CANNABIS STORE: Happy Isle opens Friday
$1
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THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019
ONE PATCH AT A TIME
VOL. 45, NO. 19
BIUndercurrent
Modern Mending and clothing sustainability
BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com
PAGE 6
Developing economy
BIM GETS $100,000 FOR COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
BRONWYN BEAIRSTO Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
Bowen Island Municipality loves plans almost as much as it loves its committees. The island has a transportation plan; a parks plan; an island plan; a cultural plan; a community recreation plan, is working on an emergency response plan and of course, there’s the Official Community Plan (OCP). Now the island is going to get a community economic development plan. The province announced last week that Bowen will receive nearly $100,000 for the community economic development plan through the Rural Dividend Program (Bowen isn’t technically classified as rural, so got onetime waiver to apply to this program. BIM is, however, working on getting permanent rural status). The muni says that the grant will cover 80 per cent of the costs of the two-year project, including a new part-time position.
What is it? BRONWYN BEAIRSTO, PHOTO
ONE HOUR OF CHAOS:
The Bowen Island Garden Club’s annual Jumbo Plant Sale fundraiser at Bowen Island Community School brought out the green thumbs in islanders of all ages Saturday. The (island) famous sale lasts just one hour and, as one Bowener put it, “you’ve got to get up your elbows” to find that perfect hosta before it’s snatched up by your neighbour.
Bowen Vet reopening in June A NEW VET IS COMING TO THE CLINIC AND WILL OFFER 24-EMERGENCY SERVICES
From NewYork City, to the Carribean, to Texas, to Calgary, to Vancouver, Dr. Midge Ritchie has treated all kinds of animals. Now she’s taking on a new challenge: Bowen’s furry friends. Ritchie is Bowen’s new veterinarian. With more than 15 years of experience
working with animals (first as a kennel assistant, then as a technician and finally as a vet), Ritchie is taking over the stead of Bowen Vet founder Dr. Alastair Westcott. Bowen Vet closed last July so that its staff could focus on opening the
ISLAND PACIFIC SCHOOL
Mountainside Animal Hospital in North Vancouver. Westcott is now medical head at the state-of-the-art facility, which is owned and operated by islander Walt Ruloff (who also owns Bowen Vet). For nearly a year islanders have been directed to Mountainside for both routine and urgent pet care. But no more. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
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As a long-term guide for municipal policies and bylaws, it’s how BIM can enhance the business base on-island. Buzzwords include “sustainability,” and “resilience,” or how municipalities (and businesses) can react to whatever life throws at them while not sapping resources. In an economic context this means looking at population growth, the island’s service needs, jobs, revenue sources and the potential for the ever-more common natural disasters (among other things). The new staff person is also to identify potential partnerships – with businesses, organizations, First Nations and individuals (presumably economically beneficial ones).
Why?
Such a plan is part of the much-referenced OCP – mother of all municipal planning documents. Part of the desire voiced in the OCP is to reduce the number of people commuting to the mainland for work. The OCP says that Bowen wants on-island jobs and services and services that meet islanders’ primary needs. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5