Bowen Island Undercurrent January 14 2021

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CHIMNEY FIRES ON THE RISE: Bowen saw several in 2020

Thursday, January 14, 2021 • A1

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Pot rezoning CHANGES COULD BE COMING TO CANNABIS RETAIL PROHIBITION AND OTHER MUNI MORSELS BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

The following are briefs from the first regular council meeting of 2021, held on Jan. 11.

FIR A GOOD CAUSE:

UNDERCURRENT PHOTO

The last vestiges of islanders’ Christmases at home passed through a wood chipper Tuesday morning. Bowen Island Tree Service was at Bowen Island Recycling Depot sending the shapely saplings islanders had left in the bin outside the compound through the chipper. B.I. Tree Service, owned by Robert Clayton, donated the time for the chipping. Bowen Waste Solutions will donate the amount they would have paid for the service (a few hundred dollars) plus some extra money to the Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation.

Above, George Woods and Tyler Robertson of Bowen IslandTree Service stand with the chipper as Bowen Waste Solutions’ Jan Seaman holds the last of the trees.

Reminiscent of 1921? Council is looking at removing the island-wide prohibition on cannabis retail.

It unanimously passed first reading of a rezoning that allows selling cannabis anywhere on Bowen where retail is a primary land use (parts of the Cove and surroundings, Village Square and part of Seymour Bay).

“Our goal with this bylaw would be to allow it where we allow retail use so not as a home occupation and not associated with a farm,” clarified manager of planning and development Daniel Martin.

The Land Use Bylaw amendment modifies the prohibition on the “cultivation, production, packaging, storage, distribution, dispensing, trading or selling of cannabis” BIM imposed in 2018 upon the legalization of cannabis in Canada. Currently, a business needs to rezone its property so that it is “expressly and specifically” permitted to sell non-medical marijuana.

However, the rezoning doesn’t mean BIM loses say in whether or not a pot shop can open. Cannabis stores require annually renewed provincial licences. The province won’t issue such a licence without a positive recommendation from the local government, indicated a BIM staff report.

The move comes as Happy Isle Cannabis Company applied for a rezoning for its Dorman Rd. shop (which currently has a temporary use permit) but upon referral to municipal committees, the suggestion was for a broader rezoning.

CONTINUED ON P. 9

Vaune Kolber, Realtor® ~ Bowen’s Bridge to the City tyy Thinki king i of moving off island? There is a lot to know. kn n Call me!

BetteronBowen.com 604-506-7534 kolber@dexterrealty ty.com y

A2 • Thursday, January 14, 2021

Events January 14, 2021 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Public Open Huse: Budget Consultation

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Snug Cove Terminal Development Have your say on the 2021 Budget Plan All municipalities in BC must have a financial plan (also BC Ferries invites you to learn more and engage in conversation and feedback on the Terminal Development Plan for the Snug Cove Terminal. www.bcferriesprojects.ca/snug

January 25, 2021 6:15 pm

commonly known as the Budget) that is adopted annually, by bylaw, before the annual property tax bylaw is adopted.

The Budget must set out the proposed expenditures, funding sources, and transfers to or between funds by the Municipality. Part of the process is getting feedback from the community on the proposed Budget.

Bowen Island Municipality is using Citizenlab as a platform for our public consultation on the Budget. You can view all areas of the Budget consultation on Citizenlab, and we encourage you to create an account to leave comments and feedback on each component of the Budget.

Regular Council Meeting All meetings are online via Zoom and

open to the public, unless noted otherwise.

A virtual Public Open House will be held for members of the public to receive a presentation on the proposed Budget, provide feedback and ask questions.

Stay home if you’re sick

Clean your hands frequently 2 m or 6 feet

Keep a safe physical distance

Update on Fire Hall project Bowen Island Municipality has hired Liberty Contract Management (LCM) for design-build services for the new Fire Hall and Emergency Operations Centre, slated to be built on Lot 3 of the Community Lands, off Miller Road.

Negotiation of a fixed-price contract with LCM comes after BIM issued a Notice of Intent to Direct Award, a process by which a local government informs contractors that it intends to negotiate a contract directly with a specified contractor (direct award), and without a competitive process. No objections were received from prospective proponents.

This process was chosen because the competitive tendering process in September 2019 returned unfavourable responses that were significantly higher than the available project budget. In the months since, the project design and scope was reviewed to bring it closer in line with the available budget. LCM demonstrated that they could meet the project scope with a reasonable increase to the budget and within Bowen Island Municipality’s timeline.

Next steps in the project are to secure a building permit, which staff will prioritize, and to break ground on construction. The anticipated occupancy of the new Fire Hall is late 2021.

Read all about the Fire hall and Emergency Operations Centre project on our website at:

Wear a mask in indoor public spaces

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/fire-hall

Contact Us Phone: Fax: Email:

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

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/2021-budget

Drinking water advisory for people with compromised immune systems The Provincial Health Officer advises all British Columbians with compromised immune systems (such as HIV, organ or bone transplants, chemotherapy or medications that suppress the immune system) to avoid drinking water from any surface water or ground water that is under the influence of surface water, unless it has been boiled, filtered, distilled or treated with UV. Bowen Island and other areas in British Columbia use surface water sources (lakes, rivers, streams).

This is not a general boil-water advisory for the general public, but rather is directed only at people with compromised immune systems. If in doubt about your immune system status, please discuss this further with your physician.

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Thursday, January 14, 2021 • A3

Community health centre finally gets its land BIHCF PUT AN OFFER IN ON THE 0.15 HECTARE PARCEL A YEAR AND A HALF AGO – THE SALE CLOSED JAN. 8

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation is starting off 2021 with some good news.

As of Jan. 8, the foundation finally owns the land for its new health centre.

If one is confused, thinking that BIHCF already owned the land, it’s because Bowen Island Municipal Council accepted the offer to purchase 0.15 hectares of Lot 3 of the Community Lands (across from the ambulance station) in July 2019.

Subdivision of the lot took a little longer than anyone expected but was finalized in early December 2020, allowing the land purchase to proceed.

“It has been very exciting to get to this point and be able to see that it’s actually going to happen within a recognizable time frame,” said foundation president Tim Rhodes.

The $300,000 for the land’s purchase — the second purchase of a Community Lands parcel, first being the D.K. Harris housing development across from the museum — came from an anony-

PHOTO COURTESY OF BOWEN ISLAND HEALTH CENTRE FOUNDATION

BICHF has its eye on opening the new health centre in late 2022 or early 2023.

mous donor.

The foundation is set to apply for a development permit this week. Once that’s approved they

can have a groundbreaking ceremony and start clearing land.

The foundation is working with Salal Architecture on the design

as well as with its health services committee, nailing down exactly what will be in the building and where.

The health centre is expected to have primary care physicians, allied healthcare professionals, dental practitioners and community health programs.

While fundraising for the project is ongoing (the organization needs to raise $500,000 of its $6 million goal for a mortgage-free facility), Rhodes said that next steps, even into construction, can proceed before the rest of the funds are raised.

The foundation has received several notable donations since it began its campaign in mid 2018, including one $1 million donation and a $1.5 million donation, allowing the foundation to move up construction by a year.

“On Bowen you occasionally encounter something that really nobody has any arguments against,” said Rhodes. “It’s kind of universally recognized as something we need. So that makes it a little easier [to raise money].”

Rhodes expects the centre to open in late 2022 or early 2023.

“A huge thank you to Bowen Island and their generosity and to the board and all the people that have served on that board from its inception,” Rhodes said.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2021 First Credit Union Board of Directors Election.

Are you who we’re looking for? First Credit Union is seeking dedicated, community minded members to join the Board of Directors. Directors are supported with a variety of sponsored training & development opportunities, and are provided with monthly remuneration.

Nomination information can be found at firstcu.ca or at your local branch.

604 947 2022 | 106-996 Dorman Road

A4 • Thursday, January 14, 2021

bowenislandundercurrent.com

VIEWPOINTS CORRECTIONS

Last week’s p. 1 and p.12 story “Yoga Studio Closes: COVID-19” stated that there was no yoga studio on Bowen when Russell arrived in 2012.

There were at least two at the time (Seven Hills Yoga and Yoga Loft). We regret the error.

Last week’s p. 6 story “A tale of two fronds” stated that the above photo is of the western sword fern. It in fact features fronds from both the licorice fern and the western sword fern. The brighter green frond on top is from the licorice fern.

Apologies for the mistake.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Hindsight is 2020

Why is there no cemetery on Bowen Island?

While you are still here I will be glad to see you leave

While you were uninvited We knew you lurked

DEAR EDITOR: I am reading this book, Fresh water for flowers, on loan from our local library and I am told it has been a great success with readers everywhere.

The protagonist runs a cemetery in France with descriptions of the tombs, with the names and photographs, brief epitaphs of the deceased, giving visitors a

You shocked, created upheaval Unbalanced a comfortable tranquility Tranquility that was never fully appreciated Unsure of a response, the disarray spread Unsure of the future, a dark cloud descended Unsure of the response, we became guarded Unsure of what to do You are still with us, you have not left While we wish you in hindsight, we know you are not Time will tell even if clarity evades us now.

Rob Wynen

moment of pause and wonder. I know my husband and I used to like visiting cemeteries in France and Italy and imagine the lives of these long gone people.

Which brings me to a question: why there is no cemetery on Bowen, a proper place with tombstones and family names and flowers , fresh water or not...why? Is there no one on our island who would

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.

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

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rather be buried here than scattered somewhere else? After living in six different countries, I know I would choose Bowen—it has become the closest to “ home” for me—if only we had a choice of a designated place, a proper cemetery, where family and friends could stop a moment and remember.

Loredana May Brind

National NewsMedia Council.

EDITOR Bronwyn Beairsto editor@bowenisland undercurrent.com

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CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2011

SPECIAL THANK-YOU Audrey Grescoe

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.

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Thursday, January 14, 2021 • A5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

‘It’s easy to love a place to death’ B.I. Conservancy asks islanders to to stick to the gravel driveways of its new Cape Roger Curtis park in face of recent damage to rare and fragile ecological areas DEAR EDITOR: In mid-December the Bowen Island Conservancy formally took possession of the 32-acre parcel of land on the waterfront at Cape Roger Curtis. We were honoured by the “Thank you” page from the community to our organization and our donors, printed before Christmas in the Undercurrent and our donors were touched by this expression of gratitude.

We are currently working with talented, knowledgeable experts to help us determine how best to preserve and protect the ecology of our newly acquired land. As well, we want to ensure a visitor experience that’s as inspiring for everybody as it was for the donors, when they made the decision to help us conserve the land for future generations. We have much to do and it will take some time before we formally declare the area open to all. In the meantime, we ask for your consideration and ongoing support of what we all want to achieve, and so we request that you refrain from visiting the land while we complete our assessment and establish trails that avoid sensitive areas.

This is a tough request for us to make, particularly during the pandemic when every-

body needs to get out for a break now and then. But we have already observed considerable recent damage from foot and dog traffic in rare, fragile ecological areas, so, for now, we have had to put up temporary signage and caution tape to mitigate any further destruction. Unfortunately it’s easy to love a place to death and the steps that we take now will maintain the rich biodiversity and beauty of the area in its natural state.

If you must visit, we ask that you strictly limit your walking to the three gravel driveway access routes to the shore, and to the gravel “building pads” at the ends of the driveways. Please stay away from all other areas. In particular, do not walk along the shoreline on the bluffs between the building pads: this part of the land contains the most sensitive and fragile plant species and it’s where we are seeing significant damage from foot traffic.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We appreciate your consideration of our efforts to protect the natural environment of Bowen Island.

Yours truly, Owen Plowman President, Bowen Island Conservancy

Is Adams Rd. ready for traffic a large Cape development would bring?

‘ADAMS RD IS ACTUALLY A THIN LAYER OF ASPHALT ON AN OLD TIRED LOGGING ROAD’

DEAR EDITOR: I also read the article “What’s the Plan for the Cape” in the Undercurrent dated December 17 2020. Then I read Nerys Poole’s letter to the editor published in the Undercurrent dated January 7, 2021. The question that jumped to my mind is: “Is Adams road ready for the additional traffic from at least 430 units?”

Adams Rd is presently funnelling all the traffic from all points South and all point West of Bowen Island. Whether Cape Roger Curtis’s traffic goes through Thompson Rd, DeeCee Rd or Cromie Rd, each one of those roads adds to the traffic of Adams Rd. Adams Rd is actually a thin layer of asphalt on an old tired logging road. The heavy winter downpours on Josephine Ridge turn Adams Rd into some kind of washboard as the runoffs of steep driveways are uncon-

trollable. One summer day, a long time ago, an islander was racing as he was answering the irresistible call of the ferry, ending up in Lister creek as his car took of from the last bump.

The real problem is the lack of room for all the non-vehicle traffic. It must be quite embarrassing to find oneself dressed in black and caught walking in the twilight of an early winter sunset and hearing a car coming to a screeching stop to avoid the pedestrians. Children have been discouraged from cycling to school for a very long time and none dares ride a horse along Adams Rd. In order to obtain rezoning the Cape on Bowen is recycling old amenities proposed at the time of the failed project. So the Cape on Bowen should come up with an imaginative solution for Adams road: design and install a sturdy, well-separated multi purpose path from Bowen Bay road to Bishop Hill! This would prove the desire of The Cape on Bowen to look after the well-being of Bowen Island. Wouldn’t that be a nice New Year resolution!

Anne Franc de Ferrière-Chollat

The Knick Knack Nook reopens Jan. 15

The Knick Knack Nook is reopening as of Jan. 15. We will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from noon to 2:20 p.m. We will also be open Thursday evenings by appointment only as before. You must make an appointment.

We will accept donations on the days we are open but not Thursday evenings. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you again.

David Wrinch

HAIG FARRIS PHOTO

A sea lion sunbathes in Fairweather last week.

Higgs, Jane Lillian May 26, 1946-January 1, 2021

We sadly announce the passing of Jane Lillian Higgs. Jane died on New Years Day 2021 at home on Bowen Island in the presence of her loving husband Dave Higgs and caring Bowen Island nurse, Jane Henley, after a long battle with cancer during which she remained very positive and courageous.

Jane was born in Winnipeg MB on May 26, 1946. Thereafter, she was adopted by Dr. Henry Macmillan Edmison and his wife Mary and was mostly raised in Victoria, BC with her sister Nancy. She graduated from Oak Bay Secondary School and then obtained elementary school teaching credentials from the University of Victoria. In 1968, she married Dave Higgs and together they moved to Winnipeg, MB where she taught at elementary schools while her husband obtained M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in the Department of Zoology at the University of Manitoba by the end of 1973.

Thereafter, they moved to North Vancouver, Burnaby, and then Bowen Island in 1975 with a 5-month-old daughter Christine where they remained. On Bowen Island, Jane did some substitute teaching, volunteered as a Brownie leader, sorted books to benefit book sales for the Bowen Island Public Library and other part-time jobs. She mostly excelled as a stay-at-home Mom and, as a friend and mentor to many neighborhood children. Jane was a caring, humble, fun-loving person who enjoyed interacting and sharing experiences with people of all ages. She also enjoyed reading, playing games, swimming, travel, boating, movies, sudoku, and walking, especially with her great friend Bonny Schultz. In later years, she particularly enjoyed visiting and playing with her grandchildren.

Jane is very missed and lovingly remembered especially by her husband Dave, her daughter Christine and her husband Mike and their children Ryan and Mya McPherson, her son Darren and his wife Erin and son Cole Higgs, great friends Robb and Bonny Schultz and their children Bob and daughter Tamara (Tam) and their respective families, Gail Brighton, and nieces, Sue Higgs and Lisa Berlin.

We appreciate the care and support that Jane received during her illness from the doctors and staff at the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver BC, the Lions Gate Hospital Community Chemotherapy Centre, and Dr. Susanne Schloegl of Bowen Island. We sincerely thank Jane Henley, the Bowen island Home Health Palliative care support team, and friends on Bowen Island for their help and support.

If you wish to donate in remembrance of Jane, please support Ovarian Cancer Research (OVCARE) at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. A memorial service will not be held for Jane until the covid-19 virus is under control.

A6 • Thursday, January 14, 2021

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Chasing away the monsters: Safe in Starry Arms THE DEBUT KIDS BOOK FROM AN ISLAND AUTHOR AND AN ISLAND ARTIST TAKES ON CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

the visuals [were] instantly, in my mind. I just pictured everything happening,” says Di. She could see every page and every scene — rocket ships and propeller planes, sea stars and monsters — and having just come off of doing a children’s hospital mural, doing a book for kids and helping them through their anxieties or traumas appealed to Di.

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

From seeing tardigrades in sea water to atom-splitting stars, 10-year-old Nic, his beagle Obi, and the monsters of Nic’s anxiety take an epic journey in Safe in Starry Arms.

The debut kids book from Bowen author Christie Lea and Bowen artist Di released in late 2020 turns to nature and the wonders of the universe to subdue the “nasty, horrid thoughts” of Nic’s childhood anxiety.

While Nic is based on Lea’s own son Nicholas, the poetic prose bears resemblance to the former first responder’s own real-life journey.

Confronting anxiety

Complex PTSD

In 2018, after 13 years as a 911 operator in Surrey, Lea was diagnosed with complex PTSD. This is a “slow burn” type of PTSD, explains Lea, “It’s not one major traumatic event.”

The result of repeated or prolonged exposure to trauma, first responders are considered at higher risk of developing complex PTSD. A decade of three or four intense bursts of adrenaline every shift had taken its toll.

In 2018, Lea had a massive panic attack on her way back from a family trip. For about a week, she had attack after attack until she went to the hospital and sought treatment.

“I had to just stop everything and focus 100 per cent on trying to get healthy,” she says.

The panic attacks didn’t go away immediately but through medication and other methods, symptoms abated after a couple of months.

But it was during one of these panic attacks Lea lay on her bed trying to find relief in sleep. “I had the sensation that I was going to fall through the bed and just keep falling,” she recalls, “into the abyss.

Di of Art by Di and Christie Lea hold up their new book, Safe in Starry Arms from Tellwell Talent.

“At some point, this little switch went off in my brain and this little voice [said], ‘You’ve never fallen. You’ve never fallen before.

Something is holding you up.

Something is holding everyone and everything up.’”

“That thing, whatever it is, is what we are and is what the entire known universe is made of,” she says.

“That was the moment where things shifted for me.”

Everything shifted

That was when, as Lea describes it, she went crazy. She started researching everything she could about the known universe – physics, biology, chemistry, micro and macro physics, nuclear physics, laws of the universe (and how they don’t make sense at a subatomic level), noetic science, philosophy, reality paradigms, biocentrism.

“I felt obsessed with learning about the world and what made up the world,” she says. “I began to understand that I was a part of everything, that we are all part of the same thing…you can call it whatever you want — God, universal creative force, whatever it is.”

“Towards the end of the book, that’s kind of what [Nic] realizes,” explains Lea. “We all are this spirit, if you want to call it that. Like a universal spirit.”

“Before I had the epiphany and before I did all my soul searching, I felt very disconnected to everything,” says Lea. “Like a little finite creature, unknown why I’m here, unknown where I’m going.”

Finding Di

As a part of her healing, Lea returned to an old passion, writing.

She had no intention of writing a book but the manuscript took

S MIDDLETON PHOTO

shape and she started wondering if it was publishable.

Lea found an independent publisher — Tellwell Talent — but finding an illustrator to suit her vision was another matter.

Then came Bowen’s annual Community School Association Craft Fair, where Di of Art by Di had a table.

“Immediately, I just absolutely loved her artwork,” says Lea. A few days later she approached Di about the book. Di immediately connected with the manuscript.

“Growing up, I’ve always had anxiety,” says Di. “So I always use nature and exploration of nature and science…that was always kind of my relief and happy place.”

