Bowen Island Undercurrent February 17 2022

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Makayla & Sophia PAGE 8

Blessing the land SQUAMISH NATION HOLDS CEREMONY ON SITE OF NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE ALEX KURIAL Editor

“TO BEGIN IN A GOOD WAY”: S7aplek and Spakwus Slolem (Bob Baker and the Squamish Eagle Song

Dancers) performed a land blessing ceremony on the site of the future Community Centre Feb. 15. Mayor Gary Ander, MP Patrick Weiler, and CAO Liam Edwards watched, along with many attendees from the community and BICS. / Alex Kurial photo

HeritageWeek must include everyone CATHERINE BAYLY Bowen Island Museum & Archives

The 2022 Heritage Week theme is Altogether Inclusive. We are taking this opportunity to explore some of the barriers that restrict participation in both the museum and archives by partially-sighted and blind visitors. Our goal is to address accessibility challenges and become as inclusive as possible.

We are fortunate to be able to work with the Camp Bowen Society for the Visually Impaired for assistance in making some of the desired changes. We began with an Island Pacific School student led oral interview with Alex Jurgensen, one of the directors of Camp Bowen. The thoughtful questions and answers provided insight into the lives of the blind and visually impaired on the island.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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The new Community Centre marked an important milestone this week with a traditional land blessing ceremony.

Tuesday morning’s event was presided over by S7aplek and Spakwus Slolem (Bob Baker and the Squamish Eagle Song Dancers). Baker explained during the ceremony he and other members would be using “cedar boughs to spread water on sacred ground to neutralize anything that’s not supposed to be there so we can have a clean slate to work with.

“And to acknowledge that our ancestors have been doing this from the very beginning, with totem poles, canoes and homes. To begin in a good way. It also keeps everyone focused on what we’re doing,” said Baker.

Several dozen people attended the event, as well as the students from Bowen Island Community School, the Community Centre’s neighbour. Mayor Gary Ander and Patrick Weiler, MP for West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country were also in attendance, along with representatives from Golden Globe Construction – winners of the $14.4 million tender to build the centre.

“It’s a momentous occasion here, I have a hard time believing that it’s actually happening,” Ander told the crowd.

“This Community Centre will become the heart of Bowen Island. It will be our island place of gathering, of celebration, and of community, creating traditions for generations to come.”

Construction is expected to begin in a few weeks and last about 18 months, with a completion date in the latter half of 2023. The project – decades in the making – was given final approval by council at the end of last year.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

A2 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, February 17, 2022

We’re hiring: Planner 1

Events February 21, 2022 1:30 pm Snug Cove Gateway Mural Launch Party February 28, 2022 4:00 pm Committee of the Whole Meeting - Hazardous Areas Development February 28, 2022 6:15 pm Regular Council Meeting

BIM is looking for a permanent full-time Planner I to join our team immediately. The position offers an opportunity for you to work on a diverse portfolio of projects and initiatives relevant to guiding the growth and direction of a communityfocused municipality.

Reporting to the Manager of Planning and Development, the Planner 1 will process development applications and other related Planning applications; conduct preliminary research and analysis with regards to a future Land Use Bylaw update; provide support and research for Council Strategic Initiatives; develop material and support facilitation for community engagement; support the Planning Technician in handling planning and building pre-application inquiries and building plan reviews; and provide excellent customer service to internal and external agencies and groups.

Please submit your cover letter and resume by 4:00pm on Wednesday February 23, 2022.

Celebrate Family Day at the Gateway Mural Launch Party Join us at 1:30 pm on February 21, Family Day, at the launch party for the Snug Cove Gateway Mural! A community art project brought to life by three local artists Di, Paula Love and Sarah Haxby. The mural painted on sixteen wood panels is to be installed on the lock block wall at the gateway to Snug Cove as a welcoming and inviting entrance to Bowen Island that shares and celebrates our environment, local heritage, culture and community spirit.

Brought to you by the Public Art Advisory Committee, with funding from Sangre de Fruta and the Province of British Columbia.

Snug Cove Gateway Mural Launch Party

For more information and to read the full job description, please go to: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/jobs

Family Day Monday, February 21 Celebrate a community art project brought to life by local artists Di, Paula Love and Sarah Haxby.

Bowen Island Fire Rescue Open House Saturday, March 5, 2022 10 am to 2 pm Firehall #2, 1421 Adams Rd

Help stop COVID-19:

• • • • •

Get vaccinated - everyone 5 years and older is eligible.

