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
"Water treatment getting an upgrade" was the top headline on the front page of the Dec. 17, 2014 edition of the Lake Cowichan Gazette.
Drew McLachlan wrote the story:
"Lake Cowichan's water treatment system is slated for an upgrade next year, a topic likely on the minds of many residents after the recent boil water advisory. The town's water supply, which is pumped from the lake, currently undergoes a process of chlorination before reaching residents, though that system no longer holds up to new regulations. In 2009, Island Health (then known as Vancouver Island Health Authority), changed requirements for water providers throughout the Island. The new regulations require municipalities to use a second treatment system, such as sand filtration. In cases of 'very high quality sources and effective and ongoing watershed protection' ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection is permitted. The town hopes to use the latter, and less costly, solution.
In other news of the day, "New speed board slows traffic, hastens road projects" was another headline.
"Lake Cowichan’s Public Works and Engineering department is coordinating with local RCMP on a speed board installation — though the new gadget does more than warn speeders. Equipped with an on-board computer, the speed board collects and stores data on nearly all aspects of traffic, such as the number of drivers using a particular road, the date and time they’re using it and of course their speed.
"Nagi Rizk, superintendent of Public Works and Engineering, said the speed board’s abilities will have a huge impact on how the town plans new road improvements. On prior projects, such as the roundabout on South Shore Road, the town relied on traffic personnel to physically count traffic, whereas the new speed board does so automatically. Aside from data collection, the speed board can also be used to deter speeding in pedestrian-heavy areas like school zones."
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25 years ago
"RCMP out in force through the season" was a big headline in the Dec. 22, 1999 edition of the Lake News, giving those who needed it a head's-up.
"Lake Cowichan RCMP remind people that throughout the Christmas season they will be stopping cars checking for drunk drivers. Sgt. Poitras of the Lake Cowichan RCMP said they stopped over 2000 vehicles last weekend, seizing and pouring out liquor from many of the vehicles. There was no report on how many impaired charges were laid. Police all over the province use Christmas time and New Years to conduct their road checks in numbers — checking for impaired drivers, trying to do their part in making the holiday season a safe one for all.
In the same paper, the Town was also working on the budget.
"Three million provisional budget adopted" was the story.
The Town's provisional budget totalling $3,035,364 was adopted by Council at a special meeting Friday. Taxes are to provide $839,837, garbage revenues $143,000, CLEC $226,000, water parcel tax $96,330, sewer parcel tax $191,361. Collections for other governments represent about one-third of the total."
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40 years ago
"United Way campaign here raises $4,600 for charities" made the front page of the Dec. 19, 1984 edition of the Lake News.
"The Cowichan Lake district United Way campaign raised more than $4,600 for Cowichan Valley charities in this year's canvass, according to co-ordinator Barry Corbett of Lake Cowichan. The money was raised three ways: in a house to house canvass of 23 different Cowichan Lake neighbourhoods which netted $2,020; in a "business" campaign spearheaded by Al Lawrence, which raised $1,250 from local small business, B.C. Forest Products and Pacific Forest Products; and in a payroll deduction scheme at the Youbou sawmill, which saw employees there donate a total of $332.
"Corbett said that he was pleased with the results of the three-part canvass.
"'It was super, particularly in these difficult economic times,' he said, adding that, despite expected initial foul-ups, the first-time payroll deduction at the mill raised more than first tries he has seen at some other locations."
"3 civic workers get chop" was another top headline in the same paper.
"In a surprise move Friday, Dec. 14, the Village of Lake Cowichan cut its works crew by 60 per cent, putting three of the five men on 'indefinite layoff'.
"A terse, three-sentence press release, issued after a noon-hour meeting of the village council, the workers and representatives of the International Woodworkers of America, asked village residents for patience.
"'These layoffs are taken as an interim budget measure and may result in less and/or slower services. Council asks for public understanding..."
"The early layoffs took the union entirely by surprise, according to business agent Ken McEwan, who said the IWA was expecting layoffs of some sort either closer to Christmas or perhaps early in the new year.
"'It was pretty crass of them. They could have had the common courtesy of treating their employees better than that.' McEwan said that the three workers — Ray Bourassa, Pete Christensen and Dave Carr — were upset by the short notice. They were told only four hours before the layoffs were to take effect, he said."