Bowen utility rates are expected to go up between approximately three and eight per cent this year.
Rates for the seven Local Service Area water systems along with the Snug Cove sewer system were previewed during budget discussions near the end of February. Final numbers are expected to be confirmed by the end of April.
Parcel taxes in Bluewater will rise this year from $550 to $1,200 (connected properties) and $720 (unconnected) as $3.1 million in debt is paid down. The 153 properties serviced are receiving a $3.3 million infrastructure upgrade which includes new wells and water mains plus better production capacity.
King Edward Bay’s 65 properties will maintain their $200/connected and $120/unconnected parcel tax while Bowen Bay’s 62 properties do
There were 72 calls for service in February. Bowen Island RCMP conducted proactive traffic enforcement 34 times including:
- Static and mobile speed enforcement in the areas of Grafton Road, Bowen Island Community School, Miller Road, Scarborough, Bowen Island Trunk Road and Cates Hill - U-Turn (Ferry Lineup)
Other calls for service:
1 Alarms/False 911’s – Businesses and Residential.
2 Domestic Disputes – Reported by other agencies after the incidents.
3 Missing People – Youth not returning home or going to school.
2 Animal – Injured fawn
2 Harassment – Unknown caller calling business line repeatedly.
1 Vehicle Collision – Vehicle stuck in ditch.
5 Liquor Act – Pub/Cidery licenced premise check.
1 Fraud – Unauthorized use of Credit Card off-island.
6 Assists to the Public – Assisted stranded sailboat, Privacy Act questions, vehicle stuck in ditch, mental health assessments.
3 Assists to other Police/Agencies – St. Albert RCMP, BC Coroner.
1 Bylaw – Foot patrols of ferry lineup, vehicles parked in cross-hatch.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
2026 budget consultation entering final stages
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
User rates (based on 100 gallon/day usage) for all three of these Westside Water Systems (including Bluewater) will be $1,491.
Next year the Westside systems will embark on a capital plan to install UV in chlorination sheds for King Edward Bay and Bluewater. King Edward Bay will pay $225,000 of the estimated $275,000 project with Bluewater fronting the rest.
Eagle Cliff parcel taxes will remain steady at $500 for their 111 connections, with user rates of $1,013 The parcel tax is estimated to at least triple next year due to payments toward the currently underway Eagle Cliff and Cove Bay connection project.
Parcel taxes will rise slightly in Hood Point from $478 to $497 for connected and $249 to $259 for unconnected properties. User rates for the 98 connections are $993. Tunstall Bay will maintain its parcel taxes of $665/connected and $400/unconnected, with user rates of $1,491, as their 144 properties pay off a $655,000 loan through 2028 - money used to build a new water tank
Cove Bay will introduce an $80 flat rate amount to the parcel tax this year to bring the total to $338. Their 684 connected properties have user rates of $1,188.
Work to get the Cove Bay Water Treatment Plant fully operational continues as the facility approaches the five-year mark since its expected commission. The May 2021 activation has been consistently
delayed due to various technical challenges. The municipality’s most recent update last month said they are continuing work with Purifics Water, the equipment supplier, on repairing a filter module needed to meet turbidity standards. The plant continues to function at partial capacity in the meantime. While area water is disinfected, a water quality advisory for people with compromised immune systems has been in place since mid-2024.
In a separate development, the Canadian Press reported on Wednesday that Purifics, along with the Village of Granisle in the Northern Interior of BC, are the subject of a class-action lawsuit filed last month. The case alleges the village’s residents consumed aluminum-tainted water for an unknown period of time following a leak at the local water treatment plant. Neither Granisle or Purifics had responded to the lawsuit as of March 4.
Snug Cove Sewer users will see their parcel tax of $850 stay the same this year, with a user rate of $1,427 for the 130 connected properties. The system will embark on an Outfall Replacement Project over the next several years in an attempt to increase capacity at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. A freeze on new connections to the plant was instituted in 2022.
Public consultation on the budget continues through Friday, March 6, with an update scheduled for the upcoming council meeting on Monday, March 9.
