Christopher Rock Face-Lift
If you’re interested in making the Christopher Rock trail a little more hike-friendly, please meet on Saturday, April 2 at 10 am in the upper parking lot behind the Youbou Community Hall (also on April 16 and 30). The Cowichan Lake Trail Blazer Society trailer will be on site with tools and gloves for helpers. If you’d like to bring your own tools, the following could be helpful: loppers, weed-eater, pick axe, garden rakes, and leaf rakes. Dress for the weather and bring water. This year, our work will focus on making the existing trail safer, mainly by adding switchbacks to replace the vertical drops and clearing brush and debris. We’ll also be adding signage. Next year, we hope to add an upper loop and work on the path to Eric’s Bluff. Besides pitching in to help, you can also support the work of this volunteer organization, by joining at https://cowichanlaketrailblazers.com/membership/ We hope to see you on April 2, 16 and 30!
Community Circles
If you want to help shape the future of our communities in Youbou and Area I, check out the opportunities to engage in Community Circle conversations. Join us at Youbou Hall on Tuesday, April 12 at 7 pm to participate in a volunteer-led discussion about priorities for Youbou in the future. The CVRD will also be leading a discussion about Areas G/H/I on Sunday, May 15 at 2 pm. If you’re interested in specific areas of community planning, you can sign up to attend sessions on Managing Infrastructure, Making Distinct Communities, Expanding Mobility Options, Protecting and Enhancing Natural Assets, Strengthening Local Food and Agricultural Systems, Enhancing Regional Prosperity, and Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Crisis. To find more information or register for sessions, go to PlanYourCowichan.ca.
Burning and Trash Collection
The CVRD backyard burning window is open until Friday, April 15, 2022 on days when the venting index for Southern Vancouver Island is rated ‘Good.’ This means you can burn leaves and yard debris in your yard only until that date. Weekly garbage pick-up is still a long way off. We don’t start getting weekly pick-up until June, so stick to the bi-weekly schedule for April and May. And for the big items, remember we’ll be doing Youbou Clean-Up on Saturday, May 28.
Broom Bust at Bald Mountain
Come one, come all! We need volunteers to help eradicate the broom on Bald Mountain. When the broom blooms, the clippers cut. Plan to join this community effort on Saturday, May 7 at 9:30 am, rain or shine, and work as long as you wish. Bring your energy, strength, clippers, shovels, gloves, sunscreen, gloves, water bottle, and snacks. We’ll provide the broom. For more information, contact: Debbie Smith at text 250 884 7911 or flyingfree2000@gmail.com
Besides being a nuisance to hikers, broom is a bad guy on the island because it:
- Is highly flammable
- Spreads rapidly and densely
- Crowds out native plants
- Leads to loss of diversity
- Prevents forest regrowth
- Is toxic to wildlife
- Inhibits farming
Youbou Garage Sale
As you’re spring cleaning, set aside your no-longer-loved items and plan for Youbou’s progressive community garage sale on Saturday, May 14 from 9:30 to 1 pm. Host your own or group up with some neighbours to really beef up your curb appeal. We’ll publish a list of all the participating addresses in advance so pickers can plan their route. Contact Julia@raedwulf.org by May 12 to add your address to the list of participating houses. We’ll deliver balloons ahead of time to mark each sale venue.
Crabfest
The Youbou Community Association is excited to return to the social interaction game. Our first foray will be a Crabfest dinner at the community hall on Saturday, July 16. We’ll be selling tickets in advance for $25 a person. Tickets are available at the Youbou General Store and Daly’s Auto Service Centre.
Laketown Ranch News
Laketown Ranch on Youbou Road has applied to the CVRD for rezoning to build 182 manufactured homes, 50 year-round cabins, and 122 year-round RV campsites. Watch for notices of public hearings if you wish to weigh in on this project or hear more about it. Additionally, Laketown Ranch will be hosting concerts once again this summer. Events announced so far are Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival from June 17 to 19, Laketown Shakedown from June 30 to July 2, Laketown Rock on July 22 and 23, and Sunfest from July 28 to 31. Even if you’re not interested in attending any concerts, it’s good to be aware of the increased traffic and busyness on the Youbou highway during these events.
Boat Decibel Update
Transport Canada has laid out five proposed options for addressing the issue of excessive boat motor noise or “small vessel noise emissions” on lakes such as Cowichan Lake. The agency is gathering input until May 13 through its Let’s Talk web site portal. The Decibel Coalition is recommending “Option 5” to introduce performance standards, i.e. decibel limits, for manufacturers, importers and vessel operators to follow. This would update the Small Vessel Regulations to require manufacturers, importers and operators to ensure vessels don’t exceed defined, objective noise-emission levels. For more information on this issue or to register your own opinion, go to https://letstalktransportation.ca/svne.
Save Our Holmes AGM
Remember the Save Our Holmes’ Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 10 at 1:00. More details will be available on the Save Our Holmes Facebook page closer to the day. Contact save.our.holmes@shaw.ca if you have questions, ideas, or if you’d like to help.
Are You a YCA Member?
The Youbou Community Association is involved in helping community activities happen, such as the monthly newsletter, holiday decorating, and other events throughout the year. While we love our facebook friends, an official family lifetime membership in the organization is just $10 and involves filling out a form. It is a key to knowing what’s going on around Youbou as well as giving you a vote at our annual meetings. We’ll email you our colourful community newsletter every month. To join, reach out to cherylmtutor@gmail.com
Got News?
If you’d like to contribute news for the newsletter about a public event happening (or not happening) in or around Youbou and Area I, please send particulars about date, time and place to julia@raedwulf.org. You can also check our web site at youbouyca.com and our Youbou Community Association facebook page for the latest information.
Spring Dates
Saturdays, April 2, 16, 30: Trail work days, Christopher Rock
Tuesday, April 12, 7 pm: Community Circle for Youbou
April 15: Last day for backyard burning
Saturday, May 7: Broom Bust at Bald Mountain
Saturday, May 14: Youbou Progressive Garage Sale
Sunday, May 15, 2 pm: Community Circle for Areas G/H/I
Saturday: May 28: Youbou Clean-Up
Friday, June 17: Weekly garbage pick-up starts
Saturday, July 16: Crabfest at Youbou Hall
You’ll be hearing more details about each event as the date gets closer.
Your YCA Board
Chair: Julia Martinusen
Secretary: Randall Wilson
Treasurer: Steve Watt
Social: Eva Fearon
Garry Fearon
Publicity: Allan Gott
Membership: Cheryl Morgan
At large: Debbie Smith