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How to find past issues of the Bowen Island Undercurrent

I’ve had a few people ask lately if the Undercurrent has an archives. Well, the short answer is, not really. If you’ve been to our new office (right beside the old office), it’s a little small to store nearly 45 years worth of papers.
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I’ve had a few people ask lately if the Undercurrent has an archives. 

Well, the short answer is, not really. If you’ve been to our new office (right beside the old office), it’s a little small to store nearly 45 years worth of papers. So while we do have back issues stored on the North Shore, they’re not readily accessible. There are e-editions of the paper going back to around 2010 online (issuu.com/bowen-island-undercurrent/docs though the Black Press editions are on a different Issu account) and the Bowen Island Archives (right across the street from our office) has almost every issue. 

Now I bring this up also because also because when I was glancing through the Public Art Advisory Committee meeting minutes (as one does for fun), I saw the Undercurrent quoted to confirm the provenance of the statue in Davies Orchard. And so this is your weekly reminder of how important local newspapers are, not just the Undercurrent, but in any small town. Otherwise how are you going to remember what happened 20, 40, 60 years ago?

––Bronwyn Beairsto, editor

From our edition May 11, 2001, “Sculpture to be unveiled in orchard celebration.”

On Saturday, May 19, the Bowen Island Heritage Preservation Association will be hosting an event in the Davies Orchard to celebrate the restoration work being undertaken to unveil a bronze sculpture of children at play. 

The sculpture is the work of Bowen Island artist Dale Fraser and will be the first piece of public art to be provided to the community. The goal of the restoration work has been to renew the existing fruit trees and to replant heritage species of the type originally planted by William Davies in the 1980s. 

The success of the project is reflected in the wonderful display of new growth and the abundance of blossom on the old trees now that they are exposed to sunlight. This success has been made possible by the contribution of financial assistance from the GVRD Parks Committee and the Canadian Millennium Partnership Program. 

“Our government is pleased to have been a partner in the creation of this historical and creative monument that pays tribute not only to the history and culture of Bowen Island but to our youth and the important role they play in shaping our future,” said the Honourable Herb Gray, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the Government of Canada’s millennium initiative. “The Government of Canada proudly supported the Bowen Island Heritage Project with a partial financial contribution of up to a maximum of $32,838 through the Canada Millennium Partnership Program.” 

This program contributed up to one third of eligible project costs, while the private sector and other organizations provided the remaining funding. CMPP-supported projects promoted our history, our youth, our arts and culture, our environment and the development of our communities. 

The Heritage Preservation Association works in cooperation with GVRD Parks’ staff and it is hoped that progress on a long-term management strategy will soon see the presently vacant cottages being restored and utilized. 

Marcel Gaumond, Millennium Bureau of Canada, Media Relations