Bowen Island Undercurrent April 21 2022

BUDGET BREAKDOWN: Details from the 5 year draft plan PAGES 3, 6, 7

$1.50

inc.

GST

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022

SETTING SAIL

VOL. 48 NO. 14

BIUndercurrent

BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com

Southern Straits Classic returns PAGE 10

Bowen’s 5 year financial plan draft unveiled

PUBLIC CONSULTATION INCLUDES APRIL 21 OPEN HOUSE

ALEX KURIAL Editor

WHO’S UP FOR PYSANKY?: Lynn Krukowski’s table was a popular stop during the Rotary’s ShelterBox fundraiser for Ukraine over Easter weekend. Visitors to the Snug Café were able to take in some lessons in Pysanky - the art of Ukrainian Easter Egg making - and also learn about how they can assist victims of the war in Ukraine. For more information on the event, and how you can still help out, check out Page 5. / Submitted photo 901 VALHALLA PLACE

$2,350,000

NEW LISTING

1249 ADAMS ROAD

$998,000

NEW LISTING

FRAZER ELLIOTT Realtor®

Bowen’s draft budget for 2022 and beyond was presented last week, with plenty to digest as the numbers now head out for public consultation.

The various municipal directors were on-hand at the April 11 Committee of the Whole to make their pitches for resources, people and projects they’d like to see funded in their department. These ranged from technology to staffing, to bridge and culvert replacement, and some new fire equipment too.

Several major capital projects are also in the works, led by the nearly $17.5 million to be spent on the community centre over the next two years. Final construction of the fire hall and fixing the storm sewers under Bowen Island Trunk Road will cost approximately $1.5 million each, with another $1 million going to road rehabilitation (a number which will increase by $250,000 every two years).

Informing every financial decision was a stark reality though: debt repayments are going to be felt heavily in the years ahead. While interest and principal repayments make up $215,596 this year, the 2023 number is projected to leap to $782,663 and stay in that range through 2026.

“Those payments are going to eat up a big part of our municipal budget in the next few years,” said chief financial officer Kristen Watson.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

923 WINDJAMMER ROAD NEW LISTING

Bowen’s Top Producing REALTOR® for 2021* *based on reported MLS sales

604.910.3401

felliottbowen@gmail.com | bowenhomes.ca Specializing in BOWEN ISLAND and HOWE SOUND

2020-2021

Top 10% of Realtors in the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver

$999,000

A2 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 21, 2022

2022 Budget Consultation

Events All Council meetings are open to the public to attend inperson or electronically, unless noted otherwise.

April 21, 2022 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Budget Information Meeting Attend in person or on Zoom April 25, 2022 6:15 pm Regular Council Meeting Attend in person or on Zoom May 2, 2022 10:00 am Parcel Tax Assessment Roll Review Panel Attend in person or on Zoom

Notice of 2022 Parcel Tax Review Panel

We’d like your feedback on the 2022 Municipal Budget The proposed 2022 -2026 Budget is now available for your review. This is a draft because Council has not approved the Budget yet.

An assessment roll for the purpose of levying 2022 parcel taxes has been prepared for the parcel tax review and authentication process. As part of the legislative requirements under the Community Charter, notice is hereby given that the parcel tax roll is available for review.

The Budget must set out the proposed expenditures, funding The Parcel Tax Review Panel will meet on Monday, May 2 at sources, and transfers to or between funds by the Municipality. 10:00 am to consider any requests for corrections to the roll Part of the process is getting feedback from the community on and to authenticate it. the proposed Budget.

The parcel tax roll may be inspected at: Bowen Island Municipality is using Citizenlab as a platform Bowen Island Municipal Hall, 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, for our public consultation on the Budget. You can view all of BC, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30am and the proposed Budget on Citizenlab, and we encourage you 4:30 pm, commencing Tuesday April 19, 2022, or to create an account to leave comments and provide your Upon request, via email from bim@bimbc.ca feedback.

Property owners may request a correction to the roll only in respect to their own property for the following reasons: We encourage you to provide your feedback by: 1. There is an error or omission respecting a name or • Posting your comments in Citizenlab address on the assessment roll; • Email your feedback to Budget@bimbc.ca 2. There is an error or omission respecting the inclusion of a • Fill out a Budget feedback form, available at Municipal Hall taxable parcel area on the roll; • Attend an information session on Thursday, April 21, 2022, 3. An exemption from the roll has been improperly 6-8 pm allowed or disallowed. https://bowenisland.citizenlab.co/

In accordance with the Community Charter, a complaint must not be heard by the Parcel Tax Review Panel unless written notice of the complaint has been given to the municipality at least 48 hours before the time set for the first sitting of the review panel.

Bowen Island Municipality’s Community Recreation Department has Requests for corrections to the roll must be in writing and will a part-time position available this summer as a Playcare Assistant. The be accepted up to Friday, April 29 at 4:00 pm. position could be filled by one (1) applicant, or shared between up to If no requests for corrections are received, the panel will not four (4) successful applicants, alternating work weeks throughout the meet. summer.

Requests can be made:

By Mail or dropoff The Collector, Bowen Island Hours and weeks of work: Municipality, 981 Artisan Lane, • Playcare Assistant(s) – 1-4 positions available Bowen Island, BC, V0N 1G2 • 12-15 hours per week (mornings), Monday–Friday, July 4–August By E-mail bim@bimbc.ca 12 (excludes statutory holidays) By fax 604 947 0193 • Position may be split between multiple incumbents, taking alternate periods of work in week-long block • Additional paid training & orientation time in June (date TBD)

Summer Playcare Positions

Ideal candidates for the position have previous experience working with children up to age 5, are enthusiastic, patient, able to work in a team environment, and enjoy facilitating a variety of outdoor and indoor activities.

This position requires current First Aid and CPR certification, and a valid criminal record check prior to the start date. The employer will provide support to obtain these requirements.

Please submit your letter of interest and resume by Monday May 2, 2022 at 4:00 pm www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/jobs

Contact Bowen Island Municipality PAID ADVERTISEMENT April 21, 2022

Phone: Fax: Email: Website:

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

Subscribe to our mailing list bowenislandmunicipality.ca/subscribe

Thursday, April 21, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A3

ISLAND NEWS

Draft budget: Increases in debt to impact property taxes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The majority of the upcoming debt comes from three loans - $4 million for the community centre, $3 million for the fire hall, and $2 million for the community lands. They’ll be repaid over the next 30 years at an annual rate of $241,906 for the community centre, $179,633 for the fire hall, and $106,038 over 26 years for the community lands, for a total yearly amount of $527,577.

Bowen also has a pair of short-term debts set to chip into the budget, stemming from a $640,000 loan for a new fire truck and $500,000 for the planned composting facility. Principal repayment and interest on the truck will run $134,500 each year for five years, while the composting loan will cost $120,586 a year over the same period. This $255,086, added to the long-term debt total, equals the yearly amount of $782,663.

Burgeoning costs for the community centre were also discussed, specifically the approximately extra $2.5 million needed to complete construction. $8.5 million has been budgeted for the centre this year followed by $8,951,196 in 2023, but only $14,911,207 of the $17,451,196 has been raised.

“It’s a really big funding gap,” said Watson, adding there’s hope a second grant application will be successful. But even if it was, the money wouldn’t arrive until after construction was complete, estimated to be July 2023.

In the meantime, Watson proposed $500,000 come from the Civic Facility Reserve this year and next year to create a $1 million contingency fund. This money can be reallocated by council to something else, such as the compost facility, if the grant is successful or fundraising manages to assist with covering costs.

Watson says the community centre needs a new financial operating plan overall, calling the current one “outdated and unrealistic.” Increased costs are expected to include $130,000 for more staffing, facility maintenance costs of $40,000, and the $241,906 in debt financing.

There are expected to be some savings and revenues though, most notably $105,000 in rent for the municipal building and $30,000 in rental fees to Bowen Island Community School for

use of their weight room and recreation facilities. The budget also factors in $17,000 in rental revenue and $30,000 to provide maintenance of the teen centre and dance studio.

Still, the impending debt means new revenue needs to be brought in. It was revealed part of the plan to achieve this is a 10.42 per cent rise in property taxes, which would yield $636,900 for the municipality. And this won’t be a one-time hit.

“I think it’s there to stay, given the huge increase in our debt payments,” says Watson. “It’s very likely that we can expect to have a similar increase next year as well.” The 2023 property tax increase is tentatively set for a 10.74 per cent rise.

The average property value of a single-family home on Bowen rose more than a quarter in value from 2021 to 2022, going from $1,229,648 to $1,538,776. Using these numbers, the average property tax would increase from $2,673 to $2,960, for a $287 yearly bump.

Watson pointed out four main reasons which make the property tax necessary: a nearly $200,000 increase to reserve funding this year, including money set aside for the community centre; $278,000 in new operating funds, including fuel, property insurance, various legal and accounting fees such as those associated with finishing the previous CFO’s work; salary and benefit increases of $194,326; and increased debt repayments of $105,000 from 2021.

Reserve funding is a key focus of the budget, which Watson says will help managers know exactly what they’re dealing with money-wise. All transfers to or from any statutory reserve will need to be laid out in a financial plan, which the CFO says will increase transparency and communicate council’s strategic priorities. There’s $1,929,392 set to go into reserves this year, however $1.5 million of it will be immediately withdrawn to cover road maintenance ($1 million) and the community centre contingency fund ($500,000).

With the alternative tax collection bylaw repealed at the beginning of this year, Watson says she plans a return to a general tax late penalty of 10 per cent, explaining she wants to make tax collection a priority to ensure companies working on construction and capital projects are paying on time.

Budget Breakdown: Department by department ALEX KURIAL Editor Public Works: 2021 approved - $958,900 / 2022 draft $1,017,869 / 6.15% increase Engineering director Patrick Graham outlined several road-related projects requiring immediate attention, particularly surrounding culvert replacement.

Four locations have failed or are failing: Terminal Creek at Harding Road ($250,000 fix); Grafton Road east of Artisan ($200,000);AdamsRoadnearEavesRoad($200,000);andKillarney Creek at Miller Road ($200,000). The latter of these was partially finished in 2020 and the company remains under contract.

While these four are the most pressing, nearly 400 culverts under public roads are at, or nearing, end of life. At an estimate of $200,000 to replace each of the 139 large culverts, and $50,000 to replace each of the 256 smaller culverts, the entire campaign

The CFO also asked council to consider if they wished to make any changes to property tax distributions. Using the residential tax rate as a 1:1 baseline, different types of properties pay different amounts. For example, farm properties are 0.5:1, so pay half the rate, while utilities pay over 4 times more at 4.16:1.

Businesses also operate at the residential 1:1 ratio, which means Bowen joins the Village of Anmore as the only other metro Vancouver community to offer this rate. Sechelt has businesses at 2.35:1, Gibsons 2.75:1, and Lions Bay jumps up to 3.02:1.

Watson found if the Bowen businesses ratio were doubled to 2:1, their municipal taxes would nearly double from an average of $1,315 to $2,583, a rise of $1,268 or 96.4 per cent. The raise on businesses would also drop average residential rates about $50 a year, from$2,960(factoringinthe10.42%propertytaxincrease)to$2,909.

“With more tourists coming, businesses are obviously benefitting from that, but we’re not getting the benefit tax wise…

That’s a huge difference there,” said Coun. Rob Wynen.

Mayor Gary Ander agreed, saying business tax was kept low in the past to encourage businesses to stay, but that the island has changed a lot since then with the influx of people.

On a technical note, the distillery has been reclassified as ‘light industry’ this year, meaning they move into the 4.16:1 tax ratio for that category. The switch is also responsible for a 443.4 per cent rise in the value of Bowen’s entire light industry category, up to $1,021,500 in 2022 from $188,000 last year.

The assessed value of all Bowen residential properties sits at $3,424,648,332 this year, up $680,592,575 (24.8%) from 2021.

Businesses are now worth $62,180,700, up $9,397,400 (17.8%).

The total value of all property on Bowen is $3,499,302,362, up $692,308,687 (24.7%) from the 2021 total of $2,806,993,675.

Public consultation runs until the end of Friday, April 22, and includes an open house to discuss the budget which will be held Thursday, April 21 at Municipal Hall from 6-8 pm. People can also participate online via Zoom. A special council meeting is then scheduled for May 2 to discuss changes and adoption of the Five Year Financial Plan bylaw.

SEE STORY BELOW FOR MORE BUDGET DETAILS FULL BUDGET AVAILABLE ONLINE AT BIM WEBSITE

will run around $40 million.

Graham notes this is a rough estimate based on prior work, and not every culvert will cost the same. He also acknowledged it isn’t something which can be budgeted over the next few years, since many of them are expected to fail at the same time. He requested $1 million a year for the time being to deal with them.

A storm sewer issue along Bowen Island Trunk Road has also become a priority after several holes appeared, including one on the sidewalk a person fell through in December. In addition to being a hazard, the collapses are holding up work on the MultiUse Path (MUP).

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Bowfest Needs You! Bowfest is searching for keen volunteers to join our Board of Directors and organizing committee for this year’s community celebration.

Information and Annual General Meeting - Thursday, April 28, 2022 7:30 pm at BICS

Interested?

Call Joan 778-875-1727 or email bowfestonbowen@gmail.com

A4 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 21, 2022

VIEWPOINTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Emergency Medical Information Our emergency responders on Island (both ambulance and fire) may one day end up in your living room responding to an emergency call. They’re trained to do an assessment but what if you’re not conscious, or have a reduced level of consciousness, or just confused…. or in too much pain to respond appropriately?

Quite possibly they will not have all the information they would like to have to support you in the situation. And if they have to transport you to Vancouver, there are logistical things they should know before leaving the house.

With this in mind, Caring Circle spoke to emergency responders and home care personnel to determine what information would help them in making an assessment and a safe intervention.

Having determined the information needed, Caring Circle then created a foldable sheet for you to fill out and place on your fridge. This one pager includes identifying information, care card number, doctor information, medical conditions, allergies, medications, DNR form location, family contact information, and a line for any other pertinent information.

Do you have hearing aids or glasses that need to be transported with you? Are there animals in the house that need attention when you are away? Are there pills that need to go with you? Do you have allergies?

What family or friends should the emergency personnel call if they have to transport you to the hospital? Is there someone else at home that needs to be taken care of or accompany you because they can’t be left at home alone?

You can go to the Caring Circle website at the link below to print off your own copy of this form.

Fold it in three so that the only information visible to casual visitors is your identifying information.

You can also pick up these forms at the Pharmacy, The Wellness Centre, Integrated Health and Dr. Schloegl’s office. https://caringcircle.ca/forms-and-applications/ - Colleen O’Neil Program Director, Caring Circle Health and Wellness Society of Bowen Island

The BC Ferries Advanced Innovation Task Force have successfully separated the conjoined twin vessels. One end will serve the Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island route and the other end will serve Bowen Island to Horseshoe Bay, thereby eliminating overloads.

Tribute to Teun With love to Marianne, Lisa and Roos, I thought of the myth of Icarus When you died my friend.

You flew closer than a mere bird To the very centre of our thirsty Hearts. Your fingers plucked Bells from the air and you smiled.

Always smiled, easy as warm honey.

You told me you heard my song, While caressing the neck Of your precious red guitar.

You walked alongside us, But somehow elevated me, To run and skip, through the dizzying aurora of notes.

At the edge of your sun, I glowed brighter—

Bowen Island Undercurrent Subscription Rates: Mailed 1 year subscription on Bowen Island: $55, including GST. Within Canada: $85 including GST Newsstand (Single Copy) $1.50 per copy, including GST

ISSN 7819-5040

When you closed your eyes, Head bent forward, lost Somewhere between The beginning And the end Of your song.

- Jude Neale

you cast no shadow.

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.

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

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

#102–495 Bowen Trunk Road, PO Box 130, Bowen Island BC, V0N 1G0 Phone: 604.947.2442 Fax: 604.947.0148 bowenislandundercurrent.com DEADLINE for advertising Monday, 4 p.m. DEADLINE for editorial Tuesday 5 p.m.

You chose grace and kindness As your pathfinders. I remember

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

The Undercurrent is a member of the National NewsMedia Council of Canada, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please email editor@bowenislandundercurrent. com or call 604-947-2442.

If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the website at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

Thursday, April 21, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A5

VIEWPOINTS

Give Me Shelter The chilly sun shone on the Rotary ShelterBox on Saturday and Sunday last weekend, after a postponement due to bad weather two weeks ago. Visitors to the project were able to view the sturdy tent and multiple pieces of equipment that go to make up a ShelterBox — from tools, kitchen equipment, mattresses and blankets, right up to a child’s sleeping bag and a teddy bear!

Lynn Krukowski was also present with her amazingly beautiful Ukraine Easter eggs.

ShelterBox is at work in Ukraine right now, providing mattresses for those who need them, as well as working in Moldova

and Poland to house refugees from Ukraine.

As we all know, there are many who will need help in the weeks and months to come. The donations from generous Bowen Islanders and also our tourists will be sent off to ShelterBox in the next few days, but there is still time to donate if you missed the show last weekend.

Drop off your donation at 1219 Miller Road or call 604-947-2315 to figure out how to donate. We at Bowen Rotary are very grateful for the response to our fundraiser.

- Hilary Butler Bowen Island Rotary

The Bowen IslandThreshold Choir Presents Walking Each Other Home: A Choral Remembrance On May 1, Threshold Choir, an international choir with 200 chapters around North America and the world, is holding a day of choral remembrance for those who’ve died during the COVID-19 pandemic, their families, and anyone who wants to participate as a community.

“Walking Each Other Home” will be held at 4 pm. on Sunday May 1, 2022 with the Bowen Island Threshold Choir at the United Church Garden or in Collins Hall if raining.

The Bowen Island Threshold Choir sings gentle, comforting songs in groups of two to four to people at the thresholds of life, including sick and dying people. The songs are written by members across the globe and represent messages of peace, kindness and love.

On May 1, the chapter will sing an array of songs for the community to celebrate the lives of individuals who’ve died

in the last two years and provide comfort to one another.

Threshold Choir’s mission is to sing for those at the thresholds of life. Our vision is a world where all of life’s thresholds are honored with compassion and shared through song. Threshold Choir has been a charitable organization since 2010.

Local Contacts: Liz Watson, lizian@shaw.ca or Suzanne Allan, sooz@allanfinancial.com National Contact: Heidi Dressler, Executive Director Heidi@thresholdchoir.org (707) 596 8531 thresholdchoir.org - Liz Watson

Teun Schut

October 24, 1960 - April 15, 2022 How do we even begin to express the loss of our Teun? In the Bowen Community you may have known him as a musician, a soccer star, a music teacher, a neighbour, a friend. His gentle and kind light touched many. We cannot put into words how grateful we are for the Bowen Community.

In our family he has taught us to enjoy the wonderful simplicities the first sip of coffee, the birds chirping outside, the sun on your face, the wind in the trees, the flowers’ first bloom, and the ability to just be. We found joy as a family in just being together. In the last year it became very evident to us that all we needed to be happy was each other. A song that meant a lot to Teun was, “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”. We are beyond heartbroken. Teun’s gentle light will carry us through and shine on.

Teun’s Girls - Marianne, Roos, and Lisa A memorial for Teun will be held on Saturday April 30th at 2pm at the Bowen Island Lodge 380 Cardena Rd. Parking will be limited - please consider arriving on foot.

For info, contact Liz Watson at lizian@shaw.ca

A6 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Department specifics in the 5 year financial plan draft CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Graham explained the storm sewer system is so far gone that “everything other than replacing the whole pipe is the wrong thing essentially.” He says work could be completed by late summer at the earliest.

A culvert in need of repair at Terminal Creek and Harding Road (left), and one of the storm sewer collapses along Bowen Island Trunk Road (right). / BIM photos Moving to the roads themselves, Graham says the usual $400,000 a year is not enough to keep up. He asked for an increase to $500,000 and incremental raises after that up to $750,000 by 2026, advising works crews may just have to deal with the worst potholes for now. Rock slope maintenance is another area going over budget, the current allowance is $100,000 annually but work along Taylor Road alone ran more than $500,000.

A myriad of fixes are needed at the Public Work Service Yard, which currently doesn’t meet operational or health and safety requirements, partly because the site is contaminated.

Design and environmental work began last year on the nec-

essary improvements, and will cost $280,000 in 2022. Next year’s construction and site remediation is estimated to cost $3.9 million.

