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
"Big Crowd at LakeTown meeting" was the big headline on the front page of the Lake Cowichan Gazette of Sept. 30, 2015.
"It was a packed house at the Youbou Community Hall on Monday, September 28 during the public meeting regarding the proposed Lake Town Ranch music concert/camping/outdoor recreation site.
"At the meeting Cowichan Valley Regional District staff explained the process related to the application and the applicant along with his consultants made presentations concerning the proposal. During the question and answer period many residents took to the microphone to ask Sunfest owner Greg Adams about everything from noise issues, security, parking and extra traffic concerns.
"While there were people for and against the proposal, the people behind the proposal appeared to outnumber those against. But, even the people behind the proposal had concerns. Local resident Les Bowd stated while he was a proponent of the proposal, he recognizes that it would have a great impact on the area and wants to be certain that all concerns would be properly heard and listened to."
"Changing of the curator" was a page 3 headline.
"When Barb Simkins considered retiring as curator of the Kaatza Museum, she knew she would be leaving it in good hands. Intern Megan Dalskog, who has worked and trained with Simkins as a student and volunteer for three years, will take the reigns in November and carry on the work of her mentor.
"Simkins started at the museum in 1984, just a year after the museum opened. In 1988 she took advantage of a federal project and was trained as a curator. In 30 years Simkins has created a lot of exhibits and displays, organized a lot of artifacts, but she has her favourites. The Pioneer Life display was one of her first and continues to be a favourite both with Simkins and visitors to the museum."
25 years ago
"Driver hits skateboarder, impaired charge pending"
"The police are recommending charges of impaired driving against a 51-year-old Lake Cowichan man after a 10-year-old boy was hit by a motor vehicle Thursday night.
"The boy had been riding his skateboard on Stone Avenue near South Shore Road at about 7 p.m. when he was hit from behind. Police say it was raining, the light was dusk and the boy was skateboarding downhill on a curve. The boy suffered minor injuries, although he remained in Duncan Hospital overnight.
"Although not done intentionally, some skateboarders utilize private property to practice their sport, causing damage to property and, in some cases, danger to the public," noted Sgt. Gerry Poitras of the Lake Cowichan RCMP. "This type of activity tends to reduce the public's opinion of skateboarders."
"The police sergeant noted that a lot of volunteer time and fundraising went into building a proper skateboard park, which is located behind the arena.
"'It is highly recommended that this facility be used for this purpose, rather than the streets and sidewalks of the community,' noted Poitras."
In other news "More money available for Lake Cowichan doctors" was another front page story.
"The provincial government is spending more money to try to keep doctors in Lake Cowichan. The Ministry of Health will provide $52,000 a year for extra pay and benefits, including a $10,000 signing bonus for new doctors recruited by the health authority, $10,000 as a retention premium for each full-time family doctor and $4,000 per doctor, on average, for continuing medical education. The funding will come from $2.269 million made available to the Central Vancouver Island Health Region."
40 years ago
"Forum and letters for RCMP?" was a front page headline on the Oct. 2, 1985 Lake News.
"The Lake Cowichan RCMP 'are considering holding a public forum' to receive public responses and views about policing in the district says Sgt. Rod Derouin.
"The Lake News will be adding an RCMP column which will consist of letters from citizens in the community who may have questions for the police or perhaps would like to share their ideas about law and/or policing in the district. Letters sent to the RCMP will be published in the RCMP column in the Lake News and any answers required will be answered by Sergeant Rod Derouin and published along with the letters."
Another front page headline was simply "Dangerous trestle".
"The Village of Lake Cowichan will work with CP Rail to make the railway trestle over the Cowichan River safer for pedestrians.
"The rail company was notified by the village late last week that an accident had already occurred on the trestle and that councillors were concerned that another might happen if measures are not taken. Councillors decided September 24 that the company should be told and urged to take some kind of action.
"The company has been attempting to divest itself of its abandoned rail line properties. Village clerk Pat Akerley, who spoke to CP Rail, said that the company official had been 'most distressed to hear about it', and had expressed concern that something should be done quickly to make the popular walkway safer."
