The family owned Centurion Lumber in Chemainus has handed over $592,000 to the T’Sou-ke First Nation.
President and CEO Jerry Doman, son of Gordie Doman who started Centurion Lumber in 1968, said the payout is the result of a mutual benefit agreement with the T’Sou-ke First Nation.
He said for a number of years, Centurion has been supplying tens of thousands of wooden mats, which are used to build roads that equipment is run on, for the Trans Mountain Project in Alberta and B.C.
Doman said, as part of the bidding process on which companies received the contracts for the mats, the Trans Mountain Project looked at each company’s employment records with First Nation workers and other protocols to determine their eligibility.
He said other First Nations will also receive payouts from Centurion as part of mutual benefit agreements with the project, but the T’Sou-ke First Nation is receiving the most.
“My kids, Gordon, Jaron and Denesha, started building the mats and are looking to continue the legacy of the Doman family and our forest industry roots for a third generation in the Cowichan Valley,” Doman said.
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Major renovations have been completed at Duncan’s Mission Thrift Store in Cedarwood Mall to expand into the space next door.
Wall portions were knocked down or raised up, floors resurfaced, areas re-painted and lights replaced.
The aisles are now easily accessible with clearly labelled sections for fashion, linens, housewares, and books.
The store raises funds for Bible League Canada which ministers and provides literacy programs in more than 40 countries around the world.
Mission Thrift Store’s signage and logo is green to signify the store’s commitment to protecting the environment as it recycles and reuses.
The store also helps local people in need by providing them with clothing and other essentials.
It is one of about 50 stores, stretching from the west to the east coast of Canada.
The Mission Thrift Store strives to provide clean, gently used clothing and household items at very affordable thrift store prices.
The store is inviting the whole community to celebrate its grand opening on March 18 , from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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BC Transit is celebrating worker appreciation day.
BC Transit workers safely get customers where they need to go, keep the buses on the road, optimize the schedules and support transportation service the public can rely on.
This month, BC Transit and its partners are thanking them for all they do.
“We saw throughout the pandemic the importance of a safe, reliable, and accessible public transit system for all members of the community,” said Rob Fleming, minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“Transit workers are the heart of our public transit system. Their dedication and expertise ensure our transportation system’s reliability and safe operation, providing access to essential services and connecting people to their work and the communities where they live.”
Starting March 6 until Transit Operator and Worker Appreciation Day on March 18, BC Transit is encouraging customers to reach out and share their transit stories.
This can be done on social media, using the hashtag #ThanksTransit or by visiting BC Transit’s online platform at thanks.bctransit.com.
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Home-care workers represented by UFCW 1518, including members in the Cowichan Valley, have signed a collective agreement that will see wage increases of up to 16 per cent, protections against violence and more.
More than 94 per cent of the union’s approximately 3,000 members voted to ratify the new three-year collective agreement with the Health Employers Association of British Columbia.
A statement from the union said the new agreement will help bridge the gap that’s been widening between these workers and their counterparts.
Not only does it include, on average, a 14 per cent to 16 per cent wage increase for all members over three years, but there are also improved premiums for weekends and evenings and guaranteed-hours positions, the statement said.
UFCW 1518 secretary-treasurer Patrick Johnson said that it’s about time.
“Our members and other community-health workers are finally getting the respect and recognition they need and deserve,” he said.
“These significant wage increases are overdue and were desperately needed for these folks who work every day to keep our healthcare system afloat.”
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The Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce and the Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre are welcoming Tourism Cowichan for Tourism Tuesdays during March.
Pop by the visitor centre to meet in person with Kenzie Knight, coordinator for Tourism Cowichan.
Knight will be available between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on March, 14, 21, and 28 to discuss the range of support available to Cowichan stakeholders.
You can book a 30-minute time slot with Knight in advance by emailing kenzie@forvi.ca or just pop in for a coffee and conversation.
Tourism Tuesdays are also an opportunity to check out the visitor centre and have a conversation with Kirsty or Patty about how your business can be represented in the Centre.
You can also pick up maps, guides, and brochures so you can better represent Cowichan in your business.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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