75 Years of Bowling in Youbou!
Since the Youbou bowling alley opened it’s doors in 1951, generations of pin-setters and players have left their mark. What better way to celebrate 75 years of strikes and spares than with a fifties-era sock hop? On Saturday, July 11, step back in time for a Sock Hop with classic twist and jitterbug music, vintage vibes, and a licensed bar. The band, Thick as Thieves, is playing music to swing those pony tails and poodle skirts. Dance tickets for $10 are available at the Youbou Community Hall or Cowichan Lake Sports Arena, and will be sold at the door, cash please. Dress for dancing, but if you’re inspired to reach for fifties fashions, go for it!
Youbou hall will be open at 3:30 pm that Saturday for drop-in bowling, gym activities, and memorabilia displays. A short ceremony with cupcakes will happen at 4:30.
On Sunday, you can sign up to play in a 10-pin bowling tournament. This will run on the same format as fun tournaments in the past: 3 games, teams of two people (you can enter as a team, or as an individual and we will draw names for teams). Count on fun challenges and wacky prizes. The best part is you don’t have to even be that good. Past and present pinsetters will receive a $5 discount on tournament registration. Come roll some strikes, have fun with friends, and celebrate the hall’s history on the lanes. And all summer long, drop-in bowling is open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday nights at 7 pm. Lane reservations are available.
5th Annual Crabfest
It’s become a Youbou summer highlight: steaming crabs fresh from the pot, plus all the fixings. Get your tickets early for the YCA’s 5th annual Crabfest on Saturday, July 25. A limited number are on sale now at the Youbou General Store, Daly’s Service Centre, and Arise Café for $40 each. This year, you can also buy tickets online, using the barcode shown on posters. As usual, Youbou Community Association volunteers will be serving each guest a whole Dungeness crab with all the fixings: baked potato, salad, bread, melted butter (of course), and even dessert, starting at 5 pm. Lemonade and iced water are included. Beer, wine, and cider are available for a charge.
Youbou Regatta
Another treasured summer tradition is the Youbou regatta, slated for Saturday, August 8, this year. Breakfast at the fire hall is set for 8 am, courtesy of our dedicated crew of volunteer firefighters. The world’s shortest parade starts marshalling at Youbou Hall at 10:15 am, with prizes awarded at 10:45, so the parade can roll at 11 am. The parade is free and open to anyone who wants to join in, especially kids with decorated bikes, pets, or costumed-themed groups. No pre-registration is necessary.
Following the parade is an afternoon of activities at Arbutus Park: the Clarence Whittingham Memorial Quarter Mile Swim, sprint swimming races, cannon ball and belly flop contests, chalk art competition, bocce ball, and watermelon eating. Live music is scheduled for most of the afternoon. The Youbou Community Association will once again be offering burgers, hot-dogs, pop, and snacks from 11:30 to 2:30 or until sold out. The cash machine doesn’t work well at the park, so please bring cash if you’re going to want lunch or refreshment.
Going, Going, Gone!
The cars started streaming into town the morning of May 23, filled with bargain hunters seeking deals at our annual Youbou Community Garage Sale. Orchestrated by YCA board member Adam Khomsi and heavily publicized on many Island Facebook pages by Bee Greenway, this year’s event offered online and paper maps pointing to over 24 participating homes. Homeowners reported brisk traffic and sales throughout the day. The following week, it was time to dispose of sale leftovers and other unloved stuff at the YCA Annual Meade Creek Spring Clean event. The annual clean-up is funded and staffed by your Youbou Community Association.
Totally Rad Murder Mystery
The 1980s were the rage for jazzercise, big hair, preppie shirts, and brat-pack movies. They also provided the inspiration for the Totally Rad 1980s murder mystery at the Youbou Bar & Grill. A shady cast of locals shoved in their shoulder pads to show up for the pub fun on Saturday, May 2. Starting with Sex on the Beach drinks and winding their way through dinner courses and clue rounds, no one could deduce who had killed the director. The assistant director fooled them all! Look for more murder mystery opportunities next fall.
