Cowichan Valley local election candidates on natural disaster preparedness

Cowichan Valley municipal elections will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17. In a survey sent out earlier this month, The Discourse asked Cowichan Valley readers what issues they want to see mayor and council candidates address. Environmental concerns, particularly related to climate change, stood out among the top. 

The Cowichan Valley is no stranger to flooding. In 2009, many people in the City of Duncan had to leave their homes due to floods and in 2020, another flood hit the Cowichan region, impacting low-lying areas near the mouths of the Quw’utsun (Cowichan), Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah) and Chemainus rivers. 

In the warmer and drier months, attention in the region also turns to drought and wildfire threat. This season, multiple wildfires popped up around the Cowichan Valley and surrounding areas on Vancouver Island.

Responses to The Discourse’s local election reader survey indicate that many readers have questions for candidates about how they plan to mitigate impacts of climate change and prepare their communities for natural disasters such as flooding and wildfire.

The Discourse asked mayor and council candidates in Ladysmith, Duncan, Lake Cowichan and North Cowichan what their plans and priorities are regarding wildfire resilience and flood preparation. Here is what they said:

North Cowichan candidates on wildfire preparedness

“Wildfire preparedness has to be treated as an ongoing municipal responsibility, not something we think about only when smoke is in the air,” said Chris Wilkinson, North Cowichan mayoral candidate.

Wilkinson said he supports the recent creation of a dedicated wildfire specialist position in North Cowichan, which was announced at the end of 2025. 

North Cowichan’s current mayor Rob Douglas, who is running for mayor again, did not reply to The Discourse’s questions by publication date. However, in a response to a separate set of questions sent to candidates, Douglas said he would continue to support the implementation of North Cowichan’s Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation Strategy.

The strategy identifies climate risks and vulnerabilities within the Cowichan Valley and supports preparedness. It involves goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as adapting to current and future climate hazards and can be read online on North Cowichan’s website.

“In 2026, I supported shifting a portion of North Cowichan’s Climate Action and Energy Reserve Fund toward adaptation, with a particular focus on wildfire preparedness and mitigation, and North Cowichan has since hired an assistant fire chief of wildfire operations to develop a community wildfire response strategy,” Douglas said. “I will continue supporting this work while ensuring North Cowichan is prepared for other climate-related risks, including flooding, drought and sea-level rise.” 

Out of the 12 councillor candidates running in North Cowichan, five responded to The Discourse’s questions for this story. 

Councillor candidate Valerie Russell echoed Wilkinson’s emphasis on the new wildfire specialist position. She said wildfires are a growing concern, especially as summers become hotter and drier.

“We need to do as much as we can before a fire starts, as one can see from the fires in Sooke and the interior how fast they can spread.”

Last month, the Mount Jack Wildfire burned out of control north of Sooke and grew to over 300 hectares. It is now under control, but the fire sparked concern due to its fast-growing nature and proximity to homes and the watershed. 

Russell also said she thinks the town needs to be careful about approving new development in areas with high wildfire risk. 

“We shouldn’t create problems that will be much harder and more expensive to deal with in the future,” she said.

Councillor candidate Christopher Istace, who is running for reelection, told The Discourse he was among the councillors who recognize the need for a local wildfire strategy. 

Istace said he is a supporter of the 0.5 per cent  Climate Action and Energy Plan tax levy, which, according to North Cowichan’s website, can be used “to offset the costs of future climate action which will help to ensure sustainable funding sources into the future and reduce the municipality’s capital budgets.” 

Istace said the tax levy “allowed us to budget reserves to move forward on a wildfire strategy and hire a wildfire specialist for North Cowichan’s Fire Department.” 

Council candidate Brian Chambers said he is happy with the community’s fire department with “strong leadership and well-trained fire fighters.” He said he is satisfied with the provincial response to wildfires, too.

“B.C.’s wildfire response has become a well-oiled machine over the last decade,” he said, also mentioning that the municipality can “do much more to encourage our people to learn how to FireSmart their homes.”

Incumbent Christopher Justice highlighted his work on council with Coun. Mike Caljouw, who is also running again. 

In 2025, the two councillors brought forward a motion asking council to make wildfire preparedness a municipal strategic priority. 

“This included FireSmart initiatives, fuel management, public education, evacuation planning and ensuring appropriate emergency-response capacity,” he said. 

Justice said he also wants to make sure new developments and existing communities are more resilient to wildfire.

The FireSmart Initiatives were also mentioned by candidate Krystal Adams, who said she wants to treat wildfire preparedness “as a core public safety and infrastructure issue, particularly as more of our communities interface with forested land.”

Adams said she wants “reliable emergency water supply, well-planned evacuation routes and continued investment in the people and equipment our fire departments need.” She also thinks wildfire risk should be considered in land-use decisions, especially in higher-risk areas.

“This is a main concern for me with the Kingsview development application … We know many of our vulnerabilities, my priority is making sure that knowledge translates into action that systematically reduces our risk.”

Candidate Derek Masselink said the involvement of First Nations and neighbouring private forestry landowners is important.

“Wildfire and other climate mitigation approaches need to be considered in everything that we do on the landscape,” he said.

“I would support local adoption of the five wildfire commitments proposed by former BC Forests minister, Doug Donaldson.”

‘Rivers don’t stop at municipal boundaries’ 

Both council candidates Valerie Russell and Krystal Adams noted flooding and wildfires don’t care about municipal borders. 

“Rivers don’t stop at municipal boundaries, and neither do the effects of decisions made upstream,” Adams said.

“We’ve begun identifying and assessing wetlands, forests, riparian areas and other natural systems that provide real functions, including storing and slowing water, managing runoff and supporting drainage.”

Adams also said she wants flood mapping and modelling to help guide land use, flood mitigation and infrastructure investment.

Russell pointed out the flood-mitigation measures put in place after the 2009 floods.

“There are dikes and pump stations, along with revised flood mapping. A supply of sandbags should be available for residents to use,” she said.

Russell said she does not support more development in flood-prone areas and suggested that those who already have properties in these areas could be supported by the municipality in making their homes more flood resistant.

Wilkinson said flooding is a good example of why he emphasizes long-term planning. 

“We know which areas are vulnerable,” he said, and pointed to the collaborative work  already happening along the Chemainus River which includes flood protection, sediment removal and erosion control.

“I would build on that approach.”

In the longer term, he said the community needs to look at “drainage capacity, dikes and flood-control infrastructure, watershed management, natural systems and where and how we allow future development.”

Wilkinson added that his focus on economic development will also help pay for the work that goes into long-term plans.

“If we make sensible investments before infrastructure fails or disaster strikes, we can protect people and property while reducing the much greater financial costs that can come afterward,” he said.  

Candidate Derek Masselink highlighted his work with First Nations and North Cowichan on flood recovery efforts following the 2021 atmospheric river event. 

In 2022 and 2023, Masselink worked as a community recovery manager with Emergency Management BC.

Masselink said many of the areas hardest hit by flooding, such as the Chemainus River and Cowichan River, were in watersheds that had been subject to years of logging and development. 

He said this shows the importance of listening to what First Nations in the Cowichan Valley “have been saying for years,” and how it is also important to bring the federal and provincial governments to the table, as well as Mosaic Forest Management “to improve watershed health and safety across and throughout the entirety of our three major river systems.”

Council candidate Don Allingham did not respond by publication date, but in his response to questions for a previous story said North Cowichan must plan for flooding and droughts. 

“The climate is changing … At best we can slow it down so let’s be ready for it and not afraid of it,” he said. 

Council candidate Joyce Behnsen also did not respond by publication date, but said in the same previous story that the maintenance of rivers and streams including removing gravel building is important. 

“Forestry management by clearing to help prevent wildfire risks. Climate changes, always has, always will. Encourage water storage such as cisterns,” she said. 

Council candidate and incumbent Christopher Justice said his approach to flooding begins with “understanding and protecting systems that manage water naturally, as well as investing in appropriate infrastructure.”

“Healthy watersheds and natural systems can help reduce flood risks,” he said. 

Justice said he previously pushed the idea of integrating natural assets like wetlands into the town’s asset management planning. He said he would continue to support work on “flood mapping, drainage and infrastructure, watershed management and measures to help residents whose homes face greater risk.”

Duncan local election candidates point to regional work

Out of the 10 councillor candidates running for the City of Duncan council, The Discourse received two responses. 

Mike McKinley, who is acclaimed as a mayoral candidate, did not respond to The Discourse’s request by deadline. 

Bradley Humenick, candidate for City of Duncan council, said “a lot of this work is already happening regionally through Emergency Management Cowichan and the CVRD.”

“I want to make sure we’re an active participant and that our plans are current, tested and actually work when they’re needed,” he said, adding that not every fire risk in Duncan comes from wildfires. He pointed to recent suspicious fires that he said have threatened homes and businesses in the city.

“That’s also a public-safety issue,” he said, and noted that he thinks the city needs properly resourced policing and bylaw enforcement.

“We also need to address unsafe fires associated with homelessness and addiction before a small fire becomes something much more serious.”

Council candidate and incumbent Jenni Capps did not respond to The Discourse’s questions by publication date, however in a response for a previous story said she is committed to making sustainability “front of mind.” Capps is the current chair of Duncan’s Environment and Sustainability Committee.

Capps said she is also a big supporter of the urban tree canopy, “which can help mitigate the effects of heat domes and other climate events, by making trees available at low cost to citizens through our popular tree sale and rebate programs.”

Council candidate Adrian Mulholland also did not respond by deadline, but in his response for a previous story told The Discourse that “climate adaptation should be very practical: Identify the risks to people and infrastructure and make sure we are prepared for them.”

He underlined the work the CVRD is already undertaking on hazard and climate adaptation work, including assessments of wildfires and flooding. 

“I would make sure Duncan’s infrastructure planning, emergency planning and land-use decisions use that information rather than creating another separate municipal process — that means maintaining drainage and water infrastructure, protecting critical facilities, applying appropriate flood-development standards, preparing for heat and wildfire emergencies and coordinating emergency planning regionally.”

Understanding regional evacuation and emergency plans

Bernice Timmer, another candidate for the City of Duncan Council, told The Discourse that “public education is key” to prevent and respond to wildfires, and that regularly updating emergency plans on both a personal and community level is crucial to “fireproof your home and know the exit routes nearby.”

Timmer said this is important for flood response and communication as well. 

“Getting real time information through the centres in the B.C. government who actively monitor flooding is critical to alerting people in a flood situation,” she said.

“There has been significant work done to look at flooding risk in the Cowichan Valley and I would work collaboratively with other jurisdictions and governments to identify local initiatives and advocate for funding that will address flooding.” 

Humenick said longer term, he wants the city to pay attention to stormwater infrastructure and draining and whether the systems are ready for conditions in the future.

He said he wants to better understand regional evacuation capacity as well.

“Highway 1 is the backbone of transportation through our part of Vancouver Island, and there are limited practical alternatives when major sections are closed,” he said. 

“In a large-scale emergency where thousands of people may need to move at once, that concerns me. Duncan can’t solve that alone, but we can make sure transportation resilience and evacuation capacity are part of the regional conversation.”

Ladysmith mayoral candidates look to mitigate human-caused fires

Incumbent Ladysmith Mayor Deena Beeston — who is running for another term —  said the community took a proactive approach to wildfire prevention by encouraging residents to utilize Emergency Management Cowichan’s FireSmart home assessments.

“Resilience relies on communities following through with these practical recommendations,” she said. 

Additionally, she said Ladysmith is working with the province to mitigate the risks of human-caused fires.

Mayoral candidate Ray Gourlay, who is a current councillor, said he is also concerned about human-caused fires, stating that many residents have concerns about the Banon Creek Service Road encampments and the risk to the Stocking Lake Watershed.

“I hope to approach this complex issue collaboratively with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, the Ministry of Forestry and our incoming MLA to ensure individuals sheltering in this area are given access to suitable housing options,” Gourlay said.

He said he wants to ensure safeguards and monitoring can be put in place to prevent further encampments and minimize the associated fire risk in the area. 

He said he would also work “with FireSmart BC to provide educational opportunities for students and all residents on how to protect personal homes and prevent wildfires.”

Watersheds are ‘critical infrastructure’

Three out of the nine Ladysmith council candidates responded to The Discourse’s questions. 

Councillor candidate John Scott mentioned the importance of the Holland and Stocking Lake watersheds when it comes to water security, stating the watersheds are “critical infrastructure.”

“Increasing water storage … isn’t only about accommodating growth or getting through increasingly dry summers; it also contributes to our ability to respond to emergencies. Wildfire is a real and growing risk for our region, and I think Ladysmith needs to approach it through both prevention and preparedness,” Scott said.

As Ladysmith grows, he said the town needs to be thoughtful about development in the wildland-urban interface, and must make sure neighbourhoods have access to water infrastructure, buffers and FireSmart design.

Ladysmith council candidate Bethea Penny said underbrush management is a big issue that is “largely unaddressed,” although the town has little jurisdiction over its management. 

“In 2025, our council supported the regional FireSmart program that thinned and cleared underbrush along Holland Creek Trail,” she said. 

“I have heard from constituents that there is more need for volunteers to help with trail maintenance, so that’s an area where council can take initiative to support more action,” she said.

Penny also touched on the risk of fires caused by unauthorized homeless encampments, but she said the solution is complicated. 

“Utimately this stems from a crisis of hope … While I can’t fix that problem, I can do my best to work towards governance that supports our people in a way that can prevent such hopelessness.”

Candidate Lynn Hansen said she believes council has an “important advocacy role” with neighbouring areas, municipalities and governance to protect residents, watersheds and critical infrastructure.

‘Resilience needs to be built before the emergency occurs’

Beeston said that although flooding remains a regional risk that demands attention, “the recent upgrades completed on the Ladysmith weirs have successfully mitigated that immediate threat for our local community.”

Gourlay said he would advocate for the continued work of Emergency Management Cowichan and focus flood mitigation efforts on the most at-risk areas. 

He said much of Ladysmith lies at higher elevation than a lot of the Cowichan Valley, but noted that certain waterfront areas face risk associated with sea level rise. 

“Future waterfront developments must plan accordingly,” he said. 

Similar to the wildfire response, Hansen highlighted collaboration.

“Long-term solutions may extend beyond what one municipality can accomplish alone. I would support government-to-government collaboration.”

She said the town needs to communicate clearly to residents whose properties face increased flood risk and communicate what falls within municipal authority, what mitigation options are available and where involvement from other levels of government is required.

Scott said just because Ladysmith’s geography means the flood-risk is different from some low-lying areas throughout the Cowichan Valley, it doesn’t mean changing coastal conditions aren’t important.

“More intense rainfall puts pressure on stormwater systems, culverts and other infrastructure,” he said.

“We need to make sure the climate projections we have today are incorporated into infrastructure renewal and long-term capital planning, rather than designing only for the conditions we’ve experienced historically. We should also look for opportunities to manage rainwater more naturally through green infrastructure, rather than assuming every problem needs to be solved simply by building larger pipes.”

Scott also pointed to what he’s learned from volunteering with search and rescue. 

“One lesson stands out,” he said. “Resilience needs to be built before the emergency occurs. That means strong relationships between governments and organizations, and making good use of regional expertise rather than assuming Ladysmith needs to solve every problem on its own.”

Lake Cowichan candidate supports fire department restructuring

The mayoral candidates for Lake Cowichan did not respond to The Discourse’s questions by deadline. 

Out of the eight candidates for council, only candidate Aaron Frisby responded to questions.

Frisby said he was in support of the Lake Cowichan Fire Department’s restructuring. 

The town recently announced it will establish a new full-time director of emergency services/fire chief position following the retirement of fire chief Doug Knott.

In a Facebook post from Sept. 24, 2026, the town stated this restructuring was done with the full support of Lake Cowichan council.

“I was a big supporter of the Lake Cowichan restructuring and want to thank chief Knott for all his efforts over the years, but the workload that was placed on him was unacceptable in the previous format.”

Making Lake Cowichan a hub for firefighting training

Frisby said he believes there needs to be a more collaborative approach in the region by combining and sharing resources between surrounding communities and making Lake Cowichan a hub for training required by fire departments. 

“This new restructure will give us the ability to come up with an emergency preparedness plan uniquely for Lake Cowichan,” he said.

In regards to flooding, Frisby said that while Lake Cowichan does have some risks along the river and lakefront, the risk is not similar to the event Duncan faced in 2009. 

“A clear 100- and 200-year floodplain has been created within Lake Cowichan that mitigates some risks through building restrictions, but as far as anything else that could be implemented, I am not aware of any other solutions but am always open to expert advice on these issues.”