Bowen is an island, but it isn’t alone when looking for ways to lead a healthy life.
Through collaboration with federal agencies and the province Bowen can access funds and support to improve community health. Vancouver Coastal Health wants to initiate a partnership to help improve the health and well being of our community.
“We would like to help develop and improve future community programs and services that are relevant to Bowen health and wellness needs,” says Dr.Mark Lysyshyn, Medical Health Officer with Vancouver Coastal Health for the North Shore.
Having studied the results of local and regional surveys done in 2013 to learn how the local lifestyle, environment, neighbourhood characteristics and daily interactions affect our health over time, VCH has gained insight into our health needs going into the future.
Lysyshyn says that the primary change needed on Bowen is to improve our “active transportation.” We need bike trails so that we can get around the island more easily without cars
“We are meeting with the municipality to discuss signing an agreement to collaborate on a transportation plan.”
He says that VCH does not fund infrastructure changes but they “can provide access to best practices and expertise. By signing an agreement we an engage the public and apply for provincial grants.“
Lysyshyn goes on to say that the province has “health grants“ to help with planning.
The funds would “pay facilitators to host meetings. We need to sign a partnership with Bowen first. We are waiting to sign the final agreement and if we are in agreement we can engage the public.”
Mayor Murray Skeeles says “a transportation plan is a big thing this year. It’s off an running and councilor Melanie Mason is looking at re-invigorating the cross-island trail.”
Councilor Melanie Mason, acknowledges that residents have poor access to bike trails, thereby limiting local transportation options.
“We are working on a master plan that will be ready for public engagement in the spring,” says Mason ”we are aware of all of the challenges with transportation. Because there is funding we can start to address some of the issues.”
Mason says that with regard to cycling, the community school principal is on board to promote cycling among his students.
“Parents who grew up on island say they always used to bike to school. Traffic has increased but the roads haven’t improved for cyclists,” says Mason.
Though broadening the flat shoulder of roads in some stretches of the island has helped, bike riders on Bowen still need a good level of fitness to begin to manage local rugged and hilly terrain.
The cross-island trail is designed to avoid the biggest hills for an easier traverse.
“We’ll be looking at all aspects of transportation, from traffic to weekend ferry scheduling, bus service and biking.
