we started offering a 10-month program where blind, low vision, and DeafBlind Canadians can learn all the skills they need to become independent, including: adaptive technology, Braille, cane travel, cooking, employment skills, home management, and so much more This program is unique, offering Canada’s only campus-based, intensive rehabilitation that sets blind students up with a solid foundation for independence Bowen’s quiet atmosphere helps beginner cane travellers to feel comfortable learning how to navigate safely. For select lessons, students hop the ferry and go into town, but this is only possible thanks to the confidence gained on Bowen. The lodge being in Snug Cove means staff, most of whom are blind or DeafBlind, and participants can visit restaurants, shops, and resupply, all without needing to be dependent on anyone, a huge confidence booster

In August, we are excited to return to in-person camps with our Braille Literacy Camp (ages 8-12), Linda Evans Memorial Music Camp (ages 8-18), and Adult Retreat. We look forward to welcoming you to our end of camp music concert that will

Therearenotmanycommunitiesthat couldboastof havinganopera-singing ferrymarshal,butthankstoJewal Maxwell,BowenIslandcould.

Jewal Maxwell passed away on July 18th, 2022 in Nanaimo. A Celebration of her Life will be held on SundayMay28th,3pm,attheBowenIsland Lodge,380CardenaDrive-everybodywelcome!

Jewal loved music. Music, and her son Aiden, were the loves of her life. In loving memory of Jewal we will be celebrating her life with a musical tribute.

Jewal trained in Gospel, Jazz, Opera & Musical Theatre. After graduating with a degree in music from UBC Jewal was a vocalist with several choirs, big bands & orchestras. She sang at Club Med Resorts, on cruise ships and in jazz clubs. Jewal was a professional musician, always quick to learn original material and take it to the depths of emotions. Her passion for music was enormous and everyone loved to hear her sing. There will be a line up of musicians and vocalists performing a tribute to Jewal. Coming from Vancouver: Rick Talarczyk & the Art Rogers Band. Jazz & Blues singer LJ Mounteney and Mwayii Mphande, aka "Lady Pace”, a gifted Malawian hiphop artist. Bowen Island musicians: Cheryl Ackerman, Maggie Brockington, Marc Gawthrop and Nicole Thomas.

Please come join us celebrate Jewal Maxwell. She served our community in so many ways and never asked for anything in return. She did it because she loved our community and we loved her Wewouldlikesomesortofheadcount.

If youareplanningoncoming pleaseRSVP bytextingBasiaat:778-957-0947

celebrate what campers have learned, 60 years of Camp Bowen, and more than 100 years of organized blind groups on Snug Point

The more than 100 year relationship between the blind community and the Bowen Island community is alive and well, and we can’t thank you enough for that! On Bowen, people are so aware and embracing of the

blind community It’s not something you see often off-island and is something truly special

Thank you Bowen for all your support!

For more information, please visit us online at campbowen ca, or call +1 (604) 947-9021.

Stay tuned for an article on Camp Bowen in a future Undercurrent issue

- Alex Jurgensen, Camp Bowen

June 11, 2005 - March 30, 2023

Witty spicy, fun, bright and beautiful. These are the words that describe Maya Veronica Cassady Maya loved animals and nature and everyone loved Maya. She was a top student and was preparing for her university studies in the Netherlands.

We will miss Maya’s cheeky sparkle, her infectious laugh, her deep and passionate thoughts.

Along with Maya’s family, the Board of Education of School District 45 (West Vancouver) has set up the Maya Veronica Cassady Mental Health Wellness Award. This is an annual award gifted to a student who needs financial support with bettering their mental health. The award is to help provide hope and support to students seeking ways to improve their mental health. Bowen Island residents will be given priority

DONATE HERE

https://westvanfoundation.ca/maya-veronica-cassady-mental-health-wellness-fund/

Haig Farris spotted what he hopes will be the first of many Butterflies at Fairweather this summer.

VIEWPOINTS ManyVoices in Silent Support of CRC Park Project

Dear Mr Leonard and Metro Vancouver Representatives,

I am writing in support of the proposed regional park at Cape Roger Curtis There are some Bowen Island residents who are undoubtedly against the park and I wanted to throw my name out there into the “Yes” camp

I attended the Open House hosted by Metro Van here on Bowen a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised by both the turnout and the overall positive nature of the conversation happening The process was professional, collaborative and I feel that the Metro Van representatives did a great job capturing both our concerns and positive hopes for the future of the Cape

So much of the resistance to this park is happening due to the negative and conflated effects of Social Media

I am concerned that Bowen Island Municipality and Metro Van aren’t getting an accurate representation of how all community members feel Many are staying silent or staying out of the debate because of fear of retribution for posting anything contrary to what is being expressed on our community Facebook page It’s disheartening to see, but I do believe that most

people are either neutral, in favor, or have some concerns about the proposed campground and increased traffic, but are otherwise open to the idea of preserving and protecting the land at the Cape

It’s my view that the conservation and protection of the fragile ecosystem at Cape Roger Curtis is best managed by the municipality, city, and the province by allowing equal access to both citizens and tourists alike I am grateful that the land will no longer face the threat of development through private ownership

Both my children currently attend Island Discovery Learning Center (IDLC) which is a small part-time homeschool here on Bowen with class time at a house currently located at Cape Roger Curtis I personally have not heard any strong feedback from families against the park, most are in favor of it, some who live on Whitesails are understandably concerned about the increased traffic, but overall it seems to be a welcomed addition to the area

To think of my children having access to this protected forest for their education and their overall quality of life brings me great joy and peace Who could ask for a better

environment for learning?

I of course am apprehensive of the current plan to introduce 100 campsites to the area, however I trust that the process forward will be slow, phased-in, and very intentional and collaborative I want to work with the staff of our Municipality, as well as all of you at Metro Vancouver to work towards finding solutions and creative ways to address traffic and ferry concerns I believe this is possible and that the stewardship of this park will be in good hands

If nothing else, I hope my letter demonstrates that not all Bowen Island community members are against this proposal and are in fact cheering you on and hoping for a collaborative and long-term solution to issues that many other communities are facing across this province

There are no easy or quick solutions but I believe we can offer alternative models of transportation and encourage non-vehicle tourism and that both the community and the residents of the Greater Vancouver area can enjoy this park for generations to come

Warm Regards,

Dock Decision

On March 31, after almost 2 years, the Province processed and issued clearance for a new private dock to be built on Ecclestone Public Beach on Mannion Bay. The decision can be found at:

https://comment nrs gov bc ca/api/public/document/642b23ed63ac8e00222de349/download

Listed under the Reasons For Decision, the Province states: “A significant amount of public opposition was received against this application. All public comments were reviewed and considered in this decision.”

In fact, there were over 100 letters written to Council objecting to the dock proposal, as well as dozens of folks who took the time to appear before Council on behalf of The Friends of Ecclestone Beach

And yet, 6 Council members voted to grant this variance permit in contravention to our revised land use bylaws stipulating that no more Cape Roger Curtis type docks should be built on our public beaches In the end, Ecclestone all came down to public access across a short 30-foot path that leads to the beach at the bottom of the adjoining property, a path that had previously been generously available as a goodwill gesture to the neighbourhood for about 100 years.

However, over the past decade, the path was seized by the adjoining owners - promised and traded for increasingly bigger stakes. Sadly, it appears the path wheeling and dealing has come to an end, one with a 100-foot dock approved on this public beach.

Seven years ago, the path was used as a foil to obtain variance permits from the municipality for several illegal structures built on the road right of way leading to the beach by the owners at that time. The owners had promised to give pubic access to the beach on that very same 30-foot path in exchange for the neighbourhood’s cooperation in applying for their variances, but suddenly withdrew this offer at the last minute

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

- Julie Hughes

VIEWPOINTS

Province makes call on Ecclestone dock

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

Inexplicably, Council granted these variances without the promised path to the beach, leaving the public empty handed And now this poor path has been used once again to obtain another variance permit to build a huge private dock on a tiny pocket beach, wedging the community, the Council, the Province and ultimately the beach itself between a between a dock and a hard place

The Municipality should have just said no to the current property owner seeking a variance on the public beach

Size Matters

British Columbia at 364,764 square miles is almost four times the size of Great Britain and two-and-a-half times the size of Japan. Surely Metro Vancouver can find some space to put camping grounds that is not on a small island with limited access

Masses of visitors will provide excellent business opportunities for land developers and others and simultaneously change Bowen Island from rural to urban.

I do not believe that MV will spend $40 million dollars without demanding massive concessions including camping grounds. The eternal nature of all government is to expand its power and its vision - not yours. If you take the park you will get the

because the vast majority of islanders still don’t want another dock diminishing public lands It isn’t in our best interest in protecting Bowen’s precious shoreline and protecting Kwil’akm/Mannion Bay to grant such variances, but then, ironically, there wouldn’t be public access by this particular pathway either

Contrary to the contention in the Province’s dock approval that access will be “improved with the granting of this variance permit,” let’s just say it will be ‘legal’ And finally, the Province’s final decision says, “all concerns and conflicts related to this were addressed or suitably mitigated,”

feels like rather a bold obfuscation considering the amount of public opposition to this dock Almost two years later, Islanders still can’t visit Ecclestone, and when the pile-driving begins to construct the dock, this public beach will never be the same again.

My colleague, Gillian Darling, and I would like thank all the Friends Of Ecclestone Public Beach who were so supportive by writing letters and appearing before Council, including Deborah Carlson of West Coast Environmental Law. We want to express our gratitude and appreciation to you all.

- Heather Hodson & Gillian Darling

campers and Bowen Island will quickly become an adjunct urban community serving MV’s interests

I vote NO to the park and NO to the camping grounds

I vote YES to the original plan of 24 houses built to environmental standards us mortals can only dream about, where most of the forest will remain as is anyway and the very large tax revenue from these properties will go to Bowen Island not MV.

The birds and bees don’t care who owns the property.

- Penny Williams

With temperatures in the high 20s it was prime weather for getting out and enjoying Bowen’s local beaches last weekend, including at Tunstall Bay There may be some rain in the forecast for the upcoming long weekend, but hopefully there will still be plenty of opportunity for people to again enjoy the sun and sand / Alex Kurial photo

Journalists in the Making

Island Discovery Learning Community students were at work early Wednesday morning getting ready to perform streeters around the Cove. They planned to start by covering Canada’s current immigration policy, and branch off their questioning from there The group was well prepared, and most importantly very excited to start asking people questions. In this Editor’s humble opinion, these young journalists have a bright future in the craft if they choose to pursue it, and their enthusiasm to learn and develop reporting skills was inspring to see!

/ Alex Kurial photo

Metro Vancouver closes land purchase at Cape Roger Curtis

METRO VAN SEEKS TO BUILD PARK ON THE 97 HECTARES

ALEX KURIAL

Editor

The sale of 24 Cape Roger Curtis lots to Metro Vancouver is officially complete Metro Vancouver confirmed the sale, which finalized earlier this month, in a press release Tuesday afternoon The 97 hectares of land, which the organization plans to develop into a regional park, were purchased from the Cape on Bowen for $40 million.

