Bowser (/ˈbaʊzər/BOUGH-zər)[1] is a community on the east coast ofVancouver Island inBritish Columbia,Canada. It has a population of 1,729. Approximately 66 kilometres (41 mi) north ofNanaimo, Bowser is in a region informally known asLighthouse Country, spanning a stretch of highway that extends fromQualicum Beach in the south toHorne Lake to the west andFanny Bay in the north and east toDenman andHornby Islands. Bowser is in theRegional District of Nanaimo and in its Electoral Area H, one ofeight in the District.[2] The community was named afterWilliam J. Bowser, premier of British Columbia from 1915 to 1916.[3] Bowser is served by the coast-spanningIsland Highway.
Bowser's local hotel was famous in the 1930s for a dog trained by his owners to deliver beer bottles to tables, receive the payment, and deliver change,[4] a feat listed in "Ripley's Believe It or Not!".
Bowser has lent its name to a soil series which is widespread on eastern Vancouver Island. Bowser loamy sand is mapped under the whole community.[5]
Near the community is theBowser Ecological Reserve, which was established in 1996 to protect part of a productive forest ecosystem.[6] While 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, it is open to the public for hiking.
Lighthouse Country travel guide from Wikivoyage49°26′10″N124°40′39″W / 49.43611°N 124.67750°W /49.43611; -124.67750