Taking Care of our Hall
Youbou will literally be raising the roof this year as our community hall gets a much-needed new roof. The hall was built in 1931, so it is definitely time for replacement. It is hoped that the project will be completed this year. Another recent improvement to the hall has been upgrading the upstairs kitchen to comply with food-safe standards. These measures will ensure that we all can enjoy recreation and events at the hall for years to come.
St. Patrick’s Fun
On March 14, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a little early at the bowling alley or in the gym, where there will be themed crafts for kids and jumbo games to play. The fun starts at 6 pm and costs $5.50 a person or $18.50 per family. Remember to wear green!
Easter at Arbutus Park
Join fellow chocolate lovers at the park for a morning of free Easter fun. At 10 am, don your bunny ears and cottontail and launch your paddle-board, kayak, or canoe for a first-ever bunny paddle, weather and water permitting of course! At 11 am, the kids set out for a traditional Easter egg hunt. Then, from 11:30 to 1 pm, families can head up to Youbou Hall for free bowling and open gym.
Broom Bust
Help fight the battle against Scotch broom, the invasive species that threatens our Area I parks and trails. Join us on Saturday, April 18, at Bald Mountain at 10:00 am to spend a couple of hours cutting broom. Bring your loppers, small saws, tarps, water, and gloves and, if you have a pick-up truck to haul broom away, that would be welcome too. This year, you can also cut broom around your home or other favourite Youbou area and leave it in front for Mosaic Forest Management to pick up the week of April 20. Log onto youbouyca.com to add your pick-up address to the map so the Mosaic team knows where to pick up the broom.
All Aboard the Orient Express!
Settle into your first-class carriage on the fabled Orient Express train and sink into a murder mystery that’s classic Agatha Christie. Teleport back to the 1920s and help Inspector Poirot solve this puzzling high-strung whodunit at the Youbou Bar & Grill. For $40, you get a place at the dinner table as a central character to find out who did it …maybe even you! Advance reservations are a must to allow time for casting.
Arise for Music Nights
The Cowichan Lake Arts and Culture Society (CLAC) will once again be sponsoring music nights at Arise Cafe each month, starting on March 7, with a Mexican night. On April 11, Meagan and Hayden will be celebrating their second anniversary managing the café, so come help them celebrate. Watch the community Facebook pages for information on local and touring talent who may be coming to Arise, plus other details. Note that in March, Arise will expand its hours to 9 am to 2 pm. Starting on April 4, Arise will start opening at 8 am.
2026 Youbou Special Events
If you’re a planner, you might want to take note of some of the special events slated for Youbou and Area I this year. More information will be offered in future issues of the newsletter.
March 14: St. Patrick’s Bowling and Gym
April 4: Easter at Arbutus Park/Bunny paddle
April 18: Earth Day Broom Bust
May 23: Youbou Garage Sale
May 31: Area I Community Clean-Up
July 1: Church Canada Day Celebration
July 11: CVRD Bowling Alley Sock Hop
July 25: Crabfest
August 8: Youbou Regatta
October 3: Witches Paddle
October 31: Halloween and Haunted House
November 11: Church Remembrance Day
November 28: Youbou Christmas Craft Fair
December 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration
January 1: Polar Plunge
Sew-Sew
The Sew Day gatherings at Youbou Church continue on Wednesdays twice a month. Crafters, creators, and quilters are invited to join the fun on March 12 from 10 am to 4 pm. In April, the dates will be 9 and 23, as long as interest continues. The church will supply coffee and tea, iron, ironing board, cutting mats, tables, and friendship. You should bring:
1) Your sewing machine and crafting supplies for your project.
2) Your lunch
3) An extension cord and power bar.
4) A suggested cost of $5.00 per day.
Creative Art Classes
For Easter, Mother’s Day and all spring occasions, stop by the Art Centre for great gifts for friends, family, or even yourself! The Arts Centre is open from Wednesdays to Sundays, 10 am to 2 pm, located at 10375 Youbou Road (next to the Arise Coffee Shop). And if you’re inspired to create your own art, check out the exciting workshops online at https://www.cowichanlakeartsandculture.org/upcoming-, sign up for the free newsletter, or become a member to help support this growing initiative.