The sale concludes a process which lasted more than a year Metro Vancouver first publicly announced their pursuit of the land in August 2022, though they’d been in discussions with the municipality and the Cape to acquire the south Bowen sites since February that year

Awaiting confirmation of the sale did not stop the park process from undergoing several developments in the last few months however, the most consequential being a rezoning application by Metro Vancouver to allow overnight camping on the land. The area is currently zoned Rural Residential 1, and would need to be changed to Passive Park to allow the approximately 100 campsites Metro Vancouver is seeking for the space

During Bowen council’s April 24 meeting, the application took an initial step forward as both amendments to the Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw passed in matching 5-2 votes

A second reading is not expected for several months The plan is now headed to Bowen committees for further discussion, and a restrictive covenant is being prepared to manage phasing-in of the park Metro Vancouver has proposed a three-stage implementation of various park features

Metro Vancouver says they’re planning to begin Phase 2 of their own public consultation process later this summer, having completed the first phase earlier this year. In the meantime, they say the area is not open for visitors in order to protect the local ecology

While a final decision may not come until next year, it’s an issue which has

caused sharp division on the island. Metro Vancouver’s own survey results from the first round of public engagement in February and March showed a majority of island residents (590/1,029, 57%) didn’t support the project in its then-state, compared to 198 in support (19%), 152 needing more info (15%) and 89 remaining neutral (9%).

A local petition devoted specifically to opposing any camping at the site presented to council last week by resident Julie Vik claimed around 1,300 names, representing a sizeable portion of Bowen’s approximately 3,200 adults. The last two council meetings have seen nearly 200 letters submitted on the park topic, along with many residents speaking to it during public comments section.

Calls for a referendum or opinion poll on the park have grown in number, in order to more fully gauge how Islanders feel about it The municipality said this could be an option but they’d like more information on the project before considering it

The local opinion gulf is a reality Mayor Andrew Leonard addressed following last week’s public comments, as he attempted to cool some of the rhetoric which has developed in the community.

“The face-to-face contact is so much more important and worthwhile than some of the pieces that I’ve seen online,” he said following the speaker list, noting comments on social media have “been very challenging, it’s been difficult, it’s been dehumanizing in some respects”

“We are hearing you. We are constituted of passionate people in this community who are your neighbours Many of us campaigned on this notion of integrity and process – wanting to hold clear, open, transparent governance – and we ’ ve been doing that,” added the mayor

“Integrity and process demands that we take our time through that foundation of process we can get at solutions, instead of knee-jerk reactions, instead of name calling, instead of acrimony, instead of frustration. Because I can feel the frustration and passion in this room Everybody’s here because they friggin care And we do too,” says Leonard.

No injuries in Bowen car fire

ALEX KURIAL Editor

Nobody was hurt when a car went up in flames on the side of Adams Road last week

The white Ford Focus went ablaze near Buchanan Road before 10 am on Wednesday, May 10, but was quickly responded to by members of the Bowen Island Volunteer Fire Department and Bowen Island RCMP Fire Chief Aaron Hanen later confirmed there were no injuries but he did not yet have a cause for how the fire started.

The road remained closed for part of the morning while the fire department put out the fire, but was re-oponed to traffic before 11 am Damage to the vehicle was extensive

The fire was concentrated in the front of the car / Marcus Hondro photo

Members of the Bowen Island Fire Department were quickly on scene to douse the flames. / Marcus Hondro photo

A quick response by firefighters meant the blaze was contained and nobody got hurt / Marcus Hondro photo

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Communication skills are one of Tim’s particular strengths. He kept us aware of the market, its variations and trends, keeping in touch with us consistently (but never intrusively) via email, telephone, and in-person meetings, never rushed, always even-keeled His communication with us was immediate when situations changed and when opportunities arose Tim spent as much time as we needed with us so that we clearly understood variations in the market as we prepared to sell and as we explored potential buys. Consistently relaxed (so that we relaxed!), with a great sense of humour combined with seriousness as appropriate, we trust Tim fully Selling and buying your home is stressful because it involves the largest financial asset for most people, certainly for us. Tim “managed us very well”

Maureen and Rob Mackey

Tim exceeded our expectations as a Realtor He went above and beyond to ensure we had all the information required to confidently enter the selling market. His professionalism, expert knowledge and friendliness made it an enjoyable experience. Tim’s attention to detail in showcasing the listing was amazing as were the photographer and videographer he used Our house sold within the first week at above asking Thank you Tim for a job well done

Ben Davenport

I felt prioritized the entire way through this process. Your dedication to the sale of the house and your patience with us as we navigated the process was phenomenal and much appreciated And your support during the sale and after was above and beyond It was great working with you Tim and I would do it again without question.

Christie Stashyn

We really appreciated the way you considered our input and how it made us feel included You were always available and each time you came you always had time to answer any of our questions. We should also thank Darcie, your wife, for putting up with all the time you spent with us. You feel more like a friend than an agent… a friend with integrity and caring

Bernie and John

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Amy, N. Van.

Thank you again for all your support, guidance, and efforts over the past few months. It was a pleasure working with you, and though the outcome is a bittersweet one, you ’ ve made it possible for us to go off and live our dream!

H&C

You hung on during a very questionable market situation, with inflation and bank rates rising.Your calm confidence, and your optimism kept me grounded through some very tricky situations and made me feel confident that you had everything under control

Susan Hogan

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Downward trend showing signs of slowing

ACTIVITY AT PRE-COVID LEVELS

At +1.9 per cent Bowen Island was one of only 10 Metro municipalities where the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) or Benchmark Price was up year-over-year Port Coquitlam held the median position for the 19 municipalities at +0.1 per cent with Anmore registering the highest increase at +8.9 per cent while Langley City the largest decline at -6.8 per cent.

Bowen’s YoY Benchmark Price reached a record high of $1,540,567 in September ’22 but finished April ’23 down -4.1 per cent at $1,476,825, and up +1.9 per cent.

YoY 63.5 per cent of homes on Bowen sold under $1.5 million, putting pressure on the Benchmark Price and contributing to its gradual decline In contrast, April’s top sale was $3,625,000, setting the record for the sale of a non-waterfront home on Bowen Island.

Sales are still sluggish, down -32.8 per cent YoY,althoughYtDpropertiesunder$1.2million moved more quickly, with 5 sales happening within a week of listing At this writing there are 21 residential detached properties and 28 lots on offer New listings YtD were also slow, reflecting pre-COVID activity.

Relatively low inventory levels with higher interest rates are tending to balance each other out and keep prices relatively stable, and although 30 per cent of sales YtD were above asking, the downward trend has yet to correct

but is showing signs of slowing

“While home sales remain close to 25 per cent below normal, the inventory of homes for sale has not accumulated significantly as potential sellers have held off on listing their homes in a down market. While significant uncertainty surrounds the economic outlook, the current market shows no signs of financial vulnerability or highly motivated sellers As sales recover into a low inventory market, prices will likely begin to rise month-overmonth and finish the year higher than at the start.”1 (This prediction used all housing types, detached, attached, and condos, in BC.)

Metro Vancouver’s YoY HPI for detached homes decreased -8.8 per cent compared to Bowen’s increase of +1.9 per cent. However, Metro’s YoY HPI was up 2.9 per cent April over March while Bowen’s decreased -1.2 per cent. Metro’s YoY Average Sale price decreased -4.4 per cent while on Bowen Island the decrease was -21.8 per cent. April over March, Metro’s average sale price increased +1.7 per cent compared to Bowen’s +4.1%

Relatively low inventory levels combined with higher interest rates are tending to balance each other out and keep price relatively stable, and although 30 per cent of sales YtD were above asking, the downward trend has yet to correct but is showing signs of slowing

1 https://www bcrea bc ca/economics/housing-forecast/

Timothy Rhodes, REALTOR® tim@rhodesonbowen com homesonbowen com/stats

April’s top home sales on Bowen

LAST MONTH FEATURED THE FIRST SALE OF THE YEAR OVER $2 MILLION

ALEX KURIAL Editor

April clearly established itself as the year ’ s top month for local real estate in 2023, with not only six property sales, but three which would have been the highest on the island prior to last month

Of course this means one of April’s sales is this year ’ s new high, not long after March had set this mark And by a fair margin too, a purchase early last month clearing March’s high sale by more than $1 million.

Seven figures separate the $1.545 million Captains Way Road house from the property at 839 Seymour Bay Drive, which closed for $2.6 million last month. The four-bedroom, four-bathroom home, measuring at 2,636 square feet and sitting on a 0.48 acre lot, stands above the ninth hole of the Bowen Island Golf Course

The one-storey house is eight years old, and was on the market for 57 days while dropping slightly from the original $2 79 million ask to complete the sale The home features sweeping views stretching from Vancouver Island to Cypress Mountain They can be enjoyed from the multiple decks, or from inside with 10 feet of space from floor to ceiling There’s also a one-bedroom guest suite on the property

April had another property sale for more than $2 million, but there’s no house on the land right now. And while it may have gone for less than the Seymour Bay House, the 47-acre piece of land in the Bluewater neighbourhood has had no equal size-wise on the island for awhile

The lot, designated as District Lot 3042, sits east of Windjammer Road and is accessible by Schooner Lane The

final price came down $298,000 since first being listed 170 days prior to sale The property was advertised as “ one of the few remaining undeveloped large acreage parcels of privately-held land on Bowen,” and suggested a subdivision or private home as potential uses for what is currently a large forested lot.

And finally, the third highest sale of the month was at 1662 Adams Road. It didn’t eclipse the $2 million mark, but on its own the two-bedroom, three-bathroom coach house would have been the island’s top selling house prior to April after going for $1.75 million.

The two-storey home was on the market for 124 days and originally listed for $1 9 million The three-decade old home is 3,123 square feet, with the lot on the larger side at 1 51 acres An 805 square foot guest house is also on the property As expected with a large outdoor space, the grounds are complete with generous amounts of trees and garden space

And, in what is becoming a trend, for the third straight month a property sold on Keats Island April’s sale of a two-bedroom, two-bath house at 443 Collingwood Road was by far the highest of the three at $910,000, more than double what a cabin sold for on the island in March

The 1 5-storey home made a brief 10-day appearance on the market, and ended up going for over the listing price of $899,000. It’s the first house to sell on Keats this year, following the sale of a vacant lot and a cabin – though like March’s cabin the April house is listed as an “Old Timer” The home measures 1,726 square feet, the lot 0 42 acres, and its elevation on the east side of the island allows for unobstructed views to the mainland and Cypress Mountain

Lean on my 26 years of real estate experience!

