Spring and Community

Directors Report- Sierra Acton AREA B Shawnigan Lake

With the approach of spring, Shawnigan is going through a bit of a rejuvenation; the community is taking a fresh look at how we can partner with the Areas around us (A, C & D) to improve things here in Area B.



Once a month for the past few months we have gathered with the Shawnigan Village business community and discuss our successes, our needs and our vision. Working with Economic Cowichan Manager, Amy Melmock, some great ideas are emerging. For example, we are hoping to showcase our community’s assets at a forum that would highlight community contributors, including everyone from the Shawnigan Lake Museum to the multitude of home-based businesses.


Another way we can collaborate is around signage, specifically the signs on/from the highway. It would be beneficial to highlight each Area as distinct but with a consistent look. This could be easily accomplished with the proper funding and with support from the Province. The advice from Economic Cowichan on the matter would be for Areas A, B, C and D to work together as a “Subregion.” Working together, the Subregion would be more likely to get the necessary grant funding and we would also be more likely to get approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to have permission to install the signs.


All four Areas (A, B, C and D) are distinct but when we share our communities concerns and goals they are very similar. We all want safer roads/walking trails and thriving village cores, while protecting the integrity of our local environment. We all want our areas to be free from uncontrolled soil dumping, illegal garbage dumping and unsightly premises. I am still learning a lot about the CVRD and the role an Area Director plays since winning the by-election in September, but it is becoming apparent that when it comes to community specific goals, the electoral areas are at a disadvantage at the board table (versus incorporated areas.) Essentially we all pay into a system that makes it very hard to obtain community specific goals. However, it is clear that the more our local Areas work together the more we will accomplish. I look forward to exploring ways that Area B can work together with Areas A, C and D to improve things in all four Areas and reach our individual community’s goals while continuing to remaining distinct.