Sew Much
Quilters, knitters, seamstresses, and other needle artists: Don’t go it alone! Join your fellow stitchers at the church every other Wednesday for some bewitchin’ stitchin’. The Sew/Quilt/Crochet/Knit group starts for the fall on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 from 10 am to 3 pm in the lower hall. Everyone is welcome.
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. To ensure these special evenings can move forward, please sign up for the season (through December 9). Guests and drop-ins may participate by paying a drop-in fee. No Sessions Sept 30 and Nov 11.
NEW! Mixed 5-pin League (Ages 12+): Our new 5-pin league is open to ages 12 and up, allowing families to participate. No experience or equipment is required. To ensure these special afternoons can move forward, please sign up for the season (through December 9.) Spares and guests may participate by paying drop-in fee. No session Oct 12.
Drop-in Bowling: Friday and Saturday night drop-in bowling continues as always, with one slight change—both nights now start 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
Once the rainy season set in, Youbou Hall is open for pickleball Monday, Tuesday, 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, starting September 9. An annual membership is $125, a 6-month membership is $85; the drop-in fee is $4.
Witch’s Paddle
For a spelling-binding lake experience, float in to the third annual Witch’s Paddle, organized by Julie Madden of Intention Wellness Space, with help from the Youbou Community Association. Your vessel may be a stand-up paddle board, a kayak, or a canoe. Conjure up a pointy hat or come in full bewitching regalia—just be sure a pfd is part of the costume. Convene at Arbutus park on Saturday morning, October 4 at 9 am. Prizes will be awarded for best costume and best paddlecraft. If stormy seas prevail, check the Youbou Community Association facebook page for any updates on rescheduling.
Haunted House Help Wanted
In the weeks preceding Halloween, join us to help the decorate our renowned haunted house. The magic starts upstairs at Youbou Hall the second week of October and plenty of help is key. If you’ve got an hour or two to pitch in, just come to the hall upstairs. Volunteers are generally there mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Check the Youbou Association Community facebook page for details on decorating times.
Halloween Family Dance in Youbou
Get ready for a spooktacular evening of music, dancing, and merry-not-scary fun at the Family Halloween Dance at Youbou Hall on Saturday, October 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Bring the whole family and hit the dance floor in your best costumes. There will be a costume contest with prizes for all ages, so bring on the creativity! Before the dance, brave souls may preview the haunted house from 6 to 8 pm for a spine-chilling experience. A cash concession will be open with tasty treats and drinks to fuel your energy while you dance the night away. Come celebrate Halloween in a safe and exciting atmosphere. Tickets at the door cost $5.50 a person or $18.50 per family.
Halloween Night at Youbou Hall
Join us on Friday, October 31, for a night full of fun and festivities at this free community event! Doors open at 5:30 pm. Enjoy hot dogs, tea, and coffee while taking in the spooky excitement. Dare to enter the haunted house, open from 6 to 8 pm. Don’t miss the costume contest at 7 pm— your chance to show off your best spooky or creative look! The evening wraps up with a spectacular firework display to light up the night. Bring your friends, family, and Halloween spirit. It’s going to be a frightfully good time!
Rivernotes
If you enjoy singing, raise your voice with the Rivernotes Community Choir. Rehearsals are Thursday nights at 6 pm at the Lake Cowichan 50+ Centre, starting September 18. Arise Cafe owner Meagan DeVauld is the choir director. The group is also looking for a piano player. For more information, reach out to RiverNotesChoirLC@gmail.com
Book Craft Fair Tables
Attention crafters: It’s time to rent a table to showcase your handmade goods or home party show items for the Youbou Christmas Craft Fair. The Saturday, November 30, event promises to sell out quickly, so be sure to book your table early ($20 a table). Doors open at 8:30 am for setup. When booking, please specify whether your table will feature handmade-only items or other products.
From Karen’s Desk,
Karen Deck, Area I Director
At our recent community conversation, questions arose on various topics. I’d like to address them below:
CVRD’s Regional Growth Strategy: This process started over a decade ago with the Cowichan 2050 visioning exercise, which underlies our regional approach and our choice of strategic objectives. With a growing population and climate impacts increasing, it’s critical to think and act regionally in order to protect our watersheds, ecosystems, food systems, and communities. Planning for the future involves considering the strengths and needs of each area and finding ways to lean on and lift up each other in order to make best use of our resources for the betterment of the entire region. For more in-depth information, please go to the CVRD website and search Plan Your Cowichan.
Parking Bylaws: In the CVRD, responsibility for enforcing parking regulations on roads outside of municipal boundaries, including those where vehicles may be illegally parked, falls primarily to the RCMP and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. CVRD Bylaw Enforcement Officers can address concerns about illegally parked vehicles, particularly in areas impacting community safety or impacting access to parks and waterfront areas.