I'm here to guide you through the market, educate you on the process so that you feel empowered to make an informed decision

1662 Adams Road on Bowen’s west side sold for $175 million last month. / Zealty.ca photo

839 Seymour Bay Drive became the top sale of 2023, and only house over $2 million so far, after going for $26 million / Zealtyca photo

Biophilia: An Art Exhibit Exploring Interconnectedness

MATHILDE ROHR

Cultural Connector / The Hearth Gallery

“Feeling oneness with the spirit of nature, inhaling lush pine and mossy forests and watching the dance of waves and ripples of water that flow across the rocky earth Wandering in awe through ever-changing landscapes and hearing the voices of earth’s many creatures, calling out to one another is what inspires me to create.” - Carly Bouwman

The Hearth’s new exhibit brings together the work of two artists from the Lower Mainland: Carly Bouwman and Lisa MacLean Inspired by the psychological need of humans to be in contact with the natural world and its creatures, this show is an invitation to explore the preciousness of all life, human and other-than-human, in this beautiful but endangered world

Carly is a painter She paints to connect viewers with the magical spirit of nature and uplift one ’ s soul. Her art merges together a variety of silhouettes and realistic depictions of wildlife figures embedded in textured and abstract landscapes Her journey through the natural world led her to bring

focus on non-human beings and to reconsider their value and perspective through her paintings

Lisa McLean makes art with digital and infrared photography, video, sculpture, and installations In Biophilia, she presents a series of digital layered images along with small sculptures made of biodegradable plastic Her artistic research is motivated by an awareness of our fragility and highlights the intertwined web of life to which we belong She creates allegorical scenes by overlapping animal and human bodies with endangered landscapes and organic elements

“The non-human entities with whom we share the world are integral to our psychic wellness, our communities, our cultures, and our ability to thrive in a human-dominated world” , says MacLean. Together, they use their art to shine light on the vast diversity of life that shares the Earth with us. Beyond languages, it invites us to nurture a deeper connection and a clearer understanding of the living world which we are part of Biophilia is on at the Hearth from May 17 to 29. There’s an Artist pARTy on May 20 from 6 to 8 pm with bar service, snacks, and DJ Yeshe

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Friends of the Bowen Island Library

BookFest 2023

In the Gym @ Bowen Island Community School Agiantsaleof qualityusedbooksandmedi Allproceedsbenefitthe BowenIslandPublicLibrary

Saturday, May 20 10 am-4 pm

Sunday, May 21 10 am-2 pm Bring Your

Monday, May 22 10 am-12 pm

BowenIsland CommunityDrop-in

Deliveringthebestservicetocoastalcommunities,meansknowingwhatis importanttothosewholive,workandplayinthemeachday Dropbyour openhouseandchatwithourteamaboutthetopicsmostimportanttoyou!

Date: Saturday,June3,2023

Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm

Location: BowenIslandCommunitySchool,1041MtGardnerRoad

AFerryAdvisoryCommitteeMeetingwillbeheldpriortothecommunity drop-in Publicarewelcometoattend PleasecontactFACchair, TylerDavenportatbowenfac@gmailcomorFACinfo@bcferriescom formoredetails

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team on top to stay in just the1stinningofthegameaftersendingapitchintothetreesoutsidetheWoodward houseforagrandslam.Hefinished2/3attheplatewithawalkand4RBI’s.Corbyalso heldtheCruiserstojust3runsaswellafterrelievingJohnnyinthe5thinning,making sure there would be no comeback from the opposition as the Firemen returned to a 500 record at 2-2-1 Next up for Johnny and

It was a very unexpected start to last week’s round of games as the winless Brewers, going up against the first-place Cruisers, fought hard to score their first win of the season They’ll hope to repeat their success Wednesday night when they take on the new first-place side Diggers

It was a good week for the Twins too, who got back into the win column and a share of the top spot with a victory over the Firemen.

FINAL SCORES

Wednesday, May 10

Twins (14) vs. Firemen (8)

Thursday, May 11

Cruisers (10) vs. Brewers (12)

Friday, May 12

Shakers (8) vs. Diggers (14)

Tuesday, May 16

Firemen (11) vs. Cruisers (6)

Wednesday, May 17

Brewers vs. Diggers

UPCOMING GAMES (All starttimes6:30pm)

Thursday, May 18

Twins vs. Shakers

Friday, May 19

No Game - Long Weekend

Tuesday, May 23

No Game - Long Weekend

Wednesday, May 24

The Firemen didn’t let this keep them down though, and they didn’t let taking the field with no reserves on the bench slow them down either on Tuesday night against the Cruisers After loading the bases in the 1st inning, with Johnny and Ewan getting there after being hit by pitches, Corby Bernard stepped to the plate and cranked a grand slam home run over the high part of the fence in centre field. It was one of just 4 hits the Firemen had all game, but got them off to a commanding start.

The normally high-scoring Cruisers were finding themselves stymied by the pitching of Johnny Franklin, who held them to just 3 runs in his 4 innings of work While the Firemen scoring dried up for awhile and the Cruisers cut the lead to 5-3, 3 Firemen runs in both the 5th and 6th put things

out of reach The team hit double digit runs on a 6th inning 2-run home run blast by Ewan to make the score 11-3.

