August 28, 2013

Community update 2013

A closer look at the Cowichan economy Business scare Village people Family planning

2 Cowichan News Leader Pictorial / Vision Cowichan Wednesday, August 28, 2013 www.cowichannewsleader.com

DISCOVERWHY KEEP FISH?Fish may not have the same playful nature as a dog or cat, but what they lack in engagement they make up for in elegance and peaceful nature. Few things are as relaxing after a long day than watching vibrantly colored sh oat effortlessly around a beautifully decorated aquarium.

For kids, sh keeping teaches responsibility, and is very educational as they learn the things needed to keep the sh healthy and happy.

WHAT TO BUYThe size of the tank dictates the number of sh that may safely be kept in it. A general rule of thumb is one inch of sh per gallon of water. Generally its best to go with as large a tank as space and funds allow. Beginners should avoid tanks under 20 gallons. Aquarium kits usually offer everything you need to get started and are often the best value for your dollar.

AQUARIUMMAINTENANCERegular sh tank maintenance is an absolute necessity for every aquarium. A simple maintenance schedule of a weekly 1/3 water change and lter clean will keep the aquarium crystal clear. Be careful not to over feed. Only feed as much as

the sh can consume in 1 minute once or twice daily.

FISH FACTSAQUARIUM KEEPING

DATES BACK OVER 2000 YEARS

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1/3 water change weeklyDont over crowd

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Agriculture...5

Arts and culture...6

Development...7

Employment...8

Health...9

Housing...19

Industry...20

Infrastructure...21

Recreation...22

Tourism...23

Transportation...24

Fair. Adequate. OK.

They arent words that get people excited.

But they sound a heck of a lot better than depressed, devastated or desolate.

OK is probably the best word to describe the state of the Cowichan economy this year.Things arent exactly booming, but there is enough activity to keep things moving and people optimistic about the future.

Read on to nd out why.

Produced by: The Cowichan News Leader Pictorial

Editor: John McKinley Publisher: Bill Macadam

Published annually by the Cowichan News Leader Pictorial, Unit 2, 5380 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan B.C., V9L 6W4

Phone: 250-746-4471 Fax: (250) 746-8529 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.cowichannewsleader.com

Community update 2013 An annual snapshot of Cowichans economy


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Don BodgerNews Leader Pictorial

Dairy farming isnt quite the hands-on experience it used to be.

Robot milking has substantially changed the way farmers collect milk for the consumer.

Ben and Margie Van Boven and their son Matt have one of three farms in the valley utilizing the robot system, rather than milking

in person.But dont let the

name fool you. A droid that looks like R2-D2 or a programmable milk maid from the Jetsons doesnt do the work.

Some people actually envision this robot man in there, laughs Ben.

The Van Bovens Vanvalley Farm dates back to

1960 when Bens parents Herman and Ida started the operation on land off Koksilah Road. Ben and Margie bought it in 1993.

Putting in a robot milking sys-tem, better known as an Auto-matic Milking System (AMS) to the layman, came at a considerable cost to the Van Bovens. They not only installed the system but in-vested in a large building to house their cows.

AMS started in Holland in 1992 commercially, explained Ben. Its already got a 20-year run before we started.

Margie said the first such op-eration in B.C. was in the Fraser Valley. The Van Bovens have been looking to make the switch for several years, beginning with a trip to Woodstock, Ontario.

We flew to Ontario in 08 to fill ourselves in on it, said Ben. We flew to Holland in 10 to gather more information.

We talked about it for years, said Margie. It would be our next step when we could afford it.

Ben conceded it required lots of planning before they finally took the plunge.

Matt was at that age he could really be a part of the planning, be

part of the building and general contractor, said Margie of their son who graduated from Duncan Christian School in 2009.

The new building covers some 18,000 square feet and is com-pletely energy-efficient with plenty of open space for air circulation.

Ground was broken in August of 2011 and the first milkings were conducted with the new system in the completed building during April of last year.

The brand of the milking system is Lely, based out of Holland. People who want to find out more in-depth about the system can check out the companys website at www.lely.com.

West Coast Robotics, a Fraser Valley dealership, provided further expertise for the Van Bovens.

The benefits for the farmer and the consumer are enormous.

The cows come to it, said Ben.They have 24-hour access to

it, added Margie. Theyre not dictated by our schedule.

We used to do four in the morning for the last 50 years, said Ben. Split shift work and split sleep. Now we live a more normal work day

Its a very low stress environ-

ment for the cows and the people both.

Its a nicer lifestyle for the farmer and they realize its nicer for the cow, too, said Margie.

The Van Bovens currently have 45 cows that they milk plus replacement stock.

The system monitors the quality of milk being produced for Island Farms. Anything not measur-ing up to standards is quickly separated.

The robot milker checks the milk quality of every quarter of every milking, said Ben.

If it isnt top quality it puts it aside. It checks the milk tempera-ture, checks to make sure there is no water in the tank.

If it doesnt meet top quality parameters, it gets diverted into a bucket.

Data is available on every cow and continually updated. Every cow has a tag that measures activity and the Van Bovens know exactly when they need to be bred.

Its incredibly high-tech, said Ben. It gives you lists and lists of info.

You become people who know how to read reports, quipped Margie.

Don BodgerThe cows at Ben and Margie Van Bovens Cowichan Station farm come to a mechanized milking system when they are ready to be milked, making it easier on the farmer.

Holy cow!

Agriculture

Its a very low stress environment for the cows and the people both.Ben Van Boven

Robot milking changing face of Cowichan Valley dairy farms


Peter W. RuslandNews Leader Pictorial

Pegging Cowichans tangible economic benefits from films, TV shows, and commercials shot here is often a guess-ing game.

Not so for Spooksville.While many crews are in and out of the Warm

Land in several days, Spooksville boasted the longest shoot spanning February to mid-August in the valleys technicolour history of providing locations, labour and actors for Hol-lywood North.

Veteran producer Jane Startz estimated the TV action-adventure series spilled about $15 mil-lion into Cowichans coffers from hotels and transportation needs, to catering and set-building supplies.

Its considerable Id say at least $15 million, she said, giving Cowichan top marks for talent and warm welcomes.

It couldnt have been better, seriously. Theres nothing I couldnt give an A-plus.

That high grade could spell future projects, and their budgets, coming here, hinted Startz.

Wed love to keep it our well-hidden secret, said Startz, who helped helm Spooksvilles cast and crew of about 100.

We did all our sets in the Duncan (Glen Harp-er) curling rink which have to be dismantled, until we hopefully come back.

Theyd be welcomed by Dana Arthurs at Trav-elodge Duncans front desk.

Thats where a steady stream of Spooks-ville folks have stayed during the past six or so months, scaring up added income for the

Travelodge.Directors had their rooms

booked for months, she said of suites averaging $125 nightly.

Actors are streaming in on a daily basis. It started with the crew and artists, then other people, she said noting stunt people.

Arthurs hoped Spooksville folks tell others about Travelo-

dges spirit of hospitality, and bring more cash to Cowichan.

Word of mouth is huge in our industry.The inns Old Fork also catered breakfast, lunch

and dinner to Spooksville.The film industry has brought lots of money

to the community in the past few months, through food and beverage, said Arthurs.

She was also aware of Spooksvilles spin-offs from buying retail materials here.

Theres tonnes of off-set. One artist told me ev-erything was bought locally, and thats important for our economy.

Including small places such as downtown Dun-cans heritage Green Door House.

Spooksville rented Cowichan MP Jean Crowders office for some shooting work, and spokesman David Coulson cheered Green Doors $1,500 windfall.

They converted Jeans office into a psychia-trists office.

Theyre giving us a generous donation of $1,500 for use of the garden. Jean got an hono-rarium for use of her space and shes donating

that to Green Door.Spooksvilles a great win-win for our non-profit

we can use the money to keep the garden avail-able, and tidy things up, Coulson said.

Startz expected 22-episode Spooksvilles fall airing on Discoverys Hub and on a pend-ing Canadian network suggesting Cowichan entice more film income by providing long-term set-building and storage space.

It would be great if there was space to rent for a year, she said, adding some sets are stored at Lake Cowichans former Stanley Gordon school.

Startz also suggested an agency, such as Film Cowichan, create a list of homes and other affordable accommodations for crews and film brass to rent for longer projects.

You need a network of local people willing to rent out their homes, or parts of their homes, she said, noting Spooksville folks were staying at various places around the valley.

It would be a great way to get some extra income.

Ashley DegraafSpooksville film crew members work on lighting Aug. 12 at the Green Door on Ingram Street while Director of Photography Michael Balfry (far right) watches.

Scaring up business

Arts and culture

Its considerable Id say at least $15 million.Startz

Four months of Spooksville gives economy a nice jolt



Picture a pedestrian zone dotted with cafs, bike racks, transit, shops, uniquely green housing, and a gang of great recre-

ational and educational facilities.Thats the University Village vi-

sion.Straddling North Cowichan and

Duncan, the largely dormant zone baited by some tax breaks is bounded by Lakes Road, Somenos Marsh, Corona-tion Avenue and Duncan Street.

The idea is its a hugely under-devel-oped area thats re-ally fallen behind, North Cowichan

Mayor Jon Lefebure said.But he cited a new commercial-

residential complex being built at

Garden and James streets as typical in his UV landscape being painted by public ideas in a municipal local area plan.

When you have a dense commu-nity, well served by transit, its also good for the environment with a smaller carbon footprint and lower living costs for residents.

Imagine someone living in a condo on Garden, where they can fill all their needs by foot or by bike, with parks and recreation and dif-ferent programs offered nearby.

UVs baseline review and draft local area plan should be done by years end.

The final area plan should see regulating documents and guide-lines by April, toward implementa-tion by May.

We have greater services and amenities there a library, VIU, Clements House, Island Savings Centre that are well served by transit but residential-commercial housing stock is under-developed.

Theres a huge opportunity, over the next few decades, to transform

that area into a vibrant core.That would mean a wider tax base

for North Cowichan and Duncan.Weve really got all the different

aspects of life covered in a really small area, and that makes a suc-cessful town core the University Village is the logical place for it to happen, said Lefebure.

North Cowichans chipping in about $60,000 for planning, with more from BC Hydro to create an electrically efficient, compact community. And North Cowichans tax-breaks should sweeten the UV doughnut for developers, he noted.

Weve already passed our revital-ization bylaw to give tax advantages for University Village, Crofton and Chemainus.

Planner Brian Green says it could end up in a form where developers open a map and look at the Village area, and see multi-use areas with parking, bike stalls and other things needed. The bottom line is 100 units per hectare.

Economic forces would decide housing prices.

Affordability is best served through market conditions. If incen-tives are for high-density, inevitably the units tend to be smaller, and market forces should drive down prices, Lefebure said.

Developers are talking to staff

about North Cowichans plans and staff makes sure they know about the tax-incentive bylaws, and the planning process.

UV population projections will surface during planning processes, he added.

Meanwhile, Lefebure pointed to successfully launching Cowichan Place in recent years a revamped zone in mid-UV.

It now comprises VIU, the community-centre complex, and a looming new Cowichan High, sand-wiched between James and Beverley streets and the highway.

We had ball fields too small baseballs were landing on the highway a struggling Cowichan Exhibition, Malaspina College (now VIU) looking for a new home, and a replacement high school needed.

That land was underutilized and disorganized, so we untangled everything.

Now we have a phenomenal new ball facility at Evans Field, a revitalized Cowichan Exhibition on Mays Road, a new VIU campus, with courses in town and were awaiting the new high school.

Thats how planning early can lead to great results. Itll take time to build out, but I think we can get the same results in the rest of the University Village area.

Andrew Leong/fileThe new VIU campus is a catalyst for what North Cowichan hopes will be a densely popu-lated, pedestrian-centred neighbourhood.Village people

Development

That land was underutilized and disorganized, so we untangled everything.Jon Lefebure

North Cowichan targets area near VIU as the valleys trendy new heart


Tyson JonesNews Leader Pictorial

If you like taking care of people you are in luck.

If your preference is trees, not so much.

Thats the verdict for Cowichan job seekers, ac-cording to Work BC.

The most in demand jobs in the area are within the sales and service sector, said Donna Desmet, the client services team lead at the Work BC employment services centre in Duncan.

I would say where theres the most demand, and the most hiring is within the sales and ser-vices sector. Thats where were seeing the most post-ings by far, said Desmet. These jobs are mostly retail sales persons, sales clerks, and some of them may be within the food and beverage industry.

Jobs in the sales and services sector are usually entry level, and require little training, but there are a few exceptions, and some of the jobs may require specific certification.

Sometimes theres entry level certification required,

but mostly what employers are looking for is the right fit for the posi-tion, said Desmet. They are definitely looking for customer

service skills, and then from there, depending on

the setting they may need to obtain other certifica-tions such as Food Safe or Serving It Right.

The majority of jobs in the sales and services sector begin at mini-mum wage, says Desmet. However, there can be the

opportunity to earn tips.At the other end of the

spectrum in wage and opporutnity is the forest industry. However, oppor-tunities still exist for those with the right qualifica-tions, Desmet said.

Theres certainly been a

big decline overall within the forestry industry from several years ago, but I think its kind of reinvent-ing itself, so there are op-portunities within mills for certified trade workers, and out in forestry now there are programs trying to

recruit young people into the industry, she said.

Theres still a need for employees. There are just less jobs available now.

Western Forest Prod-ucts has started a logging fundamentals course that they are running up-island, said Desmet. I think there are concerns that when the trade short-age hits us, that therell be competition between a lot of the resource industrys workers.

In any field, experience may be the hardest thing to gain that employers are looking for, but there are options available.

Volunteer work is a great way to gain experi-ence, and get involved in the community, said Desmet.

Theres several opportu-nities to volunteer through Volunteer Cowichan, theyre a great way to engage in the community. Workshops can also help you with your work search and communication skills for interviews.

And the employment centre is there to help.

If you are wonder-ing what the trends are, and who is hiring, theres a drop-in workshop on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. called Wait and See, said Desmet. One of the HR managers from Wal-Mart was here last week to talk about their need for cashiers.

If you wish to attend a workshop, The Duncan Employment Services Cen-tre is located at 301-80 Sta-tion Street, and its telephone number is 250-748-9880.

fileIts probably no surprise that the most frequent job postings in Cowichan are posting for jobs in the service industry. Its also no surprise that these jobs tend to be among the lowest-paying.

Service jobs in demand, opportunity in all fieldsEmployment

Out in forestry now there are programs trying to recruit young people.Donna Desmet

Most postings involve working with the public but not even forestry opportunities entirely out of the question


Ashley DegraafNews Leader Pictorial

Folks working with the Cowichan Val-ley Division of Family Practice are proud to say theyve matched more than half of the Cowichanians look-ing for family GPs.

That includes connecting roughly 2,000 people with family doctors.

And its all in a days work as part of govern-ment initiative A GP for Me.

A joint program of the government of BC and the BC Medical Association, A GP for Mes aim is to strengthen the health care system by helping people get a family doctor

and sup-porting the relationship between patients and family doc-tors.

It also comes with a hefty goal of finding

docs for all B.C. folks by 2015. Cowichan has been acting as one of its three prototype com-munities, along with White Rock and Prince

George.Our single most effective approach in that

goal has been recruiting new physicians, said CVDFP executive director Valerie Nicol. What weve discovered is when you involve the community, you can put a great package together.

And when it comes to recruiting doctors, theyre not looking for a job, theyre looking for a lifestyle.

Basically what folks of the CVDFP with help of the community have been up to is providing that lifestyle served and showcased on a platter for interested physicians.

Its basically a marketing package. With fami-lies, typically they also need to find appropriate employment for their partner. Theres informa-tion about local schools. And another big ticket item is recreational activities, maybe its fishing, hiking, or hockey that interests them.

And its really important to include real estate agents and information on housing, she added.

This package model was recently introduced and designed to recruit docs to the Cowichan Lake area, which has received quite a bit of attention from CVDFP.

Plans are underway but in the very early stages for a multidisciplinary primary health care clinic to serve Cowichan Lakers.

There has also been talk of including a nurse practitioner in the clinic, and independent of the Cowichan Division of Family Practice, plans have been announced for a private walk-in clinic service in Lake Cowichan.

Another huge success for CVDFP was the opening of the Cowichan Maternity Clinic at the Cowichan District Hospital.

The clinic offers open access to mothers and babies and has played a significant part in at-taching families to doctors.

As part of its recent goals, the CVDFP has been working on ways of sustaining funding to keep the clinic operational and thriving.

Theyve also set some attention to a commu-nications plan, that will keep the public more informed on new physicians, opportunities as well as other new health care information.

It has also encouraged folks to get on board with their recruitment drives, as its clear it takes many members of the community to make it work, said Nicol.

If people are curious about what were do-ing, they can get involved, she said.

For folks living in the Cowichan Lake area, CVDFPs holding another community consul-tation session Sept. 5 at 9 a.m. at the seniors centre in Lake Cowichan.

Anyone interested with recruitment can con-tact Valerie Nicol at [email protected]

Cowichans family plan

Health

When it comes to recruiting doctors, theyre not looking for a job, theyre looking for a lifestyle.Valerie Nicol

GP for Me program has successfully matched 2,000 locals with family doctors

Kurt KnockThe staff and doctors, including Dr. Barr, Dr. Rimmer, Dr. Watt, Dr. McIntyre, and Dr. Robertson posed for a shot at the newly-opened Cowichan Maternity Clinic at the Cowichan District Hospital not long after it opened in March of 2011.


Connect. Engage. Achieve.Contact the Chamber about membership today!

The following article appeared in the July issue of the Business Examiner. We felt Comox Chamber CEO Dianne Hawkins captured the spirit of Chamber membership. Reprinted with permission of the Comox Chamber of Commerce.

Chambers of CommerceMembership MattersCan you afford not to support your local Chamber?

When it comes to building your business, the old saying there is strength in numbers - certainly rings true. Whether you are a home-based business, an independent small business owner, or manager of a large organization, you, your business and your employees will bene t from belonging to your local Chamber of Commerce and your membership matters.

Perhaps a business that has been in the same location for 20+ years, and has established a stellar reputation, may not need to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce. But we need them! Membership with the Chamber of Commerce is one way to celebrate your success and give back to the community that has supported your growth.

Whats in it for you?While generating more business might be your end goal in being a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, you absolutely need a healthy community in order to do so. You may want to have your name associated with the Chamber and be referred to other members, but you also need the Chamber to be the voice of important business issues that affect your bottom line.

The key advantages of Chamber membership is that it gives you an opportunity to generate more business, to be recognized for your high standards of excellence and know that, through your tax deductible membership investment, you are helping to improve the quality of life and the business dynamics in your community.

As an added bonus, through their af liations with the BC and Canadian Chambers of Commerce, all Chambers on Vancouver Island (and throughout the province) have programs to help you save money on many business-related products and services. You can connect with other business people through networking activities, promote your events and major achievements and so much more! As importantly, Chamber membership shows your customers that you are committed to a high standard of professionalism, dedicated to life-long learning and business development, and are an active part of your community.

Whats in it for us?In order for Chambers of Commerce to take care of business, we rely on the support of the business community because all businesses - large or small - enable us to promote economic growth and sustainability in our respective communities.

Certainly, there are plenty of Bene ts of Belonging to the Chamber and we want local businesses to belong... but we also want to ensure that all businesses recognize that Chambers are working daily to make sure that your business needs are met. We are not just another networking group!

Many business owners may not be aware that Chambers of Commerce work hard as advocates for our communities. As an example, activities undertaken in the past few months by Chambers across Vancouver Island, on behalf of our members and the community, include:

Elections forums - getting your questions answered

Attendance at BC Chamber event - lobbying the provincial government for fair and informed business practices and issues

Advocacy Issues - lobbying for industry sectors, multiple business licenses, development, agriculture, island rail, affordable housing and business taxes

Education/marketing - in front of the social media, promoting Chamber members and their events, businesses

Introductions - opening doors for opportunities to build relationships within our business community through mixers, workshops and events.

We encourage all Vancouver Island businesses to discover what their local Chamber of Commerce is doing for business. We know from experience that you will be pleasantly surprised and we invite you to Come join us!

E: [email protected]

T: 250.748.1111 www.duncancc.bc.ca

Duncan CowichanChamber of Commerce

Chamber Membership Grew by 44% this Year.120 new members agree: Its Time to Belong

Connect. Engage. Achieve.Contact the Chamber about membership today!

E: [email protected] T: 250.748.1111 www.duncancc.bc.ca

Get Known: Members connect with the whos who in business at 30+ Chamber events annually. Enhance your web presence on the Chambers newly upgraded Business Directory. The Chamber receives million page views per year.

Get Promoted: The Chamber promotes member events through our proven email & social media campaigns. There are hosting & sponsorship opportunities where membership show both expertise and community involvement.

Get Represented: Chamber members are active on municipal committees, internal projects, and represented provincially by the BC Chamber of Commerce.

Get Smarter: Chamber members can attend 20+ professional development events annually including Luncheon Speaker Series, Lunch n Learns (free!), and Seminars.

Get Savings: Members receive special pricing on fuel, office supplies, merchant services, web development and more. Have a FREE energy assessment and start saving on utilities NOW. Only

members access the Chamber Plan - Canadas largest benefits plan for 1 50 employees

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CABINETSMILLWORKBUILT-INSMANTLESSIGNSGRANITEQUARTZ COUNTERTOPScustom crafted locallylocally

1550 Thain Rd, Cobble Hill250.743.5804

www.cowichanwoodwork.com

COWICHANWOODWORK LTD.


Historically, dental implants have a high clinical success rate. Patients who have opted for dental implants often remark how similar the implant feels to their own natural teeth. The patient can enjoy new found con dence.

IMPLANT BENEFITS: Stability during eating Increased preservation of bone Decreased gum tissue shrinkage Less food seepage under the denture Superior esthetics Social interactions accomplished with con dence A feeling close to that of your natural teeth Dietary nutritional bene ts

Loose dentures can be remedied with the addition of implant anchors placed by a quali ed implant dentist. Your denturist will t dentures over implants to provide stability, increased chewing force, reduced tissue irritations, and decreased bone

loss. Implant retained dentures are no longer nancially out of reach for the average consumer. Your denturist will help you in understanding the facts and procedures involved in implant dentistry. We would be happy to refer a quali ed implant dentist.

Denture Dude

606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060606060yearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyearsyears

Implant Retained Dentures

Robert FortunatDENTURIST

250-746-6241

GSTDenturists are Denture Specialists Proudly Serving the Cowichan Valley for 60 Years

Valley Health & Fitness owners, older brother Forrest Verbruggen, young-er brother Joel Verbruggen and Christine Switzer know that to grow and thrive in business one needs to change with the times.Purchased in 2004 by the Verbruggen brothers, with Switzer coming on as an equal partner in 2008, the team continues to introduce state-of-the-art equipment and systems to keep their 600-member Cobble Hill location at the cutting edge of health and tness technology.They were the rst tness club on Vancouver Island to o er the Green System, using human power to generate electrical energy, lowering their impact on the environment while being e cient in their operations and o ering rewards points for their customers, based on output. The Green System was integrated as a part of the ECOFIT System technology, which they continue to expand on at their gym.On seven of our cardio machines you simply slide your personal EcoFit card into a reader on the machine, which then logs you in. You can then collect all the information regarding your workout, which can be viewed on the equipment directly, seen online via a personal account or in an email workout update. The software tracks data like calories burned, watts of energy generated, average heart rate, distance travelled, and level of workout, for example. says the older Verbruggen.The ECOFIT Network is a wireless communication platform that op-

timizes users workout experience via workout summaries and tness stats anytime, anywhere. Unlike most clubs, exercisers use a RFID (radio-frequency ID) to keep a track of their cardio programs without having to jot everything down. ECOFIT is all about connecting the clients workout with an ever-growing array of useful tracking options, frequency bene ts, prizes and workout recommendations for their health regimen. Verbruggen adds, Were dedicated to further expanding this cutting edge technology at Valley Health. In the fall, we will be adding three more Green System cardio machines to the platform, bringing the number to ten.The Green System line up will include 4 elliptical trainers, 4 upright bikes and 2 recumbent cycles.The partners have no intention of slowing down. Coming later in the year, Valley Health & Fitness will further expand to incorporate strength training and group tness into the network.We see this interactive, environmentally responsible aspect of club workouts as the way of the future. Soon, all of our members will simply be able to scan a QR code outside of the studio or apparatus they choose to use to track their monthly activity level and then earn reward points for attendance.

VALLEY HEALTH & FITNESSValleyview Centre #1-1400 Cowichan Bay Rd. Cobble HillPh: 250-743-0511Email: info@valleyhealthand tness.cawww.valleyhealthand tness.ca

VISION 2013 Business Pro le: VALLEY HEALTH & FITNESS

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Photo credits: Kim KingFree Range Photography


Combining years of experience with comprehensive services and con-venience for clients, A&R Tax Services is in the business of managing personal and corporate roadmaps.If bookkeeping or paperwork is stressing you out you've come to the right place. Owner, Alice Baal is accustomed to receiving a box-full of busi-ness receipts, late tax filings or remittances for GST or WCB. With over 25 years of accounting and tax preparation services she has been helping individuals and business overcome challenges and get their taxes and bookkeeping in order.I believe in being not only affordable but reliable and highly profes-sional for my personal and corporate clients, says Baal, who ran her own multi-location franchise for many years in Victoria with a full comple-ment of staff under management. I got back to my roots of working on a one-on-one basis with my clients and now deal directly with my community in the Cowichan Valley.A& R Tax Services offers it all, and to a schedule that fits the needs of her customers. Services encompass full-cycle bookkeeping such as payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, monthly/periodic government/tax compliance, WCB, preparation of financial statements, tax prepara-

tion and reporting. With the flexibility of A&R's structure Baal is able to work outside normal business hours from either her own home office or directly on site for the client. A&R will also work farther afield, serving areas from Victoria to Nanaimo. Pick up is always free.I try to go the extra mile for my clients because I know how busy they can be, and the last thing they want to be doing is paperwork when they can be utilizing their time to develop their business, or, on a personal level, spend more time living their lives.

That sentiment is further reinforced by comments from her clients.Sandra Gale, for example, owner of Heal with Me says, I would like to take this opportunity to recommend (A&R Tax Services). From my working relationship with Alice I have found her to be ef-ficient, organized, knowledgeable, and most of all she is pleasant and courteous. She is warm and friendly but very professional with her clients, always getting back to them in a time-sensitive manner.

The confidence her clients have in her is well earned and once you've worked with Alice you would not want to change venues.

2205 McIntosh RoadShawnigan Lake, B.C. V0R 2W1Phone: 250-743-9868,Cell# 250-920-8677Email: [email protected]://alicebookkeepingservices.com/By Appointment, your place or MineAlice Baal

VISIon 2013 Business Profile: A&R TAx SERVICES

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Angela Ruppenthal and Brittany Brouwer

CHEMAINUS INN9573 Chemainus Road, Chemainus877-246-4181www.chemainushotel.com

7+ years

9790 Willow St. Downtown Chemainus 250-246-9412

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6 years

Kees & Wendy

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Rob Janssen - Owner

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Book your seat today250-246-5055Cell: 250-252-0888TOURS

Jim BangleOwner/Operator

14 years

#101 - 9844 Croft Street, Chemainus250-246-1320 www.grapefullyyours.com

Michael Monk, ownerVAN ISLE SLATE

Landscape & Masonry Stonewww.vanisleslate.com

Chemainus Industrial Park on Hwy 1250-246-4773

Email: [email protected]

8 years

Sylvia & Aaron Holt

250-246-1444

WASH & FOLD SERVICE QUILTS & SLEEPING BAGS ALTERATIONS, REPAIRS & Pressing DRYCLEANING DEPOT COIN LAUNDROMAT

6 years

Claire & Cider

9870 Croft Street, Old Town Chemainus

Robin Receveur, Assistant Manager and Glynnis Andre, Operations Manager

2 years

9355 Smiley Road, Chemainus250-246-6600

For all your Petroleumand Convenience Store

needs!MID ISLAND

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1 year

Sherry Barkley, Owner

SHABBY CHIC & MORE#7 - 9779 Willow St., Chemainus

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CHEMAINUSBUSINESS PROFESSIONALS

250-416-0411 9576 Chemainus Road 250-416-0413

The Horseshoe Bay InnHeritage Hotel, Neighbourhood Pub

& Cold Beer & Wine Store

121 years

AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE250-246-3341 or 250-246-3595

MCBRIDESSERVICE STATION LTD.

24 HOUR TOWING NIGHT CALLS, SUNDAYS & HOLIDAYS

9616 CHEMAINUS RD., CHEMANUS

78 years

Dan Myers, Owner

64 years

9796 Willow Street, Box 575Chemainus 250-246-3944

Chemainus & DistrictChamber of CommercePeter Matthews

Presidentwww.chemainus.bc.ca

Chemainus & District Chamber of Commerce President,

Peter MatthewsWe wish to thank everyone for

their continuing support

250-246-47319351 Trans Can. Hwy., ChemainusAUTO CENTRE

Nathan, Tim & Justin Hollett

57 years

#7-8377 Chemainus Rd.COMPLETE DENTURE SERVICES

250-246-4674

26 years

Owner:Brian Harris

Wendy & Sandra


There is a lot of talk these days about electric cars and how the technol-ogy hasnt quite met the needs of the average commuter. Not true in the two-wheeled world however.Two-wheel transportation already o ers the most e cient vehicle, known as old-fashioned pedal power. Therefore, logically, there has been amaz-ing developments with electric applications. Over the last 5 years we have seen electric mobility bikes and scooters o er real practical solu-tions for customers. Electric bicycles and scooters now reach ranges from 50 to 140 km. All Battery has used its 10 years of experience in this eld to bring to market quality products that provide more than adequate speed, power, distance and reliability. New products such as the A2B Metro, the German-made electric two wheeler are rede ning the way we go places.The A2B is notably one of the worlds most comfortable and stylish com-muter bikes. The new lithium batteries have the largest, most signi cant storage improvement in electric vehicle performance. You will pay about 1 cent per mile in electricity without pedalling. When you do pedal, how-ever, you will double that distance and the energy e ciency. All Battery has been in Business on Vancouver Island for ten years, serv-ing Duncan and Victoria, and are the Islands dealer of Velec and A2B products.Principles Jason Zimmel, Steve Isbister, and Chris Coburns original fo-

cus for All Battery was to create economical, sustainable solutions for customers mobile devises. After all, a battery is one of the largest main-tenance issues facing mobile users. Over the last 20 years consumers have been encouraged towards a throwaway mentality, buying cheap products and discarding them when they fail. All Battery provides an al-ternative. Buying quality allows more consumers to use and reuse their devices and get the proper life cycle out of their purchase. All Batterys team of sales experts, energy consultants and mobile device special-ists take pride in their decades of experience. All Battery saw mobility and alternate transportation as a natural progression, along with their full expansion into most aspects of battery products and service. They also saw challenges, which they feel they have overcome.Zimmel comments, When we started selling electric two-wheels we gave customers what we thought they were asking for, inexpensive prod-uct. The problem with that original strategy was that we were soon disap-pointed with craftsmanship and engineering. Not all companies invest in providing aftermarket service and support. This strategy may be okay for big box retailers but doesnt work us. We have to look our customers in the eye, and we support what we sell. Companies like All Battery and Velec understand we are part of a community and o er sustainable solu-tions for the long term, allowing customers to achieve a lifetime of use out of their investment.

VISION 2013 Business Pro le: ALL BATTERY

ADVERTISING FEATURE

#1 - 5311 Trans Canada Hwy(Across from Smittys)

250-597-1959Email: [email protected]

The Skoretz family opened their rst pharmacy in the Mill Bay Community in 1978. Their dream was to create a community focused pharmacy, where customers would return with con dence again and again.This they certainly achieved! In the early years, Pharmasave had around ve sta members, today it has grown to 35, many of whom have been employed by the Skoretz family for many years. Whether full or part-time all of the sta at Pharmasave understand the importance of making their customers feel comfortable and will go out of their way to make the experience in the store a pleasant one! Most local customers nd themselves greeted by name and are generally o ered help within seconds of entering the store.The store in Mill Bay has seen many changes and a lot of growth especially over the last decade.... There is an extensive cosmetic department, with fully trained cosmeticians on site for help and advice. A whole aisle dedicated to home health care, where they have specialists able to give advice and ttings on items such as support stockings, mastectomy products and general advice on helping with rehabilitation at home.There is a fantastic food aisle which is expanding rapidly. This started as a small section in the store but has been so successful and the demand so great, the store was completely refurbished in 2009 to accommodate this area. Featuring Gluten free, diabetic and special dietary foods and supplements with health and pharmacy advice to ensure you are buying the correct product for your individual requirements. Mill Bay Pharmasave also have their own Natural Health Consultant on site full

time to give expert advice on Vitamins, Food supplements and special dietary suggestions. So, a fantastic combination for those who would like to support their prescription medication with natural products or even in some cases lots of people are actually preferring to take alternative health products instead of OTC medicines. Pharmasave can help you make these informed decisions and very often have small trial size free samples available for colds, allergies, muscles aches etc. There are also the added bene ts of a pharmacist on-site to ensure you are not taking anything that could interfere or have any adverse e ects with prescription medication.The pharmacy industry as a whole has faced many challenges in recent times, but Heathers sta have embraced these changes with a really positive attitude. They have spent some time re-arranging their pharmacy department so that the pharmacist is able to spend more time focusing on the patients needs. They feel that this quality time getting to know their customer is really important and can only improve the service they are striving to improve on a daily basis providing positive health outcomes for patients through professional pharmacy servicesMill Bay Pharmasve can today, pride itself on providing excellent customer service throughout the store and the level of customer loyalty speaks volumes. There is a warmth and welcome with a real community atmosphere. They always try to take part in the local family oriented days based in the mall as they believe that OUR COMMUNITY REALLY DOES MATTER! The store also hosts several events throughout the year, such as Ladies Night, and Food Tasting Days as well as cosmetic demonstrations. Look out for upcoming events and yers.

Delivery Service Available

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making a difference...

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250-743-9011 Mill Bay Centre Mill Bay BC

Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 9am-6pm Sun 11am-5pm

250-743-9011 Mill Bay CentreMon-Fri 9am -7pm Sat 9am - 6pm Sun 11am - 5pmDelivery Service Available

VISION 2013 Business Pro le: MILL BAY PHARMASAVE

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Heather Skoretz


Discover... Cowichan Bay

courtesy of CBIA

Explore warm, friendlyCowichan Bay!

COWICHAN BAY MARITIME CENTREExplore

Maritime History

Preserving the history and heritage of BCs maritime past. Come and view our

exhibits along our 107 metre pier. Our distinctive buildings

are designed to re ect the surrounding landscape and

reveal the rich maritime history of Cowichan Bay.

Upcoming Workshops: Boat building Paddle Making Canoe & Kayak Building Ladies Woodworking Marquetry

Marine WaysMeeting Room Rental AvailableCowichan Bay Maritime Centre1761 Cowichan Bay Road 250.746.4955www.classicboats.org [email protected]

Fresh off our own boats!

Now Serving our Fresh Catchfor Lunch & Dinner 7 days a week!

1725 Cowichan Bay Rd., Cowichan Bay, BC250-710-7329

themudroom.ca

Stop in any time to watch our

potters spin the clay on the wheel.

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Look for Robs Lighthouse Sculptures250-597-2006

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Open Year Round. Take Out or Dine In

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The Mud Roomclayworks

1765 Cowichan Bay Rd.Formerly Udder Guys Ice Cream

M

orning Mist

Ice Cream ParlourOld Fashioned Style Ice Cream

Made Fresh Daily on the Premises

PETER MILLERDIR 250-748-0320

[email protected]

Living in Cowichan,We are your connection to Victoria Buyers.

Come visit our offi ce in Cowichan Bay.

COWICHAN

COWICHAN BAY ACTIVITIESCowichan Bay Maritime Centre: Located on Cowichan Bay Rd, the Cowichan Wooden Boat Society helps you to explore more of B.C.s maritime history, equipped with a 350-foot pier. More information at classicboats.org.

Cowichan Bay Village: If you like to be beside the seaside, Cowichan Bay is for you. Go for a walk along the refreshing waterfront and recently renovated park trails or enjoy a variety of local stores and restaurants as boats regularly take to the waters.

Cowichan Estuary Nature Centre: Head to Cowichan Bays nature centre open Thursday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. and get the full marine and nature experience combined. Videos from bay experts, microscopes for seeing the miniature marine world, as well as interactive computer displays. Go to cowichanestuary.ca.

Kayaking: Cowichan Bay is a hotspot for kayaking fanatics around the valley. Expert advice, rental opportunities and top notch facilities all guaranteed. Go to cowichanbaykayak.com

Whale watching: Youll not regret a whale watching tour from Cowichan Bay. Feast your eyes on one of the worlds most amazing animals literally inches before you. More at oceanecoventures.com

Scuba diving and snorkelling: The waters along the east coast of Vancouver Island are some of the most famed diving and snorkelling destinations in the world. A favourite dive site of renowned Jacques Cousteau, the area is considered one of the most rewarding places to experience ocean life and diversity. Contact paci cwatersports.ca.

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Monthly in the CowichanNewsleader Pictorial


Tyson JonesNews Leader Pictorial

The housing construction bubble in Cowichan was a balloon in the first decade of the new mil-lenium. Then it burst.

And despite some positive signs, home building has yet to re-inflate, at least not so far.

North Cowichan has not seen much new residential development this year, a situation echoed by staff at the regional district.

According to CVRD building inspector Brian Duncan, housing development in the CVRD has slowed considerably in recent years.

But he is starting to see signs of improvement.

The market is picking up now. Its moving at a snails pace, but its picking up quicker than it slowed down, said Duncan. It took 2 1/2 years to slow down, I dont think it will take that long to pick back up, but thats just a prediction.

The first six months of this year saw 67 new housing starts in the CVRD area.

In 2010, which was a boom year, we were at 150 new homes a year, and weve been slowing down, said Duncan. In 2011 we were at 105, in 2012 we were down to 80, and now this year we are like I said at 65 to 70. But that was in June. July has picked up considerably.

North Cowichans director of planning Scott Mack said the

municipalitys development at the moment is weighted to com-mercial property.

Theres not a lot of residential devel-opment activity.

There are two new mixed-use buildings. The

Rosco is located on the edge of Duncan, at James Street and Garden. The Crofton Muse is

located on Joan Avenue, said orth Cowichan deputy planning direc-tor Brian Green. Both buildings are four stories, will house 15 and 17 residential units respectively, and have commercial spaces located on the ground floors.

The largest residential develop-ment underway in North Co-wichan is for single-family homes on Casino Road.

Its what will ultimately be an 83-lot bare-lands strata development, said Mack. Theyre just doing the first phase now, and I believe its between 22 and 24 lots.

Another large project is Stone Manor Estates off Government Street. The project, underway for several years now, is selling phase two, with the first phase of devel-opment 90 per cent sold.

There will be a total of 66 units in that area, which is not fully built up yet. Im not sure when its set to finish, said Green.

Even though residential devel-opment is flat, total construction value for North Cowichan is on track to match the previous two years.

By the end of May 2013, there were 114 building permits issued, and just over $18.5 million in con-struction value. The total values for all of 2011 and 2012 were just over $41 million each. Those years re-spectively saw 262 and 297 permits issued a reachable mark for this year, said Green.

Meanwhile, many valley contrac-tors have been doing renovation work to keep busy until new hous-ing development picks up again.

Its been a very tough 2 1/2 years here in the Cowichan Valley, said Duncan.

I had one contractor come in here the other day to pick up a building permit, and he said to me, this is the first new house Ive built in two years,

Hes a well-known house builder around here. For him to say that we know the market is tough.

fileConstruction of new homes in Cowichan is not keeping pace with the amount of commercial development and remains behind the heights reached in the previous decade.

Its a slow buildHousing

Theres not a lot of residential activity.Scott Mack

New housing construction in Cowichan continues at the same slow levels of the past few years



Lets call Bamberton In-dustrial Park a sleeping green giant.

Lawyer Zaal Aresh ex-plained how Bamberton

Properties LLPs mammoth project will awaken in coming years, given various rezonings now passed by the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

Those rezonings switched 136 hectares of Bamberton to light-industrial, commercial, and outdoor recreational use from forestry zoning on two big parcels west and east of the highway.

During a largely supportive public meeting in early 2012, Bamberton brass explained its project could bring $810 million in jobs and other spinoffs to the community, while widening Mill Bays tax base.

Thats the hope, thats the reason we did this, Aresh said from Cali-fornia.

BPL has signed 17 community and environmental covenants with the CVRD to protect the sprawling commercial-industrial site straddling the Trans-Canada Highway, and down to the seaside.

Those covenants stipulate agree-ment on BPLs dedication of 12-hect-are McCurdy Point Park to the CVRD; protecting riparian-stream areas and sensitive ecosystems; enlist-ing fire protection from Mill Bays hall; and protecting groundwater.

The CVRD was very diligent in ensuring the community was protected, he said. Before any development oc-curs, terms of the covenants have to be met.

But complying with those cov-enants aint cheap.

BPL spent $30-million on cleanup of the derelict Bamberton site.

And weve spent over $500,000

since January 2011 when the indus-trial project rezoning started, and the idea for 3,200 homes was aban-doned, said Aresh

Now BPLs five investors aim to fin-ish work toward handing McCurdy Point to the public.

Physical surveying of McCurdy is complete, and were finishing docu-ments to subdivide and transfer it.

The CVRD must pass a resolution accepting McCurdy as a park, and we hope all this is done before the end of October, Aresh

Then we can refocus our energies to assess market demand for product (commercial-industrial space), he continued.

Those optics would see taming thickets of development permits, road work, water supply and sewer building and more, overseen by the CVRD.

Its about how best to use the land.

Bamberton land west of the highway could be leased or bought by customers; land east of the highway would only be leased.

About 53 hectares around the Bam-berton underpass have been rezoned to business park commercial-industri-

al (20.4 ha), and light-industrial zones (32.9 ha).

Bambertons seashore core sports industrial zoning.

A second light-industrial (I-3) zone of some 76 ha book-ending Bambertons old cement plant core site and a 6.1-ha forestry/outdoor recreation strip west of the core are ready too.

But Aresh said plans for a zip line and other core activities are on hold.

The biggest problem is access how do you mitigate potential conflict between industrial traffic and tourist traffic?

The core site holds long-term ten-ants Lehigh Cement, Macdonald & Lawrence Timberframing, Ruskin Construction, Heavy Metals, and BA Blacktop.

Bamberton opponents worried about pollution of water supplies.

Commercial users have very small water use, Aresh said,

Bambertons tertiary-sewage treat-ment would yield near-drinkable standards, and waste wouldnt be dumped into Saanich Inlet.

Our waste has to be (treated to) Class A, he said, reassuring residents on Inlet Drive.

We have a water-protection covenant to prevent against well contamination, he explained, noting engineered assessments needed.

The CVRD has ordered BPL to have biologists do sensitive-ecosystem mapping, and protection strategies.

And Bambertons not anxious to re-open waste-recycling debates after the CVRDs failed Eco-Depot debacle.

Thats a political hot potato. Were happy to be a solution for the CVRD. A number of people have brought up the fact Bamberton would be the right spot for a recycling facility.

But not for big box stores: project spaces are limited to 250-square-metres.

Our retail size is limited; there is no option for big box, Aresh said.

BPL hopes to probe business op-tions with the CVRD and Economic Development Cowichan.

Were looking to CVRD directors for decisions about what kinds of businesses they want brought to the site, Aresh said.

No one likes development but you have to have it, especially if its done smartly like the CVRD did it not like in Houston where its a hodge-podge.

courtesy Bamberton.comThe clean-up of industrial contamination at the Bamberton site helped pave the way for new industrial and business development.

Bamberton: homework before constructionIndustry

(Then) we can refocus our energies to assess market demand.Zaal Aresh

Industrial park development awaits market, approvals


We Service What We Sell 460 WHISTLER ST. 748-4368 OPEN 8-5 MON.-SAT.

Genuine GE PartsIn-Home ServiceParts & Service

for all Brands

Widest selection of GE branded appliancesin the Cowichan Valley including many built-in models.

A friendly no-hassle shopping environment

Factory trained GE Appliance Specialists, trained to meet your appliance needs.

Why Shop at the GE Appliance Centre?

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R.A.M.460 WHISTLER ST. 250-748-4368 OPEN 8-5 MON.-SAT.

In-Home Service Parts & Service For All Brands Delivery & Installation

Watch us Grow!Special Occasions was a Cowichan Valley fixture for 26 years. Started in 1986 by two ladies who wanted to rent bridal dresses, it has evolved over the years to a full service party rental company. Current owners Gina and Nigel Smith purchased the company in 1999.

We greatly expanded our party wares inven-tory over the years, adding tents in sizes from 10x20 to 10x120. We definitely had outgrown our little store. In April 2008 we moved to

2900 Al-l e n b y R a o d , b e h i n d J a n i t o r s W a r e -h o u s e . A f t e r years of struggling in 1200 sq.ft., our two car garage at home and our friends barn, we now have ev-erything under one 5300 sq.ft. roof, and

lots of parking outside. In our new spot you can drive into the building to pick up.

We have also expanded our cake deco-rating and candy mak-ing supplies and have classes in the fall & winter.Gina, Nigel and Sadie invite you to see our

showroom. Open from 9:00-5:00 Monday-Friday and 10:00-4:00 on Saturdays.

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Special Occasions_Vision 2013.indd 1 7/29/13 8:44 AM

Cowichan building for now and the futureInfrastructure

North Cowichan residents spend $99 a year on roadwork

Trestle the parks crown jewel but it s hardly alone

CDH replacement remains Cowichans biggest project

The future of Cowichan District Hopsital is still fuzzy, but one things certain: the aging facility is due for some TLC or possibly a new look and location.

Vancouver Island Healthy Authority officials and local leaders are mulling over whether or not to renovate or look for a new home for Cowichans health headquarters.

Cowichan District Hospital is functionally ob-solete, has aging infrastructure and does not meet the communitys needs as well as it should, said VIHAs Valerie Wilson.

CDHs master site plan poses ideas of rebuilding or renovating on the Gibbins site or erecting a new CDH elsewhere, but makes no recommendations as it projects the hospitals growing needs. It does, however, provide figures spanning administrative, and in-patient support, to future logistics such as security, dietary and biomedical engineering.

The plan notes CDHs emergency ward is crowded, and undersized for storage and staff needs, patient privacy, and more.

Its a similar story in the operating rooms, where 2007 saw 5,000 surgeries; 12,000 were projected by 2020.

Most of us probably dont often think about how we chip in annu-ally on road upgrades, but we are quick to notice when pavement crews are out in full force.

For folks living in North Cowichan, the district has a revolving Five Year Road Improvement Program with an annual budget of approximately $2.7 million per year.

We receive a $791,000 gas tax grant for our road upgrades and also use development cost charge funds of about $170,000 per year, which reduces the districts annual cost to about $1.77 million a year, explained North Cowichans director of engineering and operations John Mackay. This represents pay-ments of approximately $99 per year for the average home in North Cowichan assessed at $325,271.

ICBC also provides funds for road improvements which improve safety.

The districts road program paving replacement cycle is presently about 45 years, Mackay said. Generally collector and arterial roads should be paved every 20 years while a local roads life is longer due to less traffic. One of councils goals has been to reduce the pavement replacement cycle over time.

Recent milestones in building Co-wichans parks and rec infrastructure:

$6.6 million in funding required to rehabilitate and reopen the his-toric Kinsol Trestle.

$1 million in grants in completing a $7.6 million capital renovation to the Cowichan Lake Sports Arena, including eco-friendly parking lot improvements.

Completion of key northern portions of the Cowichan Valley Trail, after securing $400,000 from Trans Canada Trail in 2011 for the project.

Acquisition of parks and trail lands, includ-ing the 128-acre Sansum Point property in partnership with the Land Conservancy of B.C. and Cowichan Land Trust, as a key piece to the larger Stoney Hill Regional Park initiative.

Coming soon:

Trail design work for the Trans Canada Trail connection between the Cowichan Valley Trail and Gal-loping Goose Trail.

A South Island Mountain Biking Society partnership for Cobble Hill Cleasby Bike Park.

The Honeymoon Bay Hall Society to re-establish a lawn bowling green in Central Park.

Developing a three-phase approach for the redevelopment of the Kerry Park Rec Centre.



Cowichan Cycles Robin Dutton thinks Cowichan has the potential to be the next Cumberland when it comes to the communitys biking culture and economic spinoffs.

Mountain biking can be a huge tourist draw, said Dutton, whos organized several local rid-ing events. Its incredibly popular and its an incredibly healthy sport.

And events like the recent first annual Vancou-ver Island Fat Tire Festival have the potential to draw in hundreds of tourists.

We had people that came from Switzerland and Scotland to ride the trails here, said Dut-ton of the three-day guided mountain biking event that saw riders travel to Cowichan on one of the riding days, as well as Cumberland and Nanaimo on the others.

We had about 25 people come and ride here which isnt bad for a first-year event.

The festival was based on a similar riding event hosted in Oregon, which is spread out among two weekends.

They saw 35 attend in their first year and that was six years ago. Now over the two weekends, they see about 350 people each weekend.

Duttons quite certain theres a similar calling here.

Maybe not that many people but theres obviously a demand here.

Dutton is also on the organiz-ing team for the Mount Prevost portion of the Vancouver Island Cup Mountain Bike Races Series.

B.C.s premiere grassroots race series spanning the length of Vancouver Island, the event includes cross country, down-

hill, Super D and marathon disciplines from numerous local mountain bike clubs.

It took place in Cowichan May 20.

Mount Prevost is internationally known for its riding terrain, said Dutton, noting national sensation Steve Smith rode the mountain several times.

Smith won his first World Cup downhill in Norway in 2012 and more recently took the top spot in the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup in Quebec. Dutton also noted local sensation Mark Wallace, has used Prevost as his main training location.

The sports also gaining popularity among newcomers.

Theres obviously an initial investment, said

Dutton, explaining the cost depends on how far you go. But its to get you started. Its not like golf where its going to cost you every time you go out.

What often tempts folks into the activity, espe-cially in Cowichan, is the beautiful scenery and landscapes offered.

Mountain biking is a fantastic way to ex-plore, said Dutton.

And folks are finding out.If you head to Mt. Tzhouhalem on a Sunday,

youre going to be hard pressed to find a park-ing spot.

courtesy Cowichan CyclesAbout 25 riders took part in the recent Vancouver Island Fat Tire Festival, which consisted of three days of food, camping, beer and non-competitive, guided group mountain bike rides showcasing the spectacular riding that exists in Duncan, Nanaimo, and Cumberland.

Taking the high road

Recreation

Mount Prevost is internationally known for its riding terrain.Dutton

Mountain biking culture taking hold in Cowichan thanks to its excellent downhill opportunities


Don BodgerNews Leader Pictorial

The new Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre is rapidly taking shape on the Trans-Canada Highway near the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre.

Members and the executive staff of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Com-merce are excited about the progress thats being made and cant wait to move into the new digs.

It is called the Cowichan Regional Visi-tor Centre, said Chamber executive director Sonja Nagel to avoid any confusion. Right now, its the Duncan Cowichan Visitor Centre. When we move, our name will change.

Itll have much more of a re-gional focus. Itll be much more of an icon.

Representation of activities and attractions from the Mala-hat to Ladysmith to Cowichan Lake will be emphasized. Bam-

eld and Nitinat will also gure prominently in Cowichan region promotion.

Itll be a bit more obvious its representing the region, said Nagel.

The location of the new building will be far better for dealing with tourist traf c and Chamber business, close to a traf c light providing access to the Trans-Canada High-way in both directions. The current site is in a cramped set of buildings and a parking lot that also houses the B.C. Liquor Store, recently-opened Original Joes and Shoppers Drug Mart.

The big winner is de nitely increased space for the Visitors Centre, said Nagel.

Especially for R.V.s, added Elizabeth Croft, the Chambers communication manager.

The inspiration for the design of the centre actually came from a barn in the valley located near Dougan Lake. The inspiration from the barn turned into a vision when the idea was turned over to the architect and groundbreak-ing occurred in early March. Its now a work in progress heading toward completion in early November.

That particular one in Cobble Hill, it has the familiar kind of doors in the front, said Nagel.

The architect put his own spin on it and Croft noted it provides a striking image when viewed from the highway, especially from the north, because of its diagonal shape.

When you drive by it, it plays with your sense of perspective, said Croft. I think thats really going to catch peoples eyes. Its really different.

The location makes it a win-win for the For-est Discovery Centre and the Visitor Centre playing off each other.

Theyre going to bene t from the visitors coming in, said Nagel. Were going to bene t from the facility being open during their special events.

Doubling up also means revamping the site for the better.

For the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre, theyll get a new exit, said Croft. Theyre building a whole new exit to the west.

The project in its entirety includes some ma-jor roadwork and infrastructure, added Nagel.

The outside eye-catching design is one thing, but its inside that will really count with tourists stopping in.

Interpretive displays are an added feature incorporated into the new building that covers more than 3,000 square feet.

Theres nine themed interpretive displays, said Nagel.

Those include: wineries and cideries, culinary, outdoor adventure tourism, marine tourism, agri-tourism, arts and culture, retail and shop-ping, Celebrate Cowichan regional orientation and valley attractions.

Some iPads and computers will also be avail-able for further information and exploring.

We have such a variety of tourists, said Croft. They all have different needs and we can look after all of them.

Were going to try to do a bit more retail in the new facility, added Nagel.

That means such things as maps, books and art will all be made available for purchase and further help to promote the area that way.

The full-length Once Upon A Day Cowichan DVD has already been a big seller and an indi-cation a market exists for products that people can take home and have a memento reminding them of the region and potentially leading to return visits.

Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of CommerceCowichans new Visitor Centre is modelled after a promi-nent barn in Cobble Hill, only tilted in a diagonal fashion.Putting a new

face forward

Tourism

I think its really going to catch peoples eyes. Its really different.Elizabeth Croft

Prominent location, unique design, captivating displays expected to help new Visitor Centre market entire Cowichan region



Around and around we go.

That may be the feeling drivers in Cowichan experience if theyre cruising through North Co-wichans 13 roundabouts.

But it also works as a subtle hint from muni staffers there are more traffic circles to come.

The district is one of the largest B.C. mu-nicipalities geographically and has over 300 kilometres of road with many intersections, explained North Cowichan director of engi-neering and operations John Mackay.

The districts transportation study identi-fied a number of intersections within North Cowichan for future upgrading and we have found that roundabouts provide for a very safe intersection versus signalized intersections and so have favoured building them.

So much its 14th traffic circle located at Ma-ple Bays Kingsview and Donnay intersection is due for completion by the end of August.

Of the 13 roundabouts built prior, 10 of those were constructed by North Cowichan and the remaining three by developers.

The last traffic circle of the 13 tally was com-pleted at the Chemainus/Victoria/Oak Street intersection in 2012 at a cost of $362,000.

Costs can vary, depending on property acquisition, utility upgrading, rock excavation, landscaping, street lighting, and the amount of grade required to provide a relatively flat circle.

But they typically range from $360,000 to $540,000.

They also help the munici-pality move ahead with its environmental goals.

Roundabouts also produce substantially less greenhouse gas than a conventional signalized intersection which supports the districts goal to reduce greenhouse gas produc-tion, Mackay explained.

And the added safety at intersections is priceless, well almost.

ICBC has provided grant funds for almost all our roundabouts from their intersection

safety program, Mackay said. ICBC funds the roundabouts as they greatly reduce accidents and particularly the severity of accidents.

The munis most improved intersection from traffic circle installation, according to Mackay, was the Beverly Street and Lakes Road project.

Vehicles would come down the Lakes Road intersection doing in excess of 70 km/hour. Now they have to slow down to 30 km/hour to negotiate the circle, he said. The severity of accidents is greatly reduced.

The Beverly/Lakes roundabout as well as the Chemainus/Henry circle were the munis first, built in 2005.

Many factors are pondered when planning for a new roundabout.

The district looks at intersections which need traffic control improvement, where speeding and accidents may be a problem and has been favouring roundabouts as opposed to traffic signals, Mackay explained.

Advantages include: speed reduction, speed consistency, greater capacity, right turn move-ments and safe and quick U-turns.

Added bonuses also include the circles not requiring signal equipment which, in turn, requires constant power, periodic light bulb

and detection maintenance or regular tim-ing updates. Roundabouts also have a longer service life (25 years) compared to a signal (10 years), as well as an opportunity to provide an attractive entry or centrepiece for a community or neighbourhood.

The district has retained a traffic engineer to design the circles concept and construction plans. They take traffic and pedestrian volume, speed of approaching veh

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August 28, 2013