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 Lake Cowichan woman made headlines by winning a big award in Duncan a decade ago this week, according to the Lake Cowichan Gazette of April 17, 2013.
The headline was: “Local business woman wins Young Entrepreneur at Black Tie Awards”.
“A Lake Cowichan business woman was recognized for her entrepreneurial skills during the Duncan/Cowichan Chamber of Commerce Black Tie Awards on Saturday, April 13.
“Lillian Laird, owner of The Print Spot, was announced as the winner of the Young Entrepreneur award during the evening’s ceremonies. The award came as a shock to Laird, ‘I was so surprised that I didn’t even have anything prepared to say after they announced me as the winner,’ she said on Monday. ‘I am very happy for the whole Lake Cowichan area to be recognized with this award. It was a nice win for the town, and I will be proud to display the award in my business.’ she added. Laird notes that the whole experience was a bit surreal as she has never won anything previous to this very prestigious award. Her inspiration is from her mom, Anna, who was a longtime entrepreneur herself.”
In other news of the day, like the organization or not, it was nice to see that the “Fraser Institute gives LCSS an ‘A’”.
“The Fraser Institute, a Canadian think tank, has released its newest school report card and this time out Lake Cowichan Secondary School got an ‘A’. The rating for the 2010-2011 school year ranks LCSS as the top public secondary school in the district followed by Chemainus, Frances Kelsey and Cowichan. ‘We’ve gone way up in ranking since last year’s report. We’re now 119 out of 280,’ said LCSS Principal, Nicole Boucher. ‘I totally attribute this to the hard work of the staff and students.’
25 years ago
“Pullinger wants to see money here” was a story in the April 15, 1998 edition of the Lake News.
To be fair, I bet everybody wanted to see money in the town. Then and now. This time it was about schools.
“Cowichan-Ladysmith MLA Jan Pullinger met with the Minister of Education to push for her constituency’s school district to be declared a priority for some of the $339 million for capital projects allocated in last week’s budget.
“In a press release, Pullinger states that since 1991, her government has continued to make education a priority in this province. Prior to 1991, capital spending for schools was at a standstill, but population continued to grow. Now the government is funding new schools to correct the mistakes of the past.
“‘I think it’s time to build and renovate badly needed classrooms,’ Pullinger said. ‘Cowichan-Ladysmith has been a high growth area and we need to provide for the additional students.’”
Another story was the announcement of a new group in town.
“Needlework guild in Lake Cowichan” was the headline.
“Needlework enthusiasts will be pleased to hear there is a group being formed, The Lake Cowichan Needle Arts Guild. Bonnie Pollner of Lake Cowichan and who has been cross-stitching for 28 years is the driving force behind the new guild. The goal is for the Lake Cowichan Guild to become a member of the Embroidery Guild of Canada which will bring experts in the needlework field to Lake Cowichan to offer instruction in all needleworks.”
40 years ago
“Group decision set for cheaper rates” was about sewer and water rates in Lake Cowichan. It was in the April 20, 1983 Lake News.
“Lake Cowichan village council has decided it will not deal separately with requests from non-profit groups that have asked for reductions in water and sewer rates.
“At its April 12 meeting, council considered two such requests — one from the Lake Cowichan Pre-school Association and one from St. Christopher’s and St. Aidan’s Anglican Parish.
“Both groups claimed that as they did not use a great deal of water as their facilities were not in full time use, they should be entitled to a reduction in water and sewer rates they paid.”
And finally, “ICBC fight alive: Wallace” was a headline worthy of note.
“NDP candidate Barbara Wallace told supporters here last week that those people who still were fighting with ICBC over damage to vehicles caused by poor paving on Highway 18 in 1980 should keep their hopes high. She said that, where in the past the Insurance Corporation of B.C. refused some claims because of what they considered inadequate support with letters and receipts, they now are reconsidering their previous stance.
