Cowichan This Week – The sun will come out…

Welcome to Cowichan This Week! This is your essential reading for staying connected to what’s up in the Cowichan Valley. If you want to receive this information straight to your inbox, sign up for our Cowichan Valley newsletter.

I’m settling in to the new normal of life in a pandemic. I feel lucky that this time hasn’t yet brought me any big personal crisis, and that British Columbia acted soon enough to prevent a widespread outbreak.

As I’m getting used to this new world, I’m thinking more about the one we will build after. How can we rebuild Cowichan communities in ways that are better than what came before? What are the lessons from this time that you hope we will carry forward when this is over? 

For me, it’s this: This pandemic has challenged us to think collectively and act in the best interest of our whole community. I hope we take that lesson with us into the next world. 

What is your most hopeful vision for Cowichan’s future? Send me an email. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

News of the week

• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that workers making less than $1,000, seasonal workers and those whose employment insurance benefits have recently expired may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, CHEK News reports. 
• B.C. schools could reopen before the end of the school year, CBC News reports. 
• British Columbia has extended its ban on backyard burning in the Cowichan Valley through June 15, the Cowichan Valley Citizen reports. 
• The Cowichan Valley Regional District has asked residents to postpone non-essential trips to recycling centres, which are dealing with service limitations and a surge in demand.
• The Cowichan Valley School District board will accept public feedback on its proposed budget through April 19. 
• North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring and a coalition of mayors and regional district chairs from Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast have asked British Columbia to limit long weekend traffic on B.C. Ferries to essential travel only. 
• Municipality of North Cowichan has approved a 1.4 per cent tax increase, the Cowichan Valley Citizen reports. The City of Duncan is considering a tax increase of 3.16 per cent.

Community events

The community events section will now include scheduled events that take place online or by telephone. Planning something? Send me an email to let me know.

• Sunday Apr. 19 – Saturday Apr. 25: 🌎 Celebrate Earth Week online at Earthfest Live, with speakers and panels daily, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Sundays, Apr. 19-26: 🎤 The Lila Music Centre is hosting a virtual Big Community Sing Song, with special guests. Register in advance. 
• Mondays, Apr. 20-27: 🎹 Check out A Streetcar Named The Blues with David Vest, a live weekly performance of story and song streamed to YouTube from the Duncan Showroom, 5 p.m.
• Tuesdays, Apr. 21-28: 🎸 Eugene Smith shares stories and songs of life on the road, streamed to YouTube from the Duncan Showroom, 5 p.m.

Photo of the week

A big congratulations to Theresa Shand, the grand prize winner of our #COWvid19 mini photo contest. The judges just loved the contrast of dark and light, loneliness and hopefulness in this shot. Check out more of our favourites in our online gallery.

In your words

Thanks to all who responded to David Minkow’s newsletter last week on mushroom foraging. We were happy to learn of all the ways you are staying busy in your gardens and nearby forests. 

“I really enjoy your articles in the Discourse,” Wilma wrote. “In response to your question, I have doubled my organic vegetable and fruit plot, removing all ornamental plants so that I can produce enough to share with the community.”

That’s so nice to hear, Wilma!

That’s it for this week. This information is for you. Help us make it better by sending your feedback to [email protected]. And, please help us spread the word by sharing this story. [end]