BLU CREW SEEING GOLD The Blu’s are this year’s Slopitch Tournament Champions, riding a first place regular season finish straight to capturing the George Zawadski Cup. The league winners are named after Piers ‘Blu’ Hayes, and naturally are sponsored by the Snug Cafe, where “Everyone who walks into The Snug is Blu!”Check out Pages 12 & 13 for a full tourney recap and pics. / Submitted photo
ROTARY RUN
Over 100 Runners take on Lucky 13
SAILING CANCELLATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE DURING MAJORITY OF THREE-MONTH PROJECT
ALEX KURIAL EditorThe Snug Cove Ferry Terminal will undergo life-extending maintenance starting this winter
While the long-term plan is a full replacement of the berth in 2030, several pieces of work are necessary in the meantime to ensure the travel hub lasts until the next decade. This includes reinforcement of the ramp, repairing the wing walls, and replacing mechanical equipment
The work will affect Bowen ferry traffic for a few months, beginning with a planned start date shortly after Remembrance Day in November and lasting into February During that time two sailings a day will be eliminated, and there will likely be one to two days a month with no ferry service
Crews will be performing work on the terminal overnight, which means the two sailings to be cut will either be the last two sailings of the night, or the last sailing of the night and first sailing in the morning. The decision will be based on public feedback over the coming days, including a joint information and workshop session at Bowen Island Community School on Tuesday, Sept 19 There will be no cancellations during the holiday season, between Dec 20 and Jan 5
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Multi-award winning North Shore company, now building on Bowen.
We Live Here, We Build Here, We’re Proven Here.
AllCouncilmeetingsareopen tothepublictoattendin personorelectronically,unless notedotherwise
September 25, 2023
1:00 pm
RegularCouncilMeeting
CouncilisdevelopingaCodeofConductpolicy,andwe’dliketoknow whatyouthink ResponsibleconductofCouncilmembersisessentialto providinggoodgovernanceforBIM
Thefoundationalprinciplesofresponsibleconductincludeintegrity, accountability,respect,leadershipandcollaboration
ProvideyourfeedbacktoMayorandCouncilbySeptember18,2023
wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/category/news/
Pleaseremoveunused/storedbicyclesfromthebikebarn.
BeginningSeptember18,2023bikesthatappearabandonedwillbe taggedforremovalfromtheSnugCoveWharfNorthbikebarnon October2,2023 Bikeswillbestoredfor30daysbyPublicWorksbefore beingrecycled
Questions?PleaseemailBylawServicesatbylaw@bimbccaorcall 604-947-4255ext 2
Therearetwotypesofchimneyfires,freeburningandslowburning. Freeburningfiresareeasiertodetectbecauseyouwillhearaloudroar likeafreighttrainisrunningthroughyourlivingroom.Billowsofsmoke andspewingflameswillpouroutofyourchimney
Slowburningfiresaresilentlydestructive.Theyburnquietlyathigh temperaturesforalongperiodoftime
Youcanpreventbothbygettingyourchimneyinspectedandcleaned regularly
www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/chimney-fires/
TheProvincialHealthOfficeradvisesallBritishColumbianswith compromisedimmunesystems(suchasHIV,organorbonetransplants, chemotherapyormedicationsthatsuppresstheimmunesystem)to avoiddrinkingwaterfromanysurfacewaterorgroundwaterthatis undertheinfluenceofsurfacewater,unlessithasbeenboiled,filtered, distilledortreatedwithUVBowenIslandandotherareasinBritish Columbiausesurfacewatersources(lakes,rivers,streams) Thisisnota generalboil-wateradvisoryforthegeneralpublic,butratherisdirected onlyatpeoplewithcompromisedimmunesystems Ifindoubtabout yourimmunesystemstatus,pleasediscussthisfurtherwithyour physician.
wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/drinking-water-advisory/
move to 1 pm.
CouncilunanimouslyadoptedaresolutionattheSeptember11,Regular CouncilMeeting,tomoveallfutureRegularCouncilMeetingsfrom6:15 pmto1:00pm.
wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/council-meetings/
There was both progress and a bit of setback in the most recent update on the Snug Cove Sewer System
The Snug Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) has been dealing with capacity issues for the past several years. These came to the forefront in January 2022 when all sewage hookups were paused for new builds in the local service area This meant anyone seeking an occupancy permit for their home would need to build a septic system on the property
For a half-dozen property owners on Foxglove Lane this wasn’t possible due to the narrow geography of the lots. But, following 20 months of work on the WWTP, which included Phase 1 upgrades to the
plant itself along with repairing 17 manholes to prevent leaks into the system, there is finally enough capacity to connect the six lots in question to the sewage system “We’re grateful for the patience of those property owners, ” said CAO Liam Edwards during the Sept. 11 council meeting.
