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Flashback: Valley Fish and Game Club banquet, potential mill closure, choking baby saved

A look back at the history of the Cowichan Lake area
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”The 17 member Lake Cowichan Rivernotes Choir — under the direction of Judith Quinlan at Studio 261 — sings River Run at the Duncan United Church during the vocal segment of the 64th-annual Cowichan Music festival. Local pianist Robyn Crosby accompanied them. The Rivernotes went on to win in the Adult Community Choir category. The award came with a $50 cheque, courtesy of Island Savings Credit Union. Quinlan says “it ($50) will really help us, choir music is expensive.” (Lake Cowichan Gazette/March 20, 2013)

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

A decade ago in March it was time for the Valley Fish and Game Club’s annual banquet and awards.

So says the March 20, 2013 Lake Cowichan Gazette.

“In addition to good times, the sold out annual Valley Fish and Game Club Banquet served to recognize some of the organization’s many volunteers. One of the top awards of the evening — the Howard Smith Achievement Award — went to long-time volunteer Jim Marwood for the second year in a row. The award is voted on by the members, so that shows how much it is worth.

“Overall the annual banquet, which is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, was a successful event pulled together by 30-plus years veteran organizers Jim Eddy and Mike Hancock. The event raised money that helps pay for the club’s efforts in conservation throughout the Cowichan Lake area said Bill Swain, president of VFG. ‘We get a lot of support from local businesses too,’ said Swain. ‘And we thank them for it’.”

On a full-page add, the new iPhone 5 was out and only cost $699. Now a new iPhone will set you back at least four figures!

25 years ago

The March 25, 1998 Lake News top story was “Company keeps Mill operating for now”. That sounds dire.

“Rumors were flying last week about a Youbou Mill temporary shutdown. The mill will run for at least two more weeks, Senior Vice-President of Marketing Ron Sanster said Monday.

“Youbou Mill has been threatened with a shut down, but TimberWest has done everything in its power to keep it going.” That’s the word from Sanster.

“The Mill currently sells Douglas fir and hemlock chips to Harmac Pacific. Because Harmac will be shutting down for a three week period, minimum, they will not take the Douglas fir, only the hemlock.

“‘We have a decision to make. Whether or not we (Youbou Mill) shifts over to hemlock but even then we have to find the place for our hog fuel,’ Sanster said.”

In the same edition, “Official Community Plan draft gets much opposition from public” was there on the front page, too.

“Mention the draft of the Official Community Plan in certain circles and you will receive very strong opinions against this document,” wrote Susan Lowe. “Since Council released the draft recently, the document has become one of the most controversial issues to be raised since this council took office. An open house was held last week to give the public an opportunity to view the Official Community Plan and maps. Among some major concerns arising from the draft OCP, is what has been called irregularities in the mapping and zoning.”

40 years ago

A tiny baby was saved from choking to death this week in 1983, according to the March 23, 1983 Lake News.

“Quick action saved a Lake Cowichan baby’s life last week. Lois-Jean Mattice was only 15 days old when the incident occurred March 14.”

According to her mother Katy, the little girl had been colicky and upset the previous night. To ease the little one’s discomfort, her mother decided to give her a warm bath. The time was about 1:45 p.m. Not 10 minutes later, Katy Mattice was rushing across the street to her neighbour, Tina Newton…

“She told the Lake News last week that she had been holding her baby in the water, in the way that she had be shown, when the child rolled out of her arms and into the basin. Little Lois-Jean inhaled some of her bath water and Katy’s ordeal began.”

After trying all the standard methods, the neighbour “reached into the little girl’s windpipe and removed a quantity of mucus that was blocking the passage, allowing her to breathe once more.

“The baby was taken to hospital and kept overnight but is now home with her parents.”

The “Village [was] all alone in bid to stop CP abandonment” said another Lake News story.

It turned out the local government would be the only government opposing Canadian Pacific Railway’s application to abandon its rail line to the area.

“Lake Cowichan village council decided at its March 8 meeting to send in a submission protesting the proposal. The Cowichan Valley Regional District will not make a presentation, although it will support any made by the village.

“CP Rail has claimed that there is little justification in maintaining what it says is a money-losing line and has asked the Railway Transport Committee to permit abandonment of the service.”

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”Lake Cowichan fire chief Jim Sidhu (right) takes time out during a fund-raising broom ball game Saturday to accept donation from Youbou Volunteer Fire Department. Larry Ketch presented Sidhu for $504 cheque to go towards purchase of compressor unit for the Lake Cowichan Volunteer Fire Department. In the broomball game, Youbou outclassed, out-bodied, out-shot, out-performed, outscored and generally ran circles around the heavy-footed Lake Cowichan crew. Even though the Lake Cowichan firemen’s performance on the ice (they lost 9-2) was not sterling, a silver collection in the crowd collected another $45.” (Lake News/March 23, 1983)


Sarah Simpson

About the Author: Sarah Simpson

I started my time with Black Press Media as an intern, before joining the Citizen in the summer of 2004.
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