Cowichan This Week – A week to remember

Welcome to Cowichan This Week, your source for the latest local news and events. Sign up to get this in your inbox every Thursday.

News and announcements

• Reporter David Minkow recently revisited the Ramada Duncan, which has been the site of temporary housing since May. Residents say they have found new stability, security and purpose thanks to the housing. Read the whole story here.
• The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12 to determine if it will permit the development of a recreational vehicle campground in the Cowichan estuary, The Discourse reports. The agenda is online and the meeting will be livestreamed to YouTube.
• A judge has ordered the Municipality of North Cowichan to reconsider its denial of a development permit for the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit expansion. Read about what the decision means on The Discourse.
• Residents of Cowichan Valley Regional District Area H (North Oyster/Diamond) will choose a new director in a byelection on Nov. 28. Murray McNab and Ben Maartman are vying for the seat, the Nanaimo News Bulletin reports. 
• The Town of Lake Cowichan swore in its new mayor, Bob K. Day, on Wednesday this week. Day has launched a Facebook page as part of efforts to improve communications with residents.
• Many local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion live-streamed Remembrance Day ceremonies this week to accommodate COVID-19 precautions. Here’s video from the ceremony in Duncan.
• COVID-19 numbers continue to climb in B.C., and particularly in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health areas. As of Wednesday there were 41 known active cases on Vancouver Island, including an outbreak at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and two cases at a Nanaimo high school. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry introduced new restrictions this week specific to the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. People should travel to and from the area only for essential reasons through at least Nov. 23. 
• The Cowichan Valley Regional District board has released a strategic plan to guide decisions through 2022. 
• The Cowichan Valley Regional District is seeking proposals to take on community policing services in Duncan, North Cowichan and Cowichan Bay. 
• The Cowichan Valley has a new francophone school, the Cowichan Valley Citizen reports. 
• Ts’uubaa-asatx Nation in Lake Cowichan is sprucing up North Shore Road, the Lake Cowichan Gazette reports. The Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce recently named two of the First Nation’s leaders, Melanie Livingstone and Aaron Hamilton, as Lake Cowichan’s citizens of the year.

Community events

• Friday, Nov. 13: 🎻 The Salty Lemon Stringband plays the Duncan Showroom. Expect a raucous night of folk tunes on banjo, fiddle and accordion.
• Through Sunday, Nov. 15: 💪 The Canadian Mental Health Association is hosting an online auction to support youth mental health programs in the Cowichan Valley. 
• Sunday, Nov. 15 to Saturday, Nov. 21: 🏃The One Track Mind fundraiser race and ultramarathon will take place at the Cowichan Sportsplex. Victoria runner Jerry Hughes is seeking to beat a Canadian record that dates back to 1891 at the event. 
• Sunday, Nov. 15 to Sunday, Nov. 22: 🐟 Salmon Nation hosts the online Festival of What Works, a celebration of good ideas from and for the Pacific coastal bioregion, from Alaska to California.
• Thursday, Nov. 19: 👔 Universities on Vancouver Island have teamed up to offer Beyond 2020, an online career fair. 
• Thursday, Nov. 26: 🖥️ Economic Development Cowichan and Innovation Island have joined forces to offer an online presentation on how to thrive in the new digital world economy.

If you’re planning an event that I should consider for an upcoming list, send me an email.

In your words

“What a great program! Giving back is so healing and I’m pleased our community has these projects underway,” Maureen wrote on Facebook this week, in response to our update on the temporary housing at the Ramada Duncan. 

Thanks, Maureen. We’re always happy to share good community news. [end]