Nobody has fun like the Loggers and this year nobody played better than them either as the spirited team emerged from last weekend’s Slo-Pitch Tournament with a Championship to their name. The Loggers were a perfect 4-0 in their slate of Saturday and Sunday games, culminating in a 9-7 win over the Burley Batters in the final. The squad celebrated the victory with many well earned sips from the George Zawadski Cup long into the night. Congratulations Loggers! Be sure to check back next week for a full tournament recap and photo gallery of all the action!
BC Ferries “not providing the support our town centre needs” says mayor
ALEX KURIAL Editor
Bowen council will be exploring new ways to relieve chronic ferry-based issues in Snug Cove.
“Our ferry marshalling pilot makes it clear that BC Ferries is not providing the support our town centre needs,” said mayor Andrew Leonard in a news release this week. A series of potential measures to address the “land-based impacts of ferry traffic” will be reviewed when Bowen council resumes in October.
“Residents and visitors deserve a safe, functional Snug Cove, and ferry operations should not impose hazards or leave local taxpayers paying the price,” added Leonard.
The wide-ranging list of impacts outlined included public safety, costs to the municipality (BIM), and lack of support from BC Ferries - both financially and operationally.
Muni will investigate business licencing, paid parking & other measures to recoup ferry costs
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The most serious of these involves the flow of ferry traffic along Bowen Island Trunk Road during loading and offloading of the boat, with vehicles travelling “through a busy pedestrian area and school zone along a single narrow roadway, creating a growing risk of serious accidents.”
Along with physical safety concerns, the release noted the financial costs to BIM each year “for roadway maintenance, traffic management, parking enforcement, and staffing, all to manage ferry-related impacts, with no direct on-going contributions from BC Ferries.” BIM stated these totals to be hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
Potential response measures suggested were requiring business licences for land-based ferry operations, permits and fees for use of municipal roads - along with roadway restrictions – and the introduction of parking fees with residential and non-residential rates.
The motion will be debated during council on Tuesday, October 14. Depending on what is approved, the goal is to “empower staff to make this a high-priority initiative, directing them to pursue every municipal regulatory and cost-recovery tool available to address ferry-related congestion and safety issues as the ferry marshalling pilot concludes.”
BIM hired a pair of ferry marshals this summer who worked to enforce rules and ensure smooth operation of the ferry lineup, particularly on weekends and holidays. However as the busy season winds down the temporary program is now coming to an end.
Islander Georg Waschke (left) dominated the famous North Shore mountain to place second in the U13 Boys category during the 2025 Grouse Grind Mountain Run on Sunday. The 10-year old posted a time of 44 minutes, 34 seconds, nearly 4 minutes faster than his previous best. Jonathan Runzer from North Vancouver placed first & John Aita from West Vancouver rounded out the podium. / Submitted photo
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CARTOONIST
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Letter: Bowen First Responders to the Rescue
CLAIRE WEEKS & PETER WING Letter Writers
We and a group of friends who have cycled together lots of places on the Lower Mainland, Croatia, Vietnam, Morocco, etc gathered at our place on Bowen Bay Road on the morning of August 28.
We had coffee and cake, put on our cycling gear and headed off for a ride which was initially to be up to the end of the road, but we were barely 50 metres from our house when one of our friends must have caught her wheel on an uneven section of the road and crashed to the ground.
She was unconscious for several minutes, bleeding from what, thankfully, turned out to be “only” a laceration of her ear, and had
pain in her shoulder area.
One of our number phoned 911, and, within minutes, the first responders arrived, followed shortly thereafter by the ambulance. The entire crew were wonderful, not only gathering the information they needed and looking after our friend efficiently and kindly, but also keeping all of us informed about what they were doing and planning to do.
Our friend was taken by Bowen ambulance to the water taxi, met in Horseshoe Bay by another ambulance and taken to Lions Gate Hospital.
