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…
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10 years ago
The front page of the Dec. 10, 2014 Lake Cowichan Gazette showed Lake Cowichan's new town council after they were sworn into office. Some familiar faces were in the photo — including some who still sit on council now, a decade later.
"Lake Cowichan town council welcomed two new members to the table at their inaugural meeting last Tuesday (Dec. 2). Despite being newcomers to politics, both Carolyne Austin and Lorna Vomacka had a lot to say about the future of Lake Cowichan and what they hope to achieve in their first terms.
"Vomacka brought up a topic that, for nearly a decade, has gone unresolved — a seniors care facility in Lake Cowichan. In 2007, the town attempted to buy the J.H. Boyd property, located on Oak Lane, for the purpose of development, but could not obtain voter approval to borrow the proposed $765,000. The property was eventually sold to a private developer, John Kelly. Kelly planned to redevelop the property, possibly into a 22-bed care facility but his plans never came to fruition."
In other news in the same paper, "Lake Cowichan First Nations gifting carving to town" was a story.
"Lake Cowichan’s new town square, dubbed T’suubaa-asatx Square by local First Nations, saw its official naming ceremony on Oct. 31. Pleased with being granted naming rights, the Cowichan Lake First Nations tribe recently began work on a “reciprocal gift” for the town — a wood carving to be placed in the town square.
"Project coordinator and tribe member Aaron Hamilton said the tribe was “blown away” when council first suggested the square be named for them, and discussion began almost immediately on how they could show their gratitude."
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25 years ago
"Inaugural address offers no nonsense address by new Mayor," was a big headline on the front of the Lake News of Dec. 15, 1999.
"Our new mayor, Jack Peake gave a crisp no-nonsense message to the public and his fellow council members in his inaugural address. His speech was brief, delivered with a touch of humour and an underlying determination when he said 'we have the challenge to make this the best council Lake Cowichan has had.'
"Municipal councils are, in his opinion, the 'most relevant' form of government in the country. He would have no interest in 'costly committees,' he said."
In the same edition, "Bomb threat to school 'turns out a hoax'" was on the front page.
"Last Wednesday the Toronto Dominion Bank received a bomb threat in the form of a hand written letter — threatening schools in Lake Cowichan, RCMP reported. Police brought in special Police Service Dogs from Vancouver, specializing in sniffing out explosives — a search was conducted of the schools but failed to turn up anything, Constable Wallace of the RCMP said, calling the letter a hoax. Police do have a brief description of the person who dropped the letter off — someone wearing a reddish cable knit sweater, jeans, a hat and a white cloth over their face. Sgt. Poitras in charge of the detachment said he is not sure whether they are looking for an adult or youth, a male or female. The letter was dropped of at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8 and found that morning on the floor by staff of the bank, who called the RCMP."
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40 years ago
One piece of news was awful on the front page of the Dec. 12 Lake News in 1984. "Youbou millworker crushed" stood out as a top headline.
"Millworker Edward George Martineau of Cowichan Lake Road, Duncan, was killed in an accident at the B.C. Forest Products Youbou sawmill Monday, Dec. 10. Martineau, 38, was working at a planer machine when the accident occurred, about 2:15 a.m."
In other news, "Loggers get a short holiday break amid woods hustle, bustle" was another headline.
"Loggers in the Cowichan Lake district will work right until the week before Christmas this year, and are scheduled to return to the woods in early January, after only a two-week break. All the major operations, B.C. Forest Products' two camps at Caycuse and Gordon River, and Pacific Coast Forest Products' Mesachie Lake camp got an early start in 1984 and have logged steadily through most of the year with relatively short layoffs in the summer.
"Meanwhile, BCFP's operation at Caycuse, is rolling towards almost 190 days of work this year — a good year — according to manager Bob MacMillen."