SocietyPreview

Municipal

Bowen Island Municipal Council

Governs Bowen Island

Official website (bowenislandmunicipality.ca) Report a problem with this page

Source: bowenislandmunicipality.ca, checked
What it's for

A BC municipal council governs its municipality: it provides local services and makes bylaws on matters such as public places, buildings, business, animals, the natural environment, and land use and zoning. The law sets its purposes as good government, services for the community, stewardship of public assets and the community's economic, social and environmental well-being.

Community Charter, ss. 6, 7 and 8; Local Government Act, Part 14 · Applies to every BC municipal council (not Vancouver, which has its own charter)

What it can't do

A bylaw has no effect where it is inconsistent with a provincial law, and council can charge only the taxes and fees the law expressly allows. Because Bowen Island is in the Islands Trust Area, council must also have regard to the Trust's object of preserving and protecting the islands when it adopts bylaws or issues permits.

Community Charter, ss. 10 and 193; Islands Trust Act, s. 39.1

Who it answers to

Voters elect the mayor and councillors every four years, on the third Saturday in October. Bylaws adopting its official community plan have no effect until the Islands Trust Executive Committee approves them (or, on referral, the Trust Council or the minister).

Local Government Act, s. 52; Islands Trust Act, s. 38

Where its money comes from

Mostly property value taxes that council sets by bylaw each year, plus parcel taxes, fees for services and for the use of municipal property, and grants and other revenue.

Community Charter, ss. 192, 194 and 197 · Applies to every BC municipal council (not Vancouver, which has its own charter)

Shares responsibility with

Works with Metro Vancouver Regional District, whose board includes a director appointed by council, and with the Islands Trust, to which council appoints two municipal trustees each year and whose policies its official community plan must be consistent with.

Local Government Act, s. 198; Islands Trust Act, ss. 7, 15 and 38

Next vote

Later (1 more scheduled)

Who sits on it

Sourced · checked

Sources for who sits on it

Report a problem

What it can do

  • Bylaws on public places, nuisances, noise and animals

    Regulates public places, trees, animals, nuisances, noise and other disturbances, and public health by bylaw, and enforces its bylaws with tickets and fines (Community Charter ss.8(3), 64; Part 8).

  • Property tax

    Sets municipal property tax rates every year by bylaw after adopting its five-year financial plan, and may also charge parcel taxes and fees (Community Charter ss.165, 194, 197, 200).

  • Water, sewer and drainage

    Provides and regulates municipal water, sewer and drainage services and sets utility fees (Community Charter ss.8(2), 8(3)(a), 194).

  • Roads and highways

    Owns and manages municipal roads, streets and sidewalks (highways), including closures, traffic and maintenance such as snow clearing (Community Charter ss.35-40).

  • Zoning, land use and development

    Adopts the official community plan and zoning bylaws and issues development and development variance permits for land in the municipality (Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c. 1, Part 14: ss.472, 479, 490, 498).

  • Business licences

    Regulates businesses by bylaw and may require business licences (Community Charter ss.8(6), 15).

  • Buildings

    Regulates the construction, alteration and demolition of buildings and issues building permits (Community Charter s.8(3)(l)).

  • Garbage and recycling

    Provides and regulates garbage, recycling and organics collection as municipal services (Community Charter ss.8(2), 8(3)(a), 194).

  • Parks and recreation

    Provides and runs municipal parks, trails and recreation facilities as municipal services (Community Charter s.8(2)).

  • Services

    May provide any service the council considers necessary or desirable, directly or through another public authority or organization (Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26, s.8(2)).

Sourced · checked

Sources for what it can do

Report a problem

Sources

  • bowenislandmunicipality.ca · checked Official website of the municipality. For: Bowen Island Municipal Council
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c. 1: Community Charter, ss. 6, 7 and 8; Local Government Act, Part 14. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it's for
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26: Community Charter, ss. 6, 7 and 8; Local Government Act, Part 14. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it's for
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Islands Trust Act, RSBC 1996, c. 239: Community Charter, ss. 10 and 193; Islands Trust Act, s. 39.1. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it can't do
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26: Community Charter, ss. 10 and 193; Islands Trust Act, s. 39.1. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it can't do
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Islands Trust Act, RSBC 1996, c. 239: Local Government Act, s. 52; Islands Trust Act, s. 38. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c. 1: Local Government Act, s. 52; Islands Trust Act, s. 38. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26: Community Charter, ss. 192, 194 and 197. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Where its money comes from
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Islands Trust Act, RSBC 1996, c. 239: Local Government Act, s. 198; Islands Trust Act, ss. 7 and 38. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Shares responsibility with
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c. 1: Local Government Act, s. 198; Islands Trust Act, ss. 7 and 38. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Shares responsibility with
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Description corrected to the governing act, with section references. For: Bylaws on public places, nuisances, noise and animals, Property tax, Water, sewer and drainage, Roads and highways
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Bowen Island sample power "Bylaws" renamed "Bylaws on public places, nuisances, noise and animals" and described from the Community Charter / Local Government Act. For: Bylaws on public places, nuisances, noise and animals
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Bowen Island sample power "Water and services" renamed "Water, sewer and drainage" and described from the Community Charter / Local Government Act. For: Water, sewer and drainage
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Bowen Island sample power "Local roads and parks" renamed "Roads and highways" and described from the Community Charter / Local Government Act. For: Roads and highways
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Description corrected to the governing act, with section references. For: Zoning, land use and development
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Bowen Island sample power "Zoning and land use" renamed "Zoning, land use and development" and described from the Community Charter / Local Government Act. For: Zoning, land use and development
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Business licences: Regulates businesses by bylaw and may require business licences (Community Charter ss.8(6), 15). For: Business licences
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Buildings: Regulates the construction, alteration and demolition of buildings and issues building permits (Community Charter s.8(3)(l)). For: Buildings
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Garbage and recycling: Provides and regulates garbage, recycling and organics collection as municipal services (Community Charter ss.8(2), 8(3)(a), 194). For: Garbage and recycling
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Parks and recreation: Provides and runs municipal parks, trails and recreation facilities as municipal services (Community Charter s.8(2)). For: Parks and recreation
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Services: May provide any service the council considers necessary or desirable, directly or through another public authority or organization (Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26, s.8(2)). For: Services
  • bowenisland.civicweb.net · checked Councillor, Bowen Island Municipality: 6 seat(s). Bowen Island Municipality Declaration of Election by Voting, 21 Sep 2026: Office(s) of Councillor - six (6) to be elected. Election rules: Local Government Act (RSBC 2015, c. 1) ss.52-53; council size: Community Charter s.118 (or letters patent / bylaw). For: Councillor
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Mayor, Bowen Island Municipality: 1 seat(s). Election rules: Local Government Act (RSBC 2015, c. 1) ss.52-53; council size: Community Charter s.118 (or letters patent / bylaw). For: Mayor
  • bowenislandmunicipality.ca · checked Councillor of Bowen Island Municipality, listed as a current council member by the municipality (checked 2026-10-11). For: Alex Jurgensen as Councillor, Alison Morse as Councillor, John Saunders as Councillor, Judith Gedye as Councillor, Sue Ellen Fast as Councillor, Tim Wake as Councillor
  • bowenislandmunicipality.ca · checked Mayor of Bowen Island Municipality, listed as a current council member by the municipality (checked 2026-10-11). For: Andrew Leonard as Mayor
  • bowenisland.civicweb.net · checked acclaimed = false: Declaration of Election by Voting, 21 Sep 2026: an election by voting is required for Councillor (10 candidates for 6 offices). For: General election, October 17, 2026
  • bowenisland.civicweb.net · checked Bowen Island Municipality, Declaration of Election by Voting, 21 Sep 2026; voting dates from https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/our-government/2026-election/general/ For: General election, October 17, 2026
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked 2030 general local election date from Local Government Act s.52(1)-(2) (third Saturday of October 2030 = 19 Oct 2030). For: General election, October 19, 2030

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