The Bowen Island Podcast

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, environmental protection and reconciliation, while undertaking a major update of the Official Community Plan that will help shape how — and where — the island grows.

We talk about what Andrew is proud of, what he might do differently, and what remains unfinished. We also explore some of the harder questions facing the next Council: How much can Bowen realistically take on? How do we balance what people want with what we can afford and deliver? What should our relationship with the Islands Trust look like? What should guide our decisions about growth when questions about water and infrastructure remain? What does reconciliation require of a small municipality? And how do seven independently elected people work together when they don't always agree?

This is a conversation about the choices Bowen Island will be making over the next four years — and the kind of community we want to become.


Note: This episode is transcribed using Musixmatch, an AI platform with some limited editing capability.


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 conversation, community and polarization, you can find me on other broadcast/podcast platforms, including The Conversation Lab, Everything Podcasts.com, Central City Foundations Hope Dialogue, or on Substack. 

Thanks for listening

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, reconciliation, and what good local governance looks like when people don’t always agree.

This is part of the Bowen Island Podcast’s 2026 Conversations with the Candidates series.





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 conversation, community and polarization, you can find me on other broadcast/podcast platforms, including The Conversation Lab, Everything Podcasts.com, Central City Foundations Hope Dialogue, or on Substack. 

Thanks for listening

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 Podcast, we talk with  Mayor Andrew Leonard, Daniel Martin (Manager of Planning and Development), and James Crandles (OCP Steering Committee co-chair) to unpack Bowen Island’s proposed Official Community Plan and the current phase of public engagement.

Together they explore:

• What an OCP is — and what it isn’t
• Why Bowen’s OCP is being updated now
• The guiding frameworks shaping the draft
• Housing diversity, infrastructure 
• Biodiversity, stewardship and climate resilience
• Transportation, community vitality and circular economy principles
• Land use maps, conservation areas and development permit areas
• How residents can participate meaningfully during this phase of engagement

This conversation is about helping all of us understand the choices, trade-offs and opportunities reflected in the draft — and to encourage your input. 

You can learn more at bowenislandmunicipality.ca

Thanks to everyone involved
Council Liaisons: Alex Jurgensen and Alison Morse
BIM Staff: Sarah Baxter, Stef Shortt, Daniel Martin, Xerxes Au   
Community members:  Co-Chairs: James Crandles, David McCullum  
Steering Committee Frits de Vries, Kiersten Enemark, Adam Lougheed, Melanie Mason, Betty Morton, Channa Pelpola, Glen Shkurhan    

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 conversation, community and polarization, you can find me on other broadcast/podcast platforms, including The Conversation Lab, Everything Podcasts.com, Central City Foundations Hope Dialogue, or on Substack. 

Thanks for listening

Jen Ford is the NDP Candidate for the West Vancouver Sea to Sky riding in this year's provincial election. She is a long-time community advocate with a deep commitment to social justice, environmental sustainability, and public service. In this episode, we get to know her better and learn what her hopes and aspirations are for the West Vancouver Sea to Sky Riding.

Our conversation highlighted the importance of advocating for small municipalities, addressing climate change, and supporting regional infrastructure and transit systems. Jen emphasizes the need for progressive policies like CleanBC to combat climate change and the importance of community-driven solutions for healthcare. She talks about the importance of community engagement, advocacy, and collaboration to address various social, environmental, and healthcare challenges in the region

Jeremy Valeriote is an environmental engineer who is passionate about public service and responsible governance. His strong commitment to sustainability and equal opportunity has focused on promoting environmental stewardship and grassroots democracy, values that are at the heart of the BC Green Party platform. 

Jeremy emphasizes the Green Party's influence on government action, particularly in areas like environmental protection and affordability measures. He highlighted the need for non-market housing solutions, healthcare reform, and sustainable tourism management in regions like the Sea-to-Sky corridor. He also discusses the importance of electing a mix of Greens and independents "to bring collaboration and civility back to the legislature." Our conversation focuses on the Green Party's principles, policies, and potential impact on addressing key issues facing British Columbians.

Join us as we get to know Jeremy better and his hopes and aspirations for the West Vancouver Sea to Sky Riding.

This is a sound-byte of a conversation I had with Don Forgeron when he was the President of the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

I posted it today following a discussion with Edward Wachtman about the Bowen Island Neighbourhood Emergency Response Program and our emergency preparedness. The question is what would you do if something like this happened? You can learn more about NERP and what to do here.

https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/emergency-program/neighbourhood-emergency-response-program/

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 tax. The conversation highlights the need for public engagement and the importance of addressing these issues for the community's well-being. Leonard emphasizes the need for conversations about managing tourism and mitigating climate change. He also mentions the municipality's efforts to promote arts and culture and encourages residents to participate in the budget process and the development of a new official community plan

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 conversation, community and polarization, you can find me on other broadcast/podcast platforms, including The Conversation Lab, Everything Podcasts.com, Central City Foundations Hope Dialogue, or on Substack. 

Thanks for listening

Wondering what to do about Climate Change? These are closing comments from Al Gore during the Climate Reality Leadership training I attended in Seattle. Small communities like Bowen Island struggle with what to do about our climate and while the future may be uncertain, I've always found his optimism helpful and a good place to start the next discussion. Enjoy!

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 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 conversation, community and polarization, you can find me on other broadcast/podcast platforms, including The Conversation Lab, Everything Podcasts.com, Central City Foundations Hope Dialogue, or on Substack. 

Thanks for listening

In this episode, David Hocking talks about how Bowen Islands' history of logging connects Mount Gardner, Crippen Park, and Cape Roger Curtis with a focus on moving from resource extraction to recreation and conservation.