Robert Barron

North Cowichan currently has no bylaws to prevent roosters on properties bigger than 0.4 acres (Citizen file photo)

Backyard rooster driving neighbours crazy, North Cowichan has no solutions

Poultry bylaws don’t preclude roosters at this time

North Cowichan currently has no bylaws to prevent roosters on properties bigger than 0.4 acres (Citizen file photo)
It was necessary to decriminalize the possession of up to 2.5 grams of street drugs, including the methamphetamine pictured, in B.C. in order to save lives, says RCMP Insp. Chris Bear. (Black Press photo)

Decriminalization of some drugs necessary to save lives, says head of North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP

But Insp. Chris Bear said decriminalization is not legalization.

It was necessary to decriminalize the possession of up to 2.5 grams of street drugs, including the methamphetamine pictured, in B.C. in order to save lives, says RCMP Insp. Chris Bear. (Black Press photo)
The second season of ‘Yukon Harvest’ will debut on APTN on May 9. It is produced by Duncan’s Rogue River Films Inc. (submitted)

Vancouver Island produced Yukon Harvest series enters second season

13-episode APTN documentary series chronicles the adventures of Indigenous guides and hunters

The second season of ‘Yukon Harvest’ will debut on APTN on May 9. It is produced by Duncan’s Rogue River Films Inc. (submitted)
The BC Bike Race returns to the Cowichan Valley in July. (Citizen file photo)

BC Bike Race to be held in Crofton in July

More than 600 mountain bikers will gather from around the world

The BC Bike Race returns to the Cowichan Valley in July. (Citizen file photo)
The Supreme Court of B.C. has ruled that North Cowichan Councillor Bruce Findlay and GPI Developments must pay damages to a strata corporation in Ladysmith for misrepresenting the work they said they would do at the site. Findlay is appealing the decision. (Black Press file)

Island developer-turned-councillor ordered to pay $171,000 to Ladysmith strata

Supreme court rules North Cowichan councillor Bruce Findlay, company didn’t complete work

The Supreme Court of B.C. has ruled that North Cowichan Councillor Bruce Findlay and GPI Developments must pay damages to a strata corporation in Ladysmith for misrepresenting the work they said they would do at the site. Findlay is appealing the decision. (Black Press file)
Life on Wheels, a grass-roots outreach organization that deals with homeless and/or people with addictions and mental-health issues, is looking to begin a pilot project for detox and rehab facilities in the Cowichan Valley. (Citizen file photo)

Group looks to establish detox, rehab facility in Cowichan Valley

Life on Wheels asks CVRD for land-use variance

Life on Wheels, a grass-roots outreach organization that deals with homeless and/or people with addictions and mental-health issues, is looking to begin a pilot project for detox and rehab facilities in the Cowichan Valley. (Citizen file photo)
Neil Merrick, a property owner in Youbou, watches work taking place at a new rock quarry owned by the Ts’uubaa-asatx (Lake Cowichan First Nation) near his home that is raising concerns in the neighbourhood. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Rock quarry in Youbou raising concern for neighbours; owners say misinformation running rampant

Ts’uubaa-asatx, owners of the quarry, say they are doing everything by the book

Neil Merrick, a property owner in Youbou, watches work taking place at a new rock quarry owned by the Ts’uubaa-asatx (Lake Cowichan First Nation) near his home that is raising concerns in the neighbourhood. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Ian Morrison, the CVRD director for Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls, said he thinks the new revised code of conduct the district is considering is too legalese-oriented. (Citizen file photo)

Stone-faced automatons? Issues raised around CVRD’s proposed new code of conduct

Some directors fear ability to represent constituents will be impacted

Ian Morrison, the CVRD director for Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls, said he thinks the new revised code of conduct the district is considering is too legalese-oriented. (Citizen file photo)
North Cowichan councillors Bruce Findlay and Tek Manhas spent several hours set up in front of Island Health’s Overdose Prevention Site on York Road drinking beer in public on April 25 to draw attention to their concerns that consuming hard drugs in public is no longer illegal. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Two North Cowichan councillors drink beer in public to make a point

Bruce Findlay and Tek Manhas protest the legality of open use of hard drugs

North Cowichan councillors Bruce Findlay and Tek Manhas spent several hours set up in front of Island Health’s Overdose Prevention Site on York Road drinking beer in public on April 25 to draw attention to their concerns that consuming hard drugs in public is no longer illegal. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Jesse Bennett, accused of abducting his seven-year-old daughter last year, heads to court in June. (RCMP handout)

Island man accused of abducting his daughter set to represent himself in trial

Cowichan Valley’s Jesse Bennett went missing for five months last year, court date set for June 5-9

Jesse Bennett, accused of abducting his seven-year-old daughter last year, heads to court in June. (RCMP handout)
Jesse Bennett, accused of abducting his seven-year-old daughter last year, heads to court in June. (RCMP handout)
Jesse Bennett, accused of abducting his seven-year-old daughter last year, heads to court in June. (RCMP handout)
The Electoral Boundaries Commission is recommending that the Greater Nanaimo area’s three ridings be re-aligned into Nanaimo-Gabriola, Nanaimo-Lantzville and Ladysmith-Oceanside. (Electoral Boundaries Commission report)

Big changes likely coming to Cowichan provincial election riding boundaries

Cowichan Valley would lose territory in the south, gain in the north

The Electoral Boundaries Commission is recommending that the Greater Nanaimo area’s three ridings be re-aligned into Nanaimo-Gabriola, Nanaimo-Lantzville and Ladysmith-Oceanside. (Electoral Boundaries Commission report)
There will be a major clean up along the south bank of the Cowichan River, close to the Silver Bridge, where piles of garbage (pictured) have been left on April 29. (Nehru Manak photo)

Clean up for piles of trash left on bank of Cowichan River planned

Piles of garbage left at homeless site

There will be a major clean up along the south bank of the Cowichan River, close to the Silver Bridge, where piles of garbage (pictured) have been left on April 29. (Nehru Manak photo)
Land owners Janice and Ken Hiles claim the CVRD has taken all the credit for their contribution of the popular Little Beach property on the Cowichan River as parkland. (Citizen file photo)

Lake Cowichan’s popular Little Beach acquired as parkland by CVRD

But previous owners claim district took all credit for land contribution

Land owners Janice and Ken Hiles claim the CVRD has taken all the credit for their contribution of the popular Little Beach property on the Cowichan River as parkland. (Citizen file photo)
The federal government has committed $3 million from its Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy program for initiatives to deal with homeless issues in the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo . Pictured is a homeless camp that sprung up in Duncan’s Charles Hoey Park in 2017. (Citizen file photo)

Mid-Island groups to receive $3 million from Ottawa to deal with homeless issues

Recipients include the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society’s new women’s shelter

The federal government has committed $3 million from its Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy program for initiatives to deal with homeless issues in the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo . Pictured is a homeless camp that sprung up in Duncan’s Charles Hoey Park in 2017. (Citizen file photo)
A fatal accident (pictured) that occurred at the intersection of Hutchinson Road and the Trans-Canada Highway last summer led to a petition that is credited for prompting a decision by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to install protected left-turn signals on three dangerous intersections on the TCH. (Citizen file photo)

Left-turn signals installed at three dangerous Island Highway Cowichan intersections

Province agreed to put in signals after latest fatal accident last summer

A fatal accident (pictured) that occurred at the intersection of Hutchinson Road and the Trans-Canada Highway last summer led to a petition that is credited for prompting a decision by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to install protected left-turn signals on three dangerous intersections on the TCH. (Citizen file photo)
Duncan’s Kyle Mockford has struggled for the past 10 years with a serious brain injury after he was assaulted in Victoria. 
(Robert Barron/Citizen)

Brain injury changes Cowichan Valley man’s life

Kyle Mockford was assaulted 10 years ago

Duncan’s Kyle Mockford has struggled for the past 10 years with a serious brain injury after he was assaulted in Victoria. 
(Robert Barron/Citizen)
North Cowichan may consider allowing mountain biking on Mount Richards. (Black Press photo)

North Cowichan to consider economic potential of biking on Mount Richards

Council refers issue to its economic committee for review

North Cowichan may consider allowing mountain biking on Mount Richards. (Black Press photo)
Jan Bate, executive director of the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society, said the announcement of 33 transition units of second stage housing for women fleeing violence in the region is much needed. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

New housing units on the way for vulnerable Cowichan Valley women

Facility to be run by Cowichan Women Against Violence Society

Jan Bate, executive director of the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society, said the announcement of 33 transition units of second stage housing for women fleeing violence in the region is much needed. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
A fire nearly destroyed a house on Ruskin Road in Honeymoon Bay in the early morning house of March 14. (Screen shot)

No one injured after fire rips through Honeymoon Bay home

Cowichan Lake area home empty at the time, blaze under investigation

A fire nearly destroyed a house on Ruskin Road in Honeymoon Bay in the early morning house of March 14. (Screen shot)