Bowen Island Undercurrent July 24 2015

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FRIDAYJULY 24, 2015VOL . 4 2 , NO . 2 6

Moving on...Parting words from an editor andcolumnist...

Healthcare on BowenMore information required to moveforward

With love from the NookA send-off to Bowen grads

“More than two decades of work, and all we got was this sign,” Paul Hooson.Meribeth Deen, photo

MERIBETH DEENE D I T O R

Over the past two decades, you are more likelyto have seen Paul Hooson getting theatri-cal in the municipal hall than you are to

have seen him on-stage at Tir-na-Nog or Cates HillChapel. The clown and puppeteer says the reason forthat is because he’s not an actor – just a champion forthe theatre arts on Bowen Island.Last Monday, Hooson stood before council yet

again, offering a brief history of the committeesstruck and reports written in an effort to move for-ward plans for a community hall on Bowen. Afterwrapping up, he told council that this presentationwould be his last.“I’m feeling resigned,” said Hooson in an interview

following the meeting. “I’m not sure if that’s a stageof grief, but that’s where I’m at.”In the report he wrote up for council, called

“Bowen Island Community Hall: A work in progress,or a project neglected?” Hooson lays out possiblenext steps for moving the project forward, but sayshe’s not optimistic that they will be taken.His presentation to council last week, he says, was

motivated by the fact that as each new council hasassumed leadership it has misinterpreted the workand objectives of the Arts Council.“I wanted to set the record straight before I quit,”

he says. “What we want is a Community Hall, not aCommunity Center: a modest, multi-purpose spacefor the performing arts and public assembly.”Among the uses of this kind of space, he adds,

would be weddings and banquets as well as “soft”recreational activities such as yoga, and various kindsof seniors activities.Hooson started his quest for such a space back in

1993, when he played the role of an advisor on the“theatre” aspect of a Community and PerformingArts Centre for the Bowen Island Parks andRecreation Task Force.

Hooson’s last stand

continued PAGE 3

After 22 years working to create a communityhall, theatre advocate Paul Hooson moves on


Over the past three years, Bowenbeekeepers Ian Kennard and NancyLeonard have seen their hives getstronger and stronger. Prior to 2013,says Kennard, between 40 and 50 per-cent of their bees died over the winter.In 2013, 90 percent of their bees sur-vived, and in this past winter, 100 per-cent of their bees survived. It turns out,though, that a majority of their bees donot in fact carry the traits that makethem resistant to disease – “hygienictraits,” technically speaking. Thisnews comes with new technology thatKennard, Leonard and other BowenIsland bee keepers will assist to testover the coming three years.As UBC professor Leonard Foster

explains, bee breeding technology hasbeen stuck in the dark ages as com-pared to methods used in other agri-cultural sectors. Until Foster and histeam embarked on this recent projectto improve it, bee breeders had no wayof knowing which bees had the genetic

traits that would help them resist dis-ease and survive the winter.“Most bee keepers in Canada get

their bees from either Hawaii or NewZealand. They’re not used to the coldand most don’t survive long enoughto adapt, so the bee keepers get newones every few years,” says Foster, add-ing that a minority of bee keepers, likeKennard and Leonard, breed the sur-vivors and in doing so create bees thatare adapted to this climate.“It is pretty well recognized that

the solution that offers the most hopefor the industry in terms of bee deathis selecting for bees that are strongerand more economically viable, whichis not a shocking conclusion,” saysFoster. “But the tools that people haveto do the selection have not been there.We’ve tried to bring modern molecu-lar techniques that would be usedin a hospital, for example, and applythose tools to honey bees. Last year’sproject, found a way to quickly andeasily determine whether a bee wouldbe hygienic or not based on the pres-ence of a group of proteins in the bee’sgenetic material.”

Bowen to become “closedcolony” for honey bees

continued PAGE 3

Bee keepers Nancy Leonard, Ian Kennard and research technicianHeather Higo inspect a frame of drones brought to Bowen from theFraser Valley.Meribeth Deen, photo

You can immediately see why this magical, 5.8 acre property is know as Island Springs. To yourleft as you drive in are three ponds stacked upon the hillside. Relax at the top by the ReflectionPond and watch the waterfall pour into the ponds below. The home overlooks all, and featureslovingly-crafted details, two bedrooms and two baths. Outside is theVillage Green, throughwhichthe driveway continues towards the studio building and its surrounding piazza, field pond, andirrigated garden. The studio features an expansive workshop downstairs; the upstairs open planwas originally used forTai Chi, but is now amusical getaway.

$2,050,0001293 Westside Road

Frazer Elliott

BOWEN ISLAND’S TOP PRODUCING REALTOR SINCE 2009

27

7 YEARS

[email protected]

2 • FRIDAY JULY 24 2015 WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

→ C O M P L E T E F I R E B A NI N E F F E C T

NO Open BurningNO Camp FiresNO Beach FiresNO FireworksNO BBQs

TO REPORT FIRES OR WILDFIRESCALL 911

→ WAT E R U S A G ER E C O M M E N D AT I O N S

The following recommendations apply for all Municipal Water Systems:

NO LAWN SPRINKLINGNO CAR/BOAT WASHINGNO DECK/POWER WASHING

Please limit your water usage:

● Turn the tap off while brushing or washing● Use the dishwasher only when full● Use laundry machines sparingly● Embrace the dusty look for your car● Water garden by hand-held hose or containers● Equip hoses with spring-loaded shutoff devices● Collect rainwater● Flush only when necessary

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Public Worksdepartment at 604-947-4255

→ A T T E N T I O NP R I V A T E W E L L n U S E R S

Recently, Bowen Island Municipality has received reports of wells starting torun dry in the community. You can take steps to protect your water supplyand to deal with a dry well. Below are some suggestions for private well-users to avoid unpleasant surprises and have peace of mind:

● Check your water level, if you haven’t already● Consider speaking to a qualified local water technician about installing a

well depth monitor to notify you when your well reaches a lower-than-normal level

● Work with one of the local water companies or a group of neighbours tocoordinate tanker truck deliveries or create communal pump and stor-age systems

● Consider purchasing a storage tank that will work in coordination withthe natural recharge capacity of your well and will help to protect youfrom sudden water outages

● Remember that water quality and characteristics can be affected whenthe water table changes drastically, this may be a first indicator thatwater levels are low

● Talk to neighbours, especially if you are on a shared well or a sharedaquifer, to agree on water conservation strategies and share updates onthe level of the well

● Learn more tips about being “Wellsmart” at www.rdnwellsmart.ca orlook in the Bowen Phone Book under “Water Systems” and speak to aqualified local water technician

● Go to www.bimbc.ca for more information

→ N O T I C E O FC O N S T R U C T I O NI N S N U G C O V E

June 30 - July 31, 2015Installation of an oil-water separatorVisit www.bimbc.ca for more information andconstruction updates.

→ R E Q U E S T F O RM E M B E R S O N T H E F E R R YA D V I S O R Y C O M M I T T E E

The Bowen Island Municipal Transportation Advisory Committee (BIMTAC)is seeking members of the public interested in serving on the BC FerriesFerry Advisory Committee (FAC). The FAC is a sub-committee of BIMTAC thatacts as an advisory committee to BC Ferries to represent the interests ofBowen residents and to bring forward local ferry service issues and concernsidentified by residents of the community to BC Ferries.

BIMTAC is particularly interested in receiving applications from students,seniors, commercial/economic interests and other community groups andorganizations.

To view the Terms of Reference for BC Ferries Ferry Advisory Committeesplease go to www.bimbc.ca.

Please submit your application by Monday, July 27 at 4:30 pm via email, faxor regular mail to:Hope Dallas, Committee [email protected] Island Municipality981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2

→ C O N T R I B U T E T O AC R I M E n F R E E C O M M U N I T Y

The Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers group is recruiting a volunteer representativefrom Bowen Island to serve on its board. The organization is a communityservice partnership between the RCMP, the media, and citizens to solvecrimes in the Sea to Sky corridor.

Board meetings for the registered non-profit group are held every fiveweeks, usually in Squamish or Whistler. More information about CrimeStoppers is posted at www.solvecrime.ca and www.facebook.com/SeaToSkyCrimeStoppers.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Sea to Sky CrimeStoppers Board Secretary Jack Knight at [email protected] before July31.

