Lake Cowichan Gazette, February 03, 2016

Dig In: Timing is everything when it comes to planting PAGE 6

Radio play: Lake’s students take radio plays on the air PAGE 7

Gazette

Warm welcome: Welcome Wagon provides friendly faces PAGE 11

The Lake Cowichan

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016

| VOL. 20, NO. 5 | $1 + GST | www.lakecowichangazette.com

STRONG SHOW ON THE COURTS

BY U16 STINGERS Kali Mullin, centre, and her teammates had a packed day of volleyball last Sunday when the Lake Cowichan U16 Stingers stung the competition at the Jan. 30 playday tournament, hosted at Lake Cowichan School.

In the round robin, teams played two-set matches, rather than the standard three sets. The Stingers defeated the Victoria Volleyball Association (VVA) boys team in both sets. They tied the VVA girls, before going on to best the Comox Valley Strikers in both sets.

In the semi-finals the teams played three-set games. The Stingers came close to victory, ultimately being defeated by the Campbell River Crush in the third set — and by a single point no less.

“It was a nail-biter,” said Belinda Waller, whose daughter Jordyn is on the team. “They had some really great rallies...It was a great day.

It was wonderful to see so many people come to Lake Cowichan for a playday.”

[PAUL BRIAN/CITIZEN]

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The top under 18 female hockey players from across British Columbia will be coming to Lake Cowichan this year for what could be the most important weekend of their athletic careers to date.

On Jan. 26, BC Hockey revealed Lake Cowichan as the host of its 2016 Female U18 Invitational Selection Camp (formerly known as the U18 BC Cup) — a rigorous five-day training camp where the best of the best will compete for spots at a summer strength and conditioning camp, and ultimate-

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d ly to be on Team BC, whichcwill leaTanya ranFoley, BC Hockey female participate in the 2016 Women’s ev U18 National Championship this fall.

“We’re excited to bring our U18 Invitational Selection Camp to UP TO as we believe Vancouver Island, Lake Cowichan will be an excellent host for this event,” said

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2 Wednesday, February 03, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com

New off er parks union’s Smile FILE Valley bus strike plans COWICHAN LAKE

With Malcolm Chalmers

Name: Aime Wilks Occupation: server at Jakes at the Lake Hometown: Duncan I’ve always wanted to: travel Most people don’t know that I: am an animal lover Favourite food: I’m not picky, everything Best thing about living here: the scenery and outdoor life Favourite activity: riding horses Proudest moment: being a mom How do you define down time: spending time with my family If I was stuck on a desert island I would definitely need: my family Favourite time of day is: I like them all My guiltiest pleasure is: wine My go-to wardrobe staple: horse riding clothing In my car I listen to: country music In my fridge you’ll find: fruits and vegetables If I had $1,000,000: buy property

Aime Wilks

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JAMES GOLDIE CITIZEN

Transit users throughout the region were bracing for a strike this week, but an 11th hour tentative deal reached Tuesday morning with transit workers in the Cowichan Valley Regional District averted job action.

Unifor Local 114 — the union representing the region’s transit workers — and employer First Canada had been unable to reach an agreement on a new contract. On Jan. 29, the union issued its 72-hour strike notice.

Jay Brock, spokesperson for First Canada, said Monday he could not provide specific details about negotiations since the strike notice was issued.

“But I can tell you that we’re continuing to negotiate with the union,” he said.

“We have a good relationship with Unifor and we’re continuing the discussion,” Brock said.

Stu Shields, national representative for Unifor, reported Tuesday afternoon that First Canada applied for a Final Offer Vote on a “significantly improved offer.”

“Originally it seemed to me that this was literally nothing more than a delay tactic putting off the inevitability of a

[FILE]

strike from tomorrow until Monday of next week,” Shields said, but he was “stunned to learn that the final offer that the employer had tabled last Friday was being amended to include a modified version of the premium that is being paid to BC Transit drivers as a result of the settlement last summer.”

Shields said transit workers know the stakes and “nobody wants to go on strike” but they were not willing to settle for less — in terms of percentages — than the deal Victoria transit workers received last August.

BC Transit contracts First Canada to operate its services in the Valley, and is not directly involved in negotiations

between the employer and its unionized work force. Mike Russell, media and public relations advisor for BC Transit, emphasized this point when he spoke with the Citizen on Monday.

The new deal being offered is for four years and will see an additional 20 cents per hur in each year of the deal, retroactive to April 1, 2015, Unifor said.

The offer will be put to a vote on Thursday evening, and if accepted, there will be no disruptions in bus service.

If rejected, strike action will begin on Monday of next week.

Shields said he believes the deal will be ratified.

Camp will include 80 girls, families FIGHT FOR, From Page 1 The camp will take place from May 18 to 22.

In its press release, the organization said players will be competing in an “elite, challenging environment” and also outlined the 2011 renovations to the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena.

Linda Blatchford, manager of Cowichan Lake Recreation, said she and her staff are thrilled by the news their bid for the camp was successful.

“We host different BC Hockey camps. This is the biggest we’ve ever hosted,” she said. “There’s nothing but economic benefit to the community here.”

