Robert Barron

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Insp. Chris Bear, head of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment, says the police don’t operate a catch-and-release program for people who are arrested. (File photo)

Police don’t operate a “catch-and-release” system, says Cowichan RCMP head

Chris Bear says it’s the courts who decide to release or detain people

Insp. Chris Bear, head of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment, says the police don’t operate a catch-and-release program for people who are arrested. (File photo)
The Jones’s Christmas Village is being prepared for display again this festive season. (Marcia Jones photo)

Jones’s Christmas Village is back this year

Donations go towards cancer treatment

The Jones’s Christmas Village is being prepared for display again this festive season. (Marcia Jones photo)
Lauren Combs, a sales representative at Sheer Essentials Lingerie Swimwear on Kenneth Street, said the store will close and amalgamate with its other location on the Trans-Canada Highway later this month. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Business notes: Sheer Essentials Lingerie Swimwear to amalgamate 2 stores

The latest from Cowichan Valley’s business community

Lauren Combs, a sales representative at Sheer Essentials Lingerie Swimwear on Kenneth Street, said the store will close and amalgamate with its other location on the Trans-Canada Highway later this month. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
The City of Duncan agreed to fund the Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre $22,000 for operations in 2022, but funding may be limited in the future. (File photo)

Duncan warns Visitor Centre of future funding cut

City looking at increased policing costs

The City of Duncan agreed to fund the Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre $22,000 for operations in 2022, but funding may be limited in the future. (File photo)
Charges stayed in road-rage incident in 2019. (File photo)

Charges in Cowichan road-rage incident stayed by Crown

Crofton’s Jeffrey Robert Pfeifer was charged after incident in 2019

Charges stayed in road-rage incident in 2019. (File photo)
Rabbi Meir Kaplan, director of Chabad Vancouver Island, lit a large menorah in Duncan City Square on Nov. 30 to celebrate the third day of Hanukkah. Dozens of people attended the event, and Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau gave a speech commemorating the occasion. The menorah is making its way across Vancouver Island to mark the season. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Menorah lit in Duncan City Square

Lit on third day of Hannakah

Rabbi Meir Kaplan, director of Chabad Vancouver Island, lit a large menorah in Duncan City Square on Nov. 30 to celebrate the third day of Hanukkah. Dozens of people attended the event, and Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau gave a speech commemorating the occasion. The menorah is making its way across Vancouver Island to mark the season. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
This minivan rolled over into the ditch on Highway 18 in the early morning hours of Nov. 25 after the driver lost control of the vehicle. (Kathryn Swan photo)

Minor injuries after rollover on Highway 18

Driver lost control of vehicle

This minivan rolled over into the ditch on Highway 18 in the early morning hours of Nov. 25 after the driver lost control of the vehicle. (Kathryn Swan photo)
The RCMP are alleging some of its members were assaulted at a Fairy Creek protest camp. (File photo)

RCMP say logging protesters assaulted officers at Fairy Creek camp

Protest group says police actions illegal

The RCMP are alleging some of its members were assaulted at a Fairy Creek protest camp. (File photo)
The Cowichan Aquatic Centre now requires proof-of-vaccination from all its users. (File photo)

Proof of vaccination now required for pool area at Cowichan Aquatic Centre

Island Health says honour system not working

The Cowichan Aquatic Centre now requires proof-of-vaccination from all its users. (File photo)
The Municipality of North Cowichan has signed a four-year collective agreement with its CUPE workers. (File photo)

North Cowichan union workers will get 8% raise over four years

Members of CUPE Local 358 will also see other benefits in new collective agreement

The Municipality of North Cowichan has signed a four-year collective agreement with its CUPE workers. (File photo)
Roger Crowther (far right), a member of the newly formed Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Cowichan organization, and other supporters held a demonstration in Duncan on Nov. 26 in support of the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s fight against Coastal GasLink and its pipeline. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Wet’suwet’en supporters take to streets in Duncan

Demonstrators say action by police and gas company on First Nation’s land is illegal

Roger Crowther (far right), a member of the newly formed Wet’suwet’en Solidarity Cowichan organization, and other supporters held a demonstration in Duncan on Nov. 26 in support of the Wet’suwet’en Nation’s fight against Coastal GasLink and its pipeline. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Ryan Smith, owner of Great Greens Farm Market, stands next to the exhaust fan for the store’s refrigeration system that was vandalized. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Farm market in Cowichan has refrigeration system knocked out by vandal

Damage to Great Greens Farm Market in the thousands of dollars

Ryan Smith, owner of Great Greens Farm Market, stands next to the exhaust fan for the store’s refrigeration system that was vandalized. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
The City of Duncan has banned the use of most poisons to deal with rodents in all properties owned by the city. (File photo)

Duncan bans use of rat poisons in city properties

But pest control could become more costly for city

The City of Duncan has banned the use of most poisons to deal with rodents in all properties owned by the city. (File photo)
Rhoda Taylor, the widow Paul Lazenby, to whom the new patio portal in Cowichan Bay is dedicated, cuts the ribbon to officially open the patio along with some of the couple's children and grandchildren. (Rachel Penney photo)

Cowichan Bay’s new patio portal officially opens

$200,000 project began in 2019

Rhoda Taylor, the widow Paul Lazenby, to whom the new patio portal in Cowichan Bay is dedicated, cuts the ribbon to officially open the patio along with some of the couple's children and grandchildren. (Rachel Penney photo)
Robert’s column

Robert Barron column: Climate change an increasing problem

I remember about 15 years ago, I attended a lecture in Nanaimo by Gwynne Dyer

Robert’s column
This large sign with North Cowichan’s now retired coat of arms on it that was located adjacent to the main door at Municipal Hall will be donated to the Chemainus Museum. (File photo)

North Cowichan’s retired coat of arms heading to Chemainus Museum

Museum expressed interest in acquiring artifacts to display

This large sign with North Cowichan’s now retired coat of arms on it that was located adjacent to the main door at Municipal Hall will be donated to the Chemainus Museum. (File photo)
Tim Hortons’ annual Smile Cookie campaign this year raised $13,506 for three local non-profit organizations. Pictured, from left, is Leslie Welin from The Clements Centre, Erin Generous from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cowichan Valley, Greg Adams, owner of a number of Tim Hortons in the region, Fatima Da Silva from Nourish Cowichan and Charlotte Fisher from Tim Hortons. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Business notes: Cowichan Cycles expands operations

The latest from the Cowichan Valley business community

Tim Hortons’ annual Smile Cookie campaign this year raised $13,506 for three local non-profit organizations. Pictured, from left, is Leslie Welin from The Clements Centre, Erin Generous from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cowichan Valley, Greg Adams, owner of a number of Tim Hortons in the region, Fatima Da Silva from Nourish Cowichan and Charlotte Fisher from Tim Hortons. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
North Cowichan Coun. Kate Marsh made a successful motion that will see Cowichan Green Community receive a grant of up to $82,000 to cover building and development permit fees. (File photo)

North Cowichan grants up to $82,000 for food hub

Funding to cover building and development permit fees

North Cowichan Coun. Kate Marsh made a successful motion that will see Cowichan Green Community receive a grant of up to $82,000 to cover building and development permit fees. (File photo)
Renters in the Cowichan Valley who are having trouble paying their rent and other housing needs will soon have access to a local rent bank that provides interest-free loans. (File photo)

Rent bank to be set up in Cowichan Valley

Rent banks provide interest-free loans for tenants in urgent circumstances

Renters in the Cowichan Valley who are having trouble paying their rent and other housing needs will soon have access to a local rent bank that provides interest-free loans. (File photo)
Chinna Reddy Katireddy (right), managing director of Macropus Homes, is working hard to help find Mitch Lowry (left), one of his employees, a rental apartment in the area. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

High costs leaves construction worker shut out of Cowichan rental market

Mich Lowry spent more than a month sleeping in truck

Chinna Reddy Katireddy (right), managing director of Macropus Homes, is working hard to help find Mitch Lowry (left), one of his employees, a rental apartment in the area. (Robert Barron/Citizen)