Journey To Bowen Island

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 All chase ½ round clockwise to opposite side; 4s+3s and 2s+1s dance ½ RH across and ½ turn partner RH. (3)(4)(1)(2)
9-16 All repeat bars 1-8 back to original places
17-24 Ladies advance and retire and set twice while Men set, advance and retire, set
25-32 1s cross RH below 2s (2s dance up to 1st place), cast behind 3s (3s step up), cross LH below 4s (4s dance up), all 4 couples set. 2341

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Dance Information

The island spans about 12 kilometres in length and 6 kilometres in width, covering a land area of 50.12 square kilometres. The highest point is Mount Gardner, reaching an elevation of 727 metres.

As of the 2021 census, the island had a population of 4,256 residents, with an estimated population of 4,181 in 2023. The population density stands at approximately 84.9 individuals per square kilometre.

The indigenous Squamish people refer to the island as Nex̱wlélex̱wm. Historically, they utilised areas such as Snug Cove for seasonal hunting and gathering. The island continues to be used by Squamish and Musqueam communities for activities like deer hunting.

Bowen Island was incorporated as a municipality on 4 December 1999. It operates under a mayor-council government system, with Andrew Leonard serving as the current mayor (c. 2025).

Transportation to and from the island is primarily via a ferry service operated by BC Ferries, connecting Snug Cove on Bowen Island to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. This route, designated as Route 8, covers a distance of three nautical miles across Queen Charlotte Channel. In 2023, the ferry service transported over 1.3 million passengers and approximately 575,000 vehicles.

Snug Cove serves as the main harbour and community hub of the island. It features a marina capable of accommodating vessels up to 200 feet in length. The area also houses buildings dating back to the early 1900s, including the old post office and cottages constructed by the Union Steamship Company.

Apodaca Provincial Park is located on the central eastern shoreline of Bowen Island. Established in 1954, the park encompasses an area of 8 hectares. It aims to protect various marine and terrestrial species, including marbled murrelets, harbour seals, killer whales, Pacific octopuses, rockfish, and ochre starfish. The park's flora includes Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, salal, and Pacific madrone.

Bowen Island

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