MERIBETH DEENE D I T O R

Less than one year ago, just weeks before the end of term at Capilano University, students in the fine arts program learned that their department was closing. The younger students enrolled in the Studio Arts program would be able to complete their two-year diplomas, but for mature students in the Art Institute program, the closure meant their education

at Capilano was coming to an end. Bowen Islander Hans Christian Behm was one of them. On Monday, he asked Bowen’s municipal council to pass a reso-lution asking the governors of Capilano College to declare a moratorium on the program’s closure.

Proposed OCP amendments raise alarm

MERIBETH DEENE D I T O R

On Monday, the former chair of the Official Community Plan (OCP) Steering Committee, Sue Ellen Fast, asked council to respect the community input present-ed in the plan by refraining to make further amendments to it. In September 2011, the previous municipal council, led by Mayor Bob Turner, passed a series of amendments to the document, originally crafted in 1996. On Monday, council unanimously passed another series of changes, as recommended by the Economic Development Committee (EDC), through first reading.

Fast says she is concerned both about the transparency of the pro-cess by which the OCP is being amended, and by the content.

“I think these changes will come as a big surprise to many island-ers,” she says. “I see a watering down of environmental protection, and changes that will lead to urban sprawl across the island.”

Fast points specifically to chang-es proposed to “Goal 6” of the “Twelve Fundamental Goals of the OCP,” as an example of the lower-

ing of environmental protection as a priority. As the OCP is currently written, Goal 6 is:

To manage growth in a way that is conditioned by the natural envi-ronment and respects social and economic diversity.

The proposed amendment rewrites the goal as:

To manage growth in a way that respects social and economic diver-sity, and the natural and built environments.

Fast told council that the OCP Steering Committee “took in over 700 points of community con-tact” in the form of community meetings, surveys, and individual submissions prior to writing the amendments to the plan.

“This is the community’s Official Community Plan,” says Fast. “People told us time and again that they want Bowen to be a green oasis, to keep the parks as parks, and a compact village cen-tre. These amendments make way for the Cove to sprawl and for the north side of the Cove, which is now parkland, to be developed.”

Amendments remove limits on tourist accommodations, open door for camping and trailer parks

The economics of sharingA green entrepreneur comes to Bowen to talk about the “new economy”

Creature of the weekPretty purple sea stars are a keystone species, and crafty predator

The Towers of TuscanyMore Bowen-lit comes to print

FRIDAY MAR 28 2014V O L . 4 1 , N O . 1 2

Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

75¢ including GST

Artist Josh Van Dyke in his studio. Van Dyke was hoping to attend Capilano University’s Art Institute, but with the closure of the fine arts program at the University, he is looking for opportunity elsewhere.Meribeth Deen, photo

Former student looks to North Shore municipalities to save art school

continued, PAGE 3

continued, PAGE 8

Maureen Sawasy604.947.2442

Fax: 604.947.0148 | ads@bowenislandundercurrent.com

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MERIBETH DEEN

E D I T O R

The BC Ambulance Service Station 225 was

unusually busy in the lead up to New Year’s eve

this year. Paramedic Brendan Donohue says that

during his shift between midnight on December 29th

and midnight on December 30th, he responded to four

calls, which, he says, is unusual during the typically

slow winter season. Donohue drove to those calls in the

station’s new ambulance, which is equipped with a com-

puter-aided dispatch (CAD) system. This device relays

all the information collected through the telephone dis-

patcher, such as the address, the type of emergency, and

the age of the patient directly to the paramedics in the

driver and passenger seats of the ambulance.

“When we get paged for an emergency, we call the

dispatcher to confirm that we’ve received the message,”

says Donohue. “When we get into the ambulance, we

get the information collected by the dispatcher as it

comes in.”What the new system does not offer is updated soft-

ware for the GPS system that ensures the ambulance

drivers take the most direct route emergency locations.

For Caring Circle coordinator Colleen O’Neil, this is

a major concern.

From pulp and

paper to liquid

natural gas

MERIBETH DEEN

E D I T O R

A former pulp mill near Squamish

on the North West shores of Howe

Sound may get a chance at a sec-

ond life as a Liquefied Natural Gas

(LNG) processing and export facility,

now that the National Energy Board

has approved the company’s applica-

tion to export LNG. The Canadian

Environmental Assessment Agency

is now asking for public comment

on whether a federal environmen-

tal assessment is required, and

whether the request by the Province

of British Columbia to conduct the

environmental assessment, should be

approved.If the project goes forward,

approximately 3-4 tankers – each

roughly one and a half times the

size of a BC Ferries Coastal Class

Ferry (such as the ferries that

travel between Horseshoe bay and

Nanaimo) - will pass by Bowen

Island every month. Propelled by

natural gas and using diesel as a

back-up fuel, the double-hulled

tankers will carry 2.1 million tonnes

of liquefied natural gas to China

every year.Marion Ngo, the manager of com-

munications with Woodfibre Natural

Gas Ltd., says the project is still in

the early phases of planning, so ele-

ments regarding technology, engi-

neering and impacts of the projects

are yet to be determined. Many of

those details will be revealed through

the environmental assessment pro-

cess, whether it is conducted by the

Federal government, Provincial gov-

ernment or both.

However, Ngo says Woodfibre

is expecting BC Hydro to provide

the power needed to compress the

natural gas into liquid form (the gas

needs to be cooled to approximately

-160 degrees Celcius).

Peter Frinton, Bowen’s represen-

tative to the Sea to Sky Clean Air

Society, says while the Society is con-

cerned about the re-industrialization

of Howe Sound in general, the use

of hydro as a source of power largely

alleviates concerns about localized

air pollution.“We really need to know the spe-

cifics,” says Frinton, “but I think if

they were burning natural gas to

power their plant they would likely

face a lot more opposition. From

my personal perspective, I am a lot

more concerned about the big pic-

ture when it comes to air quality, and

questions about say, greenhouse gas

emissions created through the natu-

ral gas industry as a whole.”

Merran Smith, the Bowen-based

director of Clean Energy with

Tides Canada, says that the thing to

remember about LNG is that it is a

fossil fuel.

Woodfibre Pulp and Paper shut down in 2006.

A pending proposal could turn it into an LNG

export facility, sending 3 to 4 tankers past

Bowen every month

It’s a wrapA year in review for a few Bowen

community organizations

Ring in the New Year

With upcoming concerts

Look what we found!

Another look at great stuff people got

at the Nook in 2013

FRIDAY

JAN 03, 2014V O L . 4 1 , N O . 0 1

Watch for more online at:

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

75¢ including

GST

Baby it’s cold inside (the water)! Swimmers brave the chilly waters of Howe Sound for the annual

Polar Bear dip. Kami Kanetsuka, photo

Bowen’s new ambulance comes with

new computer, but lacks GPS updates

continued, PAGE 2

continued, PAGE 2

DED is now Detectable and Treatable

“Dry Eye Disease (DED) is one of the most under-diagnosed ocular diseases, and yet it is the

most common reason why patients go see their Eye Doctor” Dr. Bowden says. Dry eye occurs

when eyes do not produce the correct quantity or quality of tears. Many people mistake the

dry eye symptoms for allergies, climatic conditions or just “eyestrain”. Your eyes need a constant

layer of tears—called the “tear fi lm”— to maintain and protect the ocular surface. In Dry Eye,

underlying changes to the health of the tear glands can result in a change in the quantity and

quality of the tears you make. This results in a tear fi lm that can no longer provide enough

nourishment or protection to the surface of your eye. This can lead to damage of your eye’s

surface, which, in turn, can lead to the symptoms of Dry Eye such as; stinging, burning, scratchy

sensation, sensitivity to light, tearing, tired eyes, and diffi culty wearing contact lenses. DED

causes blurred vision, often worsening at the end of the day or after focusing for a prolonged

i d on a nearby task like a computer screen. Optomeyes Eye Doctors now have a diagnostic

d rly detection of Dry Eye Disease. “We can quantitatively monitor

rocess This helps us custom prescribe

t lk us aboutMarine Drive

Clyde Ave

Marine Drive

ShoppersDrugMart

Parkade

SavaryIslandPie Co.

et

e age of the patient directly to the paramedics in the

iver and passenger seats of the ambulance.

“When we get paged for an emergency, we call the

ispatcher to confirm that we’ve received the message,”

ays Donohue. “When we get into the ambulance, we

get the information collected by the dispatcher as it

comes in.”What the new system does not offer is updated soft-

ware for the GPS system that ensures the ambulance

drivers take the most direct route emergency locations.

For Caring Circle coordinator Colleen O’Neil, this is

a major concern.

From pulp and

paper to liquid

natural gas

MERIBETH DEEN

E D I T O R

A former pulp mill near Squamish

on the North West shores of Howe

Sound may get a chance at a sec-

ond life as a Liquefied Natural Gas

(LNG) processing and export facility,

now that the National Energy Board

has approved the company’s applica-

tion to export LNG. The Canadian

Environmental Assessment Agency

is now asking for public comment

on whether a federal environmen-

tal assessment is required, and

whether the request by the Province

of British Columbia to conduct the

environmental assessment, should be

approved.If the project goes forward,

approximately 3-4 tankers – each

roughly one and a half times the

size of a BC Ferries Coastal Class

Ferry (such as the ferries that

travel between Horseshoe bay and

Nanaimo) - will pass by Bowen

Island every month. Propelled by

natural gas and using diesel as a

back-up fuel, the double-hulled

tankers will carry 2.1 million tonnes

of liquefied natural gas to China

every year.Marion Ngo, the manager of com-

munications with Woodfibre Natural

Gas Ltd., says the project is still in

the early phases of planning, so ele-

ments regarding technology, engi-

neering and impacts of the projects

are yet to be determined. Many of

those details will be revealed through

the environmental assessment pro-

cess, whether it is conducted by the

Federal government, Provincial gov-

ernment or both.

However, Ngo says Woodfibre

is expecting BC Hydro to provide

the power needed to compress the

natural gas into liquid form (the gas

needs to be cooled to approximately

-160 degrees Celcius).

Peter Frinton, Bowen’s represen-

tative to the Sea to Sky Clean Air

Society, says while the Society is con-

cerned about the re-industrialization

of Howe Sound in general, the use

of hydro as a source of power largely

alleviates concerns about localized

air pollution.“We really need to know the spe-

cifics,” says Frinton, “but I think if

they were burning natural gas to

power their plant they would likely

face a lot more opposition. From

my personal perspective, I am a lot

more concerned about the big pic-

ture when it comes to air quality, and

questions about say, greenhouse gas

emissions created through the natu-

ral gas industry as a whole.”

Merran Smith, the Bowen-based

director of Clean Energy with

Tides Canada, says that the thing to

remember about LNG is that it is a

fossil fuel.

Woodfibre Pulp and Paper shut down in 2006.

A pending proposal could turn it into an LNG

export facility, sending 3 to 4 tankers past

Bowen every month

Ring in the New Year

With upcoming concerts

Look what we found!

Another look at great stuff people got

at the Nook in 2013

FRIDAY

JAN 03, 2014V O L . 4 1 , N O . 0 1

Watch for more online at:

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

75¢ including

GST

illy waters of Howe Sound for the annual

ance comes with

acks GPS updates

continued, PAGE 2

continued, PAGE 2

DED is now Detectable and Treatable

“Dry Eye Disease (DED) is one of the most under-diagnosed ocular diseases, and yet it is the

most common reason why patients go see their Eye Doctor” Dr. Bowden says. Dry eye occurs

when eyes do not produce the correct quantity or quality of tears. Many people mistake the

dry eye symptoms for allergies, climatic conditions or just “eyestrain”. Your eyes need a constant

layer of tears—called the “tear fi lm”— to maintain and protect the ocular surface. In Dry Eye,

underlying changes to the health of the tear glands can result in a change in the quantity and

quality of the tears you make. This results in a tear fi lm that can no longer provide enough

nourishment or protection to the surface of your eye. This can lead to damage of your eye’s

surface, which, in turn, can lead to the symptoms of Dry Eye such as; stinging, burning, scratchy

sensation, sensitivity to light, tearing, tired eyes, and difficulty wearing contact lenses. DED

fifi

causes blurred vision, often worsening at the end of the day or after focusing for a prolonged

i d on a nearby task like a computer screen. Optomeyes Eye Doctors now have a diagnostic

d rly detection of Dry Eye Disease. “We can quantitatively monitor

rocess This helps us custom prescribe

t lk us aboutine Drive

Clyde Ave

Marine Drive

ShoppersShoppersDrugMart

Parkade

SavarySavaryIslandIslandPie Co.Pie Co

et

MERIBETH DEENE D I T O R

On the last day of school before Christmas, Karen

Hughes said goodbye to her ‘homies.’ Her homies are the kids she gets to school and back

every day, and when she told them she was leaving

some broke down and cried. “Then I cried too, and cried the whole way driving

back from the school,” says Hughes.She says she loves the kids and she loves the job, but

her circumstances have changed. When she started the

job three years ago, a part-time gig with a summer holi-

days was perfect. Now, the steadier employment and

higher pay that goes with driving Bowen’s transit bus is

what she needs.She’ll keep driving the school bus two afternoons and

one full day a week until a replacement is found, but

she’s leaving big shoes to fill.“You need to be a good driver, of course, but also you

need to know that when you get that bus full of k d

a whole other story.”Hughes said she learned quickly that, for her at least,

threats were not the answer.“I remember one rainy afternoon early-on when the

homies were particularly wild. I pulled the bus over to

the side of the road, turned around and looked at them

and said, ‘Who wants to walk!’ They all shut-up, and

calmed down. Then this one little kindergarten getting

off the bus at his stop and asked me when he was going

to get to walk. I had to explain to him that actually he’s

not allowed to walk… when you make a threat, you’ve

got to be willing to follow through on it.”Hughes says knowing the kids according to their ages

and stages helps, but knowing them all as individuals is

even better.“I know if they’ve got siblings and if so who they are.

Sometimes I even know if they’ve got cousins around.”

Planning for the future of the Sound

MERIBETH DEENE D I T O RHowe Sound is a place where watersheds and boundaries converge.

Bowen is one of five governing municipalities on Howe Sound. Also gov-

erning this region are the Islands Trusts, three regional districts, three for-

estry districts, First Nations, as well as provincial and federal governments.

Elected officials from the communities whose watersheds feed into the

Sound have been meeting for a decade to discuss issues of common inter-

est, they come together under the banner of the Howe Sound Community

Forum. At their last meeting, the eleven signees (which include munici-

palities, regional governments and the Squamish Nation) agreed to work

together to urge the federal and provincial governments to help build a

coordinated strategy for the Sound. At their next meeting, on January

14th, they are hoping to hear what higher levels of government are willing

to give to the process.Bowen municipal councillor Wolfgang Duntz will be attending this

meeting as a representative of Bowen but also as a trustee from the Islands

Trust.“Part of the reason I ran as a trustee with the Islands Trust is because I

wanted to change the fact that the organization was so inward looking, so

focused on the issues just affecting the specific Gulf Islands,” says Duntz.

“And I can tell you that that has changed drastically in the past year as now

the region is seeing an avalanche of threats.”The “threats” Duntz points to include shellfish farming, whose impact

he says people in the Southern Gulf Islands were relatively naive about five

years ago.“After a number of these projects have gone through, people see what it

does to the landscape and they don’t like it,” he says. “And they see all the

debris and damage that gets left behind when they close down.”

Duntz says new proposals for similar projects (including the farming of

geoducks, which is entirely new to the region), plus industrial plans that

will mean tankers shipping, coal, oil and liquid natural gas will be going

through the area have raised the alarm.“Before we make judgements on these things, we need more informa-

tion,” says Duntz.The islands in Howe Sound face a whole other set of projects proposals

that could drastically change the region’s landscape:- a large hotel-marina complex in Gibson’s landing- a gravel mine in McNab Creek- the Woodfibre LNG proposal- a massive waterfront re-development in the city of Squamish

- the Sea-to-Sky Gondola- a proposed ski resort at Garibaldi-a massive housing development in South Brittania

-the addition of 25 percent of Gambier’s lands to active logging (on top

of the 15 percent that are already being actively logged)

-a run of river power project that will impact three creeks that run into

McNab Creek.“We need to make decisions about the region as a whole, moving for-

ward,” says Duntz. “We need to decide what we want to be industrial areas,

recreational areas, residential areas, and you don’t just let those things hap-

pen by accident.”Geologist and former mayor Bob Turner says that historically Bo

has had the privilege of being somewhat removed f

Sound.“In th 19

‘Revolution’Award-winning film showing through the Green Film Series

Pedalling for PapuaThe end of the road Shhh...Hondro hits the library

FRIDAY JAN 10 2014V O L . 4 1 , N O . 0 2

Watch for more online at: WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

75¢ including GST

Karen Hughes and a few of her “homies” at the end of the school day at BICS.

Meribeth Deen photo

School bus driver says “goodbye”

The 11 governing bodies that make up the Howe Sound Community Forum, including Bowen, are committed to co-operation

Newspapers deliver...reach out to your customers through the Undercurrent

2 • FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

DG BLAIRS U B M I S S I O N

Bowen LIFT (Linking Islanders through Friendly Transportation) wants to grow and we need your help. Over the next six months, Bowen LIFT is going to be running some programs to encourage ride-sharing. The more people we have participating, the easier it will be to share rides! To kick things off, we want to build mem-bership on the Bowen LIFT Facebook group. The Facebook group exists to help drivers and riders from Bowen Island find rides and riders both on and off island. It is a secure site -all participants are vetted by a group administrator to make sure they are part of the Bowen Island community.

Our aim is to get to 400 members by the end of 2014. To encourage ride-sharing and make it more fun, we're offering a gift certificate each week for the next six weeks to a lucky driver who offers a ride through our Facebook page. We have had an awesome start: we have increased our membership from 140 to 305 members in just one week, surpassing our expectations!

Congratulations to Peter Wrinch who offered a ride this week and has won a $10 gift certificate to The Snug. Upon receiving the certificate, Peter commented “I really love the LIFT idea. It is cool to travel with people and it is good for the Earth. Total win-win. Thanks for the gift certificate.”

Each week for the next five weeks, we'll announce another winner from those who offer rides through our FB group. So don't forget to invite your Bowen FB friends to join Bowen LIFT and share rides. The more members, the more ride sharing. Go to www.bowenlift.com to find out more or to join the Bowen LIFT Facebook group.

Give a thumbs up to Bowen LIFT, Bowen LIFT might just give back

Enthusiasm for LIFT and LIFT gift certificates abound. Peter Wrinch holds his gift.DG Blair, photo

MERIBETH DEENEDITOR

The Knick Knack Nook, Bowen Island LIFT, and the Bowen Buy/Sell/Trade/Loan Facebook Page are all great examples of our community’s inclination to share, re-use, save a few bucks and cut the amount of junk we’re sending to the land-fill all at the same time. We might not know it but, by buying, selling, donating and loaning, we are participating in the “sharing economy.” It’s also known as the collaborative economy, and David Van Seters says that there is always room to grow it, and by doing so our local economy can find the boosts it is looking for without having to “attract” dollars from the global economy.

“The old model of economic development looks to create full-time jobs, looks for inputs from the outside,” says Van Seters. “Things are changing, and in the new economy people engage in multiple activities that add up to the same, or provide even greater benefit, than a single job. Small communities in particular tend to find greater success in tapping their idle assets.”

Van Seters says Facebook is not actually the ideal platform for sharing and trading.

“It wasn’t designed to be a buy and sell, and when you compare Facebook to platforms that are, its shortcomings are obvious. If Bowen is serious about a sharing economy, the commu-nity should establish a separate platform for the express purpose of sharing and trading goods and services. Imagine one place where you could go to see what’s available in terms of land, cars and clothing? In a small community, you also have the opportunity take these things from the digital to tangible events easily, making them even more relevant.”

Van Seters is the entrepreneur behind Spud, a grocery delivery service that started with the aim of cutting out the middle-man between farmers and food buyers, delivering to homes on a direct route to cut the consumption of fossil fuels. Van Seters also comes by his interest in sustainability honestly, as he is a trained environmental biolo-gist who learned business by necessity when he was made a manager of the environmental con-sulting company that he worked for,

“Midway through my MBA I realized that if we really want to solve environmental problems we need to change the way the traditional econo-my operates,” he says.

Van Seters says that no economic model has impressed him quite like the sharing economy.

“From an environmental perspective, it’s a direct method of curbing consumption. From a social perspective, sharing builds community, but when you look at it from an economic perspective, that’s where the benefits are really compelling.”

Is sharing the solution for Bowen’s economy?

continued, PAGE 8

INV ITAT ION TO PUBL IC OPEN HOUSE

COMMUNITY LANDS REZONING (LOT 2)Monday, April 14, 2014 • 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Cates Hill Chapel, 661 Carter Road, Bowen Island, BC(A presentation and Q&A period will be held at 6:30 pm)

Bowen Island Municipality is considering amendments to Offi cial Community Plan Bylaw No. 282, 2010 and to Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 to provide for the development of the southern half of Lot 2 of the Community Lands for a range of residential, commercial and civic uses, including a future community centre. The area under consideration consists of approximately 6 acres situated on the north side of Bowen Island Trunk Road between Seniors Road and Bowen Island Community School.

The purpose of Bylaw No. 353, 2014 is to amend the Offi cial Community Plan to add Village Commercial uses to the Village Residential and Institutional uses allowed under the current designation, and to make a number of amendments to provide for future development.

The purpose of Bylaw No. 354, 2014 is to amend the Land Use Bylaw to rezone the property from Passive Park, to a comprehensive development zone that would permit a “Community Campus” which could include fi tness and recreational space, performance and cultural space, municipal offi ces, and other civic uses, townhouses and apartments, daycare, and secondary offi ce, retail and medical clinic uses.

You are invited to attend this preliminary public open house and provide your comments on these proposals. Should Council give initial readings to bylaws, a formal Public Hearing will be held at a later date.

Background information, including draft bylaw amendments, background reports, and a comment sheet are available on the municipal website, under “Current Topics” at www.bimbc.ca.

• 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, V0N 1G2 • TEL: 604-947-4255 • FAX: 604-947-0193 •• e-mail: bim@bimbc.ca • website: www.bimbc.ca •

BOWEN ISLAND MUNIC IPAL ITY

GRANTS-IN-AID Spring Cycle 2014

Deadline for ApplicationsMarch 31, 2014Applications for the fall cycle Grants-in-Aid will be accepted until March 31, 2014.

Information about the program criteria, Grants-in-Aid policy and application forms are available at Municipal Hall, and on our website www.bimbc.ca or contact Municipal Hall at 604-947-4255.

Bowen Island Municipality981 Artisan LaneBowen Island, BCV0N 1G0Fax: 604-947-0193

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 • 3

from PAGE 1Behm says that Bowen Island and other North Shore

municipalities will suffer because of the closure of Capilano’s fine arts program, because its graduates receive a unique education which prepared them for a lifetime of contribution in artistic fields but also one which prepared them with the skills and tools required to live well and engage with others.

Behm, who is 74 years old, started his career as an artist in 2008 with his entry into the Capilano Art Institute.

“My daughter in-law’s grandmother recommended me, and when I told them that I used to be an architectural designer they were really happy to let me in because they valued my experience,” says Behm.

Behm says the relationship between the Art Institute, which could be compared to a residency for mature artists, and the Studio Arts program was one of mentorship.

“Wayne Eastcott, who is one of Canada’s premiere print-makers, this was his idea,” says Behm. “The philosophy is that the more experienced people can demonstrate skills and help to engage the younger students, and in return they offer us the sense of excitement, and the newness of life. The young people I worked with over the years in this way have become like family to me in a way, and when I liked their work, I would trade them for it, and so I am invested in their careers.”

Behm says he was always astounded by the discipline, concentration, and dedication of the young students he worked with.

“I never saw a fight among them,” he says. Behm says that the school’s resources, both in materials

and in the knowledge of their teachers, are invaluable.“I will be devastated to see the materials sold for scrap,”

he says. “In the printmaking studio we had a printer worth $27 thousand, and what will happen to that? When you look at the bronze foundry, you have all of this casting equipment, cauldrons, moulds. These are things that on their own are not valuable; it is in this context they become extremely valuable.”

Behm says that the school’s bronze foundry was run by George Ramel, “Bill Reid’s main man, and one of Canada’s greatest sculptors.”

“As Bill Reid’s Parkinsons progressed, it was Ramel who would execute his ideas,” says Behm. “I saw George Ramel on his knees at 6am trying to help a student finish up his graduation project. His dedication to them is incredible.”

Bowen-based artist Josh Van Dyke, who was set to enter the Art Institute Program just prior to its closure, but had the already attended Capilano as a student in the Studio Arts program in 2002.

“It was a really amazing experience,” says Van Dyke. “At Capilano you actually learned how to make things, how to paint or how to build, which is a refreshing alternative to other schools.”

He says that after a stint learning metalwork in Scotland, he was inspired to go back to Capilano in part because of the access it would provide him to their foundry.

“As an artist, I expect these kinds of hiccups,” he says. “I can’t build a metal foundry at my house, but there are var-ious options for accessing foundries. What I can’t replace that I would have gotten at Capilano was the opportunity

to work with people like George Ramel. I know that he is someone I could learn a lot from, but also someone who knows how to just let his students be artists.”

Another Bowen-based artist, Gregg Simpson, is support-ing Behm in his bid to keep Capilano’s Studio Arts pro-grams alive.

“Art schools these days are not like when I went to the Vancouver School of the Arts, when everything smelled like oil paint,” says Simpson. “They are about theory, and cultural theory. This kills the poetic spirit, and people don’t want to go see art that comes from a place like that.”

Simpson says he has received a letter from North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton saying he would write a letter asking for a moratorium on the closure of the Capilaon fine arts program.

“We’re not going down without a fight,” says Simpson.Mayor Jack Adelaar told Behm that he has already

written one letter against the closure of the art program at Capilano.

“I believe I have a good relationship with other mayors, and I’d be willing to stick my oar in the water for you on this issue,” he said.

Council decided to wait until April 14 to make a deci-sion about Behm’s proposed resolution.

Behm says that time is of the essence, and he will move forward on bringing his request before the other municipal councils as soon as possible.

A last-minute rescue effort for Capilano University fine arts

Hans-Christian Behm holds a piece of his calligraphic watercolours and stands behind a wood block carved for printing. Since Capilano University shut down its Art Institute, Behm has been working from his tiny Snug Cove apartment.Meribeth Deen, photo

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

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 ISLAND UNITED CHURCHRev. Shelagh MacKinnon

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

Minister of Music: Lynn Williams

FOODBANK DROP-OFF

BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCHPastor Clinton Neal

1070 Miller Road 604-947-0384Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m.

Places of Worship Welcome YouTTIDESIDES

H: 12H: 12L: 6L: 6

HIGH FEET LOW FEETFri. 0451 14.8 1105 6.9 1644 13.1 2302 4.6Sat. 0529 15.1 1150 5.9 1745 13.8 2351 5.2Sun. 0604 15.1 1233 4.6 1840 14.1 Mon. 0638 15.1 0037 6.2 1933 14.1 1314 3.9Tue. 0711 14.8 0121 6.9 2025 14.4 1356 3.9Wed. 0744 14.4 0205 7.9 2119 14.4 1437 3.3 Thurs. 0817 13.8 0251 8.9 2214 14.1 1518 3.3

Distance:3 NAUTICAL MILESCrossing Time:20 MINUTES

BOWENISLAND

Snug Cove▼ VANCOUVERHorseshoe

Bay

Leav

e Sn

ug C

ove Leave Horseshoe Bay

THE WEDNESDAY SAILINGS WILL BE REPLACED

BY DANGEROUS CARGO SAILINGS.

NO OTHER PASSENGERS PERMITTED.

#

*

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5:30 am # 6:30 am** 7:30 am**8:30 am9:30 am10:30 am11:30 am12:30 pm3:00 pm4:00 pm †5:00 pm6:00 pm7:00 pm *8:00 pm9:00 pm10:00 pm

6:00 am** 7:00 am**8:00 am9:00 am †10:00 am11:00 am12:00 pm2:25 pm3:30 pm4:30 pm5:30 pm6:30 pm7:30 pm *8:30 pm9:35 pm

REGULAR SCHEDULEIn Effect December 30, 2013-March 31, 2014

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4 • FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

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#102, 495 Government Rd., PO Box 130, Bowen Island,

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EDITORIALPublished & Printed by Black Press Ltd. at #102, 495 Government Road, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1GO

MERIBETH DEENE D I T O R

A few months ago someone walked into the office of the Undercurrent, to pay a bill I think, and started offering his opinions as people often do. He said that there is a dark heart to Bowen Island, and it sucks people in and if they are lucky, it spits them out.

I realized last Friday evening that the dark heart is in fact, the Undercurrent office.

I’m not sure how long the paper has been run out of this particular location but I am fairly sure that it has never been cleaned. It also appears that at least some of the people who worked here had a tendency toward pack-rat type behaviour, and never bothered to clean up their belongings upon departure.

When our new publisher agreed to pay for a

paint job of our place, I never imagined the ran-dom loot we’d dig up in here. If you’re at the Nook this weekend you might happen upon some of it. Many of the other odds and sods are being sorted through at BIRD as I write, I am sure.

I am deeply thankful for these Bowen institu-tions, simply for existing and taking all this stuff off our hands.

It would be much easier just to dump it, but it would also induce a lot of guilt, and probably end up costing more in the end.

Which brings up another matter of concern: the municipality, in their persistent belt tightening, has cut Spring and Fall Clean-Up Days. This will save us taxpayers $31 thousand per year, but will it cost more in the long-run?.

I know that a great many of us here will do what we’re supposed to, and call up Bowen Waste Service or Mike’s Bins and pay them directly to

haul-off our old mattresses and such. I also have this niggling feeling that there will be people who won’t, and mystery junk will line our streets.

So while the municipality is doing nice things like helping good citizens discard waste they find on our beaches, and helping others to bring tourists to the island... garbage and how our community deals with it may-well cease to remain a point of pride.

I am worried about this, but I think it will bother me less if I just hide in the office. After all, we’ve already disposed of all our junky furni-ture. Thanks to a fresh coat of paint, and Maureen Sawasy’s very powerful vacuum cleaner, I think we can now officially deem the Undercurrent a safe-zone.

You’re all welcome to visit, albeit briefly, we’ve got deadlines. While you’re here, please check the lost and found, I think we’ve got your old flip-phone..

Spring Cleaning and no Spring Clean-Up

Dear Editor and Fellow Islanders,

My husband, Don and I moved just last week from Bowen to Vancouver after almost eighteen years. We wish to thank all of you that we have had the pleasure of knowing during that time and in particular, our Mt. Gardner neigh-bours.

We have found Bowen to be a place of fiercely passionate, indepen-dent people. We have been enlarged by them and by the beauty of this place.

As we leave, we offer this blessing:

May your immense beauty of trees, rock and ocean remind those who live

here of a shared love.Through your example may we

walk a middle-way between poles of opposites,

Where people can have their opin-ions yet be held by the tensile thread of connection.

May deer, seal, chickadee, crow, Merganser, raven and heron remind us of our animal nature.

May your “real beauty” be found within your darkness.

May you dream awake the dream of being resilient in the days to come.

With love and gratitude from Don and Diane Marshall

Moving on

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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the

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Editor

MeribethDeen

Dear Editor,

The Med-Shed (previously known as the Community Cupboard) is extremely grateful to the kind folks at Davies Pharmacy in North Vancouver for their recent donation of two four-wheeled walkers valued at $500 new.

For those who might not know about our existence, the Community Cupboard loans out medical assistive

devices to Bowen Islanders in need. The Med-Shed is located just

behind the library and has a wide assortment of crutches, canes, walk-ers, grab bars, and raised toilet seats. Drop by during library hours to check out the supplies.

Sincerely,Sandy Logan and on behalf of the

Bowen Island Library’s Med-Shed program

Special thanks to Davies Pharmacy for making medical equipment accessible

Dear Editor, While it is unfortunate Wolfgang

Duntz and Daron Jennings chose to resign, I think it appropriate to give them credit for the good things they did during their 2.5 years on coun-cil. Some are far too quick to crit-icize for that thankless, underpaid position while many of us, myself included, are not prepared to sacri-fice both our business and personal lives for public service.

We can speculate until the cows come home, should they or should they not have stood for election in the first place? In light of their elec-tion success (as in number of votes) many thought they should, in spite of the “conflict of interest” baggage they possessed. I give them credit for trying and equal credit for their resignation decision late in their term in order that taxpayers need not be subjected to the cost and dis-

traction of a byelection.I have full confidence in the

remaining five elected council mem-bers and suggest the $15,000 cost, plus city hall staff time of a byelec-tion, would be far better spent on some other more pressing needs in the community. Take your pick as there are many. I sense the “political need” for a byelection is political in more ways than one, so let’s leave the politics to the full election which is only six months away. Really, let’s balance the risk of finishing off this term with five council members vs. the gain and cost (byelection and salaries) of seven. It will not be long before we are into the ramp-up to the full election so why start it any earlier than is absolutely necessary? Many other small communities do quite fine with councils of five!

Sincerely,

R.B. (Bruce) Russell

Five is fine with me

MARCUS HONDROT H E S L O W L A N E

My all-time favourite Slow Lanes are easily those ones where I use italics at the top of the column to denote something different about it, as I am doing here. I feel almost chuffed at including italics at the top and suspect it somehow makes me feel more important. At any rate, today italics are being utilized to inform you that this is not one continuous, connected column, but rather a series of four short pieces on various unrelated topics. So, well, without further ado:

Bowen baseball begins sometime toward the end of April, so it is almost time. In my experi-ence, players and teams earnestly consider having a practice before the season starts, but the best laid plans of mice and island ball players often go awry. Which is another way of saying that often the teams assemble for the first time on opening day.

Last year the Firemen got back to winning, that coming after the Shakers finally won a champi-onship in 2012 and the Diggers in 2011. I never won a championship in my seven seasons, though I got to the final once. The final is fun to play in, lots of fans and a nice buzz to the park. I remem-ber I got a hit in the final, though don’t recall if it was off of Phil “Philbert” Wood or Mike ‘the Cannon’ Carachelo.

If you haven’t experienced it, Snug Cove Field is a great park to watch a game in. Sitting in the sun with friends and neighbours and watching baseball while the kids shove one another about in their quest to be the first to get to a foul ball and earn 50 cents, is a fine way to spend an island evening.

It is coming again soon and for, I believe, the 28th consecutive season.

_______

I’ve always felt living in a smaller community should make some potentially contentious events be less so due to the greater likelihood of knowing one another. You have a better idea of someone’s character after talking to them on the ferry ump-teen times or at the Thanksgiving dinner, etc.

I sat next to Premier Christy Clark at one of my son’s hockey games. Her son, Hamish, is also a goalie and Keelan plays Hamish’s Kits team – but I don’t know her as I do local politicians. Indeed, I can’t recall more than nodding hello and most-ly all I remember is some of the mothers on our team continuing to cheer loudly when our West

Van kids scored despite already being up by four goals. It felt kinda embarrassing, like we were rub-bing it in.

Anyhow, the point is that on island we can get to know others easily, our politicians included. So it is that I know Wolfgang Duntz and Daron Jennings a little and know them to be caring, hon-est humans. I don’t care what business they’re involved with, or that they felt they should resign council to avoid the potential of a perceived con-flict of interest. I know they each have our best interests at heart and wouldn’t try and hoodwink islanders or in any way be duplicitous.

Period.________________________________

I expect we most of us consider now and again how it is that we should behave in the world. I do. I might consider if I’m too loud, too nosey, do I tell overlong stories, pontificate too much or present opinions that could be categorized as fool-ish or, worse, objectionable.

Sometimes I’ll get on the ferry and think the following: “Let’s just have a quiet ride.” If I’m lucky enough to be with the wife that trip, I’ll try to stick by her and simply smile nicely at folks who walk past and just say hi. I’ll aim for a ride with no jokes, no kibitzing, no hungrily wander-ing about looking for the most fun group to spendthe trip with. Just be “normal” and sit and talk quietly, or even not talk at all.

I haven’t managed to do that yet but hey, it’s only been a decade of trying.

________________________________

I was unaware Louise, an excellent and long-serving ferry employee, retired in December. One gets accustomed to ferry workers taking vacations and then by happenstance not being onboard during one of their shifts for a while and such, and so it that it took a while before I noticed her missing and asked.

Most of you will know her and join me in wish-ing her many happy and healthy years not serving us and of getting to be elsewhere. If Lynne or Barb or anyone else on the ferry is in touch with her perhaps they will pass along this: all the best from Bowen Island and thankyou for the many years of cheerful service.

We all of us have but a limited amount of trips on the Bowen ferry.

From baseball to retirement: Four short pieces in The Lane

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 • 5

Dear Editor and Bowen Island Community,

Scheduled fare increases (arriving April 1) and service cuts are no joke.Still, some of us think it is worth using our our collective island wit to show BC Ferries and the BC Liberal government what we think of their ridiculous proposals.

On Sunday March 30 at 1pm down by the ferry dock in Snug Cove come gather with us as we play a joke on BC Ferries for once. We are busy mak-ing up a sign that will make you grin and want to have the biggest group of islanders standing behind it so we can say to BC Ferries and to the Liberal government that their plans are a Joke! We had a good turnout for the pro-test but now let’s blow that turnout out of the water. So feel free to bring along any funny signs and goofy smiles! On April 1 we will then send our April Fool’s photo to Christy Clark, Todd Stone (Min. For transportation and Infrastructure), Jordan Sturdy (MLA West Vancouver/Sea-to-Sky) and the press to say Stop this Silliness!

Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday! Bowen Islanders for Ferry Fairness.

Please see our Facebook page BIFF: Bowen Islanders for Ferry Fairness, Bowen Island Forum postings, and website (sites.google.com/site/biffonbow-en) for updates.

Sincerely,Melanie Surtees-MasonBowen Islanders for Ferry Fairness

Ring in April with a gag against ridiculous plans for BC Ferries Dear editor,

Even if I lived on the other side of the island I would be actively objecting to the method of ‘behind closed doors’ planning that has taken place as it has the appearance of creating develop-ment opportunities for the two councillors who ran for and were elected to council in 2011. Their recent resignations appear to be an example of personal planning trumping any vestiges of ser-vice to the constituents of Bowen for whom they had purported to want to serve by running for council.

“Conflict of interest” hardly describes what now appears as their possible business intent to bid on Lot 2, of the “community lands” so development, possibly under their control, could happen. How does that contribution to decision-making that involves those lands and the rezoning of them, not suggest manipulation of the democratic process?

Addressing only one aspect of seemingly planned intent will not adequately hold to account any inappropriate influence over development outcomes on community lands. What has been lacking is total transparency and open and acces-sible opportunities for the citizens of Bowen to hear and participate in discussions for the use of those lands. Understanding how all the parts

work together to produce an end result is critical to homogenous island living. However, that “end result” in the case of the “Community Campus” design, appears to have provided a possible open door opportunity for these developers to bid on land they will have made ripe for the bidding.

Participatory democracy is not just an ideal to be ignored it is the basis for our very way of life.

Proposed changes to the OCP to accommodate the density that the “community campus” design requires is just one questionable element in this “process.”

The two other parts to be examined are both the number of times conflict of interest by the developers required them to leave the council chambers; and also the formation of community ‘advisers’ some of whom might possibly be sym-pathetic to such planning due to benefits to be accrued in terms of secondary (to the developers’ interests) interests being realized.