VIEWPOINTS
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The Undercurrent is a member of the National NewsMedia Council of Canada, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour If you have concerns about editorial content, please email editor@ bowenislandundercurrent.com or call 604-947-2442. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the website at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.
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Tir-na-nOg & Headley history Part II
MARCUS HONDRO
Contributor
The following is Part II of a story begun last week on the history of Bowen’s Tir-nanOg Theatre, and the transition the theatre is going through due to health issues. It includes the names of over 100 alumni and current students. Note that during the transition the theatre remains open.
Once Tir-na-nOg Theatre was incorporated as a non-profit with a Board of Directors, Jack and Julie Headley’s focus could be put wholly upon the kids signing up each year. The numbers kept growing and by 1998 there were over 100 students yearly, a trend that held well into the 2000s.
Overall as many as 1,000 children have played a role in Tir-na-nOg since 1988. Each year the children do not just act, they make their own costumes and help build the sets they perform in, even write plays. The number of productions is north of 210 That’s a lot of opening nights (and matinees)!
The plays Jack and Julie select are full of spectacle and life lessons. They adopt stories and novels and perform known plays. Past productions include Peter Pan (J.M. Barrie), The Neverending Story (Michael Ende), The Green Bird (a Tir-nanOg adaptation of Comedia del Arte plays) and Chronicles of Narnia (their adaptation of C.S. Lewis stories). They even tackled material like Bertolt Brecht’s The Good Woman of Setzuan.
They adapted Shakespeare (Loves Labours Lost, The Tempest) and Dickens (A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist) as well as The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. They often had lots of story to tell but audiences didn’t mind. There was a play that ran five hours so they trimmed it to three. Theatregoers who came to the second show had heard of the first and expressed disappointment they didn’t get to see the fivehour version.
Many of their productions had delicious names that you just know were fun for kids, like, well, The Search for Delicious (2000, 2004, 2007, 2023), The Fabulous Chocolate Factory Mystery (2008), Peaches and Dreams (2010) and The Sneetches (1994). Sneetches?
The theatre has done adult classes and productions, often in summer months, classics like Blithe Spirit (Noel Coward; done often, by adults, teens and chil-
dren), Hamlet and The Lady’s Not for Burning (Christopher Fry). In 2007, Jack did Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story with his son, Hamish Allan-Headley. It was one of the finest productions of a classic this reporter has seen.
Tir-na-nOg has had the permanent theatre since 2004 but for their first 16 years a large part of the job for Jack and Julie was finding a venue for classes and shows. Often classes would be held in one space, plays performed in another
Between 1988 and 2004 they worked out of over a dozen venues. The first year they were at the Bowen Island Community School gym (they later returned for a time). They also situated at the old General Store, the Big Top Tent in the Bowfest Field, Collins Hall, an A-frame at Camp Bow-Isle, the Legion and Morgan Keplar’s barn on Hummingbird, among other locales.
In 1994 they had happily settled downstairs in a building that sat before the current location of the General Store, on the side near Miller Road. But after passing the school, a dump truck going down the hill on Bowen Island Trunk Road lost its brakes. The driver cranked the wheel to the right, went through a piece of an empty lot and plowed into the building. No one from the theatre was inside but the building was done for and that was the end of that theatrical home.
In the 90s the idea of a permanent theatre began to grow. Meetings, phone calls, and plans lead to an architectural design but they could not find a suitable location They kept encountering road blocks. Then along came Wolfgang Duntz.
Duntz and his company offered to build a space in a lot up on Cates Hill. No homes then existed up there. Tir-na-nOg the non-profit society would lease the building for 99 years at cost of a dollar per month, with an option for a renewal, with the society paying the mortgage on construction costs. Jack and Julie took the offer and the nomadic life of Tir-na-nOg Theatre was nearly at an end.
The Headleys wanted a design that included only the building, the interior they would build, and that is what islander Dennis Dallas created for them. They took possession of an empty building and turned it into a theatre. It was the late Hedda Duntz who suggested Jack and Julie build an apartment above the main floor and they did just that. They have lived there since.
