CLUCKING ON CAMERA Bowen filmmaker Jeff Morales (left) is the director behind the new documentary Cluck! Chickens Exposed He’s spent the past several months travelling around the world in order to tell the story of this well known but often misunderstood animal. Hosted by Sarika Cullis-Suzuki (right) the doc premieres on CBC’s The Nature of Things this Thursday. Head over to Page 7 to find out more about the film and the backyard and barnyard birds which inspired it / Submitted photo
ALEX KURIAL Editor
The 2026 draft budget estimates property tax rates to rise 6.6 per cent for the year ahead.
The number is almost three per cent less than the 9.5 per cent previously expected for this year - also the amount property taxes have gone up each of the past two years.
The specific rate for individual households is based on property assessments by BC Assessment. This year the average property value of a house on Bowen is $1,367,000, down $7,000 from last year’s average. This means a house assessed at exactly that number would pay $3,539 in property tax for 2026, up $221 from last year. Properties assessed higher or lower than the average will pay more or less than $3,539, accordingly.
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CUSTOMCRAFTSMAN-STYLE FAMILYHOME with 2-5-10
Experience the quintessential Bowen lifestyle whereyour early morning hike with the dog starts at the trailhead that’sjust 100m from the end of your driveway.Kids can even walk to school in about 15 minutes through the forest wherethey may see or hear one of the many resident Barred Owls.
Apractical and flexible floor plan works great for those who need home offices (thereare 2). Families will appreciate that all the bedrooms areonthe same floor Mary Lynn Machado
Capital projects include dock repairs & new works yard building
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The increase stems from three main areas: staffing requests, changes to the operational budget, and more money being allocated to reserve funds
Primary among the staffing requests is a Strategic Initiatives Officer for the administration department. This role will be responsible for overseeing elements of the municipality’s Strategic Plan, work currently done by several existing staff members. The position is expected to cost $120,000.
“This position will ensure timely implementation of key initiatives such as the development of a ferry-traffic management plan, accessibility planning, and policy modernization strengthening organizational capacity and improving service delivery,” read a staff report outlining the necessity for a Strategic Initiatives Officer
The Public Works department is also planning to convert two seasonal positions into one full-time job focused on roads and parks, while the Fire Department is seeking to add an Assistant Training Officer. Together the three roles add up to $151,000, representing 2.1 per cent of the 2026 property tax rise.
As usual capital projects will have a major impact on the budget with $3.15 million in planned spending for the year ahead and $15.7 million in total projected for these projects over the next five years.
A large chunk of this will be directed to fix up Bowen roads. The Roads Rehabilitation Program will assess pavement conditions, lay asphalt and improve drainage while the Culvert Replacement Program will replace nine heavily worn culverts including a highrisk one on the Grafton Road and Cates Hill Road curve. Each program is being allocated $600,000 for work in 2026. Lane marking in Snug Cove will also cost $150,000.
Docks are also a primary concern with two major rehabilitation efforts scheduled The Mount Gardner Dock Renewal will contribute a new concrete float and aluminum gangway plus a new anchoring system. Work at Snug Cove Dock will replace ten piles which have deteriorated along with overall repairs to the structure
Mount Gardner’s dock will cost $380,000 total while Snug Cove Dock repairs will be $500,000. This year there’s $550,000 set aside between the two projects.
A new building at the Public Works Yard stands as the most expensive project over the next several years with a total price tag of $6 million. This year the budget calls for $250,000 of that while 2028 sees the largest amount due at $4.25 million. The existing building was deemed a health hazard and unfit for service after rats, mold and lead along with contaminated soil and groundwater were found at the Carter Road site. The new building is planned for the existing location.
On the buildings front, completion of construction at the Community Centre has budgeted $190,000 for 2026. This will create a retaining wall and fencing around the heat pump, snow fencing on the roof, and address electrical issues. The roof at the Recycling Depot will also be receiving attention as it replaces its worn-out vinyl roof with a metal one to stop future water leakage. The new roof will cost $100,000.
The Parks Department is dedicating $100,000 to develop a Watershed Management Plan for Grafton Lake. The project aims to balance a safe drinking water supply with the lake’s ecological needs, recreational uses, and current and future development undertakings.
Parks will also be repairing beach staircases at Clipper, Seymour Bay and Baker beaches at a total cost of $75,000
The tennis court at Bowen Island Community School is scheduled for resurfacing and repainting, including the possibility of additional lines to accommodate pickleball use. Drainage issues will also be addressed at the frequently puddled site. This project is estimated to cost $115,000.
Budgets for the water and sewer utilities will be presented during a Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 17 with an updated budget to follow during council’s Feb. 23 meeting. A public consultation period will also start that day and run until Mar. 6, which includes an open house meeting dedicated to the budget on Feb. 26.
Snug Cove Dock and the Recyling Depot are two of the places receiving attention in the budget this year. / Alex Kurial & BIM photos
VIEWPOINTS
Though facing away at first, this regal Eagle did eventually turn around to reveal itself for a pic. You’ll find it with a turn of the page / Brandee Charter photo
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Letter: Grafton Lake water management
GREG POLLARD Letter Writer
Dear Editor and Bowen Mayor & Council,
I am having a very difficult time trying to understand the logic of the Bowen Island Municipality (BIM) now and going back to 2017 That is when Mayor Murray Skeels and council allowed five Agricultural Land Reserve parcels of land around Grafton Lake to be developed to create 120+ building sites and the addition of a walking path around the perimeter of our water reservoir.
Now the latest news coming from BIM is the hiring of a consultant firm for a whopping $100,000 to come up with a plan on how to balance the safety of our drinking water and the integration of Grafton into a recreational lake.
Are you kidding me?!?
I guess it should not be a big surprise. After all , every Council on Bowen seems to be ignoring any scientific evidence that the two do not mix. Again, there is little to no signage informing people to stay out of the lake and to treat it as a precious source that it is; for generations to come.
Adding a parking lot and outhouse only make the lake more accessible and indicate that it’s actually a Park, not a water reserve.
It’s got to stop and the taxpayers and water users have to make themselves heard that you don’t want BIM to continue with this short sighted and foolhardy exploitation of Grafton Lake.
The attached picture is of the signage and fencing for Capilano Lake at Cleveland Dam; what is exactly what should be adopted for our drinking water. I think the $100,000 would go a long way in building such a fence around Grafton;
with similar signage and trail cameras to catch offenders.
Recently, Dr. Peter Ross presented a report to the Mayor and Council that proved the lake to be full of various contaminants and pollution. Yet here we are, moving ahead as if nothing was said.
Frankly I’m sick of the short sightedness of BIM and their reckless position to protect our main drinking water source. One of the main reasons there is a for sale sign at the end of my driveway.
So if you, the reader, care at all about this massive housing development going in beside your drinking water source, all on septic, then I plead with you to contact our Mayor and Council at 604947-4255 and tell them exactly what you think
Respectfully,
- Greg Pollard
VIEWPOINTS
Tips to Make it Stick
MARY LETSON
Contributor
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Setupa“I’mAwesome”fitnessrewards plan. It maysound silly, buthonestlyitworks.Lookahead to fourweeks from now, keep trackofyourworkouts and plantotreat yourself to somethingonce youhavecompletedwhateveritis you setout to do
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Once you finish yourroutine,doalittle happy dance and takeamental imprintofhow you feel: energized,empowered and inspired.Herein lies the secret motivational sauce to doitagain. Andagain.
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Insteadthe “I feel amazing!” memorywillbe there to getyouout the door and doingwhatyou know from experience helps youfeelbetter,stronger and in charge of yourwellness.
DEPART BOWEN ISLAND 5:15 am except Sundays 6:15 am except 7:30 am except 8:45 am 10:00am 11:15am 12:35 pm 1:55 pm 3:15 pm 4:40 pm -exceptWednesdays 6:00 pm 7:15 pm 8:25 pm -exceptSaturdays 9:30 pm 10:30pm 11:30pm
DEPART HORSESHOEBAY 5:45 am except 6:50 am except 8:05 am 9:20 am -exceptWednesdays 10:35 am 11:55 am 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
Where’sthe ferry rightnow?- live updatesatwww.bowenferry.ca Schedule changesonstatutory holidays. Stay up to date at www.bcferries.com
Agroup of Eagleshave been taking advantageofthe late January sunshineand basking in the MeadowatCrippen Park. /Brandee Charter photo
Exposing the wonderful world of Chickens
ALEX KURIAL Editor
Jeff Morales is hoping to illuminate the lives of chickens in his new documentary ‘Cluck! Chickens Exposed’ “I’ve always loved the stories about animals that are sort of the underdog, that people don’t really appreciate or think much about,” says the Bowen filmmaker and director of the new doc. “That’s certainly an animal like a chicken.”
Morales, along with his production partner Bryan Sullivan at Invert Films, has been busy the past year filming the doc which has taken them around the province, Canada, the United States and Europe. Each conversation, whether it’s with a farmer, veterinarian, scientist - and of course the chickens themselves - serves to unlock more secrets of the animal’s unique behaviours and social structures.
“Most people think of them as commodities, and not so much as these really interesting animals who live really complex lives and have these amazing abilities,” explains Morales. “Most people just write them off as stupid animals that we get our nuggets from. So I really like diving in and revealing the hidden abilities and remarkable lives of underappreciated animals.”
This motivation can be seen in Morales’ previous film, the award-winning ‘Rat City’, which focused on an oftenmaligned member of the animal kingdom. Like that doc, Jeff says Cluck! aims to “take a fun and humorous approach and still be pretty informative.”
“There’s certainly a place for the more serious minded documentaries in the wildlife world,” explains Morales, pointing to many of his own films including a recent doc for PBS examining climate change and changing seas. “You know, not a lot of room for humour in that storytelling, so this is sort of a nice departure. It’s still just jam-packed with information and I think a lot of times when you can tell a story with some humour or some fun people tend to remember it better.”
The chicken’s intelligence was on display during filming with scientists researching the birds in Germany. Chickens have a specific call they emit when predators are nearby, which they gave off while together during a simulation. When the test was conducted with just one bird next to a mirror the chicken stayed silent as it would if it were alone, showing it understood the mirror was showing itself rather than another bird in need of warning.
In Nova Scotia scientists are putting AI to use to “decode
chicken language. They have all these series of squawks and clucks, they all mean something,” says Morales. They’re even hoping to one day advance to the point where people can not only understand the chickens, but communicate back to them through sounds as well.
“If they can understand what chickens are trying to say, if they’re a bit uncomfortable, or maybe too hot in there, the farmer can react in real time, and change the environment to make them more comfortable and make their lives better,” explains Morales of one of the anticipated uses of the technology.
The film also explores the social structure of chickens, including their literal pecking order A main storyline takes place on a family farm in Duncan on Vancouver Island where Morales and the team spent a long time getting to know the dozens of birds and observing their personalities. They were there so long they even got to witness a coup amongst the roosters of the flock, establishing a new leader with the right to crow first in the morning
“They have this very elaborate social life and hierarchy of status That’s a constantly changing thing and it can change day-to-day or week-to-week. It could even change depending on what particular chickens one chicken is hanging out with,” says Morales, adding chicken flocks often deliver in the drama department.
Other stops throughout the film include Gabriola Island where a veterinarian has created a chicken college the birds travel to in a chicken bus (some have gotten quite good at identifying letters), a chicken parade in rural Washington, and a deeper look into the life cycle of the chicken egg with a scientist in Alberta. The visits serve not only to teach about chicken’s abilities, but also to show how they’re represented in our culture and among people who celebrate and care for them.
“I hope that people after they watch have a new appreciation for these animals and see them as these intelligent, sentient beings who have remarkable abilities… The best way to make their lives better is when people appreciate them as interesting and remarkable animals and not just as commodities,” says Morales.
“We always hear about these terrible conditions in these big production farms… So if people are a little more aware of how amazing these animals are, perhaps that will make their lives better in other places as well.”
Cluck! Chickens Exposed premieres on CBC’s The Nature of Things on Thursday, January 29 at 9 pm. It will also be available to watch on CBC Gem and the Nature of Things YouTube channel the same day.
The crew of Cluck! Chickens Exposed - including director Jeff Morales (front left) is ready for the debut of their doc on Jan. 29. On Gabriola Island, chickens ride to college in the chicken bus. / Submitted photos
QuietdaysinJanuarymore time to source beautiful things.
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On Bowen Island, it’s easy to walk past the most important places
A shallow wetland that fills after winter rain but otherwise seems too small to matter. A soft, mossy hollow that fills with nectar and berry plants each spring A stretch of creek you’ve crossed so many times you no longer hear it
Dr. Wendy Palen studies these important places not in isolation, but as a connected pattern mapping and modelling how whole networks of wetlands may change under future climate scenarios, drastically affecting the species that need them most.
Wendy is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University, where she focuses on the conservation of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems: from endangered caribou and the challenge of planning for renewable energy to the river and wetland food webs that support aquatic insects, amphibians, and salmon in the Pacific Northwest.
She’s also a scientist who has spent years thinking about what happens when research leaves the field notebook and enters real life policy, public conversations, land-use choices, and the thousand small decisions made by people who love a place and are trying to do right by it
That’s a big part of why she has been so closely involved with the Bowen Island Conservancy’s Caring for Nature biodiversity initiative: not as a distant expert “delivering answers,” but as someone helping translate science into something residents can actually use stories, patterns, and practical ways to see what’s changing around us
Wendy’s research toolkit is built for complexity: lab-based physiological tests, behavioural observations, manipulative field experiments, and landscape surveys methods chosen to match the questions, which always revolve around new approaches for conserving nature in the face of increasing human activity.
If that sounds abstract or overly technical, she shows that it all comes down to something very human: applying the power of science to meet human needs while protecting nature, our only life support system.
Wendy is a founding member of SFU’s Earth to Ocean (E2O) Research Group, formed to tackle environmental problems through interdisciplinary, collaborative science. E2O emphasizes fieldwork, quantitative skills, and working with a wide range of partners including government biologists, environmental organizations, and First Nations communities
That “partner-facing” orientation matters on Bowen as well, where the questions residents ask tend toward the personal and pragmatic:
Where are the most important places for biodiversity?
What happens to frogs when a wetland is shaded, drained, or disturbed?
How does shoreline development affect eelgrass, forage fish, and the marine food chain?
How can homeowners and community groups bring new perspectives and innovative approaches for conserving what makes Bowen special?
Caring for Nature exists because those questions are now common and because our community wants answers that are both grounded in science and informed by
Wendy’s background in conservation science makes her an ideal person to answer these questions. It has also led her into leadership roles that sit at the intersection of science and public policy. She is the Board Chair of Evidence for Democracy, a Canadian organization focused on evidence-informed decision-making.
And she helped found and currently co-directs the Liber Ero Fellows program to support early-career scientists’ research, as well as their efforts to communicate their findings in ways that inform conservation and management in Canada.
These roles are not side projects They reflect a consistent approach; her gift, as those who’ve worked with her often describe it, is helping people feel the science without feeling lectured
The Caring for Nature initiative aims to gather local knowledge, priorities, and observations then connect those human stories to scientific data so Bowen can plan for biodiversity protection with clarity and care Wendy’s involvement helps ensure that the team’s work is informed by current science and that it is easily understood and applied.
Her ability to translate “big data” into maps, plainlanguage explanations, and common-sense application helps residents become capable participants in a shared conservation mission.
Dr. Wendy Palen is a Biological Sciences professor at SFU who works with the Bowen Island Conservancy. / Submitted photo
Islands Trust asked to explain Bowen tax levy increase
ALEX KURIAL Editor
Questions are being asked about the tax levy on Bowen proposed by Islands Trust for the upcoming year.
The most recent meeting of the organization’s financial planning committee concluded with a planned 32.5 per cent raise to the municipality’s contribution to the organization. This would amount to a total bill of approximately $609,000, up $149,000 from last year’s total of around $460,000. In 2024 Bowen paid around $391,000 through the annual levy.
Coun. Sue Ellen Fast, who serves as the chair of the financial committee in her role as one of Bowen’s Islands Trust trustees, explained the increase came following an operational review by the Trust’s new chief administrative officer. She added herself and fellow trustee Coun Judith Gedye were doing all they could to lower the number before the group approves its final budget, typically in March each year.
News of the significant increase has raised eyebrows among municipal councillors.
“A 32 per cent tax levy from a government body approaches lunacy. For context, in five years, we’ve seen the Trust’s tax impact to Bowen residents nearly double,” says mayor Andrew Leonard.
“I’m not sure if the Trust has read the current climate of affordability and sentiment on the island; particularly if we’re not seeing a commensurate increase in service or
presence here,” added the mayor.
Fast pointed to some of the tangible work the Trust does on Bowen including managing several nature reserves and covenant areas while also advocating for the island when issues arise - pointing to the proposed Metro Vancouver park and campground at Cape Roger Curtis as an example. Gedye noted the organization has suffered a significant setback in grant funding, from $429,000 last year down to an estimated $69,000 for the year ahead. Gedye also pointed out Bowen is set to pay about five times what the province contributes to the provincial organization.
“I’m astounded that somebody isn’t in front of us actually professionally communicating why it’s a 32 per cent increase… This is really hard to justify for us because nobody’s really telling us what it’s for,” said Coun John Saunders during Monday’s council meeting. “What’s the increase in service we’re getting for that? Are we 32 per cent better in the services we’re getting?”
Islands Trust conducted a consultation survey last summer to gather public feedback ahead of the budget development process, but starting in 2023 eliminated their official public engagement period regarding the budget.
Council decided it was necessary for Islands Trust to explain the levy directly and unanimously voted to have staff from the organization appear as a delegation to provide rationale for the number.
“We also pay into Metro Vancouver and TransLink where we can point to Crippen Park or our community shuttles and the on-island staff who support those services
yet if either Metro or TransLink raised taxes by 30 per cent in a single year, residents would be livid. I’m not sure why we should be expected to feel differently about the Trust,” said Leonard.
“If we went out on the street and said do you support a 32 per cent increase in your Islands Trust tax levy, unless there’s a really great explanation, I’m not sure you’d find broad support for that,” says the mayor.
Fairy Fen Nature Reserve is a local Islands Trust responsibility, which they manage with the Bowen Island Conservancy. / Alan Whitehead photo
The case of the Clematis Vitalba
BOWEN ISLAND GARDEN CLUB
On the way up Village Drive it is impossible not to notice the fluffy seed heads of Old Man’s Beard, Clematis vitalba, snaking around many of the trees bordering the roadway.
