It’s a Date
January 23: YCA AGM 2 pm on zoom
YCA Annual General Meeting
While we had hoped to return to an in-person Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Youbou Hall this year, it seems the current Covid climate suggests a zoom meeting rather than meeting in person. If you wish to join the AGM zoom meeting on Sunday, January 23 at 2 pm, request the invite by emailing julia@raedwulf.org. We’ll discuss our 2022 plans for events, programs, priorities, and review the year 2021. Additionally, we will elect board members for 2022. If you are interested in serving on the board of this community-minded group, email Julia@raedwulf.org.
Youbou General Store
The Shop & Save signs are still up, but small changes are happening at what is now called the Youbou General Store. Wayne Procter now owns the store, although you won’t find him behind the counter. Instead you’ll see a lot of familiar faces, plus a new one. Teresa Gustafson is the new General Manager of the store and is eager to continue offering the same great level of service and convenience you’ve come to know and love in Youbou. Please let them know if you have any special requests for items you frequently need.
Light-Up Cruise
Residents peeping from their windows and doorsteps were treated to a convoy of holiday decorated vehicles on Saturday, December 4, cruising their way from the Youbou Fire Hall to Honeymoon Bay.
Organizer Jenn Baird announced the winners: The best business prize went to Youbou’s Carlow Contracting, for the biggest entry and putting so many wheels on the ground. An honourable mention in the business category went to the Youbou Community Association, who played on the theme of elks! In the personal category, the prize was awarded the Fieldings family
Special thanks went to Cassy’s Coffee House for both entering a vehicle and hosting carollers to kick off the event.
Supporters donating gifts and prizes were Cathy Craft, New Horizons Landscaping, and Music Together Mid-Island! The seniors gifts were organized by Jan Rishiide, with help from Bobbie Dawn, Jayne Ingram, and Janeen Kidd. Swordfern Boutique took care of the food bank donations. Cassy’s Christmas Village was already working with the Jones’to raise funds for Cancer.
Youbou Wins in Holiday Decorating Contest
Youbou was the champion for both categories of the Lake Cowichan Chamber of Commerce Christmas Decorating contest. Cassy’s Coffee House won first prize in the business category for its very magical Christmas outdoor display. In the home category, Youbou resident Donna Mai Walker and Ray won first prize for their elaborate yard display on Swordfern Road. Way to show your holiday spirit, Youbou!
Exercise Your Resolutions
If your New Year’s Resolutions include getting more exercise, join the club! Bowling, pickleball or Qi Gong are as close as Youbou Hall. The winter bowling schedule shows the following sessions starting: Mixed (Sunday, Jan. 9), Men’s (Tuesday, Jan. 11) Ladies (Thursday, Jan. 3), Friday nights for families and Saturday nights for adults. Pickleball is usually played on weekday mornings (except Wednesday). Qi-Gong starts Friday, March 4. Pre-registration is usually needed for hall events and changes do occur, so before heading to the hall, check the cvrd web site.
It is Better to Give
Thanks to those who visited the Jones’ Christmas Village at Cassy’s this holiday and donated to fight cancer. And thanks to all who supported people needing help during the festive season. As a gift from all of you, the Youbou Community Association once again donated $500 to the Lake Cowichan Community Services food hamper project, especially to benefit any of our Youbou neighbours.
Mosaic 2022 Update
By Pam Jorgenson, RPF, Land Use Forester
Pam.Jorgenson@MosaicForests.com
Mosaic wishes to address some climate change concerns and to provide you with an update on our activities in your community.
Extreme Weather Events: Mosaic has retained a climate-science graduate student to work on projects related to climate and weather conditions on Vancouver Island. His review of our detailed weather station data has indicated that the November 13-15th storm resulted in over 200 mm of rain in the Cowichan area in a 24-hour period. This rain, as well as the significant snowpack for the time of year, translated into river flows that peaked at conditions that would only be seen once in 100 years. These conditions occurred as a result of the back-to-back atmospheric rivers experienced on Southern Vancouver Island, coupled with very wet pre-existing conditions. When conditions are already so saturated, storms overwhelm a natural systems’ ability to limit overland flows, and much of the precipitation enters streams, rivers and lakes, regardless of land use.
Adapting to Climate Change: Scientists indicate these types of storms will become more frequent with climate change. In response, Mosaic has been adapting, and continues to adapt, our management practices. Some specific examples include installing bridges and culverts that anticipate more intense future rain events. For Youbou, the recent studies looking at slope stability and torrent flows modelled 68,000 iterations of surficial landslides and runouts. This detailed research concluded that in almost all scenarios, there was no risk to residential properties. Future land use or climate change impacts were not indicated to impact landslides and runouts beyond the modelled weather events. To read the research in more detail, please go to the CVRD web site.
Upcoming Activity: As indicated in the fall, Mosaic commenced road building on a short stretch of road starting from Meade Creek Main. Activity has been periodic due to weather and crew availability, so our progress has been slower than anticipated. Our winter plan is to proceed west toward, but not crossing, Denham Creek. We anticipate other activities this winter to include road reconstruction at Block D, just east of Miracle Way, on the high side of Youbou Road. This is minor work to brush out and improve the existing road. Harvesting of this area will not take place until 2023. The area beyond Youbou near the old truck wash could have works commencing in the first few months of 2022, but this is pending a variety of factors, including crew availability.
Outreach Materials: We will continue to share information about our upcoming plans. If you are new to the community and would like to receive our “Youbou Activity Update” that we mailed out this past summer, please reach out to me via the contact info above.
Mosaic wishes you a safe and happy new year and will reach out with further updates as warranted. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me via email at the above address, if you have any questions.
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.
Your YCA Board
Chair: Julia Martinusen
Co-Chair: Lori LaFave
Secretary: Randall Wilson
Treasurer: Steve Watt
Social: Eva Fearon
Garry Fearon
Publicity: Allan Gott
Membership: Cheryl Morgan
At large: Spencer Day
At large: Debbie Smith