Property tax raise to stay consistent with past financial plans
ALEX KURIAL Editor
This year’s municipal budget process is now in its closing stages following some final changes to the document.
Chief financial officer Kristen Watson presented a final draft of the budget to council last week which included changes to reduce this year’s property tax increase to 7.7 per cent, a number which had originally started at 9.5 per cent. This was done by reducing the number of future staff hirings in the year ahead and factoring in recent grants awarded, including a BC Hydro grant to fund heat pumps at the Fire Hall. In dollar terms this would represent an average property tax bill of $3,768 (based on average value of a Bowen home being $1.596 million).
Two of the remaining proposed hirings came under scrutiny though – a parks crew worker for the parks and roads departments ($35,205) and a booking coordinator for programming and front desk work at the Community Centre ($22,000).
Events
AllCouncilmeetingsareopen tothepublictoattendin personorelectronically,unless notedotherwise
April 7, 2025
TheNEWBowenIsland CommunityCentreopensits doorstothepublic
April 14, 2025
1:00 pm
RegularCouncilMeeting
April 15, 2025
11:00 am
BowenIslandCommunity CentreRibbonCutting & CedarBrushingCeremony
Community Centre Opening Events Apply to becomea Firefighter
Becomingavolunteerfirefighterand/orvolunteerfirstrespondertakes time,effortanddedication.Howeverthebenefitsofsavinglivesand makingBowenIslandasaferplacearewortheveryminuteandevery ounceofeffort.
Interested?Visitushere: bowenislandmunicipality.ca/apply-fire-fighter/
We’re Hiring: FerryTraffic Marshals
ReportingtotheBylawServicesSupervisor,FerryTrafficMarshals performtrafficflaggingdutiesonBowenIsland
Thistemporarypositionhasregularshiftsonweekendsandholidays startingatEasterandrunningthroughuntilThanksgiving.Availabilityon weekendsandholidaysismandatory.
TrainingwillbeprovidedandwearelookingforpeopletostartASAP
Custodians
BIMhasmultipleopeningsforcustodiansatthenewCommunityCentre facility.Applicationswillbeacceptedonanongoingbasis
Summer Daycamp Leaders&Assistants
JointheBowenRecreationSummerDreamTeam!Wearenowaccepting applicationsforSummerDaycampLeadersandAssistants.
Applynow!Don’tmissoutontheopportunitytobecomeaninspiringrole modeltoBowen’syouthandmakearealdifferencethissummer.
bowenislandmunicipality.ca/work-with-us
Consultation questions around new ferry schedule
COUNCIL LETTER EXPRESSING‘DISAPPOINTMENT’IN LACK OF ENGAGEMENT TO BE SENT
ALEX KURIAL Editor
An upcoming ferry schedule for the island has raised questions both about sailing timings and how it was implemented.
Coun. Judith Gedye spoke to a letter from the public during the March 24 meeting which raised concerns about the new BC Ferries schedule beginning on May 15. The most notable attention was drawn to the altering of sailings during the busy afternoon stretch. Current mid afternoon to early evening runs from Horseshoe Bay include the 2:20, 3:30, 4:35 and 5:45 pm. Starting next month, sailings leaving the mainland will be at 2:35, 3:55, 5:20 and 6:35 pm.
“I take it from this letter and from other comments made to me that there are considerable gaps,” said Gedye, referencing concerns from both the letter writer and the community about the longer wait times between sailings at a time when commuters are coming home from work and students are returning from school
“While there’s obvious effort to expand the amount of time for each run so that there’s adequate amount of time for loading and unloading, there hasn’t been any conversation with respect to understanding the traffic patterns that are important for locals,” says Gedye, who along with Coun. Sue Ellen Fast mentioned they’ve noticed reduced public consultation on ferry issues since BC Ferries dismantled the Ferry Advisory Committees late last year.
A prevailing sense around the table was that the schedule changes on their own may be good, but the way they were announced showed a lack of communication from BC Ferries. “Notwithstanding the lack of notice… What we have to trade off here is the inconvenience on a whole bunch of runs where they’re 10, 20, 30, 40 minutes late and the disruption that causes, versus not being able to accommodate as many people in a three hour window,” said Coun. Tim Wake.
His opinion was shared by Mayor Andrew Leonard. “I was surprised that it was released all of a sudden… That said I do agree… Particularly in the summer months my read is that BC Ferries has acknowledged there’s
The Queen of Capilano will have new sailing times starting on May 15, including a noticeable shift in its afternoon runs. / Alex Kurial photo
operational challenges and that the summer schedule during the day is a bit of an aspirational timetable from time to time. So I’m curious to see if this additional time between sailings results in anything.”
Regardless of whether the schedule proves beneficial, council decided BC Ferries needed to hear their consultation concerns. Leonard said it was especially strange to be kept out of the loop despite several recent meetings between the municipality and BC Ferries including
one here on Bowen Island. “It just feels odd that there was all of this engagement happening, but something operational that impacts the day-to-day schedule of Islanders’ lives was not previewed to the island,” he said.
The seven members unanimously voted to pen a letter to the transportation company “advising council’s disappointment that the May 15, 2025 to March 31, 2026 schedule was significantly changed without any community consultation.”
Budget savings will go into reserve and surplus funds
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“These feel like they’d be valuable for sure, but in light of the comments we’ve received on this… I’m inclined to think we need to look at finding ways to do things more efficiently, which typically means work sharing,” said Coun. John Saunders on the positions. “Those two things don’t feel critical, they feel nice to have… I think we have to chip away wherever we can.”
Director of engineering Patrick Graham explained another parks worker – a request which had been reduced from two new staff to one – was needed to maintain new terrain the municipality (BIM) has added in the past few years, including 1.6 km of Multi-Use Path, 5 km of trails, and now landscaping work at the new Community Centre. He added another employee could also help reduce reliance on contract jobs by having BIM staff perform the work, noting a pair of bridge repairs made by staff at the Golf Course last year which cost the municipality $5,000 instead of a quoted contractor price of $60,000.
“There’s already a gap between the expected level of service and what can be delivered with the limited staff that we have. Because we have a common crew for roads and parks, and there’s a need to prioritize tasks that relate to public safety, we end up prioritizing pothole repairs, hazard trees, brushing to maintain sightlines and dealing with critical drainage issues What ends up falling behind a lot are the parks maintenance tasks,” said Graham.
Regarding a new booking coordinator for the Community Centre, recreation manager Gillian Drake said the position was needed to meet the expanded services the new facility is
hoping to deliver This includes evening and weekend coverage of the front desk along with handling bookings for the various rooms (aside from the theatre which will be managed by a separate production coordinator, who remains included in this year’s budget).
A new salt brining machine and fleet vehicle for the planning department – each costing $50,000 – were also called into question. Chief administrative officer Kirn Dhillon explained the vehicle was meant to accommodate an increase in site visits by the planning department as the Housing Accelearator Fund Action Plan is rolled out, along with more condition assessments. Currently planning staff use the bylaw services vehicle if it’s available, or their own.
Dillon added the salt brining machine is intended to keep more salt on the roads as the existing granular salt is often blown off to the side by fast moving vehicles.
“I like to ensure that the things we said we’re going to do back in 2023/24 are still being met,” said Mayor Andrew Leonard, referencing the 9.5 per cent property tax increases envisioned for this year in past budgets. “I would be very opposed to lowering tax increases just to get a percentage down given the very high number of infrastructure costs that we’re going to be dealing with and our inability to take care of it from a budget and borrowing standpoint.”
On the staff positions in question, “I don’t feel that the operational need from last year to this year has been strongly justified,” he said of the proposed parks worker, while “the booking coordinator should be in the existing staff,” he commented on the recreation side.
The mayor also had reservations about a $25,000 proposal
for a new Youth Centre. “I think the programming for that age group in terms of a youth and teen centre might need to be rethought in order for them to be more successful. To have a net-new facility that’s off-site with startup costs… I question whether that’s needed right now or can that be deferred for the future.”
“My belief here is that these 9.5 per cent increases that we committed to at the start of the term should be, the bulk of them, going toward our reserve funding as well as going to places like our accumulated surplus… This budget as it stands and its divergence with our previous financial plans, as well as some of the surprises that seem to be contained in it and the looming infrastructure crisis that we’re facing, I don’t feel it addresses that,” concluded the mayor.
