New Year’s Eve, Youbou Style

It’s a Youbou New Year’s tradition! The Joints (aka Eagle Eyes) are back for the annual bash on December 31 at Youbou Hall. Doors open at 8 pm, the music starts at 9 and continues until after the balloons drop. Besides a night of dancing tunes, tickets include noise-makers, party hats, photo booth, non-alcoholic drinks and mixers, buffet at intermission, and free shuttle. (Alcoholic drinks will be available for sale at the cash bar).

Tickets (still $50 each) are on sale in Youbou at the Youbou General Store, Daly’s Auto Centre, Youbou Bar & Grill, and Arise Café, plus Ed’s Coffeeshop in Lake Cowichan. Youbou Community Association Board members are also selling tickets.

Free shuttle information: We will have two free shuttles, one for Lake Cowichan pick-ups, and one dedicated to Youbou. Lake Cowichan patrons will need to reserve seats for pick-up in Lake Cowichan, by following the directions on each ticket. For Youbou guests, no reservation is needed as there will be pick-up points, starting at 7:55 pm at Creekside,, then heading though town, stopping at Miracle Way mailboxes, Price Road mail boxes, Swordfern mailboxes, Arnold Road, Bremner Road mailboxes, Arise Café, Youbou General Store, and Daly’s Auto Centre. The shuttle will swing back once to pick-up anyone remaining at the pick-up points. After the dance, you can ask the shuttle driver to drop you at your home.

Remembrance Day

We owe much to those who fought bravely and gave their lives so we might have the freedom we enjoy today. Honour Youbou’s fallen at the Youbou Church on Tuesday, November 11. The ceremony starts at 10:30 and will include a bagpiper, a reading of In Flanders Field, and the singing of O Canada.

More Musical Happenings

For a tuneful night out, look no further than our Youbou church and Arise Café.

At the church, on Saturday, November 8, Turner & Small will be playing a set of original music and cover songs on the lower floor, starting at 7 pm. The Youbou duo consists of long-time musician Joe Turner (vocals and guitar) and Henry Small (electric violin, vocals and guitar) of Prizm fame and recent Canada Walk of Fame inductee. This event is sold out, but check out Youbou facebook pages to see folks are selling any unneeded tickets.

At Arise Café, on November 15, Jay Coleman will be playing from 5 to 8 pm, sponsored by the Cowichan Lake Arts and Culture Society (CLAC). Reservations are suggested at and drinks and dinner may be ordered from a special menu.

The Pub will be featuring live music on November 22 and December 24.

Pub Holiday Happenings

The Youbou Bar & Grill is hosting a Haunted High Tea on November 1 from 11:30 to 4 pm. Over a cup of tea, learn what’s in the cards for your fortune next month or next year. On December 20, Sheila returns in all her high-heeled glory for a holiday extravaganza drag show (advance tickets on Eventbrite). Live music is slated for November 22 and December 24. The pub will be serving special holiday dinners on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve (with time to go to the hall for the big shindig). For mystery sleuths, clue in on the upcoming January murder mystery dinner and denouement. Note that the pub is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for the winter season.

Youbou Christmas Craft Fair

Peruse the annual craft fair at Youbou Hall on Saturday, November 29, for holiday gift and decorating inspiration. You’ll find homemade treats, creative handmade crafts, and home-party show items. If you wish to sell your wares, call Lake Cowichan Recreation at 250-749-6742 to book a table ($20 each; $40 for 2 tables). Please specify whether you’re selling homemade items. Doors open for sellers at 8:30 am and for shoppers from 10 am to 2 pm.

Sew Happy

The fabric and yarn flies fast and furious every other Wednesday as Youbou’s stitchers and knitters ready their projects for the holidays. The Sew/Quilt/Crochet/Knit group plans will meet on November 12 and 26 and December 10 (before a holiday break), from 10 am to 3 pm in the church’s lower hall. Take your lunch and project and join them.

Cowichan Lake Arts Centre (CLAC)

Stop by the Arts Centre for the special Christmas Market, running from December 10 to 24. Hand-crafted items from local artists will be on sale from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. And if the artistic spirit moves you, sign up for any of these sessions: Nerikomi Jewelry on November 3; Gelli Prints on November 8; and Bent Willow Chairs on  November 15. For more information about the classes, see below. To register, go to cowichanlakeartsandculture.org.

Nerikomi Jewelry (Coloured Porcelain)

Create beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry items for yourself or for Christmas giving. Using coloured porcelain clay, you’ll mold various shapes and sizes of precious treasures. Some jewelry ‘findings’ (hooks, studs, bails) will be supplied, so you can complete

your pieces during class time. No experience necessary. This class stretches over a three-day span: November 3, 4, and 23 from 11 am to 3 pm. Members $75 and nonmembers $95.

Make Gelli Prints with Kathie Fielding

A Gelli print is a type of monoprint created by using a reusable, flexible, gel-like printing plate, often called a Gelli plate or gel plate. This plate, which feels like gelatin but doesn't require refrigeration, allows artists to apply layers of paint, add textures with tools and stencils, then transfer these unique, one-of-a-kind images to paper or fabric without needing a printing press. This year, make your own Christmas cards or creative art pieces for gift giving. All the necessary supplies are included. No experience necessary. This course is taught over a two-day period: November 8 & 9, from 10 am to 12 pm. Member $50 and nonmembers $70.

Bent Willow Chair Workshop

Andrew Kent teaches this one-day class in which you 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. You are also welcome to bring a helper. This is a full day, 9 to 6. The cost is $325 plus $8.13 ticket service fee.