Short-term rentals: STRs are not permitted in Area I except for the Cottages at Marble Bay. If you have concerns, please contact by-law enforcement at 250-746-2655 between 8 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The after-hour report line is the same number; just leave a message with as much information as possible.
Youbou Hall for Care and Comfort: Until I hear back from Emergency Management Cowichan about whether Youbou Hall can be a place to go in case of extreme weather events, power outages or blocked roads, I urge you to check out this information provided by the department: https://emcowichan.ca/preparedness-planning/extreme-temperatures/
Little League Ballpark: A number of residents have contacted me regarding use of the Little League Baseball field as an off-leash area for their dogs. I contacted Brian Farquhar, manager of Parks and Trails, who said “As a general best practice, most local governments in British Columbia do not permit dogs in sports fields, playgrounds and similar outdoor recreation spaces due to issues around maintaining safety, cleanliness and use by all members of their communities, as well as the challenges with sufficiently resourcing the ability to monitor/regulate expected use and addressing problems that can arise in a timely manner (i.e. droppings not being picked up, digging of holes, “shared use” interpretations, etc.).” The Municipality of North Cowichan is currently dealing with such an issue with regard to one of their ballfields at their Chemainus Ball Park. Here is the link to the municipality’s webpage on the issue and options currently being considered: https://www.connectnorthcowichan.ca/chemainus-dog-park” Note: the survey is just for the residents of North Cowichan. It is provided here for further information on the subject.
Property Taxes: Rising property taxes continue to be a huge concern of residents at our community conversation. Here is a link for some information on where your dollars go: https://cvrd.ca/DocumentCenter/View/107339/CVRD-Property-Tax-FAQs
Garbage at Arbutus Park: Due to complaints about overflowing garbage cans, the CVRD is now removing trash weekly from the park. The sign indicating that if the garbage is full, people should pack it out is not making a big change in behaviour, sadly.
Laketown Ranch events: Since the Nickleback concert at Laketown Ranch on August 9th, I have seen on media and heard firsthand troubling stories about how the event was handled. Laketown Ranch is in Area I of the Cowichan Valley Regional District, and I feel duty bound as the director to document the concerns and ensure they are addressed. I will be meeting with the event organizers and will keep you posted.
Cowichan Lake Arts Centre (CLAC)
Stop by 10375 Youbou Road where you’ll find your next treasure or a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special. New items are added all the time. We offer framed photography and 2D art pieces, ceramics, stone creations and jewelry. We’re introducing a monthly draw. All purchases $30 and up are entitled to enter the draw. The prize is a one-of-a-kind art piece. The word is getting out it’s a stop worth making. We look forward to showing you around!
Calling all artists to participate in our Harvest Pop-Up sale from October 15 to 19th. Look for the flyers around town or contact us via email:jennifer@cowichanlakeartsandculture.org for more information.
Here are some of our upcoming classes:
Painting with Watercolours: Saturday, September 6, 12 to 2 pm
Loretta’s fun-filled classes will encourage you to explore different compositions, processes and techniques. These classes are for all levels of experience from beginners to experienced painters.
The cost is $80 for members or $100 for nonmembers.
Primitive Firing Pots: Saturday, October 4, 12 to 4 pm
Whether you are a beginner in clay or a veteran potter, you can learn the skills of making beautiful pottery in the old way that does not require any costly tools or equipment. Sessions: 3 days of classes, 2 days of firing (optional attendance). Supplies include clay, most experimental firing materials and firing costs.
Oct 4 (12 to 4 pm):construct primitive pots
Oct 11: drop off pots to be bisque fired
Oct 25: (12 to 4 pm): prepare pottery for firing
Nov 1 (12 to 3 pm): clean, wax and finish
The cost is $100 for members or $120 for nonmembers.
Acrylic Painting: Fridays, October 10 and October 24
Jack Duckworth will cover the basics of acrylic painting and invite you to explore different techniques. Classes are for beginners to experienced painters. Please bring your own supplies (see CLAC web site for list). The cost is $90 for members or $110 for nonmembers.
Gold-Medal Regatta
Everyone was a winner on Youbou regatta day, Saturday, August 9. The Fire Hall breakfast stoked our energy, courtesy of the Youbou Volunteer Firefighters. The world’s smallest parade was bigger than in recent memory. And at Arbutus Park, swimming events, face-painting, chalk artwork, cornhole toss, and watermelon resulted in a lot of medal-winning smiles. Kent Ball kept the music flowing. And the Youbou Community Association filled orders for burgers and hotdogs. Thanks to Youbou Volunteer Firefighters, Youbou Community Association, Cowichan Lake Recreation, musicians, judges, and everyone who participated! Check out the photos in this newsletter.
Fourth Annual Crabfest
Thanks to everyone who assisted or attended our sell-out Fourth annual Crabfest. Friends, neighbours, and visitors tucked into plates of crab, baked potato, salad, roll, dessert and all the trimmings. Thanks to the Youbou General Store, Arise Café, and Daly’s Auto Centre for selling tickets. Eva and Bee ran the 50/50, which netted over $500 total, with Leah McIntosh taking home half of the cache. The crab-cracking-and-cooking team consisted of Randall, Garry, Jim, Rebekkah, Joe, Kelly, and Kim. The greeters and servers were Cheryl, Dian, Julia, Debbie, Margie, and Cathy. Handling drink tickets and bar sales were Teresa, Carmen, Steve, Dave, and Adam. Bruce Bunting provided the tunes. A salute to everyone who helped put away chairs and tables afterward, speeding clean-up along. See photos in this newsletter.
Rut Rules
It started early this year and caution is the word around the elk in Youbou during the rutting season, which is likely to last into mid-October. It’s a good time to review the basics and to share them with visitors:
1. Steer clear of any elk in your area. This is not time for a selfie.
2. Do NOT feed them. Proactively pick ripe fruit from your trees. Make sure any bird feeders are not a source of elk food.
3. Put away any clotheslines, hammocks, hoses, etc. that can get trapped in antlers.
4. If you see an elk on the road, alert other drivers by putting on your hazard lights. And do not stop for photos, please.
5. Drive within the speed limit. It is 50k in town for a reason, especially during the rut!
6. If you have any concerns or questions, contact www.wildsafebc.com.
Fire Restrictions
As part of a Coastal Fire Centre Ban announced by BC Wildfire, Area I is under a fire ban until October 31, or until the order is rescinded by BC Wildfire. For more information, go to www2.gov.bc.ca.
Firesmart IQ
The last thing you want is a fire near your home. Have you taken all precautions to make sure the area around your home is safe? Did you clean your gutters? Have you removed all combustible material (even woody shrubs and dry grass) within 1.5 meters of your house? To find other ways you can reduce your home’s fire risk, schedule a free Firesmart Home Assessment by calling 250-252-8898 or emailing FireSmart@EMCowichan.ca. Or, check online at firesmartbc.ca.
Level 3 Water Restrictions
Unless the weather changes drastically, Cowichan Valley is currently under Level 3 Water Restriction. Water restriction levels can change quickly, so for the latest information, it’s best to refer to the cvrd web site. Level 3 restrictions mean no sprinkling of lawns is allowed. You may use micro or drip irrigation or hand-water food gardens for up to 2 hours a day and ornamental gardens up to 1 hour daily. Filling pools and hot tubs is not permitted. Washing vehicles, boats, driveways, houses, and sidewalks may be permitted under certain circumstances.
For residential properties, washing driveways, houses or sidewalks is only permitted during Stages 2 and 3 in preparation for applying paints, preservatives or for pouring concrete. Residential washing (i.e. not at a car wash facility which reuses water) of vehicles and boats is only permitted in Stage 3 in preparation of applying paints or preservatives.
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
September 6: Painting with Watercolours class, CLAC Centre, noon
September 9: Men’s Bowling starts, 7 pm
September 9: Evening pickleball starts 7 pm
September 10: Mixed Adult Bowling starts, 7 pm
September 11: Ladies Bowling starts, 7 pm
September 15: Mixed 5-pin Bowling starts, 7 pm
September 18: Rivernotes, CL 50+ Centre, 6 pm
September 24: Sew Days start, Church,10 am
October 4: Witch’s Paddle, Arbutus Park, 9 am
October 4: Primitive Firing Pots class, CLAC Centre, noon
October 10: Acrylic Painting class, CLAC Centre
October 15 to 19: Pop-Up Art Sale, CLAC
October 25: Halloween Dance and Haunted House, Youbou Hall
October 31: Halloween and Haunted House, Youbou Hall
November 30: Youbou Christmas Craft Fair
December 31: New Years’ Eve Dance
Sundays: Brunch, Pub, 11 am to 2 pm
Fridays & Saturdays: Open Bowling, Youbou Lanes, 7 pm
Your YCA Board
Julia Martinusen, Chair
Steve Watt, Treasurer
Randall Wilson, Secretary
Adam Khomsi, Web Master
Cheryl Morgan, Membership
Carmen Bruce
Dave DePape
Allison Peacock Giles
Bee Greenway
Debbie Smith
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