Over the past couple of years, the term, “invasive species” has become increasingly relevant What was once an occasional sighting has morphed into a proper infestation of the fuzzy vines.
Wild clematis forms clusters of white or greenish-white flowers in the late summer or early fall. These blossoms go on to produce seeds, as many as 100,000 per plant, which cling to the woody stems throughout the winter rains, and retain their viability in the soil for five years after dispersal.
Invasive clematis can grow up to 30 metres in length, allowing the plants to easily climb up to the tops of trees, depriving the infested plant that it’s swarming up of both light and food. The weight of the vines is enough to break branches and eventually topple trees.
It takes three years before the plant starts to produce flowers, but once it begins to blossom, every year spawns thousands more seed heads. The best way to control it is by mechanical means, cutting the vines on the trees at about waist height and then tracing them down to the roots.
You should also trim a section of the remaining vine above the cut to ensure that does not come into contact with the ground. Like ivy, Old Man’s Beard can resprout from a small cutting or rootlet, so it is important to eliminate the entire root system.
If the vines left on the tree do not begin to wither within a few days of having been cut, it means that part of the plant is still rooted, and a more thorough examination of the area is required. Because the seeds remain viable for years, regular checks are necessary to stop further infestation.
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Mark your calendars for SwimBowen Saturday, July 11, 2026.
With the snowdrops just pushing through the frosty grass, the SwimBowen crew is leaning into this quiet season to lay the groundwork for this year’s 750 and 1,500 metre events raising funds for the Cancer Care Fund. Mark your calendars, registration opens April 1!
Along with all our traditional favourites - a gorgeous swim course, amazing prizes, and delicious refreshments
- we are cooking up some new treats for our swimmers including new fundraising incentives, increasing team sizes to six swimmers and streamlining team registration.
With more cool swag, and the addition of a dedicated refreshments table to keep our beloved volunteers fueled and caffeinated, we’ve got all the bases covered.
A heartfelt thank you and farewell to departing board members Julie Saxton and Debbie Collingwood. Your dedication and wise counsel over the years has helped us truly find our feet/fins.
And a warm welcome to new volunteer team leaders Lisa Redmond and Cori Wickes - we can’t wait to share building the SwimBowen joy with you!
Over the next few months our team will be reaching out to the community for sponsorship and volunteer opportunities. Together you help create the SwimBowen magic that we embrace every summer.
Curious about what we do? Check out swimbowen.com
Want to join our team? We would love to hear from you. Please email: swimbowensociety@gmail.com
Award winning illustrator and Islander Eleanor Rosenberg is stepping up to the design plate again for our signature 2026 cap and swag design. Her illustrations manage to capture beautifully what SwimBowen holds dear: ocean swimming and a love for community. Eleanor generously donates $500 of her design fee to the Cancer Care Fund. Thank you Eleanor.
See you on the beach!
Your future starts here
Last year’s top fundraiser Anne Chollat is welcomed onto the shore by Dan Nixon and David Bellringer after completing her swim. / Scott Robarts photo
December’s top home sales on Bowen
ALEX KURIAL Editor
Property sales on Bowen closed the year strong with eight sales in the final month of 2025, five of them with homes on the lot. All dwelling properties sold for more than $1.22 million while one vacant lot was very attractive to its buyer as it went for $1.6 million.
The top sale of December sits at 1380 Fernie Road. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom home near Killarney Lake sold for $1.9 million. The house measures 3,807 square feet and was built in 2005.
A private trail to Killarney Lake is one of several outdoor features which are highlighted by a pair of outdoor spa tubs and a sauna. The 2.24-acres of land also include a one-bedroom cabin totalling 791 square feet and an active vegetable garden.
The second-highest sale of last month at 341 Aerie Tree Lane shares several similarities to the top sale, including a remote setting Another five-bedroom home, with four-bathrooms, the 19-year old build measuring 3,615 square feet and sitting on just more than two acres of land
1380 Fernie Road (above) was the top sale of December at $1.9 million, followed closely by the house at 341 Aerie Tree Lane (below) at $1.8 million. / Zealty.ca photos
closed at $1.8 million.
The three-storey home was renovated in 2024 and includes an entirely new kitchen, heat pump with air conditioning and a pair of propane fireplaces. Outdoors offers a large, flat, fenced backyard along with a hot tub.
Rounding out the top three home sales is the four-bed, three-bath home at 1245 Miller Road. Measuring 2,090 square feet with a lot size of 0.43-acres, the durable 111-year old home sold for $1.425 million.
The house has undergone renovations in the past century and now offers modern amenities in addition to older
features such as a vintage wood stove. Strong natural lighting illuminates the house throughout, and the view to the southeast reaches Spanish Banks. A fenced garden with fruit trees and workshop can be found outside.
And while no structure is there yet, one buyer saw the potential of the 1.77-acre vacant lot at 1545 Eagle Cliff Road and finalized the purchase for $1.6 million. The site contains a flat area for building a home and enough room for a secondary dwelling. Despite there being no residence, the landscaping of the property has been well maintained and even featured in island garden tours.
Celtic Music finds itselfa home on Bowen
ALEX JENYON
Bowen Celtic Music Group
The Bowen Celtic Music Group started outasasmall group class called‘Slow Jam’ taught bythe amazingEllen MacIntosh (directorofthe BowenIsland Community Choir, amongst many other things). As the group grew and evolved,itstoppedbeinga taught class (thoughEllen still runs these as ‘The Woodshed’)and turned intoaweekly gathering inneed ofahome.
We foundone last year, thanks to the community at BowenCourt, and we now meet in Elliot Hallat7pm each Tuesday evening. Evenings are‘by donation’ to help cover costs and snacks -around $5 per personseems to work out.
Traditional pub sessionsare great fun, but can bevery intimidatingtojoin. They are usually playedentirely without music, at blisteringly fast speeds, andwithoutcalling anyofthe tunes in advance.
We wanted to create that same atmosphereina more welcoming and accessible way, so anyone could joinin. Our songbook includes session standards like ‘The Kesh’and ‘FatherKelly’s’, as well as Old-time, Bluegrass, English, East European folk, Klezmer, and beyond.
For beginners, we break downtunes step by step,start at acomfortable pace, and announce songsaheadoftime.
BowenCeltic Music Group welcomes all levelsofmusicians to their weekly meetups./Submitted photo
If you’reclassically trained, we can provide sheet music, chord charts, and harmonies —noneedtoplay entirelyby ear. For experienced players,there’s still plenty to enjoy: improviseharmonies,dustoff asecondary instrument,or challenge yourselftolearn anew tune on thefly.
We play for fun, at local events, and for the Bowen Contra DanceGroup All instruments —and listeners —are welcome, and we’re happy to transpose music forunusual keys or clefs. Abodhrán player would be a
BEANS
Meet Beans, our Patient of theWeek and the cutest littlecompanion around!Fresh from Mexico, Beans hasalready stolen our heartswith those big, soulful eyes and sweet,gentleexpression. This tinypup is full of curiosity,charm,and quiet confidence—and looks pretty adorable doing it We’resohappy to welcome Beans andbepartoftheir journey as they settle into a bright new chapter!
fantastic addition to keep us all in line!
For more details about our weekly sessions,upcoming events, ContraDance tunes, or acopy of our latestsongbook,you can joinour (free) Patreonmailinglist at patreon. com/BowenCelticMusicGrouporsendanemail to bowenmusicsession@gmail.com
If you’re interestedinthe smaller(paid) groupclassesthat starteditall,reach out to ellenmacintosh@shaw.ca forthe next round of ‘The Woodshed’
Real estate on Bowen delivered gains over 2024
TIM RHODES Contributor
2025 closed with the average sale price LTM (last twelve months) up 6.8 per cent compared to LTM 2024. The number of sales (LTM) exceeded 2024 by 8 (59 vs 51), and dollar volume of sales LTM was $96,402,500, up 23.6 per cent over the same period in 2024.
Total inventory LTM continued to outpace uptake by buyers, with Inventory up 12.0 per cent from 2024, and the Average Number of Days on Market LTM up 23.3 per cent over 2024. Downward pressure on prices is expected to continue as the buyers’ market continues The Benchmark or MLS® Home Price Index was down -1.5 per cent LTM from 2024.
Brendan Ogmundson, Chief Economist of the BC Real Estate Association, expressed concerns about accelerating home prices going forward
“Unsold inventory of new homes is rising to levels not seen since the late 1990s, which, along with crippling taxes, is discouraging future development. This puts BC at risk of chronic undersupply when demand inevitably returns and a repeat of the 2010s cycle of accelerating home prices.”
Ogmundson writes that “BC risks repeating the post Global Financial Crisis housing cycle, where weak demand boosted inventories and slowed construction – only to leave the province severely undersupplied when demand rebounded triggering rapid price escalation and worsening affordability.
Unsold new inventory has surged to a 30-year high, especially concentrated in the apartment segment, and developers are delaying or cancelling projects because weak presales make financing nearly impossible This dynamic threatens a future supply crunch.
BCREA model simulations show a
"The secret ingredient is alwayslove."
significant upside risk to prices, with home prices potentially rising to 27 per cent (inflation-adjusted) by 2032 as current construction shortfalls collide with recovering demand later in the decade
Policy action on both demand and supply sides is needed now, including measures to strengthen presales, reconsider foreign buyer participation in new construction, and reduce development costs. Without this, BC is likely to enter another prolonged affordability crisis.”1
What sold in 2025?
