If you have lived, worked, or even passed through the Cowichan Valley, you know our residents are sick to death of the inaction from all levels of government on the addiction and homelessness issues.  

Whether its the disgusting state of downtown, the $10M fence, the "good neighbors" eyesore, the destroyed somenos marsh, or the human toll, we should all be outraged.

I've personally faced the struggles of addiction, mental health issues, and homelessness, and I know the dire need for support.  I've also taken my seven year old to the dollar store and had to administer Naloxone to a person dying outside. 

I'm not here to just complain.  I am an active volunteer, I donate often, and I actually have taken in over a dozen homeless/addicted folks.  

I am here because it shouldn't be on ME.  I am a disabled, single mom.  Every hour and dollar I donate is taken from my kids.  

 Instead of providing essential services, Cowichan local governments have shown an alarming inability to cater to these urgent needs.  The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), School District 79 (SD79), the Town of Lake Cowichan, the City of Duncan, and North Cowichan have repeatedly failed us.   (I will not forget when the federal government offered town of Lake Cowichan tiny homes to house their unhoused, and they refused them.)  This is a multi-level, multi-year, multi-term,  multiple-failures problem. 

A glaring example is the relocation of York Street into a protected wetland during the harshness of winter. This ill-conceived decision underscores a lack of empathy and forward-thinking. Furthermore, these governmental bodies have been liquidating our public assets to private companies, depriving our communities of critical resources and benefits.

It's personal to me because our local governments are hemorrhaging our tax dollars on "administration," and the consequences are felt firsthand. The closure of the school in my town of Youbou, which was sold off at a massive undervalue to a private buyer, has forced us to endure a 50-minute commute to access elementary education. I refuse to stand by and watch these setbacks perpetuate into my children's futures.  (Yount School was donated to Youbou, and could have been an income-generating property for our community for another century.)

We demand an immediate moratorium on the liquidation of public properties. This is not just about safeguarding our shared assets, but about ensuring a sustainable future for our communities. Furthermore, these local governments must collaborate with higher levels of authority to address the situation with the Cow High Building before it's too late.

It's time for a united and informed approach to ensure that our communities not only survive but thrive.  I don't have the answer, but even I know that selling Koksilah school and other properties, ain't it. 

Join me in urging the Cowichan local governments to halt the sale of our public assets, including Koksilah School and Cow High, and prioritize community welfare over profit.  

--------------------------------------

If SD79 cant afford to maintain properties that were donated to them, they need to donate them back to the communities.  Period.  No more selling our schools.  We NEED these institutionally-designed spaces for treatment, care  and interim housing. 

Your signature can help shift the policies and priorities of our local leaders, ensuring a better future for generations to come. Please sign this petition and demand accountability from all levels of government, and positive change for the Cowichan Valley.