July 24, 2026

BOWEN GYMNASTS SET SIGHTS ON PORTUGAL PAGE 15

$1.50

inc.

GST

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026

VOL. 52 NO. 30

BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com

‘HAPPY DAYS’ HITS THE BOWEN STAGE PAGE 16

A CUT ABOVE Sun broke on the Logger Sports Show on Saturday morning allowing for the competitors and fans of the popular annual event to enjoy the festivities undisturbed. The unique sights and sounds of the competition - from elevated chopping to hurdling over massive logs in the choker race - rang out across Veterans Park in yet another edition of the summer spectacle to remember. Check our next issue for more photos from the day. / Alex Kurial photos

Friday, July 24, 2026

A2 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Seeking Public Comment

Seeking Public Comment

Land Use Amendment Bylaw No. 723, 2026 RZ-2026-0016 1639 & 1658 Mount Gardner Road

Land Use Amendment Bylaw No. 726, 2026 RZ 2026-0014 620 Laura Road

Regular Council Meeting Monday, July 27, 2026

Regular Council Meeting Monday, July 27, 2026

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

July 27, 2026 1:00 pm Regular Council Meeting September 8, 2026 1:00 pm Regular Council Meeting

Council will be considering a First Reading at its Regular Council Meeting held at 1:00 pm on Monday, July 27, 2026 to consider Amendment Bylaw No. 723, 2026. This hearing will be held at the Community Centre and online via Zoom.

Council will be considering a First Reading at its Regular Council Meeting held at 1:00 pm on Monday, July 27, 2026, to consider Amendment Bylaw No. 726, 2026. This hearing will be held at the Community Centre and online via Zoom.

This amendment will create a zone variation of the Settlement Residential (SR2) zone which applies to 1658 Mount Gardner Road and allows a smaller minimum lot size. The amendment was requested by the owner of 1658 and 1639 Mount Gardner Road in order to allow them to legally separate the two areas of the property, which are currently under one title even though they are separated

by Mount Gardner Road.

This amendment will affect 620 Laura Road placing the property in a zone variation to permit cidery as a principal use of the property.

The bylaw will restrict the maximum size of retail space and picnic area of the cidery.

More Information at the Municipal Offices at the Bowen Island Community Centre

More Information at the Municipal Offices at the Bowen Island Community Centre

The application may be viewed at the Community Centre between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays) or on the Municipal website at:

The application may be viewed at the Community Centre between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays) or on the Municipal website at:

bowenislandmunicipality.ca/planning

bowenislandmunicipality.ca/planning

Your Comments are Welcome

Your Comments are Welcome

Written submissions may be delivered to the Municipal Offices at the Bowen Island Community Centre:

Written submissions may be delivered to the Municipal Offices at the Bowen Island Community Centre:

- By email to mayorandcouncil@bimbc.ca - In person - By mail to 580 Bowen Island Trunk Road, Bowen Island, BC, V0N1G2 - By fax to 604-947-0193

- By email to mayorandcouncil@bimbc.ca - In person - By mail to 580 Bowen Island Trunk Road, Bowen Island, BC, V0N1G2 - By fax to 604-947-0193

Questions?

Questions?

Please contact Drew Bakken, Island Community Planner at 604-9474255 ext. 233 or by email at dbakken@bimbc.ca.

Please contact Daniel Martin, Manager of Planning & Development at 604-947-4255 ext. 230 or by email at dmartin@bimbc.ca

Contact Bowen Island Municipality PAID ADVERTISEMENT July 24, 2026

Phone: 604-947-4255 Bowen Island Municipal Hall Fax: 604-947-0193 580 Bowen Island Trunk Rd Email: bim@bimbc.ca Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 Website: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca

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

Find us on Facebook Subscribe to our mailing list Bowen Island Municipality

bowenislandmunicipality.ca/subscribe

Friday, July 24, 2026

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A3

RCMP urge diligence when purchasing & operating motorized vehicles

ALEX KURIAL Editor Bowen RCMP are hoping to create awareness of proper E-bike usage following an uptick in the motorized vehicles’ popularity.

Specifically this relates to what type of e-bike is allowed on public roads. Street legal machines must adhere to several strict standards and be free of modifications to provide more power. These include limits to speed, motor power and electric assist. There’s also age limits depending on the type of vehicle (14+ for light e-bikes and 16+ for regular e-bikes).

Yet the difference between these machines and their more powerful counterparts is not always apparent.

These details can be subtle and difficult to spot visually. Making things more confusing is the fact both legal and non-legal street vehicles (the latter being allowed on private property) are often sold together at stores and online, leading buyers to believe all types of e-bikes along with e-dirt bikes are permitted on the road.

“We’ve all been noticing them crop up a lot more,” says Bowen RCMP Cst. Bryan Cuthbertson on the presence of modified e-bikes, e-dirt bikes, and even e-scooters around town (the latter are now legal in many B.C. municipalities but Bowen hasn’t yet permitted this form of transport).

“They’re extremely popular in the Lower Mainland and Sea to Sky region among youth, essentially because it’s such an easy transportation option.

Almost every RCMP detachment has put out a media release about the dangers of them… We want to educate people before parents or kids start buying them, thinking that they’re legal,” says Cuthbertson.

He cautions that the dangers of these vehicles don’t just come due to their enhanced performance and difficulty to control. If a modified or illegal vehicle is involved in a crash and/or injury, legal issues can add up quickly. A no insurance ticket of $598 can be handed out for starters, and that can be just the beginning of the damages.

“It’s not just the monetary amount of the ticket - it’s also your personal liability. If you’re operating a vehicle that’s not

covered by ICBC, if you hit somebody or somebody hits you, there’s no compensation through ICBC,” says Cuthbertson.

“You could have a catastrophic injury on an e-scooter, which is unfortunately pretty common, and ICBC won’t step in and pay for rehab or anything,” says the constable, adding that if you were to injure someone else while riding an illegal vehicle the injured person could also pursue monetary damages against you through court.

For now, the local RCMP is focused on educating people about proper motorized vehicle use. “I think we use a healthy amount of discretion on the island.

Through the Undercurrent and face-toface interactions that we have we’re confident the message is sent out to a reasonable amount of people. After we’re confident we’ve got the message out as much as possible, we’re confident the people we keep seeing are flouting the laws for the sake of flouting the laws.”

“The goal is for every person who has an e-bike to be aware of the legalities of their e-bike or e-vehicle. And then if they choose to keep riding it, they’re understanding the consequences of that,” says Cuthbertson.

Make it count, Bowen.

2026 General Local Election Saturday, October 17, 2026

Some of the specifications which determine legal & illegal motorized vehicles on Bowen.

A Fire Ban is now in effect for Bowen Island This means no fires, on either public or private property, at any time, for any reason. This includes camp and beach fires, on both public and private land.

If you see smoke or are concerned about a fire near you, call 911 immediately.

Questions? Contact Bowen Island Fire Rescue on 604-947-9324 or email fire@bimbc.ca.

bowenislandmunicipality.ca/2026-election

Are You Ready to Vote in October?

The local government election will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Bowen Island Municipality will use the provincial list of voters prepared

by Elections BC for this election.

You can conveniently register to vote online here: elections.bc.ca/register-to-vote.

Questions? Contact Sophie Idsinga, Chief Election Officer, at 604-9474255 ext. 246 or email Election2026@bimbc.ca.

Paid advertisement

Friday, July 24, 2026

A4 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

VIEWPOINTS

See you in August!

It’s that time of year, the Undercurrent is heading off on summer break! Hopefully everything around the island will be nice and relaxing while we’re away (apart from possible Dock Dance shenanigans). Things pick up when we come back with the Fastpitch Tournament, the Bowfest summer sendoff, and then a dive right into election season! Based on our election four years ago Bowen discourse is about to ramp up heavily in the coming weeks and months, but there will be plenty of time for that down the road - stay tuned for exciting election announcements in these pages!

A big thank you to everyone who submitted stories and photos for this week’s Island Wide issue! Together we’ve covered a wide slice of island life from theatre to athletics to the local library and even a pledge to Bowen itself. As usual the work is of very high quality, and as usual I must marvel at the level and depth and scope of the pieces.

It’s not common for a community to have such a high calibre of writers and photographers to rely on every week and what you do is crucial in order for this paper to reach your hands on Friday. Thank you all, and of course a big thanks to all the advertisers you see here too who also make the paper a reality. We love a Bowen business!

That’s all for now! I hope everybody is having an amazing summer and continues to do so over the next little while. We’ll be back at it on Tuesday, August 4 after the long weekend. See you then!

- Alex Kurial, Editor A quick message from Councillor Judith Gedye, who will be vacationing from her Open House for one edition: “Enjoy the summer. My Open House returns Saturday, September 5 where we may well talk about the election coming in October.” - Judi 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 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.

#103–495 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: $62.50, 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 Sarah Strother 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.

Friday, July 24, 2026

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A5

Ode to the Bowen Library DEANNA BRUMMITT Bowen Island Library Board I have been lucky to serve on the Board of this much-loved institution on Bowen for 2.5 years and have wanted (and been promising) to write a piece sharing my reflections for the Undercurrent for some time.

Because I am in awe of the work our wonderful, talented and committed staff do and the excellent services they provide to our community. Because of how deeply I value public libraries and, beyond the programing and “regular” library services they offer, the essential spaces they provide. Space to study, space for group activities (looking to practice your French language skills? Drop in on the French Connections group started by Rob Pineau), space to attend talks on important and topical issues like Cyber Security and Mis/Disinformation and participate in ongoing learning and sharing.

Our newly retired Chief Librarian, Tina Nielsen, shared a story about the important roles public libraries play which has stuck with me (more on Tina later – there is much to say about this wonderful, intelligent, hard-working human who devot-

ed her career to working in public libraries, including 32 years with our Bowen Public Library).

Tina recalls her mother talking about the essential role libraries played in her life from an early age. Tina’s mom grew up in a busy household as one of five children living in a one-room apartment in Copenhagen, Denmark. Without a quiet space at home to study and just be, the local public library met that essential need for her. A space that was free to access, always welcoming, and warm when her home wasn’t always.

Public libraries continue to be spaces of respite today.

There are so many other things the Library does. Did you know that we have medical equipment available for loan?

This is offered though what is called the Med Shed. Need crutches for a couple weeks as you get over a sprained ankle? Or have an upcoming joint surgery? We have Cold Therapy Ice Machines which can aid in recovery.

Do you or a family-member or an out-oftown guest have mobility challenges but still want to get out and enjoy Bowen’s parks?

