Bowen Island Undercurrent May 5 2022

LAC 123: Local water committee news and notes PAGE 6

$1.50

inc.

GST

THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2022

BOOK WORMS

VOL. 48 NO. 16

BIUndercurrent

BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com

The BookFest is back later this month!

PAGE 6

Last minute budgeting

PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REDUCED TO SINGLE DIGITS ALEX KURIAL Editor

ROAD REHAB: Works crews are performing repairs to the hole and culverts of Bowen Island Trunk Road this week. Bowen’s roads need lots of attention in the coming years, with the budget accounting for major projects along Trunk Road to fix the storm sewer system, and replacement of hundreds of culverts around the island. It looks like public works will be receiving some much needed reinforcement to help with these tasks soon though. Find out more in our front page story on the right. / Alex Kurial photo

As the municipality gets set to finalize its financial plan for the years ahead, chief administrative officer Liam Edwards says Bowen is in the midst of climbing a ‘capital plateau’ with regard to the many capital projects currently underway on the island.

“These are projects that have been in the works, some of them for decades, and they all happened to be coming together at a similar time,” says Edwards. They include the community centre, fire hall and replacement fire truck, along with significant investment in road rehabilitation and a new composting facility.

To fund the projects, Bowen’s property taxes are set for a rise this year. Originally at 10.4 per cent in the first draft of the budget, further savings were found in the past week, and a final raise of 7.8 per cent was settled on. This makes the average property tax increase around $217, down from $287.

“This budget has probably been one of the toughest budgets we’ve ever faced at the municipality, there’s no question about that,” says mayor Gary Ander. “I think there’s a perfect storm of the timing of a lot of capital projects that came due… we would have liked to have staggered them, but that’s just not the way it happened.”

Edwards added much of the capital project funding comes through grant opportunities, and it’s not always up to the municipality when those come around. “It’s really hard to say no to that when that’s an asset and a service that you want,” he says specifically in reference to the $7.9 million offered in grant funding for the community centre.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

A2 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Property tax and utility bill payments Gary’s Corner: your mayoral newsletter

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

May 9, 2022 6:15 pm Regular Council Meeting Attend in person or on Zoom May 10, 2022 3:30 pm Finance Advisory Committee Meeting Attend on Zoom May 12, 2022 1:00 pm Special Council Meeting Audited Financial Statements Attend in person or on Zoom

It’s easy to make payments through your financial institution if you want to pay online or by telephone banking.

Tax bill: Search “Bowen” under payee.

Add Bowen Island Municipality - Property Tax as a payee. Use your roll number as the account number.

Water/sewer bill: Search “Bowen” under payee.

Add Bowen Island Municipality - Utilities as a payee. Use the last four digits of your account number on your water bill.

Once you’re set up, just pay as you would any other bill.

Interac E-transfer Property tax and utility accounts should not be paid using Interac E-Transfer, as this is not a secure method of transmission. Sending funds through email is vulnerable to security threats, and fraudulent redirection of funds can occur.

Bowen Island Municipality will not accept submission of an E-transfer receipt as proof of payment.

Hello Bowen Island. I’m here with an update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase I upgrades and the financing plan that we need to pay for that work, and the 2022 budget that’s currently in development.

Since my last letter of March 18, we solidified the funding strategy for the Phase I upgrades. We need to withdraw $1,640,000 from our General Reserve funds to proceed with the work as soon as possible. $718,677 of this will be paid back into the account by the users within the Snug Cove Sewer System through a combination of user fees and parcel taxes over the next seven years. The remaining $921,323, or 56%, is the cost that all island taxpayers will share through the use of reserves.

The rationale for this is that several projects in the Cove hold island-wide significance for our community – the lands sold for the rental apartments added to increased rental housing stock on the island, something that has been identified as a strategic priority for years. The Foxglove properties are linked to Snug Additionally, sending funds through E-Transfer can result in Cove House Society to provide supportive seniors housing. delays in proper application of funds to your account, as it is And the Library and Fire Hall are Municipal facilities providing often difficult to know which account to apply the payment to. services to the entire island. www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/ways-you-can-pay

Emergency Preparedness Week Bowen Island joins jurisdictions across Canada in marking May 1 to 7, 2022 as Emergency Preparedness Week.

Safety begins at home with individual and family preparedness.

When disaster strikes, emergency workers may not reach everyone immediately, or even for several days. Families should be prepared to take care of themselves for a minimum of 72 hours, and ideally for longer. The impacts of any emergency or disaster can be lessened by knowing what to do before, during and after an emergency and by identifying the risks, having a plan and a kit prepared.

Learn more on our website at: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/epw

There’s been a lot of misinformation and speculation on social media about the use of municipal funds to pay for this project.

The costs of the project that are deemed to benefit the Snug Cove sewer users will be paid for through a parcel tax on properties connected to the sewer. The costs of the project that are deemed to benefit Island-wide taxpayers will be paid for using general reserves. I know that this is an unpopular decision and we are taking the heat for it. But we are doing what must be done with this infrastructure to support current and future levels of wastewater services.

Now onto the budget. It has been a whirlwind of activity over the past weeks for our finance department in finalizing the 2021 audit and developing the 2022 budget. Normally, we would prefer to have started the budget back in the fall of 2021 and held a longer period for public consultation. But due to staffing vacancies, this year it has been a compressed timeline to have this work completed by the May 15th deadline.

The first draft of the budget proposed a Municipal tax increase of $636,900, or 10.4% over 2021. I know that it’s shocking to see a tax increase percentage in the double digits. This is mostly due to our obligations under our collective agreement, rising costs of insurance, fuel and supplies, additional contributions to reserves to fund capital projects and repayment of borrowed money.

Read more on bowenislandmunicipality.ca or scan the code to read the full article.

Contact Bowen Island Municipality PAID ADVERTISEMENT May 5, 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, May 5, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A3

ISLAND NEWS

Cost savings, revnue increases, debt restructuring contribute to lower property tax jump COUNCIL VOTED 6-1 TO APPROVE THE NEW BUDGET, ADVANCING IT TO FINAL READING NEXT WEEK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The CAO also said to make a project happen, at some point the bill is going to come due. “For long-term debt financing, you will still have a place and a point in time where you’ll be carrying all that same debt. Unless you’re able to spread it out over a 30-year time period, you will never avoid having to carry that same debt load at some point in there.”

“It does feel like a lot (the debt), because Bowen has had the luxury of having very limited and next-to-no debt. But in order to achieve the services and the goals the community has set out, we have to incur some debt,” says Edwards.

Despite the capital realities, staff were able to find some savings in the draft budget, and even managed to work in a new full-time employee for the public works department.

Reduced maintenance costs of $14,500 helped allow for the addition of a new employee for the roads crew at an estimated partial year cost of $43,000.

Edwards says the new hire will serve a dual purpose of making work safer and saving money. The roads crew currently has three staff members which means one person finds themselves on their own, which is less safe and less productive.

Now, two teams of two will mean one worker always has an eye on the other, and will allow the municipality to start dedicating its time to the road rehabilitation area of capital projects. It’s estimated $25,000 to $75,000 could be saved on culvert replacements as a result, instead of having to outsource the work. As a result the annual roads and renewal infrastructure budget was dropped from $1 million to $960,000 this year, and decreased $75,000 for the four years after.

“I really look at that as a huge cost savings for us and I think that’s great that we’re looking at it from reducing contracting fees by keeping this in-house,” said Coun.

Rob Wynen.

More savings found among departments included

$28,750 in fire and emergency, $16,920 in community recreation, $12,500 in council strategic priorities, and $22,000 in parks and environment. The latter number allowed for the inclusion of $15,325 for a staffing increase to the parks department.

The library board also worked their budget down by $14,853, bringing total operating expense savings to $86,716.

This reduced property taxes by 1.42 per cent.

Additionally, revised revenue estimates also helped lighten the tax burden slightly. Predictions went up for bylaw fines, grant revenues, business licencing, and most significantly $20,000 in building permit revenues, all totalling to $30,882, and allowing for another 0.5 per cent to come off property taxes.

Finally, chief financial officer Kristen Watson proposed a restructuring of Bowen’s debt repayments for the surplus lands purchased in 2005 for $2 million. Currently these are $106,038 per year, $64,000 of which is interest, and locked in until 2029.

Since then the municipality has sold $1.15 million worth of these lands, proceeds which went into the Land Opportunity Reserve Fund (LORS). The money was recently lent to Cove Bay for work on their water treatment plant, and residents are paying it back through a 10-year parcel tax.

Watson proposed the principal part of the annual repayment ($42,038) come from LORS, and the interest through property tax, instead of property tax paying the whole $106,038 each year. This brings down the current tax raise 0.7 per cent, but does mean there will be less money available to make a payment on the debt when the municipality can renegotiate in 2029.

Watson says the land will benefit all residents over time, so she was comfortable with shifting more of the debt to future property owners.

