MAY 2016

South Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 6

Tourism has a new strategy

Paintball players Jennafer Burke (left), Amber-Lea Glendale and Beth Sherlock (bottom) had a blast enjoying their tag-based sport May 15 at Whippletree Junction’s Raptor Warrior Games. See story on Page 13. (Photo by Peter W. Rusland)

COWICHAN VALLEY – A new economic engine called the Tourism Cowichan Society has been primed by regional directors to help pull visitors to our lovely Warm Land. The business based society was recently fueled with $120,000 a year and a five-year contract, from Cowichan Valley Regional District taxpayers. The society aims to plump that purse by leveraging funds from tourist groups outside the Valley. In fact, Destination B.C. has already added $138,000 to the energetic touristtouting machine, society president Janet Docherty reports. The society also aims to develop a hotel tax, through the Province, to be used for promoting the Valley and driving tourists here — thereby growing Cowichan jobs, and its tax base. “We’ve been trying to do this (marketing model) for over a decade,” added Docherty, clearly excited about the new strategy that will give stakeholders a strong voice in how tourism is marketed. Town hall meetings are booked May 25 to June 1 to explain the society’s plans. Call 250-510-5586. • See story on Page 26

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South Cowichan Chamber facing hard times Cowichan Bay financial guru Dave Shortill hasn’t been sleeping well recently. It’s not that he’s worried about money matters, particularly. The stock market seems to be ticking along nicely. The local real estate market is hot and the madness preceding the income tax filing deadline has passed. And Dave, unlike many of his colleagues in the financial industry who would have us believe we’re all destined for a retirement on the streets, foraging through trash bins or eating no-name cat food since the Canada Pension Plan is doomed, doesn’t see it that way. In fact, if you read his column on page 24 of this issue, Dave is upbeat on the future of this well-managed retirement fund that provides a measure of security for Canadians who have contributed to it over their working years. It isn’t going anywhere. But what has Dave tossing and turning these days is the state of the local business community and the future of the South Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. Clearly there are mixed signals but Dave sees some bad signs in the Valley.

“There have been a number of business closures and some exciting things that were planned for Bamberton aren’t going to happen,” Shortill notes. As well, a number of Shawnigan businesses that had been fixtures in town for a few years have now disappeared. In other areas of South Cowichan, things appear to be a little brighter. Anyone who tries to park in the Valley View Shopping Centre will tell you spaces are often at a premium. Similarly, the Mill Bay Shopping Centre appears to be bustling with activity. There are quality businesses in both shopping centres and locals seem to be supporting them. Speaking of parking, down the road in Cowichan Bay, the famous Yogi Berra quote comes to mind. The New York Yankee catcher had this to say about a popular Gotham City eatery: “No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded.” That says it all about Cowichan Bay. And while people wish it was a little

easier to find a place in front of the Rock Cod Café or True Grain or The Udder Guys, it is what it is. Folks don’t seem to mind walking a little ways, knowing that it’s worth the extra time and the exercise isn’t a bad thing. However, Shortill is president of the South Cowichan Chamber of Commerce and he’s frustrated by the state of that important business organization. The Chamber has just under 100 members, most of whom don’t get very involved once they’ve paid their dues. “It’s been really difficult to get them to do anything. They’re not coming to our events,” says Shortill, who has announced he is stepping down. The recent annual general meeting was a flop with not enough attendees to form a quorum. Illness and some last minute travel arrangements played a role in the failure of the AGM, but it was disappointing. Many Chambers struggle these days. Locally, the Duncan Cowichan Chamber

of Commerce is on a roll with an engaged, growing membership well-served by a skilled staff. They may be an exception. In Chemainus, the membership numbers remain low and the organization continues to find its purpose. Business owners often wonder why it’s important to join a chamber, often deciding they’re got better places to invest their couple hundred dollars or less. There’s a long list of reasons, including the opportunity to enroll your business in an excellent group insurance program. That alone makes chamber membership attractive. But it’s the chance to participate in an organization that provides a voice for small business that makes membership a good idea. The three levels of government regularly hear from unions, non-profit community organizations and special interest groups as they ponder important issues. It’s vital that the voice of small business be heard. Let’s hope South Cowichan business folks step up to the plate before it’s too late. [email protected]

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Mill Bay firefighter Nolan Baker helps Lola Warbeck, 6, soak firefighter Alex Power during the May 14 Children & Apple Pie Day fundraiser for Evergreen Independent School. (Photo by Peter W. Rusland)

Kids, apple pie an unbeatable combo for Evergreen fundraiser Cobble Hill’s annual Children & Apple Pie Day always delights families, performers and exhibitors — and May 14 was no exception. The great day of eating, singing, face-painting, blacksmithing, animal watching, castle-bouncing, dunk-tanking and more was savoured by hundreds of local folks and Valley visitors. They were serenaded and entertained by acts spanning Brentwood College guitarists to songwriter Kelly Roxanne Girvan, and many others. Proceeds (total pending) help Evergreen Independent School’s programs, and its project in progress — a unique, timber frame pavilion (and multi-use space) covering its outdoor playing surface. The Echo was awaiting word of who bought the apple pie holding a voucher for a diamond.

Valley songwriter Kelly Roxanne Girvan entertains at the Children & Apple Pie Day stage that featured a wide variety of performances. (Photo by Peter Rusland)

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Cobble Hill Homesteading Fair a chance to share local knowledge By Matteus Clement For The Echo COBBLE HILL – Do you have chickens, make jam, or garden? Then the homesteading fair is looking for you! The first ever Vancouver Island Homesteading Fair is taking place July 16 and 17 at the Cobble Hill Farmers Hall grounds. The fair is a collaboration between the Cobble Hill Events Society and the Cobble Hill Farmers Institute. The event is free and open to the public. Organizers are currently looking for speakers to come present their areas of interest. It’s a casual workshop format where people will be able to present up to 45 minutes with a small discussion afterwards. They aren’t looking to bring in the foremost experts on topics but rather build the farming/homesteading community here in the Cowichan Valley with local knowledge. If you are interested in presenting your passion, please email [email protected].

If you are presenting, you may also be a vendor at the market for free. Some of the workshops already booked are: draft horses, homeschooling, beekeeping, veggie gardens, composting, preserving fruit, East Indian cooking, irrigation, and solar power. Why a homesteading fair when we already have an island Agricultural show and the Cobble Hill Fair? Folks felt there needed to be a place for the casual green thumb and the small scale farmer to connect and learn. This inclusive style of workshops was inspired by the Northwest Homesteading Fair in Lyle, Washington where the community uses a small school and a legion hall to teach how to become more self sufficient as well as connect farmers, vendors and services. Whether you are looking to have a couple raised beds to grow veggies OR to start a small farm, you’re welcome to come to the Vancouver Island Homesteading Fair.

Homesteaders in the Cowichan Valley needed a wide range of skills in order to survive in the early days. Some of those skills will be on display in mid-July.

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Folks remembering the Good Old Daze in Mill Bay MILL BAY – The Mill Bay/Malahat Historical Society hosts a free event in Mill Bay every July that we think people will find fascinating. In partnership with over 50 businesses and community groups we hold the Good Old Daze Event, which features over 100 handcrafted life-size mannequins that offer a hilarious look at history and memories of the past detailed on attached signs. Groups come from all parts of the Cowichan Valley and all areas of the Island on day trips to see these figures displayed around the Mill Bay Mall, vote for their favourite figures and win prizes. Think wedding traditions are romantic? Well, history says differently and our funny figures will prove it. We’ll have glimpses of the 1800s, 1920s, 1960s and the war years. Famous inventions such as Coca-cola, sandwiches, roller skates, basketball and many more will be on display. There are things we take for granted but that shape our lifestyle today. Where did they come from? Bring the whole family and follow the map provided by participating Mill Bay businesses to see all 80 figures. Vote for your favourite figures and win prizes Good Old Daze runs from Monday, July 11 to Friday, July 21, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Mill Bay Centre and surrounding area. On Friday, July 21, there will be entertainment and the awards celebration from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This is a glimpse of the past we guarantee you have never seen before. To view some of last year’s figures go to our website www.MillBayMalahatHistory.com. For more info on this event call Maureen Alexander at 250-743-9196 or the museum at 250-743-0144.

Mill Bay Garden Club show on May 28 The venerable Mill Bay Garden Club’s 69th-annual show and sale takes root May 28 at Cobble Hill Hall. The 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. event for all ages offers six prize-money design slots – on a Gardening For Mind, Body & Soul theme – for creative displays of fruits and vegetables: Tapestry, Little Treasures, Twist MeTurn Me, Thoughts Of yesterday, In The Mood, plus the kids’ theme Anything Goes.

Entries cost 50¢ each, and are accepted May 27, noon to 7 p.m. at the hall. Hall action also includes cut flowers, potted plants, vegetables, herbs and seedlings — plus the South Cowichan Health Care Auxiliary’s Strawberry Tea (and sweets). Outside, vendors and club mastergardeners give advice and sell pots of many varieties. Admission is $2; kids free.

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OP /ED inion

itorial

New tourism Society a timely initiative One of Cowichan’s biggest, yet sadly wilting, economic development titans is our tourism potential. If only local bureaucrats, commerce groups and politicians knew how to attract tourists –and their wallets – here to enjoy everything the Warm Land offers. Lakes, river tubing, wineries, the arts, kayaking, shopping, farmers’ markets, golfing, food festivals, archery, music – the list is endless. So are excuses about why Cowichan’s drowsy tourism sector stays asleep, despite tons of our money tossed at it through well-meaning efforts such as Tourism Cowichan. But there’s new hope to grow tourism, and its job and tax-base potential, as our canny business leaders take a crack at unravelling our visitor-draw enigma through the Tourism Cowichan Society. Bankrolled annually with $120,000 of local taxpayers’ money, the fledgling society led by Janet Docherty, has a five-year mandate to yank visitors off the Island Highway, and off the Mainland, and over to our verdant Valley. The Merridale Ciderworks’ co-owner is no slouch when it comes to business acumen: she and husband Rick Pipes have made Merridale a fearsome force in the shark-infested agribusiness industry. Now our regional board has granted Janet’s longawaited wish about helping helm Cowichan’s floundering tourism sector. We’re optimistic her fresh ideas, coupled with those of other business brains, produces measureable results – not more bureaucratic talk and studies – in a fairly timely manner. There’s hope: the society has already leveraged $138,000 from Destination B.C. Great start! Advertising Cowichan nationally, trumpeting all our vacation and lifestyle pluses is perhaps a next step. Let’s stop being one of Canada’s best-kept secrets, and start profitably sharing Cowichan’s natural joys.

