bowen in bloom
TRANSCRIPT
Bowen in Bloom
Communities in Bloom Profile 2016
Bowen Island Municipality
1
MAYOR’S WELCOME
On behalf of Bowen Island Municipality, our residents, businesses and Council, I’m pleased to welcome
our judges, Shirley Culver and Susan Burdeyney, to our island home.
We are at the beginning of our journey with Communities in Bloom. In this, our first year, the program has
encouraged participation in recent initiatives to beautify our community. It has also helped us recognize
many ongoing volunteer contributions by community members, organizations and businesses. This book
reflects only some of the activities for this past year. We’ll share more with you in person.
Enjoy your stay.
Sincerely,
Mayor Murray Skeels
2016 COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM COMMITTEE
Maureen Nicholson, Councillor & Committee Chair
Hans Behm, Terminal Creek Salmon Hatchery & Bowen Island Recycling Depot
Bonny Brokenshire, BIM Manager of Parks & Environment
Allie Drake, Bowen Island Conservancy & Knick Knack Nook
Judi Gedye, Bowen Heritage
Holly Graff, Garden Gateway Project
Sophie Idsinga, BIM Communications Coordinator
Michael Kaile, Councillor
Rev. Shelagh MacKinnon, Rotary Club
Kevin Manning, First Credit Union
Jacqueline Massey, Bowen Island Arts Council
Wynn Nielsen, Tourism Bowen Island
Jennifer Pardee, Bowen Island Community Foundation
Susan Pratt, Fabulous Finds on Bowen
Sheila Webster, Bowen Island Garden Club
2
CONTENTS
Introducing Our Island Home 3
Municipal Information 4
Judges’ Itinerary & Map 6
A Tidy Island, in Its Own Way 8
Environmental Action, Island-Wide 11
Celebrating Our Heritage 15
Bowen’s Forests 17
A Landscape of Parks & Beaches 19
Floral Displays 23
Acknowledgements 25
3
INTRODUCING OUR ISLAND HOME
Bowen Island is a natural jewel surrounded by the
spectacular beauty of Howe Sound, and an ideal
place for those who want to live close to the city—
but not in it.
A short ferry ride and a few kilometres from
downtown Vancouver, Bowen is home to some 3,500
permanent residents. It’s been a municipality since
1999, and a tight-knit community for much longer.
Increasingly vibrant, Bowen remains resolutely a
sanctuary of nature, peace and safety for Islanders
and visitors alike.
A popular place to own a vacation home, Bowen grows by about 1,500 part-time residents in summer,
along with thousands of short-term and day visitors. Major attractions? Hiking and walking, kayaking
and boating, swimming and picnicking at clean scenic beaches. More and more, new residents and
visitors are drawn to the Island’s growing arts, music, artisanal and culinary delights. As it has been for
over a century, Bowen is ever the perfect place for restorative retreats from city life.
Bowen sits at the south entrance to Howe Sound, the second-largest island in the Sound and the only
one with car ferry service. Mount Gardner, the highest of three peaks, attracts hikers by the score with
shimmering panoramas of the Salish Sea, Sunshine Coast and Vancouver.
Settled areas consist of over 30 neighbourhoods and hamlets that, all told, consume only a tiny portion
of Bowen’s total area. The remainder is largely Crown land. Snug Cove village is the commercial hub,
with restaurants, food and specialty stores, medical offices, pharmacy, public library, post office,
museums, credit union, elementary school and other useful amenities. Nearby, Artisan Square is home
to artist studios and galleries, boutiques, cafes and more.
Bowen is unique in many ways, including its governance. It is the only island municipality in British
Columbia, a member municipality of Metro Vancouver and an island within the Islands Trust. The Island
lies within the traditional territory of the Squamish Nation and it’s original name is Nexwlelexm (“beat a
fast rhythm”).
Wrapping around the village, 242-hectare Crippen Regional Park offers 12.5 kilometres of walking trails
through nature and history, forest and seaside. Our natural environment and wildlife are treasured by
Islanders.
For more background information, see our municipal Community Profile
(www.bimbc.ca/content/community-profile)
4
MUNICIPAL INFORMATION
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
Website: www.bimbc.ca
Staff Contact: Sophie Idsinga, Communications Coordinator (604-947-4255)
Communities in Bloom Chair: Maureen Nicholson, Municipal Councillor (604-838-4648)
Volunteer Coordinator: None at this time
Population category: 2,001-5000
Prior participation: 2015 Novice
MUNICIPAL FORM
Municipality: Bowen Island
Population: approximately 3,500
Municipality total area: approximately 50 km2
Parks and green spaces area as a % of total area: Nearly half of the total area, including Crown land
What is the structure of your CiB Committee?
Committee of Council
Who is on your committee?
Municipal staff and councillors, business representatives, citizens, service groups
Why did you enter this program?
Communities in Bloom offers a structured approach to the evaluation of Bowen Island. We believe that
through increased community involvement, our already beautiful island will be enhanced and improved
upon.
What is your community especially proud of?
Bowen Island has a unique island sensibility—a world that feels far away from the city but in reality is
conveniently close. We have a strong and vibrant sense of belonging to our community and growing
civic pride.
5
Who will this report be most beneficial to?
Residents, businesses and visitors will benefit from the improvements made in anticipation of
Communities in Bloom. The evaluation report will provide direction for the Municipality and our local
committee in moving forward.
