Mayor Andrew Leonard "We can't pull up the draw bridge or sink the ferry!"

Just over a year ago, we elected a new municipal council and in this podcast, Mayor Leonard talks about the challenges and opportunities on Bowen Island. Our conversation covers a range of topics including the challenges faced by the municipality, such as housing infrastructure, and grant funding. We also discuss Bowen Island's short-term rental policy and the possibility of establishing a tourism tax. The conversation highlights the need for public engagement and the importance of addressing these issues for the community's well-being. Leonard emphasizes the need for conversations about managing tourism and mitigating climate change. He also mentions the municipality's efforts to promote arts and culture and encourages residents to participate in the budget process and the development of a new official community planThe 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