•

1:30 pm at the Snug Cove North Dock (next to the ferry)

New firehall information booth FireSmart information and home assessment signup Neighbourhood Emergency Response Program information and signup Emergency Support Servicess information and signup AED and basic CPR demonstration by Lifesavers at 10:30 and 12:30 Pastries, coffee and prizes

Songs, stories and snacks for all, and activities for the kids!

Introducing g Bowen’s new mascot

Bowen Island Fire Rescue recruiting new volunteer members Stay home if you’re sick

Wear a mask in indoor public spaces

Apply to be a volunteer firefighter with Bowen Island Fire Rescue. Submit your application by 4:30 pm on February 24, 2022 if you want to dedicate your time, skills and physical ability to helping your community.

1:30 pm on Monday, Feburary 21 at the Snug Cove North Dock.

Contact Bowen Island Municipality PAID ADVERTISEMENT February 17, 2022

Phone: Fax: Email: Website:

Come see the Heritage Week table at the Gateway Mural

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/apply-fire-fighter Launch Party to meet the new mascot and get a delicious treat.

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

Bowen Island Municipal Hall 981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2

www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday Closed statutory holidays

Find us on Facebook Bowen Island Municipality

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Thursday, February 17, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A3

ISLAND NEWS

MP says Boweners support the new centre CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Today is an incredibly amazing day to see that we’re finally at this stage in the project,” says chief administrative officer Liam Edwards. “To be standing here today with all of you and be able to recognize all the work and effort that’s gone into it is remarkable.”

Weiler, also representing Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, noted Bowen Island’s recent population rise – up to more than 4,200 in last year’s census. “Growing communities need community infrastructure to keep up. It’s especially true for island communities where access to services can be even more difficult,” said the MP. “This new facility will create a culturally rich space for all islanders to access art, exercise, social events and programming… I’m particularly excited about today’s announcement because I know it’s going to be a game changer for the community, creating much needed facilities and services that will greatly enhance the quality of life of everybody on the island, as well as add to the vibrancy of the community,” said Weiler.

He also noted the significant community contribution

Season of Giving continues SUSAN REDMOND Bowen Waste Solutions

It’s probably been a while since you thought of Christmas and those wonderful trees that adorned our homes over the holiday season. But we at Bowen Waste Solutions are happy to announce that our local trees have come to a happy end. In partnership with Bowen Island Tree Service,

to the project, more than $6.5 million. A $7.9 million grant from the Community, Culture and Recreation portion of the federal and provincial Canada Infrastructure Program also helped the centre come closer to completion.

There is still work to be done on the financing front as the total cost of the project has risen to $18.7 million. But Weiler says the results of the 2020 referendum show the community is behind the centre.

And so is the municipality. “It’s been a seven year operation since we decided this Community Centre was going to go ahead,” said the mayor. “There was nothing that was going to stop us and we gave everything we could to it.

We never gave in, and this why we’re here today.”

B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs Josie Osborne couldn’t make the event, but provided a statement read by Ander.

“This land is a beautiful space for the future Community Centre. The new building will serve as a gathering place for the Bowen Island community, bringing to life a long-awaited vision of togetherness, community building and physical and cultural activities . Together with the federal government, we are investing in community infrastructure that will serve residents for years to come,” wrote Osborne.

Bowen Waste Solutions has arranged for our local trees to be chipped and used as mulch for the Knick Knack Nook Memorial Garden and the island garden in front of BIRD. In lieu of service charges, together Bowen Waste Solutions and Bowen Tree Services gave a donation of $1,000 to the Flood Relief Fund, with that donation being matched by the Province of B.C. So, as you drive past the island garden at BIRD or go in to visit the KKN, stop to admire how your Christmas tree is not only helping those gardens to grow, but they are also helping all those affected by the flood.

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Patrick Weiler, Alison Morse, Paul Hooson, Shari Ulrich, Gary Ander, Sam Collins, Jacqueline Massey, and Rob Gloor share groundbreaking duties on the site. / Alex Kurial photo There was a brief tour of the grounds after the ceremony, which soon will be overtaken by construction equipment for the next year-and-a-half as the centre is built. Baker says the positive impacts will be lasting.

“This marks an occasion where things are going to change.

Everyone is going to benefit… That’s our future over there (BICS kids), and their children are going to benefit from this work. So therefore we’re very honoured to be a part of it,” said Baker.

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A4 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, February 17, 2022

VIEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tackling the cynicism in politics

To make space for new things to come, over the last few weeks I have been archiving some campaigns I have been involved in since 2015.

Two of them were on proportional representation.

What was that again, proportional representation?

It is a type of election systems, in which the number of seats a party wins is proportional to the part of the vote they receive: if a party gets 35 per cent of the vote it gets 35 per cent of the seats; when it gets 20 per cent of the vote, it gets 20 per cent of the seats, etc. There are different forms with or without district representatives, with or without minimum thresholds.

You might recall, that during the 2015 federal election campaign, federal Liberal party leader, then candidate MP Justin Trudeau committed hundreds of times to make the “2015 election the last election using First Past the Post“.

In British Columbia, both BC NDP and BC Greens campaigned in the 2017 provincial election to replace the First Past the Post election system with some form of proportional representation election system.

We know what happened.

The federal Liberals won by a landslide in 2015, instituted a commission on Electoral Reform, but Prime Minister Trudeau pulled the plug on the process without a free-vote in parliament, suggesting it was “...my decision to make.” Right there we lost a chance to strengthen our federal democracy.

Here in B.C., the BC NDP government - as agreed in a Confidence and Supply agreement with the BC Greens - organized a referendum, but decided on a Yes and a No side receiving provincial sponsorships to battle it out. The referendum was a train wreck in slow motion. The government had made it impossible for the Yes side to defend its case when it became known that some of the proposed types of proportional representation on the ballot had never been used anywhere, and that, if a Yes vote did prevail, a commission would be designing the final system AFTER the referendum.

Instead of doing it properly, and have a citizens assembly determine the right election system and design the ballot question, to be followed by a proper public information campaign, the BC NDP opted for a very divisive campaign in which the No side crossed the

line of what is acceptable more than once. The No Proportional Representation campaign claimed that proportional representation would empower the far-right. It even published the infamous “boots in the streets” video which was widely condemned.

But it worked. It played on people’s fears - and with the mentioned referendum shortcomings - gave voters the option to vote for the devil they know, and go back to sleep. Again we lost a change to strengthen our provincial democracy.

In both cases, it was political cynicism what made the two attempts fail. The party interest was seen as more important than that of the province, or country.

BREAKING - January 2022 - a “trucker” convoy that started in B.C. is making its way to Ottawa to occupy Centretown.

Blocking of border crossings at Coutts AB, Windsor, and Surrey BC soon followed.

We were rudely awakened from our pandemic nightmares, when Hakenkreuz, Confederate and Trump flags could be seen close to Parliament Hill. National monuments were desecrated

by the “protesters”. Ottawa citizens taken hostage in their neighbourhood exposed to 24/7 train horn blasting, total lawlessness and a police force unwilling to enforce.

Reading that the “freedom” convoy organizers are known farright leaders, donations have been flowing in from the U.S., FOX News is propagandizing the convoy, far-right U.S. politicians cry wolf when the GoFundMe account for the insurgents was shut down, I couldn’t help thinking about the false claims the No side in the B.C. referendum had made about proportional representation empowering the far-right.

Voting against such a nasty election system, we thought that democracy would be fine by itself, that we could rely on an antiquated First Past the Post election system even though there is so much wrong with it; that we don’t have to modernize and strengthen our democracy, that it doesn’t need our attention and care, and the far-right was just a bad dream. Those things only happen in Europe or the U.S.

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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CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

National NewsMedia Council.

EDITOR Alex Kurial 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

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Thursday, February 17, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A5

What Happened to Free Speech on Bowen?

Dear Editor, thank you for your integrity in publishing my paid ad in this week’s paper.

It features a cartoon entitled, ”Passports Please”. This drawing is part of the Hearth Mini-Artworks Show now on. As is obvious, the message is to assert the absurdity of vaccine passports while high percentages of contagion are found among passport holders making the promise of public protection at best silly, at worst intentionally divisive of our society. By the way I am not an anti-vaxer. But that is not my topic.

I want to know what happened to free speech on Bowen Island. I created a poster using the above image, adding the words, “Don’t Comply” and posted about 200 of them on utility poles around the Cove during six postering sessions. Most of the posters were torn down within hours of being put up. Each time I posted, they were destroyed. What do you think about that?

One unnamed guardian of the sacred utility pole outside his business defended his actions thusly, “You have free speech to put up your posters, I have free speech to take them down.” Now, the term which correctly describes his action of removing words and ideas he does not agree with is “Censorship”.

Censorship is the opposite of Free Speech.

If it were not, then those groups who burned books they disagreed with, would be lauded as “Free Speech Champions”. But they are not.

I vividly saw this in action when I visited Chile during the Pinochet period and noted there were no posters or graffiti in sight criticizing the regime. Speaking to citizens

Longtime Bowen Island resident, Judge James (Jim) Shaw died peacefully on Friday afternoon, February 11, 2022. He died at his home surrounded by his wife of 70 years (Daphne), his brother and his sister-in-law (Duncan and Pat) and his four living children (Catherine, Susan, Duncan, and Allison). Missing was his son, Jamie, who died three years before him.

