Kathryn Swan has lived in Lake Cowichan for 17 years but still considers herself a newcomer. She’s been on a mission since August to track down the town’s longstanding citizens.
“The day we had the big celebration at the Lake, they didn’t mention the long-time residents at the Lake,” Swan explained.
This year has marked the 75th anniversary of Lake Cowichan becoming at town, and there have been numerous events to celebrate the occasion.
She felt the community’s longest-running citizens needed some type of recognition.
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“They laid the groundwork of the town,” Swan said. “People like me, we love it there because they’re so friendly…they’re always there. They’ve made it the place that it is today and they should be acknowledged.”
From her preliminary work alone, Swan already has a notebook filled with residents who’ve lived in the area for years and years.
Some have lived around the Lake since the early 1930s. Others have been there a couple decades, 25 years, 50 years and more. The list is growing to include others too.
“The ones that have been there the longest, the ones who have lived their whole life there, plus anybody that was born the same year as the town was born,” she said.
For those whose names ought to be on the list, or who know somebody whose name should be on the list, keep your eyes open for sign-up sheets. They’ll be available where people gather at all the towns and villages around Cowichan Lake from Caycuse to Youbou and everywhere else: stores, gas stations, community centres, churches etc.
“The best thing about it, it’s the whole Lake,” Swan said. “This is unification. We are all important. You are all important.”
The lists will be collected at the end of November and once compiled, the list of names will be run in a future edition of the Lake Cowichan Gazette.
sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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