“I really not only connected with what Christie was saying about how you can know yourself through knowing the universe and finding your place…but also

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Together, Lea and Di built a book that sees a young boy initially struggling with anxiety but who finds relief, comfort and joy through learning about the universe. They also want readers to learn about the universe with Nic. Lea doesn’t shy from concepts or words that even adults may need to Google. Like photons or loam.

“I want you to not know what loam is,” says Lea. “I want you to Google loam and I want you to do it with your kid.

“Because when you learn more, you just can’t believe it. The organization that went into supporting life on this planet is unbelievable.”

Di maintains the distinctive waves, bright colours and West Coast setting of her well-known art, while adding characters that’ll appeal to the younger crowd (like increasingly adorable anxiety monsters and rocket ships) and characters for the older crowd to identify (the aforementioned tardigrades and solar sails).

Lea is donating books to classrooms at BICS, a few schools on the North Shore and organizations that could benefit from such a book.

With this book done, Lea is working on her next two children’s books and Di is preparing for her Hearth exhibit in July, this one all about Howe Sound.

Safe in Starry Arms is available at Phoenix, the Hearth, Squirrel and major online book retailers.

bowenislandundercurrent.com

Bowen saw rise in house fires in 2020

Thursday, January 14, 2021 • A7

New Year’s Resolutions:

CHIMNEYS WERE A MAJOR CULPRIT

BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

After three house fires in 2020, Bowen Island fire chief Aaron Hanen bids islanders to ensure their chimneys are cleaned and inspected regularly.

The department attended two house fires that started in chimneys last year.

One fire, which took place on Remembrance Day, was contained to the roof and the upper floor of the home, said Hanen. The other took place in the final days of 2020 and was just in the chimney and attic space. “It was a very, very good save by the crew,” said Hanen.

In 2020 the BIFD was able to quell two other chimney fires before they became house fires.

The other house fire last year — in August in the Seven Hills area — started from a BBQ. It was the only home that burned nearly to the ground last year.

The increase in chimney-related fires (BIFD had only one call out for a chimney fire in 2019) could have something to do with the pandemic, said Hanen.

“We always try to be prepared, but it’s funny when you get that many calls like that,” said Hanen. “We don’t know what it might be, but certainly I think more people being home is going to be part of the rea-

AARON HANEN PHOTO

• Eat healthy • Try a new workout • Buy local!

A house fire on Seven Hills in August saw a home burn to the ground. BIFD saved two other homes that caught fire in 2020.

son.”

The theory is, with more people home these days due to the pandemic, folks are burning more wood than usual and have perhaps expended their supplies of dry wood and have gone on to burn wet or unseasoned wood, creating more creosote in the chimney.

To prevent the fires, chimney cleaning is key. “Definitely once a year, you should have somebody professionally cleaning and inspecting it,” said Hanen, adding that some chimneys could also require more frequent cleaning.

Burning dry, seasoned wood was Hanen’s other suggestion.

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Listings are always free in our weekly community calendar.

Please email your listing to Bronwyn by Tuesday 5 p.m. for that week's edition. editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com

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Patient of the Week BROOKE This is Brooke! She recently came into the clinic with an injury to her front leg, making this the third out of her four legs to sustain an injury in the last year. Brooke is fully recovered and we hope we don’t have to see her for her remaining good leg in 2021!

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A8 • Thursday, January 14, 2021

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Get to know your neighbour

OUR NEW Q&A SERIES LAUNCHES AND UP FIRST IS BOB TURNER

A Bowen Islander suggested on Facebook a few months back that the Undercurrent should have a “Get to know your neighbour” column (there have been various iterations of this over the decades and editors). After a couple of months’ lag we’re finally launching a weekly (hopefully) Q&A with islanders randomly picked from our subscription list. I’m still tweaking questions so would love suggestions.

While I’m not going for a weekly profile of prominent Bowen Islanders, the random number generator (it spits out a number and I scroll through the Excel sheet) picked someone very familiar to Undercurrent readers. Who better to launch this column than former mayor, current filmmaker and Howe Sound environmental champion, Bob Turner.

When did you come to Bowen?

Rosemary and I arrived in 1989.

How did you get here? There was a misplaced ad in the west side paper in Vancouver. It was an ad placed by Wolfgang Dunzt and it said, and I still know these words by heart, “Jewel in the woods $104,000, third of an acre, wooded guest cottage.” And we went, “Where the heck is Bowen Island?” And we came over the next day.

It was a bluebird day. Brilliant sun — this is February — snow on the mountains. We get on the ferry and we just go, “This is unbelievable.”

We arrived in the Cove. It was in the middle of a freeze. A bunch of pipes had frozen. Shops were closed. There was a dog lying in the middle of the road. It was just so classic small town.

We went in for a coffee. We got Sanka served to us. We met

Bowen Island Garden Club celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020

Wolfgang and he took us and showed us this little place, which was very cool but happened to be an A-frame and we couldn’t quite deal with the sloping walls.

We’re looking to do a larger story in But the rest was history. There honour of this important local orgawas no way we weren’t gonna nization, if you have stories or facts move here. about the Garden Club’s 40 years, email editor@bowenislandundercurWhere do you live on Bowen? rent.com. In honour of the 40 years, We now live at the back end of we thought we’d re-run the first ‘Joy Cates Hill, which is sort of won- of Gardening’ column from the Aug. derfully quiet yet close to the 18, 1978 Undercurrent. Thank you to Catherine Bayly of B.I. Museum and village.

Archives for digging this up.

Fill the ferry lineup gap or The Joy of Gardening don’t fill the gap? Filling the A good garden is not just a matter gap’s not my first instinct. Unless of luck, but needs careful planning, it just looks like there’s way too diligence and thought for tomorrow. much space ahead of me and it Tomorrow in the gardeners’ world is needs to be filled. “the coming year”.

What’s your favourite Bowen fact? It is not, as Ron Woodall has drawn it, the three bumps of Bowen are not the top of a submerged camel.

When do you think somebody can consider themselves a Bowen Islander? When they’ve decided this is a place that they’re going to commit themselves to.

What’s your favourite COVID balm or activity? I’m basically a hermit at heart and so staying quiet works for me.

Now is the time to make good use of your composter, for compost is the gardeners’ best friend. It enriches as it lightens the soil and increases its ability to retain moisture. August, if you have had the sense to grow some vegetables, is a time in which harvests can be ample, not only in delectable vegetables for the table, but in bare stalks, discarded tops and leaves for the compost bin. As a good gardener, dead flowers will be snipped off as they occur and be added along with weeds and grass cuttings to the compost. Don’t forget that if you have been using weed killers on the grass that it will contaminate the compost during the process of decomposition

remaining potent even after the compost is put on the garden, thereby killing the crop and your expectations.

Talking of sprays - I abhor them.

The damage that spraying does goes far beyond the average man’s realization. The widespread use of sprays containing Parathion in micro-encapsulated form scares me. It takes three weeks to slowly release itself in dry weather and is a cheap pesticide for the commercial fruit grower. However, it was invented to be dropped onto enemy troops in deep foxholes impervious to shelling. A few drops of Parathion dropped on a man in a foxhole would either kill or incapacitate him. Admittedly the commercial form is diluted but it has been found to be still lethal to bees 17 months after use. Bees, both honey bees or bumble bees, are necessary for plants and crops so why contribute to their demise and impoverish our own environment.

A dandelion is a better friend to man than any spray; it gives pollen for honey, makes good wine and returns enzymes to the soil. Of course someone is sure to say that a dog is man’s best friend but I have yet to find a dog who feeds a bee, who pollinizes the crops and makes me golden honey.

Would anyone be interested in an informal Bowen Garden Club?

Vivamus.

The Knick Knack Nook is reopening as of Friday Jan 15.

We will be open Fri. Sat. Sun. and Mon. from 12 to 2:20.

WE VALUE BC With concerns for our health, safety and finances, the past year has been a challenging time for us all.

At BC Assessment, we know that your home matters.

You can expect reliability and accuracy when you receive your 2021 property assessment, based on the market value as of July 1, 2020.

If you haven’t received your assessment notice or you have concerns, we are here to help. Connect with us at bcassessment.ca or at 1-866-valueBC. Access and compare property information using our free assessment search service at bcassessment.ca.

For more property information and assessment highlights, visit bcassessment.ca

The deadline to file an appeal of your assessment is February 1, 2021.

We will also be open Thurs evenings by appointment only as before. You must make an appointment. We will accept donations on the days we are open, but not Thurs. evenings.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you again.

David Wrinch for the Board

Muni Morsels: heritage registry and a playground proposal

ISLAND GROUP PITCHES CATES HILL PLAYGROUND

CONTINUED FROM P.1

The staff report said that over Happy Isle’s tenure, RCMP and bylaw services “have expressed no concerns and found no evidence of complaints or any calls of concern from the neighbourhood.”

“They’ve been very good corporate citizens,” said Mayor Gary Ander. “I haven’t seen any issues there at all.”

The bylaw now passes to committee referrals and a public open house.

A historic issue

BIM established a heritage registry with an inaugural ten entries Monday.

“It’s sort of the introductory guide that identifies places that have heritage value that are recognized locally as having heritage value,” explained BIM planner Jennifer Pierce.

The register doesn’t include legal protections for heritage sites — there are other legal mechanisms for that — so it cannot stop a demolition or require owners to maintain a certain character. However, registered properties are listed on the Canada

Register of Historic Places national database and are eligible for certain incentives and alternate compliance provisions.

The inaugural ten entries are the Old General Store, Boulevard Cottage (visitor’s centre and Caring Circle office), Lagoon Causeway, Seaside Cottage (Metro Vancouver Parks’ office), Davies Heritage Orchard and six Metro-owned cottages, Crippen Park Meadow ruins, cenotaph, Higgins’ Cabin and museum (at the back of Bowen Island Museum and Archives’ property) and Bridal Veil Falls and associated structures.

Council excluded the two additional cottages in Davies Orchard that Union Steamship Company Marina owns and asked that the Heritage Commission come back with a joint request for the cottages’ inclusion.

