If it wasn’t clear to begin with, what’s come in focus in recent weeks is that Bowen Islanders love living in the woods. Yes, it’s true, we laud the odd sunny patch as a great place to plant a garden, and appreciate the wide-open views afforded by the shoreline… but this is a community in which trees are sacred. In Bowen’s forests, you’ll find people walking, playing, singing, foraging and educating children.

And while Canadians claim to revere moose, loons and beaver, most only ever come in contact with these creatures when they count change.

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Here it could undoubtedly be proven that “deer” is one of the first fifty words every Bowen baby learns.

With this drastic difference in perspective, it should come as no surprise that people from off-island see more value in cutting our trees than leaving them standing.

But they don’t know what they’re in for. This is a community made up of lawyers, researchers, scientists and regular people willing to attend political meetings and if necessary, put their bodies in front of heavy machinery.

So BC Timber Sales don’t fool yourselves: there’s no bureaucratic fast track that will make hauling logs off this island easy. If you’re coming to Bowen to talk, prepare to listen… settle-in and know that you’re more likely to leave this place with an education in the local reverence for Douglas Fir than any revenue from stumpage fees.

See you all Sunday.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This was written before BCTS decided to pull Bowen Island out of the latest Forest Service Plan.