REMEMBRANCE DAY STORIES PAGES 3, 7-9
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VOL. 49 NO. 44
BIUndercurrent
BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com
Bring your brokens! PAGE 12
Heritage concern over Davies Orchard work ALEX KURIAL Editor
THESE LITTLE PIGGIES WENT TO MUDDER These little piggies went wee, wee, wee all the way to the finish line during Island Pacific School’s annual Monsoon Madness Mudder last Saturday. The obstacle course race acts as a colourful and fun fundraiser for the newly built Colin Ruloff Community Field House at the school. The covered area is already getting substantial use, including serving as an ending point, live music spot, and hang-out spot during the Mudder. For more photos from the event take a turn over to Page 11. / Alex Kurial photo
The Heritage Commission has responded to a letter from Metro Vancouver following recent work on the Davies Orchard revitalization project. A September letter from Metro landscape artist Lydia Mynott addressed recent work on the five Snug Cove cottages. This included the destruction of a chimney and fireplace in Cottage 19, and removal of siding on Cottage 14. Mynott says the chimney and fireplace were structurally unsound and not character-defining elements, while the siding contained lead paint. The Heritage Commission (HC) responded with skepticism to both claims. On the chimney, “It should have been obvious to Metro that the old fireplace/bricks may have had heritage value,” the HC wrote in a letter to council. “Of greater concern is what appears to be misinformation or confusion from Metro representatives about the structural integrity of the Cottage 19 fireplace,” the HC added, while adding siding removal was also unnecessary. “I’d like to know where all those bricks went,” said Coun. Judith Gedye. “The Commission is concerned that conservation decisions have been made without consultation, while appearing to prioritize cost, expedience, and/or proposed usage,” concluded HC. Council will now consider next steps.
LOOKING FOR PARADISE A JOURNEY THROUGH NINE STAGES Bowen Island Garden Club Presents: Glenn Lewis Glenn Lewis is a renowned artist, educator, and arts administrator from Vancouver, with expertise in various art forms, including pottery, sculpture, photography, video, and conceptual and performance art. He studied at the Vancouver School of Art, was a prominent figure in the avant-garde scene, and later became Head of Media Arts at the Canada Council. In addition to his work in the arts, Glenn also researched gardens around the world during the 70s and 80s, exploring their elements as paradise. In the 90s, he founded The Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden, and this talk will focus on his exploration of gardens as a universal concept and their symbolic stages as an allegory of the cycles of life.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 @ 3:30PM Bowen Island Legion, 1265 Scarborough Road | Free to club members | $5 admission to all others | Membership info: bowenislandgardenclub.ca
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Remembrance Day
Seeking Public Comment Board of Variance Meeting
Events All Council meetings are open to the public to attend in person or electronically, unless noted otherwise.
BOV-2023-0198 235 Shore Lane 11:00 am on Monday, November 20, 2023 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A Board of Variance application has been submitted for 235 Shore Lane (shown on figure) to reduce the setback to the sea for a retaining wall 2.4 metres high. The application states the retaining wall is to create a level garden area and to complete construction of the strata driveway.
November 14, 2023 1:00 pm Regular Council Meeting November 15, 2023 12:00 pm Municipal Hall closed for All Staff Forum
Water main flushing As part of its regular water system maintenance program, BIM will flush water mains in the Hood Point and Tunstall Bay water systems in November. Flushing takes place on week days between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. This procedure is necessary to remove sediment that gradually deposits in pipes, and it does not pose a health hazard.
November 20, 2023 11:00 am Board of Variance Meeting
Remembrance Day Closures
MORE INFORMATION: For more information, see our website or call 604-947-4255 ext 230 to make an appointment to speak to Daniel Martin, Manager of Planning and Development. Email: dmartin@bimbc.ca www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/planning/
While the water is not turned off during the flushing process, temporary water interruptions may occur and your water pressure could be low for periods of time. Every effort will be made to ensure that water quality is not affected, but some turbidity and higher than normal chlorine concentrations may be present for short periods of time. Running your tap briefly should clear this up.
Residents are advised to have additional water storage for urgent use during this time. YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME: Written submissions accepted up to 12:00 pm on Friday, November 17, 2023 and may be delivered to Municipal Hall by mail, by fax, in person or Alerts will be posted through the Alertable app and our website when flushing is taking place. by email to planning@bimbc.ca. Verbal submissions may also be made to the Board at the meeting www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/water-main-flushing/ either in person, or online via Zoom. For instructions on how to participate: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/board-of-variance/
Municipal Hall Closures
Monday, November 13 Wednesday, November 15, 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm Municipal Hall will be closed on two occasions this coming week. On Monday, in lieu of the Remembrance Day stat holiday, and on Wednesday afternoon to allow for all staff training and development. Two previous closures were specifically targeted towards staff who would be working in an Emergency Operations Centre in the event of a large scale emergency or disaster. On Monday, Council and Management underwent Crises Communication training. www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/staff-training/
Contact Bowen Island Municipality PAID ADVERTISEMENT November 10, 2023
Phone: 604-947-4255 Bowen Island Municipal Hall Fax: 604-947-0193 981 Artisan Lane Email: bim@bimbc.ca Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 Website: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca
Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday Closed statutory holidays
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bowenislandundercurrent.com • A3
Powerful ceremony in the Netherlands honours Indigenous soldiers SQUAMISH NATION COUNCILLOR WILSON WILLIAMS IS WORKING ALONGSIDE VETERAN AFFAIRS CANADA TO RECLAIM THE STORIES OF INDIGENOUS VETERANS MINA KERR-LAZENBY North Shore News / Local Journalism Initiative In the lead up to Remembrance Day on Saturday, Nov. 11, much of the country will be taking moments to pause and remember the work of the armed forces members who died in the line of duty. Among them were sacrifices made by First Nations, Métis and Inuit soldiers. Sacrifices, says Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) elected council member Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams), we would do well to remember. Last month, Williams returned from a trip to the Netherlands where he had been representing the Squamish Nation as part of Veteran Affairs Canada’s Indigenous Legacy Project. The initiative identifies and marks the graves of Indigenous soldiers who fought for the liberation of the Netherlands – one of Canada’s major contributions during the Second World War. “It’s a research- and remembrance-based initiative, to recognize, honour and educate on the Indigenous soldiers who sacrificed their lives,” said Williams, adding how, of all the “million-plus Canadians” who served in the Second World War, 3,000 of those were identified as Indigenous soldiers. Williams visited four cemeteries, one being the Holten Canadian War Cemetery where 17 Indigenous graves have so far been identified. Among those 17 lay Pte. Daniel Cheer, a Squamish Nation member and Williams’ distant relative.
“I think the project has done this in a good way, reconnecting soldiers with their families. Now we know Daniel Cheer was one of 30 Squamish Nation members who volunteered to serve overseas in the war, we know all his stories and all about who he was,” said Williams. A commemoration ceremony began at daybreak. A “sacred circle” where he and family members of the other Indigenous soldiers introduced themselves and shared the history of the serviceman they were connected to. It was a moving moment for all involved, he said, one made especially so when time came for him to share his own words. “I was one of the last two to speak and, by this time, it was brisk with only a slight drizzle. Just after I introduced myself the rain picked up like a storm,” he said. “Through our culture and teachings, when the weather changes dramatically or drastically, it’s telling us something. Mother Nature, the creator, was telling us that we were meant to be there. We were meant to be there to support each other, but not only that, visit our loved ones.” Prior to the creation of the Indigenous Legacy Project, no one had been to visit Cheer since he perished in action in 1945, said Williams. It was a similar story for many of the Indigenous soldiers buried there. As the family members laid down their offerings of flowers and tobacco upon the graves, Williams, wearing his Nation’s regalia and with drum in hand, took a quiet moment at Cheer’s final resting place. CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Marriage Commissioner
open house + info night
LEARN ABOUT THE IB MIDDLE YEARS, IB ASSESSMENT AND ISLAND PACIFIC SCHOOL . GRADES 6-9 . SMALLBYDESIGN
5:30PM - 7PM
TARO Meet Taro, this sweet old man has being coming into us recently for some health issues, he is always the sweetest with the most positive attitude. Patient care is very important to us and we strive to make our environment as enjoyable and stress free as possible for your furry friend.
The Vital Statistics Agency, Ministry of Health, is looking for an individual to serve as a Marriage Commissioner for Bowen Island. The individual will perform civil marriages within their community on behalf of the Agency. Applicants must reside on Bowen Island in order to be considered for this position. For information and an application form please visit our website at: gov.bc.ca/becoming-a-marriage-commissioner
671 CARTER ROAD, BOWEN ISLAND
REGULAR HOURS
Mon-Fri 9-5
CONTACT
Closed Sat & Sun
reception@bowenvet.com
604.947.9247
RSVP TODAY!
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VIEWPOINTS EDITORIAL
Remembrance Day Remembrance Day was the final ‘big’ Bowen event I had to experience since coming to the island, and the ceremony certainly reflected all that I’d heard in the weeks leading up to it. There were many powerful moments throughout the morning of November 11 last year, including poetry, music, singing, and even a a three-plane flyover. All perfectly led by our own Rev. Lorraine Ashdown, and made possible by the help of countless community members who both performed and showed up in numbers to the Snug Cove Cenotaph. Perhaps most moving was the wreath layings, and seeing the many community organizations, schools, groups, businesses, and individuals crafting a pile so large it buried the base of the monument in green and red. It was very touching, and by my count a good percentage of the town came out for it. Like last year, this Saturday’s ceremony takes place after the 10:50 am ferry sets sail for Horseshoe Bay, and I look forward to seeing many of you there again. In this week’s issue you’ll find several Remembrance Day stories. These include a historical look at a Bowen connection to World War II, and the importance of Indigenous veterans to Canada’s history. It’s critical to both remember and honour those who have served our country, and also continue the much-needed work that remains to make sure our veterans receive the care and support they need once their service is complete. Remembrance Day, along with the rest of the year, is a good time to consider all of these efforts. For now we’ll see you at the Cenotaph on Saturday, and perhaps after at post-ceremony events at the Museum and Legion too. - Alex Kurial, Editor THE WRITE STUFF. The Undercurrent encourages reader participation in your community newspaper. You must include your full name and a daytime phone number (for verification only). The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity, legality, brevity and taste. Please limit to under 500 words. HERE’S HOW: To submit a letter to the editor, fax 604-947-0148 or mail it to #102, 495 Bowen Island Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 or email editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com 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.
#102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0 Phone: 604.947.2442 Fax: 604.947.0148 bowenislandundercurrent.com DEADLINE for advertising Monday, 4 p.m. DEADLINE for editorial Tuesday 5 p.m. Bowen Island Undercurrent Subscription Rates: Mailed 1 year subscription on Bowen Island: $55, including GST. Within Canada: $85 including GST Newsstand (Single Copy) $1.50 per copy, including GST
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EDITOR Alex Kurial editor@bowenisland undercurrent.com
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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.
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bowenislandundercurrent.com • A5
VIEWPOINTS Fall Prevention Week
Dear Fellow Senior Citizens of Bowen Island, November is National Fall Prevention Month, and this week is National Fall Prevention Week, so it seems like a good time to ask you to think about falling, or, better still, not falling. The statistics about falling seniors are shocking – it’s an appallingly common way of ruining your life. This is the cheery punchline of the national awareness campaign: “Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults and onethird of those who fall will never return home.” Wow, spoiler alert. The campaign goes on to suggest ways to avoid falling. Half the suggestions involve exercise: keep moving, keep active, stay strong. Give yourself the same orders you once gave to teenagers - get off the couch, turn off the TV, go outside. (Bowen’s
SKY, Seniors Keeping Young, has a lot of programs to help you keep active and upright). Good nutrition is important. If you’re beginning to find it difficult to keep preparing good meals for yourself, you could consider the Snug Cove House Society’s Better Meals service. (Give Sue Ritchie a call at 604 947-0225). The other suggestions involve speaking to your physio or doctor: maybe you need a mobility device, maybe your meds make you lightheaded. Not all falling is disastrous – it seems you can fall a lot and still run a large country, for example - but the chances of complications while undergoing repairs after a bad fall are serious enough that you should do everything possible to avoid falling. Bowen’s own Dr. Stephen Kiraly, author and preventative care expert, says falls are not a normal part of aging, especially if you act to prevent them, but:
“Falls are the leading cause of serious injuries (for example, head injury, fractured hip) in older adults. Adults over 65 have nine times more fall injuries than those under 65.” “Falls can change your life and take away independence. 40 per cent of nursing home admissions are because of complications from a fall.” So, please do everything to avoid falling. You are important not just to your family, friends and neighbours, but also to the whole community. You are nurturers, caregivers, cheerleaders, entertainers, paid workers and volunteers, and your island needs you. This message brought to you by some elderly volunteers, the board of Snug Cove House Society: - Andy Powell-Williams, Holly Mackintosh, Rev. Lorraine Ashdown, Pernille Nielsen, Cindy Macleod, Graham Ritchie, Sheilagh Sparks, Lori Canning
w h a t . h o m e: A Universal Search for Belonging MATHILDE ROHR Cultural Connector / Hearth Gallery After being shown at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery last February, social practice artist Emily van Lidth de Jeude is presenting her immersive art installation, w h a t . h o m e, for the first time on Bowen, where it all began. This project is the result of the artist’s lifelong search for connection between people and place, and for understanding the intricate idea of what we define as home. Between 2017 and 2018, Emily filmed and interviewed thirty West Coast residents from different backgrounds in different landscapes. Facing the camera, they share to the artist and to the viewers their thoughts and experiences of political and racial tension, privilege, rental housing crisis, homelessness, immigration, displacement, and colonialism in South Coastal BC.
Though five years have passed since the initial making of this project, the issues brought up in people’s testimonies, interestingly remain collective issues today. “Longing for the landscapes of home and for a sense of belonging persists across all cultures and times, it seems, as does the damage to people, landscapes, and culture by colonialism,” says Emily. The installation consists of life-size video projections of these interviews on hanging fabrics. While visitors walk through the space, their movements and shadows become part of the whole experience. Emily seeks to create a space for people to engage with, in which they can as well engage with their own thoughts and experiences. Emily’s mission as an artist is to help change our society’s path to something more sustainable. Funded by the Canada Council of the Arts, w h a t . h o m e gives other people space to talk
about their own social, political, and ecological issues, as they relate to the idea of home. “Our experiences and struggles with home are as diverse as we are, and yet the conversation always comes down to the same thing: belonging. Home is where we belong, and belonging is what makes these issues matter,” says van Lidth de Jeude w h a t . home runs through Nov. 25. Emily will be at her exhibit on Friday, Nov. 10 from 6 to 8 pm. Find out more about her work at emilyartist.ca
CURRIE, Mary Reid Mary Reid Currie, May to her relatives and friends, died peacefully at Amica West Vancouver on 30th September 2023, aged 94, after a valiant struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. May was predeceased by her husband, James Currie, who died in 2007 on Bowen Island. She leaves a brother-in-law, Hector and his wife Lidia living in Scotland and other relatives and friends in Scotland, England, British Columbia, and the United States. May was born in Dunbartonshire, Scotland and emigrated to Vancouver in 1955, following her then boyfriend Jim who had emigrated from Ayrshire a year earlier. As Jim developed his career as an architect, over the years May took up several secretarial posts in the city. In Vancouver, May and Jim made life-long friends and became Canadian citizens. Proud of their Scottish heritage, they joined the Sons of Scotland and it could be truly said of May that you could take the girl out of Scotland but not Scotland out of the girl. In the 1960s, they bought a shore-front plot of land on Woods Road, Bowen Island for which Jim designed a cliff-side, 4-level house. As they continued to live and work in the city, building work took place on weekends. Their dedication and effort produced a stunning home for socialising and relaxing. May and Jim greatly enjoyed island life and made many lasting friendships, including at the badminton club, of which they were enthusiastic members. After a fall in 2017, May left the island and moved to Amica West Vancouver where she enjoyed Amica’s entertainment, events, bus trips, and activities that well-suited her sociable personality. She was greatly supported by her companion, Patricia Verdicchio, in making the most of her life at Amica. Latterly, Alzheimer’s took its toll on May. Her passing came quickly which was both a great sadness and a relief from her suffering. May was much loved and is greatly missed by relatives and friends in Canada and in the U.K.
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Discovering Paradise in your own Garden DANUTA ZWIERCIADLOWSKI Bowen Island Garden Club The Bowen Island Garden Club is pleased to present acclaimed Vancouver artist Glenn Lewis for a discussion and slide presentation of nine archetypal “paradise elements” of gardens, illustrated by his photographs of gardens from around the world. Lewis was a central figure in Vancouver’s prolific avant-garde art scene of the 1960s. Over time, he has become increasingly inspired by paradise myths, nature, and topiary, which in turn motivated his extensive travels around the world
photographing gardens, as well as his commitment to preserving rare and regional botany. Gardens are universal, but why do we actually create them? According to Lewis, gardens represent humankind’s first home, our primeval place in nature, allowing us to put aside “the world of red dust” (our busy workaday lives) and become free and focused in the natural world. Like the mythical Garden of Eden, which houses both the tree of knowledge and the tree of enlightenment, gardens in their ceaselessly changing seasons remind us of life’s impermanence and the endless cycle of birth and death. Lewis’ work has been exhibited extensively across Canada and abroad. Besides his work in multi-media,
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performance, and conceptual art, he is a gifted ceramicist, having studied under the master potter Bernard Leach in Cornwall, England in the early 1960s. Lewis has also enjoyed a career as an educator, arts administrator, and arts programmer. He has served on numerous boards and councils including the Vancouver Art Gallery Board of Directors and the Western Front Board of Directors. Glenn Lewis will present “Looking for Paradise: A Journey Through Nine Stages” at the Legion Hall on November 18 at 3:30 pm. Tea will be served following the talk and audience Q&A. Tickets are $5 at the door, with admission free for members of the Bowen Island Garden Club.
Glenn Lewis is the Garden Club’s November speaker. / Submitted photo
Head Start on Next Year A BIG MUDDY THANK YOU FROM THE ISLAND PACIFIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY! To everyone who ran the race, came out to cheer, sponsored a racer, donated to the auction, sponsored the event, donated food, supplies and volunteer time or donated funds. We are so grateful to everyone who participated in and donated to this event to support the Colin Ruloff Community Field House and ensure Island Pacific School is accessible to as many families as possible — thanks to you, our community — who support us.
