Welcome to Cowichan This Week, your source for the latest local news and events. Sign up to get this in your inbox every Thursday.
The Cowichan Valley School District announced back to school plans this week. The release includes detailed health and safety protocols and information on alternatives to in-class learning. What questions do you still have about the plan? Tell me by responding to this email. Tomorrow, reporter David Minkow will interview school board chair Candace Spilsbury. We’ll do our best to get your questions answered.
News and announcements
- The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the depths of food insecurity in the Cowichan region. Shalu Mehta reports for The Discourse.
- VIU Cowichan’s women in trades sampler program will go ahead this fall. Morgan Powell reports for The Discourse.
- As of Wednesday afternoon there were 15 active, known cases of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island. The province announced new fines related to events, gatherings and following safety rules in public. Victoria police fined one party host $2,300 for gatherings last weekend.
- As of this week, masks are mandatory on BC Ferries, with limited exceptions. Masks are also required on BC Transit buses and in Walmart. They will be required in Superstore as of Aug. 29, as Global News reports. All of the policies allow for certain exceptions.
- The Cowichan Seniors Community Foundation is looking for volunteer drivers for its meals on wheels program.
- Protesters continue to block logging access to old growth trees near Port Renfrew, Ha-Shilth-Sa reports.
- North Cowichan resident Icel Dobell has called on community members to add their names to stand up against bullying and in support of two First Nations children who were harassed by a group of adult strangers in Duncan.
- The province is consulting the public on planned Highway 1 safety improvements in the Malahat corridor. The online survey is open through Sept. 20.
- Youth volunteers in Ladysmith are building bike trails in Brown Drive Park. The project is a partnership between the Town of Ladysmith and the Ladysmith chapter of the Cowichan Trails Stewardship Society.
- North Oyster community members hosted a retirement parade for Mary Marcotte, who served as the area’s regional director with the Cowichan Valley Regional District for 25 years, CBC News reports.
Community events
- Now to Friday, Aug. 28: ☠️ Kids’ Pirate Days, hosted by the Ladysmith Maritime Society, has gone online. Check out the interactive videos and activities.
- POSTPONED to Sept. 5: 🌿 Join the Cowichan Green Community’s Resiliency Project for an invasive species removal day at McAdam Park in Duncan.
- Friday, Aug. 28: 🎵 Join local musician Ryan McMahon for an online concert and fundraiser for the Unison Benevolent Fund, a charity that supports Canadian musicians.
- Saturday, Aug. 29: 🌊 The Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre presents Whole Watershed Thinking, an outdoor panel discussion on building resilience in the Cowichan watershed.
- Saturday, Aug. 29: 🍷 The Old Firehouse Wine Bar is taking over Duncan’s City Square with BBQ eats, fancy drinks and live music.
- Sunday, Aug. 30: 🌲 Back by popular demand, The Secret Life of Trees is a family-friendly scavenger hunt at the Wildwood Ecoforest.
- Sunday, Aug. 30: 🎨 Get into rock painting and learn the fundamentals of dot mandalas at a workshop by Blissful Dots at the Chemainus Public Market.
- Sunday, Aug. 30: 🐕 SUP with your Pup at the Mill Bay Marina. Donations support the CMS Food Bank.
- Monday, Aug. 31: 🕯️ On International Overdose Awareness Day, the advocacy group Moms Stop The Harm is hosting an online candlelight vigil.
- Friday, Sept. 4: 🍺 Red Arrow Brewing Co. presents its Friday 50 Dinner and Concert with the Deep Sea Gypsies. Call the brewery to reserve a spot.
What did I miss? Let me know what events are coming up near you by sending me an email.
Photo of the week
A big thanks to Leah Satterfield for this photo of cousins Ronan and Avin having a grand time in North Cowichan. They are just the cutest!
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
“Current. Relevant. Kind. Fierce!” That’s how Michelle described The Discourse in a Facebook comment. I love that! Thank you. Honestly, I might get that tattooed somewhere. 😉
Thanks for reading,
Jacqueline [end]
