Bowen Island Undercurrent December 18 2015

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Watch for more online at:WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

FRIDAYDECEMBER 18, 2015

VOL . 4 2 , NO . 4 7

Christmas lightsYour complete guide to everythingChristmas on Bowen on page 3

Life on the RockEdythe Hanen returns to the Undercurrentwith a special column on page 4

It’s No Big ThingLocal author Nick Faragher’s newnovel reviewed on page 6

The kids of Cates Hill Chapel rehearse for their Christmas pageant this Saturday (Dec. 20), one of manyChristmas activities this coming week. See page 3 for more on Christmas events all over the Island.Photo submitted

Tim ShoultsC O N T R I B U T O R

The Bowen Island Visitor Centre torch has officially been passedfrom the Bowen Island Arts Council (BIAC) to Tourism BowenIsland (TBI) – and the centre may have moremoney to open lon-ger in 2016.JacquelineMassey of BIAC presented the Visitor Centre’s annual

report to Bowen Islandmunicipal council Monday (Dec. 14).BIAC took over operation of the Visitor Centre, located in the

Boulevard Cottage on Cardena Road in Snug Cove, in 2012 fromthe Chamber of Commerce. This past year, BIACworked in part-nership with TBI to identify visitor needs.Massey told council that in 2015, more than 6,300 visitors came

through the Visitor Centre while it was open daily between VictoriaDay weekend and the Labour Day weekend – an increase of 9 percent over 2014 numbers – while another 300 people came to theCentre during weekends in September. That compares to a 30 percent drop in visitor info centre numbers for the Vancouver CoastMountain area.The Centre is funded primarily by a $12,000 grant from the

municipality, supplemented by sales of art and sharing the spacewith Caring Circle, with most of the expenses going to staffing.

Financial support from TBI kept the centre open on weekends inSeptember this year.Massey said the BIACwas thankful for the opportunity to run

the centre for the past four years, but “we think it makes sense” thatTBI takes it over. “We look forward to continuing to build culturaltourism on Bowen Island through our own activities.”Murray Atherton of TBI told council the organization is ready

and willing to take over. TBI became a registered non-profit soci-ety in 2014. It now has more than $14,000 in the bank, and willwork with Destination BC on tourismmarketing efforts for whichit receivedmatching dollars of $7500 last year and this year. It alsotook over the new tourismbowenisland.comwebsite to submitinformation on Bowen Island events to other tourism sites andisworking to establish a greater social media presence.Atherton noted the September visitor centre opening cost TBI

$800 to run this year. He asked to increase the municipal grantto $15,000 next year to allow TBI to extend operation to daily inSeptember next year, noting that that month is nowVancouver’sbusiest month in hotel occupancy.).Council voted unanimously to turnmanagement of the visitor

centre over to TBI in 2016 and also to include the $15,000 grant fig-ure in its 2016 budget process.

New management and maybe moremoney for Visitor Info Centre


Bowen IslandMunicipality will look at turning part of its land onCowan Point into a permanent home for Loggers Sports, thoughworkmay not start quite as quickly as the event’s creator might like.Gary Anderson, who created the inaugural Loggers Sports show

during this past summer’s Bowfest celebrations, made an impas-sioned presentation tomunicipal council Monday night (Dec. 14),urging lawmakers to give him the go-ahead immediately so hecould start work in January for next year’s show.This year’s Loggers Sports came together on only two weeks’

notice in a temporary location but was a popular success. But inorder to thrive as a continuing event, Anderson said, the showneeds to be in a permanent place.Anderson and other private contractors are prepared to put in

the materials and labour in order to convert about 1.5 to 2 acresof the 20-acre municipal space off Athletic Park Road. The space,which was dedicated to the municipality about 10 years ago, wasintended to be converted to a municipal athletic park in the future.Part of it currently serves as the municipality’s public works yard.The improvements would involve leveling a portion of the site

and seeding it with grass and creating parking, which would allowother community use outside of the annual show. Anderson con-firmed the poles could be off to one side of the site to allow forother uses like mountain biking, horse riding and trail running.Coun.Michael Kaile was supportive of the plan: “It really would

be an ideal location,” he said. “Going forward, if it’s all private dol-lars going into it I think it’s worth taking a look at.”Coun. Sue Ellen Fast noted the municipality’s parks plan update

was coming up in 2016 and suggested the plan could be consideredduring that process, but Anderson urged quicker action, noting thatthere are no riparian or other environmental issues with the site.“We want to get cracking in January,” he said. “Just make a deci-

sion. It’s meant to be a park, not a municipal works site.”Coun. Maureen Nicholson said she attended the show this

year and enjoyed it, but said that timeline was “unrealistic forcouncil to consider,” noting that residents living in area wouldneed to be consulted.“I don’t want to discourage you or put a damper on your enthusi-

