Bowen Island Undercurrent March 26 2020

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THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020

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VOL. 46, NO. 13

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The information and stories change hour by hour, keep checking our website for the latest

Property tax to rise 7.6% BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

LEN GILDAY PHOTO

STAY HOME, STAY CONNECTED: Bowen Islanders raise their glasses during a virtual happy hour as Len

Gilday snaps a photo. Around the island, province and world, people are staying home from work and social engagements to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but are staying connected online through video conferencing platforms, by phoning one another and through email. The Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation has even started a virtual coffee house (see information on p. 8). For other ways Bowen Islanders stay connected, check our online evergreen story ‘Here’s what Bowen Islanders are doing to help one another: COVID-19’ at bowenislandundercurrent.com.

Bowen asks visitors to stay away ‘PLEASE DO NOT COME’ BIM TELLS NON-ISLANDERS BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Bowen Island Municipality (BIM) and Tourism Bowen Island are asking visitors to postpone their trips to Bowen Island in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know you want to come and

enjoy Bowen Island, but our message to you today is ‘Please do not come,’” said a press release from the municipality March 20.

“Our local businesses and services are scaling down operation to serve our essential needs, in order to protect the personal health and safety of the citizens

of our small community,” said the press release. “We rely on our small businesses to support our residents, and they do not have the resources to support high volumes of visitors at this difficult time.

“Like many other small communities, Bowen Island has extremely limited resources to serve our citizens.”

Even COVID couldn’t stop the budget from passing Monday evening.

Mayor and council passed first, second and third readings of the $8.8 million five-year financial plan (the budget) that recommends a 7.6 per cent tax property increase. In view of the pandemic and municipal hall’s closure to the public, BIM held the meeting via video conferencing with mayor, councillors, staff and the public meeting virtually.

Chief financial officer Raj Hayre broke the increases down into four sections: 4.1 per cent increase for salaries and benefits: these • reflect an annual consumer price index increase, a rise in benefit costs, a compensation review and new professional roles (engineer and fire chief) says the budget.

• 1.5 per cent increase for asset renewal: this is paying into a reserve for the island’s infrastructure. “Our assets are aging and current reserve levels are not adequate to address replacement needs,” reads the budget. “Council has approved an annual 1.5 per cent tax rate increase to address this funding gap.”

• 1.1 per cent increase for contract and service agreements .

• 0.5 per cent increase for council strategic initiatives.

The parcel tax for waste and recycling is also to rise to $600 per household as part of a seven-year fixed-rate contract with Bowen Waste Solutions.

There are also water flat rate increases across the board: Bluewater: rise to $800 for connected, $500 for • unconnected properties • Bowen Bay: rise to $800 for connected, $500 for unconnected properties • King Edward: rise to $800 for connected, $500 for unconnected properties • Cove Bay: rise to $760 for connected properties Eagle cliff: rise to $525 for up to 50 gallons a day and • incremental increases for more usage.

• Hood Point: $400 for connected and $200 for unconnected systems • Tunstall Bay: rise to $815 for connected, $500 for unconnected systems The budget also suggests that sewer user rates increase.

CONTINUED ON P. 7

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To help reduce the spread of COVID-19 we are temporarily reducing branch hours: Mon to Fri: 10AM to 5PM* Sat: CLOSED

we’re here for you

*Closed 12 to 1PM daily for lunch We encourage members to take advantage of our mobile, online and telephone banking. Thank you for your patience as we work through these challenging times together.

firstcu.ca 604.947.2022

106-996 Dorman Rd

2 • THURSDAY MARCH 26. 2020

Event Calendar

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

All outdoor burning prohibited

Water main flushing As part of its regular water system maintenance program, water main flushing commences on March 28, 2020. This procedure does not pose a health hazard and is necessary to remove sediment that gradually deposits in the pipes.

Flushing of municipal water systems will start Saturday, March 28th for appx. 6 – 8 weeks. Most areas will be flushed between Mon - Fri 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

April 14, 2020 6:15 pm Regular Council Meeting

Snug Cove, Cates Hill, Village Square will be flushed early in the morning of Saturday, March 28th. Artisan Square will be flushed early in the morning of March 30 & 31.

As Municipal Hall is closed to the public, we can only accept public comments in written submissions. www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ council-meetings

All outdoor burning is prohibited until further notice.

BCC & BICS will be flushed on Saturday, March 28th.

The Fire Chief has banned all outdoor burns, including campfires and beach fires, to protect community members who may have breathing difficulties during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Water is not being turned off during the flushing process, but the fluctuation of water pressure can cause temporary low water pressure.

Fires in home fireplaces are still permitted.

Committee meetings cancelled

Residents are advised to have additional water storage for urgent use during this time.

Utility workers have adjusted their work practices to comply with social distancing requirements

All non-essential committee meetings have been cancelled.

Please check our website for updates.

Updates will be posted daily: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/alerts

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/committees

Questions? Call 604-947-4255 or email bim@bimbc.ca

Emergency Operations Centre Update

Outdoor facilties closed

Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) staff have been working The following outdoor facilities are Closed until further notice: hard coordinating Bowen Island Municipality’s response to the BICS Playground, BICS Tennis courts, BICS Basketball courts COVID-19 pandemic over the past week. We’ve prepared a Westside Playground, Buchanan Rd playground summary of the EOC’s activities to date, what we’re currently working on and ongoing activities.

Please enjoy the Bike Park, Disc Golf (with discs that only you use), turf and grass fields, and trails.

Currently, the EOC is active from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm unless otherwise required.

Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters ) apart.

Here are some of the activities complete to date: • Set up a virtual Emergency Operations Centre to streamline our local response. Centralized all COVID-19 updates on one page on our website.

• Closed Municipal Hall to the public. This protects our staff so that they can continue to provide essential services.

• Made working arrangements for our outside workers so All planning permit and development approval applications they can maintain social distancing. This helps to protect and payments can now be processed online at: these staff so that they can continue to maintain critical infrastructure. www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/property-development • Worked out technology logistics of our staff working from home.

Questions? Please email: planning@bimbc.ca • Redeployed and cross-trained staff between departments so they are working where they are needed.

• Prioritized COVID-19 related communication to the community.

• Made it possible for Council to meet by online technology.

As Municipal Hall is closed to the public due to the COVID-19 Made this available to public participation to maintain pandemic, we cannot accept in-person payments. transparency and accessibility to the public.

• Widely distributed a media release asking tourists not to We have set up a new facility allowing you to make payments visit Bowen Island. Got mention of this on national news for property taxes, utility bills and business licences by outlets. Worked with our partners at Tourism Bowen Island credit card, via your MyAccount login. As part of our efforts to help spread the word. Posted signs in the Cove. to support residents and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the convenience fee, charged by credit card What we are currently working on and ongoing activities companies for using this online service, will be paid by Bowen • Working with critical local businesses to provide support.

Island Municipality on your behalf.

• Working with the Province to assist in our communication to tourists via BC Ferries.

You can still make cheque payments by mail, or use your • Supporting local volunteer groups who are offering personal online banking to pay utilities and taxes. assistance to community members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ways-you-can-pay • Contacting contractors at local construction work sites to provide public health officer’s guidance on social Questions? Email MyAccount@bimbc.ca or call 604-947-4255 distancing requirements. Working with the RCMP to assist in addressing complaints.