Between operating expense savings, revenue increase estimates, and the debt restructuring, $160,346 was trimmed from the draft budget, bringing the property tax levy down to $6,590,370. This equalled a 2.62 percentage reduction, for a

final raise of 7.8 per cent instead of 10.4 per cent.

The various changes do mean the 2023 property tax increases are estimated at a more than 12 per cent jump.

Watson says a big reason for this is many debt payments will start to come due; this number jumps from $215,596 in 2022 to $782,663 in 2023.

The CFO pointed out though that the actual dollar amounts of the property tax levy are lower than in the draft, due to the savings found this year. So while the percentage raise itself is higher, the actual property tax money required is lower as far as dollars go. This is the case through 2026.

Council was largely supportive of the changes and voted 6-1 to send it to a final reading next week, with only Coun. Alison Morse opposing it. The municipal budget deadline is May 15.

“I think these capital projects are investments for the community of Bowen Island to be more resilient, to ruggedize ourselves from some of the shocks that may be coming, whether it’s a pandemic, whether it’s culverts washing out in some big storm,” said Coun. Sue Ellen Fast.

“There’s lots of things to worry about and I think these capital investments are investments that help us weather them together as a community,” says Fast.

Coun. David Hocking said he does “recognize that so many people are upset looking at this rate,” but added “there are a lot of things in a small community that are unavoidable. We have more kilometres of road per person than anyone in the region.”

“We also have expenses because we’re isolated. Other municipalities can share services like fire services, we can’t.

So we have to have a fire hall that’s considerably bigger than what a 4,000 population would be if we were on the North Shore where we could have somebody who could come over and help us.”

“I really feel that staff has done an excellent job looking through this very carefully. This is not an excessive budget. It’s costing us quite a bit, but unfortunately that’s unavoidable,” said Hocking.

Friends of the Bowen Island Library

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BookFest 2022 In the Gym @ Bowen Island Community School

A giant sale of quality used books and media.

All proceeds benefit the Bowen Island Public Library.

Saturday, May 21 10 am-4 pm Sunday, May 22 10 am-2 pm Bring Your Own Box! Fill any size box for $10

Monday, May 23 10 am-12 pm Current COVID-19 health orders apply.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Eagle Cliff Community Association (ECCA) Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Collins Hall, 1120 Miller Road 10:45 a.m. Doors open for membership sign-up and renewal 11:00 a.m. Annual General Meeting including election of Board members Refreshments will be provided.

Questions? Contact us at eccabowenisland@gmail.com

A4 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, May 5, 2022

VIEWPOINTS Mama never forgets her birds Mama never forgets her birds, Though in another tree— She looks down just as often And just as tenderly As when her little mortal nest With cunning care she wove— If either of her “sparrows fall,” She “notices,” above.

- Emily Dickinson

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Lose yourself at Wild Coast Nature Refuge

Over half an hour early and still cut off! This ferry has ruined my day. I was left furious and frustrated last Tuesday, my dental appointment and city plans totally cancelled.

There was only one thing to do. First a stop at the Snug for a decaf cappuccino and a chocolate croissant, put in a favourite tape (yes, my car still has a tape deck) and then drive across the island to a very special forest. The Wild Coast Nature Refuge is the name chosen for the Bowen Island Conservancy’s new park, and it is truly a wondrous place. As I walked down the quiet trail, taking in the old growth logs lying on the mossy ground giving life to new trees, and breathing with them in a calm reciprocal rhythm, I could feel the anger and tension drain away.

The path lures one forward, with just enough slow corners and curves to bring a sense of

wonder and curiosity as to what awaits. But there’s no need to hurry as you imagine the small creatures who find homes in the shrubs and grasses, burrowing beneath in the ground, swimming in the wetlands.

One final bend and the land becomes an open space of reindeer lichen and small bright flowers, with minute pines, firs and arbutus forging their way through the gravel bed. And beyond the coastal bluffs, the sea and sky compete to see which is the brightest blue, clouds and waves the lightest white. A pair of eagles cry and circle above. There is breathtaking life and beauty here.

A missed ferry, concern over higher taxes, water quality, budget shortfalls… all these fall away, outbalanced by the splendour of nature. Leave all your concerns behind when you come to the opening of Wild Coast Nature Refuge on May 29, from 1-3 pm. The entrance is on Huszar Creek Lane off Cape Drive.

Louise Loik photo

- Allie Drake

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.

