Ferry Cam project gets the
ALEX KURIAL Editor
Island ferry riders may soon have a better look at the local vehicle lineup situation.
Last week Bowen council agreed to support a ferry camera project in collaboration with a trio of local residents. The project aims to establish a camera on the Community Centre aimed at Bowen Island Trunk Road. This would give people a look at the latter portions of the vehicle ferry lineup, particularly past the crest of the hill where vehicle cutoffs generally start to take place, and help them decide if they should try and make the current sailing or hang back until the next boat.
Rather than a live video feed, the camera would take snapshots of the lineup at one-minute intervals. These snapshots would be available through the municipality (BIM) website, with image quality reduced to protect privacy (ie. faces or licence plates wouldn’t be detectable) while still providing a meaningful view of the vehicle lineup. Images would not be stored or remain available for viewing anywhere after they are refreshed.
Events
AllCouncilmeetingsareopen tothepublictoattendin personorelectronically,unless notedotherwise
July 14, 2025
1:00 pm RegularCouncilMeeting
July 21, 2025
1:00 pm CommitteeoftheWhole Meeting
Notice of IntentiontoDispose of Land
ThisisapublicnoticeunderSection26oftheCommunityCharter. BowenIslandMunicipalityintendstodisposeoflandsthatarenot beingmadeavailabletothepublicforacquisition.
1033MillerRoadislandownedbytheMunicipality.Thelegal descriptionisLOT3MUNICIPALITYLOT490GROUP1NEW WESTMINSTERMUNICIPALITYPLANEPP98055.
TheMunicipalityintendstoenterintoalong-termlease(65years) withLookoutHousingandHealthSociety,aregisterednon-profit society.Lookouthasagreedtoconstructandmaintainarental buildingofapproximately24affordablehousingunits.Ahousing agreementbylawwillensureaffordabilitycomponentsofthe housingunitsaswellasthetenanteligibilityoftheunits
YoucanrequesttoinspectacopyoftheLeaseAgreementatthe MunicipalOffices,580BowenIslandTrunkRoad,BowenIsland, duringourhoursofoperation:MondaytoFriday,8:30AMto4:30PM (closedonstatutoryholidays).
Questions?PleasecontactSophieIdsinga,CorporateOfficerat 604-947-4255ext246orsidsinga@bimbc.ca.
https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/category/notices/
Now Accepting Applications for 2025 Community Grants
Wearenowacceptingapplicationsfor2025CommunityGrants Applicationscloseat4:00pmonFridayJuly11,2025
Findoutmorehere: https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/community-grants/
Did
YouKnowThatBowen Island is Updatingits Climate Action Strategy?
In2020,BowenIslandadopteditsfirstClimateActionStrategy.This planoutlinedcleargoalstoreducegreenhousegasemissionsand prepareforthegrowingimpactsofclimatechange.Now,in2025,the strategyisbeingupdatedtoreflectnewprioritiesandchallenges.
Communityinputisessential!By participatinginoursurvey,youcanhelp shapethefutureofclimateactiononBowen Island.
ScantheQRcodetotakethesurveyand shareyourthoughtsonclimateactionon BowenIsland.Or,comevisitusatthe Farmers’MarketatBICSonSaturday,July5, 2025,from10:00amuntil12:00pm.
Preserve. Protect. Plan. The Conservancy is championing nature in the new OCP
BOWEN ISLAND CONSERVANCY
What does it take to protect the places we love?
Not just the trails and beaches we stroll along every day, but the quiet ecosystems all around us the freshwater that sustains us, the rich habitats nestled in our valleys and lowlands. On Bowen Island, these aren’t luxuries. They are essentials They are lifelines. And today, they need more than our appreciation they need our action.
That’s why, in early June, the Bowen Island Conservancy put forward a bold set of science-based recommendations to the Steering Committee responsible for shaping Bowen’s new Official Community Plan (OCP) you may have seen a letter about this in last week’s Undercurrent.
These recommendations aren’t just boxes to tick. They’re a blueprint for protecting our water, our wildlife, and the natural character of Bowen Island a blueprint that will shape the future we all share.
Our recommendations are partly based on the
SwimBowen’s new coursesame Bay!
MARY LETSON SwimBowen
In honour of our swimmer’s bare feet and thanks to Michael Henrichsen and David Bellringer’s initiative, we have moved the course a 1 minute walk to the other side of Tunstall Bay, the north side.