→ B O W E N B A YWAT E R S Y S T E M A N N U A LI N F O R M AT I O N M E E T I N G

All Bowen Bay Residents Welcome!

When: Thursday, July 30 at 5:30 pmWhere: Malkin Creek Road Cul-de-sac (weather dependent, alternatively

Municipal Hall, 981 Artisan Lane)What: Overview of Annual Budget, Water Reports & Operations

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM FRIDAY JULY 24 2015 • 3

from PAGE 1

The report they produced recom-mended the creation of a 20 thousandsquare foot building to accommodateartistic and recreational units besideBowen Island Community School.After the community rejected a

proposal to build a “temporary” com-munity centre (4,400 square feet) 1997,and after the creation of the CulturalMaster Plan (2003), the Bowen IslandArts Council created another commit-tee, and another report – this time rec-ommending a 5,000 square foot hall.“We had explored all the island

events looking at needs and the num-ber of people attending these events,the proposal came with a sound busi-ness plan,” says Hooson. “We knewhow the funds would be raised, andwe had plans for revenue sustainabil-ity. Our stumbling block, though, wasland.”Hoosen says that other small com-

munities had land donated to themfor the purpose of community halls orcommunity centers, but despite theirefforts, the Arts Council could notsecure such a donation to help bringtheir plan to fruition.

Instead of implementing

any of the report

findings, each

council has

chosen to do more

research instead.

In 2006, that stumbling block waslifted when council offered up Lot 2 ofmunicipal lands, the area between thesoccer field at BICS and Senior’s Lane.This was followed by more proposednext steps, analysis, timelines andcommittees.“For 10 years now each council has

received well-researched reports offer-ing them various options for movingforward on this project,” says Hoosen.“Instead of implementing any of thereport findings, each council has cho-sen to do more research instead.”On the final page of Hooson’s report,

there is a photo of the Jericho ArtsCentre, a roughly 6,000 square footwood frame building that has been inuse for 75 years so far, and will likelyanother 50.“I could’ve used a prettier build-

ing as an example of what we couldhave here on Bowen, but somethingthis simple, this is all we need,” saysHooson. “Two years ago I was so downabout this that I considered movingoff the island, but I’ve been here 30years and it is a great community. Wewill carry on. And the show will go on,even if it happens in a tent.”

COLLEEN O’NEILS U B M I S S I O N

As many of you might remember, VancouverCoastal Health (VCH) conducted a survey for theentire Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regionsto assess the health needs of all of the communitieswithin those regions. It was broken down into com-munities not regions, so that VCH could make healthcare decisions based on local needs. Bowen Islandhad a higher response rate than any other commu-nity in part because Caring Circle promoted it as away to improve our health care on Bowen. Clearly,given how many people responded, we have manyconcerns about health care on Bowen.

....having a GP is only helpful if

you actually ‘see’ the GP; and we

think there is an issue with ‘access

to primary care’ on Bowen.

One of the questions in the VCH survey askedpeople if they had a family/general practitioner (GP).Eight-six per cent of Islanders responded that theydo indeed have a GP. That statistic has not goneunnoticed by our contacts at VCH, who have incasual conversation wondered why we need a localclinic/health centre when most people seemed wellserved around primary care. The board of the newCommunity Medical Clinic Society of Bowen Islandexplained that having a GP is only helpful if youactually ‘see’ the GP; and we think there is an issuewith ‘access to primary care’ on Bowen.The board and board advisors have spent a good

part of a year writing a health needs assessment thatfocuses on access to health services. We hope that