The main repair at the plant involved installing an equalization storage tank to treat wastewater, which was previously being done by a bioreactor The new tank allows greater amounts of inflow to be retained and treated
While the fixes are a step toward solving the sewage saga, on two occasions this summer the system’s outfall pipe which runs past Dorman Point severed, resulting in premature discharge Both were fixed by underwater dive teams, and some cleanup on land, but Edwards said the cost and time involved with repeatedly doing this is “start-
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BC Ferries project manager Jesse Lightman appeared before Bowen council on Monday to outline the plan, and address options for the cancelled sailings. The longer closures which are expected to take place once a month are scheduled to start on a Friday night after the final sailing, last through all of Saturday, and hopefully finish in time to resume service on Sunday During this time water taxis will be available for foot passengers in place of the regular schedule, and free parking will be offered in Horseshoe Bay, but there will be no option to transport a vehicle on or off-island. Lightman says the company will provide 30 days notice before these extended berth closures
Mayor Andrew Leonard noted he hadn’t heard much so far from Bowen residents about the project Given the significant impact it will have, he says it’s likely that many Islanders aren’t fully aware of it yet, and asked if BC Ferries could utilize as many messaging methods as possible over the next two months to let people know.
“The type of traffic that occurs from September to May or June is really driven by the community use of ferry-going to the mainland and returning These are residents who need to get to work, who need to get to medical appointments, who need to go grocery shopping, who need to access sports team and community centres,” says Leonard.
“The ferry being Bowen Island’s only means to access the mainland by vehicle, and an easier way to access the mainland as a foot passenger and connect to public transit, it’s really a disruption of service that for two sailings a day no longer makes the mainland and any of its amenities accessible to residents,” added the mayor
And, Leonard pointed out these disruptions would not be new for the island.
“Bowen Island residents for the past two years now, especially since the pandemic, have been facing a degradation of service and increased pressures from BC Ferries in terms of schedule issues to cancellations to the ability to access the mainland and get back to island that’s affecting liveability for residents on the island”
The mayor asked if not cancelling any sailings was considered and instead having the project extend further into the spring, pointing out that no matter which sailings are ultimately cancelled either early-morning commuters or late-night ferry users will be impacted Lightman answered that “For the sake of expediting the work before the next busy season and trying to have the least amount of impact, we believe this is the path forward with the least amount of impact on the community.”
Next Tuesday’s community session at BICS with BC Ferries to discuss the project begins with a presentation at 5:30 pm, followed by a workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
ing to become challenging for the service area to sustain.”
The situation worsened last month when the pipe stopped discharging wastewater, forcing a broken section to be removed This currently results in discharge being pumped into Snug Cove instead of the Queen Charlotte Channel, which does not fulfill the municipality’s discharge agreement with the Ministry of Environment. Edwards suggested that due to this failure replacement of the outfall pipe be expedited to next year ’ s budget The cost for the recommended new 250 mm pipe (the current broken pipe is 75 mm) is around $974,000
Edwards also addressed a smell which he and others have observed in the Cove There’s been suggestion its origin is discharge at the WWTP, but Edwards said the exact origin of the smell can’t yet be
confirmed. The CAO said it’s possible the outfall pipe ruptures are disturbing the seabed, and the buried organics that are released are causing the smell Odours at the plant which may be coming from a new attenuation tank are also being looked at Phase 2 of the WWTP upgrades, with the goal to enable sewage hookups to the remaining unconnected lots in Snug Cove as well as future lots over the next two decades, was previously estimated at approximately $6 million. Edwards says identifying funding for such a large amount is proving difficult, and it may be wise to investigate the possibility of breaking the upgrades into smaller phases Coming up with this plan will involve predicting future development of the Cove, as well as outlooks beyond the 20-year timeframe, such as potentially adding Deep Bay to the sewage system.
Pursuanttosection645oftheLocalGovernmentAct,thefollowingproperties willbeofferedforsalebypublicauctiontobeheldat10:00amintheCouncil ChambersatBowenIslandMunicipalHall,981ArtisanLane,BowenIsland,BC onMonday,September25,2023
ThefollowingpropertieswillbeincludedintheSaleunlessdelinquenttaxes, plusinterest,aresoonerpaid:
Anypersonuponbeingdeclaredthesuccessfulbiddermustimmediatelypayby cashorcertifiedchequeaminimumofnotlessthantheupsetprice Failuretopay thisamountwillresultinthepropertypromptlybeingofferedforsaleagain.
Anybalancemustbepaidbycashorcertifiedchequeby4:00pmthesameday. Failuretopaythebalancewillresultinthepropertybeingofferedforsaleagainat 10:00amthefollowingday
BowenIslandMunicipalitymakesnorepresentationexpressorimpliedastothe conditionorqualityofthepropertiesbeingofferedforsale Prospective purchasersareurgedtoinspectthepropertiesandmakeallnecessaryinquiriesto municipalandothergovernmentdepartments,andinthecaseofstratalotstothe stratacorporation,todeterminetheexistenceofanybylaws,restrictions,charges orotherconditionswhichmayaffectthevalueorsuitabilityoftheproperty
Purchasersarefurtheradvisedthatpropertiessoldattaxsalearesubjecttoa redemptionperiodofoneyearwherebytheregisteredpropertyowneror registeredchargeholdermayredeemtheirpropertysoldattaxsalebypayingthe upsetpriceplusapplicableinterest.