Chair undermining CVRD directors A few years back, Christy Clark shouted all across B.C. that LNG will set us free and make us rich. Many were comforted by the sparkly Ms. Clark and her upbeat messaging that contrasted the NDP's dull, hesitant Adrian Dix, rejected after being encouraged to do so by the ever so helpful corporate media. Well, now the LNG nightmare is being promoted right here in the Saanich Inlet. The Steelhead LNG crew, who along with discredited former Malahat Nation Chief Michael Harry, apparently locked in the Malahat Nation to an agreement to develop a massive floating LNG operation on Bamberton Lands. Most of the band members, and all the other First Nations throughout the Saanich Peninsula were kept in the dark. The other bands may have protection against such madness through the Douglas Treaty rights that are entrenched and recognized. A treaty is a contract after all. The idea being promoted is to pump the deadly product through a pipeline from Washington State through to Bamberton where it would be processed and then loaded onto huge LNG super tankers that make our BC Ferries look like

rowboats. Who will stand up to protect the Saanich Inlet and Gulf Islands from the devastating impact of the processing, which requires massive volumes of water that in turn would be returned to the fjord as hot and ecologically damaging to the sensitive inlet? Not the BC NDP, that is clear by their deafening silence. Leader John Horgan is an LNG keener, not about to stand and speak against the negative impacts of such a proposal. Only nuanced processes differentiate the NDP and BC Liberals when it comes to LNG. The CVRD elected officials control land use through zoning and their OCP but have been coopted by the Chairman Jon Lefebure, CAO Brian Carruthers and Planning GM Ross Blackwell. Cowichan Bay Director Lori Iannidinardo had forwarded a resolution clearly opposed to allowing such an operation at Bamberton or anywhere else in the CVRD. The motion was enthusias-

tically received, verbally supported, and unanimously passed by the 15 CVRD Directors, back in February. Mere days later, the Chair and senior staff broke their silence and set out to discredit the motion as legally threatening to the CVRD and the Directors. That self-serving ploy must be seen in the light of private meetings that had been held with Steelhead LNG frontmen and senior CVRD staff. The Directors have been warned that they must remain neutral and not speak against a pending application. This is contrary to the responsibilities elected officials have to speak up on such matters. The caution is that they must keep an open mind to new information once, and if, an application is filed. In spite of Chair Lefebure’s campaign along with senior staff to shun Lori Iannidinardo for her temerity in bringing such a motion forward, it remains standing as CVRD Board policy. I smell a rat! Richard Hughes is a Cowichan Valley based freelance writer

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Setting the record straight on gluten I’m afraid that Bruce Stewart’s column in the April South Cowichan Echo about gluten’s impact on health was less than accurate. First, I’d like to point out that lactose is a complex sugar, not a protein. Its components are galactose and glucose, both sugars. Second, while it is true that those with celiac disease cannot fully digest gluten, neither can any other human. By contrast, ruminants can convert protein to energy and vitamins through their microbial/enzyme digestive systems. That is, they host microbes in their digestive tracts which can act in concert with their digestive enzymes, that we humans do not make, to reduce gluten proteins to amino acids and small peptides that can then nourish and protect the ruminant's cells. While it is true that undigested proteins are leaking through the intestinal wall, this can be due to one or more of a variety of factors that cause increased zonulin production. Production of this messenger protein is increased by allergic reactions, a bad burn, a bout of flu, some spices, and, in celiac patients and those with gluten sensitivity, gluten grains. Two or more of the above may have a multiplying effect on zonulin production. The story of the discovery of this protein in 1999, at the University of Maryland, is a fascinating tale where the investigators were seeking effective treatment strategies for cholera. Their insightful shift to trying to understand the action and origins of zonulin has provided huge potential for benefits to a wide range of patients who suffer from illnesses other than celiac disease. Third, the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA), early in its existence, claimed an incidence of this disease of between one in 12,000 people and one in 25,000 people. By the 1980s, the CCA was citing rates of one per 2,500 people. Shortly after the turn of the century, they adopted the American rate as their own, one in 133. Although I applaud this adoption, I strongly suspect that it underestimates the rate of celiac disease in Canada, both because of our higher latitude, our wheat contains more gluten that grown in the USA and in much of Europe. But, again, that is a story for another time. Fourth, you claim that the 1:133 rate of celiac disease has been relatively consistent over the last 50 years, yet that claim contradicts the published incidence rates throughout the history of the CCA, it also contradicts research that shows higher serum antibodies associated with celiac disease when compared with serum taken from U.S. service personnel during the Korean War. There are many well established connections between gluten and health issues beyond celiac disease. These include an array of neurological

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conditions of unknown origin, 56 per cent of which were shown to either have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, as indicated by IgG class antibodies against gliadin, a major protein component of gluten. These antibodies are found in about 12 per cent of the general population in the United Kingdom and about 11 per cent of the USA population. Another form of non-celiac gluten

sensitivity due to interactions with the innate immune system requires a clinical diagnosis. This afflicts about six per cent of the general population. A sub-group of patients with schizophrenia have also been shown to react to gluten, with symptom remission on a gluten free, dairy free diet. While these patients show antibodies against gluten, they are not the same antibody or immune reaction as is seen in celiac disease.

Although you seem to suggest that wheat has not changed much, Nobel Laureate, Norman Borlaug was considered by many to have staved off an enormous famine with his development of multiple strains of disease resistant, high yield, semi-dwarf wheat. Borlaug was given many awards in recognition of his work which was thought to have saved millions from starvation. I also look forward to reading about your ideas on the breeding of modern wheat and the consequent changes in the “protein make-up of the plant.” I do hope that you will revisit your closing remarks about whether it is more likely that wheat changed or growing and processing methods. We know that both have changed, but your rhetorical question suggests otherwise. Ron Hoggan, Ed. D. Cowichan Valley

Water and fire answers on May 26 We already know that climate change will increase the frequency and intensity of droughts and floods, alter snowpack levels and cause other impacts to water quantity. Jurisdictions that protect their watersheds as healthy, intact systems will have more stability in a changing climate. What actions and protection is being offered to residents in Cowichan Bay – Area D? On Thursday, May 26 at 7 p.m. in the public room at Bench Elementary, I’m hosting a community meeting to discuss water and the issues many of you raised during the recent Community Conversations. You’ve told me that water is your number one concern – water usage, water rates, quantity and quality. In some areas of Area D, many people buy their drinking water because the public systems aren’t providing enough or the right kind of services needed. And costs are mounting in these areas. There are problems with the quality and, during high use seasons, problems with quantity.

Information on water/drought issues is online from various organizations and government sources. The latest Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin of May 1, 2016, put out

by the River Forecast Centre of the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resources provides us with some current conditions for the island. This includes: • On Vancouver Island and other areas in B.C., snow packs are low (6075 per cent). • May 1 snow conditions are more typical of those observed in a normal June 1 period, indicating that snow melt this season is three to four weeks ahead of normal. • In rivers with limited snow melt contribution to stream flow, such as

Vancouver Island, the early melt and dry spring has led to below normal stream flow as of early-May. In a new report, B.C. water-law experts warn the province’s policy makers to learn from the cautionary lessons of California, now in the fourth year of a historic severe drought. Hand in hand with water, is the high risk of fire on Southern Vancouver Island. We’ll also be talking about actions to take in the event of a fire in our area. What would be the effect on our drinking water supplies with water resources being needed to combat a major fire in our area? Are you prepared at home – with supplies of drinking water, a pack and go bag, and knowledge of an exit strategy? I have invited a number of individuals from different agencies to speak on water issues and emergency preparedness at our meeting on the 26th. I look forward to seeing you. Call me at 250-510-3504 or email me at [email protected] for more information.

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THEY’RE OFF! A group of Grade 3 boys, including some front-runners from Bench elementary, takes off at the starting line for a one-kilometre run during the annual District (Photo by Andrew Leong) School Cross Country Run at Evans Park on Somenos Road.

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Agreeing to disagree Last month I wrote my first column dedicated to increasing awareness of food-related issues. The topic was gluten, and I briefly described celiac disease. I received a lot of feedback on the article and was interested to sit down with Ron Hoggan, Ed. D., a local resident with celiac disease who is a passionate advocate for glutenfree living. Ron provided me with an opportunity to discuss an opposing viewpoint. As a result of that meeting, there are two points I would like to clarify from my previous article. I wrote “the incidence of celiac disease has been consistent over the past 50 years” and I also suggested that humans have not changed, but rather the wheat has. There is evidence that the incidence of celiac disease has, in fact, increased and that there is evidence of changes in blood antibodies in certain classes of people since the 1950s. I apologize for the misinformation. I do stand by the data on the Canadian Celiac association website that estimates the disease affects only one in 133 people in North America. Ron and I had a great debate. He is of the opinion that people whose health is actually affected by gluten grains is close to 20 per cent of the general population and that 80 per cent of the population may develop a problem with gluten. I am of the opinion that the number is closer to one per cent. My perspective is framed by experience with highly wheat sensitive (non celiac) individuals who are able to tolerate bread made with (gluten containing) ancient grains such as Emmer, Einkorn, Khorasan and even heritage wheat varieties such as Red Fife. My perspective and Ron’s, each framed by our own experiences, are

vastly different. We agreed to disagree. I suggest the overall population number affected is less relevant to the individual than finding out what works for YOU. What really matters is finding a solution for YOU.

