1. Too
scared
to drive
MARTHA PERKINS
E D I T O R
I
t’s not a noise bylaw that’s
making for quieter nights on
Bowen Island. It’s fears over
the ramifications of new drinking
and driving penalties.
“We’re probably down 40 per
cent because of the new law,”
says Scott Witty, owner of the
Pub. As people stopped going
out for drinks or dinner because
they were worried about being
stopped by police on the way
home, he reacted by closing on
Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.
“It happened so fast. I had to
act as fast as I could and salvage
something.”
The Bowen Island Legion
responded to the Pub’s deci-
sion to close three days by add-
ing Sundays and Mondays to
its open hours but sales are still
lower, says Branch 150 president
Tim Hausch. He notices that the
Legion has become more of a
neighbourhood bar - a place peo-
ple can walk to and, more impor-
tantly, walk home from.
At Tuscany restaurant, there
has been a decrease in alcohol
sales. “At 0.05 people don’t know
where they stand so they’re petri-
fied to have even one drink,” says
owner Julie Cree.
New drinking and
driving penalties
are scaring away
bar patrons
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Otters kill egg business
Shady Acres will no longer be able to
supply island with farm fresh eggs
Yoga Studio changes hands
The Gym buys yoga studio and turns
it into a co-op for all enthusiasts
Golfer’s honour code
To help save money in the winter, golf
course introducing honour box system
FRIDAY
OCT. 29 2010
V O L . 3 8 , N O . 3 8
Watch for more online at:
WWW.BOWENISLANDUNDERCURRENT.COM
75¢ including
HST
continued, PAGE 10
Minister
still says
no to CRC
purchase
MARTHA PERKINS
E D I T O R
I
t’s still not the federal govern-
ment’s plan to buy any Cape
Roger Curtis lands for the
creation of a possible national
park on Bowen Island, the min-
ister of the environment told the
Undercurrent last Friday.
“The intent is not to acquire
private lands,” Jim Prentice said
following a press conference in
Stanley Park to announce a $10
million commitment, through
Parks Canada, to complete the
Trans Canada Trail by Canada’s
150th birthday.
Prentice noted that just
a day earlier he’d been in
Newfoundland, where Parks
Canada is considering the cre-
ation of a national park on Sable
Island. On the other side of the
country is Bowen Island, where
a feasibility study is underway to
determine if the public lands fit
the criteria for a national park.
“It’s a marvellous site,” he said
of Bowen Island.
However, Prentice noted
that as part of the study, Parks
Canada was measuring the will
of islanders to have a park here.
“We prefer to discuss the issues
in advance and ensure there is
consensus,” he said in a brief
interview.
Alan Latourelle, the chief exec-
utive officer of Parks Canada,
was also at Stanley Park on
October 22 (along with outgoing
Trans Canada Trail chair Valerie
Pringle and three-time Olympian
Simon Whitfield.)
A VISIT TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH – Excitement over Hallowe’en is building at the Bowen
Island Children’s Centre. On Tuesday, the pre-schoolers went on a search for pumpkins. Logan
McCormick quickly found hers and carried it to a wagon; others had fun rolling the pumpkins down
the hill. Back at the centre, they carved the pumpkins into Jack O’ Lanterns. Martha Perkins photo continued, PAGE 2