Bowen Island Undercurrent January 6 2017

FRIDAY JAN 6, 2016

VOL. 42, NO. 01

$1

including GST

Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

Calm before the storm

A pic of the dip (polar bear, that is) just before the winds picked up

Cove-Commons

Otherwise known as the Library-Annex, to proceed with construction

A toast to Bowen’s generosity in 2017

50-50 draw win helps couple recover following fire

Notes from abroad

Update from Bowen teachers on the road

Severe winds usher in the New Year MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

On January 1, the Queen of Capilano departed on schedule from Snug Cove at 12:45pm. Passenger Phil Kemp was aboard and describes a “pretty wild sea, a pretty exciting crossing,” and several failed attempts to dock the ferry into Berth #1 at Horseshoe Bay before pulling out, and successfully docking in Berth 2. The ferry would make one more crossing to Bowen Island, and then cancel all sailings until 10pm.

Deborah Marshall, the Executive Director of Public Affairs with BC Ferries says that she does not recall a cancellation of ferry sailing due to high winds in her 25 years on the job. In the events on New Years Day, however, there was more at play tham simply severe weather.

“The boat was operating with three right-angle drives in the engine as opposed to four,” says Marshall. “Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem, but with such high winds docking the ferry became problematic.”

The ferry captains noted winds between 45 and 50 knots at Pam Rocks at 7pm.

Kemp and his family found out that the sailings were cancelled, but returned to Horseshoe Bay just to check it out.

“We sat there in Sewell’s parking lot with the headlights on watching the dock heave and all of the boats healed over,” says Kemp. “There was no power on in Horseshoe Bay, you couldn’t even get a warm cup of coffee.” continued P3

Jon and Alex McNeil warming up at the Bowen Island Pub.

Meribeth Deen, photo

MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

B

ack in 2014, Jon and Alex McNeil honeymooned on Bowen Island and fell in love with this place. Two years later, they bought a home here and despite long commutes and a string of other challenges, fell even more deeply in love with the community. On New Years Day, the McNeil’s found out they won $5,000 in the 50-50 draw (to raise money for new equipment at the BICS playground) and realized that whatever comes their way, they’ve picked the right place to call home.

“This money is a fraction of what we need, but it makes all the difference in the world,” says Jon McNeil, after explaining that there are a long list of repairs that need to be undertaken at the couple’s home, including major repairs to their coachhouse and garage after a fire in early December.

The fire broke out three weeks to the day after the McNeils took-in their good friend Harry Monahan, who lost his home to a fire on November 16.

“We heard about the fire, and found out it was Harry that lost his house and immediately went down to the pub to find him and ask him to stay with us,” explains Alex. “Our coach house was empty, and our dogs, Shadow and Chevy, get along so well it was a no-brainer.”

On December 7, Monahan came back to the house after being out for the day and stopped in to ask Jon if he had been burning something in the garage.

“We hadn’t burned anything, and thought that maybe this was something to do with the trauma Harry experienced,” says Alex. “But we went into the garage, and there was definitely

something burning in there.”

They went up to the suite above the garage where Harry was staying, and lifted the mattress off the heated floor.

“The tile was crackling, and heaving,” says Jon. “You wouldn’t think that ceramic tile could ever even do that. By the time the fire department got here, it sounded like a brush fire.”

Both Jon and Alex say they were blown away by the professionalism, compassion and understanding shown by members of the Bowen firefighters.

“They could’ve just dowsed the whole thing and put it out that way, but they were really careful and thoughtful about the whole thing, and made sure that there was as little damage as possible,” says Jon. “And after it was all over, one of the firefighters popped by to talk to us just to make sure we were okay.”

Alex says that while Monahan apologized to them repeatedly after the fire, he has absolutely nothing to apologize for.

“It was 7pm when we went over to the garage to investigate the fire. If he hadn’t urged us over there, we probably wouldn’t have discovered it. We would’ve just gone to bed, and the fire could’ve easily spread to the house. As far as I’m concerned, Harry saved our house and maybe even our lives,” says Alex.

After the fire, Monahan moved into the spare bedroom of Jon and Alex’s home.

The couple was informed about their 50-50 draw win by a text, which they initially dismissed as spam.

“Then we got a call from Caroline Parker, who seems like a really great person. There are so many great people here,” says Alex. “2016 was a really, really hard year for us. But everything is going to be alright, because we live on Bowen Island.”

The Queen of Capilano heading to Horseshoe Bay after a 12:45pm departure from Snug Cove on New Years Day. Phil Kemp, photo

2 • FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2017

Meeting Calendar January 9, 2017

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

Christmas Tree Disposal Bowen Waste will have a bin for your Christmas tree self-disposal located across from the gas station on Mount Gardner Road until January 16. Please ensure that you remove all tinsel, garland and other decorations before putting your tree into the bin.

7:15 pm

January 11, 2017 Finance Advisory Committee

All meetings are held in Council Chambers at Municipal Hall unless otherwise noted.

for DVP-07-2016 (1603 Eagle Cliff Road) PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A Development Variance Permit application has been submitted for 1603 Eagle Cliff Rd (shown on map) to reduce setback from the sea. This variance would enable construction of a replacement house.

Regular Council Meeting

9:00 am

Seeking Public Comment

2017 Garbage Collection Schedule The 2017 Garbage and Organics collection schedule has been mailed to all Bowen Island households. You can also download the schedule from our website at www.bimbc.ca, or pick one up from Municipal Hall.

