The semi-annual Town of Lake Cowichan town hall meeting held late last year offered residents the opportunity to talk to their town councillors.
The crowd at Centennial Hall wanted to talk about ways to boost the town’s economy.
Many residents bemoaned what they saw as a lack of recreational facilities.
Katherine Worsley said that a group of active seniors who do exercises under the gazebo behind the tourist information centre every week could do with some exercise equipment.
“Also, we need stuff for the smaller kids, playgrounds, and we have nothing in place for teenagers,” she said.
Forrest was blunt.
“We used to have that stuff, like a movie theatre and a bowling alley, but it was driven by the economy. People who lived here had jobs that meant they could afford to support those things. We need to build up our economy, our businesses have to have more revenue. Most of them say they are doing okay over the summer but in the winter, it’s very lean,” he said.
Mesachie Lake resident David Lowther suggested looking at Sicamous for inspiration.
That community, which has no more to offer in beauty than the Cowichan Lake area, is home to an enormous houseboat industry in the summer, he said.
Lake Cowichan business woman Glenda Osborne Berg agreed that people don’t come to an area just for its beauty.
“People come to be entertained. We need a seven year plan. Once people come to enjoy a festival, businesses will follow,” she said.