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OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
VOLUME 1, NUMBER11
Liberal
candidate
withdraws
SOUTH COWICHAN – Liberal candidate
Maria Manna has pulled herself out of the
race in Cowichan-Malahat-Langford.
Manna says she opted to remove her
name from the ballot after comments she
made two years ago about 9-11 became
public.
The Liberals immediately named Luke
Krayenhoff to contest the newly-created
riding.
“After stepping back and reflecting on
recent events, I have decided to resign as the
Liberal candidate for Cowichan–Malahat–
Langford,” Manna said in a Facebook post.
“I fully support Justin Trudeau, the
Liberal team, and the real change they are
bringing to Canadians.
“This election is far too important to have
my past opinions and comments detract from
that goal. I sincerely apologize to those I have
offended. I will continue to devote myself to
my music and humanitarian work.”
There are four other candidates vying for
the seat including the NDP’s Alistair
MacGregor, the Green Party’s Fran HuntJinnouchi, Conservative Martin Barker, and
Marxist-Leninist Party hopeful Alastair
Haythornthwaite.
Canadian voters go to the polls on
Monday, Oct. 19.
• See story on Page 11
TOURING THE ROCK
Shawnigan Lake’s RCMP Sgt. Rob Webb poses with junior rider Carter Hodgson, 3, and his mom Lynsay Whelan,
before departing from Mill Bay Centre and heading over the Malahat to Victoria for the final leg of the journey.
The annual Tour de Rock Cops for Cancer ride has raised millions for cancer research.
(Photo by Andrew Leong)
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South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
Speaking your mind risky for politicians
Maria Manna has become the latest
casualty of the social media environment
that has taken David Letterman’s concept
of “your permanent record” to a new
level.
Letterman mused about how your
behavior would become part of the
official record of your life; something you
could never shake.
Manna, who until a few days ago was
running a decent campaign in her bid to
represent Cowichan-Malahat-Langford
as the Liberal member of parliament, was
brought down by comments she made
about 9-11.
On the surface, those candid remarks
are not all that devastating.
I would have to agree with Steve
Housser, who carried the Liberal banner
in the 2013 provincial election, that what
Manna is reported to have said “shouldn’t
have been a candidacy killer.”
Echo reporter Peter Rusland picked
up on Housser’s opinion that Manna’s
decision was a bit strange.
“Since when can you not question
conventional wisdom,” Rusland quoted
Housser in a story in this month’s Echo.
Manna isn’t the first and she won’t be
the last person to question the events of
9-11. She wasn’t denying the event
occurred or speaking in racist terms. Like
many other people, Manna is asking some
questions
without
aligning herself with the
conspiracy theorists
who have thrown out all
manner of allegations
about what happened 14
years ago in New York
City.
This long and
winding campaign has been fraught with
revelations of questionable behavior on
the part of several candidates hoping to
land a job in the House of Commons after
October 19.
There are lessons to be learned. In the
distant past political hopefuls only had to
worry about some librarian in a
newspaper morgue stumbling on a
damaging story of some youthful shenanigan.
Or the crack researchers at the CBC
dusting off some long-forgotten video that
often depicts a candidate with a different
set of values than may exist today.
The CBC folks found an almost 40year-old clip of Green Party leader
Elizabeth May when she took on Nova
Scotia’s forestry industry. Back in 1978,
May ran a campaign to ban pulp
companies from spraying the province’s
forests with a
pesticide
that
would kill the
spruce budworm.
It was a flattering
piece,
showing an articulate 23-year-old
who was fearless,
intelligent and not afraid to take on the big
guys. Clearly, not much has changed and
May remains true to her youthful principles.
Not only is that refreshing, it’s interesting to see that May genuinely encourages her candidates – and she hopes,
future colleagues in the House of
Commons – to vote with their conscience.
It’s a policy that Cowichan-MalahatLangford Green candidate Fran HuntJinnouchi has embraced.
“As a Green MP, I am not only
allowed to, but encouraged to vote in the
best interests of my constituents, rather
than following party consensus,” HuntJinnouchi says.
“Greens do not have whipped votes.
A Green MP is accountable to
constituents only. You are my boss.”
With the very strong likelihood of a
minority government of a kind we’ve
never seen before – three parties could be
within a few seats of each other after the
ballots are counted – the Green Party’s
policy could be even more interesting.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing to have a
representative who delivers our message
to Ottawa and not necessarily toes the
party line in order to be seen as a team
player.
“This integrity allows me the
freedom to say that I unequivocally
oppose Steelhead LNG development in
the Saanich Inlet, full stop. Unlike my
NDP opponent, I can also step out from
behind excuses of ‘process’ and say that
I am committed to defending our coast
from risky pipelines and increased tanker
traffic, and any activity that supports
hydraulic fracturing and the expansion of
the oilsands,” adds Hunt-Jinnouchi.
And while you may not agree with
the Green Party’s platform, is it not
refreshing to think that an MP can speak
his or her’s mind?
news@southcowichanecho.com
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
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South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
LNG plan panned by Malahat open house protesters
By Peter W. Rusland
For The Echo
MALAHAT NATION – Fears of
fracking, ocean pollution and misinformation permeated Malahat First Nation’s
Sept. 16 public open house about a
proposed, floating liquid natural-gas plant
off their Bamberton lands.
The session in the Malahat’s cedar
cultural centre featured diagrams and
maps detailing the project.
The gathering was led by Steelhead
LNG, pipeline-builders Williams
Companies Inc., and the Native band,
giving Malahat members and local
residents a chance to quiz staff.
Malahat member Randy Daniels
explained his people, and those of
surrounding sister bands — the Tsartlip,
Tseycum, Pauquachin, and Tsawout —
have been “left in the dark” about the
proposed LNG facility in their midst.
Daniels signalled project documents
have not been readily available.
“We hear stories about explosions and
leaking pipelines, so how will that affect
our (Saanich) inlet?” he asked.
Daniels also worries about pollution
effects on inlet stocks of chum, coho, and
Chinook salmon.
But Malahat CAO Lawrence Lewis
painted pictures of “regular engagement
with our members” about the LNG
project, and acquisition of Bamberton.
“We’ve done our best to be open and
accessible to talk about this project,” he
said, noting its lengthy process.
Asked about news reports of environmental fines facing Williams’ various U.S.
pipeline projects, Lewis blunted worries
of pollution from facilities planned for
Bamberton.
“The nature of LNG is not the same
as bitumen or oil.
“There’s no doubt there’s risk associated with LNG, but we’ll make sure with
Williams and Steelhead there’s modern
standards in place,” Williams maintained.
“We’ve been clear we won’t
undertake any activity that leaves the
(Saanich) inlet in worse shape than it is
now.”
Muddying the waters, former Malahat
chief Michael Harry resigned in the past
two months amid allegations of kickbacks.
(The 300-member band holds its council
and chief election Nov. 2.)
“Our chief and council signed those
(LNG) agreements months before the
scenario with chief Harry,” Lewis said,
adding Malahat laws stipulate “business
continues in our interests regardless of
who’s on council.”
And Lori Kent of Williams pointed to
“rigourous” environmental regulations
under federal NEB review-and-approval
processes.
“Our goal is to meet or exceed those
Malahat LNG project protestors (from left, rear) Hanne, Kyla, and Shae Mortil. From left front: James Daniels, Everest
(Photo by Peter W. Rusland)
Tommy and Corry Caplette.
requirements.”
Told environmentalists claim federal
environmental review processes have
been hollowed out by the Harper Conservative government, Kent replied, “We'll
take the utmost care to ensure we adhere
to any and all regulations.”
That was cold comfort to resident Jen
Young. She also worries about the inlet’s
ecology, and opposes the LNG project.
“It’s a pristine body of water. Why
would we ruin what we have now?”
Steelhead’s Ian Hill said his firm is
aware of Williams’ environmental infractions, noting most occurred on the east
coast.
“In the Pacific Northwest, Williams
seems to have been operating with a pretty
impeccable record for the past 50 years.
“We explain to any partners what our
standards are in safety, environmental
standards, and social licence,” Hill
suggested.
“We will not associate with
companies that do not adhere these values
and believe Williams does.”
That’s not the belief of project
protestor Corry Caplette.
He indicated project information has
been scarce — due to potential opposition
— for years, as talks happened.
James Daniels agreed. “I'm worried
about the water. I don’t like (the project).”
And Kyla Mortil was concerned about
her kids’ future amid fears of oil and gas
fracking.
“They’re planning on fracking in B.C.
“Pipelines leak every single day. This
is not the place for this project. We need
green jobs.”
Hill didn’t deny fracking could
precede and/or follow Mill Bay’s LNG
project.
“It could,” he replied, noting the
project involves preliminary discussions
about where the gas may come from.
“If we do find promising supplies
from sources that provide gas, we’d
subject that company to … satisfy our
requirements of environmental protection,” he said.
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
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South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
Literacy program offers hope for
students struggling with reading
ByWarren Goulding
Of The Echo
SOUTH COWICHAN – Watching her
youngest child struggle to communicate
was tough for Rusten Mclellan.
“As a single mother of three bright
children it was difficult to see my youngest
having so much trouble with her native
language,” recalls Mclellan.
Fortunately, Mclellan found help and
the transformation in her child’s life has
been nothing short of amazing.
“After a friend recommended I send
her to Dwight International School her selfesteem and grades improved. This improvement was due to Glen Johnson’s specialized
literacy program,” says Mclellan.
Johnson and his wife, Dona Billingsley
are the driving force behind D & G Psychological & Literacy Services, a Cowichan
Valley business that offers hope for people
struggling with literacy.
After a varied career that included stints
in law enforcement, nursing and sales,
Johnson saw the difficulties many people
encountered due to a lack of a good
education. In 1995, he attended the
Lindamood-Bell Learning Centre in San
Luis Obispo, California and learned a truly
effective way of teaching adults and
children how to read and comprehend.
Billingsley is a teacher and registered
psychologist whose career has spanned 40
years in the mental health and education
fields. She has always had a personal
interest in literacy. She also attended the
Lindamood-Bell Centre.
For ten years the couple operated a
clinic in Saskatoon, working with children
and adults with huge literacy issues.
“These students left after completing
the program with the ability to read, spell
and comprehend fluently,” Johnson says.
After moving to the Island, Billingsley
worked in the education system and opened
D & G Psychology & Literacy Services
with her partner.