The Med Shed has a trail-suitable wheelchair available to borrow. Seriously.

Bob Sims a long time resident of Bowen, after a long life well lived.

He met this challenge with his usual quiet steadfast.

He was known to many for his years working as a courier and later as the soft-spoken knowledgeable assistant at the plant nursery. His gardens will continue to bloom as his gentle spirit intended.

He will be deeply missed and always remembered by wife Janet, son Elliot, and daughter-in-law Brandi.

Please join us for a celebration of life at a time to be determined.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Live independently, thrive together - Spring 2027

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Friday, July 24, 2026

A6 • bowenislandundercurrent.com COOLER COMFORT

BETTER VIEWS

Endless options at the Library CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

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The most recent addition to the broad-compliment of services at our Library has been the creation of the dedicated Children’s Librarian position which has allowed us to offer expanded programming targeted for kids, including during school breaks and over the summer. For example, our exceptional Children’s Librarian, Kelly Woods, started the new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Club offering programming on Pro-D Days.

There was more staff time to support last year’s Summer Reading Club which had the highest enrollment figures of any medium sized school in School District 44 (West Vancouver). We are thrilled with how successful this expansion has been and will be sharing more about it as we look to continue the Children’s Librarian role into the future (and very much hope to find budgetary support to continue this work even in these challenging economic times).

Internet outage at home? Chances are we still have internet service so you can pop in to the Library to continue your work day or access school materials. I could go on.

And on.

But back to Tina. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you and pay tribute to Tina as she moves on to the next phase.

Tina has served our community admirably.

A total professional she has championed the development of the Library into what it is today. Organized, thoughtful and kind, for me as a Board member, she has been a dream to work with and her impact will

continue to be felt in some way on our little island, probably indefinitely.

And I would be remiss in not acknowledging our new Chief Librarian, Jennifer Streckmann. Jennifer is very accomplished, coming to us with a decade of experience in the Vancouver Public Library system where she developed a diverse skill-set while employing a personal approach admired by colleagues and patrons. We are beyond delighted to have her skills and expertise with us and know she and the rest of the Library staff will carry the torch forward in the best way.

I am writing this as I sit in a quiet corner of the Library, next to the stacks in the cozy “Old General Store” portion of the building with its wood beams and charming cottage-style windows (Tina was even pivotal in securing and preserving this historic building from what is now known as Metro Vancouver).

The Youth Pride Party is taking place in the Annex where delightful Pride-themed masks and other crafts are being produced in preparation for the Bowen Island Pride Parade. An impromptu gathering of children and parents is occurring in the Children’s Area and there are the happy and excited sounds of kids exploring the library collection and picking out books to take home and enjoy. Parents chat together, no doubt making new and building on existing connections and friendships.

It’s wonderful. It’s essential and thank you to everyone who supports and shares in valuing and celebrating this amazing institution in our community.

Catch the Bowen Chamber Trio REV. LORRAINE ASHDOWN Bowen Island United Church

THANK YOU FOR RECYCLING THIS NEWSPAPER.

Bowen Island United Church is blessed to be able to invite musical guests from our Community to enhance our Sunday morning experience.

This Sunday, July 26, we are thrilled to host the Bowen Chamber Trio featuring Laurie Beesting (alto recorder), Matthew van der Giessen (cello) and Joachim Sehrbrock ( traverso flute). A traverso flute is a Baroque-era wooden transverse flute — the direct ancestor of today’s modern metal flute. It was one of the most important instruments in 17th and 18th-century European music, used by composers like Bach, Handel, Telemann, and Quantz.

These three have been playing together for some time now after they discovered they had a mutual love of music written between the 5th century and spanning up until the

death of J.S. Bach in 1750. To date they have shared their music to an appreciative crowd at the Bowen Island Community Choir Coffee House, the Arts Tour this past May and a coffee house at Belterra Cohousing.

Those of us who have been lucky enough to experience this talented trio are very ecited that they will be playing for the first time at Bowen Island United Church.

The service on Sunday takes place at our usual gathering time of 10:30 am at 1122 Miller Road. To be clear, this is not a concert, but rather an opportunity for contemplation and meditation as we listen to the music with words, silence and prayers placed between the selections.

There is no charge for the event as we have received a grant for the musicians from the United Church, but a donation to the church is always appreciated and there will be a jar set out at the front of the church to accept your generosity.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

Friday, July 24, 2026

BIHPA re-envisions the old Bowen Pledge poster BOWEN ISLAND ASSOCIATION

HERITAGE

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A7

PRESERVATION

Many years ago the ‘Bowen Pledge’ poster was found in a heritage house in King Edward Bay on Bowen Island that may have once been the home of Sheila & John Letson, and/ or Joe Malkin’s house.

It is thought that the image was created by the Bowen Island Rod & Gun Club before it was given to BIHPA. The artist signature on the pledge is VP Sharpe; perhaps also known as Victor P. Sharpe, a British artist who was born in 1922, who painted watercolours of wildlife birds in a similar style.

The Bowen Pledge image has been a Bowen Island favourite for decades, and the Bowen Island Heritage Preservation Association (BIHPA) has used it as a fundraiser in the past.

