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
10 years ago
"Water restrictions eased" was the one and only headline on the front of the Lake Cowichan Gazette of Oct. 15, 2015.
"Water restrictions for Lake Cowichan and the Cowichan Valley Regional District have been downgraded to Stage I from Stage 3.
"'With significant increases in water storage at Lake Cowichan, substantial reductions in water demand and precipitation forecasted well into the foreseeable future, all local governments in the Cowichan Valley will downgrade the restrictions to Stage 1 effective Friday, October 9," said a press release from the CVRD.
In other news of the day, "Town moving sludge" was a page 2 headline.
"The Town of Lake Cowichan will discharge partially treated wastewater into the Cowichan River this week as it works to remove sludge build up from the system, says a public notice on the Town website. Excess sludge from Basin No. 1 will be moved to the newly constructed Basin No. 3, Oct. 13 to 17."
Eww, sludge.
"'During this time, the influent to the facility will bypass Basin No. 1 and go directly into Basin No. 2 where it will be aerated and polished, then proceed to be chlorinated and de-chlorinated prior to discharge," says the notice."
25 years ago
"VisionQuest to hold first session of counselling at CLEC in January" was one of two headlines on the front of the Lake Cowichan Gazette of Oct. 18, 2000.
"VisionQuest will be holding, early next year, the first of what it hopes will be many counselling programs at the Cowichan Lake Education Centre in Lake Cowichan.
"The executive director for the VisionQuest Recovery Society was in Lake Cowichan Sunday to introduce some of the counsellors and explain the program, which is scheduled to run for one week in early January.
"'Often in our country there's a focus on punishment to deal with crimes,' said John Hellemond of Victoria. 'With VisionQuest, it is about healing.'
"He said the program at CLEC will be geared toward individual counselling for people with addictions to drugs, alcohol or gambling, When VisionQuest proposed the long-term use of CLEC last year, either by purchasing it or leasing it, the idea was met by a lot of opposition, most notably by former Lake Cowichan resident Barry Gill, who formed an ad hoc 'save CLEC' committee.
"Some of the concern centred around the belief that having drug abusers and alcoholics here would not be good for the community. A year ago, prior to the municipal election, the town and VisionQuest reached a conditional agreement that included a minimum $50,000 annual fee to the town, extensive upgrading of the centre and about 30 initial jobs."
The second headline was "Need more public meetings on lake water level, say local politicians".
"Several local politicians want more than just open house meetings on the proposal to raise the water level in Cowichan Lake.
"Ecodomain Consulting of Duncan has been surveying lakeside and riverside property owners about the proposal to raise the Fletcher Challenge weir 18 inches.
"The open houses are specifically for lakeside and riverside property owners who have been missed during Ecodomain's door-to-door survey.
"Mayor Jack Peake believes there should be public meetings held as well.
"'The process is flawed,' said Peake. 'There's a huge swelling of concerns and questions that need to be answered.'"
40 years ago
"Crime rising" was a headline nobody really wanted to read on the front of the Lake News of Oct. 16, 1985.
"Police statistics show that criminal activity is slowly increasing in Lake Cowichan, as it is all over the province. Sgt. Rod Derouin of the Lake Cowichan RCMP, says there were '445 actual criminal complaints,' between January 1 and August 31 this year which compares to 390 in the same period last year, an increase of 14 per cent.
"'A 14 per cent increase in criminal activity is a significant figure,' says Derouin. 'Cases of break and enter so far this year are reported to be 88, compared to last year's 79.'
"The specific figures for break and enter involving different kinds of premises are not all on the increase. Residential break and enter is down considerably, this year with 26, compared with last year's 49.
"Business B&E seems to be on the increase, with 17 this year and 12 last year. 'Other' B&E, (referring to places which are not businesses or residences) like the municipal offices or the fire department, are also on the increase, with 20 this year and only 12 last year."
Also on the front page, "Two make it an election" was written by Lexi Bainas.
"There will be a mayoralty election in Lake Cowichan this year. Both Mayor Ted Forrest and Alderman Don Gordon told the Lake News Monday that they intend to seek the position at the municipal election November 16.
"Three other incumbent elected municipal officials in other jobs say they will seek re-election.
"School trustees Buck Hollingdrake and Wilma Rowbottom and alderman Barry Budden all said Monday that each would try for another term. They will be joined on the hustings by newcomer Rolli (Harolyn) Gunderson, who has announced her intention to seek a seat on the school board.
"Forrest, who was first elected mayor in 1983 after serving as an alderman, said he still wishes to be involved in some ongoing village projects. He did not name specific work that he wished to see continue, but said, 'I'm still looking out for the village.'
"Gordon, who has served as an alderman since December, 1977, said he felt the time had come to run for mayor.
"'After eight years on council, it's time to say: "that's it", or to try to move up.' he said."
