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Festivals and special events memorable throughout 2023

Top stories of the year in the Chemainus Valley: Part 1

The past year marked a return to near-normal following COVID cancellations or disruptions during the previous year.

It was a year marked by many highlights again within the Chemainus, Crofton and Saltair communities as well as Thetis and Penelakut Islands.

Following is Part 1 of our Year in Review for 2023, with the selection of the top five stories.

1. Special events and festivals – Right from mid-June until early December, festivals and special events were in the spotlight around Chemainus. All proved to be highly-successful and drew large crowds still perhaps enthralled with the concept of getting out into public spaces more post-pandemic.

North Cowichan 150th anniversary celebrations kicked things off June 18 at Waterwheel Park on a rainy Sunday, but the weather was ideal for remaining events throughout the rest of the year and people took full advantage.

The Rotary Club of Chemainus switched gears for its SummerFest event with a car show, also in June, and that led right into Canada Day festivities and then the best Chemainus + District Chamber of Commerce Giant Street Market ever.

All the while, the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society concerts and festivals throughout the summer and smaller markets such as a regular monthly set-up at the Chemainus Village Square attracted much fanfare.

October brought a collaboration between the Chemainus Business Improvement Association and Chamber for the Fall Festival and Fun Run.

The first Sip & Shop event in downtown Chemainus in mid-November that ushered in the holiday season followed suit. The combination of the previous Moonlight Madness and Christmas Market brought out people of all ages for an enjoyable experience.

CBIA executive director Krystal Adams and Chamber events manager Melody Smythies put their heads together to come up with the concept that proved to be a big hit. “The outcome was beyond our expectation,” noted Adams.

And the calendar rolled into December with Little Town Christmas and Crofton For Christmas on the same weekend.

The complete package makes it our top story of the year.

2. Catalyst Crofton mill – Curtailment became a frequently heard word pertaining to the Catalyst Crofton mill in 2023.

What started as a one-month curtailment on June 30 became eight months and counting for paper operations, as parent company Paper Excellence Canada announced the extension of the paper operation curtailment to the end of February 2024, with no end in sight, due to challenging market conditions which have not recovered as anticipated.

About 70 paper operations employees are affected.

“Paper Excellence Canada continues to work with our employees to mitigate the impact of the ongoing paper production curtailment,” read a statement from the company.

“Very disappointing, as our orders have been sent to different sites,” commented Tanner McQuarrie, president of Unifor Local 1132. “As a young union leader who was still hopeful of a positive future at our site, I am losing hope. With opportunities for severance and bridge-to-retirement program being rewarded, I am doubtful there will be enough papermakers left to keep the place running. The worst part is still no clarity.”

The mill’s pulp operations, which support approximately 400 union and salaried staff employees, will continue production during the extended paper curtailment. Pulp operations resumed in October after a three-month curtailment.

3. Colin John not criminally responsible – Nearly seven years after the death of Derek Descoteau in Chemainus, the man who previously pleaded guilty to killing him was found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder.

The determination on Colin John was announced by Justice Lisa Warren in BC Supreme Court in Duncan after a statement that took 2 1/2 hours to read, explaining all aspects of the decision.

There was an angry response from the crowd in the courtroom at the end. Many of those gathered to hear the decision immediately stormed out when the decision became known.

“We’re really upset,” said Descoteau’s mother Brenda Smith. “This is not the outcome we wanted. Today, we wanted justice.”

“I think the judge summarized it at the end of her decision,” said Scott Sheets, the lead of John’s defence team. “It was a difficult decision and for the family to watch.”

Warren was brought to tears herself in acknowledging Janelle Guyatt, who was also stabbed by John but survived the attack, along with friends and Descoteau family members who were in the courtroom have endured difficult proceedings over the years.

Her decision, she said, is a legal one and “I am very sorry for your loss.”

4. Dr. Jerry Philippson – It was truly the end of an era after the long-time Chemainus doctor died on July 18 in Comox at the age of 93.

Gerald Johann Philippson was one of three influential doctors, along with Dr. Gordon Heydon and Dr. Larry Fenton, who served Chemainus faithfully at the same time for decades. They all made house calls regularly besides spending long hours at the hospital, something unheard of today.

Related story: Dr. Jerry Philippson forever linked to a momentous time in Chemainus history

“He lived a good life and was privileged to serve his patients and his community,” noted daughter Karla Sandwith, who lives in Comox. “He seemed to capture the hearts of many people over the years.”

Besides Sandwith and her spouse, Philippson is also survived by sons Dr. Dan Philippson, a general practitioner in Duncan, and Dr. Jay Philippson, an orthodontist in Duncan, and their spouses, plus 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

“He certainly was ‘larger than life’ in many respects as I was growing up,” added Jay.

Few longtime Chemainus residents would not have known Philippson through his practice or community involvement.

“The many tributes and kind words we receive as the news trickles out bring much comfort,” Sandwith indicated.

In 2016, Jerry and wife Anne relocated from Chemainus to the Comox Berwick Retirement Community. Jerry transferred to Glacier View Lodge in Comox in 2021 after Anne died.

5. Chemainus River Campground – The ongoing saga of the Chemainus River Campground and attempts to have the land removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve reached a climactic point when the Agricultural Land Commission announced its decision to deny the application made by the Municipality of North Cowichan on behalf of property owner Jeri Wyatt.

Jeri and husband John, who died in September, bought the nearly 23-acre property in 1980 and it’s been operated as a campground for 20 years on the site. They sought to expand the campground in 2017 and the ALC began the process toward its response in 2018 on whether the campground could continue on the Agricultural Land Reserve or cease to exist and revert to agricultural usage.

The ALC subsequently ruled the campground can remain, but only under the current ownership. Once the property is sold, that status is non-transferrable.

North Cowichan council is seeking a meeting with Jennifer Dyson, chair of the ALC, to urge changes to the decision regarding the campground.

Council agreed unanimously at its meeting on Dec. 6 that Mayor Rob Douglas attempt to schedule a meeting with Dyson as soon as possible, preferably before Christmas holidays begin, in recognition of how important the issue is to people’s livelihoods in the municipality.

Council also passed a motion requesting the ALC extend its deadline of Oct. 31, 2024, for the campground to remove all structures at the three-hectare site associated with people staying there long-term, and that permission be given for all the long-term tenants currently at the campground to remain on site until the new deadline for their structures to be removed expires.

Next week: Part 2, top stories No. 6 through 10.



Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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