• The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station #43 – Mill Bay is thanking everyone for the success of their recent Conquer Cobble Hill fundraiser.
“This year’s event was one of our biggest and best yet, funds raised were $7,279.41,” said organizers. “Thanks to your support and the support of our community.
• Tourism Cowichan has named its new executive director: Miranda Thorne.
Thorne has several years’ experience in marketing and communications and has been working with the Tourism Cowichan team to market the region over the past year.
Thorne brings a unique blend of experience to this role, after starting her career in the financial sector after completing a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance at the Sauder School of Business. She then shifted into public relations, where she led client accounts at leading Vancouver-based firm, Talk Shop Media.
As a transplant from the prairies, Thorne has an exceptional understanding of what makes Vancouver Island, and Cowichan, an attractive and truly distinct travel destination within Canada.
“I believe Cowichan has potential to be one of the most sought-after travel experiences in the country,” said Thorne. “I’m excited to continue to work with our stakeholders to tell the world about the people and businesses that call this incredible region home.”
“We are so excited to have Miranda take the reins for Tourism Cowichan,” says Janet Docherty, president of Tourism Cowichan. “We are confident she will play a key role in continuing to deliver outstanding marketing for Cowichan, attract visitors from our key target markets and drive traffic and overnight trips in the shoulder season.”
• Thirty players from North Saanich to Nanoose Bay on the Island including several Masters and Experts were in Duncan recently for the Cowichan Rapid Open Chess Championship.
In the end, Jason Cao, former World Champion for the Under-10s, won the event with four wins and a draw.
Cao, a FIDE Master, won on “tiebreak” with National Master Roger Patterson, who also scored four-and-a-half. National Master Mike Stanford came third with four out of five.
Top junior was William Li, now of Victoria formerly of Duncan, and second junior went to Declan O’Sullivan.
• On Sunday, July 29 close to 80 members of the Cowichan Valley Garden Club celebrated the institution’s 65th anniversary with a Tea at Providence Farm.
Past presidents joined the current president, Jean Haley, in cutting the cake.
• The Cowichan Valley School District announced recently that Tom Longridge has been appointed associate superintendent to replace retiring incumbent Debbie Mah.
Longridge is coming to the Cowichan Valley from the Campbell River School District where he has been the superintendent/CEO since 2009. He has also served as a youth worker, teacher, behaviour specialist, counsellor, school psychologist, and school principal.
“We are excited to have Mr. Longridge join us and know that his over 30 years of experience and considerable expertise will greatly benefit the students in our district,” said Rod Allen, superintendent of learning at School District 79.