Blatchford learned about the camp last fall from a minor hockey association volunteer who suggested they apply. She created a bid application package and formed a hosting committee (comprised of recreation staff and hockey association volunteers), which approved her bid package. She applied in October but did not learn of BC Hockey’s decision until the new year.

Cowichan Lake Recreation will provide BC Hockey exclusive use of four rink dressing rooms, accommodations at Centennial Hall and meals for the 80 players plus 38 team staff,

camp staff and officials. BC Hockey will also have access to the rec centre’s gym, multipurpose room and the little league field for training.

“Eighty girls will be invited to this camp and 80 girls will have families that come with them because they will want to watch what happens over the five days,” said Blatchford.

“It’s got huge economic spin-off for the whole Cowichan Lake area.”

Because the camp will be taking place on the May long week, Blatchford anticipates that hotels, bed and breakfasts and even camp sites will book up fast.

Family Heritage Days will also be taking place that weekend, and Blatchford said the Kaatza Art Show, which is normally held in the Centennial Hall, will now be hosted in Honeymoon Bay. While Blatchford emphasized the event’s economic potential, she said the impact on local players will also be enormous.

“It’s a female camp, so it will really inspire the local female minor hockey age group,” she said.

Lake Cowichan Minor Hockey Association president Todd Vaughan agreed.

“The girls here they can have

an opportunity to see levels that can be achieved and to strive for that,” he said, adding there are a number of other potential benefits to local players.

“Often times it can be even just creating the contacts.

You’re also going to have some of the top coaching, some of the top managing, and to be able to be introduced to these people at a higher elite level of hockey can be a benefit for my group.”

There will also be scouts present.

Vaughan said the work is only just beginning now that the camp has been confirmed, but he has already received offers from volunteers interested in helping out. The association will be holding meetings in the near future to “get the ball rolling.”

“These are going to be the top 80 girls from the entire province that are invited to this try-out.

These could possibly even be some of the girls we watch in the next Olympics,” he said.

“To be able to have that elite camp to come here, it’s a good thing for the arena having the ice booked, and for the community and I think it helps to put Lake Cowichan a little on the map, certainly in the hockey world.”

www.lakecowichangazette.com | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | Wednesday, February 03, 2016 3

Conservation trying to catch bear cub JAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

An orphan bear cub has been visiting the back yards of Lake Cowichan in recent weeks and unless it is captured soon, it will have to be killed.

“We’ve been trying to catch up to this baby bear. The sooner we catch up to it, the better it is for the bear because we’d like to get it to rehab,” said conservation officer Scott Norris. “But the longer it spends in town the more habituated it gets to garbage and human food sources, that’s not going to be a possibility because the rehab centre doesn’t take habituated bears or cubs.”

Since at least Jan. 12, the bear has been spotted multiple times around the east end of town.

Sightings have been reported around Lake Park Road, Neva Road, Beaver Road and Savoy Road. Wildlife experts estimate the bear is less than a year old and weighs between 30 and 60 pounds.

“Generally you’re not going to see a small cub of just a year by themselves,” said Norris.

“Usually they’re going to stick with their mom until next year.

So likely something’s happened to mom and that’s why it’s on its own.”

Norris said it is possible the mother bear was hit by a car, killed during hunting season or illegally poached.

According to Norris, it’s imperative that the young bear is captured soon because once a bear has developed a taste for human food and garbage, there is no way to reverse this training.

“Even if you relocate them way out in the bush, they often end up in town again. It’s a learned behaviour,” he said.

Denis Martel, coordinator of the Valley Fish and Game Club’s Wilderness Watch Program, emphasized this point.

“It’s so important for people right now to keep your garbage [indoors],” he said. “I know a lot of people can’t afford a bearproof garbage can or encasement

This bear cub has been spotted in several backyards near the entrance to Lake Cowichan. Wildlife experts warn the bear must be captured soon if it is going to be rehabilitated and relocated. [PHILECIA ISAACSON PHOTO] area, but if you…can keep your garbage cans in a basement or a shed or something, and just put it out garbage day morning, that way it’s only exposed for that long. Instead of being outside all week.”

The Valley Fish and Game Club serves as an extra set of eyes and ears for conservation officers.

The club does not tranquillize

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ings. He only learned about the bear cub two weeks after it was initially spotted.

“Everyone figured I knew about it [already], but I didn’t,” he said, adding that he would prefer to get a call and have to explain he’s already aware of the situation than for people to assume someone else brought it to his attention.

FAITH DIRECTORY

February coffee house This time of year the nights in Lake Cowichan are still long and rainy, but the local seniors society has another event this month to help folks of all ages shake off those wintery blues.

On Feb. 20, the 50 Plus Activity Centre is hosting its Winter Nights Coffee House, featuring performances by The Goodtime Boys and The Cara McCandless Band. Both groups will be playing music of all genres and attendees are encouraged to have their dancing shoes on.

Doors open at 5:30 and admission is $5. The event is not just for seniors — all are welcome.

or capture animals. Instead, Martel and other members will respond to calls and try tracking the reported animal, then phone conservation officers when they have found it.

