Bowen Island Undercurrent September 17 2020

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BACK AT BICS: How staff and students are adjusting with COVID

Thursday, September 17, 2020 • A1

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VOL. 46 NO. 37

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They thought the wedding ring was lost forever PAGE 5

It’s a 64% ‘yes’ ISLANDERS REACT TO LAST WEEKEND’S COMMUNITY CENTRE REFERENDUM RESULTS––RESULTS SOME HAVE WAITED DECADES FOR

MARTHA PERKINS

Local Journalism Initiative / North Shore News

JEAN BRADBURY PHOTO

THROUGH THE SMOKE: Foghorns sounded all weekend in Howe Sound as smoke from fires along the

West Coast of the U.S. blew north. Vancouver was the city with the second-worst air quality in the world Sept. 13 when Jean Bradbury snapped this image around noon in Snug Cove. While weather shifts meant improved air quality this week, as of Wednesday Metro Vancouver was still under an air quality advisory.

SHANA RICHMOND SHANA@SHANARICHMOND.COM

604.338.3072

Paul Hooson has known hope and despair in the debate over whether Bowen Island should — or even could — build a performing arts space.

On Saturday night, his hope was rewarded. Island residents voted 64 per cent in favour of borrowing $4-million for the community’s share of a new community centre.

“I could barely contain myself,” he says of his reaction to the positive referendum vote. “I was one of the people who founded the arts council 33 years ago in great measure to get a space for the performing arts. This has been a long journey and we finally took it over the finish line.

It’s pretty exciting and certainly the performing arts community is just over the moon about it.”

“Relieved would be the key word,” says Shari Ulrich, who has been advocating for a performing arts space for 27 years. A professional musician, she has striven to bring high-calibre arts to Bowen Island, all while recognizing the shortfalls of existing spaces.

Ulrich was deeply and emotionally invested in the result. “I have such a powerful faith that this will be a very healthy, positive thing for the community that, if it had been blocked, I actually felt I’d have to leave — which I don’t want to do. I didn’t want to live in a community where people didn’t want a community centre.”

“It’s really quite historic,” Bowen Island mayor Gary Ander, whose 2018 election platform included support for the community centre, said on Sunday. “There were so many bits and pieces hanging on that it really hasn’t settled yet…. I’m just so happy and elated that the community has come behind this.”

I'm sold on Bowen!

CONTINUED ON P. 8

A2 • Thursday, September 17, 2020

Events September 21, 2020 11:00 am Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting

September 28, 2020 9:30 am Community Economic Development Committee Meeting

September 28, 2020 6:15 pm Regular Council Meeting All meetings are online via Zoom and

open to the public, unless noted otherwise.

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Attention Bowen Island Contractors and Builders

Community Centre Referendum Official Results

The Neighbourhood Emergency Response Program (NERP)—a collaborative volunteer, grassroots organization working to ensure neighbourhood emergency preparedness and response—has received a $15,000 grant from the Bowen Island Community Foundation to build a number of emergency information kiosks at strategic locations across the island. Volunteers are needed to help build these kiosks.

We are asking Bowen builders and contractors to cover the cost of a day or half-day of wages in order that one or two of their employees might be able to volunteer their time to help.

Adoption of the bylaw authorizes BIM to borrow up to $4.04 million, repayable over a period of 30 years, to build the Bowen Island Community Centre. This completes the funding formula for the $14.5 million budget, supplementing the $7.9 million Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Grant, $1.3 million in community fundraising, and $1.2 million in Municipal reserves.

If you can help, or want further information please contact: Judi Gedye jgedye@telus.net or Edward Wachtman edward@bimbc.ca

A total of 1500 ballots were cast. 965 voted “Yes” and 534 voted “No”. 64% were in favour.

Translink Development Cost Charges Translink Development Cost Charges (DCCs)are increasing as of January 1, 2021.

Help slow the spread of COVID-19:

Bowen Island Municipality’s Deputy Chief Election Officer, Hope Dallas, has declared the results of the referendum, with 64% of ballot votes cast in favour of Bowen Island Municipal Council adopting Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 477, 2019.

Development cost charges (DCCs) are applied to new developments in Metro Vancouver to help fund the construction or expansion of regional transportation projects by TransLink.

216 ballots were cast by mail 258 ballots were cast on the advanced voting day 1026 ballots were cast on the general voting day The voter turnout was 46% of 3270 registered electors, which included resident and non-resident property electors.

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/referendum-2020

This new “Regional Transportation DCC” was introduced in 2018 to assist in paying for eligible projects of the Phase One and Phase Two Investment Plan. www.translink.ca/About-Us/Taxes/Development-Cost-Charges.aspx

Stay home if you’re sick

2020 FireSmart Program Get involved in the FireSmart program and you could be eligible for rebates of up to $500 per property.

2 m or 6 feet

Keep a safe physical distance

About the rebates: You must have a home assessment done by one of our qualified local FireSmart representatives. We’ll reimburse you 50% of the costs for work completed on your property as recommended in your FireSmart assessment, up to $500 per property.

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/fire-smart Wear a mask in spaces where you can’t safely distance

604-947-4255 604-947-0193 bim@bimbc.ca

Step 3 is the third step in the system, and involves modeling and testing the building’s energy use to demonstrate that the design and construction go beyond BC Building Code. To comply with Step 3, builders will need to create and adhere to a whole-building energy model, then test the building enclosure on the ground for air tightness. The building’s performance will need to exceed the Building Code by 20% (or no more than 45 kWh/m2 annual energy use).

bowenislandmunicipality.ca/step-code

Contact Us Phone: Fax: Email:

BIM increasing level of BC Energy Step Code to Step 3

Find us on Facebook Bowen Island Municipal Hall 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday Closed statutory holidays September 17, 2020

Bowen Island Municipality

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Clean your hands frequently

Step 1: Schedule a free home assessment by emailing firesmart@bimbc.ca or by calling the fire department at (604) 947-9324.