Hooson: The show will go onHealth NeedsAssessment forBowen Island from PAGE 1

Since receiving a grant for further research fromthe Ministry of Agriculture last year, Leonard and histeam have been working with eight different breed-ing operations in the lower mainland, includingLeonard and Kennard’s here on Bowen Island. Whentested for the proteins that Foster has determinedmake bees “hygienic,” only one hive of Leonard andKennard’s queen bees qualified to be bred.Because of the way bees breed (the drones, or male

bees will fly up to several kilometers from their hive,and the queen bees, when they are ready will fly offin search of them and mate with up to 20 drones)Foster’s team needed to find a way to control whichbees were mating. The solution: take the selectedbees away from the mainland, and to Bowen Islandto do their mating.Last week, Heather Higo, a research technicial

from Foster’s lab, brought over a select “drone brood”(male bees) from colonies tested in the Fraser Valleyto Bowen. These bees are able to detect bees quicklywithin their hive, and remove the affected larvaebefore disease spreads.In roughly two weeks time, when they have

reached maturity, these drones will emerge fromtheir hives. During the two weeks they are maturing,Higo will be bringing selected Queens to Bowen, andputting them into a colony near the drones at NancyLeonard’s bee yard. When the queens are ready inabout three weeks, they’ll head off and mate with theselected drones.Foster says the goal of this project, for this year at

least, is to breed six or eight strong queen bees foreach of the breeders involved in the experiment. Nextyear and the year after, they will repeat the process,and hopefully prove that it is possible to continueselecting for behaviour that will make the honeybeesresistant to disease. (And long term - eliminate theneed to import bees from elsewhere?)For Ian Kennard, there is one simple hope that this

project might deliver: stronger, better bees.

Bees brought to Bowento mate in isolation

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Editor

MeribethDeen

EDITORIAL

Taking a break from the hot seat Dear Editor,

Once again I hear the sirens and say a prayer thatthey’ll get there in time and the person will be ok-orthat it’s just a baby being born a little early… andonce again I promise myself that I will write THISletter to everyone that may need emergency service -that there are serious issues with the delays that canand now have been life threatening. Let me make itclear that I am not finding fault in any way with theparamedics or first responders but rather with thesystem or lack of funding for these services !Back in January we had an emergency situation

with my husband that looked like a heart attackor serious allergic reaction and had to make thatdreaded 911 call. We live on a main road and only7-10 minutes from the Cove, but after 15 minutes Istill heard no sirens. Luckily my husband was feel-ing and looking better! I called the dispatcher onceagain and asked where they were and could I at leastgive him some aspirin (I was assuming it might beheart related.) The dispatcher assured me they wereon their way and after consulting them said it was okto give some aspirin with just enough water to get itdown. After 30 minutes the paramedics arrived andhe was stable but they suggested we go to the hospi-tal to get him checked out. So we went in the ambu-lance with them checking his vitals and transferredto the waiting water taxi where they BOTH camewith us to the other side and the waiting ambulancein Horseshoe Bay.When I inquired about what would happen if

there were an emergency while they were on thewater taxi ,one of the paramedics said that it was“the luck of the draw” (!!) I also found out that partof the delay was the fact that only one paramedicwas at the station and the other one was working inthe community. I learned that the procedure is topage that other person and have them go to the sta-tion and change into their uniform before they go tothe call! This crazy procedure could cost a life.After sharing this information about our situa-

tion with certain people, I had hoped it would beaddressed at meetings regarding health issues andemergency response times on Bowen. I said I wouldwrite a letter explaining our concerns and requestfunding for more staff or better response procedure.I kept putting it off and every time I heard a siren Iswore I’d write THIS letter!! NOW I am!Unfortunately there was an incident this past

weekend when there was a call to one side of theisland and then another more serious call to theother side of Bowen. The second call eventuallyended up as a fatal heart attack on the way to hos-pital on the water taxi.This may have been becauseof delayed service or “luck of the draw” or justan unfortunate medical event( no matter wherethey were) My condolences to my friend’s family.Perhaps we need a different kind of procedure hereon Bowen where the paramedics or first respond-ers have their badge or jacket with them and justmeet at the situation-whatever it may be.... I’d rathersomeone with some training just show up –with orwithout a uniform rather than have that long andpossibly fatal wait!!Once again I am NOT finding fault with the won-

derful paramedics or first responders(and I hear itis often the volunteer firemen that show up first!)but rather the system or lack of funding for moreresources. Something to think about with our agingpopulation and young families that deserve thesebetter resources. I hope this can be the start of con-versation about this issue.

