Robert Barron

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The CVRD’s electoral areas have seen a surge in applications for building development permits. (File photo)

Cowichan’s electoral areas see big increase in building permits

Nine electoral areas see 33% increase in permits over same period last year

The CVRD’s electoral areas have seen a surge in applications for building development permits. (File photo)
One man missing, and two people were saved after a boat capsized on May 19, 2022. (Gazette file)

UPDATED: One man missing after boat capsizes near Nitinat Narrows

Two others rescued by Coast Guard

One man missing, and two people were saved after a boat capsized on May 19, 2022. (Gazette file)
Marie and Keith Doak stand in front of a 100-foot evergreen tree that was uprooted during the windstorm on May 19, 2022 and landed on their house. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

100-foot tree falls onto house in Cobble Hill during windstorm

Cost of damage yet to be determined

Marie and Keith Doak stand in front of a 100-foot evergreen tree that was uprooted during the windstorm on May 19, 2022 and landed on their house. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Duncan’s Nick Woywitka (left) is hosting Yevhen Shepotilyn, a refugee from the war in Ukraine, at his home and has offered him a job at his development company. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Ukrainian refugee finds home in Cowichan Valley

Yevhen Shepotilynk from Mariupol, one of hardest hit areas

Duncan’s Nick Woywitka (left) is hosting Yevhen Shepotilyn, a refugee from the war in Ukraine, at his home and has offered him a job at his development company. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Larry Stevenson, CEO of the Island Corridor Foundation, is still optimistic Vancouver Island’s rail corridor will be resurrected. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Deadline looms to resurrect Island’s rail corridor, but ICF optimistic

Larry Stevenson says work can be done for between $350-$400 million

Larry Stevenson, CEO of the Island Corridor Foundation, is still optimistic Vancouver Island’s rail corridor will be resurrected. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring has been successful in his efforts to have other local governments on the Island join the municipality in sending their spare firefighting equipment to Ukraine. (File photo)

Local governments answer Cowichan mayor’s call for firefighting equipment for Ukraine

Other organizations offer help to ship it

North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring has been successful in his efforts to have other local governments on the Island join the municipality in sending their spare firefighting equipment to Ukraine. (File photo)
Alison Nicholson, the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s director for Cowichan Station/Sahtlam/Glenora, wants to remove barriers that keep young people from running for office in CVRD elections. (File photo)

Vancouver Island official pushing parental leave, child care for local politicians

Cowichan Station’s Alison Nicholson wants district to remove barriers for young politicians

Alison Nicholson, the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s director for Cowichan Station/Sahtlam/Glenora, wants to remove barriers that keep young people from running for office in CVRD elections. (File photo)
The CVRD has decided not to ban fireworks at this time, but will consult with municipalities and First Nations in the region to develop a regional approach to the controversial issue. (File photo)

CVRD won’t ban fireworks; at least not yet

District will invite municipalities and First Nations to participate in discussions

The CVRD has decided not to ban fireworks at this time, but will consult with municipalities and First Nations in the region to develop a regional approach to the controversial issue. (File photo)
Snow fell in Lake Cowichan on the weekend of April 9-10, 2022, as the cool spring weather continues. (Kathryn Swan photo)

Cooler than normal Vancouver Island spring expected to continue into May

Forecast calls for much of the same as Islanders have been seeing

Snow fell in Lake Cowichan on the weekend of April 9-10, 2022, as the cool spring weather continues. (Kathryn Swan photo)
A letter sent to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth (pictured) by North Cowichan and seven other municipalities on the south Island asking that the planned downloading of RCMP E-Comm 9-1-1 dispatch charges to them has been successful. (File photo)

9-1-1 cost download to 8 Vancouver Island municipalities deferred until at least 2025

North Cowichan, Colwood, Ladysmith, Langford, North Saanich, Sidney, Sooke, and View Royal affected

