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
"Be Part of the 35th Annual Cross Canada Terry Fox Run/Walk/Ride!!" was the one and only headline on the front of the Sept. 16, 2015 edition of the Lake Cowichan Gazette.
"A local historian tells us the first Terry Fox Run was organized in Lake Cowichan in the early 80’s through the Cowichan Lake Community Services Society. Margaret Corbitt and later Anne Newman, along with their staff, organized these events for over 30 years. More recently Jean Cozens, of the Cowichan Lake Retreads, with support from Linda Blatchford and her staff at Cowichan Lake Recreation, rekindled the Terry Fox spirit in Lake Cowichan. For the last four years, the Terry Fox Run/Walk/Ride has annually attracted over 100 participants. Unfortunately, Jean was diagnosed with Cancer two years ago and has passed the torch to us to keep working to eliminate this disease."
In other news of the day: more backyard chicken talk in the story "Residents who want to keep chickens need to make application to change bylaw".
"Chickens are not officially coming to Lake Cowichan backyards any time soon. Town councillors, at their Sept. 8 finance and administration committee meeting, decided that if people in the town want hens they need to make an application themselves to change the bylaw.
"Coun. Tim McGonigle, committee chair, didn't want the Town taking the lead on the issue. 'If it's implemented by those with the backyard chicken owners, I feel that there's ownership taken on that process. If it's a council initiative, there's a sense of entitlement,' he said, adding that he had no problem himself with backyard fowl.
"Both Mayor Ross Forrest and Coun. Bob Day agreed that they didn't want to see council acting for a special interest group. Forrest said, 'It's not that I'm against chickens, because I'm not, but if people want us to change the bylaw to benefit them, I don't think the taxpayers should be paying for it. That's where I have an issue: there's going to be a cost to us.
"'I'm all for the taxpayers paying if it adds value for the community but I don't think this is an issue that benefits the whole of the community. I think if they want chickens they should come forward with a proper application.'"
25 years ago
The front page of the Lake Cowichan Gazette of Sept. 20, 2000 had a number of stories including "Elk gets antlers caught in fence wire."
"It took several hours and a shot of drugs, but Duncan conservation officers, Lake Cowichan police and two members of the Valley Fish and Game Club were able to free a 1,000-pound buck elk caught in a wife fence near the Skutz Falls turnoff.
"The seven-by-six antlered elk had become entangled in the wire fencing at the Charter Creek Nursery on Friday afternoon. In an effort to escape, the elk had become more entangled and, eventually, exhausted.
"A woman who telephoned for help also tried to free the elk, but had to back off when the animal became aggressive."
On the same front page, "Town investigates curfew to curb vandalism" was another front-page story.
"The Town of Lake Cowichan will be looking into the feasibility of implementing a curfew to try to curb vandalism by young teens and pre-teens.
"Mayor Jack Peake raised the issue in light of several incidents that have been brought to his attention. He said too many youths are roaming the streets of Lake Cowichan at midnight or later.
"Peake said many of the youngsters are causing damage to residential property, as well as the construction site of the King George Seniors' Housing project on South Shore Road.
"Sam Beldessi of the King George Affordable Housing Society has even slept in his vehicle all night to guard the place.
"'I have brought this up before,' Peake said at last week's public council meeting. 'I know we're not talking about a huge segment, but there are enough to cause a problem.'"
40 years ago
"Bowling alley may close" was a sad headline on the front of the Sept. 19, 1985 Lake News.
"The Lake Cowichan bowling alley will close unless more local residents make use of it, according to Pete Lepine. In an interview Friday, Lepine, who, with his wife Julie, bought the bowling alley in September, 1979, said that a drastic decline in the number of bowlers using the facility has forced him to look at selling out.
"The 'break even' point for the bowling alley is 12 teams (60 people) bowling each night for five nights of the week, according to Lepine, who added that this has never been reached, even in the alley's best year, 1981-82. There were 200 bowlers that year, including 80 junior bowlers."
And finally, "Historic Inn sold" was another headline.
"Lake Cowichan's historic Riverside Inn celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, has been sold to a family consortium composed of Doug Butterfield, formerly of the North West Territories, his aunt and uncle, George and William Rowbottom, of Lake Cowichan, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Butterfield, of Victoria.
"The hotel has been sold on a 'lease to purchase' arrangement, which means that the former owners will continue to own it, receiving rent for a year, after which it can be bought by the new management.
"The deal was completed and the newcomers took over at midnight Sunday, said Mr. Butterfield, who has moved into the hotel."
