The very first Undercurrent edition was published on March 28, 1975 for an island population of approximately six hundred people. Long before social media allowed for easy communication, editor Pat Weaver believed that Islanders deserved a community forum to announce Bowen events, interests, opinions and needs and the Undercurrent became the island’s main source of communication. Today, it is one of the most valuable resources in our community archives. Not only does it document island events but the letters to the editor clearly record island opinion. These early letters were often hilarious, sometimes obscure, periodically outlandish but mostly accurate and logical.
A look back at the first Undercurrent reveals community compassion, outrage, desires and needs, volunteerism, humour, politics and opinion. Ongoing columns included Season of Discontent, Sea New Political Voices, Sea What’s New, Seagull Graffiti, Sea For the People and many more. The Johnathon Livingston Seagull Pendant award was initiated and given to the person who supplied the best or worst statement of the week. The first award went to the summer resident who asked, “What ever do you find to do on Bowen Island?”
Community events included Dad’s Day at Preschool, Bowen Island Improvement Association’s quarterly meeting, Bowen Island Recreation Commission Annual meeting.
An article in the “Sea Stimulus Response” column reveals strong feelings about dogs dog ownership and cows and pigs. “Do you deserve your dog? Does your dog deserve Bowen Island? Does your dog deserve dog nappers? Dog traps? Speeding cars? Did you move to Bowen for some freedom for your family pet? Think again… wasn’t town safer?… Under the Domestic Protection Animal Act what recourse does the resident have against cows destroying septic tanks? Against pigs tearing up gardens and flowerbeds? Aren’t they too your responsibility?”
And “They’re (the present owners of Union Steamships) not the ones who let dozens of cottages rot and decay in order that they could be torn down and removed from the tax rolls. Better to have them torn down and removed from the tax rolls then as, at present: to sit and rot further creating an eye sore, a fire hazard, a physical hazard for children, a welcome mat for vandals and overnight campers. At least the old tradition was based upon the recycling of materials.”
Community compassion and support were found in birthday and get well wishes. Get well wishes in March 1975 went to Mr. J. Muirhead who was recuperating from a serious fall. Special birthday wishes “to one of Bowen’s most active, and loved, sixty-pluser Ellen Dorman. Who is the envy of us all after returning from Hawaii with a beautiful tan.” Birthday wishes went to “Alec Ross who has a birthday tomorrow and he’ll probably be sitting at Colins at the BIIA meeting, in which case maybe he’ll get a course of happy birthday to you, for he surely deserves it (not another birthday but a song).
What’s new? In March 1975 “Snug Cove General Store….(same ole friendly faces but in a brand new store)
Bowen Island Cablevision…. (Yep, just like across the water)
Bowen Island taxi service call 947–XXXX for information
Sea Input - Undercurrent: a current flowing beneath the surface; an underlying tendency, opinion……
Letters, coming events, information, opinions, swaps, poetry, stories, want ads, for sale…… Or what have you????
All submissions must bear authorship for publication and will be published as submitted, without editing.
Let’s keep the Undercurrent going for another forty-five years!
We will no doubt want to look back at how our community kept each other safe and protected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
