Up Front: Colwood senior still seeking Cowichan status Pictorial: The cutting edge of Cowichan Halloween, in photos
page 3 page 20
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
Friday, November 2, 2012
‘We’re not going to take this garbage’ Counterpetition: CVRD promises savings, opponents say plan is undemocratic, anti-business Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
S Andrew Leong
Sandy Clements commands her special skill dog, Odell, to push the button to activate the automatic door for access to the Island Savings Centre’s library on Wednesday.
Woman’s best friend opening doors in Cowichan Paws with a cause: Odell the special skills dog making the simple things in life much easier for disabled Cowichan woman Don Bodger
News Leader Pictorial
D
oggone it, Odell the special skills dog is handy to have around. The 2 1/2-year-old purebred black Lab can help with the laundry, grocery shopping and many other chores. She’s a godsend for owner Sandy Clements. “She is my ¿rst one,’’ said Clements, 52. “She has been a blessing for me.’’ Clements was hit by a truck a decade ago while crossing Canada Avenue between the train station and the Bank of
Peter Baljet
Montreal in downtown Duncan. “I Àew 10 feet and landed on my backside,’’ she recalled. Clements suffered deep-muscle injuries that seriously affected her mobility. “It’s like being a paraplegic,’’ she said. Clements lives at home with her husband but the time came for her to get some help. “We decided because I was getting older and I’m unable to get down to the lower drawers and cupboards of my house, I decided to put through an application (for a dog) and I got accepted.’’ Through the Lions Club Foundation, and with support from the local Lions
Club, Clements Àew to Ontario with a girlfriend in July of last year and spent three weeks at a facility in Oakville where the dogs are trained. “They have ¿ve different dogs they train,’’ explained Clements. Others are assigned to people who are visually-impaired, for seizure response, hearing impairments and autistic situations. “We stayed in-house and I learned how to work my new service dog,’’ said Clements. She’s now had Odell for 16 months. The dog goes around town with Clements, opening doors at the Island Savings Centre with the push of a button and
gladly lending a paw getting groceries. “She can get stuff off the shelf for me,’’ said Clements, who travels by public transit with Odell along for the ride at her side. At home, “she opens up all my cupboards and doors for me and helps with my laundry. “I’ve trained her to do a couple of other things, too. She helps me get my socks off. She can help tug my pants down when I have to and she’ll retrieve my slippers and my shoes.’’ Clements is just so thankful to have Odell in her life. more on page 6
ome Cowichan taxpayers are crying foul about the region’s proposed $1.8-million trash-andrecycling plan. William Dumont of Shawnigan Lake and others are upset they have until 4:30 p.m. Nov. 26 to gather at least 2,550 signatures on forms objecting to the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s tote-and-truck plan, for a June start. Under a formal alternative approval process, those names represent 10% of 25,500 electors in regional areas. Dumont called the AAP a “negative billing option,” allowing the CVRD to spend up to $20 million during the next 15 years by eliminating private haulers, and taking over the garbage and recycling collection business. His math totaling $20 million comes from a 10-year trash plan to 2022, costing $13.6 million with fees from 12,000 homes. Add $7 million for the next ¿ve years to cover repairs, replacements plus some fee hikes. more on page 6
CA$H FOR CLUN K ERS 3,000
UP $ TO
†
Recycle your 2006 model year or older vehicle and receive up to $3,000† towards the cash purchase, financing or leasing of an eligible 2012 or 2013 Chevrolet Silverado.
6300 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan Sales & Service 250 746 7131 Bodyshop 250 748 4370 Parts 250 746 4466 | www.peterbaljetgm.com