Welcome to Lake Flashback. Reporter Sarah Simpson has been combing through old newspapers with the assistance of the Kaatza Station Museum and Archives so we can jog your memory, give you that nostalgic feeling, or just a chuckle, as we take a look at what was making headlines this week around Cowichan Lake in years gone by.
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This week around the Cowichan Lake area…
10 years ago
"Town seeks public input for age-friendly action plan" was a headline in the May 20, 2015 edition of the Lake Cowichan Gazette.
"After being approved for an age-friendly action plan grant in March, the Town of Lake Cowichan is taking its next step forward in making the town more friendly for seniors. Residents of all ages are invited to participate in a community workshop this Saturday (May 23) from 2 to 4 p.m. at the 50 Plus Activity Centre. The workshop will explore the character of Lake Cowichan’s aging population, services currently catering to seniors, challenges and opportunities for housing, mobility, community support and health services.
"In a recent press release, the Town of Lake Cowichan identified the goals of the age-friendly action plan as: helping seniors be physically and mentally active; ensuring older people remain engaged in all aspects of community life, politically, socially and inter-generationally; supporting seniors to live independent and healthy lives for as long as possible; and helping seniors live here comfortably until they die."
In other news of the day, "Upgrades will make Meade Creek Recycling Facility more user-friendly" was another headline.
"The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) is planning to introduce a number of upgrades to the Meade Creek Recycling Facility between Lake Cowichan and Youbou, which would make the facility more user-friendly, and is awaiting the approval of a Federal Gas Tax Strategic Fund grant before moving forward.
"Lake Cowichan’s town council recently sent a letter to the CVRD in support of the proposed upgrades, which are similar to the ones implemented at the Peerless Road Recycling Facility near Ladysmith.
“'We were second on that list at Meade Creek,' councillor Tim McGonigle said. 'I look forward hopefully to a similar ending to that project. It’s a very user-friendly facility.'
"The main upgrade proposed for the Meade Creek facility is an ash remediation plan that would see the closure of the facility’s ashfill. The upgrades are expected to create a more user-friendly experience at the Meade Creek facility by introducing a number of bins which would allow for the separation of recyclable material."
25 years ago
"The Stairway to Heaven is made of dirt" was the headline above the fold on the front of the May 24, 2000 Lake Cowichan Gazette.
Diana Andrew had the story:
"Led Zeppelin may have made it famous, but a small group of Valley motorcycle enthusiasts have made it come alive again. The 'Stairway to Heaven' looks to be a world class motorcycle hillclimbing course that might just help put Lake Cowichan back on the map. The course is located at the old Boy Scout Christmas tree farm, directly across from where North Shore Road meets the Youbou Highway.
"The location is perfect, far away from residential areas to alleviate worries about noise, dust and traffic, yet close and accessible to town and highway routes.
"'Local kids could theoretically peddle out to the track on their bicycles,' says regional district rep and motorcycle enthusiast, Joe Allan. The course rises a staggering 1180 feet in a series of groomed shelves or steps making it one of a kind in the hillclimbing world.
"For those who have never seen a motorcycle hillclimb, the premise is simple. It's a matter of one rider, one bike and one seemingly endless hill. You start at the bottom and the fastest to the top wins the glory."
In other news of the day, "Highway arch axed over liability concerns" was also a story.
"It looks like all the happy hype about the proposed Lumberman's Arch over Highway 18 has been for naught. The Ministry of Highways has quashed the concept, saying the potential liability of the project makes it unfeasable.
"We'll have to relook at that,' says Gateway coordinator Renee Leger, adding that the arch might end up near the Cowichan Lake sign at the Entrance to Town. A pull off and parking area are being considered for the vacant area behind the sign. 'We don't know, It's sort of on hold right now.' However, the Gateway program continues to find other ways to promote eco-tourism in the Cowichan Lake area."
40 years ago
"BCFP tries direct haul" was the top story on the front of the May 22, 1985 Lake News.
"BC Forest Products Renfrew division is experimenting with hauling logs directly from the woods to its Shoal Island dry land sort at Crofton, bypassing the company's Honeymoon Bay sort, to see if the money saved will be significant, a company official said last week. Renfrew superintendent Bob Murrant said Friday that Renfrew division would send logs across the lake from Honeymoon Bay to the Youbou sawmill if the mill needed the wood, but it doesn't because of cutbacks in the number of shifts."
And finally, news nobody likes to hear, no matter the year: "Village taxes to go up" was the top story of the May 22, 1985 edition.
"Lake Cowichan village council has rearranged tax classifications this year so that the burden of increased taxes does not fall only on local businesses. There will be an increase in residential taxes of $1.14 per $1,000 of assessment, slightly more than nine per cent. The Village of Lake Cowichan's general budget for 1985 totals $1,071,669, of which $533,496 goes to 'other authorities' such as School District 66, Cowichan Valley Regional District, the regional hospital district, B.C. Assessment Authority, Municipal Finance Authority of B.C. and the province for non-residential school taxation.
"That amount also includes $20,000 borrowed for a replacement fire truck and a $5,000 grant that will be used by the Lake Cowichan revitalization group."