Sincerely, Jani Carroll

When delays cost lives


No way. That’s what I said almost two years agowhen Susanne Martin stepped down as editor ofThe Undercurrent and my husband suggested Iapply for the job.Obviously, I came around and submitted my appli-

cation. Since then, I have many moments of teeth grit-ting, exhaustion, tears and feeling like the gig is notworth it - but I’m pretty sure I’ve had more momentsof appreciating all ways this job has enriched my life.And after two years I sometimes forget that I haven’talways been the editor of The Undercurrent.As I wrap up my last official paper for some time

to come (this is only an eight-pager... but for a slew ofreasons I am in late on a Tuesday night) I’m feeling alike a tsunami of stories could just sweep me away.Who has time to have a baby when there is so

much happening on Bowen Island? So much to diginto? So many people to talk to?I bet you next year when I come back we’ll still

have reason to gripe about BC Ferries. I’m honestlynot optimistic we’ll have any kind of community

centre (or Hall, says Hooson), or medical clinic, orwater treatment plant. Maybe the snazzy new pubwill be under construction by then. I’m also hopingthat Finn Corrigan-Frost was not being overly opti-mistic when he told me that there’s a good chance anew bike park will be in the works this September(it turns out that hard packed mounds of dirt aremy kid’s happy place).But for all that doesn’t happen, and for all that

does (for example: when is it going to rain again,seriously) I’m steeling myself to be an observer fora while. And as I’ve said before, The Undercurrentwill be in good hands. Martha Perkins has alreadybrought her fresh eyes and years of experience toenhance this little paper.Make sure you guys cut her some slack, though - it

takes a while to memorize the spellings in the Bowenphone book.Van Lidth de Jeude... I’ve almost got that one

nailed without looking up.I’ll see you all around, at the General Store, on the

playground but probably not much at council. AndI’ll be back at it in a year or so...And thank you, Bowen Island, for being such a

fantastic, interesting engaged community.


PAULINE LE BELC O M M U N I T Y C A U L D R O N

This is my last column for The Undercurrent. I’veenjoyed being part of this mighty little communitynewspaper. It’s been a satisfying adventure – a won-derful opportunity to get to know my island homeeven better, to interview the oldtimers and the new-comers, a dandy soapbox to air my ideas and explorenew ways of looking at the world.Thanks to the many readers who stopped me in

The Cove, in Crippen Park, at parties, to tell me howmuch they enjoyed my column, how they agreedor disagreed with what I wrote, how it gave thensomething to think about. It’s always gratifying toknow that my words have reached a few minds andtouched a few hearts.Special thanks to those who took the time to come

and have tea and answer my questions so I mightshare their wisdom with the rest of the island. Theresearch and writing helped me deepen into the heartand soul of my chosen community – something Iexperienced ten years ago when I created the Voicesin the Sound Festival and wrote the musical to cel-ebrate Bowen, which we performed in the meadowin 2005 and 2006.There were many perks to this job – spending time

with lovely people such as Cathy Bentall at Rivendell;Soren Hammerberg and Kathy Bellringer of theBowen Island Community Foundation; chattingwith my friend Chris Corrigan about conversation;interviewing the delightful young women at the YogaStudio; writing and singing a forage fish song forRamona de Graaf - Queen of Smelts; popping intothe Undercurrent Office on Wednesday afternoonsto help Meribeth and Maureen proofread the nextissue, as well as debrief from the last one; attend-ing the Howe Sound Forum in May as a member ofthe press, which has launched me on another writ-ing project; and last but not least, lunch with BruceRussell at the Cup Cutter.I’m especially grateful to Meribeth who

approached me 14 months ago and asked me to writea column on community. At first, it was to be a sum-mer gig. When she liked what I was doing, Meribethsuggested I “just keep writing until it’s not fun any-more.” Well, it’s been fun – every minute of it – stillis fun, but I have two big writing projects needingmy attention. I will miss Meribeth’s passionate pres-ence as editor of The Undercurrent, her quest to findthe stories that needed to be told, her investigativeinstincts, her fair-mindedness and her beauty of spir-it, as she moves on to her next big project.So it’s time to sign off, to turn the heat down on

the Community Cauldron. One last word or two: mywish is that my column may have inspired you to fallmore deeply in love with Bowen Island and HoweSound, our spectacular inlet. That’s what writing thecolumn did for me.See you at the beach!

