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 settles on solution to ongoing water problem" was the top headline in the Lake Cowichan Gazette of April 15, 2015.
"After putting up with several weeks of boil water advisories this past winter, residents of Lake Cowichan may be pleased to hear that the town has committed to a solution.
"The town had formerly looked at an ultraviolet (UV) treatment system as the solution to Island Health’s new requirement for a secondary system, though Nagi Rizk, superintendent of the town’s Public Works department, recently confirmed that they are now pursuing a sand filtration system.
"The sand filtration system is more effective in eliminating turbidity, which has been cited as the cause of the two recent boil water advisories. While the quality of Lake Cowichan’s water has presumably remained the same, the rising water quality standards of Island Health deem any drinking water over 1.0 NTU of turbidity to now be unsafe to drink before boiling."
"Tree Grant helps community garden find roots" was also an April 15, 2015 headline.
"The Cowichan Lake Community Garden will be laying down its roots soon thanks to a recent grant from Tree Canada. The $4000 grant was awarded on April 2 under the organization’s Edible Trees program. 17 other communities also received a slice of the $45,800 pie, though Lake Cowichan was the only recipient on the Island. The grant will allow the gardening group to purchase 10 fruit and nut-bearing trees, including apple, mulberry, hazelnut, cherry and pear. The grant also covers the cost of soil amendments, such as compost, as well as three workshops on fruit tree care, soil fertility and mulching."
25 years ago
"Pharmacist at local People's Drug Store pleads guilty to criminal fraud charge" was the top headline on the front of the Lake Cowichan Gazette of April 19, 2000.
"Lake Cowichan pharmacist pleaded guilty to a criminal fraud charge last Monday, April 10, in Duncan Provincial Court. She was charged with Fraud Over $5000 and will be sentenced on July 28. The same charge against the pharmacy was stayed.
"'Our main concern are the individuals involved,' says Crown Counsel Stephen Cook. 'I'm content (the charge) has been properly dealt with by the individual pleading guilty.'
"The criminal charges relate to alleged unsubstantiated billings made to Health Canada's non-insurable health benefits program. It is intended to provide third party coverage for First Nations People to pay for things like dental care, prescription drugs and eyeglasses.
"'What the bottom line was, billings were made to the program and paid,' says Cook. 'When an audit was done they weren't able to substantiate the billings.'"
"LCSS's Lum is off to Olympics in Sydney" was another big story.
"The time: September, 2000. The place: Sydney, Australia, The event: The Olympics. When the eyes of the world focus down-under, one small Island town will find itself with some excellent representation. Lake Cowichan's own Tina Lum is one of eight young people chosen to represent Canada at the Olympic Youth Camp in Sydney this fall.
"'She'll make a great ambassador, not only for Lake Cowichan but for Canada,' says Lake Cowichan Secondary School Vice-Principal, Molly Halton. 'We're all very proud.' Being chosen to attend the Olympic Youth Camp is indeed an honour as, from across Canada, only four girls and four boys have been selected.
"The Olympic Youth Camp is a long standing tradition of the games, dating back to the 1912 games in Stockholm. Youth camp participants will take part in workshops, environmental work, sports activities as well as being part of the games themselves."
40 years ago
I couldn't find a copy of the paper for the third week of April so we're skipping ahead. In the Lake News of April 24, 1985, "Two area accidents wreck vehicles" was a noticeable headline.
"Police say the Canadian National railway trestle obstructed the view of motorists and an accident occurred Saturday near the Logger Hut Restaurant on South Shore Road in Lake Cowichan. Mark Noonan, of Lake Cowichan, was attempting to drive his 1973 Datsun out into traffic when he was in collision with a Yamaha motorcycle driven by George Roland Nilson, of Saskatchewan. Noonan's car sustained $1,500 damage.
"Sandra Holgate, of Duncan, and two passengers in her 1982 Toyota pickup truck received minor injuries in an accident on the Nitinat Mainline logging road Saturday. Her truck, however, was wrecked in the mishap which occurred about 10.30 a.m. Lake Cowichan RCMP estimate that $5,000 damage was done to the truck. They say she drove into a large pothole and her truck went into a ditch."
And finally, "Leeman case scheduled" was on the front page.
"Both the chairman and the administrator of the Cowichan Valley Regional District refused to make any comment on the court case scheduled for this fall that will deal with one of the top executives fired by the CVRD last year. Dennis Leeman — former CVRD public works superintendent — is suing the regional district after is dismissal. The case is scheduled to be heard this October in the B.C. Supreme Court."
