The Bowen Island Podcast

Two years ago, Jeremy Valeriote was elected MLA for West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. Now, with British Columbia heading back to the polls, in this episode we talk about what he’s learned since entering the Legislature — and the work he wants to finish on our behalf. We talk about housing and responsible growth, affordability, transportation and Highway 99, health care, climate change, emergency prepared...

Election 2026 Seven candidates. Five positions . One conversation about our kids and the future of public education. As part of our 2026 local election coverage, we brought together all seven candidates seeking election as School Trustees representing West Vancouver, Bowen Island and Lions Bay. In order of introduction, you’ll hear from incumbents Sheelah Donahue and Felicia Zhu, followed by John...

What do 27 years around Bowen’s Council table teach you about what local government can — and can’t — accomplish? Alison Morse has lived on Bowen for about 30 years and has served on every municipal Council since incorporation. Now she’s asking voters to return her to Council and elect her to the Islands Trust. In this conversation, Alison reflects on what all those years have taught her: the impo...

What does Bowen need to finish before it takes on more — and what kind of island are we trying to protect for the future? In this wide-ranging Election 2026 conversation, incumbent Councillor and Islands Trust Trustee Judith Gedye talks about the realities of governing a small island community: municipal spending and the budget, unfinished work from the current term, and the challenge of deciding...

Caroline Parker has called Bowen Island home for 17 years and has been an active participant in community life throughout much of that time. With a background in law and education, Caroline brings both professional experience and a long familiarity with Bowen to her decision to run for Council. In this conversation, we talk about many of the issues facing the island: housing and affordability, wat...

Seventeen years after first coming to Bowen Island, Constance Barnes is asking Islanders to elect her to Municipal Council. In this conversation, Constance talks about what initially brought her to Bowen, her work with the Orchard Treatment Centre, and the experience she gained as an elected Vancouver Park Board commissioner and Chair. She reflects on community, public service and leadership—and a...

In this episode of the Bowen Island Podcast, I sit down with Tim Hausch. We talk about whar he loves about Bowen and what has drawn him into local politics, the issues he believes the island needs to confront, and how he thinks about growth, affordability, the environment, governance and Bowen's future. There are no gotcha moments here. This is an opportunity to spend a little time with the people...

Patrick Reakes joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about Bowen Island, why he’s running, and some of the challenges he believes the next Council will need to confront. At the top of his list is Bowen’s financial position and his concern about the municipal budget deficit, rising costs and whether the way we’re doing things is sustainable. We also talk about water, infrastructure, wildfire pre...

In this episode, Keith Davidson talks about his love for Bowen Island, his long-standing commitment to community service, and why he’s decided to put his name forward in this election. We talk about the challenges facing Bowen, how a small municipality decides what it can realistically afford and deliver, and the importance of making thoughtful decisions about the island’s future. Keith also refle...

This episode is with  Alex Jurgensen. We talk about his first term on council, why he's running again, and what he believes Bowen needs to focus on over the next four years. Our conversation ranges from housing, land use and the OCP to affordability, accessibility, transparency and inclusion, the environment, Islands Trust and the challenges of making decisions in a small community where people do...

Four years ago, Andrew Leonard was elected Mayor of Bowen Island. Now, as another municipal election approaches, we sat down to talk about what those four years have taught him — about Bowen, about local government, and about being mayor. It has been a consequential term. Bowen has wrestled with a campground proposal, housing and affordability, ferry congestion, aging infrastructure, water supply,...

Sue Ellen Fast has called Bowen Island home since 1992 and has served on Municipal Council and as an Islands Trust trustee since 2014. In this conversation, we talk about her years in public service, what she believes she has learned along the way, the challenges facing Bowen, and why she is asking voters for another four years. We also talk about the environment, growth, the Islands Trust, reconc...

