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Wednesday, February 4, 2015
THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE
6 Wednesday, February 04, 2015 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com
www.lakecowichangazette.com
Lake Mayor series: from Ken Smile FILE Douglas to Ross Forrest COWICHAN LAKE
Frank Shearer
With Malcolm Chalmers
Occupation: Retired I’ve always wanted to: Sail around the world Favourite food: T-bone steak Favourite activity: Walking My proudest moment: Mortgage free at 52 I define down time as: Reading I wish I was better at: Computers If I was stuck on a desert island I would definitely need: Fresh water Favourite moment of day is: Morning sunrises I’m currently reading: Nez Perce tribal history In my fridge you’ll find: Fruits and vegetables If I had a $1,000,000: Retire to Mexico
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Sherri Brubaker
“ ” Don Gordon managed to keep most of the people happy, most of the time. Rolli Gunderson
Photos Rolli Gunderson Collection
Left: Earle Darling served as mayor of Lake Cowichan from 1991 to 1996 and as alderman from 1984 to 1990.
Right: Lake Cowichan resident Don Gordon is one of just thirteen people to have held the position of Mayor of Lake Cowichan over the 71 years since the incorporation of the Village of Lake Cowichan in 1944.
2015 Annual General Meeting & Dinner at the Cowichan Lake Curling Lounge Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 6:00 pm $20.00 per person to attend RSVP by Thursday, February 20th, 2015 at the Chamber Visitor/Business Centre 250-749-3244 or email: lcchamber@shaw.ca
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Rolli Gunderson
PagEs oF HIstory Former Lake Cowichan Mayor Ken Douglas was one of only three to hold the position of mayor of Lake Cowichan without first serving time as councillor/alderman/ commissioner. A long-time LCSS school teacher (social studies, etc.), Douglas was elected to a three-year term in 1980. He also held an interest in federal and provincial politics and was a great supporter of the Lake Cowichan local of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation. A former Youbou resident, Douglas died in October 1994. The eighth person to hold the mayoral position was Mayor Ted Forrest, who was elected to council in 1979. He also served as councillor between 1981 and 1983 prior to his election to the mayor’s seat for 1984 and 1985. Born and raised in Duncan, Ted was a great supporter of local sports, spending countless hours over countless decades volunteering in Little League and Babe Ruth baseball teams (umpire, coach, officiant, etc.)
and hockey over the decades. For his many works he was honoured as Lake Cowichan Citizen of the Year for 1976. Like his son, present mayor Ross Forrest, Ted was totally committed to this community and loved it as much as anyone can love one’s “hometown.” Ted passed away in Duncan in 1998. Another local former mayor is life-time resident Don Gordon. A political junkie from way back, Don was elected to town council in 1978, serving as councillor until 1985. In 1986 he was elected mayor, a position he held until 1990. An academic at heart, he put much thought and wisdom into his decisionmaking regarding the town, and managed to keep most of the people happy, most of the time during his years in office. One of the most memorable events established during Don’s time as mayor was the 1989 official twinning of Lake Cowichan with its sister village Otaki, Japan, a program which continues to this day. Another force to be reckoned with was Mayor Earle Darling, a gentleman who served the community well. Well-liked and popular with many townsfolk, Darling and wife Marjorie moved from Victoria to Lake Cowichan in 1975 where he owned and operated Darling Tire Ltd. for many years prior to his son Dave taking over. Darling spent eleven years on town council until his retirement
from local politics in 1996, spending the last six as mayor. During that time, he served three years as chairman on the CVRD as well as serving on the Cowichan Valley Regional Hospital Board. Active in many local organizations and the Lake Cowichan United Church, Darling played an important role in the civic history of Lake Cowichan. After retirement he and Marjorie moved to Victoria where Darling passed away last March. The last “former mayor” to serve Lake Cowichan was Jack Peake. Elected to council in 1993, he held the position of mayor from 1999 until 2008. The Peake family arrived in Lake Cowichan in 1975 “as the new owners of the Marshall Wells Hardware Store…later known as Village Hardware” (source: Peake Family story by Barb Peake, 1994). In 1986, after the closure of the store, Peake became a school bus driver for Lake Cowichan School District # 66, a position he held for many years. Peake’s interest and committed involvement in the civic and social affairs, of the community and beyond, resulted in many positive results over the years that he served as mayor. Today the top seat on town council belongs to Mayor Ross Forrest, who is just two months into his third term as Mayor of the Town of Lake Cowichan.