Request for Proposals: Prime Consulting Services Bowen Island Municipality is embarking on building a Community Centre with Municipal offices. BIM has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purpose of inviting proposals from qualified Architectural proponents to undertake the Prime Consulting Services with respect to the Project.

The deadline to submit proposals is January 17, 2017 at 2:00 pm.

For full details about the RFP, please visit our website at www.bimbc.ca

Request for Proposals: IT Support Bowen Island Municipality is seeking to partner with a single preferred vendor to supply the municipality with computer hardware, network support and management, warranty and break fix service, as well as other potential value added services that will drive efficiencies around technology acquisition and procurement.

Full details of the RFP can be found on our website at www.bimbc.ca.

The deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, January 13, 2017 at 4:00 pm. For more information, please contact Hope Dallas, IT Coordinator at hdallas@bimbc.ca or 604-947-4255.

MORE INFORMATION AT MUNICIPAL HALL: The application may be viewed at Municipal Hall (hours and address below) or on the Municipal website at www.bimbc.ca/planning.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME: Written submissions may be delivered to Municipal Hall (contact information below): • In person • By mail • By fax • By email to bim@bimbc.ca Submissions may also be made to Mayor and Council at the meeting:

7:15 PM on Monday, January 9, 2017 in Council Chambers, Municipal Hall

Questions? Please contact Emma Chow, Island Community Planner 1 at 604-947-4255 or by e-mail at chow@bimbc.ca

HAPPY NEW YEAR! General Enquiries

Contact Us

Phone: Fax: Email:

Bowen Island Municipal Hall 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2

604-947-4255 604-947-0193 bim@bimbc.ca

Find us on Facebook Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday, excluding statutory holidays

Bowen Island Municipality

Join our mailing list bimbc.ca

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

To ensure a fair process, submissions cannot be accepted once the meeting has ended.

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

FRIDAY FRIDAY JANUARY JANUARY 6 6 2017 2017 •• 33

“Cove Commons” project proceeds with federal support, construction to commence as soon as possible Christmas arrived early this year for the Bowen Island Arts Council and Bowen Island Public Library. In early December, BIAC received word that its grant application for $253,599 to the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Canada Cultural Spaces Fund was successful. The addition of the grant to the $650,000 already raised for the Cove Commons means that the project is a go and that construction can begin in the early New Year.

Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, M.P. for West Vancouver— Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, delivered the happy news.

“The Bowen Island Arts Council and Public Library have formed a great partnership, which is a testimony to theimportance of the arts on the island. It’s a pleasure to support your continued success,” says Goldsmith-Jones.

“Investments in infrastructure do more than create good jobs and strong economic growth—they connect us to our communities and allow us to play an active role in them,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

“This new facility will be an important gathering place where people can learn, collaborate and explore. Cove Commons will be a wonderful cultural resource for residents and visitors to Bowen Island.”

Carol Cram, BIAC’s president says she was thrilled to hear the news.

“The receipt of this grant means that work can begin without delay. We are very grateful to the federal government for its vision, and its support.”

BIAC and the Bowen Island Public Library invite the community to a ground-breaking ceremony on site at the Library on Wednesday, January 18 at 1PM. M.P. Goldsmith-Jones, along with key donors and members of the project’s fundraising cabinet, will be in attendance.

The Cove Commons project includes the construction of a new 2,800 square ft. building in Snug Cove that will house the Annie-Laurie Wood Annex for the library, and a new home for the Public Art Gallery and the arts council. The two organizations have been undertaking a capital fundraising campaign for the past 18 months. Community support for the project, which will create a cultural hub in the heart of the Cove, has been very strong. While fundraising efforts aimed at adding green building technology and for an outdoor plaza will continue, the construction of the building will commence as soon as possible in 2017.

For more information, please visit www.coveculture.com, or contact us at coveculture@gmail.com.

New action plan leaves community emissions soaring well above proposed targets MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR

Bowen it is transportation.

“More than 80% of our emissions are related to transportation,” she says.

“Many of those are related to the ferry and as a municipality we have no control over that.”

David Hocking, who is a member of the municipal Transportation Advisory Committee and participated in both the 2003 emissions plan and this creation of this recent plan, says the failure of the earlier plan related to things beyond Bowen Island’s control.

“The 2003 plan did not really make an impact,” he says. “But some of the suggested actions in that plan did eventually happen for other reasons and those have made an impact. The creation of the commuter bus to downtown is my big example. I’ve spoken to people who’ve dropped their cars or even sold their cars because of this bus, simply because it makes sense economically and from a lifestyle point of view.”

are great, and will positively impact the Bowen Island lifestyle.

“Many of these are things we are trying to achieve with the Integrated Transportation Master Plan,” he says.

“But they are not enough. By far the greatest impact on our emissions comes from the ferry. We do not have emissions figures on the ferry crossings, but we do know those emissions have gone up since 2003. And as far as I can tell, BC Ferries does not even have an emissions plan, and that is a real problem.”

He says that while current water taxi services make a positive impact, better public transportation on the mainland is required to make it easier for people to leave their cars at home.

“Getting to the North Shore, say to Lion’s Gate Hospital or Capilano College, is really hard without a car,” says Hocking. “We need more options.

