Articles

At this time of year when the weather turns cool and wet, it is an enjoyable daily self-care practice to nourish our body and soul with delicious and nutritional herbal tea. It is a simple pleasure that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere with reverence, awareness and bliss. Sure you can

In times when making ends meet has become a daily challenge for many in our community, the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s decision to earmark approximately $100 million for an active transportation plan strikes a nerve. While the intentions behind enhancing walking and cycling paths may be well-meaning, they seem disconnected

In our previous edition, we covered the closure of the York St. Diner. We’re happy to report since then, the business has preservered and will remain open, looking for a new location. The community of North Cowichan has been voicing worries over conspicuous drug consumption, especially around the York Road/Lewis

 Westward Independent recently had the privilege of attending the North Cowichan Developers’ Forum, a pivotal event held at Fuller Lake.  This forum casts a spotlight on some pressing issues within the Canadian housing sector, offering insights into the challenges faced by builders and developers. Despite being a sold-out event, it was

North Cowichan has recently utilized its ‘climate action and energy fund’ reserve to procure a fleet of electric vehicles, including an electric garbage truck. This decision has ignited much debate, prompting residents to question the fund’s purpose, and its broader implications for the environment, Indigenous rights, tax usage, and global

*Sponsored Content* In the Netherlands, more than 3,000 farms are currently locked in a struggle for their survival. This plight is not unique to the Netherlands, as farming communities worldwide face similar challenges, from the United States to Australia, India, and across Europe. What’s unfolding is a pattern that extends

Welcome to Progressivia, the city of tomorrow! It’s 2045, and the progressive agenda has not just been followed; it’s been run with—literally, since running is now the city’s official transport (next to e-biking, of course). In Progressivia, your carbon card is your passport to the world. Want to hop on

Welcome to “Nut Bar,” your dive into the deliciously ironic world of political acrobatics where every side of the spectrum bends over backwards so much, they might just win an Olympic medal for flexibility. In today’s installment, we’re taking a light-hearted gaze at the art of political contradictions that can

John Rustad is the current leader of the B.C. Conservatives. Mr. Rustad has visited the Cowichan Valley multiple times to inquire about, and look into, the flooding of the Cowichan Bay estuary that has become such a hot-button topic. Mr. Rustad has brought forward the concerns around the flooding of

Following North Cowichan’s decision to expedite the adoption of building step code 6 years earlier than the Province, with a vote of 4-3, we’ve contacted other communities to determine whether they are aligned with these so-called “local” initiatives. We reached out to a contact who runs a citizen’s watchdog group

The “30×30” biodiversity target is making waves globally, with Canada, like many other nations, pledging to protect 30% of its land and waters by 2030. But is this global conservation goal really the silver bullet it’s portrayed to be, especially when applied to regions like the Cowichan Valley Regional District

 Maple Bay, North Cowichan – Elkington House, a historic gem dating back to 1894, holds the distinction of being North Cowichan’s only designated heritage house. Its preservation has become a matter of concern for the Oak Park Heritage Preservation Society and heritage enthusiasts in the region. Westward Independent recently had the

North Cowichan steams full-bore ahead on its climate agenda, public input appears to be a point of contention. As another council meeting went underway, Mayor Rob Douglas of North Cowichan decided to go off-script from the Mayor’s report, delivering a speech that left many residents feeling uneasy. “I would like

In the Cowichan Valley, a stark divide shadows the sunlit streets: Climate policy’s burden on the middle class. As the community transitions into a preferred retirement haven, over half of its residents savour retirement’s leisure, many turning to climate activism. This demographic, comfortably affluent, readily invests in the environmental cause.