Lake Cowichan Gazette, March 23, 2016

GEOFF DUNNSALES SPECIALIST

31174_November_POP_Window_Poster_ENG

DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATE

MEDIAAD TYPEREGION

CREATIVE DIRECTORART DIRECTOR

COPYWRITERIMAGE RETOUCHER

MAC ARTISTPRODUCERACCOUNTS

PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR

H14Q4 _POP_DAA_1174HYUNDAINovember 2014 POPOctober 24, 2014Window Poster - TWO SIDEDENGLISHNational

REV

______ Simon Duffy______ Simon Duffy______ Client______ Steve Rusk______ Natalie P.______ Monica Lima______ Sarah Ramage______ Leah Lepofsky______ Hyundai

____ PDFX1A to Pub____ Collect to Resource Site____ Lo Res PDF____ Revision & New Laser____ Other _____________________ __________________________ __________________________

N/A20" X 30" (40" X 60").5" all around(File built at 1/2 size)

C M Y K

[JOB INFO] [MECHANICAL SPECS] [APPROVALS] [ACTION]

[PUBLICATION INFO]NONE

[FONTS]Arial NarrowUnivers LT

[PRINTED AT]50%

Please contact Monica Lima e: [email protected] t: 647-925-1315 c: 416-806-0468 INNOCEAN WORLDWIDE CANADA, INC. 662 King St. West, Unit 101, Toronto ON M5V 1M7

[SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS]

0% PURCHASE FINANCINGFOR UP TO 96 MONTHS

$7,000GETUP TO

IN TOTAL PRICE ADJUSTMENTSAmount available on the 2014 Veloster Turbo Manual

ON SELECT MODELS

Year End clearance e v e n t

Year EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear Endclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearancee v e n te v e n te v e n te v e n te v e n te v e n t

1174_November_POP_Window_Poster_ENG.indd 4 2014-10-27 2:39 PM


DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATE

MEDIAAD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K




[PRINTED AT]50%




$7,000GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS

000




DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATE

MEDIAAD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K




[PRINTED AT]50%




$7,000GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS




DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATE

MEDIAAD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K




[PRINTED AT]50%




$7,000GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS



Amount available on 2015 Genisis 3.8 GT Coupe

| OPEN SUNDAYS

AWARDED THE HIGHEST GOVERNMENTCRASH SAFETY RATING▲

U.S. NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

7403004



DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATEMEDIA

AD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K

[JOB INFO][MECHANICAL SPECS][APPROVALS][ACTION]



[PRINTED AT]50%

Please contact Monica Lima e: [email protected] t: 647-925-1315 c: 416-806-0468INNOCEAN WORLDWIDE CANADA, INC. 662 King St. West, Unit 101, Toronto ON M5V 1M7



$7,000 GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS

Year End clearance event

Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End Year End clearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearance event event event event event event

1174_November_POP_Window_Poster_ENG.indd 42014-10-27 2:39 PM


DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATEMEDIA

AD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K




[PRINTED AT]50%




$7,000 GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS

000




DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATEMEDIA

AD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K




[PRINTED AT]50%




$7,000 GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS




DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATEMEDIA

AD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K




[PRINTED AT]50%




$7,000 GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS




| OPEN SUNDAYS





DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATE

MEDIAAD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K




[PRINTED AT]50%




$7,000GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS


Year EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear EndYear Endclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearanceclearancee v e n te v e n te v e n te v e n te v e n te v e n t



DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATE

MEDIAAD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K




[PRINTED AT]50%




$7,000GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS

000




DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATE

MEDIAAD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K




[PRINTED AT]50%




$7,000GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS




DOCKET #CLIENT

PROJECTDATE

MEDIAAD TYPEREGION




PROOFREADERCLIENT

LIVETRIM

BLEED

COLOUR


REV




C M Y K




[PRINTED AT]50%




$7,000GETUP TO


ON SELECT MODELS




| OPEN SUNDAYS



7417

360

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]

CUTTING CONTROVERSY

ENVIRONMENT

Riverside land clearing sparks concernJAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

Residents along the Cowichan River just outside of Lake Cowic-han are sounding the alarm over recent developments to a neigh-bouring 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, oversee-ing workers and machinery clear-ing vegetation from the land.