Coming up in March and April are:
Card Making Workshop #2: Have you always wanted to make your own cards? Enjoy a 2-hour workshop with Cassy Emmerson as she takes you through several card-making techniques. This is a fun, hands-on event where you will learn to create personalized greeting cards using various materials. March 7, 10 am to noon.
Classic, Rustic Willow Bent Armchair: In one day, you can make and take home your own classic bent Willow chair. Using alder for the frame and willow for the bent shoots, this is a great first rustic building project. All tools and materials are provided and no previous building experience is required. Please bring a lunch. Sunday, Apr 5.
Field Trip: Native Plant Photoshoot: Honeymoon Bay Ecological Reserve. Join Jennifer Carlstrom on a casual photoshoot with the possibility of finding rare pink fawn lilies, trillium, red columbine, wild ginger, bleeding heart, false-lily-of–the-valley, and others nestled in between big leaf maple, alder, western hemlock and Douglas fir. Sunday, April 12.
Youbou Community Church Society
The next general meeting of the Youbou Community Church Society is Saturday, March 14, at 10 am in the lower hall of the church, a building owned by the community at large. All are welcome!
Bowling at the Alley
Through March, Men’s night is Tuesday, starting at 7 pm; women’s night is Thursday at 7 pm, and mixed adult bowling happens on Sundays at 7 pm. The program then takes a break until resuming in September. Drop-in bowling is open on Friday and Saturday nights at 7 pm. Lane reservations are available for Friday and Saturday nights at a cost of $6.50 per lane.
Pickleball
Pickleball play continues at Youbou Hall on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 am, with a special welcome for beginners on Tuesdays. Throughout March, the hall is open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7 pm for night play during bowling hours. The drop-in fee is $4.00. Note that when the weather turns nice in the spring months, pickleball players tend to migrate from Youbou Hall to the outdoor court in Lake Cowichan.
Are You a YCA Member?
The Youbou Community Association is involved in helping community activities happen, such as the newsletter, crabfest, 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. To join, reach out to cherylmtutor@gmail.com. And if you’re interested in getting involved as a board member, let her know that too.
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
Rebekah El
Allison Peacock Giles
Dave De Pape
Bee Greenway
Adam Khomsi, Communications
Julia Martinusen, Chair
Cheryl Morgan, Membership
Debbie Smith
Randall Wilson, Secretary
Steve Watt, Treasurer
Dates
March 7: Mexican night at Arise, 5 pm
March 8: Watercolour Classes, Art Centre
March 14: Murder Mystery, Pub, 5:30 pm
March 14: St. Patrick’s Family Fun, Youbou Hall, 6 pm
March 12: Sew Day, Youbou Church, 10 am to 4 pm
March 14: Youbou Church Society meeting, Youbou Church, 10 am
March 28: Drag Bingo, Pub, 7 pm
April 4: Easter at Arbutus Park/Bunny paddle
April 5: Rustic Willow Bent Armchair, Art Centre
April 5: Easter Brunch, Pub,
April 9: Sew Day, Youbou Church, 10 am to 4 pm
April 11: Arise Second Anniversary party: 5 to 8 pm
April 12: Native Plant Photos, Art Centre
April 18: Broom Bust, Bald Mountain, 9:30 am
April 23: Sew Day, Youbou Church, 10 am to 4 pm
Ongoing
Mon., Tues., Fri.: Pickleball, Youbou Hall, 9:30 am
Tues/Thurs: Pickleball, Youbou Hall 7 pm thru March
Tuesdays: TOPS, Church, 10:30 am
Tuesdays: Men’s Bowling thru March, 7 pm
Thursdays: Women’s Bowling thru March, 7 pm
Fridays: Drop-in Bowling and Open Gym, 6:30 pm
Saturdays: Drop-in Bowling, Youbou Lanes, 7:30 pm
Sundays: Brunch, Pub, 11 am to 2 pm
Sundays: Mixed Bowling thru March, 7 pm