I learned of the fear that ran through them even as they went about their daily middle class lives similar to our own: living in condos, driving Toyotas, having gym memberships. They constantly feared that they might be overheard saying (or not saying) something the authorities did not approve of. Next stop: disappearance (forever). If one cannot speak one’s mind in public, freedom is gone.

Now I agree there are limits to free speech: one cannot shout “Fire” in a crowded theatre.

Hate speech against minority groups is punishable by law. However I think it is clear that my cartoon with four words of text does not qualify under these limits. Therefore, I ask how has it become acceptable on this island to see even minor dissent quashed? School kids were seen tearing posters down along with adults, and did anyone speak up to say, “Hey, that’s not right!”? (Happily, some kids offered apologies later.) The suppression of dissent on Bowen has even extended itself to Facebook leaving few outlets for public statements- just the utility poles, the Hearth and the Undercurrent.

So I ask, if a surrealistic cartoon can embolden people to destroy it, what should become of a person who publicly espouses an unpopular idea on Bowen? Should he or she be shamed off the island, pay a huge fine, go to prison? If you think this is hyperbole, I’m telling you I saw this happen in Chile and it can happen here. Fascism starts slowly, then all at once. Freedom of speech is vital in a democracy. This is not just about a cartoon—this is serious. People, wake up!

Jim loved Bowen Island. He fished and sailed, played bridge, and enjoyed music and singing in the Community Choir and Artisan Squires. He travelled with Daphne and their kids. He had a wonderful career as a lawyer and then a judge, and could be seen in his robes presiding over grade four mock trials at BICS. But most of all he loved his family, and was blessed indeed with nieces and nephews and cousins and in-laws and an enviable abundance of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Jim was 92 at the time of his death, and his last words were: “I have had a wonderful life!”

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A6 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, February 17, 2022

VIEWPOINTS

Bowen stays Awesome!

Hi Friends and Neighbours, On behalf of Tourism Bowen Island I would like to sincerely thank you for rallying behind our Support Local campaign. The past two years have been challenging for many and our recent #bowenisawesome contest was a really fun way to get locals talking about and promoting our island businesses and services.

Bowen Islanders pride themselves on supporting local; whether it is eating at our favorite local restaurants, shopping at our local boutiques, galleries, food stores and speciality shops, or hiring a local contractor, service person or supporting our local health and wellness professionals. When we shop local, we are doing our part to enrich

Far-right views persist CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

It is clear to many now that the Far-right doesn’t need an election system to grow, socio-economic circumstances do. Not having a voice, feeling abandoned by labour parties who opted to embrace the market economy in the 1990s, feeling uncertain by societal changes, thinking immigrants are taking their jobs, seeing no future for their children, will drive many folks into the hands of far-right populist leaders, who themselves loved the cover of silence that First Past the Post had given them to recruit, and try to infiltrate our police forces, and military.

But for a couple of years now, in Canada they are emboldened by what has been hap-

Rotary Report

our community and help promote sustainablity.

When trying times are upon us it is this banding together and support from our friends and neighbors that means the most and will have a positive impact on the future of our community.

Thank You All ~ and let’s continue to support Bowen together, because #bowenisawesome!

The lucky winners of the Support Local Contest were chosen by Random. org. Congratulations to Vera Keogh, Holly Graff, Brayden Alexander, Brie Merkel and Tanya Voormeij.

- Basia Lieske, Board member, Tourism Bowen Island

pening to the south.

Don’t make the mistake to think we can fully eradicate this: there will always a fringe with far-right views, but it is our responsibility to make sure that the people who don’t have such views are always in a vast majority.

How do we do that?

What we have seen since 2018, is that the far-right has not taken power in Europe as the No-side in the B.C. referendum suggested.

What was presented as a weakness of proportional representation is its strength, it does allow - as it already did in 2018 and far earlier - for far-right parties to win seats in parliaments, but that comes with consequences.

These parties are then out in the open, no

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(

cover of silence, and exposed to the scrutiny of the public, media and other political parties. And we can learn without agreeing to the party intents, why some people support or join these kind of groups. Without knowing why, you can never address the circumstances why people do.

In that process, it is crucial to understand that although there are many commonalities as mentioned above, not all reasons for far-right support in one country apply to other countries. In Canada for instance, deep rooted discrimination, not only by the far-right towards - but not limited to Indigenous People is a major issue: It is the legacy of past and present day colonialism with colonial institutions and legislation still

in place.

