In partnership with the Bowen Island Municipality, BIRCH (Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing) is working to support a healthy, inclusive, and resilient community where everyone has access to a safe and stable home. We invite all Bowen Island community members to complete the 2026 Housing Survey. Your input will help guide future non-profit housing initiatives and shape the long-term housing vision for our island.
An Employer Housing Survey is available to better understand local workforce housing needs. Bowen Island employers have told us housing is affecting hiring, retention, and service delivery.
This survey gathers data to:
Quantify workforce housing impacts
Identify viable employer-supported solutions
Inform municipal and nonprofit housing strategy
Owners or managers of Bowen Island–based businesses, nonprofits, or organizations with at least one employee or contractor working on Bowen Island are encouraged to complete this survey.
We thank you in advance for your time and effort to complete each survey (as relevant).
All survey responses are optional and confidential.
As we look back on 2025, we are proud to share what has truly been a banner year for Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing (BIRCH). Together with Bowen Island Municipality (BIM), community partners, and our dedicated volunteers and staff, we have made extraordinary progress toward creating and preserving homes for the people who make our island thrive.
A Historic Milestone: The BIRCH/BIM Partnering Agreement
This year marked a transformative step for community housing on Bowen. BIRCH and BIM entered into a formal partnering agreement that officially designates BIRCH as the municipality’s community housing partner. Under this agreement, BIRCH will build and acquire community housing and will also serve in an advisory capacity to the planning department, helping ensure alignment with BIM’s community housing policies and the diverse housing needs of our island community. This partnership is the culmination of years of shared vision and collaborative work—an achievement we celebrate with deep gratitude.
Operational Funding & New Staff Capacity
Concurrent with the Partnering Agreement, BIM allocated three years of operating funds from its federal Housing Accelerator Fund. This foundational investment has allowed BIRCH to establish its first staffed team, including:
• Executive Director • Housing Development Manager • Administrative Manager
With dedicated staff now in place, BIRCH is better equipped than ever to deliver on its mandate and accelerate progress on community housing solutions.
Hemlock Hill Village (1033 Miller Road) – Project Update
In partnership with the Lookout Health and Housing Society, significant milestones were reached in 2025 as this much-anticipated project moves toward construction:
• All permits have been submitted and are expected to be issued in January • Funding is in the final approval stages • Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2026
Hemlock Hill Village will deliver much-needed secure rental housing for Bowen Island, and we are energized by its momentum.
Lot 1 – Moving Into the Next Phase
At its December meeting, BIM Council approved $150,000 in pre-development project funds for BIRCH to continue advancing work on Lot 1. We have engaged New Commons Developments to help guide us through this exciting project. These funds will support:
• Site due diligence (environmental, biological, topographical, and geotechnical assessments) • Market survey and housing needs analysis • Site and infrastructure planning • Financial modeling and project phasing
Lot 1 represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of community housing on Bowen, and these next steps are critical to that vision.
With Gratitude – Our Board of Directors
We extend a heartfelt and enormous thank you to our volunteer Board of Directors for their unwavering commitment and countless volunteer hours. Their perseverance and dedication over many years have paved the way for the remarkable progress we celebrate today. We are also pleased to welcome our newest board members Philippa Gumley and Alex Jurgensen, as well as welcoming back past board member Tim Wake, all of whom bring additional depth and expertise to our dedicated team.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Housing Survey
In early 2026, BIRCH will launch the next island-wide Housing Survey, following up on our 2019 and 2022 surveys. We encourage all residents, employers, and off-island workers who commute here to participate. Your input will guide community housing strategies for Bowen Island. Please keep an eye out for the survey—and help us spread the word.
Thank You for Your Continued Support
The progress of 2025 has been extraordinary, and it would not have been possible without the support, insights, and engagement of the Bowen Island community.
We look forward to continuing this work together in 2026.
BIRCH is hiring a part time administrative manager – please check out the posting. If you are passionate about creating housing options for Bowen Island, love being organized and thrive on the details, we’d love to hear from you!
Come meet us!
We’d love to chat with you:
Saturday, August 16th 10am-12pm – Farmer’s Market @ BICS
Your local housing advocates are still hard at work and have plenty of news to share.
