Lake Cowichan Gazette, March 23, 2016

Motorsport Resort, Page 3

$1 plus GST

Lake Cowichan

GREAT SPRING FISHING COLUMN | PAGE 8

Gazette

ROOSEVELT ELK HERDS GROWING

INPUT WANTED FOR SENIORS CARE FACILITY

NEWS | PAGE 2

NEWS | PAGE 7

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016

LakeCowichanGazette.com

@LakeCowGazette

ENVIRONMENT

Riverside land clearing sparks concern

Curtis Laminski points to a property map showing a restrictive covenant he and his partner, Tony Green, say has been breached by their next-door neighbour.

Laminski and Green are concerned the vegetation clearing on the property, which borders the Cowichan River, will have serious consequences for wildlife in that area. [JAMES GOLDIE/GAZETTE]

JAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

CUTTING eY CONTROVERSY elc v e

Residents along the Cowichan River just outside of Lake Cowichan are sounding the alarm over recent developments to a neighbouring riverside property, which they say has been destroyed — an allegation the property owner vehemently denies.

Tony Green and his partner, Curtis Laminski, owners of Greendale Riverside Cabins, first noticed a change to the upstream property next to theirs in late January.

“Our side [of the river] turned extremely brown and there was vegetation floating by, alder trees and brush and stuff,” said Green.

“We thought there might have been a landslide or something, maybe on Stanley Creek that runs into the river because that was right when we had torrential rains at the end of January.”

Green said he and Laminski were shocked to discover their neighbour, Michael Dix, overseeing workers and machinery clearIN TOTAL PRICE A ing vegetation from the land.

Amount available on the 2014 “Well god, he’d cut down trees that were 14, 15 inches through!

There’s piles and piles and piles of brush down there,” said Green.

Green said he should know a thing or two about whether the clearing activity is allowed — not only is he the property’s previous IN TOTAL PRICE ADJUSTMENTS PURCH Amount available on theowner, 2014 Veloster Turbo Manual but in 1991 he was caught UP doing the same FOR thing.

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2 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com

NATURE

Roosevelt elk herds growing on Island JOHN MCKINLEY BLACK PRESS

Every autumn, seasoned members of Kwakwak’awakw Nation gather their young hunters.

They melt into the forests near Campbell River and Sayward to track and kill the resident Roosevelt elk — at more than 1,000 pounds, the world’s second-largest deer. They carefully record their catch and any other observations, then arrange for the butchering.

Around Christmas time the young hunters reconvene, load up the meat and hand-deliver packages to the community’s elders. It is a lesson in self-sustenance and providing for the community that was not possible a few decades ago when the north Island tribe was restricted to hunting only six elk a year.

Last fall, tribe members took 101 because the resurgent elk population allowed for it.

That population is a testament to a new approach to conservation and co-operation that has seen elk herds growing across Vancouver Island. Some are pointing to it as what should become a template for other British Columbia wildlife management practices.

“The state of the herds is fantastic. They are doing very, very well,” John Henderson said. “We have developed a management plan where everybody benefits.”

“The numbers have gone up. It’s a positive in a province where wildlife numbers are suffering,” Glenn Venus agreed. “I believe the government is doing a good job on our elk. It’s a real win/win. We’ve got a real good relationship with the First Nations and it’s all managed very well.”

Henderson is First Na tions, the vice-chairman of, and wildlife officer for, the Kwakiutl District Council. Venus is not First Nations. He operates a hunting lodge and guiding operation called TrophyWest from his acreage near Sayward.

Historically, such men have butted heads in competition over hunting access. Today, they work together as president and secretary, respectively, of the Wildlife Stewardship Council, a coalition of hunting guides and First Nations that takes great pride in the elk success story.

Henderson said the first step in the relationship was the recognition that the health of the animal comes first. That means growing, self-sustainable herds take precedence over any harvest.

A bull Roosevelt elk wanders along the highway near Youbou. Vancouver Island’s elk population has more than doubled in less than 30 years. The provincial government hopes to lift it from the species-at-risk list by 2024. [MALCOLM CHALMERS PHOTO] “Back then we were at odds with each other, arguing over rights and title and formulas,” he said. “Nobody was speaking for the animal. We speak for the animal.”

Then came rough agreement that any

PUBLIC CONSULTATION – MARCH 31, 2016 PUBLIC FORUM ON THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF THE DUNCAN PRIMARY FACILITY and 2016-2017 BUDGET The Valley School District is holding a public meeting for members of the TheCowichan Cowichan Valley School District is holding a public meeting for members public to provide feedback to the Board of Education on the proposed closure of the of the public to provide feedback to the Board of Education on proposed vacant Duncan Primary Facility, located at 540 Cairnsmore Street (5:00 – 5:30 pm) and closure of the vacant Duncan Primary Facility, located at 540 Cairnsmore on the 2016-2017 Budget (5:30 – 7:00 pm).

Street (5:00 - 5:30 pm) and on the 2016-2017 Budget (5:30 - 7:00 pm).

The meetings will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2016 in the Annex Building at the School Board Office, 2557 Beverly Street.

The meetings will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2016 in the Anne Building

at the School Board Office, 2557 Beverly Street. www.sd79.bc.ca

www.sd79.bc.ca

7506881

harvest should be split equally between First Nations and non-First Nations hunters. And to avoid the jealously and finger-pointing that had previously jaundiced such accords, the hunters pledged to keep a thorough and scrupulous accounting of how many elk there are and how many are actually taken.

“The only way we can establish a trust relationship is having the numbers,” Henderson said. “Our people have managed it in a way that respects the animal and so we had sustenance. Our people have established themselves as responsible hunters.”

The numbers seem to bear that out.