Food-Safe Kitchen at Youbou Hall

You may have thought our Youbou Hall kitchen was already certified as food safe by Island Health, but that has not been the case. The lack of certification has not been a problem until recent regulations have prevented food preparation at the hall for any public consumption. That has presented a challenge for community events and event organizers, such as the Youbou Community Association. Thankfully, Hall Manager Denise Williams and Mark Johnson listened to the YCA’s plea for action and researched the work needed and costs. Their plan was presented to the CVRD Hall Commission on October 20. The commission wholeheartedly supported the initiative and approved the work needed to upgrade the upper Youbou Hall Kitchen to food-safe standards. We’re hopeful this work will happen soon and that we’ll be cooking again for our community events in no time.

Official Community Plan

Years of working on an Official Community Plan for Cowichan Valley seem to have culminated in a document that tried to please everyone and has wound up pleasing almost no one. A 4.5-hour meeting was convened in Duncan so Area Directors could hear concerns about the plan. Either in-person or over the phone, voters voiced their perspectives from their diverse backgrounds for over 4 hours. The recommendation was clear—that the Directors need to step back from finalizing the document and re-engage with community members who care about their communities’ futures. Stay tuned for more on this plan.

Bowling Fun
Men’s, Ladies and Mixed 10-Pin Evenings (Ages 16+:) Meet new people and practice your bowling skills at these fun and social 10-pin evenings. No experience and no personal equipment is needed. Guests and drop-ins may participate by paying a drop-in fee. No session November 11.

Drop-in Bowling: Friday and Saturday night drop-in bowling continues as always, at 7 p.m. Look for once-a-month Toonie nights for a real deal. Lane reservations for Friday or Saturday nights are available online at reccowichan.ca (bowling, lanes) or 250 749-6742 ext 0.

Bowling Rentals: To schedule a private bowling event during non-school days/hours - please call the Cowichan Lake Recreation at 250 749-6742 ext 0.

Pickleball at Youbou Hall
Youbou Hall is open for pickleball Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings, from 9:30 to 11:30. For those who prefer to play in the evenings, the hall is also open for play on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7 to 9 pm. An annual membership is $125, a 6-month membership is $85; the drop-in fee is $4.                                    

Witch’s Afloat

Wearing spell-binding pointy hats and brandishing paddles instead of brooms, over two dozen Youbou witches (and warlocks) cast out onto Lake Cowichan for a merry-not-scary float on Saturday, October 4. An eerie light shone on strangely calm waters as decorated paddle-boards, canoes, and kayaks convened afloat near Arbutus Park. After a magical tour, the witches returned to shore for hot chocolate, coffee, sweet treats and prizes. Winning the children’s best costume awards were Naomi, Sofia, and Stella. In the adult costume category, Eva, Jane, and Susanne won prizes. Sporting the best-decorated watercraft were Tara and Carol, Julie, and Connie. Julie Madden of Intention Wellness Space and the Youbou Community Association were co-hosts of the event and wish to thank the local businesses who contributed prizes for the contest: Daly’s Auto Centre, Lake Driftwood Spirits, Youbou Bar & Grill, Arise Cafe, Ed’s Coffee Shop, Swordfern Boutique, and Intention Wellness Space.

Halloween at Youbou Hall
Dracula’s castle loomed large and foreboding as vampires, bats, witches, knights gave haunted house visitors a blood-curdling night. Chief Vampress Connie Vaughn wants to thank all the volunteers who helped construct, decorate, paint, install batteries, and act on both Halloween night and the Halloween dance preview

For the littlest vamps, the YCA again offered the popular ghoul-fishing pond in the happy pumpkin-land downstairs. Over 100 daring souls entered the costume contest for all ages and sizes, with prizes awarded by the CVRD. The Youbou Volunteer Fire Department masterminded the school yard fireworks to wrap up another fun-filled Halloween.

Are You a YCA Member?
The Youbou Community Association is involved in helping community activities happen, such as the monthly newsletter, Halloween, 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 20^th 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
Haunted High Tea: November 1, 11:30 am, Youbou Bar & Grill

Nerikomi Jewelry Class: November 3, 4, and 23, 11 am, CLAC Centre

Turner and Small concert: November 8, 7 pm, Church lower hall

Make Gelli Prints Class: November 8 and 9, 10 am, CLAC Centre

Remembrance Day Ceremony: November 11, 10:30 am, Youbou Church

Sew Wednesday: November 12, 10 am, Youbou Church

Willow Bent Armchair Class: November 15, 9 am, CLAC Centre

Jay Coleman music: November 15, 5 pm, Arise Café

Live music: November 22, Youbou Bar & Grill

Youbou Christmas Craft Fair: November 30, 10 am to 2 pm, Youbou Hall

Sew Wednesday: November 26, 10 am, Youbou Church

Sew Wednesday: December 10, 10 am, Youbou Church

Holiday Drag Show: December 20, 7:30 pm, Youbou Bar & Grill

Live Music: December 24, Youbou Bar & Grill

New Year’s Eve: December 31, 8 pm to 1 am, Youbou Hall

Sundays: Brunch, 11 am, Youbou Bar & Grill

Fridays & Saturdays: Open Bowling, Youbou Lanes

Loonie Bowling Nights: November 7, 15; December 5, 20

Your YCA Board

Julia Martinusen, Chair

Steve Watt, Treasurer

Randall Wilson, Secretary

Adam Khomsi, Web & Design

Cheryl Morgan, Membership

Carmen Bruce

Dave DePape

Allison Peacock Giles

Bee Greenway

Debbie Smith