So we must call on politicians to stop the cynicism. Don’t use election promises to get votes, and then dismiss the promises.

Its always unacceptable, but especially so when it concerns foundational matters like Decolonization, Truth and Reconciliation, systemic racism of all kinds, affordable housing, addressing the rising housing costs, livable income, climate change, etc.

Not addressing these issues erodes the trust in democracy.

So again, stop the cynicism: it’s time to strengthen democracy and address the issues that need to be addressed.

- Hilary Butler Bowen Island Rotary

- Anton van Walraven

to March 31, 2022

www.biuc.ca | 1122 Miller Road

Sunday Worship 10:30 am Rev. Lorraine Ashdown

Over $21,000 was raised for the Peka Project, dear to the heart of Matthew who is hoping to raise sufficient funds to sponsor a working farm for the orphans of Lesotho who age out of the orphanage at 6 years old and are usually forced into the child labour market and more often than not into the world of human trafficking.

The Rotary Club of Bowen Island has been supporting Matthew in this project with various fundraisers and grants and is planning a Rotary International global project to raise further funds. The bowenrotary.com website has lots of information on this ongoing fundraiser, along with a heart-warming video of the Beautiful Gate orphanage in Lesotho and the Peka project.

Queen of Capilano Ferry Schedule

BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH E v l M

Despite the lovely weather last Saturday afternoon, many Bowen Islanders were inspired to join Matthew Harrison and a group of talented actors at an amazing online event in aid of the Peka Project.

Matthew assembled ten actors to perform scenes from John Patrick Shanley’s plays, attracting an audience of nearly 200 from around the world. We were kept spellbound by the magic created by a variety of poignant, tragic, comic and passionate situations in five different scenes, played by a team of brilliant actors who entranced us throughout. Host Matthew introduced the scenes and at the conclusion, brought the actors together to discuss their interpretations of the scenes they played. We, the audience, were encouraged to ask questions and comment in the chat column. We all felt that it was as good as a live event. What an amazing show it was!

)

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Thursday, February 17, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A7

Bowen established itself as a welcome home for the blind CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

There is a long history of blind people visiting Bowen Island beginning when the Terminal Steamships Company (1902-1920) brought groups of people to Bowen for picnics.

The Union Steamship Company (1920-early 1960s) carried on the tradition, offering free transportation on their steamships to Bowen for the annual picnics for the blind.

During the Union Steamships era, the Fraternal Order of Eagles sponsored fishing camps for the blind. This captured the attention of Captain M.C. Robinson, who was the CNIB director for British Columbia and Alberta. He was blinded at eighteen while serving in the First World War and understood the problems of adjusting to a new way of life. Robinson became the moving force behind the idea of developing a recreation and training centre for the blind and visually impaired on Bowen.

When the Union Steamship Company property came on the market in the early 1960s, Robinson’s project began to take shape. The CNIB acquired three acres of waterfront in Deep Bay. The project included a newly built lodge with 20 double and three single bedrooms, a combination lounge and recreation area, and a well-equipped kitchen. As well as a patio with an outdoor fireplace and a hobby building.

Outside trees were cut and the ground levelled, and camp sites and picnic shelters were built. Blacktopped pathways were created to guide the summer residents across the lawns and down the bank to the beach. The new building was handed over to the CNIB owners in the fall of 1962 and on June 1st, 1963, the lodge was officially opened. It offered recreational camps and independent living skills training.

The goal was to provide a retreat for visually impaired and blind British Columbians in the summer and independent living skills training in the winter.

Bowen Island offered a safe and welcoming place for the blind. In a 1974 newspaper article Joe Lewis wrote: “The moment a blind person sets foot on this island he is aware of being in a totally different world. There is no traffic confusion, no crowds, no noise. It’s different that’s all.”

A 1981 letter written by Martin Clarke, on behalf of the Bowen Island Recreation Commission, points to further fostering relationships with the CNIB and the community. He asks how the Recreation Commission, Community School Association and the CNIB could support each other’s services, talents and facilities. The result of this was that the community was able to use the CNIB lodge for workshops, concerts, and social events during the off season. And Bowenians responded to the CNIB’s request for ways to integrate their guests more fully into the community. Martin requested volunteers to drive, take guests fishing or boating, and make their houses available as destination points for walking expeditions.

Throughout the years the programs at the CNIB Lodge continued to grow. However in 2009, CNIB announced its plans to restrict its program offerings to a day camp. This move was met with much outrage from the community. In 2010 CNIB began the process of selling the Bowen Lodge by the Sea property and announced that the 2010 camping season would be the last CNIB run camping program on Bowen Island.

In August of 2010, former campers of the original CNIB Camp Bowen project joined forces and the Camp Bowen Society for the Visually Impaired (CBSVI) was formed and the first retreat on Bowen Island was in 2011. They have continued to work hard to ensure that Camp Bowen remains a reality on Bowen. (See campbowen.ca for the details) Alex Jurgensen, director of the Camp Bowen Society for the Visually Impaired, talked to the IPS students about how Bowen has been and continues to be a welcoming and inclusive community, people are friendly, cars travel slowly and they feel safe. He also touched on what improvements we could make within our organization. Braille documents in the archives, touchable artifacts in the museum - stay tuned we are working on it. Let’s celebrate Altogether Inclusive on Bowen for more than just one week. To find out more about the fundraising project for Camp Bowen visit campbowen.ca

Postcard of the front lawn and main building of the CNIB Lodge (top left); Postcard of an aerial view of CNIB Lodge on Snug Point ca.1963 (bottom left); Tom McMurray and Ted Eaton (guide) from the CNIB Lodge with Tom’s twenty pound salmon in 1965 (right); Advert in The Province Aug 18, 1919 (below). / Bowen Island Museum & Archives photos

Buying directly from farmers, artists, ma akers o support and bakers is the most impactful way to unity individual producers, enrich our commu y and promote sustainability. Consider shopping at the Bowen Island Farmers Market, signing up for Community Supported Agriculture boxes and supporting the island’s specialty food shops.

Connect with local artists at Bowen’s galleries and working studios.

Thank you Bowen Island for rallying community support for local businesses.

Let’s continue to

SUPPORT BOWEN TOGETHER #bowenisawesome

Thursday, February 17, 2022

A8 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

BITS presents: Friends of the Trail - with Makayla and Sophia Toews A BOWEN ISLAND TRAIL SOCIETY FEATURE

Makayla and Sophia are lifelong residents of Bowen Island. They have grown up on Bowen Island enjoying its beaches, parks, and nature. Makayla likes to listen to music and run on the trails, and Sophia likes to run and ride her bike.

But mostly, they love to ride their horses, Shasta and Stella, exploring the island and new trails. Makayla and Sophia are both BIHORA (Bowen Island Horse Owners & Riders Association) Youth Representatives.

What is your favourite trail?

Sophia – I like to run the Killarney Lake Loop trail because it is close to home, I love the scenery and I love stopping at the little gravel beach to splash water on my face.

Makayla – I like the Grafton Lake trail because it was close to where our horses were boarded and we could access it every day. We could do short trips on part of the trail with the horses or go all around the lake if the creek wasn’t too high to cross.

We are now looking forward to exploring areas on the south side of the island. Fairy Fen, Roger Curtis and the Golf Course. It is fun finding new trails and if you find obstacles like fallen trees, finding safe ways to cross, moving trees, rocks and branches or sometimes having to turn around.

We just rode from Thompson Road down towards Fairy Fen but explored towards

Roger Curtis instead. It was adventurous and fun and the horses loved exploring the new areas.

What is the most interesting person/ animal that you’ve come across out on trails?

We spotted a Barred Owl flying from tree to tree. It was large and swooped when it flew. It was brown and salt and peppery in colour.

Sophia – I knew it was a Barred Owl because of a school project I had done on the bird.

Makayla - It was majestic and made me feel happy to see it.

What is your favourite post-trail snack/ treat?

We like to pack granola bars, mandarins that are easy to peel and always apples that we can share with the horses. And lots of water!

Bowen Island Trail Society would like to wish everyone a happy Family Day long weekend out and about on the trails.

If you are interested in learning more about the Bowen Island Trail Society please visit our new website: www.bowenislandtrailsociety.ca

Makayla Toews riding Shasta (right) while Sophia Toews is riding Stella (middle).

Bayley Faragher joins the sisters riding O. Bavaria.

Patient of the Week

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They brought her to us to make sure she was in top health and ready to start her new life here.

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Thursday, February 17, 2022

Naming a very special Place LOUISE LOIK Bowen Island Conservancy The plant names sound like something from a fairy tale. From the plants that grow in the rich cool forest to ones that cling to the wind battered bluffs, they bear names like ingredients in a magic potion. When spoken, the names evoke a place of bewitching biodiversity, of magic and fairy tales, from Witch grass and Hooded Ladies’ Tresses orchids to Sword ferns, Death camas, or Self-heal.

If not magical sounding, the names are rich in reference to a wild array of animal species. There are animal references in names like hairy cat’s ear, rattail grass, monkey flower, rock frog lichen, birds-foot trefoil,

sheep sorrel, sleepy catchfly and most importantly reindeer lichen. There can be no doubt that this place at the edge of the sea is one of enchantment.