I know that our councillors are working on improving transportation options when they talk to BC Ferries, TransLink and provincial representatives. This needs to continue, and individually, Bowen Islanders need to do what they can to get out of their cars.”

If you would like to read the Community Energy and Emissions Plan, you can find it attached to the council agenda from December 12. Councillors Maureen Nicholson and Sue Ellen Fast will be discussing the next steps of the implementation of the Community Energy Emissions plan on January 25 at 7pm, at the municipal hall.

Back in 2003, the municipality of Bowen Island worked with the Pembina Institute to determine the source of the community’s carbon emissions and how to reduce them. This past year, the Municipality, alongside representatives from a variety of community groups as well as interested members of the public revisited the data and came up with a new set of actions to reduce Bowen’s annual output of carbon emissions. If followed rigorously, these actions will leave Bowen’s emissions well above the desired target of roughly 4,000 tonnes of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions annually by 2050.

“My big take-away from this is that it is really difficult to make an impact,” says Municipal Councillor Maureen Nicholson, who alongside Councillor Sue Ellen Fast and head of bylaw services, Bonny Brokenshire, have shared the responsibility of leading the project. “When you look at the difference BC Ferries does between business as usual and what the GHG emissions look like after the pronot even have an posed changes, there is a very big gap.

But you see the same kind of graphs at emissions plan, and that is a provincial level. This underscores the importance of all three levels of governa real problem. ment working together.”

David Hocking Nicholson points to British Columbia’s updated Building Act as an example of the province opening up the possibiliHocking adds that the actions laid out ty for municipalities to make a bigger in the current emissions reduction plan impact on emissions.

“Municipalities can sign on to codes that require increased levels of energy efficiency of homes,” says Nicholson. “You can sign to meet the basic levels or higher levels but the impact on housing costs are a consideration on how far to go. Bowen Island has applied for a grant under the rural dividend program to develop a training and education program related to this – we would be able to bring in off-island expertise and help our contractors learn to work within these new regulations.”

However, Nicholson says, The above graphs shows Bowen Island’s projected carbon emissions until the year while in Vancouver building 2050. The orange line, “BAU” (Business As Usual) illustrates what would happen efficiency is the number one if no steps are taken to curb emissions. source of emissions, here on

Welcome to 2017! Bowen Islanders welcome the new year with a dive into the icy waters off Bowen Bay beach.

Meribeth Deen

Wind storm leads to cancelled ferries, power outages from PAGE 1

The motel in Horseshoe Bay was full, so Kemp got a hotel in the city.

Shari Ulrich was also forced to spend the night in the city.

However, as the operator of a guest suite, says she started receiving messages from people stuck on Bowen looking for a place to stay.

“My place was booked, but I immediately started calling around and trying to find alternate accommodations for these various people,” says Ulrich. “It really struck me that there are going to be times when people are stranded here, and without much in the way of accommodations on Bowen, we should really have some kind of plan or protocol when it happens.”

Meanwhile, huge chunks of Bowen Island were in the dark.

Mora Scott from BC Hydro says the power restoration centre started receiving calls from Bowen on New Years Eve due to a build up of snow and ice on the power lines. They sent out a crew that returned to the mainland that night.

The next day, the crews had to pause their work due to dangerous conditions caused by an increase in wind, they were then unable to come to Bowen later in the day because of ferry cancellations.

As 10pm approached on New Years Day, winds dropped somewhat allowing for the ferry to make a trip back to Horseshoe Bay. Shari Ulrich says the family she had arranged accommodations for headed home, Sarah Haxby canceled plans to open up Collins Hall as a shelter.

BC Hydro restoration crews and one vegetation crew came on the first trip to Bowen on the morning of January 2, and a total of 12 crews came to Bowen that day.

“There were a lot of small outages, things that could be fixed by simply removing a branch, but crews had to go to each site and that takes a lot of time,” says Scott. “There were also some really challenging conditions on Bowen because there were places that the bucket truck couldn’t reach. Members of our crew had to hike in and climb the poles in some cases.”

A total of 1,500 customers lost power on Bowen at the peak of the outage, and some had to wait until the evening of January 2nd to have power restored.

Looking back on this New Year’s Day storm, Islander Bill Pocklington says that while this is the worst storm he’s seen hit Bowen Island in 20 years, but it was not nearly as bad as the one that hit the winter of 1991.

“The power was out for three weeks,” recalls Pocklington.

“On the ferry ride home when the storm hit, the captain told us to lie on the floor and hold on to the seat legs while he made a straight shot for Snug Cove.”

4 • FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2017

viewpoint 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.

Here’s how.

To submit a letter to the editor, fax 604-947-0148 or mail it to #102, 495 Government Rd., PO Box 130, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 or email editor@ bowenislandundercurrent.com.

National NewsMedia Council.

The Undercurrent is a member of the National NewsMedia Council of Canada, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please email editor@ bowenislandundercurrent.com or call 604-947-2442.

If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the website at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

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. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

Breaking silence on heartbreaking fentanyl crisis Dear Editor, Returning to Bowen from my Christmas weekend I picked up a copy of The Undercurrent on the ferry.

Reading the article about Lorinda Strang’s generous donation of Naloxone to the community (through the Fire Dept), encouraged me to add my voice to the battle against the Fentanyl crisis.

