Dear Editor,
Over 1,000 Islanders and visitors came out to celebrate Canada’s 150th on Bowen, hosted by Bowen Island Community Recreation. Gary Ander, our fearless MC, warmly welcomed all. Billi Behm kicked things off with a beautiful rendition of “Oh Canada” while RCMP officers Richard De Jong and Paulo Arreaga saluted the flag in their red surge, Firemen and Paramedics flanked the stage and the crowd joined in. Recreation staff would like to thank all of the community members who helped put on this Bowen tradition and everyone who came out to enjoy the day together.
Big thanks to the Snug Cove Blues Band for playing their upbeat bluesy tunes all afternoon. Thanks also to the Westcoast Preservation of Reptiles Society who brought an array of reptilian species for the kids to get to know, Marysia McGilivray and BIAC with their plein air art demonstration, Joanna Wing for coordinating the playcare area, Noah Pryce-Jones for bringing his popcorn maker and Rebecca Smith, with generous donation of supplies from Opus Art Supplies and the Bowen Building Centre, for coordinating the 4th Annual Community Art project.
Thank you to Community Recreation’s energetic summer camp staff: Josie Huskisson, Ryley McLeod, Siena Vallee, and Callie Brougham. Special mention to the youth volunteers: Ayden Kinakin, Alexandra Forbes, Amelia Sorrentino, Carmen Shea, Maesy Hartwick, Sarah Carachelo, Piper Tweten, Greenlee Lyne and Marie Pedley. It’s great to see the Bowen volunteer spirit being cultivated early!
Glenn Cormier and the Bowen Island Pub donated and served the Canada Day cake and it was deeeeeelicious! Artisan Eats and Alderwood Farms provided Canada-Day themed menu items. Mctaggart Water provided a water-bottle-filling station. Thank you all for coming out and getting us into the spirit!
This year we added a little ooomph for the 150th celebration – the HUMAN MAPLE LEAF (insert crowd cheering here)! Creative credits go to Tyler Ruggles and major props for execution to Paul Whitecotton of Skyhawk Air Media and Siena Vallee and Ryley McLeod. Thanks to everyone who took part – the impromptu singing of “Oh Canada” was icing on the cake.
Set up and take down would not have been possible without the efforts of Bruce Lyne, John Stiver, Will Thompson, Daly Thompson and Kevin Huskisson, Erik Hunter James and Rod Harding from Metro Vancouver Parks. Thank you also to Tim and Martin for putting up our Canada Day Banner in the Cove.
The annual hose down by the Bowen Island Fire Department is always a hit. Thank you to the RCMP for being on-site, the volunteer firefighters and the BC Ambulance who gave tours of the trucks and connected with the community.
Bowen’s annual Canada Day party continues to bring the community together in our beautiful Island setting and, oh boy oh boy, do we ever have fun! Thanks to everyone for coming out, taking part and making Bowen such a great place to live, visit and just be.
Sheana Stevenson and Bowen Rec
