Council met for two and a half hours during our Regular Council meeting and Public Hearing on September 17, 2025.
During my Mayor’s Report I shared the following:
- Council and staff attended the ribbon-cutting of Together We Can’s new recovery facility in North Cowichan, a major step forward for local addiction treatment. We’re proud to support this project alongside Cleanup V9L and continue to advocate for long-term provincial and Island Health funding to keep these beds open for all.
- Last week, I met with the BC Real Estate Association to discuss their proposal for a permanent Provincial Housing Roundtable to improve collaboration on housing solutions. They’re bringing this initiative to Union of BC Municipalities convention next week and are seeking support from local governments across the province.
- I attended the groundbreaking for a new organics waste transfer building at the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s Bings Creek Recycling Centre, supported by $6 million in federal funding. Cowichan Tribes members spoke to the ecological and cultural significance of the site.
- Western Forest Products has extended curtailments at both the Cowichan Bay and Chemainus sawmills, affecting over 230 local workers and their families. We’ll be raising this issue with the Forests Minister at Union of BC Municipalities convention to push for provincial support amid rising duties and declining fibre access.
- North Cowichan continues to face major challenges with homelessness and street disorder, especially near Lewis Street and York Road, while spending over $15,000 per day on managing these issues. The fencing on the north side of Lewis Street will be reinstated shortly to address increased encampments and deterioration in street conditions. We continue to press the Province and Island Health for solutions, including investing in more supportive housing, mental health care, and addiction treatment.
Remedial action orders were issued or upheld for three buildings on York Road.
- A remediation and demolishion order for two derelict houses at 5861 and 5865 York Road, originally ordered on August 20, was upheld following a request by the building owner’s representative to reconsider the order due to extenuating circumstances. Earlier this week one of the boarded up houses sustained fire damage. That order requires a demolition permit be submitted within 60 days and that the structures be demolished within 90 days of the permit’s issuance.
- A clean-up order was issued for the Good Neighbours Thrift Store building at 5825 and 5827 York Road. That building, which sustained significant fire damage on February 10, 2024, has been part of ongoing discussions between the building’s owner and North Cowichan staff regarding the state of the site. Earlier this year North Cowichan requested the owner remove fencing around the building in order to restore access to the sidewalk. The owner is now required to obtain an engineering report on the structural integrity of the front-facing wall, and that the front portion of the building be remediated and cleaned up within 90 days.
Council provided support for a number of UBCM Strategic Priorities Fund grant applications. These grant applications include:
- up to $7,000,000 for the Trans-Canada Highway watermain upgrade project between Beverly Street and Drinkwater Road (with additional project funding being drawn from the South End Water reserve and Capital Programs).
- up to $400,000 for the asset management software project.
If the grant applications are successful, these projects would be undertaken in 2026.
Council authorized proceeding with a bylaw that would establish a Local Area Service (LAS) in order to acquire 3.66 hectares of forested land adjacent to Donnay Drive. The two parcels of land, which are currently owned by Vancouver Island Providence Community Association (Providence Farm), have long been used by local residents as an unofficial forested park and trail network. A community delegation appeared before Council earlier this year requesting that North Cowichan purchase the land. Under the LAS, the cost of the land acquisition is funded by residents within a defined distance of the properties. A total of 662 properties have been identified as the most likely to benefit from the new nature space as they are within a 10-minute walk of the land. Before being established, property owners within the LAS who do not support the acquisition can submit petition within a 30 day time frame. If more than 50% of the 662 properties oppose (petition) the LAS then the land acquisition would not go ahead. Property owners who are within this boundary will be receiving letters outlining the proposal and instructions on how to submit a petition. More information can be found at connectnorthcowichan.ca/donnay-lands
A zoning amendment bylaw to reclassify 2731 Vian Street from R7 to CD14 was adopted. This will support the development of a 28-unit affordable housing development proposed by the Clements Centre.
The Building Bylaw was amended to included changes to the Zero Step Code.
Two notices of motion were discussed and actioned:
- Councillor Hogg’s motion to establish a Mobile Integrated Crisis Response (MICR) in the Cowichan Valley was referred to staff to prepare a report that explores the costs and opportunities of such a program. A MICR team has been in place through West Shore RCMP, which pairs frontline police officers with registered nurses trained in mental health and substance use care.
- Councillors Justice and Caljouw’s motion to adopt a Wildfire Preparedness Strategic Priority was also referred to staff for a report. This strategic priority would encompass several actions, including continuing work to manage forest fuels adjacent to communities, providing a public education program, offering incentives for residents to FireSmart their properties, and strengthening the North Cowichan Fire Department’s capacity to respond to wildfires.
One notice of motion was introduced, and will be discussed at the next Council meeting:
- Councillor Justice’s notice of motion is requesting an analysis of the financial impact on taxpayers of possible upper phases of the Kingsview development project.
During the Public Hearing portion of the evening, a zoning amendment bylaw to facilitate up to 25 shipping containers for use as accessory storage at 3900 Drinkwater Road (Cowichan Valley Regional District Bings Creek Recycling and Waste Management Centre) was heard and then subsequently given third reading.
The next regular council meeting will be on Wednesday, October 1 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