municipal politics

North Cowichan councillor Rod Douglas has filed a successful motion for more street and shade trees in future developments in the municipality. (File photo)

Street trees get backing in North Cowichan

Council wants more trees in new developments

 

North Cowicha to extend the time lines of its official community plan update. (File photo)

North Cowichan to extend time line of OCP review

Municipality also adds $55,000 to OCP budget

 

Crofton Fire Department members on the scene of Twin Gables fire in February of 2020. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Citizens’ group calls for action at Crofton’s Twin Gables Motel

Crofton waterfront site called an eyesore and a nuisance property

 

North Cowichan councillor Tek Manhas did not violate the municipality’s code of conduct by posting a sexist meme on Facebook, council concludes. (File photo)

North Cowichan to take no action against councillor who posted sexist meme

Tek Manhas’s meme doesn’t violate council’s code of conduct, municipality concludes

North Cowichan councillor Tek Manhas did not violate the municipality’s code of conduct by posting a sexist meme on Facebook, council concludes. (File photo)
North Cowichan councillor Tek Manhas is under review by the municipality for a Facebook post containing a sexist meme. (File photo)

North Cowichan councillor facing review over sexist meme posted to Facebook

Tek Manhas apologizes for post

North Cowichan councillor Tek Manhas is under review by the municipality for a Facebook post containing a sexist meme. (File photo)
Aaron Stone, chairman of the CVRD, said the board tried to be as frugal as possible when building the budget for 2021. (File photo)

Cowichan Valley Regional District sets the average tax increase at 2.48% for 2021

District’s annual budget made up of 180 individual budgets

Aaron Stone, chairman of the CVRD, said the board tried to be as frugal as possible when building the budget for 2021. (File photo)
Dave Jackson and his wife Theresa hold up the award-winning neighbourhood plan for the Bell McKinnon area in front of where the new $887-million Cowichan District Hospital is proposed to be constructed. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Bell-McKinnon residents accuse North Cowichan council of bait-and-switch over area plan

Some North Cowichan councillors want changes

Dave Jackson and his wife Theresa hold up the award-winning neighbourhood plan for the Bell McKinnon area in front of where the new $887-million Cowichan District Hospital is proposed to be constructed. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Police presence in Chemainus in an actual building is limited to South Island Highway Patrol on Chemainus Road. (Photo by Pete Cavanaugh)

Petition calls for policing commitment in Chemainus to be honoured

Former detachment member leads the charge in making the municipality and RCMP accountable

Police presence in Chemainus in an actual building is limited to South Island Highway Patrol on Chemainus Road. (Photo by Pete Cavanaugh)
Mayor Lorraine Michetti refusing to step down amid calls for her resignation. (Submitted)

Rural B.C. mayor urged to resign after Facebook post against Indigenous people, pipelines

The mayor is refusing to quit, saying the post was taken out of context

Mayor Lorraine Michetti refusing to step down amid calls for her resignation. (Submitted)
Lon Wood, a neighbour of the trail head and parking lot of the Mount Tzouhalem trail system, was one of the neighbours who raised concerns about traffic and parking in the area. (File photo)

North Cowichan offers solutions to Kaspa Road parking

More signage, enforcement and parking options on the table

Lon Wood, a neighbour of the trail head and parking lot of the Mount Tzouhalem trail system, was one of the neighbours who raised concerns about traffic and parking in the area. (File photo)
North Cowichan is applying for a $1.7-million grant that would cover the cost of replacing the roof at the facility. (File photo)

North Cowichan to apply for $1.7-million grant for new roof at Cowichan Aquatic Centre

Funding would pay for whole project

North Cowichan is applying for a $1.7-million grant that would cover the cost of replacing the roof at the facility. (File photo)
The memorial site for double-murder victims Nellie Williams and Fran Shurie, located in Charles Hoey Park, will be allowed to stay for another two months after the City of Duncan changed its policy on temporary memorials. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Duncan allows temporary memorials to stay longer

Policy change related to memorial for double-homicide victims in city park

The memorial site for double-murder victims Nellie Williams and Fran Shurie, located in Charles Hoey Park, will be allowed to stay for another two months after the City of Duncan changed its policy on temporary memorials. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
The firefighters at the Mesachie Lake fire hall could soon be working out of a new retrofitted building if the Cowichan V alley Regional District is successful with its application for a $350,000 federal grant to fund the project. (File photo)

Major retrofit planned for Mesachie Lake fire hall

CVRD applies for $350,000 federal grant

The firefighters at the Mesachie Lake fire hall could soon be working out of a new retrofitted building if the Cowichan V alley Regional District is successful with its application for a $350,000 federal grant to fund the project. (File photo)
North Cowichan to hold virtual public meetings on its plans to update the Official Community Plan. (File photo)

North Cowichan wants to know what ‘community character’ means to you

People asked to register on website

  • Jan 21, 2021
North Cowichan to hold virtual public meetings on its plans to update the Official Community Plan. (File photo)
Seven streets in downtown Duncan, including Station Street, will soon have new native names added to their signage. (Submitted graphic)

New street signs in Duncan in English and Hul’q’umi’num

Seven streets to get additional native names on signs

Seven streets in downtown Duncan, including Station Street, will soon have new native names added to their signage. (Submitted graphic)
North Cowichan to add three more off-leash dog areas in the new year. (File photo)

North Cowichan adds three new off-leash areas

Trial program runs through 2021, but not the summer months

North Cowichan to add three more off-leash dog areas in the new year. (File photo)
North Cowichan will dip into its reserve funds to cover costs at the 5,000-hectare municipal forest reserve during 2021 after deciding not to log this year as a forestry review continues. (File photo)

North Cowichan to dip into reserve funds to cover forestry costs

Municipality has no revenue from logging in 2021 due to ongoing review

North Cowichan will dip into its reserve funds to cover costs at the 5,000-hectare municipal forest reserve during 2021 after deciding not to log this year as a forestry review continues. (File photo)
The provincial Office of the Ombudsperson is investigating a complaint regarding the lack of transparency in the public consultation process over the future of the municipal forest reserve. The demand for more public input into the future of the reserve has led to protests at the municipal hall in the past. (Citizen file)

Ombudsperson investigating North Cowichan’s consultation process on forest reserve

Complaint claims process too secretive

The provincial Office of the Ombudsperson is investigating a complaint regarding the lack of transparency in the public consultation process over the future of the municipal forest reserve. The demand for more public input into the future of the reserve has led to protests at the municipal hall in the past. (Citizen file)
Mark Frame, North Cowichan’s finance director, says the proposed tax increase for 2021 could be substantially lower than anticipated due to a provincial grant. (File photo)

Proposed tax increase in North Cowichan significantly reduced to 2.31 per cent

A tax increase of more than seven per cent was feared

Mark Frame, North Cowichan’s finance director, says the proposed tax increase for 2021 could be substantially lower than anticipated due to a provincial grant. (File photo)
City of Duncan to buy $12,400 paper folder. (File photo)

City of Duncan to purchase $12,400 paper folder

City has about 3,700 invoices to be mailed between January and April

City of Duncan to buy $12,400 paper folder. (File photo)