As an addendum, there is a Go Fund
Me page set up by Tir-na-nOg’s Board of Directors to finish paying that construction cost mortgage, which the society has lowered from $600,000 to $112,000. The whittling down came from hard work, shows, donations and from the fact that Jack and Julie took no salaries.
The remainder of our space will be devoted to quotes, testimonials and names: Tir-na-nOg alumni/current students: Danielle Allan, Emily Allan, Hamish AllanHeadley, Devon Anderson, Cimmaron Ballantyne, Morgan Ballantyne, Alissa Banito, Elliot Beamer, Hannah Beamer, Fiona Beaty, Corby Bernard, Katalina Bernard, Maia Blomberg, Hamish Bryan, Cecilia Cannem, Sarah Carachelo, Emily Carlington, Robyn Carrington, Bronwyn Churcher, Katherine Churcher, Rafe Collier, Emma Conde, Simon Conde, Dan Cowper, Suzanne Curry.
Jack Headley:
“Those first few months we were here in the building it was just empty end-toend downstairs and young Calder was so excited, I think the first day he was in the building, he was so excited that he started at one end of the building, it’s 100 feet long, and ran all the way down to the other end of the building. By the time he got there he was going so fast he couldn’t stop so he put out his hands and his hands went right through the drywall and under where the seats are, it was before the seats were in the auditorium. His hand holes are still there.”
Tir-na-nOg alumni/current students: Morgan Darcy, Haigan Day, Masae Day, Kelly Davidson, Asha Dobson, Bethany Dobson, Cristina Dos Santos, Sara Dos Santos, Flora Dunster, Christian Duntz, Scarlett Duntz, Lulu Earl, Kellan Elliott, Meghan Ellis, Rein Ellis, Rachel Erin, Mariah Fleetham, Sam Fincham, Nicole Gibson, Phoebe Gilday, Julia Graff, Margaret Gray.
Emily Carlington (2006-2012; Accident and Emergency Room nurse, Leeds, U.K.)
“I have many fond memories from my time at Tir-na-nOg. It was the first time I met lots of people outside of school since we moved from England. Jack and Julie were so supportive and encouraging. They provided a great place for you to be yourself, and for kids to just be kids! My personal favourite was getting to come through the trap door as Tinker Bell! But every production included so much fun, creativity and imagination. They helped provide the definition of a Bowen childhood!”
Tir-na-nOg alumni/current students:
Taryn Haggerstone, Ingrid Hartloff, Keelan Hondro, Robin Hooper, Keira Headley, Kaitlin Hunter, Ben Kerr, Katherine Kerr, Ryan Kerr, Sam Kerr, Davin Killy, Emily Lefler, Jen Loree, Wylde Marsh, Lina Martin-Chan, Fynn MacKenzie, Alexander McCready, Eliza McCullum, Dan McGregor, Katie McGregor.
Aine Corrigan-Frost (2003-2011; Workplace Psychologist, singer)
Tir-na-nOg was the thing I looked forward to the most out of my entire week. It always felt like an escape where everything was possible and exploration, creativity, and imagination were encouraged and valued. It is rare to find people like Jack and Julie in this world. The imagination and creative expression that both of them possess is and always has been an absolute gift. To dedicate one’s entire life to sharing that gift and fostering that same creativity in young people represents an immeasurable contribution to society as well as to the community of Bowen Island. Jack and Julie cared for us as if we were their own children and they provided an incredible space for us to laugh, learn, work, and be ourselves. It is an incredible feat of a life’s work to have such an impact on multiple generations of young people lucky enough to be a part of that magical place.
Tir-na-nOg alumni/current students: Sandra Lynn McGregor, Shannon McGregor, Andrew McKay, Cameron McKay, Tom McKercy, Will McKercy Kate McPhee, Megan McPhee, Dana McTaggart, Fiona McTaggart, Kelly Miller, Allegra Nesbitt-Jerman, Leigh Nicholls, Jovie Nosek, Tierney Nosek, Lacey O’Neill, Libby Osler, Jessie Perry, Nicole Perry, Waylon Rains, Bev Rapley, Donna Sbragia, Laura Sbragia, Jacob Scouten, Sarah Scouten, CJ Scarff, Keira Scarff, Will Scarff.