Our planning department has gone online

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 CLOSED to the public until further notice March 26, 2020

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Social distancing is not optional Every day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gives a federal briefing to Canadians and B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry gives a provincial briefing to British Columbians (summaries of these briefings can be found on the COVID page of the Undercurrent website daily). Last week, B.C. declared a state of emergency. Though the news changes, through all the announcements and briefings, government officials have made it clear that the public has to practice social distancing (what some are now calling physical distancing) to give our health system a fighting chance. The information below was taken directly from the Government of Canada website: What does Social Distancing mean? This means making changes in your everyday routines in order to minimize close contact with others, including: • avoiding crowded places and non-essential gatherings • avoiding common greetings, such as handshakes • limiting contact with people at higher risk (e.g. older adults and those in poor health) • keeping a distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others, as much as possible How you can practice social distancing: • greet with a wave instead of a handshake, a kiss or a hug • stay home as much as possible, including for meals and entertainment • shop or take public transportation during off-peak hours

• • •

conduct virtual meetings host virtual playdates for your kids use technology to keep in touch with friends and family If possible, • use food delivery services or online shopping • exercise at home or outside • work from home Remember to: • wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your face • cough or sneeze into the bend of your arm • avoid touching surfaces people touch often If you’re concerned you have COVID-19: • separate yourself from others as soon as you have symptoms • if you are outside the home when a symptom develops, go home immediately and avoid taking public transit • stay home and follow the advice of your Public Health Authority, who may recommend self-isolation call ahead to a health care provider if you are ill and seeking medical attention.

For more information: Canada.ca/coronavirus, 1-833-784-4397

Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Henry has said that while B.C.ers can go outside, they must maintain the two-metre distance.

The province has launched a COVID self-assessment app as well as a self-assessment website: bc.thrive.health/

Accessibility options during COVID

CAMP BOWEN TEAM

Contributor

Please note: The simplest way to help with COVID19 responses from home is by letting anyone not on social media who you think may benefit know about our services and the services other on-island organizations are doing. Many folks are not connected online and will miss out on important updates.

Please note: If you would like to volunteer for any of the below tasks, please use the contact information at the bottom of this article.

During these troubled times we wanted to reach out and let you know what the Bowen Island Accessibility Group and the Camp Bowen Society are doing to aid the community response to the corona virus outbreak (COVID19). Camp Bowen has called Bowen home since 1963 and you have always been there for us. Bowen Islanders have a habit of looking out for one another and that is one of the things that makes Bowen the amazing community it is. We hope the below information will help our fellow islanders cope with COVID19.

What is the Bowen Island Accessibility Group? The Bowen Island Accessibility Group (BIAG) is a community outreach program lead by the Camp Bowen Society and designed to bring Bowen Islanders together to find creative solutions to the accessibility challenges on Bowen Island. We want to look at issues from the small to the really tough. BIAG also acts as a peer support network for Bowen Islanders with disabilities. It is this second aspect that we are expanding upon during our response to the Corona Virus outbreak.

What is the Camp Bowen Society? The Camp Bowen Society is a not-for-profit organization probably best known for having taken over the operation of the blindness and deafblindness summer camp programs from CNIB in mid 2010. The organization is involved in offering summer camps, independent living skills training, and outreach services.

What is BIAG and the Camp Bowen Society Doing to Support Bowen Islanders During the Corona Virus Outbreak?

For those of us Bowen Islanders with disabilities or with compromised immune systems, the corona virus outbreak continues to

present unique challenges as the days progress. The Bowen Island Accessibility Group and the Camp Bowen Society have rolled out several new initiatives for people with disabilities and those who are self-isolating to help the community response to the outbreak. They are listed below: Text to Phone Relay: We are offering a text to phone call service (where a volunteer will call on a resident’s behalf and interpret for the resident via text message. This service is intended for deaf residents of Bowen Island.

Volunteers will be available to place calls from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific. To access this service, please text +1 (778) 512-4721.

Phone Access to the Bowen Island Undercurrent: We have made available the Bowen Island Undercurrent over the phone. those who cannot access the print or online edition of the paper due to isolation owing to the corona virus or who have a perceptual print disability can call +1 (604) 947-0021 and press 7 at the main menu to have the paper read to you.

Home Delivery and Medical Transport We are currently able to match people with volunteers and other community resources that can help access supplies, community supports, and medical appointment transportation. To access this program, please see the contact information below. Please be aware that due to social distancing guidelines, we are only able to provide medical transportation services if the appointment cannot be postponed.

Contacting us: Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything you need. You can reach the Bowen Island Accessibility Group and Camp Bowen Society through the Camp Bowen Community Outreach line at: +1 (604) 947-0021, extension 123, by email at: <biag@campbowen.ca>, or by joining the Bowen Island Accessibility Group’s Facebook group.

Together, we can help minimize the affects of this virus. We will continue to support our community, our home for more that 57 years, in any way we can. For updates and to keep up with new initiatives as we roll them out, please visit campbowen.ca or call +1 (604) 947-0021.

Submitted by Alex Jorgensen on behalf of the Camp Bowen Team

THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2020 • 3 SPONSORED CONTENT

Member of Parliament

West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country The COVID-19 pandemic has created a public health emergency in our Province. Our priority is to keep Canadians safe and healthy while responding to quickly-evolving challenges. We face, among other things, an unprecedented: ■ public health challenge to mitigate the worst impacts of COVID-19, ■ economic and financial challenge to support workers and businesses

through a prolonged downturn, ■ peacetime consular and logistical challenge to repatriate Canadians, and ■ immediate collective action challenge to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Public Health Agency of Canada updates its recommendations and directives to respond to fast changing circumstances. We must all follow the directives of federal and provincial public health officials, including Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. The latest information on prevention, preparedness, and travel health advice can be found at canada.ca/coronavirus, by calling 1-833-784-4397, or at the BC Centre for Disease Control: http://www. bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19, or by calling 811.

Our Government established the $1 billion COVID-19 Response Fund to support the provinces and territories to fight the virus, including supplies and support for services, by increased screenings and testing, and enhanced research and coordinated action among all levels of government.

The Federal Government immediately set up the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, which provides $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses, plus $55 billion through tax deferrals to stabilize the economy. We created a wage subsidy for businesses, waived the waiting period to qualify for EI and the Work-Sharing Program, are creating new programs to cover non-eligible workers, allowing for deferred mortgage payments, and much more. Businesses can download the Canada Business App to find tailored support, and they should contact their bank to access the up to $300 billion in loans we have made available.

More help is forthcoming for specific sectors of the economy that are suffering as a result of COVID-19.

Strict travel restrictions are now in place for foreigners coming to Canada, and countries around the world have enacted strict restrictions on both domestic and international travel. We continue to request that Canadians come home so that they can be safe here. All Canadians abroad should register with the Registry of Canadians Abroad (https://travel.gc.ca/ travelling/registration), seek commercial flights home, and check the entry/exit requirements of the countries through which they will transit.

An emergency loan is available to help Canadians abroad, and our team is working hard with consular services to help get all of our community members get home.

The only way we avoid the worst effects of the pandemic is if we all play our part. That means observing good hygiene practices, keeping two metres of social distance from others, and completely isolating yourself for two weeks if you show any symptoms. All Canadians returning home from abroad must go straight home from the airport and isolate for two weeks.

Be kind and help one another. We will get through this together.

Our office is here to help you through this difficult time. Please reach out to us: 6367 Bruce Street, West Vancouver, Patrick.Weiler@parl.gc.ca or by phone at 604-913-2660.

