Bowen Island Undercurrent

Have you got your popcorn ready? The full running list for the North Shore News’ first ever film festival has been selected, and you can rest assured there is something on the screen for all manner of cinephiles.

More than 20 films that showcase the vibrant and diverse filmmaking talent of the North Shore and Sea to Sky community have been chosen for the inaugural Coast Mountain Film Festival, with films set to be screened all across the North Shore, from the Kay Meek Arts Centre in West Vancouver to North Vancouver’s Centennial Theatre

Split into five categories, the locally made movies will spanNorthShoreProfiles,DarkComedies,Environmental, Dramatic Shorts and a special Canadian film festival premiere of feature film Krow’s TRANSformation.

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Events

AllCouncilmeetingsareopen tothepublictoattendin personorelectronically,unless notedotherwise.

February 26, 2024

1:00 pm

RegularCouncilMeeting

SeekingPublicComment SeekingPublicComment

DVP20230300(1673EvergreenLane)

RegularCouncilMeeting

1:00pmonMonday,February26,2024

PROJECTDESCRIPTION:

ADevelopmentVariancePermitapplicationhasbeensubmittedfor 1673EvergreenLane(shownonmap)toreassignsideandrearlotline setbacksforanewsinglefamilydwelling

Theapplicantswishtoconstructasinglefamilydwellingwithina requiredrearsetbackarea Therequestistoreducetheminimum rearsetbackfrom75mto30m Theminimumsidesetbackwillbe increasedfrom30mto75m Staffintroducedtheapplicationto CouncilattheJanuary22,2024CouncilMeeting

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Drive runoff and culvert cleaning

ToensuresafetravelonBowenIsland’sroadways,BIMasksallproperty ownerstocontrolrunofffromtheirpropertyontotheroadandto ensureculvertsareclearofdebris.

Propertyownersareresponsibleforkeepingtheseculvertsclearto reducetheriskoffloodingundertheBowenIslandMunicipalityTraffic andUseofStreetsBylaw,No 133,2005 Formoreinformation,please contactBylawServicesat604-947-4255ext2oremailbylaw@bimbcca

February23,2024

DVP20220282(1104&1108FoxgloveLane) RegularCouncilMeeting

1:00pmonMonday,February26,2024

PROJECTDESCRIPTION:

BIMhasreceivedanapplicationforaDevelopmentVariancePermit toallowforincreasedfloorareatotwolotstobeconsolidatedanda fourplextobebuiltonthesite Thecurrentamendedapplicationwould seekanincreaseintheFloorSpaceRatio(FSR)permittedinthezone fromtheallowed085toamaximumof1022FSR

ThisapplicationwasoriginallyintroducedtoCouncilattheMay8,2023 RegularCouncilMeeting.Theapplicanthassubsequentlyamended theirapplicationtoreducethescopeofthevariancerequested. MunicipalstaffintroducedtheamendedapplicationtoCouncilatthe January22nd,2024meeting.

MOREINFORMATIONATMUNICIPALHALL:

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BIMwillbeflushingwatermainlinesstartingSaturday,February24,for aboutsixweeksrotatingthroughneighbourhoods

Someneighbourhoodsmayexperiencelowwaterpressure,othersmay experienceatemporaryshutoff.Alwayshavewatersetasideforurgent use.

wwwbowenislandmunicipalityca/cove-bay-water-system-flushing/

Festival highlights North Shore & Sea to Sky film talent

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Directed by Bowen Island’s Gina Hole Lazarowich and released in March last year, Krow’s TRANSformation follows the transition of male model Krow Kian, from his final shoot as a female model to walking the runway for Louis Vuitton at Paris Fashion Week as a trans man.

Lazarowich, who grew up in West Vancouver before raising her own family in Deep Cove in North Vancouver, said she was “honoured and excited” to be part of a festival that highlights local talent and local stories The film also features longtime North Vancouver resident Kas Baker, who is highlighted as both a friend and mentor figure to Kian.

