WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
| VOL. 17, NO. 36 | $1 + GST | www.lakecowichangazette.com
South Shore project: Planned traffic “calming” is safe PAGE 2
NedFest: Annual music festival set for this weekend PAGE 12
One for the road: New easy roll recycling totes for Area I and F PAGE 10
Ray riding the rock Tour de Rock: Former Lake Cowichan RCMP member Ray Carfantan rides in the 2013 Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock Tyson Jones
LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE
There’s no lack of motivation for former Lake Cowichan RCMP member Ray Carfantan when it comes Malcolm Chalmers to preparing for John Howroyd’s VJ-22 Volmer Sportsman custom-built amphibian airplane was righted near shore at the end of Nantree Road in the 2013 Cops Marble Bay after flipping in Cowichan Lake. for Cancer Tour de Rock ride. Carfantan is a senior Victoria RCMP, poised to become the commanding Submitted Former Lake Cowichan officer in RCMP member Ray Police confirmed one of the aircraft’s wheels caught a boat wake, Duncan. Ashley Degraaf LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE causing the plane to overturn. But he was a Carfantan, rides in Tour de On the other side of the coin, there were many witnesses and folks member of the Rock this fall. A Duncan pilot is counting his blessings after his Volmer VJ-22 ready to assist with the rescue in a matter of seconds. Lake Cowichan Sportsman seaplane flipped while launching Sunday afternoon on “With the wonderful help from all these people and the good Lord RCMP from 1999 until 2005. And it was Cowichan Lake. looking down on me.... I am so happy,” said Howroyd. during those years that he learned of the Pilot John Howroyd and his passenger daughter suffered nothing He received little more than a black eye and a small cut on his cheek. Tour de Rock. more than minor injuries when the custom-built amphibian aircraft His daughter only received a cut on her arm. “I was really affected by the tour in caught a wave when attempting to take off and flipped over at about “The owner — and experienced pilot — a 68-year-old (Howroyd), freed Lake Cowichan, where I first saw it,” 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Marble Bay. himself right away,” stated Lake Cowichan RCMP Cpl. Warren Potter in a says Carfantan. “I have friends in Lake “We were just departing and went through a boat wake. That was press release. “Fortunately a retired Vancouver PD member was in the area Cowichan with kids that have been enough to trip the plane up and we ended upside-down in the lake,” and was able to free the (44-year-old) North Saanich (passenger) who had through this, and some of them have Howroyd told the Lake Cowichan Gazette’s photographer Malcolm been upside-down but had a little air left in the cockpit.” been junior riders for the tour — they’re Chalmers at the scene. The plane received minimal damage and was towed to the beach by a real strong motivation for me. Seeing “We were almost off the water, so close, probably another second local boaters. the success they’ve had, I want to be or two and we would have been in the air and this wouldn’t have “I don’t mind the airplane, we can always rebuild it again,” Howroyd supportive of the programs that helped happened.” told Chalmers. “It looks bad but it’s not that bad. It’ll fly again.” them out and helped others as well. “ The amount of boaters on the lake on the long-weekend Sunday was > More photos PAGE 14 It’s not just through friends in both fortunate and unfortunate for the pilot. Lake Cowichan that Carfantan gains motivation for the training he is now responded to the distress call at 3 a.m. near the boat launch at the completing — which, he says can be campsite. challenging at times — but also from “The male was seen to be swimming then collapsed in shallow water,” family. the press release states. “He was brought to shore where witnesses Like many people, Carfantan has had Ashley Degraaf LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE performed CPR until paramedics arrived.” family face the fight against cancer. His The man was pronounced dead on the way to the hospital. sister is a breast cancer survivor, and his A 50-year-old Victoria man died en route to hospital after he collapsed in Foul play is not suspected. father passed from pancreatic cancer. Cowichan Lake near Heather Campground Monday morning. The victim’s name is currently being withheld pending notification of An RCMP press release states police and BC Ambulance Services next of kin. > Ray PAGE 3
Pilot and passenger OK after plane flips on Cowichan Lake
Midnight swim turns tragic
2009 Ranger Sport Auto, Air, P.L. P.W. P.M. 6 Cyl, White 31,306 km
$16,913
SEPTEMBE R SPECIALS!
2006 Lincoln Mark LT
RWD A.C. P.W. P.L. P.M. 5.4 Lt. Brown 103,348 km
$18,913