Author: William Fraser

Becky Hogg has won the North Cowichan council seat in a byelection held to fill a vacancy left in fall 2024. Hogg expressed excitement as her supporters celebrated the preliminary results. “It felt incredible,” she said. “While it’s a short term with many learning curves, I’m ready for the challenge and will keep to my word with my platform. I’m looking forward to working alongside Christopher Justice, Bruce Findlay, Mike Caljouw, Tek Manhas, Chris Istace, and Mayor Rob Douglas.” The byelection took place on Saturday, April 12, with advance voting on April 2 and 8. Five candidates ran for the…

A domestic disturbance in North Cowichan on Saturday morning ended with a house fire and the arrest of one man. Police were called to a duplex on Westridge Road following reports of a disturbance. The situation escalated, prompting the deployment of an Emergency Response Team, according to local authorities. Two ambulances arrived just before 7 a.m., but no one required medical attention, confirmed B.C. Emergency Health Services. A fire broke out while police were still on the scene. The North Cowichan Fire Department was called around 9:30 a.m. to respond. Fire Chief Ron French said one half of the duplex…

The Municipality of North Cowichan has approved a $4.5 million emergency project to protect two water mains that supply drinking water to the southern part of the community. Officials say the project is urgent because the pipes and the nearby river dike are at immediate risk of damage. In early June, municipal staff discovered that two trunk water mains were exposed in the Cowichan River, about 875 metres downstream from the Highway 1 bridges. Water levels in the river had dropped by roughly one metre due to erosion, leaving the mains uncovered and vulnerable. The exposed pipes not only threaten…

Becky Hogg has been elected as the newest councillor in North Cowichan following a recent byelection. Preliminary results released online Saturday show Hogg receiving 2,029 votes, narrowly ahead of Joanna Lord, who earned 1,962 votes. Other candidates included David Bellis with 447 votes, Johanne Kemmler with 387, and Raymon Farmere with 41 votes. Voting took place on April 12. A total of 4,866 residents cast ballots in the byelection, according to the district. With a population of 31,990 based on the 2021 census, North Cowichan is the largest municipality in the Cowichan Valley. Hogg, a lifelong resident of the valley,…

A house fire in North Cowichan on Saturday morning ended with the arrest of one man and left a family homeless after their duplex was destroyed. Authorities confirmed the fire started during a police response to a domestic disturbance. Police were called to a duplex on Westridge Road around 7 a.m. after receiving reports of a disturbance. According to officials, the situation escalated quickly, leading to the involvement of a specialized Emergency Response Team. Two ambulances were also dispatched, but medical staff confirmed that no one required treatment at the scene. While police were still present, a fire broke out…

An off-duty police officer has been cleared after his vehicle struck two pedestrians on the Trans-Canada Highway in North Cowichan. The decision was announced on August 15 by the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia, which reviewed the case. The collision happened on April 10, just before six in the morning. The officer was driving north between James Street and Beverly Street on his way to the detachment in Duncan. At the time, traffic was light, and the sky was still dark. Two men attempted to cross the highway on foot, leading to the crash. Investigators reported that one of…

Becky Hogg has won the byelection for the vacant seat on the North Cowichan council. The vote count showed Hogg securing the position, bringing fresh energy to the council. Hogg expressed joy after the results were announced. She said, “It felt incredible” as her supporters cheered. Though the term is short, Hogg said she is ready for the challenge. She promised to stay true to her platform and looks forward to working with council members Christopher Justice, Bruce Findlay, Mike Caljouw, Tek Manhas, Chris Istace, and Mayor Rob Douglas. The byelection was held on Saturday, April 12, to fill the…

North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas is calling again for urgent action on pedestrian safety after a 17-year-old was struck and killed while crossing the Trans-Canada Highway. The incident is the third pedestrian collision in the Cowichan Valley in the last month. Douglas expressed deep frustration that the province has not delivered on its promise to build a pedestrian bridge near James Street. He said the community has been asking for the project for more than a decade, especially to protect students from nearby schools who often cross the highway to reach shops and restaurants. The mayor said the Trans-Canada Highway…

Constable Kyle Hicks, a dedicated police officer from Duncan, British Columbia, is taking on a new challenge. This year, he’s trading his uniform for cycling gear to take part in the 2025 Tour de Rock. The event is part of Cops for Cancer, a well-known charity ride that raises money for children with cancer. Hicks grew up in Duncan and now raises two young children of his own. When he heard about the chance to join the Tour de Rock team, he didn’t think twice. Despite having a full schedule, the decision came easily to him. “As soon as I…

The mayor of North Cowichan is calling on British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation and BC Transit to step in and help end the Cowichan transit strike. This ongoing strike, which began on February 8, has now become the longest public transit strike in the province’s history and is causing serious hardship across the Cowichan Valley. Mayor Rob Douglas has written directly to the province’s Minister of Transportation and Transit, Mike Farnworth, to express his growing concern. He says that the strike is severely affecting residents in North Cowichan and surrounding communities. Many people rely on public transit for daily life,…