Waylon Rains (current student)
I’ve been taking classes at Tir-na-nOg for a while now and they’re really fun and I enjoy coming here. I also enjoy theatre in general and did theatre at the learning center. I don’t think that theatre is going to be my job or anything but I am probably going to always keep doing plays and I will keep doing plays at Tir-na-nOg.
Tir-na-nOg alumni/current students: Eleanor Smith, Max Smith, Riley Sparks, Kailey Spear, Lauren Spear, Sam Spear, Calder Stewart, Daly Thompson, Eric Thompson, Kipp Thompson, Wil Thompson, Candice Tisdale, Mikhayla Tisdale, Emma Townson-Gault, Julika Volkmann, Theresa Volkmann, Tobias Volkmann, Natasha Wehn-Zimmerman, Ashley Wright, Geoff Wynne, Eva de Zwart, Robin de Zwart, Thomas de Zwart.
Postscript
Undercurrent: Were there plays where, on opening day, you thought: we’re not gonna pull this one off.
Julie: Oh yes, there were several of those.
Jack: Almost every one.
(Laughter all round).
Undercurrent: So then, what keeps you going?
Jack and Julie: The sounds of happy children. The kids. The work. Everything.
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Listening to Bowen: Island Pacific students interview Jackand Julie Headley
CATHYBAYLY
BowenIslandMuseum &Archives
A small group of Grade 5students canbe manythings: energetic, unpredictable,funny, shy, bold,and occasionally allofthose at once. Lastmonth,theywere something else too. They were careful listeners.
Island Pacific School students came to the Bowen Island Museum& ArchivestointerviewJack and Julie Headley, foundersofthe Tir-na-nOg Theatre School.The purpose was simple: to record stories in the voicesofthe peoplewho lived them, and to learn how to ask questionsthatinvite real answers
What followed was something special.
The students arrived prepared,but moreimportantly, curious. They asked aboutthe early days,whenTir-na-nOg moved from borrowed space to borrowed space, wherever there was room to rehearse. They asked whatit took to build something from nothing, what challenges came alongthe way, andwhat kept it going. Theyasked whattheatre gives young people that other experiences do not
Jack andJulie met them with generosity.
Julie’s answers returned again andagaintojoy.Toplay. Tolaughterin rehearsal. To the magicofchildren discovering they can be brave in front of others.She spokeabout fun notassomething extra, but as something essential Jack brought adifferent kindofreflection. He spoke about theatre as away of understandingthe world,and aboutwhat happens when young people are trusted to create. He spoke about imagination as askill. Something that helps people
worktogether,think differently, and grow.
Whatstood outmostwas how the studentslistened. They did not rush.They allowed for pauses. They followed up. They stayedwith the story.
Atthe Museum &Archives, much of ourwork focuses on documentsand photographs. Oral history is different. It captures voice,humour, timing,and what peoplechoose to share when given the space.
For the students, this was alesson in how knowledge is passed from one generation to the next. For Jack and Julie, it was amoment to reflect on decadesofwork that have shaped the lives of countless young people on Bowen Island.
Manyformerstudentshavebeensharing their ownTirna-nOg stories in recent weeks.The themes areconsistent This wasnever just atheatre school. It wasaplace where young people felt safe to take risks,buildconfidence, and findtheir voice.Those experiences stay with people.
If you havea Tir-na-nOg story, consider sharingitwith the archives. Thesestories matter
Thereisalso an active fundraiser, aGoFund Me campaign titled “Support Jack &Julie &Tir-na-nOg,” which is helping sustain thisworkand itslegacy. Tir-na-nOgoperates as anon-profit society, and funds raised aregoing towardpaying down the mortgage on the theatre building so itcan remain along-termcommunity space. As Jack reflected, “After we decide to turn to dust, somebody else can be doing theatre for along,long time, and that’s our ambition.”
Jack and Julie haveshaped alasting legacy on Bowen Island through Tir-na-nOg, creating aspace where genera-
Worship10:00
604-947-4260 (661 Carter Rd.) office@cateshillchapel.com
aryana.rayne@gmail.com •www.shirathayam.ca
tions of young people have learned, grown, and found their voice. Recently, asmall groupofstudents became part of that ongoing story.
It was agood day to be on Bowen.
Jude’sBig BirthdayCelebration!
My Sweetheartisturning over asignificant year, soon, and incelebration of such an auspicious moment, therewill be aPotluck Party CollinsHall,BowenIslandon Saturday,March7,6-9PM BYOB,Appiesappreciated,nogifts, beyond yourpresence andgoodwishes.
Hope to seeyou there!
Jack &JulieHeadleyatthe Tir-na-nOgTheatre School on BowenIsland./Marcus Hondro photo
Regenerating the Amazon focus of next Rotary talk
BOWEN ISLAND ROTARY CLUB
On Monday, March 9 at 7:30 pm, learn about an exciting Village to Village pilot project proposing a new collaboration between Bowen Island and the Nukini people in the remote westernmost region of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest
The Nukini - the ‘Jaguar People’ – have a special connection to this sacred animal and they are dedicated to restoring their forests and reclaiming their traditional culture, language, and spirituality.
The Amazon Reforest Alliance, founded by João and Alice Fortes, is sharing the seeds of regenerative practic-
es, and forging alliances with some of the most remote and underserved communities in the Amazon who are striving to give back to the land while strengthening their food security.
Come find out more about this initiative - Regenerating the Amazon through a Village to Village Pilot Project in Collaboration with the Nukini ‘Jaguar People’ in Western Brazil - and how you can be part of it.
The talk takes place at Artisan Eats, and features speakers Alice Fortes, Wade Davis, Charles McNeill, and Cameron Dubes. You can also watch via Zoom, with information available on the Bowen Rotary Club website.
Monday’s Rotary talk will highlight collaborative efforts between Bowen Island and the Nukini people of the Amazon Rainforest in pursuit of regeneration, conservation, and more / Alice Fortes photo
Jack & Julie Headley, the founders and directors of Tir-na-nOg Theatre, discuss casting with teacher Calder Stewart on the lip of the stage this week The theatre is still up and running, with current classes being conducted by Stewart and more classes planned. The Headleys are being as active as their health allows and are laying the groundwork for the passing of the theatrical torch. / Marcus Hondro photo
Bowen RCMP acquires police boat
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
5 Check Wellbeing – Called in by family, BC Ferries neighbours, Municipal staff, employers.
2 Property – Lost wallet, found wallet (not related).
3 Special Events – BC Ferries security assessment, Island Pacific School lockdown drill, boat patrol.
1 Marine Incident – Report of vessel adrift near Hutt Island, with personal flotation devices (PFD) in the water. Boat was found to be unoccupied, Coast Guard requested assistance by RCMP in locating the owner on shore. Vessel found to belong to a seasonal, boat-in cabin. Vessel re-secured.
Police Message:
Bowen Island RCMP have secured the use of a Police Vessel, with it being
semi-permanently stationed on Bowen Island With this will come increased patrols and enforcement in the surrounding waters. Enforcement will be initially be geared towards safety under the Canada Shipping Act (CSA), with further enforcement of the Federal Fisheries Act and BC Sport Fishing Regulations in the coming season.
If you are unsure of your responsibilities as a Pleasure Craft Operator, please contact the Bowen Island RCMP for education and assistance prior to going out on the water
Under the CSA, for example, depending on the size of your vessel, you may be required to have on board (and readily accessible):
- Fire extinguishers
- Approved PFD for everyone on board
- Buoyant heaving line
- Sound signalling device
- Anchoring equipment
- Your Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC).
currently on loan to the
crafted
Each
and accessory figure is handcrafted with the most minute of details as part of the centuries-old tradition, with the the Emperor (obina) and Empress (mebina) occupying the top tier of the display. The dolls were on display from March 3 to 5, and will be available to see again at the museum - along with the history behind the festival and more - from March 8 to 12. After that, as is tradition, they will be carefully packed away until next year’s festival
Watch for the Bowen RCMP boat to be out patrolling local waters moving forward. / Submitted photo
Bowen Island Museum celebrated the Japanese festival Hina Matsuri / Girls Day on March 3. The gathering centred around a collection of Hina Ningyo dolls
museum,
in 1890 in Kyoto.
doll
/ Alex Kurial photo
Pouring local talent at the Coffee House
JANET ROSS Bowen Island Community Choir
Songs, Sips, and Community Spirit! The Bowen Island Community Choir and friends are springing into the turn of season and thrilled to be presenting once again, the Bowen Island Community Choir Coffee House This year features a new lineup of performers, on Saturday, March 7 at Cates Hill Chapel at 7:30 pm.
The program will be mostly music of many genres, and may include comedy or poetry, or surprises Individuals, groups, and the choir will entertain as you relax and have a warm beverage, eat goodies and take in the sounds and sights of your friends and neighbours taking the stage.
Some of our locals are given a rare chance to shine and have their seven minutes of fame. Always a surprise when you see a neighbour up on stage singing their heart out, and the next time you see them they might be buying lettuce at the General Store (Canadian grown of course) or shopping at the Knick Knack Nook.
If the events of the winter have worn down your psyche,
Exploring the peopledriven work of Frank Capra
MICHAEL NANKIN
Bowen Island Film Society
Frank Capra wants to tell you that everything is going to be all right.
It’s hard to talk about an American mythology without mentioning Frank Capra, and much has been written about his role in creating that mythology. John Cassavetes said, “Maybe there really wasn’t an America, it was only Frank Capra.”
Capra decided early in his career that he wanted to make films with a positive, human message. Yes, that message emanated from a world in which everyone was white and straight, but he was working within a system, and there can be great power in a message subverting the system from within. Though I’m sure he wouldn’t have thought of himself as subversive perhaps subversive of even his own conservative values.
Later in his life, he would explain his message this way, “The art of Frank Capra is very, very simple: It’s the love of people. Add two simple ideals to this love of people: the freedom of each individual, and the equal importance of each individual, and you have the principle upon which I based all my films.”
To Frank Capra every human life has value This wasn’t a divisive issue. In one of his films, Jimmy Stewart says: “I wouldn’t give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn’t have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too.” That’s Capra all over.
The Bowen Island Film Society will be showing Frank Capra’s Mr Deeds Goes to Town on Friday, March 6 at 6:30 pm in the Community Center Theater. You can buy tickets from Bowen Recreation or at the door for $10.
the time is right for you to come out, bring a friend, sip something warm, nibble something yummy, and have your hearts warmed. Forget about the troubles of the world for a couple of hours. At the appropriate time, you may want to sing along!
The Bowen Island Community Choir is an amateur choir made up of a collection of over 40 voices - soprano, alto, tenor and bass. We have two concert dates each year and perform two concerts on those days. Our next concert date is Saturday, May 9. Stay tuned for concert times.
This Coffee House is lots of fun and it is also one of our biggest fundraisers. We love having a Bowen audience come out to cheer on all of the performers and to enjoy being with friends, old and new.
We look forward to seeing you at Cates Hill Chapel on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25 and are available at the door.
To;Bowen Island Municipality,Mayor andCouncil.
TheBowen Island Municipal Councilismostlycomprised of people in my agegroup.Consequently, we arealmostall homeowners.Thisalsotends to be true of theCommitteesthatadvisethiscouncil.
That meansthatalmosteveryoneadvisingormakingdecisions on HousingAffordabilityonBowen Island is outoftouch with thefearand panic caused by beingunder housed or precariously housed.
Ourability to ownhomes isn'tdue to oursuperiorworkethic or carefulfinancial strategies.It'ssimplybecause of when we wereborn.
Housingaffordability isn'tlike askate parkorswimming pool,a community amenitythatwould be "nicetohave".Itisa foundational principleofcommunity.Without it we arefailing!Itisnecessary in ordertomakeour community whole.
AsenioronBowen mentionedrecentlythatwhenheand hiswifemoved here,inthe 70's Ithink,theyboughta waterfront property andbuilt ahome. They still livethere today,theyraisedtheir kids in that home,and nowtheyhavegrandchildren who live on Bowen. They were both school teachers when they movedhere, they'reretired now.
If that couple wanted to move to Bowen Island today,withtwo school teachers incomes, they couldn't afford Bowen'smost modest starterhomewhich is nearly $1 million,never mind buildinga home on thewaterfront.
It's been said many timesthatBowen Island needsmorebelow market housing, most everyone agrees. So what's theholdup? Whywould aCouncil notapprove everybelow market housingproposalthatcrossestheir desk?
In arecentBIRCH housingpole97% of respondentslisted"housingaffordability"astheir biggestconcern.And respondents from allhousehold income levels expressedconcern forBowen's housingaffordabilityand availability
Ourproposalfor Westside Village hasalready,orwillatthe required time,prove;Compliancewithall environmental standards,registrationofanapproved,engineeredwastewatertreatment system,proof of availability of both quantity and qualityofdomesticwater supply (without negativelyimpacting surrounding watersystems).
Ourneighbors have raised concerns,mostofwhich areaddressedabove, butsomeremain; therecould be more cars on the street andmoreactivityinthe neighborhood
It's interestingtonote, that theway ourdevelopment is planned, no part of ourdevelopment is visiblefromany of our neighbors homes.
We'reaskingcounciltoweigh thebenefitstomanyversusthe drawbacks to afew.WestsideVillagecan providereal, genuine, stableand predictablehousing affordability.Whatwould thecostbetoour neighbors? Therewould be afew more cars on the road anda fewmorepeoplewalking up anddownthe street
It seemsthatwhatour community couldgainishuge. Andwhatour neighborsmight lose is small.
It'sbeenexplained to me that this Council, in this term (which ends in Octoberofthisyear) hasenoughtimetomakea decision on theWestsideVillageapplication if they choose to do so.Or, if they choose notto, it wouldbeeasyfor them to delaya decision,slowdownthe process, andleave that decision fora future Council.
Howmanyfamilieswould ourcommunity lose during that delay? Howmuchhardshipwould be endured? Why?
Bowen Island Mayorand Council, Westside Village needstobemoved aheadfor firstreading,please. TheBowen Island community wantsthis, butmostimportantly theBowen Island communityneeds this
SCHEDULE UNTILMARCH 23 2026 Where’s theferry rightnow?- live updatesatwww.bowenferry.ca Schedule changesonstatutory holidays. Stay up to date at www.bcferries.com Friday, March
Call or email to place your ad, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm 236-889-6595 ahogan@glaciermedia.ca 236-889-6595 ahogan@lodestarmedia.ca
Call or email to place your ad, Monday throughFriday 8:30am to 4:30pm 604-362-0586 •604-653-7851 classifieds@van.net
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- except Saturdays 10:00pm 11:00pm
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Friday,March 6
Garden Club Open Garden
TheGarden Club will be visiting KathyLeishman’sgarden at 1765 ArbutusPoint Road from 1to3pm.
Saturday, March7
French Connections at the Library
Drop in and join us to practice your conversational French, and get to know otherFrench languagelearners on BowenIsland! Free, 10:30 to 11:30 am. bipl.ca/French Saturday, March7
Men’sShedMeeting
BowenIsland Men’sShedgatheringatIslandPacific Schoolat671 Carter Rd between10:30 am andNoon. All agesofmen welcome for coffee/tea andgreat company!
Saturday,March 7
Author Talk at theLibrary
Join us for the launchofThe Choir,the fifth book by BowenIsland historicalnovelist, CarolCram. Drop in, free event at 1pm. CarolCramwillreadfromher book,answer questions,and sign copies.Books will be availableto purchasefromthe author.Learn moreatbipl.ca/author Saturday, March7
Judi GedyeOpenHouse
Come talk aboutisland issues with municipalcouncillor Judi Gedye. From 3to4pmatCollins Hall, all welcome
Saturday,March 7
Community Choir Coffee House
BowenCommunityChoir presentsa relaxingevening ofSongs,Sips and CommunitySpiritatCates Hill Chapel. Show at 7:30 pm,tickets $25 at thedoor. More on Page 9.
Sunday, March8
Book DonationMorning at theLibrary
Friendsofthe Library welcome your donationsofclean, good condition used books.They’reespeciallyseeking novels and kids books.From10amuntil bins full (Noonlatest).
Monday,March 9
Rotary SpeakerSeries
Come learnabout effortstoregenerate theAmazon Rainforest with speakers Alice Fortes,Wade Davis,Cameron Dubes& Charles McNeill. At Artisan Eats at 7:30 pm,also available on Zoom.Findout more on Page 7.
Wednesday,March 11 &Friday,March 13
SKYWalks
Seniors KeepingYoung meets at KillarneyLakeonMar. 4&the Golf Course on Mar. 6Bothwalks startat10:30 am
Wednesday, March11
LiteracyWorkshopfor Parentsatthe Library
Discoverpractical ways tosupport yourchild’s literacy and language development. Presentedinpartnership with West Vancouver Schools. From 6to7:30 pm
Friday,March 13
Stories-on-the-Go at Baby Connections
Librarystaff areguest speakers at Baby Connections! Drop in to BowenIsland FamilyPlace for ashortbabystorytime and Q&AduringBabyConnections. Chat with a librarian and learn some funstories &songs! From 11amtoNoon. Forexpecting &new parents, and their babies 0-12 months. Saturday, March14
Artist Partyatthe Hearth Gallery
NatTuke, artistinattendance,will be at theHearthfor an ArtistpARTy to celebratethe Spring VibrationsArt Show Partyfrom6to8pm, with exhibitrunningMarch 11 to 30.
Tuesday, March17
CarminaPub Nightatthe Legion
Choirmembers of CarminaBowenaare hosting an evening of Irishsongs and tunes.Members of both the choir andSolaMusicawill be performing,aswell as leadingplenty of fun sing-a-long songsfor the audience. Allageswelcome! Food (RockSalt Kitchen)and drink will be available forpurchase.Starts 7pm, tickets$10 at door or on choir website.
Saturday, March21
ArtistReceptionatCatchingStars Gallery
FeatureartistMekailaTyrrell is at the gallerytoshowcase her‘LapisMystica’works.Meetand greatMekailafrom2to 4pm and checkout herart duringthe month of March.
TUESDAYS
Bowen Celtic Music Group
Allinstrumentsand levels welcome –westart slow, call out the songs in advance, and can send out adigital songbook as aPDF if you’d prefersheet music, chords,orguitar tabs. Takesplace at Bowen CourtonSeniorsRoad from 7to 9pm. Suggested donationof$5per session.
WEDNESDAYS
Family Storytimeatthe Library
Afree30-minute drop-in program of stories, rhymes,and songs forchildrenage 0-6 and their caregivers!From10:30 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 Hallfrom 9:30 am to 12:30 pm to paint and create together. $30 per monthor$10 drop-in. Info at shannonrondeau@shaw.ca
PEPSI
This week, we’redelighted to introduce Pepsi, an irresistibly fluffy little kitten who hasalreadystolenour hearts—andthe heartofher newbig brother,Jasper! Pepsirecently joined her forever family andissettling in nicely with Jasper.She did wonderfully at her visit— calm, curious, andfullof tiny purrs. Her exam showed she’soff to ahealthy start, andwe’ll see her back soon for her kittenboosters. Welcome to thefamily, Pepsi! We can’t wait to watch yougrow.
