municipal politics

Dave Jackson and his wife Theresa hold up the award-winning neighbourhood plan for the Bell McKinnon area in front of where the new $887-million Cowichan District Hospital is proposed to be constructed. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Bell-McKinnon residents accuse North Cowichan council of bait-and-switch over area plan

Some North Cowichan councillors want changes

Dave Jackson and his wife Theresa hold up the award-winning neighbourhood plan for the Bell McKinnon area in front of where the new $887-million Cowichan District Hospital is proposed to be constructed. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Police presence in Chemainus in an actual building is limited to South Island Highway Patrol on Chemainus Road. (Photo by Pete Cavanaugh)

Petition calls for policing commitment in Chemainus to be honoured

Former detachment member leads the charge in making the municipality and RCMP accountable

Police presence in Chemainus in an actual building is limited to South Island Highway Patrol on Chemainus Road. (Photo by Pete Cavanaugh)
Mayor Lorraine Michetti refusing to step down amid calls for her resignation. (Submitted)

Rural B.C. mayor urged to resign after Facebook post against Indigenous people, pipelines

The mayor is refusing to quit, saying the post was taken out of context

Mayor Lorraine Michetti refusing to step down amid calls for her resignation. (Submitted)
Lon Wood, a neighbour of the trail head and parking lot of the Mount Tzouhalem trail system, was one of the neighbours who raised concerns about traffic and parking in the area. (File photo)

North Cowichan offers solutions to Kaspa Road parking

More signage, enforcement and parking options on the table

Lon Wood, a neighbour of the trail head and parking lot of the Mount Tzouhalem trail system, was one of the neighbours who raised concerns about traffic and parking in the area. (File photo)
North Cowichan is applying for a $1.7-million grant that would cover the cost of replacing the roof at the facility. (File photo)

North Cowichan to apply for $1.7-million grant for new roof at Cowichan Aquatic Centre

Funding would pay for whole project

North Cowichan is applying for a $1.7-million grant that would cover the cost of replacing the roof at the facility. (File photo)
The memorial site for double-murder victims Nellie Williams and Fran Shurie, located in Charles Hoey Park, will be allowed to stay for another two months after the City of Duncan changed its policy on temporary memorials. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Duncan allows temporary memorials to stay longer

Policy change related to memorial for double-homicide victims in city park

The memorial site for double-murder victims Nellie Williams and Fran Shurie, located in Charles Hoey Park, will be allowed to stay for another two months after the City of Duncan changed its policy on temporary memorials. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
The firefighters at the Mesachie Lake fire hall could soon be working out of a new retrofitted building if the Cowichan V alley Regional District is successful with its application for a $350,000 federal grant to fund the project. (File photo)

Major retrofit planned for Mesachie Lake fire hall

CVRD applies for $350,000 federal grant

The firefighters at the Mesachie Lake fire hall could soon be working out of a new retrofitted building if the Cowichan V alley Regional District is successful with its application for a $350,000 federal grant to fund the project. (File photo)
North Cowichan to hold virtual public meetings on its plans to update the Official Community Plan. (File photo)

North Cowichan wants to know what ‘community character’ means to you

People asked to register on website

  • Jan 21, 2021
North Cowichan to hold virtual public meetings on its plans to update the Official Community Plan. (File photo)
Seven streets in downtown Duncan, including Station Street, will soon have new native names added to their signage. (Submitted graphic)

New street signs in Duncan in English and Hul’q’umi’num

Seven streets to get additional native names on signs

Seven streets in downtown Duncan, including Station Street, will soon have new native names added to their signage. (Submitted graphic)
North Cowichan to add three more off-leash dog areas in the new year. (File photo)

North Cowichan adds three new off-leash areas

Trial program runs through 2021, but not the summer months

North Cowichan to add three more off-leash dog areas in the new year. (File photo)
North Cowichan will dip into its reserve funds to cover costs at the 5,000-hectare municipal forest reserve during 2021 after deciding not to log this year as a forestry review continues. (File photo)