asm,” she said. “I’d like for us to figure out a way to go forward.”In response, Anderson pointed to a petition supporting the proj-

ect he started last week which had already garnered 300 signatures.MayorMurray Skeels echoed Nicholson: “What we want to do is

establish a process where we can deal with this stuff…we can’t do itthis way,” he said.“You bring with you a lot of baggage about dealing with gov-

ernment,” said Skeels. “You really don’t expect we were going toapprove this right here?”“I kind of hoped so,” replied Anderson. “We could get this

approved and all go down to the pub.”Coun. AlisonMorse ended upmoving that municipal staff work

with Anderson in his group and bring a proposal back to council.Themotion was carried unanimously.

Permanenthome urged forLoggers Sports

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2 • FRIDAY DECEMBER 18 2015 WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM

NEWS fromMunicipal Hall

Contact UsBowen Island Municipal Hall981 Artisan LaneBowen Island, BC V0N 1G2

Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pmMonday - Friday, excludingstatutory holidays

General EnquiriesPhone: 604-947-4255Fax: 604-947-0193Email: [email protected]

find us on facebook:Bowen IslandMunicipality

join our mailing list:www.bimbc.ca

ÖBIM SUPPORTS30/30 PROJECT

On Monday November 23, 2015, Council unanimously supportedthe 30K/ 30Day project being undertaken by Bowen Islandresidents through St. Andrews Wesley Church in Vancouver and incollaboration with First Credit Union on Bowen Island.The project seeks to raise funds to aid Syrian refugee families whowill be relocating to Vancouver. Funds may be donated through aspecial account set up at the First Credit Union on Bowen Island.For more information, please visit the30/30 project https://www.facebook.com/30K30DAY

ÖNEW!!! NEWCOMERS GUIDEBIM is seeking your input as we work towards producing anewcomers guide.

What essential information do newcomers need? What would youlike to have known when you moved to Bowen? What did you learnthat surprised you?

Please submit your ideas and suggestions [email protected] by December 20, 2015.

ÖREMINDER: ICE PATROL &SNOW CLEARING

During winter road maintenance operations, trucks fitted withploughs and salt/sand dispensers need to be able to manoeuvrefreely throughout the island roads. Please ensure that vehicles orother items are not parked on or blocking roadways and/or cul-de-sacs.

When shovelling snow, please do NOT place it onto the Municipalroadways. When clearing your driveway, pile snow to the left sideof your driveway (when facing your property) to improve visibilityof approaching traffic and to reduce the possibility of snow beingpushed across your driveway by plough trucks.

Snow and Ice removal from sidewalks are the responsibility of theabutting property owner and must be cleared by 10 am.

Despite the best efforts of the crew, conditions can deteriorate androads can become treacherous. In extreme conditions, residentsare advised to stay home, use public transit and proceed withcaution.

PLEASE HELP KEEP BOWEN ISLAND ROADS SAFEFOR ALL.

ÖBOWENISLANDPUBLICLIBRARY

ÖCOMMUNITY RECREATION

ÖNERP & ESSVOLUNTEERS NEEDED

BIM is seeking volunteers for the “Neighborhood EmergencyResponse Program” (NERP) and for the Bowen Island “EmergencySocial Services” (ESS).

These programs are essential parts of our island life in times ofemergencies and crisis, if you have previous experience in eitherprogram, or possess skills in data collection or IT, your help isurgently needed and appreciated.

Inquiries for NERPs can be directed to [email protected] for the ESS program can be directed [email protected]

A short introduction to these important community programswill be emailed to you instantly. Thank You!

Ö2016 GARBAGE/ORGANICSCOLLECTION SCHEDULE

The 2016 Garbage/Organics Collection Schedule has been mailedout to Bowen Island households. You can also download theschedule from www.bimbc.ca

ÖBIM HOLIDAY CLOSUREBowen Island Municipal Hall will be closed for the holiday seasonfrom 12:00 noon on Friday, December 24, 2015 and will re-openat 8:30 am on Monday, January 4, 2016.

December 31, 2015 is the deadline for paying outstandingproperty taxes.

MEETINGCALENDARJanuary 11, 20167:15 pmRegular Council Meeting

January 12, 20167:15 pmTransportation AdvisoryCommittee Meeting

All meetings are held inBIM Council Chambersunless otherwise noted.