In what way do you anticipate participation in CiB will assist in improving your community?
The focus and structure of the program will help increase the number, quality and assessment of
improvement projects we undertake. Our participation will also enhance the sense of pride we feel for
our community.
Committee budget: $10,000
Committee volunteer hours (estimated): 300 hours x $15 / hour = $4,500
Additional volunteer hours by community members were not tracked this year.
6
JUDGES’ ITINERARY & MAP
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016
LODGING INFORMATION
Evergreen Hall Bed & Breakfast
464 Melmore Road
Phone: 604-947-0312
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.evergreenhall.com
Directions: Drive off the ferry up the main road, Government
Road/Bowen Island Trunk Road. Turn right at the crossroads,
onto Miller Road. Travel along Miller Road for just over a
kilometre.
Take the first right at Melmore Road. Follow Melmore Road
as it curves to the right and down a slight hill. Evergreen Hall
is the elegant yellow manor on your left.
WELCOME RECEPTION
6:30 to 8:00 PM
Gallery @ Artisan Square
589 Artisan Lane
Contacts: Sophie Idsinga (604-842-2728) and Jacqueline Massey (604-947-2454)
Directions from Evergreen: Head west on Melmore Road and turn left onto Lenora Road. Turn left on
Miller Road, drive all the way back to Bowen Island Trunk Road, then turn right at the crossroads. Drive
up the hill, which turns into Grafton Road, and then turn left onto Artisan Lane. (Follow the signs leading
to Artisan Square.) Head up Artisan Lane until you get to the fork, where you will keep right. The Gallery
is near the entrance to Artisan Square on the right.
Wine and canapés will be served.
7
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016
EVALUATION TOUR
DINNER (JUDGES ONLY)
7:00 PM
Reservations at Tuscany Restaurant
451 Bowen Island Trunk Rd
Phone: 604-947-0550
Website: www.tuscanypizza.com
FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016
Departure Breakfast
(judges only)
Evergreen Bed & Breakfast
Checkout is 11:00 AM
8
A TIDY ISLAND, IN ITS OWN WAY
By Michael Kaile, Municipal Councillor
One of the great strengths of Bowen Island is our recognition that ongoing
maintenance must be a way of life. As our Official Community Plan Vision
Statement affirms, we have an “ethic of self-reliance,” and that’s reflected in
how we approach tidiness: it’s both an individual and a community
responsibility. There’s a strong emphasis on recycling and reusing, regularly
slated community clean-ups as well as impromptu blitz-cleans, and in 2016
some impressive advances in keeping things neat and tidy on our little island.
We don’t aim to be manicured but hope to be welcoming.
At the ferry dock, looking left: This year, the Union SteamShip Company
Marina built a boathouse. That’s why you’re looking at an area in transition
for the summer of 2016. With the new boathouse, maintenance and repairs
for boats and the boardwalk at the entrance to the Island will be under cover
and tucked away; that is, tidier.
The construction underway: It’s the Garden Gateway project’s second
phase, including a raised garden rockery and seating, soil and an irrigation
system to help create a more welcoming entrance to Snug Cove. Planting is
slated for early fall. This project is supported by the Bowen Island Community
Foundation, Bowen Heritage, Bowen Island Municipality and many community
volunteers.
At the ferry dock, looking right: The Municipality refinished our picnic
tables in bright blue to add to the overall sense of a marina environment
ready for summer business. They’re also cheerful in the rain.
Just down the road: The municipally owned “Old General Store” that
houses the Bowen Island Public Library has had a makeover this year. Freshly
scraped, painted and brightened up, this building is the most iconic on the
Island and very welcoming to residents and visitors alike.
Our Credit Union Makes
a Big Impact By Kevin Manning, Manager, First
Credit Union
Staff at the Bowen Island Branch
of First Credit Union spent
Community Impact Day cleaning
up the beaches at Mannion Bay
and Snug Cove. Five big bags of
garbage were collected.
Spectacular Success for
the Knick Knack Nook By Metro Vancouver Close-Up
See how an amazingly successful
Re-Use It store on Bowen Island
is giving back to the community
while diverting waste from the
landfill, and how their longtime
goal for their own composting
facility is making headway, with
each knick knack sold. This April
2016 video close-up features KKN
volunteers Donna Scorer and
Mary Ellen DeGrace.
Scan the QR Code above to view
the video, or go to this link:
http://tiny.cc/dj6rcy
9
Trash matters: Snug Cove is our island hub. With so many passing through, litter could be a concern.
But it actually isn’t. Our refurbished trash bins ensure both a good appearance and functionality.
Elsewhere on the Island, volunteering helps, with families and friends undertaking clean-up drives and
our schools sponsoring targeted areas. This year, Bowen Island Community School (BICS) Grades 6
and 7 tidied up the area around Bowen Court, our seniors’ complex.
Of special interest: Our crosswalks. In the
past year, the Municipality sponsored a
crosswalk-design contest. Participation from
this artistic island was stellar, and three top-
ranked designs were put to a community
vote. Salmon by Diana Izdebski won the
vote, with Slug by 10-year-old Oscar
Knowles-Dekkers coming second. Now, the
results are there for all to see: original and
very Bowen.
