FRIDAY NOV 3, 2017
VOL. 42, NO. 41
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Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
Parks plan
Highlights following the plan’s preliminary approval
Under-housed
Advocate lives on a boat, seeks data on homeless islanders
Scary stories
Bowen’s junior writers publish Halloween Anthology
Bowen to contribute to creation of Howe Sound Marine Reference guide
MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
Fearsome creatures appeared in the MacDonald Farm pumpkin patch on Harding Road last weekend. For more Halloween photos, see pages 6 & 7. Meribeth Deen, photo
RCMP investigate alcohol factor in Charlie’s Lane crash MERIBETH DEEN EDITOR
At midnight on Sunday, October 29, the paramedics on Bowen informed the RCMP of a vehicle that drove over an embankment on Charlie’s Lane. Both driver and passenger were injured in the crash and taken to the hospital by water taxi. “Constable Chris Coulter escorted them to the hospital and demanded blood samples for alcohol analysis,” says Cpl Paulo Arreaga. “Both driver and passenger have now been released from hospital, but it the severity and long-term impact of their injuries is unclear. The vehicle is un-drivable.” Arreaga says that in 2016, the RCMP charged 11 people on Bowen Island with impaired driving. This year they’ve already
charged 15. “I believe the number has gone up because we’ve increased the number of patrols and roadblocks,” says Arreaga. “Really, most people are very cautious about drinking and driving and choose to get a ride or call the Bowen Taxi Service. There’s just too much to lose by being charged with impaired driving when you live in a car-dependent community. Still though, people make bad decisions, and the people around them allow that to happen.” Arreaga is urging Bowen Islanders to call 9-11 if they see what they believe to be an impaired driver. “Just get the license plate and the direction the car is traveling in,” he says, adding that the RCMP will be stepping up their roadblocks even more as the holiday season approaches.
Council confirmed Bowen’s commitment to community co-operation in Howe Sound by agreeing to annual contributions funding the creation of a marine reference guide. This is the first action item in the Ocean Watch – Howe Sound Edition (oceanwatch.ca), launched by Ocean Wise’s Coastal Ocean Research Institute last February. The Ocean Watch report focused on Howe Sound because of the recent revival of its marine ecosystems, and increasing regional development and population growth. “In response to this population growth, Howe Sound residents will have to figure out how to balance recreational, economic, and cultural values with protecting and restoring the marine environment on which we all depend,” says Fiona Beaty, with the Coastal Ocean Research Institute.“Like the Ocean Watch report, the Howe Sound Marine Reference Guide will combine scientific, indigenous and local knowledge all together in one place. It is a great tool that will come in the form of an interactive map with data tailored towards marine planning, collaborative management, and stewardship.” Beaty says that if a development proposal comes up, a municipality could go to the map and click on the various layers to find information on the significance of the area from various perspectives. “Instead of having to conduct their own independent consultations and studies, local governments will be able to refer to this source,” she says. “Also, because this map will be open for public use, it will be a great tool for education. Typically, what’s out of sight is out of mind. With this map, anyone can click on an area of Howe Sound’s marine environment, find out what kind of life exists there, and interact with it in a dynamic visual way.” The data collection will involve workshops, interviews, fieldwork and surveys. Some knowledge gathering has already occurred through the work of the Coastal Ocean Research Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation, who are making good headway on pulling information together on Howe Sound’s marine ecosystem. Media created by local advocates for Howe Sound including citizen scientists will also be included. This could mean a click on the Mannion Bay area of the map delivers footage from eelgrass beds there, connecting to a story about the area’s recovery. Pulling together all the information and creating this resource is expected to take roughly three years with a budget of $200,000 per year. Local governments throughout the Sound will make annual contributions to the project of about 5-10% of the total, with their funding being used to leverage contributions from other sources. Bowen Island has volunteered a contribution of $1,742.80 per year.