The current board of BIHPA is revisiting this fundraiser to help support continuing efforts in Davies Orchard and non-profit events, activities and preservation of the Davies Orchard and cottages. BIHPA may be bringing back the original Pledge, but is currently offering an updated version by local-born artist Sarah Haxby (haxbyart.com) for BIHPA as an hommage that celebrates the original vintage print, but also includes new, contemporary local elements, such as the iconic view of Bowen Island, as seen from the ferry, an eagle, a deer, a slug, Bougar the Cougar, as well as the Squamish language name for Bowen Island.

All profits from the sales of the posters and stickers will go to BIHPA, a registered non-profit society run by a small group of caring volunteers working so we can keep our local heritage alive for the future. BIHPA volunteers care about local heritage apple trees, and traditions such as hosting the

beloved annual Applefest event, which runs with the help of Metro Parks and the community. The Davies Orchard museum cottage 10 and cottage 20 are nestled in Crippen Park, Snug Cove, Bowen Island. Davies Orchard is located a few steps from the ferry, down Cottage Lane, in behind the Tuscany restaurant and the Snug coffee shop. The museum and cottage 20 will be open 10 am to Noon Saturdays & 12 to 2 pm Sundays from May 9 to Oct. 11, or by arrangement.

Let Your Photos tell a Bowen Biodiversity Story

SIGN UP

Charlotte Gruneau

Bogden Gheorghe

Alys Williams

3rd Annual Bowen Biodiversity Photo Contest Contest Deadline August 14 – Open to all Ages Prizes for 1, 2, 3 Place

For contest details visit our website: bowenislandconservancy.org/ biodiversity/photo-contest

Friday, July 24, 2026

A8 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Music fills United Church this summer CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

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And a heads up… on August 16 we will be joined by local musician extraordinaire, Peter Clarke as we offer a service consisting of only Beatles tunes and short reflections.

How has the music of the Beatles influenced your lives and your Spirit over the years? Join us as Peter’s fulsome guitar playing leads us in familiar songs and as I do my best to honour them by providing brief words between songs.

And thank you to ProVision Fund of the Pacific Mountain Regional Council for the generous grant, allowing us to experience some of Bowen’s finest local talent as part of our Sunday gathering times.

I hope to see many of you this Sunday.

The Bowen Chamber Trio consists of (L-R) Matthew van der Giessen, Laurie Beesting & Joachim Sehrbrock. / Submitted photo

Friday, July 24, 2026

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A9

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This waterfront home sits overlooking Deep Bay on a 0.67 acre lot. Three bedrooms, two baths, with gorgeous south facing view.

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Three bedrooms and two baths over 1,150 sf.

1587 MOUNT GARDNER ROAD $1,475,000

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This gorgeous Bowen cottage sits just one back from waterfront on nearly 11-and-a-half acres of gorgeous forest, with flat spaces and stunning ocean views.

Bordering parks on two sides, this property and home exudes privacy. Non-strata, 3.38 acres, 1,500 sf and three bedrooms. Built in 2023.

This sunny south-facing, half-acre building lot features a stunning view across Deep Bay towards Snug Point. One back from waterfront.

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One of the largest privately-owned land opportunities left on Bowen. Nearly 75 acres spread over two properties.

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Extremely private and sunny. This 4.4 acre property features three driveways leading into multiple flat build sites, and a view looking east towards Cypress.

More listings and info at bowenhomes.ca

Friday, July 24, 2026

A10 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

AT THE BOWEN THEATRE JULY 31ST, AUGUST 1ST, 7TH & 8TH AT 7:30PM SUNDAY MATINEE, AUGUST 9TH AT 2PM

Everything was clicking for the Brewers the night of July 16 as they put up double digit runs and held the opposing Cruisers off the board in a 10-0 shutout. Key in the late season win were Connor McLeod (#9) who scored twice and added an RBI plus kicked off a heads up double play on defense in the 3rd, Patrick Currah (#33) who also scored twice as the leadoff man, and James Strang (#14) who had 2 hits and 3 times reaching base, but most importantly pitched 2 scoreless innings to close out the game, allowing just 1 hit while sitting down the final batter with a strikeout.

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Friday, July 24, 2026

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A11

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Friday, July 24, 2026

A12 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

OUR LISTINGS

8 ARBUTUS BAY ROAD $8,900,000

239 SHORE LANE $2,599,000

775 SEYMOUR BAY DRIVE $2,560,000

785 SEYMOUR BAY DRIVE $2,075,000

740 MINNOW’S LANE $1,999,000

885 RIVENDELL DRIVE $1,880,000

897 RIVENDELL DRIVE $1,689,000

1506 WHITESAILS DRIVE $1,649,000

1320 EAGLE CLIFF ROAD $1,499,000

1335 EAGLE CLIFF ROAD $1,199,000

1470 TUNSTALL BLVD 1,065,000

LAND FOR SALE

SL 19 SMUGGLERS COVE ROAD $2,850,000

LAND FOR SALE

266 SHORE LANE $1,171,000

822 MCINTOSH LANE $850,000

791 SEYMOUR BAY DRIVE $840,000

747 SEYMOUR BAY DRIVE $800,000 747 Seymour Bay Dr $800,000

1664 WHITESAILS DRIVE $799,000

LOT 2 EAGLE CLIFF ROAD $549,000

1268 WF $399,000

1178 MILLER ROAD $299,000

Friday, July 24, 2026

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A13

2026 SOLDS - MID YEAR REPORT

1299 FAIRWEATHER ROAD $4,300,000

1759 ARBUTUS POINT ROAD $2,499,000 *as buyers agents*

222 FINISTERRE ROAD $1,565,000

564 COWAN ROAD $1,299,000 *as buyers agents*

276 SMUGGLERS COVE RD $3,100,000

1670 WHITESAILS DRIVE $3,300,000 *as buyers agents*

1155 HOMER STREET $2,388,000

879 RIVENDELL DRIVE $1,990,000

520 COLLINS ROAD $1,599,000

1557 WHITESAILS DRIVE $1,550,000

226 FINISTERRE ROAD $1,526,000

1684 WHITESIALS DRIVE $1,299,000

1485 WEBB ROAD $1,140,000

709 WINDJAMMER ROAD $850,000 *as buyers agents*

Frances Frost 604.657.0660

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1482 EAGLE CLIFF ROAD $699,000 *as buyers agents*

1251 FAIRWEATHER ROAD $2,745,000 *as buyers agents*

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1260 ADAMS ROAD $799,000

Friday, July 24, 2026

A14 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

2026 TOGETHER WE RAISED $47,314 FOR THE SWIMBOWEN CANCER CARE FUND ALL WHILE SWIMMING IN OUR BELOVED SALISH SEA!

THANK YOU! Mary Letson Mary Lynn Machado, Jo Forbes Sandy Mulholland, Katherine Wolters Shayle Duffield, Lisa Redmond, Cori Wickes Krista Hennebury, Kathy Clarke Michael Henrichsen, David Bellringer

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bowenislandundercurrent.com • A15

Bowen Gymnastics earns prestigious World Gymnaestrada showcase performance

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SARAH BAXTER Bowen Island Gymnastics Club

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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Bowen Island Gymnastics Club (BIGC) is preparing to take the world stage after earning one of Canada’s most coveted performance opportunities at the 2027 World Gymnaestrada in Lisbon, Portugal.

While numerous teams from across the country will represent Team Canada at the world’s largest international gymnastics festival, only five groups have been selected to present a featured 10-minute performance. BIGC is proud to be among this elite group, showcasing the creativity, artistry, and athleticism of our small island community before thousands of spectators from around the world.

For Bowen Island, the achievement is extraordinary.

“Being selected for a featured performance is a tremendous honour,” said Inga Toews, Chair of the BIGC Board.

“It reflects years of hard work, creativity, and collaboration by our athletes, coaches, volunteers, and families. We are incredibly proud to represent both Bowen Island and Team Canada on the world stage.”

Adding to the excitement, the team will be accompanied by a spectacular, 12-foot, handcrafted whale puppet, designed and built on Bowen Island specifically for the performance. Inspired by the whales that inhabit the Salish Sea, the giant puppet is a striking visual centrepiece that celebrates the Island’s natural beauty and artistic spirit.

Created by local artists and volunteers, the whale is much more than a theatrical prop; it is a symbol of the community that has helped bring this ambitious project to life. As it takes centre stage in Portugal, the whale will carry a piece of Bowen Island with it, sharing the Island’s story with audiences from around the globe.

Held every four years, the World Gymnaestrada is the world’s premier festival of “Gymnastics for All,” bringing together more than 20,000 participants from over 50 countries. Unlike traditional gymnastics competitions, the event celebrates creativity, movement, inclusion, and cultural exchange through large scale group performances.

The featured 10-minute performances are among the festival’s marquee events.

Selected through a national evaluation process, these featured performances recognize groups that demonstrate exceptional choreography, artistic expression, technical excellence, and compelling storytelling. BIGC’s performance is the largest and most ambitious production in the Club’s history, embodying all of these qualities while reflecting the values that have shaped the Club for more than three decades.

With participants ranging in age from 11 to 56 years old, the team is a powerful example of gymnastics as a lifelong activity. Athletes from different generations train, create, and perform side by side, building confidence, friendships, and a lasting sense of community through their shared passion for movement.

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Friday, July 24, 2026

A16 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Beckett on Bowen: Happy Days MARCUS HONDRO Contributor Bowen’s Kingbaby Theatre is mounting one of theatre’s more compelling and singular plays, Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days. Since its first production at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York in 1961 the play has been widely-produced and the New York Times has called it one of the most “… unforgettable plays in the modern canon.”

Kingbaby’s production of the two-character play has a twist, as veteran players Jackie Minns, as Winnie, and David Cameron, as Willie, are wife and husband, and the two are working with a gifted Canadian director who also happens to be their son, Andrew Cameron. The director has worked with his parents before and says he feels privileged each time he gets to do so.

“It’s funny, people are always kinda shocked when I tell them about our collaboration. ‘That’s so crazy! I could never do that!’ kinda thing,” he told the Undercurrent recently. “To me it’s the most natural thing in the world. I grew up observing my parents work… so when we started working together we had the exact same vocabulary and artistic values.”

Happy Days is 65-years old and we asked Cameron how that aged a work could be relevant to a contemporary audience. He began by saying that as a pair, Winnie and Willie are “kind of the eternal” married couple; then, like the play itself, he brought up issues we humans think about but do not often pursue in daily conversation.

“Beyond the dynamic of the characters I believe Beckett

is writing… about what it’s like for us humans to truly contend with ‘the void,’” he said. “How do we fill our days, hours, minutes, seconds in the face of the great existential nothingness?

