The following are unedited snippets from past Undercurrents. To read the complete articles or to follow up on information please contact the Bowen Museum & Archives at bihistorians@telus.net or 604.947.2655.
40 years ago - January 1979
Island News
Last New Year’s Day Tunstall Bay sported a lone polar bear who splashed in the cold water to celebrate. This year (1979) the Huggon family took the honours — defying zero temperatures, two young males, Mike Cavanagh and Tom Huggon Junior, donned swim suits and dove off Pete Dickson’s dock at Miller’s landing. Note: they were sober—they were young—and they warmed up with hot chocolate. The water was ice cold.
A “slow” streaker made an appearance at the Legion’s New Year’s party –he defied convention, won a bit, and wasn’t sober.
The Bow-Wows
We hope that you deserve your dog and that you love him well enough to keep him in control. There are petitions in the shops and on the back of the UNDERCURRENT for you to sign and state your opinion regarding a leash law or whatever in the interest of safety.
Sign it one way or the other. Please sign only once.
25 years ago - January 1994
School bids adieu to bus driver Haxby
Bowen Island Community School thanks Mr. Ron Haxby for the 14 years he drove the students to and from their homes and to and from the ferries and school.
1993 building activity hits 3.7 million
Building permits worth a total of $3.7 million were issued for Bowen for the past year. The 92 permits included 41 for dwellings, 17 for additions, 14 for renovations, and 10 for accessory buildings. The building inspector also issued 72 occupancy certificates, and carried out 737 site inspections.
Nature Club conducts annual bird count
On Sunday, December 26, the Bowen Island Nature Club did its annual Christmas Bird Count. Although the total the total number count was down this year, bird counters still managed to identify 67 different species, which is quite good. The main reason for the low count was the small number of water fowl spotted this year.
Randy Thauberger spotted a Yellow Billed Loon off Roger Curtis that is rarely seen on Bowen.
Alan Whitehead saw a Great Horned Owl hanging out in a tree down near the Cove.
On January 26 the club did its annual Bald Eagle Count. The total count this year was 58 eagles, 39 adults and 19 juveniles.
10 years ago - January 2009
Snug Cove plan process underway (by Jacqueline Massey)
Billed as an attempt to “seek common ground in the guiding principles, vision and strategic policy recommendations of the Snug Cove Village Plan” the municipality launched the latest phase of its public consultation process this week. Forums were held on Sunday and Wednesday with one more scheduled for tomorrow to help assess the “temperature” of the community in regards to the future of Snug Cove.
Organizers presented participants with diagrams, charts, conceptual drawings, and a 60-page workbook. The workshop, prepared by facilitators working with community planners, reflects the principles and guidelines set out in the fifth version of the SCVP. It recognizes Snug Cove as the “commercial and community heart” of Bowen, as referenced in the Official Community Plan (OCP).