Then, if there are symptoms from eating bread, finding out whether a particular symptom one experiences is related to gluten per se, or a host of other factors that are common in most bread. These can include glysophate sprayed on wheat fields, modern wheat breeding, yeast, bleaching agents, conditioning agents, protein enhancers, preservatives, and others. My discussion with Ron reminded me that these health issues are complex, real, and still not widely understood. What I suggest is doing your research. Talk to your physician, and experiment within your comfort level. If you suffer from non-celiac gluten sensitivity you might still be able to enjoy great bread grown by an organic B.C. grain farmer. I know because I meet these customers often. More than once I have been thanked with a bear hug and a hearty, “You’ve changed my life!” Next month we will explore the differences between modern wheat varieties and some of the ancient and heritage grains. Bruce Stewart is the co-owner of True Grain Bread in Cowichan Bay.

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Paintballers gunning for action By Peter W. Rusland Of The Echo COWICHAN BAY – Getting shot is just part of paintball’s non-lethal family fun that’s attracting folks to Raptor Warrior Games at Whippletree Junction. “The appeal is that this is an action-packed game that gets the adrenaline going, and gives you a chance to work on teamwork,” co-owner Adrian Clarkson said of his acre-size field. It opened about a month ago for players ranging from youths to adults. Raptor’s range is dotted with plywood buildings and stacks of rubber tires where teams square off for paintbased tag matches. Once you’re seen by the referee as hit, you’re out for that game. “There are different scenarios, but most are one team against the other,” said Clarkson. “Basically, it’s like a game of long-range tag where you have your markers (guns) — air guns like a short rifle.” Cherry-size, plastic-shell paintballs are loaded into the rifle’s chamber, and fired by a compressed-air tank. Expensive guns tend to be more accurate. Most balls fly at about 270 feet per second, but Raptor plans a game for youths using smaller paintballs moving at 60 to 80 feet per second. Those pellets hold water-based paint that doesn’t wipe off easily, but rinses out well in the wash. Admission is $10 per person, if you own your gear. And for $25, players rent compulsory, protective gear — helmets, face masks and more under strictly enforced paintball-industry regulations — including a rifle with 200 paintballs. Ammo is extra if you run out ($25 for 500 balls), but admission permits paintballers to play all day. “It’s full head gear, a face mask, and whatever you feel comfortable in; there’s a balancing act between heat and personal preference,” explained Clarkson. An insurance waiver must also be signed by all players, who can be bruised after being tagged by a paintball.

“You definitely feel it the next day, because it hurts when you get shot; your muscles are sore, too,” Jennafer Burke of Nanaimo said, after playing a game with about six players aside. “It goes to the last man standing; capture-the-flag is fun too,” she said. Games depend on various scenarios but are “usually five minutes or less” — other games could see teams play all day, Clarkson noted. Burke said Raptor is “very well-priced; that’s why we come back.” Amber-Lea Glendale cited “the adrenaline” as why she likes paintballing. Beth Sherlock said she enjoys Raptor “because this is a smaller field, so games are fast-paced.” “I like the management. They’re just friendlier, and they play with us too (and) you strategize with people.” The three women applauded Raptor’s safety regulations too — without safety gear, visitors are banned from the field surrounded by black netting to contain stray shots. “You could lose an eye,” vigilant ref Jameel Albosoff warned of wandering, without face protection, into the playing area. Still, player Ryan Lavallee takes his lumps. “You get some welts, but no more than playing other games. “Some people play football, baseball, or go to the bar — it’s a matter of practice and getting used to how it works,” he said. “It’s a good team sport, and quite a nice field here that’s well-maintained — and the price is better too. “It’s just a lot of fun, and definitely does release stress.” Co-owner Jay Martens, a two-time Canadian paintball champ, said Raptor aims to add second-storey floors and stairs to its field buildings, and join them with catwalks. “We’ve got lots of work ahead of us; we try and make it a positive experience.” A tournament field, and a bush field, are also in the

Steve Glendale with his paintball rifle — hooded by a barrel sleeve — and other protective gear at safetyconscious Raptor Warrior Games in Whippletree (Photo by Peter Rusland) Junction. works, depending on business and how much land Raptor can rent from Whippletree owners, the Hung family. Martens said peak days are during drop-in play Saturdays and Sundays. Some folks also come to Cowichan on vacation to play at Raptor paintball. “Whippletree is its own tourist attraction, and an exciting game of paintball is part of their vacation,” Clarkson said, noting customer service and competitive prices are Raptor’s goal. Meanwhile, he loves playing games “every chance I get.” For more info, contact Raptor Warrior Games at 250746-0096.

Careful planning makes the trip fun and inexpensive With our winter hibernation behind us we can celebrate what I feel is one of the easiest seasons to spend less, summer. Swimming, hiking and tubing are among the many activities to choose from with almost no cost at all. Parks, beaches and lush forests are all around us and still not charging admission. More and more Canadians are embarking on ‘staycations’ these days with tight budgets, the dollar tanking and the high costs of flights. Yes, there is a big world out there to explore but why not start with our own province or even just the beautiful island that we live on. I have lived here for over 35 years and still I haven’t seen it all. Make a list of places you haven't been and start crossing them off. Decide where you would like to visit and research what’s happening there this summer. Plan to go when there is a festival or town celebration of some sort.

For instance, if someone was to travel to the Cowichan Valley I might suggest doing it during the Spot Prawn festival or Duncan Days where no or low cost fun abounds. That being said, if you don’t like crowds make sure you plan your trip when there isn’t a big to-do happening. Research roadside attractions and natural sites, usually free or very low cost and great places to explore. A road trip can be fairly inexpensive if planned out well. Plan your route ahead of time and find out where the cheapest campsites or hotels are. Do your research. Pack a cooler with beverages and snacks so you don’t have to buy much as you travel. Find out where and when farmers’ markets are and see if you can make a

stop en route, so that you can add fresh food and local flavour to your meals along the way. Once in a new town, hit up the locals for directions to the best beach around. They may even be willing to share that secret fishing or swimming spot knowing that you are just passing through. Ask them where the best restaurants are so that when you do eat out you are getting a great meal for your money. Make sure your vehicle is tuned up and running well as you don’t want the expense of breaking down out of town, or traveling in 30 degree weather with no air conditioning.

To get the best gas mileage keep your tires inflated at the suggested level, your gas tank around half full and use cruise control when you can. Last year we made it all the way to Tahsis where the fishing was great. We spotted a cougar with her two babies which was breathtaking (from the truck!). Not sure yet where our travels will take us this year but I better get to planning soon so we can get the most of our trip for the least amount of dollars. Happy trails to you my friends, until we meet again. Brenna (The Frugal Rooster) Gerow has called South Cowichan home for more than 35 years. She shares her life with husband Jeff in the house they have made into a cozy home utilizing a very small budget. She shares her tips, projects and stories with her neighbours and friends.

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Firefighters had little chance of saving Cow Bay home By Peter W. Rusland Of The Echo COWICHAN BAY – The cause of an April 28, home-destroying fire along Cowichan Bay’s Khenipsen Road is still under investigation, after one of the Bay’s worst residential blazes in years. Fire chief Scott Henning of North Cowichan’s southend hall says the owners of the vacation home, under renovations at 988 Khenipsen Rd., were at home when the fire started at around 3:30 p.m. No one was injured during the intense fire that claimed the 35-year-old wooden abode comprising “sheer fuel load.” It scorched the house next door at 996, Henning said of the insured residences — sitting down Khenipsen Rd.’s string of narrow, paved roads where a hydrant was not nearby. North Cowichan’s building and compliance manager, Michael Mark, was unavailable for comment by deadline. “It’s heavily damaged but not a complete write-off,” chief Henning said of 996. “We were able to contain that fire to one side of the structure, but 988 was pretty much gone before we even got on scene.” That leveled three-story place was also attacked by crews from Duncan and Cowichan Bay halls who brought water tenders to the dramatic scene. “We had two front-line pumpers with 800 gallons each,” Henning said of initial water strikes to 988. The back-up tankers carried about 3,500 gallons each. Even if hydrants were nearby, 988 was “so far gone” when firefighters arrived. Also the narrow driveways didn’t allow easy access to the homes, Henning said of the residence fronting the ocean. Hose blasts from firefighting boats, if available in the bay, may not have reached the homes either, the chief indicated. Still, he explained home fires on Khenipsen Road have been historically “few and far between.”

A firefighter battles the inferno that claimed a Cowichan Bay home being renovated at 988 Khenipsen Road. Nearby resident Roger Sparkes says he and his neighbours believe the blaze proves the need for hydrants along Khenipsen, where homeowners (Photo by Andrew Leong) were “lucky” winds didn’t carry the fire farther.

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Former Shawnigan Lake teacher awaiting verdict By Peter Rusland Of The Echo DUNCAN – The trial of former Shawnigan Lake School teacher, Andrew Olson, who’s facing six charges of sexual crimes involving a youth concluded May 9 in Duncan Court.

Andrew Olson is facing six charges including sexual exploitation. (Photo by Peter Rusland)

A decision in Olson’s case is expected May 25 in Duncan Court, registry staff said. Judge Carmen Rogers has ordered a ban on publication of evidence that would identify the female student involved. Olson, dressed in a light-blue suit, sat quietly during May 9 testimony surrounding his alleged sexual exploitation and alleged assault causing bodily harm. The court heard Crown counsel Leah Fontaine complete her evidence about how Olson allegedly used his trusted position at the private South Cowichan high school to take advantage of a troubled, teenage, female student and had sexual relations with her after protracted 2014-15 conversations via Facebook messaging. Defense lawyer Geof Simair answered Crown’s assertions, arguing Olson, then 33, was never the student’s teacher, and never would have been — basically submitting the student pursued Olson, and was not exploited nor lured by him. Olson was dismissed by the school following the criminal allegations and investigation by police.

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South Cowichan Echo

My other racket After reading my articles for the past year, you probably think that all I am involved with is Community Policing and Rotary. Not true! I love to play tennis and joined the Mill Bay Tennis Club about eight years ago. It was definitely one of the best things I could have done. The Mill Bay Community League's two tennis courts are located on Wilkinson Road (off Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road) behind the Kerry Park Arena. The Mill Bay Tennis Club welcomes players of all levels and offers weekly women, men and mixed league play. Social tennis and tournaments for all levels are held during the summer months. Time is also available if you just wish to play with a club member for the joy of the game. The website http://millbaytennis.com will show you the executive members and how each can be reached. The club was founded in 1991 by a small group of local enthusiasts who made an agreement with the Mill Bay Community League to use the courts behind Kerry Park Arena in exchange for maintenance and management. This agreement, in a modified form, continues to this day. Over the past 18 years the club has steadily grown from about 20 members to over 70 today. Many of those original members still take an active part in the club. The founders of the club emphasized a friendly atmosphere for social and competitive play open to all members of the Mill Bay community and our neighbours. That philosophy remains today. Check out the website and perhaps you, too, will be interested in joining one of these activities. Women’s Doubles is open to players Level 2.5 and above and is played Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings between 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. Men’s Doubles is open to Level 2.5 and above and is played Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. The Mixed Doubles League is open to NTRP level 3 and above and is played Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6- 8 p.m. Social Tennis League is open to Level 2.5 and above and is played Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 6- 8 p.m. The club recently passed a motion to resurface the courts. This will be undertaken near the end of May. Fundraising efforts are currently being organized to help defray the cost of this project. Club members are very excited about the resurfacing project and anticipate a great season of fun tennis events. The club welcomes any and all new members who wish to join. Shirley Walker is a longtime Mill Bay resident and volunteer.

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Shawnigan simply Super By Don Bodger Of The Echo SHAWNIGAN LAKE – Shawnigan Lake School senior boys settled the score with sparkling play in spectacular sunshine on Super Saturday. The conclusion to five games of rugby at Shawnigan Lake School May 7 saw the hosts overpower Earl Marriott 57-8 after only leading 17-3 at halftime. “We try to explain to the kids teams don’t just roll over and hand you victories,” said Shawnigan coach Tim Murdy. “It takes a while to wear down the opposition and create opportunities.” Earl Marriott showed plenty of determination in the first half. “This is Shawnigan,” one player on the field could be heard saying after Earl Marriott gave up a try. “If we win, it’s history.” Those hopes were dashed quickly,

however, as Shawnigan came out blazing in the second half to score a succession of tries. Murdy has seen that happen before. “They get rejuvenated and get some fresh energy after the break,” he explained. Murdy saw some players wanting to put on a show for the home fans and sometimes missed great opportunities to move the ball into open spaces for tries. He understands how players get caught up in the moment. “We try to emphasize it doesn’t matter who scores on our team as long as the person scoring has a Shawnigan jersey on,” Murdy indicated. Rockridge defeated Brentwood College in one of the earlier games, a battle between Double-A powerhouses. Shawnigan is the defending B.C. Triple-A champion, but gunning for a title

Carson O'Sullivan crashes through an Earl Marriott crowd. in the new Quad-A format this year. Shawnigan and Oak Bay are confirmed as two of the four finalists for the provincials in Abbotsford. The Lower Mainland representation will either come from St. George’s or Carson Graham while Earl Marriott and Yale were battling for the Fraser Valley berth. There will only be a semifinal and

(Photo by Don Bodger)

final this year, as well as a third-place game for the first-round losers. Shawnigan certainly appears primed to become the first Quad-A champs. “It’s a good team again,” Murdy said. “It has its own makeup – its own strengths and weaknesses. This year’s team is progressing nicely and hopefully they’ll be able to keep getting better.”

Junior volleyball feeder system set for Brentwood Developing sports programs designed to produce consistent results in high schools is a tricky proposition. There’s obviously a regular turnover in personnel and sometimes you just have to play the cards you’re dealt if the talent level isn’t there. Certain schools and programs naturally work very hard regardless of the circumstances to reach the highest level of performance and efficiency. Last month in the debut issue of the Duncan Free Press, I wrote about the Duncan Christian School basketball program and how the small school has made the most of its coaching, facilities and athleticism to build a winner. At Brentwood College, girls’ volleyball has long been a prominent sport, mainly due to the presence of Jill Fougner as coach of the senior team. No one puts more into her craft year after year than Jill. But there’s also a building process that goes on before the players get to Jill. I had done a report on the junior

girls’ team for the South Cowichan Echo, but it was lost in the shuffle during the paper’s revision and my own personal transition from freelancing to a full-time position again. The Brentwood juniors did extremely well under the direction of coach Neil Robinson, qualifying for the provincials for the first time in many years. Brentwood nabbed the sixth and final Island berth during playoffs on its home court and managed to secure 23rd place at the bottom of the consolation group in the 32-team provincial tournament hosted by Seaquam, North Delta and South Delta. That’s no small feat in a highly competitive field. “Honestly, if I had another four or five weeks, I think in terms of strategy we were there with those teams,” reasoned Robinson.

“I get my girls in early September. I have to bring my team together fairly quickly and get them on the same page.” That’s never easy to do in a short time, but these girls found a common ground. If they stick together, it’ll be interesting to see what happens at the senior level. Brentwood found itself in a tough pool at the provincials, but won one match over MacNeill from the Lower Mainland 30-28, 25-12 and gave M.E.I. a tussle in the first set of a 19-25, 12-25 setback. “We nearly beat them (M.E.I.) and they made the finals,” noted Robinson. Island champion Belmont also won the provincial title, with M.E.I. second, so Brentwood knows what it takes to be competitive with the top teams.

“We couldn’t put it together consistently,” said Robinson as a factor in the final analysis. “Just a bit of mental toughness and staying positive,” he added would be helpful. There are no single-A, double-A, triple-A or quad-A designations in junior volleyball so all schools of different sizes are lumped together. “Some of the teams we played against have been playing together four to five years,” observed Robinson. The key is getting a group to play together and stay together. Nairee Paulus and Alex Toporowski were both towers of strength for Brentwood throughout the tournament in a leadership role. Paulus was a dynamic hitter and Toporowski a dominant passer and hitter. “As they go, we go emotionally and physically,” pointed out Robinson. The future of the volleyball program at Brentwood looks bright, with numerous other players continually fine-tuning their skills.

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South Cowichan Echo

19 Choppy waters make the going rough for Brentwood College’s Junior B Women’s 8+ crew of cox Thea Hogendoorn, stroke Amaya Varma, Mitilda Lee, Megan Adams, Antara Patel, Amy Christenson, Zara Pachiorka, Amber Gaskill and Kendra Thompson just before racing was suspended temporarily due to the conditions. (Photo by Andrew Leong)

Regatta makes up for lost time on schedule By Don Bodger Of The Echo MILL BAY – The population of Mill Bay always swells considerably for three days during the Brentwood College International Rowing Regatta. The town was bursting at the seams again for the 46th annual event and especially around the campus and on the water outside the college, as thousands of rowers and spectators packed the site for a glimpse of the incredible action. Brentwood’s organizational machine has done this a few times so no detail is ever overlooked. The only thing they don’t have any control over is the weather and the corresponding water conditions, but Mother Nature was mostly cooperative this time. “It was actually really good,” said Debbie Sage, who does double duty as Brentwood’s Head of Rowing and Regatta Coordinator. “Friday the wind got to be too much for us for about two hours.” That led to a temporary shutdown of racing, “but we had enough wiggle room to catch up on Saturday,” noted Sage. The weather was particularly incredible during Saturday’s full schedule of racing from dawn to dusk and the grand finale Sunday, with the last race at 11:30 a.m. “The boats were very fast this year,” Sage indicated. Thirty-five different clubs from B.C., Washington state and Oregon were represented, including 12 high schools. An incredible 1,641 athletes participated. Most of the clubs are regular visitors to Brentwood. Seattle Prep made its appearance at the regatta for the first time.

“We had a great response – very positive,” Sage pointed out. “People that come here love the community atmosphere.” Sammamish Rowing Association topped the overall standings. The Pocock Rowing Center of Seattle won the boys’ event while Vic City Rowing Club was the girls’ leader. Host Brentwood crews did very well, finishing sixth overall in the team standings and first among the competing high schools. Brentwood won gold medals in the school boys’ eight and the lightweight four boys. The school eight girls captured a silver medal and the senior quad girls took bronze. Two new boat dedications were made

during the weekend, named after Sarah Ogilvie from the Class of ’77 and Claire Vannelli of the Class of 2009. Ogilvie staked her claim as an Olympian after leaving Brentwood and Vannelli made the junior national team for Canada and went on to a stellar four-year career at Duke University. The boys’ four and girls’ quad from Brentwood qualified for opening day in Seattle the following weekend and a full complement of crews then headed to the Shawnigan Lake School Regatta. The Canadian High School Championships are coming up in St. Catharines, Ont. in early June. “We’re still making final decisions on that,” said Sage. “It looks like we’ll have a group of 40 kids going.”

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Horses gallop to rec title By Don Bodger Of The Echo MILL BAY – The Horses were on their high horse. The Horses won both the Mill Bay Rec Hockey League’s regular season and playoff titles for the second year in a row. The remarkable thing is the Horses have only been in the league for two seasons. “This has never been done before in the 40 years of the league that a new team could win in its first year, never mind two years,” noted league president Al Johnson. The Horses topped the regular season standings with 31 points followed by the Chiefs (26), Bruins (25), Hawks (20) and Bandits (11). Jeremy Achtzner of the Bruins won the scoring title with 36 goals and 22 assists for 58 points. Teammate Connor Stevens racked up 55 points, A.J. Dzhevelekyan of the Hawks had 48, Jake Newman of the Chiefs 44, Chiefs’ Cole Peterson 41 and Kyle Peterson 40. The Horses scored by committee, led by Jon Hollett. He was the top scoring defenceman with 33 points; Matt Osmond of the Bandits had 21 and Bandits’ Jordan Stringer collected 20. Marissa Morris battles for possession of the ball during the Frances Kelsey Breakers’ game against Brooks of Powell River during the Island junior girls (Photo by Don Bodger) soccer tournament at the Kelsey fields.

Kelsey girls left snake-bitten in Island soccer tournament By Don Bodger Of The Echo MILL BAY – The Frances Kelsey Breakers just couldn’t find the finishing touch. Goals proved elusive for Kelsey in the Island junior girls high school championships on its home turf. The Breakers managed only one goal in four games, but it was at least enough to avoid the cellar in the eight-team event. “We played well in every game,” said coach Brian Johnston. “They were aggressive.” The Breakers simply didn’t get any breaks to finish off their scoring chances despite some decent territorial advantages. “Other than the first game, Oak Bay, each team just had a bit more offensive firepower,” Johnston noted. Reynolds beat Oak Bay 2-1 in the championship game. The teams went in as the respective No. 1 and 2 teams from

the South Island and maintained that order of finish for the Island. Nanaimo District Secondary School beat Shawnigan Lake School for third, Brooks of Powell River topped Dover Bay for fifth and Kelsey snuck into seventh after a 1-0 victory over Ballenas. Kelsey opened with a 2-0 loss against Oak Bay and then fell 4-0 to Brooks despite controlling at least an equal amount of the possession. “I don’t think it was a 4-0 game,” reasoned Johnston. “The teams that we played just had a few more opportunities than we had.” A similar story unfolded in a 2-0 loss to Nanaimo District and a goal by RickiAnne Keen finally produced the win against Ballenas. Keen and Robyn Zinkan also hit the crossbar in that game. Mackenna Henderson was a standout for Kelsey throughout the tournament. Emerald White and Zinkan both made their presence felt.

In the playoffs, the Chiefs extended the Horses to a fifth game in the best-offive. The final game went to double overtime and Cole Whitelaw scored the winner on an assist from Aaron Spotts. The other series also went to five games, with the Hawks hanging on to beat the Bruins in the finale 3-2. The Horses took the final best-of-five series in three straight games over the Hawks. The playoff scoring champ was Tanner Wiersma of the Hawks with 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points. Teammate Dzhevelekyan had 26, Jake Newman and Achtzner 21 each, and Tyler Matheson of the Horses and Cole Peterson 20 each. In other news, Johnson indicated the league is sending a team to Burnaby next year for the first time to compete in B.C. Hockey’s recreational regional championship. A team made up mainly of Mill Bay players will be competing in the Senior Double-A Championship. Last year, Coy Cup exhibition games produced a good showing with a win and a loss to the North Island. The team will have to get past Powell River next year in order to qualify for the B.C. Championship.

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Triathlon weekend hectic SHAWNIGAN LAKE – Every weekend is an eventful one in Shawnigan Lake during the spring and summer. Next up is the Subaru Shawnigan Lake Triathlon taking place Sunday, May 29. Speedy Spencer McLaughlin of Frances Kelsey is double-teamed by Ishmeal Ngaiye and Caleb Pounds of NDSS in Mill Bay. Frances Kelsey won 36-10. (Photo by Andrew Leong)

Kelsey advances to provincials By Don Bodger Of The Echo MILL BAY – The heat was on, but the Frances Kelsey boys kept their cool. The Breakers faced a pressure-packed game Tuesday at UVic against Edward Milne of Sooke, with a place in the provincial AA high school rugby finals on the line, and came through with a 25-5 win. After racing out to a 20-0 lead in the first 10 minutes, “we made it difficult on ourselves, and then just played really, really scrappy,” said Jake Teufel, co-coach of the Kelsey team along with Craig Schmidt. Karl Mattison and Conner McGeary scored two tries each for the winners, who leave next Tuesday for the provincials in Abbotsford. Captain Chad Garriock added the other try. Liam Fowler was the man of the match. “He just ran hard all day long,” observed Teufel. Getting to the provincials was the first part of the battle. “Now we’ve got to do the rest,” said Teufel, hopeful the team will win some games there. Games last week resulted in a 36-10 drubbing of Nanaimo District Secondary and a loss by an equally one-sided margin to Brentwood College. The Brentwood game determined the top seeding in the North Island.

Kelsey finally had a full complement of spares available against Brentwood and will have most players free from injury for the provincial tournament. Mattison has played a huge role in the outcomes of Kelsey’s games this season. “He’s been really putting the team on his shoulders in a lot of games,” noted Teufel. “We’ve got a lot of guys this year who’ve never played rugby. We’re definitely exceeding expectations.”

There are three divisions: standard, sprint and high school sprint. On-line registration closes next Wednesday, May 25. There are all sorts of other events taking place around the community on triathlon weekend.

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Girls’ rugby machine churns out convincing win By Don Bodger Of The Echo SHAWNIGAN LAKE – It was an absolutely incredible display of rugby from start to finish. The Shawnigan Lake School senior girls played a near-perfect game, running with reckless abandon and distributing the ball extremely well to overpower Brentwood College 77-0 in the Island AA high school final Saturday at Shawnigan. It was 48-0 at halftime, as Shawnigan ran through, over and around would-be tacklers to score a succession of tries. To Brentwood’s credit, the girls never gave up and fought hard to the end while maintaining a high degree of sportsmanship and integrity under difficult circumstances. “I think Brentwood is pretty banged up, in fairness to them,” said Shawnigan Lake coach Mark Hall. “We’ve got some very strong running kids. This group has more talent than I’ve seen over the years, for sure.” Alexie Pusch, Maggie Banks and Linnea Hokanson were among the leading try-scorers for Shawnigan, but all the girls got their hands on the ball and made things happen. Brentwood definitely suffered from the absence of speedy Denise Roy, but there’s hope she’ll be back in time for the provincials. Brentwood coach Steve Cowie conceded to Hall after the game he couldn’t see anyone beating Shawnigan at the upcoming B.C. finals in Kamloops. There are a couple of contenders on the Lower Mainland that may give Shawnigan a tussle. “It’s taken a lot of work to get to this stage,” offered Shawnigan’s captain and tight end prop Holly Henderson, a Grade 12 student from Tsawwassen. There is a good mix of outstanding local players, like Maria Murray, and outsiders in the Shawnigan Lake lineup. The team is also relatively young, with Grade 8 and 9 players already showing their proficiency at this stage. “It’s been a very good season so far,” conceded Henderson. “Last year, Brentwood had a good team and they were able to beat us.”

Hair-raising experience ensues for Emma Scragg and her Brentwood College teammates trying to stop the (Photo by Don Bodger) likes of Shawnigan Lake School’s Maggie Banks from making another dash for a try. The girls are excited about the prospects of bringing home a provincial title, but don’t want to get too far ahead of themselves. “We’ve played a few people on the Mainland,” said Henderson. “We sort of know what our competition is going to be like.” National team member Laura Russell, who works as a coach with the Shawnigan team, could only marvel at their level of play as well. “I thought that game was phenomenal,” she indicated. “They’ve put in a lot of work. Everything’s come together. “They’re really young, too. They’re working hard

and they’re peaking at the right time.” The depth has certainly been evident, as it doesn’t seem to matter who’s on the field. “The whole bench has really come a long way,” Russell pointed out. “It’s a seamless transition.” “There are no real gaps on the team,” added Hall. “That’s unusual. “The forwards, that’s the best rucking we’ve had this year.” But he does worry about whether some complacency could set in. “There’s no opposition,” Hall stated. “That’s not good for us.”

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Girls in the Shawnigan Jr. B quad include: Genevieve Whitehead, Amelia (Photo by Stephen Lane) Macintosh, Penny Crothers and Jaden Bomans.

Four Shawnigan crews golden By Don Bodger Of The Echo SHAWNIGAN LAKE – There’s no place like home for Shawnigan Lake School rowers. “All of our rowers compete in this one,” head of rowing Tim Coy said of the Shawnigan contingent for the 55th annual Shawnigan Regatta. “The future’s looking strong for us. A lot of our younger kids did really well.” Shawnigan claimed four gold medals during the weekend, with the younger levels leading the way. The Junior C quad boys and girls were both victorious, as well as the Junior C girls double and the Junior B J.V. coxed four. The regatta featured 700 athletes representing a total of 21 different clubs and schools. Mother Nature threw the regatta a curve ball when the wind kicked up Saturday afternoon, but organizers still hit it out of the park. The schedule was made up with a little creativity to get all the events completed Sunday. “We got all of Saturday’s racing in

till the time trials,” explained Coy. The time trials were scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., but it was decided to hold off. The winds on the lake frequently start out stronger earlier in the day before dying down, but not this time. The entire weekend included 108 races plus the time trials. Pair races are rare in regattas these days, but remain a big part of the agenda at Shawnigan. “To me, it’s an important race,” said Coy. Vic City won both the men’s and women’s Junior A pair races. Vic City won a lot of other races as well. The next order of business for Shawnigan rowing is to get ready for the Canadian High School Championships in St. Catharines, Ont. June 3-5. Thirtyeight Shawnigan athletes will be taking part in the event, flying out on May 31. The Shawnigan trailer loaded with boats is heading out next Wednesday. “We take boats from other schools and clubs as well,” pointed out Coy. It will take two drivers alternating at the wheel four days to reach the regatta site.

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Can you count on CPP for your retirement? Knocking the Canada Pension Plan has become a national pasttime. Ask average Canadians if they are counting on the national nestegg for retirement income and you’ll probably get a resounding “no”. That’s odd because the Chief Actuary of Canada consistently reports the plan to be sound for decades to come – provided it can grow an average of at least four per cent annually. That figure is based on complex actuarial charts that factor in shifting demographics as younger Canadians are left with the burden of supporting baby boomers, and life expectancy increases. Four per cent is a realistic goal, even in this low interest rate environment. If it falls short, the plan has the weight of the government to force larger contribution amounts from employees and/or employers, which it has done on several occasions in the past. The Canada Pension Plan has another ace up its sleeve. The $283 billion fund – among the 10 largest retirement funds in the world – is managed by a crown corporation called the CPP Investment Board (CPPIB), which invests a portion of the fund in long term holdings such as real estate and infrastruc-

ture around the globe. The CPPIB has posted an average rate of return of eight per cent since 2000.