“It is wonderful to celebrate and have a platform for our local talent here,” said Lazarowich “I found that when applying to Canadian film festivals they mostly included films from everywhere else, and not locals in their backyard. So to actually have a festival that celebrates our filmmakers here is just fantastic,” she said.

Lazarowich now lives on the island, and may be known to some around Bowen - certainly in Bowen Bay - following her Grinch-themed Christmas decorations this winter In addition to lighting up the neighbourhood, the display also raised food and funds for the local United Church

Krow’s TRANSformation screens Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 pm at the Kay Meek Art Centre. It’s a fitting venue for the director who says she’s now coming full circle: Lazarowich performed roles both on and off-stage as part of the theatre program at West Vancouver Secondary School before

attending the film and television program at Capilano University to continue her craft.

Well-known Bowen nature filmmaker Bob Turner also has a showing at the festival with My Adventures with the Wild of Home. Turner’s film is billed as “a personal retrospective on the wild nature Bob has encountered over his 35 years on and around Nexwlélexwm/Bowen Island - from sea lions and whales, sea stars and surf scoter, to forest slugs and beaver”

Director Mary-Jo Dionne pointed out her film Never Broken, a work based on Dionne’s TEDx Talk that aims to debunk the myth that single-parent-led families are “broken,” was only made possible thanks to an “overwhelming number of enormously generous people” from Deep Cove.

“Film lovers deserve exposure to local film talent, because it is robust here on the North Shore,” said Dionne, who co-directed the film with fellow North Shore director Jeff Macpherson.

“I don’t feel there exists the understanding of what projects our own neighbours are embarking on, in our own backyards, and how meaningful and impactful these projects are We live in an area so rich in creative talent, we need more of these types of opportunities.”

With the North Shore’s long-standing relationship with film – being home to both the Capilano University film school and several award-winning studios and filmmakers – it came as no surprise that the festival received an overwhelming response of more than 40 submissions, said North Shore News publisher and festival

SHORT-TERMRENTALSURVEY

WhatshouldwedoaboutShort-TermRentalsonBowen?

CouncilisconsideringwhetherornottoadoptProvinciallegislationtorestrict Short-TermRentals(STR)toprincipalresidences

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Provideyourfeedbackviaanonlinesurvey PapercopiesavailableatMunicipalHall

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curator Matt Blair.

Blair said the film festival was initiated to help the industry which, between the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent film strikes, has tackled difficult times in recent years

“Many local filmmakers haven’t had the opportunity to showcase their work on the big screen. I felt the North Shore News had an opportunity and obligation to help if we could,” he said.

The opportunity to influence and deliver important messages to a local audience is one grasped with both hands by many of the participating filmmakers, especially those who are hoping to incite change with their directorial offerings

Farhan Umedaly, whose film HA NII TOKXW: Our Food Table dives into the conservation efforts of British Columbia’s Gitanyow Nation, said he hopes his film will inspire the North Shore community to have meaningful discussions around Indigenous rights and environmental protections.

Umedaly said the festival is beneficial for North Shore directors because they can “support one another on projects that can make a positive impact in the world.”

“Filmmaking brings communities together, and I am so glad this is happening in my hometown,” he said.

The Coast Mountain Film Festival runs March 29-April 18 at various theatres across the North Shore Visit the film festival’s website (https://shop.nsnews.com/) for the full line-up and to reserve tickets.

*With files from Alex Kurial

JOINTHEOCPCOMMITTEE

BeamemberoftheOfficialCommunityPlan(OCP)SteeringCommittee YouaskedustoreviewtheOfficialCommunityPlan(OCP).Weheardyou.

BIMisembarkingonamulti-yearprocesstoreviewandupdatetheOfficialCommunity Plan(OCP).Thisprocesswillincludeextensiveengagementandconsultationwith membersofthepublic,Committees,CouncilandBIMstaff TheOCPisacomprehensive planthatdefinespublicpolicyintermsoftransportation,utilities,landuse,recreation, housing,business,environmentandmore.

