Bowen Island Undercurrent October 17 2019

FEDERAL ELECTION EDITION: meet the candidates

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

HALLOWEEN

VOL. 45, NO. 42

BIUndercurrent

We have all the scary and silly details

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PAGES 5

Muni Morsels

A climate change strategy, fire hall rejig and water talk

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

the station with anything from real emergency situations to just things like removing ticks,” he said.

Breakey, who has been this station’s chief for the past decade, said that the station isn’t set up as a clinic or first aid station, the ambulance itself is essentially the treatment room.

“What we’re set up to do is to respond to a call through our 911 system with the ambulance,” he said.

The following are briefs from the Oct. 14 regular council meeting.

Council change: Council is one step closer to declaring a climate emergency.

At a committee of the whole meeting (so all of council was there but its resolutions need to be ratified in a council meeting) councillor David Hocking presented a draft climate change strategy for Bowen Island.

The four-page document outlines eight strategies to reduce emissions, make the island more resilient to coming changes and engage islanders in all these actions.

Individual strategies for reducing emissions include facilitating the shift from single occupancy vehicles, reducing the need for transportation on and off island and facilitating move to low or no emission transportation and buildings. Hocking noted that the focus on transportation (off-island, ferry and on-island) is because the largest portion of the island’s carbon footprint comes from that sector. Resilience strategies include ways to build up protections for infrastructure and natural systems and against drought and wildfire.

Mayor and councillors met the draft policy with general approval while acknowledging that there’s no easy path ahead.

“I was at the climate march and I find it a bit tough to march in those things, because I did it 25 years ago and we haven’t gone in a great direction,” said councillor Rob Wynen. “But I hope that we as a council can really take this kind of information and every single time we make a decision, we start questioning, why are we doing this when really we’re trying to get to there?”

“I think that’ll be the challenge, when we start implementing stuff instead of just big level conversations,” said Wynen.

“There’s no question it’ll be a difficult challenge,” said Hocking. “For example, look at our community centre.

We’re already worried about how much it’s going to cost, but we’re building something that’ll last more than 30 years, and 30 years it’s supposed to be zero emissions.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

UNDERCURRENT PHOTO

ONTO NEGOTIATIONS: Mayor Gary Ander (left) and spokesperson for the volunteer firefighters Mike Hartwick

(right) shake at 4 p.m. Oct. 10, the deadline given by the firefighters for the municipality to remove the fire chief or the volunteers would all resign. In a move decided in the last hour before the deadline, fire chief Derek Dickson took a paid leave and the firefighters did not quit. For the full story, see page 3.

Ambulance station is not a medical clinic MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BOWEN’S AMBULANCE STATION LOOKING FOR MEDICAL HELP

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Showing up at the local ambulance station door isn’t a guarantee for faster attention, it could in fact hinder prompt medical treatment.

That’s the message B.C. Ambulance Station 225 is trying to get out to

Bowen Islanders after an uptick in people showing up at the Miller Road building.

“We want the public to call 911 and use the system as it’s designed,” said Bowen station’s unit chief Charles (Conn) Breakey.

“We’ve been getting quite an increase in people just showing up to

2 • THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019

Water Main Flushing

Management Committee Meeting

As part of its regular water system maintenance program, the Municipality will flush water mains in Cove Bay, Bowen Bay, King Edward Bay, Hood Point, and Tunstall Bay beginning Saturday, October 19 and continuing for 6 -8 weeks. Flushing will take place seven days a week from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and will rotate through each neighbourhood. This procedure is necessary to remove sediment that gradually deposits in pipes, and it does not pose a health hazard.

October 19, 2019 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Bluewater Park and Eagle Cliff water systems will not undergo flushing unless it is determined that there is an appropriate volume of water to flush without stressing the systems.

October 17, 2019 5:00 pm Snug Cove Sewer Local

Planting Party at Cates Hill Neighbourhood Park

Please check alerts or follow the BIM Facebook Page for daily updates.

October 21, 2019 7:00 pm

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Public Works at 604-947-0613 or bim@bimbc.ca

Advisory Planning Commission Meeting

On-Call Ice Patrol/Snow Removal Services

Parks, Trails and Greenways

October 24, 2019 3:00 pm Fire Hall Facilities Steering Committee Meeting

October 28, 2019 6:15 pm Regular Council Meeting All meetings are held in Council Chambers unless otherwise noted.

Council and Committee meetings are open to the public. We encourage you to attend in person or watch online.

DVP-12-2019 (1791 Frances Walk) PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A Development Variance Permit application has been submitted for 1791 Frances Walk (shown on map) to demolish an existing residence and build a new dwelling in a similar location.

The variance application is to reduce the setback of the sea from 30m to 15m to allow for the new building. The proposal will also involve removal of select trees, some of which are also within the setback.

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/water-main-flushing

October 22, 2019 7:00 pm Advisory Committee Meeting

Seeking Public Comment

Bowen Island Municipality seeks applications for interest in the following: • •

Ice Patrol - Temperature Dependent Snow Removal - Weather Dependent

MORE INFORMATION AT MUNICIPAL HALL: The application may be viewed at Municipal Hall between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays) or on the municipal website at https://www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ planning.

TIMELINE:

Please provide a written response expressing interest in the On-Call position(s) by email before Friday, November 1, 2019 at 4:00PM to: Rachel Pryce-Jones, Public Works Coordinator EMAIL: rpryce-jones@bimbc.ca Phone: 604-947-0613 Please contact ICBC (1-800-663-3051) to request a driver’s license abstract and ask ICBC to forward it directly to BIM by fax at 604-947-0193.

A one day paid training will be provided upon acceptance.

Compost on Bowen?

Did you know? The green waste collected from Bowen Island travels all the way to Pemberton to be composted.

This is expensive and not very sustainable. Disposal fees for green waste have increased substantially since 2016, from $65/ton to $95/ton. Another increase to $120/ton is proposed for next year – that’s almost DOUBLE! We’re looking into whether a composting facility would be easy, cost effective and efficient to operate on Bowen Island.

We’d like to hear from you! Take a quick survey at:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/bowen-compost

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:

6:15 PM on MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 in Council Chambers, Municipal Hall To ensure a fair process, submissions cannot be accepted after the meeting has begun.

Questions? Please contact Jennifer Pierce, Planner I at 604-947-4255 or jpierce@bimbc.ca

Burn season starts Oct 15th Open burning season on Bowen Island began on October 15, 2019. Burning Permits are required for yard burns and machine burns. Permits can be purchased at Municipal Hall.

Machine burns now require a site visit by the Fire Chief prior to burning.

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/burn-permits

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 October 17, 2019

Bowen Island Municipality

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019 • 3

ISLAND NEWS

Sept. RCMP stats CPL. ADAM KOEHLE

Bowen Island RCMP

UNDERCURRENT PHOTO

The crowd gathered in front of Municipal Hall Oct. 10 to support the firefighters celebrate the news that the volunteers wouldn’t be quitting.

Dickson takes temporary leave, firefighters stay BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor

With a handshake in front of Municipal Hall at Oct. 10, the Bowen firefighters’ threat to resign en masse was at least postponed.

Mayor Gary Ander told reporters that of his own volition, Fire Chief Derek Dickson stepped aside temporarily.

“We will proceed with some kind of mediation with all parties concerned and see if we can’t come to some kind of an understanding and move this thing forward and serve the community,” said Ander.

“My first priority is the safety of our firefighters and the residents of our community. I will be taking a step back from operations for a time,” said Fire Chief Derek Dickson in a press release from Bowen Island Municipality. “But I look forward to engaging further in this process with the membership in a facilitated environment.”

The island’s volunteer firefighters had sent a letter to Bowen Island Municipality on Oct. 7, giving BIM a deadline of 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon to remove the fire chief or all the firefighters would resign.

Ander said that the resolution came within half an hour of the 4 p.m. deadline. He said that the fire chief would be on leave for the duration of the arbitration process but would be paid.

“He will have input in the negotiations,” said Ander. “But he will have no day-to-day operation of the fire hall.”

While the firefighters are staying for the time being, the issue is not resolved. “We’re not negotiating working with the new fire chief, we’re asking for the dismissal or for him to stand down,” said spokesperson for the volunteer firefighters Mike Hartwick.

“But we’re also open for it to be done in due process and give everybody a chance to speak up.

“Our goal is to stay and we’ll stay as long as we can,” said Hartwick. “But if we find that the negotiations are going nowhere, then we are back to where we stand before and there’ll be a mass resignation once again.”

The press release from the municipality said that deputy fire chief Aaron Hanen will take over day-to-day operation and the firefighters will remain in their positions.

“I’m very relieved,” said Ander of the tem-

porary resolution.

“It’s a good day for Bowen Islanders,” he said.

The announcement of the temporary resolution was made before a crowd of islanders of all ages and half a dozen volunteer firefighters. Some of the islanders had been camped out in front of Municipal Hall since 11 a.m. demanding answers and action from the municipality.

In a news release Oct. 15, BIM said that it has been in contact with the Office of the Fire Commissioner and that acting fire commissioner Jay Brownlee would be visiting the island Oct. 16 to meet with the firefighters.

“Mr. Brownlee and a representative of WorkSafe BC will be listening to any concerns from the members and answering questions about Provincial regulations and legislation related to firefighter operations and training,” said the release.

BIM announced in a press release Oct. 16 that it has hired Southern Butler Price LLP, which focuses on workplace resolution.

Two members of the firm and expert in fire service Lorne West will form a task force to address the issue over the next three weeks.

Rotary fundraising on Bowen Island next week for World Polio Day ADAM HOLBROOK

Bowen Rotary

On Bowen, polio is a threat that only some of us can remember: our mothers told us not to go to public swimming pools for fear of catching the disease. But elsewhere in the world it still is a frightening possibility and it is capable of re-emerging as an epidemic if no action is taken. October 24 is “Polio Day.” Bowen Rotary will be marking this by distributing “Polio Pigs” to businesses in the Cove. We will be collecting donations through the pigs, through direct donations

and by making our own collective donation to the Rotary International program.

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 30 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever.

As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary has helped reduce polio cases by 99.9 per cent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.

Rotary has helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. So far, Rotary has contributed more than $1.8 billion toward eradicating the disease worldwide.

NEW LISTING

1549 Whitesails Drive, Bowen Island

$1,099,000

These donations are multiplied many times by matching grants from other charitable foundations (such as the Gates Foundation), governments and UN agencies.

Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. In the past decade India has been declared polio free. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year. So when you see a Polio Pig next week please put in some spare change.

Your grandchildren will thank you.

The Bowen Island RCMP responded to 50 calls for service in September of 2019: • 2 of those files were roadblocks 7 were reports of mischief to • property • 1 was a public mischief investigation • 1 lost hiker was recovered from Mt Gardner • 1 workplace accident was investigated and forwarded to Worksafe BC Police would like to remind the public that 911 is only to be used for emergency situations. Calling 911 for reasons that are not emergent can tie up the 911 phone lines, making it difficult for other people in the area to contact emergency services if they require assistance from ambulance, fire, or police.

Funding for BIRCH BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor

Bowen Island Community Resilient Housing (BIRCH) has received two new operational funding grants.

The organization, which aims to build affordable rental housing in Snug Cove, announced Tuesday that it received $28,000 from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and $29,432 from Vancity’s Community Investment Program.

These funds are in addition to the $15,000 grant from Bowen Island Community Foundation earlier this year.

BIRCH’s executive director Robyn Fenton said that these grants will allow the organization to move into the next phase of the project, which includes hiring a project architect, drawing up a schematic building design, due diligence and site subdivision costs and a detailed business case.

“The plan is at the conclusion of this phase we can apply for further government funding, for BC Housing and or CMHC (federal),” said Fenton in an email.

Disclaimer: the author of this story is a tenant of the chair of BIRCH.

4 • THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019

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VIEWPOINT

EDITORIAL

I promise a different subject next week

It was just a year ago that Bowen Island had a lesson in the importance of a single vote.

One person’s vote for Gary Ander instead of Melanie Mason determined the mayoral race. It was that close.

One might say, “there’s no way this will be that close a race when there are thousands more electors.” Sure, ok. But would you want to be wrong about that?

There are serious issues on the table.

We may be 3,700 odd people on this island (with even fewer electors) but federal investment will be important in coming years as the storm surges of climate change charge our docks, as medical expenses pile up, as the housing crisis evolves.

The higher our voter turnout, the stronger our voices will be. We will tell our MP, our cabinet ministers, our Prime Minister, “You work for us.”

I don’t care who you vote for. In my role as a small-town reporter, I hear heart-warming, heart-breaking, frustrating and inspiring stories from people all over the political spectrum. Many have fierce political views every bit as valid as their spectrum opposite. I’ve cast my ballot but accept (especially as a journalist) that my neighbour may not agree with my personal political choice. Even when we’re at our most divided, we have more in common than not. I stood between the firefighters’ supporters and the municipality last week and saw eyes threatening tears on both sides. There was and is no easy solution to that conflict but at the end of the day, municipality and firefighters alike agreed that the island needs a fire department. They found the common ground, for now at least.

The people running for public office are going to face these conflicts on an even larger scale. They’re going to receive letters, phone calls, pleas about the direst issues in a riding they’ve committed to representing. Once in office, they’ll face a life split between a home out West and Ottawa.

The life of an MP isn’t easy, and it shouldn’t be. Each person putting their name forward deserves our respect as much as our scrutiny. We still need to call out racism, injustice, inaccuracies or falsehoods. I believe that’s as much part of our democratic duty as voting.

But it starts with voting.

We have to vote for the government we want. The government we believe will listen to our stories, letters, protests, and that will us through the next four years intact.

And that government, no matter who it is, will need to know that we cared enough to vote.

Monday, Oct. 21, millions of Canadians will tick their ballots. CBC reports that 4.7 million electors already have in the advance polls.

In the last federal election, Bowen saw 77.7 per cent of eligible electors cast ballots (according to Elections Canada poll numbers). Let’s beat that.

On another note, this paper is going out to every mailbox on Bowen because we believe that newspapers play an important role in our democracy. We want every person on Bowen to at least see the faces and profiles of each candidate from an impartial news source. If you’d like to subscribe so you can keep up with the news (democracy applies year-round, not just every four years) please email ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com.

––Bronwyn Beairsto

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Open letter from BIM CAO Kathy Lalonde

‘CONSIDER THE HUMAN COST’WRITES LALONDE AFTER TRYING EXPERIENCES Open letter to the Bowen Island Community: I am writing this letter to express my concern about the personalization of the dispute between BIM and the volunteer fire department membership.

Specifically, the impact it is having on municipal staff. Many staff are facing varying degrees of anger or verbal abuse in the community. I want to be clear that this is not being undertaken by the volunteer firefighters but other community members.

It is not my place to speak to the stories of other staff; I can only tell you my story.

On July 21, my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer and we were told he had six months to live without treatment. Since that time, we have gone through a nightmare of numerous inconclusive biopsies, hospital stays and differing diagnoses. Three

weeks ago, he began treatment for a rare lung condition in the hopes that it would help. His health continues to deteriorate.

I returned to the office on Monday, Sept. 30.

Since my return, I have been subjected to an escalating level of verbal aggression, personal attacks and other humiliating actions. I have been verbally abused and threatened at municipal hall. I have been spat upon on my way to work. I have been subjected to written abuse on social media. I am experiencing an old-fashioned shunning by some members of this community.

I tell you this so you can understand the human cost of this systematic personalized harassment. Perhaps I could have endured it better without my husband’s ill health, but I am shattered.

I do not want this to happen to anyone else. I am concerned for the emotional and mental wellbeing of our staff, volunteer firefighters and council members. I am troubled by the toxicity, the personal attacks and lack of respectful dialogue in the community.

I have confidence that the volunteer firefighters dispute will be dealt with through an equitable and transparent process, agreeable to all parties.

I have faith that the behaviour of a few does not represent the broader community.

I know Bowen Island is a respectful, compassionate and loving community. During this challenging time, please show kindness and respect to all parties involved. Consider the human cost.

––Kathy Lalonde Chief Administrative Officer Bowen Island Municipality

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.

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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 ISSN 7819-5040

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EDITOR BronwynBeairsto editor@bowenisland undercurrent.com

ADVERTISING Tracey Wait ads@bowenisland undercurrent.com

CARTOONIST Ron Woodall

PUBLISHER Peter Kvarnstrom publisher@bowenisland undercurrent.com

2011 CCNA

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2011

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.

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019 • 5

Bowen kids preparing to go haunting for candy HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BOWEN ISLAND’S HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES IN SNUG COVE SARAH HAXBY

Lead Halloween ghost

COURTESY OF SARAH HAXBY PHOTO

Trick o’ treaters visit a Deep Bay house that went all-out for Halloween last year.

Halloween initiatives.

Wednesday, Oct. 30, the community donations of candy in the Loop/Cove will be available for pick up 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1130 Lenora Road by residents of Lenora, Melmore, and Senator road, as well as anyone else who has a home that gets overwhelmed by the 300+ trick o’treaters.

The community candy donations supplements what people have to hand out, there

isn’t enough for it to be everything that gets handed out. Home-delivery or other options are available to those unable to pick-up. Please contact shaxby@hotmail. com and put CANDY in the email subject if you can’t come to the pick-up time, or call 9952.

Oct 30: The brand new Halloween on Bowen and Kind Neighbours of Bowen (H.O.B.K.N.O.B.) group created by Sarah

Permanent Full-Time Corporate Officer Bowen Island Municipality seeks a Permanent Full-time Corporate Officer. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Corporate Officer is responsible for the management of the Municipality’s legislative functions, as well as other core administrative business areas and staff. This position is designated as Corporate Officer, as outlined in the Community Charter and the Local Government Act and will have a thorough working knowledge of the legislative, legal, and corporate responsibilities in BC local government legislation. In addition to regular office hours, this role will require attendance at evening Council meetings.

Experience and qualifications, we are seeking include: • Certification or course work in local government administration; • Preferred experience of 5 years progressive experience as a Corporate or Deputy Corporate Officer; and • Working knowledge of the Community Charter, Local Government Act and other pertinent legislation.

Consideration may be given to candidates who do not completely fulfil the above qualifications, but who can demonstrate a career interest in municipal government, who possess excellent organizational and communications skills and who have a proven record of transferrable skills and completion of other training programs. If selected, such a candidate will be expected to complete necessary training as required by the position.

A complete posting and job description is available on the Municipal website or from the Municipal Hall.

Please submit your cover letter with expected compensation and your resume via mail, fax, or email by Friday, October 25th, 2019 at 4:00 PM to: Shayle Duffield Human Resources Coordinator 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 Email: hr@bimbc.ca Fax: 604-947-0193 Web: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/jobs We thank all applicants, but only those being considered for interviews will be contacted.

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Halloween on Bowen Island is a favourite community celebration for many and it is the community all working together that makes it so magical.

The residents of the Deep Bay, the Loop and the Cove are all gearing up for Halloween 2019. This year, there’s going to be a resurrection of some of the old spirit of the haunted house days but in new ways. A new “Halloween light zone” will be open at the Collins Hall Pumpkin Open House, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with faeries, a talking pumpkin and a place to rest out of the rain, socialize, have a warm cup of spiced apple juice, and to see the wonderful pumpkin contest entries and vote on the best pumpkin. This area is open to all ages, but is specifically designed for parents and their young (birth to six age range) children to attend together and to have a happy Halloween as a rest stop and a destination on Halloween. Trick o’treating in the Loop and the Cove will take place as usual based on who is able to have their homes open. To balance out the light of Collins Hall, there will also be a dark and spooky haunted yard at 1130 Lenora Road from 5 to 7 p.m., during the regular trick-o’treating.

Enter if you dare. Parents, please feel free to check it out in advance if you are concerned that it might be too scary for your children.

The community can help us to all get ready for Halloween! From Oct 15 to 30, community donations of cash, treats and non-food treats are generously collected and stored by the General Store. Cash donations go towards providing support to new and old

Haxby and Phoenix presents the annual Great Pumpkin House and carved-pumpkin contest at a new location: Collins Hall. Drop off carved pumpkins anytime between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at 1130 Lenora Road on Oct. 30 or on Oct. 31 at Collins Hall 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Remember to tag the back of the pumpkin with your name and phone number. Best pumpkin wins a $50 gift certificate to Phoenix.

Oct. 31, Halloween night: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Collins Hall pumpkin open house. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., trick o’ treating in “The Loop” and Cove and anywhere else people are trick o’treating. The evening usually proceeds as follows: 5 to 6 p.m., the first hour is generally for the youngest kids, (not all homes will be ready at 5 p.m.) 6 to 7 p.m. is the main trick o’treating. Reminders for all to keep unessential traffic out of the Loop (Lenora and Melmore and Senator) during the trick o’treating, and reminders to kids about trick o’ treating include: carrying a light, being visible, having a parent-communication plan and back-up meeting spot, saying trick’otreat, being polite to people handing out the candy, staying on paths, letting the smaller/younger kids go ahead of the older kids and helping one another out to keep it a safe and fun Halloween for all.

In order to make all these Halloween activities happen, we need a few more volunteers from the community to help make and serve the hot cider and host the Collins Hall Pumpkin Open House and help with decorations. If you’re available to help out, please call 9952, or shaxby@hotmail.com. Donations of candy, decorations, money or, best of all: your time, are much appreciated.

6 • THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019

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Get help with personal planning for end of life, incapacity, health issues and more TINA NIELSEN

Bowen Island Library

Patient of the Week MEET ANNIE After being treated for pancreatitis in July, Annie returned to the clinic recently with similar issues. Further diagnostics revealed that she had the kitty trifecta of gastrointestinal disease – “triaditis” which consists of pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease and cholangiohepatitis (inflammation of the liver and gall bladder). Gastrointestinal disease is very common in kitties and despite popular beliefs, vomiting in kitties is not normal so if you have a kitty who vomits more than once every 6 months or loses his or her appetite then make an appointment to discuss what can be done. Annie is on her way to feeling much better.

HOURS: Tuesday through Friday from 9:00am – 5:00pm Saturdays from 9:00am – 1:00pm.

Dr. Midge Ritchie and veterinary assistants are also available 24/7 for urgent care.

Call the regular line at 604.947.9247 and press “1” to be forwarded to the doctor.

To schedule appointments, please call

604.947.9247

or email reception@bowenvet.com

Planning for end-of-life, incapacity, and other health-related situations can be a daunting task. Fortunately, another October Personal Planning Month is upon us, and like last year, the Bowen Library is partnering with personal planning experts Nidus to get you the information you seek. The Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre is a B.C. non-profit, charitable organization and is currently the only community-based resource in Canada devoted to personal planning.

In “The Myths & Realities of Planning,” the first of two live Nidus webinars presented in the Library Annex, learn about the essential legal documents in B.C. for those who want to plan for incapacity, end-of-life, and after death. These include representation agreements, powers of attorney and wills. We meet on Thursday, October 24 (7 to 8:30 p.m.) and Nidus will outline for us how personal planning is different from estate planning, show you how to make your documents and where to register them.

The second presentation, on Tuesday, October 29 (7 to 8:30 p.m.), covers B.C. law and consent, which is fundamental to encounters with the health care and residential care systems. Since 2000, B.C. has had specific legislation about health care consent and representation agreements for making a legally binding document in case of incapacity, at end-of-life, and for other support needs. However, there can be much confusion about non-legal documents such as living wills, the do-not-resuscitate form and levels of care forms, including MOST (medical orders for scope of treatment). At

this live webinar presentation, learn what is law in B.C. Never watched a live webinar before?

Think of it like attending a projected PowerPoint presentation, but the speaker is in another room (in Vancouver!) The speaker, in this case, is Joanne Taylor, executive director of Nidus. Joanne has more than 20 years’ experience helping people make, register and use representation agreements and other personal planning documents.

Do bring a notebook because her slides and presentations are full of useful details.

What’s special is the “live” aspect: anyone attending has the opportunity to ask Joanne questions after the one-hour presentation; you write them down, we type them in, and Joanne answers them there and then.

But if you’re not able to attend, you can get all this information and more from Nidus in a couple of other ways, all through their website: nidus.ca. Register to view any of their four live October webinar topics from home (click on PPM2019) and find written and video-format information on a variety of topics on their site.

Nidus has been operating since 1995 and is a leader in providing information and resources on personal planning topics. It is independent of private interests (e.g. legal professionals, estate planners, financial institutions) and of government.

Join us and take the mystery out of personal planning! No registration required, but do please arrive 5 to 10 minutes early as the webinar starts promptly at 7 p.m.

The Library thanks the Bowen Island Literacy Task Group for supporting this program.

Go to bowenlibrary.ca for information on these and other free Library events.

HEARTY NEW FALL MENU ITEMS daily promotions and lunch specials

HAPPY HOUR DAILY 3-6pm MONDAY: 2 FOR 1 COD FISH & CHIPS TUESDAY: TACOS WEDNESDAYS: OPEN OCT. 2:30 - 7PM ONLY FOR HAPPY HOUR (KITCHEN CLOSED) THURSDAY: WINGS & BEER FRIDAY: PRIME RIB & KIDS EAT FREE WITH PURCHASE OF ENTREE

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019 • 7

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Carsten, Kristen & Erik Helssen, Gary Anderson, Jayne McMillan, Colleen O’Neil, Tim Rhodes, Sheree Johnson, Dan Quintal, Kelly Miller, Kate Hartle and Ky Hasledine at the cheque presentation.

From axe to stethoscope

BOWEN ISLAND LOGGER SPORTS IS PAYING IT FORWARD

SOPHIE TAYLOR

Bowen Island Logger Sports

The Bowen Island Logger Sports was launched five years ago from sheer stubbornness, determination, thousands of volunteer hours, a passion for plaid, chainsaws and sponsorship dollars that were corralled and collected by the founder Gary Anderson and his dedicated organizing team. The first show confirmed that the general public had a strong appetite to see frontier skills in action, watching men and women compete in traditional logging sports that were devised to simply relieve the tedium of 19th century logging camps.

Fast forward five years and the event has grown from one to two days and is now a fixture on the West Coast logger sport circuit. It attracts not only a fine lineup of local competitors but also those from Squamish, Powell River, Williams Lake, Germany and New Zealand, to come and compete, earn prize money as well as those important lumberjack bragging rights. In addition to the traditional logging sports like pole climbing, crosscut sawing, axe throwing, choker racing and springboard chopping,

the organizers have continued to add more and more attractions for the kids so the show has become a truly fun family outing and a great community event.

Like any new venture, initial costs were keenly felt, but over the years as the organizing committee has continued to demonstrate success with increased attendance and sound budgetary management, the Bowen Island Logger Sports expenses are now covered by generous sponsorships and selfless volunteerism which, in turn, has provided exciting opportunities for the committee to give back.

Understanding full well the importance of community support, the Logger Sports committee is delighted to now be in a position to donate to the following organizations and charities; The Bowen Island Health Center Foundation ($5,000) as well as the St. John’s Ambulance service ($1,000) and the children’s charity Variety ($545).

Thank you to all those who attended, competed, sponsored or volunteered. You reached a broader audience than perhaps you even realized. Mark the dates for next year, July 25 and 26, 2020, and support an event that supports the community in turn.

FITNESS ISLAND STYLE Bowen Island’s Boutique Fitness Studio is your get away from the everyday.

Pristine Private Relaxed Become a member and work out on your own time! Book a PROGRAM ASSESSMENT AND DESIGN and spearhead your fitness with one of our expert trainers. Build agility, strength and endurance with our boxing classes or group training – drop ins welcome! Discover Bowen’s jewel gym today!

TRAINING & MEMBERSHIP

P O S I T I V E L Y F I T . C A

out of the blue boutique in the heart of the cove open 10 -6 everyday

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BOWEN BEAT ‘Building Bridges Through Understanding the Village’

Last Saturday, Kathi Camilleri, Cree/ Metis educator and counsellor, presented a workshop “Building Bridges Through Understanding the Village,” a Knowing Our Place reconciliation event, at the Library Annex. She and the participants recreated an Indigenous Village precontact, based on the values of love, respect, kindness and generosity.

A moving and transformative experience for all. A time for deep sorrow, deep communion and unbridled laughter. The workshop was further enhanced by the presence of Verna Kirkness, a Cree Elder, scholar and educator, who embraced all with her wisdom.

––Pauline Le Bel Photo: In the back, Kathi Camilleri (presenter) and her husband and assistant Chris Camilleri.

Going around from the left: Judi Gedye, Leo Pedersen, Hasan Hutchison, Verna Kirkness (a Cree Elder, teacher, scholar and author), Pauline Le Bel, Taylor Kretschmar, Peg Klesner, Shasta Martinuk. In the front, Judith McLaren and Jane Miller.

PHOTO: MARYSIA MCGILVRAY

The Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation held two information sessions on October 8 to share with the community the plans for our future health centre. Approximately 50 to 60 people attended the two sessions.

Above: Anitra and Brian Clements get their questions answered about the future Bowen Island Health Centre.

PHOTOS BY SHEREE JOHNSON

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019 • 9

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Help the Bowen Island Museum build a Remembrance Day exhibit MONICA NOTARO

Bowen Island Museum curator

As the Picturesque Picnics exhibit by assistant curator, Cindy Zhang and assistant archivist, Cicely Ashely draws to a close, the Museum and Archives is preparing for a Remembrance Day exhibit that will run from Nov. 1 to Nov. 22, 2019.

The focus of this exhibit is to examine the role and impact of conflict on a small, personal scale, highlighting the lives of Bowen Island men, women and families during the First and Second World Wars and on the larger world community.

We are familiar with broadcasted images of war: death, disease, destruction and chaos that are haunting, yet anonymous. But what happens to a small community in the face of a world conflict when every person that enlists is the friend or relative of someone on Bowen?

What were the consequences of war on our small com-

munity?

How do we remember their sacrifice?

Museum artifacts and archival photographs from our collection will be used to tell the universal stories of pain, suffering, hope and resilience that are common to small and large communities.

This year we are working with our local Legion. We will have poppies at the museum and a small exhibit at the Legion. All money donated to the museum during this exhibit will be given to the Legion.

Help us to create a uniquely Bowen Remembrance Day exhibit. Please consider loaning or donating artifacts, photographs or memorabilia that help us reflect, honour and remember Bowen individuals and families who have served, or continue to serve, Canada in world conflicts and in peacekeeping.

Please contact museum curator Monica Notaro or archivist Catherine Bayly, call 604-947-2655 or email bihistorians@telus.net.

BOWEN ISLAND MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES PHOTO

Members of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 150 standing in front of the United Church.

West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast Sea to Sky Country

A Strong Voice For Our Coast • Deep community roots: Born and raised in the riding

• Environmental lawyer: Focused on climate action, sustainable resource management, and smart growth

Endorsed by Community Leaders: Pam Goldsmith-Jones Andrew S. Wright Ross Beaty

David Hocking Neil Boyd Jane Kellet

ON OCTOBER 21, BE A VOTER FOR

PATRICK

POLLS ARE OPEN 7AM-7PM www.patrickweiler.ca | info@patrickweiler.ca | 604.925.9241

Authorized by the Official Agent for Patrick Weiler.