The budget draft as presented (without any of the discussed changes) failed in a 5-2 vote, with Coun. Sue Ellen Fast and Tim Wake in support. Following that, an amended version of the budget removing the following items and deferring them to next year’s budget process was proposed: the parks crew worker, recreation booking coordinator, salt brining machine, fleet vehicle for the planning department, funding for a new Youth Centre, and upgraded audio/visual equipment for the new Council Chambers in the Municipal Hall portion of the Community Centre. It also restored the property tax increase stated in past financial plans. This updated version passed unanimously.
The property tax increase for 2025 will therefore revert from 7.7 per cent back up to 9.5 per cent, with the proposed savings found throughout the budget process put into reserve funds instead.
VIEWPOINTS
EDITORIAL
Welcome to April
Thankssomuchtoeveryonewho submitted stories for this week! We have the chance to learn moreabout some localartists,see what isgoingonwith ourfood systems from some knowledgeable Islanders,and find outabout an importantmailout from the Health Centre too.Ifyou didn’t getyours yet, checkout the nextpagefor details!
Don’t forgetthe School TrusteeBy-Election thisSaturday! It’s part of averyfullday in general whichincludes meetups,clubs, andeven a JohnnyCash concerttoend thenight in support of the Logger Sports Show.Find thisand more in the calendar!
That’s all for now! Please enjoy these two smilingfaces who aretakingpartinthe Trail Society’s30X30April challenge. Whether you’reparticipatingornot it is gettingpretty out theresobesuretospend some quality time in ourgreat outdoors!
-AlexKurial, Editor
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VIEWPOINTS
Living in the Here and Now
MJ ZAMORA Contributor
The Here & Now has been a theme for me lately. Living in the Present. Living in the Moment Living in the Now. Because it’s all there is.
I stood on this path at the Cape on June 4, 2024. I turned 40 that day. Surrounded by trees, as if they were speaking to me. Greeting me as if to say, “Hello” again. “Welcome Back”. “Happy Birthday!” The Golden Hour light was on its peak at the horizon. I arrived just in time for their final surrender. And deliver me their message. Spoken by the trees. And the trees never looked so vibrant and full of life. As if only once in a lifetime. And only for me to see. I’ve become their friend. And they’ve become mine Their colour so rich and vivid like I’ve never seen.
I had been coming back to this spot for over a month now. But the skies were never perfect Too grey, too cloudy. Too windy, too cold. Too dark, too bright. Too early, and too late It was never enough. I almost gave up each time. But my determination always precedes me. My favourite word - the one that best describes me - PERSISTENT. I always came back. No matter what.
On this day, once again, I thought I’d never make it. Feeling entitled that it was my birthday. A great excuse. Heck, I just did a photo shoot earlier that day! My friend, Debra Stringfellow, and her son came over to do me a huge favour. After setting up my photo studio here on the island, I needed someone to click the camera for me. All was ready to go. I’d set up the backdrop, the props, the lighting,
Health Forms for Emergency Help
BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
The Bowen Island Community Health Centre (BICHC) has sent out this emergency medical information form to all mailboxes on Bowen (excluding those who do not receive unaddressed mail - “red dot” boxes).
The purpose of this form is to provide emergency services personnel with critical information about your health, your wishes, and your needs in an emergency situation.
Once completed, stick it to your fridge - folded into three sections with the top of the form visible - and emergency services can check for your medications, pets, hearing aids, glasses, and anything else important to know about if you need to be taken to hospital, or otherwise won’t be able to look after the things you normally do
It is recommended that one form be completed for every member of the household. Additional hard copies are available for pick up at the Health Centre, or an electronic copy can be emailed to you for printing at home by contacting our Community Health Coordinators at healthservices@bowenhealthcentre.com
did my hair and makeup. I just needed someone to click the button.
I was turning 40, and I wanted some photos! I’m a Photographer after all. And I deserve some kick ass portraits. I thank my friends for bringing this vision into life. My dear Debra and her son, thank you!
Another close friend of mine, Laura, lent me her exquisite dress. I’m truly grateful to have friends show up for me during this time of my life. And last but not the least, my children. My two beautiful children. The two other main characters of my life story…
Their laughter echoes as they ran through the paths to the beach as soon as they got out of the car The lighthouse was in sight, the golden colours on the horizon, and the magical colour of the trees. As if I was in a painting. And Time as the painter One could only dream to be in this moment. A Photographer’s dream.
And capture it. And the timing could not have been so right and perfect in every way. I stood there to soak it all in. As if to hit pause. And only the sound of the waves, chirping of the birds, my children’s happiness, the trees’ unspoken words of love wrapped around me.
To feel it happen ever so slowly. In s l o w motion Paying attention to all the details - I look around, feel every movement, hear every sound, and remember each moment.
To make a profound imprint to my memory jar, to my heart. How to make a memory of this? With my 50mm lens on my 5d canon, I stood back. My Moment is Here.
As I feel the prickles of the damn blackberry bush on my back - I press the button. To respond to the Universe. I am Here.
Food Matters talks exploredrange of issues
ELAINE CAMERON
Bowen Island Food Resilience Society
Did you knowthatonly34per centofBritish Columbia’s food supplyisgrown withinthe province? Orthatoverall in Canada,between 61 to 80 percentofour vegetables come fromthe United States
Food issues -whatweeat, howit’sgrown,and where it comes from –raisecomplex questions. Bowen Island Food Resilience Society(BIFS), in partnershipwith the Bowen Island Library, organized ‘Food Matters,’aseries offour talksbyBowen Island food experts. Each of thefourspeakerspresented their ownperspectiveontheseissues,made even moretimelybythe currentstate of United States and Canada relations
On Nov. 3, 2024,Dr. Phil Gregory spokeon “Food’s Future:Natureor Technology?” Phil comparedthe prevailingbut unsustainable Industrial Agricultureapproach to an OrganicRegenerative Agricultureapproach.
Thelatterhas emergedfromarevolution in our understandingofnature’ssynergy betweenplants, microbes,soil, and animals and their beneficialconnections with soil health,human health,and climatechange.
He explored many unintendedconsequencesoftechnologicalinnovations in agriculture and provided evidence that herbivores canbe abig part of thesolution to ourenvironmental crises if managedtomimicnature,especiallyif we acknowledge desertificationasa majorcontributorto climatechange.
AccordingtoDr. Gregory, de-corporatization of governmentagencies andregulatorsisanimportant nextstep.
On Nov. 17, 2024, Dr.Hasan Hutchinsonspoke on “Makingthe Canada Food Guide: Behindthe Scenes,” a decade longproject that culminatedin2019 with the new
foodguide.Hasan, who wasthe former federal Director General, OfficeofNutrition Policyand Promotion, talked aboutthe behind-the-scenes pressures, difficulties and science,inthe making and promotingof the current Canada Food Guide
Theprocessresistedlobbyingattempts and reliedoncurrent science,and consequentlyresulted in averydifferent guidefromearlier versions.Check it outand seewhatgreat resourcesare available to guide your family’sfoodchoices.
On Jan. 12, 2025, Dr. Charles McNeill spokeon“Innovative Solutions to the Global FoodSystem: Protecting the Climate and Biodiversity.” Charles identifiedthe Earth’s triple environmental crises:the climateemergency, nature and biodiversity loss,and pollution and waste.
Basedonhis 32-yearcareerwith the United Nations buildinginnovativepartnershipstosolveglobal environmental challenges, he argued that livestock productionand consumption contributetoall three emergencies.Heoffered manyrecommendationsthatinclude developingpolicies and regulations to incentivizesustainable farmingpractices and the protection of natural habitat; investingresearch into sustainable farmingtechnologies,and alternativeproteins; shiftingtoa more plant-baseddiet,reducing food waste, supportinglocal food economies,and “rewilding” agricultural land
On Feb. 9, 2025, Dr.Hyunjoo Leespoke on “YourEveryday Meal: ARecipefor Health and the Environment.”Hyunjoo, aDoctorofOriental Medicine Pharmacy,achef,and an author,arguedthat today’sfood system notonlycontributestoglobal crises –the climateemergency, food insecurity,biodiversity loss,and deforestation –italsothreatens our health.
While governments and policy makers cancreatesolutionsatastructurallevel, individuals cantakeconcrete action for the planet and for personal health.Hyunjoo became avegetarianin2003, and in 2010 founded‘Meat Free Monday Korea’,anorganizationthataims to address
Places of Worship WelcomeYou
BOWEN ISLAND UNITEDCHURCH
www.biuc.ca | 1122 Miller Road 778-688-2061 OFFICEHOURS WEDNESDAY10-4ORBYAPPOINTMENT
Sunday Worship 10:30 am Rev Lorraine Ashdown
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.)
BANK DROP-OFF Sunday Worship10:00
SHIRAT HAYAM (Song of the Sea)
BOWEN’S JEWISH COMMUNITY
Shabbat Gatherings ~ Holidays
Contact aryana.rayne@gmail.com •www.shirathayam.ca
theclimatecrisisbyeatingvegetarianmeals one day a week.
Herslides beautifullyillustrated howtorealizeecological values through howweselectand prepareour food
If youmissedseeingthese presentationsinperson, you cansee thematbipl.ca/food.And if you’re feelinginspired to getinvolvedinBowen Island Food Resilience Society, we’realwayslooking forvolunteersfor ourgarden and special projects
Youcan contact us at bowenfoodresilience@gmail. com andlearn moreabout what we do by visiting www.bowenfoodresilience.ca
QUEEN OF CAPILANO FERRY SCHEDULE APRIL 12025TOMAY 14 2025
BOWEN ISLAND exceptSundays& April21
DEPART B 5:20 am - e 6:20 am 7:30 am 8:35 am 9:40 am 10:50am 12:00pm 1:10 pm 2:55 pm 4:00 pm -exceptWednesdays 5:10 pm 6:15 pm 7:25 pm -exceptSaturdays 8:30 pm 9:30 pm 10:30pm DEPART HORSESHOEBAY 5:50 am 6:50 am 8:00 am 9:05 am - except Wednesdays 10:15 am 11:25 am 12:35 pm 2:20 pm 3:30 pm 4:35 pm 5:45 pm 6:50 pm 8:00 pm - except Saturdays 9:00 pm 10:00 pm
Where’sthe ferry rightnow?- checkwww.bowenferry.ca Scheduleschangeonstatutory holidays. Stay up to date at www.bcferries.com
Food Matters speakers were PhilipGregory, Hasan Hutchinson,Charles McNeill,& HyunjooLee.
Human & Nature at the Hearth
A VISUAL EXPLORATION OF CLIMATE GRIEF AND THE UNCANNY
MARTA GORGOPA
The Hearth Gallery
The Hearth Gallery’s latest exhibition, Human & Nature, explores the intrigue and isolation of our depleting landscapes.
The show features photographers Cosmo Campbell, Marty Levenson and Dane Murner, with ceramicist Russell Hackney. Together, with the shared use of black and white palettes and organic forms, they reveal how our environments hold memories a map of human decision.
Mundane objects and familiar scenes of our natural world quickly become tense and uncanny The powerful feelings each piece evokes point to larger societal issues including climate grief, human consumption and the decay of old growth forests concepts all too familiar to Bowen Island.
Campbell’s work explores the “vulnerability of our existence.” He describes this series as ‘simulated nocturnal photographs,’ with their monochromatic tone and high-resolution. Campbell is driven by the contemplative state of solitude, a haunting peace and simultaneous tension between beauty and loneliness.
Levenson reflects on Bowen’s 120-year-old logging history, and the place he also calls home. Exhibiting images from his series Elastic Forest, he documents a landscape that has been worn away by humans and nature alike; “[t]he resulting landscape is unequal parts battlefield, graveyard and nursery.”
Levenson aims to invoke a darker, less rational space of the mind through his photos. “Here the pretty and majestic standards of natural beauty we usually encounter yield to something deeper and less comfortable.”
Murner approaches photography almost as a form of therapy. What his lens investigates externally, simultaneously guides him to look inward, exploring his own mind.
His work captures the spaces and remnants of human intervention, while intentionally excluding any human subjects. Murner explains, “[t]his tension with our surrounding environment reveals ideas that were once forgotten or unconsidered.”
Hackney has a long family history working in ceramics. Most recently, he’s been creating larger, sculptural works in cast porcelain as seen in this show. He describes his art process as a curiosity, “like ‘finding’ in a way.”
For Hackney, creating art is a way to communicate with his audience that he has found something beautiful or worth contemplating, “hoping that the viewer will be blessed or challenged by it.”
The exhibition runs from April 2 to 21 at The Hearth Gallery. Please join the artists on Bowen Island for the following events:
Artist pARTy: April 5, 6 to 8 pm
Artist Talk: April 12, 2 pm
Photography Walk: April 12, 3:15 pm
Ceramic Studio Visit, with Russell Hackney: April 13, 2 to 4pm
Visit the Hearth Gallery website for more details, and to register for the free events!
Ceramic Vessel by Russell Hackney (left) & Bowen Roots
Photo by Marty Levenson (right)
Meet the people behind the RCMP’s Sea to Sky victim services
LEARN ABOUT THE UNIQUE ROLES OF VICTIM SERVICES PERSONNEL AT THE SQUAMISH RCMP DETACHMENT AND HOW THEY ASSIST INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATING THE AFTERMATH OF CRIME
JENNIFER THUNCHER
The Squamish Chief
If the worst happens, Cori and Emma are there for you, if you want them. Both women are victim services case workers based at the Squamish RCMP detachment.
They are not police officers but instead offer support to victims of crime Their jurisdiction covers Squamish, up the corridor to the Daisy Lake Dam, and south down to Lions Bay. It also includes Bowen Island.
Cori has been in her role for a little over a year, while Emma has been in hers since 2020. (Due to safety concerns related to their roles, The Squamish Chief agreed to keep both women’s last names confidential.)
Q: Can you tell me a bit about what victim services offers clients?
Emma: So, we work with victims of crime and trauma. We are not police officers, but we work with the police
We offer crisis response and crisis intervention. We will go out with the police on call-outs on scene— for incidents, but then we will also have clients referred to us through police files. So, victim services will be offered, and then, if it’s accepted, they get referred to us And then we work with them through whatever support they need
Cori: We provide short-term emotional support while connecting clients to longterm resources within the community The court is part of our role as well. Not all victims we come across proceed through the criminal justice process, but if they do, that is something we can do explaining the whole process.
If it gets to the point where it is a trial situation, we can be attending the trial with the victim, supporting them if they have to
testify, and kind of walking them through that and offering them some support and guidance
Q: So the service is offered, but it is up to the victim; they don’t have to engage with victim services, correct?
Emma: If they decline, then we won’t reach out to them. But there’s no timeframe for accessing us If they decline it and then they change their minds, they’re welcome to get in touch with us at any time.
Cori: And we can even take general inquiries If someone has a general question, they can always call the front counter and be connected with us If anyone’s curious about the program or what we offer, we’re always happy to answer those questions.
Emma: And it’s not always necessarily for a crime as well. It might not meet the criminal threshold. We always say there’s a difference between crime and bad behaviour Sometimes it’s just having trouble with their roommate or their neighbour or something, and it’s not criminal, but it’s really causing them a lot of stress and trauma. We can work with them through that.
Q: Without disclosing anything confidential, can you provide some examples of scenes you would go to?
Cori: We deal with many different types of files, anywhere from sudden death to a domestic violence file, if the scene is determined safe by the police officers. It can be lots of different files, and that’s what I really enjoy about the job. It’s always different.
Q: It is clearly not an easy job. What drew you to it?
Emma: It’s not easy, but, at the risk of sounding really cliché, it’s very rewarding to be in a position where you can help people at a time of crisis A lot of people who we come across are having the worst time of their lives and to be the person who can help them through that
is really a unique and special thing. It can be emotionally difficult sometimes for us too, coming across those situations that people find themselves in, but to be the person who can help them through that is really rewarding.
Q: In a small town, people know each other. How does that play into your role, in terms of perhaps knowing or recognizing a victim?