CouncilisseekingmembersofthecommunitythatreflectthediversityofBowenIsland toserveinavolunteercapacityontheOCPSteeringCommittee.Timecommitment willincludemonthlymeetingsalongwithbreak-outWorkingGroupsessionsandother taskwork.It’sanimportantjobandCouncilwillneedhandson,sleevesrolledup participation.

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Friday, February 23, 2024

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EDITORIAL

Leap Year

For those keeping track, 2024 is one of those special years where we receive a whole extra day to enjoy. Yes the Leap Year has come back around, and along with it 24 more hours of possibilities. While it may seem like just another Thursday in February, as we all know time is very precious, so be sure to take at least a bit of the day to do something you really love And don’t be surprised if someone mentions the usually-absent February 29 in conversation.

In another example of Bowen following you wherever you go, I was in the concession line at Rogers Arena (still GM Place to me aka The Garage) for the Canucks game on Saturday when I heard my name called out It was another Bowen resident who had headed into town for the game, and we exchanged excitement over the prospect of the game ahead. Sadly neither of us got the result we wanted (hopefully by the time this paper is out Vancouver will have bumped their little slump with a win over Seattle), but I am always happily surprised at how often these encounters seem to happen

The first time this happened was at the Saltery Bay Ferry Terminal on the Sunshine Coast less than a year after moving here I thought it was a complete fluke, despite the lovely Bowen family explaining to me this happens much more often than you would think.

And it turns out they were right Since then I’ve run into Bowen folks all over while on the mainland, from Deep Cove to downtown and many more spots along the way. I am becoming less and less surprised by these chance encounters, and in fact almost a little disappointed when I take a trip and they don’t happen.

They are heartening meetings, and remind me why I like small communities as opposed to cities where you could walk a long time without crossing paths with someone you know. While they’re likely completely random (aside from maybe the grocery store runs), I think there’s also something that draws the people on this rock together now and then, even when away from home. So, see you out there next trip!

- Alex Kurial, Editor

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A Better Method of Testing

Goodbye, pap. Hello, HPV swab.

In medical school nearly 20 years ago, I learned what a pap smear was and why it was an important tool to screen for cervical cancer It was an invasive test, time consuming for everyone involved and at the time I wondered why a better test didn’t exist. Well, it took nearly 20 years but we finally have a better test than the pap! Goodbye, pap and hello HPV swab!

The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) swab is a new cervical cancer screening tool that is more accurate than the pap at detecting the virus that causes cervical cancer The HPV swab is also much easier to do - it’s a self-swab that can be done from the comfort of your own home Self-swab kits can be ordered online or by telephone through BC Cancer and are mailed out within 4-6 weeks.

The science behind the test is solid and I’m so excited to be a part of the roll out of this initiative on Bowen Island There are many people who avoid cervical cancer screening because the pap can be difficult to obtain, requires persons to take time away from home or work obligations and for persons who have experienced past trauma – it is something they often avoid Add in the additional time required for Bowen Islanders to access this care off-island and the barriers to getting properly screened are even greater

Q: Who should be getting the HPV self-swab?

Any person with a cervix, ages 25-69 when they would be otherwise due for cervical cancer screening (ie 3 years after your last pap or 5 years after your last HPV swab) should get the HPV swab done Note: if someone used to have a cervix (ie. they’ve had a hysterectomy) they should speak with their Doctor or Nurse Practitioner about whether they too should be screened with the HPV swab

Q: Who should NOT be getting an HPV self-swab?

Anyone with the following symptoms should contact their Doctor or Nurse Practitioner to investigate the symptoms properly and should not rely on an HPV self-swab to rule out concerning causes for their symptoms

Symptoms include: unexplained vaginal bleeding, spotting after sex or between periods, any bleeding after menopause, unexplained pelvic pain, pain during sex or vaginal discharge changes

Anyone who has had serious abnormalities on their pap in the past should speak with their Doctor or Nurse Practitioner about whether a self-swab is the best first test for them.

Q: What does a self-swab entail?

A self-swab is a remarkably simple test If you can use a Q-tip in your ear, you can manage to self-swab the vagina. It takes only 20 seconds to complete and is then mailed back to BC cancer for processing. For some persons with different abilities, it may be difficult to self-swab so your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner can certainly help collect samples if this is an issue for you.

Q: What if I don’t have a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner? Can I still do cervical cancer screening?

You do not need a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner to opt into the self-swab screening program Anyone ages 25-69 who has ever had a cervix, can self-screen by requesting a kit from BC Cancer. Kits can be requested by telephone 1-877-702-6566 or online at http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/cervix

The Bowen Island Community Health Centre has signed on as a partner in this program with BC Cancer as a place persons can go for follow-up testing after HPV self-swabs or for assistance collecting samples regardless of whether these persons have a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner in the clinic.

If you want to read more about the science behind the HPV swab and why it’s a much better screening test for cervical cancer please visit What is Cervix Self-Screening? (bccancer bc ca) or speak with your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner about it

I just ordered my own kit from BC Cancer and am so excited to be sharing this revolutionary update in cervical cancer screening with Bowen Islanders!

Finally, a better test than the pap!

Please stay tuned for an update on the HPV vaccine – the vaccine that prevents cervical cancer and many head and neck cancers. More information coming soon!

- Dr. Lindsay Downey Family Doctor, Person with a cervix, Bowen Island Community Health Centre

Decisions, decisions This Crow, photographed by Lynne Peters, had to decide between hopping a free trip on the ferry, or heading over to the Pub. With the sun shining on a sunny February afternoon, either choice was sure to yield good results.

The CSA & You

The Community School Association (CSA) was first formed in 1974. Almost half a century ago, the school was located at the site on Millers Road, where Howarth Hall/ Bowen Court is now located. A group of locals looked into the future to envision a school that would meet the growing needs of the community.

The Community School model was adopted, and BICS (Bowen Island Community School) was built as a joint-use facility on the current site, and opened in the 1980 school year As a fun-Heritage Week fact: BICS used to be home to the Bowen Public Library (which is now located at the Old General Store in the Cove.)

Bowen Island Community School is a K-Grade 7 elementary school, that additionally is a site for outside of school-use-time for community and recreational use The CSA supports the Community School as a hub of the community.

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($85

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CSA welcomes new members

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The CSA continues to meet approximately eight times per year, and helps to support the community use and access of the site and all aspects of the community school model, including lifelong learning and assets that improve and activate the use of the site

A few examples include providing rental subsidy and supports to local, grassroots organization that are investing in the community, such as the inclusive Songwriter’s Circle, safety education, and local neighbourhood and environmental groups

Outside-of-school (OST) programs are often supported by the CSA, such as parenting, safety and free and low-charge lifelong learning programs Examples include the Homework Club, the Garden and nutrition programs, Seed Library and more The Community School Association fundraises through grant writing, Bowen Island Recycling Depot, and the wellknown CSA Christmas Craft Fair, which is an island tradition!

BICS has its own stage, lights, a kitchen, portable speakers and mic system, additional playground equipment, special-event folding tables and chairs and many more assets thanks in part to the fundraising and support of the Community School

Association, which works independently as a registered charitable association, and in partnership with the BICS PAC and other community partners.

The CSA needs a few more members to join the board to keep all of its good work going, and to continue to develop the vision of the future of the community school, and all the ways that it will be one of the hubs of the community.

If you are a former BICS student, a Bowen ‘old-timer’ , a high school student wanting grad credits, or a new resident of Bowen who would like to make connections on-island and be part of an important organization, the CSA is welcoming new members willing to give 4-12 hours a year to support the board.

The next meeting will be on Monday, March 11, from 6 to 7 pm, at BICS in the nonfiction library room Everyone in the community is welcome to attend for coffee and pizza and a 20 to 30 minute information session and meet and greet, and then are invited to stay to attend the regular meeting. Meetings are usually 40 to 60 minutes For more information please write to bowencsa@gmail.com

- Helen Wallwork CSA Co-Chair

/ Submitted photo

FOOD BANK DROP-OFF

WEDNESDAY 10-4 OR BY APPOINTMENT

Sunday Worship 10:00

Rev. Phil Adkins

Contact aryana.rayne@gmail.com • www.shirathayam.ca

Helen Wallwork (left), CSA Co-Chair and Community School Coordinator, with Sarah Haxby, (both former Bowen Island Community School students), celebrating BICS, BC Heritage Week, and the Community School Association.

Mini Art inspires Mini Artists

SARAH HAXBY Community School Coordinator / BICS

As a community connection cultural learning experience, six Bowen Island Community School classes visited the Hearth’s Mini Gala exhibit

Students learned about local artists and had the challenging task of choosing one of the almost 80 artworks as their inspiration piece. Back in the classroom students reflected on what inspires them and created their own artworks on canvases, thanks to a generous donation from Opus Art supplies

Looking at the artworks, can you tell which Mini Gala artist the students were inspired by? You can find out by viewing the works on the Hearth website, or coming to see the gallery in person.

January’s Home Sales on Bowen Island

AFTER NO HOMES SOLD IN DECEMBER, 2024 STARTED OFF WITH SALES ACROSS THE ISLAND

ALEX KURIAL

Editor

The island real estate market began the new year with three sales in the first month, spanning from east to west to south.

The early mark for high sale of 2024 is $1 849 million for a three-bedroom, three-bathroom home at 1743 Bowen Bay Road. The 30-year old home sitting on 0.68acres lasted less than a week on the market before a buyer was secured.

Inside the three-storey house, totalling 2,655 square feet, are picture windows looking out to Bowen Bay – which sits just a short walk across the street The property is also home to an expansive garden, hot tub, and a coach house with a pair of bedrooms

On the opposite side of the island sits the second-highest sale of the month, a fellow three-bed, three-bath home at 360 Creek Road The sale of the two-decade old home closed for $1 29 million after 20 days of listing.

The 2,349 square foot home includes several flex rooms, a wood fireplace, and a newly remodeled ensuite. Outside on the half-acre property sits a yoga studio, hot tub, and large covered deck area The

south-facing home is also down the road from Scarborough Beach.

Sitting on the edge of the Bowen Island Golf Course is 929 Fairway Lane The threebed, four-bath home on the very appropriately named road sold for $1.284 million spent 53 days on the market before being snapped up The youngest of January’s sales, the 2011-build is 2,362 square feet on a 0.2acre plot of land.

The cul-de-sac home faces south and provides views to the ocean and golfing action (including the course lake) below The house is currently setup with a separated suite which can either serve as a rental option or be utilized for a fourth bedroom

The new year also brought Gambier Island’s first sale, a five-acre property known as Lot 24 at the Fircom Plateau community The land sold for $369,000 after 124 days of being available

While there’s no permanent structures at the moment a trailer was included in the sale which can be used to stay in while a home or cabin is built The entrance off Hope Point Road also sits close to the Halkett Bay Marine Provincial Park on the island’s east side.

Note* Dates are based off day of reported sale

1743 Bowen Bay Road was January’s top sale at $1.849 million (above). And perched atop the Golf Course, 929 Fairway Lane sold for $1.284 million. / Zealty.ca photos

Scientists to study impacts of gas flaring at Squamish LNG plant

THE SATELLITE EMISSIONS DATA FROM LNG FACILITIES ALREADY BUILT OUTSIDE OF B.C. WILL HELP THE RESEARCHERS MODEL HOW FLARING COULD SPREAD A NUMBER OF POLLUTANTS ACROSS THE HOWE SOUND REGION

STEFAN LABBÉ Glacier Media

A group of scientists have launched a two-year study looking at how flaring at a natural gas export terminal slated to be built near Squamish, B.C., could affect the health of people across the region.

The look into how much air pollution Woodfibre LNG could emit will begin outside Canada Backed with funding from the federal government, researchers will draw on more than a decade of satellite data measuring air pollution at similar liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals across the world. They will then compare that number with emissions industry said it released.

“We’ve seen that in some cases, more flaring has occurred than what the proponents were saying,” said Laura Minet, an assistant professor in civil engineering at the University of Victoria.