Why? Because it is nice and sandy! The length and triangle shape of the course remains exactly the same with 750 metre event swimmers completing the course once, and the 1500 metre swimmers completing the course twice.
Swimmers, volunteers and spectators, Tunstall Bay Club House is kindly allowing us to walk around their property to get to the beach in front of the Club House. You can also walk under the pier and around the rocks to get to the north beach.
The new location map is in this week’s Undercurrent edition. Directions to the new start location will be very well marked with volunteers and signage ensuring you get to the right place!
Conservancy’s Caring for Nature initiative to develop a biodiversity plan, involving scientists, land use planners, and more than 140 Islanders. Drawing on robust data, the findings of this effort became the backbone of the OCP recommendations, calling for:
A Conservation Development Policy that honours the principle that “Nature needs half”— retaining at least 50 per cent of rezoned lands in their natural state;
Inclusion of Biodiversity and Groundwater Maps into the OCP to inform planning decisions;
Freshwater Protection Strategies, especially for Grafton Lake, the island’s largest water source;
New Development Permit Areas to protect steep slopes, sensitive habitats, and water resources;
Recognition of Conservancy-owned lands in zoning and long-term planning;
Municipal support for our land stewardship through covenants, tax relief, infrastructure collaboration, and continued cooperation.
At the heart of it is a simple truth: protecting nature protects us. Clean water. Safe infrastructure. Climate resil-
ience. A community that thrives because its ecosystems are intact.
While the recommendations may be technical, the intent is deeply personal. These are not just policy tweaks, but the product of decades of on-the-ground conservation work, volunteer stewardship, scientific collaboration, and hard-won insight into what it takes to safeguard an island like Bowen.
Our OCP submission is now in the hands of the Municipality, consultants, and OCP Steering Committee. It’s one of many voices, but it is one rooted in evidence, collaboration, and a deep commitment to the island’s longterm health.
As this process unfolds, there will be more opportunities for public engagement, and we hope you’ll join us in standing up for the land, water, and wildlife that make Bowen extraordinary. Because the future of Bowen Island won’t be written just in policy but in the choices we make together, today.
To read the Conservancy’s full submission for the OCP, visit www.bowenislandconservancy.org
Notice of Open Water Swim Event - To the Bowen Island Boating Community: SwimBowen’s annual Cancer Care fundraising event will host 75 open-water swimmers along with a crew of water safety marshals in kayaks, paddleboards and zodiacs on Saturday, July 12 between 9:30 and 11:30 am. We have a location change this year and the event will be held on the beach below the Tunstall Bay Clubhouse. Our first priority is ensuring a safe swim. A course clear of boats ensures this We would be ever so grateful if boaters could avoid the area north of the Tunstall Bay Dock during event time. Additionally, if you can relocate any boats moored in the area for that 2-hour window, we’d be doubly appreciative, as that will help us provide a clear line-of-sight between course-marker buoys for swimmers and safety marshals. If you have questions or concerns, please email us at swimbowensociety@gmail.com - With Oceans of Gratitude! - The SwimBowen Team
VIEWPOINTS
BowenLife
To the Editor,
The hand shakes, the eyes ache, the wit growsdull. On the occasionofmy90thbirthday, and1,000th-plus Undercurrentcartoon, it istime to weasel out.
Churning out the Bowen cartoonsand portraits has been my happyway to volunteer Spotting local idiosyncrasies, observations of themoment, satirethat nobody needs StatsCan says 10.1 percentofhouseholds move everyyear. Bowen keeps morphing, perhaps homogenizing, and the local ironies grow more elusive.
So here’s an idea. For awhile, starting this week, we run some vintage oldies from quirkier times, retro gags with informative annotation attached. Anthropology.
Oldies for Newbies.
-Ron Woodall, Cartoonist
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All Advertising and newscopycontent arecopyrightof the Undercurrent Newspaper.All editorial contentsubmittedtotheUndercurrent becomes the property of the publication. TheUndercurrent is not responsible forunsolicited manuscripts,art work and photographs.
National NewsMedia Council.
TheUndercurrent is amember of the National NewsMedia Council of Canada, which is an independentorganization established to deal withacceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour.Ifyou have concerns about editorial content, please emaileditor@ bowenislandundercurrent.com or call 604-947-2442. If youare not satisfied with theresponse and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the websiteatmediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 foradditional information.
Rotary Reviews a Successful Rotarian Year
HILARY BUTLER
Bowen Island Rotary Club
Our Rotary Year ended on June 30, and this year we held our AGM and potluck social at Belterra Cohousing. Rotarians gathered to congratulate Cynthia van Hoof Barthel on 12 very successful months as President, and to welcome Co-Presidents Judith Heezen and Amanda Ockeloen, who will be replacing Cynthia this next Rotary year.
Who said that Rotary is a collaboration of blue-suited elderly businessmen? We are thrilled to announce that we have defied all rumours in that regard. We now have more women than men in our club, and we have several under-30-year-olds amongst them! Why, you may ask, would people join the club? Here are a few reasons:
We work on interesting projects, both local and international For example, support of Beautiful Gate, an orphanage in Lesotho, and scholarships for bright young women in
rural Rwanda; locally, we support the Conservancy, Bowen Island Food Resilience Society and Bowen Island Recycling Depot (BIRD), we supply house numbers and AEDs, and the list goes on;
We invite interesting speakers who are well known both locally and internationally, to speak at our meetings that take place on Monday evenings twice a month;
We encourage our members to come up with service projects that we can support both in-person and financially;
We work with local organizations in mutually beneficial projects;
We support young people by doing BIRD recycling so that we can invite them to participate in the Rotary Leadership weekends; we also support projects submitted by young members of our Bowen community;
We have fun at meetings and potluck socials (carnivorous, pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan), and we support each other in good times and not so good.
What is our next project? Well, it’s the Bowen Island
Rotary Run on August 23, just before the Bowfest Parade. There is a kids’ run at 8:30 am, a 5K walk or run and a 10K run at 9 am. We are all done by the time the Bowfest Parade comes by the Bowen Library, the best viewing spot for all the fun.
We are so grateful to our financial sponsors (Frits de Vries Architects, Dr. Gloria Chao Family Dentist, Bellwater, Bowen Island Properties, Barbara Wahler Interior Design, Lifesavers First Aid); also to our local sponsors who supply all the tasty snacks and water for the run (Snug Cove General Store, Ruddy on Bowen, Artisan Eats and the Snug Café, Savary Island Pie Co.) and finally our prize donors (Lululemon, Phoenix Books, Katherine & Catherine, Cates Pharmacy and USSC).
This all means that our overheads are minimal, which is vital as we depend on the revenue from the run and our colourful t-shirts for supporting 16 young women in the final years at high school and university in rural Rwanda. Register at komeracanada.ca for a morning of fun!
(Left) Bowen Island Rotary Club’s AGM dinner at Belterra; (Above Left) Current President Cynthia Van Hoof Barthel & two new Co-Presidents for the upcoming Rotary year Judith Heezen & Amanda Ockeloen; (Above) Past, present and upcoming Presidents: (back L-R) Judith Heezen, Amanda Ockeloen, Steven Trende, (front L-R) Ross Patterson, Damien Bryan, Hilary Butler & Cynthia Van Hoof. / Submitted photos
EVtransportinlimbo after policychange from BC Ferries
HANNAH LINK
Times Colonist
B.C. Ferries has introduced anew policy prohibiting tow trucks from carrying non-operational electricvehicles aboard its vessels, citing concerns about damaged lithium-ion batteries and their potential to combust.
Johnathan Vipond, owner of Salt Spring Island Towing and Recovery, said he receivedanimage of the memo informally on Friday and had his first EV denied boarding the next day.
He said he “fully agrees” with B.C. Ferries that damaged EVspose asafety risk, but said he was surprised when the EVhis company wastowing was prohibited from boarding, despite not having been in anaccident
Vipond said he hopes he can work with the company to find away to safely transport damaged EVs, since there’s no way todispose of totalled cars on SaltSpring Island or other island communities.He adds that his request to bring them aboard designated dangerous goods sailings was denied.
“We need to have asolution together to get them off the island, because they’re already here,” he said.
In amemo sent to staff, BC Ferries outlines the safety risks associated withtrans-
portingdamaged batteries, noting that “electric and hybrid vehiclesthat are defective, inoperableordamaged and notbeing drivenunder their own power” are not allowed to sail.
Dan Bird, generalmanagerofTotem Towing, said the change willbeespecially difficult for those who own Rivian trucks and SUVs, apopular brand of EVthat doesn’t have adealership on Vancouver Island.
“It’s going to be veryfrustratingfor our customers,” he said, adding that aRivian vehicle withany issues must be towed to Vancouver for servicing.
