Cowichan Tribes officially took ownership of the former Duncan RCMP building in a special ceremony on Friday, Jan. 17.
Located at 6060 Canada Ave., the 1.15-hectare property will house Cowichan Tribes’ public works and emergency services departments and provide secure storage for vehicles, equipment and other assets.
Cowichan Tribes Emergency Services protects lives, property, and the environment by responding to natural disasters and emergencies, while also reducing risks through prevention, mitigation, public education and managing incidents like floods, fires, spills, hazardous materials, search and rescue and emergency support services.
“Since 2022, the Emergency Services department has successfully secured more than $2 million in grants for planning, training, and equipment. We are thrilled to have this space for our team and to maintain, store, and easily mobilize our equipment during emergencies,” said Manager of Emergency Planning and Response Tully Waisman.
While the property now belongs to Cowichan Tribes, there are a few agreements in place as part of the deal to fulfill existing North Cowichan commitments. A covenant included in the transfer agreement from North Cowichan to Cowichan Tribes will protect Bings Creek from future development. This covenant will also allow North Cowichan to conduct restoration and maintenance work, including restoring a portion of the north channel of Bings Creek.
“This is an exciting day for Cowichan Tribes, as bringing together these critical works and emergency response services in one central location is a smart, forward-thinking approach,” said Mayor Rob Douglas. “And North Cowichan is ensuring that Bings Creek and the Somenos Lake watershed will be protected as part of this agreement.”
Additionally, a 2.6 metre portion of the property was excluded from the sale to become part of an active transportation project along Canada Avenue.
A ceremonial key, carved by Henry Dick Sr., was passed from North Cowichan Acting Mayor Chris Istace to Cowichan Tribes Councillor and Deputy Chief Audrey George. Istace told the gathered crowd that he "couldn't be more proud on this exciting day" while George called the ceremony "an inspiring way to start off the year."
“I am pleased to recognize Mayor Douglas and the Municipality of North Cowichan’s Council for approving this sale at fair market value,” said Chief Cindy Daniels (Sulsulxumaat). “Our public works and emergency services departments are working hard to grow their capacities, but have been limited due to the lack of available space. This new building, in close proximity to our administration office, will go a long way to support their work to address urgent infrastructure and safety needs within our community,” added Daniels.
The ceremony was attended by several local dignitaries including Cowichan Valley MLA Debra Toporowski (Qwulti’stunaat), MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford Alistair MacGregor, Sulsulxumaat Chief Cindy Daniels, Cowichan Tribes Councillor Councillor Terri Allen and Cowichan Tribes Councillor D'Arcy Joe Jr. Elder Albie Charlie offered the welcoming prayer.
Cowichan Tribes looks forward to hosting a grand opening celebration BBQ in the spring, once the departments are fully operational.