ThepurchaseofataxsalepropertyissubjecttotaxunderthePropertyTransfer TaxActonthefairmarketvalueoftheproperty.
Questions?Emailfinance@bimbc.caorcall604-947-4255ext.8
As you might have read earlier in the paper, there is going to be some work down at the Snug Cove Ferry Terminal in a few months
It is almost certainly going to result in some cancelled ferry runs, though we don’t yet know which ones. Aside from the unfortunate times when we lose all sailings for the day completely, either the last two night ferries or first and last ferry look set to be shelved. That part appears to be up to the community.
In my case for example, I think it would be hard to lose the last two evening runs, as that’s a time I like to do stuff after work such as visit friends on the mainland or do a grocery run. Looking at the October schedule change, losing these would mean the last ferry home to Bowen would be at 8 pm, which doesn’t leave much time to get anything done at night. On the other hand, if you are a commuter on the first ferry of the day you likely will want to see that run maintained I haven’t (willingly) been up in the 5 am range in a long time, but there are many hard-working people who are, so if that 5:50 sailing is important to you it’s important to let BC Ferries know. We all have different situations and mainland activities that are important (school, sports, jobs, etc.) and either way things will be tougher for some of our community, but at least we’ll have had a say in it. There’s a feedback session next Tuesday, and you can find more info at www.bcferriesprojects.ca/snug-cove-tp
Next week is an Island-Wide issue too, so feel free to share whatever stories are on your mind!
- Alex Kurial, Editor
My husband and I would sincerely like to thank the amazingly generous people who helped us last Saturday, September 9, when we locked our keys in our car at Crippen Park
With no BCAA or anyone who could help us, these two wonderful families (and the park ranger) who were just walking by took the time and effort to get the car door open, so we did not have to break a window. We will forever be grateful to these wonderful people.
Many thanks again, all of you.
Sincerely,
- Ann & Ken Morton North VancouverWhen Terry Fox dipped his prosthetic leg in the Atlantic Ocean on that chilly April morning in 1980, and started his Marathon of Hope, he could not have imagined the impact he would have on our country – nor how his courage and determination would continue to inspire Canadians
Today, 43 years later, Terry’s mission continues with hundreds of Terry Fox Runs, thousands of school Runs, and millions of supporters across Canada and in more than 20 countries around the world.
It is inspiring to see that Terry’s message of hope is as strong as ever.
“It fills our family with joy to see Terry’s legacy inspiring future generations,” says Fred Fox, Terry’s older brother “Every dollar raised by the people who join or support the Terry Fox Run helps fund cancer research And every dollarhelpsrealizeTerry’sdreamofaworld without cancer ”
Please join us on Sunday, September 17, 2023, where Canadians across the country will gather once again for Terry
and for cancer research. They’ll walk, run, bike, roll, and hike. On Bowen, all are welcome including dogs on leash. Our run can be started between 11 am and 12 pm at Bowen Island United Church Find your local Run. Register, donate, and fundraise to change and improve lives. Your efforts support life-changing cancer research and bring us closer to a cure every day. Register and start fundraising at terryfox.org
- Pam MatthewsTHE 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
All Advertising and news copy content are copyright of the Undercurrent Newspaper All editorial content submitted to the Undercurrent becomes the property of the publication
The Undercurrent is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, art work and photographs
National NewsMedia Council.
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
There are plenty of options for a sunny Saturday in September, and I am always impressed that people come to an Open House and want to talk about local politics
Last Saturday was no exception.
I set aside all day Friday to work on Monday’s council agenda, not realizing until I started that it was 1,025 pages long, and while I had hoped to have read it all before my Open House, instead I was frustrated in that goal. Getting together with a group of neighbours and helping them understand the process, and helping them work through some of their frustration, helped sort my frustration too.
I need to explain my frustration with the recent letter writing campaign to the Islands Trust (IT). When someone else writes a letter and suggests that you merely fill in a few blanks and then send it as your own, you
help create about 600 pages of repetitive, mind-numbing and, frankly, really boring reading. I’m hugely grateful we no longer make hard copies of our agendas!
My point is that repetition is so very UNpersuasive And when life is short and time is precious, your arguments are not strengthened, rather diluted Instead of gaining support, you might even be pissing off decision makers Strength in numbers IS persuasive, but instead of detracting from that, consider the effect of the mountain of material.