Capital projects currently budgeted for 2022 include $1.64 million for the Snug Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant, $700,000 for the Tunstall Bay Reservoir, $100,000 to get the Cove Bay Water Treatment Plant up and running, and $55,000 for the Hikers Trail Road improvements. Completing Phase 2 of the MUP – once the storm sewers are fixed – will cost $500,000, but is fully covered by grants.

Graham outlined several more areas needing attention going forward, including $100,000 for replacement of a public works truck which has become a “money pit”, needing $20,000 in maintenance last year alone. The Carter Road bridge replacement will run around $750,000, and Graham also floated the idea of $65,000 to purchase a small excavator so the municipality could do certain work themselves without having to hire outside help.

Phase 3 of the MUP will cost about $3.5 million, however there are many grant opportunities available for the project.

Parks and Environment: 2021 approved - $408,700 / 2022 draft - $341,766 / 16.38% decrease While a lower number on paper, much of the budget for parks and environment was reallocated to bylaw to recognize director Bonny Brokenshire’s time spent between the two departments.

In terms of project funding, the biggest undertaking ahead is the compost facility. This year will see costs of $100,000 from the municipality and $200,000 in grant funding, the municipal contribution coming through short-term debt financing. The facility is expected to be complete by March 2024.

Brokenshire pointed out many wooden bridges in parks around the island are rotting away and need replacing. This work

Rehabilitative work performed on the Mikes Lorg Bridge. / BIM graphic will be along the lines of the Mikes Lorg bridge replacement, which is now reinforced with steel beams. Each bridge costs around $12,000 to replace.

Safer shoreline access is also a priority, starting with an accessible plan for Tunstall Bay. $5,000 to plan this design will come from the Improving Access to the Sea reserve. Together, the bridge repairs and shoreline access costs are estimated at $150,000 a year over the next five years.

Bylaw Enforcement: 2021 approved - $184,300 / 2022 draft - $262,492 / 42.43% increase Increase reflects the reallocation of Brokenshire’s split roles.

Brokenshire explained bylaw requests went up 38 per cent between 2016-2021, including a 43 per cent rise in environment and land use issues, which she explained take more time to resolve. She says two full-time bylaw officers and one part-time manager are needed to handle the increased load, and requested $15,000 more for the department.

Building and Planning: 2021 approved - $605,000 / 2022 draft - $656,150 / 8.45% increase Director Daniel Martin asked for $27,000 for e-permitting planning software to assist with building and development applications. The program would allow for better processing and tracking abilities on projects. The department also needs a new approving officer following a staff retirement.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Bowen Island Chewy died peacefully in her sleep, aged 15, at her new home on Salt Spring Island on April 11 2022.

Fondly known as “The Chewster”, this Rock Star of Doggies had been a longtime fixture at the Knick Knack Nook and at the Little Red Church with her person, Angie McCulloch. She was uncannily wise and mischievously clever and she had absorbed Angie’s generous spirit. She made people smile with her jaunty hoppity walk. She was spry and curious until her last few weeks, when she started to tire. I consider myself very blessed to have been entrusted with her care these past few years. She made my life richer.

Donations in her memory can be made to C.A.W.E.S. Susanna Braund.

EVENT PLANNER 2022/2023

Weddings celebrations retreats & meetings

publishing this May FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK YOUR AD, CONTACT Tracey Wait 604-762-5332 • twait@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 21, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A7 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

Martin explained increased building revenues will cover these costs. Building and planning took home $347,170 in building permit revenue last year, up from $212,680 in 2020. The first three months of 2022 have yielded more revenue in this area than any opening three months in the past five years.

General Government: 2021 approved - $393,938 / 2022 draft - $462,700 / 17.46% increase Corporate officer Hope Dallas outlined a pair of capital projects planned, starting with a $25,250 request for IT renewal and replacement. This would consist of replacing a number of laptops, computers and other electronics, and purchasing new tablets for the new council in the fall.

A $30,000 website redevelopment is also underway, with an aim to improve accessibility, and add e-services and a public engagement platform.

Dallas says serious work is also needed with regard to records management, which has reached capacity. The fall election will cost $46,000, while future expenses considered are $50,000 in moving expenses to the community centre next year, $20,000 in furniture, and $50,000 for the 2026 election.

Recreation and Community Services: 2021 approved $665,400 / 2022 draft - $680,677 / 2.30% increase Due to the rising costs of the community centre, director Gillian Drake says the department is not taking on anymore major projects in the near future. She says the goal for the summer is to update the operating plan for the community centre.

Fire and Emergency: 2021 approved - $721,200 / 2022 draft - $964,658 / 33.76% increase Fire Chief Aaron Hanen broke down the new equipment and vehicles the department is in need of, starting with turnout (protective) gear worn by the firefighters at a cost of $28,000 this year and $127,200 over five years. Hanen says this is a high priority, along with $20,000 for new radio equipment.

On the vehicle side, the $640,000 replacement of Engine 31 comes due this year. Hanen says next year Engine 32 – a 1978 4X4 pumper truck – will need replacing too. It’s currently the only 4X4 truck in the fleet, which means it’s the only one capable of going up certain steep driveways. The new 4X4 pumper will cost around $370,000.

Hanen added the fire department has $100,000 available in FireSmart funding, which they’ll use to raise community awareness and complete community wildfire assignments.

Four new volunteers have signed up in the last month and are undergoing training. Hanen is hoping for four more next year too.

Hill, David Roderic

May 8, 1937 - March 29, 2022 It’s with great sorrow that we announce the passing of David Roderic Hill on March 29, 2022 in West Vancouver, Canada. David was predeceased by his beloved wife of 56 years Shelagh Mary Hill (née Fleming), his parents Frederic and Hilda Hill (née Maycock), and his elder brother Freddy. He leaves to mourn his daughter Caroline (Jeff) f), ) sons Simon (Jenifer) and Christopher (Caroline), nine grandchildren (Clare, Anna-Lisa, Catherine, Sophie and Hélène; Ian and Shona; and Jessica and Charlie) and a first great grandchild (Peter).

David was born on May 8, 1937, in Leamington Spa, England. A gifted student, he won a scholarship to Repton School, Derbyshire, allowing him to later gain a place as a County Major Scholar at Cambridge University.

Conscriipttion was sttill in pllace for postt-war Briitaiin, and d Daviid’s Uniiversiity sttud dies were dellayed d to fullfi fill this obligation. He was accepted into the Royal Air Force and sent in 1957 to complete his flight training at the Royal Canadian Air Force Station in Penhold, Alberta. There he gained his pilot’s “wings” and won a place on the Scroll of Honour.

After completing two years of national service, David returned to England to study engineering at Cambridge.

During this time, in 1959, the defining moment of his life took place when he helped a young lady struggling with her suitcases at a train station. “Love at first sight” was to prove no myth, and three weeks later David and Shelagh were engaged, marrying in 1960. Family life soon followed with the arrival of three children, and David settled into his work, first as a flight test engineer with Short Brothers, then as a research and project leader with Standard Telecommunication Laboratories.

