Bowen Island Undercurrent August 24 2023

PERFECT POOCH: Dog of the Year honours are back, and this year’s top dog is the lovely pitbull Linus, smiling here with owner Bayley Faragher. Linus was set to be the centre of attention at Dog Days on Sunday, but the event had to be postponed He’ll be back for its redo on September 10 though. In the meantime, Linus will assume a seat of honour alongside Bowen’s Citizen of the Year during Saturday’s Bowfest Parade You can read more about Linus’ parade partner to the right / Kim Sinclair photo

Citizen of the Year prefers working behind the scenes

RONDY DIKE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 BOWEN HONOUR

ALEX KURIAL Editor

This year ’ s Citizen of the Year takes a much different approach than last year ’ s regarding their outgoing presence in the community But as 2022 honoree Basia Lieske (who you will rarely not find present at a Bowen event) has said, it was this year ’ s winner Rondy Dike who, while more reserved in nature, has helped her and so many others on Bowen thrive and develop since he arrived on the island

Rondy, along with his family including wife Dorothy and daughter Oydis, have owned the USSC Marina since coming to Bowen in 1985. “It was nice to be able to find a small community that needed a marina,” says Dike. Originally an architectural engineer who worked around the world, Dike had been in the apartment business in Seattle prior to heading north. He came with his family by boat, looking for a transition into the marina industry.

On Bowen he found what he was looking for, a small marina with a few dozen slips that had significant potential for development With a grand vision, some help from the federal government, and also some disagreement on the necessary dredging (you can read more about this history in Rob Forbes’ article on Page 3) the marina blossomed into the scenic setting it is today.

The space, which includes the many boat slips, the lawn, and stops such as Doc Morgan’s, the Chandlery, and Company Store, serves as a location for many community events, as well as a home for marine travellers and liveaboards

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Events

AllCouncilmeetingsareopen tothepublictoattendin personorelectronically,unless notedotherwise

August 24, 2023

6:30pm - 8:00 pm

HotSummerNights@BICS parkinglot

September 11, 2023

1:00 pm

RegularCouncilMeeting

Yard Waste Changes Coming

StartingthefirstWednesdayinSeptember,2023,organicwastelimits arechangingasfollows:

KitchenWaste:Onecontainerperweek

YardWaste:Threecontainersorbagsperweek

• Pickupstartsat8:00amonWednesdays

• Allcontainersmusthavelids,bagsshouldnotbeoverfilled

• Nocontainer/bag/bundleshallweighmorethan40lbsor18kgsas perWCBregulations

• Norocks,sodorsoil

Sign up for a FireSmart assessment

BowenIslandisaFireSmartCommunity Thisprogramprovides residentswithguidancetosignificantlyreducefirehazardsintheir neighbourhood

TheFireSmartprogramisdesignedtoencouragelocal,self-organized groupsofneighbourstoimplementsolutionsforwildfiresafetyby engagingandsupportinghomeowners,communityleadersandothers insharedeffortstoprotectpeopleandpropertyfromwildfire

ThefirststeptobecomingFireSmartistoeducateyourself,your familyandyourcommunity Findoutwhatyouneedtoknowto increasethewildfireresiliencyofyourpropertyandneighbourhood FindFireSmartresourcesonourwebsite SignupforafreeFireSmart HomeAssessmenttoseehowyourpropertyscores Youmayqualify fora$500rebateoncompletionofFireSmartcleanupworkandyou’ll havemadeyourhomeandneighbourhoodsafer

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RecreationAdministrative Assistant

Roads&ParksCrew

BIMhasanimmediateopening foratemporaryRoadsand

ParksOperationsCrew

Formoreinformationandpay rate:

wwwbowenislandmunicipality ca/work-with-us

wwwbowenwastesolutionscom/updated-green-waste-guidelineshtml

Council Code of Conduct

CouncilisdevelopingaCodeofConductpolicy,andwe’dliketo knowwhatyouthink ResponsibleconductofCouncilmembersis essentialtoprovidinggoodgovernanceforBIM

Thefoundationalprinciplesofresponsibleconductincludeintegrity, accountability,respect,leadershipandcollaboration

ProvideyourfeedbacktoMayorandCouncilbySeptember18,2023

https://bowenislandmunicipalityca/category/news/

Active Transportation Survey

BIMisdevelopinganActiveTransportationNetworkPlan(ATNP) andfollowingthefirstroundofengagement,we’reenteringPhase 2tofurtherunderstandcommunityprioritiesandtoidentify improvements

Tohelpuslearnmoreaboutyourthoughtson,andexperienceusing BIM’sActiveTransportationNetworkforwalking,rollingandbicycling ontheisland,pleasecompletethePhase2survey.

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Intheeventofalocalemergency,BIMwillusesocialmediaand Alertabletocommunicateinformationandinstructionstothe community

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Fire Ban

ThereisatotalFIREBANinplaceforBowenIslandasperBC’sCoastal FireCentre.Absolutelynofirespermittedanywhereatanytime. wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/alerts/

Bowen Island’s Crown Jewel

name from a bygone era

Rondy Dike in both painted form (courtesy of RonWoodall), and in real life

Dike behind Bowen traditions

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“The lawn is such an intrical part of everything around here,” says Rondy, adding that the introduction of the boardwalk through a partnership with the Greater Vancouver Regional District (now Metro Vancouver) further elevated people’s use of the marina

While the marina is Dike’s defining legacy on the island, his involvement in the community runs deep Rondy has served on several municipal committees and boards, and influenced the look of Snug Cove as it developed beyond the relatively sparse setting of the mid-1980s. Through the many shops scattered about the marina Dike has also been one of the largest employers of both kids and adults on the island, with an annual staff of dozens across the different locations. And while he may not talk about it himself,

his daughter Oydis points out that Rondy has often gone above and beyond to help his employees out, including covering the costs for schools, weddings, and other pursuits over time.