Bird said he understands the safety issuesassociated with towing damaged EVs, especially on ferries. “If [a vehicle] lightsup on there, there’s no stopping it,” he said.
Peninsula Towing ownerDon Affleck said theenforcement of this policy willcausea “chain reaction,” explaining that thereare no disposallocations forEVs or hybrid vehicles on Vancouver Island.
Hesaid EV ownersshould know thatif they facecar troubles after travelling anywhere that’s only accessiblebyferry, their vehicleis“on Gilligan’sIsland.”
B.C.Ferriesspokesperson SoniaLowe saidher team is “actively working to see ifsafeoptions can be introduced,” addingthatthe updates to internal policy are about “safety and clari-
Places of Worship WelcomeYou
BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCH Contact AngelaPowell604-947-2515
Following rule changes by BC Ferriesany electric vehicles which become nonoperationalcan no longer be towedonany sailings in ordertobedisposed of or repaired on the mainland. This leavesEVownersinisland communities such as Bowenwithoutthe traditional routetoget adamaged car off of the island via towtruck./AlexKurial photo
ty” and follow regulations setout by Transport Canada.
The policy also states that EV charging is not permitted at terminals oronboard vessels, but Lowenotedtherewere no
chargingstations in these locations before the notice.
“This policy just formalizes what’s already been in practice forsafety reasons,” shesaid.
Shabbat Gatherings ~Holidays Sunday Worship 10:30 am Rev.Lorraine Ashdown www.biuc.ca |1122 Miller Road 778-688-2061 OFFICE HOURS WEDNESDAY10-4ORBYAPPOINTMENT Contact aryana.rayne@gmail.com •www.shirathayam.ca
Sunday Worship10:00 SundayMassat10:00
CATES HILL CHAPEL www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260 (661Carter Rd.)
HAYAM(Songofthe Sea)
DEPART BOWENISLAND 5:15 am -exceptSundays 6:15am 7:30am 8:45 am 10:00am 11:15 am 12:35 pm 1:55pm 3:15pm 4:40pm- except Wednesdays 6:00pm 7:15pm 8:25pm- except Saturdays 9:30pm 10:30pm 11:30pm DEPART HORSESHOEBAY 5:45 am 6:50 am 8:05 am 9:20 am -exceptWednesdays 10:35am 11:55am 1:10 pm 2:35 pm 3:55 pm 5:20 pm 6:35 pm 7:50 pm 8:55 pm -exceptSaturdays 10:00pm 11:00pm QUEEN OF CAPILANO FERRY
Where’sthe ferry rightnow?- liveupdatesatwww.bowenferry.ca Schedule changesonstatutory holidays. Stay up to date at www.bcferries.com
Caring for Nature Photo of the Month - Still Standing
BOWEN ISLAND CONSERVANCY
PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE GRUNEAU
Charlotte Gruneau’s image of Killarney Lake titled Still Standing captures the quiet power of a rainy day on the coast. Taken in Crippen Regional Park, the photo shows a misty calm descending over the lake. Bare, standing trees dead, yet upright emerge like sentinels in the fog.
Charlotte reflects on the moment: “At times I forget the magic that can happen on dark rainy days on the coast. There is a calmness and tranquility that doesn’t exist in the warmer months of the year. There was something about the way the fog had descended over the lake and drifted in between the staggered dead trees, that really moved me that day… this scene captures one of my favourite glimpses of life, beauty, decay and resilience.”
Charlotte titled the photo Still Standing not only for its atmosphere, but for the layered presence of trees at different stages of decay. Some upright. Some broken. All on their way to becoming something else. “They refuse to give up,” she says, “before inevitably falling and giving way to new growth… taking on a new role in the cycle of life, death and rebirth.”
To many, standing dead trees, known as snags, might seem like a forest in decline. But ecologists and naturalists see something else entirely: a critical piece of the forest’s biodiversity.
Snags are essential. In spring, Bowen’s five woodpecker species excavate nest cavities in them safe spaces to raise their young. Over time, these holes become homes for a range of species: wood ducks, mergansers, tree swallows, nuthatches, chickadees, bats, and northern flying squirrels. Snags are also full of food: ants, termites, and beetle larvae make a feast for hungry woodpeckers.
Seasoned bird watchers know to keep an eye on the upper branches of snags. This is where hawks, eagles and owls
perch when hunting for prey. Scientists estimate that twothirds of all forest wildlife use dead wood at some point in their lives.