David’s time in Penhold with the RAF maintained a grip on his imagination, so in 1967 he answered a job posting for a teaching position with the University of Calgary and returned to Canada with his young family to pursue his career as a tenured professor and researcher with the Department of Computer Sciences. There he established himself as a leader in the fields of Computer Human Interaction, Artificial Intelligence, and Speech Synthesis and Recognition by Machine. He’s remembered by former students as a deeply caring professor who gave his time generously to mentor and guide them, and he had a huge impact on the burgeoning careers of some of the brightest and most accomplished people in the field.

In 1995, David took early retirement, and he and Shelagh left Calgary for the more temperate climes of Bowen Island, BC. David never completely left his profession, and as Professor Emeritus he kept up various research projects. Life for David was sustained by his many interests and hobbies. Widely read and politically interested, he was a skillful mechanic and builder, a keen gardener and potter, and an avid squash player, golfer, skier and sailor. Above all, however, his life was defined by love for family. He was a man of strength, integrity and honesty, and will be in our thoughts forever.

“Per Ardua ad Astra”

Engine 32, a Dodge Custom 300 4X4/Pierreville 250/250, has gone up many steep hills over more than 40 years, but is nearing retirement and in need of a replacement. / Bowen Island Fire Department photo

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Covenant House in Vancouver would be gratefully accepted. A Celebration of Life ceremony to be announced at a later date.

Delivered to your mailbox!

Every week for $55 per year ($85 to off island addresses) 604-947-2442 ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thank you for your support of local journalism now and always.

If you are not sure if you have renewed, please call us to avoid disruption

A8 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 21, 2022

PARADISE GRILL IS BACK

By popular demand for our 26th Year! Opening Sunday May 1st.

Hours 11 to 6 on the Beautiful Boardwalk at Union Steamship Marina.

Bring a blanket and make your menu choice for a picnic lunch or dinner.

Choose from…Smok’in Smokies with Sauerkraut (or not) on Toasty buns.

Our famous BBQ all Beef Burgers & Original Hot Dogs, with all those fixings. Mayo, fresh lettuce & Tomato, and theen there is those fried onions! If that’s just not enough, Add on thhe (real cheddar) cheese & bacon. Delicious Veggie Burgers with that much loved BBQ pineapple R Try a BBQ Veggie dog with our ring option, making it so Juicy, Yum! OR ever so secret sauce, Shhhhh! And wait for it…You caan haave anything, (except slush puppies) topped off with, waitt for it onncee agaain…Cold pressed extra Virgin olive oil, from our veryy well seasonned cast iron pan.

We did mention this IS our 26th year, So very Well seasoonedd. Ice cold drinks. Bring the kids for Frosty Slush Puppies, and soomee family fun … The music is and games on that well groomed USSC green grass. Or Hey… great, so just come alone, and then you won’t be. We are now hiring full, and or part time. A Positive place to work. Good wagees, tips and income incentive bonuses. Text 604-908-9112 for a reeturn call.

Covenant House Sleep Out: Student Edition JULIA MCCAIG Director of Community Engagement / Island Pacific School For the past eight years our Grade 9 students have chosen to support Covenant House for their community service project. Each year students fundraise towards Sleep Out: Student Edition – they sleep outside for one night, so vulnerable youth don’t have to.

In those eight years our students have raised over $75,000 for Covenant House to support housing, counselling, programming and food. This is the most any school in Vancouver has ever raised! We even got a shout out from actor Ryan Reynolds last year for the students’ incredible success!

This year, on March 30, 2022 our Grade 9s were involved in an entire afternoon, evening and the following morning of programming to bring awareness of what it might be like to be homeless and the factors that contribute to it.

jumbo hotdog and a refillable drink for under $2. It’s amazing because when we debriefed this I asked “who did you see down there?” They talked about a family feeding their whole family for less than $2 each, drinking pop. You can tell there are a fair amount of down and out people at the Costco concession.

Some pooled their money, got a loaf of bread and a jar of Nutella and they just ate Nutella sandwiches all night. $2 is all the money they had. By the time they walked back up the hill to IPS and set up their beds behind the school, they’re cold, they’re wet, they’re hungry and they’re tired. Then we have a fire and we debrief. We sleep out on the gravel and then the next morning they reflect on their experience in a quiet moment before I feed them a pancake breakfast.

To a certain degree it’s like being downtown, this is the thing that we talk about with Jessica. There’s a huge percentage of kids couch surfing, they’ve been kicked out of

bowenEbikes.ca 778-956-7946 rentals@bowenebikes.ca t l @b bik

EARTH DAY SALE

We're paying the tax on new eBikes You stop paying $1.99/L at the pump This Weekend | April 22 - 24 A brief history of our Covenant House relationship, taken from an interview with Jennifer Henrichsen

Water Taxi

Water Taxi

Water Taxi

Proudly Celebrating 44 Years of Trusted Transport for Bowen Island & Howe Sound Cellular: 604-250-2630 Telephone: 604-947-2243 • PRIVATE CHARTERS AVAILABLE ANYTIME • SERVICE TO MANY LOCATIONS IN HOWE SOUND email: cormorantmarine@telus.net web: cormorantwatertaxi.com

604-250-2630

Since 1978

Back in 2015, we asked the Grade 9s what they wanted to do for their community service project. In the beginning they said they wanted to go to the downtown eastside and give out sandwiches. I said “That’s a good start, but you give a man a fish and he eats for a day, you give him a rod and he eats for a lifetime”. So I said “How are you going to make a difference for more than just a day and a full belly?”

We decided to approach Covenant House, and we had our first Sleep Out: Student Edition. Covenant House had done the “Executive Edition” for some years, but they were just starting their youth program. Jessica Slater, (Bowen Island Community School Principal Scott Slater’s wife), works there.

I called and said, “I’m calling from IPS on Bowen Island”, and she said “I live on Bowen Island!”

Jessica came in and we organized the whole project, where the Grade 9 class has an immersive experience downtown. They get their last food on the ferry at noon and they go to Covenant House downtown and volunteer their time to sort clothes.

This is all they can do because of privacy issues. They work for three hours or so. I then give them a toonie for dinner and they have to find $2 worth of food, or pickup whatever they find on the ground, but they can’t busk or beg.

There are groups of three kids with one teacher and we walk around — it’s March in the rain. Everybody knows where the cheapest food is and it’s actually at Costco. You can get a

their own house, they’re still trying to get through school, they’re the uncounted homeless. In the youth department of course there’s a lot of girls that are uncounted because they are not allowed on the street because their pimp has them.

It’s all sort of hard knocks. I don’t think our kids are super sheltered, but to a certain degree they are. I think our parents are quite aware of how privileged they are and there’s a lot of talk within homes.

“It’s not a scare tactic — “let’s drive down to the downtown eastside” — it’s an empathy tactic. “What does it look like to grow up in foster care? What does it look like when you have nowhere to go and your stepdad has kicked you out of the house?”

No kid wants to live on the street— it’s either an addiction problem or a mental health problem and they simply have no support and no choices.”

We talk about the kids that might be on the street beforehand, I want the empathy to be there already as to why people would be down there. So when the Covenant House representative comes to Bowen and they talk to the students on a Wednesday, we sit and talk and brainstorm. We look at crisis lines and we talk about where to find help if you need help. Where do you go?

Covenant House is a place to go if you need help. We just talk about how thin the line is between privilege and all of a sudden that’s gone. There are other shelters on the North Shore, but Covenant House is well funded because they are all over the world. You can support our students by donating through their website. Thanks!

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Thursday, April 21, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A9

“These people deserve so much more than a second glance” Jennifer Henrichsen, Assistant Head and the grade nines Reflections 2022 “Something that really stuck with me is when Sarah (support worker) said ‘think about the jokes they would tell — they all have a story just like you and me.”

They may struggle with hard times and a d d i c t i o n b u t t h a t ’s o n l y a s m a l l p o r t i o n o f w h o t h e y a r e .”

“As much as this experience has enlightened me, I couldn’t help thinking as I fell asleep that I was NOT scared, NOT dreading the hours to come – whereas people on the street live in fear all night.”

“When I got to see what it was like to be homeless feel like I got so much better of a view and understanding of the problems they face than what any class could have taught me.“

“After having this experience, I am tired and exhausted.

After one night. I can’t imagine the stress and sheer hopelessness that would come with having to sleep on the streets every night.”

“When we were downtown I saw passersby just stepping around people on the sidewalk without a second glance.

These people deserve so much more than a second glance.”

“We also enjoyed some privilege because of how we looked. A good example of this is at the Circle K where the guys let us use hot water for free and free utensils – he probably wouldn’t give someone who is homeless the same treatment.”

A Covenant House produced podcast - called “Under One Roof” - will be released April 21 at noon.

Construction will go ahead, says Woodfibre LNG STEVEN CHUA Squamish Chief The $1.6-billion Woodfibre LNG project has declared that it will start major construction on its site in 2023, following years of deferrals.

WLNG said in a news release that it has issued a Notice to Proceed to its construction contractor, McDermott International.

This Notice to Proceed is an instruction from Woodfibre LNG to McDermott to begin the work required in order to move the project toward major construction commencement in 2023.

Woodfibre LNG expects to reach substantial completion in 2027.

“We have different terminology from other projects. While we don’t call it a [Final Investment Decision], this is similar in that it marks the go-ahead for construction,” said spokesperson Rebecca Scott in an email to The Squamish Chief. “Preconstruction starts this year, then major works in 2023. There will be a gradual ramp-up to peak construction in 2025.”

Pre-construction refers to the $25-million site cleaning and preparation process, which has been ongoing to this point.

Since the company doesn’t use the term, ‘Final Investment Decision,’ she said in the email, this will be the closest that Woodfibre LNG will come to declaring something of that nature.

A Final Investment Decision, or FID, is an industry term

that generally denotes when a company decides to officially move forward with a project.

Woodfibre has been a contentious topic for years, with environmentalists calling it a step backwards in the face of a mounting climate emergency. However, the company has cast its product as a cleaner fossil fuel, which will replace dirtier forms of energy in its target market of Asia.

A related project, FortisBC’s Eagle Mountain pipeline, is expected to be constructed in tandem to supply the Squamish facility with natural gas.

The District of Squamish told The Squamish Chief it has no comment on this latest development.

Environmental group My Sea to Sky did not reply to a request for comment by an extended press deadline.

OPEN HOU HOUSE ATION OF LEARNING CELEBRAT CHOOL EDUCATION STUDIES IN THE ART, SHOWCASING MIDDLE SC DIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES CURRICULA HISTORY AND INDI

2 WEDNESDAY APRIL 27TH

Patient of the Week

eet Teachers And Parents 5:30 pm Refreshments While You Mee 6:00 pm Student Panel And Then Th Tour The Exhibits

ELVIS

LEARNING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE . INSPIRED TO MAKE WAVES islandpacific.org

Meet Elvis! Elvis, a handsome rescue from Missy Manner, visited us recently for some dental work. After a few days of recovery, Elvis is now doing great! An aspect of our dental work is dental x-rays. Often the teeth on the outside can look ok, but once we take a look inside it can be another story. Once x-rays were done, Elvis ended up needing 23 teeth extracted total. We were happy to help this guy out and are glad he is feeling better!

REGULAR HOURS Tuesday to Friday 9- 5 Saturday 9- 1 Closed Sunday and Monday

To schedule appointments, please call

604.947.9247

or email reception@bowenvet.com

A10 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Return of the Spinnakers HAIG FARRIS PHOTO GALLERY

The Southern Straits Classic Race, held by the West Vancouver Yacht Club, returned to Howe Sound for the first time in three years last weekend. Many sailors took part in a variety of courses over the rainy three days, making for plenty of excitement out on the seas.

Places of Worship Welcome You

Queen of Capilano Ferry Schedule APRIL 9 - JUNE 22

DEPART BOWEN ISLAND

DEPART HORSESHOE BAY

5:20 0 am except Sundays 6:20 0 am 7:30 0 am 8:35 5 am 9:40 0 am 10:5 50 am 12:0 00 pm 1:10 0 pm 2:55 5 pm 4:00 0 pm - except Wednesdays 5:10 pm 6:15 pm 7:25 pm - except Saturdays 8:30 pm 9:30 pm 10:30 pm

5:50 am m 6:50 am m 8:00 am m 9:05 am m - except Wednesdays 10:15 am 11:25 am 12:35 pm 2:20 pm m 3:30 pm m 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

BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH E v l M

www.biuc.ca | 1122 Miller Road

FOOD BANK

Sunday Worship 10:30 am Rev. Lorraine Ashdown

DROP-OFF

ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Sunday Mass at 9.30

Contact Angela Powell 604-947-2515

604 988

CATES HILL CHAPEL A

6304

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

Sunday Worship 10:00 Services offered in-person or online via Zoom.

Link available on website.

Rev. Phil Adkins

SHIRAT HAYAM (Song of the Sea) BOWEN’S JEWISH COMMUNITY Shabbat Gatherings ~ Holidays Contact aryana.rayne@gmail.com

)

Thursday, April 21, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A11

Bowen Views: Easter hike

Ron Paley and his family took a Good Friday hike through the Cape, yielding some gorgeous views including the Georgia Strait and beyond./RonPaleyphotos

TBCA Cleaner Needed Tunstall Bay Community Association is hiring a cleaner for its Clubhouse, a beautiful waterfront facility that features a kitchen, changerooms, bathrooms, general use areas and decks.

Part time position:

• Daily cleaning for up to 2 hours/day, including weekends, ideally early morning shift (ideally 6 am) AND • Once/week deep clean of the facility for up to 3 hourrs

May 15 – Sept. 11, 2022 A great way to start the day (and have the rest of the day for other pursuits!)

$500/week Application deadline: Friday April 29, 2022.