Dedicated care: This year, with the formal establishment of the Parks & Environment Department, the
Municipality allocated funds for a half-time staff position dedicated to keeping Snug Cove in topnotch,
tidy condition. Similarly, the boardwalk in the Cove, Village Square up the hill and Artisan Square just
a little farther have dedicated contract gardeners who present those areas to best advantage.
And to the south: The Bowen Island Golf Course represents a supreme effort of Bowen citizens
banding together to create a full-size nine-hole golf club of exceptional beauty and design. This Bowen
landmark represents not only a great volunteer fundraising achievement and source of pride but also
provides a meeting place for our community. The landscaping, planting, general maintenance and
exceptional care speak for themselves, as you will see this afternoon.
Island institution: The Bowen Island Garden Club is responsible for everything from daffodil planting
to “open gardens” offered throughout the year. These gardens welcome all to some of the most
lovely corners of the Island as well as amazing gardens, spotlessly maintained, that may otherwise
have remained a secret.
On the annual calendar: Twice a year, the Municipality through our on-island waste management
contractor organizes Dump Days, when Islanders can safely, conveniently and tidily dispose of
materials too large for regular garbage pickup. (Think couches and fridges.) As well, hazardous waste
pickup is offered through the local Bowen Building Centre. You have to be more careful with an island,
and these events help, with their value for both tidiness and environmental action.
10
BIRD HELPS BOWEN BREAK 72% DIVERSION RATE
By Louise McIntosh, Co-Owner, Bowen Waste Service
Welcome to the Bowen Island Recycling Depot, locally and affectionately known as BIRD. The idea of a
recycling depot was first hatched in 1984 by a number of public-minded residents. BIRD continued to
grow thanks to its steadfast volunteers, moving to its new spacious facility in 2007. BIRD is now under
the management of a local family owned business, Bowen Waste Service. BWS has served Bowen Island
with residential and commercial waste and recycling service since 1993. Every year, BWS collects, sorts
and transports over 1,200 tons of product, recently achieving the lofty goal of 72% diversion thanks to
the tenacity of local citizens. Currently providing over a dozen local jobs and volunteer opportunities,
BWS is more than your local waste management team, sponsoring and running the ever-popular Boat
Building tent for families at Bowfest and providing free events such as Christmas tree disposal. BWS is
also proud to provide and administer the very popular Refundables Fundraisers, raising almost $40,000
annually to support over 12 local charities.
11
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION, ISLAND-WIDE
By Bonny Brokenshire, BIM Manager of Parks and Environment
Bowen Island possesses rich interconnected systems. Our natural environments are woven from diverse
terrestrial and aquatic webs. As the only island municipality in BC, our shorelines and aquatic habitats
play an integral role in our sense of belonging to this special place. Parks, trails, beaches, riparian
corridors and the natural resources they produce are valuable assets that add to our overall quality of
life on our island home.
Our community is aware that resources are not endless. Water sustainability initiatives and the
principles of Reduce, Re-use and Recycle are actively adopted by the community.
MUNICIPAL PLANNING AND POLICY
A new department and plan: Recognizing the need for staff dedicated to environmental action, the
Municipality created a Parks & Environment Department in May 2016. Updating the Island’s Park Plan
has begun. By late fall 2017, the outdated 1994 plan will be replaced by an implementable document
that reflects the community’s vision of the park, trail, beach access and greenspace systems for the
next 10 to 15 years.
12
Restoring socioecological integrity in Mannion Bay: This once-vibrant area, often referred to as
Bowen’s marine front door, has experienced degradation. Multi-layered, collaborative efforts to
revitalize the area are being completed by many dedicated community groups; local, provincial and
federal government; and law enforcement groups.
Restorative efforts with broad support: Several community groups have helped move forward the
revitalization initiative. The Friends of Mannion Bay have lobbied for strengthening regulatory
measures and funding to deal with problem and derelict vessels. Tourism Bowen Island enabled the
development of BowenTrails’ technology installation at Sandy Beach and Quarry Park. Quick Response
(QR) codes lead locals and visitors to interpretive heritage and nature-inspired materials, helping to
deepen their understanding and appreciation of the Island. Dive Against Debris continues its annual
clean-up event on the shore and underwater.
Sustainability-based regulatory tool development: The Municipality worked on three tools this year
with the intent of protecting our natural systems. An updated Heron Policy is now adopted.
Volunteers with Bowen Island Heron Watch monitor breeding and nesting activity, and relay this
information to BIM. A Use of Beach Bylaw aimed at protecting shoreline ecological integrity and
enhancing public access to marine areas has been developed. A Licence of Occupation for Mannion
Bay (an agreement between the Province and BIM to augment local government conservation tools
and enforcement abilities) is in process, with approval pending.
OPERATIONAL ACTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
Good advice for water conservation: Following up on a recommendation from last year’s judges, the
Municipality purchased reservoir planters to help with efficient and effective use of our limited water
resources for decorative plantings. Six reservoir planters have been installed on the North Snug Cove
Dock and filled with many daffodil bulbs, perennial drought-resistant plants and showy annuals. Four
reservoir hanging baskets were also purchased and installed on our freshly painted library.
Some essentials: Protecting our shoreline was the inspiration behind the installation of a new toilet
facility at Pebble Beach (Cape Roger Curtis) and another budgeted for Sandy Beach. These new toilets
will improve shoreline habitat by decreasing the risk of point-source pollution.
