New Year’s Eve Party
Welcome 2023 by celebrating at the grand New Year’s Eve party at Youbou Hall. The Joints aka Eagle Eyes is returning to play for the hometown crowd, with music starting at 9 pm (doors open at 8 pm). Yes, there will be balloons, noise-makers, pre-midnight buffet, and all the trimmings. Tickets (still $40 each) are now on sale in Youbou at Cassy’s Coffeehouse, Youbou General Store, Daly’s Auto Centre, Youbou Bar & Grill, as well as in Lake Cowichan at Ed’s Coffeehouse. YCA Board members are also selling tickets.
If you’re interested in the New Year’s Eve party shuttle, the round trip will cost $10 per person from Cowichan Lake and Bald Mountain; $5 per person round trip in Youbou. To reserve a space on the shuttle, email cherylmtutor@gmail.com. Provide your location (Youbou, Lake Cowichan, Bald Mountain), address, name, number of people, phone number, and email. Please make your reservation by Thursday, December 29.
Christmas Village at Cassy’s Coffeehouse
Revel in an old-fashioned country Christmas in miniature, thanks to Dennis and Donna Jones and their treasured village collection. Their enchanting winter wonderland is open through December (December 1 to 18, Thursday through Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm, then December 22 to 24 and 29 to 31). Visit on Saturday evening, December 17, from 5 to 8 pm for free cocoa and cookies. All donations will go the Cancer Care Centre at the Cowichan District Hospital.
Gingerbread Decorating
Budding artists: Stop by the pub to enter the gingerbread colouring contest through December 10. First Prize will be decorating a gingerbread house at no charge. Second prize will be decorating gingerbread people for free. Third prize wins a colouring book and crayons. Winners and other decorators will meet at the pub on Saturday, December 17, to decorate a gingerbread house or gingerbread people from 12:30 to 4:30. For those wanting to decorate (but not a winner in the colouring contest), the gingerbread houses will cost $20 to decorate and the cookies $10.
Santa visits the Sunday Market
The Sunday Youbou outdoor market has moved indoors, to Youbou Hall. The market will be open from 10 to 2 on December 4, 11, and 18th. Be sure to come on the 18th, when Santa will visit and free cookies will be served.
Holiday Decorating Contest
Blow up the inflatables, string up the sparkly lights, and put Santa centre stage. The Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce is conducting an outdoor holiday decorating contest for homes and businesses around the lake. Register for judging by Friday, December 12th through a link on the Chamber of Commerce facebook page. Judging will take place December 16th to December 17th. Winners will be announced on December 19th with first, second, and third place prizes going to both residential and commercial categories. May the sparkliest yard win!
Youbou Drag Christmas Extravaganza
On Saturday, December 10, in what is probably a first for our tiny town, The Youbou Bar & Grill is presenting the Youbou Drag Christmas Extravaganza and the event sold out in days. If you’re a lucky ticket holder, you’ll be seeing Youbou’s very own Sheila Vitoff and other drag artists from Vancouver Island (Fierce Brosnan, Chaz Avery, Henrietta Dubét, and Shelita Cox). This adults-only show will start at 8:30 pm, after the pub’s regular dinner service.
Iranian Buffet Raises Funds
The delicious Iranian buffet dinner at the pub on November 19 not only sold out, it raised over $330 for the Center for Human Rights in Iran, supporting the plight of Iranian women standing up for equal rights. The lamb stew and kabobs were yummy, as were the tray of desserts, for those who left room for a bite of sweet with their coffee.
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Positive Rebellion and Zionbell brought the reggae beat to Youbou Hall on November 19. It was a family-friendly event with kids attending for free. People were happy to sway to the island beat as we all get ready for the cold, wet season ahead.
Fair Bargains
The Youbou Christmas Craft Fair kicked off the holiday shopping season in Youbou on November 26. Vendors and shoppers alike were able to replenish their shopping energy with brunch and lunch items from the Youbou Community Association. Thanks to the YCA, CVRD, vendors, and shoppers who helped make this annual event such a success.
A Note from Director Karen
As your newly elected CVRD director, this article is to let you know that I will also be communicating with you on my own facebook page called “Paths and Streams”. The title refers to the rural character of Youbou and Meades Creek with its own unique complexities.
Since my election, I’ve had the great privilege to travel throughout the district with my fellow directors, as well as CVRD staff. I don’t have to tell you how big and beautiful our valley home is. Many of you have told me how important it is to protect and restore the natural world around us.
But what I didn’t know or appreciate before I was elected is what it takes to provide the local, sub-regional and regional services to the residents of the CVRD. More about that in upcoming posts!
I was so encouraged to hear from you how eager you are to know more about what the CVRD is doing on your behalf, but also to have your voices heard.
During the campaign, I made a commitment to you to provide information and listen to your concerns. “Paths and Streams” is one way to fulfill that promise. My CVRD phone is almost ready to receive your messages, so I will give you my phone number soon. In the meantime, you can contact me by email: Karen.Deck@cvrd.bc.ca
This is just the beginning of a four-year-long journey with you, the residents of Youbou/Meades Creek. You will find me to be determined to follow through on the commitments I made to you during the election: open communication, working for local climate change solutions and water security. I also take seriously my responsibilities for making decisions with my colleagues that will address region-wide needs. I’m looking forward to this challenge and to getting to know you all better.
Dates
December, ongoing: Christmas Village, Cassy’s
Saturday, December 10, 8:30 pm: Drag Queen Show, Pub
Saturday, December 17, 12:30: Gingerbread Decorating, Pub
Saturday, December 17, 5 to 8 pm: Cookies & Cocoa, Cassy’s
Sunday, December 18, 10 am to 2 pm: Cookies with Santa, Youbou Hall
December 23: Christmas Dinner, Pub
December 26: Boxing Day Dinner, Pub
December 31: New Year’s Dinner, Pub
Saturday, December 31, 8 pm: New Year’s Eve Dance, Youbou Hall
Are You a YCA Member?
The Youbou Community Association is involved in helping community activities happen, such as the monthly newsletter, crab fest, New Year’s Eve, 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, by the 20th of the month, please. You can also check our web site at youbouyca.com and our Youbou Community Association facebook page for the latest information.
Your YCA Board
Chair: Julia Martinusen
Secretary: Randall Wilson
Treasurer: Steve Watt
Social: Eva Fearon
Garry Fearon
Membership: Cheryl Morgan
At large:
Monica Ash
Joelle Belanger
Sandra McAfee
Debbie Smith
Joe Tatham