YCA Annual General Meeting
The YCA held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, January 21, at Youbou Hall. The 2023 board presented its year-end report, which will be posted on the YCA web site. Members elected board members for 2024. Re-elected were: Joelle Belanger, Julia Martinusen, Patrick Miller, Sandra McAfee, Cheryl Morgan, Debbie Smith, Steve Watt, Randall Wilson. The board does have three positions open, so please email julia@raedwulf.org if you are interested. Plans for 2024 YCA activities were discussed and the board will finalize the calendar in February. It will also be posted on youbouyca.com and in the monthly Connector newsletter.
Bad Moon Riders
Youbou is reviving the music of Creedance Clearwater Revival with a hall dance on Saturday, February 17. Youbou Community Music Fest organizers are hosting their third event with Bad Moon Riders, a Vancouver band that echoes the sound of CCR. The Stage Pilots will be opening with favourite classic rock tunes. These hall music events are picking up momentum and the organizers suggest purchasing tickets sooner than later, as there is a maximum capacity allowed in Youbou Hall. Tickets will go on sale at the beginning of February at local businesses. Note that $5 from each ticket goes toward a local charity. For this event, the Lake Cowichan Food Bank will be receiving the funds. Follow the Youbou Community Music Fest Facebook page for details, continued updates, and draws for free tickets etc. See you February 17th!!
YCA Offers Support
Thanks to the generosity of our event patrons and a some unexpected donations last year, the Youbou Community Association stepped up to help those in need. We were able to donate $2,000, with $1,000 going toward the Lake Cowichan Food Bank and an additional $1,000 toward the Lake Cowichan Community Services. We’re assured this will go a long way in serving Youbou residents in need and others around the lake.
Euchre Play
Back by popular demand is the Youbou Euchre afternoons. Beginners and seasoned Euchre players are welcome to join in the fun on Sunday afternoon, February 4 at 1 pm. To fund the prizes, players will be asked to contribute a toonie to join the fun. Bring snacks to share and a winning attitude. Another Euchre session is planned in March.
Youbou Snow People Invade
Heralding the first big snow of the year, the YCA announced an impromptu snow-person building contest on our YCA facebook page. Wow! Did we get some amazing entries from our snow-day fun-seekers. Entrants posted their creations on our facebook page and members judged by “liking” their favourites. The YCA quickly rustled up some prizes and winners were announced at the annual meeting. First prize ($50) was won by Scott Thomas for the Snowskatchewan Rough Rider, second prize ($25) was earned by Sandra McAffee for Snow Snoopy, and third prize ($10) went to Pat Miller and Cassy Emerson for Igloo Snow Farmers. Thanks to all who helped make Youbou a fun place to live on a snow day. We’ll have to do more of this in the future.
Polar Plunge
A hardy group of Youbou residents splash-mobbed at Arbutus Park on New Year’s Day to soak in the not-so-balmy waters of Lake Cowichan. The event was loosely organized by Bonnie Frazer with a few facebook posts that attracted local adventure seekers. Whether they were inspired by Nordic nuances, meditative chakras, or still-not-quite-sober sensitivities from the previous night, over 20 people tiptoed into the sandy shallows and a couple even dove into the chilly depths (can you say brain freeze?). We’ve heard other Youbounians also braved the bracing waters from the icy edges of their own beaches. Such a cool event!
Care and Comfort in Crisis
We’re continuing on our quest toward activating the Youbou Community Hall for daytime respite during times of power failure and extreme cold or heat.
Now that the generously donated generator has been installed at Youbou Hall, we’re ready to move on to the next phase. This phase may involve you. We need volunteers who could check on a dozen neighbours who might need help during times of extreme heat or extreme cold during power failures. Through this network, we could notify people when the hall is open, as we likely would not have internet. To raise your hand for this role, please contact Joelle at joelleanddoug@shaw.ca. We would also volunteers to help at the hall.
The second part of this phase lies in securing a supply space either in the hall or installing a shipping container by the hall. We are working on that now with the CVRD and through the newly established Cowichan Lake Community Hall Advisory Committee. Joelle Bellanger and Julia Martinusen have volunteered and been appointed to that committee.
