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.
This week around the Cowichan Lake area…
10 years ago
The top headline in the Jan. 25, 2012 Lake Cowichan Gazette was about another coffee option on its way.
“It’s official: Tim Hortons opening in Lake Cowichan” was the headline and mayor Ross Forrest announced the store would open up as soon as the summer of 2012.
“’We’re trying to increase traffic through here but we want to give people a reason to stop. Tim Hortons will be just one more reason for them to want to stop. I think it’s going to help the other businesses in town, I really do,’ said Forrest. Councillor Bob Day is also happy that Tim Hortons is coming to Lake Cowichan. He believes that more selection is always a good thing. ‘I think Lake Cowichan has been under-serviced for a long time and that has forced people to shop and do things out of town,’ said Day.”
Not everybody was happy.
“Many are worried that the new franchise will steal business from the community’s other dining options. Gillian Griese-Polard is one of those who are concerned at the presence of Tim Hortons. ‘I haven’t got anything against Tim Hortons but I do love the Galloping Moon and going to the deli at the grocery store with my kids for treats. I hope that this doesn’t drive them out of business,’ said Griese-Polard.”
While one door was opening, another was almost closed as another headline from the Gazette read: “98.7 FM The Lake struggles to keep broadcasting”.
“Lake Cowichan’s local radio station 98.7 FM The Lake is battling to stay afloat and on the air. From what began in 2002 in local radio enthusiast Brian Simpson’s living room, The Lake faces the grave possibility of extinction after the station’s community licence expires in August of this year. ‘It has been a real struggle right from day one to sell the concept of a volunteer run community radio station right here. It has been an uphill battle,’ said the radio station’s board member Ron McKenzie.”
25 years ago
Last week we learned that 25 years ago the sewers backed up and it was attributed to the big storm that ended 1996. This week, however, the Lake News of Jan. 22, 1997 tells us a different story.
“Sewer tampering blamed on back-up” was the front page headline.
“A second incident, in less than a month, or raw sewage backing up into the Gospel Lighthouse, has been blamed, this time, on someone putting a 2x4 down a manhole, Mayor Jean Brown said, causing a blockage in the line.
“Saturday morning Gordon Peterson along with Bruce Wilson (church members) were called to the church because raw sewage, coming up from the toilet, once again, spilled out onto the floor, soaking a good section of the bathroom, hallway, and kitchen area in the basement of the church. Outside the church, one could see sewage bubbling up from a manhole.”
In less gross news, a Hawaiian holiday was being planned by a Lake Cowichan resident, after a big lotto win.
“Who was to know that when Marion Eckert of Lake Cowichan woke up Wednesday morning that she would be going to sleep that night $20,000 richer.
“It was her lucky day last Wednesday when Marion, wife of Mike Eckert, decided to go for a walk with daughter Jessie and stop off at Joan’s Market to buy a Bingo scratch and win. ‘Earlier in the week I tried to buy a Bingo ticket but everywhere was sold out of them. So I bought a Keno ticket and won $6. During our walk Wednesday, I decided to take the ticket and buy Bingo tickets with my $6,’ Marion said.
“…sure enough it was a winner and the couple went to collect their winnings Thursday. Marion said she plans on taking the family to Hawaii for a vacation.”
40 years ago
The land assessment office was getting a phone call from the Town of Lake Cowichan this time four decades ago, according to the Lake News of Jan. 27, 1982.
“Lake Cowichan village council has appealed for a reconsideration of Lake Cowichan assessments, on behalf of all property owners. In an eleventh-hour decision made Jan. 19 — one day before the deadline — councillors decided to launch the appeal, after discussing why it was necessary.
“Mayor Ken Douglas said, ‘I’m not so concerned with people who have enough self-confidence and have the knowledge to make an appeal on their own — it’s the others that concern me.’
“All councillors have received complaints about assessments he said.”
In the same edition, Lexi Bainas wrote a story about the proposed expansion of the Town of Lake Cowichan.
“Residents better off inside the village council says,” was the headline.
“Residents outside the village will be better off once they are included by proposed expansion, according to council. One of the main advantages to joining the village through boundary expansion will be closer participation in local government, instead of being part of a vast regional district system, both councillors and the village clerk agreed at a meeting Jan. 19.”
Village clerk Pat Akerley said “‘the powers of a local municipal government are considerably greater than that of an electoral area,’ adding that village residents would get closer access to government, too.”
sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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