Pierce and councillors acknowledged the work of the Heritage Commission and local volunteers over many years to bring the register to fruition.

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bowenislandundercurrent.com actually getting something to establish the register,” said Coun. Alison Morse.

“I remember Graham Dinsdale making a proposal many, many years ago.”

For the sake of play

Three Bowen Island mothers — Kendra Patton, Courtni McGilivray an d Lusungu Kayani — brought forward a proposal for a second island public playground Monday. They suggest Cates Hill as a location.

The Bowen Island Community School playground, upgraded and opened in 2017, isn’t open to the public during school hours and when it is open is quite busy, council heard.

McGilivray said she got into the project as she needed a place for her young son to play.

“I was ready to pull my hair out,” she said. “My toddler was done with walks, scavenger hunts, and birdwatching and frankly so was I. “He wanted to go to the playground but explaining that it’s closed to a three year old usually ended up in disappointment or a tantrum.”

The three women said they would work with the community on needs and design as well as fundraising.

Mayor and councillors generally supported the idea and voted unanimously to have staff explore the idea with the group.

Thursday, January 14, 2021 • A9

Berthing of a new terminal BRONWYN BEAIRSTO

Editor

BC Ferries is in the early design stages of a new Snug Cove terminal with a draft terminal concept released last week (bcferriesprojects.ca/snug). The plan is open for community comment until Jan. 29.

The design includes a new waiting room, washroom and utility buildings as well as an expanded outdoor waiting area, covered bike storage, traffic safety measures for the reversable ferry lane, an emergency vehicle staging area, relocating the community shelter, and, 15 years out, new berth infrastructure with pedestrian walkways and possibly realignment.

However, the concept doesn’t currently accommodate bus drop off next to the berth — a long-sought request from islanders, especially for accessibility reasons.

“We found we must either widen into the hillside, or create a costly over-water area [more pier-like infrastructure] to give buses the room they need to turn around, to avoid conflict between buses and pedestrian traffic, and to avoid conflict between buses and vehicle traffic while loading and unloading,” says the BC Ferries website. Due to the “significant challenges,” of transit next to the berth, the corporation has excluded it from this plan but says it’s willing to discuss options with Bowen Island Municipality, Translink and Coast Mountain Bus Company.

In the public responses to the concept plan, the most common request is for no more illuminated signage and to remove the sign that is there now.

“Here’s an opportunity if we’re going to rework the building down there…to understand how that screen is not working now, and [if ] there [is] a way to fix it, to fix it,” said BC Ferries’ manager of community engagement Darin Guenette.

A10 • Thursday, January 14, 2021

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Thursday, January 14, 2021 • A11

COMMUNITY CALENDAR THURSDAY JAN. 14

Rotary Club talk: anthropologist Wade Davis Zoom 7:30 pm Check bowenrotary.com for the Zoom invitation. The author of more than 15 books on an incredible variety of topics, whether it be the rain forests of the Pacific NorthWest, the rivers of the world, Indigenous cultures and the conquest of Mt. Everest, has been a Bowen resident for quite a few years.

BIM 2021 budget consultation Zoom 6-7:30 pm “Join us for the 2021 Budget Consultation Virtual Open House, where you will receive a presentation on the proposed Budget, ask questions and provide your feedback.” More information is available

at bimbc.ca

FRIDAY JAN. 15

Bowen Youth Centre reopens New evening programs for youth. “Following public health orders, programs will require pre-registration and participants must adhere to COVID-19 protocols.” More information at bowenyouthcentre.com.

MONDAY JAN. 18

Bowen Island Garden Club AGM Zoom 1 pm For details contact bowenislandgardenclub@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY JAN. 20

Stories from the Bay event Zoom 7:30 pm Howe Sound / Átl’ka7tsem Marine Reference Guide is hosting with SeaChange Marine Conservation Society and Bowen Island Municipality. More info bit. ly/33CbocW

FRIDAY JAN. 22

Drive-through Robbie Burns Legion dinner Legion Full Burns dinner (minus the scotch and piper)

MONDAY JAN. 25

Deadline to submit mini art for Mini Art Works event

The Hearth Gallery

Regular Council meeting Zoom 6:15 pm

MONDAY FEB. 1

Embracing differences & strengthening community webinar 7-8:30 p.m.

Hosted by BICS, free and open to all. “How can we work together to create a more inclusive Bowen Island?

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A12 • Thursday, January 14, 2021

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Goodbye 2020 NOW WE MUST CONFRONT THE CLIMATE CRISIS IN 2021

KAMI KANETSUKA

Contributor

For some reason the Charles Dickens’ quote “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” runs through my mind. 2020 definitely didn’t live up to its clear-sighted ring. I suspect many will call it the worst of times but I am sure we can all agree it was the strangest of times.

Introverts, who love to just be on their digital devices along with homebodies who like to while away the day, crafting playing games and watching Netflix, may have had a good time. For me I felt like I had gone back to school, with so many Zoom trainings, meetings and cultural events near and far. I felt connected worldwide and learned much.

I spent much time in nature and hung out with trees more than people. I love that they connect with each other underground and are communities. Maybe we have something to learn here.