Step 2: Complete the activities recommended in the assessment (for example: landscaping, removal of combustible debris, pruning trees, etc.)

Step 3: Apply for your rebate.

Subscribe to our mailing list bowenislandmunicipality.ca/subscribe

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Thursday, September 17, 2020 • A3

ISLAND NEWS

What comes after the referendum? ASK A PHARMACIST THE NEXT STEPS ARE UNDERWAY IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE SAGA AFTER ISLANDERS VOTED TO PROCEED WITH BORROWING UP TO $4 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT MARTHA PERKINS

Local Journalism Inititative

On Saturday night, Liam Edwards was processing the positive result of the referendum that determined whether the proposed community centre would go ahead.

On Monday morning, he was meeting with the centre’s project management team on what it will take to get a shovel in the ground.

“I know council and a lot of people here were very excited [by the vote],” the municipality’s CAO said Monday afternoon. “I was like ‘All right. Excellent. Now we get to move forward with the project.’ I scheduled a meeting for first thing this morning with the consultants and the team and we dove right into the detail work that needs to be done.

“We were, ‘Let’s go; let’s get this thing happening.’”

The first post-referendum meeting was fruitful.

Edwards notes that the architectural design was done in 2018. Since then, building code requirements for accessibility have changed, including wider doors. “It’s going to make the building even more accessible for people with accessibility needs, which is a good thing.”

As well, the $7.96-million federal-provincial government grant outlines some very clear requirements about things such as energy performance requirements. The municipality will have to get the mechanical, electrical and structural teams back together “to make sure that we’ve got the design lined up with all of those other elements,” says Edwards, who before joining the municipality in May, worked for

the provincial government where he oversaw local governments’ finances, worked with communities on their infrastructure needs and was deputy inspector of municipalities.

“To do the tender right, and to do it well,” he says, “will take at least two months, which would put us into the end of November.”

December is not a good time to put out the tender so he expects it will be done early next year. “We give the market between four and six weeks to review the project and to build their packages and their bids.

It’s therefore our hope that we’re securing our preferred bidder in the spring, that would line us up for construction to begin late spring/ early summer,” Edwards says.

There won’t be public consultation on the bidding process steps.

“We got a clear majority vote to move ahead with the project as it’s currently envisioned. That is with the architectural design as it currently stands so that’s what we’re moving forward with,” the CAO says.

“We don’t anticipate from the market anything that’s going to look any different than what we’ve already been sharing with the public.”

There is one big caveat when working on a project this size, especially for someone with Edwards’ “what-if?” approach. If the market comes back and more money would be required to get everything in the plan, “the first step would be to finetune the project and sharpen our pencils,” he says. “Our next option is to negotiate with our preferred bidder to try to get us to the place we need to be. There are quite a number of ways for us to do that without having to do a full-scale redesign.”

It’s taken a long time to get to the beginning of what will be a relatively short process leading to construction. “I would just like to acknowledge the community for coming out and voting,” Edwards says. “We recognize that not everybody voted in favour of it. While it was a clear majority, that to me is just a great example of democracy at work. We’re going to try our best to make sure we deliver an outcome or a facility that meets as many of the needs of the community as possible.”

Martha Perkins is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT ISLAND PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES?

SIMIN MIRPOURZADEH

Cates Pharmacy

Q: What injections can a pharmacist do at the pharmacy?

Our pharmacists are trained to do injections including travel vaccinations, pneumonia, shingles, tetanus, Gardisil, flu and more. Other injectable medications must be done at your doctor’s office, such as Prolia. All vaccines that are done at a pharmacy do not need a doctor’s prescription. The pharmacist will ensure each patient qualifies for an injection before it is administered. Please feel free to contact us for more information on this topic.

Have you got any burning questions you’d like to ask a pharmacist? Once a month we’ll catch up with Cates Pharmacy to answer your most common queries. Email questions to cates@medicinecentre.com before the last Friday of every month.

CHRIS SHERWOOD PHOTO

CUTE COUPLE: Chris Sherwood snapped this pair of wolf eels that live on the west side of Bowen

Island. Wolf eels tend to mate for life and share a cave. Males (on the left) can be up to eight feet long said Sherwood. These animals aren’t true eels but the largest member of the blenny fish family.

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A4 • Thursday, September 17, 2020

bowenislandundercurrent.com

VIEWPOINT EDITORIAL

A weird week

There are the weeks when nothing happens and then there are the weeks where everything changes.

I’m laying out this paper in the autumnal glory of the Yukon. I was called up last Friday due to a family death and Martha Perkins––a former editor of this paper and current Local Journalism Initiative journalist at the North Shore News––has kindly stepped in to cover a busy week of news on Bowen.

After decades of buildup, the community has spoken.

Forty-six per cent of eligible electors voted in this referendum (the fire hall referendum of 2017 had a 32 per cent turnout) and 64 per cent of those agreed to allow BIM to borrow up to $4 million to complete the community centre (should bids come in on budget).

This doesn’t mean it’s time to unsubscribe from municipal newsletters and stop reading the paper–– civic engagement is always important. Write letters, join committees, petition for what you want, what your community needs. Every two weeks, seven relatively poorly paid but dedicated islanders take on the task of guiding the municipality through whatever hurdles come our way (and in this council term there have been hurdles).

Talk to them.

It’s also been brought to my attention that I overlooked the golf course as an alternative community centre in my editorial last week. Apologies to the golfers out there! My omission nonetheless reinforces my point: on an island with arguably 27 neighbourhoods and dozens of clubs, committees, and other organizations, we have many, many places where community congregates. I’m sure I’ve missed many. The hard-won golf course is another example of community perseverance, of a community dream realized.

