Al Siebring was elected mayor of the District of North Cowichan with 3,017 votes, only 10 more than incumbent Jon Lefebure.
Elected to council were incumbents Rob Douglas and Kate Marsh, as well as newcomers Christopher Justice, Tek Manhas, Rosalie Sawrie and Debra Toporowski.
Candidates
Mayor
Joyce Behnsen
Jon Lefebure (incumbent)
Al Siebring – elected
Council
Nick Caumanns
Rob Douglas (incumbent) – elected
Paul Fletcher
David Haywood
Patrick Hrushowy
Christopher Justice – elected
John Koury
Tek Manhas – elected
Kate Marsh (incumbent) – elected
Marilyn Palmer
Catherine Pastula
Peter W Rusland
Rosalie Sawrie – elected
Debra Toporowski – elected
Boundary
North Cowichan is found at the southern end of Vancouver Island, just across the water from Salt Spring Island and just under 25 kilometres from Ladysmith.
Population (2016)
29,676
History
Cowichan — it’s a First Nation word that means “land warmed by the sun.”
And it’s a name that applies to North Cowichan, a district whose economy grew thanks to industries such as farming, mining, forestry and fishing.
North Cowichan became a municipality in 1873. Duncan was once part of it, but it separated in 1912.
Loggers made up North Cowichan’s first settlers, though the economy would diversify with the establishment of a copper smelter at Crofton between 1902 and 1908.
Forestry remains the dominant activity in the area, however.
Median total income of couple economic families with children (2015)/B.C. median
$105,242/$111,736
Crime Severity Index (CSI) — 2016
RCMP — municipal/B.C.
104.72 (+21.77)/93.63 (-0.71)
Violent Crime Severity Index (CSI) — 2016
RCMP — municipal/B.C.
97.08 (+107.44)/74.86 (-9.81)
Political representation
Federal
Alistair MacGregor (BC NDP)
Provincial
Sonia Furstenau (BC Greens) — Cowichan Valley
Doug Routley (BC NDP) — Nanaimo-North Cowichan