The Bowen Island Podcast

About The Bowen Island Podcast

Welcome to the Bowen Island Podcast. Bowen Island, or Nex̱wlélex̱wm, is tucked away in Howe Sound and forms part of the scenic "Sea to Sky" corridor that stretches from West Vancouver through Lions Bay, Squamish, Whistler, and into the Pemberton Valley. This region is home to the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), Lil'wat (Lil̓wat7úl), or N'Quatqua (N'k̓wátkwa̱), and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, whose rich cultural heritage continues to shape and enrich the area's vibrant community. Known for its breathtaking natural beauty, this region also boasts the UNESCO-designated Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere Region, highlighting its global significance. The Bowen Island Podcast started by engaging with all of the candidates in the 2022 municipal elections on Bowen Island. In recent episodes, we've expanded our focus to include former mayors, councillors, and other key community figures. Our last initiative was to connect with candidates from the Sea to Sky riding to get their various perspectives, and presently, we're engaged in Bowen's Official Community Plan. Please subscribe/follow to learn when the next podcast is available.

Publisher

Don Shafer

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Aug 2022

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

41 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   BC Elections 2026 - Conversation with Jeremy Valeriote

   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 preparedness, and the challenge of representing a riding that stretches from West Vancouver and Bowen Island to Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. We also talk about the changing political landscape in British Columbia, the role of the BC Greens, what can actually be accomplished by an opposition MLA — and what Jeremy believes he still has left to do 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

2. 

   23 Sept 2026

   School Trustee Candidates Roundtable

   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 Sheliah Donahue and Felicia Zhu, followed by John O’Flinn, Richard Loat, John Calimente, Roman Nurpissov and Karen Straith. We cover a lot of ground: why they’re running, what they’re hearing from students and families, what our schools could be doing better, how we balance priorities with limited resources, and what we should be preparing today’s kids for in a rapidly changing world. Don’t have an hour to listen? The conversation falls naturally into three parts: The first 15 minutes — Meet the candidates. Each candidate introduces themselves, talks about their background and explains why they’re running. The middle 30–35 minutes — The conversation. Questions and discussion about students, schools, priorities, budgets, resources and the challenges facing public education. The final 10 minutes — Closing thoughts. Each candidate gets a final opportunity to tell voters what they think is important and why they want to serve. So, you can listen to the whole roundtable, or choose the section that interests you most. This is a chance to hear all seven candidates together, in their own words, and learn a little more about them. 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

3. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Alison Morse - Election 2026

   Alison Morse has lived on Bowen for roughly 30 years and has served on every municipal Council since incorporation In this conversation, Alison reflects on what she has learned from more than two decades of local government — including why municipal strategic plans can become too ambitious, how priorities get lost when Council tries to do too much, and what experience has taught her about what a small municipality can realistically accomplish. We also talk about the new Official Community Plan, the proposed Land Use Map and housing. Alison wonders how parts of the community will accept a little more density when that becomes more than an idea on a planning document. And we talk about why, after all these years in municipal government, she now wants to represent Bowen on the Islands Trust — again,  and what she believes that experience could bring to the job. 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

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Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.