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019 • 11

Bowen Island Properties LP

Wolfgang Duntz at the top of The Shire (formerly Parkview Slopes)

Back in 2009, we had big plans and we brought them to Municipal Council.

We envisioned the area between Artisan Square, Tir-nanOg and Leigh Automotive being turned into 24 lots for single family homes alongside rental housing, non-market housing and “micro-homes.” As we saw it, this would be an ideal neighbourhood for young families and people who are struggling to find affordable living situations here on Bowen.

We envisioned a comparable density increase at Seymour Landing, alongside a retreat centre, an inn, and a dock allowing for water taxi service from that side of the island to Vancouver.

None of these plans came to fruition, and in retrospect we are glad they didn’t because we’ve seen as much change happen in the Our mandate: build communities past ten years as where people love to live. we saw in the 25 preceding years.

Our ongoing challenge: build In response we homes most people can afford. have adjusted our plans and ideas about building homes and communities on Bowen to suit these new conditions.

Here’s what hasn’t changed: Our mandate has always been to build communities where people love to live. We also want those homes to be affordable for most people—this is an ongoing and growing challenge.

In the coming year, we plan to present our vision for making that possible within the framework of three substantial rezoning proposals.

While the vision behind these plans is too complex to get across in a 15-minute council presentation, we want Bowen Islanders to understand our plan and why we think it will work. You can expect to hear more from us on the pages of The Undercurrent, in your mailboxes and via social media in the year to come. — Best regards, Wolfgang Duntz

A PARTNERSHIP IN COMMUNICATION Before meeting Wolfgang Duntz, he was described to me as a major player in a plot to pave Bowen Island over.

That was in 2013 and I was just starting out as editor of the Bowen Island Undercurrent. Wolfgang was a member of council and a reporter’s dream. I could always count on him to liven up even the dullest council meeting by stating his truth entirely unfiltered, with no apparent regard for political consequences.

In the years following his retirement from council, Wolfgang and his company, Bowen Island Properties, stayed largely out of the limelight.

The island’s conversation and concerns seemed to shift from transportation to housing almost over night. We were all wondering: How did housing get so expensive so quickly. Where did all the rentals disappear to? More important, how on earth could we keep our community intact under these conditions?

Having arrived on Bowen in 2011, I am both part of the problem and am suffering from it. I am part of a new wave of people from the city who benefited from the How did housing get so affordability of expensive so quickly? Where did this place and in the rentals disappear to? How can the process made we keep our community intact? it more expensive.

Knowing a bit about Wolfgang’s experience, perspective and contributions to this community (which extend well beyond new chunks of pavement) I am keen to hear his ideas about building this community to meet present and future needs.

Wolfgang is 77 years old and seems to overflow with reflections on lessons learned from his work, and what makes a place truly special. He wants to engage Bowen in considering its collective future. Who will live here? How will they live?

If he had the time and energy, Wolfgang would write all this himself. But he’s asked for my help. We made a pact of transparency: I’ll ask questions, check facts, and write the stories.

Please stick with us for an ongoing exploration about housing, community and development on Bowen Island. Having a civil, informed and transparent conversation about where we’ve been, where we are and where we might go is an important step. One that I am happy to be a part of. — Meribeth Deen

Since 1988, building communities where people love to live

Meribeth Deen—new home under construction

A MUCH DELAYED ANNOUNCEMENT

Office Phone: 604-947-0099 www.bowenislandproperties.ca PAID ADVERTISEMENT

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WEST VANCOUVER-SUNSHINE COASTWe asked the candidates of our riding a series of questions from islanders and our reporter alike. Some responses have been edited for length. We could only fit half the questions here so read the full profiles online at bowenislandundercurrent. com. The election is Oct. 21.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing Bowen Islanders and what will you do to address it?

What will your party do to address climate change?

How will your party address housing affordability?

How has your personal and professional experience prepared you for being this riding’s MP?

New Democratic Party

Independent (Canada Fresh Party)

Conservative Party of Canada

Terry Grimwood

Judith Wilson

Gabrielle Loren

Having a mix of housing for all people in the community. I have been designing and building housing on the Sunshine Coast for 12 years. I was a licenced builder for 10 of those 12 years. I have four years experience in municipal government, I was elected twice to the North Vancouver City Council when I was 20 years old studying at UBC. I know the solution and I know how to get funding.

The key issues throughout this riding are climate change and affordability of life. The NDP has a job-rich climate change plan to take us into a green economy and eventually to a net zero emissions world. In the meantime we will address the urgent needs for affordability with a housing strategy to build rental accomodation, to provide rental subsidies while we get the homes built and put in place pharmacare and dental care and universal child care. We will cap cell phone and internet fees and get rid of interest on student loans. We will put $30 million into BC Ferries to help lower fares. We will also put in a foreign buyers tax on property purchases and aggressively seek the billions of dollars in tax revenues currently lost to offshore tax havens to fund the programs that are need

A health care centre is needed. With the closest hospital being Lions Gate, anyone requiring immediate trauma care is in danger. I will advocate for funding for this much needed centre. The Conservative Plan is based on the belief every Canadian should have rea-w sonable access to the health care they need.

In terms of overall healthcare, a Conservative government will maintain and increase the Canada Health Transfer and Canada Socialw Transfer to provide for stable and predictable funding to the province; invest in new life-sav-w ing technology and devices; pledge $1.5 billion to replace antiquated MRI and CT machine to reduce wait times for scans; and streamline services and continual operation of services.

Promote a floating bridge to Bowen Island and the Sunshine Coast. Canada's bridges impact energy. P.E.I.'s 13-kilometer Confederation Bridge every year replaces the ferry service that would cause the equivalent of 16 million litres of fuel and the release of 44 thousand tons of carbon dioxide. Convert pleasure boats to electric/hydrogen fuels.

Airplanes converted to electric. Support local foods/farms. Support a TerraPower program in rural Canada.

The climate change strategy involves immediate declaration of climate emergency and legislate science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets to be net zero by 2030. We will continue carbon pricing and stop subsidies to oil and gas and provide investment funding for solar and wind power. There will be a Canadian climate bank to boost investment in renewable energy and support inter-connected power grids and smart grid technology. We will help citizens lower their footprint by improving transit in both rural and urban areas and by investing in manufacturing of electric cars and infrastructure bring down their cost and help homeowners purchase plug-in chargers. Cycling will also be promoted. We will also provide low-cost loans for homeowner retrofits and fund retrofits of government buildings. Government will become a trailblazer for change in energy efficiency, clean technologies and renewable energy use and will conserve 30% of our land and water.

The Conservatives’ multi-faceted, global Real Plan for the Environment is based on technology, not taxes. It is economic and environmental. We will: incentivize development and application of green tech to reduce carbon emissions, build green infrastructure for the unique needs of the region; remove the carbon tax, where emitters who exceed carbon emission limits must invest in technology that will lower emissions; implement green tech investment and construction; incentivize energy-saving performance contracting for building green homes; proceed with the National Energy Corridor, minimizing environmental impact as clean energy is distributed while providing jobs; and provide tax credits for families (green home, green public transit). Speaking to the global nature of this issue, we will incentivize the development and exportation of Canadian green tech to other countries, which provides economic benefits while lowering emissions globally.

Encourage Canada’s Pension Funds to provide mortgage money to build housing for seniors, students, families. We have the talented builders. We have the land. We have the architects. Lets invest our Pension funds in our communities. 89% of Canada’s pension funds are invested off shore. Canada first, bring some of our Pension Funds Home.

The NDP will build 500,000 new affordable rental units to directly provide housing and to impact pricing in the rental market. As these will take time to come on stream in the meantime the NDP will provide rental subsidies to individuals who pay more than 30% of their gross income on rent of up to $5000. We will also put in place a national tax on property purchases by foreign owners and nationally address money laundering and the role it plays in driving up prices in the housing market.

The Conservative plan focuses on housing shortages and the need to create a workable plan among all levels of government. Our strategy is based on a four-pronged approach: (1) We will promote the use of surplus federal lands to build a variety of housing––multiuse, rental, single-family. (2) We will fix the mortgage stress test to ensure that first-time homebuyers aren’t unnecessarily prevented from accessing mortgages. (3) We will launch an inquiry into money laundering and corrupt practices that inflate housing prices. And (4) we will increase the amortization period from 25 years to 30 years for first-time homebuyers.

Additionally, I will advocate for the government to work with provinces and municipalities to remove regulatory barriers in order to increase new home construction.

Elected twice to municipal government in North Vancouver City when I was a 20 years old and a student at UBC. I built the first commercial racquetball/squash (international) indoor tennis, ice rink, 25 meter pool facilites in North Vancouver. I also design and build yachts (sail & power). In my lifetime I have employed hundreds of people and am very much aware of their needs and the needs of their families.

I have been working for two years to start a new political party called Canada Fresh. I ran in the Burnaby South by-election in February of this year.

I bring a personal life-long commitment to working for the twin goals of social justice and an environmentally sustainable economy. As a family law lawyer I have seen the generational impact of residential schools, the impact on children and families of poverty and lack of affordable housing. As a lawyer I am a professional advocate and have learned to look for shared values and goals to bring people together to move forward in difficult circumstances. We all need action on climate change, and all of our families are facing the affordability crunch. We can only make change working together.

I am an accountant, small business owner, and financial literacy and tax instructor. I have a strong fiscal foundation and understand the issues businesses face. I’ve taken action when poor decisions, regulations, and taxes have adversely affected people, businesses and organizations and have achieved results for those people. I am approachable, compassionate, and collaborative, and I can see more than one side of an issue. These experiences and characteristics make me an asset in government as we work together to make the best decisions for our community and Canada. w

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019 • 13

SEA TO SKY COUNTRY CANDIDATES Rhinoceros Party

People’s Party of Canada

Liberal Party of Canada

Green Party of Canada

Gordon Jeffrey

Robert Bebb

Patrick Weiler

Dana Taylor

Availability of emergency services. The issues with the fire department have highlighted this recently. I support workers’ rights to strike, but we need a plan B when it comes to things as critical as fire rescue. I think we need to embrace fellow candidate Terry Grimwood’s idea to cross-train our armed forces to be available to assist with emergency services in times of great emergency and times when regular emergency workers are unavailable. Additionally, along with investment in water bombers, they could help out considerably with wildfires in our province.

The rights of Canadians to freely hold and express beliefs are being eroded at an alarming speed under the Trudeau government.

Some of its recent decisions even require that Canadians renounce their most deeply held moral convictions and express opinions they disagree with. A People’s Party government will ensure that Canadians can exercise their freedom of conscience to its fullest extent as it is intended under the Charter and are not discriminated against because of their moral convictions. We will repeal any existing legislation or regulation curtailing free speech on the internet and prevent the reinstatement of section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

I see the most pressing issues for Bowen Island residents as affordability and climate change. As housing prices continue to increase across this riding, it is important that any potential developments on community lands are supported by the federal government so that our seniors and families have access to more housing options. I recognize that there is a need for more rental options in particular on Bowen, and if elected, I would advocate for federal funding to support this. As the seasons change we’re reminded of how much energy our homes use. That’s why I’ll make sure Bowen Island residents have access to $40,000 interest-free loans to retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient.

Most pressing issues locally where federal decisions can make a difference: definitely housing affordability and stimulating the building rental housing on the island. Housing has to meet the needs of people. Tents are up on Bowen too. People are priced out of the market for renting and buying; numerous businesses are unable to hire people because housing is not available. This is not unique to Bowen; I see it in every community in our riding. As a former trades executive, I know housing is not build overnight, so a large federal investment is needed very quickly where it has been lacking for so decades under Liberal and Conservative governments. We need social market rentals and find solutions promptly until that supply is built. We cannot leave people out in the cold.

I propose a review and overhaul of recycling programs to ensure waste isn’t just being shipped overseas for incineration. Packaging regulations must be tightened to prevent unnecessary waste from over-packaging, as well as to drive innovation for eco-friendly packaging. I will also introduce a tax rebate for large garden plots to reduce the amount of our food (currently over 80%!) coming from overseas. Additionally, I will push for opportunity for Canadian food distribution systems rather than our current U.S.-based distribution systems that favour U.S. products. Finally, I would increase illegal dumping fines tenfold.

The People’s Party will withdraw from the Paris Accord and abandon unrealistic greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. We will stop sending billions of dollars to developing countries to help them reduce their emissions, and abolish the Liberal government’s carbon tax and leave it to provincial governments to adopt programs to reduce emissions if they want to.

We have done more to address climate change over the last four years than any other government in Canadian history. The Liberal government negotiated a groundbreaking plan with the provinces and territories. This is a world-leading response for a natural resourcebased country like Canada––including putting a price on carbon, massive investments in zero emissions vehicles, buildings, technology and public transit, phasing out coal-fired electricity and fossil fuel subsidies and restricting methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Going forward, we will exceed our 2030 targets and hit net-zero by 2050 by legislating five-year targets. We’ll also capitalize on the $2.5 trillion cleantech economy by lowering taxes on companies that produce net-zero technologies and renewables so those companies get established and stay in Canada. As an environmental lawyer, I worked on climate policy for Tides Canada and know this is the only plan that is ambitious and viable.

The Green Party will work to cut climate changing emissions by 60% below 2005 levels by 2030 and to net-zero by 2050. The difference between our platform and that of other the parties’ is the pace of greening our society and economy. Canada is warming faster than other countries, especially in the Arctic.

My experience as past chair of the Industry Training Authority Commission helps. Skills used in the oil and gas sector are needed to build an Eas-West electrical grid, build our renewable energy generating capacity as a country. Others can jump in after retraining.

To wait is also to fall behind as other countries are heavily investing in transition away from fossil fuels. Canada will afford the transition by eliminating subsidies for the oil and gas industries, raising taxes for large corporations and the 1%. Close tax loop holes, taxing money in tax havens and commercial banks.

I support a first-time home buyer’s tax rebate, and providing more incentive for developers to build more affordable housing. I also support a steep increase to the foreign-buyer’s tax so fewer homes sit empty as foreign investments or sinks for money laundering.

The People’s Party will reduce demand pressure on housing by limiting immigration to 150,000 or less per year. We will also take action against the offshore use of Canadian housing for speculative investment and money laundering, the result of which is many empty homes, at a time when Canadians are experiencing great difficulty in finding affordable accommodation. After achieving a balanced budget in two years, the PPC will reduce taxes for all Canadians. Leaving more money in the pockets of Canadian taxpayers will increase affordability of all goods.

This is a complex problem that requires collaboration, and a federal government that is going to step up to play an important role in ensuring people have a home. That’s why the Liberal government introduced the first-ever National Housing Strategy, which will reduce homelessness and ensure more people have a place to call home. We’ve moved forward on initiatives such as the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, which gives up to 10 per cent off the purchase price of a first home. We’ll increase the qualifying value to nearly $800,000 for this, helping more people get into the housing market. If elected, I will work with the Bowen municipality, community, the province, and other partners, such as Vancity, to find creative solutions to address housing needs and leverage the $55 billion national housing strategy funds to make housing more affordable.

Consistent with the Green Party national platform, I will work to increase the National Housing Co-Investment Fund for “new-builds’,” and the Canada Housing Benefit, which currently offers rent assistance to 125,000 households country-wide; each of these is targeted $750 million. As well, I intend to up-date the mechanisms for financing co-op housing.

Every job I’ve had, from my first job providing technical support until now, has been helping and serving people. I’m certainly at least as qualified as our current Prime Minister! I am a well-spoken, compelling speaker and am excellent at establishing rapport with people quickly. I have utmost integrity and refuse to compromise my morals (perhaps more qualified than our current PM?) I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I’ve had to earn every dollar I’ve made. As a result, I’ve always been responsible with finances. I think this will translate very well on a larger scale.

As a professional engineer and MBA, I have I have solid understanding of many technical and business matters. I am a life-long learner with wide generalist knowledge in many other fields. I am an excellent problem solver with a knack for getting to the crux of whatever problem is at hand. I will apply these skills to fixing what is wrong in Ottawa.

My roots are deep here. I was raised between West Vancouver and Sechelt. I have family in Squamish and worked as a youth in Whistler where my family also ran a business. As a lawyer specializing in environmental and aboriginal law, I have significant policy and legislative experience from my work with governments, the United Nations and international development organizations on sustainable resource management and smart growth. I have worked for and in countries around the world and helped advance progressive action, and intend to do the same at home.

I think it has. I took my two terms as North Vancouver City councillor, Save Howe Sound Society board member into a career as executive for the Mechanical Contractors Association, Public Construction Council of BC, Industry Training Authority Commission.

I was able to combine with a wide range of volunteer community leadership and environmental activism positions, and raise a family.

I ran in the Provincial 2017 election in which I was trusted with 29% of the vote. I feel strongly that at right now we need people who bring experience, can build bridges and know how to get things done.

14 • THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019

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NATURE CLUB

Discover the essential world of mushrooms ‘90 PER CENT OF LIVING PLANT SPECIES DEPEND ON FUNGI TO ACCESS ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS THROUGH THEIR ROOTS’ PAULA LOVE

Bowen Island Nature Club

Have you ever been surprised by a colourful mushroom while walking in the forest? It is always a fascinating experience to find them, almost magical. As soon as the rain and temperature are right, mushrooms of all kinds begin to appear, sometimes overnight or in an unexpected place, giving us a true show.

Fungi grow pretty much everywhere in the world but the rainforest of coastal British Columbia has the perfect weather and environment for mushrooms to grow. Scientists believe that there are more than 10,000 species of fungi living here,

PAULA LOVE PHOTO

Boletus mirabilis on Bowen Island.

which makes a significant contribution to this province having the greatest biodiversity in Canada.

But what is a mushroom? They are not plants but rather the fruiting body of a fungus. One of the main differences is that they don’t produce their own food as plants do. Instead, fungi form special symbiotic relationships (mycorrhiza) with plants and trees in which they produce and allow access to nutrients for each other, helping both to thrive. In fact, 90 per cent of living plant species depend on fungi to access essential nutrients through their roots. An example of this is the ‘toadstool’ of fairy tales, Amanita muscaria, which is associated with various conifers like pines and deciduous trees like birch. Mushrooms also can be parasitic, such as the honey mushroom.

Even though they also grow on dead wood, they like to grow on living western hemlock, causing the tree to rot. A third group of mushrooms are the ones that live on dead organic matter like tree stumps. One really good example of this type is the oyster mushroom, which is really well known for its edibility.

Fungi have been on Earth for more than 400 million years being one of the first organisms to thrive on land and very possibly they may have paved the way for future life.

Recent research has shown that their interconnection with other life is deeper even than we had imag-

PAULA LOVE PHOTO

Russula vesca on Bowen Island.

ined. Scientists have discovered that through their mycelium, fungi create networks that help plants to communicate between them even if they are far apart, as well as collectively manage nutrients among same and different species. According to a study

by Suzanne Simard of UBC, trees can take care of one other through the mycelium. Older trees make sure that young ones get enough nutrients sending what they need through the fungi network. Another study from Ren Seng of South China Agricultural University found that when a parasitic fungus grows in a tree, they release chemical signs in to the mycelia to warn their neighbours. Isn’t that amazing?

Going for a mushroom walk is such a great learning and visual

Help is Close to Home

PAULA LOVE PHOTO

Amanita muscaria on Bowen Island.

experience, for both photographers and nature lovers. On Bowen Island, there are many trails of easy access where it is possible to encounter the most amazing and rare mushrooms. To know more about them, it is very useful to gather as much information as possible: Where was the mushroom growing? Was located on the ground? On a dead tree?

What plants or trees were growing nearby? What time of the year? It is also important to take notes about features like colour, scales, marks, stem, odour, size, gills, shape and number. If possible, the specimen can be carefully collected for a spore print, leaving the base intact on the ground, which is a simple and accu-

rate process to properly identify a mushroom. And on this note, it is important to understand that while some mushrooms found in the wild are considered edible or medicinal, there are others that are deadly poisonous even in small amounts, and there are many mushrooms that look alike making it hard for a beginner or amateur forager to properly identify a specimen. And it is very easy to make a fatal mistake. When curious about mushrooms, please always find the help and advice of a properly trained expert in mushrooms. Always. See more mushroom photographs on Instagram: @paulalove.art and on Paula’s website: paulalove.art.

Timothy Rhodes REALTOR®

DETOX

FAMILY PROGRAMS

R O B

RHODES ON BOWEN

604-341-9488

PRIMARY CARE

ALUMNI SERVICES

tim@rhodesonbowen.com www.rhodesonbowen.com

527 Collins Lane $2,990,000 WALKING DISTANCE TO SNUG COVE AND FERRY

6657 sq. ft. designed for family and entertaining, this awardwinning architectural design overlooks a sunny, 4-acre, parklike setting with sports pool, detached suite, barn, workshop, and orchard. Level entry with master suite on main and upper floor.