13
COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
Forage fish preservation: The Bowen Island Conservancy sponsored a signage initiative featuring kid-
inspired forage fish artwork. The Municipality facilitated and paid for the signage installation. The
project highlights the need for preserving and stewarding environments that support nurseries for
these small but mighty fish—a vital thread in the marine food web.
Conserve water or have none: The Municipality sponsored a poster contest for water conservation
awareness. Two community members, Martin Konopa and Karen Dubord, tied for first place.
Weed Warriors and more: The Warriors continue their good work eradicating invasive species across
the Island, and the Municipality has launched a targeted campaign to deal with Giant Hogweed and
Japanese Knotweed on private and municipal lands.
Citizen science: The Bowen Island Conservancy is leading a bimonthly survey of forage fish spawning
habitat. Volunteers diligently follow a scientific methodology to locate forage fish eggs on the beaches
at Mannion Bay, Tunstall Bay and Bowen Bay. Once spawning areas are identified, these habitats may
be protected under existing statutes and new legislation.
14
MORE THAN 350,000 SALMON RELEASED EACH YEAR
By Tim Pardee, President and Director, Bowen Island Fish & Wildlife Club
The Bowen Island Fish & Wildlife Club (BIFWC) is a non-profit society registered
in 1967. We are volunteers focused on salmon enhancement, monitoring the
health of local waterways, and educating local school children and the
community about the importance of protecting salmon and riparian habitat on
Bowen Island.
Under the supervision of Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) and following best
management practices of the Federal Government's Salmon Enhancement
Program (SEP), BIFWC volunteers operate the Terminal Creek Salmon Hatchery
in Crippen Park. This is a medium-sized hatchery and, subject to adequate
spawner returns, we incubate, feed and release 200,000 chum, 100,000 pink
and 50,000 coho salmon each year. BIFWC volunteers have also managed many
habitat rehabilitation projects which are funded by the Pacific Salmon
Foundation under a matching funds formula; for every dollar granted we must
provide an equal dollar value of in-kind labour and other services.
Education is a crucial part of our mandate so
we work closely with all of the local schools:
Bowen Island Community School, Island
Discovery Learning Centre, the Bowen Youth
Centre and Island Pacific School. On the first
Sunday of June each year, children of all ages
and their parents are invited to the Terminal
Creek Salmon Hatchery to learn about salmon
and to assist in releasing the last of our coho
fry into nearby Terminal Creek. It’s fantastic to
see the enthusiasm and smiles on children’s
faces as they release the salmon. Pictured
(right) is the Coho Bon Voyage of June 5, 2016.
We work closely with the following partners to ensure we are doing our best to
protect salmon and salmon habitat: Fisheries & Oceans Canada, the Pacific
Salmon Foundation, Metro Vancouver Parks, the Pacific Streamkeeping
Federation and Bowen Island Municipality.
For more details about the BIFWC and the work we do,
please go to our website (www.bowenhatchery.org).
Everything,
Including the
Kitchen Sink
By Bonny Brokenshire, BIM
Manager of Parks & Environment
This year’s Dive Against Debris
volunteers retrieved about 2,500
pounds of debris from the sea
floor in Mannion Bay. The
September 2015 event is
highlighted in Bonny
Brokenshire’s Mannion Bay
presentation.
Scan the QR Code above to view
the presentation on YouTube, or
go to this link:
http://tiny.cc/rt5rcy
15
CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE
By Judi Gedye, President, Bowen Heritage
Bowen’s heritage celebrations this past year focused on our resort era (1920–50), our earliest European
loggers and settlers (late 1800s) and a junior curator program, teaching respect for and curiosity about
our stories.
In addition to the celebrations, there were some important political developments.
Logger sports revived: When Europeans first landed on
Bowen, they started cutting trees, for export and to
clear land for farming. As the years passed, logger skills
had almost been forgotten, but they were celebrated
during last year’s Bowfest, our local summer festival.
Fuelled by passionate volunteers and led by Islander
Gary Anderson, the Bowen Island Logging Sports
proved so popular that in 2016 a new park and
competition area was cleared and groomed for
ongoing contests: axe throwing, pole climbing, log
splitting and sawing. The site preparation was completed entirely by volunteers and is valued at over
$70,000. The area will be available for other events and is a significant community amenity. See
Bowen Island Logging Sports (www.bowenloggingsports.com).
Heritage orchards: Once the land was cleared, if the first settlers could get food to market, they could
buy Crown land for pennies. On Bowen, they planted orchards. Around the Island, several of the old
orchards are still producing, and some ardent orchardists have grafted and nurtured cuttings from
over 20 heritage varieties. Those new trees
have been planted in Crippen Park in an area
known as Davies Heritage Orchard, the site of
that early homesteader’s orchard, first planted
in 1874.
On Thanksgiving weekend, the annual
Applefest celebration of that work and history
serves up apple pies, cider, tastings, games,
musicians and a farmers’ market.
