Welcome to Lake Flashback. Reporter Sarah Simpson has been combing through old newspapers with the assistance of the Kaatza Station Museum and Archives so we can jog your memory, give you that nostalgic feeling, or just a chuckle, as we take a look at what was making headlines this week around Cowichan Lake in years gone by.
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This week around the Cowichan Lake area…
10 years ago
"How can Lake Cowichan become age-friendly?" was the top headline on the front of the June 3, 2015 Lake Cowichan Gazette.
"Do you feel you can age in your own home? Is public transit adequate for you? Are businesses readily accessible for seniors? Are you treated with respect in your community? These are a few of the questions that the Town of Lake Cowichan is asking residents, in their pursuit to build Lake Cowichan into an age-friendly community.
"A public meeting was held on May 23, in which the 50 residents were asked what they felt works well now, what they would like to see in the future, and what Lake Cowichan needs to be age-friendly. Residents answered that the 50 Plus Activity Centre, level walking trails and healthcare were all working well for the community. As for the future, the top priorities appeared to be a live-in care facility for seniors, better access to exercise for seniors and a columbarium. Many residents also called for subsidized apartments and more advocacy for seniors."
"Algae the cause of lake odor, discolouration" was another headline.
"Though many residents were in disagreement over what was causing the Cowichan Lake’s strange greenish-brown colour, odor and taste, the word is finally in, as the Town of Lake Cowichan’s Public Works and Engineering Department recently received the laboratory results.
"The town sent a water sample to Maxxam Analytics in Burnaby, who confirmed that the cause of discolouration was the result of an algae bloom — of a magnitude rarely seen on Cowichan Lake. The three culprits are Anacystis, Dinobryon and Synura. Synura is in the same algae group as Uroglena, which has been previously identified in Cowichan Lake. Synura and Uroglena are both similar in that they are both colonial golden brown algae and that individual cells have two flagella. Along with the bad taste and odor, the algae could also clog filters in the lake."
25 years ago
"Valley politicians meet with execs" got the above-the-fold position on the front of the June 7, 2000 Lake Cowichan Gazette.
"TimberWest executives held a private meeting with a number of Cowichan Valley politicians last Thursday, at a Duncan hotel. The meeting was arranged after the regional district board and Lake Cowichan's Town Council requested the company explain, in person, why they were proposing to shut down the Youbou sawmill. TimberWest continues to be in exclusive negotiations with JS Jones Ltd.
"A deal was expected to be announced by mid-May. 'We're still negotiating.' says TimberWest spokesman Steve Lorimer. 'The complexities of this have turned out to be a little more than anybody expected.'"
In other news of the day, "Marijuana growers targeted by police" was a secondary headline on the front page.
"Lake Cowichan RCMP are hoping a public forum held in Youbou will help put a damper on that community's abundant marijuana cultivation operations. About 65 people turned out last Thursday night to hear guest speakers describe the perils of pot production. About two-thirds of all marijuana cultivation operations uncovered by local police are in Youbou.
"'Certainly, there are grows in Honeymoon Bay and Lake Cowichan but we're hearing a lot about it in Youbou,' says Lake Cowichan RCMP Sgt. Gerry Poitras. At the meeting, two police officers from Duncan spoke about drug education and two insurance agents from Pacific Coast Insurance discussed liability concerns."
40 years ago
And finally, "The End of a Dynasty" was a headline on the front of the Lake News of June 5, 1985.
"Syd Scholey, Lake Cowichan postmaster for 35 years, has retired, ending a dynasty of Scholeys who have been postmaster — father and son — in the village for 66 years. Also unusual, the father and son have nearly the same name, except that the father's name was Sid, with an "i" and the son is Syd with a "y".
"Syd is taking early retirement at age 58. His successor has not yet been announced. Sid Scholey came with his brother Ted from Cheltenham, England, about 1902, when Sid was 17 years old. He married Dorothy, a girl from Darlington, England, and a general store was opened near the old Lake-side Hotel, not far from where the North Shore Market is now. Still later, Sid ran a confectionery shop in the building where McQuinn's is now. Sid became postmaster in 1919, the remuneration being $60 a year."
"Yount School is saved" was another headline.
"The only school in Youbou will continue to offer classes from kindergarten to Grade 7, the Lake Cowichan school board decided Monday night, June 3. Trustees voted to keep the present set-up of grades, but will close off part of the building in an effort to cut maintenance and repair costs at Yount School. In addition, the trustees will apply to the education ministry for permission to spend money to tear down one section of the school so that the rest can be refurbished.
"No action will be taken on this until the board hears from the ministry. All five members of the board said they were in favour of keeping the eight grade levels at Yount, since this idea was so clearly supported by the parents of the community."