Fun at the Pub
The whizzes at the pub are stepping up for the festive celebrations that spark the winter season. Feast on pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (February 13) and savour a special Valentine’s dinner on February 14. Watch the February 11 Super Bowl on the big screens with a brew and pizza. For social events that suit your fancy, try the Indian food buffet on February 3 or sample the whiskey tasting on February 24, with the music of Kent Ball. And, if you dare, join the fun on murder mystery night on February 9. Who knows, you could be the victim or main suspect! Reservations are necessary for the Murder Mystery and Whiskey Tasting because of limited seating. Reservations are recommended for the Valentines dinner and the Indian Food Buffet.
Youbou Lanes Bowling
The winter bowling season is here. Fridays are family nights, Saturdays are open bowling for adults. Special adult nights are on Sundays for mixed pairs, Tuesdays for men, and Thursdays for women. These are called league nights, but they are actually open to bowlers of all skill levels and we make up teams each night from whoever comes. Bowling begins at 7 pm each night. Make it a plan to enjoy our unique bowling alley at least once this season. Youbou Lanes is historic as one of the last hand-set bowling alleys on the continent.
Batter Up for Spring Season
Youbou’s own slow-pitch coach, Al Capeling, says it’s not too early to gauge slow-pitch interest for the 2024 season. He would love to form a kid’s team. If you know of 11- or-12-year-olds who might like to play on a Youbou team to practice at Little League Park, contact him at acapeling@yahoo.com. Likewise, if you’re interested in spring and summer plan on the Youbou Greens adult team, contact Al as well.
Pickleball for All
If you’ve been wanting to learn to play pickleball, but not feeling ready to play with experienced players, join the beginner group playing at the hall on Tuesday, mornings at 9:30. For a $4 drop-in fee, we can provide paddles, balls, and lessons.
TOPS Is Tops
Shedding a few pounds after too many holiday sugar plums may still be on your 2024 resolutions list. You can find good support and company at the TOPs meeting every Tuesday at 10:30 at the church. TOPS stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly.
Area I Update
By Karen Deck, Area I Director
As 2024 begins, I extend my gratitude to the residents of Youbou/Meade Creek for giving me the opportunity to represent you at the Cowichan Valley Regional District. Budget season is upon us, and the CVRD is not immune from the pressures that each of us feels as prices rise for essentials. I’m grateful for the efforts that staff and directors are making to maintain service levels as costs increase.
Community Plan: The next opportunity to provide input into the modernized official community plan is anticipated in the spring. These meetings were designed to gather information about what you value about your neighbourhood and what you imagine for its future.
Hall Meeting: I hope to meet with you again in February to catch up at a drop-in meeting. I will post news about the meeting on my Facebook page, Paths and Streams. I am aware that many folks don’t go to Facebook for information, so I’ll get signs out on the major roads and the Mile 77 sign, giving dates, times, and location. I am deeply thankful to the YCA newsletter and for others who share on their social media.
Street Sweeping: I’d like to send a big thank you to Pam Jorgenson from Mosaic, Ryan Gerow from Ministry of Transport, Dillon Thornton from Emcon, (the company that has the contract for plowing and cleaning the roads) for their efforts to deal with the long-standing concerns of dust and mud on Youbou Road. We met in the summer to discuss the issue and come up with a solution. The contract with Emcon provides for only one cleaning a year, which was clearly insufficient, given all the industrial and recreational traffic. The plan now is to do one sweep just before the rainy season and one before the dry season. You may have seen the fleet of vehicles doing a wet clean in the fall.
Speed Watch: I received notice from the Lake Cowichan RCMP that our Speed Watch program is moving forward. They hope to include a number of communities around the lake. I’ve just completed my police check and I expect that folks who expressed an interest in becoming involved in Speed Watch have received theirs in the mail as well. Folks along Meade Creek Road and Marble Bay Road were very enthusiastic about this program and I ask others who would like to volunteer to go to the RCMP office in Lake Cowichan to sign up.
Contact: Reach me at Karen.Deck@cvrd.bc.ca or 250 252 6526 with any questions or concerns.
Our official Facebook page is Paths and Streams.
Mosaic Forest Management Update
By Pam Jorgensen, RFP, Land-Use Forester
Mosaic is pleased to provide you with our first community update of 2024.