Children’s involvement: Davies Orchard land
was purchased by the Union Steamship
Company in the 1920s and added to their very
successful resort in Deep Bay. Starting with
cargo boats supplying BC’s coast to Alaska
during the Gold Rush, they added luxury
passenger cruise ships to their fleet and day
16
trips to their resort properties on Bowen and the Sunshine Coast. They had a
hotel, dance pavillion, tea house, farm, stables, baseball fields and picnic
grounds for large groups, clay tennis courts, diving towers and over 200
cottages around Snug Cove. Only 12 of the original cottages remain, also in
Davies Heritage Orchard. Annually, local school children tour the museum
cottage, choosing artifacts to use in a display for Heritage Week as part of the
junior curator program. And the local school’s outdoor class helps pick apples
for Applefest, learning about the heritage trees and diversity of apple
flavours, and how they can help prepare for a community festival. This year
the local Cubs asked to plant hundreds of daffodil bulbs around the cottages
as part of their community involvement week.
Steamship Days: Snug Cove is the site of many social events, and one
highlight has been our celebration of Steamship Days. At its heyday, in
1946, the Union Steamship Company brought over 100,000 visitors to
Bowen. A “Booze Cruise” was a highlight of the times—cruising, dining,
dancing and drinking—a combination unique to the cruises. To celebrate
that heyday we invited wooden boats, antique car clubs, and big band
musicians for a weekend in July to recreate some of the fun, including
costumes, good food, lots of music and tea on the porch of one of the
Davies Orchard cottages.
Light Up Bowen: In early December the local merchants sponsor this event,
which starts with a lantern-making workshop, followed by a parade
through the village and Davies Orchard to the Marina, where Santa arrives
by boat. Along the route, as lights gets turned on, there is food and drink
and a live nativity scene with costumes for all the little angels and
shepherds to have their photo taken while the crowd sings carols. The
cottage museum is decorated with every window covered in a paper
snowflakes created by students at Bowen Island Community School. A
collection of trees decorated by merchants, families and local groups
serves as a fundraiser for Family Place. The ingenuity and creativity of the
lanterns and light displays are outstanding.
New resources: Bowen Island Museum & Archives published SFU historian
Jack Little’s booklet Vancouver’s Playground: Leisure and Sociability on
Bowen Island, 1902–57, and Bowen Heritage posted John and Josephine
Riley’s Early History of Grafton Lake (www.bowenheritage.org/story-early-
history-of-grafton-lake.html).
A Heritage Commission: This past year has seen the establishment of a
municipal Heritage Commission. Representatives from Bowen Heritage,
Bowen Island Museum & Archives, Bowen Island Arts Council and, two members of the public
constitute a 10-person commission with powers from provincial legislation that allow them to identify
Building Community
with an Orchard
By John Reid, Developer, Grafton
Lake Lands
The White Swan Public Orchard is
named for the birds who lived on
Grafton Lake in pioneer days.
This spring we planted 90 fruit
trees, including an astounding
variety of apple trees, with
expert guidance from John and
Josephine Riley. The growing
crew of community volunteers
next bring their energy across the
road to the Commons, our new
community garden at Grafton
Lake Lands (www.graftonlake.ca).
17
local heritage sites and, in some cases, recommend their protection. The legislation has been in place
for decades, but our local commission is new—and a giant step toward recognizing and supporting
heritage work in our community. The work list is long, but the Bowen Island Heritage Commission is
making steady progress and is much appreciated by those who cherish our heritage.
A Metro Vancouver Initiative: This year marked increased interest from our regional district in the
Davies Orchard area in Crippen Regional Park. A planning study, including public consultation, is now
underway to determine a program for the site and its buildings, and to set priorities for future
improvements. The goals of the study include improving public access and use of the orchard area,
better integrating the orchard into the park and celebrating the unique heritage of the site.
At the Gallery: The current Bowen Island Arts Council exhibition is In the Cove: Past and Present
Bowen Island, featuring historical photographs from the Bowen Island Museum & Archives and
mixed-media prints of the Davies Orchard cottages by Vanessa Hall-Patch. This exhibition will be the
backdrop for the Communities in Bloom Welcome Reception.
BOWEN’S FORESTS
Coordinated by Hans Behm, Terminal Creek Salmon Hatchery & Bowen Island Recycling Depot
Bowen Island is the most forested of the southern Gulf Islands,
with other levels of government controlling the majority of the
forested land mass.
Land use on Bowen Island is regulated by the Municipality and
the Islands Trust, working within the framework of our Official
Community Plan, which is described as “stellar” by one of
Canada’s best community planners, Dr. Dave Witty. The OCP sets
the guidelines for municipal bylaws, including those designed to conserve and protect the natural
systems that provide us with free ecological goods and services. The Municipality is responsible for a
number of small parks throughout the Island, road allowances and beach accesses. There are also a few
hectares of privately owned forest.
The Province holds more than 40% of Bowen’s land base, including Crown lands, Apodaca Park, the
Ecological Reserve and foreshores. The right to allocate uses of lands and to dispose of Crown lands for
development lies with the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
Metro Vancouver Regional Parks includes Crippen Regional Park, which encircles our commercial hub
and stretches out to Killarney Lake and to Dorman Point.
Caring for Bowen’s forests is an ongoing commitment.
Maintenance priorities: Soil stabilization and drainage are an important part of the focus in municipal
road and trail maintenance. During the damp season, the ditches and embankments become the
18
habitat of a variety of amphibians and insects. Maintenance is only carried out during the drought of
summer. The control of invasive species like Gorse, Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and Broom is
also part of our Island’s forestry management.
Protected trees: Both Heron Watch volunteers and the Municipality identify heron nest trees each
year. These trees are protected by federal and provincial legislation, and their importance is
highlighted in our Heron Policy, newly revised this year.
