Bowser, British Columbia, is a charming community nestled on the east coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. With a population of 1,729, this quaint town is approximately 66 kilometres north of Nanaimo. Bowser is part of the region informally known as Lighthouse Country, which spans a stretch of highway extending from Qualicum Beach in the south to Horne Lake to the west and Fanny Bay in the north and east to Denman and Hornby Islands.
Bowser is steeped in history, being part of the Regional District of Nanaimo and its Electoral Area H, one of eight in the District. The community was named after William J. Bowser, premier of British Columbia from 1915 to 1916. The coast-spanning Island Highway serves Bowser, connecting it to other communities on Vancouver Island.
Bowser's local hotel gained fame in the 1930s for a unique attraction - a dog trained by his owners to deliver beer bottles to tables, receive the payment, and deliver change. This remarkable feat was listed in "Ripley's Believe It or Not!".
Bowser has lent its name to a soil series that is widespread on eastern Vancouver Island. The Bowser loamy sand is mapped under the whole community, marking its significance in the region's geography.
Near the community is the Bowser Ecological Reserve, established in 1996 to protect part of a productive forest ecosystem. The 113-hectare ecological reserve was created for research purposes, including surveying species regenerating after a fire that occurred in the area over 100 years prior. However, it is open to the public for hiking, offering visitors a chance to explore the natural beauty of Bowser, British Columbia.
