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A wind warning has been issued for most of Vancouver Island for Monday night, Nov. 8, 2021. Gusting winds could cause power outages and other damage. (Citizen file)

Wind warning issued for Vancouver Island

Strong gusting winds developing Monday night

A wind warning has been issued for most of Vancouver Island for Monday night, Nov. 8, 2021. Gusting winds could cause power outages and other damage. (Citizen file)
RVs and trailers were lined up as far as the eye could see on Sunday, Nov. 7 to get across the U.S. border in Osoyoos. (Rose-Anne Atkinson Facebook)

Snowbirds line up overnight at Osoyoos-U.S. border to be first across

Canadians wanting to spend winter in warmer parts of the U.S. have waited 20 months to cross

RVs and trailers were lined up as far as the eye could see on Sunday, Nov. 7 to get across the U.S. border in Osoyoos. (Rose-Anne Atkinson Facebook)
Portrait of the Williams family used in a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the funeral of Shirley Williams and Jovan Williams who were killed in a police-involved shooting. Shirley is wearing a white hat and Jovan is the taller of the two men. (File photo)

Inquest into northern B.C. police shooting death recommends creating community crisis intervention teams

Shirley and Jovan Williams were killed by RCMP in Granisle following a conflict with neighbours

Portrait of the Williams family used in a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the funeral of Shirley Williams and Jovan Williams who were killed in a police-involved shooting. Shirley is wearing a white hat and Jovan is the taller of the two men. (File photo)
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Vancouver International Airport (YVR Airport/Twitter)
COVID-19 variant prompts ban on travellers from southern Africa
Vanderhoof RCMP detachment seen on Nov. 25, 2021, after a man was seen with a long gun targeting the building. (Aman Parhar/Vanderhoof Omineca Express)
VIDEO: Suspect arrested in Vanderhoof after active shooter sparks city-wide lockdown
Damage caused by heavy rains and mudslides is shown in this aerial photo along the Coquihalla Highway south of Merritt, B.C., on Monday, November 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. officials urge residents to prep for more storms, say food supply is stable
A farm is surrounded by flood waster as seen from a fly over of the flood damage in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, November 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Financial aid coming to flood evacuees as B.C. officials warn of rainy, ‘challenging’ days ahead
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A rainbow crosswalk at Bench Elementary School in Cowichan Bay is a warm welcome to LGBTQ2+ students and school community. (Mike Russell photo)

Lake Cowichan leads the way: rainbow crosswalks now brighten all Cowichan schools

Lakers lead the way; Initiative started with the teachers union and grew through student advocacy

A rainbow crosswalk at Bench Elementary School in Cowichan Bay is a warm welcome to LGBTQ2+ students and school community. (Mike Russell photo)
North Cowichan is looking for public input on its draft OCP. (File photo)

North Cowichan seeking input on draft OCP

Public will have several opportunities to comment

  • Nov 5, 2021
North Cowichan is looking for public input on its draft OCP. (File photo)
A new residence with 45 housing units will be built at 865 Catherine St., and run by the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society. (Google Maps)

$11.3M to create Island homes for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness

Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness housing to offer 24/7 culturally-appropriate supports

A new residence with 45 housing units will be built at 865 Catherine St., and run by the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society. (Google Maps)
Sheila Malcolmson (right), Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, takes a tour of the newly opened Wellness and Recovery Centre on York on Nov. 5 with Shayne Williams (left), CEO of Lookout Housing and Health Society and Dr. Shannon Waters (middle), Medical Health Officer for the Cowichan region. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Wellness and Recovery Centre officially opens in Duncan

Overdose Prevention Centre on Trunk Road closed on Oct. 31

Sheila Malcolmson (right), Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, takes a tour of the newly opened Wellness and Recovery Centre on York on Nov. 5 with Shayne Williams (left), CEO of Lookout Housing and Health Society and Dr. Shannon Waters (middle), Medical Health Officer for the Cowichan region. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Mink farms are being phased out in B.C. and will be shut down entirely by April 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

BC plans to phase out mink farming industry by 2025

The government is doing this over four years to allow farmers and workers a transition period

Mink farms are being phased out in B.C. and will be shut down entirely by April 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Saanich police work the crime scene in 2018 where Langford man Shawn Campbell was attacked; he later died in hospital. Two men convicted of manslaughter in the case were sentenced to six years each for the crime on Nov. 5. (Black Press Media file photo)

Two Vancouver Island men sentenced to 6 years for fatal hammer attack on friend

Nathen Monsour, Lee Hart pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2018 death of Shawn Campbell