Miller Road building: the Lookout Society and BIRCH are still aiming to have shovels in the ground by the end of 2025.
Miller Road building: we are working to update the building plans to accommodate new building code and accessibility requirements.
Miller Road building: we are also working on the first of two internal approval milestones for our grant funding, which should happen in April/May.
Miller Road building: we have hired a general contractor to work alongside the design team as we ramp up for construction.
Miller Road building: there is a full team site meeting happening in March so that all the consultants, agencies, and societies can meet in person, go over the site together and “break bread.”
BIRCH: BIM council has instructed staff to draft a partnering agreement with BIRCH to form a Community Owned Housing Organization, and we are getting close to finishing the agreement and getting on with the exciting work.
Lot 1: our report on the development of this lot to BIM’s Mayor and Council is nearly wrapped up.
It’s time! We would love it if you would help the Lookout Society and BIRCH to choose a name for our building on Miller Road. In our meetings and when engaging with the community, the need for an official name has become apparent so we’re asking for your input.
This is still a concept illustration, but gives you an idea of the latest design that the team has produced as we get closer to putting shovels in the dirt.
With summer coming to an end, we thought a good time to provide an update on what BIRCH has been working on over the last few months and are looking forward to seeing everyone at Bowfest this weekend and at the Farmers’ Market at BICS on August 31st.
The Community Housing Project at 1033 Miller Road (just behind the new health centre) is moving along well.
BIRCH has partnered with Lookout Housing and Health Society to build 24 units of community rental housing located close to Snug Cove. The project has received approval from the BC Housing Community Fund and our architects and engineers are working hard and our plan is to start construction in 2025.
Separately, BIRCH has been working with Tomo Spaces to develop a vision for the future of Lot 1, the undeveloped Bowen Island Municipality-owned property located between Mt. Gardner Road and Grafton Road.
BIM bought this land from Metro Vancouver Parks in 2005 and since then there have been a number of different planning processes that have helped to move the process along. This included the 2018 community workshop that identified housing as a top priority, alongside making room for live/work and light industrial uses. BIRCH and Tomo are now working towards confirming that vision and defining the next steps required to make it happen.
Want to know more? Please feel free to send us an email at info@birchousing.org or come visit us at Bowfest this weekend or the Farmer’s Market the following weekend!
As always, we thank you for your time and support.
BIRCH continues to work hard towards our Vision in which “Every Bowen Island Community Member has access to a safe and healthy home” and today have an exciting update to share.
With the support of the Bowen Island Municipality, BIRCH has partnered with Tomo Spaces to develop a phased development plan for Lot 1 of the Community Lands, undeveloped parcels owned by the Municipality.
The last public engagement on these lands was conducted in 2018 so it’s time to check in again and learn more about the Community’s vision for Lot 1. To do this we will running an online survey from April 26 until May 13. This short survey will help us develop a better understanding of current community priorities and what may have changed since we last asked about Lot 1 in 2018.
Please do complete the survey and help us to create a plan that reflects the current needs and priorities of Bowen Island: https://bit.ly/bowenlot1
And in case you missed it, we were thrilled to announce last month that BC Housing has confirmed their intention to proceed with funding the BIRCH rental housing project in Snug Cove! The Miller Road project (located beside the new health centre) will create 24 rental homes and is in partnership with the Lookout Housing & Health Society and Bowen Island Municipality. The link to the full announcement can be found on our website: www.birchousing.org
The rental housing project that BIRCH has been working towards for many years is suddenly on! Thanks in no small part to our partnership with the Lookout Housing & Health Society and of course Bowen Island Municipality, BC Housing has confirmed their intention to proceed with funding the BIRCH rental housing project in Snug Cove!
Now the real work begins, and we are so very excited to be able to proceed with a project that will create 24 rental homes in the Cove.
The BIRCH Board is pleased to share with the community that we and our partners at Lookout Housing + Health Society have today submitted our application for funding of the Bowen Island Community Lands project to the Building BC: Community Housing Fund.
After feedback following the declining of our previous application, BIRCH decided that the best route to success this time would be to to partner with the Lookout Society, whose experience and track record addresses our application’s primary weaknesses. Their strengths made it clear to us that they should take the lead on the application and on the resulting building, and we could not be happier with the relationship.
