THURSDAY MAY 24, 2018 VOL. 44, NO. 19
$1
including GST
Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
ABANDONED BOATS
MP visits Bowen to announce funding to remove derelict boat from Mannion Bay
FILM FEST RETURNS
Armed with a camera, island filmmakers provide unparalleled views of the island
COMPETITION GETS ROUGH
The golf club’s annual tournament brings out the players’ fighting instinct, a survivor reports
Half-empty and yet overloaded? Ferry frustrations increasingly common BRONWYN BEAIRSTO EDITOR
The ferry line of cars snaking up past BICS has been an increasingly common sight as summer dawns and overloads become more common. Some locals are saying that there’s been an abnormally high level of ferry trouble lately and it’s been a daily complaint on the island Facebook group. Karen Munro owns Bowen Island Dog Ranch and depends on the ferries to shuttle dogs to and from the mainland daily. The delays have been making her late for appointments and keeping families waiting on both ends of the run, she said. “I’ve been in business over 10 years now and have not seen this much havoc from BC Ferries ever.” Numerous people, on the Bowen run and others, also report ferries departing early with several empty spaces on board. Marina Pratchett said she had to run for a 6:20 a.m. ferry last Friday, just making it on board, but the ferry left two cars behind despite having space and time. “In 28 years on Bowen I have never seen this happen,” she said. Kim Smith and her husband have noticed boats leaving early as well. “I have heard that they can close the gates two minutes early, but, where is the sense of humanity,” asked Smith over email. Continued on page 8
Woman with a CAWES: Iris Carr leaves a legacy BRONWYN BEAIRSTO EDITOR
Kim Smith took this photo of empty spaces on the Queen of Capilano, which left Snug Cove with two cars left behind. In order to stick to the schedule, the ferry captain has the discretion to leave before the ferry is totally loaded.
Bear on island reported to conservation services BRONWYN BEAIRSTO EDITOR
The Undercurrent has received reports of bear sightings, and a photo from Len Gilday of what appears to be bear scat. BIM manager of parks and environment, Bonny Brokenshire, said that bears do come to the island frequently, and residents should always be “bear aware.”
“They come and go,” she said. Wildlife is provincial jurisdiction, so conservation officers on the mainland receive bear sighting reports. Usually they don’t do anything about a bear on Bowen, except monitor the situation, said Brokenshire. “The conservation office has been alerted that there’ve been bear sightings on the island,” she said. If people have concerns or sight-
BOWEN ISLAND NEIGHBOURHOOD PUB; 3.417 in; Process color; -; R0011568298
ings they can call the provincial conservation office at 1-877-952-7277. The BIM website has tips for living with wildlife. They include: being careful with your garbage and storing it in secure bins and buildings, picking fruit and berries as early as possible, cleaning the barbeque frequently, and keeping animal feed inside whenever possible. Info: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ bowen-wildlife.
Just as she lived her life, Iris Carr was organized in death. Last Friday morning she returned from hospice to the home on Bowen she’d shared with her husband Bill since 1997. On a piece of lined yellow pad paper, she marked down a to-do list: a sip of juice, a bath, dress in PJs and warm socks, sit on the couch and sip OJ, a last chance to check on the iPad. “And then carry on.” On this day, that meant welcoming the doctor who would help her die. After suffering greatly from an incurable cancer, Iris chose to end her life on May 18. Under Canada’s new doctor-assisted death legislation, she was able to plan where and when it would happen, with her husband Bill and nephew Andy by her side. Iris will be best remembered for her total dedication to animals. In 2000 she co-founded Coast Animal Welfare & Education Society (CAWES), to deal with the local feral cat problem. “She saw something and she had to be involved ,” said Bill. Continued on page 5
WE’RE ON THE MOVE!
RIBBON CUTTING AND C O C K TA I L R E C E P T I O N
3:00pm Friday June 1st See you all there!