When Alex Jurgensen pledged in 2010 that Camp Bowen would not disappear, he wasn’t making a speech—he was answering a calling. That promise, made not only to his fellow campers but to the community of visually impaired individuals, has since grown into a mission: to preserve a Bowen Island tradition and ensure its future for generations to come.
Alex, now serving as the director of Camp Bowen, a division of the Canadian Organization for the Blind and Deafblind, knows first knows firsthand the life-changing impact the camp has had. He began attending CNIB's summer programs at Bowen Lodge by the Sea in 1999. What started as a week or two each summer quickly became the cornerstone of personal and social development.
“Just walking through that door was such a comfort to so many people,” he says. “It gave us a space to be ourselves, to grow in confidence, and to build lifelong friendships.”
More than just a scenic backdrop, Bowen Island itself plays an integral role in Camp Bowen’s identity. The community's warmth, slower pace, and welcoming spirit have consistently offered a sense of safety and belonging that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
“Understanding who we are and what we do fosters connection,” he says. “Storytelling—both personal and collective—builds bridges.”
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Throughout the years, the programs at the CNIB Lodge continued to grow—serving as a vital hub for blind and visually impaired individuals across Western Canada. But in 2009, CNIB announced plans to scale back to a day camp, sparking public outcry. The following year, CNIB began the sale of the Bowen Lodge by the Sea and confirmed that the 2010 season would be its last CNIB camp run on Bowen Island.
In August of 2010, former campers of the original CNIB Camp Bowen project joined forces and the Camp Bowen Society for the Visually Impaired (CBSVl) was formed and the first retreat on Bowen Island was in 2011. They have continued to work hard to ensure that Camp Bowen remains a reality on Bowen.