Preventive measures: An arborist is conducting a risk analysis on a number of trees on the library lot
and above the lock-block wall in Snug Cove, with a report expected in September 2016.
WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT BOWEN’S ECOLOGY?
By Will Husby, Environmental Educator, EcoLeaders
The number of visitors to Bowen is growing. Many come
specifically to walk through our forested, natural spaces,
and not just for the beauty. Bowen is different.
Today we know that Bowen Island is part of a unique
ecological region in Canada. Here at the intersection of
mountains and sea, of fresh water and salt, of rain forest
and rain shadow, float the Gulf Islands.
Add a Mediterranean-type climate and a long growing season to the wild mix of growing conditions, and
you get an unusually rich variety of plants and animals, including many rare species and plant
communities. This exceptional biodiversity makes the region ecologically significant, not only
provincially, but nationally.
Bowen is part of this exciting ecological mix, and the beauty of our island is one result. Sensitive
ecosystem mapping completed by the Islands Trust in 2010 confirms that much of our rock is cloaked
with relatively unmodified fragile or rare ecosystems, or with the older forest that is important to so
many species. Add the vibrant underwater world around us, and you get high biodiversity in a small
package.
Bowen is located in a different, damper ecological zone than many of the other islands in the Strait of
Georgia. Our Island has a very different geology, including the magnificent fjord of Howe Sound.
Most Islanders already treasure the beauty of Bowen’s green slopes, shorelines and marine waters.
Some can also describe the ecological goods and services—our eco-assets—that an intact ecology
provides for us. These include clean and abundant drinking water and clean air. Keeping the Island
natural is the most cost-effective way to ensure that these eco-assets are available into the future. With
climate change and more development predicted, Bowen’s intact natural lands may reduce the need to
build expensive water treatment or desalination plants.
19
In British Columbia, climate change has already affected ecosystems. Vegetation is experiencing earlier
green-up, wildlife breeding and migration patterns are changing, insect outbreaks are more common,
sea levels are rising, and there is a tendency toward less snow and more rain. Intact ecosystems are
more resilient to this type of change.
How protected is Bowen? Our protected areas consist of
parks, nature reserves, nature sanctuaries, ecological
reserves, watershed lands, heritage forest lands and
conservation covenants. We rank about the middle of the list
of islands in the Islands Trust. Denman, Gabriola, Gambier,
Galiano, Lasqueti, North Pender and Salt Spring have more
protected lands. Hornby, Mayne, Saturna, South Pender and
Thetis have less. On the marine side, over 12.5% of the marine environment within the Islands Trust is
under some form of protection, mostly through rockfish conservation areas. There are some of these
near Bowen, too, but to date no protected marine areas have been established in waters adjacent to
Bowen Island.
A LANDSCAPE OF PARKS & BEACHES
By Holly Graff, Coordinator, Garden Gateway Project
With about half of our Island as green space, a landscape of park, beaches and forests enchants.
Below are just some of the highlights.
OUR REGIONAL PARK
Uniquely wrapping around the village, 242-hectare Crippen
Regional Park offers 12.5 kilometres of walking trails
through nature and history, forest and seaside. As a
multiple-use park, Crippen contains a lake, a seasonal fish
hatchery and many hiking trails:
The Causeway is a short paved road down to an
overlook of the Lagoon.
Alder Grove Trail is a 780 m long trail, 2 m wide; trail
surface is semi-firm packed fine gravel, with some
soft/loose sections.
Killarney Creek Trail is 420 m long, 2.5 m wide; trail
surface is fine crushed rock.
20
Meadow Trail is a 1.6 km long trail that is 3 m wide, but with some areas that narrow into 2 separate
tracks, separated by grass. The trail is hard-packed soil and semi-firm crushed rock in some areas.
(Horse rings are used throughout the year by local riders.)
Lady Alexandra Promenade is an accessible boardwalk path in Snug Cove.
Killarney Lake Trail's southwest side can be accessed from the Killarney Picnic Area. The trail is 1 km
long and generally 2 m wide to the first boardwalk. The trail is surfaced with a semi-firm aggregate,
with some sections of looser material.
Part of Crippen Regional Park is used
for Bowen Island’s traditional end of
summer festival, Bowfest. Held
annually since 1975, the event pops
up in an area dubbed “Festival Field.”
It’s a popular spot throughout the
year for residents and tourists alike to
take in the view of the marina and
North Shore mountains, and to enjoy
a picnic under one of the shelters.
This year, the Lady Alexandra
Promenade had repairs to fix uneven wooden planks. As well, Metro Vancouver staff, Bowen Heritage,
the local RCMP and the Municipality partnered in an effort to improve the Davies Orchard area,
resulting in the removal of underbrush and overgrown trees, new signage and seating, and generally a
more welcoming environment for residents and visitors in this part of the park.
OUR ISLAND BEACHES
As an island, Bowen is known for its shoreline and beaches. Salty breezes, sandy shores and soulful
sunset views are among the attractions that draw swimmers and dreamers to our many public beaches.
The relaxed, tranquil atmosphere provides a pleasant contrast to the bustling beaches of nearby
Vancouver.
Here are three popular beaches on Bowen Island, two of which you will see on your tour:
Sandy Beach is the closest beach to the ferry terminal in Snug Cove, and it lives up to its name. It’s a
nice place for the whole family to relax. Public toilets, garbage disposal and parking are available. Take
a dip and check out the local waterfowl.