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

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, May 5, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A5

VIEWPOINTS The Bowen Spirit

Dear Editor, I was saddened to read, on the Bowen Island Everything Else Facebook page, about the passing of former island resident Gary Ferguson.

Gary embodied the qualities that are the foundation of true friendship. He was a very open hearted and sympathetic person who was beloved by many islanders. He was also an immensely gifted visual artist with a unique style that reflected his great creativity and artistry. While he lived on Bowen, the body of his artwork provided islanders a legacy of much loved, iconic images that captured the vibrant, warm hearted character and spirit of our much cherished island way of life.

Gary’s life manifested that spirit, and the memory of his life will always be a reminder of how vitally important it is to always nurture it, as the spirit of this wondrous place and its people contains within it the essential life force of our own humanity.

Elements of Bowen - Youth Art show and auction On behalf of the Bowen Island Community School Association and our partners, BICS Parent Advisory Council and The Hearth, I’d like to thank the young artists for donating their work to the “Elements of Bowen” Youth Art show and silent auction. Over 150 paintings were beautifully displayed at The Hearth and many Islanders and visitors were amazed and delighted by the art works.

Many thanks to all of you who bid on the artworks. You can still order prints, cards, mugs, notebooks of the art work: https://www.thecardproject.ca/ (scroll to find the purple Bowen Island to order).

Funds from the silent auction activities of these community groups.

Dear Alex, Thank you so much for supporting our Bowen Rotary Shelterbox Fundraiser for Ukraine. We very much appreciate your publishing about our humanitarian campaign to help in Ukraine.

I have sent you a photo of one of the eggs I wrote this year with a background story as to the reason why.

The pysanka is a very old traditional design from the Radekhiv region in Lviv Province, Ukraine.

I have been following a group on social media called Pysanky for Ukraine, who have been posting pictures of pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Eggs) that they have made to honour, support and send prayers and good wishes to Ukraine and to its people. With about 8,000 members all over the world writing messages of goodwill a few noticed and worried that no one had seen any pysanky photos from a usually very active member living in Ukraine. When she actually managed to upload a photo of her work, members noticed she had written all her eggs in red and white and were worried about why?

She explained to another contributor that when she was forced to flee her home she grabbed her kytska (bees-

I read with great interest the letter last week in the Undercurrent by Tarrnie Williams headlined , “let’s not build bigger now” on page A5.

With interest rates currently soaring, building materials at an all-time high with no end in sight in the short term, and many Bowen merchants still struggling with the weak sales volumes over the past two years due to Covid, I wholeheartedly endorse Mr. Williams thesis.

Stopping construction on the community center [which is not fully funded yet anyway] would not be catastrophe, because it was under budgeted drastically and we are filling a shortfall in fundraising via taxation …….and if we waited a couple of years to restore business volumes, people’s confidence, seek additional fundraising for the community centre and wait for inflation to subside [and most likely retract ] ,everyone would be better off .

Municipal councilors that support this idea should be lauded, not criticized as they are trying to balance a variety of competing “needs”.

I really don’t see a large downside in delaying the community center project until we can afford it, and therefore allowing

‘card

project’

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- Joan Vyner Chair Bowen Island Community School Association

wax writing pen) and some packet of dyes. Turns out she only grabbed the red ones. My egg is a prayer for her.

A tribute to that writer with best wishes for her health, safety and future.

So far, Bowen Rotary has managed to raise the funding for at least 4 shelter boxes (which can house up to 10 people with all the household supplies needed) - thanks to

the generosity of Bowen Islanders. Not all totals are in yet from those who paid directly to shelterbox.org (and referenced Bowen Island fundraiser) so we are hopeful that it is more. There is still time for people who would like to contribute to do so by giving donations at 1219 Miller Rd or by calling 604-947-2315 for information.

Thank you so much for supporting Bowen Rotary.

Best Wishes, - Lynn Krukowski

Get prepped with NERP

On the Bowen Island financial plan...

Dear Alex ,

the

Thank you to all the volunteers who made this project possible.

- John Sbragia

ShelterBox homes on the way

and

council to reduce the large percent increase in property taxes that will affect both residential and commercial occupants.

Now is the time to be a bit cautious in my view and live within our means……. not just SPEND and therefore be forced to fall back on significantly increasing our property taxes that most people , especially small business cannot afford.

Also the Health Center has already raised 3/4 of their goal of $8 million , and in my opinion that is a higher priority than the community center at this time. Bowen Island has such a small financial base to raise funds from , hence to have the two major projects competing with each other for fundraising at this point is going to hurt both projects. If the community center project was delayed for 18 months , this would allow the Health Center to continue their fundraising efforts to move forward in to success .After that , the Community Center project could later reduce it’s dependence on all property tax payers to fund any shortfalls in their project , which likely the escalating costs re inflation will reduce somewhat over time ,due to a slowing economy that most economists are predicting.

Best regards, - Ken Hallat

In association with Emergency Preparedness week 2022, this month’s NERP tip is highlighting the importance of one of the four major disaster risk reduction components that include mitigation, preparedness, response & recovery.

Important items to have in your vehicle to be PREPARED in the event of a disaster include: Grab-and-go bag containing water, non-perishable food, and first aid supplies Windshield scraper and snow brush Extra windshield washer fluid Spare tire, wheel wrench and jack Shovel and traction mat, sand or kitty litter Flashlight and extra batteries Battery jumper cables Extra clothing and footwear Flares and matches or lighter Fuel line antifreeze Tire chains and gloves

Would you like to work in paradise?

Paradise Grill now hiring full time management position and part time available.

Please text 604-908-9112

PARADISE GRILL OPENING FOR OUR 26thYEAR FRIDAY MAY 6TH!

A6 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Bowen LAC roundup SEE WHAT THE 8 WATER LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES HAVE PLANNED FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR AND BEYOND

ALEX KURIAL Editor Bowen’s many water local advisory committees (LAC) are making plans for the years ahead as part of the current budget process.

All seven LAC met in the past month and submitted five-year plans to be included in the municipality’s 20222026 financial draft plan. Highlights from the meetings for each area include:

Tunstall Bay: A new water reservoir tank is the big capital project on the horizon, with a price tag of $700,000.

The money will be borrowed from the Municipal Finance Authority and be repaid over five years.

The project had sizeable opposition based on a number of concerns, and even found itself subject to a petition against to try and quash it. Ultimately though only 30 per cent (43 of 144) of owners in the LAC voted against the plan, signifying a strong show of support for the reservoir tank by residents.

Residents will pay back the borrowed funds through a new parcel tax over the next five years, at a rate of $853 for connected homes and $512 for unconnected ones.

Starting in 2023, an additional user rate bump of five per cent a year will begin to allow enough reserve money to fund a $200,000 replacement of a pressure reducing valve chamber upgrade.

Snug Cove: Certainly the most talked about LAC island-wide in the last few months, Snug Cove is continuing with their plan to fund the $1.64 million upgrade to the Wastewater Treatment Plant through a combi-

nation of user fees and parcel taxes for local residents ($718,677, 44%), and payments assessed to taxpayers island-wide ($921,323, 56%). The latter point has been the focus of much contention this year, primarily due to differing interpretations of the island-wide benefits o f several projects.

Snug Cove residents learned they’d be getting a little relief on their portion of the bill during a Special Council Meeting May 2. While putting the parcel roll together more properties were discovered in Snug Cove than initially thought. The average parcel tax over the next seven years is now expected to drop from $664 to $593.

Eagle Cliff: Bowen’s most northern LAC has a series of major water supply upgrades coming in the years ahead, totalling $4.859 million. The project will result in 110 Eagle Cliff properties joining the Cove Bay water system, along with a new reservoir tank for the area.

The municipality and LAC are hoping to obtain nearly $3.6 million, or ¾ of the total amount, through grant funding.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

BookFest is back! May 21-23 at the community school RUPERT RITCHIE Friends of Bowen Island Library Society After a two year hiatus due to COVID, the BookFest comes roaring back Saturday, May 21 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday, May 22 10 am to 2 pm, and Monday, May 23 10 am to 12 pm.

As usual, pocket books are $1, trade paperbacks $2, hardcovers $3 and DVDs $1. On Sunday you can fill any size box for $10. On Monday, books are free. We are actually sitting on two year’s worth of books, so get shopping!

You may wonder who the Friends of Bowen Island Library Society (FOBILS) are and what we do.

Volunteers have supported literacy on Bowen for decades, beginning with the Annie Wood Memorial Library - the first library on Bowen - and bringing the Bookmobile over on weekends.

The Library Committee became FOBILS in 1978, with the sole purpose to develop public interest in, and the acceptance and establishment of a public library service on Bowen.

Our current Board consists of Rupert Ritchie, Chair; Steven Frazer, Vice Chair; Anna-Marie Atherton, Treasurer; Pam Miller, Secretary; and Ily Allen, Michael Penny and Greta Smith as Members at Large. We occasionally seek new members so feel free to speak with one of us. New members and volunteers are welcome.