This was my family’s first Christmas without our 27 year old nephew Paul. Paul died on September 28th, after a Fentanyl overdose at his best friend’s wedding.

Five of the wedding guests did cocaine, and thanks to Naloxone four of them survived.

I want to echo Lorinda’s words that this is not only a Downtown Eastside problem.

This is not something that happens to other people’s

families. No one was more shocked than my sister to hear that her son had done cocaine.

So, whether you know, deny you know, or couldn’t conceive of your child (or anyone you care about) doing recreational drugs, talk to them about the very real dangers. Yes, instill the fear of death, and how devastating it would be for you and your family to lose them. And if they need help breaking an addiction, get it for them.

So many hearts are breaking because of this crisis. I pray that Bowen families may be spared, but the only way that can happen is if we talk about it, and do whatever we can to help spare lives.

With hopeful wishes for 2017 to all in this community I love so much, Nicola Murray

Thanks for helping us see the festival for the trees Dear Editor, Bowen Island Family Place would like to thank our community sponsors for generously donating their time and/or resources to make the 2016 Festival of Trees possible: Belterra; Bowen Building Centre; Bowen Children’s Centre; Bowen Freight; Bowen Island Community Foundation; Bowen Island Community Recreation; Bowen Island Dog Ranch; Bowen Island Montessori School; Bowen Island Municipality; Bowen Island Septic Services; Bowen Island Volunteer Fire Department; Bowen Waste Service; First Credit Union;

Friends of the Food Bank; Home Farm Gardens; Knick Knack Nook; Leigh Automotive; MetroBlasting; Movement Global Design; Tourism Bowen Island; The Snug Cafe; The Village Baker; and The Union Steamship Company.

In addition, we would like to thank the following individuals for their invaluable help: Deb Blenkhorn; Stu Bristowe and Deidre Farah; Tammy Brockmeyer; Aaron Cawker; Rondy Dike; Anna Donnelly; Chris Farah; Steve Forster; Lesley Gaunt; Tanya Kim; Basia Lieske; John Parker; Dayna Purdy; Scott and Sheana Stevenson; the Toews family; and Katherine

Wolters.

A note about this year’s trees: after our usual supplier’s trees were unexpectedly delayed, we were fortunate to obtain trees through auntleahs.org, a charity that helps prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless.

Special thanks to Alan at Bowen Freight for last-minute re-routing to make this happen.

In addition, we would like to thank the following individuals for their invaluable help: Deb Blenkhorn; Stu Bristowe and Deidre Farah; Tammy Brockmeyer; Aaron Cawker; Rondy Dike; Anna Donnelly; Chris Farah;

Steve Forster; Lesley Gaunt; Tanya Kim; Basia Lieske; John Parker; Dayna Purdy; Scott and Sheana Stevenson; the Toews family; Aubin and David van Berckel, and Katherine Wolters.

By donating or volunteering for the Festival of Trees, you help Family Place continue to provide drop-in and other important services for families with young children on Bowen Island.

We deeply appreciate your support.

Sincerely, Caroline Parker Noah Pryce-Jones Co-Coordinators, Family Place Festival of Trees

One hundred jobs also makes a big difference Dear Editor, At Woodfibre LNG Limited, we would have to agree with the title of Mr. van Walraven’s latest letter (“Fifteen years makes a big difference,” Dec. 16,2016). If the Woodfibre liquefied natural gas project is granted a National Energy Board export licence for 40 years (instead of the current 25), our project could provide: · More than 100 jobs at the Woodfibre site and administration type jobs in Squamish, and more than 330

#102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0 Phone: 604.947.2442 Fax: 604.947.0148 Deadline for all advertising and editorial: Monday, 4:00p.m. www.bowenislandundercurrent.com

additional local jobs (indirect and induced) during 40 years of operation. These are good paying, family supporting jobs in a community where the cost of housing is skyrocketing. · an estimated $86.5 million (2014 CAD) in tax revenue for all three levels of government per year of operation. · 40 years of made in BC LNG from a facility that is powered with clean renewable electricity from BC Hydro being shipped to markets

overseas where it can replace dirtier burning fuels.

The Province of British Columbia’s decision in November 2016 to offer the industrial rate to LNG projects that use electricity from BC Hydro to power their facilities (“eDrive”) means Woodfibre LNG will pay the same fair rate as any mine, pulp mill or factory in BC. Contrary to what Mr. van Walraven writes, in our environmental assessment application, Woodfibre LNG did disclose that the life of the

project/length of the export permit may be extended or renewed (See: Section 2.2.7 of the Application). In addition, all of the commitments we made in the application, and the regulatory conditions, plans and permits required for construction and operation will remain in effect for the life of the project, whether it’s 25 or 40 years.

Also contrary to what Mr. Van Walraven writes, the change of cooling technique is the result of our environmental assessment agreement with

Squamish Nation.

Following a review of three cooling techniques including our preferred method, seawater cooling, Squamish Nation Chiefs and Councils selected air cooling, and so air cooling is what Woodfibre LNG will use.

Have a question for Woodfibre LNG? Please visit us online at askwoodfibrelng. ca.