Our website www.patrickweiler.libparl.ca should be operational by Friday April 3rd for immediate updates, and please visit my social media platforms @PatrickBWeiler on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Patrick.Weiler@parl.gc.ca | 604-913-2660

4 • THURSDAY MARCH 26. 2020

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

VIEWPOINT

EDITORIAL

Keep celebrating

When I was in Kindergarten, my school burned down. It was a January afternoon when the fire bell interrupted classes and the school went up in flames.

As I was four years old, I didn’t know there even was a fire until I was in the throng of students leaving the building but the sound of the bell is seared in my distant memory and the terror and tears of an utterly confused child echo in my adult brain.

Yet, I still remember that day with some fondness—it happened to be my mother’s birthday.

I’ve been thinking about the fire a lot this week. As we hunker down in disaster mode, unsure of the future and envious of our oblivious past selves, the world keeps turning. The birthdays and anniversaries keep coming and we need to keep celebrating them.

The evening of the school fire, my family stayed with a local family as the fire had damaged our own home. In one of my bouts of tears the mother of the family asked what was wrong and I explained that it was my mom’s birthday and we didn’t have a cake. So we baked a cake (probably she baked it and let me put sprinkles on the icing but that’s not how I remember it). There was a big gathering at that house that night. We sang happy birthday and ate cake.

For a four-year-old, it was pretty great. I can’t imagine my parents’ stress over that day—my mom was pregnant, they weren’t sure of the state of their home, they’d lost many belongings—but nearly 25 years later, I just remember the cake.

This week, on March 28, the Undercurrent turns 45 years old.

We’d planned a more festive occasion but life had other ideas.

Nonetheless, as I isolate in my apartment, I’m going to bake a cake.

— Bronwyn Beairsto, editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

BIM’s 2020 budget isn’t living within our means Editor’s Note: this letter was addressed to mayor and council and shared with the Undercurrent: Please accept my sincere best wishes for continuing health in your families and throughout our community. These are extremely difficult times and all of your work to protect the folks who live and work here is greatly appreciated, along with the stellar volunteer community efforts of so many to help us navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual budget process and Five Year Financial Plan has been a tricky one for several years and I have participated as a citizen, provided written questions and submitted letters to mayor and council each year. My comments this year have been attached in Appendix E of this report, along with other concerned citizens, and Mr Hayre’s responses.

The ongoing issues with each of the seven Local Water Systems is also addressed financially in this report; none of the Local Advisory Committees was willing to recommend to Council the financial plans or fee increases at their meeting held February 25,

2020.

The BIM portion of property taxes has consistently gone up at least three times the cost of inflation for each of the past five years, proposed 7.6 per cent for 2020. This is along with steep increases in the Garbage Parcel Tax, up $126. in 2019, proposed additional $179. This year’s document reveals, again, that operations in all municipal departments have been achieved within or below the budgeted amounts for fiscal 2019, yet the proposed increases above a 2.1 per cent CPI increase for wages are not well explained.

Capital works and expenses that are not absolutely necessary can be deferred; even the policy 1.5 per cent replacement and renewal of assets and 1 per cent council strategic initiatives can be reduced.

BIM’s Financial Planning and Budgeting Policy, referenced in this report, includes seven guiding principles. Two very relevant principles have been missed.

• We will live within our means • We will ensure service levels and the funding of such services are sustainable

Recent reports indicate that our neighbours, Mayor and Council at the District of West Vancouver, have reduced their proposed 2020 property tax increase to 4.34 per cent. The District of North Vancouver Mayor and Council adopted a 3.0 per cent property tax increase blended with a 4.6 per cent utilities increase. City of North Vancouver documents are not available until next week.

There is no question that the world is in both a health crisis and an unraveling economic downturn.

Many residents of Bowen Island live on fixed incomes or pensions, that only rise with annual cost of living increases, if fortunate. Cumulative property tax and parcel tax increase year after year is not sustainable and stretches the expense burden on residents far beyond their ability to pay.

I urge council to reduce the 2020 Property Taxes in ways suggested above. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment. Please stay well.

—Bill Granger

Health information is changing daily, even hourly, check these links for up-to-date information: Vancouver Coastal Health: vch.ca/ about-us/news/ vancouver-coastal-health-statement-on-coronavirus Government of Canada: canada.ca/en/ public-health/services/ diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html HealthLinkBC: healthlinkbc.ca/ health-feature/coronavirus-covid-19 bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/ coronavirus-(novel)

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.

All Advertising and news copy content are copyright of the Undercurrent Newspaper. All editorial content submitted to the Undercurrent becomes the property of the publication.

The Undercurrent is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, art work and photographs.

#102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0 Phone: 604.947.2442 Fax: 604.947.0148 bowenislandundercurrent.com DEADLINE for all advertising and editorial: Monday, 4:00 p.m.

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

National NewsMedia Council.

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 MARCH 26, 2020 • 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

IDLC school deserves temporary trial period Doctors say ‘Stay home’

DEAR EDITOR: My wife Meredith and I live on Bowen.

We have owned, since 1975, one of the seven properties which surround Evergreen Hall. I offer my thoughts with regard to the application by the Island Discovery Learning Community (IDLC) for a temporary use permit (TUP) at Evergreen Hall.

I strongly support the basic approach of using the TUP to provide the opportunity for a one time, temporary trial period where the school, the community and the municipality would be able to assess if the project is workable on a permanent basis. At some point during that trial period, the property owner, with the assistance of the school, could then apply for a rezoning application for Evergreen Hall, if they decide to do so. The threeyear TUP would provide sufficient time for that process to take place and a manageable transition in the event a potential rezoning application is accepted.

A TUP would therefore be issued for the reasonable and justifiable purpose of providing the opportunity to test the waters. In that context, the granting of the permit reflects an even-handed approach that gives everyone the opportunity to experience the presence of the school in Deep Bay before any decision is made with regard to Evergreen Hall as a permanent location. The approach also provides a level of fairness for all parties, by allowing a proportioned degree of autonomy and control for the school, the community and the municipality.

The use of a TUP for the purpose of providing a temporary trial period would provide sufficient time for all parties to monitor, evaluate and communicate

all pertinent information related to the school project. It would provide the opportunity to see the results of initial mitigation measures and for the school to improve those measures where it is needed.

The TUP would therefore be issued on the condition that it is granted only once for the purpose of a temporary trial either within the wording of the TUP conditions, if possible, or in a written mutual agreement between the municipality and the school. That condition would be in keeping with the official community plan as the TUP would be issued for a temporary purpose.

As well, a TUP duration of three years would be needed for practical reasons.

The arrangement with the new Evergreen Hall owner involves a three year lease.

Time would be needed to implement, assess and improve mitigation measures.

The property owner, in concert with the school, would need time to prepare a potential rezoning application, and the application process itself can run substantially longer than a year. And if the rezoning application is rejected, the school would need sufficient time to consider another location.

Some of the councillors have expressed support for traffic calming in Deep Bay. Another effective safety measure put forward by the school involves students walking to Evergreen Hall via the lagoon causeway, and a very short walk on Melmore Road. Regarding playground noise, the school fully recognizes that the current scenario requires mitigation measures such as fencing, the planting of buffers and yard design which addresses the concerns of immediate neighbours,

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as well as other measures such as fully supervised, limited and staggered outside time. The school would also “make ongoing changes to minimize impacts.”

After looking at the IDLC program and this proposal, I can see why it is an award-winning school that is very highly regarded both here and on the mainland.

I have become convinced that we are looking at a proposal by a progressive, community-oriented group of dedicated educators who are breaking new ground in the field of alternative schooling. And they are doing so in the Bowen Island tradition, because breaking new ground is what we do in our community. By working together, we pioneered the first community school in British Columbia.

Similarly, this school and the proposal before us reflects an island based pioneering effort at the level of alternative schooling.

Ultimately, we worked together to create our community school so we could leave a lasting legacy for our future generations. My wife and I believe that the IDLC proposal represents another time in our history where we must step up once again and work together on behalf of those future generations. We also believe that, through the exercise of due diligence, we can resolve concerns and make this project work in Deep Bay. At the very least, the importance of this issue is such that the alternative school deserves the opportunity for a temporary trial period, so everyone can see if the project is workable before anything is written in stone.

—John Sbragia

Editor’s note, this open letter from Providence Health Care Medical Staff Association and Medical Staff was released March 22 and signed by hundreds of hospital physicians, surgeons and other medical staff from across B.C. Dr. Launette Rieb, MD, of Bowen Island is one of the signatories and asked it be included in the Undercurrent. See the letter: https:// www.phcmedstaff.ca/covid-19-urgent-request-to-residentsof-british-columbia/ By now you’ve heard direction from our Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart about how to protect ourselves and our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among other measures, these experts have urged everyone to practice social and physical distancing in an effort to slow the spread of this virus.

Many of you are already adhering to these recommendations. But many of you are not.

We’ve all heard stories in the last few days of groups of people gathering at parties, basketball games and beaches, despite the urging of officials to stay at home.

Perhaps some people do not believe they will become sick, or don’t understand that they can carry and spread the virus to more compromised members of our society. This lack of action will cost lives. Please trust the experts and stay home.

We are BC’s Medical Staff. We are at the front line of this fight. We fear an influx of patients that the system cannot handle. We fear for our patients and the need to make decisions about who will get the necessary equipment to survive. We fear for our own safety and the safety of our families. We are telling all residents of BC what we have been telling those we love for a week: stay home. Restrict contact with other people. Follow the protocols. Start now while we still have a chance to slow down this terrible disease.

To our government: if you decide to take stricter measures to enforce these rules, we are on your side. What’s good for our entire community must be prioritized.

To our residents: This is a threat that hopefully comes along only once in a lifetime. We are asking every resident in every community to do their part to help us stop this virus.

When we look back on this unprecedented time in our history, how did you act?

6 • THURSDAY MARCH 26. 2020

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

OPINION

Decision making in a pandemic Pandemic shows health centre need ROB WYNEN

Contributor

“Rob, people are scared, they just don’t know what to do” a young mom tells me in the ferry lineup. I can relate to that, life is changing so fast it is hard to keep up. Activities that were encouraged just two weeks ago are now frowned upon and in some cases outright banned. I am a big sci-fi movie fan but this script is completely off the wall. You couldn’t make this script up. It is just so strange.

My inbox was filled with letters over the weekend as council was considering declaring a state of emergency and passing a capital budget, 103 letters to be exact.

Passing a budget and a five-year capital plan would usually be enough to create for a long potentially stressful meeting, let alone a state of emergency. Moving forward on a capital budget at this time, while necessary, seemed odd, almost like doing your taxes while the kitchen is on fire. The pandemic was on my mind and I needed to get my head around how we as a council were going to respond.

Missteps could have huge consequences and we were being asked by many in the community to take steps that I couldn’t imagine I would ever see in my lifetime. With the situation changing daily, a decision on Monday could very well be over or under kill by Friday.

I had some reading to do. The letters were insightful and written in a respectful tone. I think most people realise this is not the time to be crapping on the municipality or other levels of government, we need to work together.

I didn’t sleep Sunday evening and was not looking forward to a long day at work followed by an evening council meeting.

A big relief came midday Monday when the province asked municipalities to hold off on declaring local states of emergencies. Many

municipalities had done or were planning to declare states of emergencies and it just makes more sense that we work together, not run off in separate directions, possibly hindering a coherent response.

I agree with this approach. We are all looking for some direction in this crazy time and here was some direction from the province. I know some people at the provincial level and trust they, as we, are working full tilt with the best of intentions in mind. Actions have consequences, often unintentional, especially in rapidly changing times with limited information, which is where we are at right now. My biggest concern was that we make decisions that have repercussions that make this situation worse.

Fear stems from a sense of powerlessness and the unknown. A recent message to community leaders from the Director in the Operations Strategy Branch of the RCMP makes a good point, “Crises with swirling waters of change bring all manner of speculation to fill our void of unknown. Because we need certainty we readily accept crazy theories that sound logical and rumors with no standing in fact but feel comfortable to our need for power and knowledge.”

We are in a period of incredible flux, stress, and anxiety of the unknown, crazy is not what we need right now. Time will tell how we as a community handled this unprecedented situation. I hope we will say we came together, had the best in mind for all in the community and did our best to keep our internal devils at bay. That we were able to handle the uncertainty, control our anxiety and remembered that a diverse community has diverse needs and opinions. That we opened our minds to the diversity, maybe even embraced it, always knowing that we need to come together to get through this together.

Colleen Elizabeth Bergin, age 60, passed away peacefully March 19th 2020.

Colleen lived on Bowen Island with husband Larry Morse and loved the life they built together. Colleen moved to Bowen in 1997 and instantly felt a part of the community.

Most recently, her favorite pastime was volunteering at The Knick Knack Nook with her fellow volunteers and all the children who affectionately admired her enthusiasm. Colleen loved her family with a ferocity that would intimidate Beelzebub. She had an unwavering fondness for the wildlife that surrounded her home, the number 22, her Irish and Quebecois heritage, boating to Gibson’s for oysters and Oscar Wilde quotes. As such, “Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.” Thus, keep Colleen in your heart, a life without her would be significantly less remarkable.

Colleen is survived by her husband Larry, her children Zachary (Ashley, children Paxton, Peyton, Wyatt), Nichole (Nick), and Isabella; and Larry’s children Jennifer (Alex, children Spencer, Abigail) and Christine (Jesse, children Parker, Violet) and cats Oscar and Shiraz.

A celebration of life to be announced at a later date.

TIM RHODES

B.I. Health Centre Foundation

As we all grapple with the unprecedented change and uncertainty that has descended with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is deeply encouraging to hear the stories of cooperation and support emerging all over the world. Even as we stay physically apart, this crisis is drawing us closer together in ways we would never have imagined.

That spirit defines who we are as a Bowen community, and also defines our vision for a community health centre. That vision is based on the principle of looking out for our neighbours as well as our own families, and working together as a community to protect our most precious gift: our health.

The current crisis sharply highlights the safety net that our health centre represents.

A community health centre is the focal point for a coordinated, team-based response to the changing health needs of the community.

On Bowen, a health centre will provide additional primary care and other resources to ensure we have the on-island help we need to respond most effectively to the prospect of escalating health care demands at critical times like this.

The good news is that this badly-needed

facility is moving closer to becoming a reality. We have had several strong expressions of financial support for the health centre in recent weeks, and today we are more confident than ever that we will reach our fundraising goal.

Understandably, the current health crisis and social distancing have become significant factors in our effort. Our activities are being modulated to suit the evolving situation and will be less visible in the coming weeks.