And what have we been up to?

This is what we have funded at the Library: annual topup of the salary for the summer reading programme, supplies for the summer reading programme, summer youth programmer, expansion of the juvenile collection, workshops, speakers, literary salons, author readings, a digital camera, name tags, memory kits, kid’s library card design and launch, intro of the tech tutor, library reno and painting, and the expansion of the Annex with $20,000 donated for construction and $10,000 for furnishings.

Literally and literacy, this is where the money from your book purchases goes!

Thanks for all your support.

See you at the Bookfest!!

Places of Worship Welcome You

Queen of Capilano Ferry Schedule APRIL 9 - JUNE 22

BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH 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

CATES HILL CHAPEL

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

DEP PART 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

m 5:50 am 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

Thursday, May 5, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A7

mom loves Bowen

Sunday May 8 11:30 - 3PM

A8 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, May 5, 2022

(re)Introducing the Bowen Island Health Foundation Board BOWEN ISLAND HEALTH FOUNDATION The Bowen Island Health Foundation is the group responsible for building and operating the new Bowen Island Health Community Health Centre. As the project moves from vision to operations, new board members have joined, adding to

the talented and hard-working group who have been with the Foundation since the beginning.

If you have questions, wonder how you can help or how you can donate to the building fund, these are the people to contact. And if you see them in the Cove or on trails, they are always happy to stop and chat. Detailed bios can be found on the health centre web site at bowenislandhealthcentre.com.

Colleen O’Neill / Vice President

Suzanne Saatchi / Executive Director Suzanne became Executive Director for the Bowen Island Community Health Centre in June 2021 and is responsible for planning and implementing operations for the new facility. She was previously a management consultant specializing in healthcare operational planning, operational readiness assessments, and strategic planning for clients that included Burnaby Divisions of Family Practice, Provincial Health Services Authority, Fraser Health, and Northern Health.

Tim Rhodes / President Tim is a long-time Bowen resident with a rich history in community and civic engagement. He had a successful career in the architectural, interior design and property development sector in Calgary and Vancouver. He is currently a licensed realtor on the Island and a former municipal councillor.

Colleen is a 32-year Bowen resident and tireless community volunteer. A former RN working in acute care medicine and palliative care, she is founder of the Caring Circle Health Resource Centre and founder of Bowen Island Family Place.

She has also been on many boards including IPS and the Bowen Island Community Foundation.

Sandra and her family moved to Bowen in 2017. She is a lawyer and partner at Roper Greyell LLP where she practices all aspects of workplace law, where she has established herself as a leading expert in labour, employment and workplace human rights law.

Clive Jones / Director

Bill Brown / Director

Cyril is a retired CFO and COO who had a long and distinguished career working around the world before moving to Canada in 2001.

He had stints with SFU and UBC, before working with the BC Pharmacy Association for several years. He lives in North Vancouver but has volunteered his time to help make our project successful.

Bill had a long and distinguished career with BC Sugar, serving as President and CEO before his retirement. Over a 40-year career he has also served as a corporate director of several public and private companies.

Dr. Lloyd Purdy / Director Gordon Orlikow / Director

Jennifer McGowan / Director

Sandra Guarascio / Director

Cyril Lopez / Treasurer

Brian Thomas-Peter / Director Brian is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist who, in addition to providing clinical services to a variety of populations, has been an academic and executive director of large mental health services in the UK and in Canada.

Before his retirement, Clive was co-owner of West Van Dental Group where he served countless Bowen families. He has been an active member of the Bowen Island Football Club and is working to help establish a dental practice as part of the service offering in the new health centre.

Jennifer has been an on-andoff Bowen resident since the late 1990s and previously worked for the Municipality as the Emergency Program Coordinator. She currently works with the Provincial Health Services Authority as the Health Emergency Management BC Coordinator for BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services.

Paul Welsh / Director Paul Welsh has been a leader in the communications and public relations business in British Columbia and Canada for the past 30 years. He currently consults to senior leadership in organizations large and small. A Bowen resident for more than 20 years, he has been an active baseball, soccer and rugby coach.

Gordon has been an Island resident since 2010 and is a senior partner with Korn Ferry, a global human resources and executive search company. He has also had a long career in sport and is involved with the Canadian Olympic Committee and the World Athletics Federation.