And that’s just the standing trees. Fallen trees are just as important biologists call them biodiversity hotspots. What looks like a simple rotting log may be home to hundreds of species: fungi, insects, amphibians, and other invertebrates.
Beetles bore tunnels through the bark and into the wood, making way for the entry of multiple species of wood-rot fungi. These fungi in turn attract more beetles and their predators including ants, spiders, centipedes and salamanders. Native bees and wasps also bore nest tunnels in the soft rotting wood to lay eggs for the next generation. All of these species and many others form a thriving micro-community in fallen trees.
Some downed trees become nurse logs, their moist nutrient rich surface is ideal for seed germination and the growth of saplings and berry bushes. Trees and limbs that fall into creeks and streams can shape the flow of water, creating pools and eddies, improving habitat for aquatic life including insects, coho and cutthroat trout. As aquatic ecologists like to say, “The more wood, the more fish.”
As Charlotte describes, “I’ve been photographing wildlife on Bowen for many years, and have come to know the various habitats and intricate ecosystems that all blend seamlessly into one another The island is definitely greater than the sum of its parts in that way.”
So next time you find yourself walking through a Bowen Island forest, pause for a moment by one of its fallen or dead trees. They may no longer live in the way we expect, but they are far from lifeless. They are still standing in the web of life, supporting Bowen’s biodiversity every step of the way.
This is a monthly series of photographs submitted for the Bowen Island Conservancy’s 2024 Bowen Biodiversity Photo Contest. Check out the Bowen Island Conservancy’s 2025 Biodiversity Photo Contest on the Conservancy website.
Squamish Nation regains 20,000 hectares of ancestral land
industrial activity on this land.
History was made with a land agreement between the province and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation)
On June 26, the province announced the signing of a land use agreement (Xay Temíxw) with the Nation that adds 20,000 hectares of legally protected land equal to about 50 Stanley Parks, or nearly double the land area of Vancouver to the Nation’s territory.
Among the officials and attendees at the long-awaited announcement, which took place at the summit of the Sea-toSky Gondola, was Nation council chairperson Khelsilem, councillor and spokesperson Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Randene Neill, and B.C.’s Minister of Forests and deputy government house leader Ravi Parmar.
The historic agreement conserves 33 Siiyamin ta Skwxwú7mesh (cultural sites) and landmarks, covering approximately 4,250 hectares.
This designation preserves these areas for Squamish cultural use, meaning there will be no forestry, third-party land rights or
Squamish Nation member and lawyer Aaron Bruce has been working on the project for almost 20 years and explained that the rules around the 33 cultural sites ensure no new tenures will be allowed on the lands.
“If there’s a tenure in the area already, because there are tenures on the land base where we did negotiate these, they would be allowed to run their term out, but then they wouldn’t be able to be renewed unless this Squamish Nation agreed to that,” Bruce told The Squamish Chief
The agreement further establishes six new special cultural management areas covering approximately 16,000 hectares, including on the west side of Howe Sound, Shannon Basin and Alice Ridge, which would be subject to enhanced cedar and other old forest stewardship and other measures that further the Nation’s cultural interests.
This also allows for logging to occur within those areas but under a strict set of rules.
“Just generally, it allows logging to happen in those areas, but there’s a set of special rules, which really focus on the old growth on culturally modified trees, and to avoid those areas within the special cultural management area,” Bruce said.
“Rather than just saying a straight ‘no,’ the logging proponent has an opportunity to
selectively log within the rules.”
Bruce said that spiritual bathing, harvesting cedar bark plants, or special hunting could be part of the old forest stewardships.
At the announcement, Nation councillor Williams said the agreement would provide additional protection and management oversight in key areas across the Squamish territory.
“The agreement also includes provisions for future work on the shoreline and marine areas within our territory. [It is] a major step forward in asserting our Nation’s role as stewards of our lands and ensuring our culture sites and key environmental areas are protected for future generations.”
Similarly, Khelsilem said the land agreement marked a historic achievement for the Squamish Nation.
“To get to this point, to see... that we are, in effect, protecting the equivalent of 50 Stanley Parks through this agreement with the province is a huge, amazing achievement for us,” he said.
“This work is so critical and integral to who we are as Squamish People, because who we are is defined by what we do on our land.”
Khelsilem said the agreement would provide protection for ancient forests that are between 1,400 to 8,000 years old.