Corby made sure his offensive heroics led to victory by coming in to pitch the final 3 innings and quell a mini-Cruisers comeback attempt in the 7th. The feat was extra impressive given the absence of any subs for the Firemen. And while they didn’t have many hits the squad definitely earned (and felt) the efforts of their win - 7 Firemen batters found their way onto base after being hit by pitches, including Johnny and Ewan who each got hit twice

There’s only 2 games in the next week as the Victoria Day weekend arrives, but games will resume their usual scheduling for the rest of the month after that

- Reporting from Kat, Cheri, George, & Alex

Cruisers vs. Twins *Thru 5/16 games. RF - Runs For, RA - Runs Against

Johnny Franklin (#27) and Corby Bernard (#14) were the driving forces behind the Firemen’s 11-6 win over the Cruisers on Tuesday night. Franklin was the starting pitcher and allowed just 3 runs, while reaching base 3 times - twice being hit by a pitch and once with a triple. Bernard meanwhile put his

Corby’s team is the Diggers on May 26

Don’t Sweat It: No pressure fitness at Bowen studio

FITNESS INSTRUCTOR NATASHA CURRAH AIMS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH INTIMATE WORKOUT SPACE

ALEX KURIAL Editor

Though perhaps no bigger than your living room, Artisan Square’s new studio Sweat The Technique has steadily been building a home for local fitness students for a few months now.

Natasha Currah opened the studio just eight months ago, though she is a long-time Bowen resident of nearly nine years Currah came to the island seeking a more relaxed pace after spending her life in Canada’s biggest city.

“I had a really busy career teaching yoga in Toronto and I was doing a lot of teacher trainings for the anatomy portions of yoga teacher training and just kind of thriving in that city,” she says. But with two young kids her and her partner were looking for a new place for their family to call home

“We found out about Bowen through friends The time that we were at in our lives, we were really thinking that we wanted a change and to be a bit more rural,” says Natasha

Since arriving Currah has taught yoga at some of Bowen’s local spaces, including classes at the former Well yoga studio (also in Artisan Square), Nectar Yoga, and Positively Fit, among others She eventually transitioned to focusing on the realm of mobility training

“For a few years I was immersing myself into a new medium of movement and understanding of the body. Since then it’s kind of been this slow build of teaching in other people’s studios and just finding I was at this moment where I needed to consolidate and find a space of my own to welcome everybody that I’d been seeing in all these different places. When the space came up it was the perfect time and place,” explains Currah.

Natasha used her past classes to set her list of initial offerings, including skill sessions, conditioning, a men’s circuit, and even baby classes. These have stayed available from the outset, which Currah says allows her to develop both a

regular group of students, and to make sure they get the most out of each class

“I was trying to encourage the possibility that change is possible, and it takes time. There’s not going to be a class where you come in for one session with me and feel like, that’s it you’re healed. It’s a commitment. So I think when people show up week after week they start to get what I’m after – It doesn’t come quickly, it’s like learning a new language, ” says Currah

She adds that the small setting also guides and refines her own instruction too “I can be accountable for everybody in the room, and be able to still have the same space where it feels really comfortable to have a one-on-one session – it’s not a vacuous space ”

Events are not confined to traditional workouts though For several weeks at the beginning of the year Currah organized weekend polar plunges for brave souls looking to get their heart rates up during the winter months She’s also held various workshops, had a pop-up swimsuit sale, and recently hosted a book club where participants read ‘Breath’ by James Nestor

“Building this community, and bringing people together who have a shared curiosity for pushing themselves into cold water, or reading a book,” says Natasha of her additional offerings. “We’re just continuing to feel like this expansion of curiosity into our health and well-being beyond what a movement class can do.”

Reflecting on Sweat The Technique’s first few months of existence, Currah says the years leading up to this building relationships in the community were ultimately the key in the studio’s successful launch “The clientele has grown so well, I think I’ve tripled since I opened which has been amazing, and I only just hope to keep going”

“This is everything that I wanted and I’m really happy to have found it here, and to have had the history on this island before deciding to open up I feel like I’m ready,” says Currah

Natasha’s studio can be found at 582 Artisan Lane, and offers regular classes Monday to Saturday, along with her other various workshops and events

Natasha Currah in her Sweat The Technique studio in Artisan Square / Alex Kurial photo

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Thursday, May 18

Sit-Stand-Mat YOGA with Diana K

Held weekly from 10 to 11 am starting at Bowen Court Free to SKY members, $5 for non-members drop-in.

Friday, May 19

SKY Friday Walk

55+ meet at the parking lot of the Golf Club, walk starts promptly at 10:45 am Enjoy the great weather and scenery with friends

Saturday, May 20

BookFest: Giant Book Sale

The Friends of the Bowen Island Library present BookFest, a giant sale of quality used books and media All proceeds benefit the Bowen Island Public Library. Saturday, May 20: 10 am to 4 pm; Sunday, May 21: 10 am to 2 pm (Bring Your Own Box! Fill any size box for $10); Monday, May 22: 10 am to 12 pm BookFest is held at the Bowen Island Community School gym at 1041 Mount Gardner Road.

Saturday, May 20

TAG Potporri Art Show

Thursday Art Group is having an art exhibit/sale at Collins Hall from 11:30 am to 4 pm. Please join in the fun! It’s free to come and partake Door prize Hope to see you there! Look for posters around town for details and an ad will be in today’s Undercurrent!

Saturday, May 20

Green Man Festival returns

The Ice Queen is ready to do battle against Team Green after several years Who will prevail? The battle takes place from 11 am to 1 pm

Tuesday, May 23

Regular Council Meeting

Stars at 6:15 pm People can attend in-person at Municipal Hall or watch live on the municipal YouTube page Please note the day change due to Victoria Day.

Wednesday, May 24th

SKY Wednesday Walk

55+, meet at Harding Road for a walk of Grafton. Walk starts promptly at 10:45 am Great for body and mind!

Thursday, May 25

Sit-Stand-Mat YOGA with Diana K

10 to 11 am at Bowen Court’s multipurpose room Free to SKY members, $5 for non-members drop-in.

Thursday, May 25

Workshop: Understanding Communication Changes, with the Alzheimer’s Society of BC

1 to 3 pm at the Library. Explore how communication is affected by dementia and learn effective communication strategies This session is intended for caregivers of a person living with dementia to discuss strategies and learn more about how to best communicate as a caregiver Preregistration is required. To register, please call the First Link® Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033

Friday, May 26

SKY Wednesday Walk

55+, meet at Harding Road for a walk of Grafton Walk starts promptly at 10:45am. Great for body and mind!

Friday, May 26

Special Legion Dinner for RCMP

May 23 is the 150th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Bowen Legion is honouring this event by holding a special dinner for our constabulary and their families on May 26 Don Cochrane and Rod Leroy are the Roast Beef/yorkshire pudding chefs, with sides of roast potatoes, gravy, veggies from other legion volunteers, and a celebratory cake from Shura Keith! Tickets $20 ,available the next two Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Legion, or e-transfer rcl150treasurer@gmail com Members and guests welcome

Sunday May 28

Gather for Games at the Library

12:30 to 2:30pm Gather For Games in the comfort of the Library, Co-Hosted by SKY & BIPL Choose to play cards or board games Free and open to all levels of players 55+.

Saturday, June 3

Mini Pride Parade and Crafting at the Library

Come craft a mini float or flag at 1 pm, then at 2 pm we’ll parade them around the library and have a Pride Season kickoff celebration with snacks provided by the General Store & the Ruddy Potato. All ages/families/everyone welcome/drop-in. Presented by the Library & our Teen Advisory Group More info at bipl.link/pride

TUESDAYS

Babytime at the Library

A free, 1/2 hr drop-in program of songs, books, and rhymes for babies 0-18 months and their caregivers! 11:30 am Runs to June 27.

Community Lunches at the Legion

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

Legion Tuesdays - New!

The Legion is giving a trial run to Tuesday openings from 4:30 to 6:30 pm This day will be 19+ entry, come enjoy our FREE pool, shuffleboard, foosball and weather permitting, cornhole games. See Thursday entry too.

WEDNESDAYS

Storytime at the Library

10:30 to 11 am. A free drop-in program of stories and songs for 2-4 year-olds and their caregivers! Runs to June 14

Bowen Bridge

We meet from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at Bowen Court on Wednesdays

Fee is $6 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

SKY Writing Workshops on Zoom with Diana Jewel

Attend as many as you wish but space is limited so RSVP to SKYonBowen@outlook com Every Thursday from 1 to 2 pm, until June 8.

Thursday Art Group

The Thursday Art Group (TAG) meets every Thursday at Collins Hall from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm to create, paint, sketch and enjoy meeting like minded souls If you think this group might be for you, pop by and see what we are all about.

Legion Thursdays - New!

“Open to minors with parental supervision” day. There will be a limited menu for sale to allow this under our license. The pool and shuffleboard tables must be supervised by a parent (this is not a daycare). Weather permitting, basketball, cornhole and hockey fun outside See Tuesday entry too

Capilano Ferry Schedule

TalkingWith… Jackie Minns

THE JANE MARTIN PLAY WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT COLLINS HALL NEXT MONTH

ALEX KURIAL

Editor Bowen’s latest stage offering features a blending of theatre companies, as Theatre on the Isle and King Baby Productions team up to present ‘Talking With’ at Collins Hall in June

The play centres on a series of monologues which recall major themes and decisive moments in the lives of the characters portrayed on-stage The original play written by Jane Martin in 1982 featured 11 such tales, and the upcoming Bowen version will include seven of them

Talking With is being directed by Jackie Minns, who brings nearly three decades of Bowen theatre experience to the production. She says she chose the play partly due to the makeup of the cast – all seven characters are women.

“It kind of grew out of a current need to do a play with women. Sarah Polley had just gotten her Oscar for ‘Women Talking’ And kind of emerging out of the Me Too movement too,” says Minns on why the selection was important to her

“There’s something really beautiful about when a group of women come together and talk So much honesty is revealed in humor, and that shared experience is really important to the women, ” adds Minns.

The seven characters, played by local actresses Laurel Bailey, Annie Arbuckle, Lorraine Ashdown, Claudia Schaefer, Laurie Beesting, Kat Stephens, and Tina Nielsen, appear very different on the surface Actors at both the beginning and end of their career arcs, former athletic stars, and everyday people hurt by love – though for different reasons – are some of the

personas portrayed.

“Each one has a different tone There’s humor, there’s a quirkiness, there’s an existentialism there, some surrealism, and they’re all kind of told with a little bit of an artistic license to them Even though they’re told from a very honest and real place They’re elevated in a way to another style,” says Minns

But the director adds while each character is very unique, as are the actresses who portray them, beneath all the women are shared experiences the audience will recognize and identify with

“It’s seven women that are recounting significant moments in their lives Sometimes it’s moments of grief, sometimes it’s moments of questioning their faith, their belief in themselves, their confidence So it’s kind of a journey that we ’ re witnessing between all of these women, ” says Minns

“It’s like talking with each of these actors while we’re watching them process these events in their lives And then there’s a shift or revelation that we witness within them as they come to terms with this event. They’re kind of recovering and uncovering themselves, and their lives… having gone through this sharing with an audience, and talking with us about themselves – they transform a little bit,” she adds

“All of the characters are united in the end, but hopefully the audience is also united in their own processes in their lives It’s like they’re talking to a friend.”