Gas flaring at LNG export facilities occurs by burning excess methane the main component of natural gas as it’s processed into a liquid for transport overseas. According to Woodfibre LNG, flaring can occur at high and low pressures during the course of maintenance, testing, ship loading and emergencies

Minet, who is leading the project, said that at some LNG facilities built in the U.S. and Australia over the last decade, outside observers have seen a big gap in flaring-related air pollution reported by industry and what was measured on the ground. But no systematic analysis has ever captured the full scope of what is happening

While the number of new LNG export facilities has spiked in the past decade, so too has scientists’ understanding of how flaring affects human health.

“The fact is, if there’s population close to flaring, and flaring that appears very often, we can highly suspect health impacts on the population,” said Minet.

Environmental studies backed by Woodfibre’s proponents

10 years ago showed limited exposure within a 10-kilometre radius of the facility, said the UVic researcher

But Squamish is much closer to the Woodfibre project site than others built in Australia and the U.S., and with a temperature inversion in the region, pollutants could be forced to the ground and travel much further, Minet said.

Pollutants from flaring in the Squamish region could theoretically extend to the entire Salish Sea, according to Tim Takaro, a physician and researcher at Simon Fraser University.

“Sometimes the air mass will extend all the way to Vancouver and you know, the whole basin. And sometimes it’s more limited,” said Takaro, who will assess flaring’s potential impact on human health.

“It really depends on the weather”

The satellite emissions data from LNG facilities already built outside of B.C. will help the researchers get a better idea on how pollution from flaring could spread around Howe Sound.

In a second phase of the study, modelling experts from Texas A&M and the University of Toronto will project the dispersion of a number of pollutants from Woodfibre LNG, including fine particulate matter (PM2 5), nitrous oxides and ozone

Takaro said there’s already evidence flaring can impact birthweight and infant mortality. He said they will also provide best- and worse-case scenarios on how chronic exposure to the pollutants could impact rates of asthma and premature death

“We want to break through the industry deception and get a real number,” Takaro said, noting “widely reported” gaps in pollution levels seen in U.S jurisdictions that host LNG export facilities.

Takaro also pointed to a recent study that found levels of air pollutants over the Alberta oil sands were more than 6,300 times higher than industry reported.

Sean Beardow, a spokesperson for the project, said

“Woodfibre LNG is designed to minimize the need for flaring and will only flare in emergency situations or during certain maintenance procedures”

“During the regulatory process, it was determined that there would be no significant impact to local air quality due to the operation of the Woodfibre LNG facility,” he added.

Both Minet and Takaro said the regulatory approvals for the project used normal operating conditions as a baseline for flaring pollution. Their analysis will take a deeper look at the first year of operation, which tends to lead to a spike in pollution, as well as emissions when the facility is serviced

“Estimates of the emissions do seem to vary quite widely,” said Michael Schwandt, a medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health

Schwandt said the health authority is collaborating on the study to provide insights into the health of local communities Should the research come back with warnings to public health, the authority also hopes to roll out protective measures.

Preliminary results on the gap between industry reported and satellite data is expected within a year. Modelling of how flaring pollution could disperse from Woodfibre LNG across the region could come as early as 2026.

That puts the researchers in a race against the Woodfibre’s proponents, who have yet to be granted all their environmental certificates

A decade after initial environmental approvals were handed to several LNG export facilities in B C , the scientific research into the health impacts of flaring have advanced, offering a new level of external scrutiny, said the researchers

Takaro said what they learn on the Woodfibre LNG study will inform several other facilities up for approval as far away as Kitimat, B.C

“Unlike all the previous projects, we’re going to be watching and they know it,” he said.

Friday, February 23,

CALENDAR

Saturday, February 24

SKY Mahjong

Players 55+, all skill levels welcome From 1 to 3:30 pm

Contact info@skyonbowenisland.ca for details and/or to reserve your seat at a game table for this week At Seniors Cottage on Cardena Drive.

Sunday, February 25

Book Donation Day at the Library

10 am until volunteers’ bins are full (no later than 12 pm). A volunteer will pre-screen your donations while you wait and will accept those that meet donation guidelines Donors will need to take back any items that do not meet the guidelines Primarily looking for novels and children’s books Find out more at bipl.ca/donatebooks

Monday, February 26

Hearing Aid Clean & Check

Come to the Blue Cottage on Cardena Drive in the Cove for this free SKY service, in partnership with Hearing Life. 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, call 604-281-3691 for an appointment

Monday, February 26

Rotary Speaker Series

Our guest speaker is Alan Whitehead, Warden of Bowen’s Ecological Reserve since 1994. Alan’s talk will be on The Protected Areas of Bowen Island - An Overview He will provide a description of the types of protected natural areas that currently exist on the island and where they are located. Then he will look at opportunities to further strengthen nature protection on Bowen. Doors open about 7 pm and the meeting starts at 7:30. We plan to conclude by 9. At Artisan Eate Cafe, everyone welcome

Tuesday, February 27

SKY Musical Movement

Free for 55+ at Bowen Court with Marc Gawthrop playing on piano Runs from 10 to 11 am

Tuesday, February 27

Integration & Career Services at the Library

Drop in to see an Community Integration Service specialist and/or a WorkBC Career Advisor at the Bowen Island Library Community Integration specialists help people access financial, housing, and health supports, government programs, disability assistance, and more. The Career Advisor helps with resumes, cover letters, interviewing, job searches, job market and education advice Drop-in at the Flex Room from 11 am to 2 pm. bipl.ca/workbc & bipl.ca/cis

Wednesday, February 28

Fibre Arts Guild Meeting

Bowen Island Fibre Arts Guild meeting at Collins Hall from 10:30 am to Noon. Knitters, crocheters, stitchers, sewers, weavers of all levels welcome. Please bring Show & Tell.

Wednesday, February 28 & Friday, March 1

SKY Walks

Meeting at Harding Road entrance at 10:30 am to walk the Grafton Lake trail. Friday walk at same time and place

Wednesday, February 28

Spring Shoulders Special Class

This 90 minute class will guide you through a series of passive and kinetic movements specifically designed to optimize shoulder, spine ane ribcage function. Learn how to improve shoulder health Through targeted exercises and mindful techniques that you can do at home. 6:30 pm start, $40. Register online www.sweatthetechniquestudio.com

Saturday, March 2

Meditation with Laura

A free, monthly sitting group, Saturday at 10 am at Bowen Court Guided meditation for 40 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of discussion for those who wish to stay. All levels welcome Laura Quilici has been practicing mindfulness

meditation for over 20 years and currently serves as Board Chair of the BC Insight Meditation Society. For more information email Laura at lauq@shaw.ca

TUESDAYS

Chair Yoga with Jackie

Join Jackie from 1 to 2 pm at Collins Hall for a gentle approach to stretch, breath, alignment, balance, and relaxation. Sliding scale $15-20, drop-in or pay for the month in advance. Email jackie.minns@gmail.com for more info.

Pizza at the Legion

Brought to you by Melanie and Bowen Island Pizza Co Come enjoy pizza and games from 5 to 7 pm. Guests & kids welcome! Also takes place Thursday (Adults 19+ only).

WEDNESDAYS

Storytime at the Library

A free, drop-in program of stories and songs for 2-4 yearolds and their caregivers! From 10:30 to 11 am Runs to March 13. bipl.ca/storytime

Bowen Bridge

1:30 to 4:30 pm at Bowen Court. Fee $5 per person per session. Book by email (bowcates04@gmail.com) no later than 6 pm on Monday. Also email for more information.

Meditation Evenings

Every Wednesday night from 7 to 8 pm Please contact John at 604-506-7197 for more details

THURSDAYS

Babytime at the Library

A free, half-hour drop-in program of songs, books, and rhymes for babies 0-18 months and their caregivers! Starts at 11:30 am Join us afterwards, at 12 pm, for a casual baby & caregiver social hour in the Annex. bipl.ca/babytime

SUNDAYS

Open Mic Night at Doc’s

Come down to Doc Morgan’s and show off your musical talents! All instruments & singing styles welcome 5 to 8 pm