Bowen Island Community RecreationWINTER PROGRAMS START JAN 4TH

PROGRAMSMAY BE ADDED OR CHANGESMADE AS WEMOVE THROUGH A SEASON. YOUWILL FINDMOSTPROGRAMS IN THE FALL 2015/WINTER 2016 BROCHURE. THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS ARE ALSO BEINGOFFERED THIS WINTER:NEWLY ADDED/ADJUSTED PROGRAMS

BASKETBALL COED 11-13YRS MONDAYS/THURSDAYS 3:00-4:00PMTABATA SPIN THURSDAYS 10:15-11:15AMSPIN FRIDAYS 9:00-10:00AMMASTERS IN TRAININGWOMEN 55+ THURSDAYS 6:15-7:15PMSPIN & CROSS TRAINING 9-12YRS THURSDAYS 3:00-4:00PMROLLERHOCKEY BOYS 9-12YRS THURSDAYS 4:15-5:15PMPRESCHOOL SOCCER 3-4YRS SATURDAYS 4:30-5:15PMPARENT AND TOT GYMTIME SATURDAYS 3:00-4:15PMFLOOR HOCKEY THURSDAYS 8:15-9:30PMADULT BASKETBALL TUESDAYS 7:45-9:00PMBADMINTON MONDAYS 7:30-9:00PMPARTNER DANCE SALSA/2 STEP MONDAYS 6:30-8:30PM

PLAY MORE IN 2016 WITH COMMUNITY RECREATION!

Wishing you and yourfamilies a very safe andhappy holiday season!

~ from Mayor Skeels,Council and staff ~

On The CalendarFood for FinesOngoing to Dec. 23at the LibraryDrop off canned foods for the foodbank in exchange for fines.

Holiday Light DisplayEndswell FarmDec. 18 – 20Park on the road and walk in, hotchocolate and candy canes avail.Donations welcome.

Food Bank FundraiserDec. 18The Bowen Island PubComplimentary appies and drinks withdonation to the food bank

30K/30days Campaign Charity eventHelp a family get a new start in CanadaDec. 19 , 7:30 pmTir na nog, $35 tix at Phoenix

Tumbling with Someone special fromthe North PoleDec. 19, 10 am – 12 pmBICS gym$10. No registration needed604-331-7286

Home Farm Christmas FayreEndswell Farm FarmhouseDec. 19, 3 pm-6 pmPick up crafts and potted Christmasarrangements and enjoy a glass ofChristmas cheer!

A Very Bowen Christmas PartyDec. 19, 9 pmAt the Pub Featuring the AdamWoodall BandTickets $10

Artisan Square Holiday FestivalDec. 19 All day long, food, music,Includes : Gingerbreatd LaneRegistration for gingerbread activities11 am-3 pm at the office

Christmas House Concert Fundraiserfor the food bankDec. 20, 3:30 pmin the home of Ruta Yawney,1591 Tunstall Bld, Tunstall Bay

Christmas ShowDec. 20, 6:30 p.m.Cates Hill ChapelAdmission by donationFor more information, contact: (604)[email protected]

Christmas PageantThe United ChurchDec. 20, 10:30All welcome

Sunday School Christmas PageantCates Hill ChapelDec. 20, 10 am

TBCA Carol SinglalongDec 20, 3 pm to 6 pmBring along a plate of goodies (sweetor savoury). Hot cider and mulledwine will be available. BYOB anythingelse. Wear your best/worst Christmassweater! Terry Oswell will play thepiano to lead us in carol singing for thewhole family.

Christmas TalesDec 21, 6:30 p.m.Cates Hill ChapelAdmission by DonationFor more information, contact: (604)[email protected]

New Years Eve PartyFeaturing Ginger 66, Bowen Island PubDec. 31

ChristmasServices:Christmas PageantDec. 20Little Red Church10:30 amEveryone welcome

Christmas TalesDec. 21Cates Hill Chapel6:30 pmFeatures storyteller Justyn Rees,singer/songwriter Russ Rosen, multi-instrumentalist Brett Ziegler andpercussionists Kenton Wiens and CalumRees. Christmastales.ca

Christmas Eve servicesDec. 24Little Red Church5, 7 and 10 pmThe 5 pm service is perfect for those withyoung children, who will be asked to joinalong. There will candlelight, lessons andcarols at the 7 and 10 pm services.

Christmas Eve massDec. 24St. Gerard’s Catholic ChurchChristmas Eve carols and Sacrament ofPenance are from 6:30pm, with mass at7:30pm.

Christmas Day massDec. 25St. Gerard’s Catholic Church10:30 am

New Year’s Day massJan. 1St. Gerard’s Catholic Church10:30 am

Storyteller Justyn Rees will be at Christmas Tales at Cates Hill Chapel Dec. 21.

WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM FRIDAY DECEMBER 18 2015 • 3

This is not intended to solicit proper

Wishing you and your loved ones all the best for the festive seasonand a healthy, happy & prosperous 2016!

HappyHolidays

604 947 9738604 803 0012

[email protected] ®

AYear inReview

GivingBack toBowenIsland

Another wonderful year unfolded, demonstrating an even stronger real estate

market on Bowen Island than the past several years combined. This points to

the prospect of continued strong market activity in 2016. It was an ultimate

pleasure assisting new comers to Bowen Island purchase their dream homes.

As well as, aiding long time residents move on to the next chapter of their lives, by

selling their much beloved properties.

We take pride and are extremely grateful to live & work on Bowen Island. It is

important for us to give back to our community. Since launching Living Bowen we

have contributed over $5600 to numerous fou

Island, ensuring that our contribution is utilized

Island’s community and special way of life. We lo

real estate needs and continuing to give back in 2

2016 Community OffA $750 contribution to the Bowen Island Commun

will be made for each new listing signed with

January 1st - April 30th, 2016.solicit properties already listed.

®

ndations & councils on Bowen

to benefit & improve Bowen

ook forward to fulfilling your

2016.

Offernity Foundation

me between

The Write Stuff.The Undercurrent encourages

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reserves the right to edit forclarity, legality, brevity and taste.

Here’s how.To submit a letter to the editor,fax 604-947-0148 or mail it to#102, 495 Government Rd.,PO Box 130, Bowen Island,

BC V0N 1G0 or email [email protected].

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of the publication.The undercurrent is not responsiblefor unsolicited manuscripts, art workand photographs. We acknowledge

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Life onThe RockEdythe HanenC O N T R I B U T O R

Island life: It had its allure. A simple life, we thought; grow-ing our own vegetables, heating with wood, baking bread. Wedidn’t knowmuch about hauling wood and frozen pipes – notyet, anyway. Or about the Squamish winds that rampaged downHowe Sound, tore through our dreams, taking down powerlines and plunging us into darkness, day after day through thatfirst long, cold winter of 1972.

I learned to split wood, but not willingly. It was a cold after-noon, threatening snow. All the sounds – the keening of the fog-horns in the harbour, the screaming gulls, the hollow echo of thesplitting wood in the frozen afternoon – hung in the air like anunspoken question. It was impossible at first. The axe that threwme off balance when I swung it over my head, the unyieldingwood. Then came the electrifying moment of triumph when thepieces flew apart with a clean, cold crack.I was a young mother then, marooned during winters on

this lonely piece of rock. Young children bound me to my days;my life was filled, overflowed with a thousand small importanttasks. There were long afternoons when I sat at the windowwatching it rain. A few of us women gathered one evening aweek to talk about books that we had little time to read. I boughta red geranium for the windowsill.On summer afternoons my children explored forests and

beaches, discovered their own magic places and named them:Galosh Gardens, Bird Island, Monkey Beach. In the Cove,pre-dredging, long stretches of mudflats hid arrowheads andcoloured beach glass smoothed by tides and time. On summerevenings we swam naked off our old wooden boat, glidingdeep into the sea like arrows shot into its shadowy depths.There were few waterfront houses then – no watchful eyes, nolaws that we knew about. Cates Hill – unnamed then – wasjust acres and acres of windy bluffs. One cottage on the hill-side above the Cove stood gloriously for years with its whitepainted tower and flagpole that looked out over the sea; likemany others, it finally crumbled into the earth, leaving noth-ing but memories of another time.The Bowmart, with its row of regulars lined up on their red

vinyl stools in front of their newspapers and coffee, arguing overlocal gossip or the news of the day; the penny candy droppedinto little brown paper bags on Saturday mornings with theweek’s allowance; the rows of dust-covered cans of beans andpeaches and peas that hadn’t seen the light of day for years.Coming home on the water taxi from Expo 86 is one my

fondest memories. In one of the hottest summers I can remem-ber, we flew cross the water at midnight under a full moon and asky awash in a pink and green Aurora Borealis.Each new season arrived with its burgeoning gifts. Fall, with

its cool fingers of fog; spring’s scent of sweet blossoms and rain;the summer voices of creeks that rose and tumbled out of hill-sides. The grassy field – called the ‘lower horsefield’ – by the sea,where horses wandered, unclaimed and undisturbed. On winternights we skated on the lagoon under the stars, gas lanterns setout along the water’s edge.For a long time changes were few and far between, but

they came. Slowly. One Saturday afternoon we discovered aBookmobile parked in Snug Cove. Someone opened a restau-rant that didn’t close during the winter. A doctor set up a once-a-week clinic. Theatre performances – one in spring and one infall – became the highlight of island life.There was a joy in the simplicity of those days, a deep pleasure

in hunkering down for the onslaught of a fierce windstorm orseeing the winter’s cordwood split and stacked. It couldn’t be justany wood, though. It had to be cedar. Seasoned cedar. Becausegreen wood, Peter Frinton insisted, was grounds for divorce.A lot of that past has vanished into memory now, but this

still-wild place with its creeks and slopes and valleys, its highwindy ridges will always be home to me.