Our island location offers a unique balance of privacy and security, met with the Orchard’s caring staff and clinical excellence.

503 Collins Lane $988,000

WALKING DISTANCE TO SNUG COVE, THE FERRY, SCHOOL, AND BEACHES, AND BORDERING ON CRIPPEN PARK

604-947-0420

orchardrecovery.com

This very private, sunny, mountain-view property is a 3-acre lot with a drilled well, approval for septic, two building sites with a building permit for a carriage house/ detached suite, and roughed-in driveways and utilities.

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THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019 • 15

NEW LISTING

1244 Millers Road

$769,000

Rosebank Cottage – a special Bowen property with a long history dating back over a century. This classical and quaint 3 bedroom cottage sits on 0.44 acres close to Millers Landing Beach. The home centres around an oversized living room and features a covered deck that will become the focal point of your summers The cottage and garden are waiting to be restored to its original glory or a project to start anew.

NEW LISTING

1221 Josephine Ridge

$809,000

A private fully fenced and family friendly mid-island home. Split level with the 3 bedrooms upstairs and comfortable mid level with Living room, Dining room and kitchen. A family room downstairs with an attached nook area great for an office or hobby room. Level front yard for the kids to play and a newly created sun filled back patio area for summer time entertaining.

Garden a little or a lot this 1/2 acre property is waiting for your creative touch.

TOP PRODUCING REALTOR on Bowen Island since 2009 President’s Club 2015, 2017 & 2018 for Top 1% of Realtors in the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver

604.612.7798

bowenhomes.ca

11 years

CATES MEDICINE CENTRE

EXPRESS THE VERY BEST OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN

REGULAR FLU VACCINE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE ON

APPLY NOW Bowen 31 students

49%

51%

Girls 26 students

Boys 37 students

41%

59%

Small by design and distinctly different, Island Pacific School on Bowen Island is a grade 6-9 middle school with a max of 18 students in each grade. Spaces fill quickly; families are encouraged to apply for the grade 6 entry year well in advance.

edited Independent Schools

ISLAND PACIFIC SCHOOL

Get to Know Us! 604 947 9311

25 islandpacific.org YEARS

CELEBRATING

32 students

Thurs Sat

October 17 October 19

Mon Tues

October 21 October 22

Or by a drop-in basis on other days

Please phone to make appointment

604-947-0766

(Note: Senior High-Dose Vaccine not yet available.)

We encourage all Bowen Islanders to support the Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation

16 • THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

THURSDAY OCTOBER 17

Duplicate Bridge Bowen Court 6:45 - 10 p.m.

Info call Pat at 778-288-7090

Eat, Drink, Write :Postcards & Prompts Doc Morgan’s lower level.

7 - 9 pm A writers adventure with Meribeth Jasmine Deen and Tina Overbury.

Tips, tools and tricks to turn you into a joyfully engaged writer. $45 Pre-register at bowencommunityrecreation. com

FRIDAY OCTOBER 18

Storytime for 2-4 year olds Bowen Island Library 10:30 am A free drop-in program for 2- to 4-year-olds and their care-givers Dinner at the Legion Doors at 5:30. Dinner at 6:30 Members and guests welcome.

Cover Your Trail: Dustin & Barney Bentall w/ guests Bowen Island Pub 7-10 pm An evening of accoustic cover songs in support of Bowen Island Trail Society. Tickets $20 available at Phoenix and the Pub Blood Relations 7 p.m. Calder Stewart directs a Bowen cast in Sharon Pollock’s murder mystery on the life of Lizzie Borden and the murder of Lizzie’s

parents. A Theatre on the Isle production. Tickets at Phoenix

Youth Centre Drop-In 4-9:30 p.m. bowenyouthcentre.com

SAT. OCTOBER 19

Knowing Our Place: The Book Club Bowen Library Flex Room 11-12:30 pm The book club discusses Buffalo Shout, Salmon Cry edited by Steve Heinrichs. Register and find more info at bit.ly/ bookclub2019-3 Dump Day Bowen Island Recycling Centre 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

More information: bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ clean-up-days Youth Centre Drop-In 6-9:30 p.m. bowenyouthcentre.com Blood Relations 7 p.m Calder Stewart directs a Bowen cast in Sharon Pollock’s murder mystery on the life of Lizzie Borden and the murder of Lizzie’s parents. A Theatre on the Isle production.Tickets at Phoenix

SUNDAY OCTOBER 20

Outdoor Meditation Circle Meet at the picnic tables at the entrance to Crippen Park 11 a.m. No cost. More info at lisa.shatsky@gmail.com

Creative Painting - Alla Prima Catching Stars Gallery 2 pm Join Marie Neys for a free Demo to discover Alla Prima – a painting technique where one creates a painting wet on wet - in one session.

Blood Relations 7 p.m Calder Stewart directs a Bowen cast in Sharon Pollock’s murder mystery on the life of Lizzie Borden and the murder of Lizzie’s parents. A Theatre on the Isle production. Tickets at Phoenix

Essential Relationship Skills The Well on Bowen 6-8 p.m.

Join relationship coaches Soorya and Jack Resels for an exploration in improving your relationship skills.

Bowen in Transition Potluck 5 pm “The meeting will feature a short presentation by Fenella Jacquet on The Green New Deal, followed by a discussion of its implications for Bowen Island. Michelle Hoar of TOMO Spaces will also be joining us to talk about their local project, and a proposed collaboration with BIT. More info: transitionbowen@gmail. com

ARTS & CULTURE PROGRAMS Presented by the Bowen Island Arts Council

WORKSHOPS & EVENTS Thursday, October 17, 7 pm - 9 pm

Eat, Drink, Write: Postcards & Prompts with Tina Overbury & Meribeth

Deen at Doc Morgan’s - Lower Level

October 18 & 19, 7 pm, October 20, 2 pm October 25 & 26, 7 pm Blood Relations: performed by Theatre on the Isle. Tir-na-nOg Theatre.

Tickets: Phoenix on Bowen Tuesdays, November 5 & 12 6:30 pm- 8:30 pm

Insider Secrets:

Interior Design Basics with Anne Boa Gallery @ Cove Commons Wednesday, November 6, 7:30 pm

The Wardens Concert

Tir-na-nOg Theatre. Tickets: Gallery @ Cove Commons & online: trustme.bpt.me For more information:

thehearth.ca

programs@thehearth.ca 604-947-2454 To Register for classes:

bowencommunityrecreation.com 604-947-2216

The Gallery @ Cove Commons Wednesday - Monday 10am - 4pm.

430 Bowen Island Trunk Rd.

Saturday, November 16, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Eat, Drink, Paint

with Kathleen Ainscough Inspired by Tom Thomson’s Autumn Birches Gallery @ Cove Commons

GALLERY @ COVE COMMONS September 18 - October 20

Emily Van Lidth de Jeude October 23 - November 18

Jose L. De Juan

Reception: Sat., October 26, 6 - 8 pm November 20 - December 31

It’s a Wrap! Group Exhibition Call for Submissions: Deadline - Nov. 3 Reception: Sat., November 23, 6 - 8 pm

Bowen Nature Club Mushroom Walk 2- 4 30 pm Join the Bowen Nature Club and Bowen Island Garden Club for a joint informal walkabout on Bowen with mushroom expert, John Field. Pre register by emailing DG at dgblairhome@gmail. com Free.

Free Film Premiere: Screenagers: Next Chapter Cates Hill Chapel 7 pm Learn how to “empower teens to overcome mental health challenges and build emotional agility, communication savvy, and stress resilience”. Presented by Island Pacific School

MONDAY OCTOBER 21

Bowen Island AA Collins Hall 7:15 pm

Men on the Rock Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm New members welcome to Bowen’s all male choir. Contact Nicole at 778-926-4826 or email ntzharmonium@mac.com

“Foraging for Mushrooms” with John Field Legion Hall 1 pm Bowen Island Garden Club is pleased to coordinate with Bowen Nature Club to welcome John Field who will lead us on a virtual tour of ” Foraging for Forest Mushrooms”. Members free. Guests $3

TUESDAY OCTOBER 22

Bowen Island Community Lunch Legion Hall 11:30 - 1 pm “Join your friends for delicious homemade soups (m +v), artisan breads, and dessert.

Coffee and tea included.

(Ages 18+) Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. All for only $5!

THURSDAY OCTOBER 24

NIDUS Personal Planning Live Q&A Webinar, “Myths & Realities of Planning.”

Bowen Library Annex Please arrive early—webinar starts promptly at 7pm. NIDUS.ca

Monster Mash: Grade 5/6/7 dance BICS Gym 7-9 p.m.

Pre-registration required $6 Tickets bowencommunityrecreation. com Duplicate Bridge Bowen Court 6:45 - 10 p.m.

Info call Pat at 778-288-7090

FRIDAY OCTOBER 25

Storytime for 2-4 year olds Bowen Island Library 10:30 am A free drop-in program for 2- to 4-year-olds and their care-givers Youth Centre Drop-In 4-9:30 p.m. bowenyouthcentre.com

Dinner at the Legion Doors at 5:30. Dinner at 6:30 Members and guests welcome.

Friday Night Live at the Pub Bowen Island Pub 7-10 pm Live music. Dinner specials.

No cover.

Blood Relations 7 p.m Calder Stewart directs a Bowen cast in Sharon Pollock’s murder mystery on the life of Lizzie Borden and the murder of Lizzie’s parents. A Theatre on the Isle production. Tickets at Phoenix

SAT. OCTOBER 26

Bowen Pub Fright Night!

Bowen Island Pub A frightful night featuring the musical guest duo of Almost Famous and prizes for best male, female, and group costumes.

Black Molly Halloween Dance!

Bowen Island Legion 8 midnight Tickets $15 at Phoenix or the Legion Hall Costume prizes!

Blood Relations 7 p.m Calder Stewart directs a Bowen cast in Sharon Pollock’s murder mystery on the life of Lizzie Borden and the murder of Lizzie’s parents. A Theatre on the Isle production.

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019 • 17

Ambulance staff not at station all the time CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Breakey said that B.C. Ambulance has staff around the clock, but they’re paid on-call, so they’re not necessarily going to be at the station all the time. They could be on other emergency calls, helping out other people, or on a run to town with an injured person.

“This brings us back to always calling 911. There are systems in place to mitigate that,” he said.

“If there is an emergency situation and they’re delaying that phone call by getting in their car, coming to the station, they’re taking a chance that nobody’s going to be there,” he said. “The other side of that coin is the people who are just showing up because they don’t feel it like it’s appropriate to call 911, they’re not sure. It’s maybe not an emergency, maybe it is.”

In that case, Breakey recommends calling 811, the nurses’ line. The line is open 24 hours a day for anyone in B.C. “They can guide whoever’s calling to the right avenue to get the treatment they need. They could suggest for hanging up and calling 911, they can suggest waiting to see the doctor,” said Breakey.

B.C. Ambulance said that in 2018, paramedics responded to 293 calls on Bowen. Of those, two were immediately life threatening, 56 were potentially threatening, 86 were potentially serious, 144 were non-urgent and five were not serious. A communications person for the organization, Shannon Miller, said in an email that more than 50 per cent of all the calls on Bowen are non-life threatening so they don’t require a lights and sirens response.

“This is true of most rural communities in the province,” she said.

Miller said that in May 2018, B.C. Ambulance introduced a clinical response model (CRM) that colour codes calls so that medical emergencies see faster response times.

“On Bowen Island, as well as many other communities in B.C., we are seeing faster response times to the most urgent calls,” said Miller.

“Prior to the CRM, the median response time to purple and red calls (the highest priority) was: 22:01 minutes,” she said. “With the CRM in place, the median response time to purple and red calls on Bowen is: 17:33.”

Breakey said that the busiest months for paramedics on Bowen are May through Sept. and weekends are busier than weekdays.

BLOOD FORAGING FOR FOREST MUSHROOMS This October the Bowen Island Garden Club is pleased to coordinate with Bowen Nature Club to welcome John Field who will lead us on a virtual tour ”Foraging for Forest Mushrooms”.

John is a retired science instructor, a naturalist, warden for Ambrose Lake Ecological Reserve and much more.

He has hosted several mushroom forays on Bowen over the last 25+ years.

Please join us at the Royal Canadian Legion Monday October 21st, 1pm If you’re not a Garden Club or Nature Club member admission is $3

RELATIONS

BY SHARON POLLOCK

Opening Friday Oct 18!

ow h s Five

y! l n so

Kat Stephens Morgan Darcy Graham Ritchie Ann-Marie Delawsky Frazer Elliott Sam Spear Davin Killy

DIRECTED BY C A L D E R S T E WA R T

OCTOBER 18-19 @ 7PM OCTOBER 20 @ 2PM OCTOBER 25-26 @ 7PM

Tir-na-nOg Theatre School: 585 Rivendell Drive Bowen Island, BC

TICKETS $20:

available on Bowen @ Phoenix Books

18 • THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

Notice of Public Hearing

Public Hearing October 28, 2018

5:15 pm

Council Chambers

Municipal Hall

981 Artisan Lane

Questions?

Contact Daniel Martin, Manager of Planning and Development

Bylaw No. 468, 2018

About the bylaw Council is considering a rezoning application to add “medical clinic” as a permitted use in the Village Commercial 1 (VC1) zone, and to apply parking and other standards consistent with other VC1 uses.

The VC1 zone applies to properties along the south side of Bowen Island Trunk Road and on the east side of Miller Road as shown on the zoning map.

Bylaw timeline Application

Sep 2018

604-947-4255

1st reading

2nd reading

Public Hearing

Sep 2018

Sep 2019

Oct 28 2019

3rd reading

Final decision

How to get more information

The proposed bylaw and background material may be viewed at Municipal Hall, 981 Artisan Lane, during office hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays), or on the Municipal website at www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/planning

dmartin @bimbc.ca

bowenisland municipality.ca /planning

Internal review

JOHN LAWRENCE

Knick Knack Nook

The following is part of a series of articles celebrating the Knick Knack Nook’s 10th anniversary.

Angie McCullough reigned supreme at the cashier’s desk Thursdays and Saturdays, without fail, for many years. Children stood in awe of her, some thinking that she was the Queen of England.

The fascinator, the big welcoming smile, the offer of a reduced price because of it being a special day, were Angie’s hallmarks.

Her fellow volunteers at the Nook regarded her on a par with her canine friends, as having nine lives was definitely a part of her history. Whether it was fleeing Interpol in the Greek Islands with husband number two, or was it number three, or being whisked off to Lion’s Gate hospital there was always the thought that she would not be coming back; but back she came time after time, the same old Angie, defiant to the end.

Beneath her desk she would always have a small dog or two in their baskets, lulled with classical music. One wonders whether the musical taste of the animals was consulted in the choice! And going back far enough, some of us remember the parrot, which from Angie’s shoulder viewed the proceedings with quizzical interest.

When she could no longer walk and depended more and more on her wheelchair, a paved pathway was constructed to facilitate her transportation from car to front door.

On special occasions Angie loved to be at the door to be a part of any welcoming committee, just as she did at our previous three auctions. Sadly we will miss her unique presence on November 9 when at 7 p.m. we will be opening the festivities to celebrate 10 wonderful years .

Every organization needs a beloved person who will always be fondly remembered. Angie, Queen of the Nook, is our special person.

Please go online at auction.bowenhealthcentre.com to post your bids before closing at midnight on November 8.

Remember there will also be a silent auction at the Legion as part of our 10 year anniversary celebration, where many more extraordinary goods from the Nook will been on offer.

All proceeds from the occasion will go to your new health centre.

Have a happy day

Ways you can Have Your Say •

Speak at the Public Hearing: Monday, October 28, 2019. 5:15 PM at Municipal Hall.

•

Write to the attention of Mayor and Council: E-mail: mayorandcouncil@bimbc.ca Mail: 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, V0N 1G2 To ensure a fair process, Council cannot consider any submissions received after the Public Hearing has ended.

604-947-9888 happyislecannabis.com

JUDITH WILSON

for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country

Jagmeet Singh and the NDP’s New Deal for People replaces Justin Trudeau’s empty talk with concrete action and real results to help your family.

Together, we can:

Lower prescription drug costs for everyone — and expand health care to include dental, vision and mental health care; Build 500,000 new affordable housing units to help ease the pressure of sky-high rent and mortgage costs; Take action to fight the climate emergency — and create 300,000 good clean jobs for today and tomorrow.

Authorized by the Official Agent for Judith Wilson

HAVE YOUR SAY.

Land Use Amendment for Medical Clinic

Queen of the Nook

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019 • 19

Bid for construction of fire hall‘significantly’over budget CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Mayor Gary Ander suggested there’s some low hanging fruit in the draft policy, including requiring that new buildings have rain catchment systems.

Ander called declaring a climate emergency an “absolute no-brainer.”

“The more that we are enthusiastic about doing something about climate change, the more enthusiastic the public’s going to be,” he said.

Councillor Maureen Nicholson gave a shout-out to Bowen’s youth.

“One of the things that sparked [this policy] was a whole lot of kids coming to Municipal Hall in March and talking to the mayor and asking the mayor to declare a climate emergency,” she said. “So the kids of Bowen Island are very much contributors to this document.”

The committee of the whole unanimously recommended that council, “Recognize that climate change represents an emergency for Bowen Island, and commits to developing a strategy to reducing emissions in alignment with the targets to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

The strategy itself is to be referred to BIM committees.

Parking vs. housing: Council will consider a variance permit for Area 1 of Lot 2 (currently the parking lot across from Bowen Island Museum and Archives) to reduce the number of parking spaces required on the lot by eight. In exchange, the applicant will build six off-site parking spots and a sidewalk along the Seniors Lane portion of the property. The applicant intends to build 27 rental residential units and a small commercial space on the property. BIM announced back in August it was intending to sell the por-

tion of the Community Lands to D.K. Harris Properties Ltd. for $875,000. Councillors Rob Wynen and Sue Ellen Fast noted that the reduction in parking spaces aligned with the draft climate strategy (shifting away from single-use vehicles).

In other news from the fire department: Bids for construction of the new fire hall have come in “significantly over” the $3 million approved budget according to a municipal report. Though discussion was differed to a future meeting, council had been set to consider hiring a quantity surveyor to “determine the feasibility of proceeding with the current project design and scope” among other things.

The Lot 3 location of the new fire hall and emergency operations centre has been controversial but the 2017 referendum authorizing BIM to borrow up to $3 million passed with 81 per cent of ballots cast in favour.

What else is happening Oct 21?: A rate increase could be coming for Cove Bay Water System users. With the deadline for the alternative approval process (AAP) for the Cove Bay Water Treatment Plant borrowing looming (Oct. 21) council directed staff to investigate raising user rates. Chief Financial Officer Raj Hayre clarified that this is intended to phase in the $213 per water connection per year that would be required to pay back to the up to $2,533,000 BIM plans to borrow if the AAP passes (so user rates wouldn’t jump by $213 all at once).

However, nothing’s settled yet, electors (folks in the Cove Bay Water System Local Service Area) still have until 4:30 p.m. Oct. 21 to sign an elector response form opposing the AAP. If 10 per cent of the electors oppose the borrowing (119 people), it passes to referendum.

on Bowen Island

For all of your real estate needs please call Peter or Carmen, Thinking of Buying a home? As an Accredited Buyers Representative Carmen can help you meet your goals.

To know more about what an ABR can do for you please call Carmen.

Bowen Island Real Estate Specialists Macdonald Realty 604-802-8558 divespeter@gmail.com 604-802-8267 carmendives@gmail.com

Do you know how to vote in the October 21 election?

The polling station at Bowen Island Community School is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 21.

Voters can find the address of their assigned polling station on the back of their voter information card, by visiting elections.ca and punching in their postal code or by calling 1-800-463-6868.

Voters must bring identification that verifies their name and address. That includes either government-issued ID (such as a driver’s licence) with both name and address or identification from the list of accepted ID available online.

For more information: www.elections.ca/home.aspx.

If you think GREEN VOTE GREEN!

DanaTaylor.ca

/DanaTaylorGreen

/DanaTaylorGreen

BOWEN ISLAND ROTARY CLUB is pleased to present

Paul Rickett, Manager, Bowen Beer and Wine Cellar who will speak on: BC Wines for Christmas Thursday, October 24, at 7:30 pm at Collins Hall

All are welcome.

October 24 is World Polio Day

We can win this, Bowen Island!

DANA TAYLOR

Activist. Advocate. Here for good.