“This can all sound very heady and kinda abstract,” Cameron continued. “But the magic of Beckett’s writing is how beautiful, lyrical and funny it is. The characters are so human, the moments he crafts so recognizable that I’m constantly laughing my ass off in rehearsal.”

The director grew up on Bowen but his experience includes working with companies all over Canada, both as an actor and director (his direction of Tracy Letts’s Bug in Toronto, featuring noted actor Nicholas Eddie, gained a Dora nomination). Cameron is also a musician and his first job out of George Brown Theatre School was playing bass in a touring production of Peter Pan. Prior Bowen directing credits include Kingbaby’s recent productions of their own plays, The View and Mad Mabel’s Christmas. Cameron has also acted on island and in 2011, not long out of West Van Secondary, he tackled Billy Bishop Goes to War (his parents co-directed, Marc Gawthrop was on piano).

To take on such a deeply revered and meaningful play such as Happy Days, Cameron said it’s imperative to cast actors at the top of their craft and he believes he has that in his mother and father.

“I would put my mom and dad up against any other performers in Canada,” he said. “They’ve taken the path they’ve taken and making theatre for Bowen audiences is as beautiful and meaningful as anything. But I’ve seen and worked with the highest levels of theatre makers in our country and

they’re as good as any of them. If not better.”

Winnie is a role often said to be as big of a challenge for women as Hamlet is for men. But Minns said it was not the size of the role or doing a part considered a tour-de-force that drew her. What drew her was her love of Beckett and the richness of a story that “speaks to all of humanity.” She also loves the fact that Winnie “requires the actor playing her to really bring themselves to it.”

“As an actor, at this phase of my life, I wanted to explore a challenging role that uses the accumulation of my skills,” she said. “(The play) spoke to me as a middle aged, married woman who’s looking at life that has been lived and life now and life in the future, and this contemplative space that we enter at this age is what the play is looking at.”

Winnie finds herself in a unique predicament in Happy Days but, as always, giving details away might lessen the impact of the story, never nice to do before a play opens (not even on social media!). It suffices to say that Winnie is uncommonly situated and yet that situation bears a resemblance to what women experience today; indeed, to what we all experience.

Winnie garners sympathy, and respect, from director Cameron.

“I think she’s one of the greatest characters ever put on stage and a character I think we can all learn from,” the director said. “Beckett doesn’t pull any punches in terms of the desolation he places her in and within our ever more apocalyptic-feeling society, I believe Winnie has a lot to teach us about how to greet the gift of life, even at its most dire, with joy and curiosity.

“In a way, she’s the ultimate survivor.”

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bowenislandundercurrent.com • A17

ummer is not counted in days, but in memories Love Your Home Love Your Garden

This Bowen family are the talent behind the upcoming production of Samuel Beckett’s iconic ‘Happy Days’ that opens at the Bowen Theatre Friday, July 31. Son Andrew Cameron directs his parents, Jackie Minns and David Cameron, in one of the theatre’s greatest offerings. The three say they relish every opportunity they get to work with each other. / Marcus Hondro photo Kingbaby Theatre is the second company to bring Beckett to Bowen. The first was Theatre on the Isle (TOTI), who produced Waiting for Godot in the space that is now the library, circa the late 80s; in the role of Lucky was Rodger Grant, who stills calls the island home.

Happy Days will open at The Bowen Theatre on Friday, July 31 at 7:30 pm and run for five performances over two weekends, including a closing matinee on Sunday, August 9 at 2 pm.

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Friday, July 24, 2026

A18 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Portugal is in the cards for Bowen gymnasts next year CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

The journey to Portugal has been years in the making. Following successful performances at the Western and National Gymnaestradas, the team earned the opportunity to represent Canada internationally and now holds one of the country’s coveted showcase performance spots.

As preparations continue, the Club is launching a community fundraising campaign to help cover travel and participation costs. Support from local residents, businesses, and donors will help ensure every athlete has the opportunity to represent Canada, regardless of financial circumstances.

“This performance belongs to the entire Bowen Island community,” said Lisa Brougham, Gymnaestrada Team ManagerandHeadCoach.“Fromthevolunteerswhohelped build our whale to the families, donors, coaches, choreographers, and supporters who have believed in us from the beginning, this achievement is truly a community effort.

We can’t wait to share a little piece of Bowen Island with the world.”

BIGC will present preview performances and community fundraising events in the months leading up to the World Gymnaestrada, inviting residents to experience the performance and the magnificent Bowen built whale before the team departs for Portugal.

A heartfelt thank you goes to all of the community artists, volunteers, and local organizations whose creativity, generosity, and support helped bring this extraordinary performance to life.

The Bowen Island Gymnastics Club at the National Gymnaestrada in Regina this month.

They include: Nancy Lee, Krista Hennebury, Sarah Wellman, Gail Lotenberg, Jordy Walker, Bowen Island Municipality, Bowen Island Community School, Bowen Island Community Foundation, Bowen Building Centre, Cormorant Marine, Taz Dunsmuir, Daryl Deegan/Bowen Beer and Wine, The General Store, Mist, Art by Di, Tobin Sparling, and Cat Main.