Bowen’s Future: Understanding the Draft Official Community Plan If you’ve ever wondered whether your children will be able to live on Bowen, worried about water shortages, wildfire risk, ferry traffic, housing diversity, environmental protection, or simply what kind of island future generations will inherit… then you already have a stake in this conversation. In this episode of The Bowen Island Po...

Just over a year ago, we elected a new municipal council and in this podcast, Mayor Leonard talks about the challenges and opportunities on Bowen Island. Our conversation covers a range of topics including the challenges faced by the municipality, such as housing infrastructure, and grant funding. We also discuss Bowen Island's short-term rental policy and the possibility of establishing a tourism...

Holly Graff and Richard Smith join us in this episode to talk about the work of the Bowen Island Community Foundation and some of the things that got us here, some great ideas from our neighbors that benefit everyone on the island, and that it's time again for Vital Conversations. The Bowen Island Podcast is produced in a small cabin in the woods on Bowen Island, on the ancestral and unceded terri...

Peter Frinton has lived on Bowen with his partner Carol since 1972. He became active politically in the early 90s as a GVRD alternate and then as chair of the APC. He served on Bowen Council for 4 terms and was also an Islands Trust trustee, Metro Vancouver Director, the Mayors' Council delegate to Translink, and he served on the Treaty Advisory Commission. In this episode, he shares some stories...

Peter Frinton has lived on Bowen with his partner Carol since 1972. He became active politically in the early 90s as a GVRD alternate and then as chair of the APC. He served on Bowen Council for 4 terms and was also an Islands Trust trustee, Metro Vancouver Director, the Mayors' Council delegate to Translink, and he served on the Treaty Advisory Commission. In this episode, he shares some stories...

This is a conversation with Bob Turner. A former Mayor on Bowen Island, conservationist, and filmmaker. I reached out to Bob to help provide context to the many issues we face on this small island, and to understand the politics of environmentalism. The Bowen Island Podcast is produced in a small cabin in the woods on Bowen Island, on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw...

Mayoral Candidate Andrew Leonard shares his vision for Bowen Island in the 2022 Municipal Election. The picture was updated when it was announced that he had won. The Bowen Island Podcast is produced in a small cabin in the woods on Bowen Island, on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw — the Squamish Nation — with gratitude for their stewardship of these lands and waters...

Judi Gedye joins us to talk about life on Bowen Island and why she wants to run for municipal council and the Islands Trust. The Bowen Island Podcast is produced in a small cabin in the woods on Bowen Island, on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw — the Squamish Nation — with gratitude for their stewardship of these lands and waters over countless generations. If you’d...

I was delighted to catch up with Alison Morse to talk about her vision for Bowen Island and what being on the municipal council has been like over the years. The Bowen Island Podcast is produced in a small cabin in the woods on Bowen Island, on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw — the Squamish Nation — with gratitude for their stewardship of these lands and waters over...

Sue Ellen Fast talks about her love of nature, her vision for Bowen Island and a little about the Islands Trust The Bowen Island Podcast is produced in a small cabin in the woods on Bowen Island, on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw — the Squamish Nation — with gratitude for their stewardship of these lands and waters over countless generations. If you’d like to explo...

We caught up with John Saunders to talk about hockey, how he discovered Bowen Island and why he wants to be a municipal councilor. The Bowen Island Podcast is produced in a small cabin in the woods on Bowen Island, on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw — the Squamish Nation — with gratitude for their stewardship of these lands and waters over countless generations. If...

Tim Wake is running for council and talks about the issues and his vision for Bowen Island The Bowen Island Podcast is produced in a small cabin in the woods on Bowen Island, on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw — the Squamish Nation — with gratitude for their stewardship of these lands and waters over countless generations. If you’d like to explore more of my work on...

Alex Jurgensen is running for Bowen Island Council and in this episode, he talks about those things that are important to him. The Bowen Island Podcast is produced in a small cabin in the woods on Bowen Island, on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw — the Squamish Nation — with gratitude for their stewardship of these lands and waters over countless generations. If you’...