Wise and careful recognition of the incredible value of Bowen’s community lands to future ongo-ing benefits for this island should have been, and still should be, open to discussion by the whole community of Bowen.

Sincerely, Edna Thomson

Personal planning trumps democracy

MAUREEN SAWASYU N D E R C U R R E N T H I S T O R I A N

25 years ago in the UndercurrentThe Islands Trust had given the Union Steampship Marina bylaw a fourth

reading making it final. A development permit was issued to determine the style of the buildings. The Cates Hill project, put forth by Doug Berry and Wolfgang Duntz was referred to the APC. Once it was through this process, Duntz and Berry could then send in an application to the Trust. Ambulance Station Bylaw #80 was given a second and third reading effectively passing the bylaw allowing for a new ambulance station on Miller Road to be con-structed.

20 years ago in the UndercurrentThe headline on the March 25, 1994, the Undercurrent read: “Architects

plan first community centre – Centre to house meeting rooms, library, pre-school, pool and a 200-seat auditorium with a stage.” Architectural firms had been hired by the Bowen Island Parks and Recreation Commission to explore the conceptual design. Estimates put the cost at $120 per square foot with the site likely being built on the nine acres of GVRD-owned land to the north of the community school. Construction would take upward of 10 to 15 years to offset the cost and approval for the project would have to come from a community referendum.

15 years ago in the UndercurrentAfter five months of attempted negotiations the GVRD Electoral Areas

Committee voted to authorize legal action against the Legion for failing to address noise complaints. GVRD Director Richard Littlemore expressed that he had been trying to contact the Legion to work through a resolution but the Legion had yet to respond to any of his letters.

10 years ago in the UndercurrentThe Bowen Island Municipal Council were making headway in their effort

to enforce a noise complaint bylaw that had been inherited from the GVRD when Bowen became its own municipality. In the bylaw, to be included in the two-year strategic plan, proposed penalties ranged from $50 for a first offence to $500 for continued non-compliance.

5 years ago in the Undercurrent The RCMP reported their stats for 2008:

thefts – 52 disturbing the peace – 46 suspicious occurrences – 37 property damage – 28 break and enter – 22 assaults – 14 drug incidents – 8 animal calls – 7

This week in Undercurrent history

6 • FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

A constellation of a keystone speciesDENIS LYNNS P E C I A L T O T H E U N D E R C U R R E N T

The carnivorous purple sea star, Pisaster ochraceous, is an echinoderm (echinos = hedgehog; derma = skin), related to sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers, found in the intertidal zone of the Pacific Northwest.

This colourful species, ranging from orange to deep purple, grows up to 25 cm from arm to arm, may live up to 20 years, and is strong enough to pull their preferred prey of mussels off the rocks and drag them deeper into the ocean to eat them. If they cannot pull the mussel off, the sea star will cough up its stomach, and sneak into the clam or mussel through openings as small as one-tenth of a millimeter. It will proceed to digest its prey from the inside-out. It will then contract its muscles and pull the stomach back in.

Robert Paine, with the University of Washington, noticed that when P. ochraceous was abundant the diversity of the intertidal community was high-er than in its absence. From this observation, he proposed the concept of a keystone species. An organism that falls into this category plays a critical role in maintaining the ecological structure of its community.

When Paine and his collaborators systematically removed a group of sea stars (a tird, such a group is called) from a habitat, more than 20 species of other invertebrates disappeared. The Mytilus californianus, or California mussel, took over (and this mussel, as it happens is the sea star’s favourite prey). Thus, the presence of the purple sea star can be used as an indicator of the “health” of the intertidal zone, if one considers a healthy intertidal zone to have a higher diversity of species.

According to Bowen Island diver and marine enthusiast Adam Taylor, Pisaster ochraceous have not suffered as much as other kinds of sea stars from the recently reported die-off of sea stars in the Pacific Northwest. This has been caused by Sea Star Wasting Disease.

“My personal observations from 70-odd dives over the past year are that sunflower stars had a 99% die-off and other stars saw a 25-75% die-off,” says Taylor. “There is no 'smoking gun' as to the cause but most experts feel that the recent overpopulation of sunflower stars left them vulnerable to disease. They were literally stacked on top of each other and were eating almost everything in the 10-45 foot depth range. They were beautiful to see but it was obvious that they were overpopulated.”

Taylor says that the purple sea star populations face other threats.“Their numbers have been in decline for the past 25 years or so. There

used to be huge rafts of them along Bowen's rocky shorelines, sometimes 100 metres long. A parasite has been eating the male gonads, lowering their numbers and limiting their population. This is essentially a parasitic castra-tion.”

Denis Lynn is a professor emeritus in integrative biology, University of Guelph, and an adjunct professor in Zoology, University of British Columbia.

A tird of ochre or purple sea stars off the coast of Bowen Island.Adam Taylor photo

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A note from Dax HutchesonNo dog had a better life than I did. My dad, Chuck, rescued me. He brought me to Bowen Island where I made lots of friends…four-legged and two-legged. I hiked, boated, swam, ran, sat in the sun for hours…and had lots of bacon! Everyone was so generous to me with their time, their smiles, their pats and scratches. Everyday was full of fun and happiness for me. Thanks to all of you for a great dog’s life. I’ll miss you all….especially my dad.

Dax Hutcheson passed away peacefully in the arms of his best friend on March 24, 2014!

With love from all of your friends on Bowen, Rest in Peace DaxYou will be missed!

KAREN COWPERS U B M I S S I O N

You could make May 6th a very special evening, whether as a romantic evening out, a wonderful gathering for friends, or THE BEST MOTHER’S DAY OUTING EVER! Your mother would love you for it- an evening cruise, dinner at the Rowing Club, a wonderful musical show, door prizes and fun. Brownie points galore!

No doubt your mother does already love you a lot but I say take her out and celebrate! We are talking about the Tuesday evening before Mother’s Day, a terrific day to take out any mother. Take your mom out. Take your wife out or if you’ve got little kids let her loose for a night out with some other young mum friends. The evening would be great for a teen to accompany Mom if the hour is not too late for that teen. If you have a town student perhaps it could be a town night and the hours would work really well. And all of this would be in support of our own Tir-na-nOg Children’s Theatre School so mom or no mom, come.

This will be the third May that Tir-na-nOg has been given the chance to fundraise through the Synergy Collective. Synergy supplies the venue, the beautiful Rowing Club in Stanley Park, makes us a delicious dinner, vegetarian option provided and they sing! The charity they run gifts other small charities with a gala night event. You can make this a very special evening for Tir-na-nOg just by showing up and having a wonderful time.

Remember those brownie points? You will receive a full donation tax receipt for what you give

for your seat. All of it, 100%, will go to support Tir-na-nOg! We are very happy with donations of 50$ and more per attendee. We are absolutely delighted that many attendees dip into their pock-ets for $100. If you would like to have a table of 9 or 10 we’d love that too!

This year the performers will be the incompa-rable Yvonne McSkimming with her friends and fellow Synergy co-conspirators, Beverly Elliot and Mark James Fortin along with guests, singer Kate Reid, acoustic guitarist David Sinclair and Bowen’s own Adam Woodall. Prepare to have your socks knocked off! It is a very exciting musical line-up. Ask anyone who’s been to the previous parties, it will be a terrific evening.

The Rowing Club doors open at 6, dinner begins about 6:30 and the singing goes until about 10pm. Our MC is hilarious. You will love the raffle prizes.

Cormorant Marine will provide a cruise to the Rowing Club dock leaving at 5:30 at Snug Cove’s Government Dock and returning about 11pm. The subsidized, but not tax-deductible, return fare is $25.

For further information and reservations please contact Karen Cowper at karenlea@telus.net or call 947-2403 or ask at Tir-na-nOg.

Brownie points galore on Mother’s Day

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 • 7

OPEN HOUSESat/Sun 12-6

EVERGREEN RIDGE ESTATES

New Luxury Show Home Come see what we could build for you!!

