2015 set the record for wettest Bowfest EVER, quite an impressive feat considering this marked the 40th anniversary of our island’s end-of-summer festival. Unfortunately, the weather took that too literally and Autumn was lapping a little too close to Summer’s heels for comfort.
Nonetheless, Bowfest 2015 will go down as a success. Vancouver may have shut down for the day, but Bowen partied on!
Many thanks to all the parade entries, Anne Smitton for your traffic warden expertise, Pam for another year of organization, and of course the diligence of this year’s judges: Barb Wiltshire, Ann Silberman, Nancy Lee, Paulina Keoplin and Georgia. (Parade video here.)
This year we saw the return of crowd-favourite Lip Sync competition. Many thanks to Kate Brew for organizing, Reforma Architecture for sponsoring, and all the contestants who took part. The popularity of this event was astounding, and maybe cause to extend the competition for 2016? (Winners here.)
This year we also had the great benefit of a Bowfest first: Logger Show. We extend our gratitude to Gary Anderson of Metro Blasting for his initial push for this event, Bowen Island Properties, Black Bear Transport, J & E Backhoe, Frank Seaberly, Twin Island, and Dee and Fraser Elliott and Braedan Jolly for extended sponsorship of the event. The Logger Show really brought the community together — there are far too many people to thank! Congratulations to all the contestants. You will go down in Bowen history as being part of this first-edition event. Plans for next year’s Logger Show are already in the works!
Thank you to all the musicians who took part in Bowfest, with special mention to Taunting Mable for doing us a super solid, Tony and John for organizing, Shephard Ashmore Insurance, Graham Ritchie for MCing, Bill Granger, Bruce Culver, Brad Bacon and David Wrinch for stage setup, electrical, and teardown.
Thank you to Hilary and Robin Butler for your selfless work with the Rotary Run for Rwanda, Sarah Haxby for another great Country Fair tent, Bowen Building Centre, Knick Knack Nook, Bowen Island Municipality, and Bowen Credit Union for your continual financial support, Margaret at The Office for supplying ALL our printing and much of our poster art work, Microdeck for our website revamp and Bowfest poster, Peter King and Cormorant Marine for providing transport to our acts and guests alike, Bowen Glass for your AMAZING lanterns, BIVFM for filling our dunk tank and the use of your materials, Dave and Louise of Bowen Island Waste for your year after year dedication, Tim Hausch for hanging our banner, Murray and Janice Skeels for helping set up, the Legion for hosting the beer garden, Mike and Andrea for the upper beer garden, Bowen choir for manning the gates, all our food, craft, and community vendors.
THANK YOU everyone who helped and volunteered on Bowfest Day. Last but not least to the 2015 Bowfest board: Jessie, Jagjit, Robyn, Tony, Linda, Pam, John, Lisa, Bridget, Narin and Adam. (I know you are trying to leave, but just forget about it OK?) We may have all been new, but GUUUURLLL we worked it!
Looking forward to Bowfest 2016 when we have 12 months, as opposed to two to plan this Goliath of an event! With (at least) seven board members cemented, the planning has already begun. That being said, our quest for volunteers continues, especially volunteers who would like to host and run events for Bowfest Day.
Thank you Bowen for welcoming me to Bowfest 2015.
Sasha Buchanan
