Hi there,

The Municipal Forest Reserve has been on my mind a lot lately, ever since my initial reporting on North Cowichan council’s decision back in August to explore logging options in the forest reserve.

Since then, I’ve been trying to get out to hike on Maple Mountain some more. It truly is an incredible asset, and I can’t say I’ve lived anywhere else with anything quite like it.

On my walks, I’ve met so many people who’ve told me how much they love taking their dogs out there, or sitting at the Southview Trail lookout to enjoy the view from the bench.

But I’d love to hear from our readers — what do you love about Maple Mountain or any other spot within the forest reserve lands? You can share your thoughts by sending me a note at eric@thediscourse.ca, or simply reply directly to this email.

Local news and updates.

• The BC Nurses’ Union is calling for better violence prevention measures at hospitals after an incident at the Cowichan District Hospital which saw a vehicle crash through the doors of the emergency department. A press release from the union said the incident follows a string of recent violent and threatening events at the hospital which include the assault of a nurse and threats of gun violence to hospital staff. Union president Adriane Gear acknowledged that Island Health has taken immediate steps to increase safety at the emergency room, but said they are “short-term fixes to a long-term problem” and that the health authority needs to take steps to address the root causes of inadequate security and lack of support for front-line nurses.  

• The City of Duncan is looking to expand The Village supportive housing site on Trunk Road from 34 to 40 sleeping cabins. Council directed staff to apply for an Emergency Treatment Fund for 2026 to cover the six new units, operational costs like staffing and an additional structure to house a kitchen and dining space. The Emergency Treatment Fund can be used to cover initiatives that deliver responses to the ongoing overdose crisis in B.C. and Lookout Housing and Health Society has indicated that new units could be reserved for people interested in treatment or who are returning from treatment. Read more in the Cowichan Valley Citizen.

• BC Housing will fund a temporary winter shelter in the Cowichan Valley this year, operating from Nov. 15, 2025 to March 31, 2026. The Cowichan Valley Regional District said the shelter will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have space for 24 people experiencing homelessness during the winter months. The shelter will be located at the Ramada Inn site in Duncan.

Council Corner

At its Oct. 15 meeting, North Cowichan council revisited a vote to amend the municipality’s Official Community Plan and move about 40 hectares of land north of Herd Road into the urban containment boundary. 

A vote on the same bylaw had already taken place, and passed, at a previous meeting but Mayor Rob Douglas said he brought the item back for reconsideration after receiving new information from staff. 

He said council should vote against advancing the application because expanding the urban containment boundary north of Herd Road has already stalled development in areas south of Herd Road that are within the existing boundary. Moving forward with the expansion could jeopardize the municipality’s ability to develop the Bell McKinnon area, he added.

“These developers are concerned that opening more than 100 acres of undeveloped land will create uncertainty, potentially derailing their carefully planned projects and force them to rethink their investment strategies,” Douglas said.

Council received multiple letters from developers with active applications who opposed the plan to expand the urban containment boundary.

“We’re doing all this because we want to encourage development in the Bell McKinnon area and around the hospital to support the hospital in such a way that it pays for its own infrastructure requirement and doesn’t burden taxpayers,” Douglas said.

“But what we’re finding is that opening up the area north of Herd Road is going to, and is already, having the opposite effect.” 

Councillors Becky Hogg, Tek Manhas, Bruce Findlay and Mike Caljouw did not comment before the vote. The motion passed again, 4–3, with Douglas, Justice and Istace voting against moving forward with the amendments.

Other highlights of the meeting include: 

• The Animal Responsibility Bylaw was updated to include a new year-round off-leash dog area on Elm Street in Chemainus and will replace Field 3 of the Chemainus Ball Park.

• North Cowichan will transition away from the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s economic development service. The municipality recently implemented its own Economic Development Action Plan.

• A zoning amendment bylaw to increase the number of beds at a future addiction treatment centre from 10 to 20 was given first two readings. The bylaw will proceed to a public hearing at a future date.

• Construction of a new child care facility in Crofton will begin in early 2026. The facility is funded by the Ministry of Education and Child Care and will serve 44 children.

• Council approved remedial action for 2566 Lewis St. after deeming the property a nuisance. The action requires the owner to install fencing, remove trespassers and debris and maintain the lawn to prevent fire hazards.

• Coun. Bruce Findlay gave notice of a motion to amend the zoning bylaw to permit the keeping of backyard hens on all residential lots.

• Mayor Douglas gave notice of a proposal to write the Minister of Health to request that the province and Island Health explore options for redeveloping the existing Cowichan District Hospital site to support addictions and mental health treatment and recovery.

The next North Cowichan council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m., with a public and statutory hearing to follow at 7 p.m.

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Photo of the week.

The Eagles Hall in Ladysmith received a display of 2,000 crocheted poppies to honor Canadian troops for Remembrance Day. Photo courtesy of Kerrie Vockeroth.

Do you have a great photo from the community? Share it with us for a chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter. We’d love to see the Cowichan Valley through your lens. 📸

Community events.

• Saturday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m.: 🔥 The Cowichan Consort Orchestra presents Masquerade and Fire, featuring guitar soloist Emily Vazquez performing Valse-Scherzo by Tchaikovsky. Tickets are $20 and doors open at 7:00 p.m.

• Saturday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: ❄️ Over 50 tables of crafters and local bakers will be at Centennial Hall in Lake Cowichan for a Christmas craft and bake sale.

• Saturday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m.: 🎵 Juno nominated blues artist Brandon Isaak brings an evening of music to the Duncan Showroom. Tickets are $30. 

• Tuesday, Nov. 11, 10:30 a.m.: ❤️ The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 53 hosts a Remembrance Day Ceremony at Charles Hoey Park. To find a Remembrance Day Ceremony near you, the Legion hosts a map on its website.

• Friday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.: 🎶 Local acoustic guitar player Adam Dobres plays the Duncan Showroom. Tickets start at $25.

• Saturday Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: 🎅 Get a photo of your pet with Santa at Buckerfield’s. All donations go directly to the Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association. RSVP at 250-748-8171.

• Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: 🎄 The Christmas Craft Fair returns to Honeymoon Bay Community Hall with over 40 local vendors.

• Nov. 13 to 16: 🎁 The Christmas Chaos arts and crafts market returns to the Cowichan Community Centre. Find times and more details here. 

• Monday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.:💧The Cowichan Watershed Board’s next speakers night features Kristina Disney, a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Victoria who has been studying groundwater-surface water interactions in the Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah) watershed since 2021. The event takes place at the VIU Cowichan campus, lecture hall 140.
  

• Thursday, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m.: 🏳️‍⚧️ Cowichan Pride Society hosts its third annual candlelight vigil at Duncan City Hall to honour the trans lives lost this year.

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