She notes all the characters, and their real-life counterparts, bring a signature style to each performance though

Minns says working with the cast has been wonderful, a group made up of both veterans – including Nielsen and Arbuckle – and rookie actresses too She applauds

the enthusiasm and commitment to their character all seven of them have shown during the rehearsal process

“Every rehearsal is this gift, something more comes to the surface and I get to just help shape that and nurture it. I’ve just enjoyed watching them come alive, and for the brand new people, to watch them even in their terror and in their complete curiosity and not knowing about the process, just their openness and willingness to explore something and give their all,” says Minns.

Opening night for Talking With is

Thursday, June 1 at 7:30 pm at Collins Hall. Additional shows take place Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 at the same time, with the finale currently scheduled for a matinee showing on Sunday, June 4 at 3 pm. Doors will open a half hour before the show with drinks and snacks available, and people can stay after the show to talk with the cast and crew.

The run time is around 70 minutes, with no intermission Tickets are $25 at eventbrite.ca, and are available through presale only.

150th anniversary

of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with a special dinner for our constabulary and their families on Friday, May 26

Please join us as we celebrate this milestone in our community

Roast Beef/yorkshire pudding, with sides of roast potatoes gravy, veg from legion volunteers and a celebratory cake from Shura Keith!

Tickets $20, available the next 2 Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Legion or etransfer rcl150treasurer@gmail.com. Members and guests welcome -1267 Scarborough Road.

The stars of Talking With: (L-R) Laurie Beesting, Laurel Bailey, Kat Stephens, Lorraine Ashdown, Claudia Schaefer, Tina Nielsen, and Annie Arbuckle, along with director Jackie Minns (front) during rehearsal at Collins Hall earlier in May. / Alex Kurial photo ThelonemalecharacterintheshowisFranktheCat.He’sbeenamodelperformerso far, and developed great chemistry with his co-star Annie / Alex Kurial photo

James influential to both Bowen’s art scene, and the many students he’s met through working in schools

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The other mural where James’ work can be found hangs in Bowen Island Community School, and along with other local artists was his first contribution to the public art scene in the community. He’s definitely left his mark on the institution since, as another of his totem poles can be found out front. (His children also go there too.)

Winadzi, who is a member of Kwakwaka’wakw Nation, got his start in carving from his father while growing up in Campbell River He had asked him for money to buy a car, but was instead told it was time to get to work and make the money himself Naturally, this included making his own tools as well. “My first three days on the job I made five knives for myself It was the school of hard knocks, so to speak,” says James of his first few days working in his father’s studio

“I buy my tools these days, but I can make them if I’m in a crunch,” he adds

James later began studying at the Vancouver Film School in 1996, focusing on classes in computer animation He used the skills he learned as a springboard to become co-creator (and voice actor) in the animated series Raven Tales, which debuted in 2004 on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network The show follows the Raven character and represented a breakthrough in Indigenous storytelling through an animated medium

Simon’s art process goes well beyond the creation of his pieces though As an independent contractor by trade he has spent countless hours inside schools crafting his projects, and it’s here where he’s perhaps made his greatest imprints

“Every project that I’ve ever done in a school, there’s always at least one person – it could be a student, teacher, or principal – they always come to me while I’m

working And they stand there, not saying anything And I ask them a question, and they answer the question Sometimes the answer is something that I’m shocked by ‘I don’t like being in the school. I’m a victim of bullying’ And then I sit there and listen. And by the time I’m done, we have a bond. So I try my best to help, by listening first And then try to contribute some kind of answer, ” explains James

“Principal (Dave) Maclean (Inman Elementary School, Burnaby), for example, will tell you half-a-dozen stories of children that he thinks that I have helped, and I keep reminding him you’re giving me too much credit I didn’t help that child graduate, the child graduated themselves I just so happened to listen to them when they were in Grade 3, when they needed to be heard. And those are the stories I get to share now ”

“So every project I go to, I can use that story if a child comes to me and says, ‘I don’t like this school, I want to quit’ I can listen and try to give them some advice and then when I go to the next school I can share that story again,” he says

As a result of what are now decades of accumulated stories such as these, James’ Community Award was also for his impact on students at the many schools he’s worked at. He says it was moving to be honoured for all the work which falls well outside the realm of his commissions. “I’m being acknowledged for the fact that I don’t get paid for most of what I do,” he says.

Simon has now lived on Bowen since 2007, though he’s been coming to the island since 1994 when he first participated in a winter festival. After James and his family decided they were ready for a quieter life, they made the move on December 1 – arriving in the middle of a snowstorm which welcomed him to Bowen with several cars stranded along Trunk Road coming up the hill from the ferry.

The stormy welcome was not a sign of things to come though, as Winadzi’s integration and contributions to the community have been smooth and successful since His next public art project, which will be his fifth since landing here 16 years ago, is a totem pole which will stand at the new Cove Commons pavilion, outside the Public Library and Hearth Gallery The pole raising is scheduled to take place on

Sunday, June 25.

And Simon has much more planned for the local public art scene He’s hoping to see even more artistic celebratory events on the island, and an uptick of public art around Bowen too – specifically outside the Cove James also has his daughter apprenticing with him, just like he did with his father. It likely won’t be long before she makes her next contribution to beautifying the island.

CONGRATS TO MY HAPPY BUYER FOR REALIZING A DREAM

"GREG WORKED HARDER THAN ANYONE FINDING A BUYER"

Simon Daniel James with his family and fellow Community Award winners during the recognition ceremony inVictoria / Submitted photos