Warm regards, Jennifer Siddon Associate Vice President, Corporate Communications

Editor

Advertising

Cartoonist

Publisher

Meribeth Deen

Maureen Sawasy

Ron Woodall

Peter Kvarnstrom

Bowen Island Undercurrent Subscription Rates: Mailed 1 year subscription on Bowen Island: $45, including GST. Within Canada: $65 including GST Newsstand (Single Copy)$1 per copy, including GST

editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

pkvarnstrom@glaciermedia.com

2011 CCNA

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2011

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

FRIDAY JANUARY FRIDAY JANUARY 6 6 2017 2017 •< 5 5

In 2017, make commitments that count

JAE MATHER

CARBON FREE GROUP

Sustainability. Has the word lost its meaning? And if it has, does it even matter?

If our species continues on a path of business as usual, our planet is not going to be a very comfortable place to live.

Yes, this is old news. It’s just a simple truth that when it comes down to it, the planet and the environment don’t feature as top priorities in most people’s decision making. Even with such alarming things as the fact that the North Pole has recently been 21 C above average or that current trends indicate that we can expect a 50-per-cent reduction in species across the planet by 2100.

Whether or not we like the word, the need to shift into a more sustainable way of life is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. We must find ways of meeting our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

So, who is it that will lead us down this path? Many of us were buoyed with optimism following the last federal elec-

tion. One of the first actions of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was to get Canada back on track to fight climate change by ratifying the Paris Accord and committing to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.

Yet, a little more than a year later, his government has given approval to a multitude of big fossil-fuel projects, including pipelines and LNG, that will lock our economy to the extraction of fossil fuels for decades to come.

If Trudeau believes he is “green,” then he is suffering from a typical case of cognitive dissonance, and he is not alone in this. Our leaders, whether in government or in business, are simply tinkering at the edges of our existing system. Yes, they are working towards being more sustainable, but they are not making the change anywhere close to quickly enough.

Yes, pipelines and wind turbines can co-exist, but these things are not compatible with our global pledges. We’ve made both international and domestic commitments to cut our carbon emissions, and we are

either going to do what it takes to get there, or we are not. If we are backing pipelines and other fossil-fuel infrastructure, we simply will not meet the commitments made in Paris.

While the economy hangs over our heads like a nasty threat in so many conversations about making the changes necessary to stabilize our climate and keep mass-extinctions at bay, we don’t hear nearly enough about the business case for green investments. Globally, clean technology – meaning any technology that lessens the impacts of our current way of doing things or meets our needs with fewer impacts or sometimes even positive ones – is the fastest-growing sector of the global economy. If we actually want jobs then renewable energy and clean technology is the way to go.

This is because $1 million worth of oil and natural gas output directly creates 0.8 jobs, and $1 million of coal produces 1.9 jobs. Compare that to building retrofits for energy efficiency (seven jobs per million), mass transit services (11 jobs), building the smart grid (4.3), wind (4.6),

Jae Mather solar (5.4) and biomass power generation (7.4).

But we can’t afford to wait for the government or rest of the economy to catch on. If we do, we are allowing ourselves to be swept along with a tide that is headed somewhere none of us want to go. As Tom Robbins says, “If you fail to pilot your own ship, don’t be surprised at what inappropriate port you find yourself in”.

Of course it feels overwhelming and often futile to exert your individual effort towards being sustainable when even our elected governments are not onside. But your choices do make a difference, and beyond the standard “reduce, re-use and recycle” mantra, there are ways to make

a real impact. Here are my top three: ! Move your money to places that support the vision of the world that you ascribe to. Bank accounts, investments, pensions, loans, credit cards and mortgages are provided by a multitude of organizations that support the transition to a sustainable world. Examples include credit unions and socially responsible investments. ! Spend your money on products and services that do not exploit the natural or human world. Buying local can result in dollars spent in the local economy being amplified by 220 per cent (called the local multiplier effect) but have as little impact as 30 per cent if a product or service is purchased, manufactured or sourced from across the globe. ! Reduce the energy consumption of your home. Bowen in Transition is currently offering free, mini energy audits

on Bowen Island until the end of February. LED lights, draft proofing, identifying insulation problems are examples of measures that all result in energy, money and carbon savings. Typically a house will save around 30 per cent of energy consumption with an attractive return on investment of 20 per cent or more.

Regardless of your political inclinations, I would urge you to commit to these actions in 2017. Every one of us wants a safe and healthy environment, clean food, clean air and a world where kids are safe to play and grow. “Sustainability” is not about having less, it is about having more of what we all really need – more of the things that make us humans truly happy.

Jae Mather is a member of Bowen In Transition and director of the Carbon Free Group jae@carbonfreegroup.com @jaemather

DEPARTS SUN to THURS FRI & SAT SNUG COVE 11:15PM 12:15AM SNUG COVE 11:15PM 12:15AM HORSESHOE BAY 11:30PM 12:30AM HORSESHOE BAY 11:30PM 12:30AM

Scheduled Afternoon Commuter Runs OPERATING 7 DAYS WEEK Mon - Fri Horseshoe Bay -ASnug Cove

Proudly Celebrating Over 36 39 Years of Trusted Transport for Bowen Island & Howe Sound Telephone: 604-947-2243 Cellular: 604-250-2630 24 Hour Tug & BargeService services Special Event Cruises PRIVATE CHARTERS AVAILABLE ANYTIME

POST-PLUNGE Lisa, Neil and Keona warm up after a dip in the chilly water at the Bowen Bay Polar Bear Swim on New Year’s Day. photo supplied

On the calendar

604-947-2243

Since 1978

BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY CHOIR

Spring Registration

MONDAY, JANUARY 9 SKY will have exercise at 9 a.m., coffee at 9:45, Speakers Corner with Audrey Gresco discussing books for your grandchildren at 10, and Yoga with Diana Kaile at 11:15.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 Special Community Lunch at the Legion.

