Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, March 28, 2012

Page 1

Up front: Derelict Dominion ďŹ nds a buyer and more red tape On stage: Seventy-year-old grandma makes a great leap of faith

page 3 page 17

For all the news of the Cowichan region as it happens, plus stories from around British Columbia, go to our website www.cowichannewsleader.com Your news leader since 1905

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Cowichan sweaters a national icon

Standoff ends peacefully at home south of Duncan Sunday morning: incident ends safely after four hours of negotiation

Canadian recognition: Federal government to celebrate honour with a future ceremony in Cowichan

Krista Siefken

News Leader Pictorial

Krista Siefken

News Leader Pictorial

T

he Cowichan Sweater and its Coast Salish creators were recognized Thursday by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. “Since the late 19th century, Coast Salish women have combined ancient woolworking technologies with European knitting to make Cowichan sweaters,â€? a government press release states. “These internationally recognizable sweaters have contributed to Coast Salish identity and aided Coast Salish cultural continuity when faced with the challenges of the loss of traditional resources.â€? The recognition means a bronze commemorative plaque will be presented to the community during an unveiling ceremony sometime in the future. Lifelong Cowichan knitter John George said he was honoured and pleased by the recognition. “I believe everyone around Cowichan who knits is going to be very happy to hear about our government’s recognition of our “I believe evauthentic Cowichan sweaters,â€? said George, who can eryone around often be spotted knitting at Cowichan who the Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre. Andrew Leong knits is going to He started knitting at Knitter John George practices his nationally recognized craft at the Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre Monday. be very happy.â€? seven years old, learnup to her — she wanted to learn how to knit.â€? “I think our Cowichan sweater became more ing from his mother and Cowichan elder Dora Wilson, 70, has been knit- popular then, and my sister Charlotte and I have grandmother. ting for 55 years. She learned the skill from her had many orders for our Cowichan sweaters — Since then, he’s knitted mother and grandmother, and has passed it down people are starting to know the difference now countless sweaters, taught his two sisters how to her daughter and granddaughters. between genuine sweaters and the imitations,â€? to do the same, and is now passing the tradition She says publicity for the Cowichan sweater Wilson said. down to his six-year-old granddaughter. — especially when imitation Cowichan sweaters Wilson, for example, doesn’t knit with the “Every time she comes to visit, she sits beside caused controversy by being included in Vancoucommonly-used New Zealand wool — hers in me and I show her how to do the knitting,â€? said ver 2010 Olympic gear — has helped raise the local wool she hand-washes and weaves. George. “She helps with the stitches, and makes more on page 13 sure she understands what I’m doing. It was totally sweater’s proÂżle.

George

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four-hour stand-off that saw Mounties in tactical gear swarming outside a Duncan home ended peacefully Sunday, police

say. North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP ofÂżcers were called to a residence in the 5000 block of the Trans-Canada Highway — near the Old Farm Market — at about 5:45 a.m. “Police had been advised that a male who resides in the residence was distraught and it was feared that he might Kevin Day: unarmed exit harm himself,â€? RCMP spokesman di release. l Cpl. Kevin Day said iin a media “Police attended and set up containment outside the residence due to the possibility of the male having a Âżrearm in his possession.â€? Police also ensured the home’s nine other residents — mostly relatives — made it out of the house and to safety. The Island District Emergency Response Team was called to the scene to negotiate with the man. A few hours later, their efforts proved successful. “Just before 10 a.m., through negotiations and various police tactics, the male exited the residence unarmed and was taken into custody by police without further incident,â€? Day said. The 27-year-old man was taken to the local RCMP detachment and held for a period of time for investigation. more on page 13


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