Remember Paul Martin? Canadian Prime Minister, re-elected to a minority government in 2004? If that sounds like a long time ago, it’s because it was. In that same year, 2004, Bowen islanders collected enough money to allow the Snug Cove House Society (then called Abbeyfield) to buy a piece of land on Miller Road.
Fourteen years later, last week, that land was registered as a subdivision of 13 lots at the B.C. land title office.
Growing the value of land without money in the bank isn’t an overnight process. Twelve of those house lots will be sold – actually most of them have already been sold (all to Bowen islanders) – to help finance the construction of Snug Cove House, a residence for Bowen seniors who will no longer have to leave the island in search of supportive accommodation.
We reached this long-awaited milestone thanks to the many, many islanders whose contributions bought the land; thanks to the persistence of the many islanders who have served as directors and volunteers of the society; thanks to the support and encouragement of the current council which allowed the land to connect to municipal services; thanks to the support and patience of municipal staff; thanks to the financial support of the Bowen Legion, Knick Knack Nook, Hawthorne Foundation and First Credit Union; thanks to the immense patience of our neighbours at Bowen Court Seniors’ Co-op.
The society is now finalizing plans for the design and construction of Snug Cove House on the Miller Road land’s thirteenth lot.
The society needs to boost the ranks of its directors for this stage of its life. If anybody is interested in contributing some time as a member of the board of this key community amenity, please contact me at 0225.