For this reason, Martel said he urges members of the public to call the Wilderness Watch hotline with any tips or information about dangerous animal sight-

Martel has looked for the cub behind Lake Park Estates and has seen evidence of the bear in the bushes that act as a buffer between the neighbourhood and the highway.

“That bush is just littered with garbage,” he said. “[The bear] is pulling it up there from the households. It’s household garbage.”

Philecia Isaacson knows firsthand the importance of keeping garbage indoors. On the evening of Jan. 20, the bear showed up in her backyard, attracted to the family’s garbage, which didn’t make it out to the curb on collection day that week.

Isaacson said seeing the bear at her patio door took her by surprise, especially because their small yard is surrounded by a high fence.

“I know it’s Lake Cowichan,” she said. “I know they climb trees so I don’t know why I didn’t expect it to climb a fence. It was a deer in the headlights moment.”

Isaacson grew up in the Monashee Mountain region and has had run-ins with wildlife before, even encountering a cougar once, but said she initially panicked at the sight of the bear. Isaacson has two small children and expressed concern for other families in the area.

“A lot of kids walk home through the trails from school and stuff,” she said. The bear returned to her yard again the next afternoon, just around the time school would have been ending.

“It’s any time of day. It’s not as simple as ‘Don’t go walking after dark.’ No it’s any time,” she said.

Conservation officers like Norris advise members of the public to immediately report a bear sighting in a residential area, to give the animal lots of space and to never feed it.

“We need to get that message out there,” said Norris. “There’s that old saying, ‘A fed bear is a dead bear,’ and that bear won’t make it to rehab if we don’t keep it wild.”

ANGLICAN St. Christopher and St. Aidan

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BAPTIST Cowichan Lake Baptist Church 8259 Beaver Road Lake Cowichan 250-749-3211

JANUARY SERVICES: Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School 10:30 a.m.

Jan. 3 & 10 at 1 pm Pastor Dale Winters Jan. 17, 24 & 31 at 10:30 am

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Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

Mass Sunday 9:00 a.m.

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2016 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & AWARDS BANQUET Elect the new Directors for the Chamber Board Come out and celebrate with us as we present the 2015 Community and Business Awards at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena Curling Lounge Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 6:00 pm $22.00 per person to attend RSVP by Thursday, February 18th, 2016 250-749-3244 or email: lcchamber@shaw.ca 7420627

4 Wednesday, February 03, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com

TO COMMENT

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OPINION

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Don’t feed the bears — even if they’re cute

It’s a baby, so yes, it’s cute, but it’s also a bear.

We cannot emphasize enough how important this distinction is. There are kittens, puppies, kids (baby goats), lambs and even chicks. Then there are bears, fawns, seals, and elk calfs.

The former group does best when you take them into your home (or barn) and feed and love them. The latter group does best when you leave them alone in their original wild habitat — or leave them alone so that they go back to their original wild habitat.

Far too often people see the little ones (and sometimes even the big ones) and think it’s a cool opportunity to get up close and personal with nature.

What they don’t seem to understand is that their interference is often signing the little one’s death warrant.

Wild animals like deer will leave their fawns alone while they go off and graze, as fawns are naturally protected by giving off no scent for predators to follow. But if you interact with a fawn, the mother will very often reject it after your interference, and it will die. Touch it, and you’re killing it.

Then there are bears, which are a whole other kettle of sh. Black bears, like the ones we have around here, are generally not aggressive, and will leave you alone if you leave them alone.

But they are bears, nonetheless, and there is a potential for serious injury.

That little bear that’s out there right now trying to scavenge food from people’s yards and garbage cans will inevitably grow into a much bigger animal as it matures. It is vitally important that it not become used to getting its food from human sources a it grows.

It will never forget that lesson, and it is almost a sure thing that such behaviour will necessitate it being put down by conservation ofcers. A cub going through your garbage, unafraid of you, is one thing. A full grown bear doing the same is quite another situation.

Cowichan Lake is a beautiful spot, and one of the things that can make it so special to residents and visitors alike is that they can get a glimpse of area wildlife. We cannot urge people strongly enough to take all the photos you like, but keep your distance.

It’s for your health and the health of all those beautiful, wild creatures.

Letters to the editor: YOUR SAY

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Letters to the editor are welcome, but writers are requested to keep their submissions to 350 words or less. Keep it local — letters raised in response to issues raised in our pages get top priority. Letters will be edited for clarity, grammar, length — attack the issue, not the individual. All letters must contain the name, address and signature of the writer, and a phone number where they may be reached during business hours. Thank you letters will not normally be considered for publication. editor@lakecowichangazette.com

Affordable housing strikes heart of problems How can it be good news when the costs of a basic human need (shelter) increases by five per cent annually?

Let’s do a little math. Let’s assume the average home today is valued at $300,000 and the average household income is $90,000. If real estate prices rise five per cent each year for the next 25 years (that’s what we want, right?), when your kids are ready to buy, the average home will cost about $1 million; and if wages increase by two per cent per year for 25 years, household income will be about $148,000. Your grandchildren

will be much worse off: after 50 years of five per cent annual increases, an average home will cost about $3.4 million; after 50 years of two per cent annual wage increases, average household income will be about $242,000.

