In 2025, the Bowen Island Community Foundation awarded $72,145 in grants to support important community initiatives. These grants are made possible by the generosity of our donors. The funded projects all respond to community needs identified in the 2023 Vital Conversations report and are awarded from the Foundation’s Community Impact Fund.
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Organization: The Men’s Shed
Project: Insulate and ventilate the community club workshop
Grant Amount: $9,145
Vital Conversations Priorities: Community Building; Youth and Seniors
The Men’s Shed project will create a fully equipped woodshop in a 40×8 sea-can at Island Pacific School, offering a welcoming space where men can work side by side, build skills, and foster connection—combatting isolation in retirement. Outfitted with electricity, heat, and lighting, the shed now needs insulation and a dust-extraction system to be safe and functional. This partnership with IPS also allows intergenerational learning, with students benefiting from shared skills and mentorship. Charitable partner for grant: Island Pacific School
Organization: The Hearth—Arts on Bowen
Project: New website for the Bowen Theatre
Grant Amount: $3,000
Vital Conversations Priorities: Community Building; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity
The Hearth—Arts on Bowen received funding to create a dedicated website for the new Bowen Theatre at the Bowen Island Community Centre. The site will serve as a central hub for event information, ticketing, and community engagement—ensuring accessibility and participation for all. This digital platform will support the theatre’s success, promote cultural enrichment, and strengthen community connection.
Organization: Bowen Island Slopitch League
Project: Upgrade ball diamond
Grant Amount: $12,500
Vital Conversations Priorities: Youth and Seniors; Community Building
The Bowen Island Slopitch League‘s field improvement project will restore and upgrade the aging bleachers at Snug Cove Diamond, Bowen’s beloved and heavily used baseball field. With eight slopitch, six fastpitch, and five little-league teams, baseball is a cornerstone of community life. Led by local volunteers and supported by expert guidance, the project includes repairing or replacing bleacher boards and metal supports, and installing a safety fence topper. These improvements will ensure a safer, more welcoming space for players and fans alike. Charitable partner for grant: Bowen Island Municipality
Organization: Tourism Bowen Island Association
Project: Lead visitor-management and community-involvement initiatives
Grant Amount: $8,000
Vital Conversations Priorities: Visitor Management; Community Building
Tourism Bowen Island (TBI) seeks support to implement visitor management initiatives that promote responsible tourism, environmental protection, and community engagement. Building on its Community-based Responsible Visitation Plan, the project will develop and distribute educational materials, promote sustainable practices, and foster volunteer involvement. With no permanent staff and limited funding, this grant is vital to maintaining services. Benefits include protecting Bowen’s environment, enhancing the visitor experience, and ensuring tourism continues to support local wellbeing and economic resilience. Charitable partner for grant: Bowen Island Museum and Archives
Organization: Seniors Keeping Young Society
Project: Expand off-island excursions and partner with the Canadian Organization of the Blind and DeafBlind for on-island transportation
Grant Amount: $19,500
Vital Conversations Priorities: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; Transportation; Youth and Seniors
Seniors Keeping Young (SKY) aims to expand its TREKS program by partnering with the Canadian Organization of the Blind and DeafBlind (COBD) to provide accessible transportation on Bowen Island for seniors attending SKY events. This initiative addresses a clear gap identified through community feedback, including SKY’s recent member survey and the Bowen Island Municipality’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. By improving local transportation options, the project will help more seniors participate fully in community life. Charitable partner for grant: Canadian Organization of the Blind and DeafBlind.
Organization: Bowen Island Conservancy
Project: Ecological assessment and management plan for the Cape Roger Curtis lands
Grant Amount: $15,000
Vital Conversations Priority: Environmental Protection; Visitor Management
The Bowen Island Conservancy received funding to support an ecological assessment and management plan for 160 acres of newly acquired lands at Cape Roger Curtis. This foundational project will identify and protect sensitive ecosystems while guiding sustainable public access. Benefits include preserving biodiversity, enhancing community health through nature connection, and fostering environmental stewardship. The plan will balance conservation with responsible enjoyment, building long-term resilience for both the local environment and the Bowen Island community.
Organization: Bowfest
Project: Process documentation and festival support
Grant Amount: $5,000
Vital Conversations Priorities: Community Building; Volunteerism
Bowfest has been a cornerstone of Bowen Island’s cultural life for five decades. This beloved summertime festival received funding to develop process documentation to assist with annual handover of tasks and responsibilities from one volunteer cohort to the next, as well as to help produce the 2025 event.