You may mostly hear about Roosevelt elk in the news because of the too-frequent poaching incidents that shake Vancouver Island herds from time to time. But the fact of the matter is Island population trends for this majestic beast are clearly positive. According to a Ministry of Forests management plan released in July of 2014, the number of Vancouver Island elk has more than doubled in less than 30 years — from 2,500 animals in 1986 to 5,300 in 2014. Ministry officials say that number has reached 5,500 today.

Ranging throughout most of Vancouver Island, and most plentiful in the areas west of Campbell River, Cowichan and Nanaimo, herds are stable or increasing in all but three of the more than 150 sub-

regions in the area, including the Sunshine Coast.

The elk are native to the Island, but saw their numbers decimated during a century of colonial practices. Populations are secure enough now in some areas that they are being transplanted to re-establish herds in habitat areas where they had disappeared.

Despite these gains, the animal remains on the provincial Blue List, meaning it is considered at-risk because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive or vulnerable to human activities and natural events.

“Elk can be highly susceptible to harsh winters and high levels of predation and/ or unregulated hunting. This is especially true of small populations that are less resilient, which can be very slow to recover,” Ministry of Forests Public Affairs officer Greig Bethel said in an email.

The two dead cows — one pregnant — discovered poached west of Sooke in February is an example of that. They were part of a fledgling herd that had recently established a foothold in that area. Conservation officers say that herd is small enough that the loss of even two cows could render it unsustainable.

Conservation officer Scott Norris said elk poaching is a problem that comes and goes in spurts. He said his office depends on hunters and other wilderness users to monitor what they see and do their part to help keep poachers in check. He said most are highly motivated to see herds grow and poaching stop.

“Most hunters are never going to get a chance to get an elk,” he said. “Of course [poaching] gets them upset.”

According to the government, it receives about 15,000 applications annually from resident hunters for approximately 300 opportunities to shoot an elk. Those opportunities are awarded by giving out tags for limited entry hunts using a lottery system.

First Nations hunters are given about the same number of opportunities, but they are distributed to a variety of bands, which redistribute them using a variety of different systems.

Henderson is urging other bands to adopt the same principles and scrupulous reporting practices used by the Kwakiutl District Council. He said they promote conservation attitudes within band memberships and the transparency encourages better relationships with the non-Native hunting community. He said everybody needs to be part of the process.

“Right now I am going around the province sharing my knowledge and my beliefs,” he said. “It’s the responsible thing to do at the end of the day. If I can educate the young people then I have done my part.

The goal for the species — as stated in the provincial management plan — is to maintain self-sustaining populations, expand its traditional range and to get it off the Blue List by 2024. Clear progress has been made on the first and second goals, while the third also appears to be in sight.

Venus preaches continued slow and steady progress along the path that has already been established.

“We are doing well, the numbers are growing, but I don’t want to do anything silly. It happens in other parts of the province and we don’t want that,” he said.

“As long as the health of the herds is there, I think that is the most important thing.

“The elk is a very special animal.” john.mckinley@blackpress.ca

www.lakecowichangazette.com | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | Wednesday, March 23, 2016 3

BUSINESS

Inside track on exclusive speedway Chamber hears presentation from Motorsport Circuit JAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

T

s ’ d o R

AUTO GLASS & UPHOLSTERY

250-748-4466 #2 - 2986 Boys Road, Duncan

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Brent Evans, track operations manager for the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit, shares a presentation with the Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce about his company’s latest venture. [JAMES GOLDIE/GAZETTE] company and for businesses of the area, too.

“Underlying our theme of building a motorsport circuit: ‘It’s great if you love to come and drive, but if your family doesn’t have a good time, how often are you going to get to come back?’”

In addition to the open house Evans mentioned, locals will also have a chance to see the facility on Aug. 16, when the circuit hosts the 2016 Vancouver Island Motor Gathering, a family-friendly fundraiser showcasing classic, unique and custom cars and motorcycles.

FAITH DIRECTORY ANGLICAN St. Christopher and St. Aidan

BAPTIST Cowichan Lake Baptist Church

Sunday Services at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School 10:30 a.m.

70 Cowichan Ave. W Lake Cowichan 250-749-3466

8259 Beaver Road Lake Cowichan 250-749-3211

Pastor Dale Winters

PENTECOSTAL ROMAN CATHOLIC Lake Cowichan St. Louis Christian Fellowship de Montfort 10 King George St. South Lake Cowichan 250-749-6492

60 Fern Road Lake Cowichan 250-749-4103

Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

Mass Sunday 9:00 a.m.

Pastor Terry Hale

Fr. John Vines

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He also said there are currently no plans to host races at the circuit, noting there are no grandstands at the location and races are not part of their business plan. the Look foron the Roosterof! ro

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he sound of more than just logging trucks rumbling to and from Cowichan Lake will be audible along Highway 18 starting this summer after the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit officially opens in June.

Track operations manager and former lake area resident Brent Evans addressed the Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce on March 18 as part of the chamber’s monthly general meeting, updating local business owners and members of the public on the exclusive speedway’s development and the potential impacts for the surrounding area.

“We want to do as much spin-off as we possibly can, whether it’s tours or promoting the lake and all of that that can happen,” said Evans.

“We’re really putting out a lot [of information] about what there is to do on Vancouver Island…

We’re working with our IT department on how to share links through our website to share what there is to do throughout the Cowichan Valley.”

The Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit was conceived of by GAIN premier automobiles dealer group, which has several dealerships across the island.

“Our dealer group is really passionate about performance driving. We sell a lot of performance cars. And we wanted a way for our clients to really appreciate what they’ve purchased, what they owned, but also to know how to operate them in a much safer, more controlled manner,” said Evans.

For the past four years, his company has been renting the Western Speedway outside of Victoria for clients to drive their vehicles, but two years ago decided to explore building their own location.

He said the site on Highway 18 just past the Tansor Road junction fell into their laps and was just what they were looking for.

The circuit, designed by German engineer and former formula one racer Hermann Tilke’s company, will offer 2.3 kilometres of track with 19 turns and 25 metres of elevation change. Evans described it as a “busy technical track,” and the property will house anywhere from 200 to 400 cars on site for owners.

