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Here's what you need to know for community centre voting day Saturday

Saturday, Sept. 12 is the community centre referendum from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here's what you need to know.
Community centre floor plan.
This floor plan of the proposed community centre imagines an evening scenario.

When:

Saturday, Sept. 12 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Where:

Bowen Island Community School

Who’s eligible?:

Bowen Island residents or non-resident property electors who:

  • Are 18 years of age or older when they register to vote, or 18 years or older on general voting day;
  • Are 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
  • Who aren’t disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment, or by law from voting in a local election

See more information here

What kind of ID do I need to bring?:

There are three options. (See more information and details about all of these options at elections.bc.ca/voting/what-you-need-to-vote/voter-id/)

  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Two pieces of ID or documents that both show your name and one of which has your current address (electronic documents and electronic scans of paper documents are ok). 
  • A voucher—someone who is a registered voter resident in the voter's electoral district; or a spouse, parent, grandparent, adult child, adult grandchild or adult sibling of the voter; or a  person with the authority to make personal care decisions for the voter. (There are more regulations about who can be a voucher and for how many people here.)

What pandemic precautions are in place? (Do I have to wear a mask):

The full COVID safety plan is available here. But the highlights are:

  • Voters are encouraged to wear masks.
  • All election staff required to wear masks.
  • Voters will be required to hand sanitize when they arrive.
  • Pens and voting booths will be sanitized after each use.
  • Clean and used containers will be available for pens and there’ll be a sanitization station to clean them.
  • All registration desks will have plexiglass sneeze guards.
  • No more than 12 voters permitted in the building at one time.

What’s the referendum 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?”

What else do I need to know?

Read coverage of the community centre virtual open house here.

Watch the entire community centre virtual open house, including a walk through with the architect, here.

What’s it going to mean for taxes? See here.

How did this community centre proposal come to be? See here.

How do islanders and politicians feel about the project? See here.