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In partnership with community representatives, the Cowichan Valley Regional District is sponsoring a design and planning exercise for the Village of Shawnigan Lake. The ‘Think Shawnigan’ is considered a village centre vitalization, a collaborative project that enables residents to express and record their vision for what is considered the heart of their community. The design process is expected to tackle a number of challenges including mobility improvements, intensity of desired development,...

Cowichan Tribes is the 89th First Nation in Canada and the 49th First Nation in B.C. to have voted to accept a Land Management! Cowichan Tribe members on and off-reserve participated in the “Quw’utsun Tumuhw”, Cowichan Tribes Land Code vote to replace the land management provisions of the Indian Act of 1867. Cowichan Tribes has developed a community-driven Land Code and will now enter an agreement which will provide for the transfer of their land management from Canada to Cowichan Tribes....

Economic Development Cowichan is proud to support the Shawnigan Village community to envision its future. EDC is working in partnership with Sierra Acton, Director Electoral Area B, community champions, stakeholders, and design consultants on Think Shawnigan, an intense design and planning process generating creative ideas for the future look and feel of Shawnigan Village. There are many opportunities for community input and participation in the process.  The outcome will be a highly visual,...

The Cowichan Exhibition is celebrating its 151st Fair on September 6 – 9.  This year’s exhibition theme of "Milk & Cookies" pays tribute to the Cowichan Region’s dairy industry.  Milk is one food product in which our region is self-sufficient.  And butter is a key ingredient in cookie making. At the time of the first exhibition the local milk produced by the black and white Holstein cows was processed at the Cowichan Creamery.  Those first farmers took great pride in their dairy cattle,...

The Koksilah Music Festival is organized in recognition and celebration of the sovereignty of Indigenous Nations throughout BC with the intention to highlight the perspectives of Indigenous musicians, artists, activists and knowledge keepers. This year’s festival will take place on September 6 - 8, in the unceded territories of the Quw’utsun People at Tuwe’nu (Providence Farm). Festival activities includes an eclectic lineup of music performers, workshops and speakers and the renowned...

If you love wine this festival is for you.  Join us in Cowichan for a weekend-long event to enjoy wine tastings, great entertainment and delicious cuisine. The festival kicks-off with a Party at the Pavilion on Friday, August 23. You will enjoy live music and wine tastings from all the participating wineries in a beautiful setting at the Shawnigan Lake School. On August 24 & 25, spend the festival weekend self-touring the 12 participating wineries hosting special activities taking place at...

Join the fun this August Long Weekend to see all that Laketown Ranch and beautiful Lake Cowichan has to offer.  The Sunfest Country Music Festival runs August 1 to 4 and is a world class music event.  This years festival headliners include Jason Aldean; Maren Morris; Kip Moore, Randy Houser; Terri Clark; Michael Ray; Cody Johnson and many more.  But wait, there is more than just music, there is camping, beverage gardens, food and merchants, artists, multiple concert stages and of course...

Economic Development Cowichan is working in partnership with the Small Scale Food Processor Association to help food producers and processors reach new opportunities. The current project will include engagement with regional food producers and processors, education and health institutions, beverage-sector producers and others to quantify demand for local food inputs and new production opportunities.  The second phase will outline the infrastructure needed to support increased shared food...