However, rest assured we are continuing to work behind the scenes to move this projectA forward as much as possible given the current reality.

We have been touched by the people and groups on Bowen who have not only donated to the project, but have also been moved to help with their own fundraising initiatives. If you have an idea please contact us at info@ bowenislandhealthcentre.com. We are hugely grateful of this support and would like to discuss how we can jointly coordinate any planning today and further down the road as the situation begins to normalize.

As always, we are continuing to accept pledges on our website at bowenhealthcentre. com.

On behalf of our Foundation, stay healthy, and thank you for your support.

V

Where you can watch freeTV in Canada BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Aspiring couch potato

Finally, all the cool kids are staying home on a Saturday night. I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life.

All joking aside, now that we are doing what we can to plank the curve and protect the most vulnerable, we’re practicing social distancing and are spending more time at home, probably watching more TV than usual.

As a millennial, I’ve never really had cable.

But I do have a bit of a streaming subscription problem. At one point or another I’ve been subscribed to Crave (+HBO), Amazon Prime (+Stack, Super Channel and Starz), Disney+ and Apple TV (ask me and I’ll rate them for you). But, I also like a nice dose of (legal) free TV. In Canada, there are several options for free streaming content (if you can put up with a few ads). If you’ve worked your way through Netflix’s selection, here are some more options: There’s of course CBC Gem. It has paid and free plans and has movies, documentaries and TV. The app and site has newer CBC shows like Burden of Truth with Smallville’s Kristen Kruk and Rookie Blue’s Peter Mooney (my grandmother and I have been known to bingewatch this one) or Anne with an E but also “retro favourites” like The Newsroom(this one has nothing to do with Aaron Sorkin), Made in Canada, Kids in the Hall and Due South. The free app also has non-CBC shows like Luther (with the incomparable Idris Elba), Wallander and Ronny Chieng: International Student. Or, you can also watch the news.

On its website, CTV often has the most recent episode of a TV show with the back catalogue available through a TV service provider (right now my guilty watch on this site is Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, which is filmed in Vancouver). But, in CTV’s movies section, all sorts of free gems pop up. The selections are ever-changing so don’t delay if you see an intriguing movie. Among the current selection (which is quite large), you can catch Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, After Earth, A League of Their Own, Serving in Silence, The Fifth Element, Bad Boys, Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (and other Godzilla films), Hidden Figures and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. There’s also a “Throwback” section on CTV, which has shows like The Larry Sanders Show, Barney Miller, Strong Medicine, The Beast (starring Patrick

v

Swayze shortly before he died), Community, 227, Charlie’s Angels, Dawson’s Creek, Fantasy Island, Justified, Just Shoot Me and T.J. Hooker.

There’s the ad-supported free streaming service Tubi. It has an impressive selection of TV shows and movies ranging from classics to more modern hits. One can watch TV shows like the Australian drama McLeod’s Daughters (season three is a tear-jerker), the classic western Bonanza, Blood Ties, Heartbeat, Tucker’s Witch, Family Affair, The Doris Day Show and Bridget & Eamon (the ribald Irish sitcom that is not suitable to watch with your grandmother). Movies range from Into the Wild, The Longest Yard and Blades of Glory toPandemic, War of the Worlds 2 and the Excalibur Kid. And of course, the news.

APTN has a limited selection of shows, movies and documentaries including Mohawk Girls (a comedy-drama series about four Mohawk women in their late 20s trying to find their place in the world), Blackstone and Hard Rock Medical (some also come in both English and French) on its website but more are available on its app (APTN lumi). The app costs $4.99 per month but there is a five-day free trial if something piques your interest.

And the news.

Global TV has the most recent episodes of its current TV shows available but mostly everything else requires a sign-in through a TV provider. Among the shows you can watch week to week on Global are Carol’s Second Act, MacGyver (the reboot), Will and Grace (the last season of the reboot) and the NCIS franchise. Folded into the Global app are History, Food Network, HGTV, Women’s Network, Slice and Showcase. Also, the news.

While CityTV’s website seems to mostly require sign-in through a service provider, if you download its app, you can stream live TV and the most recent episodes of TV shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Mom (featuring Allison Janney and Anna Faris), General Hospital, Chicago Fire, Hudson & Rex, Lincoln Rhyme and the Bachelor. I think they have news too.

The National Film Board has more than 3,000 films one can stream on its website.

There are shorts, like the recently released Stories are in our Bones, older films like My Urban Garden (1984), sports films like Gone Curling (1963), animated films like The Tesla World Light (2017) and obviously thousands more. For a fee, one can also rent or buy films to download (rather than stream).

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No local state of emergency MAYOR SAYS PROVINCE IS MOVING TOWARD A CENTRALIZED RESPONSE RATHER THAN LOCAL STATES OF EMERGENCIES

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor

Bowen Island’s municipal council opted to not declare a state of local emergency in response to the COVID pandemic at its regular council meeting Monday evening.

After having had a conference call with Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth and Minister of Municipal Affairs Selena Robinson Monday morning, Mayor Gary Ander reported to council that the province is planning a more coordinated response through the Ministry of Health.

“They’ve made it quite clear that there’s going to be quite a change of direction from the province,” he said. “They are going to deem that all requests, everything is handled by the provincial health officer.

“They’ve got a real problem with the local municipalities and jurisdictions going into this local control because they want everybody to be on the same page.”

Councillor David Hocking pointed out that municipalities were declaring states of emergencies to have more ability to enforce social distancing. (District of West Vancouver, Vancouver, New Westminster, Richmond and Delta have declared local states of emergencies.) Based on this call, Ander said the province is moving to restrict commercial transit, have provincial coordination of essential services and to give more power to local forces, like bylaw, to enforce social distancing. ,Ander said that “everything will be redirected ythrough Victoria from now on” and that he’s expecting a media campaign shortly. g Though council decided not to proceed fwith the declaration of an emergency for now, ocouncillors did indicate through discussion sand resolution that they want to see BIM’s semergency operations centre work on sup-porting local essential businesses with COVID s w m e , d k r o d h e p y . s y a

control. Notably, Snug Cove General Store has requested help in managing social distance in the General Store.

Council also discussed more signage in the cove, explaining that the island doesn’t want visitors at this point and what constitutes essential travel (which emergency program coordinator Jennifer McGowan said had happened earlier that day) and coordinating with BC Ferries about not wanting visitors.

McGowan said that BC Ferries has reported that it’s working on posting this information on its website and in Horseshoe Bay. Another issue was in the building sector where there were concerns about not all builders maintaining the required physical distance or 50-person in one place limit mandated by the province. Councillor Maureen Nicholson reported that the RCMP were ready to visit worksites to ensure compliance and council also discussed bylaw’s capacity to do the same.

McGowan said that RCMP has already been responding to complaints about construction sites and that the public is encouraged to continue calling the non-emergency line. “They’re trying to proactively be present in the community encouraging social distancing, but they’re also responding to complaints regarding that,” said McGowan.

RCMP have since clarified that they haven’t received complaints. “We haven’t received any complaints of people gathering, but I believe the municipality has. If we do receive a complaint of people gathering we would attend and do our best to educate people of the reasons to isolate or distance themselves from others,” said Cpl. Adam Koehle.

Though Monday’s meeting was a regular council meeting, the meeting was anything but regular. It was held entirely online, with mayor, councillors, staff and the public calling in from their homes into a Zoom meeting (Zoom is a remote video conferencing service).