Klaus Kuhn Happy Hour
He was our elected Area I Director for over 10 years and a founding member of the Youbou Community Association. He understood that representing the community meant attending social events and having fun with his constituents, as this photo from the YCA 2018 Oktobeerfest shows. Klaus Kuhn passed away November 28, 2025 at the age of 82. His family is holding a “Happy Hour”, a memorial to share stories and anecdotes, and connect with the community in remembrance of him. This is an informal event at the Youbou Bar & Grill on Saturday, August 15, from 2 to 4 pm. There will be no scheduled speeches, however his family welcomes laughter and sharing of stories. Klaus would be impressed if you wore something GREEN, as he was vocal about that being his favourite colour, Lol. Please RSVP on the Youbou Community Association Facebook page as the Youbou Bar and Grill will need an idea of numbers.
Best Burger in the Valley
The Youbou Bar & Grill chefs own the Champion Burger! Their Cowichan Community Burger has officially been crowned the Winner of the 1st Annual Cowichan Burger Love! The winning burger features smoked tomato jam, black garlic aioli, Monterey Jack cheese, crispy onions, and pickles. Runner-ups were the Brass Bell in Crofton and the Lil Grub Shack. A huge thank you (again) to everyone who stopped by, tried the burger, cast a vote, and supported an incredible cause. Together, this event raised nearly $4,000 for Tanya's Journey. This community showed up in a big way and the burger team is grateful to be part of it. More good news, this prize-winning burger has now been added to the regular menu at the pub so you can taste it all summer long!
Youbou Church Society Election
The Youbou Community Church Society oversees restoring and maintaining our Heritage Youbou Community Church and making it available for community use. Society members are volunteers who help maintain the building and property. Currently 9 directors serve on the board, holding general meetings every second month except from May to September. At the society AGM in May, the following were elected to the board for 2026-2027: Chairperson, Kim Smycniuk; Vice Chair, Joelle Belanger; Secretary, JeanAnn MacLeod; Treasurer, Deborah Whittingham; Director of Maintenance, Conor McGrory; Directors at Large:
Karen Dunnigan, Deborah Perestam, Rick Vermiere, and John Neuendorf.
The Youbou Community Church is available for rent to the community for weddings, meetings, celebrations of life, and birthday parties. The Society’s mission is funded by collecting till tapes from Country Grocer-Lake Cowichan to submit to their Till Tape Program, also by recycling liquor bottles, beer cans, pop cans at the garage at 10335 Youbou Road. Please consider offering donations in this way, or making a cash donations. Thanks to the following for their cash donations this year: Lakeside Church, TOPS, Maxine McKeown, Lil and Rick Verimere, Grant & Teresa Daley, Bee Greenway, Gary and Eva Fearon, Barb Janzen, Tammy Wilson, Music Group. The Society appreciates the community support.
Area I Official Community Plan (OCP)
The CVRD Board of Directors took the first step toward repealing a controversial Official Community Plan on Wednesday, May 27. The CVRD board has not yet established when the bylaw will be on the agenda again. Should the board follow through with the appeal, the CVRD would revert to its previous harmonized official community plan until after the October municipal elections.
Yount School Site Development Plan
About 100 interested Youbou citizens attended the public information meeting on May 26 to hear about development plans for the old Yount School site, which is now privately owned. The plans include a small park, a 3-story building of 26 residential units, 19 3-story townhouses, and a large septic field in the current playground area close to Youbou highway. While the plan is not final, concerns were expressed about the population density, capacity of the septic system, water needs, increased traffic, and overall effect on the community. The CVRD would have to change the current zoning from industrial use to residential use for such a plan to move forward. People wishing to express thoughts are encouraged to email Jamie Dubyna, CVRD Planner III, at Jaime.Dubyna@cvrd.bc.ca. Make sure you mention Application RZ23I02.
Smart Boating
Remember, as you’re transporting your boat (power boat, canoe, kayak, stand-up paddle board) to the lake from another body of water, please be sure the hull is completely clean before launching it on the lake. Invasive species can cling to boats and may threaten the delicate eco-system of our lake. Thank you!