1640 Evergreen Laneevergreenbowen.com

Memorial serviceBrian G. Hotel

“In loving memory of Brian G. Hotel, a Memorial Ser-vice will be held at the United Church (Th e Little Red Church), 1120 Miller Rd., Bowen Island, @ 1:00 p.m., Sunday, March 30, 2014. Reception to follow at Th e

Rustique Bistro in Snug Cove village.”

BOWEN ISLAND MUNIC IPAL ITY

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 604-947-4255

SUMMER PARKS MAINTENANCE CREWBowen Island Municipality seeks two full-time temporary Park Maintenance Crewpersons (Summer) for employment for the period of May 12th - August 29th, 2014, based on 35 hours per week. Crewpersons will primarily be responsible for maintaining the Municipality’s parks, trails and public beaches as well as some additional labour tasks related to other Municipal infrastructure. The position will also require that the crewperson interact in a courteous manner with the public.

A complete posting, including required skills and job description is available on the Municipal website (www.bimbc.ca), or from the Municipal Hall.

Please submit your cover letter, resume, and references via mail, facsimile, or email by April 14, 2013 at 4:00 pm to:

Christine Walker, Human Resources Manager981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2E-mail: hr@bimbc.caTelephone: 604-947-4255Facsimile: 604-947-0193

We wish to thank all candidates for their interest, however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

8 • FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

from PAGE 2How so?“Sharing economy enterprises

often create the opportunity for micro-entrepreneurs to earn supple-mental income by renting out their idle assets. For lower income earn-ers, this extra income can mean the difference between them being able to make ends meet or not.”

For users of the sharing economy Van Seters says, rental rates are often significantly lower than the services

they replace.“In short, the sharing econo-

my helps create meaningful extra income for asset owners (the entre-preneurs) and gives asset users the same or better quality asset at a much lower price.”

David Van Seters will be speaking on Thursday, April 3 at the Gallery at Artisan Square. Doors open at 7pm, presentation starts at 7:30. Admission by donation.

from PAGE 1 She says these are major changes, and are hap-

pening without public input.“It took us more than a year before this even got

to first reading, and now, suddenly, with no public notice we see a series of significant changes to our community plan are being made by a handful of people, the Economic Development Committee and the Community Lands Committee (Temporary Advisory Board), whose meetings have all been closed to the public, and our reduced council. Where is the public input?”

Former councillor and mayoral candidate Nerys Poole also attended this week’s council meeting and shares Fast’s concerns. She points to the removal of “the current non-permission for campgrounds for recreational vehicles and trailer parks” as a major point of contention for her.

“I think it is interesting to look at this in the con-text of our National Parks debate, in which there was major fear-mongering about the number of visitors that would be coming to the island,” says Poole. “The Bowen community has a long-standing opposition to the idea of vehicle-based camping on island. When I was working with Parks Canada, in our first conversations we said ‘If your plans are to put vehicle-camping on Bowen you might as well go home.’ Maybe people have changed their minds about that, but we have to find out. Meanwhile these changes are being pushed through as if they’re housekeeping changes.”

Following Fast’s presentation to council, Councillor Tim Rhodes made a brief response.

“This isn’t about encouraging sprawl,” he said. “It’s about removing the stranglehold on Snug Cove.”

In a later interview, he elaborated on the comment.

“In the current OCP, Snug Cove is limited to developing only south of where businesses cur-rently exist. There’s no room to develop anything there! Proposed amendments would allow for the patch of brambles that run on the north side of Government Road down to the ferry to be devel-oped. Yes it is park, but it’s not particularly well used, and in this council’s term we’ve encountered businesses that have wanted to open in the Cove, but couldn’t find a place. The businesses that are already there suffer due to the fact that the rents are so high. That’s what happens when you have zero vacancy.”

With regards to the subject of sprawl, Rhodes says he’s not sure how proposed OCP amend-ments will create sprawl.

“Seymour Bay is already zoned for hospitali-ty, and the Cove could expand into lots 2 and 3 of the community lands, but that is a part of the walkable village.”

In response to concerns about changing rules about camping and RVs, Rhodes says, “why not

have a campground?”“If someone comes along and makes a proposal,

then we can decide whether or not it’s a good idea. If it is, really, a good idea it will work, but in most cases the island will decide. We don’t need to worry about someone coming to Bowen and building a 14-storey hotel. If they do they’re going to fail. Would it be economical for someone to start an RV park here? Well, there is not a lot of land to chose from and it probably wouldn’t be economical, but the whole point of changing the OCP is that we don’t want the language of the document to stop people from even thinking about things.”

Rhodes says that the OCP as it is, is a “good document” except for that the language is vague in parts, and argumentative in others.

“It is a lopsided document, and it has a very strong environmental representation but it doesn’t accommodate other concerns, and the committee which drove this process forward before the previous amendments was equally lopsided. I would say it is more an environmen-tal plan than a community one.”

Murray Atherton, a member of the Economic Development Committee (EDC), says he partici-pated in the meetings in the lead-up to prior OCP amendments, and does not feel that his concerns were represented.

“The whole process was a sham, because at the end council added on 14 pages. There is very little in there regarding how the island can sustain itself economically.”

He says that while the EDC did not do exten-sive consultation with other groups in formulating the suggested changes to the OCP, they felt com-fortable making recommendations knowing those changes would be put forward before the public before being passed.

“Things are changing on Bowen and we need this document to reflect that. When I was with the Chamber of Commerce, the only accommo-dations on the island were bed & breakfasts. Now people are renting out their properties as vaca-tion rentals when they’re not here, and they have to do that in order to pay the bills. The way the OCP is right now, you would think we don’t want any investment at all. We need a document that shows we are actually open to growth and want to encourage business.”

In the discussion paper drafted by municipal planner Annie Dempster, the amendments to the OCP will follow the rules laid out by the Local Government Act which states that the municipal-ity will provide “one or more opportunities, other than the public hearing,” for consultation.

A musical rendition of The Princess Bride

Akshay Dua as The Great Vizzini holds hostage Princess Buttercup, played by Aria Willis hostage.Tiffany Scorer, photo

ISLAND PACIFIC SCHOOLS U B M I S S I O N

On March 13 and 14, students at Island Pacific School enthusias-tically took on the job of singing, acting, and stage managing a musi-

cal adaptation of the 1987 film, The Princess Bride.

Special thanks go to parent Anne Wilson for her sewing wizardry and Carrie Thiel for her lessons in stage combat.

Sharing economy

OCP Amendments

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Artisan Square • 604-947-0734 Alternate Fridays 10am-4:30pm

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BOWEN ISLAND WELLNESS CENTRE604-947-9755

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Classical Concert Series presents: InfinitusWWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 • 9

BOWEN ISLAND ARTS COUNCILS U B M I S S I O N

Infinitus is a trio of extraordinarily talent-ed string players who are coming to Bowen on Sunday, April 6. The trio will be giving a high energy, interactive, and fun performance of the classical repertoire.

The trio consists of Alex Cheung who plays the cello, his twin brother Anthony and their friend from university, John “Adidam” Littlejohn. According to the twins’ parents, they were the result of a Lansing, Michigan K-Mart, “Buy-One-Get-One-Free” coupon.

Alex says being the eldest by five minutes has had its privileges. There was a wise family rule that siblings were not allowed to choose the same instrument for fear of competition. He got to pick which instrument he wanted to play first.

To be honest, Alex did not think there was much else he could do in the world, except music. He says he was pretty lazy and much of his atten-tion was spent on thwarting his evil twin broth-er’s hare-brained schemes. He was finally able to strike a balance between university studies in Michigan and the University of British Columbia and keeping a close eye on his twin.

Anthony believes he is the mutated carbon copy of his twin. He grew up watching his older brother and sister playing musical instruments. Inspired to make lots of noise and not get in trou-ble for it, he gravitated toward the piano and vio-lin. In his teens, he discovered the endless oppor-tunities that playing the viola had to offer (due to an eternal shortage of violists), and accidentally fell in love with the sound.

After high school, Anthony realized he was too lazy to do anything else and also made his way to the University of Michigan, where he was accred-ited with wasting numerous hours hanging out in practice rooms. He briefly toyed with the idea of being a martial arts practitioner. However, on dis-covering he would not be the next Bruce Lee, he decided to be a musician.