“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 owner, but in 1991 he was caught doing the same thing.

Motorsport Resort, Page 3

INPUT WANTED FOR SENIORS CARE FACILITY

NEWS | PAGE 7

Lake Cowichan

LakeCowichanGazette.com

$1 plus GST

@LakeCowGazette

GazetteWEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016

ROOSEVELT ELK HERDS GROWING

NEWS | PAGE 2

GREAT SPRING FISHING

COLUMN | PAGE 8

See CLEARING, Page 9

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

PUBLIC CONSULTATION – MARCH 31, 2016

PUBLIC FORUM ON THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF THE DUNCAN PRIMARY FACILITY

and 2016-2017 BUDGET

The Cowichan Valley School District is holding a public meeting for members of the public to provide feedback to the Board of Education on the proposed closure of the vacant Duncan Primary Facility, located at 540 Cairnsmore 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.

www.sd79.bc.ca

7506881www.sd79.bc.ca

The Cowichan Valley School District is holding a public meeting for members of the public to provide feedback to the Board of Education on proposed closure of the vacant Duncan Primary Facility, located at 540 Cairnsmore 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 Anne Building at the School Board Office, 2557 Beverly Street.

NATURE

Roosevelt elk herds growing on Island

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]

JOHN MCKINLEY BLACK PRESS

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

They melt into the forests near Camp-bell 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 manage-ment 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 posi-tive 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 Nations, 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 secre-tary, respectively, of the Wildlife Steward-ship 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.

“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

harvest should be split equally between First Nations and non-First Nations hunt-ers. And to avoid the jealously and fin-ger-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,” Hen-derson said. “Our people have managed it in a way that respects the animal and so we had sustenance. Our people have estab-lished 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 For-ests 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 Sun-shine Coast.

The elk are native to the Island, but saw their numbers decimated during a cen-tury of colonial practices. Populations are secure enough now in some areas that they are being transplanted to re-estab-lish 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 characteris-tics that make it particularly sensitive or vulnerable to human activities and natur-al events.

“Elk can be highly susceptible to harsh winters and high levels of predation and/or unregulated hunting. This is espe-cially 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 Feb-ruary is an example of that. They were part of a fledgling herd that had recently established a foothold in that area. Con-servation 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 oppor-tunities 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 report-ing practices used by the Kwakiutl District Council. He said they promote conserva-tion 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 main-tain 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 prov-ince 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.”

[email protected]

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

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 [email protected] 250-749-6320

FOREST WORKERS MEMORIALBRICK SALES

Look for the

Rooster on theroof!THE HOME OF

LOCAL PRODUCE!

at... TRANS CANADA HWYJust South Of Duncan

250-748-7141

OPEN ALL YEAR 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.7 DAYS A WEEK

Check out our website!

www.oldfarmmarket.ca

7403

062

FAITHDIRECTORY

BAPTISTCowichan LakeBaptist Church8259 Beaver Road

Lake Cowichan250-749-3211

Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.Sunday School 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Dale Winters

ANGLICANSt. Christopher

and St. Aidan70 Cowichan Ave. W

Lake Cowichan250-749-3466Sunday Services

at 10:30 a.m.

PENTECOSTALLake Cowichan

Christian Fellowship10 King George St. South


Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Terry Hale

ROMAN CATHOLICSt. Louis

de Montfort60 Fern Road


Mass Sunday 9:00 a.m.