Beef Bourguignon, followed by dessert, tea and coffee for $10 per person. Please call the Caring Circle at (604) 9679100 to reserve a spot Starts at 11:30 a.m. Adults only.

email: cormorantmarine@telus.net web: cormorantwatertaxi.com

hdown Photo: Lorraine As

Coffee House March 4th Concert May 6th

Jan. 11th - Registration and Social Jan. 18th - Registration/First Practice 7 p.m. at Cates Hill Chapel Welcoming sopranos, altos, tenors and basses No experience or audition required. Cost $90 Check us out on

Join our choir and celebrate “Community” in Canada’s 150th DIRECTOR: Ellen MacIntosh • ACCOMPANIST: Sheilagh Sparks

Since 1992

6 6 •< FRIDAY FRIDAY JANUARY JANUARY 6 6 2017 2017

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

Truly amazing days: an adventure update

Teachers Bronwyn Churcher and Christian MacInnes take on Japan, New Zealand

Sept. 1, 2016 “Typhoon survival 101” So it’s been two days since our last update and, yes, we are still biking and, yes, we survived the typhoon that hit Japan! If you weren’t already worrying about us after hearing about it on the news, Typhoon Lion Rock (or Typhoon 10 as the Japanese have called it because it is the record 10th typhoon to hit Japan this year) hit landfall around 7 p.m. on Monday night, but we were ready for it. If you saw our video on the “michi no eki,” that is actually where we ended up sleeping that night. Out front. Inside our tent. In gale force winds and rains.

By bungee-ing our tent to some pillars, we at least knew we wouldn’t fly away but were still worried that the walls around us would be ripped off. Needless to say, it was a pretty exciting if not restful night. We weren’t the only ones holed up at the rest stop at least,

and made a new friend, Takeo Machiyama, who was on his 30th day of cycling around all of Japan in four months, clocking 100km+ days and making us feel very slow and inexperienced in comparison!

Oct. 24, 2016 “Making a Nara escape” Did you know that Nara is considered a National Treasure to the Japanese? Rightly so: it’s full of ancient temples and palaces and was once the capital of Japan.

Did you know that this “national treasure” status also makes it illegal to camp in the wild anywhere in the parks?

Because we didn’t.

OK, to be fair, we were warned that camping in any of the Nara parks was, in fact, prohibited. But we were nonetheless surprised to find a police officer knocking on the outside of our tent after we set it up in a really remote corner of one of the parks.

None of the parks up until this point had been monitored by police! And we assumed that since we were in an area roped off to car traffic and away from any major temples, we would be okay.

We were wrong. Mea culpa.

Here’s how it all went down. We spent more time in Nara getting ready for the next stages of the trip during daylight hours than we had anticipated, and so when night time rolled around and the crowds of people had left the parks, we figured we would subtly roll in and camp in a discreet corner, and leave no trace we had even been there when we exited before daybreak the next morning.

We lasted about two hours in that tent, but

Christian MacInnis and Bronwyn Churcher visit Cape Reinga at the northernmost tip of New Zealand. photo supplied get this: there were wild deer and some wild boars roaming around us! The deer in Nara are famous – most people know about them and make stopping to see them a part of the visit to Nara. But when I heard the wheezing grumbling sounds happening near our tent – wheezing and grumbling like no deer I had ever heard – I had to pop out and witness the family of swine running off at the sound of the tent zipper. Bronwyn, as you might expect, was completely freaked out at this point.

So if was probably a relief (at least, in some corner of her mind) when a police officer gently evicted us from our wild camp. He would point out, as we had been warned, that camping was prohibited because the whole park area is a national treasure to Japan.

He was really, really, nice about it.

Dec. 5, 2016 (posted Dec. 21) “The proposal” The next morning at around 4:30 a.m., Bronwyn proceeded to ask me if I was awake until I was actually awake, citing restlessness and excitement for her actual birthday time as the reason for waking me up. I tried to do the mental math in my grogginess: it would

be about 10:30 a.m. back in Ontario where Bronwyn was born, but she wasn’t actually delivered until 2:30 in the afternoon, so I still had time to kill. There was no convincing her of that, so we got out of bed and went for a walk.

There was nothing for breakfast open at that hour, but it did give us some time to head down to the beach and watch the sun come up over the Pacific Ocean. I set up the GoPro to catch the sun coming up and got a simultaneous timelapse on my phone.

It was glorious: the sun came up in the most dramatic fashion I have ever seen and we were treated to a private sunrise. And I had maybe the most amazing day so far.

We managed to get in touch with my parents to let them know the good news, and my three younger brothers (all of whom had been through the engagement process before me) learned of it in the lead up to the actual event.

We managed to get Eva on FaceTime, but before we could tell her about our engagement, a snowstorm on Bowen Island caused a power outage. She kept her left hand out of the frame for the entire call, we were just about to tell Eva when we lost the connection.

BC Ferries REGULAR SCHEDULE REGULAR SCHEDULE Jan May 3 to15May 17, 2017 In Effect to October 13, 2014

^ 5:30 am** 5:30 am 6:30 am 6:30 am 7:30 am*^* 7:30 am 8:30 am 8:35 am 9:30 am# 9:35 am # 10:30 am 10:35 am 11:30 am 11:40 am 12:30 pm 12:45 pm 3:00 pm 3:10 pm 4:15 pm 4:00 pm†† 5:15 pm 5:00 pm * 6:20 pm 6:00 pm 7:20 pm 7:00 pm** 8:15 pm # 8:00 pm# 9:10 pm 9:00 pm 10:05 pm 10:00 pm

VANCOUVER Horseshoe Bay

6:00am am 6:00 **^ 7:00am am 7:00 8:00 8:00am am 9:05 9:00am# am††# 10:05 10:00am am 11:05 am 11:00 am 12:10 pm 12:00 pm 2:35 pm 2:25 pm 3:45 pm 3:30 pm 4:45 pm 4:30pm pm 5:50 * 5:30pm pm 6:50 6:30pm pm 7:50 * 8:40 7:30pm pm#* 9:40 8:30pm pm# 9:30 pm

Distance: 3 NAUTICAL MILES Crossing Time: 20 MINUTES

Leave Horseshoe Bay

▼

BOWEN ISLAND Snug Cove

Leave Snug Cove

After two years of what they describe as “plotting, scheming and saving,” former Island Pacific School teachers Bronwyn Churcher and Christian McInnis departed on a global cycling and farming adventure on Aug. 24, 2016.

Since then, they have spent two months in Japan and one month in New Zealand.

They’ve biked 3,200 kilometres and are currently living on their fourth farm (in the Waipara wine region just north of Christchurch).

The experience, they say, is inspiring them to one day run their own permaculture-based organic farm. Here are a few snippets from their adventure so far as posted on their blog onlyamazingdays.com.

#*

DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS

SUNDAYS

# DAILY DAILY EXCEPT EXCEPT SATURDAYS SUNDAYS &

*

SUNDAYS

^ **

DAILY EXCEPT DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS & SAT, SUN & SUNDAYS MAY 19, JUL 1,

AUG 4, SEPT 1 & † 13 OCT

THE WEDNESDAY SAILINGS WILL BE REPLACED THEDANGEROUS WEDNESDAY BY SAILINGS WILL CARGO SAILINGS. BE REPLACED NO OTHER

BY DANGEROUS PASSENGERS CARGO SAILINGS. NO OTHER PERMITTED.

†

PASSENGERS PERMITTED.

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2017 • 7

BOWEN BULLETIN BOARD BOWEN ISLAND SENIORS HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE

6& ,97 2,# + #4 7 )7 5 .7 &% 1

1 bd room semi detached unit.

Must be Canadian citizen willing & able to volunteer for ongoing co-op management & maintenance tasks. $796/mo. plus one time membership share.

*: (0&,!&%3

1 hr of danc e & swea t no danc e expe rienc e need ed awes ome card io & calor ie burn er gift card s avail able pick & choo se your date s

8 / *' / *$ / *" / (- / (' / (: / '-

ons & pricing: check website for class times, locati

Apply on

bowendancecardio.com

604.349.7402

info@bowenconcrete.ca

FOR ALL YOUR

S ED NE TE RE CONC it Pump it, Mix it, Form it, Dig We

I’ll pick up your recycling and deliver to BIRC for $25/load Kindling $20/box at Building Centre CALL 947-2430

ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

LANCE’S RECYCLING

www.bishc.org No phone calls please.

Advertising deadlines:

4pm Friday to book the space 4pm Monday for artwork Contact Maureen to book your ad today.

604-947-2442

Your Community

MARKETPLACE Or call to place your ad at

604-630-3300

Email: classifieds@van.net

Phone Hours: Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Office Hours: 9 am to 5 pm

BC WIDE CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS ADVERTISING POLICIES

All advertising published in this newspaper is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to buyers at the advertised prices. Advertisers are aware of these conditions. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading, is never knowingly accepted. If any reader encounters non-compliance with these standards we ask that you inform the Publisher of this newspaper and The Advertising Standards Council of B.C. OMISSION AND ERROR: The publishers do not guarantee the insertion of a particular advertisement on a specified date, or at all, although every effort will be made to meet the wishes of the advertisers.

Further, the publishers do not accept liability for any loss of damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of an advertisement beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred. Any corrections of changes will be made in the next available issue. The Bowen Island Undercurrent will be responsible for only one incorrect insertion with liability limited to that portion of the advertisement affected by the error. Request for adjustments or corrections on charges must be made within 30 days of the ad’s expiration.

For best results please check your ad for accuracy the first day it appears. Refunds made only after 7 business days notice!

ANSWERS

CANADA BENEFIT GROUP Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability?

Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government.

Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canadabenefit.ca/ free-assessment

FOR SALE - MISC HARDY TREE, Shrub and berry seedlings delivered.

Order online at www.treetime.ca or call 1-866-8733846. New growth guaranteed.

SAWMILLS from only $4,397 Make money & save money with your own bandmill - Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info & DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT 1-800566-6899 Ext:400OT

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get the online training you need from an employer trusted program.Visit:CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-athome career today!