Okay, the example is extreme, but it does illustrate the problem: at some point the price of housing will rise above people’s ability to fill the basic human need of shelter. Housing will be just another investment opportunity for those with the cash.

What can we do? I suggest the following: one, restrict sales of local properties to local buyers — this will curb speculation and ridiculous price increases;

and two, the municipality set aside properties for a local NPO to develop into affordable housing — some units can be rented according to ability to pay.

Suppose that every household could divert just $1,000 per year from the cost of shelter to “disposable income”; with 10,000 families in the area, $10 million would be injected into the local economy each year for food security and spending in local shops. We can solve three major problems: homelessness, high unemployment, and rising food prices. If this interests you, contact me: ivan@basicneedsfirst.ca Ivan Quinlan North Cowichan

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www.lakecowichangazette.com | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | Wednesday, February 03, 2016 5

Street Beat

With Malcolm Chalmers

The Gazette asked:

What precautions do you take to make sure bears and other wildlife don’t see your yard as a buffet?

Brad Halldorson

Christine Pierre

Danielle Cooper

“I don’t, I’ve got a good dog that keeps them out of my yard.”

“I don’t leave food or any smelly garbage out, and clean off the fruit trees.

We hear bears in the bushes but they don’t bother us.”

“I keep all my garbage locked up behind the fence. If I’ve got anything like fish I’ll throw it in the freezer and wait until the day before (garbage pick up) to throw it out.”

Urban drug ghettos not working

C

ommunities around B.C. are struggling to cope with the continued influx of what politicians call “homelessness,” a term that suggests the problem can be solved merely by providing more homes.

Taxpaying citizens see the daily reality behind the soothing euphemisms — mainly transients squatting in parks and “tent cities” blighted by drug abuse and crime, and “homeless” shelters that fill up as soon as they open. They worry that the continued costly supply of supports only invites more arrivals, particularly in the gentle climate of southwestern B.C. Their worries are well founded. In Abbotsford, a 40-bed “temporary weather shelter” made from industrial camp trailers opened in December with a $450,000 operating grant from B.C. Housing.

It was full in 10 days. Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich told city council in January that his bike officers don’t recognize most of the shelter occupants from their constant patrols of local tent camps, the largest of which has been on a city-owned roadside site since 2013.

In Maple Ridge, a “low barrier harm reduction” shelter was opened last fall in response to a growing tent camp and accompanying drug dealing, prostitution and petty crime.

One resident noted bitterly that a mayor’s task force had identified 42 unsheltered homeless people, then found

District looking for input on new hospital The current Cowichan hospital is aging, and now is the time to plan for the region’s future

By Tom Fletcher

BC Views

premier Rich Coleman.

Coleman pioneered this “housing first” experiment in 2007, buying up 13 century-old “single-room occupancy” hotels in Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside. These crumbling bedbug habitats were bought and renovated for a staggering $143 million, plus a 15-year maintenance commitment and a cop assigned to each one in an effort to contain the chaos inside.

Coleman brags endlessly about the great job he has done, but how is that actually working? A new study

by Simon Fraser University researchers provides a more objective assessment.

Tracking 433 mentally ill homeless adults over 10 years, the study found the concentration of low-rent accommodation, food handouts, street outreach and medical supports resulted in “significant personal decline rather than recovery, as evidenced by their involvement in the criminal justice system, large increases in acute care and prolonged homelessness.”

The rate of people arriving in this service-intensive hellhole has tripled in the last 10 years, a finding similar to studies of concentrated services in New York, Sao Paulo and Osaka.

It’s a cautionary tale for other urban communities where this failed containment model is proposed.

places for 77 from the camp, 40 from a closing “temporary” shelter and 40 in a new shelter.

“How exactly does one house 157 out of 42?” she asked.

Victoria’s camping population has gathered in an Occupy-style squat on provincial land next to the courthouse, after years of uncontrolled camping in Beacon Hill and other city parks.

The city opened a shelter in a vacant Boys and Girls Club gym, complete with new indoor tents. By the time that was full, the courthouse camp was bigger than ever, with some occupants describing how they came to town for the opportunity. One said Vancouver Police gave her a bus ticket to Victoria.

The latest plan by a local agency that runs Victoria shelters is to convert an old, empty seniors’ care home into a 101-bed permanent housing facility. This would also be “low barrier,” a euphemism for allowing drug and alcohol consumption in the rooms.

The city has come up with around $1 million for this project, in a residential area next to a school, but it still needs millions more to renovate and run it.

This would presumably come from B.C. taxpayers via our social housing czar, deputy

Tom Fletcher is B.C. legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Email: tfletcher@blackpress. ca Twitter: @tomfletcherbc

health care needs.

The Cowichan Valley Regional District hospital board wants to hear from the community about what comes next.

To that end they’ve developed

a brochure that outlines progress to date and where things are headed.

View the document at www. cvrd.bc.ca/DocumentCenter/ View/68527

Gord Mostad

Shamus Billings

“I don’t keep a compost close to the house and I make sure my garbage cans aren’t accessible.”

