Bowen Island Municipality’s Deputy Chief Election Officer, Hope Dallas, has declared the results of the referendum, with 64% of ballot votes cast in favour of Bowen Island Municipal Council adopting Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 477, 2019.
Adoption of the bylaw authorizes the Municipality to borrow up to $4.04 million, repayable over a period of 30 years, to build the Bowen Island Community Centre. This completes the funding formula for the $14.5 million budget, supplementing the $7.9 million Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program Grant, $1.3 million in community fundraising, and $1.2 million in Municipal reserves.
Information about the next steps in the project will follow in the coming months. To keep up-to-date on the Community Centre project, please subscribe to our mailing list.
Statistics:
A total of 1500 ballots were cast. 965 voted “Yes” and 534 voted “No”. 64% were in favour.
216 ballots were cast by mail
258 ballots were cast on the advanced voting day
1026 ballots were cast on the general voting day
The voter turnout was 46% of 3270 registered electors, which included resident and non-resident property electors.
PUBLIC NOTICE is given to the electors of Bowen Island Municipality that a vote will be held on the following question:
“Bowen Island Municipality has received a one-time grant of $7.9 million towards funding the Community Centre project through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Are you in favour of enacting Bowen Island Municipality Loan Authorization Bylaw No.477, 2019, which authorizes the Bowen Island Municipality to borrow a sum of up to $4,040,000 to complete the funding required to construct a community centre for Bowen Island?”
Voting dates & locations
| GENERAL VOTING DAY | ADVANCED VOTING DAY |
| Saturday, September 12, 2020 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Bowen Island Community School 1041 Mt Gardner Rd, Bowen Island, BC Read the COVID-19 Safety Plan | Wednesday, September 2, 2020 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Bowen Island Municipal Hall 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC Read the COVID-19 Safety Plan |
Elector Registration
There is no need to pre-register to vote as the registration of all electors will take place at the time of voting, however voters may find that pre-registration will save time on voting day. You will be required to make a
declaration that you meet the following requirements:
- 18 years of age or older on general voting day
- Canadian Citizen
- Resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately preceding the day of registration
- Resident of OR registered owner of real property in the Bowen Island Municipality for at least 30 days immediately preceding the day of registration, and
- Not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting.
Resident Electors must prove both residency and identity by providing Identification as prescribed by Elections BC
Non-Resident Property Electors must prove identity, proof that they are entitled to register in relation to the property, and, if there is more than one owner, written consent from a majority of the property owners to appoint one owner voting. A person may only register as a non-resident property elector in relation to one parcel of real property in a jurisdiction. Only those individuals who own property may register as non-resident property electors – corporations do not have the right to vote.
To check if you are on the voters list, contact Municipal Hall during regular business hours Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM or email Referendum2020@bimbc.ca.
Mail/Absentee ballot voting
Mail ballot packages are available from Municipal Hall (contact information below). Electors may vote in advance if they:
- Feel more comfortable voting this way because of COVID-19;
- Have a physical disability, illness or injury that affects their ability to vote at another voting opportunity; OR
- Expect to be absent on General Voting Day and on Advanced Voting Day.
Time may not permit mailing as we approach the Referendum on Saturday, September 12th.
If any of the above apply, you must complete an Application to Vote by Mail Ballot and submit it no later than 4:00 PM on Friday, September 11, 2020, to Bowen Island Municipality by hand, mail, fax, or email to:
- Email to Referendum2020@bimbc.ca
- Fax to 604-947-0163
- In person at Municipal Hall, 981 Artisan Lane
Once your application has been received and processed your mail ballot package can be picked up from Municipal Hall during regular business hours (M-F 8:30-4:30).
To be counted, your mail ballot must be received by the Chief Election Officer no later than 8:00 PM on Saturday, September 12, 2020 (General Voting Day).
Are you eligible to vote?
In order to be eligible to vote on Bowen Island as a resident or non-resident property elector, a person must:
- Be 18 years of age or older when they register to vote, or 18 years or older on general voting day,
- Be a Canadian citizen,
- Have been a resident of B. C. for at least six months before they register to vote,
- Have either lived or owned property in the jurisdiction in which they intend to vote for at least 30 days before they register to vote, and
- Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment, or by law from voting in a local election
Voting rights are granted to citizens based on residency or property ownership. There is no corporate or business vote in the referendum.
What identification do I need to vote?
BC Elections requires that all voters must prove their identity and residential address before voting. There are three ways to do this. Read more
Register in Advance
Bowen Island Municipality will use the provincial list of voters prepared by Elections BC in the Community Centre referendum. Registering in advance will save you time at the polls.
Residents
- Check eligibility requirements to register as a Resident Elector.
- Complete the Application for registration as a local government resident elector.
- Return completed form via email to Referendum2020@bimbc.ca or in person at Municipal Hall during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Non-Residents
- Check eligibility requirements to register as a Non-Resident Property Elector (NRPE).
- Complete the Application for registration as a non-resident property elector.
- If applicable, complete the Consent of registered owners for non-resident property elector registration
- Return completed form via email to Referendum2020@bimbc.ca or in person at Municipal Hall during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Scrutineers
Any persons entitled to vote as electors within Bowen Island Municipality, who are not election officials, are entitled to act as scrutineers. Scrutineers for and against the question must be appointed by the Chief or Deputy Chief Election Officer, if sufficient applications are received from persons who wish to volunteer for the positions.
Scrutineer applications are being received for the following voting opportunities:
- Wednesday, September 2, 2020 ADVANCED VOTING 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday, September 12, 2020 GENERAL VOTING DAY 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday, September 12, 2020 BALLOT COUNT & RESULTS (approx. 4 hours between 8:00 PM and Midnight)
An equal number of scrutineers “in favour” and “opposed to” the question will be appointed for each of these opportunities (up to a maximum of 3 scrutineers for each side of the question). If more applications are received than positions available, the Chief or Deputy Chief Election Officer will determine the appointments “by lot” as outlined in the Local Government Act. One scrutineer for and one scrutineer against the question will be appointed for each voting opportunity, as well as the ballot count and determination of the results. Please note that the application is also a solemn declaration attesting to the applicant’s elector eligibility and whether they are “in favour” or “opposed to” to the question.
The signature of the applicant must be witnessed, in person, by the Chief or Deputy Chief Election Officer.
How to apply:
- Complete the application
- Submit to Corporate Officer before 4:00 pm on Monday, August 31st, 2020
Bowen Island Municipality
981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2
Fax: 604-947-0193
Email: Referendum2020@bimbc.ca
Contact Us
Mark Brown, Chief Election Officer
Hope Dallas, Deputy Chief Election Officer
Referendum2020@bimbc.ca
Forms
Application to Vote by Mail
Application to Update Voters List (200A)
Application for registration as a Local Government Resident Elector (200M)
Application for registration as a Local Government Non-Resident Property Elector
Consent of registered owners for non-resident property elector registration
Bowen Island Municipality submitted a grant application to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program in January 2019, building a solid financial, economic, and social case for funding the Community Centre project.
The application was successful in securing $7.9 million in government funding to build the Community Centre. These funds, along with Municipal reserves and fundraising to date, bring the amount raised for the project to $10.5 million. An additional $4 million is needed before construction can begin.
Bowen Island Municipality will be holding a referendum on September 12, 2020, to request approval from the electors to borrow up to $4 million. Borrowing would not occur until the final funds are needed, and fundraising will continue while construction is underway, with the intent of decreasing the amount that would ultimately need to be borrowed.
You can read more about the Community Centre on the project website, or subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates.
There are a number of ways you can connect with us to keep up to date.