Studies have shown that deficits in
phonemic awareness – also known as
auditory conceptualization – is the reason
individuals struggle with reading and
spelling. Phonemic awareness is the ability
to identify sounds in a word, the numbers
of sounds and the order or location of
sounds in a word, and the identity of that
sound.
Billingsley and Johnson say the
Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing (Lips)
techniques used by D & G Psychological
& Literacy Services are a multisensory
program for students in preschool through
adulthood who need explicit, direct, systematic instruction to develop phonological
abilities.
“Students explore the physical
movements involved in producing sounds and
learn to hear, see, and feel the physical characteristics of sounds and to notice the contrasts
between them,” explains Billingsley.
GLEN JOHNSON
For Mclellan, the program has been a
life-changer.
“It is difficult to put into words the vast
academic improvement my child has made
due to Glen’s efforts,” she says.
“I highly recommend Glen and his
program and have nothing but compliments
to say.”
For more information on D & G
Psychology & Literacy Services, visit their
website at: www.dgpsychliteracy.com
LNG project will be a challenge for CVRD directors
By Peter W. Rusland
For The Echo
DUNCAN – A week before the Malahat’s
Sept. 16 meeting, Cowichan Valley
Regional District directors were divided
about how to handle the proposed megaproject in Director Kerry Davis’ area.
The Echo reminded CVRD directors
during their Sept. 9 board meeting that
Malahat leaders see their Bamberton lands
— bought this summer, and now site of
the proposed LNG project — as their
treaty-in-principle territory, and therefore
not governed by zoning and other CVRD
bylaws.
Cowichan’s retiring MP Jean
Crowder, and various CVRD directors,
have stated they view Malahat Nation’s
lands as fee-simple, private lands guided
by CVRD bylaws.
Asked if the CVRD is seeking, or has
sought, legal opinions about jurisdiction
of the Malahat’s Bamberton lands,
chairman Jon Lefebure replied the board
has had “no discussion of that possibility.”
But the board saw debate aplenty
before finally deciding to simply receive
and file a Sept. 1 letter from Steelhead and
Williams.
That letter explains the proposed LNG
project, and invites the CVRD to discuss
questions and concerns about it.
Despite three separate votes Sept. 9,
frustrated CVRD directors failed to decide
if they should: have staff gather data from
agents with Steelhead and Williams; defer
talks with two firms until after the Malahat
Nation's Nov. 2 election; or invite
Steelhead and Williams to meet with
CVRD directors.
“We’d welcome the chance to meet
with the CVRD board,” Ian Hill of
Steelhead told the Echo.
Steelhead and Williams expect their
proposal to go to Canada’s National
Energy Board in spring 2016, toward the
LNG project starting operation by
November 2020.
On Sept. 23, Steelhead also
announced it had inked a deal with Höegh
LNG, for Höegh LNG and Bechtel to do
pre-front end engineering and design work
for its proposed Malahat LNG project.
The project off Bamberton is part of
plans by Steelhead and Williams to build
a128-kilometre pipeline supplying
Steelhead's proposed liquidation and
export facilities on the island.
The project would deliver Canadian
natural gas from Sumas, Washington to
Cherry Point Washington, then 75 km
across the Salish Sea to the planned
floating Malahat LNG facility off Mill
Bay.
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
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Witness
shaken by
Mill Bay
ferry death
By Peter W. Rusland
For The Echo
MILL BAY – Lucy Daniels will likely never
forget the harrowing sight of a white vehicle
careering over the raised ramp, and into the
water off the Mill Bay Ferry dock Sept. 18,
killing a senior driver from Saanich.
“I heard the gate go bang, and saw the
vehicle go over,” the shaken young
woman told the Echo as RCMP divers
prepared to probe the chilling drink near
the police boat, Lindsay.
“I couldn’t tell if it was one person or
not. I couldn’t see who was inside.”
Lucy called for her mom, Suzie,
telling her what happened about five
minutes after the ferry had left the
terminal.
“I heard the bang, but thought it was
the lid on a dumpster,” Suzie said of the
gate-crashing sound.
She called 911 then ran down the
roadway leading to the ramp.
“I just saw bubbles,” she said, noting
a fishing boat and other vessels arrived to
try and help.
Lucy and Suzie feared the worst.
“I felt so so helpless,” said Suzie. “We
just couldn’t see the vehicle.”
Fire fighters, ambulance paramedics
and police soon arrived.
Ferry traffic was rerouted as the
Mounties investigated the accident at the
ferry terminal just below Malahat First
Nations reserve lands.
The police raised a white SUV and a
Lucy Daniels tries to shake the deadly image of a white vehicle speeding off the closed ramp at the Mill Bay’s ferry terminal
Friday, Sept. 18.
(Photo by Peter W. Rusland)
man the BC Coroner’s service identified
as John William Barton, 89, of Saanich.
The B.C. Coroner’s Service is investigating exactly why the senior’s vehicle
sped down the ramp at around 8 a.m.,
ending with Barton’s death in some 20
metres of water.
But the accident at Mill Bay’s ferry dock
wasn’t the first one Suzie remembered.
“It happened maybe 10 or 15 years
ago,” she said.
But Lucy hoped such incidents never
happen again.
“A person shouldn’t have to go like
that,” she said.
Lucy Daniels (right) is comforted by mom Suzie after a deadly crash off Mill
Bay's ferry terminal Sept. 18.
(Photo by Peter W. Rusland)
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South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
OP/ED
UBCM week more than
a social gathering
for local politicians
Political common sense seems alive and well among
the Union of B.C. Municipalities.
UBCM’s annual huddle last week in Vancouver also
afforded time for Cowichan politicians and staff to meet
with provincial ministers to mull hot local topics.
Call UBCM’s conference money well spent on Public
Feedback 101 to debate issues affecting us all.
Face-to-face dialogue is vital to democracy — but only
if UBCM’s logical resolutions are adopted now into law
by an agenda-free provincial government.
Resolutions tabled confronted critical issues spanning
pipelines, diking and wildlife management to hydro,
highways, medical hemp, and housing.
And many resolutions were fortunately passed to
protect and enhance the environment in our cities, towns
and regions.
It was great to finally see an environmental bills of
rights — to guarantee us clean water, air, and land —
passed by UBCM delegates.
And the much-needed resolution by the Cowichan
Valley Regional District could direct mines-ministry
permits to follow local zoning bylaws about gravel extraction and toxic-waste dumping.
Honouring such local bylaws may have diffused costly
fights being waged by Cowichanians worried about landreclamation plans by Cobble Hill's Balme Ayr Farm, SIA’s
soil-treatment pit near Shawnigan Lake, and more.
Allowing regional districts such as Cowichan to potentially write tree-cutting bylaws, through a provincial act
change, was luckily approved after Courtenay’s wise
proposal.
North Cowichan's resolution for visitor-infocentre
funding, and CVRD’s drive for a 1% corporate-tax hike
to help communities, also passed UBCM debate.
Now we deserve and expect provincial action on many
issues passed by the UBCM.
White Cross placements
Since 1926, local volunteers have followed a
Cowichan Valley tradition of placing small, white
crosses decorated with poppies on the graves of
Armed Forces Veterans and Peace Officers during the
month of November.
Originally introduced as a part of an annual
Armistice Day commemoration organized nationwide
by the newly-founded Royal
Canadian Legion, this practice
gradually gave way in most
communities to Remembrance
Day observations at cenotaphs
and war memorials in city parks
and downtown locations.
In some Cowichan Valley
communities, however, the
original tradition continued with
the support of local branches of
the Legion and other volunteers,
no doubt because together, the
two forms of memorial
encompass and honour all of our
veterans: the Remembrance Day
cenotaph ceremonies emphasizing the memory of those who
fell in service overseas, while the White Cross placements commemorate all those who served and
returned home to the Cowichan Valley.
This year’s placements are set for Sat. Oct. 31.
Along with representatives of Royal Canadian
Legion, the placements start at the Shawnigan
Community Cemetery at 1 p.m., where 24 remembrance crosses will be set up. Cross placements then
continue at the Mill Bay United Church, (at approximately 1:40 p.m.) where 12 more veterans have been
identified.
The Dougan Family Cemetery in Cobble Hill is
also included where two veterans are identified. The
last group of cross placements occurs at 2 p.m. at St.
Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, Mill Bay,
where another 47 veterans have been identified.
Those in attendance are then invited to view
displays and have some refreshments at the Parish
Centre. Due to their larger number, the placements at
St. John’s Anglican in Cobble Hill are conducted by
their own members on a separate day.
The public is invited to
attend any one of this year’s
cross placement ceremonies, or
visit a cemetery near them in
which veterans’ graves will be
decorated with remembrance
crosses, to see how this 89-yearold local tradition continues to
honour the service and sacrifice
of the South Cowichan Valley’s
veterans. At most of these
locations, crosses remain in place
until the end of November.
As one can imagine, this
project takes a significant
amount of preparation and
scheduling. We must rely heavily
on the operators of the
cemeteries for updates and grave locations. The Mill
Bay/Malahat Historical Society is grateful for the
opportunity afforded us by the Old Cemeteries Society
to coordinate this project.
If you are aware of any veteran who should be
recognized, please contact the Mill Bay/Malahat
Historical Society to advise. We look forward to
seeing you at one of the above named cemeteries on
Oct. 31, 2015.
For more information on this or any other event
sponsored by the MBMHS, please phone us at 250743-0144.
– Submitted by Pauline Hyde for the Mill
Bay/Malahat Historical Society
OCTOBER 2015
Leadership vacuum
behind tax increases
It is no surprise that CVRD staff have
recruited a $130,000 per year spin doctor
(the real cost is always higher than the
budget cost!) over the objections of their
own CVRD board and taxpayers.
However, it is shocking that the board
chair went along with this lapse in good
governance. The CVRD Economic Development department has mostly ignored
the board and taxpayers as well.
CVRD staff have hired more staff and
continually enriched themselves beyond
reason over the past two decades using a
faulty salary increase system and weak
boards. It compares themselves to other
irresponsible local governments when the
only group they should be compared with
is local taxpayers and local businesses.
The result is CVRD has pay rates and
generous benefits way more than the
private sector and out of reach of most
taxpayers in the Cowichan Valley. Every
year staff get a pay raise through promotions or general increases. The CVRD
board has dutifully gone along with all this
in the absence of meaningful staff
performance measurements or genuine
spending reviews.
