2021 Year in Review

Cowichan Tribes held a prayer ceremony on Monday, May 31 for the 215 children whose remains were discovered at the site of the Kamloops Residential School. Local governments across the Cowichan Valley have lowered flags to honour the victims. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Year in Review: January to December, some of Cowichan’s top stories of 2021

A look back on the past year, as covered by the Cowichan Valley Citizen

 

(Twitter/BC Conservation Officer Service)

Otter with a toothache, cougar in a pink collar top most ‘unique’ calls for BC COS in 2021

Conservation Officers handle 30,000 calls per year on average

 

Mike Coleman, who served as the mayor of Duncan for 22 years, died on Tuesday, June 29. Here, he attends his last council meeting in 2005. (Citizen file)

Year in Review: Who we lost in Cowichan in 2021

Some of those we lost in 2021

 

Surrey-raised pro wrestler John “Earthquake” Tenta made a name for himself on the WWF circuit (now WWE) in the early 1990s. (contributed photo)

Favourite Black Press Media stories of 2021, chosen by our journalists

Our editorial staff share their favourite stories from the year across our 80 local publications

Surrey-raised pro wrestler John “Earthquake” Tenta made a name for himself on the WWF circuit (now WWE) in the early 1990s. (contributed photo)
Mesachie Lake’s Herrington family: dad Shaun, mom Cara, eldest daughter Charlotte, and new arrival Violet, who was born in a hurry on March 7, 2021. (File photo)

Some stories in Cowichan in 2021 were more fun than news

Year in review stories

Mesachie Lake’s Herrington family: dad Shaun, mom Cara, eldest daughter Charlotte, and new arrival Violet, who was born in a hurry on March 7, 2021. (File photo)
Nine-year-old Emily Loewen at Vedder Park on July 11, 2021 after raising hundreds of dollars from a group of motorcycle riders for Lytton wildfire victims with her lemonade stand. (Darcy Loewen photo)

Cats, grandmas and twins: Here are 7 B.C. stories that brightened 2021

2021 wasn’t the year that most hoped for but there were glimmers of joy nonetheless

Nine-year-old Emily Loewen at Vedder Park on July 11, 2021 after raising hundreds of dollars from a group of motorcycle riders for Lytton wildfire victims with her lemonade stand. (Darcy Loewen photo)
From Jan. 1 to Dec. 15 this year, 40,333 babies were born in the province. (Pixabay photo)

B.C.’s top baby names of 2021 revealed

Olivia and Liam are the most popular baby names once again

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 15 this year, 40,333 babies were born in the province. (Pixabay photo)
Alistair MacGregor and members of his team gathered at the campaign office to watch the election results roll in on Sept. 20, with MacGregor securing his third term as MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Year in Review: Federal election returns staus quo in Cowichan and Canada

MacGregor received 26,968 votes

Alistair MacGregor and members of his team gathered at the campaign office to watch the election results roll in on Sept. 20, with MacGregor securing his third term as MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
FILE - Fashion designer Virgil Abloh gives a thumbs up after the presentation of Off-White Men's Spring-Summer 2019 collection presented in Paris, Wednesday June 20, 2018. Abloh, a leading fashion executive hailed as the Karl Lagerfeld of his generation, died Nov. 28, 2021, after a private battle with cancer. He was 41. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Final Goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2021

They both carved out sterling reputations as military and political leaders over…

FILE - Fashion designer Virgil Abloh gives a thumbs up after the presentation of Off-White Men's Spring-Summer 2019 collection presented in Paris, Wednesday June 20, 2018. Abloh, a leading fashion executive hailed as the Karl Lagerfeld of his generation, died Nov. 28, 2021, after a private battle with cancer. He was 41. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
Flames shot out of a window on the fourth floor of Lewis Apartments on Lewis Street on New Year’s Eve. Several people were injured in the fire, and one was killed. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Year in Review: Cowichan’s firefighters were kept busy in 2021

Fires claimed both people and property

Flames shot out of a window on the fourth floor of Lewis Apartments on Lewis Street on New Year’s Eve. Several people were injured in the fire, and one was killed. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
A child’s dress is seen on a cross outside a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., Sunday, June 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Finding unmarked graves put spotlight on reconciliation in 2021

‘It’s important to remind Canadians (not to) let reconciliation become a performance’

A child’s dress is seen on a cross outside a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., Sunday, June 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Governor General Mary Simon speaks during the Presentation of Canadian Honours at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021.The governor general said Canadians can be hopeful as they ring in the new year, despite the ongoing crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Canadians have shown resilience, compassion and adaptability in 2021: Governor General

Mary Simon says Canadians have inspired her to continue to work and find better ways to help communities thrive

Governor General Mary Simon speaks during the Presentation of Canadian Honours at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021.The governor general said Canadians can be hopeful as they ring in the new year, despite the ongoing crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Videos from throughout 2021 capture Vancouver Island’s top animal encounters. (Black Press Media file photos)

Vancouver Island animal videos we watched in 2021

Look back at a year of adorable, breathtaking and unusual footage

Videos from throughout 2021 capture Vancouver Island’s top animal encounters. (Black Press Media file photos)
MacDowell Rugby Academy founder Robin MacDowell and national men’s rugby sevens player Pat Kay, both graduates of Cowichan Secondary, speak to students at the high school on Wednesday, Feb. 17 about the new academy program that debuted in the fall. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

2021 Sports Year in Review

This year had everything from Olympic gold to perfect games

MacDowell Rugby Academy founder Robin MacDowell and national men’s rugby sevens player Pat Kay, both graduates of Cowichan Secondary, speak to students at the high school on Wednesday, Feb. 17 about the new academy program that debuted in the fall. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Damian Warner, of Canada, celebrates after he won the gold medal for the decathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David J. Phillip

Decathlete Damian Warner wins Lionel Conacher Award as CP’s male athlete of the year

He set an Olympic record and a Canadian record, and became just the 4th man to top the 9,000-point barrier

Damian Warner, of Canada, celebrates after he won the gold medal for the decathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-David J. Phillip
Former cabinet minister Kevin Falcon speaks to delegates at a B.C. Liberal leadership debate, November 2021. (B.C. Liberal Party video)

B.C. Liberals heading into 2022 with new leader, financial pressure

Party members choose from 6 candidates in early February

Former cabinet minister Kevin Falcon speaks to delegates at a B.C. Liberal leadership debate, November 2021. (B.C. Liberal Party video)
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Shelby Rogers at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Mark J. Terrill

Tennis player Leylah Fernandez named The Canadian Press female athlete of the year

Fernandez finished the year with a 25-17 record and she earned US$1.77 million in prize money

Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Shelby Rogers at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Mark J. Terrill
Repair work at Bottletop Bridge on the Coquihalla Highway, Dec. 7, 2021. Repairs to dozens of highway sites in B.C.’s southern Interior will be ongoing through next year and beyond, at costs not yet estimated. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation photo)

B.C.’s climate plans battered by extreme weather as 2022 begins

Electric cars, forest offsets, carbon taxes don’t stop damage

Repair work at Bottletop Bridge on the Coquihalla Highway, Dec. 7, 2021. Repairs to dozens of highway sites in B.C.’s southern Interior will be ongoing through next year and beyond, at costs not yet estimated. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation photo)
B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy listens as professional forester and Tahltan Nation member Garry Merkel explains the province’s old-growth forest preservation plan at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 2, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. Indigenous leaders testing new authority in 2022 forestry remake

Horgan’s battle with big forest companies is just beginning

B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy listens as professional forester and Tahltan Nation member Garry Merkel explains the province’s old-growth forest preservation plan at the B.C. legislature, Nov. 2, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
The B.C. Ferries vessel Spirit of British Columbia passes Salt Spring Island while travelling on the Salish Sea from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, B.C., at sunset on Sunday, October 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The best of times, the worst of times

During these tumultuous times, it is easy to forget how blessed we truly are

  • Dec 22, 2021
The B.C. Ferries vessel Spirit of British Columbia passes Salt Spring Island while travelling on the Salish Sea from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, B.C., at sunset on Sunday, October 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck