Up front: Cowichan man ready to bravely enter the Dragon’s Den Spotlight: Jail time ordered for Duncan abalone poacher
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Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Duncan celebrates its 100th birthday with a new Åag Centennial celebration: A few hundred show up to toast the big anniversary Celina Albany
News Leader Pictorial
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Andrew Leong
Lt.-Gov. Steven Point watches as the city’s new Åag is unveiled Sunday morning. For video of Duncan’s 100th-birthday ceremony log on to cowichannewsleader.com.
uncan celebrated its 100th birthday Sunday by unveiling a new Àag. But it may take a while to determine what city residents think of their new symbol designed by Duncan Councillor Sharon Jackson. Besides the few hundred party-goers who attended the downtown centennial celebration, few people polled on the street Tuesday had seen the Àag — which features Native salmon and a silhouette of city hall on a Vancouver Canucks blueand-green background. The process leading to the creation of the new Àag had been on the receiving end of controversy after some accused the city of not consulting citizens enough in the decision-making process. Geoffrey Chaster was one of the critics. He said the end product did nothing to change his mind. Chaster said the symbols on the Àag aren’t focused on the town of Duncan an he is disappointed and the idea of including pio pioneers of the town wa rejected early in was the game. “ all municipality, “It’s it’s a joke,” he said. “Th (city hall) didn’t “They eve try consulting even the community. They did do any research didn’t and they don’t give a
tee. She said the past four months have been very important in coming to a ¿nal design. “The green represents the trees and mountains here in Cowichan. The blue represents the Cowichan River. You can see the silhouette of city hall in front of Mount Prevost,” said Jackson. The ¿ve salmon are designed to represent the ¿ve original tribes of Cowichan: Koksilah, Somena, Quamichan, Comiaken and Clemclemaluts, according to Jackson, who explained there are now Andrew Leong seven tribes that call the valley home. Ben Buss proclaims Duncan’s new status as Steven Point, B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor was on location for the unveiling of 100-year-old city. the Àag, which included a performance damn,” he added, claiming most of the of the city’s centennial song by its writer, designs on the Àag aren’t even in Duncan Cowichan local, Paul Ruszel. except for the clock tower. “Steven (Point) was his usual funny “To me it’s just a bunch of dead ¿sh on and gracious self, I’m so glad he was part a rag. Sharon Jackson and city hall just of the event,” said Jackson, leader of the don’t know what they’re doing.” valley’s centennial committee. Few community members polled on the Jackson said she was proud of the street felt as passionate as Chaster, howevent turnout despite the recent weather ever. Most were unaware Duncan was conditions. getting a new symbol, but were OK with A helicopter Àew over the downtown the net result — calling it “nice,” “some- core following the introduction of the thing new,” and “something different.” new Àag. “It’s nice that the city did this. I didn’t “It Àew over our heads really, really know anything about the controversy, but low,” said Jackson. “Then it banked I think they did a good job representing around Ingram (Street) and came up the town,” said Jesse Lalond. behind the tower,” she added, emphasiz“I like the idea. It all ¿ts together,” said ing on how the helicopter swooped down Cowichan resident George Seward. above city hall. “It really shows what the town is and Jackson described youngsters’ enthusiwe’re lucky to be here. The Àag has a asm as a crew member popped out of the little bit of everything,” Seward said as helicopter and waved to spectators below. he gestured at the various elements of the “The whole event surpassed all my Àag. expectations. The rain held off and it was Jackson was happy with the response. an all-around wonderful experience. She said the entire process entailed “Watching the Àag be shown to the nearly 25 versions of the new Àag and town for the ¿rst time brought a tear to involved the guidance of the commitmy eye.”
Fake ID-aided fraud has RCMP warning Cowichan of potential gang-related scam Krista Siefken
News Leader Pictorial
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raudulent use of identi¿cation at the Duncan Future Shop store has Cowichan police warning businesses not to fall victim to the fake-ID scam. Mounties say the incident, which occurred early Sunday evening, could possibly be connected to a larger organized-crime scam from
the Lower Mainland. “Two males of Asian descent attempted to use fake identi¿cation to buy cellphones,” North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Cpl. Kevin Day explained. “Both a British Columbia driver’s licence and a Social Insurance Number card in the name of a male from Richmond were used fraudulently by one of the males. Both males were described as being thin, of Asian descent, with short black hair and between 20 and 25 years old.”
Store staff were suspicious because the SIN card appeared fake — there was no area to sign a name on the back — and the signature on the driver’s licence did not match. The identi¿cation was seized and both men left the store. The Cowichan Community Policing Society has responded by activating a business fan-out to spread information about the scam, and prevent other businesses from falling victim to it. The scam sees a new cellphone account set up
with stolen or fake ID, with an innocent person getting a bill months after the fact. Businesses in these situations are reminded to check other forms of identi¿cation, and examine the ID to see if it has been altered in any way, or if the signature is smeared, which can indicate a stolen card. Anyone with information regarding this scam is asked to contact North Cowichan/ Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).