Me and You-

Stepping into the huge room full of laughing people, fall decorations and tables loaded with delicious food was like stepping back in time to bygone days when residents of small towns gathered to share a meal now and then.

Everyone knew everyone else and depended on each other for friendship and neighbourly helping hands.

The event on October 25, organized in Youbou by the Me and You-Nites Social Association, was old fashioned potluck dinner of roast chicken, turkey, all the trimmings, plus pies, cheesecake, doughnuts and a huge carrot cake made by Youbou resident Claren Mulholland.

The Me and You-Nites Social Association originated with a small group of Youbou residents who wanted to have more events such as dances in the Youbou Hall, which is under the jurisdiction of the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

After unravelling what seemed like miles and miles of governmental red tape, they got their name approved, became incorporated as a society, planned a year of events and got permission from the Cowichan Lake Recreation Commission to have use of the Youbou Hall for 10 rent-free events from September of this year to next August.

Group members decided unanimously that the first event of the fall should be a family dinner modelled after traditional chicken dinners called fowl suppers that are held in small towns across the Prairies and the Maritimes. It was a good move. Immediately after posters were put up the phones started ringing to reserve places and promise food items.

Me and You-Nite representatives also attended the October Honeymoon Bay Community Society meeting where they were warmly welcomed and offered financial support if necessary.

Honeymoon Bay folks arrived in force for the dinner, extending invitations to their own dinner at Christmas.

“It was a resounding success. The hall and the tables were decorated with fall decorations,” said Youbou resident Lucille Smith. “The food was delicious. There were over a hundred people at our first gathering, not all of them from Meade’s Creek and Youbou.

“It seems that Lake Cowichan and Honeymoon Bay also want to be united. There was also a lovely lady from Chester, England and a little cutie from Poland.”

Laverne Miller of Lake Cowichan attended with her daughter Tara Daly of Youbou. “My husband Mel moved to Youbou in 1945 with his parents…when Youbou was a thriving mill town…with community activities drawing people together. Tonight showed an interest to return to a closer community, one where you gather together with your families, old friends and new ones.”

Christopher Lyons, a stranger to the area who attended, said: “I am a masters student at the University of Alberta researching how forest communities respond to mill closures. Part of my research looks at events in the community and the groups that organize them. Although I came late due to a prior engagement, there was plenty of great food left. Youbou Hall was packed and people seemed to be having a great time.

“Mill closures are obviously very hard on communities and sometimes this means that fun social activities don’t happen as often, so it was good to see this kind of event occur and be so successful.”

The popularity of the Fowl Supper bodes well for further Me and You-Nites community activities, including a card and game boards night, Christmas carolling through town, a Robbie Burns dinner and auction, a Valentine’s dance, an international dinner, a talent show and karaoke night, a community garage sale, a tacky tourist dance and Canada Day at Arbutus Park.

Kathryn Swan is a member of the Me and You-Nites Social Association

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