October 2, 2013

Page 1

T.W. Paterson: 1928 was a boom year in Cowichan Valley logging

LIVING, Page 10

Sports icon and dedicated dad Les Mann mourned by family, friends WEDNESDAY

SPORTS, Page 13

DUNCAN HOSTING CHINESE ACROBATS /8

Serving the Cowichan Valley

www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Joined on the panel by Seine Road resident Beth Crawford, left, Phil Jennings of the Somenos Marsh Society and biologist Tim Kulchinsky from Cowichan Tribes, North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebure says he knows the Somenos diking is controversial and he wants to hear what the public thinks. For video and photos from the forum, scan this page with the Layar app on your smart phone or go to www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com [LEXI BAINAS/CITIZEN]

Hundreds vent over marsh changes DIKES: Flood plain has residents ‘deeply concerned about our homes and the parkland’

Dustin Descoteau died after his truck rolled off the Coquihalla Highway, the BC Coroners Service has confirmed. [SUBMITTED]

Crash claims Chemainus father of four SARAH SIMPSON CITIZEN

LEXI BAINAS CITIZEN

From those worried about the loss of marshland and fish habitat, to those angry that their homes are now in a newly created 200-year flood plain, 350 residents gave the Municipality of North Cowichan and other panelists a piece of their minds at a big public forum Sept. 27 about the possible effects of the new diking being placed around Somenos Marsh. The Somenos Marsh Society booked the huge Cowichan Theatre and emcee Tamara Leigh thanked the big crowd who took time on a Friday night to come

out and discuss the subject. North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebure, one of eight onstage panelists, told the crowd, “We know we’re involved in a controversial issue. The more opinions, the better. We’re here to listen.” One group demanding to be heard was the residents of nearby Seine Road and Quamichan Park. Beth Crawford, speaking for those homeowners, went straight to the heart of what is worrying them. “We’re deeply concerned about our homes and the parkland,” she said, telling Lefebure and a group of North Cowichan officials who

were also there to answer questions that her group had been formed out of “frustration and fear” at the way they’ve been treated by the municipality. “Due to the diligence of a couple of neighbours in the early part of the summer, the residents of Seine Road and Quamichan Park discovered our homes were under the new 200-year flood level. This change occurred without any notice or any consultation,” she said. Their homes backed onto a park, Somenos Creek and a cornfield in the agricultural land reserve. The cornfield has been “effectively eliminated”, the dikes are

closer and higher and “the privacy and peace we once had” has been affected, Crawford said Of great concern is the future of homes that are now within the newly created 200-year flood plain, Crawford said. “We are in a no-win situation. It’s caused a great deal of anxiety.” Later in the evening, North Cowichan engineering manager Clay Reitsma said that the municipality was in the process of contacting all those residents about their situation. From Lakes Road west North See Dikes ‘strangling’ • page 4

Paying TOO much for your house insurance? Give Dorothy a call, she is an

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A celebration of life for Dustin Raymond Descoteau will be held at Maple Grove (3800 Gibbins Rd.) on Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. The 29-year-old Chemainus father of four was killed on Sept. 25 after his pickup truck rolled off the Coquihalla Highway, the BC Coroners Service has confirmed. “Dustin came to the Island on his days off from work in Castlegar to spend time with his family and kids,” said his sister Paula Phillips on Monday. “He had two amazing days with his kids and the rest of his family. He was traveling back See His last day • page 5

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