com˝unity rec ation pl 2017- - civicweb

COMMUNITY RECREATION PLAN

Growing A Healthy Community:

2017-2027

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Bowen Island Municipality initiated the development of a Community Recreation Plan as part of its desire to enrich the health and wellness of the community. Recreation on Bowen Island is built on direct service delivery, partnerships, and collaborations all working together to provide the community with opportunities to enhance physical well-being, lifelong learning, social connectedness, increased community capacity, accessibility and inclusiveness. The Community Recreation Plan informs the direction of Recreation services to this purpose.

Governance and policy-making are intended to maximize community resources and to support the exemplary work of the large number of sta� and volunteers who are essential to the delivery of quality services to the community. Services range from sports and fitness, arts and culture, and community learning to special events and other activities that aim to foster a sense of community cohesiveness. This plan will serve as a guide to decision making for future capital and operational initiatives that would bring together various groups and organizations to focus on providing community and recreation services to the residents of Bowen Island.

The Recreation Plan has been built with community input as its foundation. A community survey, numerous focus

groups, and meetings with community leaders provided solid data. The survey was followed up with visits to existing facilities and to the site of the proposed community centre.

The plan provides a framework for an ongoing process of assessment and evaluation of program services, allowing services to change or shift in response to community feedback. This process will encourage improvements that can be implemented at little or no cost to better meet the future needs of the community.

In their responses to requests for input, Bowen Island residents expressed a strong desire for a true community centre dedicated to leisure and recreation activities. A community centre has been in discussions for several years; however, the need is increasing as current facilities that house community recreation services could become unavailable in the next few years. This plan proposes that in keeping with demand and need, a building plan be initiated in the near future.

The plan recommends actions to be taken over a ten-year time span. A more detailed annual action plan should be developed to align with yearly objectives and associated budgets.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 4

THE CURRENT PICTURE 7

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED 12

CELEBRATING SUCCESS 17

VISION FOR THE FUTURE 18

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MISSION

Through community involvement, Bowen Island Community Recreation provides and promotes diverse opportunities to inspire healthy lifestyles, personal growth and the fulfillment of community potential.

Bowen Island Community Recreation

INTRODUCTION

To ensure that the community enjoys a high quality of life, it is important that services are being delivered in the most e�cient and e�ective manner. Bowen Island Municipality initiated the development of a Community Recreation Plan to meet this intended purpose.

In the Spring of 2014, Bowen Island Municipality and the Recreation and Community Services Commission hired Gary Young and Associates who initiated the starting point of the process. The consultant was tasked with conducting a household survey and facilitating focus groups that explored the present and future of recreation services on Bowen Island.

Using the information gathered from the survey and focus groups, this Recreation Plan is designed to provide a framework for consistent, rational and practical decisions.

The Mission Statement below has been adopted to provide a guide for the delivery of services and to act as a functional lens in building the Recreation Plan.

“Through community involvement, Bowen Island Community Recreation provides and promotes diverse opportunities to inspire healthy lifestyles, personal growth and the fulfillment of community potential.”

This document utilizes the definition of recreation used by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association:

“Recreation is the experience that results from freely chosen participation in physical, social, intellectual, creative and spiritual pursuits that enhance individual and community well-being. Recreation remains a fundamental human need in all ages and stages of life”

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The process for preparing the Recreation Plan was based in community research and dialogue. Bowen Island has completed several studies over the past few years. Research that informed our Recreation Plan included but was not limited to the following six sources:

1. Vital Conversations – 2014

2. OCP – 2011

3. Cultural Plan – 2003

4. Civic Facilities Working Group Community Centre Final Report – 2008

5. Proposed Civic Centre – 2005

6. Recreation Facilities Needs Assessment – 1999

One of the strongest issues that emerged from the reports was a need for a community-gathering place. Community support, when measured through various studies, is consistent and significant. Much of this is captured in the Bowen Island OCP.

Our primary tool in discerning recreation related information relied on an extensive community survey that was conducted in the summer of 2014. The survey was mailed to all 1,539 residential addresses and community members had the choice of completing the survey online with their unique household code or filling out a paper copy.

200 households responded which provided reliable results, i.e. results that could be expected to be accurate at least plus or minus 6.7 percentage points 19 times out of 20. The majority of responses were collected through an online tool.

The most significant findings can be found in the body of this report and the complete survey responses are in the appendices.

Based on the survey results, younger adults were under-represented in the sample and the oldest respondents were over represented. Respondents aged 35 to 64 years were represented in the sample at, or close to, their actual proportions in the population of Bowen Island. Weights

were applied prior to analysis to “correct” for over and under- representation on the variable of age bracket.

After the survey information was compiled, focus groups and community meetings were conducted to work in tandem with the community survey. The purpose was to provide additional details to augment the understanding of the survey data. The type of information gathered at these meetings included thoughts, feelings, attitudes, values, and suggestions. The meetings were held in December 2014. Focus groups were divided into the following segments:

• 55+ group

• Adult interview

• Stakeholders group

• Parents of school age/preschoolers group

• Youth group

• Recreation Commission

• Sta�

Understanding trends related to recreation provides insight into potential opportunities and challenges. When studying trends, the information should not be used to determine but rather to inform decision-making.

The information below is based on the consultants’ extensive work monitoring trends, researching best practises, facilitating thought-leader forums, hosting hundreds of community focus groups, facilitating and attending trend discussions at provincial, national, and international conferences, and tracking census data.

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Social Trends

• Increasing disparity between the “haves” and “have nots”

• Dramatic decline in volunteerism

Customer Trends

• Frustration about excessive demands on time, making time for recreation di�cult

• Preference for informal rather than formal activities

• Desire to be more involved in community programs and activities

Age- Specific Trends

• Lack of coordinated early-childhood-development programs and supports

• Failure to recognize “tweens” as a unique subgroup

• Widespread physical inactivity among children & youth

• Paucity of family-centered activities

• Healthier aging population requiring programs with higher levels of activity

Service Delivery Trends

• Requirement for integrated solutions

• Liaison between health and recreation

• Awareness of changing preferences in recreation and cultural activities

Outdoor Recreation Trends

• Trail uses as the most popular activity

• Greatest needs are in relation to trails – Connectivity, information, managing uses

• Facilities for youth reflect changing interests

• Increasing interests in dog o�-leash areas and urban agriculture

• Pressure on sta�ng levels due to demanding nature of aquatic programming

Indoor Recreation Trends - Participants

• Shift in demand for activities within indoor spaces

• Expectation of “green” buildings

Indoor Recreation Trends - Service Providers

• Shift toward a variety of facility-provision strategies (i.e., collaboration with not-for-profits, the private sector, etc.)

• No stable or permanent infrastructure

Through the process of reviewing work that has been done in past, current work and gaining information from the survey and focus groups, this Recreation Plan has been developed to provide a framework for meeting present and future recreation needs of our community.

Community Services Future

The expanded role of the Commission to include Community Services indicated our current understanding of what is meant by a healthy community and our commitment to working with the community to address the social issues that impact individual and community well-being. The Recreation Plan, while focusing on recreation, has also included a recommendation to research and articulate the role of the Municipality in community development, engagement and services.

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THE CURRENT PICTURE

Bowen Island Community Recreation Profile

Understanding the community served by Bowen Island Municipality begins with a review of key socio-demographic characteristics.

Key Population Characteristics and Trends

Bowen Island has a Total Population of 3680 as per the 2016 Canadian Census . The population size nearly doubles during the summer months due to part-time residents and visitors. Within this population there are 100 more women than men. The median age of the population is 46.6 years as compared the provincial mean of 41.9.

Based on the 2016 Census*, Bowen Island’s population breakdown is:

Recreation replenishes the body, inspires the mind, feeds the soul, and builds community.

Ages: % of Total BI Population: Province of BC %:

0-4 yrs 5% 5%

5-14 yrs 13% 10%

15-18 yrs 5% 5%

19-29 yrs 7% 14%

30-44 yrs 17% 20%

45-64 yrs 37% 30%

65+ yrs 16% 16%

*As new census data is released over the term of this plan, it will be important to update these statistics comparing Bowen Island to the rest of the province.

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The largest age cohort is middle-aged, between 45 and 64 at 37% and children from birth to 18 years old at 23%.

Project projections undertaken for the OCP update suggest the population could reach 4,000 by 2020.

Bowen Island Community School (grade K-7) enrolment was 392 in 1998-99, declining to 225 students in 2005-06. Since then, enrolment has been increasing steadily, with 330 students enrolled as of September 2015. Island Pacific School (grades 6-9) enrolment is close to capacity at 66 students.

Additional schooling occurs in the form of Montessori, home schooling and the Island Discovery Learning Centre.

Bowen is largely a community of homeowners. In 2011, 86% of dwellings were owner-occupied, in comparison with 81% province-wide.

Should the population of Bowen Island increase over the course of the next 10 years, this may increase pressures on facilities including schools.

Current Facilities and Community Recreation Programs and ServicesThe following is a summary of the facilities the Municipality either leases or uses under a special agreement and the programs o�ered at these sites. Because they are not Municipally-owned facilities, there are many restrictions that present a range of challenges. Additionally, the sites are not all in a central convenient location and are spread out across the island. Currently, the Municipality leases space from 4 di�erent landlords.

BOWEN ISLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOL (BICS)

Bowen Island Community School (BICS) is one of fourteen elementary schools in the West Vancouver School District. For many years, it has also served as the “community centre”, providing space for recreation and community learning programs. This particular school is relatively new and has a significant future building life.

The municipality accesses portions of the facility under a joint use agreement with the West Vancouver School District. This joint use agreement was most recently signed in 2017 and will be up for renewal again in 2022. Community use occurs through evenings and weekend use of the gym, the use of an o�ce, weight room, community use multipurpose room and kitchen. In addition, during the summer months, other rooms become available for community use.

The joint use agreement can be cancelled with one year’s notice. The School District has the right to take back and use the community portions of the building if the school population grows to a level that requires this space. The student population has been growing over the past several years making future community use potentially vulnerable. Currently, the school is the most heavily

“A Community Centre would provide space for social interaction and community building, a place to connect.

- Program participant

Bowen is largely a community of homeowners. In 2011, 86% of dwellings were owner-occupied, in comparison with 81% province-wide.


homeowners. In 2011, 86% of dwellings were owner-occupied, in comparison were owner-occupied, in comparison with 81% province-wide.


were owner-occupied, in comparison with 81% province-wide.

Should the population of Bowen Island increase over the course of the next 10

Island Discovery Learning Centre.

Bowen is largely a community of homeowners. In 2011, 86% of dwellings were owner-occupied, in comparison

Should the population of Bowen Island increase over the course of the next 10 years, this may increase pressures on

The joint use agreement can be cancelled with one year’s notice. The School District has the right to take back and use the community portions of the building if the school population grows to a level that requires this space. The student population has been growing

homeowners. In 2011, 86% of dwellings were owner-occupied, in comparison with 81% province-wide.


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used facility for public recreation. 56% of the households report using this facility during the last one year period with the heaviest usage coming from those households with children.

The following spaces have been, or are currently used for recreation activities:

Gymnasium

The gymnasium space is very well used for recreation programs seven days a week.

Community programs include: martial arts, various gym-oriented sports, community recreation special events, parent and tot gym time, fitness, etc.

OPPORTUNITIES:

• There are some programs that would work better in a smaller gym space, which would free up more time in a larger gym for other activities.

CHALLENGES:

• There is no access to the school gym during school hours for preschool and parent and tot programs, and seniors’ active programming.

• There is limited storage space. School events have priority over community groups; however, there is excellent cooperation and joint planning between sta� from the Community Recreation Department and the School District.

• All programs must end by 9:30 p.m. during the weekdays and later hours after 4:00 p.m. on weekends require additional custodial sta�ng.

• Overtime costs make it di�cult to utilize.

Community Use Room is used for Playcare, workshops, meetings, day camps and birthday parties.

OPPORTUNITIES:

• The Community Use Room is a well-utilized space for a variety of community programs and o�ers some storage, sink and access to the community kitchen and gymnasium.

CHALLENGES:

• It is a shared space with Bowen Children’s Centre after school, Monday to Friday; therefore, limited use throughout the week for other community recreation programs.

Multi-Purpose Room is used primarily for after school community learning programming.

OPPORTUNITIES:

• The Multi-Purpose Room is a larger space than the Community Use Room and is excellent for workshops, meetings and programming after school and on weekends.

CHALLENGES:

• There is no access during school hours.

• If the school population base grows, the multi-purpose room could be converted into a full-time classroom.

• There is no space for community storage.

Weight Room

• The weight room is very small and supports up to five people at any one time. The room is well equipped but does not provide a functional or pleasant fitness experience.

“ I love the family programs that encourage fitness and movement as well as social development and fun.


the multi-purpose room could be converted into a full-time classroom.

There is no space for community

The weight room is very small and supports up to five people at any one time. The room is well equipped but does not provide a functional or

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OPPORTUNITIES:

• Conveniently located in the same space as the Community Recreation o�ce.

CHALLENGES:

• Di�cult to operate around custodial hours.

• Not open on weekday evenings and weekends in the summer months due to school being closed.

• Weight room space is small and congested

LOWER LEVEL OF BOWEN ISLAND CHILDREN’S CENTRE

The Municipality has a five year lease with the Bowen Children’s Centre (e�ective 2016) for the entire lower level of the building. This area is divided into two spaces:

1) The Youth Centre and Family Place share one side of the building. Operation of the Youth Centre falls under the Bowen Island Community Recreation Department and o�ers programs and services for youth 12-18 years of age. These include a drop-in centre on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, workshops, leadership training, cooking programs, music programs, and special events (dances).

OPPORTUNITIES:

• Welcoming space for youth and equipped with t.v., couches, ping pong table, musical instruments and computers.

• Access to a full kitchen.

CHALLENGES:

• Shared space with Family Place.

• Not accessible during the weekday hours.

2) The second half of the space is used for running a wide-variety of recreation programs including: fitness, dance, workshops and special events.

OPPORTUNITIES:

• Programs can be run at any time of the day, any time of the week.

• Bright space for fitness and dance programs.

• Well-equipped with mirrors, barres and fitness equipment.

• Welcoming entrance for participants’ storage of jackets and shoes.

CHALLENGES:

• Lack of adequate storage for fitness equipment.

• Limited capacity for program registration based on the size of the room.

• The Children’s Centre is faced with a need for space to expand; therefore they may require the dance /fitness studio space to meet the needs of the community. Currently, the municipality has signed a 5 year lease until 2021.

BOWEN ISLAND ARTS COUNCIL GALLERY SPACE

The Gallery at Artisan Square is a wonderful community gallery operating out of lease space by the Bowen Island Arts Council (BIAC). The Municipality currently operates under a service agreement with BIAC that allows for use of up to 12 hours per month during weekdays and weekday evenings (except Friday evening).

OPPORTUNITIES

• A facility to run “soft” recreation programs from.

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CHALLENGES

• BIAC uses this space to house art exhibitions on walls, as well as 3-D installations.

• Limited hours and days available for programming.

Tunstall Bay Pool/Clubhouse

The Municipality rents the pool from the Tunstall Bay Community Association for approximately 80-90 hours per year (in the summer months) to o�er community swim lessons and Adult Aquafit.

OPPORTUNITIES:

• Ability to o�er “on-island” swimming lessons to community members.

CHALLENGES:

• The pool is very old and is in need of substantial repairs.

• Limited accessibility.

• Seasonal.

• Unable to meet swimming lesson demand due to limited accessibility.

Community CollaborationsThe role of Community Recreation is not only to provide a variety of programs and services to the community, but it is also important to help ensure that residents have access to programs they need and want. In order to achieve this, it is important to work with local community organizations to help meet those needs.

Community Recreation works closely with the following Bowen Island organizations on a regular basis:

• Bowen Island Arts Council

• Bowen Island Community School

• Bowen Island Gymnastics Club

• Seniors Keeping Young

• Bowen Island Yacht Club

• Bowen Island Football Club

• Bowen Children’s Centre

• Caring Circle

• Bowen Island Golf Club

• First Credit Union

• Tunstall Bay Community Association

• Positively Fit

• Island Pacific School

• Island Discovery Learning Centre

• Bowen Island Community School Association

• Bowen Island Early Childhood Development Table

• Bowen Island Tourism

• Bowen Island Family Place

O�-Island Collaborations• Vancouver Coastal Health

• North Shore Family Resources

• Sea-to-Sky Programming Coalition

• BC Recreation and Parks Association

• Canadian Red Cross

• West Vancouver School District

“BICR is doing a fantastic job providing quality programming in the face of a huge lack of space and absence of a Community Centre.”


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WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED

Survey Results

OVERALL COMMUNITY USE OF FACILITIES

The community is active in utilizing both indoor and outdoor amenities on Bowen Island as well as programs and facilities o� the island. The following are some of the highlights of the data:

• Households with children living in the home were more likely than households with no children to report current or recent use of all of the facilities except the Gallery.

• There are marked di�erences between households with children and without children regarding annual use:

BICS (80% and 41%)

Sports fields (79% and 27%)

The Youth Centre (70% and 25%)

West Vancouver Community Centre (67% and 25%)

Tunstall Bay Clubhouse (56% and 23%)

BI Golf Course (46% and 29%)

Tennis Courts (36% and 15%)

Gleneagles Community Centre (14% and 2%)

Summary of Comments

Household income may be a factor in use of sports fields, the golf course, and tennis courts, for which use increased with the increasing income. For example, recent use of the sports fields was 40% of households with incomes up to $65,000, 38% of those with incomes of $65,001 to $100,000 and 65% of the highest household income bracket of over $100,000.

Conversely, the households in the lower income bracket were more likely to use the Youth Centre, 53% as compared with 43% of those with incomes of $65,001 to $100,000 and 34% the highest household income bracket of over $100,000.

Use tended to decrease as age groupings became older, which is consistent with the finding of higher use among households with children in the home. The exceptions were the Gallery and Collins Hall, for which use did not vary much for age bracket respondents.

Low use of the West Vancouver Community Centre was found for the youngest age group of 19 to 34 (20%) and the oldest group of 65 and older (21%) while use was very high for the 35 to 44 (66%) and 45 to 54 year olds (50%) and remained fairly high for the 55 to 65 group.

Significantly higher use of Gleneagles Community Centre was found among 19 to 34 year olds (20%) in comparisons with the other age groups (5%).

Tennis court use was significantly higher for the 35 to 44 (37%) and 45 to 54 groups (35%)

Residents are using a wide variety of other facilities in other communities.

Other facilities not on the list that were mentioned by survey respondents included: recreation centres, pools, ice arenas and sports fields, usually in North Vancouver and Vancouver, but also in Burnaby, Whistler, and Squamish.

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Bowen Island Gym was the most frequently mentioned private facility on Bowen Island. Also mentioned were Positively Fit Studio, Seven Hills Yoga Studio, various dance studios, Vancouver Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club, Gleneagles skateboard and bike park, beaches and other outdoor recreation destinations.

A CENTRAL LOCATION

The survey and focus groups provided the community with opportunities to add further thoughts to our review. One question in the survey and repeated in focus groups asked people to identify their top priorities for improvement. The primary request was to build a new Community facility that was a central location for all activities.

The following list summarizes what the community expressed in the survey and focus groups:

• Multi-purpose spaces

• Well equipped

• Lots of windows, natural light

• Rooms wired for technology

• Space to support multiple activities run simultaneously

• Configuration of space and mix of programming that will encourage social interaction and community building

• Space should be welcoming – like a living room and encourage people to stay and visit/connect

• Needs to be a reasonable cost

• Accessible

• Needs to be right in the Cove

• Needs to be accessible by bus

• Don’t spend too much money

• More flexible and accessible space for seniors

• Need to find ways to “cross pollinate” service amongst the various organizations.

• A new facility would be the heart of the community

Fitness/ Personal Health

• Dance room for classes

• Storage areas for equipment

• Bigger and more fitness classes

• Better weight room

• Designated rooms so people don’t always have to put everything away

• Places to play di�erent sports (gym always booked)

• Rooms for yoga etc.

Cultural Facilities

• Community needs a community centre with a decent sized performing hall seating, lighting, sound system, storage facilities, and backstage facilities.

• Flexible space for things like movies, lunch, kitchen, community meetings.

• Spaces for more specialized arts classes (child and adult) i.e. painting, pottery, photography etc.

Child Support

• More indoor play space

• On-site childcare with more hours

• More small infant/toddler/child friendly events throughout the year

Social Recreation

• Meeting areas for bridge and activities for adults and seniors

OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES

The survey indicated the need for outdoor recreation activities that addressed adult and youth priorities. These included:

• Better cycling facilities all over the island

• Skateboard / Bike Park

• Longboard opportunities

• Mountain biking trails on Mt. Gardner

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• Need connecting trails from one end of the island to the other

• Walking trails

AMENITIES

• Swimming pool

• Ice arena

• Covered tennis courts

• Climbing wall

Barriers Limiting ParticipationOne of the most valuable pieces of information to increase participation is to understand the barriers that households are currently facing.

15% of survey respondents indicated no di�culties that limit or prevent participation by themselves or others in their household in recreation programs and activities while 18% listed one barrier, and 73% identified two or more barriers.

The six most frequently mentioned barriers were mentioned by a quarter to half of survey respondents and are summarized below.

• “No time” is a barrier to 50% of surveyed households and is a significant barrier, regardless of age, household income bracket, or whether or not there are children in the home.

• The timing of programs is inconvenient was the second most frequently mentioned barrier, said to a�ect 44% of survey households. It is a significant barrier regardless of age, household income bracket, or whether or not there are children in the home.

• Not Interested in what is available or what I am interested in is not available was the third most frequently cited barrier at 34%. It was particularly applicable to households with respondents 55 years and older (43% - 45%)

• Can’t commit to a registered program that runs for several weeks (8 week sessions) was the fourth most frequently mentioned barrier and a�ects 30%. It is a barrier especially for households in the highest income bracket of over $100,000 and 19 to 34 year olds.

• Inconvenient locations / too far away is a barrier for 26% of households, and was the fifth most

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frequently mentioned barrier. It is a major barrier for households with children, households with younger respondents, 19 to 34 years, and households with annual incomes $100,000 or less.

• What I / we want to do costs too much is a barrier for 23% of survey households. It is a major barrier for households with younger respondents 19 to 34 years, households with children, and is more of a factor in households with annual incomes of $100,000 or less.

The survey found that cost is a barrier to 33% of the lowest household income group of $30,000 or less and 31% of households with $30,001 to $65,000 annual income.

Summary of Other Comments

The following is a summary of other comments that we collected regarding program services from the survey, focus groups and interviews. These comments are clustered but not weighted. Overall, there is high interest in additional fitness, health and wellness, community and social activities, and outdoor activities.

General Comments

• Timing for programs; many of the fitness classes are run during the mornings / daytime, nothing available during the weekends

• More programs that provide a learning opportunity (e.g. woodworking, art, design, etc.)

• Outdoor fitness classes; boot camp is great, would also like to see some similar type outdoor classes like Twist, extreme fitness classes with parachutes and ropes, women’s kick boxing, spin classes, Zumba, long distance and trail running groups

• Have a four season plan for programs and include more options and payments for various ages

• More art-based programs

• Community learning, like meditation, stress reduction workshops, healthy eating, nutrition, etc.

Seniors

• Seniors need space and perhaps transportation support for the very elderly and frail

• Reduced cost for senior programs in health and fitness

• Outdoor programs for seniors; programs that focus on social and recreational opportunities for older men.

Baby Boomers

• More 55+ programs, including educational programs, fitness

• Areas to stretch in the weight room – Mirrors that are not cluttered with stu� in front of them – areas for training (i.e. weights / cardio machines/ floor works; space for more age appropriate machines (thinking of the 55+ group)

“Keep up the great work, you oer a huge variety of activities.


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Younger Adults

• Higher end social events for adults

• Need easily accessible programs that can bring islanders together – pickup games where you drop in, classes for a variety of keeping healthy alternatives, and facilities where people can teach a variety of dance or fitness disciplines

• More options for time of programs; more frequent fitness and health programs; more classes for those without children

• More programs available on the weekends, evening, or early morning so that commuters who work o� island can attend classes

• More options for adults; skating, swimming, special events, (such as small music concerts, like the symphony that played at BICS, art programs from the city)

Teens

• More engagements for youth; more attention, funding, and resources for youth programs and services; more youth programming taking advantage of BI and the North Shore outdoor opportunities such as hiking, kayaking, biking.

• More youth events and activities planned such as teen centre facilities and outings;

• More specific programs for teens – real activities at youth centre – not just a hangout spot; real sports and training for teens, etc.

• It is a struggle for youth to participate in o�-island activities due to transportation

Children

• More dance programs for young kids at an a�ordable price

• Some additional shorter craft classes for kids, more holiday special events, kids day trips during o� season, a family bus tour to see lights at Christmas, a multifamily get away weekend/ bus trip to Whistler

• Indoor soccer or hockey for wee ones (5 and under)

• More programs for younger children; 3 year olds have very limited opportunities

Families

• Would like to see more activities where people of all ages are brought together to participate in a common goal (i.e., group hikes/ boat trips with a nature interpretation across the island)

• More family health and wellness programs, such as bike tune-up day in the spring and family bike rides

• More sport options like stand up paddle boarding that is a�ordable

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CELEBRATING SUCCESS

Recreation Service Participation

Registered Programs 418 Registered Program Participation

2,122

Drop-in Programs 20 Drop-in Program Participation

4,503

Community Special Events (non-registered)

2 Community Special Event Participation

1,100

Youth Centre Drop-in 3 nights/week

Youth Centre Drop-in Participation

3,494

Youth Special Events 31 Youth Special Events Participation

346

Volunteer Opportunities 70 Volunteer Hours Contributed

1,650

Community Partnerships 15

Youth Leadership Opportunities

36 Total Hours of Programming O�ered

3,335

“I was initially doubtful at the first class if I would be physically able, but learned that with the right mix of encouragement and information and challenge, I can change my physical and mental image of myself.


“I think you do a great job with programming, etc., especially given the limitations of a small community.


The Bowen Island Community Recreation Department plays an integral and important role in the physical, social and economic well-being of the community. Using the department’s Mission Statement as a guide, sta�, instructors and volunteers provide recreational and cultural programs and services to enhance leisure opportunities for all ages of the population. These include providing community-wide special events and registered programs in the areas of fitness, dance, martial arts, preschool, sports, youth services, day camps and other activities.

With over 2,400 people in the recreation database, 2016 statistics show the following:

Beyond providing these programs and services, the Community Recreation Department has an important role collaborating with a wide variety of community organizations, working with local user groups and contributing to community-wide initiatives. This is a significant and vital role that allows sta� to continually adapt and develop ways to meet the changing leisure needs and demands of our community.

Working closely with the Recreation and Community Services Commission, policies are developed that encourage participation in all areas of the Department. Of particular importance is the Financial Assistance policy that provides funding for members of the community who may not be able to financially a�ord to participate, ensuring that programs are accessible to all.

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VISION FOR THE FUTURE

People participate in recreational activities for fun, enjoyment, fitness and health, social interaction, creative expression, a desire to connect with nature, relaxation, and to enhance their quality of life.

Vision for the Future

In developing our Plan – our Vision for the Future – we are guided by our Mission statement and our Five Foundations for a Healthy Community.

Guiding Foundations Framework – Our Healthy CommunityOur Healthy Community is accessible, active, caring, safe, socially inclusive, viable and vibrant. It is a community in which Bowen Islanders can live, work, and play. Recreation adds to a community’s vibrancy and sense of place by creating opportunities for active and creative expression, social gatherings, sport and cultural events, and community festivals.

More specifically, our healthy community is a place where community members can truly realize the many benefits of participating in recreation.

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Health and Physical Well-Being

Ongoing development and facilitation of activities, opportunities and resources that support individuals and families in engaging in a healthy lifestyle.

Life-Long Learning and Personal Achievement

Supporting and developing opportunities for all ages to engage in formal and informal learning for enjoyment, skill development, personal growth and continuous engagement in their communities.

Social Engagement & Connectedness

Creating a socially connected community where everyone feels like they belong. Developing initiatives and partnerships that enhance opportunities for people to know their neighbours, get involved, build relationships, and contribute to the creation of strong social networks.

