BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY PROFILE BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY PROFILE OVERVIEW Bowen Island is a natural jewel surrounded by the spectacular beauty of Howe Sound, and an ideal place for those who want to live close to the city—but not in it. A short ferry ride and a few kilometres from downtown Vancouver, Bowen is home to some 3,500 permanent residents. It’s been a municipality since 1999, and a tight-knit community for decades. Increasingly vibrant, Bowen remains resolutely a sanctuary of nature, peace and safety for Islanders and visitors alike. A popular place to own a vacation home, Bowen grows by about 1,500 part-time residents in summer, along with thousands of short-term and day visitors. Major attractions? Hiking and walking, kayaking and boating, swimming and picnicking at clean scenic beaches. More and more, new residents and visitors are drawn to the Island’s growing arts, music, artisanal and culinary delights. And, as it has been for over a century, Bowen is ever the perfect place for restorative retreats from city life. Setting Bowen sits at the south entrance to Howe Sound, the second-largest island in the sound and the only one with car ferry service. Mount Gardner, the highest of three peaks, attracts hikers by the score with shimmering panoramas of the Salish Sea, Sunshine Coast and Vancouver. Settled areas consist of over 30 neighbourhoods and hamlets that, all told, consume only a tiny portion of Bowen’s total area. The remainder is largely Crown land. Snug Cove village is the commercial hub, with restaurants, food and specialty stores, medical offices, pharmacy, public library, post office, museums, credit union, elementary school and other useful amenities. Nearby, Artisan Square is home to artist studios and galleries, boutiques, cafes and more. Wrapping around the village, 242-hectare Crippen Regional Park offers 12.5 kilometres of walking trails through nature and history, forest and seaside. ⟶ Geo-position: 49°23’00” latitude, 123°22’00” longitude. ⟶ 49.94 sq km or 5,260 hectares total area. ⟶ 12 km long and 6 km wide at its widest point. ⟶ 37 km of coastline. ⟶ Highest peak: Mt. Gardner at 719 m/2,500 ft. A Few of Our Annual Events JUNE ⟶ Round Bowen Sailboat Race (since 1987) ⟶ Round Bowen Kayak Challenge, a gruelling self-propelled race JULY ⟶ Canada Day Celebration in the Park, a family event hosted by Bowen Island Community Recreation ⟶ Steamship Days, celebrating Bowen’s heritage as the Happy Isle, when thousands from Vancouver came for summer fun and recreation ⟶ People, Plants & Places Tour, a rare chance to see inside Bowen’s most charming homes and gardens, and meet the interesting Islanders who own them (a biennial event) - 1 - AUGUST ⟶ Volunteer Firefighters Annual Dock Dance ⟶ Dog Days of Summer, a highly entertaining fundraiser for BC Guide Dogs ⟶ Bowfest, the Island’s community fair, with Run for the Ferry, parade, concerts, games and more OCTOBER ⟶ Applefest, a Thanksgiving Sunday heritage tradition ⟶ Hallowe’en: Community Trick-or-Treating hosted by Deep Bay neighbourhood, with fireworks by Volunteer Fire Department DECEMBER ⟶ Light Up Bowen: Holiday Kick-off Event in Snug Cove and Artisan Square ⟶ Community Craft Fair GOVERNMENT Bowen Island Municipality (BIM) is governed by a mayor and six councillors, assisted by a chief administrative officer and about 35 full-time and part-time staff. BIM is responsible for all of Bowen Island, Finisterre Island and Hutt Island as well as the land covered by water extending 300 metres around these islands from the high-water mark. The Official Community Plan guides local economic development, environment and natural resource use, housing, municipal services, parks and trail development, and transportation. BIM is a member of Metro Vancouver regional government with a seat on its Board of Directors. Bowen is the only Island Municipality in the Islands Trust, with two elected trustees on the Islands Trust Council. PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY “Come for the nature. Stay for the community.” Islanders are passionate about their home, as the unofficial motto implies. They are very proud of its natural beauty, rich heritage, arts scene, volunteerism, reputation for safety—and, perhaps above all, its difference from everyplace else. Here, “community” is more than a pleasant lifestyle feature. A measure of pioneering spirit is required to live here year-round, a willingness to make do and pitch in. Neighbourly caring that fills the gaps of absent “frills” is what makes it all work. Although older adults still dominate the demographics, more and more young families are drawn by Bowen’s reputation as an outstanding, even magical, place to raise children. Community spirit runs deep here, with residents reporting a higher than average sense of belonging. - 2 - BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY PROFILE AGE/GENDER DEMOGRAPHICS IN 2011 FOR BOWEN