On the other hand, with a more gastronomic theme, there is oat grass, wild carrot, Oregon grape, huckleberry, honeysuckle, and snowberry. This place is also home to the elders, the trees that are two to three hundred years old. Some of the old trees are stunted, hiding their age behind their slow growing strategy. There are the rare trees, the ones gnarled and bent or an image of lone conical perfection. Once believed to be rare Rocky Mountain Junipers, those along the coastal bluffs are now known to be an uncommon species, the Seaside Junipers. These rare trees

reach their branches out above the slow-growing, fragile and ethereal clouds of reindeer lichen.

The chunky, rocks of the southern shores get battered by winds and waves and bake in the sun. And yet, here is where some of the most precious species have taken hold. The bluffs are home to fragile and rare reindeer lichen that slowly creep across the rock, with no capacity to ward off the carless deer hooves, dog paws and boots that rip it from its fragile hold. Water seeps up through cracks in the rock to nourish the rare Junipers and other plants that endure there in spite of the harsh conditions.

Away from the sea is also a place with craggy rocks and ravines, where arching fountains of tall ferns grow

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A9

along nurse logs covered in a velvety moss and frogs, salamanders, birds, beetles, millipedes, and banana slugs find nourishment and refuge.

Humpback whales, orcas, seals and sea lions chase anchovies close to the land that drops steeply into the ocean.

Eagles dip claws into the water to capture passing salmon and herons compete with river otters for a meal that swims into an emerging tide pool.

This place is a refuge, a nature reserve, Bowen’s own Extinction Rebellion. It’s where we can hold something precious in our hands, and commit to honouring all that it means for both our, and future generations.

A place like this needs a name that in one breath will suggest the magic of all that it is. What would you call this place?

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Spring Break Program - Introduction to Horses Day Workshop 10:30-3:30 pm, March 17th and 24th

Includes:

◆ Build and decorate a hobby horse ◆ Learn about the language of the horse ◆ Groom and lead out the ponies ◆ Lunch ◆ Build a showjumping course ◆ Take our hobby horses out to jump the course ◆ Finish with cupcakes and juice Maximum of 6 kids aged 6-12, $75 per child.

Gramma’s Afterschool Pony Club Every Tuesday and Thursday 3-4pm

"Passports Please", a scratchboard drawing I created, can currently be seen in the Hearth’s Mini-Artworks show.

I cannot attend the Finale Party on Feb. 26, because I will not comply with the vaccine passport requirement.

Cordell Wynne Feb., 2022

◆ Tuesdays are Stable Management Day, learning to take care of our equines, we learn about our horses environment, nutrition, health, first aid and lots of crafts!! ◆ Thursdays are hands on horsemanship, grooming, mucking out, working with our ponies on the ground (no riding) doing liberty work and on the lead line. ◆ Through all of this, we will also learn about self regulation, confidence building, listening to our body and relationship.

The horses teaches us this and what a fun way to learn!

For kids Grade 2 to 7 $250 plus GST on a subscription basis.

Starting March 1st. Limited space available.

A10 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Your Community

MARKETPLACE bowenislandundercurrent.com

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

604-444-3000 • 604-653-7851 classifieds@van.net

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ANSWERS

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at the entrance to Artisan Square Suite 597 7

To advertise here please call 604947-2442

Book online at bowenislandwellnesscentre.ca

or email ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, February 17, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A11

COMMUNITY CALENDAR MONDAY FEBRUARY 21

Gateway Mural Launch Party, 1:30 PM A community art project brought to life by three local artists Di, Paula Love and Sarah Haxby. The mural painted on sixteen wood panels is to be installed on the lock block wall at the gateway to Snug Cove as a welcoming and inviting entrance to Bowen Island that shares and celebrates our environment, local heritage, culture and community spirit.

Bowen Island Garden Club Zoom presentation, 7 PM Winter Pruning of Fruit Trees with Gordon Mackay Do you know when to prune fruit trees and the difference between summer and winter pruning? Do you know how to prune and at what point to stop? These questions and many others will be covered in a Zoom presentation by horticulturist Gordon Mackay. He will also discuss a few of the main pests and disease problems with fruit trees on the coast.

Gordon Mackay, is a professional arborist and pruning expert with 5 years of post-secondary education in Horticulture. The majority of his work life is spent pruning fruit trees and he teaches at the Pacific Horticulture College in Victoria.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23

BI Fibre Arts Guild – Monthly meeting, 7 PM Library Annex. All welcome.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24

Bowen Island Library, 6 PM Registration required: please call (604) 947-9788 to register.