The pessimism over the future of CPP, however, is understandable. Aside from scant mandatory reports, the CPPIB operates under a cloak of secrecy that makes mutual funds look like an open book. A report this week from the Fraser Institute began by acknowledging the confusion over CPP investments and CPP benefits, which have no direct relationship. To help shed some light on what you can expect from your CPP contributions, think of the plan as a defined benefit pension where contributions and gains are pooled. Payouts are based on how much you contribute to the plan during your working years. To receive the maximum benefit at 65 years old you must contribute the maximum amount to the plan for at least 40 years. The maximum amount is

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currently about $13,000 a year and is adjusted to inflation. CPP is intended to account for 25 per cent of retirement income. This means it is actually a retirement supplement and not a retirement plan in itself. However, it can be considered a crucial part of your retirement plan. Plan members have the option of taking a lower amount starting at 60 years old or a higher amount starting at 70. The CPP also provides disability pensions to eligible workers who become disabled in a severe and prolonged fashion, and benefits to survivors of workers who die before they begin receiving retirement benefits. You can find out how much you qualify for through the Canada Pension Plan web site at http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/cpp/post_ retirement/index.page Nothing in life is certain, but CPP looks to be in good shape for those of us that have contributed over our working years. Get your free financial planning kit at www.riskdoctor.ca Dave Shortill is an independent financial advisor and lives with his wife Heather in beautiful Cowichan Bay.

Watch for Arbutus magazine in your mail box!

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Saturday, May 28 – Mill Bay Garden Club’s Community Flower & Garden Show, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the South Cowichan Healthcare Auxiliary will be offering bunwiches, strawberry treats, brownies and refreshments all priced individually, proceeds of fod sales to charitable causes, Cobble Hill Hall. Call Sandy (250-743-3158) for more information.

BOOK COLLECTION Canadiana, B.C. related, etc. Signed and first editions. 250-416-0543.

Colonial tri-light lamp, original shade. $45. Call 250748-7874.

2 Vintage Hobnail Milk Glass Hurricane Lantern Lamps $40 each. 2 wooden ironing boards $45 each. Vintage rocking chair $175. Dome-top chest. Fair condition $30. White wooden chair $15. Call 250-7487874.

PIANO TUNING Services by Allan Eskelson. Tuning, repair, regulation. Serving South Cowichan, Chemainus and beyond. 250-416-0607. [email protected]

DID YOU KNOW South Cowichan Echo classifieds reach 10,000 households in Mill Bay, Cowichan Bay, Shawnigan Lake and Cobble Hill?

Refinished 5' Green Cast Iron Clawfoot Tub, original taps, excellent condition. $1,300. Call 250-748-7874.

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FOR RENT 3 bedrm, 2 bathrm, 5 appliances, heat pump, quiet location 3 1/2 klm south of Chemainus.. No pets, No smokers, references please. $1,200 a month. available after April 15. 250 246 7503.

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Is looking for full time and part-time crew for the marina store Accommodations Available Contact Tara or Ron at

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VOLUNTEERS LOVE HORSES? Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association needs dedicated volunteers in lots of different areas. [email protected] call 250746-1028 or www.ctra.ca

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NATURE TOURS

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South Cowichan Echo

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Mike’s garden and other tales Mike sat on the porch overlooking his saying his wife heard loud screeching “Hi Hugh, how come your plants are vegetable garden. If it weren’t for his about midnight and figured there was a so big in the spring?” neighbours, he would have given up. big cat fight behind my house. “Well I start my seeds very early Truth was, he struggled with gardening. Mike went out to check the trap, he Mike, in fact Boxing Day you’ll find me The weeds and vermin were relentless. lifted the burlap off the cage and sure in the greenhouse. “You bet Hugh, and more than half Mike’s latest disaster was his lawn. enough there was a really pissed off giant “This gives my snow peas, for came up!” He was told to kill all the weeds first and cat inside, and it looked familiar. example, a big start with strong roots. And “Only half”, said Hugh surprised, did then add earth and re-seed, so he blasted Mike decided to get it out of the cage I saved my seeds, these peas are from plants you soak them overnight as I told you?” it with Roundup creating a moonscape. pronto; it was making loud angry noises. I grew 25 years ago, the French call them Mike looked sheepish, “Oh, I forgot When he tried to re-seed, the birds He opened the cage and retreated, the ‘mange-tout’ which translates to “eat all.” that”. followed close behind, pecking “Oh dear, well don’t worry them all up. Mike there’s always next year Then he paid a fortune to and you can forage at my farm have it re-sodded and later that stand this year. Perhaps you summer let it go dormant as could help me with this damn required by the water board, outboard motor Mike, it’s been which resulted in a big dead giving me no end of trouble”. patch. Perhaps, he thought, patio The next day Mike was stones would fit there quite planting the peas Hugh had nicely. given him when George came Mike’s neighbour ,George, around the fence. was an avid gardener and never “How’s it going Mike, by had any trouble with his grass. the way you owe me five George also had numerous raised bucks.” beds of tasty vegetables, half a “I know. I find the whole dozen fruit trees and was always U.S. election thing bizarre. willing to help Mike. Terrible about the Fort Unfortunately, in spite of McMurray fire and by the way, detailed instruction on subjects I donated your five bucks to the like grafting and pruning he was Red Cross along with my only partially successful. donation.” He referred to it as “Good, they can use the “mysteries of the garden”, help. My wife’s quilting group formerly this was “mysteries of and the guys at the Legion gave the sea” when he and his wife to the Red Cross, too. You know Dorothy had spent their time Mike, we might have our own sailing the coast. worries with forest fires if we When Dorothy passed away, don’t get some rain.” the gardening had fallen to Mike Mike’s garden struggles with drought, vermin and the owner’s steep learning curve. “I know and last year was dry and while he could tie a bowline, as demonstrated by my dead grass.” reef a sail, maintain equipment “Look Mike, why don’t we tackle that or navigate, plants were a different world. monster gave him a really dirty look, and Mike was overwhelmed by how patch of dead grass you have there, we’ll “Hi Mike,” said George. “How about if it were any bigger Mike felt it certainly much Hugh knew about plants. And Hugh get it growing, but this time you’ll have to that Donald Trump, eh?” would have attacked him. also knew about the weather and climate, give it some more water until it settles in.” “He’s just a big blow-hard,” said He emailed George: “I never trapped the lengthening growing season and lower “Great George, and I’ll catch that Mike. “He’ll never make it as the Repub- anything bigger than a mouse in the city, rainfall in the summer. damn cherry thief and give it a nice new lican candidate.” perhaps I should rethink this.” “We had half our average annual home far away.” “Want a bet, say we put $5 on it, I say Mike made a nice raised bed rainfall in the first three months of this Ken Olive is a Cowichan Bay he’ll win it.” following the advice in an excellent book year. But how’s the garden coming, did freelance writer “Hate to take your money George but called Square Foot Gardening. He was you plant the pole beans I gave you?” you’re on. By the way have you seen the amazed at how much organic produce raccoon? I saw it the other day and thought could be grown in a small space. it was a small bear it was so big. And it’s But last year he lost most of his eating my flowers and making deposits at vegetables, especially the garlic, to a the back door. horrible wireworm infestation, and every “It will go after our cherry trees so I’m expert’s suggestion hadn’t worked to get getting a live trap.” rid of them. “Good hunting Mike, at my last house He struggled on and the spring crops they wiped out my entire cherry tree in one were doing well anyway as the damn night.” worms didn’t rise up until warmer Mike picked up a trap big enough for weather. a raccoon the next day, baited it with some Mike’s friend, Hugh, lived close by left over crab bait pellets, figuring crabs and had been a farmer before coming to and raccoons both like smelly fish, and Canada and had a large vegetable garden, put it under his cherry tree. strawberry patch and fruit trees galore. He The next morning, checking his grew all his vegetables from seed and was emails first thing, he got one from George a source of vital information for Mike.

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South Cowichan Echo

MAY 2016

New tourism model lauded By Peter W. Rusland Of The Echo COWICHAN VALLEY – Marketing the Warm Land far and wide is now the duty of a business-based society recently given a five-year contract by Cowichan’s regional board. The Tourism Cowichan Society will use a $120,000 annual marketing purse from Cowichan Valley Regional District taxpayers, who previously touted Cowichan through a contractor. The board now expects more bang for taxpayers’ bucks by luring tourists here — while growing our job pool and tax base, suggests society president and Merridale Ciderworks’ co-owner, Janet Docherty. The agreement also allows the society to chase implementation of a Municipal Regional District Tax, otherwise known as a hotel tax. “Because the hotel tax has to adhere to provincial legislation, it must go to destination marketing,” Docherty stressed. Tourism Cowichan’s 2015 budget was also $120,000. “We’ve been trying to do this (marketing model) for over a decade,” she

told The Echo, chuffed about the $600,000 total contract. It’s already helped leverage about $138,000 this year from Destination B.C. to help trumpet Cowichan, she noted. “Now it’s an industry-led stakeholder association, but hasn’t been until now. We’re about to sign the service agreement with the CVRD to get the sole right to do destination marketing for the Cowichan Valley.” That model will see input from Cowichan’s many tourism-based businesses — from B&B’s, wineries and bistros, to kayak companies, marinas and arts groups. “A year ago, (tourism marketing) was led by the CVRD, staff and an independent contractor, but there was no control by industry,” Docherty said. Basically, the goal now is economic results through boosting tourism. “There was no skin in the game before, but businesses driven to reach their bottom line will want to be very involved. “My business needs to work with all tourism businesses in the valley to drive business to us … so I’m motivated to make that happen.” More visitor dollars coming here “will