Maija Temaski / Director

Lloyd is a practicing Family Physician who has worked in Canada, South Africa and the UK. He is currently the Medical Director of REACH community health centre where he provides clinical leadership and is responsible for service model development; planning and governance of a multi-physician practice and Urgent and Primary Care Centre.

Maria Turnbull / Director

Maija is a strategist and

Maria is Associate Executive

decade of experience working with funding, science and health policy organizations in BC. She currently works at the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, where she leads strategic initiatives to develop the health research talent BC needs for healthier people and communities.

which provides consulting to the non-profit sector. She has over 20 years of leadership experience in staff and director roles within the not-for-profit sector, both here in Canada and in the UK. She has been on Bowen for 10 years and is a former President of the Bowen Island Montessori School.

Greg Shepherd / Director health researcher with over a Director with Vantage Point,

Greg Shepherd is a recent transplant to Bowen and a licensed pharmacist and CEO of Pharmasave (Western Canada).

He brings a unique combination of practical knowledge of the BC healthcare system, from years working as a front-line pharmacist, a successful pharmacy business owner, and as an executive.

Thursday, May 5, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A9

ISLAND VIEWS

This stunning Rufous Hummingbird (far left) was captured by Haig Farris at Fairweather, the first one he’s ever seen there. The bird is about 8 cm long and are stellar flyers, travelling 2,000 miles during migration. Haig also spotted a loon illegally crabbing without a licence, and informed the newspaper he’d be reporting the infraction to the proper authorities.

On the vegetation front, Murray Atherton snapped a picture of B.C.’s official tree, the Dogwood, in bloom at Eagle Cliff. And Bill Granger managed a group shot of the Magnolia Alexandria, Andromeda Forest Flame, and Bloodgood Japanese Maple all opening up at the same time in Deep Bay.

Westside LACs to review harmonized rates this year CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

While a 2021 application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) was unsuccessful, staff say they’re more optimistic this time around due to more detailed plans and exploring a different grant stream through ICIP. The success of the grant proposal likely won’t be known until late this year or early next year.

For their own part, Eagle Cliff increased their annual revenue requirement from $66,000 to $80,000, though further discussions are necessary to decide on a rate structure to generate the extra money. Parcel taxes are going from $370 to $400 a year.

Cove Bay: The LAC budgeted $100,000 from 2023-2026 to account for capital costs related to the Water Treatment Plant, which remains offline nearly a year after it was supposed to be operational. There’s hope it will come online sometime this year.

The agenda for later this year includes a discussion on whether the LAC should shift its user rates to a consumption-based pricing model.

Westside Water Systems – King Edward Bay/Bowen Bay/Bluewater Park: This LAC trio has traditionally harmonized their rate structure, but those days may be coming to an end. There’s no official proposal yet, but a joint meeting will be held in the future with all three to discuss whether to explore different rates for each LAC. For now, identical increases of around 10-13 per cent per year have been approved for the next five years. The rates for all three LAC this year are $960 for connected properties and $600 for unconnected.

Hood Point: Water will be a few bucks more for residents of this area, going from $415 to $420 for connected properties and $205 to $210 for unconnected. User fees are also rising slightly, from $800 to $840.

Patients of the Week MOOSE & WINNIE Meet Moose and Winnie! Moose is over the moon to have recently got a little sister. Winnie was able to have her puppy vaccines in the

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

comfort of her own home as Dr. Sandra Madden is now working with us at Bowen Vet. Home visits can help reduce anxiety for pets that are nervous to come into the clinic!

To schedule appointments, please call

604.947.9247

or email reception@bowenvet.com

ISLAND PACIFIC SC SCHOOL IS HIRING! EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANT & PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR 2022-23 xciting opportunity for an active and engaging We now have an ex g g o is an experienced Educational Assi t s personality who Assistant and enjoys tudents. working with middle school stu

nd capable of helping out with Applicants should be 19 years or older, an mic learning strategies program. In core elements of the school’s academic addition, the role will include coordi dination of the school’s Enrichment Program as well as a variety off program p support features including: outdoor trips, physical educa cation classes, music, drama and ultimate to bring their own distinctive skillset practices. Applicants are encouraged en to this position.

Apply with resume and cover letter: work@islandpacific.org START DATE: FINAL WEEK OF AUGUST 2022 islandpacific.org

A10 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, May 5, 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

EARLY COMMUNIT CHILDHOOD SUPPORT EDUCATION

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BC WIDE CLASSIFIEDS INDUSTRIAL/ COMMERCIAL

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Bullion, coins, bars, jewelry, nuggets, dental gold, sterling, 9999 silver+. Also buying coin collections & old money. US, Canada & world collections WANTED. Todd 250-8643521.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ESTABLISHED WELDING EQUIPMENT REPAIR BUSINESS for sale $375K. Turnkey welding equipment repair, welding supplies & gas business located in Kamloops, BC. Email colin@iwsltd.ca for information

INTEGRITY POST FRAME BUILDINGS since 2008.

