Local News

A young tree felled by protesters to block a road in the Fairy Creek area. (RCMP photo)

Protesters cut young trees at Fairy Creek logging blockades

RFS says blockades are meant to save old growth, it doesn’t oppose second-growth logging

All the rowing athletes from Canada participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were trained on Quamichan Lake. (File photo)

North Cowichan cheers on “home-town” rowing team at Tokyo Olympics

All Olympic rowers from Canada trained at Quamichan Lake

Duncan Christian School students build friendship benches during a two-day event sponsored by the Industry Training Authority. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Duncan Christian students get a taste of the trades

Two-day workshop sees students build benches for Cowichan community

Representatives from nine forestry companies active in the Cowichan Valley gather at the BC Forest Discovery Centre for the unveiling of a new trailer that will promote their support of the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation. (Submitted)

New trailer promotes partnership between forestry, Cowichan District Hospital Foundation

Nine local companies chipped in to support foundation and new hospital project

Representatives from nine forestry companies active in the Cowichan Valley gather at the BC Forest Discovery Centre for the unveiling of a new trailer that will promote their support of the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation. (Submitted)
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP safely removed a man from the Silver Bridge in Duncan on July 22. (RCMP handout)

RCMP lead distraught man away from Silver Bridge in Duncan

A call for help resulted in a a safe resolution

North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP safely removed a man from the Silver Bridge in Duncan on July 22. (RCMP handout)
Missing person Cameron Blake Beaven. (Submitted)

RCMP looking to identify woman linked to missing Cameron Blake Beaven

Cameron Blake Beaven was last spotted July 2

Missing person Cameron Blake Beaven. (Submitted)
Video
Bill Merilees, a retired B.C. Parks regional information officer, collected mollusk shells from B.C. and Washington state coastlines for 50 years and has donated his 140,000-specimen collection to University of British Columbia’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
VIDEO: B.C. man donates 140,000 mollusk specimens to biodiversity museum
Mary Simon speaks during an announcement at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Simon, an Inuk leader and former Canadian diplomat, has been named as Canada's next governor general — the first Indigenous person to serve in the role. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
VIDEO: Mary Simon becomes Canada’s 1st Indigenous governor general
Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. says expanding emergency alert for wildfires is a priority, but no timeline set
Richard and Linda Davis hug their grandchildren Miles and Linda Carnegie at their home in Winnipeg, Sunday, July 18, 2021. The couple were able to hug their grandchildren for the first time in fifteen months when Manitoba lifted some COVID-19 restrictions this weekend. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
‘A light at the end of the tunnel’: Canadians hug loved ones in post-vaccine reunions
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The Lake Cowichan RCMP confirm missing persons Nadia Elkouni and Helmy Sherif have been safely located. (RCMP handout)

Missing elderly couple last seen near Honeymoon Bay found safe

Victoria residents had been heading from Lake Cowichan to Port Renfrew

The Lake Cowichan RCMP confirm missing persons Nadia Elkouni and Helmy Sherif have been safely located. (RCMP handout)
The odours coming from the CVRD’s Bald Mountain Waste Treatment Plant have raised complaints from its neighbours. (Submitted photo)

Residents at Youbou’s Woodlands Shores complain about sewage odours

CVRD says problem being worked on

The odours coming from the CVRD’s Bald Mountain Waste Treatment Plant have raised complaints from its neighbours. (Submitted photo)
Brian Balsdon’s has opened Country Home & Kitchen at 103-55 Canada Ave. in downtown Duncan. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Business notes: New home decor store opens in downtown Duncan

A look at what’s going on in Cowichan’s business community

Brian Balsdon’s has opened Country Home & Kitchen at 103-55 Canada Ave. in downtown Duncan. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Workers fit modular pieces in place as work began on July 15 on a 32-unit affordable housing project near Boys Road that is a partnership between Cowichan Tribes and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Cowichan Tribes begins work on its large housing complex

Affordable Housing project will see 32 new units constructed

Workers fit modular pieces in place as work began on July 15 on a 32-unit affordable housing project near Boys Road that is a partnership between Cowichan Tribes and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Paul Fletcher, president of the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society, told North Cowichan’s council at a recent meeting that work continues to deal with parrot’s feather in the Somenos watershed. (File photo)

Invasive parrot’s feather now smothering 80% of Somenos Creek: report

Salmon stocks threatened by invasive plant species

Paul Fletcher, president of the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society, told North Cowichan’s council at a recent meeting that work continues to deal with parrot’s feather in the Somenos watershed. (File photo)
Members of the Island Health team Carlee Bushell (back row left), Dr. Mike Benusic, Charlotte Brown, Kaylee Gray, Matt Erickson (front row left) and Mike Munro in front of the health authority’s new mobile vaccination clinic, the Vax Van. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Island Health launches mobile first-vaccination clinic across south island communities

Vax Van aims to reach vaccine hesitant people age 18 to 40 where they’re at

Members of the Island Health team Carlee Bushell (back row left), Dr. Mike Benusic, Charlotte Brown, Kaylee Gray, Matt Erickson (front row left) and Mike Munro in front of the health authority’s new mobile vaccination clinic, the Vax Van. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
A new trail along the E&N rail corridor that is in the planning stages next to Shawnigan Lake is being opposed by a group in the community. (File photo)

Plans for Shawnigan trail draw opposition

Pathway would be constructed along E&N Trail adjacent to lake

A new trail along the E&N rail corridor that is in the planning stages next to Shawnigan Lake is being opposed by a group in the community. (File photo)
The Lake Cowichan RCMP are looking for missing persons Nadia Elkouni and Helmy Sherif. They were last seen near Honeymoon Bay around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20. (Submitted)

RCMP looking for elderly couple last seen near Honeymoon Bay on Tuesday

Victoria residents are believed to have been heading from Lake Cowichan to Port Renfrew

The Lake Cowichan RCMP are looking for missing persons Nadia Elkouni and Helmy Sherif. They were last seen near Honeymoon Bay around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20. (Submitted)
From left: PPWC Local 2’s Jonathan Beam (First Vice President - Operations); Geoff Dawe (Interim President) and Rob Cage (First Vice President- Maintenance). (Photo submitted)

Information picket sets out union issues at Crofton mill

Safety, payroll and staffing among the major concerns

From left: PPWC Local 2’s Jonathan Beam (First Vice President - Operations); Geoff Dawe (Interim President) and Rob Cage (First Vice President- Maintenance). (Photo submitted)
The busy beach seen at Fuller Lake Park and others earlier in the summer will return with the lifting of advisories. (File photo by Don Bodger)

Beach advisories lifted

Bacterial counts back within acceptable levels

The busy beach seen at Fuller Lake Park and others earlier in the summer will return with the lifting of advisories. (File photo by Don Bodger)
The invasive seaweed Japanese sargassum is rapidly spreading in Maple Bay. (Sue Fryer photo)

Event aims to uproot invasive seaweed sweeping through Maple Bay

Community to hold event on July 25 to remove Japanese Sargasso

The invasive seaweed Japanese sargassum is rapidly spreading in Maple Bay. (Sue Fryer photo)
All four North Cowichan fire departments responded to a blaze on Hall Road Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

North Cowichan fire crews race to Hall Road house fire

South End and Maple Bay halls responding

All four North Cowichan fire departments responded to a blaze on Hall Road Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
All four North Cowichan fire departments responded to a blaze on Hall Road Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

VIDEO: North Cowichan man dies in house fire

GoFundMe campaign launched to support family of Nate Haslam

All four North Cowichan fire departments responded to a blaze on Hall Road Tuesday night. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
(File photo)

Shoplifting suspect in Duncan caught with $14,000 in drugs

32-year-old Campbell River woman could face multiple charges

(File photo)