For four days, a group of dedicated Cowichan Bay residents and stakeholders discussed what could be improved in the region. After lengthy discussions, it became very clear that safe walking through the village and parking were the two main issues for the majority of participants.

All kinds of ideas were presented, including an idea to have a decommissioned Ferry serve as a parking lot. Others included moving the South wall in the village three meters back to create parallel parking spaces. Building a Community Centre with a parking lot in the location where big oil tanks once stood across from the Rock Cod Café was also discussed.

Cittaslow made a presentation on moving the Boat Launch at the Nature Centre to the Causeway to create 50 new parking spaces. At the same time, improvements would have to be made so that walking to the village from that site would be safer. Cittaslow has started discussions on some of these ideas with the people who could move these ideas forward. Really, this is what Cittaslow is all about, working to improve the community.

We would also like to organize a clean up day this summer season. We’d like to see everyone involved and participating in this event. You would be amazed at what a lot of people can do with brooms and cleaning materials. We’ll keep you posted!

Please check out the video below, which is about the Maritime Centre.

In 2009 Cowichan Bay became North America’s first Cittaslow community, joining an international network that now includes over 236 Cittaslow towns in 30 countries and territorial areas. These communities are brought to life by the people who take the time to build community relationships and enjoy quality of life. They are blessed with quality space, shops, inns, historic buildings, farms, nature and unspoiled lands.

The main goal of Cittaslow is to expand the philosophy of Slow Food to local communities and governments, applying the concepts of ecogastronomy to the practice of everyday life.

The Association—founded in Orvieto on 15th October 1999—values the creation of resilient microeconomics and the exchange of good practices across the Network. It promotes citizens action in local communities, across cities and territories, in cultural, environmental, social and economic aspect.