“The employees are the ones who do everything here… I’m more retired now, so it’s up to them and they are doing a good job as you can see, ” he says

Light Up The Cove is another of Rondy’s favorite events to get behind, with plenty of it taking place at the marina including the Santa Parade This is one event where he’s more on display; a common fixture on the patio at his home above the Company Store where he sets off his cannon each year “A friend of mine when I got the place, he decided that I really needed a cannon here It’s fun to have,” he explains of its origin.

Rondy found out about Citizen of the Year honors when he was recently summoned to

As you arrive into Snug Cove by ferry or boat you are hit by a sense of peacefulness and nostalgia as you are greeted by a beautiful marina with a grassy lawn at water’s edge, and a board walk promenade that connects the park with an historic village that is sprinkled with surrounding cottages that harken back to simpler times. This idyllic setting looks like it’s been there for well over a hundred years.

It is surprising to learn that most of what you see was completed in 1990 from the vision and determination of Rondy Dike and his life’s partner Dorothy, whom purchased the property in 1985. But why does it feel so authentic - as though it always belonged as a part of our history. It’s mainly due to their love and research of our island’s history to create an appropriate architectural design and use of architectural salvage in many of the building materials, even taking on the name of the Union Steamship Company’s

a meeting with Murray Atherton, member of the selection committee “It’s an honour I get to wave at people from the car instead of waving at people going by,” he points out regarding this year ’ s Bowfest Parade.

That ride will be at the front of the parade, a fitting moment for the island’s premier festival which he once ran. He’ll be joined by Linus, this year ’ s Dog of the Year, which will paint another fitting image as Dike was

EVACUATION PLAN QUICK REFERENCE

Anevacuationoftheentireislandisunlikely Themost probablescenarioisalimited,partialevacuation.

Shelterinplace.Youmaybeorderedtostayputorat homeifyoudonotneedtoevacuate,tokeeproadsand parkingclearorthosewhoselifesafetyisatrisk–be preparedtostayhomeandofftheroad.

Familyplan.Haveanevacuationplanforyourfamily,with to-gobagsattheready Rundrillswithyourfamilyand neighboursatleastonceayear.

Pets.Youcantakeyourpets.Makesureyouhavealeash orappropriatecarrier.

Farmanimals.Youmaynotbeabletotakeyourfarm animals.Ensureyouevacuatethemearlyifpossible,and thatyouhaveanalternatelocationelsewhereonthe islandpre-established.

Shortnotice.Bepreparedtoleaveyourhomeonvery shortnotice

Driving.Youmaynotbeabletotakeyourvehicleoutof yoursub-communityordriveitontotheferry.Be preparedtoevacuateviamasstransit,orbycarpooling.

Parking.Trafficinthecovewillbesignificantlyalteredand selfparkingisunlikely.Parkingwillbelimitedand directed

IntheCove.VehicletrafficinandoutofSnugCovewillbe restricted.

Carry-on.Bepreparedtocarryeverythingyouneedto takewithyou.Assumeyouwillnothaveacar.

Neighbours.Bepreparedtocarpoolandinclude neighboursinyourevacuationplan.Vehiclesnotat capacitymaybestoppedatcheckpointsandnot permittedtoproceeduntilfilled.

Reuniting.

Ensureyouhaveaplaninplaceforreunitingwithfamilyif youareseparated.

Evacuatingbyboat.Youraccesstotheferrymaybecut off Knowwhereyournearestmarineegressisandhowto accessit.Beawarethatparkingisunlikelytobeavailable nearby.

Offisland.

Ifyouareoffislandatthetimeofanevacuation,youmay notbepermittedtoboardtheferry,sobepreparedto makealternatearrangements

Youcanprepareyourfamilybyarrangingforoff-island accommodationwithfriendsorfamilyintheeventof anevacuation.

Our Gateway to the island just about didn’t happen. The proposal called for the dredging of the mud tidal flats to create water deep enough for moorage for 150-plus boats was opposed by some determined people who did everything they could to stop it by creating road blocks every step of the way Over time the community support started to grow for the marina as it was the only safe harbour the island had to create proper protection of boats in all weather

Today this much beloved and well used public space sets the tone for the rest of the island to follow. The annual Dog Days of Summer was created to raise money for seeing-eye dogs to aid their human companions. Selecting a Dog of the Year is one of our most beloved traditions on Bowen.

Santa arriving by boat walking up the gangplank to greet hundreds of excited children at our Light up the Cove event is something we can all cherish with fond memories Past and future generations of visitors, islanders and employees will benefit from what has become the crown jewel of Bowen Island.

behind the creation of Dog Days of Summer, originally started as a charity for B.C Guide Dogs. The festival will make its long-awaited return this year, naturally, on the marina lawn.

Rondy is sure to add all his accomplishments have come with his wife by his side. “Rondy wouldn’t be Rondy without Dorothy, they are the match paired together,” adds Oydis

NERP.GettoknowyourlocalNeighbourhoodEmergency ResponseProgramrepresentative.Besuretheyhave informationaboutanyoneinyourhouseholdwhomay needassistancewithevacuation.Knowyourneighboursso youcanbereadytohelpoutwithcarpoolingorother assistance.www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/nerps

KNOWYOURZONE:Adetailedneighbourhoodmapisin theEvacuationPlanonpages38-46.

ESS.

RegisterwithEmergencySupportServicesduringorafter evacuationeitheronlineorataReceptionCentre. www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ess

SIGNUPforEmergencyNotificationsthroughAlertable beforeanemergency-thisnotificationsystemwillbeused toinstructandinformyouintheeventofanevacuation. www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ens

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/evacuation-plan/

ROB FORBES Citizen of the Year Selection Committee

VIEWPOINTS

EDITORIAL

Bowfest beckons!