Photo from ART BY DI website Di Izdebski has posted free downloadable colouring pages from some of her classic Bowen paintings on on her website. Images include orcas, a bear and the majestic heron.

THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2020 • 7

BC Ferries advises against non-essential travel CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“We take pride in welcoming visitors to our island and hope you will make plans to visit us again when our community is ready to host you,” said Mayor Gary Ander in the press release. “For now, we have to make sure our residents and businesses are taken care of.

We thank you for understanding the important action of staying home.”

BIM is also asking that visitors currently on-island make plans to return home.

“This has been a difficult decision for tourism, which plays such an important role in our local economy,” said Murray Atherton of Tourism Bowen Island in the press release, “We hope that you will enjoy Bowen Island through images and your memories of past visits, and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone back in the future.”

“We thank you for your understanding as we take unprecedented measures to protect our community at this very difficult time,” said the release.

The Islands Trust followed over the weekend, releasing its own plea for visitors to stay away from the Gulf and Howe Sound islands. ““Most Gulf Islands have a median age of over sixty years old and limited or no medical services. First responders are volunteers who are practicing sheltering in place in order to

be available for normal emergencies,” said Islands Trust chair Peter Luckham in a press release.

“As ferry-dependent communities, we are especially vulnerable and face additional challenges. Now is not the time to take a holiday or visit your vacation property,” said Luckham.

Monday, BC Ferries asked that customers avoid non-essential travel but stopped short of restricting traffic.

“BC Ferries continues to carry all types of traffic,” said a press release March 24.

“None of us should be travelling if it is not essential,” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries’ President and CEO in the release.

The BC Ferries press release also noted the increased cleaning measures, recommending passengers stay in their vehicles, closure of overhead walkways, closure of food services, requiring electronic payment and putting in measures to separate employees from customers during necessary interactions (like at ticket booths).

“Our front line co-workers face the COVID19 virus everyday so that critical supplies like groceries and medical supplies and people reach coastal communities,” said Collins in the press release. “We are incredibly proud of our loyal and dedicated colleagues.”

Council sounds off on property tax increase CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Councillors noted that this was a strange time to pass a budget, “who knows where we’re going to be a month from now, let alone three, four,” noted Coun. Rob Wynen.

Councillors Maureen Nicholson and David Hocking wondered if it was possible to send the budget back for revisions in light of current world events, “This is a budget we all saw a month or so ago and, and we didn’t like that then but we could see why,” said Hocking who went on to note that many community members will have a harder financial year and some of the projects that BIM thought it would be doing wouldn’t be happening.

“From where I sit, the budget is pretty lean, in terms of essentially places where we can adjust, but on council direction it can be adjusted and brought back,” Hayre responded.

Coun. Sue Ellen Fast was in favour of passing the budget, “I just think we should

move it ahead so that we have funds for the municipality to use in whatever ways we can, depending on how the pandemic goes.”

Coun. Michael Kaile advocated for certainty in uncertain times. “It is a budget. It does not say we absolutely will without faltering preconditions spend all this money,” said Kaile. “Not to pass it right now, generally speaking, is probably unhelpful because it leaves us in a sort of no man’s or no ladies or no person’s space, which I’d rather not be in.”

Mayor Gary Ander agreed with Kaile, “We’ve got to get a starting point and take it from there.”

Coun. Alison Morse was the lone councillor who voted against the budget. “Given everything that’s going on and the lack of detail, not being able to tie numbers into numbers, I just can’t support this budget on principle,” she said.

The five year financial plan now passes to adoption.

Get colouring! Bowen Island’s Di Izdebski of Art by Di is offering free colouring

pages of some of her distinctive paintings.

“It had been on my mind for a long time to create colouring pages based on my paintings and this seemed like a great time for it,” wrote Di in an email. “Not only because kids and adults alike are spending lots of time at home and this gives them a little extra something to do but because art can be fun, uplifting and a great way to relieve stress and anxiety.”

Orcas, a bear, a heron, fish and an arbutus are among the classic West Coast features of Di’s selected paintings. Find the colouring pages at artbydi.ca/coloring-pages/

It's our 45th birthday!

Thank you to all of you who support local journalism.

We're looking forward to many more birthdays with you. est. March 28, 1975

8 • THURSDAY MARCH 26. 2020

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Building food resilience in a new reality

Pssst, check out the Bowfest Facebook page and @ bowfestonbowen on Instagram for engaging, creative, memory-making ideas to keep you and your household entertained during these challenging times.

SUSAN SWIFT

Bowen Island FoodResilience Society (BIFS)

In the past few days and weeks, our world has shifted. What used to be important turns out not to be essential.

And, the things many of us have taken for granted, like health, human connections, and food, turn out to matter the most. Our grocery stores remain open, but our supply chains are being tested. And people are stocking up on food, leaving shelves bare. Clearly, many of us are suffering from a sense of food insecurity.

For about two and half years, Bowen Island FoodResilience (BIFS) has been focusing on what it would take to create a food system on Bowen that supports local needs, especially in times of disruption.

Did you know that Canada, and B.C. in particular, imports most of the food we eat? It’s not something we tend to think about because we haven’t had any reason to worry.

In the present situation, Bowen Islanders are pulling together. The food bank is doing what it can, collecting money to buy necessities and making food drops as needed. New offers of support from businesses and individuals are coming in every day. See the sidebar for contact information.

The Facebook group “Flattening the Curve - Bowen Island” has developed an online message board for those who need help of any kind and has curated a directory of Bowen Island restaurants that are continuing to provide take out.

Our grocery stores are doing an awesome job, keeping us supplied while observing physical distance and sanitation guidelines. There’s even an online coffee shop sponsored by The Bowen Health Centre Foundation.

These are the types of responses we need to think about for times of emergency. But, as a community, we also need to start thinking about protracted shortages, and the kinds of challenges that are made worse by the “slow emergency” of climate change. What can we do locally to be proactive, not just for the weeks and months ahead, but for the long term?

BIFS has been looking at potential scenarios and climate models for the region.

on Bowen Island

DEPARTS SUN to THURS FRI & SA. ed SNUG COVE 11:15PM ns suspend5AM ru HORSESHOE BAY 12:30AM muter m o c d n a t igh Afternoon Commuter Runs S Late n

Mon - Fri Horseshoe Bay - Snug Cove

We’re still here for essential services such as ambulance transport and we’re here for your private charter needs. Please feel free to call us with your questions as we chart these waters together.

Proudly Celebrating Over 40 Years of Trusted Transport for Bowen Island & Howe Sound

Telephone: 604-947-2243 Cellular: 604-250-2630 Tug & Barge services Special Event Cruises

PRIVATE CHARTERS AVAILABLE ANYTIME email: cormorantmarine@telus.net web: cormorantwatertaxi.com

604-947-2243

Since 1978

Places of Worship Welcome You BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH

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

Donate to the Food Bank Please consider monetary donations at this time. You can e-transfer to: Sheila at msmccall@telus.net. The food bank is asking that people not go in person if they’re showing any signs of illness or if they’re in self isolation, either from contact from a sick person or back from travelling. They should instead arrange for a friend or family member to go for them.