Today (August 29) she is being happily discharged from the hospital, only slightly the worse for wear, thanks to the prompt, efficient and effective intervention of our Bowen Island Emergency Service! Our
The Terry Fox Run is this Sunday! Bowen’s version takes place at the Community Centre, and can be started anytime between 11 am and 12:30 pm on September 14. You can register and donate through the Bowen Island page at www.terryfox.org, or sign-up in-person the day of the event. Walk, run or bike, open to all ages and dogs welcome on-leash!
thanks to each individual who helped for their professionalism and kindness. How fortunate we are to have it here, not least at a time when medical services
Letter: We need to honour the input from Islanders
ROSEMARY KNIGHT
Letter Writer
Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my appreciation and my concern regarding the recent report “What We Heard” prepared by McElhanney consultants who have been hired by the Bowen Island Municipality to write, in consultation with the community, a revised version of our island’s Official Community Plan (OCP).
The focus of the report is to review what was heard during Round 1 of the public engagement process. This step, of reviewing what was heard, is critically important as it forms a foundation for subsequent phases that will lead to the writing of our island’s OCP.
I greatly appreciate the time and effort that has gone into compiling survey results and clearly presenting them in Appendix A of the report These serve as a fantastic resource for all of us as we consider what matters to our fellow Islanders.
While it is easy to compile statistics on the multiple-choice style of questions in the survey results, it is much more challenging to summarize written comments. Thirteen of the questions allowed for written comments, with a total of 4,883 comments received. After spending ~8 hours, with help from two friends, reading through hundreds of comments, I became increasingly concerned about what I per-
ceived to be a mismatch - sometimes significant – between what I interpreted as the main messages in the written comments and the consultants’ summaries (in the report) of the written comments. I turned to AI.
While we have all been cautioned about the over-use and over-dependence on AI, it provides a methodology for assessment, in this case, of thousands of comments. I elected to work first with ChatGPT on the comments written in response to Question 5: Are there any goals that you think should be changed, added to, or removed from the updated OCP?
I suggested organization under major themes such as ferry, village centre, housing, nature, environment, freshwater, tourism, commercial, and ChatGPT came back with its own groupings and some new categories, presenting high level summaries on each and a tally of positive versus negative sentiments. I then asked ChatGPT to compare its assessment to that of the consultants.
There were four areas in which my personal interpretation of the Question 5 comments suggested important differences with the summary from the consultants; ChatGPT agreed with me. A key area for me was tourism, given that “sustainable tourism” rises to the top as one of the “key insights” in the report. Where I differed with the consultants – I felt they presented a much more positive picture of tourism than was warranted by the data.
Quoting from ChatGPT’s “Data check”:
“The dataset is polarized but net negative message on current tourism pressure; many ask for caps, management, or infrastructure to offset impacts (toilets, garbage, funding). Examples: calls to “curb and manage the unsustainable amount of tourism” and to prioritize residents on the ferry; proposals for sustainable/eco-tourism and “quality guest stays” also exist, but they’re a minority compared to “overtourism” complaints.”
There is not the space here to go through the other areas in detail, so to summarize what I, along with ChatGPT, observed: Water is repeatedly mentioned in the written comments, but under-emphasized by the consultants. The mentions of Snug Cove in the comments are not calling primarily for a focus on improving the Cove (as in the consultants’ summary) but to decentralize
around the province have been appropriately criticized for unavailability or inefficiency.
- Claire Weeks and Peter Wing
away from the Cove.
There are numerous requests to see affordable/diverse housing addressed, yet this is not mentioned at all in the consultants’ summary of Question 5. I found similar differences between written comments and summaries throughout the report, so wrote to the consultants asking for them to explain their methodology for data analysis; I look forward to receiving this.
What do I conclude? We have data that have been acquired as a foundation for the writing of our OCP. It is essential that they be accurately summarized. Let us be very sure, as we move forward, that we honour the data – the input that has been received from Islanders.
It started innocently enough withpurchasing tickets to attend agrassroots, up-cycled fashion show fundraiser hosted by Bowen Island’s re-use-it shop The Knick Knack Nook -supporting environmental and social initiatives (what part of that is notfabulous?)
The fundraiserwas targeted tokickstarta fund for adesperately needednew building. Theday before the event Itook my recycling to the Depot, and while waiting inlineI thought maybeIwill just pop into theNook as it happens to be right next door. Perhaps Icould find an outfit. And maybeI could be in the fashionshow.
Sure enough within short order Ihad found everything Ineeded tobedressed from head to toe in Nook Fashion,checked in withthe organizers and planned toarrive earlyfor awalk through/rehearsal.
And oh -what an absolute riotit was to participate. Everyonewas buzzingin their Nook outfits,models ranging from 5to75 strutting their stuff. All the joy. No stress. Just. Plain. Fun.
There was asilentauction filledwith Nook treasures -the best of the bestdonated itemsupfor bid. Again, innocently enoughI sauntered through to see what wasonoffer
Zero intention of buying anything.
Andthen Isaw it. The Swimmer. Alarge oilpastelofaswimmer viewed from underwater, floating light as youplease. Awaveof joy floated me until Iwas standing directly in front of the piece.
And, despiteits minimum openingbid Iknew Ihad to have it. EventhoughI hadn’tplanned on buyinganything at the silentauction.
Maybe if Iwalk away and thencome back Iwill feel differently, Isaid tomyself. Maybe Iwon’t love it as much. So Idid. I walked away and cameback and loved it evenmore.
Iremembersoclearly thefirst time I boughtanoriginal pieceof artwork. It was thesummer of 1992 and myfinancial situation waslessthan excellent. Iwas awaitress/ single Mom and hadless thannothing.
Therewas an art showat Bowen Island’s Plum Treewhere my Mom volunteered as book keeper. Half the store was filled with Island-grown crafts, and the other half of the store acted as an art gallery. One day Ipopped in to see alarge oil painting of abowl of grapes. Something shifted in me on acellular level when Igazed at thepainting.
It was at once luminescent, peacefuland sumptuous. EverythingIwanted to feel, everything Ineeded in mylife.The price tagwas farbeyond whatI could afford, butI
Nook fashionwas on fulldisplay during the fundraiser.Checkout Page 10 for more fits &see what an overall success the showwas./Aryana Raynephotos
boughtitanyway. On apayment plan. Iam so glad Idid.
Fast forward 33 yearsand that bowl of grapes still brings me aluminescent sense
CATES HILL CHAPEL www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260 (661Carter Rd.)
of peace. Andalong with our other loved Bowen art pieces,and thankstothe Nook Fundraiser, Inow have theSwimmerto bring me buoyant joy.
VIEWPOINTS
Judi Gedye September Open House
JUDITH GEDYE Bowen Island Municipality Councillor
I started by asking all to read the draft Islands Trust Policy Statement that’s just been tabled. This has been a significant work project of the Trust for several years and this Trust Council hopes to get it approved by the Minister before the end of this term. Every mailbox received a brochure that describes the content and the process, and gives a website address for both the draft document and a survey of your opinions and comments.
The survey is detailed and takes about 30 minutes but you can leave and return to it. There’s also a link available on the Bowen Municipality website.
I then asked what brought people out. Water was on everyone’s mind, and discussion opened with the development proposal for Seymour Bay. Bowen council has scheduled a Committee of the Whole meeting for Monday, September 15 at 1 pm at the Community Centre. A crowd is expected, carpool if possible, and the Theatre will be set up for overflow from the Council Chamber.
If you want to speak there will be the usual sign-up sheet. An agenda has been published with a presentation by the proponent, a detailed staff report, and copies of letters received to date. This is not a public hearing or the end of discussions, rather the issue is whether council will require an application for an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment, which would require a public hearing and approval by the Islands Trust, or allow the proposal to proceed under the Land Use bylaw, which would require staff approval and might require Islands Trust approval.
The proponents’ argument is that their project would provide much needed market housing. There was a comment at the Open House that the greatest need on Bowen is for low cost or affordable housing and there is none in the proposal.
One person commented that years ago the proponent had agreed to build affordable housing on Cates Hill, south of Leigh Auto, and had not.
My understanding is that these days affordability can only be achieved if there is a combination of cheap land, long-term (50-year) lower mortgage rates, and some form of pre-fab or manufactured homes.
The Grafton Lake affordable housing agreement on land near the water treatment plant was also coming to council on September 8 to renegotiate the terms of the original agreement Market changes had made it too expensive for the developer to build and instead he would like to sell lots to local contractors in particular, who could build their own affordable homes and in exchange he would donate $1 million to the Muni for a “land bank”.
Tim Wake, a Bowen councillor, indicated that the staff recommendation for council was to get an opinion from BIRCH (Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing) If there were a reconsideration there could be additional restrictions for septic treatment, building sizes and other climate change and water protection strategies.
