Robert Barron

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Nurses at the Cowichan District Hospital are thanking the community for following the health protocols during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured from left are nurses Jacqueline Kendall, Melissa Bustard and Heidi Ferris. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Still in this together: Island nurses finally see light coming after a year like no other

May 10-16 is National Nursing Week, giving pause to reflect on the pressures of a pandemic

Nurses at the Cowichan District Hospital are thanking the community for following the health protocols during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured from left are nurses Jacqueline Kendall, Melissa Bustard and Heidi Ferris. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Island Health’s new Wellness and Recovery Centre at 5878 York Rd. is now planned to be open in the fall. (File photo)

Controversial Cowichan Wellness and Recovery Centre will now open in the fall

Three community dialogues scheduled for May and an advisory committee coming

Island Health’s new Wellness and Recovery Centre at 5878 York Rd. is now planned to be open in the fall. (File photo)
The organizers of the annual 39 days of July festival hope to return to live shows in Charles Hoey Park this year, like in this photo taken in 2019, but audiences at the show may be limited to 50 people due to health protocols. (File photo)

39 Days of July hoping to stage outdoor events in Duncan this summer

Annual music festival will run from June 25 to Aug. 2 this year

The organizers of the annual 39 days of July festival hope to return to live shows in Charles Hoey Park this year, like in this photo taken in 2019, but audiences at the show may be limited to 50 people due to health protocols. (File photo)
The Lake Cowichan branch of the Royal Bank of Canada is closing. (Google)

Lake Cowichan’s RBC branch will close in November

RBC says banking needs will still be met

The Lake Cowichan branch of the Royal Bank of Canada is closing. (Google)
Brian Thacker, owner of Cowichan Bay’s Pacific Industrial & Marine, is disappointed the province didn’t provide funding for a proposal from PIM, in partnership with the Cowichan Tribes, to remove derelict boats from local waters. (File photo)

Application for funding to remove derelict vessels in Cowichan area fails

Province announced $4.5 million for new program on April 28

Brian Thacker, owner of Cowichan Bay’s Pacific Industrial & Marine, is disappointed the province didn’t provide funding for a proposal from PIM, in partnership with the Cowichan Tribes, to remove derelict boats from local waters. (File photo)
Amanda Vance, executive director of the Downtown Duncan BIA, stands in front of downtown’s open-air food court when it opened last July. (File photo)

Duncan’s open-air food court to return

But venue will have concrete picnic tables this year

Amanda Vance, executive director of the Downtown Duncan BIA, stands in front of downtown’s open-air food court when it opened last July. (File photo)
Cheryl Day, a member of the management team at the Cow Café West Coast Grill, celebrates the 200 Dine Cowichan Meals the restaurant sold in support of Island Savings’ Get a Meal, Give a Meal campaign. (Submitted)

Dine & Sip Cowichan raises $10,000 for area food banks

Chamber of Commerce initiative helps provide 30,000 meals for local families

Cheryl Day, a member of the management team at the Cow Café West Coast Grill, celebrates the 200 Dine Cowichan Meals the restaurant sold in support of Island Savings’ Get a Meal, Give a Meal campaign. (Submitted)
Guy Johnstone, who operates the Michelle Rose Community Supported Fishery in Cowichan Bay, hopes that an emergency review of new regulations governing the spot prawn industry will see some changes. (File photo)

Feds to conduct emergency review of new West Coast prawn fishery regulations

Regulations make the sale of frozen-at-sea spot prawns illegal

Guy Johnstone, who operates the Michelle Rose Community Supported Fishery in Cowichan Bay, hopes that an emergency review of new regulations governing the spot prawn industry will see some changes. (File photo)
Stock photo

Barron: Pandemic hitting restaurants and bars hard

Grewing up in the restaurant business, I know first-hand the threat of an extended closure

Stock photo
Robert’s column

Barron: Vinyl records making a comeback

Remember the days when getting a new record was an event?

Robert’s column
Crofton Fire Department members on the scene of Twin Gables fire in February of 2020. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Citizens’ group calls for action at Crofton’s Twin Gables Motel

Crofton waterfront site called an eyesore and a nuisance property

Crofton Fire Department members on the scene of Twin Gables fire in February of 2020. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Matt Hewlett opened Full Bug Records at 171 Jubilee St. three weeks ago. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Full Bug Records finds a groove in Duncan

Vinyl-lover feeding a classic demand that never fully disappeared

Matt Hewlett opened Full Bug Records at 171 Jubilee St. three weeks ago. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Repairs had to be made to this culvert and a section of the Cowichan Valley Trail after a sinkhole and washout. (Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

Washout filled, upgraded Cowichan Valley Trail ready for hikers

Trail significantly damaged after culvert failure in 2020

Repairs had to be made to this culvert and a section of the Cowichan Valley Trail after a sinkhole and washout. (Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)
The Valley’s award-winning Rocky Creek Winery is pleased to be part of the Island Good marketing campaign, which help shoppers easily identify local products from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Pictured is the winery’s wine maker Mark Holford and his daughter Robin, who is also a wine maker. (File photo)

Island Good celebrating 3 years of helping local businesses

Program helping brand Vancouver Island producers and bring them together as a community

The Valley’s award-winning Rocky Creek Winery is pleased to be part of the Island Good marketing campaign, which help shoppers easily identify local products from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Pictured is the winery’s wine maker Mark Holford and his daughter Robin, who is also a wine maker. (File photo)
North Cowichan councillor Tek Manhas did not violate the municipality’s code of conduct by posting a sexist meme on Facebook, council concludes. (File photo)

B.C. municipality to take no action against councillor who posted sexist meme

Tek Manhas’s meme doesn’t violate North Cowichan council’s code of conduct, municipality concludes

North Cowichan councillor Tek Manhas did not violate the municipality’s code of conduct by posting a sexist meme on Facebook, council concludes. (File photo)
Health Minister Adrian Dix said there has been no decision made about the future of the site of the current Cowichan District Hospital on Gibbins Road when the hospital moves to a new site in 2026, but noted there are many needs for health facilities in the Valley in the future, particularly for the growing senior’s population. (File photo)

Old Cowichan hospital could help address seniors care: Dix

Health minister states the region’s senior population will explode in next 50 years

Health Minister Adrian Dix said there has been no decision made about the future of the site of the current Cowichan District Hospital on Gibbins Road when the hospital moves to a new site in 2026, but noted there are many needs for health facilities in the Valley in the future, particularly for the growing senior’s population. (File photo)
Construction of the new $887.4-million Cowichan District Hospital to replace the existing hospital on Gibbins Road (pictured) is expected to begin in 2022. (File photo)

Land for new Cowichan hospital transferred to Island Health

New $887.4-million hospital expected to be completed in 2026

Construction of the new $887.4-million Cowichan District Hospital to replace the existing hospital on Gibbins Road (pictured) is expected to begin in 2022. (File photo)
Donna Jones, who was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley, is the executive director of the documentary ‘Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence’. (Submitted)

Islander produces documentary offering hope to those with addictions

Donna Jones and husband Brent just released Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence

Donna Jones, who was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley, is the executive director of the documentary ‘Bobbi Jo: Under the Influence’. (Submitted)
Lifetime Achievement 2018 Black Tie Award winner Norm Jackson, left, poses with Bruce Williams after joking that the two have often been mistaken for one another and must be secret twins. (Mark Margerison/Highlight Studio)

Duncan area to honour its top businesses online this year

Black tie awards coming in May from the Chemainus Theatre

Lifetime Achievement 2018 Black Tie Award winner Norm Jackson, left, poses with Bruce Williams after joking that the two have often been mistaken for one another and must be secret twins. (Mark Margerison/Highlight Studio)
Richard and Maureen Ellis, owners of Sports Traders Duncan that closed last year, are reminding people that they are still operating their other company, Cowichan Athletic Sales, online. (File photo)

Cowichan Athletic Sales still operating from its website

Duncan area sports shop’s online shop still functioning without its store front

Richard and Maureen Ellis, owners of Sports Traders Duncan that closed last year, are reminding people that they are still operating their other company, Cowichan Athletic Sales, online. (File photo)