Federal government considers tax break for volunteer firefighters

Luring and keeping volunteer firefighters may get a tad easier if the government agrees to a proposal by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. The group met with the fed’s finance committee last week to explain the problems associated with recruiting and hanging on to the volunteer crews. Dave Balding, chief of... more

Running torch an honour and an opportunity

For Richelle Williams, Saturday was just a taste of what’s to come. Williams has been chosen as a torch bearer for the 2010 Olympic relay. But even though was born and raised in Cowichan, her leg of the historic journey... more

• In the running
• SD79 finds enough cash to balance budget in variety of contingency funds
• Debate rages about forcing homeless to shelter

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the lower case concrete sounds of bill bissett

Eclectic artist bill bissett brings his famously animated performance poetry to Duncan on Friday to complement his 35-piece art show that’s been hung here since September. The soft-spoken creator and former ‘60s political agitator aims to act out poems from his... more

• VIDEO TO GO WEB EXTRA: How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
• Triple Juno winner Kaldor ventures across the country for Duncan show
• Luv Train chugs into CT fundraiser

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Dateline Cowichan 1982: Chemainus sawmill closes

Hard times strike the forest industry By late 1982, a recession coupled with galloping inflation held the province in an icy grip. In the Cowichan Valley, we didn’t have to look further than the mills to see its devastating effect on... more

• Valley picks for Nov. 4
• Consort needs a new leader
• Valley people: Carolyn Taylor

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Seeing both sides of: Forcing the homeless inside

The case for There are few, if any, people living on the streets who actually want to be there. These are people who either don’t have better choices available, or lack lack the skills to make those chaoices. Many of them are mentally... more

• Battling dumping is an exercise in frustration
• How I got a bang out of something I don’t approve of
• Reports of police sweater interrogation highly exaggerated

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