Saanich police work the crime scene in 2018 where Langford man Shawn Campbell was attacked; he later died in hospital. Two men convicted of manslaughter in the case were sentenced to six years each for the crime on Nov. 5. (Black Press Media file photo)
Housing for hospital staff and construction workers could be an issue as the shovels prepare to break ground on the new Cowichan District Hospital, which will replace the existing one on Gibbins Road (pictured), in the spring of 2022. (File photo)

Housing could be a challenge for employees at new Cowichan hospital, official says

Island Health holds community update on $887.4-million project

Housing for hospital staff and construction workers could be an issue as the shovels prepare to break ground on the new Cowichan District Hospital, which will replace the existing one on Gibbins Road (pictured), in the spring of 2022. (File photo)
The former Lake Cowichan fire hall adjacent to the town hall is demolished Thursday, Aug. 26, with plans to rebuild a structure which will add to the available space in the present building. (Kathryn Swan photo)

Lake Cowichan Town Hall tenders issued, project on track so far

The entire project is tentatively scheduled to be complete by the end of 2022.

The former Lake Cowichan fire hall adjacent to the town hall is demolished Thursday, Aug. 26, with plans to rebuild a structure which will add to the available space in the present building. (Kathryn Swan photo)
Travis Berthiaume (left), owner of the Dairy Queen in Duncan, and store manager Don McCormick are thanking customers for making the Miracle Treat Day fundraiser on Oct. 28 such a success. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Business notes: Staff at Duncan’s Dairy Queen kept busy on Miracle Treat Day

The latest from Cowichan’s business community

Travis Berthiaume (left), owner of the Dairy Queen in Duncan, and store manager Don McCormick are thanking customers for making the Miracle Treat Day fundraiser on Oct. 28 such a success. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Lori Iannidinardo, Area D director. (Citizen file)

CVRD adopts collective official community plan for all electoral areas

First of its kind in B.C.

  • Nov 4, 2021
Lori Iannidinardo, Area D director. (Citizen file)
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has upheld North Cowichan’s decision to deny the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit a development permit for its expansion project. (File photo)

North Cowichan wins appeal, denying Motorsport Circuit expansion

Judges not persuaded by VIMC’s arguments

The British Columbia Court of Appeal has upheld North Cowichan’s decision to deny the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit a development permit for its expansion project. (File photo)
Graphic of the proposed redevelopment of Duncan Manor. (Courtesy of Duncan Housing Society)

Hands off Centennial Park, delegation tells Duncan council

Barry Corrin urges council against supporting Duncan Manor’s renewal project

Graphic of the proposed redevelopment of Duncan Manor. (Courtesy of Duncan Housing Society)
Enzo Wilson underwent surgery after suffering extensive burns in a fire that destroyed his family’s home on Halloween night. (GoFundMe photo)

5-year-old boy suffers serious burns in Cowichan Valley Halloween house fire

Dad and neighbours credited with saving child’s life

Enzo Wilson underwent surgery after suffering extensive burns in a fire that destroyed his family’s home on Halloween night. (GoFundMe photo)
Gerald Kearney, 61, has not been in contact with family or friends. (Contributed - RCMP)

Sooke RCMP renew call for help finding man missing in Fairy Creek watershed area

Gerald Kearney has been missing since Oct. 13

Gerald Kearney, 61, has not been in contact with family or friends. (Contributed - RCMP)
Cowichan Tribes receives funding to build six isolation units for use during the pandemic. (File photo)

Cowichan Tribes builds isolation units for COVID recovery

Meant for members to isolate during pandemic

  • Nov 3, 2021
Cowichan Tribes receives funding to build six isolation units for use during the pandemic. (File photo)
Members of For Socially Responsible Investing Cowichan and supporters gathered at the RBC branch on Trunk Road on Oct. 29 to protest the banks investments in the fossil fuel industry. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Fossil fuel protesters rally outside Duncan’s Royal Bank

Banks says it’s committed to change

Members of For Socially Responsible Investing Cowichan and supporters gathered at the RBC branch on Trunk Road on Oct. 29 to protest the banks investments in the fossil fuel industry. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Ships continue to work to control a fire onboard the MV Zim Kingston about eight kilometres from the shore in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, October 25, 2021. A special weather statement was issued for the Greater Victoria area as southeasterly winds gusting up to 90km per hour were forecasted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Vancouver Island MPs want immediate federal oversight in container ship clean-up

More than 100 containers went overboard from the MV Zim Kingston near Victoria last week

Ships continue to work to control a fire onboard the MV Zim Kingston about eight kilometres from the shore in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, October 25, 2021. A special weather statement was issued for the Greater Victoria area as southeasterly winds gusting up to 90km per hour were forecasted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito