REMEMBRANCE DAY EDITION
$1
how has war affected Bowen? PAGE 5
inc. GST
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2019
VOL. 45, NO. 45
BIUndercurrent
DISC GOLF PHOTOS The new course is open in Veterans Park
BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com
PAGE 10
Discussing ferry futures BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
CHRIS WILSON PHOTO
HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS: Hundreds of islanders watched the Bowen firefighters’ annual Deep Bay fireworks
show Halloween evening. Due to concern for animals, this year’s show was shorter than usual but a hit nonetheless. Above, firefighters wait to hand out hot chocolate after the display.
Bowen woman missing on-island BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
RCMP are searching for an island woman reported missing on Bowen Island Monday evening just before 9 p.m. Shilanne Stedmances, 22, was last seen near where Eagle Cliff Rd and Old Eagle Cliff Rd intersect said an RCMP release Wednesday. Stedmances is 5’2” tall, 110 lbs, with dark hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black long sleeved t-shirt and black pants. “Given the area she was last seen in and other factors, we’re listing her as high risk,” said Cpl. Adam Koehle of Bowen Island RCMP. Koehle said that given the terrain she
was last seen in and the weather over the past few days, the situation could be detrimental to her health and wellbeing. Koehle said that they’re asking for the public for help in part to determine if Stedmances is still on-island or if someone picked her up. Koehle said that they are currently working with North Shore Rescue, the Bowen Island Fire Department, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue and Coast Guard in the search. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Bowen Island RCMP at 604-947-0516. We’ll update this story on bowenislandundercurrent.com as we get information. Photo of Stedmances is on p. 13.
As another month-long refit looms for the Queen of Capilano, BC Ferries representatives made their biannual stop on Bowen Island for the community Ferry Advisory Committee meeting. The Queen of Capilano will be out of service between Jan. 4 and Feb. 10. While the smaller Bowen Queen plies the Howe Sound waters, there will be parking discounts and assured loading for vehicles with four or more passengers in peak afternoon sailings on the Horseshoe Bay side. During the refit the ferry schedule will remain the same. Julian Barrera of Bowen Transportation Society, which runs the express bus between Horseshoe Bay and downtown Vancouver, asked for some financial support from BC Ferries during the refit to be able to run a bigger bus. Barrera said that the service is reaching capacity with the smaller bus and this refit could be an opportunity to funnel more people out of cars and onto bus seats. Peter King began the express bus in 2015 during the Queen of Capilano’s mid-life upgrade. BC Ferries representatives didn’t commit to anything but said they’d follow up. The new policy to require all passengers to disembark using the overhead walkway in Horseshoe Bay (with the exception of those needing to use the elevator or those with pets) was a contentious topic. While one member of the public said that unloading up top cost precious seconds in a tight bus connection, BC Ferries’ marine superintendent Captain Lance Lomax noted that this policy change was made out of concern for safety and efficiency. Passengers running across berths was of particular concern. Ferry Advisory Committee chair Melanie Mason asked after an electric ferry, pointing out that Bowen just declared a climate emergency and the ferry contributes nearly 40 per cent of Bowen’s transportation-related emissions. BC Ferries representatives said that the plan is still to replace the Queen of Capilano in the late 2030s. “You’re not likely to be the guinea pig [for electric ferries] but you could be very close to it depending on the advancements of the time,” said Peter Simpson, BC Ferries’ director of fleet operational strategy.
Knick Knack Nook’s
10th Anniversary Party at the Legion
Saturday November 9th - Doors open at 7:00 pm
Live auction, bottle auction, appetizers, live music, Nook fashion
Fundraising event for the Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation
On-line auction ends Friday Nov. 8th at midnight www.auction.bowenhealthcentre.com