Built with concrete posts.

Barns, shops, riding arenas, machine sheds and more. sales@integritybuilt.com.

1-866-974-7678. www.integritybuilt.com

THANK YOU FOR RECYCLING THIS NEWSPAPER.

Join our Join the growing conversation etwork!at www.facebook.com/BIUndercurrent

MOVING

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

@BowUndercurrent

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, May 5, 2022

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A11

COMMUNITY CALENDAR TO MAY 7

Bowen Island Library - Star Wars Day Kids’Scavenger Hunt!

Come to he Bowen Library children’s section, the a scavenger hunt form, and find the letters hidden in the Children’s Section that match each picture to discover the answer to the riddle!

SATURDAY, MAY 7

Final Book Donation Day at the Bowen Island Library Annex before BookFest - 1 PM until bins are full (or 3 PM) A volunteer will pre-screen your donations while you wait and will accept those that meet donation guidelines. Donors will need to take back any items that do not meet the guidelines, available at bowenlibrary.ca/donated-materials

MONDAY, MAY 9

Regular Council Meeting - 6:15 PM People can attend in-person, on Zoom, or watch onYouTube.

Rotary Club of Bowen Island speaker Ardath PaxtonMann on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - 7:30 PM Everyone is welcome to this Zoom meeting. See bowenrotary.com calendar for link.

COMING UP: SATURDAY, MAY 21

BookFest 2022 @ BICS gym - 10 AM to 4 PM Giant sale of quality used books and media.

SUNDAY, MAY 22

BookFest 2022 @ BICS gym - 10 AM to 2 PM Book sale - Bring your own box – any size $10.

MONDAY, MAY 23

BookFest 2022 @ BICS gym - 10 AM to Noon Book sale - take home as many treasures as you want.

Murray Atherton photo

BOWEN HOME SERVICES love the life you live I&I TOWING HAULING LTD

II

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BOWEN ISLAND ROOFING ROOFING & REPAIRS

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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

604-987-7663

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Window Blinds On Bowen

Keep Calm and Call Econo

604.980.3333

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

778-995-1902

Seascape Bruce Culver

Office: 604-947-9686

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604.341.9488

RHODES ON BOWEN

Landscape Lighting Irrigation BOWEN ISLAND SPECIALISTS! QUALITY SERVICE GUARANTEED!

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Cell: 604-329-3045

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

A12 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Mother's Day Delights at The Ruddy!

ICED & INFUSED HONEYS - BEE KIND STARTING AT $13.49

NEW!

TOASTER PASTRIES - NATURE'S PATH SAVE $1.50! 6 pack* -Cherry & Pomegranate

BAKING MIXES - DOLCE VITA -Gluten Free!

SAVE up to $2.50!

OATZ SHAKE - HAPPY PLANET SAVE $0.50! $2.79 (asstd)* ALMOND BREEZE SAVE $1.00! $3.99 / 946ml (asstd)*

HOT CROSS BUNS - BONCHAZ BAKERY SALE $6.99 / pck* -Cinnamon Rasin!

INSTANT OATMEAL - NATURE'S PATH SAVE $1.00! $6.49 (assorted)*

CHERRY RHUBARB ROSEMARY OR BLUEBERRY BASIL JAMS SALT SPRING KITCHEN SALE $10.99 each!

BUTTERMILK & HONEY BREAD - UPRISING BREAD

SAVE 10% -Regular Price $6.99 each* VEGAN FOLDED EGG - JUST EGG SAVE $1.00! $8.99 / 227g*

From The Ruddy Kitchen Now Open Monday - Friday from 8am to 4pm!

$4.79 - $7.29*

BLUEBERRY SCONES WITH LEMON FROSTING SALE $6.99 / 4pck*

Produce Specials!

CANTALOUPE SALE $4.79 each

STRAWBERRIES - LONG STEM SALE $14.99 each

Family Sized MAC N' CHEESE

SALE $19.99 each*

Our Famous RUDDY CARROT CAKE SALE $15.99 each*

More Fresh Berries in store!

STRAWBERRIES - DRISCOLL SALE $5.49 each

KIWIS SALE $3.69 1lb