Nuclear power facilities produce no carbon Perhaps John A. McDonald showing age! Nuclear facilities produce NO carbon from operation. Plutonium half life or life is irrelevant when converted in power reactors. Plutonium is destroyed in conversion to energy. Use reactors to remove plutonium stockpiles and weapons grade plutonium while providing electricity that is economic, dependable and carbon free!

Nuclear is the only choice in today’s world to eliminate CO2 from power production.

One could wait for fusion reactors — they were just around the corner when I graduated from uni over 50 years ago — some corner! Geothermal — the same situation. Solar? Produces no power at night and little in winter.

But additional batteries — just around the corner, or hydro is the “battery” as Sierra Club pro-

“My garbage can is kept under my deck, my neighbours have hound dogs and I have a pit bull.”

fesses — two systems with one intermittent, economics courses needed here! Wind? Power when wind blowing between certain velocities at varying power levels. Hydro? Running out of land — i.e. Site C. Only one option left! Four hundred thirty-seven reactors operating worldwide, 62 under construction currently with China leading building 22 and 40 more planned over next five years. IF one could educate the general population with facts (21st century design) then work with industry and fund it, CO2 elimination from power industry in 20 years is possible! World-Nuclear.org a place to start.

Eliminate CO2 from electric power production in 10 years in Canada. Pay for it with 1.35 cent per kilowatthr on electricity — nationally. All pay, all benefit!

Affordable and not a hardship!

Our choice!

Bob Conibear Duncan

6 Wednesday, February 03, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com

Lots of projects to look forward to in 2016

T

is most appreciated.

Lake Cowichan Forest Co-op and Pacheedaht First Nation are hosting the Annual General Meeting of The BC Community Forest Association May 26-28. More than 100 delegates from all over B.C. are expected to attend this event. The three-day AGM event will be centred in community facilities in Lake Cowichan and will provide a big boost to local business.

Lake Cowichan Forest Co-op has contributed a lot to our community and this will be the time to show our appreciation by supporting this big endeavour. Let’s demonstrate what a welcoming community we are and assist our guests to the best of our capabilities in making them feel at home.

Thirty-five people attended the recent meeting regarding plans for a Senior’s Care Facility. Enthusiasm was high as discussions for attracting such a facility into our midst began.

After most of the hands in the room were raised on wanting to participate on a committee for this initiative it was decided to form a smaller interim steering committee (five members and facilitator) for an initial structuring meeting. The purpose of this meeting will be to craft a committee structure and the terms under which the committee is to operate and to enable it in the identification of talent/skill needs and effective volunteer tasking. Thank you to everyone who has shown their support to get this project started. The dialogue at the large meeting certainly recognizes the want and the need for a care facility and the absolute importance of support from the entire community to bring this initiative to fruition.

I would also like to recognize and welcome Buzzcuts Multimedia who are using locations in Lake Cowichan for shooting a horror-thriller movie called Dashcam. This movie is shooting on Vancouver Island during January and is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2016. Hoping your movie is a success and thank you for including Lake Cowichan in your film.

Seed table. [MARY LOWTHER PHOTO]

When is key to successful seeds

T

Call the COWICHAN VALLEY

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250-748-2666

Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5:00 pm

We’ll be happy to serve your advertising needs!

Heather Boehmer Heather.boehmer@cowichanvalleycitizen,com Vi Moffatt Violet.moffatt@cowichanvalleycitizen.com Darin Lashman Darin.lashman@cowichanvalleycitizen.com Lauri Meanley Lauri.meanley@cowichanvalleycitizen.com Shirley Skolos Publisher/Sales Director Shirley.skolos@cowichanvalleycitizen.com

iming is everything. I used to follow the vegetable planting guide in the West Coast Seeds Catalogue, but when I recorded daily temperatures here in Mesachie Lake I found we get 36

By Mary Lowther more frost free days.

I suspect Youbou and Lake Cowichan get even more. Our last frost in 2015 was March 5, three weeks earlier than the guide date, so we can get a big jump on the season. Each microclimate is different though, so you should take your own temperatures as it may already be time to grow.

I like to sow several crops in flats, kept on a set of shelves over which I suspend fluorescent lights I can move up or down to accommodate growing seedlings. Since the plants require a period of darkness, the lights are plugged into a timer set to go on for 14 hours a day. I cover the whole works with plastic to keep it warm and moist. To keep out crawling insects I staple a strip of sandpaper to each leg, and to keep out flying insects I lay a piece of remay over each flat of seeds and tuck in the sides.

My seed table is in the unheated greenhouse but seedlings can be grown anywhere: inside a south-facing window or on a shelf under any kind of light, just keep the seedlings two inches away from the light as they grow. In the house you won’t need to cover them with plastic as it will be warm enough.

I’ve tried all kinds of pots, newspaper circles and soil block-makers to start the seeds off in but the easiest I’ve found are the plastic flats that sections of plastic cells conveniently nestle in. Whatever kinds of pots you use, fill them with damp potting mix, sprinkle on the seeds, pat them down to restore capillarity then lightly sprinkle more potting mix over the surface.

This light topping won’t inhibit tender seedlings and will keep the surface a bit drier and help prevent damping-off disease. It’s best to water from the bottom so as not to disturb the seeds. Once they’re up, watering from above is fine too.

