Welcome to Cowichan This Week, your source for the latest local news and events. Sign up to get this in your inbox every Thursday.
Have you voted yet? Your last chance is Saturday Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check this map to find out where.
I encourage you to vote, even if you feel it won’t make a difference, even if you aren’t sure what the right choice is, or are uninspired by the available choices. Groups of people who show up to vote are harder for politicians to ignore.
Need some help making a decision? The Discourse has built riding guides for Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo-North Cowichan, Nanaimo, Langford-Juan de Fuca and Esquimalt-Metchosin, including answers from the candidates to questions we heard from you. Or, check out CBC News’s Vote Compass to see where you stand on the issues compared with the parties.
News and announcements
- Candidates in the Nanaimo-North Cowichan riding — which includes the communities of Crofton, Chemainus, Ladysmith and the south end of Nanaimo — faced off in a forum hosted by the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 19. The video is online. Gabriola Talks and the Gabriola Island Chamber of Commerce hosted another online meeting for that riding. BC Green Party candidate Chris Istace has apologized on Twitter and in a statement to the Chemainus Valley Courier after calling the provincial government’s financial relationship with First Nations a “handout system” at that meeting, in a comment about improving First Nations’ economic sovereignty. The relevant comments and responses begin around 21 minutes into the video from the event, and end just after the 25-minute mark.
- Candidates for the Cowichan Valley riding, which spans from the Malahat to Duncan, including the Cowichan Lake region, answered questions on Oct. 13 at an election forum hosted by the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. Video from the event is available on YouTube.
- The Town of Lake Cowichan heads to the polls on Oct. 24 in a mayoral byelection. Residents can vote Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the municipal office, or 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Centennial Hall. Get more info on voting and the candidates in The Discourse’s guide for voters.
- In case you missed it, the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society has re-opened its shelter for women after the pandemic shutdown, The Discourse reports. In the new setup, women can come and go any time and have private spaces to store belongings and call their own.
- Wondering how to get a flu shot? Island Health says it’s more important than ever this year, The Discourse reports. (After publishing this story, we’ve heard some people are struggling to make an appointment — if that’s you, let me know by replying to this email. We’d like to better understand if increased demand is causing delays.)
- A survey by the Island Corridor Foundation shows strong support for bringing passenger rail back to Vancouver Island. See The Discourse’s in-depth coverage of passenger rail and public transportation, including what election candidates have to say about it.
- Researchers at Royal Roads University have launched a survey for non-profit organizations that may be interested in acquiring a successful small business to turn it into a social enterprise and diversify their revenue stream.
- North Cowichan has directed its First Nations Relations Advisory Committee to consider and consult on a new name for Indian Road, near Quamichan Lake, the Cowichan Valley Citizen reports. There are at least two other streets in the Cowichan region with that name — one south of the Cowichan River near Duncan, on Cowichan Tribes land, and one at the boundary of the Town of Lake Cowichan, in Cowichan Valley Regional District Area I.
- Community members are fundraising to help a local senior who lost his home in a trailer fire.
- The Clements Centre Society is asking for donations for its annual sock drive, the Cowichan Valley Citizen reports. New socks can be dropped in a donation bin at 5856 Clements St. in Duncan, or contact Sheila Coogan at (250) 746-4135, ext 229. Financial donations towards the purchase of socks are also appreciated.
Community events
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Saturday, Oct. 24: 🐝 Join the Cowichan Green Community’s native plant nursery program and help build a network of pollinator-friendly gardens in Duncan.
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Thursday, Oct. 29: 🏗️ The Municipality of North Cowichan is holding an online information session on the BC Energy Step Code, which incentivises construction that surpasses the efficiency requirements of the BC Building Code.
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October: 🎃 McNab’s Corn Maze, near Ladysmith, will welcome guests every day through Halloween, with COVID-19 protocols in place.
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Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7: 🌱 Youth ages 15 to 30 are invited to participate in a hands-on workshop on ecological restoration with expert plant ecologist David Polster, hosted by the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre.
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Monday, Nov. 9 through Thursday, Nov 19: 🚜 The Young Agrarians are hosting an Online Land Forum, a series of workshops about leasing land for farming. Registration is required.
What did I miss? Let me know what events are coming up near you by sending me an email.
Photo of the week
Jennifer Maria used a drone to capture the incredible colours of Cowichan Lake. It’s amazing to see this perspective on such a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing this photo.
Do you have a photo that showcases life in Cowichan? Send me an email, I’d love to see what this place looks like through your lens.
In your words
Andrea wrote to let us know that reporter Shalu Mehta did an excellent job with her recent story, answering a community member’s question about how to get a flu shot. “Very thorough and clear, and exactly what I was wondering about too – timely and relevant news, thank you very much!”
You’re welcome, Andrea! We’re always working hard to deliver news you can use!
Thanks for reading,
Jacqueline [end]
