Halloween at Youbou Hall
Fill Youbou Hall with fright on Halloween night! Come in your own ghoulish get-ups and Cowichan Lake Recreation will reward the most hair-raising and creative costume goers with prizes. Doors open at 5:30, with costume judging at 7:00 pm. Fireworks will follow, courtesy of the Youbou Volunteer Fire Department and the owners of the former Yount School Property.
In the weeks preceding Halloween, join us in the decorating of our Haunted House. The magic starts upstairs at Youbou Hall the second week of October and is a lot of fun. If you’ve got an hour or two during the month of October and want to pitch in, just come to the hall upstairs. Volunteers are generally there mid-morning to mid-afternoon. If we’re ready early enough, we hope to open the hall for a few hours on the weekend before Halloween. Watch the Youbou Association Community facebook page for details on any early viewings.
Witch’s Paddle
Grab your paddles instead of broomsticks and head for the lake. We’re going to try another witches paddle this year. Your vessel may be a stand-up paddle board, a kayak, or a canoe, as long as it floats. Wear a pointy hat or come in full spell-binding regalia, just be sure a pfd is part of the costume. You can launch from your beach or meet at Arbutus park. The plan is to paddle back and forth from Sa-seen-os to Arbutus Park. Because we had to cancel due to bad weather last year, we’re planning a rain date. The goal is to have the witch’s paddle on Saturday morning, October 14 at 10 am, but if rain or wind makes that date uncomfortable, then we’ll shoot instead for Saturday, October 28 at 10 am. Keep an eye on the Youbou Community Association facebook page for any updates to the event.
Pet with Heart & Soul
Unleash your puppy love and creative spirit at the same time on Saturday, October 3, from 10 am to 3 pm. Artist Penny Boden is teaching a class at Cassy’s Coffee House on illustrating your pet or favourite animals. The class is sponsored by Cowichan Lake Arts and Culture (CLAC) and costs $45 if you’re a CLAC member and $65 if you’re not.
Trash Talk
Please note that October 20 is the last date for weekly garbage pick-up in Youbou. There will be no garbage pick-up on October 27. Both garbage and recycling will be picked up on November 3 and will be on an every-other-week schedule from that date until late next spring.
Safe, Quiet Lake
You may recall that the Youbou Community Association is a supporter of the Decibel Coalition, a nationwide group that is seeking to create guidelines for loud boats on Canadian lakes. Here’s the lastest from this summer: Transport Canada (TCda) is beginning to draft decibel limit-based regulations to control pleasure boat motor noise emissions. The goal is to publish a first draft of regulations for public commentary in Fall 2024 and, in 2025, to enact the decibel limit regulations as part of the Small Vessel Regulations.
Additionally, on Lake Cowichan, some concern has been expressed by community members about the frequency of float planes landing and taking off on the lake. Some concerned citizens have started an online petition requesting governance of float airplanes training for taking off and landing on the lake. Their aim is to preserve the tranquility of the lake, and they wonder if other residents share the same sentiment. If you’re concerned about this issue, here’s the link to the petition: https://chng.it/hvsYDST6cP
Take the Health Survey
Our Cowichan Communities Health Network, in partnership with Island Health, is fielding the Our Health, Our Community online survey. The goal of this survey is to capture local data about the health and well-being of Cowichan Valley residents to help shape regional health programs, services, and policies. The team hopes to recruit 4,500+ Cowichan Valley residents, ages 18 and older, to complete the survey, in order to generate the quality data needed to respond to demographic shifts and changing health and community needs. You will be asked to provide anonymous feedback regarding your perception of overall health and life in the Cowichan Valley, and how well you can access local health and community services. Whether you live in Youbou or Area I for a few weeks, a few months, or all year round, you’re entitled to take this survey. Hurry–the survey will be available online only until October 3 at 5 pm.
Click here to take the survey today!
Bowling
The lanes are open! This fall, plan to take part in the quintessential Youbou experience, bowling at our historic bowling alley. Our bowling hall is one of the few, if not the only, alleys in North America still relying on pinsetters to reset the pins. Take advantage of one of the many bowling opportunities this fall:
Drop-In
Fridays, 6:30 to 9:30 pm: Loonie night is the first Friday of each month. October 13 is free bowling and shoe rentals.
Saturdays, 7:30 to 10:30 pm: Toonie night is the third Saturday of each month. October 14 is free bowling and shoe rentals.
Saturdays (Oct 28 and Nov 18 only) 1:00 to 3:00 pm: one fee for bowling, shoes, and gym
Leagues
No experience necessary, no equipment needed, drop-ins welcome.
Thursdays: Ladies’ 10-pin, 7 pm.
Tuesdays: Men’s 10-pin, 7 pm.
Private parties: Lane reservations are available for non-league nights.
Pinsetters wanted: The bowling alley is welcoming applications for Pinsetters and a substitute Bowling Alley Host. To apply, contact Cowichan Lake Recreation at 250-749-6742.
Regatta Reflections
Since we didn’t have a September newsletter, we haven’t shared pics from our annual Youbou regatta. The day was full of sun, fun, and friendly competition. Thanks to all who helped to make the day a success: Youbou Volunteer Firefighters, Youbou Community Association, Cowichan Lake Recreation, musicians, judges, and everyone who participated! As we plunge into fall, let’s give a sweet salute to summer!
Are You a YCA Member?
The Youbou Community Association is involved in helping community activities happen, such as the monthly newsletter, Crabfest, garage sales, clean-up, 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
Vice chair: Sandra McAfee
Secretary: Randall Wilson
Treasurer: Steve Watt
Membership: Cheryl Morgan
At large:
Monica Ash
Joelle Belanger
Pat Miller
Debbie Smith
Joe Tatham