ISLANDPACIFIC.ORG
Jared Washam works amending the soil and providing fresh nutrients for next year’s crops at Endswell Farm at the end of October. The farm’s Noah Pryce-Jones tells the Undercurrent they are planning another festival of lights this Christmas. The invitation to Santa has already gone out; the big guy was a hit at last year’s event. / Marcus Hondro photo
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The Snug Cove Cenotaph STEPHE PO Summer Student / Bowen Island Museum & Archives Perched in Snug Cove, along the high-traffic path to and from the hourly loadings at the ferry terminal, the Cenotaph has become enmeshed in the buzz of daily life and social relations on Bowen. It is a place where things are lost and found: a black leatherette Kodak Camera case in December 2007, and a pair of prescription glasses just the year before. It is a site of activity: like how in 1947, a flag was stolen from the memorial, promptly replaced, then stolen again, or 1985 when a concert took place near the cenotaph for Canada Day. Even in the summer, it was sitting in full view from the hot dog and burger stand just ten steps away on the wharf, a flash of white in the corner of my eye while in conversation with Jeff, stand keeper and cook. What was originally built as a public site for the community to remember and pay tribute to soldiers who were never able to return home, over the decades, the cenotaph has also come to blend into the periphery of Bowen’s landscape. It stands,
stock-still against the everyday flow of foot and car traffic, into and out of the marina parking lot or Bowen itself. But every year on November 11 the Cenotaph comes back into focus and reifies Bowen’s sense of community. In 1937 a dedication ceremony took place in Snug Cove to mark the opening of the new Cenotaph. Donated by members of Bowen Island’s Legion, Branch 150, the monument commemorates the five Bowen veterans killed in the Great War: Lewen Tugwell, Charles Redmond, Cameron Smith, Miles Green, and Norman Vickery. Inscribing the names of the fallen in a way that is local, public and visible. Keeping present in our minds that the large-scale destruction wrought by war is made up of an assemblage of direct personal losses — in big nations and large powerful empires, to a quiet island in the middle of Howe Sound with a population of 90. The Cenotaph remains a standing presence of the island’s intimate history with war since it was erected 63 years ago. The cenotaph was built by the hands of local people: the structure formed from an old army cot by Cameron Smith’s uncle, William Linklater Smith; concrete mixed by James Collins with the help of other
WE WILL REMEMBER
The Snug Cove Cenotaph during Bowen Island’s 2022 Remembrance Day ceremony. / Alex Kurial photo community members; pennies thrown into concrete by Cal Frost as it poured. When the Cenotaph, fenced and with an evergreen tree at each corner of the mon-
ument, was moved 25 yards down from its original spot by the water to dredge for the new marina, it was local hands who made it so.
LEST WE FORGET.
LEST WE FORGET: HONOURING THOSE WHO SERVED Excerpt: For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon
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Remembering our many Veterans
Friday, November 10, 2023
WWII ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY
KATHRYN GAITENS Curator / Bowen Island Museum & Archives Bowen Island Museum & Archives Remembrance Exhibit runs during the lead up to Remembrance Day on November 11, honouring those who have served Canada in times of war, conflict, and peace. A special highlight this year is a community loan from David and Louise McIntosh. It features the trunk and contents, a complete capsule of a soldier’s life, left to Dave from his uncle Andrew Guy Clunas who was a meticulous collector and who fought in World War II with the Seaforth Highlanders spending most of his time in Italy
and Holland. Organized and led by the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #150, the annual Remembrance Day ceremony is held at the cenotaph. The ceremony starts at 11 am, in-between ferry loadings. By the end of the ceremony and through daybreak the next morning, the cenotaph will be surrounded by wreaths and poppies laid at the foot by different Bowen Island families, organizations, schools, and businesses — an unmistakable image of tribute not to the violence of war, but to those who did not return home. Please join us at the museum after the ceremony at the Cenotaph, on your way to the Legion.
Some of World War II veteran Andrew Guy Clunas’ wartime gear. The items are featured in the Museum’s Remembrance Day exhibit. / Bowen Island Museum & Archives photo
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE BRAVE WHO GAVE FOR OUR FREEDOM
We are thankful for the courage and sacrifice of those who have servved om. to protect our freedo
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bowenislandundercurrent.com • A9
Indigenous Veterans Day held November 8 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
“I spent quite some time with our loved one there. I laid our Squamish Nation flag down over his grave site, and laid the offerings. I shared a song with him, and spoke prayer in our language. I spoke of connectivity, and being reunited, and said how his family in our community are thinking of him.” Williams said there is still “a long road to go” in terms of ensuring Indigenous soldiers are given the same recognition and respect as their comrades, but projects like Canada’s Indigenous Legacy Project are vital to bridging that gap. Education could be improved, he said, by having curriculum in schools include more engagement with Indigenous communities. He envisions a future where students can take part in an exchange program and spend a week or two in a country more connected with the Second World War. “War was never in our backyard. You go to Europe, and war is everywhere. Here we undermine the value and the commitment and the heart and the soul that went into going overseas,” he said. “We need to do more. We need to travel. We need to see what resources are out there from Veteran Affairs Canada, and bring these stories alive.” We should also, points out Williams, be giving just as much consideration to the
wounded, injured and sick servicemen who made it home. Following his time in the Netherlands in September, the Squamish Nation councillor visited Germany’s Dusseldorf for the closing ceremony of this year’s Invictus Games. Representing the Four Host First Nations, he gifted a ceremonial paddle to Team Germany and received the flag alongside Team Canada, taking the torch, as it were, and setting things in motion for the 12-day Invictus Games set to take place in Vancouver and Whistler in 2025. During an event at the Canada House a few days later, a visiting Prince Harry, founder of the games, asked Williams to make a speech. He would be the best person, the monarch explained, to touch on the importance of remembering those who had lost their lives in the line of duty. “I was quite overwhelmed, because I really wanted to do it right and in a good way, and really empower the heart of why we were all there,” said Williams. “I wanted to talk about how symbolic and uniting it is, those Games. But not only that, how much healing can be found in recognizing the soldiers that made it back, and recognizing the soldiers who didn’t.” Everybody is affected by war in one way or another, said Williams, and so all can be a voice and an ambassador, a witness to pay respects and “hold everybody up.”
Why We Remember
BOWEN CEREMONY SATURDAY MORNING AT 10:50 AM
BOWEN ISLAND LEGION, BRANCH 150 Every year on November 11, the Bowen community comes together to recognize Remembrance Day. This year’s ceremony will take place at the Snug Cove Cenotaph following the departure of the 10:50 am ferry. This solemn occasion holds deep significance for all of Canada and serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our veterans and the importance of preserving our shared history. Originally known as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day commemorates the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. It is a day to remember and honor the brave men and women who laid down their lives in the line of duty to defend our country and the values we hold dear. Beyond honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice, Remembrance Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to our living veterans. These individuals have served our nation with honor and courage, often enduring significant physical and emotional hardships. Recognizing their contributions is a way of expressing gratitude and support. Remembrance Day also plays a vital role
in educating younger generations about the history of Canada and the world. It allows us to teach children about the impact of war, the importance of peace, and the need to work together to prevent conflicts. In a diverse society like Canada, Remembrance Day serves as a unifying force. It brings people of all backgrounds and beliefs together to consider the values that bind us, and reflect on what it means to be Canadian. Remembrance Day emphasizes the promotion of peace, and ensuring that the horrors of war are never forgotten. By remembering the past, we hope to prevent the repetition of the mistakes and tragedies that have marred human history. As we gather at the Cenotaph in Snug Cove this Remembrance Day, let us reflect on the gravity of the occasion. Let us remember our veterans’ sacrifices and show our gratitude for their service. Let us educate ourselves and the generations to come about the importance of peace and unity. Together, we can ensure that the memories of those who gave their all for our country are never forgotten. The ceremony will be followed by a luncheon at the Legion Hall at 1267 Scarborough Road. All are welcome.
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NOVEMBER 11
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A10 • bowenislandundercurrent.com
Friday, November 10, 2023
Community Foundation Hopes 2023 Vital Conversations Report Inspires Islanders HENRY CAMPBELL Bowen Island Community Foundation From Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift — great artists need inspiration. The Bowen Island Community Foundation (the “Foundation”) hopes that the 2023 Vital Conversations Report inspires Boweners to take on new projects to improve their community. A “Vital Conversations Report” isn’t a muse (nor is it all that amusing). It’s an effort to understand what Bowen Islanders think their community has and what it needs. It’s a discussion with Islanders from as many walks of life as possible. What topics come up? Housing. Diversity. Healthcare.
Transportation. And many others were identified as areas of concern by the 2017 Vital Conversation report. The 2017 Report was referenced by the Foundation in all of its funding decisions over the last six years. It helped create many great resources for Boweners of all ages including playgrounds, disc golf courses, festivals, seniors activities, gardens, and affordable housing projects. It was referenced by the Bowen Island Municipality and other charitable organizations. We invite all community-minded Bowen Islanders to join us at Doc Morgan’s on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 2:30 to 4 pm to celebrate the release of the 2023 Vital Conversations Report. The Foundation will discuss the Report and its contents briefly, but the main objective is to bring like-minded Islanders together to help strengthen the Bowen
Bowen Island Community Foundation community, and to hopefully plant the seed of an idea for the island’s next great project.
Remembering the service and sacrifice of the Danish Resistance members and their families.
With loving respect from Pernille Nielsen and family.
LEST WE FORGET
Lest We Forget NOVEMBER 11, 2023
YOU’RE INVITED! The Bowen Island Community Foundation is proud to share the 2023 Vital Conversations Report. Join us for refreshments and discussion of the things that matter most to Bowen Islanders. EVENT DETAILS: BICF’s Vital Conversations Report Launch Saturday, November 18 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM AT DOC MORGAN’S PLEASE RSVP AT: bit.ly/VitalConversationsRSVP
Thank you to all who fought for our freedom and to those who continue to serve to defend it.
JORDAN STURDY
MLA | WEST VANCOUVER SEA TO SKY 604-894-9403 Jordan.Sturdy.MLA@leg.bc.ca JordanWestVanSeatoSky @jordansturdy Jordan Sturdy A message from your local MLA
Friday, November 10, 2023
bowenislandundercurrent.com • A11
Monsoon Madness Mudder
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More photos from Saturday’s event can be found by scanning the QR code.
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A12 • bowenislandundercurrent.com
Friday, November 10, 2023
Fix-It Fair returns for Fall session DAVE POLLARD Regenerative Bowen Island The Fix-It Fair folks will once again bring together a fantastic team of volunteers offering their expertise in repairing broken appliances, electronics, and bikes, and mending clothing and other fabric items, free of charge. Watch the “fixers” at work, ask them questions about what they do and how you can keep your things in good order, and help extend the life and use of your possessions and keep them out of the landfill. They’ll be at Bowen Island Community School gym (1041 Mount Gardner Road) on Sunday, Nov. 12 from Noon to 3 pm. Enjoy a hot cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate as you watch them at work (bring your own mug to help make this a zerowaste event). And please ensure items to be fixed are clean when you bring them in. Hope to see you and your repair-worthy items there!
Deep thanks to the BICS Community School Association for sponsoring the event, which is organized by Paola Qualizza and the gang at Regenerative Bowen Island, a non-profit society dedicated to creating a more resilient and connected community here on Bowen — including running Bowen’s Fix-It Fairs since 2015!
Helping hands at a past Fix-It Fair. / Paola Qualizza photo
Congratulations to local artist Raghu Karkala Vasudevaiah for winning the Community Quilt raffled off to raise funds for the Colin Ruloff Community Field House at Island Pacific School. This spring, the Bowen Island Fiber Arts Guild invited community members to sew a block to contribute to this quilt, and then guild members trimmed, sewed and sandwiched the layers to finish this queen size beauty. It has been hanging in the Annie Laurie Annex for the past two months for all to see. The goal was to sell 500 tickets and I’m happy to say that all 500 tickets were sold. Together we raised $5,000 to donate to the newly built Field House which is for student and community use. A heartfelt thank you goes to each person that contributed to this project and also to all of our community for buying tickets and cheering on this wonderful project. / Charmaine Heffelfinger photo
Guess who is coming to town?
~ and he needs your help! to set up Christmas lights & displays, wear a Christmas costume to be a part of Santas’ team & help with the annual community Christmas party. Interested in helping? Text Basia: 778-957-0947 or Email: basialieske@gmail.com
Ho Ho Ho ~ Merry Christmas
Places of Worship Welcome You BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH www.biuc.ca | 1122 Miller Road
FOOD BANK
Sunday Worship 10:30 am Rev. Lorraine Ashdown
DROP-OFF
778-688-2061
OFFICE HOURS WEDNESDAY 10-4 OR BY APPOINTMENT
ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Sunday Mass at 9.30
Contact Angela Powell 604-947-2515
CATES HILL CHAPEL
www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260 (661 Carter Rd.)
Sunday Worship 10:00 Rev. Phil Adkins SHIRAT HAYAM (Song of the Sea) BOWEN’S JEWISH COMMUNITY Shabbat Gatherings ~ Holidays Contact aryana.rayne@gmail.com • www.shirathayam.ca
Queen of Capilano Ferry Schedule NEW OCTOBER 10 - MARCH 31 2024 DEPART BOWEN ISLAND
DEPART HORSESHOE BAY
5:50 am 5:20 am - except Sundays 6:50 am 6:20 am 8:00 am 7:30 am 9:05 am - except Wednesdays 8:35 am 10:15 am 9:40 am 11:25 am 10:50 am 12:35 pm 12:00 pm 2:20 pm 1:10 pm 3:30 pm 2:55 pm 4:35 pm 4:00 pm - except Wednesdays 5:45 pm 5:10 pm 6:50 pm 6:15 pm 8:00 pm - except Saturdays 7:25 pm - except Saturdays 9:00 pm 8:30 pm 10:00 pm 9:30pm 10:30 pm Note: Schedules subject to change without notice Schedule changes on statutory holidays. Please check BCFERRIES.COM
Friday, November 10, 2023
CALENDAR
Friday, November 10 Night Market at BICS A new Night Market at Bowen Island Community School (BICS), featuring many vendor tables, music, food and drink. Runs from 5 to 9 pm. Saturday, November 11 Remembrance Day Ceremony Held at the Snug Cove Cenotaph. Begins following the departure of the 10:50 am ferry. A luncheon will be held at the Bowen Island Legion following the ceremony. Sunday, November 12 Book Donation at the Library Friends of BI Library Society accepting books from 10 am to Noon at Library Annex. Accepting primarily novels and childrens books, however will consider other categories based on relevancy and book condition. Also Nov. 26. Sunday, November 12 Fall Fix-It Fair Bringing your broken appliances, electronics, bikes and clothing and our team of “fixers” will do our best to give them a new lease on life, free of charge. In the BICS gym from Noon to 3 pm, hosted by Regenerative Bowen Island and sponsored by Community School Association. Sunday, November 12 Community Groups Day Bowen Island Community School Association is hosting a Community Groups Day at the BICS gym from Noon to 3 pm. This free event is an opportunity for any non-profit, choir, casual group, or charity to highlight their vision, mission and activities to entice new members and perhaps find new board members. If your group would like to participate
bowenislandundercurrent.com • A13 please contact bowencsa@gmail.com Tuesday, November 14 Bowen Island Yacht Club AGM We’re wrapping up our 2023 year w/ BIYC Annual General Meeting, which will be held at Doc Morgan’s downstairs. Social & food at 6 pm, meeting starts at 7. Please RSVP to membershipbiyc@gmail.com to attend in-person or for Zoom link. Come hear about our exciting year building a community of sailors, and share the journey moving forward! Thursday, November 16 TAG Flow Paint Workshop Join TAG (Thurs. Art Group) to discover Flow Paint. Members - no charge, guests $10. Please RSVP to Marie@ marieneys.com as there are some supplies you need to bring from home. Looking forward to seeing you! Happening 9:30 am to Noon at Collins Hall. Saturday, November 18 French Connections at the Library Drop in and join us to practice your conversational French, and get to know other French speakers on Bowen Island! The focus is on beginner and intermediate speakers, but all levels are welcome. We meet 10:30 to 11:30 am but participants are welcome to stay longer if the conversation is still rolling! bipl.ca/French Saturday, November 18 Garden Club Speaker Series Talk with Bowen resident Glenn Lewis, “Looking for Paradise: A Journey Through Nine Stages. 3:30 pm at the Legion, more info on Page 6. Tuesday, November 21 SKY Trek to Granville Island Bowen Island residents 55+ are invited to join Seniors Keeping Young to Granville Island. Participation limited, please email info@skyonbowenisland.ca to register. Transportation free on bus, guests pay for admission and
Seniors know a lot, but there’s always more to learn.
restaurant costs. Leave 8:35 am ferry, return 5:45 pm ferry. Thursday, November 23 Gather for Games with SKY Fun and brain-stimulating games for 55+. Join us for games and boost your memory and cognitive health, while meeting new people! Coffee and tea available. Free, drop-in (SKY membership not required). 1:30 to 3:30 pm at the Library. 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 Bowen Bridge 1:30 to 4:30 pm at Bowen Court. Fee $5 per person per session. Your place must be arranged by email no later than 6 pm on Monday. To make your booking or to seek more information, please email bowcates04@gmail.com WEDNESDAYS Storytime at the Library A free, drop-in program of stories and songs for 2-4 yearolds and their caregivers! Runs thru Dec. 13, from 10:30 to 11 am. bipl.ca/storytime THURSDAYS Babytime at the Library A free, 1/2 hr drop-in program of songs, books, and rhymes for babies 0-18 months and their caregivers! At 11:30 am, thru Dec. 7. Join us afterwards, at 12 pm, for a casual baby & caregiver social hour in the Annex. Thursday Art Group (TAG) Meetings If you are a creative and wish to join others, come see what’s new! The Thursday Art Group meets 9 am to Noon every Thursday to paint, sketch, draw and create. Always welcoming new members. For more info contact Shannon at shannonrondeau@shaw.ca
Help ensure your later years are safe and secure by learning about programs, services, and information available for seniors. Canada.ca/seniors 1 800 O-Canada
Friday, November 10, 2023
A14 • bowenislandundercurrent.com
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$12 per week
Friday, November 10, 2023
bowenislandundercurrent.com • A15
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Friday, November 10, 2023
A16 • bowenislandundercurrent.com
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