Tunstall Bay is a sheltered beach on the west side of Bowen Island, and can be reached by car, bike or
direct bus service from Snug Cove. Today, it's the busiest beach on the Island with a combination of
sandy and rocky terrain. Washrooms are available. Sunbathe and admire the shimmering green-blue
21
ocean waters, or watch kids taking sailing lessons and kayakers paddling
around the Island. Bowen residents rave about the awe-inspiring sunsets
that can be seen at Tunstall Bay.
Bowen Bay lies directly north of Tunstall Bay. It’s a popular destination for
young families with its placid, shallow waters and sandy shores. Swim out to
the float, and watch out for seals and seagulls. Public toilets are available.
Bowen Bay is also the site of the annual Bowen Island Polar Bear Swim on
New Year's Day. The beach is served by local buses.
There are many other secluded ocean beaches around Bowen Island, some of
which can be accessed by cottage and B&B guests. There’s also the peaceful,
duck-populated, freshwater beach at Killarney Lake in Crippen Regional Park.
This year, longer-term public beach improvements are being identified in the
Park Plan. Businesses and community members continue to support such
initiatives as the First Credit Union Community Impact Day and Dive Against
Debris.
A GROWING LANDSCAPE
As a semi-rural community, Bowen Island considers gardening and growing
produce as a natural way of life. Currently, there are at least 20 sources of
local and/or organic food on Bowen, including the Bowen Island Community
School and Endswell Farm, along with Collins Farm, which is one of the oldest
producing farms on the Island. A volunteer-run summer farmers’ market
offers local produce and products every week to eager Islanders. A new
community garden is in development at the Grafton Lake Lands.
EXEMPLARY TURF
One of the few built landscapes on Bowen is our artificial turf field, adjacent
to Bowen Island Community School. Lead-free and non-toxic, it was the first of
its kind in Canada. It’s an exemplary turf for a number of reasons. The turf is
filled with 100% organic material (a mix of odour-free and non-toxic cork and
coconut husk infill), and it does not need as much watering as traditional
crumb rubber infill. The field is open to the entire community, is used by many
community organizations and can be booked for private events.
This year, because of the unique nature of the field, a Seattle company agreed
to maintain the field at no cost to the Municipality. In exchange, they plan to
bring potential clients to see our exemplary turf in action.
Learning Gardens Teach
Our Children By Holly Graff, Coordinator,
Garden Gateway Project
Our community school has had
various learning gardens since
the early 1980s, with the most
recent being the Edible Garden
and the Garden in the Snake
Field. Every year our students
participate in classroom garden
activities, food and nutrition
programs, and keep the garden
growing over the summer with
the Young Farmers of Bowen
program.
Bowen Trails Go
Interactive
By Holly Graff, Coordinator,
Garden Gateway Project
BowenTrails is a volunteer group initiative, producing an online and interactive map of public trails. They have also mapped much of the trail network in Bowen’s Crown land. This year they produced a series of small signs with QR codes that can be scanned by cell phones using free software to bring up pages on the website for site-specific content.
http://bowentrails.ca
22
OUR VIBRANT ARTS COMMUNITY
By Jacqueline Massey, Executive Director, Bowen Island Arts Council
Bowen Island displays art in public spaces as a way of showcasing the creative nature of our community.
The Island has a considerable collection of artworks, including sculptures, murals and other objects that
adorn our public spaces. Some of these include:
Scott Hollingsworth’s dolphin/owl sculpture sits at the entrance to the Dallas Marina.
Tucked away in Crippen Park, the Memorial Garden includes a number of pieces in memory of friends
and families who have passed, including beachstone mosaic and benches.
The Davies Heritage Orchard in Snug Cove is the home to Dale Fraser’s bronze statue of children
playing.
Quirky sculptures by Bob Bates can also be found in and around the Orchard cottages.
The Spirit of the Flame sculpture, completed as part of the celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympics
and Paralympics by Shane Tweten and Simon Daniel James is located at the head of the trail at Village
Square, leading up to Artisan Square.
Brightly painted bird houses, a recent community project that included children and adult artists, line
the trail up to Municipal Hall.
New this year are delightfully illustrated crosswalks that are both aesthetically impressive and highly
functional.
Numerous works of art created by local artists and
students can also be found at the Bowen Island
Community School. The outdoor works include:
Spirit of Bowen mosaic by Bill Hoopes and students
of BICS
Forest to the Sea glass mosaic by Bill Hoopes and
the students of BICS
The Spectator, an Eagle carving by Shane Tweten
Amphitheatre mosaic in the field
Of course, art is not restricted to Snug Cove. Artisan
Square, our trails and beaches and private spaces are all places to discover creative objects and
impressions. But there is always room for more art, and to help facilitate this, the Bowen Island Arts
Council as part of its Cultural Master Plan is proposing to work with the Bowen Island Municipality to
develop a public art policy that will help showcase our very artistic community.
23
FLORAL DISPLAYS
By Rev. Shelagh MacKinnon, President, Rotary Club
Oh, deer! We have very few public spaces to garden where we are safe from
our ever-hungry “nibblers.” Local gardens are behind fences for the most part,
and merchants rely on hanging baskets rich with colour from assorted annuals,
especially begonias.
