Skip to content

Cowichan Historical Society puts $50,000 prize money to good use

Countless local, and global votes led to CHS winning Next Great Save competition in February

Two banners hang proudly on the balcony of the Duncan Train Station, home to the Cowichan Valley Museum.

One reads ‘Together we did it’, the other ‘thank you.’ This heartfelt gratitude goes out to not only locals, but to several supporters across the globe whose online votes were paramount in the Cowichan Historical Society receiving $50,000 and being crowned victorious in this year’s national Next Great Save competition sponsored by National Trust for Canada.

READ MORE: Train station maintenance project in the works

“We had a huge local support,” said society president Carolyn Prellwitz. “Every time I went into a business people would tell us ‘I’m voting’, but we also had a huge voting presence from around the world. There were people from across the provinces who were former residents, or has passed through the area and knew of the train station. There were also people in other countries. I happened to be in Borneo when the competition started, and I was voting from the middle of the Borneo rainforest.”

The society received an email from National Trust confirming that they were the winners on Feb. 23.

“It was very humbling, that all of these people made the effort to vote every day,” said vice president Sheila Kitson. “We received a lot of help from individuals on their Facebook pages, and we had the husband of one of our directors spreading the word at the market. We had people calling out to us telling us that they voted, so it really was a great thing. Our banner outside says it best: together we did it.”

The $50,000 provided by Ecclesiastical Insurance is going towards a green retrofit for the museum to ensure savings in energy use, and a 74 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Money has already been spent on repairing the station’s balcony, which is home to new heat pumps and air handlers, which were installed in May. A portion of the money also went towards cleaning existing, and replacing ductwork.

“The work was overseen by local heritage consulting firm David Coulson Design, and handled by Exchangeenergy Inc. and Coastal Power Vacuum,” said Prellwitz. “The new upgrades will look at lowering our heating costs and generating less greenhouse gas emissions. The preservation of some of the ancient artifacts within the museum is sure to benefit from more regulated heating and cooling.”

“We had to submit a profile of the train station as well as photos and a video, while choosing a subject and having something that lent to the environmental aspect of doing things,” said Kitson. “We chose the heat pumps because we had already a report made that showed how we could improve our environmental contribution by replacing our aging heating system.”

Prellwitz adds, “The former heating pumps we had on the deck were disintegrating, and the air handler was not working very well either; we have to keep the temperature of the building at a certain level to preserve our museum artifacts.”

The society will keep the celebration going on June 18. It will be three-fold, as they say thank you to the community for their votes with cake being cut and served by one of the local councillors. It is also marks Father’s Day and the 150th anniversary of North Cowichan becoming a municipality on June 18, 1873.

“We are hoping to have a rep from Ecclesiastical Insurance here that day, as well as a classic car rally in the parking lot to celebrate father’s day,” said Prellwitz. “We also have an exhibition in our gallery to celebrate North Cowichan’s 150th anniversary through artists past and present.”

Forty heritage sites across Canada entered the competition.



chadd.cawson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.



About the Author: Chadd Cawson

Read more