Most potting mixes I’ve tried work well, including commercial bags, but my favourite is Steve Solomon’s mix and if you’d like the recipe send your email to me at mary_lowther@ yahoo.ca. This year I’ll use his revised fertilizer mix to make it with and I can send that recipe to you, too.

Your Garden

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he year is new but thing we could imagine. our goals and objectThere is no doubt that ives remain the same. social events like Sunfest are going to have an Council bases its decienormous impact on our sion-making on the sole community. intent of enhancing our We are seeing signs of community and helping it a positive resurgence become a much safer and now as real estate activmore desirable place to live in.

Mayor’s report ities and new building permits appear to be on The ultimate intent “is to By Ross Forrest an upswing in our area. create a vibrant, healthy, This is a good indicator sustainable community for this early in the year. It is said that that exists in harmony with the natyou only get one chance to make a ural environment, enjoys a balanced first impression and it is imperative economy, supports all generations that the first impression we provide and provides the opportunities to the many new residents and tourists satisfy diverse social needs”. We are coming to our community is a positive cognisant that not all of our decisions will please everyone and that is under- one and an experience they will long remember. Making those who come standable. However we do try our to our community feel welcome is a level best to ensure our decisions are good way to start. Let’s embrace our based on what we feel will have the new opportunity because if our resimost positive impact on our town as a dential and business communities are whole.

I am optimistic and excited about the successful, our entire community will prosper as well. improvements and upgrades we will “We can embrace as a possible be undertaking in 2016. opportunity for growth or reject with We began the downtown revitalizathe possibility of missing a great tion in earnest when the re-pavement opportunity.” We need to promote our of Cowichan Lake and South Shore community to its fullest. Early 2016 Road were completed together with bookings for Lakeview Campsite and the Cowichan Lake/North Shore the Cowichan Lake Education Centre intersection roundabout. That project are very promising. provided the catalyst for continued I am encouraged to hear from some improvements and now we expect that of our newer residents who are lookLaketown Ranch will be providing an ing for ways they can help serve their additional stimulus for growth and community as volunteers. It is such prosperity. a pleasure when I receive emails After the last of our major lumber from those who speak of how they mills closed we have been frustrated are invested in Lake Cowichan and just waiting for another industry to how they love their new community begin rebuilding our economy. Well, and want to make it the best place to almost 20 years have passed without any major industry seeing fit to locate live. In the past we have had trouble near our community. Statistics reveal, finding members to serve on certain committees and now we are being however, that tourism has increased approached by those asking if there year after year and now Laketown are any openings available. This is Ranch will be providing us that another positive indicator for the much needed avenue to speed up the town’s future. Many of our newer progression towards more economic citizens have such diverse knowledge, growth. Promotions like the one proresources, and different experiences vided by Sunfest can help market our community and our diverse landscape and them coming forward and wanting to share their fresh ideas with us and natural assets far beyond any-

www.lakecowichangazette.com | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | Wednesday, February 03, 2016 7

Kaylen Andersson, left, and classmates Ally Devlin, Elyssa Sahulka and Sydney Johnson learn how to “smile through your voice” before their rehearsal begins. [PHOTOS BY JAMES GOLDIE/GAZETTE]

Students take radio plays to air JAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

Listeners of Radio Cowichan are in for a treat later this month when local students take to the airwaves in two upcoming radio plays.

Grade 4 and 5 students at Lake Cowichan School recently spent some time at the community radio station practising and recording Bob the Snowman and Snowflake Bentley, two seasonal radio plays chosen by their teacher Lindsay Hartshorn.

“I think it’s important for them to have some experience with public speaking and feeling more confident with speaking out loud in front of an audience,” she said.

The class has been rehearsing the two plays since December as part of their language arts and drama classes.

Hartshorn said her students have been enthusiastic about the project since the beginning, and that getting to go on the air eventually “took it to a whole new level” for the students.

“Doing it in the classroom is one thing, they were loving it then, but when I told them they were going to get to go to the radio station and people like their parents and grandparents would get to hear it, and even people out of province could tune in to it online, they were very excited.”

The children who didn’t feel comfortable being recorded while speaking were in charge of sound effects.

“Nobody didn’t want to be involved at all. Everybody wanted to do something,” said Hartshorn.

Michael Bishop, director of the Cowichan Valley Community Radio Society, gave students a tour of the radio station and provided direction on how to use the microphones and perform for radio.

An air date for the productions has not been set, but Hartshorn said she will inform parents through the school’s weekly newsletter.

Listeners can find Radio Cowichan at 97.5 FM stereo.

Grade 5 student Mayson Calihoo listens carefully to instructions from the director.

The sound effects team use their voices to replicate sounds like birds tweeting. Front, from left: Owen Sharrow, Casey Nickel, and Dillon Lees. Back: Lara Court and Michael Marshall.

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Tyler St. James-Balmeceda voices the lead character in the Grade 4 group’s play Bob the Snowman.

Elly Hamilton’s star shines bright with speaking roles in both seasonally themed radio plays.

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8 Wednesday, February 03, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com

NEW LISTINGS WANTED • RENTAL PROPERTIES WANTED PENDING

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197 Grants Lake Road

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Beautiful waterfront lot on one of the nicest spots on Cowichan Lake. This is an undivided ½ interest as Joint Tenants with a Co-Ownership Agreement in place. Cute cabin on the property with two bedrooms, includes a hot tub and dock. Enjoy the beach for swimming & boating and spectacular views of the Mountains and Lake. Call to view today!

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Centrally located to shopping and all amenities. Level entry with main floor living including an attached storage area and private patio in the back where you can enjoy the wooded area and flowing creek. Upstairs has 3 bedrooms, 4 piece bath and the master has a walk in closet. Could be a great starter home for a young family, great investment or perfect for retirement. Call to view today!

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7427577

www.lakecowichangazette.com | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | Wednesday, February 03, 2016 9

Catalyst’s water pumps exempt from noise bylaw JAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

The former Yount School was a big topic of discussion at the Youbou Community Association’s AGM, as residents debate what the building might become. [GAZETTE FILE]

Yount front, centre at Youbou AGM JAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

At the Youbou Community Association’s annual general meeting last week, members discussed a range of initiatives for the area, including possible redevelopment of the former Yount Elementary School.

“The Yount school is something that we’ve been looking at whether or not there’s enough community interest and drive to actually maybe acquire it through the association,” said association chairperson Chris Leischner.

The school building is currently owned

by BC School District 69, and according to Leischner, since its closure in 2006 there have been a number of ideas for how to repurpose the space for community use.

Alison Nicholson, Area E director for the CVRD and one of the driving forces behind the Hub at Cowichan Station, gave an hour-long presentation at the AGM after touring Yount School. She explained how the Hub, a blend of business and community space that grew out of the former Cowichan Station School, was formed.

“I went through what I thought the important factors for success were for Cowichan Station,” said Nicholson, adding that her community’s situation is different than Youbou’s because it has a more central location. She also noted the Yount School is a bigger space than the Hub. “[There are] lots of classrooms, lots of opportunities to do different things. But a bigger space is also more expensive to run,” she said. “It’s a real challenge but I also said: If you want to do it, I always believe you can get it done.”

Nicholson told Leischner and the Youbou association that having a business model is key to maintaining a fiscally sustainable location. She invited anyone to come to visit the Hub for a tour and to get a sense of how they operate.

Leischner said the talk was inspiring.

“We would like to follow a model similar to the Hub where we get a couple of anchor businesses,” she said. “There’s an individ-

ual in the community who runs a day care who’s interested. There’s been a few artist groups that would like to have access to some space.”

Leischner said her association’s goal is to “regenerate and revive and connect Youbounians and Youbouites” and she and her fellow board members hope to find someone from the community who will champion this project and “take [it] on with a passion.”

Area I director Klaus Kuhn plans to hold a town hall meeting in February and discussion of a Yount School revival will be one of the items on his agenda.

Other topics at the Youbou Community Association’s AGM included fundraising plans for the coming year, preliminary research on a community boat launch and more “speed watch” days (during which community members clock traffic speeds).

The association’s board members are all staying on in their positions for another, and the board also welcomed the addition of two new directors, Duncan Hume and Don Beldessi.

The board also announced the Youbou Welcomes You sign will be repainted this spring. “Just to get things smartened up and give people pride in the community, that kind of thing,” said Leischner, noting there are a number of talented artists in Youbou, one of whom has volunteered to repaint the sign.

Leischner said her group is also looking into the possibility of painting some of the telephone poles going into Youbou as well in anticipation of the added visitors with Sunfest this year.

The next general meeting of the Youbou Community Association will be in early April, although the board meets on a monthly basis. Leischner said the association is always looking for new members.

“We are a group that loves anything Youbou,” she said. “If you have a passion, if you have an idea then come to us. We really just want to see Youbou grow and thrive.”

The Town of Lake Cowichan has approved Catalyst Paper Corporation’s request to be exempt from the local noise bylaw should the company install water pumps on the lake’s weir for use during periods of dangerously low water levels in the Cowichan River.

At the town’s regular monthly council meeting on Jan. 26, municipal representatives discussed Catalyst’s application for Relief of Noise Bylaw, which laid out proposed plans to use 20 low velocity pumps to transfer lake water over the weir near the boat lock.

The pumps would be powered by 10 “low noise/low emissions” diesel generators.

According to the pump project’s environmental management plan, one generator emits 70 decibels at a distance of 20 feet and they would have to run 24 hours a day.

“While the generators are considered amongst the quietest in use, we anticipate potential violation of the bylaw given the 24 hour day service,” said Catalyst vice-president and mill manager Harold Norlund in a letter to the town.

Catalyst’s proposal to pump water from the lake is pending approval from the B.C. government.

The environmental management plan for the project (which was also submitted to town council) has some conflicting information about the location of the pumps’ generators. The document states

7420624

that the generators “will be situated on lands either north of the boat lock or to the south of the floodgates,” but later that they will be placed on the northern shore near the boat lock.

Mayor Ross Forrest confirmed this location and emphasized the necessity of measures like the pumping system.