Edythe Hanen is a former editor of the Undercurrent.

To our fellow BowenIslanders,Like you, we have been

saddened by recent worldevents. We have watched asrefugees have fled war-torncountries, and as terrible actshave shaken a nation. And wehave reflected, in the midst offearful media clips and head-lines, on the beautiful andpeaceful place that we callhome – Bowen Island. Weknow that we are fortunate.Our connection to our

caring community, and ourdesire to strengthen it sothat generations to comewill also know its capacity, iswhat motivates us to reachout to you in support of yourCommunity Foundation.This year, we are more

aware than ever that thereare many causes in need ofsupport. We respect thatmany of you have received

information from a variety ofcharities. Each one of them isworthy.The Foundation’s mission

is to enhance our own backyard, on Bowen Island. Withyour help, we can make adifference to the people righthere in our own communitywho rely on local charities forsupport. And we can enhanceour island community to thebenefit of everyone.When budgeting your valu-

able charitable dollars, wekindly ask that you keep inmind local needs and oppor-tunities.The Bowen Island

Community Foundation isentirely volunteer-driven.Every penny of every dollardonated to the Foundation iseither permanently endowed,or granted directly to supportlocal causes. Any adminis-trative expenses, which are

nominal, are donated.For the Foundation, and

for the many communityinitiatives and organizationsthat we support, every dollarcounts.In fact, there is no dona-

tion that is “too small” – weappreciate any amount thatyou are able to give. We areBowen Island’s communitycharity, and it is the breadthof our donor support that werely upon to serve so manyisland needs. We welcomeyour participation, your ques-tions and your feedback.On behalf of the Board of

Directors of the Bowen IslandCommunity Foundation, wewish you a wonderful holidayseason with friends and fami-ly on beautiful Bowen Island.With gratitude,

Soren HammerbergChair, Bowen Island

Community Foundation

Keep Foundation in mind when giving


Allard and Poppy Ockleon were among the 26reindeer who hoofed their way through the woodsSaturday morning (Dec. 13) raising $1,200 (andcounting) for the Bowen Island Christmas Hamper aspart of the annual Reindeer Walk.Mary Letson photo

Susanna BraundC O N T R I B U T O R

Let’s admit it: Christmas goesagainst the grain. At this darktime of year, when our bod-ies are telling us to withdraw,so we can rest and recuperatefrom the stresses of the year,our mad, consumer-driven“first” world demands that werace around faster than anyhamster in a wheel. The result?Increased stress levels for every-one in the household.These increased stress levels

affect our companion animalstoo. In fact, the winter holidayseason is probably themoststressful time of the year forthem.Household rules arerelaxed and routine patterns,whichmost animals reallyappreciate, are disrupted. Theremight be extra people in thehouse, some of themperhapsnot comfortable with animals orrespectful around them. Some ofthe rich foods that we humansadore in the holiday season canpose greater health risks to ouranimals than our regular fare.And the noise of celebrationscan be traumatic for our pet catsand dogs and especially for preyanimals such as rabbits, guineapigs, hamsters andmice.Wewill dowell tominimize

such causes of stress if we can.Keep your companion animalsaway from themost boisterouscelebrations andmaintain theirfeeding and exercise routines asclosely as possible. And if Fidogets extra walks over the holi-days, he will likely not complain!One big no-no is the practice

of giving kittens or puppies asChristmas presents. Animals donot make good gifts, especiallynot surprise gifts. The decisionto take an animal into the fam-ily needs to be taken carefully,with full awareness of the likelycommitment of time, moneyand affection.Here’s a realistic suggestion

about the financial implica-tions of having a companionanimal: A rough calculation ofthe annual cost of feeding a catis $60 per month, i.e. $720 peryear. Add in other costs such asvisits to the vet for shots, kittylitter and toys, and you are cer-tainly talking about more than$1,000 per year. Dogs are likely

to cost considerably more, sinceyou can’t leave a dog alone asyou can a cat, so there will bedog-care costs for most house-holds. A figure of $2,000 peryear is not unreasonable.What’s more, the puppy you

give might be an animal bredat an unscrupulous puppymill.If so, it will likely have a wholehost of health and psychologicalissues already –more stress andmore expense.Unfortunately, the number

of kittens and puppies aban-doned or surrendered to animalshelters escalates dramaticallyin the weeks after Christmas,as people tire of the cute littlefluffy thing when it starts chew-ing shoes or peeing indoors ordevelops a respiratory infection.If youmust give a kitten or apuppy, please discuss it with therecipient first.Strangely, the number of

