Budget talks are upon us once again and town council is working together to establish priorities for 2011.
This is the third budget of our term, and our objectives remain the same. Our focus is what is best for the community as a whole, not what is best for specific organizations or individuals.
As a small town, we hear and read criticism on some of our decisions, and although we don’t reply to letters to the paper, we respect your opinions and take them into consideration when we are discussing issues.
The course of action taken by elected officials might not always be popular, but we use all available information to base our decisions upon. Does council always agree on these matters? Not a chance! Some rather hot discussions take place before we vote, but we all respect the final outcome.
It has been ten years since the closure of Youbou Mill. Our local economy is not what it was during its operation but we have weathered the downturn and have moved on.
In my opinion, the most unfortunate aspect resulting from the closure has been the loss of the young families, as we don’t have the good-paying jobs we once experienced to keep them here. However, we have many committees working to attract potential employers and we are confident it is only a matter of time.
With the arena renovations nearing completion, plans are now in the works for a grand re-opening. It is hard to believe that it has been forty years since this important facility opened its doors. Numerous friendships were forged and memories made through hockey, skating and curling. Many wobbly ankled beginners took their first step onto the ice, resulting in their path towards a professional career as a hockey player or figure skater, or for many of us, skills that will benefit us into the future.
Cowichan Lake Minor Hockey hosted their 40th Jamboree, Saturday, January 22. I congratulate the executive, past and present, who have kept the hockey tradition going. I was thrilled to play in my first jamboree and I was just as excited to feel the buzz in the building for their 40th. It never gets old watching the initiation players on the ice and it was even more fun watching them perform in the skills competition, as part of the relay teams made up of players from all the other levels in the association.
Congratulations to Thor Repstock and his team for scoring an eight ender during a game at the recent Men’s Curling Bonspiel. It is a rare occurrence and deserving of recognition.
On New Years Day, I witnessed a local couple cleaning our Town by picking up litter as they walked. I thank you and everyone else who do these good deeds for the benefit of us all.
Thank you Town staff and employees for your work and to our families for allowing us the time to do what we choose to do.