“We’re hoping that we will have more snow back this year and we get through the river fine but there’s no guarantee,” he said. “Nobody wants to do it. Catalyst doesn’t want to do it, but there isn’t going to be a choice if it gets down to that level.

It’s up to us if we’re going to hold back the flow of the river because of noise.

And there will be noise. There’s no doubt about that.”

Coun. Tim McGonigle said he supports the plan to pump from the lake despite the noise, but did want to know exactly how much noise the process would cause when all 10 generators are running. He requested town staff report back with this information.

In an email to the Gazette, Catalyst’s director of communications Eduarda Hodgins said the company wants to answer the newspaper’s questions about the projected total sound impact of the pumps and their generators, but could not do so by press time.

Council voted unanimously in favour of exempting Catalyst from its Control of Noise bylaw. This bylaw does not stipulate a specific decibel level that people are prohibited from exceeding.

10 Wednesday, February 03, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com A10 www.lakecowichangazette.com

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A Celebration of Donna’s Life will be held in the Arbor Reception Centre at Sands Funeral Chapel, 187 Trunk Road in Duncan on Saturday, February 6, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. In keeping with Donna’s wishes, please wear any colour other than black, Donna’s favourite colour was red. For the full obituary and service details go to www.sandsduncan.ca SANDS of DUNCAN 250-746-5212

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www.lakecowichangazette.com | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | Wednesday, February 03, 2016 11

Welcome Wagon provides friendly faces “It’s open to anyone.

We have realtors, small businesses, big businesses.”

JAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

Newcomers to Lake Cowichan — whether they’ve recently moved here or were recently born here — have at least one community member who’s already waiting to meet them.

Maureen Loebus, coordinator of Welcome Wagon Canada’s local chapter, distributes free gift baskets to recent arrivals to the community and to families already here who have newborn babies.

“It’s the first personal welcome they get,” said Loebus.

The baskets contain a variety of gifts donated by local businesses, with items ranging from candy to water bottles to toothbrushes, and lots of gift cards and special coupons. The baskets for people new to town also includes information from the tourist centre, from civic organizations and community groups.

“This is a really important welcome to a community because of all the different things that are in the basket,” said Loebus. “For somebody to go to all of these individual businesses and then tourist info centre, the town hall, the police, the fire department — it would take them forever.

They’d never do it. But here they get the whole kit and caboodle all in one fell swoop.”

The baby basket contains copies of Island Parent magazine, toys and information pamphlets about

MAUREEN LOEBUS, Welcome Wagon

Lindy Hannigan, left, co-owner of The Shaker Mill restaurant, is joining the Welcome Wagon program for new comers to town. Beside her, Nicole Loebus receives a basket of products and information from local businesses delivered by program coordinator Maureen Loebus. [JAMES GOLDIE/CITIZEN] local resources.

“My friends who say they didn’t get a welcome basket when they moved in, I tell them, ‘Well have a baby and I’ll bring you the baby basket,’” Loebus said jokingly.

While the Welcome Wagon program has been active in Lake Cowichan for more than 20 years, Loebus has been on the job since

October and said it’s not uncommon for newcomers to get missed.

She said after being in town for a year and a half, a person or family is no longer eligible for a basket.

Nicole Lalonde, who moved to Lake Cowichan just over a year ago from Fort St. John, was recently contacted by Loebus about receiving a basket.

Lalonde said she appreciates the gesture and it only underscores what a nice community she now calls home.

“It’s great,” she said. “It’s a beautiful town.”

And while new citizens benefit from the basket program, participating businesss do as well according to Loebus.

“It’s open to anyone. We have realtors, small businesses, big businesses. Anyone who would benefit from an introduction to new people coming in,” she said, urging potentially interested local business to give her a call.

“I’d be happy to explain how it works. It’s very inexpensive advertising.”

Lindy Harrigan, co-owner of the Shaker Mill Restaurant, is getting her establishment involved.

“I think it’s a good way to get new people to know that we’re here,” she said. “Some people miss us, they don’t even know we exist.”

She said the program is also a way to promote the live music nights at the restaurant every Friday.

Doug Fast, manager of Home Hardware, has also signed his business up.

“We believe it’s important to support our community and new people coming,” he said. “Because I’m new to the community, when I got my basket I wanted to know, ‘Well how can we get our store involved?’”

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12 Wednesday, February 03, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com

You’ll Feel Like Family.

Midweek Specials Wed. thru Sat. February 3 - 6, 2016

Proud to be serving the Cowichan Valley since 1985

FAMILY DAY GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY! AWAAAYY! ENTER IN-STORE AT ANY COUNTRY GROCER LOCATION (JANUARY 22ND — FEBRUARY 7 TH) ONE WINNER PER STORE DRAW DATE: ATE: TE: FEBRUARY FEBRUA 8TH

Authentic Frozen

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Extra Large Pepsi & Assorted Cantaloupes Flavours 6x710 ml

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1

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2

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EACH

Mexican Premium Quality

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Whole Frozen

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Fletcher’s

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2 10

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F O R

In our Bakery...

Raisin Bread 454 g

Approx. 454 g

7

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EACH

In our Deli…

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BBQ, Buffalo or Honey Garlic 454 g

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100 g

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