older pets surrendered to res-cue agencies goes up in theweeks before Christmas. I don’tunderstand this, but wonderif people’s travel plans are rele-vant. (Animals are abandonedall through the summermonthstoo, whichmust correlate topeople taking holidays.)If you are interested in giv-

ing the best possible Christmaspresent to an abandoned ani-mal, please consider welcom-ing into your home one of theanimals waiting for new fosteror forever homes locally, maybechoosing an arrival date early inthe New Year, after the festivi-ties are over. For example, checkout the dogs listed by DogwoodRescue, a local organizationwho re-home dogs, young andold, from all over BC and whorescue dogs from high-killshelters in the US. I speak fromexperience when I say that thegratitude of abandoned animalsis very real: they do seem tounderstand that they are beinggiven a second chance.Finally, a plea: if you find

yourself unable to care for youranimal, please don’t just aban-don it, but work with the localanimal welfare organizationswho will do all they can to finda good solution for the animal.May your winter holidays be

healthy and happy for all mem-bers of your family, human andanimal.

Bowen animal affairs:Animals and Christmas


NoticeThe USSC Marina’s Boat launch

Ramp will be available bypre-arrangement only during theconstruction of the new marinagarages. The construction maylast into early summer. There willbe no trailer parking or storage

during this period.

To make arrangementscall 604-947-0707

Thank youUnion SteamShip Co. Marina

HAPPY HOUR!Mon - Fri 3pm - 6pm

SUNDAY - Caesar SundayMONDAY - 2 for 1 CodFish & ChipsTUESDAY - ClosedWEDNESDAY - ClosedTHURSDAY - Kids EatFree! (1 free kids mealwith the purchase of1 adult meal)FRIDAY - Free Live Music!Prime Rib DinnerSATURDAY - SomethingNew Every Saturday!Check our FacebookPage for Details!

Special Events forDecember

Dec 18th - Martini’s withSexy Santa (19+yrs)

Stay tuned for more infoon our New YearsEve Extravaganza

Call for Reservations

(604) 947-0808

Christmasis here at the

USSC MarinaGift Shop

Christmas Ornaments, SantaStockings, Advent Calendars,Table Linens, Soap, FudgeSauces, Gourmet & SpecialtyFood Items, FUN Stocking

Stuffers, Board Games & gifts foreveryone in your family.

OPEN 7 DAYSaWEEKThursday Dec 10th

& Thursday Dec 17thOPEN LATE

for evening shoppinguntil 8:00 pm

947-0707 #2

Local author Nick Faragherhas once again drawn fromhis past, this time generating anovel dealing with the impactsof an horrific crime.The Bowen Island Arts

Council held the officiallaunch of Faragher’s newnovel It’s No Big Thing at TheGallery last month. The book,published this past summer byFirst Press Publishing, is basedon an actual crime that tookplace about 30 years ago.The victim of that crime

was a young girl, workingalone, late at night, in a conve-nience store. The perpetratorswere three teenage boys. Theyoung girl was rendered quad-riplegic as the result of theinjuries that she sustaining inthe course of that robbery.Faragher experienced a

similar case first hand whileworking in the justice systemin Ontario, writing a reportfor the court on one of theattackers. He changed somedetails about the case – thevictim in his story was ren-dered a paraplegic rather thana quadriplegic, for example.He has also chosen not to dis-close the actual case the storyis based on.“I’m not trying to do a true

crime account,” he said. “It’sentirely a work of fiction, butits genesis is in that story.”The story, says Faragher, is

less about the crime and moreabout the different motiva-tions that might cause youngmen, from essentially decenthomes, with hard workingand loving parents, to commita horrific crime.In particular, the story is

about why one of them wouldshoot a defenseless youngwoman, and how his com-panions might shape theirown responses in light of thisbrutality. The subtleties offamily dynamics, the power ofcultural role models from AlCapone to the Bacon Brothers,differing philosophies of exis-

tence (Nietzsche), the gra-tuitous displays of violencein the media (John Wayneto Sam Peckinpah) and theimportance of acting in accor-dance with what one knows tobe right, all play a part.It’s No Big Thing is

Faragher’s second book. Hepublished The Well and OtherStories in 2009, a collection inwhich his own personal expe-riences also play some part.Faragher was born in

Manchester, England. Hemoved to Greece as a youngman and supported himself,for the most part, by teachingEnglish. “The Watch Seller”,one of the stories in The Well,suggests he found other waysto get by. A year or so later he

moved to Italy where he gotby in a similarly haphazardfashion.He moved to Canada in

1979, worked as a parole offi-cer, briefly taught criminol-ogy, then became a chairingmember of the Ontario Boardof Parole before moving toB.C. in 1990. He lived a yearor two in Central Americabefore moving back to B.C.where he and his second wifeoperated The Snug coffeehouse on Bowen Island.Faragher was a regular col-

umnist for the Undercurrentfor a time in the 1990s.It’s No Big Thing is on sale

at Phoenix on Bowen as wellas online at Amazon and isalso available at the library.


