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VIDEO: Sun smiles on Cowichan Lake Days

Dodging showers, Cowichan Lake Days events were a great success
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Admiral Mainguy Sea Cadets march in the Cowichan Lake Days parade. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)

BY LEXI BAINAS

Cowichan Lake Days 2017 has passed into the history books and everyone agrees it was a great time for all.

The major outdoor events: breakfast on the town, the grand parade, the Lady of the Lake crowning, the town steak dinner, and the Eagle Eyes concert, mainly dodged some pretty chancy weather, delighting organizers and everybody else.

The crowd lining the street was ready with jackets and umbrellas Saturday morning for the parade.

But the rain managed to hold off, allowing the Cowichan Pipes &Drums to parade without their rainjackets and the Lady of the Lake candidates to show off their stylish and beautiful new dresses.

A shower followed over lunch hour but all that finger-crossing must have worked because the sun came out in time for the eagerly-anticipated crowning of the 2017 Lady of the Lake and her princesses.

Desiree Karlsen, Miss Cowichan Lake Lions, is the new Lady of the Lake, with Brooklyn Kruk, Miss Copper Lane, as First Princess, and Randi Robertson, Miss BPO Elks, as Second Princess.

At the big Lady of the Lake grand ball, on Friday night, Shalyn Jones, Miss Island Savings, was chosen Miss Congeniality, and Brianna Mahaney, Miss Country Grocer, and Shoshannah Ritcho, Miss Scarlett’s Boutique and Espresso Bar, were each awarded a Miss Blossom banner, given to the girls who really came out of their shells during the pageant season.

The girls had taken part in the popular Strawberry Tea on June 5 and then entertained the crowd at their own Opportunity Night on June 7 before the weekend.

There was lots going on at Saywell Park on Saturday, too, with kids activities of all kinds, logger games, and a busy concession and beer garden.

Later Saturday, Lake Cowichan Mayor Ross Forrest, in a ceremony at Cowichan Lake Sports Arena, announced the 2017 inductees to the Sports Wall of Fame.

Saturday ended with the Lake Days Dance at the arena featuring of Row of Crowz.

On Sunday, a much quieter day, there was more family fun at Saywell Park, followed by the Kinsmen Ducky Derby on the Cowichan River.

Finally, an evening concert by Eagle Eyes, one of only two Eagles tribute bands in North America, drew a large crowd to enjoy the music and a gourmet barbecue.

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‘Ducks’ was the theme of this year’s Cowichan Lake Days parade, and many entries took to it with gusto. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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A young fireman and old firetruck make this Youbou parade entry eye-catching. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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Emily Pastor, BC Ambassador for Lake Cowichan, and MC for the Lady of the Lake Crowning, waves to the crowd. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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Cowichan Lake Scouting’s entry in the parade is colourful and fun. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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The hard working hospital auxilliary marches in the parade. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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CICV Radio Cowichan is on a big fundraising push; they added a Canada 150 note to the parade. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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Brianna Mahaney, Miss Country Grocer, and one of the Miss Blossom winners, waves to the crowd in front of her sponsor’s business, Country Grocer. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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Cowichan Lake Sports Arena’s entry in the parade is always colourful. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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The Shriners bring a cute float with a little mechanical elephant to delight the youngsters. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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Hayley MacDonald tries her hand at nail driving. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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Desiree Karlsen, newly-crowned Lady of the Lake for 2017, speaks to the crowd for the first time in her new role. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
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Eagle Eyes play at the big Cowichan Lake Days concert at Saywell Park on June 11. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)