Lookout has been offering a range of programs and housing and health solutions since 1971 and their projects house more than 1,800 people every night and our community is incredibly fortunate to have them leading our application. At every turn, the BIRCH ED and Board members were clear that the goal is building housing, and that the involvement of our friends at the Lookout Society gives us the best chance for success.
BIRCH will of course continue to be involved wherever it furthers the project. We have the relationships with Bowen Island Municipality, the architects and engineers, and everyone else involved in this project. We simply want to get this building built!
Of course key support for this project comes from the Bowen Island community. Thank you to everyone who wrote letters of support, offered help, and urged this project forward. We could not have gotten to this point without you.
We don’t yet know when we hear back from BC Housing, but we will of course keep you in the loop, and look forward to sharing exciting news.
Thank you!
David McCullum Board Chair Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing
BIRCH is applying to BC Housing to the BC Housing Community Housing Fund this fall. Support from the Bowen community has been critical to our progress so far and we’re hoping that you will make the time to help us again and send a letter of support by Oct 15th.
Background Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing (BIRCH) is the only non-profit housing society based on Bowen Island and is working to develop a more diverse range of housing options for our community.
We have land! Bowen Island Municipality has committed a 0.15 HA vacant parcel at 1033 Miller Road to build a community housing project with approximately 24 units of secure rental housing. With this land BIRCH will help build a more connected, resilient community by providing secure rental housing that will suit a variety of needs for Bowen Island community members, with a special focus on the Island’s most vulnerable: those with mobility challenges, low-income families, individuals, and seniors, and moderate-income families.
The need for affordable and non-market housing in our community is well-known, confirmed by a Housing Needs Assessment completed in 2020 and BIRCH’s own community housing surveys (2019, 2022). Additionally, the Bowen Island Community Foundation’s Vital Conversations most recent gathering identified affordable housing as a priority.
This project will provide urgently needed rental housing stock that is has a variety of size and rent levels. Providing secure tenure in rental housing is critical to maintaining a diverse community.
The current housing situation on Bowen Island (updated with 2021 Census data)
90% single family homes
85% Ownership
21% owner households spending 30% or more of its income on shelter costs
35% of rental tenant households spending 30% or more of its income on shelter costs
MLS Home Price Index, September 2023, lists detached homes price at $1,210,700
This requires an annual income of $253,491.10 (calculated with 10% down, with payments at 30% of household income)
The median total income for households on Bowen is $111,000±
Funding We are currently preparing to apply to the next round of BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund. If we are successful in our application, we anticipate approximately $3.8m capital contribution that will be used to fund the construction of the project. In addition, we will be seeking funding from CMHC’s National Co-Investment Fund as well as contributions from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund to increase the energy efficiency and sustainability of the building.
Please send your letters of support to robyn@birchousing.org. We will collate them and submit them with the housing application. Your response by October 15th would be appreciated.
If you’d like a template for your letter, please click here.
Thank you so very much for your support. We cannot do this without you.
David McCullum Board Chair Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing
We are grateful that Bowen Council was unanimous in its support of the BIRCH variance request and has referred it to its committees for comment. They also would like the public’s comments and are asking for your input before July 24th at 4pm.
Comments may be sent:
• by E-mail to mayorandcouncil@bimbc.ca; • by dropping off in person; • by mail to 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, V0N1G2; or • by fax to 604-947-0193
We are asking the community to send letters of support. These variances are critical to the viability of our project and so we hope you’re able to make the time to show your support.
Thank you so very much for your support. We cannot do this without you.
David McCullum Board Chair Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing
Hello Bowen Island, we need your help in the form of a letter or email to Bowen Island Municipal Council by June 22nd!
Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing (BIRCH) is applying for a Development Variance Permit for our community rental housing project located on Miller Road (next to the new Health Centre). We are seeking two variances: the first is a reduction of parking spaces from the required 24 to 10.
The second variance is an increase to building height from the zoned maximum of 9.0m to 13.29m.
Only with both of these variances will we be able to maximize our use of the property and provide the ~25 units of secure rental housing that we have been working towards these last few years.
We are asking the community to send letters of support. These variances are critical to the viability of our project and so we hope you’re able to make the time to show your support.