Christopher Rock and Trail Blazers: Mosaic has worked with the Trail Blazers to
approve a new loop route trail from Eric’s Bluff back to town, and this work could
start soon! We look forward to seeing the loop route successfully completed and
thank the Trail Blazers for all their hard work.
Upcoming Activity: Units A and B (on the east side of Youbou) have had roads
built, and units have been adjusted to distance them from the woodlot harvesting
that took place in 2022. Works may commence in mid-late February 2024 and are
expected to be complete within 3 to 4 months. All activities are subject to crew
availability and weather conditions and could be pushed back further. Timing for
Units C and D will be updated at a later date.
Mosaic Private (Northshore) Road: Summer was busy on the Northshore Road
due to public traffic detours required from the Port Alberni area. MoT responded
this fall with some dedicated sweeping and cleaning activity. Mosaic will continue to
monitor conditions and communicate with MoT about maintenance needs.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions at
Pam.Jorgenson@MosaicForests.com
New Year’s Eve Rocked
Once again, tiny Youbou threw THE biggest and best New Year’s Party in Valley with The Joints aka Eagle Eyes playing for a sell-out crowd at Youbou Hall. The ticket price included a sandwich buffet, non-alcoholic mixers, the free shuttle, party favours, the balloon drop, and a chance to win the door prize of a red scooter. The snazzy scooter was won by Lori Shreenan and the 50/50 winner was Heather Praxl, who took home a whopping $705! The Youbou Community Association worked tirelessly to plan this event and wishes to thank everyone who attended and volunteered.
YCA Board members:
Joelle Bellanger: bartender, parking lot
Julia Martinusen: publicity, printing, decorating, clean-up, shuttle arrangements, volunteer coordinator, CVRD contact, ticket sales
Sandra McAfee: poster design, drink tickets, front door
Patrick Miller: bartender, ticket sales, 50/50, decorating, clean-up
Cheryl Morgan: front door, food
Debbie Smith: front door, ticket sales, 50/50
Joe Tatham: food, ticket sales
Steve Watt: treasurer, insurance, gaming license, alcohol purchase, liquor license, ticket sales coordinator, decorating, clean-up
Randall Wilson: bartender, decorating, clean-up
Non-board Community volunteers:
Party help: Richard Madill (bartender), Dian White (food), Teresa Gustafson (drink tickets), Pat Orr (food), Nora Hayward (restrooms), Eva Fearon (50/50), Bee Greenway (50/50), Cassy Emerson (bartender, 50/50), Tammie (bartender), Brent (parking lot).
Decorating: Bee Greenway, Pibbs (Leslie) Greenway, Alex, Pat Orr, Eva Fearon, Brent, Mike Smith
Clean-up: Jean Atkinson, Lyle Kuchmak, Bee Greenway, Pat Orr, and others.
And special thanks to the local businesses who supported the event by selling tickets: Youbou General Store, Daly’s Auto Centre, Youbou Bar & Grill, and Ed’s Coffeehouse and Pemberton Homes in Lake Cowichan.
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 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.
Dates
February 3: Indian Food Buffet, starts at 5 pm, Pub
February 4: Euchre, 1 pm, Youbou Hall
February 9: Murder Mystery, starts at 4:30, Pub
February 11: Super Bowl, Pub
February 13: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, starts at 5 pm, Pub
February 14: Valentines Dinner, starts at 5 pm, Pub
February 17: Bad Moon Riders, doors at 7:30 pm, Youbou Hall
February 24: Whiskey Tasting, Kent Ball, starts at 5:30 pm, Pub
Tuesdays: Beginners pickleball, 9:30, Youbou Hall
Tuesdays: TOPS: 10:30 am, Church
Tuesdays: Men’s Bowling, 7 pm, Alley
Thursdays: Women’s Bowling: 7 pm, Alley
Fridays: Family Bowling, Alley
Saturdays: Open Bowling, Alley
Saturdays: Movie night, 7:30 pm (not Feb 24), Pub
Sundays: Mixed Bowling: 7 pm, Alley
Your YCA Board
Chair: Julia Martinusen
Vice Chair: Sandra McAfee
Secretary: Randall Wilson
Treasurer: Steve Watt
Membership: Cheryl Morgan
At large:
Joelle Belanger