Back to the Seymour Bay proposal with a comment about other lots in the area that were not selling. That triggered my recollection of the study completed by the Municipality in response to recent provincial requirements to inventory existing building lots on Bowen and whether they were sufficient to meet projected regional population increases. We have sufficient lots, but depending what gets built, we may still need rental or low cost housing.
The discussion turned to septic capacity – with reference to the Grafton Lake, Seymour Bay and Lot 7 on Adams Road proposals. The latter is a rezoning application which is also on the September 8 council agenda.
I am not going to describe that discussion in this Open House report, but it generated considerable discussion at the council meeting and I recommend you watch the recording, available on the Bowen Municipality YouTube channel.
There was mention of technical improvements to secondary and tertiary septic treatment systems, and while they are more expensive, they have far fewer pollution issues.
There was a question whether issues of capacity of Bowen for water and
septic are getting raised at the OCP Steering Committee. I did not know but understand that steering committee recently invited Island interest groups, including the Bowen Conservancy, to make submissions.
The Conservancy has been getting information from an Islands Trust Conservancy staff person who is leading a Trust-wide freshwater mapping project and while the information is not complete (we need more monitoring, particularly of private wells), there is considerable value in what is available about important water recharging areas.
That information was highlighted in the submissions by Bob Turner and Rosemary Knight in their delegation material attached to the September 8 council agenda. Another reason to watch that YouTube recording!
One interesting aspect of the Lot 7 on Adams Road proposal is with rezoning from 1 lot to 4, there is greater ability to apply restrictive covenants to the proposal, less so with a land use bylaw subdivision into 2 lots, and very few restrictions with no rezoning and a single lot. There was a comment that there are many restrictive covenants on Bowen but monitoring is complaint driven and extremely difficult.
The closing comment was interesting: Bowen’s best hope is for land-use planning to be based on water studies, including recharge capabilities. My response to that would be that this principle has always been the case beginning with the Hirvonen geological survey in 1976 – one of the reasons for the creation of the Islands Trust, and repeated as recently as the Islands Trust Governance Review in 2022, where the planning section was premised on the need for more detailed capacity information.
It was a small group – regulars who had asked ahead of time and were not disadvantaged with only 1 day notice in the last Undercurrent. Here’s more notice: my next Open House will be Saturday, October 4 at 3 pm at Collins Hall. Everyone is welcome.
I’m not sure what I will bake but I likely will include jam again… after all, I did win the Bowfest jam making contest! I shouldn’t brag but my granny would be so proud!
SEYMOURLANDING
TheDecision BeforeCouncil
At its upcoming Committeeofthe Whole meeting (tobeheld on Monday,September 15), BowenIsland Municipal Council will continueits consideration of theSeymourLanding Land Use Bylaw amendment application, submitted by Bowen Island Properties (BIP) in May.
Understandably, our keen andshared interests compel us to dive deep into thedetails ofthe application, consider its merits and explorecommunityconcerns. We welcome that next step.
Less clear,however,ispreciselyhow weproceed. Accordingly, this Committeemeetingisfocused on acritical procedural question that defines our immediate next step: Will Council direct Staff, in their interpretation of Policy147,toproceed with aLand UseBylawamendment without an OCP amendment?*
If theanswer is yes,wewill proceed to consider and negotiate moretangiblerefinementstothe application, including: specific permissions related to thetype,size,shape, andscale of future housing; types andqualityofamenities; andthe specific staging of development.
If theanswer is no—and Council directs Staff to require an OCP amendment—this will move theapplication into awider,policylevel discussionthat asks: is this the“right idea”inthe “rightplace” for Bowen? Already informed by theprinciples of Bowen’s OCP, wewill find ourselves “right back wherewestarted,” having paid aprice: time lost! Thedelay will havedirect, measurable costs and risks, especially to thecommunitymembers that need this type of housing. To read more,goto: rezoning.bowenislandproperties.ca
Public Engagement
To thepoint of ourcommitment to ongoing engagement –and as partofthe LandUse Bylaw amendment process –the community will have multiple opportunities to provide feedback on the application throughevents like open houses and group dialogue sessions.Beyondour conversations to date, we arekeen to continue this dialogue: your feedback benefits everyone—from political leadership to publicservant, thedeveloper andfuture residents by making sure what gets built will meet theneeds of the communityitisintended to serve
Servicing &Infrastructure
To address afoundational communityneed, specifically related to thesustainablesupply of potablewater,weoffer not opinion but rigorous,professional investigation. Theteam of industryleaders and experts at Water Street Engineering assessedJosephine Lakewater capacity based on historic reservoir data (48year period), climatechange, water usage of otherlicense holders, maintaining base flowfor fishhabitat as regulated by the Ministry ofEnvironment andParks andfound that thedevelopment proposed is within thecapacityofthe lake.
Bowen IslandProperties’decades-long planning and management of, andinvestment in this backbone of civil infrastructure– including potablewater,sanitarytreatment, fire protection—have been carefullyplanned, effectively managedand continuously improved.Further,the Cowan Point Utilityisnot only regulated by theComptrollerofWater Rights in Victoria butalso by standingcovenants with theBowen Island Municipality, which provide additional safeguards to ensure growth is monitored,managed andsustainable.
We areexcited to be seeking landuse permissions fora scale and type of neighbourhood infill development that is backed by systems that arealready in place. As an added benefittothis proposal for “infill” development,the additionof‘users’ to theexisting utilitywill avoid any taxburden to thewider Bowen community… while lowering theper-capita maintenanceburden to existing users. Somecall that a‘win-win.’
With these critical foundationsinplace, our conversation hopes to focus moreon how this proposal can supportBowen Island, notwhether thelands can be serviced.
Forthese reasons –and so many more –wehopeCouncil will direct Stafftoproceed with aLand UseBylaw amendmentand that we candeep dive into theverydetails we areall keen to explore. Theformal Land UseBylaw amendmentprocessalready provides themechanismstofurther detail, negotiate and secure communitybenefits –including housing, servicing, and amenities –incollaborationwithCouncil,staffand theBowenIsland community.
DeferringtoanOCP amendmentwould only delay theopportunity to engageinthe moredetailed negotiations that everyone agrees need to happen.
BIP isreadyand able to startdeliveringdiverse housing options, including supportive housing, and island-scale economic opportunities for theisland’sresidences. The site today is project-ready,and thewater and sewersystemshavethe capacity to serve this project. We hope that Council will now take thenextstep to move this applicationforward so that thedetails of theapplicationcan be further explored, refined and negotiated through theformal municipalLandUse Amendmentprocess.
Nook Fashion Show asmash hit!
MORETHAN
$11,000RAISED
KNICK KNACK NOOK
Dear Friends of the Nook, At the Fashion Show Fundraiser last Friday we witnessed nothing but aremarkableoutpouringofcommunity support for that Bowen destination: theKnickKnack Nook ThriftShop.
Every part of the event worked brilliantly: the Fashion Show with its 37 stylish and fun-loving Fashionistas; the Silent Auction rich with amazing art and artifacts from theNook’s shelves andstoreroom;the Beer and Wine Bar in theconcourseofthe Community Centre; and the Food Court in the outside terrace withlive musicalaccompaniment.
Our gratitude must first go to the genius visionary and organizer who not only came upwiththisfundraising idea, but also engineered every piece of it with style, confidence, and good humour. That’s Jani Wittaker who, sadly, will soon be departing BowenIsland to return home to the United Kingdomwhereshe willverysoon be a new Grandma.
No doubt Jani’s Nook enthusiasm and persuasive recruiting landed significant
FORNEW STOREFRONT
support from manyon-Island businesses, organizations and individuals. There was support from all over and we do want to name allthose generous Bowen businesses and individuals
You’llfindanadnearby in this edition of The Undercurrent where we have done our best to say‘Thank you’ to all thosewho worked with us to take this eventway beyond where we thought it could go.
We are delighted to announce that we are adding more than $11,000 to the building fund as aresult of this one event.More to come, of course, as we transform that leakyquonset hut intoa stylish and serviceable building ready to takeonthe next steps in theever-emerging lifeofthe Knick KnackNook.
Gratitude to youall:donators,fashionistas, furniture movers, auctionorganizers, musicians, barkeepers, and artists. We made it happen this time; and wewillkeep going until the job is done!
Stay tuned.
