COAPCOAP + THE WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / TOPIC COLLECTION
Cowichan planning, OCPs & bylaws
Explore how community plans, zoning and bylaws became subjects of debate in Cowichan, then follow the OCP documentary into the decisions and costs behind a plan.
Follow the North Cowichan OCP documentary →
65 matching archived articles · Page 2 of 3 · Articles retain their original dates.
WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-18
Council Watch - April
Duncan: April 2024 Within the CAO report it was stated that the White Rd. “supportive housing” project which was delayed due to the original builder filing bankruptcy, will now be taken over by Knappett Projects Inc. to be finished late 202…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-18
CVRD Considers Removing Public Input From Committee Meetings
Absurdity of “Safe Spaces” for Elected Officials in the Cowichan Valley. In the midst of an affordability crisis, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) has become a focal point of intense public scrutiny over proposed tax hikes and t…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-18
City Of Duncan Reviews Policies On Greased Pigs?
Duncan will be passing a motion to repeal some old bylaws on April 15th. Duncan Days is gonna be off the hook this year! One bylaw they will be repealing is the “Greased Pig Prohibited Performance Bylaw”. At first read it seems as if this w…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-18
From Conspiracy to Open Advocacy By Local Governments
As we witness local policies being rammed down the throats of locals, coupled with technological advancements, and global agendas, a disquieting reality unfolds—one meticulously crafted to surveil, control, and confine. What was once dismis…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-04-18
North Cowichan Council Confronted By Unexpected Estuary Dilemma
As the story of the Cowichan Bay Estuary and the Dinsdale Farm continues to peel apart like an onion, each layer exposing the deeper story, we will continue to cover this saga until the day there is some sort of ‘ending’. As we have written…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-03-26
Safety and Space: The Cowichan Aquatic Center Incident Ignites Concern for Children and Women's Rights
Updated report here: New Perspectives Emerge in Cowichan Aquatic Center Incident, Highlighting Concerns for Children's Safety Local 26 March 2024 A recent incident at the Cowichan Aquatic Center has sparked a heated debate on social media a…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-03-18
North Cowichan Offers Moonlighting As A Bylaw Enforcement Officer
Has North Cowichan been taking cues from the Federal playbook, or has George Orwell decided to make a splash in our quaint little town? In an unexpected plot twist that might have the famed dystopian author nodding in grim acknowledgment, i…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-03-14
Council Watch - March
Duncan: Feb/March 2024 Duncan council met to reconsider their scramble crosswalk. Concerns noted about traffic backing up along Canada Ave. Protected left turns are now being considered as they accomplish the same goal of “protecting pedest…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-03-14
North Cowichan Rejects New Development Near Hospital, Despite Community Support
West Vista Terrace: A Case Study in North Cowichan’s Development Challenges Nestled just minutes from North Cowichan’s municipal heartbeat, a stone’s throw away from the new hospital, the West Vista Terrace project emerged in 2020, promisin…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-26
CVRD's Immigration Discussion Shines Light on Mayor Douglas's Leadership
During a recent Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) meeting, on February 14th, the spotlight was not only on Amanda Vance's compelling presentation from the Cowichan Intercultural Society but also on Mayor Rob Douglas's swift move to s…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-18
Edition - 009 February
View PDF version here Looking to advertise with WWIND? For sales and a rate sheet contact us at sales@wwind.caIf you’d like to submit an article for our next edition, contact us at editor@wwind.caView available packages and sizes here. Arti…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-18
Controversial Land Amendments in British Columbia
The Province is quietly asking for public feedback on their amendments to the Land Act. They are asking for written submissions, no longer than five pages with no website links, no spam, and no profanity. Write to LandActamendments@gov.bc.c…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-18
Environmental concerns clash with agricultural realities
Photo: AP (Germany) A few months back Westward Independent featured an article on the Dutch Farmer protests, and they still have not given up; In fact, their voices have been amplified now throughout Europe. In the first weeks of January, i…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-18
Bill 44 overrides local governments
In November, the BC NDP swiftly advanced three pivotal bills: Bill 44, 46, and 47. These legislative measures marked a significant transfer of local powers to the province, superseding established Official Community Plans (OCP). Among the s…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-10
Revolve Cowichan's Comical Missteps on Drug Policy
Revolve Cowichan Takes a Swing and Misses: A Witty Rebuttal to Far-Left Follies in Cowichan's Streets By: Taylor Wilson, Staff Writer at The Westward Independent In a recent blog post dripping with the kind of self-righteous indignation tha…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-02-01
The Uncertain Future of Our Public Lands
At the Crossroads of Change In Cowichan Valley, a community that prides itself on its strong connection to the land and its cultural heritage, the recent move by the British Columbia government to amend the Land Act has sparked a complex de…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-01-21
Demonizing single-family homes
After reading all of the local ‘plans’, from the OCP, the whole transportation plan, and the Climate Action and Energy Plan, it is clear what North Cowichan has in store for us until 2050. Many of these plans entail drastic changes to our l…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-01-21
Council Watch - Jan2024
December was filled with more 2024 Budget reviews and cell antenna concerns. The Budget included much more additional staff being hired, additional taxpayer money to be used for the now depleted forest reserve fund since logging stopped in …
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-01-21
Chinese studies sway local policy?
In the past five months, North Cowichan and the CVRD have been visited by representatives from local climate groups, some with ties to larger, global non-governmental agencies. These individuals were instrumental in urging all local governm…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2024-01-21
Shawnigan rail trail violations
The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) has found itself entangled in a web of controversy surrounding Phase 3 of the Shawnigan Village Rail Trail (SVRT). From potential environmental impacts to alleged regulatory violations, this proj…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2023-12-14
Cowichan Valley's Council Conundrum
The North Cowichan Council meeting on November 1st resonated with the kind of deliberation that reverberates far beyond the council chambers. It wasn’t just about who gets to sit where or represent whom; it was about the very essence of rep…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2023-12-14
Are Citizens Reaching Their Breaking Point With local Government?
Rising Discontent: Are Citizens Reaching Their Breaking Point with Local Governments? In recent times, an air of discontent has enveloped communities across various regions, fueled by tax hikes, increasing restrictions, and a perceived lack…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2023-12-14
Council Watch: December 2023
February 2023 Budget debate Cllr. Findlay brought forward an idea for councillors to forego their cost of living raise of ($175 per month) to be a good example to the constituents, especially when they were discussing a 17% increase in muni…
Read the historical article →WESTWARD INDEPENDENT / 2023-11-08
Climate Action and Global Responsibility
North Cowichan has recently utilized its ‘climate action and energy fund’ reserve to procure a fleet of electric vehicles, including an electric garbage truck. This decision has ignited much debate, prompting residents to question the fund’…
Read the historical article →