Pauline Le Bel is an award-winning novelist, Emmy-nominated screenwriter and the author of BecomingIntimate with the Earth.

Au Revoir!

To the Editor,

We would like to express our profound apprecia-tion for the wonderful audience that attended the“Summer Rhapsody” fundraising concert and read-ing, last Sunday. As anyone who was there wouldattest, it was a passionate and thought-provokingperformance, with a truly virtuoso cast. The eventraised over $500.00 for the Library/Gallery Annexproject.Thomas Beckman’s latest EP download album,

featuring a collaborative track with Jude, will beavailable for purchase at various island commercialoutlets, the Library, and the Gallery, and all proceedsgo directly to the project.We would also like to thank all of our sponsors,

and of course the Library, for their unflagging sup-port of the Arts. We couldn’t have done it, withoutyou.

Jude Neale

Summer Rhapsody

Dear Editor,

In a recent letter (June 19), I ventured to com-ment on the OCP and one or two other topics. Thisprovoked a letter of sustained disapproval from DaveWitty (June 26) and a much shorter, gentler letterfrom John Sbragia (July 3). A number of the remarksin those letters had only a remote connection to whatI had actually said. No matter. I’d like to concentratenow on what I think is the one significant point atissue - even though it will likely not have any imme-diate application.First of all, none of what follows detracts from

the process that was mainly designed and managedby Mr.Witty for the preparation of the draft of thepresent OCP. Indeed, I believe that much the sameprocess should be used for any future new (or sub-stantially revised) OCPs. What I am proposing wouldtake place only after the process was largely completeand the draft OCP was under consideration by themunicipal council.In Mr. Witty’s own words, an OCP is a “road map

for a community to manage itself into the future”(June 12). Fair enough, but if the OCP is to play suchan important quasi-constitutional role in Bowen’sgovernance, it must surely have the support of amajority of the electorate. Indeed, the larger themajority, the better. Otherwise, attempts to imple-ment the OCP will seriously polarize the Bowencommunity. Thus, before making its decision onthe draft of a new OCP, the municipal council mustknow what the level of electorate support for it is.I believe there are only two ways to reliably find

that out: (1) a public vote open to the total elector-ate, or (2) a survey of a representative sample of thetotal electorate. In either case, the question would beon the following lines: “Do you support the proposedOCP that is now being considered by the municipalcouncil, Yes or No?”.(A few footnotes: A vote would be preferable to a

survey. This is because it would be much more effec-tive in focusing public attention on the arguments forand against the plan’s major provisions. Also, regard-less of whether the method is a vote or a survey,its results would be non-binding: they would onlyinform, not restrict, the council’s decision-makingauthority. The cost? Assuming a ten year life for anOCP, probably less than one Loonie per year per tax-payer for either the vote or the survey. End of foot-notes.)Anyone is of course free to object to a public vote/

survey. But such an objection implies either (a) thatthe municipal council does not need to know thelevel of electorate support for a draft OCP, or (b) thatthere are ways other than a vote/survey of obtainingsuch information.At first glance, it looked like Mr Witty had perhaps

found another such way. There was no public vote/survey on the present OCP, but nonetheless, he wasable to “confirm” that the document had “widespreadsupport” (June 26). But that is an enormously vaguephrase. What does it mean in the only terms that aremeaningful, that is, the number of voters who sup-port the OCP and the number who oppose it? Ifthese numbers exist, the next question would be onwhat data and reasoning were they based?Mr. Witty also argues that the “intent” of the pro-

vincial legislation governing the preparation of anOCP is that there be no public vote. I believe he’smistaken. True, that legislation doesn’t require apublic vote - but neither does it prohibit one. Weshould recall here a fundamental principle of ourlegal system: “what is not expressly forbidden isallowed”. Further, section 83 of a key BC statute, theCommunity Charter, authorizes a municipal councilto “seek community opinion” by means of a non-binding vote on any “question the council believesaffects the municipality”. In any case, Mr Witty fearsthat the provincial government would “frown” on apublic vote. I can’t imagine that the province wouldeven notice, let alone care, that a tiny municipalityhad done something that was manifestly legal andthat affected only itself.Messrs Sbragia and Witty may have the last word

(at least for now).

