The issue of industrial development at Cowichan Bay, which had festered through the first half of the 20th century, had become a major issue by the 1970s and 1980s.

On one side were the big companies with insatiable appetites for the deep water docking available at the Bay; on the other were vociferous neighbours and others calling for preservation of the area as a fishing and tourist area.

In July 1972, with an Island world salmon derby scheduled for the following month, a packed house of concerned citizens demonstrated loudly against expansion of a sawmill at the bay and against an application by Standard Oil Company to enlarge its oil supply depot in the area. (Now the Maritime Centre).

Another applicant who wanted an area of the bay rezoned industrial to allow for the construction of a shake and shingle mill, withdrew his application before the public hearing at Bench Elementary School, conducted by the Cowichan Valley Regional District Board.

“Industries are trying to weasel into Cowichan Bay, and when my children grow up, Cowichan Bay will be gone. The pollution problem is going to get worse,” said Bench Road’s Tony Hawkes.

Arriving in 1941, he’d seen Cowichan Bay get dirtier every day, Hawkes said.

1972: contracts

Under terms of a new contract narrowly approved by 53 per cent of its members, striking coast IWA workers would get a 73 cent an hour wage increase over two years on a base rate of $3.72 plus other major benefits.

1972: rewards

North Cowichan council posted a $50 reward for information leading to the conviction of persons responsible for killing two pigs with bows and arrows on property at the corner of Herd and Lakes Roads.

1972: awards

At Honeymoon Bay, residents Kathleen Hepburn, Linda Curry and Cecil McArthur received awards at Lake Cowichan Secondary School, and twin grandsons arrived for George and Jean Capella.