Hi there,
It’s been a while since I’ve attended a council meeting in person, but last week I went to North Cowichan’s municipal hall to cover a public hearing about a zoning amendment for a property in Maple Bay that currently houses the Hand of Man Museum.
Residents are concerned that the zoning amendment’s proposed changes to the land use and potential changes to the museum's height doesn’t fit with the rural nature of the surrounding neighbourhood, and introduces urban styles of densification and commercial development in Maple Bay.
A few speakers at the hearing were also worried about a potential conflict of interest with one of the members of council.
Digging into those concerns proved to be more of a grey zone than I thought. Currently, the province’s rules about what constitutes a conflict of interest is fairly vague and more related to monetary gain. However, what the province is clear about is its acknowledgement that many conflicts of interest may raise complex issues involving both facts and public perception. A guide for local officials goes on to say that when in doubt, local officials are advised to err on the side of caution and declare any real or perceived conflict of interest.
You can read more about it in my story here.
Yesterday, I also had the opportunity to attend a celebration of a milestone for the new hospital being built on Bell McKinnon Road— the unveiling of a new name for the hospital that will be in both Hul'q'umi'num' and English.
Island Health accepted the gift of the name Quw'utsun Hulitun-ew't-hw by the Cowichan Tribes S-ul'hween Language Committee. Elders chose the name to reflect the warmth and care that hospital staff provide to patients and each other.
The word is a combination of Quw'utsun, which is the Hul'q'umi'num' spelling of “Cowichan,” and Hulitun-ew't-hw, which means "place of giving life.”
You can learn more about the story behind the name and how to pronounce it in the videos below.
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