Local author Nick Faragher speaks at the launch of hisnew novel It’s No Big Thing at The Gallery last month.Jacqueline Massey photo

Life becomes artagain for local author

Sam KnowlesC O N T R I B U T O R

BOOK REVIEWIt’s No Big Thing: a novel of crime andphilosophyBy Nick Faragher

From the first page, this novel immersesyou in the world of the three main charactersand plays out in your mind as if you werewatching a film. The kind of film you knowyou will want to watch again and are reluctantto see end.These three individuals, at the pivotal point

between adolescence and adulthood, aretrying to make of themselves the men theybelieve they want to be. It is from within thiscontext that they embark on what to themseems almost a daring prank. With its direturn of events, what is revealed are the verydifferent motivations and thought processesthat inform each boy’s actions, what shapedthem and how their belief systems guide theiractions.Ultimately the influences of their genera-

tion, with its ultra-realistic violent games, thebarrage of negative media and their own questfor birthing the men they believe they shouldbe, impact their decisions.We are drawn in, observing the subtleties of

each influence, colouring the canvas of theirstill forming selves.The author creates a full spectrum of char-

acters and places against which this storyplays out. Parents, confident in the knowledgeof who their children are must face some bru-tal realities that are initially incomprehensibleto them. There are snippets of recognitionfor those living on the west coast, in partic-ular the Vancouver area where the novel isset, East Hastings’ lesser known back alleys,North Van’s coffee altars and the realities thatlie behind the apparent complacencies of WestVan’s suburbs.It is a great read, engaging to the end.

Poignant too in its reflection on the impor-tance in our adolescents of the existentialquestion, nihilism and the ever-present searchfor identity, role models and who or what isproviding them. After all, it IS a big thing.

REVIEW: Novel immerses you


ST. GERARD’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHSunday Mass: 10:30 a.m.

Administration Office: 604-682-6774

BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCHPastor Clinton Neal

1070 Miller Road 604-947-0384Service 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m.

BOWEN ISLAND UNITED CHURCHRev. Shelagh MacKinnon

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

Minister of Music: LynnWilliams

CATES HILLCHAPEL 604-947-4260(661 Carter Rd.)

10:00 a.m. Worship • Sunday School: Tots to TeensPastor: Phil Adkins

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Early on December 10, my beloved wife, Trixie (Beatrice), quietly slipped away toher eternal peace. She was 79, and we had been married for almost 54 years.She is deeply mourned by her four children, six grandchildren, her brother and

sister-in-law, and myself, and by the many other members of her extended family.

During the last several years, she was the victim of the gradual, but relentless,mental and physical effects of Alzheimer’s disease. But to the extent possible,

she fought those effects with characteristic fortitude and consideration of others.

Trixie loved Bowen. She first came here in the summer of 1945 (she vividly recalledthe fire bell ringing to signal the end of World War 2). That year, and for some ten years

thereafter, her parents rented for July and August one of the hotel cottages alongwhat is now Senator Road in Mannion/Deep Bay. One of the great joys of her life was

learning to ride and to take care of the horses at the original Evergreen Stables(the concrete foundations and water trough can still be seen in the long grass just tothe north of the riding ring in Crippen Park). Later, in her teens, she happily worked fortwo or three summers at the old general store, which now houses Bowen’s library.

It was the sweet memories of those times that, four decades later, brought herback to Bowen - with myself in the baggage, happy to be where she was happy.

Here she watched her family grow with the arrival of each new grandchild. And it washere that, with expert help from others, especially horticulturist Andre Chollat, she wasable to give full vent to her lifelong love of gardening. Our little joke was that she had

two passions, her family and her garden...and not necessarily in that order.

In accordance with her wishes, her body has been donated to theUBC medical school.