It’s that weekend everyone, where we all gather at the Trunk Road hill to watch the parade, and then head over to the Bowfest Field for some festival revelry Last year was great (minus a wasp sting), and I was especially excited to see that the slug races I had heard so much about were truly real!

You’ll find all the info you need for Saturday in our centrefold this week, and hopefully you have already checked out the Citizen (and Dog) of the Year earlier in the paper. They’ll be in prime position for the parade, which itself promises to be exciting given this year ’ s Go Karting theme. I can’t wait to see the floats, and rumour has it there will be some very competent judges assessing them from the sidelines. Fingers crossed for a safe trip down the hill!

And thank you to everyone for this week’s submissions and pics. Enjoy our Island-Wide!

- Alex Kurial, Editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Making it Happen

A BIG HUGE thank you to our amazing sponsors from the Bowen Island Logger Sports Society! This event couldn’t happen without you!

BURLEY BOYS TREE SERVICE

METRO BLASTING

TRAXXON ROCK DRILLS

TALL TIMBER EXCAVATING

TWIN ISLAND EXCAVATING

BOWEN ISLAND TREE SERVICE

SUNSET RIDGE STABLES

HIGHWALKER EARTHWORKS

BOWEN CONCRETE

J&E BACKHOE

MACDONALD TRUCKING & EXCAVATING

CRISP

BENNETT LAND SURVEYING

POSTLE CONSTRUCTION

MADRONA FINE HOMES

MARSH BUILDING INSPECTIONS

BLACKBEAR TRANSPORT

BLAIR MACHINE

BOWEN BIFFIES

ORICA EXPLOSIVES

To see the final scores from this years event check out www bowenloggingsports com

- Bowen Island Logger Sports Society

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Phone: 604 947 2442 Fax: 604 947 0148 bowenislandundercurrent.com

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ADVERTISING Tracey Wait ads@bowenisland undercurrent com

CARTOONIST Ron Woodall

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The Undercurrent is a member of the National NewsMedia Council of Canada, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour If you have concerns about editorial content, please email editor@bowenislandundercurrent com or call 604-947-2442

If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the website at mediacouncil ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information

Fire Fundraiser for BC and Hawaii

In response to the recent unprecedented losses from fires in BC and Lahaina, Katrina and Kevin Rose, with Jeanette Langmann and Ali Johnstone, have organized a benefit dinner for this Friday, August 25 at the Bowen Cidery. Like so many we have wanted to contribute something to help families who have recently lost loved ones, property, and livelihoods

We have been approached by so many who have wanted to help support fire relief here in B C ; and many of us who have connections both locally and in Maui have expressed a desire to contribute aid.

Families are suffering and people want to help!

Katrina and Kevin’s daughter Gemma and her family live in Lahaina County, and though their residence was spared, many of their dear friends and neighbours have suffered deep losses.

Wading into the Park Discussion

They are experiencing firsthand the layers of grief and loss Families are in need of basic necessities, for in the disaster many narrowly escaped with the clothes they were wearing The proceeds will be divided between B.C and Maui.

Please join us for a delicious pig roast and silent auction, good fun, and community connection – the spirit of true Aloha! We would love to express our gratitude for all the help we have received thus far from individuals volunteering time, energy and creativity, and local businesses contributing wonderful items for the auction.

Come get in on the action! Tickets available at the Bowen Island Cidery What an amazing difference one little island can make

- Ali Johnstone, Jeanette Langmann, Katrina & Kevin Rose

An Afternoon of Song

This has been a summer of mixed emotions Although we have been treated to many a warm and clear blue sky day, our friends and neighbours in Yellowknife; BC’s interior; Lahaina, Maui, and more have had an exceptionally stressful time I think it’s safe to say that fire and drought have been on everyone ’ s mind.

On Thursday, August 24, from 4 to 5 pm at the Pavilion, outside The Hearth Gallery, our Bowen Island Threshold Singers invite you to an hour of quiet and stillness as we

offer you a Songbath Our songs are sung in gentle, 3 part harmony and are meant as musical medicine to calm and ease the worried mind and perhaps soothe some frayed nerves

We regularly sing and practice as a group and have done so for ten years There is a rumour out there that we only sing to those who are dying but this is not so! We sing to anyone who may be in need of healing; anyone who may be recovering from surgery; those who might feel anxious and alone - all

Dear Metro Vancouver Parks,

Thank you for the opportunity to offer my perspective on the proposed Regional Park on Bowen Island/Nexwlélexwm

I’ve lived on the island for 24 years and continue to be passionate about what happens here In 2004, I organized a folk festival to raise awareness about the upcoming sale of Cape Roger Curtis. In 2005 and 2006, I organized a three-day festival Voices in the Sound which included my historical musical about the island, to honour the past and dream the future. Many island groups participated in this collaborative festival, with a focus on appreciation and stewardship of the island. By the way, thanks again for permission to perform the musical in the meadow at Crippen Park

In 2017, I created a reconciliation initiative Knowing Our Place with the support of the Bowen Library and the Arts Council to present workshops, arts events, an Indigenous Book Club, and presentations with Squamish Nation to help make reconciliation a reality. A big achievement was the Nexwlélexwm sign at the ferry.

So if I care so much, why have I been so silent about the proposed regional park? I suppose I was hoping for some-

kinds of life circumstances could bring us to your homes

On Thursday, August 24, please join us for this hour of renewal. All are welcome There is no charge We do hope you will stop by and allow us to sing you some gentle,

thing more than just a cookie cutter concept Something fresh, something that honoured the land, and made sense for everyone involved. And there it was in the recent issue of the Undercurrent A letter by Sheree Johnson and Edward Wachtman referencing a proposed park by Ellen Hayakawa an audacious imagining worthy of this spectacular place.