Fr. John Vines7474650

Rod’sAUTO GLASS& UPHOLSTERY

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

7410241

Inside track on exclusive speedwayChamber hears presentation from Motorsport CircuitJAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

The 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 Cow-ichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce on March 18 as part of the chamber’s monthly gen-eral 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 deal-er group, which has several dealerships across the island.

“Our dealer group is really passionate about performance driving. We sell a lot of perform-ance 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 Vic-toria 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 com-pany, 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 square-foot club house with a full kitchen facility, lock-er 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, Ger-many and other parts of Europe.

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

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 motor-

sport 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 Van-couver Island Motor Gathering, a family-friendly fundraiser showcasing classic, unique and cus-tom cars and motorcycles.

He also said there are currently no plans to host races at the circuit, not-ing there are no grandstands at the location and races are not part of their business plan.

BUSINESS


After years of fi ddling E&N railway line is dead

North Cowichan council should join Langford in demand-ing 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 final-ly 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 ori-gin. That leaves CFB Esquimalt and the dockyards whose gates the track passes close to.

But many base employees chose not to use the cross-har-bour ferry service across Esqui-malt 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 High-way, 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 con-sidered a dead asset for rail ser-vice, to stop bleeding money on administration and unrealistic plans, perhaps able to be neces-sitated 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 SketchleySaanich

The Lake Cowichan Gazette is a division of Black Press Limited, locat-ed at 170E-Cowichan Lake Rd. Mail-ing address: Box 10, Lake Cowichan, BC, V0R 2G0Phone: 250-749-4383Fax: 250-748-1552

PublisherShirley Skolos, 250-748-2666, ext. 229

EditorAndrea Rondeau, 250-748-2666, ext. 235

ReporterJames Goldie, 250-749-4383

SalesLauri Meanley, 250-749-4383

Newsroom250-749-4383 or [email protected]

Advertising250-749-4383; 250-749-4385 (fax)[email protected]

Classified ads1-855- 310-3535

Copyright informationThis newspaper’s contents are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal, non-com-mercial purposes. All other rights are reserved. Commercial use is pro-hibited. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the newspaper.

Complaint resolutionThe Lake Cowichan Gazette is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have con-cerns about editorial content, contact: [email protected] or 250-748-2666. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a for-mal complaint, visit the mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

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 abso-lutely must implement such a thing,which we do not recom-mend, 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 Sun-fest site, and transport them from there to get their tubes, then to a desired place to get into the water.

That could help with conges-tion 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 park-ing spaces now available.

Which doesn’t really say “wel-come to Lake Cowichan” (please stay and enjoy our shops, restau-rants and other services — and spend your money).

Such a plan would likley be dis-concerting 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

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 com-munity appear less inviting is undesirable.

Lake Cowichan just too small for paid parkingOUR VIEW

YOUR LETTERS

ABOUT US

» We want to hear from you. Send comments on this editorial to [email protected]. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.

OPINION

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $38 Within BC . . . . . . . . . . .$54 National . . . . . . . . . $107 Electronic . . . . . . . . . $38

CMCAAUDITED

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Published every Wednesday by Black Press Ltd. Canadian Publica-tion Mail Sales Product Agreement #1090194 We acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Peri-odical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

LETTERS POLICY

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 [email protected], sent via fax to 250-749-4385 or dropped off at our offi ce at 170E Cowichan Lake Road.

News tips can be called in to 250-749-4383.

Lake Cowichan

Gazette


Street Beat With Malcolm Chalmers

The Gazette asked:

What do you think of the idea of paid parking at Saywell Park?

Letters to the editor

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“Around the summer-

time when it gets extreme-ly busy it may be benefi-cial but not on the off-sea-son because it is mostly locals using it.”

Janene Holowka“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.”

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?”

Luis Frenandez“I personally wouldn’t

agree with that. There are a lot of families that would like to use it [Say-well Park] without the inconvenience of paying every time.”

OPINION

Alternatives to urban drug ghetto

My 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 prob-lem 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 addic-tion treatment. That is one of detox and abstinence.

That’s why I oppose the failed model of Vancouver’s Down-town Eastside, where resources are poured into concentrated housing and “harm reduction” that perpetuate addiction, handouts and helplessness. Housing Minister Rich Cole-man is rolling this out in other communities, in what I fear is an effort to paper over the prob-lem 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

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

Contrast that with a facility called Baldy Hughes, a thera-peutic 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 Alcohol-ics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, with peer support and group therapy.

There’s a greenhouse for win-ter farming, livestock to tend and the residents have designed and built a new horse stable. There’s also a beekeeping pro-ject. 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 treat-ment program. They can’t bring drugs, alcohol, weapons

or phones with them.It’s a costly program, with a

small number of spaces avail-able 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 com-munity, 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 squal-id 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 end-ing 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 oppor-tunity 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 crim-inal 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 repor-ter and columnist for Black Press. Email: [email protected] Twit-ter: @tomfletcherbc

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

Tom FletcherBC Views

Boil advisories shocking in fi rst 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 gov-ernment 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, pro-tects and fulfills our right to a healthy environment, including our right to clean water, would provide clear guidelines for gov-ernment, industry and citizens to manage resources, economic development and the health and well-being of communities in ways that are transparent, pre-dictable and sustainable.

As well, Canada is the only G8 country without legally enforce-able 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 communi-ties. Places like Shoal Lake 40, Grassy Narrows and Neskanta-ga have been under boil water advisories for decades.

In my particular area where the pulp and paper industries and shipping routes have pollut-ed our waters that support shell-fishing, and underwater habitat thereby destroying food sources.

I have a personal stake in the protection of our waters. Many municipal water sup-plies 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 Cana-dians will urge the federal gov-ernment to introduce an envi-ronmental bill of rights that will recognize, protect and fulfill our human right to clean water.

Val BobChemainus

Send your letter to the editor to [email protected]


Heather Boehmer [email protected]

Vi Moffatt [email protected]

Darin Lashman [email protected]

Lauri Meanley [email protected]

Shirley Skolos Publisher/Sales Director [email protected]

Call 250-748-2666

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

2016 COWICHAN LAKE

VISITOR’S GUIDE

To advertise in this visitors guide, please call one of our reps.

GUIDE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SUNFEST VISITORS TO LAKE COWICHAN.

7474

569

Garden springing upJAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

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

cleaning.On Saturday the group held its first offi-

cial 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 mix-ing compost.

The summer of 2016 will mark the gar-den’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 Novem-ber 2014. We had work parties just about every Saturday from then until mid-sum-mer 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 gar-dening model that mimics a woodland ecosystem by using fruit and nut trees and berry shrubs in addition to ground-level 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 indi-vidual 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 shar-ing 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 maxi-mizing use of the high fence that sur-rounds 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 con-stantly adding to the garden’s large, worm-filled compost area, which volunteer Ren-nie 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.

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

COMMUNITY GARDEN


Customer appreciation

Join us saturday, april 2nd 2016

countrygrocer.com

cobble hill events 10-4

(unless noted otherwise)

Bouncy Castle Face Painting

Cake/Coffee/Pop (11 - While Supplies Last)

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 events 11-3

In Store Demos Free Cake & Coffee

2016 Lady of the Lake Candidates

(Meet and Greet)

Mini Art Gallery (Kaatza Art Group)

Children’s Planting Booth (Lake Cowichans Communities in Bloom)

BBQ (Lake Cowichan Fire Department)

Baseball Pitching Station(Lake Cowichan Minor Baseball)

Hockey Shoot Accuracy Net (Lake Cowichan Minor Hockey)

Information Booths(Kinsmen, Lake Days,

Animal Rescue & more)

Seniors care facility to be shaped by local citizensPublic urged to attend Mar. 31 meeting

JAMES GOLDIE GAZETTE

Lake Cowichan residents who have to travel to Duncan and beyond to

visit an elderly family member may want to attend the upcom-ing 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 get-ting a seniors care facility in this area.

“We believe it’s a very under-served 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 popula-tion 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 every-one from the community to get involved in the planning process.

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

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 work-er) or long-term care (for people who can no longer support their own daily living activities).

T o w n c o u n c i l l o r T i m 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 evolv-ing committee, changing over time as new people come on and others drop out.”

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

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 Honey-moon Bay or Youbou.

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

McGonigle echoed the chair-person’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, com-munications, so anyone with an interest in that sort of thing would be an asset to the com-mittee,” 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.”

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]

“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

COMMUNITY

New care facility directory availableOn March 18, the office of

B.C.’s seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie released the Brit-ish 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 stan-dards, food services informa-tion, contact for complaints and

total funded direct care hours per resident per day.

There are currently 292 pub-licly funded licensed care facili-ties 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.


Making ChangesMoving forward

with yournewspaper

Making ChangesMoving forward

with yournewspaper

• New look and design

• New and improved content

• New reporter now living inthe Lake Cowichancommunity

• Updated opinion page

SUBSCRIPTION RATES:• Local $38.00 per year

• Within B.C. - $54 per year

• National - $107 per year

• Electronic website - $38 per year

DELIVERED BY MAIL:To renew your subscription or toorder a new subscription call1-250-748-2666 ask for Dawn or Tracey

7474

554

COLUMN

Some great spring fi shing available in Cowichan area

Saltwater:

Nanaimo to Sooke has been excel-lent for winter chinook fishing. Try trolling just off the bottom

with glow flasher, glow anchovy head and anchovy. Bold Bluff out of Cowic-han Bay has also been excellent with fish ranging from 8 to 12 lbs.

Freshwater:

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

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 includ-ing 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, flat-fish and small spoons.

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 aggres-sively 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.”

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 [email protected]

Gord MarchFishing

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 weath-er 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.

Easter egg hunt, free skate Monday

[METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS]


CUTTING CONTROVERSY

Property owner says he just cleared invaders“At that time I went in with a

couple of skitters and machin-ery, 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 eco-system 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, describ-ing 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-es-tablish 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

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

“My biggest concern is the sensitive area for the spawn-ing 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 col-league, Mark Kissinger, is look-ing into this incident. He said that because the investigation is ongoing he cannot provide further comment.

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

“Ministry staff are current-ly 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 water-course according to the prov-ince’s Riparian Areas Regu-lations, 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 proper-ly 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.

CLEARING, From Page 1 “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

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]

10 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | THE LAKE COWICHAN GAZETTE | www.lakecowichangazette.comA10 www.lakecowichangazette.com Wed, Mar 23, 2016, Lake Cowichan Gazette

Ridley, PeterJune 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 DUNCAN250-746-5212

Anderson, Eric OlofPassed 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 DUNCAN250-746-5212

Happy 40th Anniversary to my Best FriendMarch 27, 1976

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMING EVENTS

CALL FOR ENTRIES13TH ANNUAL

Kitty Coleman WoodlandArt & Bloom Festival.

Fine Art and Quality Crafts Juried Show.

Presented in a spectacular outdoor setting

May 21, 22 and 23Applications for Artisans

are available at woodlandgardens.ca

or email [email protected]

250-338-6901

Legion Branch #210

DROP-IN DARTS EVERY MONDAY AT 7PMDOUBLES CRIB EVERY THURSDAY AT 7PMMEAT DRAW EVERY SATURDAY-FIRST DRAW AT 3PM

‘HAMS & TURKEYS’ MEAT DRAWSATURDAY, MARCH 26TH AT 3PM

MUSIC BINGOSATURDAY, MARCH 26TH AT 4PM

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE!

INCOME TAX SERVICE

Marge Radcliffe250.749.6010

ANNIVERSARIES

DEATHS


INFORMATION

ANNIVERSARIES

DEATHS


INFORMATION

CANADA BENEFIT Group - Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canada-benefi t.ca/free-assessment

TRAVEL

GETAWAYS

LONG BEACH - Ucluelet - Deluxe waterfront cabin,

sleeps 6, BBQ. Winter Special. 2 nights $239 or 3 nights $299Pets Okay. Rick 604-306-0891

ACCOUNTING/TAX/BOOKKEEPING

DEATHS

TRAVEL

TIMESHARE

CANCEL YOUR Timeshare. No risk program stop mort-gage & maintenance pay-ments today. 100% money back guarantee. Free consul-tation. Call us now. We can help! 1-888-356-5248.

TRAVEL

SAVE 30% on our Heart of the Arctic adventure. Visit Inuit communities in Greenland and Nunavut aboard the com-fortable 198-passenger Ocean Endeavour. Call for details! 1-800-363-7566 or visit online www.adventurecanada.com (TICO#04001400)

ACCOUNTING/TAX/BOOKKEEPING

DEATHS

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

HIP OR knee replacement? Arthritic Conditions/COPD? Restrictions in Walking/Dress-ing? Disability Tax Credit $2,000 Tax Credit $20,000 Refund. Apply Today For As-sistance: 1-844-453-5372.

NEW EXCITING mini VLT’s. Produce buckets of cash monthly. Attracts customers like money magnets. Loca-tions provided. Ground fl oor opportunity. Full details call now 1-866-668-6629. Website www.tcvend.com

EDUCATION/TRADE SCHOOLS

HEALTHCARE DOCUMEN-TATION Specialists are in huge demand. Employers want CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Train with Canada’s best-rated program. Enroll today. www.canscribe.com. Call 1-800-466-1535 or by email to: [email protected].

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT SCHOOL. Hands-On Tasks. Start Weekly. GPS Training!

Funding & Housing Avail! Job Aid! Already a HEO?

Get certifi cation proof.Call 1-866-399-3853 or go to:

iheschool.com

START A new career in Graphic Arts, Healthcare, Business, Education or Infor-mation Tech. If you have a GED, call: 855-670-9765

HELP WANTED

COOK Required immediately on board a factory freezer trawler. Must be able to cook 3 meals a day within a budget. Rotation of 2 trips on and 2 trips off, approx. 14 days per trip.

Please email: [email protected]

COMING EVENTS COMING EVENTS

MEDICAL/DENTAL

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION!In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employer-trusted program. Visit: Care-erStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

PERSONAL SERVICES

FINANCIAL SERVICES

GET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need Money? We Lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB.

1-877-987-1420 www.pioneerwest.com

NEED A loan? Own property? Have bad credit? We can help! Call toll free 1-866-405-1228. fi rstandsecondmortgages.ca

TAX FREE MONEYis available, if you are a homeowner, today! We can easily approve you by phone. 1st, 2nd or 3rd mort-gage money is available right now. Rates start at Prime. Equity counts. We don’t rely on credit, age or income.

Call Anytime1-800-639-2274 or

604-430-1498. Apply online www.capitaldirect.ca

HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES

BUSINESS SERVICES

HAVE YOU been deniedCanada Pension Plandisability benefi ts? The Disability Claims AdvocacyClinic can help you appeal.Call 1-877-793-3222www.dcac.ca [email protected]

CLEANING SERVICES

BONDABLE House Cleaners10+ years experience, amaz-ing references, & available onshort notice. $20-$25/hr for allinquiries call 250-732-8428

HAULING AND SALVAGE

COWICHAN Hauling & Moving

(250) 597-8335HAULING/JUNK REMOVAL

MOVING & DELIVERIES SMALL DEMOLITION JOBS

PLUMBING

A SERVICE PLUMBER. Li-cence, Insured. Drains, HWT,Reno’s, Repairs. Senior Dis-counts. After Hour Service.Call Coval Plumbing, 250-709-5103.

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

AUCTIONS

BUD HAYNES & Ward’s Fire-arms Auction. Sat., April 2,10am, 11802 - 145 St. Edmon-ton, Alberta. Modern & col-lectible fi rearms and accesso-ries. Over 400 lots - Onlinebudding. To consign phoneLinda 403-597-1095; Brad 780-940-8378; www.budhaynesauctions.com;www.wardsauctions.com.

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

POLE BARNS, shops, steelbuildings metal clad or fabricclad. Complete supply and in-stallation. Call John at 403-998-7907; [email protected].

REFORESTATION Nursery seedlings of hardy trees,shrubs, & berries for shelter-belts or landscaping. Spruce &Pine from $0.99/tree. Freeshipping. Replacement guar-antee. 1-866-873-3846 or www.treetime.ca

SAWMILLS FROM only$4,397 - Make money & savemoney with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. Instock ready to ship. Free info& DVD: www.NorwoodSaw-mills.com/400OT 1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT.

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE SERVICES

TIRED OF city living? Two choice homes on Texada Is-land, West Coast, BC- oneocean front; one on lake, pri-vate sale, for details 604-414-8109, 604-486-7838.

LIONS’ CLUB HALL for rent $75. Deposit required. CallEileen 250-749-3345.

To advertise in print:Call: 1-855-310-3535 Email: [email protected]

Self-serve: blackpressused.ca Career ads: localworkbc.ca

Browse more at:

A division of

$30GET IT RENTED!BUY ONE WEEK, GET SECOND WEEK FREE!*

SELL IT IN 3 OR IT RUNS FOR FREE!*

*Private party only, cannot be combined with other discounts.

Place your private party automotive ad with us in your community paper for the next 3 weeks for only $30. If your vehicle does not sell, call us and we'll run it again at NO CHARGE!

RENTALS

HALLS

Your Community, Your Classifi eds. Call 1-855-310-3535


Cowichan LakeSERVICE DIRECTORY

20+ years experience

250-749-4997250-709-5103

COVAL PLUMBING

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

After Hour Service | Seniors’ Discounts Renovations | New Construction | RepairsHot Water Tanks | Drain CleaningSeptic Design & InstallationWater Services

INDEPENDENTCRAFTSMAN

QUALITY COMES FIRST.• RENOVATIONS • INSTALLATIONS • FRAMING

• ALL FINISHING CARPENTRY • CUSTOM KITCHENS • LAMINATE FLOORING • DECKS • FENCES

• SHEDS • ADDITIONS • WINDOWS & DOORS

JOHN PORTELANCE

[email protected]

FINISHING CARPENTER WITH OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE. • Fish • Pet food/supplies

• Otter Co-op Livestock Feed • Wood Pellets • Grooming

MONTHLY VET CLINICwith Dr. Nancy Holling 170A Cowichan Lake Rd.250-749–4454

Cowichan PetEmporium (1996)

TIPTONSGAS BAR

14 North Shore Rd.Lake Cowichan

• Gas • Diesel • Boat Gas • Confections

• Boat • Ice250-749-6133OPEN: Mon.-Sat: 5am to 10pm

Sun: 7am - 8pm

4 SeasonGUTTER CompanyA gutter above the rest.Featuring: Crown Moulding

Fascia GuttersCall Steve for Free estimate

Locally owned& operated

250-715-6038250-749-4192

D.B.G. PAINTING

INSURED | FREE ESTIMATES

Interior/Exterior

Residential/Commercial

Seniors Discount

Dan Gardner250-510-0289

AFFORDABLE ADVERTISING RATES

Small Weekly Ads $13.00

Large Weekly Ads $26.00Colour additional $15.00 per ad

COWICHAN LAKE

SMILE FILEName: Jessica DeBoiceOccupation: Canada PostHometown: Lake CowichanI’ve always wanted to: Skydive Most people don’t know that: I have lived in three countriesFavourite food: MexicanBest thing about living here: Hiking trails and the lakeFavourite activity: Hiking with my daughterMy proudest moment: Birth of my daughterI define down time as: A glass of wine, a bubble bath and a bookI wish I was better at: CleaningIf I was stuck on a desert island I would definitely need: SunglassesFavourite moment of day is: 6 p.m. after daughter goes to bedI’m currently reading: I’ve got five books on the goMy guiltiest pleasure is: WineMy go-to wardrobe staple: Yoga clothing