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MARKETPLACEPhone Hours:Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 4:30 pmOffice Hours: 9 am to 5 pm

Or call to place your ad at604-630-3300Email: [email protected]

ADVERTISING POLICIESAll advertising published in this newspaper isaccepted on the premise that the merchandiseand services offered are accurately describedand willingly sold to buyers at the advertisedprices. Advertisers are aware of theseconditions. Advertising that does not conformto these standards or that is deceptive ormisleading, is never knowingly accepted. If anyreader encounters non-compliance with thesestandards we ask that you inform the Publisherof this newspaper and The AdvertisingStandards Council of B.C. OMISSION ANDERROR: The publishers do not guarantee theinsertion of a particular advertisement on aspecified date, or at all, although every effort willbe made to meet the wishes of the advertisers.Further, the publishers do not accept liabilityfor any loss of damage caused by an error orinaccuracy in the printing of an advertisementbeyond the amount paid for the space actuallyoccupied by the portion of the advertisementin which the error occurred. Any correctionsof changes will be made in the next availableissue. The Bowen Island Undercurrent will beresponsible for only one incorrect insertionwith liability limited to that portion of theadvertisement affected by the error. Requestfor adjustments or corrections on chargesmustbe made within 30 days of the ad’s expiration.For best results please check your ad foraccuracy the first day it appears. Refundsmade only after 7 business days notice!

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Jude Neale’s poetry is reallygetting around in Europe thesedays – literally.The Bowen Island poet,

vocalist and spoken word per-former won a competition bythe United Kingdom’s PoetLaureate this fall to have one ofher poems published not in abook, but on a bus.Her poem “Emptiness in

the Garden” is now circulat-ing across the UK’s ChannelIslands on public transit, whereit will be seen by approximate-ly 100,000 travellers over thecourse of a year as a winnerof the 2015 Guernsey LiteraryPrize.The honour came with a

tour where she read in London’sCovent Garden poetry house aswell as in Amsterdam.It’s the cap to a productive

and hectic year for Neale. Sheproduced four two-hour showson Bowen Island this year,collaborating with dancer Sue-Lynn Seng, Vancouver’s poetlaureate Rachel Rose and withjazz guitarist Teun Schut andbassist Ian Cameron, along witha concert in July in support ofthe library’s expansion project.And 2016 looks to be just

as busy for Neale. Her fourthbook of poetry, MidsummerBewilders the Dog Star, is dueto come out, complete with acover designed by local artist

Janice Treleaven.“She did this doodle on

Facebook and I said, ‘That’swhat I need!’,” says Neale.The book will be her fourth,

but her first published in theUnited States.But before that comes out,

she’ll be releasing a new CD – aperformance of 10 selectionsfromMidsummer Bewildersthe Dog Star set to music byVancouver violist ThomasBeckman – at the end ofJanuary, complete with a launchperformance at the Gallery onFeb. 14.That Neale works with musi-

cians is no accident – beforeher career in poetry she was aprofessional opera singer whostudied at the Royal Opera inLondon.“That really affects my poet-

ry, that cadence.”Shemade the transition

frommusic to poetry becauseof her age – “I thought myvoice isn’t going to last forev-er” – and hasn’t missed a beat,with recognition for her poet-ry in the United Kingdom,Ireland, the United States andCanada. Most recently, theMagpie International PoetryCompetition informed her thatone of her poems has been cho-sen as a finalist by Vancouver’sfirst poet laureate, GeorgeMcWhirter.She has also been published

in the prestigious Boston JewishLiterary Journal three times.

“Somehow I’ve got it intotheir heads that I must beJewish,” she says with a laugh.Despite the change in focus,

her singing also forms a critical

part of all her performancesand will be featured on the CDas well.Sickened by what she called

the “cutthroat lifestyle” of an

artist’s life in Europe, came toCanada 30 years ago took upresidence on Bowen and start-ed teaching writing at SimonFraser University, where she has

been nominated for the PrimeMinister’s Award.

“I came to Bowen for a shortspell,” she says. I’m in the samerental house.”

Bowen Island poet and performer Jude Neale admires her poem “Emptiness in the Garden” published on a busin Britain’s Channel Islands as a winner of the 2015 Guernsey Literary Prize by the UK’s Poet Laureate.Photo courtesy Jude Neale

Bowen’s poetry in motion in the UK

Find theperfect giftat It’s aWrap‘Tis the season of express-

ing love and gratitude andfriendship and the warmestof feelings. And often we dothis by seeking out an objector experience to give to thatspecial person who makesour life that much richer. Welook high and low for some-thing to convey meaning andthat will bring joy or delight.It can be very challenging

to find the perfect present forthose significant others on ourlist. But on Bowen, thanks tothe high number of residentartists and craftspeople, thetask is just a little easier.The Bowen Island Arts

Council (BIAC) is happy tocome to the aid of intrepidshoppers with It’s a Wrap, ourannual end-of-the-year show-case of stunning (and in somecases) functional artworkfeaturing unique hand-madegifts created by more than 40local artists. The show andsale runs through to Jan. 3.The gala opening receptionwas last Friday, (Dec. 11) fea-turing lively entertainment byMarc Gawthrop.The Gallery is open

seven days per week duringDecember, from 11 a.m. to4 p.m. Come come by andenjoy the spirit of the season.


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Bowen Island Undercurrent December 18 2015

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