“We’re also protecting areas that have important sacred and cultural value to our people, that have been shared and documented by our Elders and our people.”
“[These are] places that our ancestors have used for generations, for spiritual training, for cultural training, for the upbringing of our young people, so that they can understand who they are and where they come from
Parmar said the work behind the agreement was to create a place for the future Squamish Nation generations.
“You have to think seven generations ahead. You have to think over 100 years ahead. And that’s what we’re doing with this work here today,” the forestry minister said.
“By honouring Squamish Nation’s connection to the land and applying their values to forest management, we are charting a new path forward that should be acknowledged and celebrated.
“A path that supports both economic opportunity and prosperity and environmental stewardship for our province and a future rooted in respect reconciliation and that economic prosperity that we’re all working towards,” he said.
Parmar also told The Squamish Chief that the provincial government will continue to work with the Squamish Nation on the agreement for years to come.
“Now that this agreement is signed, our work doesn’t stop. Our work continues with the Squamish Nation and all across the province,” he said.
“We’ve got incredible people in the forest service who are working hard each and every day to support the Squamish Nation on their stewardship visions.”
Meanwhile, Minister Neill said time has shown many people that nature is a great ally in adapting to climate change and supporting a healthy community.
“For me, one of the most compelling aspects of this agreement are the protections and the stewardship of the riparian and wetland ecosystems as we understand how vital and critical they are to the success and health of our province,” she said.
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“We have very few places that we can call our own within our territory to practice our spiritual beliefs and our cultural practices, and we have to stand together as Squamish People to protect those areas, so that our people, not just today but future generations, will be able to experience the gifts that our ancestors had for us.
“To be able to bathe in those creeks, to have a relationship with those mountains, to be in those forests, to harvest our medicines and our tools and the things that have sustained us… these things are so important to our people.”
Khelsilem also noted that while a portion of the 33 cultural sites and landmarks may be hard to access, this is due to their level of sacredness.
“It’s a truly proud moment for all of us to celebrate that we are protecting our territory through partnership and through a strong relationship, through a recognition of title and rights, and we’re moving past those other eras where we were denied and ignored and erased from our territory.”
“Enhanced stewardship practices, including protecting old growth, ensuring the availability of forest resources for cultural activities and the protection and restoration of our salmon. Bringing the salmon home again. The province has also committed to working in future with the Squamish Nation in leadership on areas of interest within the marine foreshore environment as well.”
According to the Nation, the Xay Temixw land use plan was completed more than two decades ago, in 2001, and finalized for release to the public by the Nation council in 2023. The plan identified large areas to be protected from forestry activities and outlined a general land use planning vision for the Squamish territory.
In 2007, the Squamish Nation and the provincial government entered into a land use planning agreement to resolve some of the areas for protection, but several areas identified by the Nation were not resolved at that time. In 2021, the Nation’s rights and title staff began Phase 2 negotiations with the provincial government to address the unresolved areas.
FerryCam aims to give aheads-up on Bowen sailing overloads
The group, made up of Dee Elliott, Tim Hausch and Matthew van der Giessen, is currently exploringfundraising options for camera costsand other equipment necessarytoget the feed up and running. While there’snoofficial startdateyet,the aimisto have the camerainstalledand operatingsometime this year.
“We started this ayear ago, respondingto ongoing community needs and observations ofwhatother islandcommunities have done regarding ferry lineup monitoring,” said Elliott at thecouncilmeeting.
“We thought this would be aslamdunk but it became amuch bigger processthananticipated. But sofar we’ve not given up,” she added.
Mayor Andrew Leonard notedthe persistence of Elliott andher partners to keep the projectalive and nowsee it close to realization. “Thank you very much to those communitymembers who have brought this forwardand made this happen and put thepertinent resources into it. Ithink it’s agreat projectand I’m really happy to support it.”
The agreement between the municipality andvolunteers will initially be in place for one year, with the option forBIM to either extend or assume more controlofthe ferry cameraoperationafter that.
BC Ferries currently has lowresolution imagecapturinginplaceatthe startofthe ferrylineupinSnugCove (left) and in the waiting areafor BowenIsland sailingsinHorseshoeBay (right). Thenew ferrycameraproject underway on theislandwould install asimilarcamera fartherupBowen Island TrunkRoad at the Community Centre to allow people to see thevehicle lineup and assess if theyare likely to make the next sailing.
Meet ouradorablePatients of theWeek– Neon and Rosie! Thesetwo curious kittens came in for their veryfirstexams, andthey were absolutestars. We’resoproud of how brave these little ones were during theirvisit. Welcome to theclinic family, Neon and Rosie –wecan’twait to watchyou grow! NEON &ROSIE
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Friday, July 4
Bowen Eye Clinic
ClearLight Eyecare at Health Centre from 9 am to 5 pm. Full details at clearlighteyes.ca
Saturday, July 5
Men’s Shed Gathering
Bowen Island Men’s Shed gathering at Island Pacific School, 671 Carter Road between 10:30 am and Noon. All ages of men welcome. Complimentary coffee/tea and great company! Get to know other guys and see what the Men’s Shed has been up to! Please bring a reusable cup.
Saturday, July 5
Ron Woodall’s 90th Birthday
Come celebrate Ron Woodall’s 90th Birthday! The Undercurrent cartoonist and Bowen legend will be celebrating at the Community Centre from Noon to 2 pm
Monday, July 7 (& other dates)
SKY Swimming
Seniors Keeping Young pool swimming at Tunstall Bay. Meet at TBCA Clubhouse. Also July 9 & 12. Times vary, full details and RSVP by writing info@skyonbowenisland.ca
Wednesday, July 9 & Friday, July 11
SKY Walks
Seniors Keeping Young meets at the Catholic Church on Miller Road for this week’s walks. Both start at 9:45 am
Thursday, July 10
Wild Writing with Elle at the Library
Join local author, Elle Wild, on an adventure in the written word. A fun, engaging workshop that will get your creative juices flowing. Ages 5-8 from 1 to 2 pm and ages 8-12 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm, both in the Library Annex. Register for both
at bipl.ca/SRCevents
Friday, July 11
Adult Summer Camp: Hazed & Confused w/ Bowen Rec You’re getting thrown into the deep end with a crew of Jocks and Dorks, battling it out in a series of fun hazing challenges that’ll leave you feeling more dazed than confused. When the sun goes down, we’re heading to Pebbly Beach for a Hot Dog Beach Party – floating on the giant yellow camp mat, grilling dogs, and listening to the best of the 70s tunes. 70s Dress Code is a must! Snack at the start, hot dogs at the beach. Register & full details on Bowen Rec website.
Saturday, July 12
SwimBowen Day
Annual fundraiser in support of Islanders battling cancer and their families Full details on Page 3.
Sunday, July 13
Garden Club Open Garden
Bowen Island Garden Club meets at 1747 Arbutus Point Road to explore Patty Root Smith’s Garden. This south facing one acre garden was started in 2002, come see the beauty of it as it matures Members free, non-members $5. From 2 to 4 pm Purchase a membership for $25 at the open garden.
Tuesday, July 15
Sunset Summer Jazz Concert
Join the Tunstall Trio Plus Two for our 5th annual summer concert on the lawns of the TBCA w/ Buff Allen (Drums), Cindy Fairbank (Keyboard), Julian Selody (Alto Sax), Mike Allen (Bass Sax) and Russ Botten (Bass). Members & NonMembers welcome Brink a chair or blanket. Refreshments by donation. Tickets can be purchased at Tunstallbay.ca
Thursday, July 17
Mixed Media Art Journaling at the Library
Create your own junk journal in this workshop that combines collage, printmaking and doodling. Take home a unique creation of your very own! Ages 5-8 from 1 to 2 pm and ages 8-12 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm, both in the Library Annex. Please register for both at bipl.ca/SRCevents
Saturday, July 19
Logger Sports Show
Veterans Park, all day free bus to/from Snug Cove. Vendors & gold panning, cheer on your favourite lumberjack! Food by Miller’s Meatcraft, liquor and entertainment! Cash only event, 10 am to 4 pm. bowenloggingsports.com for more.
SATURDAYS
Bowen Island Farmers Market
The Bowen Island Farmers Market season is underway! Come to Bowen Island Community School from 10 am to 12:30 pm to check out all of the vendors and special events.
SKY Mahjong
Come and play Mahjong at the Seniors Cottage on Cardena Drive. 1 to 3 pm, RSVP info@skyonbowenisland.ca
MONDAYS
Meditation Mondays
Happy Mondays! Buddhist teachings and meditations to awaken the heart. Your journey to inner peace begins here! From 7 to 8 pm at the Bowen Island Community Centre. $12 drop-in, meditateinvancouver.org/bowen-island
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
throw asummer party!