Daffodils, everywhere: Over
the past decade, more than
250,000 beautiful daffodils
have been planted on Bowen,
thanks to the Bowen Island
Garden Club’s annual
fundraiser. They are of several
types: King Alfred, Narcissus
and the sweet smaller Tête-à-
Têtes. They grow in scattered
places beside the roads and
pathways all over the Island,
and also in planters
throughout the Cove.
And even more daffodils: In the past year, over 1,500 daffodils were planted
throughout Snug Cove by BICS students, Bowen Island Garden Club members,
community volunteers and municipal staff.
Foxgloves are everywhere, too: Since their introduction over 100 years ago,
Mother Nature has scattered tall and stately foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) all
over our Island. Blooming in purple, pink and white, they are safe from the
deer, as they are poisonous to them.
A more welcoming dock: The staff from BIM Parks & Environment helped
change the look of the North Snug Cove Dock significantly. Six reservoir
planters were purchased and installed. Bulbs and drought-resistant
perennials were planted and colour was augmented by showy annuals.
A brighter library: Four reservoir hanging baskets were purchased and
installed on our freshly painted library. Showy annuals now dazzle as they
dangle from our heritage building. The library is graced with large
rhododendrons, which are skirted by King Alfred daffodils.
Fruit trees in the public realm: Mature fruit trees add their blooms to the
spring experience in the Cove, including Davies Heritage Orchard.
Bowen in Bloom
Innovation Grants
By Maureen Nicholson,
Municipal Councillor
This year, the Municipality
sponsored a small grants
program for summer
beautification projects. Open
to any Bowen business,
organization or individual, the
matching grant competition
resulted in four awards.
Cherie Westmoreland of the
Bowen Island Seniors Housing
Cooperative (Bowen Court)
received $500 to help
develop a floral display to
complement signage and
improve the appearance of
the property frontage. Wynn
Nielsen was awarded $500 to
add decorative pots and
plants on the Village Square
patio, working with the
approval of the business
property owners. Tourism
Bowen Island’s Jody Lorenz
requested $400 for
decorative planters and
flowers for Boulevard
Cottage, a municipal building
in Snug Cove. Margaret Miller
of Artisan Office Services will
use her $500 grant toward a
new bench and planter in
front of her Artisan Square
shop.
We’re looking toward making
this an annual program for
Bowen in Bloom.
24
Beautiful baskets: The merchants along Trunk Road and in Village Square rely on hanging baskets for
blooms and colour. There are “whiskey barrel” and cedar planters at some commercial
establishments, planted with a variety of perennials and annuals, and even a few small evergreens.
Municipal staff efforts: Garden beds
around the library and Boulevard Cottage
(home of Tourism Bowen Island and the
Caring Circle) have received extra
attention with significant edging
improvements, extensive weeding and
mulching to retain moisture. This work
was started by the Garden Club and
continued by municipal staff.
Garden Gateway volunteers: This
community project is underway, with
funding from the Bowen Island
Foundation and many private donations of materials and labour. Its vision is to create a more
welcoming and visually pleasing experience at the ferry dock. When next you visit, there will be a
naturally appropriate raised garden rockery with seating.
Garden Club beautification: The Garden Club and community volunteers worked with municipal staff
to clean up and beautify the land around the recycle depot and Knick Knack Nook. Next up is the bank
of burdock.
Open gardens: The Garden Club continues with its longstanding tradition of Bowen Islanders opening
their homes to share the visual delights of their gardens.
Flowers in memory: The Memorial
Garden has a collection of
rhododendrons maintained by
volunteers.
In the churchyard: The historic Little Red
Church (The United Church of Canada)
has window boxes and flowering bushes
which add delight after the spring
blooms are finished. The churchyard
hosts an historic apple tree, many
rhododendrons, California lilacs and a
pear tree.
25
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Project Coordinator: Sophie Idsinga, BIM Communications Coordinator
Editor: Maureen Nicholson, Municipal Councillor
Photography Courtesy of
Cover photograph: Rafal Izdebski
Additional photography and video courtesy of Bonny Brokenshire, Bowen Island Logging Sports, Bowen
Island Trails, Bowen Island Undercurrent, Judi Gedye, Holly Graff, Will Husby, Islands Trust, Louise Loik,
Louise McIntosh, Kevin Manning, Martha Perkins, Metro Vancouver Close-Up, Adam Taylor, John Reid &
Maria Steernberg.
Every effort has been made to confirm the accuracy of this document and to credit writers and
photographers appropriately. If any corrections are required, please send them to
Tour Guides, Presenters & Affiliations
Cathy Bayly, Museum Curator, Bowen Island Museum & Archives Hans Behm, Terminal Creek Salmon Hatchery & Bowen Island Recycling Depot Bonny Brokenshire, BIM Manager of Parks & Environment Allie Drake, Bowen Island Conservancy & Knick Knack Nook Sue Ellen Fast, Municipal Councillor Judi Gedye, President, Bowen Heritage Holly Graff, Coordinator, Garden Gateway Project Sarah Haxby, Community School Coordinator, BICS Michael Kaile, Municipal Councillor Maureen Nicholson, Municipal Councillor Tim Pardee, President & Director, Bowen Island Fish & Wildlife Club Murray Skeels, Mayor, Bowen Island Municipality Christine Walker, BIM Manager of Recreation & Community Services
July 2016
Thanks for
visiting!