What defines a Cowichan Changemaker?
Our Changemakers are the influencers, activators, connectors and innovators within the Cowichan Valley. Whether working in business or volunteering for community organizations, they are the builders and collaborators who embody new ways of doing things. Changemakers see the potential that others miss and they connect the dots between people and ideas. Join us in celebrating and learning about the people who are shaping the future of the Cowichan Region.
Remedy Eco Design
Leading Sustainable Design in Cowichan
Remedy Eco Design is making strides in sustainable agriculture and ecological design in Cowichan through innovative techniques aimed at enhancing the natural ecosystem while promoting agricultural productivity. Founded by Kurtis Howes, the company focuses on creating resilient natural landscapes that address the pressing challenges of climate change and food security…
BioFlame Briquettes Ltd.
Spearheading Sustainable Heating Solutions in Cowichan
Marcus Woernle embodies the essence of a Changemaker, steering innovative pathways toward a more sustainable future in the Cowichan Valley. His journey began at a wood processing tradeshow in Europe, where serendipity introduced him to a biomass briquetting system. At the time, Woernle, a seasoned power engineer at the Crofton Mill, found himself intrigued by the simplicity …
Nexus Modular Solutions
Small Homes Solving Big Problems
Alan ‘Al’ Jackson has been an active member of the entrepreneurial community in the Cowichan Valley for decades. He started Jackson Grills, a brand of quality barbeques whose market expanded across North America in the early aughts. After proudly raising his family in the Cowichan Valley, he …
Cowichan Cycles
Growing the mountain biking community in Cowichan
When Grant Lestock-Kay purchased Cowichan Cycles from its previous owner in 2016, he had a plan: to grow the mountain biking community in Cowichan by bringing people together. With the recent move to the new location on James Street in Duncan, it was time to put the plan into action.
Cowichan is home to world-class mountain biking trails, most notably those on Mount Prevost, Maple Mountain and Mount Tzouhalem. To create a place for people to gather before and after a ride, Lestock-Kay has launched Wheelbase Café in the recently relocated Cowichan Cycles retail space. Now housing everything from coffee, pizza and beer to mountain biking gear and maintenance services, Cowichan Cycles and Wheelbase Café are creating more interconnections within the mountain bike community.
Cowichan Watershed Board
Working together for our watershed
Founded on an internationally-recognized co-governance model, the Cowichan Watershed Board provides leadership for sustainable water management and the ecological protection of the Quw’utsun (Cowichan) and Xwulqw’selu (Koksilah) watersheds.
The Cowichan Watershed Board is a partnership between Cowichan Tribes First Nation and the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD). The Board is a unique example of local empowerment, with members coming together to listen, learn, and work together for the good of the watershed. Working closely with its partners, the Cowichan Watershed Board has helped to attract millions of dollars in investment to the region.
In January 2022, a milestone was achieved. After almost two years of biweekly meetings between Cowichan Tribes and Provincial staff, an agreement was reached on moving forward with the provinces’ first Water Sustainability Plan for the Koksilah watershed.
135 Third Street
Duncan, BC
Canada V9L 1R9
edc@cvrd.bc.ca
T 250.746.7880
TF 1.866.746.2508
Economic
Development
Cowichan
Economic
Development
Cowichan
135 Third Street
Duncan, BC
Canada V9L 1R9
edc@cvrd.bc.ca
T 250.746.7880
TF 1.866.746.2508