Our application will be introduced at the June 26th Council meeting, with a vote coming later in the summer at the July 24th meeting.
Please send your letters:
• by E-mail to mayorandcouncil@bimbc.ca; • by dropping off in person; • by mail to 981 Artisan Lane, Bowen Island, BC, V0N1G2; or • by fax to 604-947-0193
Thank you so very much for your support. We cannot do this without you.
David McCullum Board Chair Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing
Director Adam Lougheed and the brains of the sign erection project Ralph proudly show off BIRCH’s Development Variance Permit Application notice.
BIRCH is proud to have reached the next step in the project: asking the Municipal Council to approve our application to both increase the permitted height of our building and decrease the required number of parking spaces.
The height will allow us to maximize our use of the land and offer the most rental spaces possible, and the parking reduction does the same, while also recognizing that this will be a project that results in housing that is walkable to the school, shops, the ferry, and the core facilities of our community.
Please watch this space for our call for support as this decision comes before Council.
On October 15th our community goes to the polls to select its local government. BIRCH has questions for each candidate:
What tangible commitment are you as a candidate willing to make to BIRCH and the Miller Road project, and uphold once elected?
Will you support implementing the MRDT to provide revenue for building affordable housing for Bowen?
Background
Several years ago, we saw a gap
in the kind of housing being developed on Bowen. With no non-profit
organisation in a position to go after the newly available provincial and
federal funding opportunities, Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing (BIRCH)
Society was formed. We reached out to the municipality, and they agreed to
partner with us in the development of new affordable housing in the community
and provide land for the project.
BIRCH is primarily volunteer
run, with our executive director working at below market compensation. With the
approximate $30,000 of operational funds BIM has provided in the past 4 years,
BIRCH has been able to secure almost $200,000 in project funding for the Miller
Road affordable housing project (note –this funding cannot be used for BIRCH
operations). We have secured our consultant team and completed schematic design
of the building. We have also recently formed a partnership with a
well-established Vancouver-based housing organisation that greatly improves our
chances of securing government funding.
During the campaign for the
2018 Bowen Island municipal election, 100% of the candidates for Council and
the Mayoralty publicly pledged their support to working to solve the housing
crisis that the Island was facing. Each candidate endorsed the project that
BIRCH had been pursuing in support of solving this problem. However, after the
election, Council drastically reduced the land that they would make available
to the BIRCH project. The resulting renegotiation resulted in a significant
reduction in the land available to the project, drastically reducing the scope
of BIRCH’s ability to build, and sending mixed messages to potential funding
partners regarding the municipality’s support for the project.
In the 4 years since then, our
relationship with BIM has felt less and less like a partnership. In 2019 we were
granted a 3-year agreement to lease on a lot on Miller Road. Recently, a
renewal of that agreement was reduced to 1 year – according to the CAO this reduction
was in order to “hold (BIRCH’s) feet to the fire” and ensure that the land remain
available for “any higher purpose.” These types of statements have made us at
BIRCH feel that we are not seen as valuable partners, working together with the
municipality to build housing for the community – but rather as an outside
organisation that needs to continually prove its value.
Additionally, operational
funding has been very difficult to secure. Applications to BIM for multi-year
funding were turned down, and it was only after 3 unsuccessful grant
applications that council made a special resolution to provide operational
funds. We repeatedly had to make our case for the need for operational funds to
support our organisation – once again feeling we need to prove our worthiness
as a partner. Continually having to justify our organisation and its role in
developing housing on Bowen has taken its toll on our board and staff and our
motivation.
Lastly, our advocacy for
implementation of the MRDT has not been made a priority by the current council.
This tax would provide revenue to the municipality that could be used towards
affordable housing – such as operational funds for BIRCH or other housing
organisations.
BIRCH does not purport to
have the only answer to the housing crisis, nor is it the only organisation
working towards housing solutions on Bowen Island. We are however, in a unique
position to apply for upcoming government funding opportunities – with our years
of professional experience, work completed to date towards the Miller Road
project and our ongoing efforts at building relationships with funding partners.
With this upcoming election and a new mayor and many new councillors, we are hoping for a stronger relationship and true partnership with the municipality moving forward.