On a more personal note, it’s weird to be away from Bowen during such a moment as this week has been–– the referendum, the smoke, COVID and all. I’m so grateful that Martha’s presence has allowed me to spend time with my brothers as we mourn our very dear godparents (unrelated to COVID). Everyone you love affects who you become but there are people who nudge you in one direction or another. It was as I poured over a decade of Whitehorse Stars for one of our godparents’ academic articles that I began to understand how newspapers–– what they chose to cover or not, how they portray issues, what the ads are––are invaluable snapshots of a cultural moment. To this day, there’s a part of me that thinks about what someone 50 years from now might be curious about as I lay out the paper.

The veil of COVID has also meant that every moment with family in the north is sweeter and sadder. Who knows when we’ll be together again. It’s a collision of coincidences that allowed this week to happen for us but I’m so grateful it has. Family––the family we’re born with and the family we choose––is how we’re going to get through this stinking pandemic.

Bronwyn Beairsto, editor

LETTER

CORRECTION

COVID-19 and ferry travel

It seems I invented a gym on Bowen last week. As a child in Whitehorse, my soccer coach ran a gym, Peak Fitness. I superimposed that gym in last week’s story ‘The pandemic’s not over: supporting Bowen Islanders’ about the business revitalization platform Island Comeback.

Mary Letson’s gym is Positively Fit, not Peak Fitness. I’m sorry Mary and anyone who was confused by my mistake.

Bronwyn Beairsto, editor

BOWEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: Please physically distance at the ferry dock, while boarding, and follow signs and written instructions on the ferry.

Please do not sit on seats that are taped off. And please keep your face masks on while on the ferry. Thank you!

Anton van Walraven

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Please limit to under 500 words.

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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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.

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, September 17, 2020 • A5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Engagement needed in community centre’s next steps ‘MUNICIPALITY AND COUNCIL HAVE NOT DONE THE JOB OF CONSULTING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT WE ACTUALLY WANT FROMT THIS PROJECT’: STEVE RIO DEAR EDITOR: As anyone who read my letter two weeks ago knows, I voted ‘no’ in last week’s referendum. Not because I don’t want a community centre. I do. Nor because I’m not willing to raising taxes for the right capital projects on this island. I am. I voted no because the municipality and council have not done the job of consulting the community about what we actually want fromt this project. Since making the plans public in 2017 at Bowfest it’s been all marketing and lobbying, all the way down to the biased way this referendum was worded and promoted.

I know there was consultation in previous decades. I recognize how long this conversation has been going on. However, I can’t find any examples of meaningful consultation in the past five or more years. Yet we know from census data that at least a third of the island is new in the past five years. How can we invest this amount of money without consulting and asking the current community what they would like to see built?

For those that will say the vote signalled a clear mandate for this project, that’s only partially true. The messaging for this referendum was confusing at best and manipulative in the worst light. It framed this as a vote about “the community centre,” which happens to be approximately 40 per cent municipal offices. It also made it sound like a ‘no’ vote meant losing the government grant. It put us in an impossible situation.

Vote no and get nothing. Vote yes and hope that someone asks what we want out of this project. I’ve never seen an official referendum worded and promoted in such a non-neutral way with so little supporting data.

There is no detailed public information. Despite repeated requests, I couldn’t get any breakdown of costs for the building to understand, for instance, how much we’re spending on the “state of the art” performance hall. Does everyone agree we should spend millions on lighting, sound, and seating for a theatre? Is this more important than amenities for kids? Who knows? No one asked.

I’ve spoken with dozens of people about this project. No one understands why we’re building what we’re building. Virtually no one even understood that the plans were locked in until I told them. How would they?

For the sake of the future generations who will be stuck with the bill and this building for the next 50 to 80 years, I call on the municipal council to do the right thing: press pause and engage in a sincere and meaningful way with the community about what amenities make the most sense to us. Without the hype, marketing, and lobbying. Not everyone can win but at least we can be fair.

While the referendum may have provided a mandate to borrow the money for this project, I don’t believe it provides the mandate to move forward with the current plans. Until we engage the community, how will we know what we want from our most precious community asset?

Steve Rio

PHOTO COURTESY OF AARON ANDERSEN

Lost in the ocean at the beginning of the summer, this ring made its way back to Aaron Andersen thanks to a kind act from a 10-year-old diver and her father.

How a lost ring made its way home

DEAR EDITOR: Last week a miracle occurred on the shores of Bowen Island – or at the very least, an example of goodness and community that is perfect for these hazy days.

The story starts at the beginning of summer. I was with my three daughters at Tunstall Bay (we live in Vancouver but have shared a family home here since the 1970s) and we were enjoying one of the first hot weekends at the beach I’ve been coming to since I was their age. They were frolicking in the ocean, and urging me to join them. So I put my book down, jumped up and with a shout ran into the ocean for my first dip of the summer. As soon as I came up I noticed I was missing something. My wedding ring had slipped off my finger during that first splash.

Honey, still with her book, was NOT impressed. For the rest of the afternoon we took turns diving under to search the ocean floor. The next day we returned at low tide and performed a detailed search of the now revealed rocky beach, to no avail. After 15 years of marriage, I was convinced I had lost my wedding ring. Despite the long odds, I put up a “lost my ring” notice at the Tunstall Bay Beach Club desk. I even put out a call on Twitter and Facebook asking for help from anyone with a metal detector. Days passed, and no responses, I figured it had washed away and was long gone.

Two months passed, and then one Saturday in late August, I received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as Dan and told me that he thinks his daughter found my ring.

I described my ring, and it matched the discovered treasure. He sent me a picture – sure enough it was my ring! On Labour Day weekend as the summer was drawing to a close, we went over to Dan’s house to meet the young deep sea diver and pick up my ring. Turns out Stephanie, who is 10 years old, is a big fan of under-water beachcombing and when she found the ring one afternoon, she shared it with her dad – and said we better found out who this belongs to. Dan got in touch with Toni, manager at TBCA, and she had remembered my story from weeks ago.

I was endlessly grateful and presented Stephanie with a thank-you gift. Thanks to the goodwill of the Bowen Island community, my ring was matched and returned to me.

It was a miracle that Stephanie found this small ring, buried amongst the rocks and after weeks of waves and tides. But I think the even greater part of this story is that Stephanie and her father were thoughtful enough to make the effort to return the ring. What kid wouldn’t want to keep a sea treasure like that?! It’s a true sign of integrity and goodness, and one that I know is shared by many on this wonderful island.

Aaron Andersen

Times they are a changing for the Knick Knack Nook’s donation protocol

TO OUR FRIENDS AND DONORS: Times are changing and we must change also. We are anticipating colder weather and the winter rain. Our present means for accepting your generous donations and keeping them dry while they age before we put them inside our store will not work when things get wet and cold.

After the end of this month, we will not be accepting donatinos to the KKN on our open days of Friday and Saturday.

We will be open, of course, on Sunday and Monday also and will welcome your donations on those two days only.

This will allow us to store items for a longer period of time and to reduce volunteer time out in the cold.

We realize that this may be a bit of an inconvenience for some of us and we all like to avoid change, but the times, they are a changing.

Thank you, David Wrinch Knick Knack Nook

Susan Alexander’s second book of poetry, Nothing You Can Carry, was released this week with a book launch hosted by Massy Books coming Sept. 21 online. Alexander won the 2019 Mitchell Prize for Faith and Poetry for the suite of poems Vigil. Alexander will read from the book and island-raised musician Le Ren will give a musical performance. Find more information at massybooks.com/event/online-book-launch-nothing-you-can-carry-by-susan-alexander.

A6 • Thursday, September 17, 2020

bowenislandundercurrent.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT SLATER

BICS’ welcoming procedures: students meeting their teachers at the beginning of a school year like none before it on Bowen Island.

Students, staff are happy to be back at BICS

IT’S THE SECOND WEEK OF SCHOOL AND COMFORT LEVELS AT THE ISLAND’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE INCREASING

MARTHA PERKINS

Local Journalism Initiative

Before school started last week, a certain level of anxiety was to be expected.

Will students be safe? Will staff be safe?

Will the pandemic protocols be enough to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus?

“It’s hard to think of taking a risk when you don’t have the benefit right in front of you. Now that the kids are in the building, we have that benefit,” says Scott Slater, the principal of Bowen Island Community School. “We have happy students and we have learning happening.

“There’s a really good feeling in the school of gathering together as a community.

People are feeling connected to both their classroom and school community; we need connections when we’re going through something like this.”

Parents spent the summer deciding, given their individual circumstances, what was the best — and safest — learning environment for their child.

About 300 students are taking in-school classes, Slater says of the fall enrollment numbers. That’s a slight decrease.

Approximately 25 students, primarily in Grades 4 to 7, have opted to learn outside the school walls.

“There are definite trends of older students choosing distributed learning, as well as homeschooling, potentially because those children might be able to engage in those aspects of education more easily,” Slater said, noting parents have not necessarily shared their reasons.

With distributed learning, the family creates the learning plan, figures out the objectives and how they’re going to get there, he says. The family is attached to the school

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Island Pacific School

M I D D L E S C H O O L M AT T E R S

district and there is some organization from a remote teacher who’s providing guidance and some online instruction.

Another option is the school district’s temporary transition plan. “They participate in remote learning through our school district and we save a spot for them in our classrooms so that when they wish to return we have space for them.”

On Bowen Island, parents also have the option of enrolling their students in the Island Discovery Learning Community.

Its distributed learning program is publicly funded by Powell River Board of Education and offers a teacher-led, flexible and family-centred program for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12.

At BICS, the smaller enrollment has made it easier for students to reduce physical contact.

“Even though we have gone from 15 to 14 divisions, we actually have a lot of our classrooms with lots of room in them right now,” Slater says. “It’s not a bad thing to have just a little bit under what is required upper limit of students. For kindergarten, the maximum is 20 students per classroom, in primary it is 22 and for intermediate it’s 30. We’re under in all of those categories and sometimes quite significantly. So even though kids don’t have to physically distance in a classroom [as part of the West Vancouver School District’s health and safety elementary school protocols], there’s a little bit more space to just spread out a little bit.”

Slater says the comfort level is increasing every day.

“We’re in this for the long haul so all the protocols such as daily health checks, washing hands when they come in the building and leave a learning space and practising respiratory etiquette can get kind of mundane and tiresome. We just need to make sure that we’re being careful, not complacent. But the kids have been co-operative and totally understanding of why we’re doing what we’re doing, which is really important.”

One protocol that isn’t part of the pandemic response is what to do now that wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon has resulted in air quality health advisories.

“Metro Vancouver advisory is to avoid vigorous outdoor activity, which is what we’re doing,” Slater says. In a school day, the students have about 35 minutes of outside time,

which is on par for how much time they are outside getting to and from school.

It’s important to let students have some outdoor play time but activities are at a much slower pace. “We might have to clamp down if this lingers or gets worse, but for now the kids are playing outside,” he says.

In the meantime, he thanks the community for helping the school create a safe environment for students and staff.

“The beauty of the school system is that it’s a controlled environment. The people coming through our doors are the same people. They’re all getting the same information and encountering the same protocols. We also have parents’ support in making sure that, as best as we possibly can, students who are exhibiting any symptoms are not coming in.”

As a result of creating this controlled environment, the school site is currently closed to community from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m..

Only students and staff are allowed on site during those hours. But the playground, playing fields and access to recreation programming are all available outside school hours.

“Our playground is the community playground,” Slater says. “I want people to still see our school as a great asset to the community.”

As to predicting whether the school will have to be closed some time during the year if infection levels rise beyond a comfortable level, Slater says the decision isn’t up to BICS or the school district.

“It’s hard to know because it’s so contingent upon the public health measures in B.C.. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has made it clear that the most important things that keep people safe aren’t so much the administrative measures that we have in the school setting, but the public health measures in the province. So it really depends on the overall state of what it looks like in British Columbia. Hopefully the numbers trend the right way and that keeps everyone safe.

“We do our very best to make sure we’re doing everything right and as best we can, but we’re obviously within the setting of the province.”

Martha Perkins is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, September 17, 2020 • A7

How to join (and stay in) Bowen Island’s 1% club ROB WYNEN

Contributor

“Hey, you’re part of the one per cent club,” Carol says as I proudly show off my woodshed. She explains that the one per cent club is dedicated to Boweners who have their wood supply in before the start of fall. It is my first time in the one per cent club, I feel pretty proud.

I have been part of the 40 per cent club, those who manage to get their wood in prior to the rains and in the 59 per cent club––those hacking away in the middle of winter getting enough wood to keep the home somewhat close to a reasonable indoor temperature. The last group is not fun to be in. It usually involves rainy days in the woods with a chainsaw, drying wet wood in the living room and putting up with “I told you we were going to run out of wood” comments.

Our family has been exclusively heating with wood since moving to Bowen. It is our only source of heat. While I may complain about the yearly ritual of finding, cutting, chopping and stacking wood, there is a lot of enjoyment in squirreling away wood during the year. Heating with wood is not only a huge money saver, we barely have a hydro bill, it is also very rewarding being off the home heating grid, doing it on your own. That being said, using wood as fuel does come with a bit of pre planning. Here are some lessons I have learned over the years.

1) Start early, you will need to identify your source of wood. If you are lucky to own some property you may already have a steady wood supply. I have lots of dead standing trees and have been lucky to always have a steady supply.

If you are on a smaller piece of property you may need to get a bit creative on sourcing wood supplies. Keep an eye open for fallen trees, many islanders would be happy to get rid of them. Scraps on work sites is another great source as is getting in touch with some of the tree servicing companies on island that may be looking to discard cut down trees. Most people don’t heat with wood and getting rid of it is often a hassle, not for you of course.

2) Pace yourself, do a little every month, start early and split the tasks up into manageable chunks. This is especially important if you are a bit “aged.” Cutting and collecting wood is physical and you don’t want to wreck your body and suffer an injury doing it all at once.

3) Get a good chainsaw and treat it with care. This was

one of my early learning lessons. While chainsaws look very robust they can be remarkably finicky. I was pretty rough on my earlier saws using old fuel, old transmission oil for the bar oil and cutting dirty logs and hitting the ground with the blade. There is nothing worse than a dull chain, it is amazing how easy it is to dull a chainsaw blade. Even a slight nick on a rock can completely dull your chain. This is unlike a circular saw where you can pretty much cut right through nails, not so with a chainsaw.

4) Learn how to properly direct the fall of a tree. It is not fun to watch that dropping tree take out your newly erected deer fence. I speak from experience on this one.

5) Make sure to cut the rounds so they will fit in your stove.

Having to re-cut wood doubles your workload and is a real pain.

6) When splitting rounds (I’m still too stubborn to admit I may want to consider a splitter) remember, you are not cutting but splitting with an axe. Axes don’t cut. Start by going down the middle of the round, once it is split in half the rest is easy. Avoid the knots and remember a knot never goes through the centre of a round so take your time and aim for the middle. You will run into that round that just won’t split and while it may be difficult at times to give up on it while you may eventually win the battle you may be better giving up on it at some point. You can always slice the round in half with the chainsaw.

These are just some of my learnings and I’m sure lots of island woodchoppers have other tidbits of advice.

If you are just starting now for the winter season, get going and avoid the dreaded 59 per cent club.

Roger william arndt,

May 25th, 1949 - august 3rd, 2020, Deep Bay resident of 28 years, passed away at North Vancouver Hospice very quickly, from an aggressive form of kidney cancer, at 71 years old. He leaves behind his beloved long term partner Susan Hillman, and his children Kendra (Kevin), Aleysha (Scott), Wyatt and Victor, and grand daughters Kira, Aurora and Soleil.

He was one of 40,000 Canadians who fought in the Vietnam war. He enlisted in the US Army January 1968 at Fort Lewis Wa. and served as a Medic with the 557th Medical Ambulance Co. in Hanau, Germany. His tour of duty in Vietnam was March 1969-70, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion, 128th Assault Helicopter Co. at Phu Loi. Back in the USA he was assigned to the 3rd Armoured Cavalry, again flying DUST OFF, with Project Mast (Air Ambulance) until honourably discharged in December 1970. Not exactly welcomed back home in 1970, he tried various low level medical jobs until establishing himself as a registered Firearms Instructor with Brinks Canada and eventually becoming a Western Area Manager for Brinks, for many years.

This next November 11th at Bowen’s Remembrance Day ceremony Roger will be sadly missed, carrying the flag, as he has done faithfully for over 25 years.

Roger played music seriously all his life. In the youth orchestra (violin), pick-up bands in the US Army (guitar), and Bluegrass music, teaching (guitar and banjo) at Rufus Guitar Shop in Kitsilano, during the 90’s. He will be remembered as Bowen’s only Mariachi, often seen in full costume on the Bowen ferry going to perform with Vancouver’s popular ‘Mariachi Los Dorados’, and in Alt. Country style (guitar & Banjo) with his own Country bands ‘The Texicanos’ and ‘BorderTwang’ (CD - The Texicanos ‘Southern Exposure’) R.I.P. Roger.

ROB WYNEN PHOTO

Rob Wynen’s wood stacked before the start of fall.

A8 • Thursday, September 17, 2020

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Proponents and critics react to referendum CONTINUED FROM P. 1

PHOTO COURTESY OF BIHCF

Steve Mitchell and Jennifer McGowan show off the latest progress in fundraising for Bowen’s health centre. “We are so close––88 per cent of the way there––but we need everyone’s help give us that final push to the top.”

on Bowen Island

If he was to judge by his circle of acquaintances, Ander would have predicted a vote 60 to 70 per cent in favour — which is vastly different from other votes that have, almost literally, divided the island in half. However, he was still worried about the outcome.

So were Ulrich and Hooson.

“Negative voices tend to pick up a lot more space than positive ones,” Ulrich says. “There were a few very vocal people on Facebook and that had me worried. I was so surprised that something so positive for the community could be reacted to so negatively. It made me have doubts.”

“I think we were all worried last week,” Hooson says, “because there was a lot of criticism leveled at it [on social media platforms]…. I was definitely surprised [by the 64 per cent] but not overwhelmingly so because I believe that by including the three major stakeholders — recreation, culture and the municipality — we had three demographics pulling strongly for the same goal. I thought ‘We’ve been so close in the past, I think this one’s going to put us over the top.’

I figured it was going to be Bowen Island’s 49/51 per cent split again.”

One of the people who spoke out against the community centre as proposed was Steve Rio. “I’m pro community centre and increasing taxes for the right centre,” he says.

However, he felt that there wasn’t enough information about budget specifics and that people were being told to vote “yes” in large part because the federal grant was too much of a golden opportunity to pass up.

Although discussion about the performing arts centre has been ongoing for decades, Rio says that one-third of residents moved to Bowen Island within the past five years.

They needed more information and more consultation about they would like to see in such a major investment.

“All I was told was that the lion’s share [of the budget was for a] performance hall,” he says. “For the price of that building we can do a lot of things.

I just really want the community to have a chance to get what they need. This is a one-time shot; [given land restrictions] expanding it in the future won’t be easy. “ For someone who has been advocating for a performing arts space for three decades, Hooson has what

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can be described as explanation fatigue. “You get pretty tired of answering those questions over and over and over again for 25 years,” he says. “Every time a new council comes in, you›ve got to go in and answer the same questions. Every time newcomers come to the island, four years later you›re answering the same questions.”

He understands why there were community concerns about the design plan but also believes firmly that the design had to meet the needs of the performing arts community who have brought the project to this stage. “It’s not a perfect plan but there was a quote in the paper last week about perfection being the enemy of getting things done. And it’s true…. This required compromise and cooperation and that’s what that’s what got us through. That said, I think the design is pretty darn good.”

Ulrich also recognizes that, in some ways, the debate was between people who had been on the island for a long time not wanting to see the best-chance opportunity slip away versus people who were newer to the island and wanted more input.

To those who voted no, she urges patience. “Have faith in it being able to meet the community’s needs,” she says.

Jacqueline Massey is the former executive director of the Bowen Island Arts Council (now The Hearth.) She, too, has been working on the project for decades and sees its current iteration as being very beneficial to everyone on the island, including young families. When she was raising her three children, there were very few options of where to take them on wet, cold days and she would have loved the opportunities that the community centre will provide.

For those who think the community centre won’t fulfill their needs, all dreams need a foundation.

“We kept the vision and we kept our eye on the ball,” she says of how the community centre plan finally prevailed.

“We just kept working on working and working. So I really encourage people [who want things that the community centre won’t provide] to do that. They will succeed. That’s the secret — you’ve got to put the work in.”

Hooson is optimistic that once people see how the building can be adapted to suit various needs, the community will fully embrace it, just like they did the artificial turf field, which was highly controversial when first proposed.

“The first step is the biggest step and this is a huge step we just took,” Hooson says.

Martha Perkins is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

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.

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By the numbers from the BIM website: • Islanders cast 1,500 ballots, with 965 in favour and 534 against. That means 64 per cent of voters voted ‘yes.’

• Voter turnout was 46 per cent of the 3270 registered voters (resident and non-resident property owners).

The last BIM referendum––the fire hall referendum of 2017––had a voter turnout of 32 per cent.

• There were 216 ballots cast by mail, 258 cast on the advanced voting day and 1026 on general voting day.

• BIM is authorized to borrow up to $4.04 million repayable over 30 years.

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, September 17, 2020 • A9

Looper moths taking a bite out of North Shore forests BRENT RICHTER

North Shore News

Swaths of trees in the North Shore Mountains and Metro Vancouver watersheds are turning orange following an outbreak of a voracious insect.

The Western hemlock looper moth, a native species that defoliates trees, is common in B.C. but it especially likes to prey on the hemlock, Douglas fir, and red cedar found on the North Shore.

But there is no need to panic, at least not yet, said Babita Bains, provincial forest entomologist.

“There are a number of residents who have been alarmed by it,” she said. “Yes, it’s an outbreak, but it’s a native species doing its thing. This is normal. It’s part of forest succession and making sure that our ecosystems are revived naturally.”

Outbreaks occur every 11 to 15 years when environmental factors cause their populations to spike.

The larvae, or caterpillars, hatch in the spring and nibble on needles before their metamorphosis into moths.

“It’s been just over 15 years since we have had an outbreak. So we are due for this,” Bains said.

Not every tree that’s turning orange will die though, she added.

BABITA BAINS PHOTO

The western hemlock looper moth in its caterpillar phase.

Those least likely to survive the outbreak are older, “over-mature” trees and those that were already under stress. That is part of the natural turnover of the forest, giving younger trees access to light, allowing them to grow taller and stronger, while the nutrients from

the dead trees re-enter the soil.

Some stands of trees will fare better than others but, thankfully, 2020’s wet summer means the trees haven’t been experiencing water stress this year.

But a sudden spike in mortality for trees can raise concerns

d e k s a Get M

for humans – water quality, erosion, wildfire risk or blowdowns.

For now, governments in hard hit regions on the South Coast are simply monitoring.

Bains said the province is doing aerial surveys but we won’t likely know until next year what the level

of tree mortality will be.

If the moth appears to be getting out of hand in 2021, the province does have the option of using BTK – a bacteria-based spray that is toxic to caterpillars but not to other species, Bains said.

“If I were to eat BTK, or a bird or a spider or a fish were to, it actually has no impact. It only is activated in the caterpillar’s gut,” she said.

“It’s a very safe option.”

If there are individual dead or dying trees that are posing a threat, residents should let their municipalities know, Bains said.

The bugs are now reaching the end of the caterpillar phase and will soon begin emerging as moths, so people should brace for large numbers of them when they turn the porch lights on, Bains said.

Environmental factors like parasites, viruses, predators and weather all can bring their population back down again, and most likely will before long, Bains said.

The current outbreak began two years ago.

“After about three to four years, the numbers will just naturally drop and we’ll go back to an endemic normal level where we don’t notice the damage like we are now,” she said.

This story was originally published at nsnews.com on Aug. 25.

PHOTO CONTEST

Wearing a mask keeps you and those around you safe, and helps everyone feel part of a ‘community team’ of heroes battling Covid-19!

Take a selfie wearing your funny, unusual or self-made mask and send it to us!

Every week starting Aug. 27, we’ll pick a “Mask of the Week” winner and post their photo on our Facebook page.

Each winner will receive a great prize!

Email your photo to editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com (put “Get Masked” in the subject line) and be sure to include your name and phone number. Have fun and thanks for being a masked crusader in the fight against Covid-19!

CoNTEST RULES: one entry per person, all ages can enter. By entering the contest and submitting your photo, you agree to have your photo published on our Facebook page.

EMAIL YOUR PHOTO TO: editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Patient of the Week GINGIN aNd aUGGIE It’s not Father’s day but Gingin and her dad, auggie decided to spend a father-daughter moment together and went to Bowen Vet for their wellness exams and vaccinations. Many Bowen Islanders may have heard about the litter of Golden Retrievers born in June- auggie is the proud father to all of the adorable puppies!

NEW COVId HOURS OPEN: 9 - 5 pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday* OPEN: 9 - 1 pm every second Saturday (closed Sat. Sept 19) *Please note: Friday medical appointments will be available on alternate weeks. The clinic will be open for prescriptions and food pick up only on those Fridays.

To schedule appointments, please call

604.947.9247

or email reception@bowenvet.com

A10 • Thursday, September 17, 2020

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Your Community

MARKETPLACE bowenislandundercurrent.com

Call or email to place your ad, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

604-444-3000 • 604-630-3300 classifieds@van.net

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COASTLINE DEVELOPMENTS ARE HIRING! For the Bowen Island Seniors Housing Co-Op at 1070 Miller Road. The scope of work is exterior building envelope and energy upgrades.

Work Commencement is September 2020 We are seeking sub trade applications for the following contractors:

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To submit your expression of interest and portfolio, please send email to dkmcmillan@shaw.ca We are also seeking applications for the following positions:

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bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, September 17, 2020 • A11

COMMUNITY CALENDAR THURSDAY SEPT. 17

Alex Ritchie at the Pub Bowen Island Pub 5:30 - 8 p.m. Live music on the patio

Cove Bay Water System Community Information Meeting Zoom 3 pm

SATURDAY SEPT. 19

Special council meeting with MLA Jordan Sturdy Zoom 4:30 pm bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ events/listings/

FRIDAY SEPT. 18

Eagle Cliff Water System Community Information Meeting Zoom 9 am

Dialogue: Paintings & collage by Jennifer Love & Kim LaFave opening reception The Hearth Gallery 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

SUNDAY SEPT. 20

40th annual Terry Fox Run - virtual edition For more information contact Pam Matthews;

pmatthews@ go.islandpacific.org, 788989-0481

MONDAY SEPT. 21

Bowen Bay Water System Community Information Meeting Zoom 3 pm Nothing You Can Carry book launch Online 6 pm. Music from Le Ren and readings from Susan Alexander’s new collection of poems. Hosted

by Massey Books : https://

www.massybooks.com/ event/online-book-launchnothing-you-can-carry-bysusan-alexander/

THURSDAY SEPT. 24

Online Workshop for Educators & Caregivers: Helping Children Deal With the Stress & Anxiety of COVID-19 Zoom, 7 pm; Space limited & registration required. More info: bowenchildrenscentre. ca/seminars-2/

SUNDAY SEPT. 27

Insects underwater “Join naturalist Will Husby to discover the insect life living in the islands ponds.