Please forward a covering letter and resume by

email: waterfront@tunstallbay.org

Position Title: Park Worker (Temporary) Position Status: Full-Time Temporary (This position is to last not later than December 31, 2022) Department: Parks & Environment Employee Group: GVRDEU Location: Crippen Regional Park, Bowen Island Salary Range/ Wage Rate: $2,352.00 bi-weekly plus 6.25% deferred compensation Have a passion for nature and the outdoors? Enjoy connecting with the community?

Experience variety and excitement in this healthy work environment. Learn new skills and earn competitive wages operating and maintaining a regional park. Help us to protect Metro Vancouver’s natural areas and connect people with them.

THIS ROLE: • Performs a variety of routine maintenance duties such as: collecting garbage and litter; cleaning and sanitizing toilet facilities; grass cutting and trimming; maintaining trails, buildings, bridges, boardwalks, picnic and camp sites; repairing tools; and washing and staining tables.

• Patrols park areas as required to help ensure public safety.

• Assists with construction improvements in parks such as bridges, trails, culverts, buildings, boardwalks, gates, fences, corrals, water lines and docking facilities.

• Operates and maintains equipment such as small tractors and attached mowers, trucks, push mowers, weed eaters, vacuums, and rock drills.

• Provides information, education and assistance to the public.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU HAVE: • Minimum Grade 10 or equivalent.

• Ability to deal with the public in a courteous and effective manner.

• Demonstrated good judgment in interpreting park regulations.

• Proficient English language skills, both verbal and written.

• Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License.

• Demonstrated ability to negotiate difficult terrain, walk long distances, and carry out a variety of tasks that require considerable physical exertion.

• Available to work flexible days and hours, including weekends, evenings and holidays.

POSSIBLE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES: Wildfire Suppression (S‐100), Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), Occupational First Aid (Level 1), Equipment Operations (such as small tractor, ride‐mower, weed eater, chainsaw), Safe Boating Operations, Radio Communications, Bear Awareness, Park Officer, Incident Command System (ICS), Workplace Safety and more.

HOURS OF WORK: 40 hours per week.

Our Vision: Metro Vancouver embraces collaboration and innovation in providing sustainable regional services that contribute to a livable and resilient region and a healthy natural environment for current and future generations.

We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and being representative of the region we serve. We invite all qualified candidates to apply including Indigenous People, visible minorities, immigrants, LGBTQ2S+, all genders and persons with disabilities.

Metro Vancouver requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (subject to any exemptions and accommodations) and provide proof of vaccination upon hire. Please follow this link http://www.metrovancouver.org/about/careers/ to our Careers page where you can submit your application by 11:30pm on May 5, 2022.

While we greatly appreciate all the replies we receive, regretfully only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

A12 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Co-housing deal breathes new life into historic West Vancouver cottages A GROUP OF OWNERS WILL SHARE OWNERSHIP OF THE HORSESHOE BAY COTTAGES THEY LIVE IN, THANKS TO A NEW CO-OP HOUSING DEAL

JANE SEYD North Shore News On Horseshoe Bay’s normally quiet Nelson Street, there’s been a recent buzz of activity as a set of century-old cottages get spruced up, ready for their newest occupants. In one

cottage, a bathtub that’s being replaced has been hauled out to the porch, while a shelving unit is hoofed up a set of stairs to another.

This time, though, the people moving in will have a much bigger stake in their new homes. The eight historic cottages are being preserved as the backbone of a new and unique co-housing community.

Cottages between 400 and 700 square feet The funky cottages, each between 400 and 700 square feet and about 100 years old, sit on three sloping lots on Nelson Avenue.

Their exact history is murky, despite digging by heritage buffs. Some say they were occupied by fishermen, others that they were associated with the Union Steamships that pre-dated the current ferry terminal. Regardless, the cottages have been well-loved landmarks in the waterfront community over many decades.

“It’s almost impossible to meet someone in Horseshoe Bay who doesn’t know somebody who lived here at some point,” said Matt Fidler, one of the driving forces behind the co-housing project.

For much of the past 50 years, the cottages have been rented.

Heidi Woodley moved in to one of them with her two kids a year ago at Christmas. Once she settled in, Woodley said she soon realized how special the cottages are. “I realized I really liked this village, and I liked the house. I realized I could make it work, and that I’d landed somewhere pretty cool,” she said.

A few months later, however, she got the bad news that the whole property was going up for sale for $3.8 million.

Tenants worked with co-housing group But instead of giving up, Woodley said she started thinking about ways the historic cottages might be saved, which then put her in touch with CoHo BC, an organization that supports, and encourages, collaborative ownership of property in the province.

Fidler joined the group and propelled it forward for the next eight months that it took to put the co-housing property deal together, with “no shortage of people saying it wouldn’t be possible along the way,” he added.

The group was lucky: the seller, Jim Bardal, who has cared for the properties for close to 30 years, was also interested in saving the unique property and was willing to give the group time.

“He could have easily sold it. He had all sorts of offers,” said Fidler. “But he wanted to find somebody that wanted to preserve it, and breathe new life into it.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

A summer view of the cottages. / Paul McGrath, North Shore News

Thursday, April 21, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A13 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Similar values important Once people read about the project in the newspapers, or heard about it through word of mouth, there were also no shortage of people who wanted to buy in. But the group took time to ensure those who would be living on the property had similar goals and values. “We had those conversations before we even started talking about money,” said Fidler.

Some people, for instance, wanted to rent out the cottages as short-term rentals, which wasn’t going to fly. “We’re building a community here. We want people on site pitching in, doing this together,” said Fidler.

“Pretty quickly, you can see where people are coming from and why they’re drawn to it.”

When everyone’s moved in, there will be a mix of people.

Woodley is the only one with kids. Other cottagers range from younger to later middle age and include both singles and couples.

Each owner gets a share of the property and pays “rent” towards the private mortgage every month. More unusually, there are also several investors who have paid into the project who don’t live on the site, but who wanted to help save the cottages.

Amber Storie and her fiancé Ben Vadasz are among the first of the cottagers to move in to a cosy one-bedroom with crisp white walls and a front porch looking out towards the bay. Storie grew up in West Vancouver and the couple was renting downtown when they heard about the plan from Fidler. “I’ve got tons of friends and family around on the North Shore. And this looked like such a beautiful area to live and a great community,” said Storie.

Many more Zoom calls followed about what the community would look like in the future.

Woodley and Fidler are hoping to create a balance between private and communal living, with gardens, a possible communal deck space, or even group Costco membership in the mix.

New owners starting to move in Owners are moving in over the next several months as updates like new paint, plumbing repairs, and perimeter drainage are completed.

Already there’s a shovel in a new garden area, while the old stone pathways meander between the cottages with exteriors painted colours like periwinkle blue, red, and mint green, past ferns, huckleberries and whimsical garden statues. A steep but solid set of stairs behind the cottages leads up the hill to a lookout point and chairs with stellar views out over Horseshoe Bay. “It’s about saving the cottages and breathing new life into them. And that’s what brings us all together,” said Fidler. “Individually, would we assemble the same group of strangers and buy an apartment building with eight units? Probably not. It’s all about the cottages in this unique property. It’s one of a kind, so it’s worth fighting for.”