Art Classes & More
The Cowichan Lake Arts Centre (CLAC) features an inspired gift shop filled with treasures crafted by local artisans, plus art classes for all skill levels. Next door to Arise Café, the Centre is open Wednesdays to Sundays, 10 am to 2 pm. For more information or to register for classes go to: https://www.cowichanlakeartsandculture.org/upcoming-workshops Also on the web site, you can register for the free newsletter and become a member to help support this growing initiative. You can sign up for these summer workshops on the website:
Spiral Suncatcher: Saturday, July 11, 10 am: Make a spiral suncatcher to hang near a window to catch and reflect the sun. Join a fun-filled class with Cassy, who’ll provide the supplies and show you how to create your own.
Watercolour Painting: July 18, 10 am: Learn to paint hummingbirds and florals with watercolours, ink, and collage. Suitable for beginners to seasoned artists. Students are asked to bring their own supplies (watercolour paper, brushes, watercolours).
Watercolour Painting: August 8, 10 am: Learn to paint horses and landscapes with watercolour, ink and collage. Suitable for beginners to seasoned artists.
Zentangle Art: August 15, 10 am: Zentangle art is a meditative, easy-to-learn drawing method that uses structured, repetitive patterns (called “tangles” to create intricate, abstract designs. This technique focuses on the process of drawing with simple strokes: lines, curves, and orbs; often described as “yoga for the brain”.
Watercolour Class: September 9, 10 am: Cim teaches a basic watercolour course for beginners to intermediate painters and shares some professional tips.
Seventh Inning Stretch
What better way to spend a summery Friday night that strolling down to Little League Park to support our local Youbou Greens softball team? Games start at 6 pm.
Swimming at Arbutus Park
This summer, lifeguards will be on staff at Arbutus Park beach at seven days a week to keep everyone safe. Cowichan Lake Recreation once again is offering swimming lessons so certified swim instructors can help children, teens and adults refine their skills in a safe, natural setting. For children, swimming lessons run in four sessions from June 29 through August 20, Monday through Thursday. You can sign up for swim lessons at the Cowichan Lake Recreation Centre.
Youbou Day Camps for Kids
It’s not too late to register your children or grandkids for summer day camp activities through the Cowichan Lake Recreation Centre. This year, kids can choose from several day camps in Youbou:
Lake Legends: The day starts with camp activities at the hall, then heads to Arbutus Park for swimming.
Beachside Builders: Creativity, engineering, and fun on the beach, as campers build sand structures and DIY projects, using problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation. July 13 to 18.
Tides & Treasures: Young sleuths will explore the shoreline, hunt for hidden treasures, discover local wildlife, and enjoy hands-on activities that spark curiosity, creativity, and a love for the lake. July 27 to 31.
Lakeside Scientists: Junior professors will dive into hands-on science experiments, investigate lake life, and discover the secrets of nature through fun STEM activities. August 10 to 14.
Pickleball
Pickleball at Youbou Hall is on summer break and will resume in October.
Are You a YCA Member?
The Youbou Community Association is involved in helping community activities happen, such as the monthly 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 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.
Dates
July 11: Bowling 75th Family Fun Time, Hall and Alley, 3:30 pm
July 11: Bowling Alley 75th Anniversary Ceremony, Hall, 4:30 pm
July 11: Bowling 75th Sock Hop Dance, Hall, 7 pm
July 11: Spiral Suncatcher Class, CLAC, 10 am
July 12: 75th Anniversary Bowling Tournament, Alley, 2:30 pm
July 18: Watercolour Class, CLAC, 10 am
July 25: Crabfest, Hall, 5 pm
August 8: Youbou Regatta, see story for times
August 8: Watercolour Class, CLAC, 10 am
August 15: Zentangle Art, CLAC, 10 am
September 9: Watercolour Class, CLAC, 10 am
Ongoing
Tuesdays: TOPS, Church, 10:30 am
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays: Drop-in Bowling, 7 pm
Your YCA Board
Julia Martinusen, Chair
Steve Watt, Treasurer
Randall Wilson, Secretary
Adam Khomsi, Web Master
Cheryl Morgan, Membership
Dave DePape
Rebekah Ell
Allison Peacock Giles
Bee Greenway
Debbie Smith
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