A letter written to the IT in August and cc’d to Mayor and Council gets read in August, plus it’s included in the package returned by the IT as copies of all they had considered in their decision-making, and then again it’s in the list of correspondence received since the last council meeting An unintended consequence is that while you now have a council that reads all the material, you might be beating that out of us
I recommend instead, that you write a short covering page: “I, [your name], of [address], resident for [x] years, feel the same and ask you to consider the points raised in the letter written by [other name here]” and then attach the original separately. That leaves one line, the same rallying cry, and a minimum 30 hours less boredom For those who wrote independently, your letters were incredible, in part, because they were unique, but also very thoughtful and considered
That was my rant during our discussions at the Open House, but mostly we discussed the steps in the process of decision-making. Any applicant, in this case Metro, who puts forward a proposal, they [and you, if it is your application] expect and are entitled to a full and fair consideration. If the consideration of council, in this instance, is not considered both impartial and reasoned, and if the applicant is litigious, they could ask a court to overturn any decision. To avoid expensive, protracted, sometimes embarrassing court rulings on local matters, it is easier in the short-term to be mindful and careful about every aspect of what must be seen as a full and fair consideration.
That DOES NOT mean you are persuaded or partial or mindless, instead, it is important to appreciate that it is difficult to give a personal or collective opinion early in this process. That opens up countless reactions and complications! It’s complex enough! Council has replied to Metro that we consider some of the material they have provided in support of their application to be insufficient or flawed and they will need to go the effort and expense of providing more and better Metro has replied, in part, that once the land is rezoned to allow for camping, then they will provide more of the material we consider necessary for consideration of any rezoning.
Stalemate or checkmate? There is brinksmanship, positioning, negotiating, and considerable effort by individuals and groups on Bowen to try to find a middle ground but so far Metro has stuck, pretty much, to their original proposal. Rumours are that both the Metro board of directors and the Regional Park committee have had incredibly tight votes about buying and maintaining Cape Roger Curtis They are divided but, nevertheless, intransigent.
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On this quiet street on the west side you’ll be awestruck with the classic Pacific Northwest scenery Towering Douglas Firs frame picture-perfect vistas of Collingwood Channel, Pasley and Keats Islands, and the Sunshine Coast. A short stroll takes you to Crayola Beach, one of the prettiest neighbourhood beaches on the island.
The main floor of the home is a ‘Panabode’ log home that has been updated over the years with new windows, skylights, fresh bright paint, and gorgeous Quebec Maple flooring. The open plan living areas all run along the west side of the home where you are guaranteed a spectacular view from anywhere.
With a total of 5 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms across 2 floors, this home is perfect for large families. The separate entrance on the lower level also provides the potential for rental income, or a 2-family living arrangement.
Dear Editor,
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The Island Trust’s decision, while it may be flawed [use of “is” instead of “ may”][!], is an independent policy-driven commentary that should be difficult to ignore But Metro does not appear to be well-versed in the mission of the IT and Bowen’s membership in that [some would say] higher level of government with jurisdiction over land use They are yet to be persuaded by the opinion The protocol agreement between Bowen municipality and the IT requires a meeting within 60 days of their decision, and
staff are working to have that happen soon, possibly at next week’s Union of BC Municipalities conference
There were more questions than answers at the Open House about water licences, taxes payable before rezoning, the proposed Code of Conduct for council, and parking at Grafton Lake. Sorry but no time to expand on those here. The next Open House will be October 14 at 3 pm at Collins Hall. Hope to see you there
I might repeat my mother’s oatmeal/ almond chocolate coated cookies They are so easy and well-received.
I commend Roger Brownsey for his important letter in the Undercurrent (Sept. 7) regarding the Cape Roger Curtis Park, in which he expresses his impassioned support for “recent proposals from Bowen residents for a centre with educational and youth centred activities” , and outlines critical concerns as Metro Vancouver appears so far to be “unprepared to change the essence of their plans”
Some of those key concerns are reflected in the position taken by the Islands Trust in opposing the current park rezoning at Cape Roger Curtis, and in the petition signed by over 1,650 Bowen voters in opposition to MV’s plans with regard to camping at the park
Anyone who aspires to responsible stewardship at Cape Roger Curtis must heed the words of renowned physician Gabor Maté: “There is no true responsibility without awareness ” The unique, ecologically sensitive reality that is Cape Roger Curtis requires an equally unique, sensitive approach to managing every aspect of the park, a level of awareness that is far beyond the ill fitted template that MV is attempting to apply in its plans for the CRC Park. It is an approach that not only misuses the park environmentally, it imperils the fundamental functioning of our island community.
MV needs to understand that it is dealing with a keenly aware community that is steeped in half-a-century of environmental stewardship We are a community that knows the true meaning of those words, through our relentless democratic participation and unyielding determination to
preserve and protect the unique amenities that our island represents And we are well served by the Islands Trust as it stands up for those principles along with the majority of islanders.
In the process of doing so, Bowen Island has always led the way as a ground breaking model for the rest of Canada And as our history shows, the people of this community have always moved forward in the knowledge that, when we as a people rise up, claim our power and lead the way, it is the democratic duty of our leaders and representatives to simply follow.
That is the real issue here First and foremost, it is incumbent upon MV and our council to reflect and represent the will of the majority of islanders within our democratic system They have been told to go back to the drawing board with clear parameters from the Islands Trust and the people of Bowen Island For the sake of islanders, Metro Vancouverites and Cape Rogers Curtis, I share Roger Brownsey’s hope that they will open their eyes, ears and minds so they can end up on the right side of history
If they collaborate to implement a truly innovative, fully monitored and closely regulated youth centred educational camping experience within the Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere, with Indigenous participation and mentorship, not only will all of us benefit in Metro Vancouver, the park shall be a resounding, widely celebrated success as educational groups from all municipalities will welcome such a meaningful and enriching experience
- John SbragiaBowen Island Rotary Club
Well, that was quite a weekend that was, what with tourists and locals massing in the Cove for all the end-of-summer events
In fact, the 13th Rotary Run for Rwanda was nearly cancelled at the last moment due to the poor air quality, but we went for it, and so did over 100 keen runners and walkers!
We lost a few participants who were not happy to risk it, and we quite understood their hesitation. Some runners decided to shorten their runs from 10K to 5K, and some did a short walk rather than a longer one; altogether it was a happy community event, with many parents running with their children in both the kids’ run and the 5K
It was great to see the same families participating year after year, with the enthusiastic younger generation coming to the fore
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the 25 or so volunteers who helped make this event a great success.
We are also very grateful to all our financial sponsors: Frits de Vries Architects, Dr Gloria Chao, Bowen Island Properties, Allard & Amanda Ockeloen, Barbara Wahler
Interior Design, Presman Wealth and Barry Adams A huge round of thanks to Savary Island Pie Co and Artisan Eats for the deli-
cious muffins, to the General Store for water and juice boxes, to Ruddy Potato for fruit and drinks, to the Snug Coffee for feeding the volunteers, and finally for the businesses who donated prizes: lululemon, Forerunners, Cates Pharmacy, USSC and Phoenix Books
And last of all, here are the winners of all categories:
Kids’ 1.5K (9 and under): First boy: Arlo Rubin; First girl: Dela Butler Gutelius
5K run: Women - lst: Rachel Milau; 2nd: Katherine Kennedy; 3rd: Arianna Lunn
Men - lst: Zachary Kennedy; 2nd: Oscar Ryan; 3rd: Christian Milau
Under 12 - Girls: Mabel Butler Gutelius, Boys: Trent Bristow, closely followed by twin Hayden
10K run - Women: lst: Wylde Marsh; 2nd: Pam Matthews; 3rd: Catherine Rolfsen
Men - lst: Colin Kerr; 2nd: Nicholas Belluk; 3rd Beck Morissette
All results with times, plus some photos, can be found on our websites: rotaryrunforrwanda.com or komeracanada.ca
Thanks to registrations, donations, financial sponsorships and T-shirt sales, we have raised enough funds to continue Komera Canada’s support of the young women we help in rural Rwanda More information about the great work done by our parent organization, Komera, can be found on www.komera.org
Fall treasures for men and women arriving daily Located in the cove below the pub
Purchasing Art Supplies at Marie Neys Fine Art call or email for appointment
780-720-5268
Marie@marieneys.com
MarieNeys.com
We meet every Thursday at Collins Hall9:30 to 11:30 to paint, sketch, draw if you want to connect with other like minded creatives join the fun! $30 per month that to helps pay for Hall rental and other club costs We also host workshops and other events Contact Marie@marieneys com or Shannonrondeau@shaw ca
Celebrate Bowen Island’s apple harvest at Meadowbrook Corner Saturday September 30 Orchard tours, cider samples, lawn games, “Makers Market” featuring your favourite Bowen makers and producers, and more Plus a Long Table Harvest Dinner hosted by chefs Jody Peck and Erik Miller (dinner tickets at eventbrite) Gates open at 10 am Presented by Bowen Cider House & Meadowbrook Market
Expanded Baby Corner
Lovely Flame Illusion Candles & Tapers
Something for Men
Gift Registry, Gift Wrapping, Unique Gifting & Delivery
Plus so much more!
Pumpkins and squash are key autumn ingredients to make traditional Thanksgiving dishes such as stews, breads and roasted seeds Come visit Bowen Island Food Resilient Society (BIFS) volunteers at Grafton Commons community garden on Sunday, September 24th (10am to 12 noon) and the Apple Harvest Fest at Bowen Cider House and MeadowBrook Farm on Saturday, September 30th (10am to 2pm)
We are excited for the leaves to start falling, cool winter evenings in front of the fire and Tuscany Pizza Night - every Thursday buy 1 large pizza and get the second pizza 50% off Thursday Pizza Nights are back baby!
Locals Night at the Pub…every Friday evening with Happy Hour from 4-6pm and Live Music from 6-9pm
Bowen Island Un ted Church gathers on Sunday mornings and at other times for special services-Vespers, Evensong and “Wild Church” which is held ou doors We are an inclusive Faith Community offering a variety of programs for people of all ages. A l are welcome All of he time That includes dogs
Building community, reducing food waste and improving food security! Enjoy the fresh fall air while gleaning a variety of apples, crabapples and pears Support us by purchasing the fruit at Saturday’s Bowen Island Farmers’ Market Proceeds go to community initiatives such as the food bank as well as supporting the function of the project. Fruit pickers of all ages are welcome to participate! Contact Hasan at lhfruit22@gmail.com
Beginners to advanced 30 plus years experience Only a few spots left. Email or phone: ntzharmonium@mac.com or 778-926-4286
Contributor
Henry Sinclair (13) and Gavin Champoux (12) representing Bowen Island Yacht Club (BIYC) came first overall the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club’s (Royal Van YC) annual Commodores’ Cup sailing race from Aug 29 to 31, 2023 in the RS Feva class
Henry and his partner Liam McNolty won the Commodores’ Cup last year and therefore Bowen Island Yacht Club retains the prestigious trophy in an unprecedented back to back victory. The RS Feva is the most popular class with 19 boats competing. Teams from Royal Van YC, West Vancouver YC, Hollyburn Sailing Club, and Deep Cove Yacht Club were competing Henry and Gavin won four out of five races in this year ’ s regatta
Both sailors are graduates of Bowen Island Yacht Club’s Learn to Sail program held every summer at Tunstall Bay. Henry passed CanSail Level 4 (advanced sailing) last summer He started racing Fevas with the West Vancouver YC Race Team in the fall to spring seasons after last year ’ s victory, and volunteered in the BIYC Learn to Sail program for two weeks this summer. Gavin holds CanSail 3 and also volunteered with the club for a week Both Henry and Gavin completed a two-day program with BIYC coach Mait Davis before the race
The pair were presented with a Commodores’ Cup trophy by Royal Van YC Commodore Cecil Burgers at an evening banquet with hundreds of young sailors, their parents and coaches present at the
Royal Van YC clubhouse in Jericho at the end of the last day of competition The BIYC coaches were Mait Davis and Ryan Champoux
Also representing BIYC in the Feva class were Robin McNolty (13) and Maya MentenSchubert (13) They came seventh overall and picked up two third places on the last day, cementing a magnificent recovery from the first day’s race Mateo Pedrosa, coached by Miranda Berry and Matthew Buda, competed in the non-competitive Opti Green Fleet.
This second win is a vindication of the decision of the BIYC Learn to Sail Committee to purchase two gently used Fevas as part of a group purchase coordinated by Hollyburn SC The boats had been acquired for the RS Feva Worlds held in California in 2018 and were being sold off at the end of the competition.
The committee agreed the purchase at the instigation of Florrie Levine, Fleet Captain and supported by Philip De Connick and Euan Sinclair, the then BIYC Commodore and Vice Commodore. The Laser 2 fleet was due to be retired from competitions, and the committee invested the surplus from the last six years ’ of programming in the purchase of the boats.
The Commodores’ Cup was inaugurated in 1985 by Royal Van YC Past Commodore the late Patrick Oswald to help celebrate the Naval Assembly in English Bay in August of that year, and to bring together young sailors across the Lower Mainland to compete in the Corinthian spirit Some of the trophies are Oswald’s mother’s silver champagne buckets that he repurposed.
One of the island’s most well-known literary festivals is returning this weekend for a third-consecutive year.
The Write on Bowen Festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday, featuring eight workshops from different authors and writers plus a pair of keynote speakers The sessions cover a wide range of topics, from travel writing to poetry, writing for children to screenwriting, and even how to
conquer the dreaded writers’ block
While it’s the third year in a row of the festival, it is actually the seventh year of Write on Bowen overall. The event is sponsored by the Bowen Island Public Library and Hearth Gallery, and led by festival artistic director Carol Cram and festival manager Jacqueline Massey. Cram spoke about a theme which has emerged at this year ’ s gathering.
“Not only are the people presenting from off-island, but most of the attendees are too Which is kind of fun because most of them have not been to Bowen,” says
Contributor
On Saturday, September 2 the Handloggers Half Marathon celebrated its 10th annual race with over 200 runners
This is a multi-elevation 21+K mountain trail race The race starts at the base of Snug Cove with the swing of an axe to start the race, runners cruise through Crippen Park to Killarney Lake, climb up to Handloggers Trail on Mt. Gardner and circumnavigate around the mountain then back through Crippen to cross the finish line with the refreshing ocean breeze at the causeway.
Emily Osborne, Handloggers women ’ s champion in 2018, recently returned to Bowen Island from New Zealand, and took second place in the women ’ s competition at 2 hr 11 mins Pam Matthews put in a strong run to take the top women’s Masters position at 2 hr 30 mins
Colin Kerr, also a former champ, was the first Bowen Islander across the line at 2 hr 5 mins It was great to see Tim Hausch make a comeback from a period of illness and
complete the race again in 3 hr 55 mins
First place went to Peter Nowicki of North Vancouver with an impressive 1 hr 50 mins, second to another North shore runner Cameron Cook at 1 hr 52 mins, and third to Adrian Lambert of Edmonton in 1 hr 53 mins.
While the distance of the race is serious, our volunteer run aid stations brought the fun with costume, cheer, and motivation to keep striving for the finish A big thank you and deep gratitude to all our volunteers, many who have supported this race over the last 10 years: Jane Osborne, Jenny Harris, Steve Edwards, Kim Ridgewell and Mike, Karla Everitt, Krista Baker and Duncan, Reg Johnson and Zarah Hofer, Courtenay McGillivray and son, Robin Birney, Susanne and Elisabeth Herrington, Anja Sheridan, Cristina Calli, Leah Gregg, Wendy McKernan, Roger Brownsey, Maureen Mackey, Alyssa Hoates, Lisa Holleman, Alison Rogers, Mary Ann McPersoon, Margaret Butler, Hilary Butler, Melanie McCready, Joan Vyner, Alicia, Kim, Karla, Candace Bajoric, Lisa Brougham, Vanessa Ramirez Jasso, Devon Baker, and Tim Hausch.
FerryAdvisoryCommitteeMeeting& SnugCoveTerminalProjectWorkshop
Deliveringthebestservicetocoastalcommunities,meansknowingwhatis importanttothosewholive,workandplayinthemeachday Joinusforthe FACmeetingorattendtheprojectworkshoptofindoutmore.
Date: Tuesday,September19,2023
Location: BowenIslandCommunitySchool,1041MtGardnerRoad
SnugCoveTerminalProjectWorkshop
5:30pm-6:30pmPresentation|6:30pm-8:30pmWorkshop
MarinestructureupgradesareplannedforSnugCoveTerminalthisfall RepresentativesfromBCFerrieswillbeonhandtoprovideinformation, answeryourquestionsandhearfromyou Toattendthepresentationand workshop,pleaseRSVPtoengagement@bcferries.com
FerryAdvisoryCommittee(FAC)Meeting
6:30pm-8:30pm
Membersofthepublicarewelcometoattendandobservethemeeting For moreinformationontheagendaorspeakingopportunities,pleasecontact yourFACChair:bowenfac@gmail.com
ConnectwithusandLearnMore
Visityourcommunitypagetoprovideuswithquestions, commentsandideas:bcferriesprojects.ca/bowen-island Formoreinformationortoreceivethelinktoattendthe FACmeetingvirtually,contact:facinfo@bcferries.com
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Cram Seven of the eight presenters this year are from the mainland, with the exception of Bowen resident Michael Nankin who is hosting a workshop on scene construction in screenwriting
Cram says it’s a shift from the inaugural year of the festival’s resurgence which featured mostly island participants. “In 2021 it was during the pandemic and we had it in a garden, so it was outside and all local people,” she said. Last year featured more visitors, and based on the guest lists this year there are many people eager to make the trip to Bowen Island for the occasion.
Saturday features a pair of talks from guest speakers, starting with UBC professor Vered Shwartz who will discuss the future of artificial intelligence in the writing process The evening festival gala features author Wade Davis as he talks about his book River Notes, focusing on the topic of how the Colorado River has been impacted by climate change
While some workshops have filled up, others are still available and can be registered for up through the morning of the day they take place. Cram says a writing tool and paper is all anyone needs to bring, along with a passion for the topic they’re exploring.
“The vision right from the very start in 2008 is that people come to ‘write on Bowen’ So every workshop has an interactive component – so people write Facilitators are encouraged to give them lots of exercises and opportunities to collaborate and to write that was always the genesis of it,” says Cram
“It’s not the kind of festival where people just come and listen to people read… they come to listen and write The idea is to improve their craft and learn new techniques, but also to practice them,” she adds
Full details about each of the eight workshops and two guest speakers, along with information on how to register for sessions, can be found on the Write on Bowen Festival website at www.writeonbowen.com
Baseball is a bridge that lets us walk back to childhood but it’s a bridge with strict limitations From the moment we pick up our first glove and bat we all get a certain number of trips over the bridge
The last game we ever play is waiting for all of us. For many, it will come before we expect it to. The Baseball Gods are not always benevolent, but we all hope that they grant us the small mercy of being able to choose when our final game is.
One player may have crossed the bridge for the last time on Sunday.
Loggers
Widely acknowledged as the most talented (Peter Blomberg was this year ’ s Male MVP) yet underperforming team in the league, the Loggers came into the tournament finishing last in the regular season. But the Loggers also finished last in the regular season in 2017 and ran the table to become tournament champs. Alas, Coaches of the Year Duy Son and Courtney Morris’ group did not prevail though Duy’s speech at the Awards Dinner was both unforgettable and unprintable. The Loggers tied for the most Fun Points (as awarded by opposing players) which, in this writers’ opinion, is the most prestigious award in the league
Burley Batters
Marked by speedy baserunning and stal-
wart hitting, the ‘Batters roster saw a few new faces join the squad this year Pundits expected the Jay Cottrell coached team to do some damage in the playoffs, but they came up short in two tightly contested round robin battles But the Batters season was not without laurels Jerica Dempsey and Scotty Cooke were the Rookies of the Year Gillian Drake took home well-deserved accolades as this year ’ s Outstanding Senior Player and Outstanding Infielder Jamie Weismiller’s fashion choices were truly legendary.
Phoenix
Jared Brown’s defending champions played through injuries, a short bench, and tough draws to a very respectable semi-final showing Clutch hitting by Presly Walker, Patrick Currah’s steady glove, gutsy play from an injured Matthew Harrison, and the dance moves of Mike Pover highlighted a roster who walked off the field with their heads held high Look for them to bounce back in 2024.
Sluggers
If I had 24 hours to live and needed to have as much fun as possible playing softball and ripping up a dancefloor, you’d better believe the Sluggers are the first team I call. The Sluggers solid play and baseball insight propelled them to the 10 am semi-final game on Sunday morning Their only obstacle? The Saturday night party. As Jamie Nesbitt DJ’d the night away and other teams said their “good nights” and went home for some much-needed rest, the dancefloor stayed Slugger red. More than a few felt that
Thursday, September 14, 2023
the morning might come a bit too quickly for the fun-loving squad.
But the Sluggers stepped up and played on Sunday morning with all their characteristic guile and athleticism. Spencer Grundy made an incredible sprinting catch to save a sure double. The spirited game came down to the final play… but the Sluggers came up one run short. Despite the loss, the Sluggers stayed and cheered on the other teams until the bitter end. They were last seen partying in the bleachers Some of them may still be there
Fittingly, the Sluggers also tied for the most Fun Points
Basecombers
Coached by most dedicated male player Mike McKoryk and Henry “Hank” Campbell, the Basecombers had a mediocre regular season, finishing fourth overall. Though “Mikey” could not be present at the tournament, he was there in spirit. Every able-bodied Basecomber played on both Saturday and Sunday. Best catcher Caroline Goodson Parker was sidelined by injury but provided invaluable scorekeeping and roster management Rookie Amanda Towne played through a smashed finger and Leah Gregg needed to borrow a shoelace from fellow “Park Daddy” Kristian “Oda” Iverson for an emergency glove repair
Though they came up short in the final, the ‘Combers played their hearts out They made their coaches very proud.
The Blu’s
The Blu’s franchise, founded by Iain Mitchell and named for beloved Bowen character Piers “Blu” Hayes, has gradually improved every year that they’ve been in the league, starting from the bottom and ascending to their first regular season tro-
phy this year New coaches Linda Giusti and Peter Scott have molded the Blu’s into an excellent squad
On the field, their hitting, baserunning, and stingy defense were unbeatable They swept the tournament and became the first team to lift the newly-minted “George Zawadski Cup” named for one of the league’s founders who passed away in 2023.
Though you might expect league female MVP Bailey Hathaway’s contributions to be on the field, a serious injury had her on doctor’s orders to stay on the sidelines While many of us would be angry and frustrated by such a development, Hathaway chose to be there for her team and to make excellent “dry erase ” posters to track the tournament’s progress Hathaway’s dedication is emblematic of the highest ideals of the BISPL
It is difficult to overstate the amount of work that the executive put into the Bowen Island Slopitch League. President Lee Vincent must be acknowledged as tireless and deeply dedicated to making the league fun, inclusive, and prioritizing sportsmanship.
While the Blu’s won the day, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the real triumph was one of sportsmanship, community, and dedication to the things that really matter
After the trophy was presented, Iain Mitchell walked off of the Snug Cove diamond He took off his Blu’s jersey and carefully folded it Mitchell has decided to step away from the game for next season. There is hope that he returns, but Mitchell retiring from the league as a champion would be both well-deserved and very appropriate.
As the sun sets on another great season, I leave you with this sentiment: may we all get many more trips across the bridge and may we cherish all the ones we ’ ve had.
Rachel Klinger
Cory Lawrence
Iain Mitchell
Sara Warren
Peter Scott
Mike Spendlove
Valentyna Gabinyetova
Ryan Knill
Linda Giusti
Rich Ralph
Michelle Mazzotta
MJ Davey
Link Irelan
Bailey Hathaway
Keith Jones
Molly Horton
Connor McLeod
Justin Parker
Jessie Perry
Gemma Parker