Bowen Island Virtual Coffee Shop The Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation holds a Zoom café from 10 a.m. to 11a.m. and 3 p.m.to 4 p.m. https://bit.ly/BowenAfternoonCoffee Bowen Island Restaurant takeout menus Under “Recent Files” on the Flatten the Curve – Bowen Island Help and Local Info Facebook page find the Menu PDF posted on the right side of the group’s page.

Grow Your Own? For local tips for backyard fruit and vegetable growers, email Linda Gilkeson’s to request her free newsletter gilkeson@shaw.ca Read BIFS Reports For electronic versions contact Bowen Island FoodResilience Society at: hellofbifs@gmail.com.

Toward a Resilient Food System for Bowen Island: Groundwork Executive Summary (Oct. 2019, 4 pages) Communication & Engagement Groundwork Report (Aug. 2019, 56 pages) Toward a Resilient Food System for Bowen Island: Agrarian Analysis (Aug. 2019, 99 pages) Stay Home and Watch “The Biggest Little Farm” on Netflix.

Here’s how to find the trailer: youtube. com/watch?v=UfDTM4JxHl8

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.

▼

BOWEN ISLAND 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

Reverend Lorraine Ashdown Service and Sunday School 10:30 am Collins Hall Bookings: Helen Wallwork Minister of Music: Lynn Williams

BI Food Resources While Distancing

Schedule in Effect: October 15, 2019 to March 31, 2020

Leave Snug Cove

Stay tuned for more...

We know that a changing climate will make any difficult situation, such as a pandemic, worse. An extended drought encourages pests, unpredictable weather patterns can adversely impact pollination and fruiting, and fire and subsequent flooding can degrade the soil that crops depend upon. These are some of the challenges to our food supply that BIFS is concerned about.

The mission of Bowen Island FoodResilience Society (BIFS) is to “help build the skills, knowledge, networks and structures needed to create a healthy, resilient, community-based food system on the island.”

So far, BIFS has held several workshops about regenerative agriculture, composting and soil health; written 19 Undercurrent articles; staffed information tables at Bowfest and last year’s Farmers Markets; produced seven large format information posters; and published two studies that can be accessed via the Municipality’s website.

In our Groundwork Report, published in fall 2019, we reported on the initiatives we found that members of the Bowen community see as needed, including water catchment programs, on-island composting, and easing regulations to enhance food production on the island.

Currently, BIFS is working on a website where these reports and other resources can be easily accessed. We have partnered with Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s (KPU) agricultural program and are pursuing grant opportunities to expand food growing information and farming opportunities on Bowen.

Whether you are interested in seed saving, beekeeping, growing your own food, canning and preserving, shared greenhouse and garden spaces, supporting on-island farmers, or some other way of building a more resilient, local food system, we hope you will engage with BIFS in the coming months as we tackle the very real challenge of preparing our island for interruptions to our food supply.

Let’s plan to help ourselves and our neighbours not just now, but in the future.

If you have questions or responses to this article, please write us at: hellobifs@ gmail.com or visit our Facebook page.

* 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.

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Essential services brief update (see more online)

This is a very brief, and possibly already out of date list of how some of Bowen’s essential businesses are coping with the pandemic. For up-to-date and more complete running coverage, please visit the Undercurrent home page.

Snug Cove General Store: General Store will only be taking credit or debit and will open at 12 p.m. on Tuesdays until further notice. No longer selling scratch and win.

Manager Nancy Lee wrote on Facebook March 24, “We did not receive any toilet paper, flour, yeast, frozen vegetables (only peas). Please limit one per household on limited items. We are currently looking for other suppliers. Please keep checking.”

Ruddy Potato: Store is open but the café is closed. “Meanwhile, we will be re-focusing our resources on getting a call or email ordering/pickup/delivery system going, so we can keep healthy food flowing to the island community. Frank [Patt] is heading up this initiative- he can be reached

at frank@ruddypotato.com. Or contact ellen@ruddypotato.com with ideas or suggestions,” the Ruddy Facebook page said.

Cates Pharmacy: Closed for regular shopping. Will allow patients/customers into the store one at a time at the entrance for pick-up and drop-off only. If you need a prescription filled, or any other pharmacy supplies, send in requests via phone, email ro fax. Refills can be requested through website. CAn place prescription/order in dropbox outside pharmacy door. Place request in a sealed envelope with payment info inside. To quicken pick-up, pharmacy asks that payment for requests emailed or faxed be phoned in prior to pickup. Delivery for those in isolation can be arranged through Artisan Express. Available by phone 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday. 604-9470766; cates@medicinecentre.com; www. medicinecentre.com; fax: 604-947-0736.

Bowen Fuels: “The station has been

busy. I’ve been told the supply from the refinery will continue as normal. We are asking that customers practice social distancing stay six feet apart and only one customer at a time in the shack to do the transaction. Also let the attendant pump the fuel be patient and treat them with respect. We also ask customers to pay by debit or credit if possible,” say Ian and Christine Radley of Bowen Fuels.

Bowen Freight: “Bowen Freight is doing everything we can to prevent bringing the Covid-19 virus back to the island,” says Allan Mills. “At this time we’re accepting requests for vital cargo,…reasonably vital cargo enabling islanders to continue in maintenance mode,…or assist in becoming more self-sustainable.

“We will not be accepting cargo for renovations/upgrades or furniture and ask that you not order such things at this time.

Because of social distancing we will only be offering curb-side drops.”

Crafters can help midwives by making masks BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor

A fourth-year UBC student midwife is asking for Bowen Island crafters’ help.

“Currently the midwives of B.C. are desperately short of personal protective equipment; including face masks, hand sanitizer and antimicrobial wipes,” wrote Erika Mitchell on Facebook.

“Midwives are primary health care providers that care for pregnant people and newborn babies. We visit people at home before they have their babies and up to six weeks after delivery. We attend home births and hospital births. As COVID-19 has sent people into self-isolation the midwives still need to see their patients, attend them in labour and visit them in their homes,” said Mitchell.

“Currently, they are running out the equipment to perform these tasks safely.”

Mitchell is asking for help making fabric

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIKA MITCHELL

Erika Mitchell and her son Andrew sporting prototype masks that Mitchell is hoping island crafters will recreate to help midwives.

masks for midwives who have to provide their own protective equipment.

“I have a large fabric stash that I can offer to people who want to make the masks to be donated to the North Shore Midwives. If we are able to get a surplus

we will also offer them to the North Shore Maternity Care Clinic and North Shore OB’s,” she said.

Mitchell provides a link to a recommended pattern, though notes there are more patterns available online. See: instructables.com/id/AB-Mask-for-aNurse-by-a-Nurse/ “This is for a two layer fabric mask, if possible we are trying to make a two-layer mask with a pocket in between for disposable filters to increase safety,” said Mitchell. “Having said that, the two layer masks are better than the nothing we currently have.”

“Anyone who would like to make masks and needs fabric can text or call me at 604836-7970,” she said.

“These items are so desperately needed and will provide a lot of physical protection for these care providers as well as providing them a sense of the community support behind them.”

COVID pandemic hasn’t cancelled reading BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor

While both the Bowen library and Phoenix are closed until further notice, options for islanders itching for a book are available, or will be soon.

The library is in the process of setting up a system whereby islanders with library cards can place a book, DVD, even possibly an item from the medshed, on hold and either pick it up or have it delivered if said islander is in self-isolation (thanks to Artisan Office). There would be pick-up days a couple of times a week (probably Wed. and Sat.) where islanders could come to the library annex door and get a bag or box with the items they’d put on hold and staff member had checked out.