With thanks, -Board membersofKnick KnackNook
Aryana Rayne (top)& TanisLayzell (bottom) photos
This week’sstarpatient is the ever-dashing Jack —affectionately nicknamed JackSparrow! With his sleek grey coat, piercing yellow eyes, and calm confidence, Jack sailed intothe clinic forhis routine vaccines like atrue captain of the high seas. He wasbrave, curious, and full of charm throughouthis visit. Whether he’snavigating living room adventures or charting the examtable, Jack Sparrow is always ready forhis next great journey.Weloved having him aboard this week!
Getting Older on Bowen
BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
Bowen Island is a wonderful home community for many with its proximity to nature and the escape from the bustle of city living. However, as a rural community we have limited health care services and infrastructure.
While our community is strong and supportive, we do not have a hospital, access to specialized care often requires travel to the mainland, and wrap-around supports can be limited. This can create challenges as health needs become more complex, particularly in later stages of life.
As a result, it may not be possible for everyone to remain on Bowen Island through to the end of life, depending on individual circumstances and care requirements Some residents may eventually need to consider relocating to access higher levels of medical support. Understanding these realities and planning ahead can help reduce stress and ensure that you or your loved ones receive the care needed, when it’s needed most
Living a good long life on Bowen takes some consider-
RCMP Stats - August 2025
BOWEN ISLAND RCMP
There were 107 files in August:
5 Abandoned 911/Alarms – Residential/business. All false
4 Animal Calls – Cougar encounters, injured or dead deers, dogs left in vehicles
2 Assault – Stemmed from neighbour dispute
9 Assist Public – Neighbour disputes, youths having fires, landlord/tenant disputes, lost child, keep the peace, Next of Kin notification
8 Assist Other Agencies – Assisted Bowen Island Municipality, Emergency Health Services, Bowen Island Fire Department, Mission RCMP
5 Check Wellbeings – Called in by health authorities, family, doctors
3 Disturbances – Parking disputes, intoxicated people in public
2 Domestics – Family related & Intimate Partner disputes.
2 Fraud – Online and E-Transfer related.
3 Impaired – Intoxicated driver on BC Ferries, other intoxicated drivers
7 Liquor Act – Bar Walks
3 Mischiefs – Damage to house, vehicle No suspects
1 Vehicle Collision – Driver refused to share identification. Police attended and provided education on responsibilities.
School is back in session for September. Police will be out in force enforcing speed and other driving infractions
Drivers are reminded to be patient if behind a bus and to stop when appropriate. Please allow yourself extra time for your commute/kid dropoff due to the increase in pedestrians and cyclists on the roads.
ation and thoughtful planning to make sure we can stay here safely and well-resourced for as long as possible. You might be thinking about your own vulnerabilities as you’re aging, or you might be in a position where you need to intercede on behalf of family members who are at risk and might not have the care or services in place that they need.
With this in mind, the Health Centre is presenting a free education session at the Bowen Theatre on Sept. 25 from 10 am to Noon. We have three speakers from Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) who will talk about the programs they deliver in the VCH region to help people age in place for as long as possible.
Corinne Stewart from the VCH Home and Community Care Team will be speaking about how to get more help in the home as we age. Perhaps you need some help with personal care (bathing, etc.) or with medications or wound
care. The first step in this process is getting a case manager who will do an assessment of your needs.
Corinne will talk about when and why it might be necessary to get a case manager, and how to do so. She will also talk about when home care is not enough, and how, when, and why you might consider moving to Long Term Care.
Sonya McMurray and Kathryn Bowen-Roberts work with the VCH Older Adult Mental Health Team. They support patients who are experiencing cognitive decline, mental health issues, and/or functional decline. Sonya and Kathryn will share about this program and what services they can put into place to assist people to live longer at home.
We hope to see you there!
- The Community Health Coordinator Team
The following is from ‘The Slow Lane Chronicles,’ an award-winning column by Island writer and actor Marcus Hondro that appeared in the Undercurrent from 2005 until 2014. With the recent petition asking council to remove the cougar that found its way here last year (Mayor Andrew Leonard responded, saying cougars are a provincial concern) it seems a good time to reprise this 2005 Lane.
At that time a cougar was also rumoured to be living here, though there was less certainty and if one was here it was soon gone. During that same time period it was also rumoured a well-known American actor had moved to Bowen (alas, he had simply come for lunch). This column conjoins the two rumours. Mr. Hondro has edited it for space.
MARCUS HONDRO
The Slow Lane Chronicles - September 2, 2005
We don’t get to choose who lives on our island but nevertheless I should like to choose between two entities rumoured to have recently moved here. One is a cougar and the other is the noted actor Harrison Ford
There have been enough sightings to convince me a cougar is here and its presence is preventing many Islanders from doing as they might otherwise do. I’m not convinced Harrison Ford is here but his presence wouldn’t prevent anyone from doing anything. So already I lean toward extending a welcome to the man nominated for a 1986 Academy Award for Witness, but not to the big cat.
However, in the interests of being fair, and thorough, I intend herein to give a fuller consideration to the subject. I shall look at various issues and, to determine which of the two creatures would be the more desirable neighbour, award ‘welcome’ points; the first to reach 4 welcome points wins and gets to stay.
Now in the August 19, 2005 Undercurrent, reporter
Jaqueline M. Massey interviewed area conservation officer Colin Copeland. Copeland said even if a cougar is on Bowen that over the past century there haven’t been enough attacks in North America to warrant action. But in a letter to the editor, island resident Bud Long pointed out that for decades when a cougar came near a community it was shot, thus averting attacks
Further, as cougars and humans live in increasingly closer proximity, the number of people killed by cougars is on the increase. California went nearly 100 years without having significant cougar attacks or any deaths, but since 1986 that state has averaged more than one attack per year, with many of them fatal.
To my knowledge Harrison Ford hasn’t attacked or killed any humans, not in California or anywhere else. I mean okay, yes, he did attack those nasty replicants in Blade Runner, but 1): strictly speaking, they weren’t actually human, and 2): those guys had it coming.
So first point to Mr. Ford.
As Massey wrote, cougars need a large area to call home and should humans encroach upon what they consider their territory they don’t always act according to form; that’s often when gruesome things happen. My understanding is that, to a cougar, the entirety of Bowen Island is not a large area at all.
I doubt Harrison Ford would need more than an acre, two at most, and if someone encroached upon his territory he’d simply have a talk with them. If things became heated, he could call RCMP Cpl. Dan Guilfoyle or Const. Mike Reid or Const. Mark Fulton. He’s not likely to kill your farm animals or stalk your kid.
So that would be 2 for the actor, no score for the cougar
Copeland warned that if you encounter a cougar it might be in a lousy mood, especially if it’s missed a meal. He said your survival will depend upon you convincing the beast you are a dangerous animal. A sizable number of us island-
ers wear Birkenstocks, so we’re hardly the type to intimidate a mountain lion.
On the other hand, if you encounter the star of The Fugitive on the Killarney Lake trail, even if he skipped lunch, I’d wager he would simply nod hello and keep going. You won’t have to yell at him and wave your arms about to make yourself big, all that while grabbing the kids and backing slowly away. I expect that Harrison Ford would be rather amused if you did those things though.
Yeah, 3-0 for the thespian.
Now Mr. Copeland wanted proof the cougar was here and suggested one of us “enlightened” Islanders take a photo of it in a Bowen scene. Like in front of the Village Baker? Or better yet – boarding the ferry? I often take photos for the Undercurrent but I’ll pass on that assignment. I would take a picture of Harrison Ford though.
No, wait, Tracey said she’d be happy to do that.
That then is a 4-0 series sweep for the guy who in 1967 played a Young Rancher in The Virginian and the following year a Beach Patrol Cop in an episode of The Mod Squad (we all gotta start somewhere!) So if Harrison Ford has indeed moved to the Happy Isle then let us give the man a free Chamber of Commerce newcomer package and welcome him as we would welcome anyone else.
After all, he’s earned it (see above).
As for the cougar, despite Copeland’s claim that relocation would be traumatic for the beast, I say find it a more suitable home. Because it seems unlikely a wild species that needs so much territory and has a predilection for viewing other animals as moving feasts is worth the effort to live with. After all, when neighbours have the grandkids over for lunch they don’t actually eat them.
Room for a cougar in your neck of the woods, Mr. Copeland?
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night
fashion
for the Knick Knack Nook last Friday. / Tanis Layzell (wide shot) & Aryana Rayne photos
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COURIER SERVICE
CALENDAR
Thursday, September 11
Writer’s Feedback Group at the Library
Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, if you’re looking for writing feedback this group is for you. Adults, youth and teens welcome to share all types of writing in this supportive setting. Flex Room from 5 to 6:30 pm.
Friday, September 12
Youth All Access with Bowen Rec
An opportunity for kids Grade 7-12 to explore the Community Centre! Learn how to use the Fitness Centre or knit in the Flex Room, followed by pizza dinner and a movie in the Bowen Theatre. From 6 to 9 pm, visit the Bowen Rec website for full details and registration info.
Friday, September 12 to Sunday, September 14
Write on Bowen Festival
The literary celebration includes writing workshops, a literary luncheon and a Saturday evening gala with keynote speaker Timothy Taylor. Hosted in partnership with Bowen Library and the Hearth. More info & registration for all the events available at writeonbowen.com
Sunday, September 14
Terry Fox Run
The annual run in support of cancer research takes place between 11 am and 12:30 pm at the Community Centre. Find out more info on Page 5.
Monday, September 15
Reach For SKY Seminar
Learn about the importance of sleep for brain health & healthy aging with guest speaker Dr. Glenn Landry, who will provide an overview of research & present practical tips for improving sleep health. Refreshment break with opportuni-
ty for conversation. Free, 9:30 am to Noon at the Community Centre. Write info@skyonbowenisland.ca to learn more
Tuesday, September 16
Canada Revenue & Service Canada help at the Library
Drop in and get one-on-one help with a Canada Revenue Agency specialist and/or Service Canada agent (no need to travel to the mainland!). Free tax filing for simple tax situations Come get your questions answered, runs 10:30 am to 2:30 pm Find out more at bipl.ca/get-help
Wednesday, September 17 & Friday, September 19
SKY Walks
Seniors Keeping Young meeting at the Killarney Lake Picnic Area. Walks start at 10:30 am.
Saturday, September 20
French Connections at the Library
Drop in and join us to practice your French and get to know other French speakers on Bowen! The focus is on conversing in French, with beginner and intermediate speakers welcome. All ages! Free, drop-in, 10:30 to 11:30 am
Saturday, September 20
A Little Bit Much at the Community Centre
Chela Davison performs her solo show at the Bowen Theatre. 7 pm show sold out with a 4:30 show now added! Both shows followed by a DJ Dance party and bar. Tickets available at cheladavison.com/show
Sunday, September 21
Hatha Yoga at Sweat the Technique
Amrita Sondhi is offering a 1 hour meditation, ball rolling, yoga class. She is a long time certified Hatha yoga instructor, specializing in connecting with breath and body. Please email Amrita at movementglobal@gmail.com to register as space is limited to 6 - suggested donation $15-20 towards the Pamoja foundation. From 4 to 5 pm.
Monday, September 22
SKY Trek
Seniors Keeping Young is heading to the Audain Museum in Whistler Please RSVP to info@skyonbowen.ca two days before the trip. Meet 8:15 am at Snug Cove Ferry Terminal.
MONDAYS
Happy Mondays Meditation
Practical meditation classes for everyday life. From 7 to 8 pm in the Bowen Island Community Centre Meeting Room, $12 drop-in. meditateinvancouver.org/bowen-island
WEDNESDAYS
Family Storytime at the Library
A free 30-minute drop-in program of stories, rhymes and songs for children age 0-6 and their caregivers! Starts 10:30 am in the Library Annex. Families are welcome to stay in the Annex until 11:30 am to socialize, read books and hang out!
THURSDAYS
Thursday Art Group
TAG is back starting September 11 and every Thursday after from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at Collins Hall. Membership is $30 per month, or $10 drop-in. Newcomers welcome and we waive the first drop-in fee. Come and paint with us!
FRIDAYS
Baby Connections at Family Place
A free drop-In program for families with babies 0-12 months. Runs from 11 am to 1 pm. Chat with other new parents while enjoying some tea, coffee & treats Visits with the Threshold Singers, Stories On-the-Go (Library), Public health Nurse and more are planned for the Fall. For more info - contactcoordinator@bowenislandfamilyplace.com
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.
