Wednesday vagabond

Small Community Politics in Canada

Bowen Island, B.C., Canada is a small island located just west of the western most part of , B.C.. Island politics often polarize the community which is a phenomenon in many small places. The polarity on Bowen Island is usually between pro-small growth management and pro-development. Bowen Island was formerly governed by the but the populace voted to become a municipality nine years ago.

Bowen Island had for years voted federally and provincially for the New Democratic Party. In the last decade property values have soared which has attracted a wealthier population who vote Conservative federally and Liberal provincially. High prices have created a number of homeless people on the island who make do with inadequate trailers, boats, and shacks. A non-profit affordable housing group, The Bowen Island Community Housing Association was formed in 2005 at the suggestion of Bowen Island Municipal Council, but to date Council has only called upon further studies and no affordable units have been built.

Island politics have long been divisive between those who want small, managed growth, and those who care for larger developments. Since it's inception as a municipality, Bowen Island has had many an on-going battle between the two factions. The latest (2009) has been over the West Vancouver School Board offering to pay part of the costs to build a practice soccer field made from artificial turf if the Bowen municipality would pick up the rest of the cost. Proponents say it will give the children year round access to a field, while opponents say artificial grass is bad for health and the environment and an existing field could have proper drainage added for a fraction of the cost. Bowen council has voted to also include the cost of lights so the practice field can be utilized at night, which puts further strain on the already over-budgeted project.

The Bowen Island Football Club was a driving force to have the field and lights installed. The three year old Soccer Club did not list it's Board of Directors or contact information on it's website until July 7th, 2009 after critisism for the omission. It is of interest to note the soccer club's registration is handled by the Bowen Island Parks and Recreation Commission, an arm of the Municipality. While the club's website pdf file says it has been looking for ways to not have to take the ferry to go into West Vancouver to play soccer, the club has joined with the North Shore Youth Soccer Association which will involve more games in town.

A recent (July 2nd, 2009) letter to the editor in the island local newspaper The Undercurrent reflects one faction's side over the debate of the planned go ahead artificial turf soccer practice field. The letter was written by a professor at Simon Fraser University, Mr. Neil Boyd and he compares opponents of the artificial grass to those who oppose gay marriage. The analogy created hilarious reaction and can be seen in comments on Bowen's popularinternet forum. Mr. Boyd said in his letter that he is not a soccer player, while on his blog he said he plays soccer. Boyd's blog post has since been deleted but screenshots of it can be found here.

One comment to Mr. Boyd's letter is as follows: "As amusing as this is, the analogy falls apart when you imply that being gay is a choice, as choosing AT is a choice. Actually, being gay is kind of natural, as a certain part of population always seems to skew that way. No amount of advertising by any gay rights group is going to increase their numbers. You're either born gay, or you're not. Period. Artificial turf, on the other hand, is entirely about choice. Unlike homosexuality, artificial turf IS a crime against nature, and should not be tolerated in any way, shape, or form."

Council still has more process to deal with before the final passage of this motion, but already 13 large coniferous trees have been felled and the 'practice' field area has been dug up.

Councillors who support the artificial turf and lights are Alison Morse, Cro Lucas, Doug Hooper and David Wrinch. --Wednesday vagabond (talk) 01:15, 16 July 2009 (UTC) Bold text