Bowen Island Undercurrent, September 21, 2012

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FRIDAY SEPT. 21 2012 VOL. 39, NO. 20

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Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

Helping one another grow

Bowen Women in Business meet on a monthly basis to offer support

Nearly double the debris

Divers and volunteers removed 1,414 pounds of junk

Water or oil?

Film screening and forum explore implication of Kinder Morgan project

New CAO brings wealth of experience

Celebrating physical activity

SUSANNE MARTIN

SUSANNE MARTIN

EDITOR

EDITOR

A

T

t the council meeting on September 17, mayor Jack Adelaar announced Kathy Lalonde’s appointment as the Bowen Island Municipality’s chief administrative officer (CAO). Lalonde said that she is excited and hopes to “offer some stability.” Lalonde has been employed by the municipality since March 2000. “I was hired a couple months after the municipality’s incorporation as a confidential secretary,” Lalonde said. “Then I became deputy clerk and, after that, corporate officer.” Since the resignation of former CAO Brent Mahood on March 1, 2012, Lalonde has been performing the wide range of duties of a CAO in an interim capacity. “The interim role gave me an opportunity to find out whether it was something that I would love to do,” Lalonde says, explaining that she always thought of herself as a good lieutenant but never as a captain. And she found out that she enjoys the work, especially with the support of BIM’s staff. Lalonde brings a a lot of experience and extensive knowledge of what it means to be an active part of our unique community to the table. In a press release, Adelaar states, “In Kathy Lalonde as our new CAO, Bowen Island is gaining a valuable resource behind the helm. [Lalonde]’s vast knowledge of the history of the municipality since inception will serve to keep us progressing as an organization. Her excellent rapport with community members will provide continued open dialogue and approachability at municipal hall. We also gain a strong, efficient, intelligent and fair-minded leader to encourage and inspire staff and council in reaching the community’s goals and objectives.” Lalonde has been living on Bowen for over 20 years. “I first moved here during the big storm in December of 1990 to a week of power outage,” she said. She spent 10 years commuting to downtown Vancouver and says she understands the commuter’s perspective well. She considers the island to be her home first and her career second. “I hope to be here for a long time,” she says.

Kami Kanetsuka has won the 2012 Literary Writes award for nonfiction for her piece that chronicles a trip to Nagaland. Story on page 6 Susanne Martin photo

Peace of mind, financial stability and benefits during your lifetime – enjoy all three in every one of our plans.

he Bowen Island Municipality’s community recreation department is planning a block party and extends an invitation to islanders of all ages to join the fun on Sunday, September 30, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Bowen Island Community School. The focus of the party will be on health and fitness. Shauna Jennings, community recreation programmer, is excited about Bowen Island’s participation in the Sports Day in Canada that is part of a National Participaction initiative. “Participaction was big in the 80s as an initiative to get people moving and doing sports,” she said. “During the last couple of years, thousands of communities in Canada organized special events around this.” And this year, BIM received a grant that will allow the recreation department to host an event that will showcase programs that promote health and fitness. “Part of the initiative will be to show Bowen Islanders what is available for them in terms of health and fitness,” Jennings said. “Our instructors will be on hand for demonstrations about the classes they are teaching as part of the community recreation programming. This is also an invitation for people to continue staying active.” Jennings is working on a schedule that sees 15-minute slots for instructors where people can get a taste of what it’s like to practise Tai Chi, Pilates, Irish Dancing or cardio kickboxing. “The event has something for all ages, from senior’s weightlifting to the parent-tot equipment where babies can crawl around on mats,” says Jennings, adding that this promotes good role modeling. “By bringing the families together, kids can see adults who are having fun and being active. It teaches them about the benefits of being active for life.” continued, PAGE 2


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