The Nexwlélexwm Ecological Learning Reserve addresses Metro Parks’ stated goals of connection and protection in a collaborative, innovative way to provide “ a worldclass learning and research reserve in the Howe Sound Biosphere Region.” Please consider this new model. In these times of flood, fire, heat domes, and other climate disasters, you have the opportunity to make a difference, to create a viable learning experience for visitors to the park

Have courage Metro Vancouver Parks Be visionary. Collaborate with learning institutions, reach out to Squamish Nation, and lean on the expertise of islanders to create a lasting legacy.

Very Sincerely,

- Pauline Le Bel

healing melodies and harmonies

- Lorraine Ashdown Member, Bowen Island Threshold Singers

Recipe of the Month - with Nancy Lee

You Name It Cookies

My sister made these cookies after she was married and I have always called them Gary cookies My brother-in-law worked on his family’s dairy farm and his mom would make these cookies and wrap them individually in wax paper Gary would grab one or two and put them in his coat pocket as he headed out the door early in the morning to go milking Later they became known as Bob Balls when my husband would take them to the office for all his coworkers

Bowfest 2019 was farm themed and I submitted my Cow Pie cookies which won me Best in Show. What ever you call them, they are easy to make and always a winner at our house

1 1/2 cup quick oats, uncooked

1 cup unsweetened coconut

a pinch of salt

Mix dry ingredients together Set aside

1 1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup baking cocoa

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

Put sugar, butter, baking cocoa and milk into large pot Bring to a boil over medium heat Then stir continuously for 3 minutes Remove from heat, add vanilla and dry ingredients

Drop by tablespoon onto parchment paper and let stand until firm Store in air tight container

The Great Club Rescue

A DRAMATIC RETELLING OF A GOLF COURSE MISSION

Contributor

Little did they know, when they reported for duty at the golf course that morning on August 1, that they would be “water boys” .

George MacDonald, Dallen Jennings and Sam Jennings heard the call at 12:28 pm precisely. “Clubs in the pond! Clubs in the pond!”

A player with the Just for Laughs women’s

group was about to wade in after her clubs and she was not amused. It was no laughing matter for Pat Adams, whose pull cart, bag, clubs and all had done a nose dive into the water while she was putting out on the ninth hole. She was alerted to step no further towards the water.

George, who was obliged to don hip waders, strode gallantly into the mire. Unable to pull up the bag for fear of the clubs slipping deeper, he called, “We need the boat!”

(Boat? The golf course has a boat?)

Almost magically, as if it had been

conjured up, a boat appeared!

Sam was struggling to launch it, while Dallen was at the ready to board Rowing to the up-ended bag, he and George carefully, so as to keep the clubs intact in the bag, loaded the soggy cargo into the boat and floated it to shore. George retrieved the pull cart out of the pond and all seemed well

“Did you get a photo?” Pat was asked.

“Couldn’t My phone was in the bag”

But Dale Edwards had hers and documented the rescue

Thanks to these valiant efforts, the clubs are fine and so is the phone

PATRICIA ADAMS

The course heroes at work / Dale Edwards photo

TOP 10% of all Realtors in the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver

Featured in Dwell Magazine, this custom architectural home designed by Chris Hunter and built in 2022 is the epitome of Scandinavian minimalism

Nestled in a tranquil location with few neighbours this home is the perfect retreat for architecture aficionados and nature loves alike with its stunning location backing onto crown land.

This comfortable family home is nestled in highly sought-after Deep Bay, providing easy walkable access to beaches, trails, the ferry, and the village of Snug Cove

Community and nature are a couple of things that draw people to Bowen Island The Deep Bay neighbourhood is where you will experience Bowen at its best

1565 DOUGLAS ROAD $2,098,000 1129 LENORA ROAD $1,480,000

MLS Medallion C ub Member 2022

Changing Conditions atWoodfibre LNG

About a year ago, Woodfibre LNG applied to the Federal Government to change 2 of the 122 conditions that came as part of the approval for the proposed LNG processing and export project for North Howe Sound. Last week, the government Ok-ed the requested changes The company has announced it will start construction August 28 or soon thereafter

Patrick Weiler – Liberal MP for our ridingconsiders the changes “administrative” , and backs the federal Ok

It is a bitter pill to swallow In 2016, Minister of Environment Catherine McKenna asked us to trust the decision to approve the project, because it came with all these conditions the company would have to comply with On March 18, 2016, the day of the approval, the company said it would

For Concerned Citizens Bowen it is about when we are asked by our elected officials to trust an approval because of conditions, those conditions not to be changed after the fact This only leads to erosion of trust in our institutions, in environmental assessment processes, in our democratic and political systems

But of course this is a small sideshow when we take the bigger picture into account, and that is climate change

Most of us accept that existing oil and gas

facilities will continue to operate, to wind down over the next decade But building new fossil fuel plants and pipelines with 40 year permits to operate, is just unacceptable Criminal really.

The company says its LNG would off-set coal fired power plants in Asia A ludicrous claim, as the whole idea of LNG being a bridge fuel is build on hot air

This was again proven in another study, done by the environmental group RMI (formerly Rocky Mountain Institute) with contributions by NASA, Harvard University, and Duke University. In the study emissions from natural gas to coal were compared over their life cycles, and it found that even at as little as 0.2 per cent of gas to leak - makes natural gas as big a driver of climate change as coal.

And that is just for natural gas The study didn’t look at the lifecycle emissions from LNG, with its vast amounts of energy - and their associated greenhouse gas emissions needed to liquefy the gas, transport, and re-gasify.

The hydro electricity Woodfibre LNG wants to use - as if we have an oversupply?is far better used moving communities away from fossil fuels

The message is clear The climate crisis is worsening and we cannot be building new fossil fuel plants Period.

Undercurrent contributor Marcus Hondro reports that little tiny Gremlins got into his laptop recently and as a result he misspelled the name of Livea Stevenson in the August 10 edition of the newspaper. Marcus says that over the years these same Gremlins have caused him to misspell the names of Marley Behm, Catherine Epps andDanGuillon.Heapologizesforthesemistakesandtellsustheweecreatureshave now been banished from his laptop and misspelling names is a thing of the past “But it might be best to wish me luck with that,”he added. Marcus also sent along the above photo of the Shaker Kids cheering on their squad during a game on May 30, 2005.They’re sitting atop an old scoreboard, which acted more as a seat rather than an accurate display of the actual score of the game

That the federal and provincial government simply continues to facilitate Woodfibre LNG through approvals and subsidies, shows how tone-deaf and how captured they are by the oil and gas industry.

What am I supposed to tell my kids and their generation who will be bearing the

brunt of these irresponsible decisions?

That I tried, but there were simply too many in my generation who didn’t Please prove to me that I am wrong

- Anton van Walraven On behalf of Concerned Citizens Bowen

All day fun! Bowfest Field

Gates open 1:30 - 8:00 pm

Parade! Starts at 1:15 and winds its way down from BICS to the Ferry Terminal Grab a spot early and enjoy the show! This year’s theme is Go-Karts!

Live Music!

Tumbleweeds 2:15

Country Rock!

Natascha Borromeo and the Xtras - 3:30 Young local talent with original tunes

Black Molly - 4:00

Fan favourite

Queer as Funk - 6:30 - 8:00

Powerful and entertaining funk and soul band with tight horn arrangements, groovy rhythms and powerful vocals.

HAPPY BOWFEST EVERYONE

While enjoying the festivities check out our fully loaded sales rack on the way by! Starting Bowfest at noon right through September, both summer and fall bargains waiting to be squirreled away

Family Fun 2 - 6 pm

Inflatable rides and games with Par-T-Perfect Hamster Ball Race with Houle Games

Build a mini Go-Kart (first 75 kids/one per family) from Bowen Waste

Capture some Bowfest memories in an original photo booth from Houle Games

Tug-of-War showdown - kids vs adults 5:30

Metro Parks nature display

Fire Smart - information display

Country Fair

World-Famous slug races - 2:15 - 3:15

ADULT FUN AND GAMES

Let your inner child out to play!

5:30-6:15pm (in front of main stage)

Tricycle Races

Stilt Races

Wet t-shirt with a TWIST contest

Happy Bowfest Bowen!

Thanks for a great summer and for your patience during all the crazy times.

Snug, Artisan Eats and Tuscany

Hot Tips

ADMISSION BY DONATION - suggested donation $10/adult, $20/family (cash or etransfer)

Bring your own lawn chairs/blankets

Remember to bring cash, some vendors may not have tap to pay

Extreme fire hazard - NO SMOKING, no vaping, no cannabis

Sorry - NO dogs (except service dogs)

NO outside alcohol permitted

Site wide alcohol service - please bring ID, all purchasers will receive a wristband. Please drink responsibly and plan for a safe ride home.

Safe Ride Home

Shuttle runs from 7–9pm.

Enjoy the Bowfest festivities and take a FREE Safe Ride Home

Many thanks to the Orchard Recovery Center for providing their van for this service and Peter King for driving

Find the shuttle in the Bowfest Field Parking Lot at Gate 3

FOOD & DRINK

The Ruddy 2-6pm

Fresh fruit, cold drinks, slushies, snacks

The Branch on Bowen 2-7:30pm Tacos

Meadowbrook Farm 2-7:30pm

Pulled pork, pulled jackfruit (Gluten Free options)

Phoenix Toys and candy

Rainbow Ice Cream Truck

The Legion 2-7:30pm

Enjoy adult beverages site-wide Valid ID required and please drink responsibly

Low Hanging Fruit Relaunching for 2023

HASAN HUTCHINSON

Bowen Island Food Resilience Society

Here it is! BIFS (Bowen Island Food Resilience Society) has relaunched their third year of the Low Hanging Fruit initiative

Low Hanging Fruit aims to strengthen Bowen Islands’ food security, and reduce food waste, by collecting and distributing fruits that would otherwise go unpicked

In 2022 we donated apples to Bowen Island Heritage Preservation Society (to make pies for fundraising), Bowen Island Cidery (to press for cider) and MeadowBrook Farm (for animal feed) In addition, funds were donated to the Bowen Island Food Bank from sales of apples, crabapples, plums and hydrangeas at the Bowen Island Farmers’ Market.

CALL TO ACTION

Once again, we are looking for two types of partners:

Property Owners (donors) who have property with fruit or nut trees and would be willing to share a portion of their harvest, and Volunteer Pickers who are interested in picking fruit with other community members (and in taking a portion home with them)

This year, 2023, Low Hanging Fruit is a Bowen Island Food Resilience Society (BIFS) initiative funded in part by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. As such, while participants of all ages are welcome, we will have a particular focus on seniors this year. (For more information about BIFS, visit www. bowenfoodresilience.ca)

The picking season has started. We invite you to join in!

If interested, please contact Hasan Hutchinson at: lhfruit22@gmail.com

July home sales on Bowen

ALEX KURIAL

Editor

Three properties sold on Bowen during July, two with homes and one a vacant lot on the island’s west side

The month’s top selling house is at 722 Channelview Drive, a four-bedroom, four-bathroom house overlooking the Queen Charlotte Channel. The sale closed for $1.865 million after 52 days on the market, $105,000 down from the original ask

The 21-year old home measures 3,442 square feet, and sits on a 1.13 acre lot

The emphasis is on views in this three-storey home, with large windows in each room looking out toward the mainland Outside there are multiple decks, along with a separated artist studio

July’s other seven-figure sale came in at exactly $1 million. The two-bedroom, twobath home at 1301 Mount Gardner Road is nearing the century mark, built in 1926, and is 1,097 square feet The property spent 72 days listed, coming down $150,000 during that time

Century-old apple trees grow on the 1.77 acre property, which also includes a

horse-riding ring and room for potential orchard development Another outdoor advantage is the start of the Hiker Trail path up Mount Gardner just a few steps across the street

One of the remaining empty lots on a well-known street was also snapped up last month, with the plot at 1545 Whitesails Drive selling for $500,000 The 0 21 acre space was originally listed for $600,000, and spent 57 days on the market before final sale The property is currently just trees and other nature, so it will be up to the new owner to fully develop the land.

There was a unique sale on Gambier Island last month in the form of a tiny home constructed from an RV frame The 350 square foot space is contrasted by the 1 acre plot of land it sits on, the entire package selling for the asking price of $399,000 after just six days listed.

The tiny home at Block 108 of West Bay Road is just a year-old, and offers many environmental features including being powered by solar energy. The complete sale package also included a pickup truck and a nearby buoy.

Note* Dates are based off day of reported sale

722 Channelview Drive (above) was the top selling home on Bowen in July And on Gambier Island, the chance to live in a converted RV was plenty to attract a buyer.

BowenartistsDianeBuchananandBillHoopes(above)joinedtheArtistPartyfortheir exhibit Go Figure! at the Hearth Gallery last Saturday They were joined by a familiar face here at the Undercurrent, our own Ron Woodall (left). Buchanan and Hoopes’ show runs through September 4 / Kathleen Ainscough photos

Friends of the Library book sales to continue

ANNA-MARIE ATHERTON

Friends of the Library

Friends of the Bowen Island Library Society is pleased to confirm that we will continue with our book sale and to accept book donations.

Due to limited sorting and storage space, we are planning smaller sales at the Library Annex. We will therefore be focusing primarily on fiction and children’s books, although other categories will be considered based on subject relevance and book condition.

Books must be in good to excellent condition - no rips, underlining/notations in books or musty odours. Donations will be

screened and boxed by volunteers in the Library Annex.

Scheduled donation dates (from 10 am to 12 pm) are:

Sunday, September 10

Sunday, September 24

For dates in October and November, see Library website @bipl ca/donatebooks

The book sale is scheduled for Saturday, December 9 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Library Annex Thank you for your ongoing support of the book sales and our Bowen Library

Can’t wait for the sale? Visit the Mini Book Store in the Library foyer for a great selection of reads!

BCCis HIRING

JOIN US!

If you are caring, creative, and enjoy working with children ages 5 to 12 years old, this job is perfect for you!  BCC is hiring NOW

Competitive wages

3 to 5 days a week. September to June.

Ideal part-time work for adults with school aged children

Golden age years welcome

The Bowen Island Garden Club held an Art in the Garden party last month, featuring artworks and wine tasting from local expert Paul Rickett (left, apron) Proceeds from the evening will go to the Bowen Island Conservancy to support their Wild Coast Nature Refuge at the Cape / Haig Farris photos

Rugby meetups welcome everybody into the scrum

ALEX KURIAL Editor

There’s a fresh form of activity on the island with new Tuesday night recreational rugby sessions.

Mark Telfer is behind the gatherings, which began this June. Arriving on Bowen last year for work, Telfer – originally from rugby-stronghold New Zealand – noticed a gap in the athletic landscape for his favorite sport, and set about to see if he could fill it.

“My passion for rugby developed at a young age in New Zealand. We liken it to hockey in Canada… The nation is very much into rugby and supporting the national rugby teams. It’s very much a thing in New Zealand that you live and breath from a young age, ” he explains.

First arriving in Banff and later moving to Vancouver, Telfer played with various rugby clubs in the city over the past decade, including Vancouver Touch Rugby. But the same options weren’t available upon moving to the smaller Bowen Island. “It was last summer that I started missing it more and more because I hadn’t been playing for awhile,” says Telfer, who came up empty in his search for local rugby options

Not to be dissuaded, Telfer brought up the idea of playing rugby at work, and found a positive response Co-workers said their kids would be interested in playing as well “That was enough to be like, okay that sounds like we can start something Then we put the word out and picked a day, and the rest is history so to speak,” he says

That day is Tuesday, with participants gathering at the Bowen Island Community School field and tossing the ball around before the game starts The meetups are meant to be social and all levels of experience with the game are welcome, including complete beginners Telfer and others point out rules throughout the scrimmages for those new to the game (and sometimes more seasoned players too), and the games are two-hand touch, so nobody leaves the field too bruised up at the end

Telfer credits this format for drawing a range of athletes to the runs, which started off with 14 players the first night and has held double-digit numbers since “It’s good physically and it’s pretty accessible to most, so a wide spread of age from younger to older, guys and girls and also the experience as well You don’t necessarily have to have played before or even touched a rugby ball before to pick it up relatively quick We welcome anyone that hasn’t played at all, or has played in the past and wants to pick it up again,” he says

Telfer plans to run the sessions through the fall until either weather or darkness bring them to a close He hopes the momentum built this year will allow the games to start earlier next year too Telfer also hopes the Rugby World Cup starting next month in France, featuring New Zealand and Canada, will boost interest in the sport

In the meantime, scrimmages are continuing Tuesday nights at 6 pm as long as possible They’re free to join, and as for equipment all you need is a t-shirt, shorts, and running shoes or cleats

Changes to Green Waste Pick-up

Effective September 1, 2023 households will be allowed to put out 1 container of kitchen/food waste and a maximum of 3 bags of yard waste. (If you do not put out your kitchen/food waste container, you will still be limited to a maximum of 3 bags of yard waste)

UPDATED GARBAGE COLLECTION GUIDELINES

ALL CONTAINERS:

must be curbside by 8am must display your civic address, either by sticker or written on the can must be secured with a bungee cord or weight on lid must have lids/no inner rims on green waste cans as waste sticks to inside must weigh no more than a maximum of 40lbs, as per WCB regulations must display second can decals or single use decals if more than 1 can must have garbage bagged and secured must be removed from curbside by end of service day, as per municipal regulations.