CVRD taxes would be 1/3 to 1/2 the
current level if raises and spending had
been kept to the level of growth and
inflation in the Cowichan Valley.
This same leadership vacuum has
been used to ramp up CVRD staffing to
more than 225 employees and spending
of $79 million a year for an organization
that has a rather limited responsibility but
likes to boast about everything it does and
controls.
It is always in the lineup when some
new idea or goofy spending project pops
up for attention. You can bet the new spin
doctor will have a field day spitting out
press releases and twisting the truth about
what the CVRD is really up to.
It seems reasonable to me that if
someone quits and that job is no longer of
use to the organization you cut spending
and taxes. But neither has occurred in
hiring the spin doctor – staff claim they
are only using money saved by other
people quitting and not being replaced to
pay for this new permanent CVRD hire.
Hey, that’s pretty darn good spindoctoring itself!
W.E.(Bill) Dumont
Cobble Hill, B.C.
Area E taxpayers about
to get soaked by CVRD
Notice to electors within electoral
Area E: An Alternative Approval
Process(AAP) is being undertaken, as
proposed by Bylaw 3923 to raise your
financial contribution to the Aquatic
Centre by 313 per cent.
South Cowichan Echo
Letters to the Echo
The South Cowichan Echo invites letters from our readers. We reserve the
right to edit for legal, grammatical and space reasons. You can email your
views and opinions to us at news@southcowichanecho or mail us at
Box 365, Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L0
PLEASE KEEP YOUR LETTER UNDER 300 WORDS
None of the other six electoral area
contributors are being asked for larger
contributions, and in fact Area E,
Cowichan Station-Sahtlam-Glenora
already pays the highest rate of all at $2.76
per 100K assessment. That’s right, the
bylaw ask is for over three times the
highest rate now in place.
Not right, not fair, and in my opinion
the AAP should not be allowed to succeed.
Let me give you the numbers overall:
Mill Bay, Shawnigan, Cobble Hill, and
Cowichan Bay have an averaging formula
where they pay $2.31 per 100k assessment
block to the Aquatic Centre owners to not
be on a Two Tier admission. Cowichan
Lake/Skutz
Falls
pays
$1.27,
Youbou/Meade Creek pays $1.29. Again,
Area E presently pays $2.69, the highest
overall.
The proposed rate hike per $100K
assessment from $2.69 upward to $8.43,
a 313 per cent increase is being proposed
under the gun of the Aquatic Centre
Municipal owners throwing Area E back
onto the Two-Tier admission if the Area
E taxpayers balk.
Here, you really need to scratch your
head, and say give me a break. What are
the actual likelihood, or chances, of the
highest paying electoral area contributor
being figuratively keelhauled at the pool
to scrape some financial barnacles off the
owners’ operating costs, by a threatening
punitive return to a select two-tier rate
structure, for this one contributor?
Or is this an agenda to first break the
back of Area E with this over the top tax
increase, under duress, under such threats,
so that other areas can then be whip sawed
for higher rates thereafter?
Anyway, to put this AAP aside, a
minimum of 340 Area E electors (10 per
cent) need to sign and return the counter
petition forms by Oct. 5.
Pay attention, become informed,
caucus with neighbours and peers, and
while it is a stretch to call the AAP process
democratic, the ball is now in the
taxpayers court on this counter petition,
so to speak.
Forms can be obtained at the CVRD
office, or download AAP counter petition
forms directly from the CVRD website.
Loren Duncan
Past Area E CVRD Director
Support of book sale
appreciated by SPCA
On behalf of the animals, staff, and
myself, I would like to thank the Garden
House Foundation for the many years of
financial support to the Cowichan &
District SPCA in Duncan.
Every year, some of the funds raised
from the annual book sale event, are
donated to the shelter, which enables us
to keep providing for the medical needs
of stray and injured animals in the
community.
As we are solely funded by donations
from the community, this financial gift is
hugely appreciated.
This year, the event is on Oct. 17 and
18. We are all looking forward to an
amazing event at George Bonner School.
Kindest Regards,
Sandi Trent
Branch Manager
Cowichan SPCA
And my vote goes to ...
This election I will be faced with a tough
choice. I could not ask for more from my
MP, Murray Rankin.
Everything I have requested, whether
by letter, email or by personal visit, has been
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delivered. His empathy for the world’s
extreme poor may stem from the fact that
his own grandfather died from TB, a
preventable illness which still takes the lives
of so many less fortunate people internationally.
His cheerful follow-through when
asked to reach out to the HAT Caucus, to
support funding for TB Reach or to sign the
Barcelona Accord has shown me that he
would embrace the target 0.7 per cent of
GDP for International Development, a goal
suggested by Lester Pearson back in 1969
and later adopted by the UN as the global
goal.
The question is whether his boss would
agree, and if so, how and when, Mr.
Mulcair?
Elizabeth May has consistently shown
a great degree of compassion for the world’s
extreme poor and understands more than the
other three party leaders, the role of the environment in the lives of the extreme poor.
While she has said that she will bring international aid up to the suggested 0.7 per cent
of GDP, she has not given us a time-frame.
The UK has passed a bill that enshrines
in law its commitment to spend 0.7 per cent
of its gross national income on aid every
year. By contrast, Canada’s foreign aid
spending was down sharply in 2014, to a low
of 0.24 per cent.
I would urge all candidates to push their
leaders to move in a direction that we must,
in order to have sustainable international
growth and to eradicate extreme poverty.
On October 19, 2015, the party that
clearly defines this target will win my vote.
Connie Lebeau
Victoria, B.C.
Women’s vote important
Pioneering Canadian women suffered
physical and mental hardships and
discrimination to gain the right to vote.
They achieved the legal right for women
to be recognized as individuals with the
same privileges as men.
Thanks to them you can vote. You
owe to them to continue the fight for
equality of all women and children.
Please ensure that you not only vote,
and encourage others to vote on Oct. 19,
but that you actively support and
encourage all women that run for elected
office.
Trish Summerhayes,
Chemainus, B.C.
10
South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
Miller medals despite competition from “young” runners
By Don Bodger
Miller has remained relatively injury-free.
“They’re trying to get more younger people
For The Echo
“I do get some, but it’s mostly stuff that goes away.” involved,” explained Miller. “Generally between 55 and
COBBLE HILL – Cobble Hill’s Doug Miller is always
Many of the same competitors return to the Games 70, there’s not a lot of people.”
on the run.
every year, but Miller was glad to see some new faces.
Running is a year-long pursuit for Miller. Besides
Arbutus Ridge resident Miller, 74, went the distance The name change of the event from B.C. Seniors Games the Games, he also enters many Frontrunners Island Race
again during the 55+ B.C. Games. The event was hosted was partly done to attract new blood.
Series events, a Victoria Run Series, the GoodLife
by North Vancouver/North Shore, but track and
Victoria race weekend and many more.
field athletes were stationed at Burnaby’s
“I do a lot of events,” Miller conceded.
Swangard Stadium and that suited Miller fine.
“That’s mostly because I have friends that are
“It’s a great facility,” he said. “It was good
in them. They’re all in the same group pretty
for us. Lots of accommodation there – no problem
well.
getting a hotel.”
“I run on my own as far as training. I just
There was also a great camaraderie that
run along Telegraph (Road) here. I change the
developed among the track athletes in isolation
route a little bit. I don’t always go the same
from the rest of the Games.
way.”
“People were talking to each other,” Miller
He intends to keep at it as long as he can.
said. “You say hello to all these people. They’re
“When you hit 70, you start slowing down
from all over the province.”
and there’s nothing you can do about it,” he
Miller is a veteran of the Games, having
chuckled. “You have to put your mindset into
competed in 10 of the last 11 since taking up the
it: ‘I’m going to do it regardless.’”
challenge when the Cowichan Valley played host
Other South Cowichan athletes at the
in 2005.
Games included Norm Anderson of Cowichan
He hit his stride well this year, earning a
Bay who competed in archery. He won silver
bronze medal in the 5,000 metre run for the 70medals in the men’s 65-69 longbow without
74-year-old men’s division. Miller also came
sights and fingers for 3D and target shooting.
close to the medals in his other events, finishing
The Bear Mountain Bruins captured gold
fourth in the 1,500 metres, fifth in the 800 and
in men’s 65+ ice hockey with a roster that
sixth in the 400.
included Don Petrie of Cobble Hill, Lew Fraser
The 10-kilometre race was cancelled due to
of Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake’s Pat Cadorette
high winds and inclement weather that struck the
and Mal Steck of Duncan.
Lower Mainland.
Mike Walter of Cobble Hill and Bob
“They were scared of the wind,” said Miller
Mackie from Mill Bay helped the Victoria
of organizers. “They’d had trees coming down.
Strikers 60+ soccer team to attain gold.
“I was disappointed. The 10K is my favourite
The Vancouver Island Rangers came fourth
race.”
in soccer for players 55+ with a lineup that
Miller has been sold on the value of the
included: Lake Cowichan’s Greg Shea and Pat
Games since that inaugural 2005 test.
Smith; Tim Achtzner from Cobble Hill;
“We had just moved over here, about a year
Shawnigan Lake’s Alan Gilmore and Duncan’s
at that time,” he explained. “I'd been doing some
Will Chaster and Harvey Johnny.
running in Vancouver and I thought I’d give that
In dragon boat racing, the Gorging Dragons
a try.”
55+ women claimed gold. Mary Heath of
Miller has won at least one medal during each
Cobble Hill, Mill Bay’s Gail Stroud, Malahat’s
of the Games other than last year, and frequently
Fiona Glaeser and Duncan’s Diane Kay and Sue
takes multiple trips to the podium.
Lyle were members of that crew.
He was in a tough age bracket this year,
Heath, Glaeser and Stroud, along with Pete
competing against some hotshot “younger”
Glaeser, also played a part in a gold medal
athletes aged 70 and 71. Miller is looking forward
triumph for the senior mixed 55+ team.
to moving up to the 75-79 group next year and
Vancouver Island South finished third in the
taking charge.
overall zone medal standings with 241 behind
“It depends where you are in your age Doug Miller with his bronze medal from the men's 70-74-year-old the Lower Mainland's whopping total of 565
division 5,000-metre run during the 55+ B.C. Games. (Photo by Don Bodger) and 473 for runner-up Fraser Valley.
group,” he conceded.
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
Liberal candidate drops
out of race after 9-11
comments revealed
By Peter W. Rusland
For The Echo
SOUTH COWICHAN – Comments
allegedly made two years ago about the
American tragedy of 9-11 came home to
haunt local Liberal candidate Maria
Manna.
The energetic hopeful for the new
federal riding of Cowichan-MalahatLangford announced Sept. 28 she was
resigning as the party’s candidate in
Canada's Oct. 19 election.
MARIA MANNA
Manna has been replaced by Grit
hopeful Luke Krayenhoff.
“After stepping back and reflecting
on recent events, I have decided to resign
as the Liberal candidate for Cowichan–
Malahat–Langford,” she says in a
Facebook post, and what CTV said was
an emailed media release.
“I fully support Justin Trudeau, the
Liberal team, and the real change they are
bringing to Canadians.
“This election is far too important to
have my past opinions and comments
detract from that goal. I sincerely
apologize to those I have offended. I will
continue to devote myself to my music
and humanitarian work.”
CTV noted “Manna was hit with
backlash last week after her comments
came to light, with many calling for her
resignation.”
In an email to The Echo Sept. 29, the
jazz singer and humanitarian devotee
declined to discuss her decision.
Krayenhoff is a veteran mediator,
adjudicator and president of the Langham
Court Theatre. He lost the Liberal
candidacy race in Esquimalt-SaanichSooke to lawyer Davie Merner.
“Excited to become the candidate for
Cowichan Malahat Langford. Twenty-one
days to a Liberal majority!” Krayenhoff
tweeted Sept. 28.
CTV said Manna confirmed she
resigned Monday morning, but would not
implicitly say stepping aside was because
of her 9-11 comments.
“She told CTV News that years ago,
she questioned the official account of the
terrorist attacks on Facebook and found it
had offended people – prompting her to
remove the post,” CTV said.
The Huffington Post said Manna
posted comments on her Facebook page
questioning the official account of events
that happened on Sept. 11, 2001,
“including two posts on the anniversary
of the biggest attack on U.S. soil.”
Huffington claims one alleged Manna
post on Sept. 11, 2013 read, “So today we
remember the tragedy of 9-11. Today we
will talk about who did it and why. Today
most people will continue to believe the
lie, and again, THEY continue to win.
Thank God I know the truth! LOVE is the
answer!!!”
Steve Housser, Cowichan’s Liberal
candidate in B.C.'s 2013 election,
indicated Manna's comments seemed fine
to him under Canadian freedom of speech,
and not a strong reason to resign.
“I think the reason for stepping down
is a bit thin,” he said, noting Manna’s
comments weren’t, for example, racist or
otherwise derogatory.
“Since when can you not question
conventional wisdom?” he asked, adding
questioning facts behind 9-11 “just doesn’t
strike me as a candidacy killer.”
The riding now sees Liberal Krayenhoff face the NDP’s Alistair MacGregor,
the Green party’s Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi,
Conservative Martin Barker, and MarxistLeninist Party hopeful Alastair Haythornthwaite.
11
12
South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
13
Feast of Fields celebrates local agriculture and products
By Peter W. Rusland
For The Echo
SHAWNIGAN LAKE – Hundreds of
foodies, farmers and wine lovers merrily
converged on Shawnigan Lake’s O.U.R.
Ecovillage for the Sept. 20 Feast Of
Fields.
The artistic, annual moveable feast,
held in Cowichan and other B.C. farming
regions, saw three dozen food and
beverage producers hosted by Farm Folk
City Folk to support sustainable farming,
and to toast local products.
“The whole idea is to engage people
and show them where their food comes
from,” said FFCF’s executive director
Nicholas Scapillati.
Ninety per cent of money raised
supports business ideas and educational
programs for island producers, he
explained.
“We get people on a farm to meet
chefs, vintners, and brewers to have a
conversation.”
Feast visitor Jenna Kurylo joined that
joyous chatter on Ecovillage’s sloped,
village-style grounds showcasing
sustainable building and agricultural
practices.
“It’s great seeing local vendors and
different things we might not normally
see, and to support local companies.”
Vanessa Leong explained Feasters
“aren’t just interested in food, but where
their food comes from, and the growing
of it.”
Cheryl Harper indicated it’s vital to
keep land healthy as “options for
gardening are so much less these days;
make it sustainable.”
Lorna Ruszel was impressed by
Ecovillage’s programs including student
work options and affordable-housing
options.
“It gives you hope these things can
become a reality.
“In the middle of a mall in Victoria,
you see what people are doing, but here
I’m in touch with our responsibility for
the Earth.”
She and husband Paul — of Jane’s
Way band that played at the Feast —
noticed more youths attending the green
event.
Jen Lindsay of Driftwood Brewery
said foodies attend Feasts in hopes of
“keeping things fresh, natural and local
by supporting local producers.”
Sandra Froher called attendees
“Earth-conscious people.” Valley chef
Bill Jones said he was “delighted” with
the Feast.
“This is a holistic way to approach
eating and living in the same space.”
In fact, Ecovillage executive Brandi
Gallagher her called the farm’s concerts
“a total immersion in village lifestyle.”
“About 50 per cent of people are
Mark Holford of Rocky Creek Winery serves wild blackberry wine to Anne Correia and Jennifer Woike during the 18th Annual
(Photo by Andrew Leong)
Vancouver Island Feast of Fields event held at O.U.R. Ecovillage in Shawnigan Lake on Sept. 20.
never taught about village culture and
food.
“We can co-create an environment
that’s systemic and molds a new environment,” she said.
“You can become village in your own
neighbourhood; no family or farmer cando
it alone.”
One method is shown in farmland
trusts whereby land is donated for nourishing holistic lifestyles. Those lifestyles
can spark tours like one led by Leslie
Goodall of Vancouver Island Wine Tours.
“Cowichan Valley has the largest
concentration of wineries on the island,
and it’s growing wonderfully.
“The newest trend is (liquor) distilleries.
“Cowichan has always been a
farming community, and events like this
showcase that,” she said.
Annual food drive well supported by South Cowichan
The residents of the Cowichan Valley overwhelmingly came forward to support our project,” said Andrew Rolfson,
supported the local edition of the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive BCTFD Executive Director.
held on Sept. 19.
“The success can be credited to communities selflessly
In the Cowichan Valley, the BCTFD event included more working together donating time, talent, and means to meet the
than 147 volunteers providing over 137 hours of service to the needs of others – for this, we are truly thankful.”
community. They were able to visit over 5,500 homes, and
Delighted with the amount of aid given, Colleen Fuller
collected more than
from the Cowichan Valley
16,000 pounds of nonBasket Society was very
perishable food for the
appreciative of receiving
Cowichan Valley Basket
the much-needed contriSociety – over 5000 lbs.
butions
from
the
more than last year!
community and the
This province-wide
support of every individannual project – this was
ual involved.
its sixth year – collected
“With more than
over 442,000 lb. of food
16,000 pounds of food
for
the
over
50
from 5,000 homes I have
community food banks in
never seen a whole
their local areas.
community
come
Coordinated on the
together like this,” Fuller
same day each year, this
said.
year over 5,000 volunteers
“There were close to
delivered grocery bags to
150 volunteers with teams
the doors homes in each
from the churches, the
community and then on Volunteers sort through the mountain of food that was collected in the community and the food
the Saturday, Sept. 19, Valley on Sept. 19.
bank and the results are
drove back over the routes
terrific. It’s fabulous,
to collect the bags that the residents have so graciously donated. heart-felt thanks to the community and the sponsors for their
The donations are then sorted and packed up and taken directly support.”
to the local food banks.
For additional information visit:
“It was great to see how the residents of our communities
foodbanksbritishcolumbia.ca and bctfooddrive.org.
14
South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
Cowichan Secondary wins field hockey’s Friendship Cup
By Don Bodger
For The Echo
SOUTH COWICHAN – The Friendship
Cup marks the start of a rapid race to the
finish line for Cowichan Valley high
school girls field hockey teams.
Co-hosted by Brentwood College and
Shawnigan Lake Schools, the tournament
brought together 10 teams at two different
venues. Shawnigan, Cowichan, Frances
Kelsey, Mount Douglas and Oak Bay
competed in the premier event at the
Shawnigan Lake School turf while
Brentwood College entered two teams
along with Glenlyon Norfolk, Little
“From the first game to the last game,
they made so many steps. It was really
good to see.”
Shawnigan and Kelsey opened with a
scoreless game. Shawnigan won 4-0 over
Mount Douglas and 3-0 over Oak Bay in
its other games.
Goals that were plentiful in the two
wins eluded Shawnigan in the Cowichan
games.
“That was our problem in the final,”
said Koepp. “We had 90 per cent of the
play I would say. Our girls need to get
hungry around the net.”
Despite that, “anybody who witnessed
Extra spring in her step
allows Brentwood College’s
Caitlin Wardrop to keep
pace with her Little Flower
Academy opponent in the
Friendship Cup field hockey
tournament at the Cowichan
Sportsplex.
(Photo by Don Bodger)
Flower Academy and St. Michael’s
University School for round robin competitive division action at the Cowichan
Sportsplex.
The games were the first of the season
for teams since the return to school after
minimal practice time.
Shawnigan Lake School is the
defending AAA champion but ended up
finishing second behind Cowichan
Secondary.
Cowichan defeated Shawnigan 2-0 in
the round robin and 1-0 with a late goal in
the final.
“We have a very inexperienced team
this year,” said Kelly Koepp, Shawnigan
co-coach along with husband Benjamin.
the final, it was good hockey,” added
Koepp. “I think both play our best hockey
against each other.”
Goalkeeper Leigh Campbell and Tai
Williams are the only two starters back
from last year’s championship team.
Koepp is counting on key performances
off the bench from the likes of local players
Maria Murray and Vanessa Moulaison.
It’s an exciting year with provincial
AAA championships being held at
Shawnigan, Brentwood and Cowichan.
“This year, it’s much more
undefined,” said Koepp. “Long term goal,
I would be happy with top five. There’s
potential to go top five.”
Meanwhile, Kelsey made a statement
in the shorter games consisting of 20minute halves. The time was extended to
25-minute halves for the final games.
Kelsey coach Ali Andersen was
impressed with her team even though the
girls fell short of the final.
“We only lost three (players) last year
so that’s nice,” she said. “We’ve got lots
of returning players.”
The objective now for Anderson is
“just seeing where they all fit into
positions,” she said. “I think it looked good
for the first game.
“I’ve already got a practice plan in my
head for (last) Monday.”
Brentwood coach Alanna Martin had
to split her talent onto two squads for the
competitive tournament. She tried to do it
evenly so each side would be respectable.
That turned out well with Brentwood’s
main team winning 1-0 over the other
while defeating Glenlyon 4-0 and
dropping 1-0 and 3-0 decisions, respectively, to top-notch Little Flower Academy
and St. Michael’s teams.
The second Brentwood team also lost
5-0 to Little Flower and St. Michael’s
while going scoreless against Glenlyon.
“They haven’t played together long,”
said Martin of her players. “That’s the
challenge with our school. We get a lot of
new kids.
“When you’re putting two teams out,
you can’t put all of your strength out at the
beginning.”
Eleven players are back from last year
as Grade 12s.
With the Friendship Cup, “it’s a fast
learn curve,” added Martin. “You’re out
there and all of a sudden you’re trying to
figure things out. You get lots of games in
a short amount of time.”
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
15
16
South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
Young Valley athletes giving triathalon a try
By Don Bodger
For The Echo
COBBLE HILL – Ecole Cobble Hill Elementary School
students are at the forefront of what’s sure to be an
explosion into the sport of triathlon by district youth.
The Ecole Cobble Hill Triathlon Club has been in
existence for two years and will head into its third season
early in the new year. It’s a whole new experience for
most – combining the elements of swimming, cycling
and running – and the kids are loving it.
Volunteer parent Sarah Malerby has taken the
necessary coaching certification to ensure club activities
comply with TriBC and Triathlon Canada Kids of Steel
and Long Term Athlete Development guidelines.
“At the Shawnigan Lake Triathlon, we’re trying to
grow the high school segment and really there’s not a lot
for kids to get involved in triathlon,” said Malerby.
The Ecole Cobble Hill Triathlon Club debuted in
2014 with 28 kids racing and won the Victoria Youth
Triathlon School Challenge award.
In 2015, the club expanded to 45 members with 17
racing in the same Victoria event. All grades were
included this year, with Malerby receiving teacher
support to help run practices.
“Last year we were able to offer it to some of the
younger kids,” said Malerby. “We had a Grade 1er who
competed in Victoria and a bunch of kids from Grade 3
and 4.”
Ecole Cobble Hill Triathlon Club members rejoice in their accomplishments at the end of the Victoria Youth
Triathlon.
(Photo by Brad Hartley)
“School sports are pretty much all team sports,” she
said. “There’s a lot of kids that don’t fit into that mold.
“The culture of triathlon is what I like so much. It’s
an individual performance you’re trying to achieve but
the value of the sports are building community, challenging yourself and respecting everyone’s efforts in the
sports.”
Malerby knows of what she speaks. As the race
director of the Shawnigan Lake International Triathlon,
she’s well-versed in the preparations and accomplishments of the highest-level triathletes but also well aware
of the need for solid practice habits and training
techniques to start at an early age.
A kids’ duathlon component has become a popular
feature of the Shawnigan Lake Triathlon weekend each
May.
Club enrolment is bound to take an upswing again
in 2016.
“We generally start in January with endurance
running for those who want to do the Times Colonist
10K,” noted Malerby. “We have monthly swimming
sessions and then from March to June we have weekly
practices at school.”
For now, the triathlon opportunity is only available
at Ecole Cobble Hill, but Malerby hopes that’s about to
change and other schools will come on board.
“This can be started by a teacher or a parent,” said
Malerby. “I’m super happy to share my lesson plan with
people.”
There are several things that must be considered to
prepare for triathlons. Swim training is essential,
according to Malerby, who recommends connecting with
the Cowichan Valley Breakers or Duncan Stingrays to
join swim sessions.
“Kids’ triathlon, it’s not meant to be really taxing,”
added Malerby. “The endurance focus is not the same for
younger kids. It’s quite achievable. They just have to be
able to swim.”
Most kids can do the cycling and running portions
with no problem. It’s just the swimming that requires
some extra attention.
The timing is perfect now for people at other schools
to think about joining the triathlon movement before the
start of next season.
Malerby can be contacted at 250-882-5503 (cell) or
smalerby@gmail.com for details on how to get started.
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
CVRD’s Mount Baldy purchase praised
By Peter W. Rusland
For The Echo
SHAWNIGAN LAKE – The pending
purchase of Shawnigan Lake’s Mount
Baldy as parkland will anchor the area’s
ecological and recreational future, area
Director Sonia Furstenau believes.
An offer to purchase has been made
by CVRD staff to Baldy’s owners for the
250-acre landform listed on Shawnigan’s
parkland-buy list.
That list
also included
the
former
Elsie Miles
school bought
years ago for
public use.
“Mount
Baldy can be
the anchor for
Shawnigan’s
future as a
recreational
SONIA FURSTENAU destination. It’s
a start,” said Furstenau.
Talks are being handled by CVRD
staff and details are private, Furstenau
explained. She’s stoked that the mountain
will protect Shawnigan’s watershed, environment and usher more trails.
The purchase price and name of
Baldy’s owners are currently private.
Funds from the Cowichan Valley
Regional District’s area parkland acquisition fund will complement $500,000 that
needs to be raised publicly before
November, including $100,000 already
raised to buy Baldy.
“Fundraising will reduce the impact
on the (CVRD) parkland acquisition
fund,” she said.
Toward that goal, an Oct. 30 fundraiser is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Shawnigan
Lake School where artworks, including
one by the Shawnigan Basin Society’s
Georgia Collins, and much more will hit
the block.
All donations are tax deductible.
Old Mount Baldy was the subject of
a famous oil painting by the late Duncan
master painter E.J. Hughes. That work,
owned by noted collector Jacques
Barbeau, now hangs with other Hughes’
works in Whistler’s Audain Art Museum.
Baldy has been logged in past years
and its owners planned to build houses
there.
However, fears for the watershed’s
future saw the mountain added to the
area’s parkland wish list.
Mount Baldy (not listed on the MLA
real-estate system) should not be confused
with Bald Mountain Peninsula near
Youbou. It’s also on the CVRD’s regional
parkland acquisition list.
17
18
South Cowichan Echo
Islanders gaining
momentum after
lukewarm start
By Don Bodger
For The Echo
MILL BAY – September won’t go down as a month to remember for the Kerry Park
Islanders, but positive signs were emerging for the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey
League squad heading into October.
The Islanders concluded September by skating to a 5-4 win over the Comox Valley
Glacier Kings on two goals by Keenan Eddy and a 3-3 overtime tie with the Saanich
Braves the following afternoon at Kerry Park Arena.
The results marginally improved the team’s record to 2-4-1 to open the season.
“Overall, I’d say it was a pretty good weekend for us,” said Islanders’ head coach
Aaron Spotts. “The previous three games we were flat-footed and didn’t come to play.”
“The first couple of games we didn’t really have our systems down,” observed
Islanders’ captain David Bittner. “Our conditioning was a little off.”
A game like Sunday’s tie provides a glimmer of hope for further improvement,
even though the Islanders owned the first two periods and led 3-0 before settling for
the tie.
“The young guys are starting to buy in and get settled in,” said Bittner.
Abe Lamontagne, Tanner Browne and Corey Peterson staked the Islanders to the
three-goal advantage over the Braves. But it all disappeared in the third period when
Jordan Parmar scored at 1:40, Thomas Sercombe converted on a power play at 9:52
and Quinn Miller completed the comeback at 12:56.
There was no further scoring through five minutes of four-on-four overtime and
another five minutes of three-on-three, thanks mainly to some superb stops by Islanders’
goalie Ty Rennie and his Saanich counterpart Bryce Schiebel.
Rennie stoned the Braves’ speedy Evan Horvath after he broke into the clear and
Drew Coughlin on a one-timer during the four-on-four. He stopped Coughlin again
with the potential game-winner sitting on his stick with only 1:06 left in the three-onthree.
“He’s actually the reason through the whole game,” praised Bittner of his
goaltender. “He saved us tonight.
“It was a lot of good things we did. We’ve got to stick with our forecheck and our
systems and not stray away from it.”
Lynden Eddy had the best chance for the Islanders with 2:06 remaining in the
three-on-three but was robbed by Schiebel.
“I felt the first 40 minutes it was some
of the best hockey we’ve played,'' recapped
Spotts.
“Unfortunately, we got away from
what we were doing.”
• Continued on Page 19
OCTOBER 2015
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
Pursuit of the puck results in Kerry Park Islanders' Caleb Franklin gaining body
position on Saanich captain Jack Rachwalski inside the Braves' zone during
Sunday’s Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game at Kerry Park Arena.
(Photo by Don Bodger)
Islanders face busy schedule to open October
• Continued from Page 18
The momentum clearly changed in the third.
“Conditioning is something we’re working on,” Spotts said. “That’s something
we can control.”
The Islanders also realize the need to stay away from undisciplined penalties that
were a factor in this game.
“It’s very disappointing,” said Bittner of the two points slipping away. “We’re not
happy with it at all.”
“We haven’t really played a solid 60 minutes yet this year,” said Spotts.
But the Islanders clearly showed they can rise to the level of the opposition.
“They’re a strong team, too,” Spotts pointed out. “They played Victoria and walked
away with a win. They’re a good young team, hard to play against.”
The beginning of October features three games in three days – two against the 61 Campbell River Storm. The Islanders are at Campbell River Friday and play the
rematch at Kerry Park Arena Sunday at 3 p.m.
Sandwiched in between is a meeting with the Westshore Wolves Saturday at 7:30
p.m. at Kerry Park Arena.
19
20
South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
Let’s celebrate October with ten timely tips
Last month my column was about
the joys of a frugal summer and now
here we are just a month later and
already into fall.
And as much as I do love summer,
my heart truly belongs to fall. October
is probably my favorite month of all.
With all the trees still full but
changing into the most beautiful
colors and the sun still shining from
time to time, what more could you ask
for?
Oh yeah, let’s throw some good
eats and family time with the addition
of both Thanksgiving and All Hallows
Eve for good measure.
So in honor of the tenth most
glorious month I have compiled a list
of ten random acts of thrift.
1. Don’t throw out stale bread.
Cut it into cubes and freeze until you
have enough for easy bread pudding
or croutons. Those items are best made
with bread that is not at its freshest.
2. Baking soda can be used in
dozens of ways and it’s inexpensive.
My new favorite is to make a paste
with it and lemon juice and use it to
clean enamelware.
I recently scored a great vintage
enamel bowl for free at a yard sale as
the bottom was stained and worn and
looked beyond hope. A few minutes of
rubbing the paste
around and it shines
like new, seriously!
3. Get
more
bang for your buck
out of any creams or
lotions you have.
Once it seems
like you are at the
end of the bottle, cut off the top (or
bottom if that works better) scoop out
the remaining lotion and put it in a
small clean jar. I have squeezed weeks
of uses out of what was left behind in
the bottle.
4. Cook what’s in season. Right
now apples are almost actually a dime
a dozen.
Today while my hubby catches us
some fish (fingers crossed) I will be at
a friend’s making apple sauce, apple
crumble and making paper mache
bowls. The apples are from our tree for
my favourite price of free!
5. Extend the life of your dishes.
Do your coffee cups have stains in
them? Don’t go buy new ones, just
shake in some salt and a little water
and scrub it a wee bit. Instantly white
again and no harsh
bleach needed.
6.Turn old worn
or stained T-shirts
into rags. I have yet
to find anything that
applies stain or
polish better and
they’re also great
for just general house cleaning.
7. Change up your decor without
buying a thing by simply using what
you have. Want to jazz up an old
framed mirror? Just glue small pieces
of driftwood to the frame overlapping
here and there until you can’t see
much of the frame below.
Voila! You can also add seashells
and beach glass. I have had success
using both hot glue and heavy duty
adhesive glue.
8. Make a grocery list and plan
your meals ahead. Shop the flyers and
find out what’s on sale and then plan
your week accordingly. I rarely buy
items that aren’t on sale and stock up
when I can.
9. If you are cooking something,
cook extra.
It only takes minutes more to
make larger portions and then freeze
things that you can. Items that can’t be
frozen need to do double duty.
Make chicken dinner one night
and the next use leftover chicken for
enchiladas, soup or just chicken on
salad.
10. Take the time and pack your
own lunch, make your own coffee and
create your own artwork.
When you do have to buy those
things find someone local to support
so your hard earned money goes to
another hard working local.
Brenna (The Frugal Rooster)
Gerow has called South Cowichan
home for more than 35 years. She
shares her life with husband Jeff in the
house they have made into a cozy
home utilizing a very small budget.
She shares her tips, projects and
stories with her neighbors and friends
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
21
Summer bonspiel featured jammies,
some mid-season calibre shotmaking
By Don Bodger
For The Echo
MILL BAY – Rolling Kerry Park Curling
Club’s summer bonspiel over from July
to September didn’t require a name
change.
It still falls within the parameters of
the season and has proven to be a shrewd
move for the club, even if it was somewhat
unintentional.
After 38 years as an event running
around the Canada Day holiday, renovations at the Kerry Park Recreation Centre
last year necessitated the switch and the
club is now rocking into a new era.
The 40th annual bonspiel firmly
established the new September dates as
more realistic for long-term success.
“We had 28 teams,” said longtime
club member Lorraine Gagnon. “That’s
an excellent turnout.”
Being on the ice in September seems
to appeal more to curlers for obvious
reasons compared to the novelty of July.
“We found that the timing worked
better,” said Gagnon. “People are getting
ready for the curling season. It’s a good
bonspiel for that.
“From an organizing standpoint, we
have an easier time getting teams.”
Out-of-towners still camp outside the
recreation centre, like before, in their RVs
and tent trailers.
“Half of the teams, if not more, were
from out-of-town,” Gagnon pointed out.
A pajama party theme had curlers
dressed a bit differently than they
normally would for a competition.
“That worked out quite well,
actually,” said Gagnon. “We had lots of
participation.”
Curlers who weren’t doing well
simply tried to lure the competition to
sleep in their cozy outfits.
An all-Kerry Park battle in the
Stormin’ Norman Golf Enterprises A
event final was won by Keith Ainsley over
Randy Zinkiew.
Ainsley was faced with a tough
decision of a hit or a draw for his final
shot. He chose the latter and found a port
to go through for the win.
“It was an exciting finish,” said
Gagnon.
“All of the finals except the D event
were right down to the end.”
The future of curling is in good hands with the likes of Connor Croteau and Derek
Chandler competing with the Coulombe team in the Kerry Park Curling Club's
summer bonspiel. A few more just like them would be nice to ensure the continued
growth of the sport in the region.
It’s not your typical pajama party, but Bob Pierce and Heather Sandwith get into
the spirit of the theme during Kerry Park Curling Club’s summer bonspiel.
(Photos by Don Bodger)
Ainsley’s victorious team included
Rick Cargill at third, Shelton Spier at
second and Cheryl Cameron at lead.
Curling with Zinkiew was Karen Daigle
at third, Scott West second and Pat
Langelo lead.
The Leslie Shearer and Mike Angrove
teams rounded out the top four finishers
in the A event.
The Duncan Iron Works B event
crown went to Ken Percival’s rink of
Dakota Stevens, Rick Manifold and Sheila
Percival. Dennis Sutton played lead for
his runner-up rink that also included Neil
Dangerfield (skip), Tricia Habermehl
(third) and Glenn Allen (second).
Third went to the Dave Smith team
and fourth to James Turner’s quartet.
In the Island Bakery C event, Scott
Macdonald, Christine Moroz, Mike
Moroz and Christine Macdonald led the
way followed by the Morrison team in
second, Coulombe team in third and
Erdmann Knaack of Kerry Park’s rink in
fourth.
Wes Craig, Sarah Wark, Victor
Gamble and Roselyn Craig ran away with
top spot in the Malahat Lions Club D
event.
Heather Schyf skipped the runner-up
rink alongside Ed Schyf, Ron Paholka and
Joan Paholka. The Paul Kondal team took
third spot and Les Doyle claimed fourth.
Gagnon said there was great business
support as well with nearly 75 sponsors
and the club itself contributing to a prize
table valued at about $6,000.
Clinics started right after the bonspiel
and introduction to curling sessions take
place throughout October.
22
South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
It seems not all new
arrivals are welcome
The Eurasian collared dove is not an
endangered species.
You might have thought you were in
an exotic country when, one day not long
ago, you heard coo-coo-coo, and looked
up to see this small grey-buff dove with
the black half ring around its neck.
Described as “strongly dispersive“
it certainly is. Aside from its other world
traveling accomplishments, here in North
America it has spread from Florida in the
1980s to Vancouver Island by roughly
2005.
This
new
arrival breeds near
human habitation
and
especially
enjoys our bird
feeders.
They build a
stick nest with two
eggs “three to four
broods per year is common, six has been
recorded!” A small bird, nevertheless it
is said to be tasty and will take fewer than
the four and twenty black birds required
for a nice pie.
Another fairly recent summer
resident of Vancouver Island and
Southern Canada is the turkey vulture.
The vulture is not a great flyer but is an
excellent soaring bird with a fabulous
sense of smell, and reportedly they can
tell from 15 kilometers away when the
Senate in Ottawa is sitting.
Turkey vultures are fond of humans,
if they can get one, but more than likely
you’ll find them on clean-up duty around
farms where finding something to eat
encourages them to range ever farther
northward. They arrived just a few
decades back.
In the last weeks of September or
early October they gather in Sooke to
make the flight across the Strait of Juan
de Fuca when winds are favourable, then
the long passage south for the winter.
Another new arrival to B.C. is the
opossum, not spelled o’possum at all.
They are found in B.C.’s Fraser Valley,
and also Hornby Island where some
bright light introduced them in 1986.
They’ve been doing their best to get to
Vancouver Island ever since so they can
join the raccoons in feasting on local fruit
and birds’ eggs.
If you see one
here
in
South
Cowichan beware,
they will attempt to
trick you by playing
dead. This doesn’t
work too well with
the vultures.
Regarding the
Eastern grey squirrel
(also comes in black) eight squirrels were
imported from New York in 1914 and
released at Stanley Park then brought to
and escaped from a game farm outside
Victoria in 1966.
Apparently, with the help of private
pest companies and rehabilitation groups
trapping them and releasing them into
“the wild”, they have discovered new
habitats (ours).
There is a considerable difference of
opinion about the value of this new
rodent resident to the Island. Farmers and
gardeners take the Elmer Fudd approach
in response to the destruction of their
crops and storage bins, apartment
dwellers love them and shower them with
seeds and cookies. What to do?
It’s not just our beautiful Cowichan
Valley with its trees and farms that have
problems with some of the new arrivals,
as CBC recently reported.
The Eurasian collared dove made its way from Florida to Vancouver Island.
Vancouver’s East End residents were
warned of “aggressive, marauding
raccoons (perhaps upset with housing
costs) and farther east the Toronto Star
reports, yes the opossum is “a new trashloving scavenger in town”.
We don’t mind if they live in
Toronto, but we don’t want them here.
A solution to the unwanted species
may be to use another species as a control
predator.
The handsome ladybug is a good
example along with the helpful garter
snake and spider, although these last two
are not always the peoples’ favourite.
However, the attempt to eradicate
rats using the mongoose only resulted in
destruction of local bird and reptile populations in Hawaii, because mongoose
sleep at night, while rats are on the night
shift.
For interesting background about
plant and animal arrivals to B.C. see the
Royal BC Museum, Aliens Among Us
http://alienspecies.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.
You can help by supporting our local
conservation groups battling introduced
flora and fauna like scotch broom in our
Garry oak ecosystem, or the Western
purple martin whose nest is attacked by
the introduced house or English sparrow.
On a happier note, the introduced
California quail is a favourite of many in
the Valley, first introduced in Victoria in
the 1860s, and they only ask to share a
little from our gardens.
None of our recent arrivals, the
Eurasian collard dove, Eastern grey
squirrels, opossum, turkey vulture or
quail are in any danger of disappearing
soon and are very happy to reside near us
and wait for their next meal.
After all, we are a Recent Arrival,
too.
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
23
Golf phenom raises his profile
By Don Bodger
For The Echo
SHAWNIGAN LAKE – Tristan Mandur
is already a hot commodity among U.S.
college and university recruiters, even
though he doesn’t graduate from
Shawnigan Lake School until 2017.
The golfing phenom attracted plenty
of attention this summer during his trip to
the World Juniors in San Diego. Those
who didn’t know his name before became
familiar with him very quickly.
Mandur carded rounds of 73, 75, 75
and 78 to place 29th out of 208
competitors in the boys 15-17-year-old
group. Just making the cut down to the top
50 with players from 55 different countries
on the course was a huge coup.
Mandur made the grade with his
trademark consistency to finish in the top
30, setting himself up well for a slew of
future offers.
Sept. 1 was the beginning of the
period when recruiters are allowed to talk
to Mandur and “I’ve had quite a few,” he
conceded.
“They haven’t made offers. They’re
just curious.”
Among the most intriguing recruitment calls Mandur received was from
Arizona State University.
“ASU would be unreal, and some
schools in California,” he said.
But for now, Mandur will be buckling
down at school and recruiters will be
awaiting the results of his SAT tests for
college admission.
The 2015 golf season was another
busy one for Mandur and he achieved
some phenomenal results. He played in
27 tournaments and did extremely well
during 48 tournament rounds.
“My scoring average was 69.2,”
Mandur said.
“In the major tournaments, the
Canadian junior and B.C. junior, I did
better than last year. I feel I improved
there.”
At the B.C. juniors in Osoyoos, he
finished 11th out of 160 players following
rounds of 75, 68, 71 and 73.
Following his appearance in San
Diego, Mandur went on to play at the
Canadian juniors in Quebec where he
placed eighth for juniors 18 and under –
up from 12th last year – and maintained
his hold on third for Canadian juveniles
16 and younger.
The Western Canada Summer Games
in Fort McMurray, Alberta brought a gold
medal with Team B.C. and a silver medal
in the individual competition. Mandur
shot 76, 72, and 75 in the tournament.
The season concluded with scores of
68, 77 and 67 for third place in the B.C.
juveniles in Vernon.
Earlier in the year, Mandur retained
his Qualicum Beach tournament championship with rounds of 69 and 64 for seven
under par. He went nine under last year so
he’s had an amazing run there.
Mandur also finished second in the
Zone 5 men’s championship by shooting
72 and 71 and came first in the individual
event during the B.C. AA high school
tournament for the second year in a row.
There’s no secret to Mandur’s
success. Other than obvious talent, it has
a lot to do with composure.
“I just think consistent focus,” he said.
“Don’t get distracted. Be confident. Don’t
get mad.”
As the new school year got under way,
Mandur had a chance to unwind from a
Smooth swing is displayed by Tristan
Mandur on the driving range at
Arbutus Ridge Golf and Country Club.
Putts count for a lot in golf so that's why
Mandur takes extra care while working
on his putting whenever he gets the
(Photos by Don Bodger)
chance.
pressure-packed summer.
“Golf’s one of those sports where you
need to take a mental break,” he said.
“I’m more focused on basketball right
now.”
24
South Cowichan Echo
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OCTOBER 2015
25
South Cowichan Echo - Business
Osmond purchases
the church next door
By Peter W. Rusland
For The Echo
SHAWNIGAN LAKE – Shawnigan Lake’s historic little
Catholic church has been bought by Mark Osmond, owner
of the Black Swan Pub, the church’s next-door neighbour.
Osmond says he bought Our Lady Queen of the World
Catholic Church from the Catholic Diocese and may sell it
for $1 to a buyer who’d haul it away, or demolish it.
“The best case scenario is for it to be removed, or (wood
and other materials) recycled. It’s of no use to me.”
Osmond aims to eventually expand his Swan business
to the church site offering parking, plus potential room for
a new beer-and-wine store serving the growing South
Cowichan area.
The Swan’s current liquor-store space might eventually
hold a family restaurant, he explained.
The rustic church building, currently regionally zoned
for institutional use, is really two older buildings that were
cut and rejoined as the structure now sitting amid trees at
2900 Shawnigan Lake Road.
“The church building wouldn’t work as a liquor store,”
Osmond said, noting he’d mulled installing residential suites
Our Lady of Queen of the World Catholic Church has been sold and faces an uncertain future.
and other uses for the church.
Commodity prices tumble ... volatility is back!
Scotiabank’s Commodity Price Index plunged by
-10.5 per cent month-over-month in August. It fell to
91.3, which puts it -13.9 per cent below its 2009 low.
Many commodity prices, including key base metals
such as gold are well above their 2008/09 recessionary
lows. Continued market weakness is anticipated
following the financial market turbulence in China. The
fact that China is not purchasing the raw materials, such
as oil and metals, will keep Canadian GDP in first gear
for the foreseeable future.
“Monetary and fiscal policy stimulus will allow
China’s economy to grow by 6.8 per cent in 2015—
close to Beijing’s 7 per cent target—(even) though
growth will slow to 6.4 per cent in 2016.”
Over the medium-term, “China’s potential to significantly lift world raw material demand will remain
intact, even as it transitions to a consumer-and
service-led economy.”
Volatility is back!
This is a good time to find value in both bonds
and stock. Seeing the recent global correction, low
interest rate environment and the possibility of a new
Canadian government, this could be the beginning
of a new Bull Market.
Although the positives we are
seeing in Canada and the rest of the world
is already a few steps ahead with GDP
growth.
Diversification is paramount to a
successful investment portfolio and further
volatility is anticipated.
I would put together a well-balanced
portfolio to have a slightly higher holding
in stock versus bonds.
I prefer dividend funds to bonds in
most cases, and prefer U.S. and Global
weightings to Canada.
We have just come off the third longest and strongest
Bull market since 1932. This global economic expansion
is likely midway from its top. I would say that the recent
correction
is
world economies
getting ahead of
themselves, and
we will see
continued low
interest rate environment
in
Canada.
The Federal Interest rate is currently at .5 per cent.
Given the state of our economy I could see this rate
dropping to .25 per cent adding to bond volatility. You
may not see this reduction filter down to your mortgage
interest rate, but you can sleep at night knowing that
rates in Canada are not expected to rise in the next
couple of years.
Dave Shortill is a Senior Financial Advisor living
with his wife Heather in beautiful Cowichan Bay.
For your free financial planning software visit
www.riskdoctor.ca
26
South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
Brentwood winning despite loss of star
By Don Bodger
For The Echo
MILL BAY – Brentwood College’s senior girls
volleyball team let off some steam in the middle of
a pressure-cooker to start the season.
The girls went right into the prestigious UBC
tournament the week after returning to school and
went 2-4 in six matches.
The AA Brentwood squad found itself going
against three AAAA heavyweight teams on the first
day of the tournament.
“We had some pretty stiff competition in our
pool play,” conceded Brentwood coach Jill Fougner.
Brentwood took powerful Handsworth and
Kelowna to three sets each before losing to Earl
Marriott in two straight.
Brentwood bounced back to defeat another
highly-regarded AAAA team, Lord Tweedsmuir,
while winning two of its last three tournament
matches.
The following weekend’s tournament at Dover
Bay brought a clean sweep of six wins in six matches
for Brentwood over two days.
“We just dropped one set,” said Fougner.
The results improved the team’s record to 8-4
from the first dozen matches of the season.
After a weekend off, the Brentwood girls had
the Vancouver Island University and Camosun
College tournaments on the agenda. The team hosts
its own tournament Oct. 16-17.
One of the big surprises for coach Fougner
heading into the season was the absence of
Ladysmith’s Rachel Jerome, who returned to
Ladysmith Secondary for her Grade 12 year.
“She really wanted to focus on track,” said
Fougner.
Jerome placed third in long jump at the nationals
during the summer.
“She needed to be spending every minute she
could training and her training is in Nanaimo,”
Fougner explained.
It was a tough decision for Jerome and a real
shock to Fougner, who brought her along as a bonafide
star player in the middle.
The team is getting on without Jerome and Taylor
Collombin, a Grade 11 student who sat out last season
after transferring from Claremont, is a huge addition.
Key returnees include Grade 12 students Allie
Waddell of Duncan and Lauren Yanick from Comox;
April Brown from Vancouver and Natalie McVicar
from Alberta, who came onto the team midway
through last season.
Grade 11s Cate Broere, a local product, and Sarah
Brown of Nanaimo, who has been at Brentwood since
Grade 9, are expected to make important contributions.
Rachel Jerome’s departure leaves a big hole in
the middle of the Brentwood College senior girls'
volleyball team's lineup for coach Jill Fougner
(Photo by Don Bodger)
to fill.
OCTOBER 2015
South Cowichan Echo
27
Causeway opens bay to salmon
CERCA celebrates environmental breakthrough
By Peter W. Rusland
For The Echo
COWICHAN BAY – When three kayakers glided under the short concrete bridge
leading to Westcan Terminals in Cowichan Bay it marked the beginning of a new environmental era.
They paddled water coursing between the south and north half of the bay, where
salmon can now access eelgrass beds and an ecology formerly blocked by the point
of land holding Westcan.
That long-awaited environmental improvement — completed in the summer —
was designed and driven by Cowichan Estuary Restoration & Conservation Association
volunteers led by Bay residents Goetz and Beate Schuerholz.
Goetz, a conservation ecologist, dropped his yellow rain jacket on a boulder beside
the bridge.
He swept his jacket from the rock to officially unveil a bronze plaque set in cement
on the big rock, saluting CERCA’s determined members who helped parlay permission
and dollars to punch that causeway under the bridge.
Before the rock show, the Schuerholzes led a knot of folks along a rough path
cleared of blackberry near Westcan.
The trail ended at rotting, creosoted railway tracks that Cowichan Tribes leaders
say must be lifted for their blessing to create CERCA’s planned trails.
Beside the planned path is also a dead, landlocked pond holding water of mysterious
quality CERCA wants tested, then drained to allow circulation.
The future trail would sport lookouts and raised decks for sweeping views of the
threatened estuary that’s at a crossroads between industrial use (WFP’s sawmill, lumber
ships, Westcan), and restorative preservation while many locals — including Bay
CVRD director Lori Iannidinardo — aim to save of the Bay’s ecology and seaside
Cittaslow-branded character.
A kayak slips under the Westcan Terminals’ causeway opened this spring for
(Photo by Peter W. Rusland)
salmon habitat in Cowichan Bay’s eelgrass beds.
Goetz Schuerholz sits atop the CERCA plaque cairn in Cowichan Bay, near
Westcan Terminals where Cowichan Estuary Restoration & Conservation Association members negotiated to open a hole through a causeway to allow salmon
(Photo by Peter W. Rusland)
enhancement and recreation.
Funding to make that eco-dream a reality will be pumped by proceeds from
CERCA’s first Dinner & Art Auction set for Oct. 9 at the Arbutus Golf & Country Club.
A raft of donated artworks will hit the auction block run by former Irish Rover,
painter, and renowned Cowichan wit Will Millar.
The gala night will be backed by ivory work from Michael Creber, a Grammynominated pianist.
Art pieces on the bidding block boast those donated by estuary fans Will Datene,
Gloria Daly, Jennifer Lawson, Catherine Fraser, Cathi Jefferson, Mary Fox, Sue
Coleman, Millar, and the Schuerholz family.
28
South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
Dutch choir’s performance celebrates 70th anniversary of liberation
On Thursday, Oct. 29, a concert will
be presented by “Grand Choirs Holland”
at the Christian Reformed Church in
Duncan.
This splendid choir, which consists of
about 150 Dutch Voices, is on a concert
tour in Canada this month. This year,
2015, marks the 70th anniversary of the
liberation of the Netherlands at the end of
the Second World War.
Several events are taking place across
Canada and in Europe to celebrate this
anniversary including Liberation concerts
by “Grand Choirs Holland” in Alberta and
British Columbia. Our shared history has
laid a solid foundation for our friendship
which has evolved and grown stronger
over the years.
For more than 25 years the Grand
Choirs have been an outstanding part of
the Dutch choir scene. The driving force
behind this great success is “Grand Choir
Projects – Holland”. Every year they
organize choir projects in every Dutch
province, concluding with a grand
concert. These concerts – often accompanied by famous international soloists and
orchestras – take place in some of the
colossal concert halls and churches all
over the country.
The artistic managers are two wellknown and very experienced conductors:
Etty van der Mei and Nan van
Groeningen. The regular accompanists of
the Grand Choirs are the well-known
organist, Martin Mans and pianist, Martin
Zonnenberg.
The concert will be at Duncan
Christian Reformed Church, 930 Trunk
Road in Duncan.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the
concert begins at 7:30.
Admission by Donation ($15/person
suggested).
OCTOBER 2015
29
South Cowichan Echo – Entertainment
Long John still celebrating his 50th
Longevity John Faulkner’s 16thannual 50th birthday bash on Aug. 31
boasted a host of friends, old and new, who
visited Long John’s Duncan Showroom
for the party that sprouted at his old place
off Gibbins Road. Guests included Cara
McCandless, Annaliese and Dennis
Atkins, Delphene Clarke, Tim Cadillac,
John Thomson, Billie Lawrick, Georgia
Foster, Schade Dame, Gord Malcolm,
Alyssa White, Marsha Todd, Sharron
Sweeney Marie Cadorette, The
Hardware Girls (Jade, Jessie and
Barb), Rob McKenzie and many others.
See you on your next 50th, L.J.!
•••
I can also hardly wait for the next
performance by Valley percussion pros
Masimba Marimba, famous for digging
moveable grooves at local dances, in the
busily civilized Duncan Farmer’s Market
and elsewhere. Mallet masters include
Tracey Hanson, Rita Graves, Daniel
Nachtigal, Cal Fleming, Lee Masters,
Chris Bertin, Nadia Boucher, Cathy
Bhandar, Laura Nessman, Allan
Brown, Ted Wright, and Rennie
Robson.
•••
Longevity
John
Falkner,
Cowichan’s long-time impresario, is
fundraising to launch his newest arts-andculture adventure, the
Duncan Showroom
Downstairs.
The
handicapped accessible venue at 133
Station Street, below
Long John’s popular
Duncan Showroom,
will host youth and
educational events,
dance bashes and private functions. Call
250-748-7246 for details.
•••
Cowichanians can send their nominations to Duncan city hall for the 2015
City of Duncan Perpetual Arts Award. The
19th-annual award — won last year by
Cowichan Bay filmmaker Nick Versteeg
— is sponsored by the Cowichan Valley
Arts Council, the Chemainus Valley
Courier and the South Cowichan Echo.
It honours a Valley-based artist, patron or
educator who has helped local arts and
culture during the past year. The award,
and an original keeper piece donated by a
CVAC member, will be presented in city
chambers in early December. Nominations: email duncan@duncan.ca, or mail
to Mayor & Council, 200 Craig Street,
Duncan B.C., V9L-1W3.
•••
The Maple Bay
Painters host their
huge annual show
and sale of about 150
works, Oct. 9 and 10,
between 10 a.m. and
5 p.m. at St. Peter’s
Quamichan Anglican
Church Hall.
•••
Local tenor Grant Mellemstrand
and pianist Naomi Barclay mount their
concert Di Schone Mullerin Oct. 18 at 2
p.m. in Chemainus’ St. Michael’s Church.
The show is part of the Chemainus
Classical Concert series.
•••
Valley sax maniac Brent Hutchinson
and his musical mates play a bunch of
local October gigs, twinned by an Open
Jam at Jac’s On Queens (Duncan)
Thursdays, 7 to 10 p.m. The duo STEW
(Hutchinson and guitarist Terry Wicks)
play Chemainus’ Horseshoe Pub, 2 to 5
p.m. Oct. 4; and Saltair Pub Oct. 23.
Hutchinson and Uncle Wiggly’s Hot
Shoes Blues Band, and the Cowichan
Folk Guild also host a 7:30 p.m.
community fundraiser Oct. 24 at
Cowichan Station’s HUB Centre, 2375
Koksilah Road. Bring a pie, win a prize.
Tickets: $25, $20 CFG members, kids
free. Call 778-455-4710.
•••
Chemainus Theatre presents Tom
Zeigler’s dramatic comedy Grace &
Glorie Oct. 16 to Nov. 7. The theatre’s
noel show, Elf, The Musical, will be
unwrapped Nov. 20 to Dec. 31. Call 1800-565-7738.
•••
Cowichan Performing Arts Centre
presents global spoken-word poet Shane
Koyczan Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.; the heartwarming play Jake’s Gift, tracing a DDay veteran’s return to Normandy, Oct.
17, 7:30 p.m.; Norman Foote’s musical
The Howl, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.; Aussie Xavier
Rudd & The United Nations, with Jon
& Roy, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.; Cowichan
Valley Hospice’s Reel Alternatives film
Wild Tales, exploring inequity and
injustice, Oct. 26; plus lobby art by
Angela Anderson and Stephen Louis,
Oct. 2 to 20, and Current Threads:
Garden Tapestry Oct. 22 to Nov. 10. Call
250-748-7529 for more info.
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South Cowichan Echo – Entertainment
BARGE ON IN
Supporters of the Canucks Autism Network enjoyed the Barge On In event at Mill Bay Marina on Sept. 25. The evening
was part of Savour Cowichan and raised a significant amount of money for the Vancouver Canucks’ charity. Barge On
In provided guests with a sampling of locally produced food and drink with the shimmering waters of Mill Bay serving as
(Photo by Peter W. Rusland)
a backdrop.
OCTOBER 2015
Live Theatre
Sept. 11 – Oct. 3 – Jeeves Intervenes.
Chemainus
Theatre
Festival
Chemainus. 1-800-565-7738.
Oct. 16 – Nov. 7 – Grace & Glorie.
Chemainus
Theatre
Festival
Chemainus. 1-800-565-7738
Islanders vs. Peninsula Panthers. Kerry
Park Arena. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17 – Kerry Park
Islanders vs. Saanich Braves. Kerry
Park Arena. 7:30 p.m.
250-748-8982 for more information.
Homeschoolers Drop-In Playtime. 2:153:15pm. Duncan Gymnastics. 2687
James Street. More Information, call
746-0193
Just for Fun
Brent Hutchinson and Terry Wicks host
a jam at Jac’s on Queens in Duncan. 7
– 9 p.m.
Friday
Merridale Ciderworks hosts Pizza Night
featuring live entertainment. Sept. 6,
Roland Barrett. Sept. 13, Sets in the
West. Merridale Cider 1230 Merridale
Road, Cobble Hill, 250-743-4293.
Community Events
Friday, Oct. 23 – Physical Literacy
Workshop. 9 a.m. – 11;30 a.m.
Cowichan Performing Arts Centre. 250748-7529.
Saturday, Oct. 24 – Physical Literacy
Workshop. 9 a.m. – 11;30 a.m. Island
Savings Centre Heritage hall. 250-7487529.
It Happens Every Week
Saturday, Oct. 3 – Kerry Park Islanders
vs. Westshore Wolves. Kerry Park
Arena. 7:30 p.m.
Love horses? Cowichan Therapeutic
Riding Association needs dedicated
volunteers in lots of different areas.
Help our special needs riders to reach
their potential in the ring. There is experience necessary, training provided.
info@ctra.ca call 250-746-1028 or
www.ctra.ca
Saturday, Oct. 10 – Kerry Park
Cowichan Consort Orchestra. 7:30 p.m.
Sylvan United Church, 985 ShawniganMill Bay Road, Mill Bay. Please call
Sunday, Oct. 4 – Kerry Park Islanders
vs. Campbell River Storm. Kerry Park
Arena. 3:00 p.m. p.m.
Thursday
Sunday
October 31 - Craft Fair. 9 am – 2 pm.
Valley Seniors Organization. 198
Government St, Duncan. Table rental
info: 250-746-4433
Sports
Duncan. Guests are welcome!
Family Drop-in (crawling to Age 5).
12:00pm-12:45pm. Duncan Gymnastics. 2687 James Street. More Information, call 746-0193
Saturday, Oct. 17 – Jake’s Gift.
Cowichan Performing Arts Centre. 250748-7529
October 17 and 18 – Giant Charity Used
Book Sale, Bonner School. 20,000
quality books. Cash only. 250-7434627
www.gardenhousefoundation.wordpres
s.com
31
South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015
Monday
Wednesday
Cowichan Consort Choir. 7:30 p.m.
Sylvan United Church, 985 ShawniganMill Bay Road, Mill Bay. Please call
250-743-7445 for more information.
Family Drop-in (crawling to Age 5).
12:00pm-12:45pm. Duncan Gymnastics. 2687 James Street. More Information, call 746-0193
Cowichan Toastmaster Club 950 meets
on Wednesdays, 7-9 pm at the Island
Savings Centre (Boardroom) in
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32
South Cowichan Echo
OCTOBER 2015