It's your weekly cart placement reminder! ⚠️Space your curbside carts 1 metre apart so the truck’s mechanical arms have room for lifting. This helps our trucks pick the carts up safely and efficiently. Learn more at northcowichan.ca/carts

Join us for our first regular Council meeting of 2026! 📆 Wed, Jan. 21 at 5pm Want to participate? Attend the meeting in-person in Council Chambers, attend online (northcowichan.ca/virtualmeeting), or watch the live-stream. Find the agenda & live-stream link at northcowichan.ca/agendas

Fuller Lake arena is closed due to a potential gas leak. Emergency crews are on site. User group bookings & drop in programs are cancelled including: ❌9:30am Parent and Tot Skate ❌10:45am Lap Skate ❌12:15 Stick and Puck Late afternoon and evening programs are expected to run as scheduled.

Mayor Douglas joined dignitaries at 3181 Sherman Rd today to mark the start of 92 new co-op homes in North Cowichan! Thanks to provincial & federal partnerships, these homes will offer safe, affordable options for local families. Read the full news release at https://loom.ly/7eKzMZY

🚨An emergency evacuation order is in place for 10 properties near the Chemainus River due to flooding. Chemainus Road is closed at the bridge due to flooding. Do not drive through flooded areas. View the alert: https://loom.ly/D81ysgo Download Alertable at www.CowichanAlert.ca

Municipal Hall and the Operations building, Cowichan Aquatic Centre, and Fuller Lake Arena are now closed for the holidays. All facilities will be closed December 25, 26, and January 1. ❄️ Have a very happy holiday season! ❄️

Curious about your water consumption? Create a MyMuni account and see how your utility use compares over time. 🔗 northcowichan.ca/mymuni

Have you ever wondered why some plows spray liquid out the back? It's a salt/water mixture that helps prevent snow and ice from forming on our roads. Tips for when you see a brine truck: ❄️ Stay back at least 100ft ❄️ Avoid passing on the right ❄️ Be patient; they're making roads safe!

All new cardio fitness equipment is being installed at the Cowichan Aquatic Centre! The fitness area is temporarily closed while they make these improvements but will reopen as of 5pm on Dec 19. 🎄 Aquatic centre holiday hours 🎄 Closed Dec 25, 26, and Jan 1. 6am - 4pm on Dec 24 and 31.

Are you a business owner in North Cowichan? Business licences expire on December 31st and need to be renewed by the end of February to avoid incurring a penalty. DON'T MISS YOUR BILL! ⭐ Sign up for e-billing at northcowichan.ca/mymuni to get your renewal reminder sent right to your inbox!

Did you know you're responsible for clearing snow? ❄️ Remove all snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to your property within 48 hours of accumulation. ❄️ Clear all drains and catch basins to avoid flooding. ❄️ Shovel at least 1 meter of snow surrounding fire hydrants.

🏣 Municipal Hall and the Operations building are closed at 3pm on Dec 24, and all day Dec 25, 26, and Jan 1. ⛸️ Cowichan Aquatic Centre and Fuller Lake Arena are closed Dec 25, 26, and Jan 1. 🏊 Cowichan Aquatic Centre’s hours on Dec 24 and Dec 31 are 6am - 4pm. Happy holidays! ⛄

Stay informed with Alertable — your local emergency notification app. Sign up in minutes and make sure you never miss critical information. Alertable is free, easy to use, and supports smartphone app, email, SMS, and smart speakers. Sign up today at cowichanalert.ca

Dogs need ID too! Dog licences expire on December 31 and should be renewed right away. ⭐ Sign up for e-billing at northcowichan.ca/mymuni to get your renewal reminder sent right to your inbox!

⭐Make Your Home Easy to Find⭐ In the event of an emergency, first responders need to be able to easily identify your home so they can provide assistance as quickly as possible! Ensure your house numbers are large, reflective, and visible from the road, day and night.