“The acoustics are going to be very enjoyable for those at the site,” said Evans. “For those who live nearby, we’re going to operate on normal hours… Hopefully it won’t be too intrusive.”

The circuit will also feature a 15,000 squarefoot club house with a full kitchen facility, locker room, classrooms and a presentation centre.

“We really want to have two or three days of open house before we get rolling so you can all come in and see what’s there,” said Evans, who explained the circuit will be a members-only facility. “The best way to compare it would be to a private golf course.”

The circuit will cap its membership at 419, with an additional 50 corporate memberships and 30 for founding members. Evans said he anticipates a large number of their membership will come from the Pacific Northwest, but also Asia, Germany and other parts of Europe.

Evans said he expects that the circuit’s proximity to the lake district will be a benefit for his

TRANS CANADA HWY Just South Of Duncan

250-748-7141

FOREST WORKERS MEMORIAL

BRICK SALES

If you don’t have a brick yet cut-off date to purchase bricks for mid-May placement is April 1st, 2015.

Bricks can be purchased for a family, a loved-one, a business or organization.

Forms at Town office 39 South Shore Road and Cowichan Lake Community Forest Co-op 121 Point Ideal Drive (Comm. Services Building) Payment to be made when ordered

Cowichan Lake Community Forest Co-op clcfc@cowichanlake.ca 250-749-6320

4 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com

OPINION OUR VIEW

Lake Cowichan just too small for paid parking We think Lake Cowichan should back away from paid parking, slowly, so as not to alert anyone who might not yet have heard that such an idea was ever broached.

The community is just too small for this to make sense or to fly.

If town officials feel they absolutely must implement such a thing,which we do not recommend, then it would have to be on a severely limited scale both in terms of location and time of year.

We understand that there are times in the summer months

when tubers are taking up valuable parking real estate for hours at a time.

Perhaps it does behoove some of the tubing businesses to provide some parking solutions since they are reaping the rewards.

Sunfest will also likely increase the volume of tubers on certain days this summer.

Perhaps someone can set up a service to pick up people who want to go tubing from the Sunfest site, and transport them from there to get their tubes, then to a desired place to get into the water.

That could help with congestion on Sunfest weekend at least.

But paid parking isn’t the way to go.

Paid parking would likely just shift the congestion to another location, while alienating other day tourist types and even those using other nearby amenities (like shops, the museum and the tourist information centre).

Nobody is going to want to pay for parking, and town really isn’t that big, so revenue would be virtually non-existent from such a plan, so that’s not a consideration.

It would just basically be like putting up a “no parking” sign on a portion of the public parking spaces now available.

Which doesn’t really say “welcome to Lake Cowichan” (please stay and enjoy our shops, restaurants and other services — and spend your money).

Such a plan would likley be disconcerting to and alienate locals as well.

Most visitors will just go down the road a ways and find somewhere else they can park if the prime slots suddenly have meters.

Paid parking certainly doesn’t

ABOUT US

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.

We reserve the right to edit all submissions for clarity, grammar, length — attack the issue, not the individual.

All letters must contain the name, address and a phone number where writers may be reached during business hours. Publication is not guaranteed.

Thank-you letters will not normally be considered. Submissions can be emailed to editor@lakecowichangazette.com, sent via fax to 250-7494385 or dropped off at our office at 170E Cowichan Lake Road.

Publisher Shirley Skolos, 250-748-2666, ext. 229 Editor Andrea Rondeau, 250-748-2666, ext. 235 Reporter James Goldie, 250-749-4383 Sales Lauri Meanley, 250-749-4383 Newsroom 250-749-4383 or 250-748-2666 editor@lakecowichangazette.com

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LETTERS POLICY

The Lake Cowichan Gazette is a division of Black Press Limited, located at 170E-Cowichan Lake Rd. Mailing address: Box 10, Lake Cowichan, BC, V0R 2G0 Phone: 250-749-4383 Fax: 250-748-1552

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make sense as a year-round endeavour, and it doesn’t sound like the town thinks so either.

Lake Cowichan wants people to come into town and stay as long as possible.

That’s the goal for anyone with a tourist economy, even if there are some annoyances.

Anything that makes the community appear less inviting is undesirable.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY YOUR LETTERS After years of fiddling E&N railway line is dead North Cowichan council should join Langford in demanding accountability from the Island Corridor Foundation, and in the meantime consider the E&N track to be a dead asset.

Various entities fiddled around for years while wood rotted and steel rusted, until someone finally blew the whistle on safety of the track for the speed needed to perform the Victoria-Courtenay tourist excursion.

Victoria city omitted tracks from the new Johnson Street bridge, eliminating much of the potential business as most people will not want to walk

from well into Vic West to their workplace many blocks from the bridge in downtown Victoria, or make another transfer after having a bus, ParkNRide, or KissNRide transfer at their origin. That leaves CFB Esquimalt and the dockyards whose gates the track passes close to.

But many base employees chose not to use the cross-harbour ferry service across Esquimalt Harbour so it ceased — how many would actually use a train service?

Because the track and bridges etc. were allowed to deteriorate there has not been a market test of commuter service, which is essential.

The E&N track does bypass

the troubled Malahat Highway, which by the way has bus service, but are many people willing to pay for having trains on standby to ensure they get to work on time?

The E&N track should be considered a dead asset for rail service, to stop bleeding money on administration and unrealistic plans, perhaps able to be necessitated by someone who can actually get things done, which isn’t the ICF. Jon Lefebure should not make any forecast until he is actually riding on a scheduled train he purchased a ticket for.

Keith Sketchley Saanich

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www.lakecowichangazette.com | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | Wednesday, March 23, 2016 5

Street Beat

With Malcolm Chalmers

The Gazette asked: What do you think of the idea of paid parking at Saywell Park?