Dress in clothes you don’t mind getting wet and bring your dip nets, some clear plastic jars and your rubber boots or water shoes. We will make a splash at catch and release of the many creatures that thrive in Bowen Island’s freshwater habitats. To register: contact Will Husby at whusby@shaw. ca For Bowen Nature Club

members: free; For nonmembers: $10 individual, $12 family”

MONDAY SEPT. 28

Regular Council Zoom & in person 6:15 pm

THURSDAY OCT. 1

Online Workshop for Parents: Helping Children Deal With the Stress & Anxiety of COVID-19 7 pm, Space limited & registration required. More info: bowenchildrenscentre. ca/seminars-2/

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A12 • Thursday, September 17, 2020

bowenislandundercurrent.com

2020: the summer that got postoned but not forgotten

THIS YEAR MARKS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF USSC’S INVOLVEMENT WITH BOWEN HELEN WALLWORK

B.I. Heritage Preservation Association

In 2020 we were going to celebrate the tradition of picnicking on Bowen Island and the hundredth anniversary of the Union Steamship Company’s (USSC) association with Bowen Island.

Unfortunately all our plans had to be postponed, but if you want to learn more: this year’s Bowen Island Phone Book gold pages had a wonderful write up regarding the 100th anniversary of the Union Steamship Company’s association with the island. USSC and their many vessels plied the coast of B.C. delivering mail, people and provisions.

They were the lifeblood of the tiny hamlets, outports, fishing villages and logging camps dotting the entire coastline from Vancouver to Alaska.

The USSC had a different relationship with Bowen Island due to the proximity of the ever-growing Vancouver. In 1920, USSC bought Captain Cates Company, which comprised of 1,000 acres on Bowen and two large steamships. Captain Cates had already established Bowen as a tourist day trip destination, and the Union took it to the next level. During the Union heyday Bowen would see large steamships carrying picnickers, day-trippers, booze cruisers in

the thousands visiting our shores every summer. This continued through the 1920s, ’30 and ’40s, right up till the early ’50s when with the advent of highways, plane travel and car ferries, the golden age of steamship travel came to an end when the ships aged out and were retired.

My family and I arrived on Bowen in the early ’50s when the USSC was winding down. We came before the Blackball ferry took over the route that the little passenger ferries called the Sannies traversed from Horseshoe Bay to Snug Cove 10 to 12 times a day.

My father’s first job on island was a Sannie captain. We witnessed the end of the Union, when the beautiful hotel was torn down, the putting greens and clay tennis courts, the large picnic grounds where so many visiting groups and companies from Vancouver spent idyllic summer gatherings were left to return to nature .

The Union did leave us with “the Old General Store” which is now the site of our wonderful public library but we had to fight to retain the building and to lift it and move it back from the road when it was widened...but that is another story.

The island was also able to retain and restore a few of the once over 200 little cottages that dotted the 1000-acre estate.

The remaining cottages (once

known as the pink cottages) sit- to Lenora Road) and to recog- we still hold hope that in the future uated in and amongst the Davies nize we have on our board Arthur we will be able to revive our plans Orchard are all that remain of Davies from the original Davies and traditions, or to adapt and the one of the largest resorts in family that planted the orchard. continue to recognize and celeWestern Canada. In an ongoing We have not been able to open brate and keep alive the memory effort to save the lovely little cot- the charming little museum and of long-gone days of Bowen and tages the Bowen Island Heritage exhibition cottage for tours due to ensure that the wonderful heritage and Preservation Society was space but there might be hope to of this island and all the stories formed over 25 years ago with hold a different type of Applefest that go with it are not forgotten. the indomitable Judi Gedye at the close to Thanksgiving if all goes Written by Helen Wallwork, on helm. In a race against weather well. Stay tuned for more details, behalf of the Bowen Island Heritage deterioration, politics, money and and please contact us if you are Preservation Association board time, the efforts to preserve, acti- interested in helping to harvest which includes Sarah Haxby, Vikki vate and celebrate our local heri- and process apples or to make pie- Michele Freckleton, Arthur Davies, tage carries on, with Metro parks sor are interested in joining in our Pernille Neilsen, Erin Naismith as a partner and the host of the conversations about what we can Deb Donnelly and Helen Wallwork. cottages in Crippen Park, nestled do in the future to keep our con- Please feel free to email shaxby@ in the Cove. nections to the past alive. hotmail.com and put APPLE or This year the Bowen Island Even with the changing times HERITAGE in the subject heading.

Heritage Preservation Association (BIHPA) board was looking forward to hosting an Old Time picnic, author weekends ,artist gatherings and a host of events to celebrate the Island as it once was but as we all know the world came to a standstill in March and we had to put all our plans on hold.

We were sorry to miss out on our Apple Blossom ceremony usually held in late spring to honour the heritage apple trees, many of which are 133 years old and include varieties that are even older, which are comprise The Davies PHOTOC COURTESY OF BOWEN ISLAND HERITAGE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION Orchard in the Cove (it Summer picnickers on Bowen Island in the Union Steamship Company era. used to stretch all the way

Schedule in Effect: September 8, 2020 to October 12, 2020

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 3:10 pm 4:15 pm< 5:20 pm 6:30 pm 7:45 pm> 8:50 pm 9:50 pm 10:50 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 2:35 pm 3:45 pm 4:50 pm 5:55 pm 7:10 pm 8:20 pm> 9:20 pm 10:20 pm

Leave Horseshoe Bay

▼

BOWEN ISLAND Snug Cove

Crossing Time: 20 minutes Distance: 3 nautical miles Note: This is a non-reservable route * exCepT SuN aND oCT 12

> exCepT SaT

< exCepT WeD are (DC) DaNgerouS Cargo SailiNgS. No oTher paSSeNgerS permiTTeD.

Places of Worship Welcome You BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH Now offering a youtube channel of reflections and hymn/songs with Reverend Lorraine Ashdown and Lynn Williams. youtubewatch?v=tejV7Y6jo

FOOD BANK DROP-OFF

ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Masses are live streamed every day.

Times posted at holyrosarycathedral.org

Administration Office: 604-682-6774

CATES HILL CHAPEL

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

now offering worship services via Zoom. a link available on website.

Pastor: Phil adkins