Council met for seven hours and 15 minutes during our Regular Council meeting and Public Hearings on January 21, 2026.
During my Mayor’s Report, I shared the following updates:
- Following Domtar’s announcement of the Crofton mill closure, actions are underway to support workers, families, and the community. A jobs fair last week connected over 150 workers with employers including Seaspan, Nanaimo Forest Products, Island Health and BC Ferries. The provincial government and union leadership are coordinating supports such as retraining, job search, and Employment Insurance assistance, with a second information session later this month. As Mayor, I’ve requested urgent support from the federal government, including funding for retraining and an extension of temporary Employment Insurance measures. Meanwhile, the municipality is exploring potential investors for the mill site and has established a Mill Closure Response Working Group to focus on worker supports, risk to the municipal tax base, community resilience, and long-term economic diversification.
- Last week, I joined government and community partners for the groundbreaking of 92 new co-op homes at 3181 Sherman Road in North Cowichan. Supported by federal, provincial, and municipal partners, the project will provide safe, affordable homes close to schools, parks, and amenities. The development includes 34 three-bedroom townhomes and a 58-unit apartment building, serving a range of incomes with 80% of units set at below market rates. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2028, offering long-term housing security for the community.
- I recently visited the temporary winter shelter at the Ramada Inn in Duncan with North Cowichan staff and the Lookout Housing and Health Society. The 24-bed, 24/7 shelter serves adults experiencing homelessness and is funded by BC Housing with support from Emergency Management Cowichan. Open until March 31, 2026, the shelter has helped several people move into housing and offers daily health and wellness supports
Rosalie Sawrie of Cowichan Restorative Justice presented the society’s annual report. Restorative justice is an alternative way of responding to crime, focusing on collaboration. It is separate from the criminal justice system. Cases are referred through the RCMP, crown counsels, schools, or businesses and participation is voluntary. The process seeks to repair the harm caused by crime and violence, ultimately holding responsible parties accountable for their actions and ensuring they are aware of the harm their behaviour causes. The benefits include allowing police and courts to focus on more serious criminal offences and increases responsibility and accountability by the responsible party. The society is funded in part through the North Cowichan-Duncan RCMP operating budget.
Two bylaws were adopted:
- A zoning amendment to permit an assisted living facility at 6682 Norcross Road (to a maximum of 20 residents).
- The Code of Conduct Bylaw which establishes shared standards and expectations with respect to the conduct of council members.
Two bylaw updates were introduced and given first three readings:
- Housekeeping amendments to both the Records Management Bylaw and Freedom of Information Bylaw
Two projects are now moving forward following the awarding of construction tenders:
- The 44-space child care centre in Crofton.
- Genoa Road rehabilitation, to repair damage done during the November 2021 atmospheric river event.
Council approved proceeding with a local area service for sanitary service to a commercial property for a commercial laundry facility on Bare Point Road in Chemainus.
Council extended the licence for the Chemainus Community Garden at its current temporary location on Willow Street and approved a five-year licence agreement for a new location at 298 Elliott Street.
Staff will reach out to pickleball user groups and residents surrounding existing pickleball courts to identify solutions to mitigate noise complaints at the Andy Hutchins Park (Maple Bay) courts. Engagement will also help inform guidelines for pickleball courts and identify potential new locations for future court development. Visit connectnorthcowichan.ca/pickleball to learn more and share your feedback.
Council approved the sale of land at 2431 Beverly Street to the Cowichan Green Community. The sale will allow the society to secure additional funding to support the completion of the Food Hub, currently under construction. The Food Hub includes a shared-use commercial kitchen and food warehousing facility designed to strengthen the local food economy in the Cowichan Region. An option to purchase agreement will be registered on the property title to ensure North Cowichan has the option to buy back the property should the society not secure the project funding, no longer manage the property, or if intend to sell or dispose of the property.
A revised park dedication covenant for Askew Creek parkland at Artisan Village was approved. The revised covenant will enable the lands to be granted to the municipality for public use at the earliest opportunity, creates the ability to connect River Road to Oak Street with a park trail, and provides the municipality with a road right-of-way that could be used as a trail connection or for other active transportation use before the Artisan Village project is completed.
Council provided early consideration for an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment to facilitate a 21-lot bare land residential strata subdivision on Hidden Hills Road, which is located outside the Urban Containment Boundary.
Council approved a remedial action requirement for the Twin Gables property on Joan Avenue in Crofton. The motel has been used as residential rental property for several decades, and in 2020, two units sustained fire damage. The remedial action requires the property owners to stop residential occupancy in recreational vehicles, apply for a demolition permit for the derelict units within 60 days, and to complete the demolition by September 1, 2026. The owners are also required to address dangerous trees and, if they wish to legalize the current residential use of the property, submit a zoning amendment application within 12 months.
North Cowichan is preparing for the general local election taking place in October by appointing the chief and deputy election officers. North Cowichan will also enter into a cost-sharing agreement with the Cowichan Valley Regional District and School District 79 to share election-related costs and responsibilities.
Council consented to the adoption of a Cowichan Valley Regional District bylaw that establishes a regional emergency management service and outlines roles, responsibilities, and cost recovery mechanisms. Emergency Management Cowichan oversees emergency response on behalf of the CVRD and its member municipalities.
Two public hearings were held, and the related bylaws were each given first three readings following the close of the hearings:
- A non-soil-based cannabis production at 3925 Cowichan Lake Road, which will include a gothic-arch greenhouse with a concrete perimeter foundation, as an additional permitted use on A2-zone Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) property. Due to the proximity to a provincial highway, a covenant is required to be registered on title before the bylaw can be adopted.
- Commercial event space at #2 – 6380 Lakes Road (Oak + Vine), which will allow up to 10 events per year with no more than 80 guests per event. Additional requirements include entering into a good neighbour agreement with the municipality. Before considering adoption, a covenant will be registered on title to ensure the limitations to events carry over should the property title be transferred, and North Cowichan’s business licence bylaw will be amended to enable the business licence inspector to ensure compliance of the good neighbour agreement through fines or licence suspension.
The next Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 4 at 5pm.
Thank you for reading and staying informed!
Rob Douglas, Mayor
Municipality of North Cowichan
T 250-746-3117
E rob.douglas@northcowichan.ca