Cori: Within all aspects of my job, I keep it professional. If there ever is a conflict of interest, that person can be referred to a different program, maybe to North Van, or maybe Whistler or a different co-worker. We try and mitigate that the best we can, but also still want to be providing service to people who need it
And, [in terms of running into former or current clients], I talk about it with them: if I ever see you in the community, I’m not being rude, but unless you approach me, I’m not going to acknowledge you. People understand that
Emma: And a lot of our work is done over the phone or email, so it’s not like it’s an issue with every client we have We might not even know what they look like.
Q: What do you think is misunderstood in the community about what victim services does or how you can help?
Emma: We often tell people that we’re not police officers. That’s one of the first things we would say to differentiate ourselves.
And the police don’t have access to our victim services system It is all confidential unless there is something that we have a duty to report We often tell clients, “Everything you tell us, we won’t be sharing unless it is outlined in our confidentiality agreement.”
Another [clarification] is that we’re not personal counsellors. I think some people think that when we reach out to them that
we are. We can help them get funding for counselling and things like that, but we’re not therapists ourselves.
Q: Can you explain further some of the resources you can help victims access?
Cori: Within the community, we refer clients to different counselling services through Sea to Sky Community Services, as well as PearlSpace they’re a great community resource as well as resources like the food bank Then there are also provincial resources, like the family law line and legal aid.
Then, in terms of financial support, the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) is a provincial program, that we can assist with. We can provide them with the paperwork and help them through the application process. And generally, that’s used for counselling services, but there are other areas they cover. They’re basically there to provide support for victims of crime through financial means.
Emma: We also work closely with Crown counsel, if it’s a court file We can help clients if they want to provide a victim impact statement. The statements have to be done in a certain format so we can guide them through that process. Also, some clients like us to accompany them to support them while they’re testifying and guide them through the court process.
Q: Are you available for historic crimes or just current and recent ones, specifically, I am thinking of historic sexual assaults?
Cori: Yes. For sexually motivated crimes, there is no time frame There are people who come forward 10 or 20 years later, and describe these events, which are horribly traumatic, and they deserve the same support as someone who just went through it
Q: Foryoung people who maywanttopursue victim servicesasacareer, can you tell us howyou gotintoit?
Cori: Iworkedinhealth care beforethis,and then COVIDhappened, and I switched gears.
Ithink in order for someone to getintoit, you just have to have areallybig passion to help someone, and then pursue anyeducation you canthat would help you work in that field. So, whether that’s social work or psychology,things like that,and then realworldexperience,Ithink, is another big, importantpiece of it —being able to feel comfortable in hectic environments
Thereisnoformaltraining, butonce youare in the role,wehaveaccesstoso muchtraining.
Emma:When Iwas 18, I trainedtobeacounsellor.I finishedthat when Iwas 21, and Ifelt Ineededmorelife experience beforeIpursued that career.Iwas still interestedinthe realm of psychology and counselling, so
Iwentand did my undergrad in psychology.Iwas living inthe U.K. at the time,and fell into some management positions.Itwasn’t actually until Imoved to Canada sevenyears agothat Iwas readytoget into something inthisfield.This wasareally good in-between for me, still usingmyeducationand background,but notbeing a counsellor.
Q: What elseare you hoping to getacrossin thisstory?
Cori:We’re here. We can be accessedbyeither contacting the frontcounter of thedetachmentorbyphone or email.We’re heretohelp peoplewho need it
While the goal of the department is to have coverage24/7, currently,victim services are availableMonday to Friday.
Contact victimservices at theSquamish RCMP Detachment at 1000 FinchDrive by phone at 604 892-6153 or via email: SQUAMISH_VICTIM SERVICES@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
woodfibrelng.ca@woodfibreLNG
CAPER &REVY
Cori and Emmaare SeatoSky Victim Services caseworkers. /Jennifer Thuncher photo
604-653-7851
COMMUNITYCALENDAR
Friday,April4
Youth Nail Art Nightwith BowenRec
Turn yournails into amasterpiecewith PaigeTweeten. Ages 12-15, 5to8pmatthe Youth Centre.All suppliesand pizzadinner provided.
Saturday, April 5
School Trustee By-election
West Vancouver School TrusteeBy-election Day. Youcan vote at BowenIsland CommunitySchoolfrom8amto8pm. Saturday, April 5
Men’sShedMeetup
TheBowen Island Men’sShednextCoffeeMeetisbehind Island Pacific School, locatedat671 Carter Road, from 10:30 amto12:30 pm.Men of all ages arewelcome, meet fora coffee or tea (no charge)and gettoknowother guys. Saturday, April 5
Conversational Italianatthe Library
Come explore Parliamo Insieme:a Conversational Italian Group. Drop in and join us to practiceyourItalian, and gettoknowother Italian speakers on BowenIsland! All ages of adults and youthwelcome! 11 am to Noon Find outmoreatbipl.ca/Italian
Saturday, April 5
Judi GedyeOpenHouse
Come chat aboutlocal issues with BowenIsland Councillor Judith GedyeatCollins Hall from 3to4 pm.
Saturday, April 5
Logger Sports Show Fundraiser
JohnnyCash TributeBand at theBowen Legion. Tickets $25, fulldetails at www.bowenloggingsports.com Monday,April 7
Reachfor SKY Launch of ‘Reach forSKY’. Learnabout the newSeniors KeepingYoung 10-topic series to promotehealthy agingand brain health.Atthe BowenLibrary Annex from 1to3pm.
Monday,April 7(&other dates)
SKYHangouts
Drop in at the SeniorsCottage on CardenaDrive.Wewill be offeringawelcomingplace to stop in for adrink &visit with friends.HangoutsalsoApril 8, 9&11, all 1to3pm. All hangouts featureaguest speaker.
Tuesday, April 8
SKYMusical Movement
Come dance and getmovingwith Marc Gawthrop on piano.AtBowen Courtfrom10to11am.
Wednesday, April 9& Friday,April11
SKYWalks
Both walksstart at the Golf Course,meet at 10:30 am
Saturday, April 12
FrenchConncectionsatthe Library
Drop in and join us to practice your conversational French, and gettoknowother French language learners on BowenIsland! Runs 10:30 to 11:30 am.The focusison Frenchspeakers with beginner and intermediate conversational skills.bipl.ca/French
Saturday,April12
GraftonCommons Season Opener
Come seewhat is goingoninthe communitygarden! Checkout the boxgarden, visit the pop-up market,meet up with volunteers,and enjoy lightrefreshments.Straw bales will be on sale.From1to3pm, acrossfromGrafton Lake.
Saturday,April12
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Torenew or subscribe please call our subscription line at 604-947-2426
or emailusat subscribe@bowenislandundercurrent.com
Still Life in Motion Fundraiser
Join us forafun filledevent featuring8Artists who will create from the StillLife Objects placedinfront of them! $20 ticketincludes appetizers,drinksand prizes.SilentAuction. From 1to4pmatCollins Hall
Sunday, April13
Celebration of Spring EggHuntwith BowenRec Bowenfamilies with youngchildrenare invitedtohop on over to the Community Centre foranEgg Hunt,featuring an appearnace from the EasterBunny! Bringyourown basket andbeonthe lookoutfor the Golden Egg. Thefun starts at 10 am and runs till Noon,for ages 2to8.Registrationis required, pleasevisit the BowenRec websitetosignup.
WEDNESDAYS
Storytimeatthe Library
Afree, drop-in programofstories and songsfor 2-4 yearolds and their caregivers!10:30 to 11 am.bipl.ca/storytime
THURSDAYS
ThursdayArt Group
Join the Thursday ArtGroup (TAG)atCollins Hall to see what’s new.Meetingsfrom9:30 am to 12:30 pm.For further informationpleasecontact shannonrondeau@shaw.ca
Babytime at theLibrary
Afree, 30-minutedrop-inprogram of songs, books,and rhymesfor babies 0-24months and their caregivers!Starts at 11:30 am.Joinusafterwards, at 12 pm,for acasual baby & caregiversocialhourinthe Annex.bipl.ca/babytime
SATURDAYS
SKYMahjong
Come and play Mahjongatthe SeniorsCottage on CardenaDrive.1 to 3pm, RSVP info@skyonbowenisland.ca
Did you receive the new owen Island Event Plannerinyour Canada Post mailbox? If not, mail ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com Bo please em