Special recognition goes to the incredibly talent-

ed Bowen Puppeteer Team, whose skill and dedication brought the magnificent whale puppet to life: Paul Hooson, Blair Hayashi, and Rose Marsolais. A very special thank you goes to Liz Nankin, whose passion, creativity, and countless hours of work brought not only the whale to life, but also the ocean waves, wind effects, SS Bowen Sail, and lumberjack maple syrup props that make the performance truly unforgettable.

Friday, July 24, 2026

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A19

Hearth Gallery holds What We Carry / What Carries Us MADY BONIFACE The Hearth Gallery The Hearth Gallery would like to welcome you to our exhibit, What We Carry / What Carries Us. In this show, Rebecca Santry, Eileen Kiyonaga, and Brent Comber explore the movement, material, structure and flow that makes up the natural world. The exhibit takes place from July 29 to August 17. The Artist pARTy is Saturday, August 1 from 6 to 8 pm.

Rebecca Santry is UK born and now resides in Squamish. Her paintings are largely inspired by the forests that surround her Squamish home. Recently, she suffered an injury that has made it difficult for her to go out into nature and to create her art. Because of this, Rebecca’s process has evolved. Like her work that focuses on natural movement and transitions, she too has had to shift.

Her art now features gestural mark making and abstract remnants of her memories of outside. Capturing moments like clouds passing, shadows shifting and the rushing of water by the traces they leave behind.

Rebecca invites you to join her on her healing journey as she imbues inspiration and a love for nature in every piece.

Eileen Kiyonaga is also a Squamish based artist and has worked closely with Rebecca before. Eileen has a past in industrial design and furniture making. This experience feeds into her work as she juxtaposes clean visuals with the variability of natural materials.

She explores this tension with 2D and 3D blended pieces.

Eileen is inspired by principles of minimalism and wabi-sabi aesthetics when creating her art. Thus, contrasting weathered aspects of nature with her soft muted pallets and textures. Through her mixed paint and wood pieces she creates light airy forms that concern the more delicate aspects of wood, each piece a reflection of the emotionality of

being outside. Eilleen’s work embodies this in its calming and meditative presentation.

Brent Comber is a globally recognized artist from Vancouver. His preferred medium is sustainably sourced wood, which he acquires from local lumber industry offcuts. Brent brings the West Coast to an international stage through his use of BC lumber and his fearless adventurous spirit. He started his artistic journey outside in the creation of garden landscapes. From this experience, he noted a disparity in furniture and sculptures suited for the gardens he was creating and began carving his own pieces.

Brent is inspired by the ephemerality of natural powerhouses like the ocean and the weather. In his pieces, he harnesses the beauty embedded in the wood to create story driven art. In this upcoming show, Brent works with cedar to create woven vessels reminiscent of basketry to evoke functionality and familiarity in his wooden installations.

Experience the tranquil beauty of the West Coast by taking a moment to stop by this exhibition and bask in its depiction of nature. We hold space for you here.

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Friday, July 24, 2026

A20 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

Moderation, not weakess SALES RISE AND BENCHMARK PRICES EASE MODESTLY

Average and Median Sale Price and MLS® Home Price Index LTM (Last Twelve Months) 2,000 1,900 % CHANGE LTM +10.2%

1,800 1,700 1,600 1,500

+6.6% -3.4%

1,400 1,300 1,200

MLS® HOME PRICE INDEX

AVERAGE SALE PRICE

thoughtful presentation. It is not the time to assume that every listing will draw strong activity simply because it is on Bowen. For buyers, there is more breathing room and more choice, but not a free pass. Good properties still have an audience.

As usual on Bowen, the details matter.

Jun-26

Jun-25

1,000

Jun-24

1,100 Jun-23

Bowen’s detached home market continues to be a story of moderation rather than weakness. June itself was quieter than last year, with 4 detached sales compared with 10 in June 2025, and monthly dollar volume was also much lower at $4.4 million compared with $16.019 million last June. That sounds dramatic, but on Bowen, one month rarely tells the whole story. A small number of sales, especially if one or two are waterfront, acreage, or upper-end homes, can bend the statistics pretty quickly. It is one of the reasons I pay more attention to year-to-date and last-twelve-month numbers.

Year-to-date, the market is holding up reasonably well. Bowen has recorded 31 detached sales so far this year, compared with 29 at the same point in 2025 and 26 in 2024. New listings are almost unchanged from last year, with 100 so far this year compared with 99 last year. Over the last twelve months, there have been 57 sales and 158 new listings, almost identical to the 56 sales and 159 listings recorded a year earlier. In plain English, activity has not fallen apart. Buyers have more choice, but sellers are still finding buyers when price and presentation line up.

That said, the market is not as forgiving as it was during the busiest periods. Buyers are more cautious, more informed, and more willing to wait if a property feels overpriced.

Homes that show well, are priced with the current market in mind, and have clear value are still getting attention. Homes that rely too heavily on last year’s expectations are more likely to sit. That is not a collapse; it is a more normal, more selective market.

Pricing needs a careful read. The average sale price over the last twelve months is $1.657 million, up from $1.555 million a year earlier. The median sale price is also higher, at $1.475 million compared with $1.468 million last year. But the MLS® Home Price Index, which is designed to track the value of a more typical home, tells a different story. Bowen’s benchmark price is down 3.4% over the last twelve months, from $1.463 million in June 2025 to $1.413 million in June 2026.

That difference is important. Average and median prices can rise because of the mix of homes sold, while the HPI is usually a better measure of underlying market movement.