Yash Gupta of Averill Creek Vineyard serves Brittany Sanddar during the winery's May 15 launch of six new vinos. Business-based Tourism Cowichan Society aims to increase valley visitor numbers to wineries and elsewhere during the next five (Photo by Peter W. Rusland) years. benefit everyone in the Valley. This has a Sonja Furstenau (Shawnigan Lake). trickle-down effect,” Docherty explained. “It’ll be a different model; we’ve been “If done properly, it’s a green type of struggling with (tourism marketing),” activity.” Iannidinardo said. The society is also co-operating with “I’m hoping they help us by bringing Tourism Vancouver Island, Tourism more business to the bay.” Victoria “to leverage with their reach”, Furstenau agreed. while also shooting for society “We haven’t had a (contract) with this transparency and shunning “little agendas.” group before, and I’m hopeful it will prove It all sounds good to CVRD director to be very effective.” Lori Iannidinardo (Cowichan Bay), and

Legal battle continues for Shawnigan Lake Residents Association By Peter W. Rusland Of The Echo SHAWNIGAN LAKE – South Cowichanians and the regional board vow to continue fighting legal toxic-soil dumping near Shawnigan Lake after B.C.’s appeal court ruled the permit holder could continue operations. “We’re still hopeful Justice (Robert) Sewell puts an end to all this madness,” said Calvin Cook, Shawnigan Residents Association president. He was upset by the appeal court’s May 13 ruling from Justice Pamela Kirkpatrick, while awaiting Sewell’s decision on the SRA’s separate case. It demands a dumping halt plus a judicial review of the Province’s permit to South Island Aggregates and its associated firms. “We hope (Sewell) comes up with a decision that favours the citizens of Shawnigan Lake. “Our goal is to see the permit overturned, the site remediated and all that contaminated soil removed. That will be heard in CVRD’s (soil removal) appeal in August.” The appeal court dismissed the CVRD’s application

to discharge or vary the order of Justice Kirkpatrick, allowing SIA and company to continue operations to complete certain contracts until the August appeal-court hearing. On March 21, B.C. Supreme Court under Justice Brian McKenzie declared SIA’s contaminated soil landfill to be a non-permitted use on the property under the CVRD’s (forestry) zoning bylaw. McKenzie’s order to stop dumping was overturned on appeal. SIA firm lawyers indicated they’ll haul about 20,000 tonnes (of new material) to their pit between now and the August hearing date, Cook said. Tipping fees vary between $40 and $120 a tonne, Cook said SIA lawyers indicated. On April 20, the environment ministry told The Echo a total of 44,722 tonnes of soil was discharged to the pit’s permanent encapsulation area in 2015, versus an annual limit of 100,000 tonnes. SIA’s permit allows five million tonnes over 50 years. An inventory of 5,544 tonnes of soil remained

in SIA’s soil management area at 2015’s end. The ministry did not answer who is contracting treatment in SIA’s pit, nor where that soil comes from. “The permittee is required to keep records related to soil received at the site, and the ministry can view those records at any time,” ministry staff said. But pit watchdog Shelagh Bell-Irving says she has visited Esquimalt’s Department of National Defence base, and reports a dozen trucks on rotation are hauling about 50 to 80 soil loads to SIA’s pit daily. Bell-Irving said she follows those rigs from Esquimalt to the pit. “The DND wants to dredge to build a larger pier. No one else will take it,” she said, fearing “horrible stuff” is in those loads. “The ministry’s on board. The dirt has to be moved and Shawnigan’s a cheap alternative.” Save Shawnigan Water Community Action Group plans a May 31 rally at 10 a.m. in front of the DND, along Esquimalt Road.

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Photography clicks with Brentwood College student Auton By Peter W. Rusland Of The Echo MILL BAY – Making moods with photos appears to be the focus of Brentwood College student Sophia Auton. Her three pictures are among about 100 headed to a photo show called ‘Click’ in Just Jake’s bistro, starting May 22. Click’s May 25 grand opening, from 4 to 6 p.m., will be backed by music and song from Brentwood students. Manchester-born Auton, 17, was amped about showing her shots, snapped in Mill Bay with her Canon Rebel — among images from Grade 11 and 12 Brentonians. “The subjects are really broad; landscapes, nature, still life — loads of people are doing tons of things, but not very many portraits.” The Grade 12er said she has basically shunned photographing people, though may in the future. Still, she was sure Jakes’ patrons will enjoy the suite of black-and-white and colour shots, captured in film (she cheered Beth Bertozzi’s photo of David Bowie for Click’s poster) and digital technology. One of hers depicts faded flowers, a subject Auton enjoys on canvas. “I like still-life paintings and I try to create that in a picture.” Her shot of maple leaves was a challenge. “We recently learned how to turn an image to black-and-white, then colour over it,” she said, citing instructor, Paul Fletcher, a veteran shooter himself. Her other image captures a dock “with the sky that’s blue — kind of like you’re on holiday.” A sense of satisfaction seeps through Auton’s voice while explaining feelings about displaying her work.

Brentwood College photographer Joe Krysl's picture Sisimiut, depicting a Greenland landscape, hangs in a prestigious London gallery. It's also among 100 photos headed to Brentwood's annual photo show Click, opening May 22 at Just Jake's.

“It feels cool; it’s crazy at the same time because some people feel they’re being criticized, but it’s a really positive experience.” That upbeat vibe includes pupils learning to stage, hang and promote their show. “Jake’s has red-brick walls. It’ll be a good space. I like how anyone can go to the event and see the images.” Another shot she likes is classmate Joe Krysl’s image of a Greenland slope, featuring black-and-white hills and colourful homes. Fletcher noted talented Krysl has hung that work in the Saatchi Gallery in London. Auton praised Fletcher’s firm encouragement. “In Grade 10, I found it hard starting with film photography, but he helped me work up to the perfect picture,” she said, adding “he’s quite a hard marker.” Grades cover studio work, and how to do lights. “Mr. Fletcher’s shown us (his and others’) pictures.

“It’s nice to see how he works with people. It’s been a really great experience.” Auton would like to continue learning about lenses after leaving Brentwood. “I’d like to carry on in university and take pictures, and maybe go into a club or journalism.” “I’d also like to do more people pictures, work with different types of light — and learn how light brings different features out on people’s faces.” She advised all photographers to simply “just give it a go.” “Take an image you think is creative. “It’s cool editing pictures, playing with different effects, and being open to trying new ideas and suggestions of what people think.” The hardest thing about photography, she said, is finding or creating the right lighting. “I’m worried I’ll love a picture, but someone else doesn’t, so just keeping going no matter what people say.” Click closes June 11.

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Brentwood College students get tuned up during the Children and Apple Pie Day in Cobble Hill. (Photo by Peter W. Rusland)

Concert beneficial for special needs By Peter W. Rusland Of The Echo MILL BAY – Special needs students across Cowichan will be helped during a Concert for a Summer’s Eve, tuned for June 9 and 10 in Brentwood College’s T. Gil Bunch Theatre. That’s where about 100 stage students of instructors Phil Newns, Scott McGill and Tristan Clausen will perform songs, jazz, rock, instrumentals and band numbers, helping fund the Choirs In Concert Society. The annual fundraiser helps educational bursaries for special-needs graduate from four Cowichan high schools. The bursary is now known as the Lori Carroll Bursary for Special-Needs Graduates. Choirs In Concert Society also helps fund the Monday Morning Music therapy program for the Valley’s special-needs children and adults. It’s led by Lynn Smith every Monday at the Duncan Community Hall (formerly the Moose Lodge) on Moose Road, off Lakes Road. “We usually raise $1,000 to $1,500,” said pianist Newns. “It’s a great thing we do. You just have to go there on Monday mornings to see the joy they’re experiencing through that program.” The Choirs In Concert Society was launched in 1994 by Newns, the late Lori Carroll, and the late Bev Medford. During those two decades, the society has raised more than $85,000 toward assisting Cowichan’s special-needs folks. The tuneful Summer’s Eve show will hear the Concert Choir singing He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother; the Women’s Choir performing When I’m Gone; the Jazz Band jumping on Better Get It In Your Soul; Almost A Cappella crooning Can’t Help Falling In Love; the Wind Ensemble waging Star Wars; the Guitar Ensemble picking Free Fallin’; Vivian Fang performing Beethoven’s Opus 2, No. 1; the House Band backing Jaclyn Childs on Rich Girl; guitarists Liam Stevens and Antonio Caraza picking Tico Tico, and much more. Show time nightly is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10; festival seating. Visit theatre.brentwood.bc.ca

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South Cowichan Echo

Community mourns the losses of Shaw and McIntosh Cowichanians are mourning the loss of former Excellent Frameworks coowner Michael Shaw who died May 14 after a protracted illness, long-time friend Janet Martinez explains. “Michael left us as he lived, with quiet dignity. He fought cancer for more than five years, and he was just not strong enough to fight the complications. “Gratefully, we had a lovely day in Victoria on Friday, we had no idea his cosmic tribe was making plans for his final appearance on Earth. He will be missed.” A celebration for Michael is being planned, she noted. Cowichanians are also mourning this year’s loss of Glen (Glenno) McIntosh (Nov. 5, 1964 to Jan. 4, 2016). Glenno was a soundboard fixture for years at Longevity John Falkner’s former Duncan Garage Showroom before heading on the road, and into the studio (and photo darkroom) for acclaimed Bombay bluesman Harry Manx. “Cancer takes another one,” said Long John. “Glenno will always be honoured here in the Valley. That was a hard one — that’s why I grew the (memorial) beard.” Visit rememberingglen.com.