Community Capacity Building

Work with, and support individuals and organizations to engage and grow e�ectively by identifying, developing and strengthening the skills, competencies, abilities and resources that are needed to build a healthy community.

Accessibility and Inclusiveness

Focus on ensuring all programs and services are barrier free and welcoming places.

The Bowen Island Community Recreation Plan has identified five foundations that provide a framework for a healthy and complete community, and act as the basis for the recommendations of the Recreation Plan:

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Vision for the Future: Recommendations

Community engagement, one of our foundations, was key to our learning and was an integral component in the development of our recommendations. The following recommendations are supported by our Five Foundations and reflect what we heard from the community.

Recommendation Rationale Foundations Supported

Support the development of a Community Centre.

The Community Centre project is clearly identified as a priority in the Municipality’s Island Plan.

The community has expressed a desire to have one common place to gather where a variety of programs can be o�ered for all ages.

Facing a facility deficit on the island.

Limitation in meeting community’s recreation needs as identified in the data based on current space options.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT & CONNECTEDNESS

ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVENESS

Engage the community in developing outdoor recreation opportunities.

Identified as a need by the community through the survey and focus groups.

Look at ways to make Community Recreation available to support local groups/businesses/organizations who provide outdoor recreation opportunities.

Gifted with incredible outdoor assets on Bowen Island.

Promoting informal opportunities for unstructured outdoor recreation.

LIFE-LONG LEARNING AND PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT

COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING

Focus attention on the areas of greatest dissatisfaction (particularly in youth and seniors) programming.

Identified as a need by the community through the survey and focus groups.

Community feedback will help inform successful programming.

Responding to changing demographic.

Recognizing healthier lifestyles of the 55+ age group and accommodating their needs.

Successful at meeting the needs of the early youth years but need to focus on older youth and young adults.





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Create opportunities for varied progressive lifelong learning and skills building initiatives.

Commitment to work with the community to provide opportunities that are wanted and/or needed.

“Personal growth” is identified in the Community Recreation Mission statement.



Engage the participants in regular reviews of classes, programs and recreation initiatives.

Keeping up with current trends in recreation programming.

Ensuring that programs and recreation initiatives are meeting the needs of participants.




Collaborate with, and support other community groups on shared community initiatives and services (on-island and o�-island).

With limited resources there is a need to find ways to work e�ciently and e�ectively together with other organizations/businesses/groups.

Importance of acknowledging and celebrating the assets of the community and what programs and services exist throughout the island.



Enhance the development of the Leaders in Training program for local youth.

Keep youth engaged in their local community while building work experience.

Continuity of developing future employees on the island.

Developing mentoring skills in the older youth for the younger youth.

Provide more opportunities for youth to apply their skills throughout the year.




Address barriers that prevent participation in programs.

Identified by the community through the survey results.

Community Recreation’s mandate is to provide accessible programs and services throughout the community.





Work with the community to enhance and support volunteer opportunities.

There is no central database around volunteer opportunities.

Way for residents to be connected to their community.

Opportunities for sharing of training and volunteers.




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Report to Council annually on the work of the Recreation and Community Services Commission.

Public accountability. SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT & CONNECTEDNESS


Develop strategies to engage community members currently not using recreation services.

As identified by the community through the survey results, younger adults were under-represented.






Research and articulate the role of the Municipality in community development, engagement and services.

The role of the commission to include community services has indicated the need to undertand what is meant by working with the community to address social issues that impact individual and community well-being.


SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND CONNECTEDNESS


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981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island BC V0N 1G2

www.bimbc.ca 604-947-4255 [email protected] facebook.com/bowenislandmunicipality @BIMunicipality youtube.com/bowenislandmunicipality

981 Artisan Lane Bowen Island BC V0N 1G2

www.bowenrecreation.com 604-947-2216 [email protected] facebook.com/BowenIslandCommunityRecreation @BowenRecreation youtube.com/bowenislandmunicipality

Designer: Fenella Jacquet, Bowen Island

Photography: Deb Stringfellow, Shelley Shannon, Shauna Jennings, Christine Walker, Rebecca Lyne

com˝unity rec ation pl 2017- - civicweb

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