ISLAND 85 + 80 - 84 75 - 79 70 - 74 65 - 69 60 - 64 55 - 59 % males 50 - 54 % females 45 - 49 Age 40 - 44 35 - 39 30 - 34 25 - 29 20 - 24 15 - 19 10 - 14 5 - 9 0 - 4 0123456 Percentage (All data from 2011 Census unless otherwise noted.) Population and Demographics ⟶ Total permanent residents: 3,402, up by 1.2% from 3,362 in 2006. ⟶ Population grew by 22.7% between 1996 and 2006, compared to 15.6% for Metro Vancouver, and a 1.4% provincial average. ⟶ Bowen’s population differs markedly from the rest of BC, with substantially more people aged 40 to 65, and under age 15. (However, markedly fewer people aged 25 to 35, and over 75, live on Bowen than in the province overall.) These numbers reflect Bowen’s growing reputation as a mecca not just for retirees but for families with young children, attracted by a host of singular benefits. ⟶ The median age is 46.6, compared to 40.2 for the region as a whole. ⟶ Nearly 70% of Islanders are married; about half have children. ⟶ More than 80% of Islanders are over age 15, with the largest category comprising those aged 50 and 54. ⟶ Fewer people age 65+ live on Bowen (12.2%) than in BC overall (14.5%). ⟶ The Island has 11.4% fewer people age 20 to 39, compared to the whole region. ⟶ Population forecast: 5,100 residents by 2031, a 40% growth over 2015. (Economic Impact Assessment, Parks Canada, 2010) - 3 - ⟶ 82% of Islanders feel a “sense of belonging” here, versus 56% in Vancouver. (“My Health, My Community Survey,” 2015) ⟶ 90%+ are native English speakers, 7.5% are native French speakers, with the balance representing other (mostly Northern European) first languages. Education and Income ⟶ Education rates are high: 41% of Island residents have a university degree or equivalent, versus 31% in the region overall. ⟶ On Bowen, only 5% of the total population lack a high school education, versus 12% in BC. ⟶ At $32,206, the average annual income for Islanders is 25% more than the provincial average of $24,867. ⟶ Bowen has 5% more people in upper-income brackets ($50,000 to $100,000, and $100,000+) than Metro Vancouver generally. ⟶ In 2007, total personal income was $135 million, 53% of it earned by employed people, while investment and pension income accounted for nearly 40%. (Economic Impact Assessment, Parks Canada, 2010) Housing and Density ⟶ Dwellings are mostly single-detached, set on comparatively large lot sizes. ⟶ Density is low on Bowen: only 67.9 residents per square kilometre. Occupations and Employment (From Economic Impact Assessment, Parks Canada, 2010, unless otherwise noted.) ⟶ 76% of the adult population is employed, versus the BC average of 63.1. (BC Statistics, May 2015) ⟶ Similar to the region overall, 81% of residents who work are employed in the broad Services sector, and 19% in Primary & Goods-producing industries. ⟶ At 13.4%, the largest occupational category is Professional, Scientific & Technical, higher by 3% than in Metro Vancouver as a whole. ⟶ Construction workers are the second-largest group on Bowen; at 13%, or twice the regional rate. ⟶ Third-largest category of employment is Education, capturing the high number of teachers and academics (195) living on the Island (almost all of whom work off- island). ⟶ Those working in Information & Cultural sectors (5.4%) combined with Arts, Entertainment & Recreation (7%) result in an exceptionally large “cultural/ information” category—reflected in Bowen’s volunteerism and vibrant arts culture. ⟶ 44% commute to jobs off-island. ⟶ 65% of households include at least one person in the labour force. ⟶ 14% are employed in arts and culture, and recreation and sport. ⟶ About 7% make at least 50% of their income from arts-related occupations. (Bowen Island Arts Council) - 4 - BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY PROFILE ARTS AND CULTURE Undoubtedly, one of the best things about Bowen Island is its vibrant arts community. A high percentage of residents make a living from creative endeavours both here and elsewhere. In 2006, Bowen Island was named the 4th most artistic community in Canada with a population under 50,000. Many arts and culture disciplines are represented on the Island: artisans and artists working in a variety of media, musicians, actors, producers, directors, writers, poets, instructors, cinematographers and photographers. The dynamic Bowen Island Arts Council (BIAC) promotes the Island’s many cultural groups and artists, and produces events that attract both local and visitor audiences. LEARNING Bowen Island Community School, known as BICS, is part of the West Vancouver School District. BICS provides outstanding learning for children and youth from kindergarten to grade 7. ⟶ Most high school students attend West Vancouver’s Rockridge Secondary School, Sentinel or West Van High. (Students travel free on the ferry.) ⟶ French Immersion at Pauline Johnson in West Vancouver is an option for middle school. ⟶ Island Pacific School, a private day school on Bowen, takes up to 70 grade 6 to 9 students.