— With Malcolm Chalmers

Check out our Facebook page:‘Lake Cowichan Gazette’

Find us online at lakecowichangazette.com

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 tem-perate 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 com-munity members have worked for years to protect this special habi-tat,” said Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince George-Valemount. “Sev-eral of the trees in this historic natural wonder are more than 1,000 years old, with trunks meas-uring 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 agree-ment 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.

Provincial school fi x-up fund up to $40 million

B.C. school districts have until April 15 to apply for an annual

“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 pro-jects costing $100,000 or more. They include heating and venti-lation upgrades, roof repairs or replacement, plumbing and boiler replacements and safety improvements.

Education Minister Mike Ber-nier said projects will be chosen based on “need, priority and sup-porting 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 stu-dents with employers.

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

Participating institutions include Camosun College, Capilano University, Douglas College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, North Island Col-lege, 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 Univer-sity, University of Victoria and University of B.C., concentrated on engineering, business admin-istration, science and computer science.

Black Press

PROVINCIAL BRIEFS

Trails through the Ancient Forest built by a local volunteer society saw 20,000 visitors in 2015. [B.C. GOVERNMENT PHOTO]


Purchase an island grown 4” pansy and 50 cents will go to HeadWay Victoriapansiespansiesfor epilepsymarch 13th-26th

500FOR2

.97lb2.14 Kg

797EACH

497EACH

477EACHLIMIT 3 TotalLIMIT 6 Total

LIMIT 3 Total

Reg. 6.99 197EACH297EACH

.97100 g

Raisin Bread

454 g

Alexis de Portneuf

Bonaparte Brie

500 g

Deep Dish

Apple or Pumpkin Pie

1000 g

BlackForest Ham

Black Diamond

Cheese 450 g

177lb3.90 Kg

In our Deli...

247lb5.45 Kg

197EACH

Mexican Grown

Asparagus

Mitchell’s Regular or Low Sodium

Bacon 375 g

Schneider’s

Kielbasa Sausage Rings

300 g

Schneider’s Spicy Jalapeno

Smoked Chicken Sausage

300 g

PMS 3435 PMS 871

C 100 M 0 Y 81 K 66 C 20 M 25 Y 60 K 25

LIMIT 1 Per Customer Order Over $50 Including Turkey.

Overlimit 1.39 lb/3.06 Kg

Frozen Lilydale Grade A

TurkeysUnder 9 Kg

Cook’s

Smoked Ham

Butt or Shank End

In our Bakery... In our Bakery...

In our Deli...

Reg.14.99

All items while stocks last.

Offers valid at Lake Cowichan and Cobble Hill Country Grocer locations only1400 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cobble Hill • Open Daily 8 am - 9 pm83 Cowichan Lk. Rd, Lake Cowichan • Open Daily 7 am - 9 pmWATCH FOR OUR

FLYERTHIS FRIDAY

in the Citizen Newspaper

You’ll Feel Like Family.Proud to be serving the

Cowichan Valley since 1985

Midweek SpecialsWed. thru Sat.

March 23 - 26, 2016

Happyfrom Our Family to Yours!

March 23 - 26, 2016March 23 - 26, 2016March 23 - 26, 2016

Skippy Natural Crunchy

Peanut Butter

500 g

197EACH

Purchase an island grown50 cents

will go to HeadWay Victoria

Documents

Lake Cowichan Gazette, March 23, 2016