Fireworks Not Permitted in CVRD Electoral Areas This Canada Day

Residents planning to celebrate Canada Day on July 1 are reminded that fireworks permits will not be issued by the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) for any CVRD Electoral Area.

The decision is based on the current Coastal Fire Centre prohibition on Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, along with ongoing drought conditions and the increased risk of wildfires across the region.

The CVRD encourages everyone to celebrate responsibly by choosing safer alternatives such as:

• Laser light shows
• LED or non-flammable light displays
• Glow sticks and lanterns
• Community celebrations that do not involve fireworks

With dry conditions continuing, every effort to reduce wildfire risk helps protect our communities, forests, and emergency resources.

Learn More

For the latest information, visit:

• Coastal Fire Centre Fire Prohibitions
  https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/fire-prohibitions/
• Fire Prohibition Map
  https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map
• Cowichan Valley Regional District
  https://www.cvrd.ca/

Please celebrate safely and help protect our beautiful Cowichan region this Canada Day.

New CVRD Water Conservation Rebates Now Available

The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) has officially launched four new Water Conservation and Stewardship Rebates to help residents reduce outdoor water use, improve drought resilience, and save money.

With ongoing drought conditions and increasing pressure on local water supplies, these rebates encourage practical improvements that can reduce outdoor water use by up to 50% while helping protect our shared water resources.

Available Rebates

Eligible residential property owners can apply for rebates in four categories:

• 🌿 Soil Improvement – Improve soil health with quality topsoil, compost, or mulch to retain moisture and reduce watering needs.
• 💧 Smart Irrigation Upgrades – Upgrade existing irrigation systems with smart controllers, rain sensors, or drip irrigation to water more efficiently.
• 🌧️ Rain Barrel Rebates – Collect and store rainwater for watering gardens and landscapes.
• 🛢️ Cistern Rebates – Install larger rainwater harvesting systems to capture and store significant amounts of rainwater for outdoor use.

Healthy soils, efficient irrigation, and rainwater harvesting can significantly reduce water consumption while keeping landscapes healthy throughout the summer.

Who Is Eligible?

Rebates are available to all residential property owners located within:

• CVRD Electoral Areas
• Member Municipalities
• First Nations communities

Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so eligible residents are encouraged to apply early.

Learn More & Apply

Complete program details, eligibility requirements, rebate amounts, and application forms are available on the CVRD website:

Water Conservation Rebates
https://cvrd.ca/services/environment/rebate-programs/water-conservation-rebates/

For questions, contact the CVRD Environmental Services Division:

Email: environment [at] cvrd [dot] bc [dot] ca
Phone: 250-746-2633

Together, small improvements at home can make a big difference in conserving water and protecting our watersheds for future generations.

Emergency Management Cowichan’s FireSmart Team is ready to provide tried and tested guidance on how to lower your home’s wildfire risk.  we realize that not every FireSmart upgrade is fee, so for a limited time we are offering up to $4,000 rebates to help with the cost of our recommendations.

Have you been concerned over your aging roof, combustible siding, or overgrown hedging?  Now is the time to act.

Book a “free” FireSmart home assessment today to extinguish your worries before the Wildfire Season.

Reach us by email at FireSmart [at] emcowichan [dot] ca, or by phone at: 250-746-2500 ext. 5012.