Bowen Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bowen Island Nex̱wlélex̱m (Squamish)
Island municipality
Bowen Island Municipality
Bowen Island from the ferry
Location of Bowen Island in Metro Vancouver
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Regional district	Metro Vancouver
Incorporated	December 4, 1999
Named for	James Bowen
Seat	Bowen Island Municipal Hall
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
• Body	Bowen Island Municipal Council
Area
• Total	63.60 km2 (24.56 sq mi)
• Land	50.12 km2 (19.35 sq mi)
• Water	13.10 km2 (5.06 sq mi)
Dimensions
• Length	12 km (7 mi)
• Width	6 km (4 mi)
Highest elevation (Mount Gardner)	727 m (2,385 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	4,256
• Estimate  (2023)	4,181
• Density	84.9/km2 (220/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Bowen Islander
Time zone	UTC−8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Postal codes	V0N 1G0 V0N 1G1 V0N 1G2
Area codes	604, 778, 236, 672

Bowen Island is a beautiful island in British Columbia, Canada. Its name in the Squamish language is Squamish: Nex̱wlélex̱wm. It is part of Metro Vancouver and is located in Howe Sound. The island is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) long and 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) wide. At its closest point, it is only about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from the mainland.

You can get to Bowen Island by a regular ferry from Horseshoe Bay. There are also water taxi services. About 4,256 people live on Bowen Island. In the summer, this number grows by about 1,500 visitors who come to enjoy the island.

History of Bowen Island

First Peoples on the Island

The Squamish people have a special name for Bowen Island: Nex̱wlélex̱wm. This name means "Fast Drumming Ground." Some people think it describes the sound of the ocean moving through a narrow pass near the island. The Squamish people used Bowen Island for hunting and gathering food for many years. Places like Snug Cove were used as temporary camps during their trips.

They would travel to these resource sites during the warmer spring and summer months. In the 1950s, an elder named August Jack Khatsahlano remembered hunting deer on Bowen Island. He even said he caught the biggest deer in British Columbia there, weighing 195 pounds (88 kg)!

How the Island Got Its Name

When Spanish explorers first came to this part of Canada in 1791, they named the island Isla de Apodaca. Later, in 1860, a British captain named George Henry Richards renamed it after Rear Admiral James Bowen.

In 1871, the first settlers started building homes. They also built a brickworks that made bricks for the growing city of Vancouver. Over time, other industries like logging and mining were important on the island. Today, there isn't any heavy industry on Bowen Island.

Bowen Island in the 1900s

In the early 1900s, Bowen Island was famous for a big resort. Steamship companies brought many visitors from Vancouver. The Bowen Island Ferry service started in 1921. When the resort closed in the 1960s, the island became quieter.

In the 1940s and 1950s, many famous Canadian writers and artists visited a special place called Lieben. They found peace and inspiration there. Today, many people who live on Bowen Island travel to work in Vancouver.

Island Businesses

Bowen Island has many small businesses. You can find marinas, cafes, gift shops, and grocery stores. There's also a post office, a pharmacy, and several restaurants. If you want to explore, you can rent electric bikes or kayaks. The main shopping areas are in Snug Cove and Artisan Square. The island also has its own weekly newspaper, the Bowen Island Undercurrent.

Getting Around Bowen Island

By Water

The Queen of Capilano ferry arriving at Snug Cove, Bowen Island

The main way to get to Bowen Island is by ferry. BC Ferries operates the Queen of Capilano car ferry. It travels between Horseshoe Bay on the mainland and Snug Cove on Bowen Island.

There are also water taxi services. One service connects Snug Cove to Vancouver's Coal Harbour for commuters. Another water taxi provides late-night trips between Horseshoe Bay and Snug Cove.

By Land

The roads on Bowen Island are maintained by the local government. They can be hilly and winding. Most people use their own cars to get around. Hitchhiking is also common on the island.

Bowen Island has a limited bus service run by TransLink. These buses connect different parts of the island to Snug Cove. Their schedules are often timed to meet the ferry arrivals and departures.

Learning on Bowen Island

The Bowen Island Public Library building

Bowen Island is part of the West Vancouver School District. It has one public elementary school called Bowen Island Community School. Older students (grades 8 to 12) travel to West Vancouver for high school.

There is also a special middle school on the island called Island Pacific School. It offers an International Baccalaureate program for grades 6 to 9. The island also has a public library. It is located in the historic Old General Store building.

Places to Worship

Bowen Island United Church, around 1971

Bowen Island has several churches and places for religious gatherings. These include St Gerard's Catholic Church and the United Church. There is also the Bowen Island Community Church and Cates Hill Chapel.

Different groups like Unitarians and Quakers also hold regular meetings. Bowen Island is home to a Christian retreat center called L'Abri. There is also a summer camp for Christian Scientists called Camp Bow-Isle.

You can also find regular Buddhist meditation groups on the island. The island's Jewish community celebrates Shabbat and other holidays.

People of Bowen Island

In 2021, the population of Bowen Island was 4,256 people. This was an increase from 3,680 people in 2016. The island has a land area of about 50.12 square kilometers (19.35 square miles).

Most people on Bowen Island are of European background. There are also smaller groups of people from East Asian, Indigenous, Latin American, African, South Asian, and Southeast Asian backgrounds.

When it comes to religion, most people on Bowen Island do not identify with a specific religion. However, many people are Christian. There are also smaller groups who practice Buddhism and Judaism.

Movies and TV Shows Filmed on Bowen Island

Many movies and TV shows have been filmed on Bowen Island. Here are some of them:

• The Trap (1966)
• The Food of the Gods (1976)
• Clan of the Cave Bear (1986)
• People Across the Lake (1988)
• American Gothic (1988)
• Cousins (1989)
• Look Who's Talking (1989)
• Bird on a Wire (1990)
• The Russia House (1990)
• Another Stakeout (1993)
• Intersection (1994)
• Hideaway (1995)
• All the Winters That Have Been (1997)
• Disturbing Behavior (1998)
• Double Jeopardy (1999)
• Antitrust (2001)
• Rugged Rich and the Ona Ona (2004)
• The Fog (2005)
• Paper Moon Affair (2005)
• The Hitchhiker (2006)
• The Wicker Man (2006)
• Are We Still the Ugly American? (2008)
• River (2008)
• The Uninvited (2009)
• Harper's Island (2009)
• Virgin River (2019)

See also

In Spanish: Isla Bowen para niños