/DanaTaylor4MP

Authorized by the official agent for Dana Taylor

20 • THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

They Sold Out Your Family and Your Future • $755 billion of debt and plans to spend more.

• Erosion of Charter rights and freedoms (e.g. C-16, M-103 ) • Pandering to special interest groups & political party “friends” • Unsustainable immigration and no effective border control • No real action on the environment.

Tired of Voting the Same Old Cycle?

Join the Fastest Growing Political Movement in Canada to RESTORE…

Come tell your stories for the Marine Atlas BOB TURNER

Marine Atlas crew member

Do you have an experience along Bowen’s shores that you want to share? Perhaps with a friendly seal? Or a beautiful sea star? Maybe a heron catching a fish? Or a school of silvery fish that swam by along the shore? Perhaps you saw a pod of orcas from the ferry.

But maybe to, you have questions. Like, why are people so excited about the discovery of glass sponge reefs in Howe Sound? Why did we have so many sea lions along Bowen shores last April? What is the black duck that winters along Bowen shores in flocks of hundreds?

How did First Nations harvest from the sea?

Have the salmon arrived at the Causeway yet?

Well, if you have stories or questions, we want to hear them. The Bowen Island Conservancy is hosting an open house for its Bowen/Nexwlélexm Marine Atlas Project on Saturday, October 26, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Rm2 at Bowen Island Community School.

Everyone, small to tall, is invited.

The goal of the Marine Atlas project is to engage Bowen Islanders in a greater awareness, celebration and stewardship of its shores and nearby marine waters. The atlas is pulling together local and scientific knowledge to create resources that empower us to know, care, and better steward of our local marine realm.

Why? Because, as an island, our marine world plays such an important role in our sense of who we are, whether we go to the shore to play, to connect with nature, to explore, to find joy. We want to celebrate all of that. And the marine world is so rich. After all, who would we be if there were no orcas, no salmon, no sea lions, no sea stars out there.

Central to the project is publication of an atlas with 20 chapters that draw together our local and scientific knowledge on everything from our beaches and estuaries to First Nation uses, salmon, seals and sea lions, plankton

BOB TURNER PHOTO

A curious young seal examines Bob Turner’s underwater camera in Mannion (Deep) Bay in January 2018.

and glass sponge reefs. We have a first draft of the atlas and we need your input.

The two-hour open house will have seven different activity centers that you can explore.

There will be: a “big map” where you can post a story you’ve had along our shores; explore the draft Marine Atlas chapters and test your knowledge with a special quiz; four focus tables, each hosted by “expert” islanders (i.e. birders, salmon people, intertidal life biologist; divers); as well as a movie about marine life along Bowen shores.

At the open house you can talk with some of Bowen’s best naturalists about our local marine life. Our birders team can answer your bird questions, and tell you best places to see our local marine birds. Bowen Island Fish and Wildlife Club members can tell you which are Bowen’s salmon streams, whether this year’s salmon run has started, how the salmon hatchery works and about the Salmon in Schools program. Well-known biologist Will Husby will have a microscope that projects to a monitor and will explore with you the tiny critters from our shores. Adam Taylor, Bowen’s favorite diver, will be there with stories, photos and maybe even movies of octopus, glass sponge reefs and other secrets of the deep.

And I, as a local filmmaker, will be showing a new movie of Bowen’s marine wildlife. So, hope to see you there!

screenagersmovie.com

Financial health: A balanced budget in 2 years, income tax of 15% for earnings to $100k.

Freedom of speech and thought: End government discrimination against law-abiding citizens.

Environmental protection: Immediate action on drinkable water for indigenous communities, cleaner air and water across the country.

Federal Election October 21st vote for Doug Bebb PEng, MBA

BEBB

PEOPLE’S PARTY

www.bebb2019ppc.ca Authorized by the official agent of Robert Bebb 604-772-2428

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FREE PREMIERE FILM SCREENING Presented by: Island Pacific School When: 7:00pm, Tues, Oct 22 Where: Cates Hill Chapel Bowen Island ISLAND PACIFIC No tickets required SCHOOL islandpacific.org CELEBRATING

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Bowen Island Community

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HEALTH & WELLNESS Dr. Susanne Schloegl M.D.

Appointments Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, 9am - 5pm ECG and HOLTER monitoring Artisan Square

604-947-9986

Bowen Island Chiropractic

Dr. Tracy Leach, D.C. Certified provider of Active Release Techniques Artisan Square Tues. & Fri.

778-828-5681

www.drtracyleach.ca

Dr. Dana Barton

Naturopathic Physician 596 B. Artisan Square

604-730-1174 Natural Family Medicine

Dr. Gloria Chao HOLISTIC COUNSELLING Brooke Evans, MSW, RSW 604-781-3987

brooke@becounselling.ca becounselling.ca

SHIATSU Shiatsu massage therapy follows traditional Chinese medicine to restore your body’s health with flow and relaxation.

Vicky Frederiksen

Certified Shiatsu Practitioner.

778-881-9012 call or text email: v.gathe@gmail.com

BOWEN ISLAND WELLNESS CENTRE 604-947-9755

Located in Artisan Square

MARY MCDONAGH

Dr. Alea Bell, ND

❦

RMT, DCH Registered Massage Therapist

604-338-5001

❦

HEIDI MATHER

Registered Acupuncturist, Homeopath, Doula

Mary Coleman, MSW, RSW Compassion minded counselling

778-233-4425

MARY MCDONAGH RMT HARMONY SHIRE RMT ALICIA HOPPENRATH RMT KIM HOWDEN RMT

Celebrating 29 years

Registered Acupuncturist Registered Nutritionist

Julie Hughes, RPC

Book online bowenislandwellnesscentre.ca

778-858-2669

Community Healthcare

Psychologist

Lifelabs

Dr. Carolyn Nesbitt PhD, R.Psych #1484

Dr. Zandy’s former office

INHABIT

Alternate Fridays 10am - 4:30pm

Massage Therapy Matthew van der Giessen

FREE

RMT

www.bowenislanddental.com

778-891-0370

Registered Physiotherapist

SANDY LOGAN

604-281-3691

On Bowen Island @ Caring Circle West Vancouver

Naturopathic Doctor

Courtney Morris, R.Ac

Artisan Square 604-947-0734

Horseshoe Bay 604-921-8522

Online Booking: www.birchwellness.com

❦

NexGen Hearing

Hearing Testing

@ Artisan Square

Dr. Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncturist

Family Dentist

Call us at

604-947-9755 EXT #1

At entrance to Artisan Square Suite #597

CATHERINE SHAW

BOWEN ISLAND

MASSAGE THERAPY

SOMATIC CENTRE

(778) 952-3757 566 Artisan Square www.inhabitcentre.ca

Breathe Move Touch

Counselling

604-376-9801 www.CarolynNesbitt.com

Tues - 6:45 - 8:45 a.m.

Thurs. - 6:45 - 8:45 a.m.

For routine lab tests.

Specialized tests & children may be referred to the mainland.

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019 • 23

BOWEN HOME SERVICES love the life you live Window Blinds

Landscape Lighting Irrigation

On Bowen

Seascape

778-995-1902 Accounting Bookkeeping Taxation Virtual CPA

Bruce Culver

Office: 604-947-9686

Cell: 604-329-3045

CNC ROUTER WORKSHOP P

Leila Swann, CPA, CA 604-318-5414 leila@greenbooks.ca www.greenbooks.ca

What do you need made?

BOWEN ISLAND SPECIALISTS! QUALITY SERVICE GUARANTEED! Keep Calm and Call Econo

604.980.3333

991 West First Street, North Vancouver, BC www.economovingandstorage.com

Craig 604-366-2229 • 778-722-0269 • craig@seatoskycnc.com

NEW CONSTRUCTION

GUTTERS & SNOWBARS

RENOVATIONS RESTORATION ADDITIONS SECONDARY STRUCTURES UNIQUE OUTDOOR SPACES

(604) 947-2025

SUB CONTRACT WORK

BUILT GREEN BC BUILDER CONTACT US FOR A FREE QUOTATION WWW.WHITEHART.CA ADDRESS 302-566 ARTISAN LANE BOWEN ISLAND, BC PHONE 1 (778) 999-3434

Schedule in Effect: October 15, 2019 to March 31, 2020 On December 25, & January 1 service will begin with the 8:35 am sailing from Bowen Island and the 8:00 am sailing from Horseshoe Bay.

Leave Snug Cove

5:20 am^ 6:20 am< 7:30 am< 8:35 am 9:40 am 10:50 am 12:00 pm 1:10 pm 2:55 pm 4:00 pm† 5:10 pm 6:15 pm 7:25 pm* 8:30 pm 9:30 pm 10:30 pm

VANCOUVER Horseshoe Bay 5:50 am< 6:50 am< 8:00 am 9:05 am† 10:15 am 11:25 am 12:35 pm 2:20 pm 3:30 pm 4:35 pm 5:45 pm 6:50 pm 8:00 pm* 9:00 pm 10:00 pm

Distance: 3 NAUTICAL MILES Crossing Time: 20 MINUTES

Leave Horseshoe Bay

▼

BOWEN ISLAND Snug Cove

* DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAYS

< EXCEPT DEC 25 & JAN 1 ^ EXCEPT SUN AND NOV 11, DEC 25, JAN 1 & FEB 17 † DC WEDNESDAY SAILINGS WILL BE REPLACED BY DANGEROUS CARGO SAILINGS. NO OTHER PASSENGERS PERMITTED.

A T

AQUA TERRA EAVESTROUGHS A BOWEN ISLAND FAMILY COMPANY

Places of Worship Welcome You BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH Reverend Lorraine Ashdown and Tina Overbury Service and Sunday School 10:30 am Collins Hall Bookings: Helen Wallwork Minister of Music: Lynn Williams

FOOD BANK DROP-OFF

ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Sunday Mass: 9:30 a.m.

Administration Office: 604-682-6774

CATES HILL CHAPEL

www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260 (661 Carter Rd.)

10:00 a.m. Worship Sunday School: Tots to Teens

Pastor: Phil Adkins

24 • THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2019

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

ELECT Gabrielle

LOREN West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky

“In a riding as diverse as ours, many feel that the issues of a single community are overlooked in Ottawa.

A u t ho r i z e d b y t he O ff i c ia l A g e nt f o r G a b r i e l l e L o re n

www.votegabri elleloren.ca 7 06 Ma in Street, Park Royal South West Van co uver, BC, V7T 0A5

6 04 92 8 9 76 9 Gabriel leMLoren

VOTE OCT 21