Bud Long

The OCP and other things

Dear Editor,

Many of us have tried to get an understanding what the BC EnvironmentalAssessment Office (EAO) actually is or does these days, especially in light of theapplications of Woodfibre LNG and Eagle Mountain Woodfibre pipeline areunder review. Fortunately it has clearly explained in an article in BC Business

magazine: “The problem with (self-regulated) environmental assessments.”In a nutshell the writer argues, that the work of BC Environmental Assessment

Office does not in fact do any environmental assessment work and has very littlecapacity to check if data and information provided to be correct. Due to budgetcuts, and because of changes in provincial and federal environmental protectionlaws, the EAO now relies on environmental assessments being done by consul-tants hired by the company that wants to submit an application for a project. Thisclear conflict of interest undermines the important principle independence forthis process.After reading the article, I must admit that I have lost the little trust I had in

the BC Environmental Assessment process, not for political, but for process rea-sons. It seems the environmental assessment process is designed to function as amechanism to give the companies, applying for an environmental certificate, aneasy route. The environmental standards BC still has, are not adequately applieddue to the questionable assessment process.In its shortsightedness, this government has done a disservice to all.

Anton van Walraven

Can we trust environmental assessments?

On the calendarSATURDAY JULY 25

Svetlana Ponomarëva,concert pianist,theGallery @ ArtisanSquare Doors open at 7pm Tickets are $25 foradults and $20 for youth

Homegrown: BowenSongwriters LIVE at thePub starting at 9 p.m.$10 admission

THURSDAY JULY 30 THURSDAY JULY 30

SUNDAY JULY 26

Optimist, Laser, Laser2 and any other two-person dinghies can joinmembers of the BowenIsland Yacht Club’s Learn2 Sail program andcompete in the two racedays, the next race daybeing Aug 31.

Farmers Market atBICS 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Crippen Park WeedWarriors: 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.Meet by the bridge at themouth of Davie’s Creek(at nearby picnic table infield). Tools and glovesprovided. Dress for theweather and bring yourwater supply.

AA Meeting CollinsHall, 7:15 p.m.

Eat. Drink. Paint: Atwo-hour step-by-stepacrylic painting classwith Janet Esseiva at TheGallery@Artisan Square.

WEDNESDAY JULY 29

SATURDAY JULY 25

Community Lunch11:30 - 1 p.m at theLegion

Last day to nomi-nate your choice for theBowen Island Citizen ofthe Year. Email: [email protected]

TUESDAY JULY 28MONDAY JULY 28

Duplicate Bridge @Bowen CourtCall Irene @ 2955

Bowen Island Rotary: Lauryn Oats, ProgramsDirector, Canadian Women for Women inAfghanistan presents on her work - 7:30pm, CollinsHall, All are welcome

Celebrationof Life forFRANK NIELSEN

Sunday July 26, at the Bowen Lodge by the Sea 3 pm.


They are off with a littlehelp from their friends

Upper from left to right : Bronc Stark, Tara Cole, Sophia Saugstad, and Kim Eifler (BursaryAwards Committee). Lower from left to right: Taja Jinnah, Brenna Rosen, Neela Todd.Knick Knack Nook, photo

KNICK KNACK NOOKS U B M I S S I O N

The Nook has provided student bursaries for anumber of years now. To qualify students must beenrolled in post secondary education; have stronglinks with Bowen Island with an emphasis on com-

munity commitment;provide appropriate aca-demic credentials; planpost secondary programswith the aim of advanc-ing environmental andsocial sustainability.This year the $12,000

pot was dividedbetween six Bowen stu-dents, all graduatingfrom high school, andmoving on into ter-tiary education. Withthe high cost of collegetuition fees we believethat the bursary awardswill take some of thefinancial burden fromhard pressed parents.The Bursary Awards

program is only one ofseveral KKN programswhich support BowenIslanders on an annualbasis. It is through thegenerous donations ofour community and thededicated work of ourvolunteers that havemade it possible to sendthese young people offon the next stage oftheir educational jour-ney. Well done BowenIslanders!Thank you for your

support. We couldn’t doit without you.