Andy Gauthier “It’s stupid. If you want tourists to come here where are they going to park, on the side streets, blocking driveways?

There’s no parking here.”

Brad Church

Janene Holowka

“Around the summertime when it gets extremely busy it may be beneficial but not on the off-season because it is mostly locals using it.”

“I think it is a terrible idea. For the most part we have seniors living here and they put out enough money on trivial type things already.”

Letters to the editor Boil advisories shocking in first world country I have traveled to many parts of the world and one of the things I noticed is that I always had to purchase water to drink.

Here back in Canada I just turned on the tap and clean drinking water came out. I was “proud” of that fact, but not anymore.

I live in Lake Cowichan and frequently I’ve had to boil water because of advisories and being a newcomer I am shocked that I live in a clean town that has its citizens frequently boil water to drink and cook food in. We’re supposed to be a first rate nation and setting examples, so why is this happening?

I’m 57 and never had to “boil” water in my life.

If something doesn’t change are we going to be like other countries, where everyone has to buy water so they don’t get ill? Water is one of the elements of life and we need to protect it. We animals and humans deserve to have safe drinking water.

It’s time for the federal government to implement the right to clean water in Canada by passing an environmental bill of rights that respects, protects and fulfils our right to a healthy environment, including the right to clean water.

Carmen Senac Lake Cowichan

We need environmental bill of rights in Canada I am writing this letter to please keep our communities in the know about one of our most valuable resources: water.

Canada has one-fifth of the world’s fresh water, a quarter of it remaining in wetlands and its longest coastline. If Canadians would realize the potential dan-

gers to our precious ecosystem and to the one that sustains us in many ways they would also support an environmental bill of rights that recognizes, protects and fulfills our right to a healthy environment, including our right to clean water, would provide clear guidelines for government, industry and citizens to manage resources, economic development and the health and well-being of communities in ways that are transparent, predictable and sustainable.

As well, Canada is the only G8 country without legally enforceable drinking water quality standards at the national level.

On any given day, more than 1,000 boil-water advisories are in effect across the country, many in Indigenous communities. Places like Shoal Lake 40, Grassy Narrows and Neskantaga have been under boil water advisories for decades.

In my particular area where the pulp and paper industries and shipping routes have polluted our waters that support shellfishing, and underwater habitat thereby destroying food sources.

I have a personal stake in the protection of our waters.

Many municipal water supplies are derived solely from groundwater.

Polluted groundwater is less visible, and more difficult to clean up than pollution in rivers and lakes.

So many possible levels of destruction when there is no protection for clean drinking water.

So please, I hope other Canadians will urge the federal government to introduce an environmental bill of rights that will recognize, protect and fulfill our human right to clean water.

Val Bob Chemainus Send your letter to the editor to editor@lakecowichangazette.com

Luis Frenandez “I personally wouldn’t agree with that. There are a lot of families that would like to use it [Saywell Park] without the inconvenience of paying every time.”

Robert Bezina “People will just park somewhere else. What is the point, it is [tourist parking], so seasonal.

What are they going to make, a couple of dollars?”

OPINION

Alternatives to urban drug ghetto Tom Fletcher

BC Views

M

y recent columns on B.C.’s struggle with the growing westward migration of transients have produced responses that fall mainly into two groups.

The largest is people relieved that somebody is questioning the urban media narrative.

That’s the one where drifters, drug addicts, welfare shoppers and thieves are the victims, and working people whose hard-earned communities are being degraded are the problem because of their selfish, uncaring attitudes.

Then there are readers so marinated in our nanny-state education, media and political system they object to anything other than a big-government response. They tend to ask, what’s your solution, Tom? As someone who has lost one relative to heroin addiction and almost lost another, I reflect on the history of successful addiction treatment. That is one of detox and abstinence.

That’s why I oppose the failed model of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where resources are poured into concentrated housing and “harm reduction” that perpetuate addiction, handouts and helplessness.

Housing Minister Rich Coleman is rolling this out in other communities, in what I fear is an effort to paper over the problem for an election year.

The Globe and Mail recently profiled a methamphetamine addict enrolled at Onsite, the belated treatment addition to Vancouver’s Insite supervised injection site. It was his fifth

Deputy Premier Rich Coleman (left) has carried the housing file through a variety of ministries over more than 10 years.

[BLACK PRESS PHOTO]

try, which may have something to do with the fact that when he walks outside he is in the middle of Canada’s biggest street drug bazaar.

Contrast that with a facility called Baldy Hughes, a therapeutic community 30 km outside Prince George. It’s a working farm, designed to provide a year-long program of abstinence-based therapy and meaningful work.

It uses the traditional 12-step program developed by Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, with peer support and group therapy.

There’s a greenhouse for winter farming, livestock to tend and the residents have designed and built a new horse stable.

There’s also a beekeeping project. Residents can complete their high school education, take first aid training and learn basic computer skills.

What they can’t do is leave unescorted during their treatment program. They can’t bring drugs, alcohol, weapons

or phones with them.

It’s a costly program, with a small number of spaces available on referral from B.C.’s social development ministry.

Others can finance it with the help of medical employment insurance.

I mention this not to suggest it is a solution for every community, but to compare it with what the B.C. government is spending millions on.

A news event was arranged to greet the first resident moving from Victoria’s squalid downtown tent camp to a refurbished nursing home. And who was the poster child for this project, hand-picked by the agency that runs the growing network of shelters in the area?

He described himself as a former Edmonton resident who was hitch-hiking around, going from shelter to shelter and ending up camped in the squat. He was impressed by the tidy room with three meals a day he was being given, in a “low barrier” facility where booze and drugs are brought in, no questions asked.

What he was really looking forward to, in addition to accommodations, was an opportunity to kick back and play his favourite video game. That would be Grand Theft Auto, where your character runs around stealing cars, escaping police and meeting with criminal gangs. It’s popular with adolescents, which these days means anyone under 30.

This is where your tax dollars are going. Waves of people come in, with key trouble spots being communities on the major highways coming into the Lower Mainland.

Tom Fletcher is B.C. legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press.

Email: tfletcher@blackpress.ca Twitter: @tomfletcherbc

6 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com

COMMUNITY GARDEN

Dedicated volunteers Andy Rowe, Cara Smith and Rennie Bateman take a short break from their work in the Cowichan Lake Community Garden on Saturday.

2016 COWICHAN LAKE

VISITOR’S GUIDE Points of interest • Content about Lake Cowichan area • 10,000 + Circulation • Island Visitor Centres • Full colour guide • In Time for Sunfest which attracts over, 22,000 visitors • Limited space • Handy book size To advertise in this visitors guide, please call one of our reps.

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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

[JAMES GOLDIE/GAZETTE]

Garden springing up JAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

S

pring has officially arrived, and the Cowichan Lake Community Garden is wasting no time tackling its spring cleaning.

On Saturday the group held its first official work party of the year, after being rained out the previous week. Members arrived and immediately set to cleaning garden beds, picking out rocks and mixing compost.

The summer of 2016 will mark the garden’s second season, after a lot of work was done last year to prepare the grounds and lay a solid foundation for future planting.

“The actual work on the garden started in the end of October, beginning of November 2014. We had work parties just about every Saturday from then until mid-summer last year because there was a lot that needed to be done to get it established,” said coordinator Cara Smith.

The garden has been designed as a “food forest,” which Smith explained is a gardening model that mimics a woodland ecosystem by using fruit and nut trees and berry shrubs in addition to groundlevel vegetables. The garden has 14 trees including cherry, apple, pear and quince trees.

“Around each fruit tree we planted a ‘guild’ and the idea of a guild is you plant things that support the fruit tree,” said Smith. “Things that attract insects, things that provide a lot of foliage for mulch and compost, things that accumulate nutrients with deep-tap roots that bring nutrients up to the surface.”

The community garden also has garden boxes available for rent, which have been so popular there is now a wait list for gar-

deners interested in having their own individual space. Smith said the group hopes to build some more this year, but added that most of the garden is communal and is worked collectively, with the group sharing in the harvest.

“Last being our first year there wasn’t much of a harvest, but we got a surprising amount,” she said.

Goals for this coming year include maximizing use of the high fence that surrounds the garden to keep deer out.

“So I would like to see beds all around the perimeter where we could do vertical gardening,” said Smith.

“I’d like to have narrow boxes along the fence line because this soil is really tough to work.”

Improving the soil quality requires constantly adding to the garden’s large, wormfilled compost area, which volunteer Rennie Bateman is happy to show off.

“The whole idea was to use what was readily available, not what you buy and import,” he said.

“Three restaurants [Lakeside Sushi, The Shaker Mill and Jake’s at the Lake] give us their kitchen waste, I bring it here and compost it. We get about 150 pounds a week, and that’s just from three little restaurants.”

Bateman encouraged members of the community to contribute their food scraps to the garden’s compost, emphasizing that they do not want meat waste.

The community garden is located between Point Ideal Road and the lower baseball field near Centennial Hall. The initiative has been supported by Island Health, Cowichan Green Community and Tree Canada, plus contributions from countless local business and individuals.

www.lakecowichangazette.com | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | Wednesday, March 23, 2016 7

COMMUNITY

Seniors care facility to be shaped by local citizens Public urged to attend Mar. 31 meeting JAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

L

ake Cowichan residents who have to travel to Duncan and beyond to visit an elderly family member may want to attend the upcoming meeting on a seniors facility for the lake region.

On March 31, members of the public are invited to join an interim steering committee at the Lake Cowichan Christian Fellowship church to further explore the possibility of getting a seniors care facility in this area.

“We believe it’s a very underserved area in that way,” said Ted Gamble, interim committee chairman.

“We know of people who are having to travel to Victoria, Nanaimo, Chemainus and that sort of thing to see their loved ones. And on a daily basis, that’s very taxing.”

Gamble said he believes the lake has a sufficient population to support a seniors care facility, and pointed to the age friendly plan developed by the Town of Lake Cowichan last fall.

According to this study, the number of people over 75 in Lake Cowichan will increase from 392 in 2011 to 1,439 in 2041.

Just how the proposed care facility will be structured has yet to be determined, which is why Gamble is urging everyone from the community to get involved in the planning process.

“Anyone that’s wanting to participate in the discussion [should come],” he said. “We

“I envision it as a five to 10 year process, and I think with the committee it will be an evolving committee, changing over time as new people come on and others drop out.”

TIM MCGONIGLE, council liaison

are looking at all options.”

Those options include home care, assisted living (for people who can still direct their own care but get some assistance from a community health worker) or long-term care (for people who can no longer support their own daily living activities).

Town councillor Tim McGonigle, who sits as a liaison between the committee and the Town of Lake Cowichan, said the majority of respondents to the town’s age-friendly survey expressed a desire for some kind of seniors facility in the area.

“We can’t automatically reach out and have a facility built here in the next year,” he said.

“I envision it as a five to 10 year process, and I think with the committee it will be an evolving committee, changing over time as new people come on and others drop out.”

McGonigle said the interim steering committee felt the process should not be political but rather publicly driven, which is

Coun. Tim McGonigle, left, and Ted Gamble encourage members of the public to get involved with the planning of a future seniors care facility in the Cowichan Lake district. [JAMES GOLDIE/GAZETTE] why he sits only as a liaison to council.

“When and if questions come forwards on finances or land, I will be removing myself from those discussions so there is no conflict,” he said, also noting there is no reason the facility could not be located in Honeymoon Bay or Youbou.

“The west Cowichan region is what we’re looking at… It could be anywhere,” he said.

McGonigle echoed the chairperson’s sentiments about the need for diverse committee members and volunteers, and said he hopes the March 31 meeting will be well attended.

“We’ll be looking at different factions and subcommittees like fundraising, facility, communications, so anyone with an interest in that sort of thing would be an asset to the committee,” he said.

“It wouldn’t mean you had to be on the executive per se.

So the commitment will be as much as you’re willing to engage.”

Customer appreciation Join us

saturday, april 2nd 2016 lake cowichan

cobble hill

In Store Demos Free Cake & Coffee 2016 Lady of the Lake Candidates

(unless noted otherwise)

events 11-3

events 10-4

Bouncy Castle Face Painting Cake/Coffee/Pop

(Meet and Greet)

(11 - While Supplies Last)

Mini Art Gallery (Kaatza Art Group)

Children’s Planting Booth

(Lake Cowichans Communities in Bloom)

BBQ

(Lake Cowichan Fire Department)

New care facility directory available On March 18, the office of B.C.’s seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie released the British Columbia Residential Care Quick Facts Directory, which provides key information for publicly funded licensed care facilities across the province.

“This directory builds on the work done by the Office of the

Ombudsperson who identified the need for a resource of this kind to be available to seniors and their family members,” stated Mackenzie in a press release.

The directory covers a range of topics including facility standards, food services information, contact for complaints and

total funded direct care hours per resident per day.

There are currently 292 publicly funded licensed care facilities in British Columbia This information and more can be found in the Reports and Publications section on the B.C. senior advocate’s website: www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca.

Baseball Pitching Station (Lake Cowichan Minor Baseball)

Hockey Shoot Accuracy Net

DJ on Site (11-3) Hot Dog Sale/Car Wash (proceeds to 4H)

Elsa and Anna

(11 - From Frozen Courtesy of Help Fill a Dream and Enchanted Fables)

(Lake Cowichan Minor Hockey)

Information Booths (Kinsmen, Lake Days, Animal Rescue & more)

countrygrocer.com

8 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com

COLUMN

Some great spring fishing available in Cowichan area with glow flasher, glow anchovy head and anchovy. Bold Bluff out of Cowichan Bay has also been excellent with fish ranging from 8 to 12 lbs.

Gord March

Fishing Saltwater:

Cowichan Lake fishing is going strong. Try trolling creek mouth and paralleling the shoreline staying within 30 feet. Keep your line back from the boat by at least 150 feet. Top lures of choice are three-inch tomic, best colours are the iridescent inserts. We have over 440 four-inch plugs in stock with

Making Changes Moving forward with your newspaper

Fuller Lake, Chemainus Lake, Dougan Lake, Quamichan Lake and Somenos Lake are also producing well. These seven lakes have been recently stocked.

Cowichan River Trout Fishing: Mid-river there are resident rainbow and brown trout. Try single egg copies/stonflies and mudler minnows. From Skutz Falls to Greendale Trestle is excellent for browns and rainbows. Use single egg copies and minnow or rolled mudler flies. The largest browns in the river are found in this section. Flies of choice: single egg patterns, rolled muddlers, prince nymphs, hairs ear nymphs, pheasant tail nymphs. Stick to the bead heads and weighted flies. Over 30,000 flies in stock at the store!

Also remember that all cutthroat trout in streams and rivers must be released from Oct. 1 to May 31 to protect our brood stock. All wild trout must be released all year.

Steelhead Fishing: Cowichan River: April and the start of May: steelheading is still excellent on the Cowichan mainly for mended kelts. These fish have to feed aggressively after spawning, making them the easiest steelhead to target. A great month to catch your first steelhead! Lures of choice: blades, single egg copies or small pink worms.

Flies of choice: large and black or the ever popular egg fly.

Nitinat, San Juan, Harris Creek: All excellent rivers for early summer runs and winter steelhead. Best fished when coming off of high water.

“May your rod bend to the butt and your smile go from ear to ear.”

• New look and design • New and improved content • New reporter now living in

Gord March is the owner of Gord’s Fly Box & Goodies, 170C Cowichan Lake Rd., Box 1742, Lake Cowichan, B.C., V0R 2G0. Call: 250-932-9309 or email gordsflybox@ shaw.ca

the Lake Cowichan community

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[METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS]

Easter egg hunt, free skate Monday

DELIVERED BY MAIL:

To renew your subscription or to order a new subscription call 1-250-748-2666 ask for Dawn or Tracey 7474554

N

anaimo to Sooke has been excellent for winter chinook fishing.

Try trolling just off the bottom

Freshwater:

over 80 different patterns.

Also working well are the ever popular gang troll and flat fish. As of April 16 until Nov. 14, bait, barbs and trebles are allowed in the lake. Fishing the creek mouths with bait (single eggs, roe, paste) and a corky rig can produce large numbers of fish including the odd lunker.

Kissinger and Lizard lakes to the west, food rainbow trout dishing, try corky and single egg rig off the docks and beaches. Try trolling with small spratley’s leeches, woolly bugger, flatfish and small spoons.

Cowichan Lake Recreation invites members of the public to attend its annual Easter egg hunt on Monday, March 28. Children will have the opportunity to search for the colourful eggs rain or shine, with the hunt taking place in the ball field next to Centennial Hall or inside the arena if weather conditions are poor.

Afterwards, there is a free public skate offered.

(However, there is a fee for skate rentals.)

“It’s always a great turnout,” said recreation programmer Tanya Kaul, adding that the weather usually cooperates.

The activities kick off at 2:30 p.m. for the Easter egg hunt. The free skate begins at 3:30 p.m.

www.lakecowichangazette.com | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | Wednesday, March 23, 2016 9

CUTTING CONTROVERSY

Property owner Michael Dix says the vegetation he cleared from his land was primarily Himalayan blackberry, which is classified as an invasive species in B.C. He has planted clover and fir trees on the land, and did not clear vegetation to the edge of the river’s natural boundary, currently under high water. [JAMES GOLDIE/GAZETTE]

Curtis Laminski points to a property map showing a restrictive covenant he and his partner, Tony Green, say has been breached by their next-door neighbour. [JAMES GOLDIE/GAZETTE]

Property owner says he just cleared invaders CLEARING, From Page 1 “At that time I went in with a couple of skitters and machinery, I did basically what was done a month ago,” he said.

Green was charged under the Fisheries Act for encroaching on a riparian zone (the ecosystem that runs along the banks of a river in this case); he was fined and forced to do remedial work on the river where the clearing took place.

“I had to replant quite a bit of willow trees and alders and I really learned my lesson. And at that time I put a restricted covenant on it,” he said, describing a 30-metre restriction on clearing the land, starting at the natural boundary of the river.

“Basically my intention was that this kind of thing — what I did — would never happen again.”

Dix disagrees with Green and Laminski’s assertion that he has broken the law in clearing part of his property, and said the work was done to remove Himalayan blackberry (which is an invasive species) and to restore the landscape to the state he purchased it in.

“All we’re trying to do is re-establish what we bought in 2008, which is a pasture with fence around it,” he said.

Green said that when he sold the property to Dix in 2008, he clearly explained the reason for the covenant he had placed on it.

Whether the development has had an impact on the Greendale Riverside Cabins’ beaches is not clear due to the high springtime waters. Green said he is most

“My biggest concern is the sensitive area for the spawning of the fish and fish habitat. Not only fish but the countless water fowl and song birds. That became their resting ground.”

TONY GREEN, neighbour

worried about how the changes next door might affect wildlife in the area.

“My biggest concern is the sensitive area for the spawning of the fish and fish habitat.

Not only fish but the countless water fowl and song birds. That became their resting ground.

That became their nesting ground for years and years. And it’s totally been destroyed,” he said.

Conservation officer Scott Norris confirmed that his colleague, Mark Kissinger, is looking into this incident. He said that because the investigation is ongoing he cannot provide further comment.

In an email to the Gazette, Vivian Thomas, communications director for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, stated that in response to a public complaint, an ecosystem biologist/habitat officer from the ministry had visited the site in question.

“Ministry staff are currently considering next steps and what would be the appropriate course of action,” she said. “We can provide you an update once that is determined.”

Dix invited reporters to see the property firsthand and pointed out the remaining thickets of Himalayan blackberry on the property.

“I think where [Green and Laminski] may be getting a bit upset is they wanted things to stay the way they were two months ago. It would have been good to get a phone call from them back then to say, ‘I notice you’re doing some work.

What are you doing? Can you explain what you’re doing?’

And I would have done exactly the same thing I’m doing with you today.”

Dix acknowledged he did not hire a qualified environmental professional when he began he project, which is required when removing or altering plants within 30 metres of a watercourse according to the province’s Riparian Areas Regulations, but said he has since hired two QEPs to consult on the development. He said there was never any plans to build a structure on that part of the property and he has planted clover in the cleared area.

“When you remove invasive species or do anything like this you have to immediately plant ground cover,” he said. “The trees that were taken out were alder and the ones going in are fir and cedar which are way more friendly for riparian area.”

Dix said whether or not the registered covenant on the land was crossed cannot be properly verified until the water level recedes to expose the river’s natural boundary.

He noted a QEP would be the best person to determine whether or not the development

caused any harm to fish.

He said there were no signs of any bird nests during the clearing.

“If I found a bird’s nest I would have stopped them right away,” he said.

Dix acknowledged the piles of slash brush around the site might be unattractive but were deliberate-

ly left in order to prevent rain from carrying sediment into the river. He also noted larger trees harvested from a different part of his property to make way for an orchard could give the false impression they had come from the riparian zone.

“We’re trying to do the right thing and not upset anyone,” he said.

10 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com A10 www.lakecowichangazette.com

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DEATHS

250.749.6010

DEATHS

Ridley, Peter

June 21, 1937 ~ March 3, 2016 It is with immense sorrow that we announce the passing of our dearly beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, Peter Ridley, aged 78.

Peter is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, lrene ; son Carl, daughters Lucy-Ann (Brian) and Janette (Andy); grandchildren Brandan (Maressa), Devan, Jordan (Courtenay), Trevor (Hannah), Natalie and Oliver (Laura); great-grandchildren William, Samuel, George, Ella and Olivia. He was predeceased by his daughter Susan.

Peter was born in Newcastle on Tyne, England. He worked in the shipbuilding and automotive industries as a draughtsman, then when computerization overtook his trade he moved with his wife to Victoria BC and became a school custodian.

Peter loved motorcycles, fishing, hiking and kayaking. He hiked the length and breadth of Britain, and in Victoria he built his own kayak so he could explore the coastal waters around the south of the Island.

A loving husband and father, Peter was a committed church goer, had a strong sense of right and wrong, and an impish sense of humour. He will be missed by his family and hundreds of friends in England and Canada.

A big thank you to Dr. Froese, his primary care doctor, and to the doctors and nurses at Duncan Hospital for their care and concern.

No flowers by request, but a donation may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, or a charity of choice.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 1:00 pm at Sands Funeral Chapel, 187 Trunk Road, Duncan.

SANDS of DUNCAN 250-746-5212

DEATHS

DEATHS

Anderson, Eric Olof Passed away on March 15, 2016 at Cairnsmore Place, Duncan BC with his daughter by his side. Eric was born on December 18, 1936 in the Kings Daughters Hospital in Duncan.

Beloved husband to Rose of 56 years, and loving father to Debbie Wheeler (Allan) and Dwayne. Cherished grandpa to Alicia Thompson (Andrew) and great grandpa to Mason and Rosalyn.

Dear brother to Oke (Alice), Anne Marie Melhus (Al), and Gary (Connie). Predeceased by his sisters Marg Macquarrie, June Scott, and Agnes Brumback.

Eric lived all of his life in Lake Cowichan until illness took him to live at Cairnsmore place 5 years ago.

Eric worked at the Youbou Sawmill for 49 years until his retirement in 2001.

He will be dearly missed by his family and friends, and his many nieces and nephews who all held a special place in his heart.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2016 from 2 – 4 in the multi-purpose room at the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena.To honour our fathers wishes please dress casually.

A Heartfelt thank-you to all of the Cairnsmore staff for the loving care and attention given to him during his stay there.

Arrangements entrusted to Sands Funeral Chapel, Duncan.

SANDS of DUNCAN 250-746-5212

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www.lakecowichangazette.com | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | Wednesday, March 23, 2016 11

COWICHAN LAKE

PROVINCIAL BRIEFS

— With Malcolm Chalmers

SMILE FILE

Old-growth forest park proclaimed B.C.’s newest Class A provincial park is an 11,000-hectare expanse of the world’s only inland temperate rainforest east of Prince George.

Called the Ancient Forest/ Chun T’oh Wudujut, the region is being added to B.C.’s parks by legislation introduced this week.

Premier Christy Clark said the province is also applying to have the park named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“Dedicated volunteers and community members have worked for years to protect this special habitat,” said Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince George-Valemount. “Several of the trees in this historic natural wonder are more than 1,000 years old, with trunks measuring up to 16 metres around.”

The park is a joint project of the provincial government, the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and the Caledonia Ramblers Hiking Society, which signed an agreement in July 2015 to protect the area’s ancient cedar stands.

The society built and maintains three kilometres of hiking trails through the forest that saw 20,000 visitors in 2015.

Name: Jessica DeBoice Occupation: Canada Post Hometown: Lake Cowichan I’ve always wanted to: Skydive Most people don’t know that: I have lived in three countries Favourite food: Mexican Best thing about living here: Hiking trails and the lake Favourite activity: Hiking with my daughter My proudest moment: Birth of my daughter I define down time as: A glass of wine, a bubble bath and a book I wish I was better at: Cleaning If I was stuck on a desert island I would definitely need: Sunglasses Favourite moment of day is: 6 p.m. after daughter goes to bed I’m currently reading: I’ve got five books on the go My guiltiest pleasure is: Wine My go-to wardrobe staple: Yoga clothing

Check out our Facebook page: ‘Lake Cowichan Gazette’ Find us online at lakecowichangazette.com

Provincial school fix-up fund up to $40 million B.C. school districts have until April 15 to apply for an annual

Trails through the Ancient Forest built by a local volunteer society saw 20,000 visitors in 2015. [B.C. GOVERNMENT PHOTO] “fix-it fund” that has grown from $35 million to $40 million.

The fund is in addition to the ongoing capital funds for school districts, and is targeted to projects costing $100,000 or more.

They include heating and ventilation upgrades, roof repairs or replacement, plumbing and boiler replacements and safety improvements.

Education Minister Mike Bernier said projects will be chosen based on “need, priority and supporting student learning.” They also need to be completed by March 31, 2017.

Co-op programs get $1.3 million boost Colleges and universities are getting an extra $75,000 each this year to increase their co-op placements where students get paid work placements as part of their studies.

An additional $100,000 goes to the Association for Co-operative Education of B.C. and Yukon, a non-profit society that develops co-op programs to connect students with employers.

There were 13,000 co-op student work placements in 2014-15, a 45 per cent increase in the past five years.

Par ticipating institutions i n cl u d e C a m o s u n C o l l e g e, Capilano University, Douglas College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, North Island College, Selkirk College, Thompson Rivers University, University of Northern B.C., Vancouver Island University and Langara College.

About 85 per cent of placements are through Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria and University of B.C., concentrated on engineering, business administration, science and computer science.

Black Press

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12 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.com

You’ll Feel Like Family.

Midweek Specials Wed. thru Sat.

Proud to be serving the Cowichan Valley since 1985

March 23 - 26, 2016

Purchase an island grown

pansies for epilepsy

Happy

4” pansy and 50 cents will go to HeadWay Victoria

from Our Family to Yours! march 13th-26th

Bacon

LIMIT 3 Total

375 g

2

EACH

.97

4

Cheese

1000 g

97 EACH

4

100 g

In our Bakery...

450 g

LIMIT 3 Total

EACH

Mexican Grown

Bonaparte Brie

Asparagus

97

77

7

500 g

Reg. 14.99

.97

77

Alexis de Portneuf

In our Deli...

Black Forest Ham

lb 5.45 Kg

Black Diamond

Apple or Pumpkin Pie

LIMIT 6 Total

In our Deli...

47

Deep Dish

In our Bakery...

EACH

Butt or Shank End

lb 2.14 Kg

EACH

1

97

00

2

Under 9 Kg

C 20 M 25 Y 60 K 25

300 g

Smoked Ham

PMS 871

LIMIT 1 Per Customer Order Over $50 Including Turkey.

Overlimit 1.39 lb/3.06 Kg

300 g

Cook’s

Turkeys C 100 M 0 Y 81 K 66

Smoked Chicken Sausage

F O R

Frozen Lilydale Grade A

PMS 3435

Kielbasa Sausage Rings

25

97

Reg. 6.99

Schneider’s Spicy Jalapeno

Schneider’s

Mitchell’s Regular or Low Sodium

1

lb 3.90 Kg

Raisin Bread

1 1

454 g

97 EACH

Skippy Natural Crunchy

Peanut Butter

97 EACH

Offers valid at Lake Cowichan and Cobble Hill Country Grocer locations only

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FLYER THIS FRIDAY in the Citizen Newspaper

1400 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cobble Hill • Open Daily 8 am - 9 pm 83 Cowichan Lk. Rd, Lake Cowichan • Open Daily 7 am - 9 pm All items while stocks last.

500 g