Black History Film Series: Just Mercy (rated PG). Just Mercy is a powerful and thought-provoking true story, which follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his history-making battle for justice. See Bowenlibrary.ca for info on our other films in this series.

Many island residents were without power much of the day after a hydro pole was struck along Grafton Road near Artisan Lane last Friday. BC Hydro’s outage map showed 1,130 customers lost power. The affected areas were south of Mt. Gardner Road. Grafton Road was open to traffic, but motorists were advised to go slow as maintenance crews worked along the side of the road. Service was restored later in the day. / Alex Kurial photo

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A12 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Give a hoot about Owl safety MICAELE FLORENDO Contributor

The owl noted in last week’s Undercurrent is truly a special treat. I must admit, it’s a life-lister for me and it is in my own backyard! While this area is outside the normal range for this species, recent sightings of this species include New Westminster and Vancouver Island. All of which has spurred excitement in the birding community. The theory is that these owls are most likely displaced from their usual territories by the habitat destruction from the extensive wildfires that took place last year.

Thursday, February 17, 2022 It’s important to note that this is a sensitive time of year for this species due to its recent journey and the scarcity of food, not to mention it is learning to survive in this new area; finding new roosts, hunting grounds, and other things owls need to make a living. We are truly lucky that this bird has decided to set itself up here.

Owl watching is very popular in British Columbia and owls are often a prime subject for nature photographers.

However, owls can be overwhelmed with too much attention; they will either flush when approached too closely, or some birds may “freeze” in place. These behaviours may cause the bird to waste energy they need for hunting and staying warm. While a single incident may not be life-threatening, the cumulative effect of repeated disturbances, which are likely to occur when an owl perches in highly visible,

public locations, along with interrupted sleep patterns and interrupted hunting success, reduce the likelihood that the bird will survive. It’s important to keep in mind that most birds, including this owl, are protected federally (Migratory Bird Act) and provincially (Wildlife Act). If you go out to enjoy the owl, here are some things you can do to reduce the potential impacts to the owl: Watch from your car if possible, an automobile makes an excellent blind. Don’t approach the owl too closely. Signs of distress the owl may exhibit include “puffing up” its feathers, making themselves skinny to try to blend into the surroundings, pacing, “grimacing”, flying/fleeing from its location, leaving its prey, being aggressive or even hunching into a protective, aggressive or pre-flight stance. Ideally, when a bird starts staring at you, you’re too close – it’s time to back up.

Never advance on birds with the intention of making them fly. This disrupts the natural processes such as resting, foraging, or hunting, and causes them to expend energy unnecessarily.

Dogs should be kept on leash. This species hunts by landing on its prey on the ground. The owl holds the prey in its talons on the ground until no movement is felt, then the bird carries it to a nearby roost for consumption. During the time the owl is on the ground it is vulnerable to being chased (and potentially caught) by off-leash dogs. Much of the area is private property.

Be respectful of private property, tread lightly and stay on trails.

If you see others not being respectful during their owl watching activities, please have the courage to advocate for this owl.

Sometimes all it takes is sharing education to elicit cooperation (feel free to share this article with them). If you see grave contradictions to the recommendations here, a call to the Wildlife Conservation Officer (1-877-952-7277) or RCMP non-emergency line (604-947-0516) may be warranted.

Before sharing the location on social media or with friends, think carefully about the potential impacts to the birds or their habitats, both individual and cumulative.

Remember to remove the GPS data from images and videos.

For those interested, wildlife photography ethics are available at both www.wildsafebc.com or the Audubon’s guide to ethical bird photography and videography. Thank you in advance for being a great owl supporter; I look forward to comparing our sightings and notes on observed behaviours.

Bowen Island Garden Club Zoom presentation…

Topic: Winter Pruning of Fruit Trees Speaker: Gordon Mackay Date/time: February 21 at 7 p.m.

Do you know when to prune fruit trees and the difference between summer and winter pruning? Do you know how to prune and at what point to stop?

These questions and many others will be covered in a Zoom presentation by horticulturist Gordon Mackay on Monday, February 21 at 7 p.m.

He will also discuss a few of the main pests and disease problems with fruit trees on the coast.

Gordon Mackay is a professional arborist and pruning expert with 5 years of post-secondary education in Horticulture. The majority of his work life is spent pruning fruit trees and he teaches at the Pacific Horticulture College in Victoria.

This is a Zoom presentation open only to members of the Bowen Island Garden Club.

Membership info: bowenislandgardenclub.ca

See you on Zoom Monday February 21 at 7 pm