The average sale on Bowen was a 2,412 square foot, 2-storey, 41-year-old home with 3-bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 1 kitchen home on a 1-acre lot.
The largest home sold was a 35-year-old, 6,041 square feet home with 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms on a 9.8-acre site
The smallest home sold was a 77-year-old,
802 square foot home with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom on 0.2 acres
Sold prices averaged -4.4 per cent below the list price and 4.0 per cent above the BC Assessment. The range of sold price vs BC Assessment ranged from -26.6 per cent below assessment to 97.9 per cent above assessment. Entering 2026 it remains important for sellers to price their home strategically and realistically as the year promises to be somewhat volatile given the economic and political unknowns going forward
ANNA-MARIE ATHERTON Friends of the Bowen Island Library Society
The Friends of the Bowen Island Library Society are happy to announce that book donation days start Sunday, February 8 from 10 am to Noon at the Bowen Library Annex.
We are seeking primarily novels and children’s books however other cat-
egories will be considered depending on book condition and relevancy. The December book sale was a great success and we thank you for your support!
Future sales will continue to be held in the Annex and the next one is planned for May or June. Start your spring cleaning now and bring us your books!
All proceeds benefit our local Bowen Island Public Library.
Eagles are presenting themselves all over the island, including this pair enjoying some winter sun in Bowen’s southern regions. / Haig Farris photo
Whales caught in middle of conflicting Canadian, U.S. regulations
ROCHELLE BAKER
NationalObserver/LocalJournalismInitiative
The Salish Sea is one ecosystem, but Canada and the U.S. are playing by different rules when it comes to protecting threatened whales, experts warn.
Endangered southern resident killer whales and at-risk humpbacks are blind to borders when transiting the waters in southern B.C. and northwestern Washington state, including the Strait of Georgia, Juan de Fuca Strait and Puget Sound, said Chloe Robinson, director of whales for the conservation organization Ocean Wise.
Problematic discrepancies exist between regulations around whale distance rules for boats, fisheries management, habitat protections and pollution standards, said Robinson, who led a comparative study of key conservation measures on each side of the border. Both countries, along with provincial and state governments, need to align regulations, close protection gaps, and reduce confusion for mariners, whale-watching operations and vessels transiting the region to reduce cumulative stresses of whales, Robinson said.
There’s a dizzying mix of vessel approach distances and speed regulations for
whale-watching operators and recreational boaters on either side of the border, depending on the type of whale and, in some cases, what they are doing, she added.
She believes Canada should mirror the U.S and increase the approach distance for vessels to 1,000 metres for southern residents a population on the cusp of extinction with only 74 members remaining.
Doing so would help reduce the underwater noise disturbing the orcas and hindering their ability to hunt for food. Regulation distances for other whales, including other types of killer whales and humpbacks, should also be harmonized, Robinson said.
Additionally, a unified whale-watching regime with a shared permit system, training and regulations needs to be developed.
Canada doesn’t have a permit system, like Washington state, where operators must get an annual licence, undertake mandatory training and meet certain on-board technical requirements, Robinson said. A Salish Sea permit system would go a long way to establishing a common understanding of vessel behaviour around whales.
Whale-watching operators generally tend to avoid southern residents and have voluntary best practices when it comes to other species, Robinson said.
However, there are no rules about how many boats can trail other types of killer
whales or humpbacks, or for how long. Nor are there any limits on the number of operators in the Salish Sea, where whales already experience heavy traffic from vessels of every kind, including ferries, transport ships, tugs and recreational boats. Ecotourism operators try to be stewards for whales, but as the sector continues to grow, so does the fleet and size of vessels, Robinson said.
Protected critical habitat has been set aside in the Salish Sea in the U.S. for humpbacks, but there isn’t any in Canadian waters, despite their status as a species of special concern, Robinson said.
The whales have made a heartening recovery on the B.C. coast over the past two decades after being decimated by commercial whaling. But the population is still extremely vulnerable to new dangers posed by ship strikes, entanglement with fishing gear and warming oceans, Robinson said.
Three humpbacks were found dead in the space of a couple of months last fall in the Salish Sea likely from collisions with vessels. And many humpbacks risk death or starvation if ensnared by fishing gear, a threat so prevalent that 50 per cent of the whales in B.C. waters show scars from entanglement. Humpbacks frequent areas similar to southern residents in the region, which is a primary feeding ground for the great whales in summer and fall before most
migrate to warmer waters for winter.
Without much extra effort, Canada could offer greater protections to humpbacks by tweaking or extending some of the temporary summer measures already in place for the endangered orcas, such as establishing slow-down or sanctuary zones in critical habitat, she said.
Ginny Broadhurst, director of the Salish Sea Institute at Western Washington University, agreed, adding U.S. Tribes and Canadian First Nations need to be involved in the creation and management of conservation initiatives.
Vessel noise also poses an ongoing and rising concern for southern residents in particular, Broadhurst said. The orcas use echolocation to hunt Chinook salmon, but increased underwater noise in the Salish Sea significantly interferes with the whales’ ability to communicate with one another and find their prey. Setting noise-pollution caps in southern residents’ critical habitat across the Salish Sea is key to the recovery of the population, Broadhurst said.
Authorities on both sides of the border need to come up with co-operative mitigation measures that protect whales across the entire Salish Sea, she said.
“In an ideal world, their protection would be the same, whether they’re on one side of the border or the other.”
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Thursday, January 29
Contra Dancing
Come join Bowen Contra Dance for a free night of dancing! At Cates Hill Chapel from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.
Friday, January 30
Red Cross Babysitting Course with Bowen Rec
This course offers basic first aid & caregiving skills to youth ages 11-15. Community Centre from 9 am to 4 pm
Friday, January 30
Pro-D Day Camp: Clue!
A Cove wide game of Clue! with Bowen Rec! For young detectives age 5-10 from 9 am to 4 pm Starts at the Community Centre, portions outside so dress for weather.
Saturday, January 31
Bard on the Beach on Bowen
The popular Vancouver Shakespeare festival is bringing a workshop focusing on the Bard to Bowen. For ages 6-8 from 10 to 11:30 am and ages 8-12 from 12:30 to 2 pm At the Community Centre, visit Bowen Rec site for details.
Friday, January 30
Pro-D Day STEAM Club at the Library
Learn new skills, make something new! We’ll explore a new STEAM activity every session, with time to practice and explore science, arts & technology. From 10:30 to 11:30 am. Ages 6-10. Please register at: bipl.ca/steam
Saturday, January 31 & Sunday, February 1
Carmina Bowena Concerts
The choir, along with their musical companions Sola Musica will take you on a “Musical Feast”, a musical voyage through Medieval, Renaissance and Modern Europe. Show begins 7:30 pm Jan. 31 & 2 pm Feb. 1, both at Tir-na-nOg
Theatre. Tickets $25 (kids under 16 free Feb. 1) available at Cates Pharmasave, at the door, or carminabowena.ca
Friday, February 6
Movie Night at the Community Centre
‘Bringing Up Baby follows a straight-laced paleontologist whose quiet orderly life is turned upside down when he crosses paths with an eccentric heiress. Presented by the Bowen Island Film Society. Tickets $10, doors at 6 pm with the movie starting at 6:30.
Saturday, February 7
Men’s Shed Gathering
Bowen Island Men’s Shed will be gathering for coffee/tea & goodies and great company. Men of all ages welcome, at the Men’s Shed “sea can” behind Island Pacific School at 671 Carter Road.
Saturday, February 7
French Connections at the Library
Drop in and join us to practice your conversational French, and get to know other French language learners on Bowen Island! Free, 10:30 to 11:30 am. bipl.ca/French Saturday, February 7
Skwxwú7mesh History Book Club at the Library
In this friendly book club, we’ll be discussing part one of Tiná7 Cht Ti Temíxw: We Come From This Land: a Walk Through the History of the Squamish People (2024), by the Squamish Nation. Coffee and snacks provided! Borrow a copy from the library. Free, runs 11:30 am to 1 pm. Find out more and register at bipl.ca/2026
Saturday, February 7
Judi Gedye Open House
Come chat about local issues with Bowen councillor
Judith Gedye. Everyone welcome, 3 to 4 pm at Collins Hall.
Monday, February 9
Rotary Speaker Series
Katie Smith Milway will be presenting from her new book “One Hen and Then...” on teaching youth about microfinancing and an introduction to a global social entrepreneurship program, One Hen Academy. At Artisan Eats Cafe starting at 7:30 pm. All community members welcome.
Tuesday, February 10
Speak the Spark
A night of storytelling with your Island neighbours. At the Bowen Library at 7 pm, doors at 6:45. Evening is by donation. This month’s theme is ‘Hidden/Found’.
TUESDAYS
Bowen Celtic Music Group
All instruments and levels welcome – we start slow, call out the songs in advance, and can send out a digital songbook as a PDF if you’d prefer sheet music, chords, or guitar tabs. Takes place at Bowen Court on Seniors Road from 7 to 9 pm. Suggested donation of $5 per session.
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! From 10:30 to 11 am, families are welcome to stay after until 11:30 and socialize in the cozy Annex, read books, and hang out!
THURSDAYS
Thursday Art Group
Join the Thursday Art Group (TAG) at Collins Hall from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm to paint and create together. $30 per month or $10 drop-in. Info at shannonrondeau@shaw.ca
