A tireless volunteer who lights up the community at every opportunity, Basia Lieske has been selected as Bowen’s 2022 Citizen of the Year.
There’s few things you won’t find Lieske involved with on the island as far as events go (in fact she found out about the honour while setting up for a wedding). In addition to her most visible role, the annual Light Up the Cove project, she’s played a part at one point or another helping with many key Bowen traditions.
Lieske’s community involvement began immediately upon her arrival to Bowen in 1989. Looking to meet people, she took a job as a bartender at Doc Morgan’s, where she met fellow community minded folks in Rondy and Dorothy Dike.
“Doc Morgan’s was like my family when I first moved to Bowen. That’s where I got my start being involved in a small community,” says Lieske.
Before long Lieske was managing the restaurant, and popular events were in full swing. Oktoberfest, watermelon tosses (and catapults) with Rondy’s leftover watermelons from Bowfest, and a host of international nights including Greek, Polynesian, Indonesian and even Cinco de Mayo. Lieske says music and costumes were always a must.
One of Lieske’s favourite events she helped spearhead was inspired by a David Letterman segment. Stupid Pet Tricks was adopted on Bowen as Dog Days of Summer, a fundraiser for BC Guide Dogs which ran for more than two decades before Lieske was pulled in other directions – especially by her businesses Bowen Event Rentals.
Today, Light Up the Cove is no doubt Lieske’s signature event. When she took charge of the operation around 15 years ago, Light Up was one evening with Santa Claus and a lantern parade. It’s since evolved into a full lights and scenery display throughout the entire Cove, complete with a costume parade and fireworks celebration.
Lieske is not taking it easy the other 11 months of the year though, the exact opposite in fact. She speaks fondly of her time running her past craft market, especially for the way it inspired kids to develop some entrepreneurial spirit. She says those same kids, now adults with businesses, still point to their participation at the market as their first real foray into the business world.
Involving kids in events is perhaps Lieske’s favourite part of event planning, and means summer is one of her favourite times of year when school is out. “I just want to get kids out there… Bowen seems to have those type of kids who want to be involved and are really helpful,” she says.
She recalls a kids lemonade stand which raised thousands for the Children’s Hospital, kids camps, Easter egg hunts, and breakfasts with Santa and Barney (different events) as other highlights working with Bowen’s youth.
Community outreach is always on the agenda too. This includes helping people in need, whether it’s facilitating Go Fund Me’s, meal trains, or anything else for a person or family going through hard times. “We have great community spirit. Whenever there’s anybody in need everybody rallies,” she says.
Liekse also put on her historian hat during Bowen’s past People, Places and Plants tours, which involved trips to gardens around the island along with picnics.
Support from local businesses is something Lieske says makes all the events possible. “I love the businesses on Bowen Island because I love the community feel. You go to businesses and everybody knows your name. And you become a little bit of family,” she says.
Other people at the top of Lieske’s thank you list include her husband Paul who helps with the building and ideas for many events (despite the occasional grumbling, she teases), and the Dike’s, whose support in the beginning and for everything since has allowed Lieske to pursue her passions.
Lieske also makes sure to note a somber thank you to Jewal Maxwell, her partner on so many events who passed away this summer. “This is for you Jewal,” says Basia.
And with over 30 years of service to Bowen, Lieske sees herself playing a significant role in the community for years to come. “I don’t have any plans to stop… I actually have some things up my sleeve,” she hints.