A letter sent to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth (pictured) by North Cowichan and seven other municipalities on the south Island asking that the planned downloading of RCMP E-Comm 9-1-1 dispatch charges to them has been successful. (File photo)
Flames and smoke rise from a fire following a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

North Cowichan mayor looks to help fill firefighting needs in Ukraine

Al Siebring calls on B.C. municipalities to donate equipment

Flames and smoke rise from a fire following a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Community group calls for an end of commercial anchorages in southern Gulf Islands area. (File photo)

Community groups call for end of anchorages in local waters

There are 33 commercial anchorages in southern Gulf Islands waters

Community group calls for an end of commercial anchorages in southern Gulf Islands area. (File photo)
A landslide prompted Emcon Services Inc. to close Allenby Road between Miller and Boys Roads in Duncan after heavy rains in November. (Emcon Services photo/Twitter)

More landslides as Duncan area road remains closed months after initial incident

Allenby Road likely to remain closed until geotechnical study gives better understanding of issues

A landslide prompted Emcon Services Inc. to close Allenby Road between Miller and Boys Roads in Duncan after heavy rains in November. (Emcon Services photo/Twitter)
Bruce Ralston, BC’s Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (right), talks heat pumps with Deon Lane (centre), an instructor at VIU’s refrigeration air-conditioning mechanic shop located in the university’s Cowichan Trades Centre, and student Taylor Bacon. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Province encouraging use of more heat pumps in B.C. to help battle climate change

Energy minister tours VIU’s Cowichan Trades Centre and discusses issues

Bruce Ralston, BC’s Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (right), talks heat pumps with Deon Lane (centre), an instructor at VIU’s refrigeration air-conditioning mechanic shop located in the university’s Cowichan Trades Centre, and student Taylor Bacon. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
An arrest warrant has been Jesse Bennett who, along with his young daughter Violet, has been missing since Jan. 23. Bennett is wanted for abduction in contravention of a custody order. (RCMP handout)

Mom struggles as arrest warrant issued for B.C. man in abduction of his daughter

Duncan’s Jesse Bennett and daughter Violet were reported missing on Jan. 24

An arrest warrant has been Jesse Bennett who, along with his young daughter Violet, has been missing since Jan. 23. Bennett is wanted for abduction in contravention of a custody order. (RCMP handout)
Laketown Ranch is planning a large residential project on adjacent property. (CVRD graphic)

Laketown Ranch proposes large residential project adjacent to Cowichan Lake music festival grounds

Project calls for 235 housing units on adjacent land

Laketown Ranch is planning a large residential project on adjacent property. (CVRD graphic)
The Malahat Skywalk will host numerous events over the Christmas season. (John McKinley/Black Press)

Vancouver Island’s Malahat Skywalk wins prestigious tourism innovation award

$15-million project, a partnership between the Malahat Nation and A.Spire by Nature

The Malahat Skywalk will host numerous events over the Christmas season. (John McKinley/Black Press)
Robert’s column

Robert Barron column: Fond memories of ‘Paddy’s Day’

By mid afternoon, the party started really taking off

Robert’s column
John Fogerty and Tom Cochrane are the headliners at Laketown Rock 2022, that will be held July 22-23. (File photo)

John Fogerty, Tom Cochrane lead acts at Laketown Rock 2022

Weekend concert to be held at Laketown Ranch on July 22-23

John Fogerty and Tom Cochrane are the headliners at Laketown Rock 2022, that will be held July 22-23. (File photo)
The CVRD has invited a delegation from the Vancouver Port Authority to come to a meeting to discuss the controversial issues around parked freighters in the Salish Sea close to the district. (File photo)

CVRD invites Vancouver Port Authority to meeting over parked freighters

VPA looking for input on new traffic management plan

The CVRD has invited a delegation from the Vancouver Port Authority to come to a meeting to discuss the controversial issues around parked freighters in the Salish Sea close to the district. (File photo)