Cowichan This Week – After the storm

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

It’s official. Cowichan This Week now has a sister newsletter, West Shore This Week, covering the communities of Colwood, Langford, Metchosin, Highlands, View Royal and Sooke. 🎉 Check out the first edition, from reporter Shalu Mehta, and be sure to let your West Shore friends know how they can sign up!

News and announcements

• The Cow-op, Cowichan’s online farmers’ market, has surged in popularity during the pandemic. Read all about it on The Discourse.
• A lightning storm came through the Cowichan region Sunday evening, sparking at least a dozen small fires, the Cowichan Valley Citizen reports. Rain forecasted for Thursday and Friday should help the fire suppression efforts. 
• The Municipality of North Cowichan has launched a survey for residents to guide the update of its Official Community Plan. Residents can also pick up a paper copy at Municipal Hall or call 250-746-3263 to complete the survey by phone. Residents can also give feedback through the PlaceSpeak online platform. The survey closes Sept. 15.
• Face coverings will be mandatory on BC Transit buses as of Aug. 24, according to a news release. BC Transit will hand out free masks at London Drugs in Duncan on Aug. 20 from 9 to10 a.m. and 3 to4 p.m., and by request at several fare vendors in the region.
• The City of Duncan is moving forward on a proposal to build transitional housing for women and children fleeing violence, the Cowichan Valley Citizen reports. 
• Fifty-five local groups have called on Cowichan region governments for an update on climate action plans, according to a news release.
• The Cowichan Valley School District has promised to deliver a return-to-school plan to parents by Aug. 26, My Cowichan Valley Now reports. 
• Activists continue to block a logging road near Port Renfrew to prevent logging of old growth trees in the Fairy Creek watershed, CBC News reports. 
• The Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Cowichan Wheels Association collaborated to install a mobility mat at Old Mill Park in Shawnigan Lake, CHEK News reports. The feature helps people using wheelchairs and walkers access the beach and lake. 
• The Town of Lake Cowichan has a new emergency plan, the Lake Cowichan Gazette reports. 
• Maryna Macdonald, a member of the Ditidaht First Nation and a Harvard University hockey player, has her sights set on the pro leagues and on law school, the Harvard Gazette reports. 

Community events

• Saturday, Aug. 22: 🎶 Catch Black Moon Valley live at Waterwheel Park in Chemainus. 
• Saturday, Aug. 22: 😆 Matt Billon brings stand-up comedy to the Duncan Showroom stage, limited to 20 tickets. The performance will also be broadcast to the patio at the Old Firehouse Wine Bar.
• Sunday, Aug. 23: 🚜 Join the Young Agrarians for a Land Social at Diggable Roots, a new farm near Duncan, and learn about the B.C. Land Matching Program for farmers and landowners.
• Monday, Aug. 24 – Saturday, Aug. 29: 🌿 The Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre is looking for volunteers for two-hour shifts to help with eelgrass meadow restoration. Email [email protected] for details. 
• Monday, Aug. 24: 🎨 Get creative at Painting on the Patio at The Mill Pizza & Grill in Mill Bay. 
• Wednesday, Aug. 26: 🌎 The Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society, the Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre and the Cowichan Valley Earth Guardians are hosting Little Earth Guardians Mentorship Day, a nature-themed scavenger hunt for the little ones. 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

Thanks to Tim McClean for this amazing capture of the lightning storm over Cowichan Bay. Wow 😮!

Do you have a great photo of life in Cowichan? Send me an email, I’d love to see what this place looks like through your lens. 

In your words

“Thank you so much for your excellent reporting and coverage of local news,” Lucy wrote to us. “I don’t watch news and really appreciate and enjoy your emails. Great job!!

Thank YOU, Lucy. Your support keeps me going! Please help spread the word to your friends and family. Together, we are stronger. 💪

Thanks for reading,

Jacqueline