••• Meanwhile, Shawnigan’s Black Swan Pub hosts Vancouver’s Celtic band Blackthorne May 21 at 9 p.m., and Montgomery County, May 27, 9 p.m., plus music bingo every Thursday at 8 p.m., and karaoke every Saturday at 9 p.m. ••• Also, Valley songstress Beverley McKeen and guitar sideman Ray Harvey play originals and favourites at the Cowichan Bay Pub June 10, 7 to 11 p.m. ••• Great seeing a raft of entertainers and families at the May 14 Children & Apple Pie Day at Cobble Hill Hall where money was raised for projects and programs at Evergreen Independent School. Folks attending included music students from Brentwood College, singer Kelly Girvan, music teacher Jennie Stevens, entertainment organizer Jake Teufel, blacksmith Mika Verdun, principal Alex Gallacher, Brentwood music teacher Phil Newns,

singer Beverley McKeen, and many others. ••• The Shawnigan Players are reprising their acclaimed drama August: Osage County, at 7:30 p.m. on May 23 and 24 at the Duncan Showroom. Proceeds from director Alex Gallacher’s insightful work will help fund the Players’ visit to the midisland theatre festival this spring. Tickets are $20. Limited seating. Call 250-748-7246. ••• Brentwood College photography student Joe Krysl is displaying his work Sisimiut at the Saatchi Gallery in London, England. “My piece was one of 20 finalists in a competition sponsored by the art gallery and Deutsche Bank.” There were 22,000 entries from some 54 countries judged. The top 20 are still on display in London. “My work Sisimiut, a photograph taken in Greenland, is a piece that was hand coloured on the computer.” A second, smaller version of the piece will be displayed at Brentwood’s

fine-art photography show, Click, in Duncan at Just Jake’s. ••• Cowichan violin virtuoso Nate Bomans has just returned from his second year at the Jacobs School of Music, at Indiana University where he is studying Violin Performance. Nate will show his skills by performing works by Bartok, Adaskin and Barber in the Shawnigan Lake School Chapel on May 29 at 3 p.m. Admission is by donation. Studying at Jacobs has offered Nate many wonderful opportunities such as playing in a faculty/student performance of Mendelssohn’s Octet, travelling to Seoul, Korea with the IU Chamber Orchestra, and playing in a master class for Midori. He is also the first violinist of the Delphi String Quartet coached by members of the Pacifica Quartet. This summer, Nate was accepted to the prestigious Aspen Music Festival, however, he has decided to return to the National Youth Orchestra as they head to Lisbon, Portugal as invited guests of the Lisbon Music Fest. [email protected]

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Shawnigan Lake School Headmaster David Robertson rides into the Centennial ceremony in a Packard, founder C.W. Lonsdale’s vehicle of choice and then cuts the ribbon with Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon. (Photos by Abigail Saxton)

Shawnigan celebrates in style By Don Bodger Of The Echo SHAWNIGAN LAKE – The first 100 years of Shawnigan Lake School is in the books. The official Centennial ceremony April 30 went very well, according to Phil Jarvis, the director of the Shawnigan Centennial who’s been implementing the planning and fundraising for the last five years. The official opening commenced with a chapel service and several dignitaries were present for the ceremony, including Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon, and former Westminster School Headmaster Dr. Stephen Spurr, Shawnigan founder C.W. Lonsdale’s alma mater. Guichon said she’s never experienced a greeting quite like the one she received upon her arrival at Shawnigan. Spurr spoke about the similarities between Shawnigan and Westminster. He shared his admiration for Lonsdale’s treasured Packard convertible. A nice touch was bringing one in from Nevada for the occasion. Following lunch, Guichon cut the ribbon on Shawnigan’s Learning Commons that will form a focal point for the beginning of the new century of education at the school. Assembled guests received a sample of Shawnigan in Action during the afternoon. The ice arena and observatory, among the school’s newest facilities, were open for viewing while student displays focused on science and nature, athletics and fine arts. The Shawnigan Centennial commemoration is far from finished and the public is invited to a Rugby Festival Saturday, June 11 that will feature a Rugby Canada Development side taking on the Shawnigan Selects. Rugby legend, Sir Gareth Edwards, is a special guest for the day.

MAY 2016

Live Theatre

p.m., gardening workshops, silent auction, garden vendors, strawberry tea, plant sales, master gardeners, Cobble Hill Hall. Call 250743-2756 for details..

Live Music & Concerts

Friday, May 27 – Monthly community market in Cobble Hill, more than 40 vendors, 6 p.m., located at the new barn behind the Cobble Hill Fairgrounds. 250-743-1986.

Friday, May 6 – Saturday, May 28 – Harvey, a dramatic comedy, Chemainus Theatre Festival, Chemainustheatre.ca 250-246-9820.

Malahat Legion Music Jam – First and third Friday of the month, Malahat Legion, 1625 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road (next to Shawnigan Lake Fire Hall), 6 p.m. to midnight, dinner from 5 to 7 p.m., For more information, contact Chris Abbott at 250-732-4490. Saturday, May 21 – Medford Singers: 25th anniversary concert, Reflections, 2 p.m., St. Christopher’s Church, Lake Cowichan.

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MAY 2016

Sports

Friday, May 20 through Sunday, May 22 – B.C. Hockey U18 Girls’ Invitational Selection Camp, spectators welcome, game times are Friday and Saturday at 4:30 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 8 and

Rugby Canada Development team vs. Shawnigan Selects, Shawnigan Lake School First XV boys and girls vs. Select XVs from independent schools, special guest Sir Gareth Edwards, Shawnigan Lake School. Sunday, June 12 - Victoria and District Cricket Association: Cowichan vs. Islanders, noon, Shawnigan Lake (Elford Road Grounds).

It Happens Every Week Love horses? Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association needs dedicated volunteers in lots of different areas. Help our special needs riders to reach their potential in the ring. There is no experience necessary. Training provided.

Saturday, May 21 – Blackthorne plays the Black Swan Pub, 9 p.m. Monday, May 23 and Tuesday, May 24 – Shawnigan Players reprise their acclaimed drama August: Osage County, tickets $20, limited seating, 7:30 p.m, Duncan Showroom..

Tuesdays Cobble Hill Badminton Club: plays badminton every Tuesday night at Frances Kelsey School from 8 to 9:30 p.m. All skill levels are welcome as long as you are 13 or older. Badminton birds are provided but you will need your own racquet. The drop-in fee is $5 per night. For more information, call Dianna at 250-743-3487.

Family Drop-in (crawling to age five): noon to 12:45 p.m., Duncan Dynamics Gymnastics, 2687 James St. (Duncan). For more information, call 250-746-0193.

Friday, June 10 – Concert For A Summer’s Eve, all proceeds go to Choirs in Concert for the Children (a music program for special needs youth in the Cowichan Valley), festival seating $10, 7:30 p.m., T. Gil Bunch Theatre (Brentwood College), theatre.brentwood.bc.ca

Thursdays Brent Hutchinson and Terry Wicks: host a jam at Jac’s on Queens in Duncan, 7 to 9 p.m. Music bingo – 8 p.m., Black Swan Pub (Shawnigan Lake).

Friday, June 10 – Beverley McKeen and guitar sideman Ray Harvey play originals and favourites at the Cowichan Bay Pub, 7 to 11 p.m.

Fridays Malahat Legion Music Jam – First and third Friday of the month, Malahat Legion, 1625 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd. (next to Shawnigan Lake Fire Hall), 6 p.m. to midnight, dinner from 5 to 7 p.m., For more information, contact Chris Abbott at 250-732-4490.

Just For Fun

April 11- June 6 – Mother Goose for ages 0-4. A playful time of rhymes, songs and storytelling for babies and toddlers with a caregiver, South Cowichan Library (Mill Bay Centre).

Saturday, May 28 – Mill Bay Garden Club’s Community Flower & Garden Show, 9 a.m. to 2

Homeschoolers Drop-In Playtime: 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Duncan Dynamics Gymnastics, 2687 James St. (Duncan). For more information, call 250746-0193.

Cowichan Consort Choir: 7:30 p.m., Sylvan United Church, 985 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd., Mill Bay. Call 250-743-7445 for more information.

Sunday, May 29 – Nate Bomans shows his skills by performing works by Bartok, Adaskin and Barber in the Shawnigan Lake School Chapel, admission by donation, 3 p.m.

Thursday, May 26 – Author Appreciation Event, local authors will share readings from their work, Joanna Weston will be launching a new collection of poetry entitled Bedroom of Searchlights, also featuring: Manuel Erickson, Peg Cox, Jane Shapley and more, free, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., South Cowichan Library (Mill Bay Centre). 250743-5436.

Cowichan Consort Orchestra: 7:30 p.m., Sylvan United Church, 985 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd., Mill Bay. Call 250-748-8982 for more information.

Wednesdays Cowichan Toastmaster Club 950: meets 7 to 9 p.m. at the Island Savings Centre (Boardroom) in Duncan. Guests are welcome for free.

Friday, May 27 – Montgomery County plays the Black Swan Pub, 9 p.m.

Community

Instruction given. No partners needed. First night free. Fun recreational bargain. Call Kate at 250-743-5068 for more information.

10:15 a.m., Cowichan Lake Sports Arena (Lake Cowichan) . Sunday, May 29 – Subaru Shawnigan Lake Triathlon: divisions for standard, sprint and high school sprint, West Shawnigan Lake Park. Sunday, June 5 - Victoria and District Cricket Association: Cowichan vs. Oak Bay, noon, Shawnigan Lake (Elford Road Grounds). Saturday, June 11 – Centennial Rugby Festival:

[email protected]. www.ctra.ca.

Call

250-746-1028

or

Mondays April 11- June 6 – Mother Goose for ages 0-4. A playful time of rhymes, songs and storytelling for babies and toddlers with a caregiver, South Cowichan Library (Mill Bay Centre). Cowichan Valley International Folk Dance Club: 7:30 p.m., Mill Bay Community League Hall, 1035 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd. Beginners welcome.

Family Drop-in (crawling to age five): noon to 12:45 p.m., Duncan Dynamics Gymnastics, 2687 James St. (Duncan). For more information, call 250-746-0193. Saturdays Karaoke – 9 p.m., Black Swan Pub (Shawnigan Lake). Sundays Sunday Jazz Jam Session: 4 to 5 p.m., Crofton Hotel, 1534 Joan Ave., Crofton. Call 250-3242245.

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