from PAGE 3

We hope that this will give a morecomplete picture of the health needs onBowen and that we can use that infor-mation to advocate municipally, region-ally, and provincially for improvedaccess to primary care services.Of course as many of you know,

we also hope to use this informationto more specifically ascertain wheth-er a health clinic on Bowen wouldimprove the health of Bowen Islandersand make good economic sense forIslanders as well as for the healthauthority.Please go to this link: http://fluid-

surveys.com/s/Bowen-health/and take the time to help us

improve health care on Bowen. It willtake approximately 20-30 minutes andyou can start it, save it, and finish itlater if you are interrupted.This was a very labour-intensive

project with countless volunteer hoursinvolved and we now need the com-

munity to help us make it all worth-while. It will all be for not if we don’thave a statistically relevant number ofresponders.If you don’t have a computer, you

are free to use the computer at theLibrary, at Caring Circle, or at thePharmacy and staff in all of these ven-ues will help you log on and give yousupport if you have any problems withthe technology. And if you are house-bound and don’t have a computer, theMunicipality has loaned us the use ofa laptop while we are working on thissurvey. Call Caring Circle and we willfind a way to get a laptop to your homeand wait while you respond to the sur-vey. Call Caring Circle at 604 947-9100Also, check out our newly launched

Bowen Island Health Clinic website at:www.communitymedicalclinic.ca/If you want to see improvements to

health care, do your part and fill outthis survey!

Help improve access to healthcare on Bowen Island

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Places of Worship WelcomeYou

BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH

Pastor Clinton Neal1070 Miller Road 604-947-0384

Service 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m.

FOODBANKDROP-OFF

BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCHRev. Shelagh MacKinnon

Service and Sunday School: 10:30 a.m.Collins Hall Bookings: HelenWallwork

Minister of Music: LynnWilliams

CATES HILL CHAPEL www.cateshillchapel.com 604-947-4260

10:00 a.m. Worship • Sunday School: Tots to Teens

Pastor: Dr. James B. Krohn

(661 Carter Rd.)

ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHMass: 10:30 a.m. Priest: Father James Comey

604-988-6304


BOWEN BULLETIN BOARD

I’ll pick up yourrecycling and

deliver to BIRC for$25/load

Kindling $20/boxat Building Centre

LANCE’SRECYCLING

CALL 947-2430

Any paint job big or small

For your free estimate

Contact Steve Baskerville

[email protected]

604-970-0433

BOWENPRO-PAINTING

BrannonBrothersroofing&sheetmetal

Call Mike at778-829-2516

[email protected]

FOR ALL YOURCONCRETE NEEDS

We Dig it, Form it, Mix it, Pump it

RandallYip,

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Tel: 604 -817-9536Email: [email protected]

KANE CUSTOM STONEAND GARDEN IS NOW

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PROFESSIONAL HARDSCAPING SERVICESSPECIALIZING IN;

DRAWNTO STORYAN ILLUSTRATEDART SHOWBy Karen Watson23 Jul - 16 Aug

Opening Reception:Sunday 26 July 1-3 pm

Gallery HoursWed-Sunday-10-5 pm

Gallery @Artisan Square

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GET CONTROL.CALL LOCAL PEST CONTROL TODAY.We can efficiently and effectively remove the following

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STAGE 3 REGULATIONSEFFECTIVE JULY 20, 2015

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ferries

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www.islandstrust.bc.ca/strategicplan

8

Islands Trust Council200-1627 Fort St

Victoria BC V8R 1H8

*

(250) 405-5174(

We wantto hear

from you

Take our survey

@strategicplan

islandstrust.bc.ca

Find us fast:Find us fast:

Have your say!The Islands Trust Council wants to know what issues you thinkare the most important for it to work on during this term.

For example, we hear people say they want us to protect thenatural environment – on land and sea – and they wantsustainable economies and healthy communities. People alsowant the Islands Trust to be cost-effective.

Trust Council is considering 11 objectives for this term.Wewant to know what matters most to you. Did we misssomething important to you?

The Islands Trust Council will consider your input in public anddecide about a strategic focus duringits next meeting in September.

Comments due byAugust 10, 2015

Islands Trusthave your say

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Documents

Bowen Island Undercurrent July 24 2015