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
It wasn’t until Page 5 of the May 4, 2011 edition of the Lake Cowichan Gazette that residents learned “the town’s elected officials are sticking to a 5.35 per cent tax increase for 2011.”
Yuck.
“Nobody likes raising taxes”, councillor Tim McGonigle said…. “We reduce services or we increase taxes.”
Meanwhile, “The town’s elected officials passed a first, second, and third reading during the town’s Tuesday, April 26, regular council meeting. The report states that the town’s expenditure/revenue will go up to $5,980,250 by 2015, which is up $206,095 from the 2011 budget.”
Also in the May 4, 2011 edition, “The Lake Cowichan Food Bank Society is seeking space to store its non-perishable goods, as the space currently allowed at the Lake Cowichan Christian Fellowship Church can no longer allow them the extra space they’ve been taking up.
“There’s no room in town facilities, the town’s elected officials stated, though they will push them in the direction of the local school district, and the public at large, for the donation of storage space.”
25 years ago
This time 25 years ago the Lake Cowichan School District was still hoping a merger with the Village would be in the cards, as opposed to the proposed amalgamation with another district.
“They see this as a viable alternative to amalgamation with School District #65 and are looking at conducting a feasibility study which will hopefully show that such a merger would be cost-effective. If the study does show that the merger with the Village is a reasonable alternative, the proposal will then be presented to both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
“To devastate an entire community for $90,000 (saved in this district through amalgamation) seems unreasonable,” said trustee Buck Hollingdrake….” in the May 8, 1996 edition of the Lake News.
While school district officials were shaking with fury over the proposed changes, the rest of the Village was shaking thanks to an earthquake centered in the U.S.
“People all over the Lake were speaking Friday morning of the tremor they felt Thursday evening from the U.S. earthquake which measured 4.8 on the Richter Scale.
“Some Cowichan Lake Homes actually vibrated say residents, while other people say they didn’t feel a thing. The tremors travelled from the quake centre, just northeast of Seattle, and his at 9:05 p.m. May 2.”
And finally, from the May 8, 1996 edition of the Lake News, “Minister of Forests, Dennis Streisel signed the forest licence for the Cowichan Community Forest Co-operative (CCFC) last Monday. ‘Basically this means we can now log,’ Jean Brown, president of the CCFC said.
“The licence will allow for 18,000 cubic metres per year to be logged and the contract with the Ministry of Forests is good for 15 years.”
40 years ago
It was big news this week 40 years ago as LCSS rugby Lakers were found to be “tops”.
“The Lake Cowichan Secondary School Lakers rugby team has won the North Island championship for the second year in a row,” according to the Lake News of May 6, 1981.
“The Lakers squeaked by Port Alberni 17-16 in a hard fought game played in Port Alberni, Thursday, April 30.
“Coach Wes Thomas, in his wrap-up of the championship game said, ‘to have made the provincials again is a great achievement for our boys.’ Just by making the provincial playoffs, the Lakers are guaranteed at least 16th place province wide.
“Thomas said he hopes to improve on last season’s 11th place finish, when they play this weekend in New Westminster.”
More student news from four decades ago this week: “Milk run raises $150”.
“A total of 240 students from Lake Cowichan Secondary School and Stanley Gordon, together with staff members and some representatives from the school participated in the 1981 Milk Run for the B.C. Society for Crippled Children.
“The event raised $150 entirely through the contributions of the participants, who jogged, ran, or walked the three-kilometre course. The RCMP handled the necessary traffic control.
“Organizer teacher David Boeckner said after the run, ‘this event proved again that large-scale positive, student involvement can be generated towards a worthwhile project.’ He said he found the chance to join with students in an event that combines recreation with community service was ‘especially encouraging.’”
sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter