FRIDAY SEPT 1, 2017
VOL. 43, NO. 32
$1
including GST
Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
Singing their hearts out
Community Choir member describes elation of collectively creating beauty
Dancing like it’s 1989
And more... photos from Bowfest
Squamish Estuary
An intro to the life-giving landscape
Community Centre plans make debut at Bowfest
MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
Brenna Rosen (left) and Neela Todd at their booth called “One Hot Topic,” at Bowfest. Meribeth Deen, photo
Big issues at Bowfest
Bowen-raised students broach dialogue on climate and environment MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
This week, a UN Panel on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination called for a halt to construction of the Site C Dam until a full review on impacts to indigenous lands is carried out. The issues relating to dam project in the Peace River were also up for debate at last weekend’s Bowfest. “When it comes to Site C there’s a lot to talk about, including food security, energy, the economy, and we spoke about whatever angle people were interested in,” says Brenna Rosen, who is entering her final semester at Capilano College, where she is studying Global Stewardship. “What we wanted to do was open up a dialogue on environmental issues here on Bowen, and to learn from other people too.” Rosen and her friend Neela Todd, who is studying International Development, had considered presenting to various groups on Bowen before deciding Bowfest was the best way to connect with islanders.
“It was heartening to hear from older people,” says Todd. “I had quite a few of them apologize to me for making a mess out of the world and leaving it to my generation to sort out.” After finishing up her second year at McGill, Todd attended a leadership training in Seattle run through Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. Participants were asked to commit to ten acts of climate leadership, Bowfest will count as one. Todd says the events of this year, including a particularly harsh winter, the worst wildfire season in BC since 1961, the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, and last week’s record breaking heatwave in BC all keep climate change and finding a way to take positive action at the top of her mind. Both students say that growing up on Bowen has influenced their perspectives on these matters. “I guess it would be easy to take the natural beauty we were surrounded by growing up for granted,” says Rosen. “But I feel really lucky to have that connection with nature, and feel a responsibility to protect it.”
Bowen Islanders have had dreams and plans, for a community centre for decades, but municipal councillor Gary Ander says that this time around, there is a way forward. “The current plan is a culmination of many plans,” says Ander. “Getting something built was a top priority during the last election, and it has been a strategic priority for council every year since. Also, it’s time. I just think Bowen is ready for it. Ander and other members of the Community Centre Steering Committee presented the latest plans at Bowfest this weekend. The building, as it is currently envisioned, will be 15,000 square feet and include a “community living room,” a large multi-purpose room that will transform into a theatre space, a small multi-purpose room with a kitchenette, meeting rooms and municipal offices. “It is a $10 million project for sure,” says Ander, who is also the head of the Community Centre Steering Committee. “And we’ve had to scale down to meet that
budget. The municipal hall area has taken a hit in terms of size and the council chambers themsleves will also serve as a community conference room.” Ander says that there is some money in the municipal budget that will go into getting the project started, but fundraising will start as soon as council approves the project’s next phase. “Ideally, we are hoping to not have borrow additional funds for this project,” says Ander. “We’ll be applying for every grant available, but in order to apply for many of these grants, the project needs to be well under-way.” He adds that while the Community Centre Steering Committee has not yet come up with a business plan, the projected yearly income from Bowen Rec activities and the rental of space is $120,000 per year. “We got a lot of enthusiasm about this project at Bowfest,” says Ander. “But of course, this is only the beginning of what is sure to be a very long public vetting process.” To learn more about the current plans for a community centre on Bowen Island, check out: ourislandplace.com
From left: Jacqueline Massey, Maureen Nicholson, Gary Ander with grandson Henry, Shauna Jennings, architect Drew Rose. Meribeth Deen, photo