John “Adidam” Littlejohn had no idea what he was doing when he signed up for sixth grade orchestra at an inner-city middle school in Lansing, Michigan. He thought he was signing up for the jazz band and was very disappointed when he arrived to a room filled with stringed instruments. In an attempt to make the best of the situation, he asked to play the only instrument he recognized: the double bass. There was only one and it was taken. He then selected the cello, which kind of looked like a baby double bass, but it was already spoken for. He was given a violin instead. That day began his lifelong love affair with the violin.

After graduation in 2000, he was accepted into the Peabody Conservatory where he completed a master’s degree, a GPD (“Graduate Performance Diploma,” aka “Graduation Postponement Degree”) and managed to pick up a few honours, awards, orchestra positions, hip-hop cd’s, and solo tours along the way.

People wishing to see the highly accomplished musicians can do so by going to Cates Hill Chapel on Sunday, April 6. Doors will open at 3pm with the performance starting at 3:30pm. Tickets will be available at the door for those who do not have a subscription.

Infinitus trioBowen Island Arts Council photo

ANDREA VERWEYG U E S T R E V I E W E R

The arrival of a new novel from a Bowen Island writer is always exciting news. This is especially true in the case of Carol Cram, who has made an elegant entry into the world of historical fiction with The Towers of Tuscany. It’s a page-turning pleasure that will appeal equally to history buffs, Italophiles, painting enthusiasts, and explorers of the creative spirit.

Cram’s novel takes place in 14th century Italy during the last decade of the golden age of Sienese painting. It is the story of Sofia Carelli, who has spent an unusual childhood apprenticed to her father, a master painter in San Gimignano, the Tuscan city of towers. We meet Sofia in her own

small tower, continuing to paint in secret for her father’s workshop as artistic respite from an oppressive marriage to Giorgio.

When her father is killed—in a scene straight from The Godfather–-Sofia flees to Siena to begin again as Sandro, a painter in Maestro Manzini’s workshop. With action-packed narrative and unexpected characters, the story follows the perils of seeking love, family and creative freedom as a woman in medieval Italy.

In her acknowledgements, Cram mentions that during her research she had access to a scale model of San Gimignano as it appeared in 1300. It’s a detail I mentioned because one of the big-gest successes of this novel is how expertly Cram draws us down into that world. Her voice is easygoing and credible, making life in medieval Italy fresh and accessible – including the luscious details about that period’s art materials, tech-niques and transactions—and Sofia is a well craft-ed guide.

I quibbled briefly with a couple of bosom heav-ing moments in the latter half of the book, and the effectiveness of the painterly quotes start-ing each chapter. But these are minor quibbles. Overall, it’s a smart, ripper read.

Cram’s next work of historical fiction with an artistic twist is well under way. It is the first in a planned series of novels about a concert pianist who launches her career in Vienna on the day Beethoven is buried. I can picture my setting already: a beautiful Bowen day, a turntable loaded with Romantic music, and a chair by the fire or hammock on the porch with a Cram to hand.

The Towers of Tuscany is published by New Arcadia and is available from the author (details on www.carolcram.com) or through Amazon in print and ebook formats. Copies will also be for sale at the Bowen Island launch this Sunday, March 30 at 3.30 pm at the Gallery at Artisan Square. Carol Cram will read from her book and talk about some of the art featured in it. There will be food, Italian wine, and plenty of time for literary chat. Everyone is welcome.

Review: The Towers of Tuscany

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“Clinging to the Rock”Mental Health Support on Bowen

Caring Circle is hosting an evening (“Clinging to the Rock”) of information and discussion about mental health and wellness including support options and local resources. The

evening will be facilitated by fi ve mental health professionals.

We will develop a support program for Islanders based on the expressed needs of those who are in attendance at the meeting or who respond to our survey here at this link or

QR code….http://fl uidsurveys.com/s/caringcircle/

Survey can be accessed via smart phone and computer.

Help us develop this program by sharing your knowledge or tell-ing us what would be helpful for you, your family or your friends.

Join us on APRIL 2 at 7 p.m. at Collins Hall

Bowen Island Conservancy,Bowen Island Eco-Alliance,and Bowen Nature ClubWhy should we care about herons?SATURDAY, APRIL 5TH 20143:00 PM AT COLLINS HALLThe 2014 heron nesting season is underway. Why should we care?What is important about these birds in particular?

To answer these questions, and more, we have arranged for a presenta-tion and discussion by Ross Vennesland, a local ecologist with specialized knowledge of Great Blue Herons and their habits.

Ross will talk about the heron life history, status, and population trends, and the implications of disturbance on their continued well-being. Ev-erybody is welcome to attend this free informative session and learn why we should all care about the herons on Bowen Island.

For more information, email info@bowenislandconservancy.org

10 • FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 • 11

12 • FRIDAY MARCH 28 2014 WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

DEBRA STRINGFELLOWC O N T R I B U T O R

There’s nothing like tuning up the bike and going for a ride, especially after a long winter. Dan Cowan’s bike camps proved very popular over spring break and its easy to understand why. His ability to gauge experience level while still challenging the kids is truly his trademark. It’s evident when watching him in action with the kids that safety while mountain biking is at the heart of his teachings.

Cowan’s talents in the bike park are most impressive and on occasion, if the kids ask politely, he sometimes will demo a few advanced moves and jumps for them. Something cool to strive for!

Learning to ride

LORRAINE ASHDOWNS U B M I S S I O N

On Saturday, March 29 at The Gallery at Artisan Square at 7:30, Bowen Island music fans are in for a treat. Anne Louise Genest and Chris Coole will be gracing the stage to share their love of bluegrass and old time songs and tunes.

Chris Coole is known as one of Canada's finest proponents of old-time music. He is also a noted singer-songwriter, guitar-ist, and banjo player.

As the guitarist of The Foggy Hogtown Boys of Toronto, he has taken bluegrass across this country and back, and to far-flung places such as Israel, Ireland, the U.K., Germany and the Czech Republic. From his start as a busker on the streets and subway system of Toronto, to his busy current schedule playing and teaching around the world, he has made music his full-time profession for over 20 years. His banjo playing has been called "incompara-ble" (Penguin Eggs Magazine)

and "highly accomplished and understated" (Bluegrass Unlimited). Chris juggles several musical projects, but has spent much of his time the last few years playing banjo and gui-tar for three-time Juno award winner (and current nominee) David Francey.

Vancouver Island-based Anne Louise Genest has been tour-ing major festivals and stages across Canada with her Juno-nominated band Annie Lou for several years. Drawn to the stringband sounds and story songs of old-time mountain, bluegrass, and traditional coun-try music, her original songs are steeped in these influences.

Genest’s debut Annie Lou album was nominated for a 2010 Juno award, and her lat-est release, Grandma’s Rules for Drinking, brought her two 2012 Canadian Folk Music Award nominations for English Songwriter of the Year and Solo Artist of the Year and was at the top of the International Folk DJ charts for 2012. She writes and composes on both guitar and

banjo, and her original songs, stellar playing, and great big vocals are the centrepiece of Annie Lou.

Although this is their first tour, Anne Louise Genest and Chris Coole have spent count-less hours lost in songs and tunes together over the past 10 years. Their friendship has been bonded together by a mutual love of song that makes you cry, a tune that makes you dance, a joke that makes you laugh...not to mention the odd gin and tonic that, can make you cry, dance and laugh ever harder! Both musicians stand out for their "serve the song" approach to playing music, an approach that makes the stories and tunes come to life. Ancient old-time ballads and blues mix seam-lessly with new heart songs and banjo breakdowns to create a thoroughly compelling night of music.

Tickets are $20 and avail-able through reservations at 604-947-2061. Please ask for Lorraine.

Chris Coole and Anne Louise Genest. photo http://www.annielou.ca

Ancient ballads and blues with Chris Coole and Anne Louise Genest

From bottom left: Olivia, Will and Alex, Dan Cowan, Sam.Deb Stringfellow, photos