UNACCEPTABLE GREEN WASTE CONTAINERS

You can help keep the staff stay healthy by: Keeping bags and bins below 40lbs. No sod, rocks or soil. Keep lids on bins, to prevent rain water accumulation. No branches sticking out of bins or bags.

Questions? Call Bowen Waste Solutions at 604-947-2255

Part of the Bowen rugby squad ready to play earlier this month (above), including organizer and passionate rugby fan MarkTelfer (right).The friendly touch games take place onTuesday nights at BICS. / Alex Kurial photos

Thursday, August 24, 2023

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Thursday, August 24

Hot Hot Hot Summer Nights

Come meet the Bowen Island firefighters! Spray the big hose and take a tour of the fire truck 6:30 to 8 pm at BICS

Thursday, August 24

Sunset Summer Jazz

Music concert featuring the Tunstall Trio Open to the public at Tunstall Bay Clubhouse BYOBB Public tix $20 at Eventbrite, members by donation 7 to 9 pm

Friday, August 25

Maui & BC Relief Fundraiser Dinner

Hawaiian themed Pork Feast, entertainment, silent auction Tickets through Meadowbrook Market $60, call 778200-0514 6 to 10 pm Check Page 5 to learn more

Friday, August 25

Dirt Road Opera at Tir-na-nOg

The ensemble band returns to Bowen for a show Starts at 7:30 pm, tickets $35 at eventbrite com

Saturday, August 26

Rotary Run for Rwanda

Annual benefit run, featuring 5K and 10K runs, 5K walk, and 1 5K kids run Starts at 8:30 am Learn more at rotaryrunforrwanda com

Saturday, August 26

Spin Art for All! A Here’s Bowen Arts! Tour 2024 Fundraiser

Fun for the whole Family- create a Spin Art Painting, by donation At the Cultural Corner Bandstand at the Hearth Gallery from 11 am to 4 pm Visit bowenartstour com to learn more

Saturday, August 26

Bowfest!

The annual summer festival gets going at 1:15 pm with the traditional parade, before transitioning over to the Bowfest

Field for a full day of fun More info on Pages 11-14

Saturday, August 26

Party at the Pub

Bowfest after-party Live classic rock from Rear View Mirror starting at 9 pm Tickets $20

To August 26

Curiosities and Oddities at the Museum

Bowen Island Museum and Archives is proud to present Curiosities and Oddities, an exhibit containing only the most baffling artifacts in our collection Come on by, and let your imagination run wild!

Saturday, September 2

Handloggers Half Marathon

Annual race following the Handloggers Trail on Mount Gardner, benefitting the Bowen Island Trail Society Starts at 9 am from the Government Dock, wraps up around 1 pm

Monday, September 4

Nature Refuge Celebration

Come celebrate the volunteers and achievements of the Wild Coast Nature Refuge 3 to 5 pm, everyone is welcome Enter at the Welcome sign on Huszar Creek Lane, off of Cape Drive Hosted by the Bowen Island Conservancy

Saturday, September 9 (rescheduled from Aug. 19)

Year End Celebration

11:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Bowen Island Library All ages Celebrate the end of the summer reading club! If you ’ ve finished all 50 days of the challenge, come to claim your medal at the medal ceremony! This year we have special guest Mayor Andrew Leonard to hand our awards If you haven’t finished, come for fun art activities! Register: bipl link/SRC-celebration

Sunday, September 10 (rescheduled from Aug. 20)

Dog Days Resurgence

One of Bowen’s most popular festivals is returning thanks to the efforts of CAWES, USSC Marina, and Doc Morgan’s

Write on Bowen

September 16 & 17

Register now for individual workshops & the Saturday Luncheon Presentation:

Beyond Words: Exploring the Future of AI Bots in Writing and Creativity with Vered Shwartz

Vered Shwartz, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia, will provide an overview of the vast capability, potential and impacts of AI bots such as ChatGPT Join us for this lively provocative discussion on:

September 16, 12:30 pm - 1:30 PM, Doc Morgan’s Restaurant; $35 Includes lunch

For full details, and to register visit writeonbowen.com

Don’t miss Dog of the Year - Linus!

Monday, September 11

Regular Council Meeting

Please note time change, 1 pm at Muni Hall and online

Tuesday, September 12

Eat, Drink, Paint with Janet Esseiva. A Here’s Bowen Arts! Tour 2024 Fundraiser

Register online and enjoy an evening of painting Takes place from 6 to 9 pm at the lower level of Doc Morgan’s Learn more at bowenartstour com

TUESDAYS

Chair Yoga

Starts Sept 5 at Collins Hall Drop-in from 1 to 2:15 pm

Classes are $20 or by donation Contact Jackie Minns for more info, 604-220-9092, or jackie minns@gmail com

WEDNESDAYS

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 bowcates04@gmail com

WEEKENDS

Saturday Farmers Market at BICS

Annual market at Bowen Island Community School Browse food, crafts, snacks, and more! 10 am to Noon Yoga on the Pier

Saturday & Sunday from 10:15 to 11:15 am Join the Nectar Yoga team for a relaxing yoga session at the Snug Cove North Dock (left of the ferry ramp) Bring a yoga mat, water, and sunscreen Sessions are weather permitting Pre-registration is recommended, but dropping in can be accomodated if space allows Find more details and sign up at nectaryoga ca

www.bowenislandundercurrent.com

Family skincare clinic finds home at Integrated Health

ALEX KURIAL Editor

The newest addition to Bowen Island Integrated Health is seeking to deliver care through a carefully crafted combination of both a medical and holistic approach to treatment