Chief librarian Tina Nielsen said this will hopefully be available in the next week but people can start putting items on hold now.

If islanders don’t know their library card number or password,

they can email info@bowenlibrary.ca. Islanders who don’t currently have a library card can also email this address and staff can help them out said Nielsen.

The library is also not accepting books back at this point so return dates have been extended until at least April 30.

While the doors to Phoenix on Bowen are closed, the shop is still serving islanders.

They’re offering virtual tours of the store so islanders can see what they want to purchase and then Phoenix will deliver on-island at no extra cost.

Books, boardgames, toys, owner Jared Brown says that they’re not limited to what’s in stock as he can place more orders from the suppliers.

To that end, Brown is organizing a bulk book order for this week. The books are 15 per cent off and the deadline to order is Thursday, March 26 at 4 p.m. Orders can be sent via Facebook, email phoenixcompanybc@gmail.com or call (604) 947 2793.

THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2020 • 9

Therapist advises routine, walks for mental health JEREMY SHEPHERD

North Shore News

You can’t run from your problems but, sometimes, it helps to walk.

As people around the world self-isolate in an attempt to thwart the spread of COVID-19, North Vancouver therapist Adrian Juric recommends putting one foot in front of the other to help maintain your mental health during the public health crisis.

Many are struggling to: “download and comprehend information of the kind that nothing has ever prepared them for,” he says. “Myself included.”

Keeping up with the constant coronavirus updates can impact mental health. “People are trying to drink from an information firehose,” Juric says. “Your whole day can fill up with media alerts coming up on your phone.”

That can lead to ruminating, catastrophizing and “a sense of powerlessness,” according to Juric. The solution is simple.“Take a media break,” he recommends.

In order to find the line between helpfully informed and oversaturated with information, Juric advises scheduling a time each day to catch up with the news.

That media routine should also be balanced with “necessary and welcome distractions,” Juric says. That could mean a phone call with a friend, puttering in the garden, reading a good book, or taking a stroll.

A practitioner of walk-and-talk therapy, Juric is devoted to the mental health properties of getting there by foot.

“You don’t need research to tell you that it feels good to take a walk sometimes,” he says.

But for those who do need research, a 2015 study by Stanford researchers found that walking in nature – compared to walking in an urban environment – resulted in less blood flow to the subgenual prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain associated with morbid rumination.

Once in nature, that part of the brain has a tendency to quiet down as nature “quells that tendency to ruminate,” Juric explains. That’s why, if possible, Juric advocates heading to one of the North Shore’s trails to walk. Of course, that’s become more challenging recently.

Juric has closed his West Esplanade office and is currently seeing patients online rather than on the trails to allow for social distancing during the pandemic.

For those hours, days or even weeks of self-isolating, Juric advises frequent exposure to natural light, plenty of soothing music and frequent Facetime or Skype conversations that have little or nothing to do with the pandemic.

And for parents cooped up with their children, maintaining a routine is vital, according to Juric. “What I know from working with kids is that they thrive on structure and routine,” he says.

Having spent 23 years teaching and working as a school counsellor overseas and in Squamish, Juric is an advocate of giving kids something predictable that they can see. The routine could include exercise, online classes and generally just encouraging kids to be curious. Selfisolation presents an opportunity “to really get to know your kids,” he says.

While online resources can be helpful, Juric is adamant that parents exercise control of their children’s time spent on social media. Oftentimes, kids don’t have a filter for seeing what’s real and what’s false on social media.

As long as the pandemic lasts, Juric recommends parents project calm and confidence. “As with all parenting, even when you don’t know what you’re doing . . . act as if you do.”

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‘Sternstunde’ HC BEHM

Contributor

Some of you readers, when you were in your teens in the late ‘50s of the last century, may remember a sensational book by the Austrian novelist Stefan Zweig, “ Sternstunden der Menschheit”, Star Hours of Humankind, or Decisive Moments of History.

Of those fourteen moments I will remind myself of Haendel’s epiphany writing the “Messiah” in three weeks after a near fatal illness and half a century later the French

engineer/ captain Rouget de Lisle in the flash of a night writing what became known as the “Marsellaise”, now the French National Anthem. These individuals were the conveyors of lighting moments which influenced massive shifts in human focus and behaviour.

With Alma Deutscher this moment has happened for me when I heard her perform her own piano concerto with the Vancouver Symphony at the Orpheum on Saturday, February 29, 2020.

Alma, as many of you may be aware, began playing piano at 2, violin at 3 and composing at 4. She has written a violin concerto with orchestra at 9, at 10 she wrote her first full length opera “Cinderella” and at 12 she pre-

THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2020 • 11

miered her first piano concerto.

Her compositions lean toward the music by Schubert, Chopin and Mendelssohn.

“Surrounded by cacophony I want to create a beautiful sound world”, paraphrasing her words. After her VSO performance I had a chance to meet her and her father, Guy Deutscher. I was touched by her radiance and modesty and the eloquence of her replies to me. She is 15 now, lives in Vienna, when she does not tour the World and speaks at least three languages, including Hebrew.

Alma does not want to be compared to Mozart, who died nearly 230 years ago,, but her musical genius certainly parallels his.

In my nearly eighty years I never met a gifted

PHOTO COURTESY OF HC BEHM

person like Alma and I most likely never will.

Those few minutes have become a “star hour” for me.

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Dear Residents, At Bowen Waste Solutions Inc. (BWS) we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and are taking the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of our staff, residents and community. Recently, in consultation with Bowen Island Municipality and guided by the BC Centre for Disease Control and the Public Health Agency of Canada, BIRD was closed to the public in order to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Additional protocols are now called for and BWS would like to publish these guidelines for the public.

BWS crews are working diligently to continue with the essential service of garbage and food/green waste collection, while experiencing an increase in volumes of curb side containers, likely due to people staying home.

BWS staff are currently working under social distancing protocols, resulting in reduced employees per vehicle, where applicable.

Please help protect the health and safety of our collection crews by following these guidelines during these exceptional times.

As of Thursday, March 26, 2020:

GARBAGE:

The collection schedule will continue as posted with the following precautions: • All garbage must be bagged and placed in a curb side receptacle. Loose garbage will not be collected.

• No loose waste, tissues, and toilet paper soiled with human fluids or disinfectants/cleaner.

All disposable wipes are garbage, NOT recycling or organic waste.

• Please adhere to curb side limits – 1-can per household, 2 cans with 2nd can decal.

• Container should weigh no more than 40lbs.

Extra single-use garbage decals are currently unavailable due to BIM and BIRD closures.

FOOD/GREENWASTE: BWS is experiencing exceptionally high volumes of curb side yard waste, likely due to people staying home and doing yard work. We are working with reduced staffing due to social distancing requirements.

The collection schedule will continue as posted with the following restrictions: • A household limit of 3 curb-side items that may include food waste, bags, cans, or bundles.

RECYCLING: The closure of BIRD will continue until further notice. During this time residents are asked to wash their recycling really well and store it on their property. BWS is currently working together with BIM to implement a temporary solution for recycling service that will address all health and safety requirement of these unusual times. Please don’t put recycling in your garbage. They are a banned item and BWS will be subject to fines if this is not observed.

BWS and staff thank you, in advance, for your cooperation during these challenging times.

For further info or inquires, please contact Bowen Waste Solutions at 604-947-2255 or bowenwasteservice@gmail.com

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