North Cowichan to dip into reserve funds to cover forestry costs

Municipality has no revenue from logging in 2021 due to ongoing review

North Cowichan will dip into its reserve funds to cover costs at the 5,000-hectare municipal forest reserve during 2021 after deciding not to log this year as a forestry review continues. (File photo)
The provincial Office of the Ombudsperson is investigating a complaint regarding the lack of transparency in the public consultation process over the future of the municipal forest reserve. The demand for more public input into the future of the reserve has led to protests at the municipal hall in the past. (Citizen file)

Ombudsperson investigating North Cowichan’s consultation process on forest reserve

Complaint claims process too secretive

The provincial Office of the Ombudsperson is investigating a complaint regarding the lack of transparency in the public consultation process over the future of the municipal forest reserve. The demand for more public input into the future of the reserve has led to protests at the municipal hall in the past. (Citizen file)
Mark Frame, North Cowichan’s finance director, says the proposed tax increase for 2021 could be substantially lower than anticipated due to a provincial grant. (File photo)

Proposed tax increase in North Cowichan significantly reduced to 2.31 per cent

A tax increase of more than seven per cent was feared

Mark Frame, North Cowichan’s finance director, says the proposed tax increase for 2021 could be substantially lower than anticipated due to a provincial grant. (File photo)
City of Duncan to buy $12,400 paper folder. (File photo)

City of Duncan to purchase $12,400 paper folder

City has about 3,700 invoices to be mailed between January and April

City of Duncan to buy $12,400 paper folder. (File photo)
North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring said it’s often up to the discretion of the municipality’s bylaw officers to determine whether a property is a nuisance. (File photo)

North Cowichan looks to deal with nuisance properties more efficiently

New bylaw gets first three readings

North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring said it’s often up to the discretion of the municipality’s bylaw officers to determine whether a property is a nuisance. (File photo)
Lon Wood, a neighbour of the trail head and parking lot of the Mount Tzouhalem trail system, hopes the Municipality of North Cowichan will deal with the growing problems related to the park. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Neighbours want solutions to “Kaspa bedlam” caused by Mount Tzouhalem trailhead

Speeding vevicles, parking among the problems

Lon Wood, a neighbour of the trail head and parking lot of the Mount Tzouhalem trail system, hopes the Municipality of North Cowichan will deal with the growing problems related to the park. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Mark Frame, North Cowichan’s finance director, says a new RCMP officer manager position that the municipality will add to its budget for 2021 will have a minimal financial implications. (File photo)

North Cowichan adds new RCMP office manager to its budget for 2021

Financial implications said to be minimal

Mark Frame, North Cowichan’s finance director, says a new RCMP officer manager position that the municipality will add to its budget for 2021 will have a minimal financial implications. (File photo)
A large film studio project is being proposed for the Malahat. Pictured is a graphic of the project. (Submitted graphic)

Huge film studio development proposed for Malahat Nation lands

Project estimated to provide about 1,500 jobs

A large film studio project is being proposed for the Malahat. Pictured is a graphic of the project. (Submitted graphic)
Qualicum Beach Coun. Robert Filmer. (PQB News file photo)

Qualicum Beach councillor takes medical leave, citing ‘toxic’ town hall environment

Filmer to step away for two months to reflect and get ‘re-energized’

Qualicum Beach Coun. Robert Filmer. (PQB News file photo)
Hannah Morten, a former summer intern with the Cowichan Green Community, tends to crops at the CGC’s incubator seed farm on Beverly Street in this photo from 2017. (Citizen file)

Cowichan Green Community looks to expand site on Beverly Street Duncan

CGC asks North Cowichan to extend its licence of occupation

Hannah Morten, a former summer intern with the Cowichan Green Community, tends to crops at the CGC’s incubator seed farm on Beverly Street in this photo from 2017. (Citizen file)