LEGAL SERVICES CRIMINAL RECORD? Why suffer Employment/Licensing loss? Travel/Business opportunities? Be embarrassed?

Think: Criminal Pardon. US Entry Waiver. Record Purge.

File Destruction. Free Consultation 1-800-347-2540

FINANCIAL SERVICES

+0=> #83:2 1 "84)

!; *9'(%5 *&'*$7 !*/, ' 13#(&$//) -3. + -*. #'($$'$%&'!)"( "**0# 3%2

,,,6/4)-<.0>>6/3 Buying? Hiring? Selling? Renting?

RECYCLE THIS PAPER

Hot Spot For Sale

604.630.3300

Call 604-630-3300 to place your ad.

SUDOKU

PRACTICAL NURSING

SPROTTSHAW.COM

8 • FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2017 8 < FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2017

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

BIAC classes light up the new year The new year is upon us, the cold is sticking around for a few more months, so now is the perfect time to connect with your inner creative spark.

The Bowen Island Arts Council has a fabulous collection of upcoming classes and events for all ages that you’ll want to check out if your New Year’s resolutions involved playing with paints, tackling the first chapter of your book idea, or just getting out of the house to try something new. We kick off the year with Eat, Drink, Paint! on Saturday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m. This is a fun-filled class with step-by-step guidance to recreate a masterpiece in acrylics (this time, Gaugin’s Tahitian Pastorale). Led by Kathleen Ainscough, this evening requires no previous experience, and paints, brushes, canvasses, drinks and nibblies are provided.

Writer and creativity coach Donaleen Saul is back with a fantastic workshop for writers of all stripes. Write Into the Belly of the Whale is for blocked creatives, challenged writers, or those just wanting to go deeper in their work. Prepare to be guided through the “uncharted domains of soul and psyche” by this accomplished writer who has worked in non-fiction, film, animation, documentaries, education, and morr, Saturday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Young artists can get their creative fill too in Art Explorers, a Wednesday 3-4 p.m. class running Jan. 18-Feb. 22 at Bowen Island Community School. Artists ages six to 10 are guided by Rebecca Smith through various artistic media and adventures.

As of writing, there is one Sunday spot left in Janet Esseiva’s Fresh Start Intense Acrylics I & II (Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 14 and 15, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). Janet’s approach to creating luminous acrylic landscapes is accessible and fun, but classes almost always fill up. If you miss this chance and would like to sign up for future classes by Janet or anyone else, stay informed through our website or by becoming a BIAC member and never miss our Weekly Update with class information, events, and more.

Sign up early through Bowen Recreation for all Bowen Island Arts Council offerings (bowencommunityrecreation.com or 604947-2216), and celebrate a new year to create!

– Submitted by Bowen Island Arts Council

Dr. Utah Zandy 604-947-9830 CALL FOR APPOINTMENT OPEN TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Bowen Island Chiropractic

BODY VITALITY MASSAGE THERAPY

Certified provider of Active Release Techniques

James Goldfarb RMT BC#05279

Natural health solutions for the whole family

Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon

Naturopathic Doctor

Dr. Tracy Leach, D.C.

Artisan Square Tues. & Fri.

778-828-5681

www.drtracyleach.ca

Call 604-288-2860 text 250-726-8080 www.bodyvitality.ca

Bowen Island Naturopathic & Acupuncture Clinic #201 - 566 Artisan Square

Dr. Alea Bell, ND 778-891-0370

draleabell@gmail.com

Courtney Morris, R.Ac Registered Acupuncturist, Doula, Homeopath

604-338-5001

courtneykmorris@gmail.com

BOWEN ISLAND MASSAGE THERAPY 604-947-9755 EXT #1 @ #597 Wellness Centre & #595 next door!!

TEXT: 604-653-9755

By Appt.

7 days a week MARY MCDONAGH RMT

Psychologist

HARMONY SHIRE RMT

Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt PhD, R.Psych #1484

ROBYN IZARD RMT

604-376-9801

Celebrating 27 years

ALICIA HOPPENRATH RMT

www.CarolynNesbitt.com

NexGen Hearing

Dr. Gloria Chao

Call us at

Artisan Square 604-947-0734

432 Cardena Road (behind the Library)

Alternate Fridays 10am - 4:30pm

604 947-9100 caringcircle.ca info@caringcircle.ca

604-281-3691

FREE

Hearing Testing On Bowen Island @ Caring Circle West Vancouver

Family Dentist

Caring Circle Health Resource Centre

Open M-W-F - 10-4

Horseshoe Bay 604-921-8522 www.bowenislanddental.com

“We connect individuals on Bowen Island to health services, social programs and each other - for free."

Community Healthcare

Mary Coleman MSW, RSW

778-233-4425 Docs on the Bay and Bowen Island Compassion minded counselling to grow wellbeing in the midst of serious illness, loss and grief.

Dr. Susanne Schloegl M.D.

Open Mon.Wed. Thurs. Fri. Now accepting Bowen patients.

Artisan Square

604-947-9986

At entrance to Artisan Square Suite #597

CATHERINE SHAW Dr. Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncturist

❦

MARY MCDONAGH RMT, DCH

Registered Massage Therapist

❦

SANDY LOGAN Registered Physiotherapist

Dr. Dana Barton

Naturopathic Physician 596 B. Artisan Square

604-730-1174 Natural Family Medicine