On a personal level, the biggest thing for me this year was

visiting a safe house for migrants in Mexico and truly experience feelings of privilege. For the first part of my adult life I lived and travelled in less developed countries. Although I always travelled on a shoestring, I was aware of privilege deemed by being accepted in other countries and cultures, with the ability to return to my birth country.

Most of all I think 2020 has been a huge wake-up call with plenty of time to reflect. It seems that so many things have reached crisis point and this is not the time to let things lie dormant. Like a volcanic eruption Black Lives Matter, reared up after the horrendous murder of George Floyd, crying “I can’t breathe.” This phrase turned into a mantra that was heard in protests and written on graffiti worldwide.

Sadly, one of the worst symptoms of COVID-19 is grasping for breath. “I can’t breathe” are probably the last words uttered before being put on a ventilator. Breath is life and this year so many lives have been lost. Certainly in the western world now, COVID-19 has brought to the surface more than ever, the inequality of many people of colour, Indigenous people and all marginalized people.

In reality all crises seem to be connected and in countries where pollution is high and the climate is warmer there are also more related deaths. In 2018 teenager Greta Thunberg started by sitting in front of the Swedish Parliament building each Friday protesting climate change. In 2019 she made a speech to world leaders at the UN Summit for Climate Change. Her words, “You have stolen my dreams and my

childhood with your empty dreams. How dare you,” woke up many young people to join her in protest marches worldwide. One can only hope that these young people will raise a ruckus with renewed energy.

On Jan. 9, I watched a livestream conversation between Thunberg and the Dalai Lama on the climate emergency. It was great seeing the Dalai Lama now in his 80s at his home in Dharamsala, India and the newly 18-year-old Greta conversing. He said, “Oh, there is real hope from our younger generation who really are thinking about the environment.”

During the conversation Greta said she had heard a call to action and urged people to educate themselves on climate issues. There were also two scientists in on the conversation with clips from feedback loops, which showed how fast we are heading to disaster if world leaders don’t act. There is a recording of this conversation, put on by the Mind&Life Institute, on YouTube. It is worth watching.

I recently found the press tag I had when I covered the Indigenous International Grandmothers meeting in Nepal, it was called “One World, One Tribe, One Chance.”

It really is time for all of those who can to come together to realize that we really are just one tribe and we need to work together for humanitarian justice and the environment. If the pandemic has not taught us that, I don’t know what will.

The wake-up call is loud and clear but we do have a chance.

If we don’t work towards healing our world in whatever way we can, we may not have too much longer here.

BIM awards contract for construction of Fire Hall and Emergency Operations Centre ANTICIPATED OCCUPANCY OF $3.7 MILLION BUILDING IS LATE 2021

SOPHIE IDSINGA

Bowen Island Municipality

Bowen Island Municipality has hired Liberty Contract Management (LCM) for designbuild services for the new Fire Hall and Emergency Operations Centre, slated to be built on Lot 3 of the Community Lands, off Miller Road.

because the competitive tendering process in September 2019 returned unfavourable responses that were significantly higher than the available project budget. In the months since, the project design and scope was reviewed to bring it closer in line with the available budget. LCM demonstrated that they could meet the project scope with a reasonable increase to the budget and within Bowen Island Municipality’s timeline.

A referendum in 2017 approved

Negotiation of a fixed-price contract with LCM comes after BIM issued a Notice of Intent to Direct Award, a process by which a local government informs contractors that it intends to negotiate a contract directly with a specified contractor (direct award), and without a competitive process. No objections were received from prospective proponents.

This process was chosen

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

Masses are live streamed everyday.

Times posted at holyrosarycathedral.org Contact Angela Powell 604-947-2515

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

Now offering worship services via Zoom.

A link available on website.

Pastor: Phil Adkins

reserve funds - the Fire Building Replacement Reserve Fund and the General Capital Renewal and Replacement Reserve Fund. Since the additional funds are coming from reserve funds, the increase will not increase property taxes from the average $73 a year.

Next steps in the project are to secure a building permit, which staff will prioritize, and to break ground on construction. The anticipated occupancy of the new Fire Hall is late 2021.

Queen of Capilano Ferry Schedule October 13 to May 15 2021 DEPART BOWEN ISLAND DEPART HORSESHOE BAY

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borrowing of up to $3,000,000 for the construction of the new main Fire Hall and Emergency Operations Centre on Lot 3 of the Community Lands — a cost estimated to increase taxes to the average property by $73 a year.

The revised total project cost for the Fire Hall and Emergency Operations Centre building is anticipated to be $3,725,000.

The additional funding required to complete the project will be funded from two municipal

5:20 am except Sundays 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 except Wednesdays 5:10 pm 6:15 pm 7:25 pm Mon Wed Th Fri 7:26 pm Tue Sun 8:30 pm 9:30 pm 10:30 pm

5:50 am 6:50 am 8:00 am 9:05 am except Wednesdays 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 except Saturdays 9:00 pm 10:00 pm

Note: Schedules subject to change without notice: Please check BCFERRIES.COM Schedule changes on statutory holidays