The view from one of the Horseshoe Bay cottages. / Paul McGrath, North Shore News

CLASSIC BOOKS. CONTEMPORARY ISSUES. BIG CONVERSATIONS. COMPLETE YOUR M.A. IN LIBERAL STUDIES PART-TIME & ONLINE. Join a diverse group of working, retired, or otherwise busy adults in completing your M.A. part-time online through live Zoom seminars.

In-person travel study (Oxford & Spain) also available.

Fall 2022 applications now open for the live Zoom version of the Graduate Liberal Studies M.A. at Simon Fraser University.

Learn more at our upcoming Virtual Open House.

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE Thursday, May 5th at 7pm RSVP at glsp@sfu.ca

Find out more at sfu.ca/gls/apply Matt Fidler and Heidi Woodley at the property in Horseshoe Bay, where eight owners will have a share of the cottages on Nelson Avenue under a co-housing arrangement. / Mike Wakefield, North Shore News

A14 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 21, 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

PRACTICAL NURSING

SPROTTSHAW.COM

SUDOKU

BC WIDE CLASSIFIEDS MOVING

@bowenislandundercurrent.com

2 Guys With A Truck Moving & Storage 604-628-7136 ANSWERS

@BowUndercurrent

Place your ad online: bowenislandundercurrent.adperfect.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS BOWEN ISLAND WELLNESS CENTRE 604-947-9755

To advertise here please call 604-9472442

at the entrance to Artisan Square Suite 597 7

Book online at bowenislandwellnesscentre.ca

or email ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 21, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A15

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ALL APRIL

Bowen Trail Society 30X30 We are challenging you to get outside for a minimum of 30 min every day in April. You can hike, run, bike, golf, garden, swim, paddle, ride a horse, or even walk your goats.... as long as you do it outside! Learn more at www.bowenislandtrailsociety.ca

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

Legion Dinner Doors open at 5 PM. Dinner is served at 6 PM. Upcoming dinners Apr. 29, May 13.

From Sufism to Social Protest: Poetry and Song for Change An evening of poetry, song and word at the Bowen Libary Annex. Guests Dr. Asma Qadri and Nicolás Grandi. Doors at 5:30 PM, event 6 to 7 PM. See Page 7 for more details.

The Winter’s Tale - A William Shakespeare tale, directed

by Graham Ritchie Opening night Friday, April 22, 7:15 PM at Cates Hill Chapel. Starring a host of local Bowen actors and actresses.

Tickets available at Cates Pharmacy. More dates: Saturday, April 23 at 7:15 PM; Friday, April 29 at 7:15 PM; Saturday, April 30 matinee finale at 2 PM.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26

Fabric At Play Join the Fibre Arts Guild in making a quilt block that will be pieced into a quilt of comfort for a residential school surviver. No sewing skills required. All materials provided and mentors available. 7 PM at the Library Annex. Register @ 604-947-2454 or hello@thehearthartsonbowen.ca.

TO APRIL 30

Catching Stars Gallery presents Featured Artist Kathy Clarke “A day at the Beach” - New Spring/Summer collection of jewelry

designs handcrafted on Bowen from sterling silver, featuring the earth’s natural treasures! Open daily 11 AM to 5 PM.

TO MAY 1

‘Elements of Bowen’ exhibit at the Hearth BICS, CSA and PAC youth art event. More than 100 artworks will be for sale by silent auction at the Hearth, up until final bidding May 1 at 5 PM. More info available on Page 8.

SUNDAY, MAY 1

Walking Each Other Home – 4 PM The Garden at the Bowen Island United Church (or Collins Hall if raining). A day of choral remembrance for people who have died during the pandemic, their families and anyone who wants to participate as a community.

Gentle, comforting songs and quiet reflection with the Bowen Island Threshold Choir. lizian@shaw.ca or sooz@ alanfinancial.com for more info.

BOWEN HOME SERVICES love the life you live NEW CONSTRUCTION RENOVATIONS RESTORATION ADDITIONS SECONDARY STRUCTURES UNIQUE OUTDOOR SPACES

BOWEN ISLAND SPECIALISTS! QUALITY SERVICE GUARANTEED! Keep Calm and Call Econo

604.980.3333

991 West First Street, North Vancouver, BC www.economovingandstorage.com

I&I TOWING HAULING LTD

Vehicles • Construction Equipment Sea-Can Containers • Tiny Homes Bowen Island • Greater Vancouver Vancouver Island • Sunshine Coast

RoB

Tim Rhodes REALTOR®

604.341.9488

RHODES ON BOWEN Michael Bingham • 604 947 1717 ianditowhaul@gmail.com

REAL ESTATE MARKETING going that extra mile rhodesonbowen.com tim@rhodesonbowen.com

Window Blinds On Bowen 778-995-1902

SUB CONTRACT WORK

BUILT GREEN BC BUILDER CONTACT US FOR A FREE QUOTATION WWW.WHITEHART.CA ADDRESS 302-566 ARTISAN LANE BOWEN ISLAND, BC PHONE 1 (778) 999-3434

Landscape Lighting Irrigation

Seascape Bruce Culver

Office: 604-947-9686

Cell: 604-329-3045

BOWEN ISLAND ROOFING ROOFING & REPAIRS

604-987-7663

Trade ticket certified #00012-RO-96

A16 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, April 21, 2022

RUDDY DEALS This week!

Apri l 21 - 27th

FRESH MOZZARELLA & BOCCONCINI - SAPUTO

BUCKWHEAT MILK - BUCKS $5.49 / each* SAVE $1.40

$4.99 / each*

SUNDRIED TOMATOES or BASIL PESTO - IMPORTED $3.49 / each*

Black Pepper Shallot & Chive Garlic & Herbs Basil & Chive

COOKIES - ARTISAN BAKE SHOPPE

CHEESE - BOURSIN

$5.99 / 150g* SAVE $1.20

POWER BOWL MEALS - HAPPY PLANET

$6.99 / assorted varieties*

$12.99 / 600g* SAVE $2.00

SAVE $1.00

100% Plant Based!

ROLLED OATS - BOB'S RED MILL

LEMON LOAF - HILL'S

$5.29 / 454g* SAVE $1.00

$5.99 / each* SAVE $1.00

FLOUR - BOB'S RED MILL A.P.

VERSAILLES YOGURT - RIVIERA

$6.99 / 2.27kg* SAVE $1.00

Produce Specials!

$4.99 / 4x 120g*

RED GRAPES $2.89 / lb*

ZUCCHINI ORG. $1.99 / lb*

KALE GREEN

$1.99 / each*

SPINACH

$1.59 / bunch*

ICEBERG LETTUCE ORG. $3.99 / each*

1/2 PRICE!!!

Mango Cardamon or Raspberry Mint!