ArteBella is now in operation at the Trunk Road medical centre, offering a variety of services related to the body’s largest organ

the skin. The mother/daughter team of Anita Rullens and Kira Ptak officially got things underway earlier this summer, the culmination of a passion each of them hold for attending to the mental and physical health of their patients

Anita and Kira moved to Bowen, and Canada, for the first time in 2022. However the groundwork for their arrival had, unknowingly, somewhat been laid years earlier. Anita, originally from the Netherlands, had moved to Arizona to work as an esthetician. During a vacation to Whistler she fell for the scenery of the B.C. coastline.

“This is what I remember distinctly: what incredible architecture and a beautiful city. And then you take this drive along the coast (Sea to Sky Highway) and it just takes your breath away. I was just so in love,” says Rullens, who believes landing back in the area was meant to be following that first encounter

Anita honed her craft while living in the States, working with plastic surgeons for more than two decades on combinations of reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries

“That’s when my initial little seed just really blossomed into a real passion for all the things that we can offer in skincare, both holistic and medical,” she says. Seeing the results from more serious operations, such as major injuries requiring reconstruction, also inspired Rullens to continue a pursuit in skincare “You impact their life in such a profound way… I love that nurturing aspect”

Anita returned to the Netherlands where she has spent the past several years working in the industry, and it was during this time that Kira, who was born in America, made her own move to Canada She’d been studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands at the school’s Isle of Skye campus in Scotland, focusing on Gaelic language and traditional music “I really, really loved what I was doing but I felt like something was missing,” she recalled from her first year of study.

Specifically, Ptak was searching for a more natural science-oriented program A bit of research on North American universities, and a timely guest lecture on horses native to the Americas, led her to the University of British Columbia, where she’s now working on an Interdisciplinary Studies degree with a focus on forest communities and their impact on all levels of the ecosystem

The pair were soon reunited in Canada when Anita joined Kira in B.C., choosing Bowen Island as a settling place While searching for an avenue to continue her skincare business, Rullens struck up a conversation with Dr Nicholas Lendvoy, co-owner at Bowen Island Integrated Health The pair decided the clinic would be an ideal place

to set up shop, and following the Canadian licencing process ArteBella began seeing patients in June

The clinic offers a variety of medical treatments and skincare options for both long and short-term care “When you walk through that door you know you will be taken care of, and that whatever your concerns are you’re in good hands,” says Anita She’s joined by her daughter on the job, who has also worked to gain the skills to treat patients

“Having someone who you can go to with questions, having someone who has done the research for you, has that attention for you and your concerns and lifestyle – when we say the holistic approach that’s what we’re talking about,” says Ptak

Rullens and Ptak also point to the advantages of their business being located in a dedicated health clinic In instances where further assessment might be necessary, a patient can be referred to other members of

the Integrated Health team This includes the recently-arrived Dr Charles Scudamore, former surgical director of the B.C Liver Transplant Program and liver transplant surgeon at Vancouver General Hospital and B.C Children’s Hospital. Scudamore is now practicing a range of skin rejuvenation treatments on Bowen.

“We want people to have a good experience, and this is based on experience At the end of the day we want whoever walks through the door to walk away feeling that much better Whether that’s on a really deep health level, or even just a confidence boost,” explains Kira

Just over two months into their new Canadian chapter, both mother and daughter are encouraged about ArteBella’s future on the island. “At the end of the day we have our vision and our values, and then other than that it’s kind of go with the flow… I think that as it stands we have a fantastic starting point,” says Kira.

Kira Ptak (above) works with her mother Anita Rullens at the new ArteBella skincare clinic at Bowen Island Integrated Health. / Alex Kurial photo

Bowen Gymnasts shine on Amsterdam trip

LISA BROUGHAM

Bowen Island Gymnastics

World Gymnaestrada was a success!

It is so inspiring to be a part of an international event celebrating the joy of movement and gymnastics

We were once again wowed by the creativity, skills , passion and great vibes this event embodies

Our team Sea to Sky performances were enthusiastically received with packed audiences at all our performance venues !

The crowds were amazing!

A part of our routine (the sup board part of our routine) was even featured on the Netherlands National News!

Beyond performing our routine three times and participating in the Canadaian National large group routine at the Olympic Stadium, we managed to

put our Canadian ponchos to the test and did some Canal Stand up paddle boarding, stopping for a pizza lunch on the canal

We also went biking to check out the windmills and local historical sites and were able to watch the Canal Pride Parade

Huge congratulations to our team and parents for our successful performances and the years of hard work it always takes to attend a World Event

Athletes: Makayla Toews, Sophia Toews, Mischa LaRoche, Maeve Sheppard, Kiana Cooke, Olive Tourand, Nalani Moulton, Clara Patterson, Natalie Tichopad, Riley Baxendale

Coaches/Athletes: Kasha Konaka, Callie Brougham, Lisa Brougham

Parent Chaperones: Inga Toews, Kevin Toews, Cheryl Tourand, Joseph Cooke

We are already looking forward to World Gymnaestrada 2027!

Many fruit and nut trees on Bowen do not get harvested due to either a lack of time, equipment or sometimes over-abundance

Low Hanging Fruit brings volunteers together to pick the fruit so that trees that would otherwise go unpicked can be enjoyed and used on the island

Low Hanging Fruit reduces fruit waste, improves local food resilience, and builds community around the picking and sharing of those fruits.

If interested please contact Hasan Hutchinson at: lhfruit22@gmail.com

Lisa Brougham photos