If a higher proportion of the sales are larger homes, waterfront, view properties, or wellfinished family homes, the average can look strong even while the typical benchmark home has softened. This is not a statistical trick; it is just how a small market behaves.

Bowen does not have hundreds of detached sales each month to smooth out the bumps.

One or two unusual sales can make the line on the chart look more dramatic than the lived experience of the market.

For sellers, this is a market that rewards realistic pricing, careful preparation, and

X $1,000

TIM RHODES Contributor

MEDIAN SALE PRICE

Tim Rhodes, REALTOR® tim@rhodesonbowen.com rhodesonbowen.com MACDONALD REALTY LTD.

Source: All data from Greater Vancouver REALTORS © 2026 ShowingTime Plus, LLC, Data from May 10, 2026 Context/disclaimers: Based on MLS-registered sales in the Lower Mainland, Apr 2016–Apr 2026; residential properties only. Average values are based on reported MLS sales and may not reflect all transactions. For general market insight only, not financial advice.

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Friday, July 24, 2026

bowenislandundercurrent.com • A21

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A22 • bowenislandundercurrent.com

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bowenislandundercurrent.com • A23

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Friday, July 24, 2026

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR Thursday, July 23 Movie Night at the Bowen Theatre Bowen Island Film Society is screening ‘Ikiru’ (1952) from famed Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Starts 6:30 pm at the Community Centre. Tickets thru Bowen Recreation.

Friday, July 24 Andy the Musical Scientist at the Library Join us for an amazing live show with Andy the Musical Scientist. Music can generate interest in science, just as science can inspire new approaches to music. Andy has performed for hundreds of schools around the world, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Bowen Library! All Ages with Caregivers, from 1 to 2 pm in the Library Annex. Register at: bipl.ca/SRCevents Saturday, July 25 French Connections at the Library Drop in and join us to practice your conversational French, and get to know other French language learners on Bowen Island! Free, 10 to 11 am. bipl.ca/French Saturday, July 25 Aysanabee at the Bowen Theatre Four-time Juno award winning artist and Oji-Cree musician Aysanabee plays a special concert at the Bowen Theatre, with guest John Smith. Tickets available on the Hearth website, doors at 6:45 and show start at 7:30 pm.

Sunday, July 26 Bowen Chamber Trio at the United Church Island musicians of the Bowen Chamber Trio join the United Church for Sunday morning service. Starts 10:30 am, more on Page 6.

Sunday, July 26

Kirtan / Chanting at Nectar Yoga Come join us to chant, sing & open your hearts to the sound of your soul. Everyone is welcome, suggested donation $10. From 7 to 9 pm, 720 Gardner Lane.

Monday, July 27 to Friday, July 31 Keppers of Magic Summer Camp with Bowen Rec Campers embark on a journey of imagination and discovery as they design magical maps, chart enchanted lands and explore ancient stories. Groups for ages 5 to 8 and 8 to 11.

Starts 9 am each day, find full details on Bowen Rec website.

Thursday, July 30 Improv with Calder Stewart at the Library Back by popular demand! Bring your imagination to this creative improv workshop led by local actor Calder Stewart.

For ages 6 to 10, from 1 to 2 pm in the Library Annex.

Register at: bipl.ca/SRCevents Friday, July 31 (& other dates) Happy Days at the Bowen Theatre Samuel Beckett’s famous play is brought to life by Kingbaby Theatre. Opening night July 31 with other evening shows Aug. 1, 7 & 8 - all 7:30 pm. Matinee finale on Aug. 9 at 2 pm. Read much more about the play on Page 16.

Saturday, August 1 Dock Dance Bowen’s big summer bash is here - find an island firefighter to secure your ticket to the evening of fun!

Tuesday, August 4 to Friday, August 7 Around the World in Four Days with Bowen Rec Each day summer campers ‘travel’ to a different country to explore language, food, traditions and more. Create a vibrant ‘Hello Wall’ of the world and fill up a passport full of

EAGLE CLIFF MIDCENTURY WATERFRONT

Personal Real Estate Corporation

experiences! Groups for ages 5 to 8 and 8 to 11. Starts 9 am each day, find full details on Bowen Rec website.

Thursday, August 6 Ocean Explorers with Adam Taylor Calling all ocean lovers! Join local ocean expert Adam Taylor for a seashore exploration. Learn about the creatures that call our shores home, as we explore the beach together. For ages 6 to 10, runs 1 to 2:30 pm, starts in the Library Annex. Register at: bipl.ca/SRCevents Friday, August 7 to Sunday, August 9 Bowen Fastpitch League Tournament Cheer on the six local teams as they compete for the championship. Stay tuned for the full tourney schedule!

SUNDAYS Ping Pong at the Community Centre Come by the Flex Room between 1 and 5 pm for open ping pong. All equipment provided and everybody welcome!

TUESDAYS Bowen Celtic Music Group All instruments & levels welcome. We start slow & can share music in advance. Doc Morgan’s from 7 to 9 pm.

WEDNESDAYS Family Storytime Plus at the Library Drop in for a free program of stories and songs, PLUS a craft or fun activity! 10:30 to 11:30 am in the Library Annex.

Ages 0-6 with caregivers. No registration required. See all Summer Reading Club events at bipl.ca/SRCevents SATURDAYS Farmers Market The annual Farmers Market returns with a new home at Davies Orchard. From 10 am to Noon.