Robert Barron

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)
Property owners in the Cowichan Valley Regional District will see an average tax increase of 11.49 per cent in 2023. (Citizen file photo)

CVRD property owners will see an average 11.49% tax increase in 2023

Recreation costs a significant part of increase

Property owners in the Cowichan Valley Regional District will see an average tax increase of 11.49 per cent in 2023. (Citizen file photo)
WorkSafe BC has concluded that the death of the driver of a dump truck was likely distracted before rolling the truck into a water-filled ditch on a gravel lane near Boys Road in October, 2021, killing him. (WorkSafe BC photo)
WorkSafe BC has concluded that the death of the driver of a dump truck was likely distracted before rolling the truck into a water-filled ditch on a gravel lane near Boys Road in October, 2021, killing him. (WorkSafe BC photo)
David Kim (right), owner of Madrone Environmental Services, said moving his business to the socially troubled highway corridor area in Duncan was a good decision. Kim is pictured with Will Arnold, owner of nearby Experience Cycling. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Duncan business pleased to move into notorious highway corridor

David Kim, owner of Madrone Environmental Services, says community has spirit

David Kim (right), owner of Madrone Environmental Services, said moving his business to the socially troubled highway corridor area in Duncan was a good decision. Kim is pictured with Will Arnold, owner of nearby Experience Cycling. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
An initiative to allow mountain bikers on Mount Richards is getting mixed reviews. (Citizen file photo)
An initiative to allow mountain bikers on Mount Richards is getting mixed reviews. (Citizen file photo)
New code of conduct implemented on commercial ships anchoring off Cowichan’s coast. (Citizen file photo)

Vancouver Islanders skeptical as new Code of Conduct implemented for ships anchorages

Cowichan Bay group calls Vancouver Fraser Port Authority shift a band-aid initiative

New code of conduct implemented on commercial ships anchoring off Cowichan’s coast. (Citizen file photo)
Cowichan Tribes workers are expected to be back to work at new Cowichan District Hospital site by the end of the week. (Ministry of Health graphic)

Cowichan Tribes workers heading back to new hospital site in wake of labour dispute

Contract secured for trucking services after province breaks standoff over union certification

Cowichan Tribes workers are expected to be back to work at new Cowichan District Hospital site by the end of the week. (Ministry of Health graphic)
Cowichan Valley Regional District chair Aaron Stone said finding housing for workers in the region is getting more difficult. (File photo)

Cowichan businesses hurting from housing crisis, survey concludes

Survey first step in development of workforce housing strategy

Cowichan Valley Regional District chair Aaron Stone said finding housing for workers in the region is getting more difficult. (File photo)
Floyd Augustine, a waterfront property owner in Youbou, is among dozens that are appealing their properties’ value that was assessed by BC Assessment this year. (Citizen photo)

Assessment shock: Island property bought for $4,000 assessed at $2.1 million

Youbou land owner stunned to see tax assessment jump by $500,000 in one year

Floyd Augustine, a waterfront property owner in Youbou, is among dozens that are appealing their properties’ value that was assessed by BC Assessment this year. (Citizen photo)
Russ Hamilton, location manager for the Hallmark Christmas series ‘Holidazed’ which saw sections of the production being filmed in downtown Duncan in November, said at the time that film crews did their best to not negatively impact downtown businesses. (Citizen file photo)

Duncan made more than $22,000 from the filming of ‘Holidazed’

But some businesses negatively impacted by Hallmark Network production

Russ Hamilton, location manager for the Hallmark Christmas series ‘Holidazed’ which saw sections of the production being filmed in downtown Duncan in November, said at the time that film crews did their best to not negatively impact downtown businesses. (Citizen file photo)
Lewis Street resident Fran Stirling feels like a prisoner in her home due to the many social issues in the neighbourhood. Pictured is Stirling next to a chain link fence set up by authorities in 2019 that runs the length of the street in an attempt to keep homeless people from camping in certain areas. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

North Cowichan resident feels abandoned by authorities in face of street disorder

Fran Stirling says issues with homeless has trapped her in her home

Lewis Street resident Fran Stirling feels like a prisoner in her home due to the many social issues in the neighbourhood. Pictured is Stirling next to a chain link fence set up by authorities in 2019 that runs the length of the street in an attempt to keep homeless people from camping in certain areas. (Robert Barron/Citizen)