Council's last regular council meeting of the year is this Wednesday at 5pm. Be part of the conversation - attend in person or online via WebEx to provide input on agenda items and follow the decisions shaping your community. ✅ Agenda and meeting links can be found at northcowichan.ca/meetings

Schedule change Thurs. Dec. 18 & Fri. Dec. 19 Brand new fitness equipment is being installed! Closure of all or parts of the Cowichan Aquatic fitness centre is required. Visit northcowichan.ca/recreation for full details

Evening walk about after the rain. “Shq'apthut - Gathering Place” gateway at Waterwheel Park. 📍Chemainus BC #VancouverIsland #CowichanValley #quwutsunnation #coastsalish @northcowichan.bsky.social

PLEASE SHARE: #Cowichan Overdose Advisory has been extended. There are options for safer use: Find information on supervised consumption sites, drug-checking services & more: ow.ly/FgyS50PLkLF

⚠️ Road work notice ⚠️ North Cowichan will be conducting geotechnical road test excavations. 📍Southbound lane of Canada Avenue between the Sherman Road roundabout and 6002 Canada Avenue. 📆 Friday, December 5 | 8am - 1pm

Mayor Douglas has shared a statement regarding the announcement of the closure of the Crofton mill. Read the full statement at https://loom.ly/WlnBbo4

With Christmas fast approaching, it's time to talk about tree safety. Whether you have a real tree or an artificial one, be sure to check out these tips from the North Cowichan Fire Department to help keep your family and home safe this holiday season.

📅 Council meets this Wednesday at 5pm - join us! Stay informed and connected with what’s happening in North Cowichan. Attend in person, online via WebEx, or catch the live stream. Find the agenda and meeting links at northcowichan.ca/meetings

From the shop to the park - Chemainus, we hope you love your new waterwheel!

Interested in learning new skills, joining an incredible crew, while making a huge difference in your community? Apply to join the North Cowichan Fire Department! 🚨Learn more and apply at www.northcowichan.ca/firefighter

It's national take a hike day! What's your favourite place to hike in North Cowichan? Visit northcowichan.ca/trails for trail information and maps.

It's the time of year when we all start turning on our heaters and fireplaces to warm our homes. But did you know that 50% of home heating fires are reported during the months of December through February? Here are some tips from the North Cowichan Fire Department to help keep you safe this season.

Residents who no longer want to receive a paper invoice for their tax and utility bills, business licences, and dog licences can sign up to have invoices sent straight to their email. ⭐ Sign up today at northcowichan.ca/mymuni

And just like that, the new Chemainus waterwheel is starting to look like a waterwheel! The old waterwheel - which was past its life expectancy - has been removed, and our talented carpenter, Jacob is busily making a new one. The final install is expected to take place near the end of November.

⚠️ Road work notice ⚠️ North Cowichan crews are replacing a water service in front of 6232 Hawkes Blvd. 📍 Between 6220 and 6248 Hawkes Blvd. 📆 Thursday, November 13 | 8:30am - 4:00pm 🚧 Closed to through traffic, local traffic only. Use alternate routes where possible to avoid delays.

Our new hospital has a new name! It will be called Quw'utsun Hulitun-ew't-hw, meaning “Cowichan place of giving life.” It will be paired with the English name Quw'utsun Valley Hospital. @vanislandhealth.bsky.social

In honour of Remembrance Day, Municipal Hall and our recreation facilities (Cowichan Aquatic Centre and Fuller Lake Arena) will be closed Tuesday, November 11.

Council meets this Wednesday at 5pm, and you’re invited! Whether you join us in person, tune in online, or catch the live-stream, it’s a great way to stay connected with what’s happening in North Cowichan. Find the full agenda + meeting links at northcowichan.ca/meetings

Did you hear? Chemainus is getting a new waterwheel! The old waterwheel has been removed, and our talented carpenter, Jacob is busily making a new one. The pond has been drained, cleaned, and repaired, and the final install is expected to take place near the end of November.

Last weekend, we celebrated the newest inductees into the North Cowichan-Duncan Sports Wall of Fame. Congratulations to Michael Braithwaite, Joe DiLalla, Kim Dillabaugh, Nick Gilbert, Norman Jackson, and Leanne Wilkinson-Sirup! 👏 Read more at https://loom.ly/vhUGqRo

Several of North Cowichan's parks and trails have been voted Best of the Valley! 🏆 🚵‍♀️ Best place to mountain bike Winner: Mount Tzouhalem Second Place: Maple Mountain 🌄 Best view of the city Winner: Mount Prevost Second Place: Mount Tzouhalem Runner Up: Maple Mountain

📣Reminder - the deadline to submit your petition regarding the proposed Local Area Service for the Donnay Dr lands acquisition is Oct 31 at 4pm. If you are in support of the proposed land acquisition, no action is required. Find resources and more info at connectnorthcowichan.ca/donnay-lands

📬 Want news about your community sent right to your inbox? Choose which information you want to receive: ✅ North Cowichan news ✅ Council matters ✅ Council and committee meeting agendas ✅ Building industry updates Subscribe to any of our email lists today at northcowichan.ca/subscribe

🚧 Genoa Bay Rd will be closed to traffic in both directions on Tues. Oct 28, 7:30am-5:30pm. At the top of each hour, waiting vehicles will be allowed through using single alternating traffic. Emergency vehicles will have access through at all times. Learn more at northcowichan.ca/roads

With heavy rain in the forecast, here are a few ways to get prepared: 🍂 Clear catch basins and gutters of leaves 💧 Ensure ditches and drainage are clear ⚠️Report any issues to 250-746-3106 during working hours or to 250-746-5512 on evenings and weekends.

⚠️ Road work notice ⚠️ Duncan Paving is patching pavement. 📍 Chemainus Road 📆 Monday, October 20 | 8am - 4pm (weather permitting) 🚧 Traffic control personnel will be on site with single lane, alternating traffic. Please use alternate routes where possible to avoid delays.

⚠️ Road work notice ⚠️ Duncan Paving is conducting crack sealing. 📍 Grant Road and Genoa Bay Road 📆 Wednesday, October 17 | 8am - 4pm 🚧 Traffic control personnel will be on site with single lane, alternating traffic. Please use alternate routes where possible to avoid delays.

North Cowichan employees participated in in The Great British Columbia Shake Out earthquake drill this morning! Did you? Learn more and sign up to participate in your own drill at shakeoutbc.ca

Mayor and Council recently joined the North Cowichan Fire Department to take part in their annual awards banquet to honour its long-term members. The North Cowichan Fire Department has 120+ members and provides service to Chemainus, Crofton, Maple Bay, and South End. We thank you for your service!

Join us for our next Council meeting this Wednesday at 5pm! Attend in person, join online via WebEx, or watch the live-stream to stay informed about the decisions shaping our community. Find the agenda and meeting links at northcowichan.ca/meetings

🔥It's Fire Prevention Week🔥 A reminder from the North Cowichan Fire Department that only working smoke alarms save lives! 💨Smoke alarms must be replaced every 10 years. 💨Replace your smoke alarms batteries every 6 months. 💨Test your smoke alarm every month by pressing the test button.

⚠️ Pavement repairs in progress ⚠️ 📍 Intersection of Victoria St and Willow St, Chemainus. 📆 Wednesday, October 8 | 9am - 4pm 🚧 Traffic control personnel will be on site, and traffic will alternate through the work zone. Please use alternate routes where possible to avoid delays.

We are hiring a Labourer on a casual basis to support essential services such as road maintenance, snow and ice control, & refuse collection. In this role, you’ll gain valuable training, develop new skills, & build a foundation for a long-term career with us. Apply now at www.northcowichan.ca/jobs

⚠️ Road work notice ⚠️ 📍 1722 Maple Bay Road 📆 Wednesday, October 8 | 6:30am - 6:30pm 🚧 Single lane, alternating traffic will be in effect and traffic control personnel will be on site to assist. Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid delays.

A 60-year-old water main is getting a replacement. It has had breakages 4 times over the past couple of years causing damage to homes, yards, and infrastructure. 💧 Quamichan Park Rd water main 📍 Quamichan Park Rd between Jaynes Rd and Somenos Creek 🗓️ Beginning October 6 and lasting ~ 1 month