News/Events
April 20th: “Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time”
Considered by many to be the father of wildlife management and of the United States’ wilderness system, Aldo Leopold was a conservationist, forester, philosopher, educator, writer, and outdoor enthusiast. “Green Fire” is the first full-length documentary film ever made about Leopold. It highlights his extraordinary career, tracing how he shaped and influenced the modern environmental movement.
The Conservancy showed the 72 minute film as part of our 2013 Speaker Series.
It is a beautifully-made piece, and really represents more than a simple documentary about Aldo Leopold. It also portrays how Leopold’s vision of a community that cares about both people and land—his call for a land ethic—ties together a wide range of modern conservation concerns and offers inspiration and insight for the future.
More about the film: Green Fire was produced in partnership between the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the Center for Humans and Nature, and the US Forest Service. The film examines Leopold’s thinking, renewing his idea of a land ethic for a population facing 21st century ecological challenges. Leopold’s biographer, conservation biologist Dr. Curt Meine, serves as the film’s on-screen guide.
Green Fire describes the formation of Leopold’s idea, exploring how it changed one man and later permeated through all arenas of conservation. The film draws on Leopold’s life and experiences to provide context and validity, then explores the deep impact of his thinking on conservation projects around the world today. Through these examples, the film challenges viewers to contemplate their own relationship with the land community.
The high-definition film employs photographs, correspondence, manuscripts, and other archival documents from the voluminous Aldo Leopold Archives, as well as historical film and contemporary full-color footage on location, including landscapes that influenced Leopold and that he in turn influenced.
The film also features commentary and insight from some of today’s most recognized and credible scholars and conservation leaders, including: three of Aldo Leopold’s children (Nina, Carl, and Estella), Leopold scholars, noted environmental writers, scientists, humanities experts, public policy leaders, business leaders, and leaders of non-profit groups inspired by Leopold.
March 16th: Third in our 2013 Speaker Series: “The Islands Trust”
Wolfgang Duntz and Andrew Stone, our local Islands Trust Municipal Trustees, provided an overview of the purpose and work of the Islands Trust.
Background material on the Islands Trust that was presented to Mayor and Council in October 2012.
February 9th: Second in our 2013 Speaker Series: “Bowen Island Fish & Wildlife Club”
Tim Pardee, Bill Newport, and others from the Club talked about their ongoing work, and answered questions.
We learned about our local Salmon Hatchery and its success, the Club's monitoring of local streams to ensure their health, what is being done to protect the wildlife on our beaches, and the upcoming Salmon Enhancement Program Workshop, which will be held on Bowen Island over the Victoria Day weekend (see below for more details).
January 19: Our 2013 Speaker Series kicked off with “The OCP: Why it matters”
Dave Witty (FCIP, RPP) talked about Bowen Island's Official Community Plan (OCP), and why it matters. The OCP helps to guide and manage Bowen Island's future development and growth, balancing the social, environmental, and economic needs of the community. An important legal document, the OCP contains objectives and policies that guide municipal decisions on housing, transportation, parks and trail development, environment and natural resource use, municipal services, and economic development. In short, it provides the decision framework for almost all aspects of our Island life.
2013 Victoria Day long weekend: 2013 Salmon Enhancement Program Workshops on Bowen Island
The Bowen Island Fish & Wildlife Club (BIF&WC) in conjunction with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation are pleased to announce that the Salmon Enhancement Program (SEP) Community Volunteer Workshop 2013 will be held on Bowen Island, May 17 – 19 (Victoria Day long weekend).
Saturday, November 17: Annual General Meeting
Our AGM was held on the 17th at 3:30 pm, at Collins Hall.
Saturday, November 10: Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Consultation session
Kinder Morgan Canada held a consultation session concerning the proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline (note: this is not the Northern Gateway pipeline) on Saturday, November 10th.
The meeting was held from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, at the Bowen Island Community School.
Islands Trust Council Chair Sheila Malcolmson has written to the President of Kinder Morgan Canada to provide comments and requests about upcoming Kinder Morgan information sessions.
Sunday, September 16: A morning in Apodaca Park
On Sunday, the 16th of September, we arranged for a memorable morning in Apodaca Provincial Park.
April 2012: Our position on extending Thompson Road
The Thompson Road road allowance terminates at the boundary of Crown Land Block 6, which contains the Fairy Fen Nature Reserve (owned by the Islands Trust Fund). Some years ago an application was submitted to the Provincial Government for a right-of-way from Thompson Road through the Crown land to provide access to the Cape Roger Curtis lands. This application was turned down by the Province, following consultation with the Bowen Island Municipality.
Recently, residents in the Tunstall Bay and Whitesails Drive areas have requested consideration of this potential access again, to limit construction traffic on Whitesails Drive. The Bowen Island Conservancy is sympathetic to the Whitesails residents’ concerns, but is also very sensitive to any action that could have negative impact on Fairy Fen and the Huszar Creek watershed.
Read our letter to Mayor and Council on this issue.
Study estimates economic value of the natural capital in BC's Lower Mainland
BC's Lower Mainland provides natural benefits in the order of $5.4 billion a year, or about $2,462 per person annually, according to a study released by the David Suzuki Foundation and Pacific Parklands Foundation. Nature provides a vast array of essential services we often take for granted. Trees clean our air. Forests and wetlands filter our water. Green urban spaces cool our cities and protect us from storms. And this doesn't even account for the health and spiritual benefits of time spent in nature.
Download the study (PDF, 4.3 Mb)
29 Apr 2012: Dr. Alexandra Morton spoke on the plight of the West Coast's wild salmon
On April 29, Dr. Alexandra Morton presented a talk on the plight of the West Coast's wild salmon, and her work to convince the public, the fish farm industry and various government agencies to take measures before it is too late.
Dr. Morton is a registered professional biologist who was living in a remote archipelago studying whales when the fish farmers came to her town. Dr. Morton was recently interviewed by Paul Kennedy for CBC's Ideas radio program. The episode was broadcast in early 2011 and is well worth hearing: besides being an interesting topic, Dr. Morton is a great speaker
24 Apr 2012: An evening discussion: Protecting Marine Life in Howe Sound and off Bowen's Shores
On April 24, we participated in a session with Roy Mulder from the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society (MLSS), who led a discussion on strategies for rockfish protection.
Topics included:
- Welcome & Introduction
- Video & Presentation
- General discussion on how can we help MLSS achieve their objectives throughout Howe Sound, developing a Bowen-specific strategy, organizing our efforts, action plans
Of particular importance is identifying exactly who is fishing for rock fish in Howe Sound, so that we can develop specific tactics to communicate to them and change their behaviour. We have to talk to those who are a threat so that we can make a difference and save rock fish. While protection must go on forever, in business terms it would be helpful if we can develop a plan with goals which follow ‘SMART’ criteria – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Responsibilities Identified, Timelines.
More information: Tim Pardee (604) 512-5245
07 Mar 2012: Our position on the proposed moorage development at Cape Roger Curtis
We wrote a letter to the Senior Land Officer concerning these development applications.
Material from prior years
Read material from prior years by clicking on a year below: